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• Arhian Vos – Human Monk
• Hartmut Helmsworth – Elf Monk
• Sindri Waggletop – (Forest) Gnome Wizard
• Rettniss Kulvith – Water Genasi Druid
• Avacyn “Jolyne” Uloth the Merciless – Half-Orc Paladin
• Twilight Skybane – Tiefling Bard

• A second Howl rumbles through the sky
• As the party is leaving the Treat (Twinoak), the Sprite (Daggerpoint) points out to the party that each of them has been “Marked” (similar to how Fae can mark people who pass through the Feywild)
• The party asks for clarification – and Daggerpoint points out that there’s a magical marking on the base on everyone’s neck
• Sindri decides that this would be a good time to take a quick 10 minute rest so he can cast Detect Magic to see if he can figure out what Daggerpoint is talking around
• He casts the spell – and he can see a small symbol on the base of everyone’s neck as Daggerpoint had pointed out – that looks like a sunburn beneath the flesh; which seems to be some form of divination – the symbol appears to be a skull with tentacles

• The party immediately recognizes it as an Illithid – something they’d seen and heard of making deals with Hobgoblins recently
• Daggerpoint verifies that it’s an Illithid marking and asks the party if they’ve ever been to the island of Greenhaven, where he explains there’s no people there – and an abundance of wild life as a result – the reason there’s no people there is the Illithid on that island devoured all of the humanoids that existed there – the lush, green forests, allowed the Illithid to freely move among the trees; and that the Illithid will “mark” their food in the event the humanoids are stranded on the island – they will be easier to track down
• Daggerpoint also mentions that there’s what’s known as an Elder Brain there – which is essentially the ultimate ascension for an Illithid to become – and that if they’d been marked the Elder Brain can track them for hundreds of miles and even influence their dreams
• Which explains some of the unusual dreams the party members shared (Don’t believe me? Look back to Session 7 where Rettniss had a dream about a floating brain! They also experienced another creature associated to the Illithid messing with their dreams in Session 4).
• Daggerpoint offers to Remove Curse on the runes; and everyone heartily agrees
• By the time this is all done; it’s nightfall and the party decides to camp next to Twinoak and Daggerpoint. Sindri and Hartmut take watch, but don’t really spot anything – but hear plenty of animals
• The following morning, the party spends three days riding back to town, without incident, and arrive back at the town around 10am
• Sindri decides he will go the the library to study the Hag House Runes – and gives gold to Hartmut to purchase some healing potions; as does Twilight (all knowing that the potion vendor, Doro is attracted to Hartmut)
• At the library Sindri learns that these runes are tied to a Coven of Hags known as The Coven of Blackmore. Sindri recognizes the lore behind “Blackmore” – which, according to legend was a grand city that even the gods would visit in humanoid disguises – the kingdom prospered greatly – until one day, it simply vanished – as if there was never a city there – there was no evidence of buildings, people – nothing – just barren land where a city once stood proud. Through history – the exact location of where this city once stood has now changed hundreds of times – but from what Sindri is able to uncover is that this Coven of Hags seems to have originated from this fabled city. Most of the runes that he and Arhian had copied are so ancient – that he’s forced to dig out tomes which are protected by the Wizardly Order of the Ivory Coast because of how fragile these ancient tomes are.
• Hartmut in the meantime heads to Doro’s Potion Shop and sees Doro – who gently places her hand and puts it on his wrist – as Hartmut asks for 9 healing potions – Doro is susceptible to Hartmut’s good looks, selling each potion at a discounted price (40 gold each rather than 50 gold). Hartmut asks if she has anything interesting – since Sindri was looking for something “interesting” with any extra gold Hartmut might have – and Doro winks at Hartmut and says, “For you I have something interesting.”
• Hartmut excuses himself with a smile and gestures to Arhian outside, and that he has to go talk to her
• Rettniss eventually separates from the party and heads for the black smith, Keyleek – however, her best attempts to stealth away from the party doesn’t go unnoticed by their bard, Twilight – who decides to follow Rettniss to see what she’s up to (Rettniss tries to Stealth, however Twilight rolls a Natural 20 on Perception – and proceeds to stealth behind Rettniss)
• When Rettniss gets to Keyleek’s shop, she looks around – and still fails to see Twilight, who moves closer once Rettniss steps inside the shop, comfortable that no one in her party is following her
• Once inside Keyleek quickly runs around the counter when he sees Rettniss and says, “I got the Vikarus bottle – and was hopeful when I saw the note – but… you’ve been gone for a week. I was sure you… left town. And that the expensive bottle of Vikarus was your way of saying sorry and goodbye.”
• Rettniss smiles and says, “The life of adventurer has a lot of twists and turns, but there is nothing that would stop me from coming back to you.”
• Twilight, listening outside the door, smiles
• Keyleek arranges to meet Rettniss at the Pegasus Wing Tavern after hours
• Twilight leans against the wall outside and as Rettniss steps out she asks, “So what are you wearing tonight?”
• Rettniss shocked looks at her, startled, “How long have you been here?”
• “I heard it all,” Twilight smiles.
• Twilight convinces Rettniss that she needs to go shopping and help pick out a wonderful date outfit for the evening and come to Kelse’s Clothing
• A tall woman, with blond hair and blue eyes, welcome Rettniss and Twilight to come inside and shop

