54 - The Wedding
Previous session: 53 - Dealing with the consequences
The final preparations...
We identified the prizes that Melody won:
Requires Attunement.
This wand has 7 charges.
While holding it, you can use an action and expend 1 charge to speak its command word. For the next minute, you know the direction of the nearest creature hostile to you within 60 feet, but not its distance from you. The wand can sense the presence of hostile creatures that are ethereal, invisible, disguised, or hidden, as well as those in plain sight. The effect ends if you stop holding the wand.
The wand regains 1d6 + 1 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the wand's last charge, roll a d20. On a 1, the wand crumbles into ashes and is destroyed.
The command phrase is "Everybody's just jealous of me".
Requires Attunement.
This helm has 3 charges.
While wearing it, you can use an action and expend 1 charge to cast the Teleport spell from it.
The helm regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.
Along that, we spent the rest of the day to prepare ourselves for the wedding, buying the gifts and preparing ourself to step into Or's lair, to finally go to rest before the fated day.
✒I have a really hard time falling asleep, I'm excited to see Paildreo again... but we'll have to face Or. I'm not sure about the plan honestly, but I have to do what I have to do to save them, even if giving the Heart of Gold would forfeit my life...
Suddenly, Anria's mouth opens, and it keeps opening until it's big enough for us to cross, and a portal appears.
Sprigg, Melody and Sabine will join us.
Nesvalyn goes first and opens the door, and we're all standing in the Fey domain again. The kelp is filled with white flowers, as everything is covered with white flowers.
In front of us is the promenade leading to the front door, with a bataillon of servants, all dressed in tuxedo and flanking either side of the carpet.
As we get there, the front gate opens.
We all walk up the promenade until we reach the main entrance, and we enter the main hall. Then we enter the grand hall with the foyer of the palace, with white bouquets and flowers all around the places we visit.
Sitting on the throne is Or in the whitest puffiest dress, with a much longer hair in a Duke style, staring at us.
As we're moving forward, everybody is starring at us, giving an eerie and creepy atmosphere, even with the somewhat cheerful decoration for the wedding.
[Insight - Pass ✔] We realize Or is waiting for applauses. Sprigg starts clapping as no one from the party reacts.
One of the servants grabs the box from Senri and brings it to them, as Or claps and looks like a gritty kid. They opens the blue box and finds some Almonds' scented candles. Or gives a sour face due to the smell, or perhaps the quality of the gift.
And tosses it to the side, within a pile of various presents.
Axel approaches and presents the box.
Same scene as before, but instead their gift is a Journal decorated with sea life, filled on each page some various daily ideas.
They lift it up and it turns into flames.
Dieterich sighs and walks up, showing a traditional totem carving from the Giants clan, presented on big days like this. It has an old word symbol for a good luck... but also the bad one.
Balnorin presents a red velvet pouch. It contains 3 syringes of black tar heroin.
Loyal brings a wrapped bouquet of flowers, containing also fishes.
Or opens the box, and finds another box.
And after a few boxes, they finally pulls the "Heart of Gold", standing in front of Nesvalyn, close.
Nesvalyn pulls the Heart of Gold from his pouch and presents it to Or, but instead of giving it to them, he tries to throw it to a party member behind.
[DEX Save - Fail ❌] Or grabs Nesvalyn by the right wrist, preventing the throw.
And Or rips Nesvalyn's right hand (dealing 10 HP) as he was a simple ragdoll, and tosses the hand in the air.
Or throws Nesvalyn to the ground nearby the party, and the guards knock us to the ground, when suddenly we're under a bright sunlight, standing we're in what seems to be an endless desert, in the middle of nowhere.
The dungeon...
Nesvalyn is curled in pain, holding on stump on his right arm, where was his right hand.
