RECAP: Strange Aeons Session 53, 5-22-26

After resting in a city called Cassomir, the group re-entered the dreamlands and encountered a revamped caravan, now active and staffed, in contrast to the previously ruined caravanserai.The group approaches a caravan guarded by various creatures: large dog-like animals and shape-shifters called Weiralai, known for being perfidious and frightening to their enemies.

• Mr. Wanderalust, a tall (approximately 13 feet), slender, angular figure emitting an intense chilling and nightmarish aura, identifies himself as the helper. His smile reveals numerous long, sharp angler fish-like teeth.
• Players roll high perception checks to detect the eerie presence and magical aura surrounding him, including blackening water near his feet, signaling his unnatural and fearful nature.
• Mr. Wanderlust denies being in charge but serves as a bookkeeper; other authoritative figures remain unknown.
• The caravan’s atmosphere is tense, with winged shadowy creatures acting anxiously.

The group learns that “Lowls,” the so-called King in Yellow, was taken away to a prison on the moon due to his transgressions; he cannot remain in the Dreamlands.

Mr. Wanderlust shares sightings of “Winter” (also called weralei or Winter Klaczka ), a shape-shifter connected to the Sleepless Agency and a priestess of Pharasma. Winter previously acted as a leader inside Briarstone Asylum during a crisis. But the shape-shifting nature of some entities raises uncertainty about the true identity of Winter and potentially others within the caravanserai or in the Dreamlands. Further discussion include the existence of a creature named the Bag Lady, who is actively hunting the group in the Prime Material plan, in Cassomir.

Weralei are shape-changers from the Dreamlands, often assuming terrifying forms tailored to their enemies’ fears. The group suspects that the “Winter” seen by Mr. Wanderlust might be an illusion created by a weralei reflecting their worst fears. The Dreamlands environment complicates understanding and trusting identities due to shape-shifting and illusionary beings. The Bag Lady’s arc involves cult activity and delivering magical coins, which the group wisely refrains from touching to avoid adverse effects.

Mr. Wanderlust emanates a disturbing aura that affects all present, eliciting fear and anxiety. Some party members sense bullying or threatening vibes but are either too distanced or unaffected due to their nature or location within the caravan. The uneasy tension prompts the group to consider leaving despite their intention to buy horses and supplies.

Accessing the Upper Level and Promised Exchange

To gain access to the caravan’s upper level (where information on the “mad poet” may be found), the group decide to present Mr. Wanderlust certain books connected to Dreamlands commercial exploitation, written in Abyssal. Andi proposes offering one such book, resulting in a binding promise recorded by Mr. Wanderlust —marked on their wrist with a magical sign. This marks a formal pact with conditions enabling them entry.

Exploration Inside the Caravan – Well-Maintained Office

The group finds themselves in a renovated office with large bookshelves holding ancient, magically radiating tomes well cared for despite their age and fragility. The space contrasts with their previous visit when the room and contents were ruined, indicating restoration and new ownership by Mr. Wanderlust.

Introduction of a Mysterious Shape-Shifting Guardian

A smaller (around 5.5 feet), desert-clad figure wielding a wrapped spear emerges as a guardian on the upper floor. The guardian’s face and arms shape-shift, growing bulkier and changing form, signaling its supernaturally mutable nature. Attempts to negotiate entry include offers of prime material whiskey and magical items (“snap leaf” granting invisibility and safe falls). Despite interest, the guardian remains cautious, requiring stronger persuasion or gifts.

Discovery of a Giant Purple Elephant and Travel to the Moon

The group encounters an enormous purple elephant equipped with a large pack or basket, capable of transporting them into the sky towards the moon of the Dreamlands. The elephant expresses familiarity with the King in Yellow and confirms he is imprisoned on the moon for crimes he’s committed. The elephant offers transportation services for the party to the prison on the moon and back, contingent on adequate compensation. Group members debate the protocol, gifts, and payments required to secure safe passage.

Arrival at the Moon Prison

The party lands in a barren, moonlike landscape with breathable atmosphere. They observe a large, windowless prison constructed from the moon’s pale stone, next to a lake filled with dark viscous fluid. The elephant offers to await for several hours before returning and requests suitable gifts or payment to remain. The group presents various gifts (sapphire gem, whiskey, and others), influencing the elephant’s willingness to assist.

First Contact at the Lunar Prison

Upon entering the prison through a raised portcullis, the group encounters silence and closed doors guarded by unseen entities. Using multi-language attempts including Abyssal, they seek access to the Yellow King and the “mad poet.” Bribery remains a constant theme; the guards require magical or valuable payments (e.g., a sapphire worth 1,000 gold pieces) to permit entry or communication.

One door finally opens after magical payment and the group discovers a human-like figure convulsing on the floor, clutching the sapphire. The prisoner is having seizures, seemingly induced by the conflict between his programming and the sapphire’s magical influence. Attempts to remove the sapphire require extreme measures, including forcibly breaking the prisoner’s fingers to release the gem. After partial removal, the prisoner’s condition stabilizes, falling into a deep sleep. Healing attempts can mend broken fingers but will take time and may not be perfect.

Key Insights

• The Dreamlands function with their own unique logic and rules, including bizarre temporal shifts, shape-shifting creatures, and magical contracts with tangible consequences.
• Mr. Wanderlust and other entities exert powerful magical effects on the environment and the party, necessitating cautious negotiation and offerings.
• Travel to other planes — the moon in this case — is possible via magical or semi-magical creatures but contingent on diplomacy, gifting, and ritual protocols.
• The Yellow King, a pivotal figure in the story, is imprisoned on the moon, complicating direct interaction and requiring multi-step quests and negotiations.
• Magical items and books are critical tokens for gaining access and advancing in the narrative, showing the importance of artifacts in this RPG setting.
• Side quests involving mysterious packages and undisclosed contents interweave with main storylines, adding complexity and the need for player investigation.