summary
#session #summary
Session 13 Summary - Castle Dur Marr
Short Summary
Last session, the party successfully defended the underground hospital from the demonic assault. Ran'Kar broke free from his magical slowing and destroyed the final demon in brutal fashion. With the immediate threat ended, tensions arose when Sister Gadelle accused Arcash of witchcraft for possessing Si'mara's former fairies.
In a moment of trust, Arcash revealed the devastating truth to Brother Entello: Mother is actually Ma'dorn, the fallen censor they once revered. This revelation shattered Entello's faith, sending him into desperate prayer. Meanwhile, the party learned that Si'mara was Ma'dorn's former bodyguard who lost her memories after Omund's fall, and that her fairies transferred to Arcash just two months ago.
Hetdrelyn confessed his shameful role in creating Ajax's demon-summoning iron spheres, revealing that Ma'dorn herself was the first victim tortured in the ritual that brought forth these creatures. When Ran'Kar revealed that Mother sought the Keystone of the Arch, Entello seized hope - believing that placing the keystone back in the arch might restore Ma'dorn to her true self. Si'mara revealed she had hidden the Keystone of the Arch of the Faithful in the Vault of Burdened Truths, adding another obstacle for the party.
Elsewhere, Al lost the tail of a Wode elf boy resembling Ahde'l (likely her brother) before returning to the explosion site. There he witnessed House Damarion troops intimidating the Watch's investigation while Theordore revealed that Cassian the Broker had been supplying substances to the exploded building. The party's heroic reputation continues growing among the people. The session ended with the party preparing for their most dangerous mission yet: retrieving the keystone to attempt Ma'dorn's redemption.
Long Summary
The Battle's End
The party successfully saved Sister Si'mara from the demonic assault. Perry and Arcash pursued the escaped demon alongside Si'mara, while the rest held the hospital door against incoming threats. Ran'Kar, who had been magically slowed throughout the entire battle, finally broke free and slaughtered the last demon in vicious fashion.
Perry's fairies came to assist but drew an immediate hostile reaction from Sister Gadelle. When questioned why the demons sought Si'mara, she claimed to have no memory of the reason.
Rising Tensions
Brother Entello thanked the party and asked what had transpired. Sister Gadelle immediately warned Entello not to trust them, declaring Arcash a witch. Entello dismissed her accusations and sent her away with Brother Lorian to care for Si'mara.
When Arcash asked his fairies how they knew Sister Gadelle, they revealed they once answered to her before the call moved to Arcash. Meanwhile, Keth and Quix attempted to save the other wounded patients but were unable to save the three most severely injured.
Entello questioned how Arcash came to possess Si'mara's fairies. When Arcash claimed ignorance, Gadelle accused him of lying and again called him a witch. Entello firmly sent her away.
Revelations and Confessions
Arcash, Perry, and Quix realized that Si'mara's missing memories had been extracted and placed in the music box for safekeeping. In a moment of complete trust, Arcash revealed everything to Entello: Uncle L's true identity, Mother's corruption, and her real name—Ma'dorn.
The shocking revelation devastated Entello, who retreated to a small shrine to pray in his crisis of faith. Keth felt overwhelming guilt for leading the cultists to the hospital, but Quix and Perry offered comfort.
Keth revealed crucial information: Si'mara was Ma'dorn's former bodyguard who lost much of her memory after the fall of Omund. Her fairies had disappeared just two months ago—the exact time Arcash gained his powers. Sister Gadelle had found Si'mara in the mountains in this diminished state.
Hidden Connections
Shelby transformed into a bird to follow Sister Gadelle and Brother Lorian, overhearing Gadelle again accuse Arcash of witchcraft. Importantly, Si'mara mentioned that she had deliberately sent away the fairies. When Shelby transformed back and attempted to help, Gadelle tried to brush her off, but Lorian graciously accepted the assistance. After Gadelle left, Lorian apologized for her behavior, admitting he didn't understand her deep mistrust of others.
