# 25. Session Twenty Five — Springcrest **In-game start:** Spring 75 | **Played:** 11 November 2025 [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 24 - The Bloodhound|← Session 24]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/00 - Campaign Overview/Campaign Overview|Campaign Hub]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 26 - Traitors|Session 26 →]] ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/The Misty Peaks Springs Crest Day.jpg|780]] > [!abstract]+ TL;DR > - **Morning after the ritual:** [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] offers him water and checks on him, noticing blood dripping from his eyes beneath his hands. > - **“A suicide mission”:** [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] says he recognised the region and the tower: it’s back in his homeland, but he cannot travel there because of exile. > - **Finding Persephone in the woods:** [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] summons Solace and offers [[Elena]] a ride while [[Myst]] scouts overhead, [[Elena]] seeing through the familiar’s eyes. > - **Springcrest duties and contests:** [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] hugs [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] in an attempt to demonstrate to [[Elena]] that he knows when to hug people… but [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] clearly doesn’t want one, proved when she mutters: “Get off me!” > - **Something under the docks:** It triggers a memory: Soliana, on Mealla’s birthday, gifting her a bee smoker engraved in dwarvish runes meaning “family.” [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] remembers hugging her friend, laughing, gossiping, heading toward the tavern. > - **Back to The Golden Gull:** Even Eli says there have been many refugees lately — the place is “going to shit,” the king is going mad, and even the Wilds are beating [[Solland]] back. > - **Night: hatred, rituals, and a vision:** The ground breaks and shatters as a huge, cosmic-proportioned figure breaks through the vision. > [!star]- Memorable Moments > - 😱 **Oh Shit — Eli:** Eli is found with blood running from beneath his hands and eyes, the aftermath of Lucius’ “parting gift”; even Raphius’ attempt to cure him cannot simply undo it. > - 🤯 **Recognition — Raphius:** The scryed location finally clicks: Raphius recognises the region and tower as his own homeland — exactly where exile makes it most dangerous for him to go. > - 💔 **Emotional — Persephone:** Springcrest is happening all around her, but Persephone admits she cannot enjoy any of it while her parents may still be imprisoned. > - 🛠️ **Crafting — Elena:** Elena finally takes her onglette gravers and carves the rune of transference into the plate of her own gauntlet, putting her weeks of study into something real. > - 😬 **Ominous — Elena:** A stranger seems to stare at Raphius — until Elena realises his attention is actually fixed on the crescent-moon-and-raven-feather pendant around her neck. ## Session Notes ### Morning after the ritual With the ritual complete — [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] having seen her parents captive and tortured, and the destination revealed as a land [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] has been banished from — morning comes to Springcrest with early sunlight through the windows. ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/The Misty Peaks Peaks Point Ritual 4.jpg|780]] Eli staggers to his feet, muttering and cursing. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] offers him water and checks on him, noticing blood dripping from his eyes beneath his hands. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] tries to cure him, but Eli explains it will wear off in a few hours: a parting gift from [[Lucius Neeve|Lucius]]. The group anxiously questions what happened, whether [[Lucius Neeve|Lucius]] recognising Eli means their location has been revealed, and whether they’re now in danger. Overwhelmed, [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] runs out of the house sobbing. ### “A suicide mission” The group debate their options. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] says he recognised the region and the tower: it’s back in his homeland, but he cannot travel there because of exile. [[Elena]] suggests disguises — shave, change hair, less recognisable armour, adopt an alias — but [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] refuses, saying it would be lying. They acknowledge travelling to the laboratory could be leading lambs to slaughter: potentially suicide. They wonder whether all their captive loved ones are in one place or spread across laboratories. Eli says none of the other laboratories he knows had cages like the one shown in the scrying. They briefly consider tracking down [[Gillian Quill]] (Pipe’s lead), but [[Pipe]] reminds them he doesn’t know the location; his map is revealed piece by piece as he decrypts [[Vanthar's Sanctarium|Vanthar’s Sanctarium]] and summons more creatures. They agree to spend the day keeping Eli’s cover intact, then regroup later to plan. ### Finding [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] in the woods A townsfolk barges in demanding the mayor about a trivial stall dispute. As the group awkwardly delegates “mayoral duties” to [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]], [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] and [[Elena]] go looking for [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]]. They hear a distant scream of frustration. