Session 41: HP Lovecraft’s The Thing

The group heads back to the base to rest, then informs Obscurity that the temple should be mostly cleared of threats. They ask if one of her people can restore Cho’s arm, but she says that no major magic can be used here, since it might reveal their presence to their enemies. Vojta suggests that his mentor Lavoi might be able to do it. Obscurity mentions that her people are getting restless to take more action, but that she is afraid to draw attention to her group. Saleekh has been silent for her, as he has been for Vojta, raising worries that he may not be ready to confront Gyrraleth with his blessing when the time comes. As the group prepares to leave, Cho sells the magic glaive back in favour of his own. A wizard from Clarity’s group casts a magic-hiding spell on Vojta, who uses his plant travel spell to transport the group to his hometown, Banska.

Vojta catches up with his people, most of whom have returned from imprisonment by the dwarves of Ironclad. Lavoi is powerful but very old, so he can restore Cho’s arm, but the process is very taxing on him. He performs a druidic ritual, causing Cho’s severed stump to gradually grow into a baby arm and then a fully formed adult arm. As the group rests, they discuss whether Cho would be willing to take the blessing of a god, other than his Yane, if needed. Cho meditates in an attempt to reach her and ask for permission, but he cannot reach her now, and will try again later. Nan tells her curious patron the story of their quest so far. The next morning, Vojta teleports the group to San’edhe.

In San’edhe, they search for items to protect against the aboleth’s mind controlling abilities, but find nothing that does exactly that. They do realise that Arran and Grombrin can cast a spell that can protect one person each from mind control, and that Grombrin has another spell that can grant the whole group resistance to it, though both only for a short duration. Cho has his heirloom glaive enchanted to be effective against supernatural creatures, while Grombrin does some more work on his new maul, and Arran on his crown. When the group eats dinner at the Ashen Archive, they encounter Tados and ask him if the archive can supply any protective items. Tados says that the archive possesses some magic items, but that they will get in trouble with the Investor if they lend them out. In the evening, Arran finds in the library that the Staff of the Mother, an artefact useful for their quest and of interest to Cho, is held by travelling priests in the area between Seagate and the Valley of Five Rivers.

The next morning, Vojta teleports the group to Namos city. They buy two boats and hire two fishermen to transport them to the location. The fishermen then freak out and ditch them when they see Nan change form. Vojta communes with nature and senses the small underwater structure as before, now recognising it as an entrance to a plane known as Scop. He gives everyone the ability to breathe underwater, and they all jump in. He leads them to where it is, but everyone except Arran once again avoids the spot without realizing. Vojta casts dispel magic on the area, destroying the warding spell. The urge to leave is gone, and a stone dome previously hidden by illusion is revealed.

There are stone doors in the sides, so they push one open. It is dark inside, but the water is warded from going in. There is a hatch on the floor. When the group approaches it, a dark grey sludge seeps out of it and the doors close. The sludge turns into a creature with many eyes and mouths. It creates a maddening sound that staggers the group, while it engulfs Grombrin into its fleshy grasp. Grombrin scorches the monster with a sun beam, causing its flesh to shudder, but it thrashes him around until he is knocked unconscious. Nan shoots holes into its body with her eldritch blasts, but the creature elongates its form to grab her and thrash her unconscious as well. Vojta transforms into a giant walrus and Cho releases an empowering war cry, before the two of them and Arran frantically hack away at the creature. Physical attacks aren’t very effective against its viscous body, but the radiant power of Cho’s attacks burns away its flesh. The creature grabs Arran and engulfs him into its toothy form, but Cho cleaves the monster in two shortly after, causing its flesh to burn away into ash.

Arran and Nan are no longer breathing. Cho sighs that these deaths are starting to become a routine. Grombrin quickly resurrects Arran, but is then out of diamonds. They pick up Nan’s body, and Vojta casts a water walking spell on everyone, causing them to float rapidly to the surface. He then drags the boats back to town in walrus form. There they buy some diamonds from the lizardfolk priests, and Grombrin revives Nan. The group drinks their problems away, then sleeps through the night. In the morning, Cho suggests that they should buy plenty of potions and diamonds, then go back to the temple of Turagh prepared. After that, they should collect as many magic weapons as they can before they do anything else, because the threats they’re facing are too great. The others agree.