Hetdrelyn's Shame
While assisting Keth with other patients, Quix and Arcash spoke with Hetdrelyn, who made his own devastating confession. He revealed that Black Bottom fell when Ajax dropped iron spheres from the sky, unleashing demons upon the settlement. To his deep shame, he had worked on refining the prototype spheres that became instruments of mass destruction.
Most horrifically, Hetdrelyn explained that Ma'dorn herself was the very first person tortured in the demonic ritual that brought forth these creatures. A sick farmer confirmed that one of the prototype spheres had fallen at Five Fingers Farm, adding another piece to Ajax's dark machinations.
A Glimmer of Hope
Ran'Kar joined Entello in prayer despite being unpracticed. Entello revealed his despair and loss of hope upon learning of Ma'dorn's fall. Ran'Kar consoled him, insisting it might still be possible to save her. When Ran'Kar mentioned that Ma'dorn seeks the Keystone of the Arch of the Faithful with her original oath carved upon it, Entello suddenly sprang to life with an idea.
Perry joined Shelby in caring for Si'mara and asked about her fairies. Si'mara explained she had sent them away to protect something important. When Entello and Ran'Kar arrived asking about the Keystone, Si'mara revealed she had sent it with her fairies to the Vault of Burdened Truths for safekeeping.
Entello believed that placing the keystone back in the arch could restore Ma'dorn's true nature, though Mother cannot enter the Vault herself. Ran'Kar agreed to undertake this dangerous mission and revealed their plans for rebellion. Entello encouraged their cause but warned that the temple was now infested with gnolls. The party wrestled with why the Smiling Saint would steal Si'mara's powers, reasoning that like the game of Shere, Uncle L may have strategically sacrificed a piece.
Al's Discoveries
Elsewhere, Al first lost the tail of a wood elf boy who bore a familiar resemblance to Ahde'l—likely her brother attempting to track Al's movements. Later, Al was tailed by Tyvis but failed to catch him as well. Returning to the destroyed squat building, he witnessed the Watch attempting to investigate the explosion site while a full squadron of House Damarion troops stood at attention, their obvious presence designed to intimidate the investigators and assert noble authority over the proceedings.
Theordore arrived with important news: the people were speaking the party's name with growing admiration throughout the city. Al asked Theordore to encourage these heroic stories and bolster their reputation among the common folk. Most significantly, Theordore revealed that Cassian the Broker had been the one supplying all the chemicals to the drug house, connecting another thread in the web of corruption they'd been unraveling.
The Music Box Mystery
As tensions continued to simmer, the party mentioned the music box containing Si'mara's extracted memories. Sister Gadelle immediately asked pointed questions about the mysterious artifact, her suspicions clearly aroused by this revelation. Arcash attempted to calm her growing mistrust but his explanations fell on deaf ears—Gadelle remained convinced that dark magic was at work.
The music box represented more than just a magical artifact; it was a tangible link to the truth about Si'mara's past and her connection to Ma'dorn. The party understood that this small object might hold crucial memories that could aid in their mission to restore the fallen paladin, but Gadelle's persistent accusations threatened to complicate their already dangerous path forward.
Departure and New Resolve
As the session concluded, the party prepared to leave with Entello and exit the sewers. Entello bid them farewell as he continued his patrol, but the weight of their conversation hung heavy in the air. Sister Gadelle's mistrust of Arcash continued to grow, particularly regarding the mysterious music box and his possession of Si'mara's former fairies.
The party now faced their most crucial mission yet: infiltrating the gnoll-infested temple to retrieve the Keystone from the Vault of Burdened Truths. With Ma'dorn's potential redemption hanging in the balance and a brewing rebellion on the horizon, every decision would carry monumental consequences. The revelation that the corruption went deeper than they had imagined—with Ajax's weapons, the Broker's drug trade, and the demonic rituals all interconnected—meant that their fight was far from over.
Additional Notes
(More to be added)
Characters Involved
Consequences & Follow-up
(To be filled in)
Player Notes
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