Cordelia says that we should probably just give it the ol’ second try (Camille agrees)
Cal suggests just cutting the whole forest down as a backup backup plan
We abandon the carriage (tying up one of the horses at the entrance of the woods, Camille leaves a note requesting that anyone who finds the horses brings them back to Hillford)
NOTE: CAMILLE IS RIDING A HORSE :]
Perception check
We all notice that the woods get a little more eerie, a little darker and denser
We continue to walk, except on higher alert
We feel like someone is watching us (based on our Passive Perceptions)
Cordelia rolls Arcana: she can tell the source of the thing watching us is magical in nature
Camille tries to tell whatever’s following us that we’re just passing through, but Cordelia stops them before they can finish their sentence (smart)
The results of Locate Object show that Vallen’s down the path that we’re going, and that doesn’t change as the spell wears off
Survival check
Both Camille and Cal get advantage but Kaya gets a NAT 20!!!
Camille wonders if they’re real or illusions, and ask Cordelia to take a closer look (Arcana + Help Action). THEY DON’T LOOK REAL
The footsteps continue down the path
The gang discusses whether or not we should stay on the path or stray from it
We see the end of the woods REALLY far away, and behind us (also REALLY far away) we hear Vallen’s voice calling for help
We agree that Vallen would never ask for help
History/Arcana check
Anyone over 10 recalls that there are things called skinwalkers. They mimic voices that are supposed to be familiar to us. Cordelia knows that if it sounds very far away, then they are very close by
Cordelia stops the party, and says that we need to go
Camille tells her to get on the horse, and starts booking it (the horse looks terrified) (Cal got his swords out and EVERYTHING)
WE EXIT AND WE’RE BACK AT THE FRONT OF THE DAMN FOREST AGAIN
We didn’t see Kaya’s markers on the way out of the woods
THE SUN IS SETTING AS WE LEAVE, AS IF A WHOLE DAY HAS PASSED
Cordelia dismounts from the horse and freaks out, explaining about the skinwalkers
The gang debates whether or not we should go through the woods or around it
Sending: Are you safe? Where are you? We keep being led out of the woods. It’s sunset now, but I’m not going to leave you behind.
Response: Yeah I’m out of the wood now, I’m making camp where did you all go??
NOTE: THE GANG REALIZES THAT VALLEN MADE IT THROUGH BCS HE’S A VAMPIRE AND VAMPIRES CAN’T BE CHARMED
Sending x2: We’re at the entrance for the third time, but I’m so glad you’re safe. Please come back for us, the forest can’t affect you.
Response: Skinwalkers, no. Put your heads down and just keep walking, don’t look up
Camping Outside the Woods
Camille suggests that we make camp for the night and give the forest another try tomorrow + we should set up watch schedules because Vallen isn’t here to cover for us
Camille sets up the tents while the gang is debating
Camille also ritual casts Tiny Hut around the tent
THE PARTY JOKES ABOUT CAL’S DICK BEING UPSETTING ☹️
Long Rest Time :(
Camille takes first watch
They cast Enhance Ability twice (Perception 19)
There’s some rustling in the woods. It goes on and off for about an hour
Kaya takes second watch
Kaya hears rustling in the woods too 💀 and BANGING ON THE TREES???
Perception: 13
THE FUCKING RAKE CREEPYPASTA STARTS CRAWLING TOWARDS THE DAMN DOME!!!!!
