# 20. Session Twenty — A Familiar Face **In-game start:** Spring 69 | **Played:** 17 September 2025 [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 19 - Party Politics|← Session 19]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/00 - Campaign Overview/Campaign Overview|Campaign Hub]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 21 - Hells Hath No Fury|Session 21 →]] ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Characters/Captain Mattias Coulson.jpeg|780]] > [!abstract]+ TL;DR > - Standing in front of them, [[Fink]] appears, ominously turning his timer and saying: “We need to talk.” > - **Fink’s warning:** He reassures them they should now be safe from that scry method — but asks about their dreams. > - **Persephone’s guilt, reassured:** [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] reminds her [[Pipe]] literally got sucked into a portal — none of them are “clean and perfect” here. > - **Morning: small care, bigger worries:** She promises again she will break Raphius’s curse — but admits she isn’t yet the cleric Piotr was, because her training was cut short. > - **On the road toward Peaks Point:** “Tough love is still love.” She practices incantations and realises she’ll need onglette gravers to properly carve runes into [[Spada]]. > - **Downpeak:** The bartender comments on her bright pink hair, asks where she’s from, and pointedly asks who’s paying. > - **General store and the “swarm” voice:** [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] asks about a general store and they’re directed to one. > - **Camp: the blight fear, and Elena’s memory:** At camp, [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] admits she heard that sinister chant again: “Feed, feast, grow.” [[Elena]] suggests it might just be another swarm of bees (the area had orchards), but [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] insists it felt like a sinister presence — possibly the blight spreading. > [!star]- Memorable Moments > - ❤️ **Heartfelt — Persephone / Raphius / Mealla:** Persephone admits she feels like a burden and sees Raphius as the protector while she keeps getting captured. Raphius and Mealla refuse the premise — none of them are clean or perfect, and Pipe literally got sucked through a portal. > - 😂 **Funny — Persephone:** Persephone suggests they could travel faster by rolling downhill, until everyone points out that they are currently travelling **uphill**. > - 🐦 **Funny — Persephone / Myst:** For reasons known only to Persephone, she psychically asks Myst about her vision. The raven startles, immediately hops to Elena’s shoulder and is absolutely no help. > - 😬 **Tension — Raphius:** A mug whistles past Raphius’ head in Downpeak and a group of Sollanders recognise him as the traitor who killed Vhail, forcing him to explain his exile to the others in public. > - ❤️ **Nostalgic — Elena / Myst:** On watch Elena remembers Piotr teaching her that solitude should not become isolation, and the first time she summoned and named Myst because she did not want to be alone. > - 😱 **Ominous — Mealla / Elena:** Mealla hears **“Feed, feast, grow”** pressing at the edge of her mind; Elena’s response is brutally simple — if the Curse of Dharan has spread this far, they are all screwed. ## Session Notes Standing in front of them, [[Fink]] appears, ominously turning his timer and saying: “We need to talk.” ### Fink’s warning As the group gathers around the fire, [[Fink]] admits he’d hoped they’d have made it further by now — ideally reaching Eli (though he cautions Eli likely won’t be using that name, and will be hiding behind an alias). [[Fink]] explains that after the group escaped [[Gambon]], [[The Order]] turned its gaze inward and began a paranoid witch-hunt for traitors. In the chaos, [[Fink]] discovered how the group had been scryed on: via the letter. After learning that, he fled headquarters to find them. He reassures them they should now be safe from that scry method — but asks about their dreams. - [[Elena]] shares they’ve been having troubled shared dreams. - [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] admits she’s been experiencing visions. - [[Fink]] warns that [[Lucius Neeve|Lucius]] Neave’s gaze is firmly locked on them now, especially after spotting [[Vanthar's Sanctarium|Vanthar’s Sanctarium]] during one of the scry episodes. He wants to capture them so [[Keth]] can drain them. [[Fink]] also warns them about the Nightwalker — the purple-eyed entity that can find them in their dreams. He’d hoped the [[Weirdstone]] would shield them from this… but apparently not. [[Fink]] urges them to hurry and free their captured loved ones before Lucius’s power grows and he can use them as bargaining chips. He says [[Pipe]] seems to be the linchpin, and pulls him aside into the rain to speak privately. ### Persephone’s guilt, reassured While [[Pipe]] is away, [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] approaches [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]], who is sketching what she saw. He asks why she didn’t share all of it. She explains she shared the first vision with [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]], but hadn’t had a chance to share the second — and that she feels like a burden, bringing trouble wherever she goes. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] and [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] reassure her: she’s not a burden. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] says she sees [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] as the protector, while she feels useless (captured by the cult, etc.). [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] reminds her [[Pipe]] literally got sucked into a portal — none of them are “clean and perfect” here. ### [[Fink]] vanishes mid-theory [[Fink]] and [[Pipe]] return. [[Pipe]] sits off by himself, visibly processing. [[Fink]] addresses the group: he’ll try to catch up with them when he can, but first he needs to check on the other Timetouched. He apologises again and says he’ll help however he’s able. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] asks if they’re safe in their dreams. [[Fink]] says he doesn’t think they are. [[Fink]] looks east and says something big has happened there — he can feel its pull. He’s nearly out of [[World of Tarin/06 - Items & Artifacts/Aetherite|Aetherite]] and has to ration his reserves. He starts theorising out loud: if Timetouched energy is the same as [[World of Tarin/06 - Items & Artifacts/Aetherite|Aetherite]], maybe the draining process could be reversed… POP. [[Fink]] disappears as his timer ends, leaving the group in the rain around the fire — staring at [[Pipe]] for answers he isn’t ready to give yet. ### Morning: small care, bigger worries [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] and [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] make breakfast from the last of the vegetables. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] offers to sharpen [[Spada]] for [[Elena]], noticing the crude runic scratchings on it. [[Elena]] explains she believes there is power in Nyxthys’s scripture and runes. She’s starting to decipher more and wants to learn how to channel Nyxthys’s power properly. She promises again she will break Raphius’s curse — but admits she isn’t yet the cleric Piotr was, because her training was cut short. ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Characters/Elena and Piotr 01.jpeg|780]] [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] tells her she’s valued. [[Elena]] replies that everyone has strengths and weaknesses — and they’re stronger together, even if they clash. ### On the road toward [[Peaks Point]] They pack up and head west toward [[Peaks Point]], travelling uphill through forest. They talk about not wanting to run into more cultists… or the flying bat creature heard last night. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] asks [[Pipe]] to tell him when it hits 11am. [[Pipe]] does, and [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] pauses for quiet contemplation. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] jokes about rolling downhill to travel faster — until the group reminds her they’re going uphill. After roughly eight hours, they camp. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] offers to teach [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] to find and prepare food. In the rain they spot a squirrel; [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] swiftly kills it with a thrown dagger. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] skins it while [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] turns away, squeamish. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] absently toys with [[Vhail's Blade|Vhail’s Blade]] while [[Elena]] watches him like a hawk. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] tells [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] she hopes the group’s awkward tension ends — she just wants everyone to get on. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] offers the squirrel carcass to [[Myst]], who happily pecks at it. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] (for reasons known only to [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]]) psychically asks [[Myst]] about her vision. [[Myst]] startles and hops to Elena’s shoulder. He can’t shed light on it. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] shows the group the drawing and wonders why everyone except [[Myst]] was frozen in time. They speculate it may be because [[Myst]] is an arcane familiar rather than flesh and blood. They briefly discuss being Timetouched and what powers they might gain, then settle into watches. - [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] spends much of his watch resisting the lure of [[Vhail's Blade|Vhail’s Blade]]. - [[Elena]] reflects on her role: she wants to protect and do right, but won’t mollycoddle anyone. “Tough love is still love.” She practices incantations and realises she’ll need onglette gravers to properly carve runes into [[Spada]]. - [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] practices communing with her bees, trying to teach them the concept/word “people.” - [[Pipe]] remains distracted by what [[Fink]] told him. - [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] studies [[The Opus Codex]], reading prophecy and the name Kiera Quell, and passages about the days following The Breaking. ### [[Downpeak]] By midday the next day, another village silhouette appears through rain and mist: [[Downpeak]], set in a clearing of pine forest with fields and orchards. The scent of cut wood is heavy. Moor-wet ground, wandering livestock, and a fine mansion loom ahead. ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 20/The Misty Peaks Downpeak.jpeg|780]] They find no palisades or guards — just villagers watching them. They seek a tavern and are directed to The Sawdust Inn. The interior is warm and dry. They decide to eat and warm up, but not stay the night, and to resupply rations. ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 20/The Misty Peaks Downpeak The Sawdust Inn.jpeg|780]] [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] orders food and drink for everyone. The bartender comments on her bright pink hair, asks where she’s from, and pointedly asks who’s paying. The menu is varied and plentiful. They ask directions to [[Peaks Point]] and are warned the only real danger is a bridge crossing. No carts or wagons are leaving today. Persephone’s hair comes up again, and [[Elena]] (again) tells her this is exactly why she needs a disguise — otherwise [[The Order]] will track her easily. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] refuses. ### General store and the “swarm” voice [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] asks about a general store and they’re directed to one. As they near it, [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] hears faint mental chanting: “Feed, feast, grow.” It reminds her of her bees — but feels… off. Inside the shop is a bald, tall elven gentleman. They buy supplies. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] kindly buys extra incense for [[Elena]] (despite [[Elena]] insisting she already has enough for another [[Myst]] summon), and also purchases a small silver mirror. As they step back into the rain, [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] again feels the “swarm voice” pressing at the edge of her mind. ### Trouble: [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] recognised As they walk away, [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] instinctively dodges just in time as a mug goes flying past his ear. A group of men (apparently from [[Solland]]) approach, shouting that they know him — calling him a traitor, blaming him for how things have gone to shit. A red-haired, stocky guard intervenes and refuses to tolerate a breach of the peace. One of the men, [[Jeb]], spits toward [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] and leaves. The guard introduces himself as [[Matius]] and asks about current affairs in [[Solland]] — he’s heard rumours of unrest in the crown and incursions. [[Elena]] asks [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] what that was about. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] explains: he was exiled and labelled a traitor after killing Vhail. His father’s status as a war hero (and the family’s reputation) is the only reason he wasn’t executed. In his absence, he doesn’t know what’s changed — but many people knew what he did and what happened to him. The group decide it’s safer to learn why tensions are so high before reaching [[Peaks Point]] (where they might encounter more [[Solland]] soldiers). [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] and [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] run to make enquiries; they don’t learn specifics, only that it’s a hornet’s nest — and they shouldn’t poke it. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] worries aloud about deeper corruption spreading in [[Solland]]. [[Elena]] calls it pessimistic: if he’s never heard of similar cursed blades, he has no reason to assume widespread rot. She hopes she never has to do to [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] what he had to do to his master. ### Camp: the blight fear, and Elena’s memory They leave town and climb a rough track toward a distant bridge spanning a gap. At camp, [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] admits she heard that sinister chant again: “Feed, feast, grow.” [[Elena]] suggests it might just be another swarm of bees (the area had orchards), but [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] insists it felt like a sinister presence — possibly the blight spreading. [[Elena]] bluntly warns: if The Curse of [[World of Tarin/02 - Places/01 - Nations & Regions/Dharan|Dharan]] has spread this far, then they’re all screwed — there’s no stopping it. As watches begin, little happens. On Elena’s watch, she remembers sitting by a fire with Piotr, discussing what it means to be one of The [[Hands of Nyxthys]] — that silence can be comforting, but solitude shouldn’t be embraced. [[Nyxthys|The Dark Keeper]] is always with her, but that isn’t the same as physical company. She remembers the first time she summoned a black raven here, years ago. Piotr asked her to name it. Thinking of her upbringing, what was left of it, and how the raven appeared, she chose the name [[Myst]] — and she remembers the comfort of not being alone. ## Session End State > [!success]- Where Things Stand > - [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] says she sees [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] as the protector, while she feels useless (captured by the cult, etc.). > - [[Fink]] disappears as his timer ends, leaving the group in the rain around the fire — staring at [[Pipe]] for answers he isn’t ready to give yet. > - They pack up and head west toward [[Peaks Point]], travelling uphill through forest. > - By midday the next day, another village silhouette appears through rain and mist: [[Downpeak]], set in a clearing of pine forest with fields and orchards. > - A group of men (apparently from [[Solland]]) approach, shouting that they know him — calling him a traitor, blaming him for how things have gone to shit. ## Session Gallery > [!note]- Additional Artwork > ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Locations & Shared Scenes/Campfire Rain.jpg|780]] > ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Characters/Felius Orlon.jpeg|780]] > ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Characters/Miran Fenwick.jpg|780]] > ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Locations & Shared Scenes/The Misty Peaks Travel Rain.jpg|780]] > ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Characters/Gospar Forgoson.jpg|780]] [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 19 - Party Politics|← Session 19]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/00 - Campaign Overview/Campaign Overview|Campaign Hub]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 21 - Hells Hath No Fury|Session 21 →]]