Finmyre /
010 - Life and Death
Checking in with Seline
The group rises early and after a quick breakfast. Sr. Bridie casts Augury to determine whether they should head first to the temple, or directly back to the catacombs. After a confusing result, the group heads back to the temple. The morning mist hangs densely in the air.
As the group approaches the temple of Selune, they see the temple's continual flames are extinguished. There is blood on the marble stairs, and the door is part way open. When they enter, they can see high priestess Seline's body lying lifelessly on the altar. Items from the altar are scattered on the floor: candles, papers, and the shattered remains of Seline's red gem necklace. Cordona stands at the altar, casting some kind of ritual.
Initiative!
As the group approaches the temple of Selune, they see the temple's continual flames are extinguished. There is blood on the marble stairs, and the door is part way open. When they enter, they can see high priestess Seline's body lying lifelessly on the altar. Items from the altar are scattered on the floor: candles, papers, and the shattered remains of Seline's red gem necklace. Cordona stands at the altar, casting some kind of ritual.
Initiative!
- Elysia sneaks closer and hides by a column.
- Rafael gets closer and casts Fog Cloud.
- Goosifer flies closer and hides.
- Sr. Bridie gets closer.
- Cordona mutters a spell.
- Elysia hears footsteps from inside the fog cloud and says, "You guys, I hear him right in front of me."
- Rafael gets closer and swaps his bow for one of his swords.
- Goosifer flies closer and waits in the fog.
- Sr. Bridie moves closer.
- Cordona steps out of the fog cloud, Rafael drops concentration on the fog. Cordona casts Suggestion on Rafael. "My vampire brother, defend me." Rafael fails the save.
- Elysia slashes Cordona deeply with her claws, but he maintains concentration.
- Rafael switches back to the bow, and nocks an arrow. It looks for a moment like he is about to shoot at Cordona, but he aims at Elysia instead and hits her in the shoulder.
- Goosifer flies over and snatches the goblet where it rests on the ground.
- Sr. Bridie holds her action until she has line of sight to Cordona for a Scorching Ray.
- Cordona hits Elysia with Magic Missile.
- Elysia slashes at Cordona, but misses. She moves to give Sr. Bridie a clear shot. Two of Sr. Bridie's scorching rays hit, but Cordona keeps his concentration up.
- Rafael runs over to Elysia, switching back to a shortsword, then he moves to stand between Sr. Bridie and Cordona.
- Goosifer flies out to the temple steps with the goblet.
- Sr. Bridie casts Scorching Ray again, and two of the rays hit, but Cordona keeps his concentration.
- Cordona casts Fireball at Goosifer, who dodges some of the damage, just barely avoiding unconsciousness.
- Elysia, climbing onto a nearby table, slashes Cordona, who keeps concentrating. She takes a moment to compose herself.
- Rafael pulls out his other sword, and slashes at Elysia. He hits once, and she is near the last of her endurance. He swings again and misses.
- Goosifer flies out the door and hides out of sight.
- Sr. Bridie channels Radiance of the Dawn, and Cordona is rocked by the radiant blast, reduced to a pile of ashes.
Rafael falls to his knees, stammering out an apology to Elysia for hurting her. Sr. Bridie casts Cure Wounds on Elysia twice, and then rushes over to the altar and inspects Seline's body. While that happens, Elysia looks through the ashes and finds 400 gold, a magical looking emerald bracelet, and a shimmering magical cloak. Sr. Bridie casts Spare the Dying on Seline, then Cure Wounds. Seline returns to consciousness! She is not feeling great, but she's stable and conscious.
Seline thanks everyone, then explains that Cordona came to the temple late at night, dragged her out of bed, threw her on the altar, and started performing a ritual. She lost consciousness shortly after that, but she thinks he was trying to complete his ritual. The group explains what happened in the catacombs, and Goosifer comes back in with the chalice. Sr. Bridie casts Cure Wounds on Goosifer as well. Goosifer gives her the chalice, and she limps over to the altar and swaps out some of the onyx gems on the chalice for ruby colored ones, restoring its life-giving powers.