Ẻ̴͇m̴̢̚͜b̸̭̰́R̴̰͌Ạ̷̻́c̷̪̖͛e̴̪͍͐̑ ̷̛̫͙̃Ṳ̸͗͑S̸̖̲̃͝.̴̥̅
In the distance, figures approaches us, stopping at around 30-40ft from the group. We can precisely these 5 figures, and being in the center of the formation is Anria. Next to her is Dottie Lombardo, then Jonni. On the other end is Beryl, and at the end Reylynn.
Senri tries to cast [Eldritch Blast] at Anria, but it doesn't work.
As Senri calms down, she notices Reylynn, wondering why she looks the same.
The next thing she knows, she's in darkness, and Senri goes slack, Reylynn falls backwards and she disappears when she hits the ground.
All the four of them wants to be inside the body, which we have to protect, no matter what.
[Round 1]
Balnorin uses the Crocodile Belt.
Crocodile attacks Anria (hits for 18 dmg - not grappled)
Anria kicks away the Crocodile and attacks Dieterich (hits for 14 force dmg and is bleeding ([CON Save - Fail ❌]))
Beryl tries to attack Nesvalyn (miss - the feeling goes away)
Jonni goes after Dieterich and drops Senri ([CHA Save - Fail ❌])
Dottie Lombardo jumps on the body.
Dieterich rages, and shoves away Dottie Lombardo and grabs Senri again. (takes 2 bleeding dmg)
Nesvalyn aims and attacks Beryl (extra crunchy crit - insta kill 💀).
Loyal summons an echo next to Dottie Lombardo, and attacks Dottie Lombardo (hits twice for 34 dmg then crits for 54 dmg 💀)
Axel grapples Jonni (contest won), then attacks her (hits for 7 bludgeoning - not stunned), then feels guilty ([CHA Save - Fail ❌]) to attack her and can't attack her this turn.
Dieterich feels his hand tingling and a pink glow flashes, from which raises a rabbit with black hair and pink eyes.
[Round 2]
Gemini jumps down, and attacks Anria (miss) who let go a "Oh shit, she figured out".
Balnorin casts [Sacred Flame], but nothing happens.
Crocodile attacks Anria (hits once for 13 dmg)
Anria grows to the same size of Dieterich and attacks (hits twice for 24 force dmg and bleeds more) and yells "WHY ARE YOU STILL DOING THIS AFTER 400 YEARS?! WHY WON'T YOU LEAVE ALONE?!"
Jonni tries to escape the grapple (not escaping), and looks at Loyal to ask for help ([CHA Save - Fail ❌])
Dieterich replies with "I did leave you alone, you told me you don't want my help, I did once before, and found you and said you didn't want my help. Look what you did without my help, I let you do your own life, but you're not living your own life, you are a slave to power. I failed when I let you live alone!". ([Persuasion - Fail ❌])
Dieterich takes 14 bleeding dmg, grapples Anria and pins her to the ground, and attacks Jonni (hits twice for 30 dmg)
Nesvalyn attacks Jonni (hits for 22 dmg), then dashes away from Dieterich and Anria.
Loyal tries to separate Axel and Jonni ([Success for Loyal ✔]).
Axel tries to grapple Jonni (fail both attempts) then attacks her (crits for 20 dmg and is stunned)
[Round 3]
Gemini attacks Jonni (hits for 24 dmg 💀) and takes her soul.
Balnorin does nothing.
Crocodile does nothing.
Anria tries to free from the Grapple (fails), and tries to attack Dieterich (miss). "JUST DO IT ALREADY, THEIR SOULS AREN'T TRAPPED HERE ANYMORE!"
Dieterich replies with "Anria, I could never do something like that... I say this not as a dad reprimating his daughter, but as someone caring. Your lust power replicates what the wonders did, and it's going to repeat again to these people, and it breaks my heart thinking that people despite my daughter as I despite the wonders." ([Persuasion])
Initiative is paused
Dieterich let Anria go. She stands up and they both unrage, and Dieterich remains still Dieterich, as Persy's robot body falls behind.
She puts her down, takes a long breath, and holds a hand to Dieterich. He takes her hand. Anria and Dieterich turn to us and they both fade away.
Persy regains consciousness with the party around him.
Nesvalyn hugs him.
When we're looking around, we don't see our companions, but we see and hear a butler.
We all pass the door, leading us to a big coral reef garden.
The Ceremony...
We are assigned to 5 chairs next to each other near the front of the crowd, and there's one really far back, assigned to Nesvalyn.
Nesvalyn enables the [Psychic Whispers] with the party (minus Axel) for 10h.
One of the servants is dressed as a Bishop, standing next to him is Paildreo, shackled around their ankles in their FCA uniform.
A symphony starts a bit after we're all settled, and Melody is in a pretty dress, skipping down the aisle throwing flowers, being nervous.
Going next is Sabine, caring a pillow with two rings on it, with a panic look as she passes.
Finally, the music stops, and a new song starts, dramatic, appearing in the archway is Or in their white dress, still tainted with Nesvalyn's blood, escorted by Sprigg, beginning to walk down the aisle.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Paildreo catches Nesvalyn's glare.
[Stealth - Pass ✔] Nesvalyn manages to mouth "It's going to be fine, we're going to make it, love you".
We all stand up. Then the music stop.
The bishop starts to speak and we're not really understanding what they're saying.
[STR Save - Fail ❌] Axel is compacted and incapacitated.
Gemini recalls that naming the true name grants the individual the power to have the Feylord doing anything for them, but the individual has to say it thrice.
They snaps, and in a moment, the ground around us explodes and it becomes an arena. Paildreo is dangling high above in a clear crystal cage.
We're all silenced. Persy drinks a Potion of Enlarge before the final showdown.
[Round 1]
Or shoots a beam of light to the party, then flies up on an island.
↪ [CON Save] Balnorin, Loyal and Nesvalyn take 34 of force damage and pulled in the center of the silence sphere, the rest takes half damage and isn't pulled.
Axel activates the [Embolding Bond] between them, Balnorin, Nesvalyn and Persy, and drinks a Potion of Healing.
Nesvalyn breaks the formation and tries to attack Or (miss), and drinks a Potion of Greater Healing.
↪ [WIS Save - Fail ❌] Nesvalyn is still silenced.
Gemini walks out the silence sphere, and casts [Dispel Magic] on the silence area, then inspires Balnorin, says the name but Or covers their ears and mentions that they can't hear us.
Loyal climbs on Persy and ready his action.
Balnorin is about to cast [Insect Plague], but gets [Counterspell], then casts [Harm] through the lantern (dealing 46 dmg).
Persy casts [Haste] on himself, then activates the [Eldritch Claw Tattoo], then flies to Or and says successfully the name (✔) then attacks (hits for 13 dmg)
↪Loyal says the name properly (✔) then attacks (hits twice for 33 dmg and crits for 54 dmg), summons an echo (hits for 14 dmg) and [Action Surge] to attack again (hits twice for 33 dmg).
[WIS Save - Fail ❌] Loyal, Persy and Nesvalyn are grouped with the party again.
[Round 2]
Or casts winds up and let us a scream "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU DEAL WITH?" and a bolt of lightning goes to the party, and the scene around us breaks even more.
[DEX Save] Gemini takes 57 lightning dmg, Axel, Loyal, Nesvalyn (transferred to Persy) takes 28 dmg.
Axel casts [Beacon of Hope], uses a Potion of Healing and Dodges ([Patient Defense]).
Nesvalyn aims and attacks Or (hits for 34 dmg), appears to be stunned and falls near us.
↪ [WIS Save - Fail ❌] Nesvalyn is still silenced.
Gemini says successfully the name (✔), and casts [Hexblade Curse] on Or, then attacks them with [Booming Blade] (hits for 25 dmg)
Loyal walk up to Or, resummons the echo, says the name successfully (✔✔), then attacks Or (ultra crits and hits twice for a total of 110 dmg)
[STR Save] Balnorin, Gemini and Nesvalyn are pushed back 20ft and take 21 dmg, the others are not and take 10 dmg, and Or yells "ENOUGH", the ring closed to a 90ft diameter, floating in the air (negates the [Blooming Blade] damage).