• Rettniss finds a violet dress that seems to be form fitting and Twilight
• Rettniss tells the party that she plans on going on a date with Keyleek down at a nearby lake
• Twilight and Arhian decide that they will trail Rettniss and Keyleek to make sure nothing goes wrong
• Sindri casts Invisibility on Arhian while Twilight stealths

• Rettniss and Keyleek enjoy their time by the lake, drinking a few drinks, eating dinner on a blanket
• Rettniss asks about the random well; and Keyleek explains that people heading into the town and that they often replenish their supplies here
• Meanwhile, Twilight and Arhian make their way to the well to use it as cover
• Rettniss asks Keyleek if he’s ever walked on water, and he explains he’s not – using her Ring of Water Walking (Rettniss fails the Acrobatics DC – but uses his Inspiration to re-roll allows him to succeed)
• Rettniss uses Acrobatics again – and critical fails – and uses the Second Howl Inspiration to re-roll and succeeds as Rettniss carries Keyleek out into the lake, walking on water
• Arhian and Twilight whisper about how Rettniss is being extremely graceful out on the water with Keyleek – and then heads to the shore and Rettniss uses Shape Water to do more magic to awe Keyleek
• Around that time, a cold feeling comes over Twilight and Arhian standing near the well
• The spirit seems to be looking at Arhian – who is still invisible – as she lifts her hands and points to Arhian, as she repeats over and over, “You are one of them… you must help… you are one of them…”

• Arhian looks – and the phantom is wearing traditional Grey Order monk attire
• Arhian greets the spirit in Eibrikku, “How can I help you?”
• The female elf spirit replies in Eibrikku, “I was murdered by hobgoblins passing through here. They’d ambushed me and thrown my body down the well.”
• Arhian turns to Twilight, her face pale, and explains, “There’s hobgoblins around here – and a monastery nearby.”
• Arhian asks in Eibrikku, “Would you like your body extracted?”
• She agrees, and explains that since her demise, she can’t tell exactly how many suns have come and gone, but she says about three or so suns have come and gone since her murder; indicating it was a recent attack
• The spirit explains that the hobgoblins were headed for the monastery
• Meanwhile, as the date proceeds, Rettniss finds herself intoxicated by the Vikarus that Keyleek brought (that she’d purchased for him)
• The two eventually stumble their way back to town, with Twilight and Arhian, sighing as the newly found couple crashes into the bushes, giggle and help one another stand
• Sindri is playing with Pabu (back at town), while Gem is cussing about Pabu being a mangy dog (but using more colorful language), and Hartmut is playing fetch with his blink dog (who simply blinks to the ball and then blinks back to Harmut after getting it)
• When Rettniss wakes up – she has a horrible Vikarus hangover – and slowly opens her eyes and looks around – not recognizing anything
• She suddenly sits up and looks around and realizes she’s in Keyleek’s home – but where is he? She looks and sees him on the couch
• Meanwhile in Arhian’s room – she’s suddenly awakened very early – but a chill pounding through her body
• She awakens and goes and knocks on Hartmut’s door – and finds Arhian standing outside his room and explains that something chilling woke her up – but takes this time to fill Hartmut in on what she’d found out from the spirit in the well
• They decide to awaken everyone – but Rettniss never answers her door
• They realize that she must be at Keyleek’s place
• Arhian says that someone should go get the undertaker of the town while Arhian and Twilight head for the Blacksmith’s (Keyleek)
• Arhian and Twilight arrive – and knock – but to Rettniss – who is still hung over – it sounds like a stampede of elephants
• Rettniss attempts to stand, but can’t maintain her balance – so she uses the wall to help hold her up as she makes it to the door and opens the door slightly, seeing Twilight and Arhian both standing outside looking very grave (See what I did there? Grave? Because the news about the spirit)
• Rettniss loudly mutters, “What do you want?”
• Twilight explains, “We have a problem and need to leave.”
• “Now,” Arhian emphasizes.
• “Why do we always have to save everyone,” Rettniss sighs.
• “We do this and you can go on date two without us trailing you, since we can trust him,” Twilight says
• Rettniss sighs and mutters, “Let me go tell him. Stay out there,” and she closes the door on Twilight and Arhian – and tells Keyleek that she has to leave but she will be back, and she complains about some other quest and needing to save someone else
• Rettniss uses Lesser Restoration to cure her intoxication and they go get their steeds and prepare to ride out

To Be Continued!