DEX save: 13
The creature sits, observes the dome, LOOKS IN KAYA’S DIRECTION. and then scurries back into the woods
NOTE: SOUND PASSES THROUGH THE DOME
Cal’s taking third watch
SEVEN FUCKING SKINWALKERS EMERGE FROM THE WOODS
They stealthily observe the horses, and begin to surround the dome
THERE’S A ROAR FROM THE WOODS??? The skinwalkers look? upset?? And they skitter back into the woods
Cal remains in the dome and observes
Cal informs Cordelia of the roar he heard earlier as he wakes her up for fourth watch
Cordelia thinks that the roar is from the mother of the skinwalkers, and says she’ll see what she can do
Cal stays awake and alert + in his armor for the rest of the night
Cordelia takes fourth watch
Cordelia steels her nerves, and stares into the woods
For about an hour (post-roar), nothing happens
A skinwalker partially emerges from the woods, peers at the dome, and then retreats back into the woods
End of Long Rest
As the sun rises, Cordelia grips her deck with a white-knuckled grip
Cordelia asks Kaya what she saw last night
As they talk, the dome dissipates
Camille starts making breakfast ☺️
THE PARTY STARTS SHARING WHAT THEY SAW LAST NIGHT
Cordelia is FRAZZLED!! She says that we should make it through the woods as fast as possible
Camille recaps Vallen’s message: keep our heads down and don’t look up
Cordelia drops a few cards from her deck as she’s fidgeting with them, and needs to MAKE A CONSTITUTION SAVING THROW
The rest of us see Cordelia look up, her eyes glow white, and her mouth drops open
Cordelia sees glimpses of visions (of the future?)
Dirt, moving quickly past her as if she’s sprinting (but she knows she’s walking)
She hears sounds, voices, but she continues looking down. When she looks up, she sees Vallen
Cordelia relays to the rest of the party what she saw in her vision
Cal suggests that - based on Cordelia saw and Vallen’s message - we just run through the woods and look at the ground
Cal also brings up the idea of tying ourselves together while we go through the woods. Camille agrees that it’s a good idea
Camille pulls out their rope to tie the gang together, so does Cal (we tie ourselves together w/ two ropes!)
Returning to the Forest
Marching Order: Cal, Cordelia, Camille, Kaya
The party walks through the woods, staring at the ground. Nothing happens for about an hour
Camille remembers that they forgot to untie the horses. fuck this stupid baka life :(
Cal hears - from in front of him - Cordelia’s voice: “Cal, look up!”
Cordelia also hears this, and grabs his shoulder to warn him
10 minutes later, Everyone (Cordelia specifically) hears Kaya’s voice from behind her
20 minutes afterwards (roughly an hour and a half at this point) Cordelia feels something grab her foot, a little off to the side
Her heart stops, but she keeps going
Nothing happens for ~30 minutes
We all hear our own voices coming from the woods, calling out for help and begging us to stop
We all feel things pulling at our clothes, tugging at our pants and cloaks
Cordelia hears Vallen’s voice, asking us what we’re doing? 🤨
Cal tries to determine whether or not that’s Vallen. He knows it’s not
We keep walking, despite Vallen’s voice asking us to stop and asking what we’re doing
Compared to Clover, whose culture and organization revolves around status (military), Diamond residents are more loyal to their immediate cities rather than their kingdom
Vallen comments that people seemed happier in Diamond, but it was almost like a fake happiness
He comments on how the people of Clover seem to “know better”, but stops himself
The party asks him to speak his mind, and he asks what would happen if the Clover military was disbanded (Cordelia’s livelihood would fall apart)
Vallen says there’s pros and cons to both kingdoms — Clover’s military is powerful, while Diamond wants Clover to follow their way of life (but Clover’s military can usually overpower Diamond’s)
Diamond is currently trying to get more military, so they have a lot of deserters
Vallen was originally from Diamond, but a lot has changed in the past few hundred years
Cordelia comments on how she’d really like to visit Diamond one day
Camille remembers that Cal didn’t like the Clover military when it was last brought up, and they sneak a peek at him
He’s keeping to himself at the back of the group, not engaging in the conversation. They catch his eye and nod in acknowledgement to him restraining himself
After 3-4 hours of walking (it is now 6-7 PM), we see a lake in the distance and a small village (Crossroads) along the lake. The road splits in three directions: one leading to Crossroads, the other going straight, and the third leading to a bridge going to Steel Pine
We see a bar with a barn that looks similar to Foo Bar (but isn’t quite it)
Some storm clouds are rolling in from the lake — it begins to rain and POUR as we arrive in town
We arrive at the tavern! It’s BUMPIN in here
Some folks are standing around listening to the story + there are some folks drinking at the bar
The bartender is a tall-ish, orcish looking dude wearing an apron
30 GP per room (EXPENSIVE) — Camile manages to barter it down to 15 GP total after telling him that we walked through the Forest of Mysteries (and made it out ALIVE)
Camille also pays out of pocket
Vallen warns us to keep talks about him being a vampire under wraps, then offers to get us drinks
We all request something to drink!!