Undoing Cordona's Legacy
She turns to Rafael and says, "The only way he could have taken you under his spell is by having a blood link to you. Is there something you want to tell me?" Rafael explains how he was changed after drinking that blood as a teen. He concludes, "This link does make me stronger, but considering what happened here this might be more of a liability than I thought." "Would you like that liability removed?" "Yes, this hunger wears me down constantly. I would love to be free of it." "I think I can cure you of it, but you have to be willing." "I am."
Seline takes a few hours to make preparations for the ritual. The group takes a short rest while she prepares in a side room, sets up candles in a ring around the altar, and makes things ready. Eventually she says, "Okay Rafael, please lay down on this altar." He climbs up and lays on the cold marble. Seline speaks from her text, and as she continues to incant, the candle flames turn green one after another. Once they are all changed, beams of green light converge on Rafael. His body begins to shake and tremble, and column of green light takes form above him. In the midst of the column above Rafael, a smoky black being begins to coalesce from out of his body. The dark form writhes and squirms, but the light holds it firmly. Suddenly, it explodes and dissipates. The light fades and Rafael's body lies limp and still. Seline lifts his head and feeds him a drink from the blood chalice. After a moment life returns to his body, and he opens his eyes with a sharp breath. Seline stares at him and asks, "How do you feel?" He pauses for a moment. "Like a terrible weight has been lifted from my shoulders. But also.. I need to find some way to set right the things that I've done. You've healed my body, but I still have to come to terms with who I was." "Sometimes the mental scars need more time. But I trust that you are on a path towards healing. May the goddess Selune watch over you in the night and in the day. Please, Finmyre needs you." She looks at the group. "Finmyre needs you all."
Elysia and Sr. Bridie confirm that he is okay. Rafael expresses his gratitude and the group talks with Seline about how the town will be restored. It sounds like she has a plan and doesn't need the group's help. She also declines the treasure Elysia found, insisting that the group earned it.
Sr. Bridie suggests that the cup might be better destroyed, but Seline is confident the good it can do outweighs the danger. Rafael tells Seline about the dojo where he learned to suppress the vampiric hunger, recommending it as a possibility for anyone of strong character who wants to keep the vampiric power without hurting innocent people.
Seline thanks the group for their help, then recommends that they take the day to rest and recover from their adventure.
The group is now level 5!
Group treasure: 400 gold, a magical looking emerald bracelet, and a shimmering magical cloak
Seline takes a few hours to make preparations for the ritual. The group takes a short rest while she prepares in a side room, sets up candles in a ring around the altar, and makes things ready. Eventually she says, "Okay Rafael, please lay down on this altar." He climbs up and lays on the cold marble. Seline speaks from her text, and as she continues to incant, the candle flames turn green one after another. Once they are all changed, beams of green light converge on Rafael. His body begins to shake and tremble, and column of green light takes form above him. In the midst of the column above Rafael, a smoky black being begins to coalesce from out of his body. The dark form writhes and squirms, but the light holds it firmly. Suddenly, it explodes and dissipates. The light fades and Rafael's body lies limp and still. Seline lifts his head and feeds him a drink from the blood chalice. After a moment life returns to his body, and he opens his eyes with a sharp breath. Seline stares at him and asks, "How do you feel?" He pauses for a moment. "Like a terrible weight has been lifted from my shoulders. But also.. I need to find some way to set right the things that I've done. You've healed my body, but I still have to come to terms with who I was." "Sometimes the mental scars need more time. But I trust that you are on a path towards healing. May the goddess Selune watch over you in the night and in the day. Please, Finmyre needs you." She looks at the group. "Finmyre needs you all."
Elysia and Sr. Bridie confirm that he is okay. Rafael expresses his gratitude and the group talks with Seline about how the town will be restored. It sounds like she has a plan and doesn't need the group's help. She also declines the treasure Elysia found, insisting that the group earned it.
Sr. Bridie suggests that the cup might be better destroyed, but Seline is confident the good it can do outweighs the danger. Rafael tells Seline about the dojo where he learned to suppress the vampiric hunger, recommending it as a possibility for anyone of strong character who wants to keep the vampiric power without hurting innocent people.
Seline thanks the group for their help, then recommends that they take the day to rest and recover from their adventure.
The group is now level 5!
Group treasure: 400 gold, a magical looking emerald bracelet, and a shimmering magical cloak
Category: 📝 Adventure Logs
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