AI+Human RECAP: Strange Aeons Session 48

The session opens with a recap of the previous adventure where the party was seeking a greenstone idol in the city marketplace. Lady Splinterbone, a noble vampiress and friend of the Viscount, arrives in the city during a large festival celebrating the return of the idol. The city is in a festive frenzy, with the main event being a formal dinner featuring local gentry families who have a long history with the idol.

As the festivities progress, a large boat arrives carrying the actual stone idol, which is massive—about the size of a Mini Cooper — and is carried by six strong men struggling with its weight. However, the ceremony takes a dark turn when the carriers are revealed to be undead. They drop the idol, injuring one of the local dignitaries, and then transform into smoky, ghostlike creatures. An undead alligator priest figure also emerges from the boat, commanding these spirits.

The situation escalates when an enormous oceanic creature, described as a kaiju-sized monster, approaches the city, causing waves to crash through the windows and soaking the area. Panic spreads among the townsfolk as the undead entities advance and the festival devolves into chaos. Lady Splinterbone urges the party to stay indoors as the undead and the kaiju threaten the event. The party’s goals are complicated: they need to retrieve the stone idol and deal with the unexpected undead threat amid the chaos.

The party takes action to control the situation. Napalm Grady casts a “Wall of Ashe”, a 20-foot-high, 80-foot-long barrier that blinds creatures passing through it unless they succeed on a fortitude save. This effectively slows the undead attackers and splits the battlefield. Some undead pass through unscathed, but most are blinded and disoriented.

The undead smoke creatures use tendrils to grapple and restrain local nobles, causing panic among the non-combatants. In response:

• Elib charges toward he door to forestall the alligator priest from entering the hall.
• Jex goes invisible and maneuvers into flanking position, preparing to make good use of his family bbq fork.
• Napalm Grady leaps into the now destroyed window ledge above the smoldering fireplace, giving him a perfect view of the tactical situation.
• Lady Splinterbone takes the opportunity to avail herself of a meal, courtesy of one of the fleeing nobles.

The undead are relentless but vulnerable to light and fire-based attacks. The kaiju remains a looming threat offshore, and it becomes clear that it will make landfall in approximately one minute. The players debate tactical decisions such as whether to engage or avoid the giant creature and how to maneuver through the battlefield effectively.

Napalm Grady earns his moniker once again as, from his elevated position, he rains down fireballs and searing lights on the undead creatures, inflicting significant damage on them. The party strategically targets the non-blinded undead to reduce their numbers.

The alligator priest, a formidable foe with reach and lightning-based attacks, joins the fray. His call lightning spell deals heavy damage to Elib and threatens the party’s front lines. The party members use defensive abilities such as blood armor and positioning to survive his onslaught. The undead smoke creatures continue to blind and grapple opponents, but the party adapts, using their own spells and mobility to maintain the upper hand. The aristocrats fare poorly, however, caught between the party’s coordinated assault and the undead threat.

After defeating most of the undead and clearing the immediate threat, the party focuses on retrieving the heavy greenstone idol. Elib, who in elarged form is capable of lifting two tons, moves to pick up the massive idol, which weighs about one and a half tons. The party uses a scroll of “Reduce Item” to shrink the idol to a manageable size—about the size of a bread box—allowing it to be carried safely and transported.

Lady Splinterbone excuses herself and disappears. The kaiju-sized creature remains offshore but does not immediately attack the party. The city is in chaos, with screams and panic audible from various directions. But the party is already on their way back to the Prime Material plan: They return to the Starling while the idol remains shrunken for a significant duration (one day per caster level), allowing safe transport.

Arrival At Cassomir

The party arrives at Cassomir, a large and prosperous city located at the mouth of the Sellen River in the empire of Taldor. Cassomir is a bustling trade hub with a population rivaling medieval Paris or London, featuring docks, warehouses, commercial districts, and wealthy estates near the city center.

Before disembarking the Starling, the party is greeted by the scholars who have been tracking their expeditions to the Dreamlands. These scholars express gratitude for the information gathered and hope to maintain contact for future research. The party also interacts with the ship’s captain and the crew, who express mixed feelings about their journey—thankful yet relieved it is over.

The city has many inns, taverns, and temples, including a significant temple dedicated to the Dawnflower (Saranrae). The party chooses to stay at the Raven’s Roost, an upper-middle-class inn catering to polite locals and travelers. The inn is a genteel place where untoward behavior is quickly dealt with, and although the party’s adventuring gear and weaponry make them stand out, they are treated with polite respect.

The party begins settling into Cassomir, organizing their treasure and planning their next moves. They seek to acquire multiple scrolls of “Reduce Item” and other magical supplies. They also discuss dealing with bullies in the city using subtle magical tricks like ghost sounds, ranged legitimate hands, and vexing spells to annoy and frustrate aggressors without direct confrontation.

Elib expresses an interest in commissioning an artist to decorate their collection of skulls with paint and gilding, which is feasible in Cassomir given its artistic community. Napalm Grady visits a local temple of Saranrae, where they are welcomed as accomplished adventurers and offered support.

The discussion shifts to the party’s treasure haul, including gems worth thousands of gold pieces and various magical items. They deliberate on how to manage and identify their loot while planning their upcoming shopping trips to magical artisans and merchants.

The party visits the wealthy Galtian ex-senator Emilo Daldaman who expresses deep gratitude for their efforts in saving his life from previous threats. The senator’s friends estate is heavily guarded and well-appointed, reflecting his high status. He provides the party with a substantial reward in the form of bags of gems, neatly organized and labeled.

During their visit, they discuss the senator’s ongoing struggle to reclaim his reputation and position within his homeland. He assures the party of his indebtedness and offers his support and connections in Cassomir and beyond, including potential introductions in the city of Absalom.

The senator’s secretary presents the party with their reward, emphasizing the sincerity of their thanks and promising future assistance. The party members consider their political and social standing in Cassomir, recognizing the importance of maintaining good relations with powerful allies.

Afterward, the party returned to the wine shop they had visited earlier in the day, owned by winemaster Pyrgo Sibylla. Earlier, Jex had come in to the shop to inquire about a special vintage:

As the session wound down, the party discusses their plans in Cassomir. They consider visiting scribes, alchemists, and magical artisans to acquire necessary scrolls and potions for their journey. The party reflects on their recent adventures and the challenges ahead, including the need to acquire additional magical scrolls and complete their quest for various magical artifacts – only two left, including the Hag’s heartstone and the red-webbed foot. In the interim, however, they plan to enjoy the relative safety and comfort of Cassomir.