I feel like this session has been some time coming. Maybe because I’ve been waiting for some of the reveals it brought for a while now. Regardless, now many things are out in the open and the players finally have some answers. But before we get to that…
We began the session with the end of the tournament in Fallen Star. The party went into the final of the team melee with the solid plan of not doing any lethal damage (and thus winning by not being docked any points), but thanks to the combination of Spike Growth and Tidal Wave, Poppy managed to do just that. She quickly healed the leader of the opposite team before the spikes jammed into her face did any permanent damage, but the overall damage was done. Even with Brakken intimidating the remaining members of the enemy team into submission, their win only earned them a tie in the overall tournament rankings thanks to the points they were docked.
Begin sudden-death-random-blind-knockout-best-of-three-tiebreaker round. The next morning, the party went up against their tied opponents in a randomised set of three of the individual events, randomised in both which events were chosen and in who competed in them. However, the party really lucked out, with Brakken getting wrestling and Monk getting archery. Poppy got the insults again, but with Brakken and Monk both comfortably winning their respective rounds, she didn’t even need to compete. And like that, the party won the tournament on behalf of Lord Bendrosian.
And were immediately forced to leave the city, as per the terms of their arrangement. Morty provided them with a rough map of where to find the Well of Mists and three teleportation stones along with the ominous portent that Lord Bendrosian still considered that a favour was owed and if the party did not come when next called the consequences would be severe. The party agreed (because, let’s face it, they had to) and then were escorted to their car and out of the city.
The journey north turned out to be completely uneventful, luckily for the party. They didn’t even have to worry about Brakken losing control again, thanks to Morty providing him some jerky of… questionable origin. So, some ten days after leaving Fallen Star, the party arrived at the Well of Mists.
The Well was a massive, massive hole in the ground, filled with roiling mists that were nearly impenetrable to the eye. Continuing on foot, the party made their way down a narrow path running down the side of the Well, barely able to see their hands in front of their faces. But they made it to the bottom without mishap and began walking towards the centre, where the mists began to grow thicker and thicker.
Eventually, the party passed through a gateway in a large wall and found themselves in a courtyard before a large, impressive building, with columns, gargoyle statues, and a large bronze door. However, upon approaching the door, a voice rang out that those who wished to enter the Temple of Mists must pass a test of might. As it said this, one of the gargoyle statues above the door came to life and the fight was on.
His name was Ludwig, and he was very friendly. He was also very strong, and very tough, but the party proved to be stronger and tougher. Thanks to the clever combo of Monk’s Stunning Strike and Poppy casting Entangle, Ludwig was restrained and the hitty pair of Brakken and Monk could do their thing. And their thing was to smash him to pieces. But as the pieces flew apart, they seemed to hang in midair for a moment before reforming. Back in one piece, Ludwig acknowledged the party’s prowess and invited them to enter the Temple, even holding the door open for them.
Inside, they found that the wall of the temple held stained glass windows, each of which showed one of seven images – the very same images depicted by the seven pins the party and their allies had been given. There was also a stone table in the middle of the temple, with those same images depicted in segments atop it and a corresponding two-inch hole for each in the centre. And there was an older man with bushy silver hair, whom, when the party (eventually) asked him his name, told them to call him Tim.
Tim explained some things. Basically, the party had been selected by an ancient protector of the world, called the Primordial, to assist in his millenia-long battle against an evil entity known as Old Father, whose goal was to reform the world in his own image of chaos and evil. While the other bearers of the pins were now effectively on the front lines, the party had been chosen for a more utilitarian mission. Seven shards of power, known as the Seven Shards, needed to be gathered at the Temple of Mists for an unrevealed purpose. Tim already had one, leaving six that needed to be recovered. He gave the party the locations of the remainder, and the means to return to the Temple quickly once their quest is complete.
He also turned Brakken into a cyborg. Brakken requested help with his wendigo problem, and as the only way to help with that, Tim brought him down below into what can only be described as a mad scientist laboratory and with the assistance of Igor and Igor 2 started replacing bits. He replaced Brakken’s heart with a chunk of empowered arcanite, his dozens of fangs with a more conventional set of teeth… made of metal… and made a bunch of other tweaks and changes, including cutting into his brain and tinkering with several important organs. The end result is now a Brakken that is part machine and powered by raw magical energy, but no longer a wendigo that craves acts of cannibalism.
The Temple’s underground section also included a massive living area that, magically, remained lit as if in warm sunlight despite being underground. The party remained there for about a week or so while Brakken recovered, and in that time Tim explained that their pins were more than just decoration; they were a direct conduit to the Primordial, and attuning to them brought boons. But eventually it was time to leave. The party made their way out of the Temple and back through the mists, and we ended the session there.
So, a bit of an info dump this week, but it’s nice to have finally revealed some things. And I’m sure it’s nice for my players to finally have some answers as well. And to have a clear goal now. It’s exciting times ahead. So, tune in next week for the start of the next step on Brakken, Monk and Poppy’s journey, as they begin the Quest for the Seven Shards.