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] summons Solace and offers [[Elena]] a ride while [[Myst]] scouts overhead, [[Elena]] seeing through the familiar’s eyes. Solace gallops toward the sound. They spot [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] darting through the trees, flinging psychic daggers at trunks in raw emotion. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] dismounts, approaches with shield drawn, and says: “Hit me.” [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] looks at him in pure pain and sadness. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] repeats: “Hit me.” [[Elena]] rolls her eyes and clocks [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] square in the jaw, then embraces [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]]. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] crumples into huge sobs. [[Elena]] invites [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] in, and the two of them hold [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] until she can breathe again. They have an emotional conversation. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] bares her soul — raised in a cult, confined, hating and loving her parents at once. She wants to free them, but also scream at them. She wants a normal life. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] and [[Elena]] reassure her: her life is hers to lead; no one else defines “normal.” They all carry burdens, and she is not alone anymore. They are bound together, and they will help one another save their loved ones and pursue their goals. ### Springcrest duties and contests Meanwhile, [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] manages Springcrest stalls and disputes. As the three return from the woods — [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] puffy-eyed — [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] eagerly waves parchment to get their attention. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] hugs [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] in an attempt to demonstrate to [[Elena]] that he knows when to hug people… but [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] clearly doesn’t want one, proved when she mutters: “Get off me!” [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] explains the townsfolk are demanding attention at: - The strongarm contest - The drinking contest - The greased pig contest [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] immediately volunteers for strongarm. The girls volunteer for the drinking contest later. They suggest [[Pipe]] catch the greased pig. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] dispatches the first strongarm competitor easily, but then loses to a “butch muscle mommy” who distracts him with a wink and a smile. At the pig pen, [[Eli Soothpin|Mayor Jack Godfrey]] arrives wine-stained and tipsy, declares he’s ready to catch a pig, and limbers up. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] and [[Elena]] make a truth-or-dare bet: [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] thinks the mayor will catch it; [[Elena]] thinks he won’t. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] cheats by casting Guidance on the mayor. [[Elena]] retaliates by casting Guidance on the pig. After a lot of awkward grunting and dry-humping, the mayor pins the pig. [[Elena]] concedes: [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] wins the bet. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] samples street food. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] gathers flowers being handed out and notices flowers are a major Springcrest tradition — worn in hair and clothing. ### Something under the docks They eventually wander toward the docks. [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] takes stock of the two ships in the harbour. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] hears a whisper in her mind — not festival hubbub, something distinct. She realises it’s coming from beneath the docks, almost under the water. She leans over the edge and looks into the rippling waves. An eclectic unison of voices speaks in calm unity — seemingly from urchins, anemones, and coral. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] almost slips out of herself as their voice lets her see the world from their perspective. ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/mealla coral.jpg|780]] ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/mealla coral 2.jpeg|780]] It triggers a memory: Soliana, on Mealla’s birthday, gifting her a bee smoker engraved in dwarvish runes meaning “family.” [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] remembers hugging her friend, laughing, gossiping, heading toward the tavern. The memory fades. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] looks up to find herself still at the dock’s edge. She flicks her tears back into the sea — gratitude shared. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] tells the group she heard a sort of collective voice from the coral and asks [[Pipe]] about it. [[Pipe]] seems familiar with a collective organism like a hive, though admits he’s more of an animal expert than a plant expert. As day turns to evening and lantern-light softens the streets, [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] seeks comfort in Solace, bemoaning how the women treat him and how he can’t talk to pretty girls. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] finds [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] and asks if she’s ok. [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] admits she can’t enjoy the festivities while thinking about her parents. [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] links arms with her and explains Springcrest: people rejoice at the end of the dark, cold winter months — the sun rising again, flowers blooming, and the fleeting beauty of spring. ### Back to The Golden Gull They return to The Golden Gull, packed and lively, and find Eli alone at a table waiting for them. Eli thanks them for helping keep his cover intact, and says they need to talk. He asks what their plans are. The group admit they’re torn: they want to rescue the captives, but marching into Lucius’s territory head-on feels like suicide. Too many unknowns. They discuss [[Solland]]. Even Eli says there have been many refugees lately — the place is “going to shit,” the king is going mad, and even the Wilds are beating [[Solland]] back. ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Maps/Solland and Regions.jpg|780]] Eli explains every laboratory is connected via coded portals. He also has his own portal — an escape plan powered by [[World of Tarin/06 - Items & Artifacts/Aetherite|Aetherite]] — but he has no idea where it would take them. Their options seem to be: - Cross the water to the Wilds - Catch a skiff hugging the coastline - Take a portal into the unknown After a lot of deliberation and indecision… they choose a completely different option suggested by Eli after about an hour of conversation. ### Night: hatred, rituals, and a vision As they’re about to head to bed, a patron leaving the tavern stares at the table. [[Elena]] first thinks he’s staring at [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]], but realises he’s staring past him at her pendant — crescent moon and raven feathers. ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/The Misty Peaks Peaks Point Vision 3.jpg|780]] ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/The Misty Peaks Peaks Point Vision 2.jpg|780]] ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/The Misty Peaks Peaks Point Vision 1.jpeg|780]] [[Elena]] makes eye contact and tilts her head. The man stares with pure hatred and storms out. [[Elena]] shrugs it off: she’s used to it — people don’t welcome a cleric whose presence often accompanies death and grief. That night: - [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] performs his ritual of reciting the names of those he must remember. - [[Elena]] takes out her onglette gravers and carves a rune of transference into the plate gauntlet of her left hand. - [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] lies awake thinking about the ritual, her past, her present, and the choices that will define her future… then gives in to sleep and trance. Persephone’s trance is deeper this evening. She experiences a storm-vision: high among thunderclouds, booms echoing all around. She hears the rhythmic thumping she’s heard in earlier visions. She looks down at herself: coated in slick black oil, small flames flickering off her skin. Behind her, oily black wings flap, carrying her through the storm. Ahead, something floats among the clouds. She approaches and sees the silhouette of [[Lucius Neeve]], robes billowing, clouds lit behind him. He doesn’t notice her. He parts the clouds beneath him and gestures, sending bolts of pure energy down to the ground — each impact thudding like a hammer. The ground breaks and shatters as a huge, cosmic-proportioned figure breaks through the vision. Voices ring out: “What are you? Who are you?” “This is not your domain, [[Myvendra]]. Leave this place. Leave her.” The entity sounds worried. “It’s you. You survived. You must help us — my brother is being held captive. He must survive. You must help me.” A black hand reaches out, engulfs [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]], clouds her vision — and the trance ends. ## Session End State > [!success]- Where Things Stand > - [[Raphius Sunward|Raphius]] summons Solace and offers [[Elena]] a ride while [[Myst]] scouts overhead, [[Elena]] seeing through the familiar’s eyes. > - As the three return from the woods — [[Persephone Amoransia Damnari|Persephone]] puffy-eyed — [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] eagerly waves parchment to get their attention. > - It triggers a memory: Soliana, on Mealla’s birthday, gifting her a bee smoker engraved in dwarvish runes meaning “family.” [[Mealla Glynn|Mealla]] remembers hugging her friend, laughing, gossiping, heading toward the tavern. > - They return to The Golden Gull, packed and lively, and find Eli alone at a table waiting for them. > - As they’re about to head to bed, a patron leaving the tavern stares at the table. ## Session Gallery > [!note]- Additional Artwork > ![[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/99 - Attachments/Session Artwork/Session 25/The Misty Peaks Springs Crest Night.jpg|780]] [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 24 - The Bloodhound|← Session 24]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/00 - Campaign Overview/Campaign Overview|Campaign Hub]] · [[Lineage of the Veiled Kin/01 - Sessions/Session 26 - Traitors|Session 26 →]]