Kaya tries to listen in on the stories being told 👀
As we all fall asleep, we are met with yet another dream, although this one feels a little more peaceful than the previous ones
The ground is made of a serene plane of water, with clouds reflected in the sky above (like Tanjiro Demon Slayer’s soul)
In the space in front of us, a tear opens. Through it, a castle under a sky filled with pouring rain appears. Even if our character hasn’t been to Holden, we can tell it’s in Holden
People file into the castle, and then the scene changes: inside the castle, people dance and sing, there’s music and partying abound
The vision greys out and changes again. It’s a massive tomb filled with wires and machinery (much like Foo’s secret room, but on a MUCH larger scale). There is a drawing of an upright triangle painted on a piece of parchment atop an easel
We don’t see each other in this dream, but we have the same one all the same
We Awake
As Cordelia awakes, Vallen is sitting reclined in a chair nearby — he greets her and says there’s coffee brewing downstairs. He’ll grab himself a cup and says he’ll meet her downstairs
The bar is DEAD quiet in the morning
There are some tables overturned, chairs broken. THERE’S BLOOD ON THE BAR??
Apparently someone claimed they were Cal and Nick tried to beat their ass
Camille apologizes for what happened, and gets to work casting [Mending] on the broken chairs
Cal prepares himself some breakfast in his camp outside
The bartender offers us breakfast, and asks if Cordelia and Vallen are sharing a plate (Vallen clarifies that they’re Not a thing)
As breakfast hits the table, Cal walks in and encourages us to get on the road
Camille asks the bartender if there’s any place we can rent horses or a carriage
The bartender recommends Reema, his cousin, and tells us to tell her that he sent us
We take breakfast to go!!
It’s still drizzling outside
There’s an orcish woman - greenish skin, no tusks characteristic of an orc, she’s FINEE!!! (by lesbian standards. but also she’s very pretty)
KAYA ROLLS A 1 TO STICK HER DICK IN IT :( THE WORLD IS SO COLD AND CRUEL AND FUCKED UP!!! HOMOPHOBIA IS REAL AND IT HATES US
Kaya literally trips and falls in front of this woman 😭😭😭😭 Cordelia sees this, laughs, and rips ASS
The BEAUTIFUL orcish lady asks if she can help us. We’re looking for a carriage that can fit all of us!
She has one! She also has a place up in Holden, so we can just return the carriage there
The carriage also has a step — she warns Kaya, and assures her that most people miss the step anyways
The gang fights over who pays (Kaya sneaks behind the gang and pays for it 🤭)
The carriage usually costs 100 GP, but for Kaya it’s only 50 🤭🤭🤭 I LOVE GAY PEOPLE!!!
Kaya gives her a 75 GP as a tip 😋 Reema says that she’ll consider it an investment towards Kaya’s next purchase (given that she returns)
THEY’RE FLIRTINGGGG!! LOVE WINS!!!!!!
There’s no return fee for the horses and carriage! Since we’re going to drop it off at her branch in Holden
We get two horses and a carriage
On the Road Again
Camille casts Gift of Alacrity on Kaya again (+1d8 to initiative rolls for the next 8 hours)
Cal says that he doesn’t want to ride in the carriage with “gasbag”, and asks to ride in the front with Camille
He also says that it’ll give them a chance to talk? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?? IZZIE GETS SCARED 😧
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