Derived from raw notes taken by Greg and Brian.
While tidying up after the battle with the ogre and talking with Nadia, Radovan returned from further down the mountainside, having set the orc children up with essentials at the camp. Nadia, initially wary of Radovan, relaxed upon seeing he was recognized by the party.
Nadia urged us to get moving, saying, "I don't know what's going on at the other side, but I don't think we have much time. Are we ready to get kinetic?" We agreed and crossed the bridge with her.
On the other side, we saw an orc pushing prisoners off a cliff. Bikke fired a crossbow, initiating combat. We managed to kill five orcs, surprising help from the goblins allowed us to free all the human prisoners, including Pocket, Nadia's halfling friend. The prisoners were Stoica and Calishite humans.
The goblins, led by Snarl who spoke in refined Waterdeep-accented Common, expressed relief at being freed from the bad deal they had with the orcs and provided us with information about the tower, mentioning that the Laguna-kin held the lower levels. Snarl and the goblins left through the northern Grove and then over the northern small bridge. The grove had been desecrated 20-30 years ago with steel meat hooks and chopped-down trees.
Nadia and Pocket stayed with the other prisoners, who would wait for us to escort them back to Port Maraisa. We approached the tower, noting the water there had elemental magic. After a short rest, we entered the lower levels of the tower.
Navigating through dark rooms with torches, we encountered ruins in the same style as those above ground. We fought a Laguna-kin in a tough battle, defeating them after much effort.
In the final room, we faced Mother Viola Laguna, who had summoned a shadow elemental. After a fierce fight that knocked out Bikke, Hugh, and Kira, we defeated her. As the elementals were unbound, they referred to Mother Verduna as a hag from the [[Shadowfell]]. The shadow elementals wished to reunite with their "third face" still trapped under Bad Doric.
Gavin allowed one of the shadow elementals to read his memory to learn where Bad Doric was. The elemental, alien in nature and uninterested in the material plane, left to reunite with its other faces.
We looted the temple and exited to rest, leveling up to 5.
The party collect 6 more orc scalps and 2 goblin scalps during this final phase of combat, totalling 37 orc scalps, 12 goblin scalps, and 1 ogre scalp over the course of clearing the fortress.
Kira twirls the piece of bark shrouded in darkness around her neck and looks at the shadow creatures. "I care little for those who would abuse others, and this "Mother" has shown the extremes she's willing to take by binding you. The darkness that emanates from the Shadowfell, that this Hag was spreading against your will, would you grant me a portion of that power so we may deal with the Hag? It would please my Queen if I were to deal with this creature appropriately."
The elemental, now one slowly swirling mass of black and gray smoke, focuses ice-white eyes on Kira. "Open yourself to us."
Kira smirks and says "gladly"
Black, shadowy tendrils flow from the elementals forming a shroud over Kira's face. Her mouth opens and the shadows flow into her throat, lungs and spirit.
Their experience is cold, sharp, and oily, moving through her body and probing her mind with detached apathy. The terms smothering and invasive don't capture the totality or indifference of the experience; they imply a level of personal attention the shadow elemental doesn't bring. This is like night falling in her body and mind. Complete, all encompassing, and completely indifferent to her.
The bargain, heard in her mind with a voice like rustling branches and howling wind, is simple. Free the third form of the elemental, and eject the nightmare hag from the prime so she cannot bind them here again. In exchange, a conduit of shadow force to shape as she's able.
Bikke asked of the shadow elemental, "Is the purpose of your imprisonment the malaise and rotting diseases of the Mirefen; and if not what was and are they side effects; and what is their remedy?"
The answer: "The rot is not of us; it is born of fever and the hag's doings. The indifference that allows it to fester unquestioned and uncured... that is the result of our binding, though your brethren were all too eager to accept. The cure, we care not."
The elemental turned its attention to Kira, "Release our third." Then it was gone, billowing through the ruined wall and disappearing into the night sky.
While resting, Barrick and Bikke conversed:
"Hey man, I don't know where you learned to fight, because where I grew up taking a break in combat to hand weapons to statues was not part of the rubric. That being said, I'd say it might have been a savvy move and I appreciate it.
Moreover, everything else you learned appears to be pretty damn good, you're a helluva good man to have in a fight, and if I'm being honest it seems more likely that I'm behind you than you being behind me."
He pauses, looks down, and hands the second shield retrieved from the alters to Berrick. "I don't know shields. If this is half as good as I guess it is, you ought to have it."
Barrick replies. "Thanks. I live to protect my family and also my friends. Like you. But next time I tell you to do a thing, an important thing, you do it. Even if you don't get why. Or I'll shove this shield where the sun don't shine. Get me? You put my brother's life in danger doing your own damn thing back there. But we're good."
Barrick sees a grimace settle on Bikke's handsome face, then after a strangely long moment, he busts into a big grin, winks, and says "You got it sweetheart!", turns heel and walks away.
Barrick shakes his head and chuckles to himself, "he's a strange one."
In hand:
Contracted expectations:
From Session 7: