Session 6

Session 06 (2024-09-13)

Under The Temple in Bad Doric

After taking Amelia back to Lepett and resting, we returned to Bad Doric the next day. Evidence suggested that The White Skull had used the town, not the temple, as a temporary camp. Kira, curious about the springs in the Order of Hospitalers Temple, transformed into a fish to explore the spring under the temple. She discovered a bound shadow elemental from the [[Shadowfell]], likely the source of the corruption. Kira speculated that creature seemed to be fed through the well in the tunnels, possibly via herbs or other offerings, and was immobile, indicating it was bound.

At Camp, near Bad Doric

We discussed our next steps, referencing Kira’s discovery and the Order of Hospitalers Journals. Some theories emerged:

Mother Isabel Verduna might be the daughter of the Isabella mentioned in the journals.
The journals referenced a sweating sickness but not the rot, which Mother Verduna said had been around since she took over The Lazaretto.
Using the journals and our investigation of the temple basement, we deduced that the two bedrooms in the basement of the temple which likely had access to the tunnel system in 1442 DR belonged to Mother Viola Laguna (in the west) and Elder Sister Isabella (in the east, the room with the collapsed ceiling).

Hiking Back to the Lazaretto

We spent two days hiking back to The Lazaretto with Lepett and Amelia, encountering and easily defeating some goblins along the way. Lepett expressed his high regard for Mother Verduna, calling her the closest thing to a saint.

The Lazaretto

Upon arrival, we met with Mother Verduna. Hugh described our findings in Bad Doric and showed her the journals. She pulled us into the Temple of Ilmater to read through them and discuss. Mother Verduna revealed that Mother Viola Laguna was the last of the Order of Hospitalers, an order of healers using natural springs, tracing their origins to an old elven god, Delphian. She also shared that her mother, Isabella, had come from the temple near Bad Doric to help with the sweating sickness but had given her away as a child because the Lazaretto was such a poor place to raise a child.

Kira asked Mother Verduna for any notes her mother Isabella may have made while researching the sweating sickness. Mother Verduna said that there wasn’t much, but she promised to look.

Mother Verduna performed an experiment with the poison we recovered from Bad Doric on our behalf. Feeding it to a small swamp lizard, the lizard went mad with rage before eventually passing into a deep sleep. The poison seems to be some sort of potion of uncontrollable rage. We destroyed what remained of the poisonous potion in a fire.

The milk was apparently just clotted, old milk, as far as we could tell.

When asked Amelia shared that she had seen the White Skull pull men out of cages and make them fight each other to the death. They were likely forced to consume the rage poison.

Gavin intuited that the one deeply unique thing about the halfling children we rescued is that they are fully disconnected: Their home and family are gone and they belong to a disrespected minority, so they would be the closest thing to invisible that might exist in Riatavin. This is likely key to their role in Albrecht’s plans.

We found Albrecht Moray in the Lazaretto’s infirmary, feverish and in the early stages of rot. Gavin tried to get Albrecht to think about his plot while Kira used detect thoughts to learn more.

Outside, Mother Verduna told us that someone had left Albrecht unconscious at the dock, and she believed he wanted the poison. We were provided with a cabin for the evening to discuss our findings.

That Night

Bikke informed Lepett that Albrecht had been sending children to Riatavin and insisted that Albrecht should not leave the Lazaretto. Lepett agreed, stating that if Albrecht survived, he would live out his days there. Gavin speculated that Albrecht might try to escape if he survived, though it would be difficult. Bikke overheard Mother Verduna telling Albrecht he needed to rest to have the strength for what was to come, likely referring to withstanding the rot he had captured. Her interest in the poisonous serum seemed suspicious.

Hugh speculated with Kira about a possible connection between the planar Feywild plants in the [[Mirefen]] and the Shadowfell shadow elemental in the well. Kira speculated that a mix of planar plants, well water with shadow, milk, and the poison on a sacrificial altar/bench in the tunnel might be creating or supporting the shadow creature, which could be corrupting the swamp and everything else. A nature check revealed that the Feywild is a place of intense emotion and heightened feeling, while the Shadowfell is its inverse, likely tying the bound shadow elemental to the malaise experienced by those wandering in the Mirefen.

Armitage mentioned that Albrecht had gone to Port Maraisa and disappeared and asked us to learn about what he was doing there.

We now have reason to believe that Albrecht went to Port Maraisa to work with the White Skull. The White Skull have been profiting from a bound shadow elemental under the Order of Hospitalers Temple and Albrecht was presumably trying to turn that resource into some sort of action against the Auttencourt and the Tethyrian royal family.

Ideas For Next Time

Ask Magistrato Dominico Falcone to send a message about finding Albrecht, but consider alternative methods due to Falcone’s existing loyalties to the Auttencourt.
Continue to investigate Mother Verduna’s sketchy behavior: Why was she so interested in the poison? Was it just because Albrecht was interested, or was there more to it?
Investigate the shadow elemental in the temple to determine if it produces the poison or causes the rot.
Track the White Skull into the mountains to find their base and deal with the Laguna-kin.

Summary for next time

After a good rest at our camp, we headed back to Bad Doric and learned that the White Skull had been using the town as a temporary camp. Kira, curious, transformed into a fish and explored the temple’s spring, where she discovered a bound shadow elemental from the Shadowfell– very likely the source of the corruption. On our hike back to the Lazaretto with Lepett and Amelia, we ran into some goblins and took them down so easily it’s like there wasn’t any fight at all.

Once back at the Lazaretto, we shared our findings with Mother Verduna. She revealed that Mother Viola Laguna was the last of the Hospitalers. She performed an experiment with the poison, showing it caused uncontrollable rage. Amelia told us how the White Skull forced men to fight to the death, likely using this poison. Gavin insightfully pointed out that the halfling children we rescued were key to Albrecht’s plans because they were practically invisible in society.

That night, Lepett agreed to keep Albrecht at the Lazaretto after Bikke told Lepett that Albrecht had been sending children to Riatavin. Hugh and Kira speculated about a connection between the planar plants in the Mirefen and the shadow elemental in the well, leading to a suspicion that the shadow elemental is responsible for the apathetic malaise permeating the swamp.

At the conclusion of our night, we determined that Albrecht went to Port Maraisa to work with the White Skull. The White Skull have been profiting from a bound shadow elemental under the Order of Hospitalers Temple and the rage poison they derive from it. Albrecht was presumably trying to turn that resource into some sort of action against the Auttencourt and the Rhinduan, the Tethyrian royal family.

Ideas For Next Time

Ask Magistrato Dominico Falcone to send a message about finding Albrecht, considering alternative methods due to his loyalties.
Investigate Mother Verduna’s behavior and her interest in the poison.
Investigate the shadow elemental in the temple to determine its role in the poison and the rot.
Track the White Skull into the mountains to find their base and deal with the Laguna-kin.

Notes from Kira on Albrecht’s Thoughts

It’s coming back to me now.

Kira’s exploration of his mind was hampered by her own exhaustion, but even more so by the swirling fever dream that is his consciousness. She caught glimpses of who he is - competent, militant, partisan, but not unfair or cruel. Snippets of his childhood, training in a high, pale mountain castle - surely a Hesse property. Fragments of memories in Riatavin, a crumbling sandstone palace, a young and beautiful woman arriving there by carriage. Nobility, but not Aureltaran. Albrecht in the shadows watching her emerge from the carriage with her consort, a cruelly handsome young man with auburn hair. Etienne Auttencourt, Albrecht’s target. The young woman Etienne’s.