23 - Heavens' Outcasts

After a long self-reflecting night, when we wake up, we notice that many of the villagers are out and tasked to investigate the fire damage. We notice Lady Lutrina and Sir Tonq standing outside, with representatives of the other villages (minus the Capybaras).

All of them bow at the same time.

Duck representative: On behalf of the Duck Duchy tribe, please accept this earring:

Beaver: On behalf of Longtooth the Eldest and the beaver tribe, please accept this trinket:

Cat: From Lady Felisia and the cat tribe, accept this:

Sir Tonq approaches Reylynn.

He turns around dramatically, even if Reylynn said or did nothing.

He curls his fingers around Reylynn to attach the pendant and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Reylynn smiles and thanks him.

The villagers cheer and clap.

On these words, we bid our farewells, and we head towards our original entry point.
When we get back to the grate, the river is still flowing which is making it easier to exit. However, the debris are completely blocking the grate, leaving only the water to flow outside. As we can't get out that way, we're trying The Platypus's lair exit.
We're reaching the lair, and fortunately, the exit tunnel is still there, and we're taking it in the following order:
Willum - Persy - Balnorin - Nesvalyn - Reylynn
This tube is going to different directions instead of being forward and lasts a long time. After a while, we're all propelled into the void, and starts to fall.
[Acrobatics] Balnorin and Willum takes 3 fall dmg.
Persy gets down gracefully with the Pirate Hookshot.
Willum yells about not being a landing mat and complains about his discomfort.
[Perception - Pass ✔] We notice on the other side of the crevasse, a large cavern opening up, but also being much colder than the surroundings.
[Nature - Pass ✔] Persy notices it's a mountain cavern. The cold temperature is throwing him a bit, as these temperatures should be much when getting inside the mountains.

With the idea of the potential thread, we're splitting the items we received between ourselves.
We're attuning to them and we're swapping to the winter gear once again. As we're all ready, we head to the cavern, as it's the only way to progress.

[Perception - Pass ✔] In the center of the cavern, it's filled with shiny objects, and a continuous layer of ice, making it difficult to move around.
↪Balnorin feels something drip on his shoulder, and looks at the source. He sees a dragon dripping up and opening their maw.
[CON Save] The group takes 40 cold dmg.

[Insight - Pass ✔] That dragon being older than Nesvalyn, it's hard to read. However he doesn't seem aggressive at the party, more curious.
From that, Nesvalyn explains the story about The Platypus. Upon the story the dragon let out a laugh.

The dragon goes back, and sits down near his treasure, and we hear clicking noises. Two white wyrmling pop out, and all of three of them put the treasure into their pouches.

We quickly cross the cavern to reach the other side.

Once we manage to get out, we notice it's already dark.
[Survival - Pass ✔] We're on the western side of the mountain (The Dome is on the eastern side).
Willum's intuition points to the North / North West.

We're waking up, and we see snow fields around us that never ends. For the direction, we're heading to the Alderakh, a massive place, even from our position. We estimate being a week away if we stay on course.

It's been two days since we've been travelling from the caverns.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Reylynn and Willum smell a campfire smoke on our way while dusk is falling.
Willum mentions the smell, and suggests we approach sneakily.
[Stealth] Nesvalyn and Reylynn are really well hidden, Balnorin is stealthy, Persy and Willum aren't quite stealthy.
When getting closer, we hear lively noises, along the smell of food being cooked. We notice a woman with a cooking set, along the camp a bit further.
Persy snaps a twig, making that woman reacting with "Who's there?"
Persy and Willum reveal themselves.

Nesvalyn and Reylynn also reveal themselves (leaving only Balnorin hidden).
She pulls a knife towards us.

[Persuasion - Pass ✔] She lowers her knife.

[Religion - Pass ✔] Balnorin and Persy recognizes the symbol of pendant around her next, being the symbol of the wonder of Heavens (Related to Cosmetology, the Domain of Beauty, Wisdom, Ascension and Cosmic Design).

The scout mentioned by Hilda gets back with the logs, and we're brought to the main camp to met Mother Hilda.

We still hear a faint wailing sound when waking up and during the day, as it's a bit unnerving energy. We've been travelling like that for a few days.
[Detect Portals] Reylynn detects no portal around us.
Persy has really a hard time dealing with these wailing sounds, as it seems to haunt the caravan, and goes to confront Mother Arlene.

[Insight - Pass ✔] She's hiding something, especially about hearing things.

Balnorin shows his holy symbol, revealing to her he's a follower of the Wonder of Death.
[Persuasion - Pass ✔] She pauses for a moment to consider this.

We set up the horses after the hour, and as promised, we have this talk with Mother Arlene.

[Cleric of Death] Balnorin knows it's false.

We hear a ghostly voice requiring help from the woods

And they keep insulting each other for a while, even if some of us trying to calm down the fight until they split.
We resume the travel until we reach the border of a lake. We're near dusk time. Some pilgrims test the ice, and conclude it's solid enough to hold the caravans. They suggest to rest tonight and go tomorrow.

Balnorin notices that the voices are getting louder.
Nesvalyn looks at Balnorin, waiting to see his reaction about this.

We all start to cross the frozen lake. As we're advancing safely, the sun starts to set. The shadow of the Alderakh expands over us. Behind us, we're hearing the wailing voices again as they seem to intensify.

Upon checking, we see 8 black figures, calling and begging for help.
They're moving towards the caravan, faster and faster.

She takes the lead of the caravan and wipe the leash to advance faster.
As the figures are closer, they don't look like ghosts. They're solid shapes, running on all fours, and their faces are blank shadows. The voice calling from help is ear shattering. They look like humans, except they're behaving like animals.
[Religion - Fail ❌] Balnorin has no idea what it is.
[Religion - Pass ✔] Persy has read something in the Logarium Undead Encyclopedia. He thinks we're getting attacked by a pack of Skin Walkers.

When turning back, Persy notices the blue lights from the Skin Walkers, and we hear Mother Arlene screaming from help.
Balnorin uses [Control Water] to eject the caravan out of the water. The pilgrims are cold, screaming, but safe at least. Mother Arlene lays down. When Persy tries to [Cure Wounds], she stops him.

She puts her hand on Persy's forehead, and he has a vision from her:

Eight pilgrims are tied to a tree stomp, then Mother Arlene stabs in their forehead.
The vision shifts to her leading to the caravan.

As she expires her last breath. Persy shakes his head.

The acolytes get back to the shore, and we're following to reach the shore, resting for the night.

Next session: 24 - Reunion beneath the full moon