NIGHTWICK ABBEY: The Purple Eater of People, Session 21

 

Previously in Nightwick...

Corfu (Dwarf 1)
Mayfly (Magic-user 2.5)
Ianthi (Changling 1)
Grant (Fighter 1)
Sotar (Cleric 2)
Brother Bréagadóir (Cleric 1)

In a swamp somewhere...

On the 30th of Leftember one day before the 1st of Quentember which is the Feast Day of St. Richard the Pryre, the party sets out ahead of the angel Malibek & the pilgrims. The angel knows the shrine is not a tomb, it's lost, and most likely on the heath. So, with a horn, to summon the angel, the party sets off.

THE WITCH: Traveling south the party stumbled upon a stooped figure picking flowers. The party dives behind a collection of rocks and shrubs, but not before the figure becomes aware of them. Now drawing itself to full height, the party can see there are also vulture-like aspects to this figure.

Brother Bréagadóir  steps out and says, "HelllloooooOOoo!" After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the witch agrees to give information in exchange for something and proceeds to drift over to the party in an open coffin containing her mother's corpse. The witch proposes a kiss first. Brother Bréagadóir declines on the account of the chivalric code. The witch then proposes he hand over his "lance". Brother Bréagadóir declines again citing that without his "lace", he could not then resist using it, which is a key element to his faith. The witch mulls that over and says, "Hmmm well that makes sense." And leaves with one parting bit:

"The shrine you seek is North, a man with fire for eyes will be there, and when you see him, tell him Goodie Gallows sent you!"

THE CASTLE: A a brief discussion, the party decides that it's best not to follow the mostly unpaid for advice of a witch. Because such advice is most likely a lie. The party turns further south. In the distance, as the sun drops low, the party sees a set of ruins. Mayfly feels this would be a great place to rest (maybe loot), while Sotar feels the exact opposite. The party reaches the ruins by nightfall. They light up torches and try to poke around the ruined keep.

Eventually, this was met with opposition. Heads seemingly covered in flesh masks popped up from the ruined keep's crenulation. Arrows fired from the top, spearing Ianthi! The party rushes to grab her and pull her out of range. A forced camp is made and bandages applied.

THE HUNTSMEN: In the morning the party moves southwest and encounters three bizarre things. The first is a large boar seemingly triumphant among a group of large crushed spiders. The second is a collection of 11 wolf skins seemingly devoid of anything inside as if the wolf in the skin just left it. The third is then meeting 11 men, dressed comically in peasant dress as if from a play, hunting a large boar.

The party, wary of their number, keeps their distance but directs the group of 11 to the location of the boar. 

THE SHRINE: With the light quickly fading the party chooses one last direction. Cresting the top of a low hill, the party sees a twisted tree wrapped around the statue of St. Richard! "Blow the horn!"

And at the cessation of the heavenly bellow, the angel appears in all its geometric glory. The shining three-sided representation of Law itself, bereft of its human skin, fires a searing light toward the twisted tree. Searing it to ashes, the angel then disappears!

There was much rejoicing. But with very little food because no one really packed for a party.

...and no gold.

To solve this problem, Brother Bréagadóir suggests that the party sell the location of the formerly lost shrine to the Bishop of Lychgate. Brilliant!