Balnorin casts [Fireball] (dealing 31 dmg) and uses the Longtooth’s Trinket.
Persy raises his Defensive Field, then goes to Or, uses a Potion of Healing, then attacks Or (miss) but says the name properly (✔✔).
[Round 3]
Or turns to Loyal, making a crown of glowing orbs, shooting one at him (hits and takes 22 radiant dmg), one at Balnorin (miss) and one at Axel (hits for 36 18 radiant dmg)
Axel uses [Step of the Wind], jumps to Persy and use [Channel Divinity] and each party member regains 15 HP, then uses a Potion of Healing.
Nesvalyn throws a dagger at Or (hits for 25 dmg) and uses a Greater Potion of Healing.
↪ [WIS Save - Pass ✔] Nesvalyn feels his tongue back in his mouth, breaking the illusion.
Gemini says the name (✔✔), then casts [Eldritch Blast] (hits twice for 26 dmg), then do it again (hits twice for 16 dmg).
Loyal is interrupted when saying the name ([STR Save - Pass ✔]), resummons the echo and attacks Or (hits thrice for 58 dmg), and drinks a Potion of Greater Healing.
Balnorin casts [Blight] (upcast at lvl 6) on Or (deals necrotic 52 dmg).
Persy says the name, and everything stops for a moment, and they float down, landing with Or, while the scenery is still, arms folded.
Gemini recalls we can ask any number of questions, but is unsure about the amount of commands we can request.
They looks at Persy.
Persy looks at the knife formed in his hand by Or, he's poised to act and finish all of this, then walks forward to Or. He reflects and thinks back about Dieterich and Anria story.
Persy inhales, and speaks the first command.
Paildreo falls down gently and Melody with Sprigg and Sabine are free from their shackles, Melody runs to Persy and hugs him, while Nesvalyn approaches Paildreo who consoles each other.
And everything around us resumes, and the place shakes and starts to collapses.
As the palace crushes, we're starting to mention we should leave, except there aren't any portal available anymore, leaving us no escape route.
The Wonder of Planes appears.
We're all joining hands, and as the palace collapses, it feels we're spinning and raising, to finally be transported in the middle of a bright rocky place.
We notice that the sun is sunset, and we appear to be on the peak of a mountain. And when we're looking out, we see that we're the edge of the ocean, not too far away, with a nice view.
Back home...
We sit down, exhausted from what we just faced.
The Wonder looks around.
He stops and there is this shadow figure looming behind him, until a hand goes through him, and waves at us with their four fingers. We see that big black shadow, as the Wonder of Planes blows light and it goes into this shadow, which solidifies into a beautiful woman with dark hair and grey skin, white piercing eyes, dressed in silver armor, equipped with massive scythe.
And the figure charges forward, grabs Sprigg by the head and throws him by the cliff, to which Sabine jumps and joins them, probably joining them to their doom.
The Undying is standing in front of us, looking at Persy.
It feels really weird to be around them, and they observe each one of us.
While she's making the eye contact to each of us, we feel a deep chill within the bone, even worse when facing Death Inc. employees.
Balnorin is kneeling, with his eyes filling until they're fully black.
Their stare is intensifying, which the chill seems to reach even our souls. Even if we're pretty sure to not join her, retort her proposal is not an easy task... to which our collective silence is our final answer.
Balnorin gets up calmly, then turns to face the party, as The Undying leaves.
Balnorin uses the Big Note (from the Golden Voice).
↪[DEX Save] Loyal, Persy and Nesvalyn take full damage (65 fire dmg), Axel takes half damage, Melody and Paildreo take nothing (fully covered respectively by Persy and Nesvalyn).
We notice Gemini is down once the dust is settled, and only a shape made of ashes remains from where Balnorin stood and is being carried by the wind, as the smoke around us dissipates.
Next session: 55 - Home sweet home