Session Date: 07/28/2024
Dia’s Studying
Dia decides to stay up and read the journal as much as she can before we burn it.
- When does the mad mage go mad and what is the context around that?
- She’d lost it before starting this journal.
- This journal is specific to this project and there are likely other journals out there.
- The point where her handwriting getting messier and more incoherent is likely after the war. The official story was that she died during the war.
- Are there any apparent weaknesses for the tools or anything related?
- Trolls regenerate unless hit with fire or acid. The tools are specifically weak to fire. She mentions that the next batch won’t have this weakness, but this seems to still be the first iteration of them that will still be weak to fire.
- The fire will stop the regeneration.
- Anything else weird and notable.
- On the last page is notes about shipping the caskets somewhere.
- There’s also a note about the stitched together bastards.
- Tools are corpse eaters, but can eat other stuff as well.
Dia spends the entire night to read and review this. By the end of the night she’s gotten a little jumpy and at any sound she will hide the book.
Iskra’s Dream
Iskra is having a nightmare where he is going through doors and doors and doors. He eventually makes it to a door and enters to a space of darkness. The shadowed form of Tristan is here, and he grins and speaks. He says that he will find Iskra, yes, he’ll find him and they will run together again. Tristan lunges at Iskra, but this is when Iskra wakes.
Dia asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s never been better, then rolls over to sleep.
Arythas’ Dream
Arythas is dreaming about the library. He’s not sure if he’s in the library or just dreaming about it: he’s behind the rows of books and looking at people inside. One is Inky with a large stack of books taller than he is, studying so much. My presence is noticed and Mattai speaks, saying he can always come visit.
Arythas wakes up well-rested.
Rohan’s Dream
Rohan is on a coach in front of an old tv and Taraaq passes him a controller so they can play video games.
Taraaq explains that he knows things have been happening a lot lately, and things are probably about to get worse, so it’s a nice way to get a break from everything going on. Rohan admits that he’s a little worried about having stolen that journal - Taraaq confirms that he thinks things are going to speed up a lot after this - but they can get some rest right now.
After admitting that he’s proud of Rohan, Taraaq says that Rohan needs to take care of himself and Rohan says that he will try. Rohan comments that we may be able to get Taraaq out of there sooner than expected and Taraaq can only hope, and Rohan reassures him that all will eventually be well.
Taraaq wonders if his father is still around, and if he has any new siblings since everything’s happened. He hopes that we do not need to go to the elemental plane of fire, as it can be pretty brutal.
Everyone’s Awake
We all wake up the next morning and Iskra asks if we are burning the book, and Dia absolutely hands it over to be burned. Rohan asks if we’ve gotten everything we need, and Dia assures him that we have everything useful out of it. Iskra asks for one final confirmation and Arythas confirms that yes, we’re sure, do it, and Iskra goes to a corner and burns the book to ash. As the book is finishing burning, Dia hears the footsteps of the Major approaching. He does not knock, but just opens the door.
There is still smoke next to Iskra and he quickly pulls his pipe out asking if he shouldn’t be smoking in here, and if he should take it elsewhere. Major shrugs signaling that it’s not illegal, and Iskra moves closer to him. The Major stands almost as if nervous, and Rohan speaks up asking if we could look around to see where we will be setting up for the performance after breakfast.
The Major takes us to where breakfast is: it’s a simple meal, but still good. Iskra asks if he has no desire to eat and Major shrugs as if this is a living, it’s fine.
Arythas and Iskra hear nearby in the office someone smashing everything. Arythas absolutely thinks that this is where General Chase has realized the journal is gone. Neither Arythas or Iskra react, but the Major does look to where the sound is, then leaves.
While the Major is gone, Arythas whispers into the group chat that he believes Chase has found that the journal is gone. Dia asks if we need to move our plans for the performance up and Arythas shrugs, ultimately saying that we believe we should play it out like we are aware of nothing and everything is normal. Arythas believes that we should wait and see what the climate is like after breakfast.
The Major returns and is clearly worried - he’s fidgeting and is being nervous. Iskra asks if he would like to sit, but he declines, and then Iskra asks if he would like some tea, and he seriously considers it, but ultimately doesn’t. Rohan slides Iskra some paper and a pen and Iskra asks if Major’s alright, and explains that if Major can’t speak that he can write his response if he would like. Major is confused by this gesture, shrugging at him. He ultimately sits down - not because he wants to join us, but because he seems tired.
After a moment, Major notices that we appear to be finished eating. He stands and gestures for us to follow, so we do. As we exit the dining area we hear the rage from the office, and Iskra gloms onto the fact that Major is afraid for his own wellbeing with what’s going on.
The Major takes us to our room and rushes us in. Dia asks if he would like to join us for a little bit, sit by the door if he would like. The Major hangs his head and gestures, then shakes his head essentially saying that that will not happen. He slips out of the room and locks us into the room. We get the impression that we are not being punished, but we do not have free reign here, and Major has to go do something else.
Dia contacts Bertram and explains that something happened, but she cannot actually explain what is going on. She says that this is likely going to accelerate the plans, and Bertram comments that things would be faster if Barrakas could actually talk. Dia realizes she has the root that can cause bodies to regenerate.
We realize that we have to move this prison break up to tonight, and then Dia gives Rohan the root.
Rohan
Rohan decides it will be easiest if he slips away alone to get Bertram the root and then leaves, successfully makes it to Bertram without any issues. He gives the root over and explains it will help his friend, and then mentions that Bertram should not worry too much about Dia’s safety as she has a big dragonborn keeping her safe (wink wonk). There’s a little awkward moment with this because Bertram can tell that Dia sees Rohan like a little brother, so Bertram also sees him a bit like a little brother and so it’s a little odd.
On the way back to the group, Rohan notices the door to the office is open. He does his best to not go in, but his curiosity gets the better of him. He walks in closer and he can hear General Chase complaining that it will take him months or years to reconstruct the journal and that this wasn’t part of his plans. He says he needs to feel better, and demands the Major get him something.
Decided to be stealthy, Rohan moves further in and can see the Major wheel something into the room. It’s covered. The General says Finally! and then moves the cover, take off his helmet, take off the top of his head and put it down, and then reach into his skull to take his brain out. He deposits his brain in the device under the cover. Standing up from the cover is the body of the mad mage. She stretches and says that things are so much better, and she hates being “this stuffy prick,” kicking the body of General Chase. She says she hates him so much and kicks the body.
Rohan notices that the mad mage’s body is not her original body, but compiled from other bodies and made to look similar to her. She says that the next shipment is going to go soon. She turns to the Major and says that he’s been doing an adequate job. She’s pissed that someone was able to find a way in and she explicitly said that she asked him to make sure nobody could get through the doors. She slaps him.
The mage says she’s going to stay in this body for a little bit and she hopes that the performing group does well, then mulls over what city she’ll burn first.
Rohan quickly withdraws and makes it back to the party.
Entire Party
Rohan makes it back to the party and he says he has the armor and he quickly dumps everything. Iskra asks what is going on and Rohan says that there is absolutely no suspicion on us, and she absolutely doesn’t suspect us at all. Iskra and Arythas asks what Rohan means by she, and Dia mentions that the mad mage is alive and Rohan explains that she was posing as General Chase and that’s why General Chase has changed.
Dia hopes that we can help the Major and send him off with Bertram when this is all done. There’s some back and forth before we hear Major’s footsteps approaching. Major steps in and we are all acting suspicious as hell as we try to hide the armor that Rohan stole.
Iskra immediately corners the Major and explains that we can offer him protection and that we’ve helped people in the past. He explains he can tell that Iskra can tell that he’s afraid and we want to help. Dia chimes in and helps with Iskra’s argument, and the Major slumps in response. This is a man that’s been in flight or fight mode since creation, and now he’s letting go. Iskra asks if it’s okay to touch the Major, and the Major puts a hand on Iskra’s head and gently pets him.
Dia recalls that speech is not something required as part of the ritual to impart knowledge to these beings, but she also remembers the ritual needed to give him speech. It’s a ritual that she’d copied down. It’s possible for her and Iskra to get it done before things start to happen tonight. She asks Major if he’d like to talk, and he nods yes, so Dia instructs Rohan and Arythas to help Bertram if needed.
As they weave the spell, Bertram chimes in saying that the root completely worked and we are going to have to move fast since Barrakas regrew a jaw. Arythas explains we plan to move tonight, and Rohan asks Dia if he should explain what he saw. With Dia’s blessing, Rohan explains what he saw with General Chase and the mad mage all the way up to right now with the ritual and Major. Bertram isn’t sure what to say to all of that and just rolls with it.
Dia and Iskra finish the ritual and the Major takes his hood off and takes the fabric off of his face. He is very much one of the creatures in the caskets below - greenish blue skin, has very big predatory teeth in his mouth as he opens it and stretches his jaw. His eyes are a sickly yellow.
Dia asks how he feels, and he looks up, showing his teeth (not a smile), and says he’s mad.