Runes of Flesh
| Runes of Flesh | |
|---|---|
| Date | 9/15/23 |
| Storyteller | Doug |
| Tier | Trainee - hard |
| Player Characters | Kasumi, Amani Hashmi, Lunaris Nightbloom, V, Terog Shalesmiter, Bees |
| Rewards | 180 gold, Rune of Luxuria, 250xp |
| Result | Success |
| Author | Kasumi |
| Downtime | 7 |
The Round table has requested further investigation into the land of Thassilon
Log
Spurred by even more questions about the nature of the portal and locations beyond in this realm now known as Thassilon, the Round table called upon associates experienced with this grim place to once again investigate the secrets within. The group, consisting of Amani, Lunaris, V, Terog, Bees, Cees, and myself, made quick pace to the now familiar crypt. Unsure where the portal would take our group this time, Amani elected for her construct, Samir, to first take the plunge. After a moment, the rest of the party followed suit to discover that other end of the portal opened into another coffin, forced open by Samir and still containing an mummified occupant. A deep darkness prevailed through the area, even our lights seemed to diminish in their luminance as we explored our desiccated surroundings. Cursory investigation revealed that we were within what would have once been an extravagant cathedral, dwarfing the construction and size of the place of worship we found ourselves in on our first expedition through the portal.
Almost immediately after gaining our bearings we found our first 'living' occupant of the once-grand building, a completely dried out mummy sporting a pair of dark blue eyes and a smile locked onto its lips. We began to investigate and ponder the state of these beings while Terog elected to scout around the perimeter of the ruined cathedral alone. Examination of the dried out body revealed it was in a dreamlike stupor, with the same breath of life within that other similar remains had in previous expeditions. Deeper exploration revealed more and more of these husks, sporadically dotted throughout the building, and even deeper exploration found an altar. Upon this cracked and forgotten altar we found four symbols of some kind of religious significance: a spear, a staff, a coin, and a familiar goblet that we observed when discovering the Rune of Gula. Terog still hasn't returned to the group, so we set forth to investigate. A couple of us experience whispers and a general sense of being watched while making our way around the building to find Terog locked in a dreamlike slumber. While Rousing him, the being responsible attempted to lure another of our number. The culprit was a being enshrouded in a dark cloak, drifting through the building as if it were sleepwalking while enticing us to approach it. A strange sense of calm and relaxation came over all of us within its presence, even some of us being put into a slumber where they report having their ideal dream playout in front of their eyes. Eventually, we found a way to stop this being from locking us into dreams by attempting to instead wake the robed figure itself. Successfully waking the creature revealed one of the mummified remains to be left in its place, and the robes appearing on another to continue it's mission. Destroying all the remains removed this threat.
Having mapped our the bulk of the building, only a small building off to the side of the larger cathedral remained. In here we discovered what was left of the runelord who we assume was responsible for the state of those remains and spirits. It granted us yet another vision.
The Vision
A large ceremony is being held in honor of a woman clad in purple robes, she wears an old crown clearly passed down from leader past and holds a staff that depicts of woman in prayer. From this point onwards, this passage will refer to her Lady Sorshen.
Next we see Lady Sorshen enter a room followed by aides carrying a gurney. A top the bed lay a man grievously injured, and the aides seem assured that he will not live much longer. Seemingly upset by this, Lady Sorshen acts to soothe the man's mind knowing that there is little she could do for his condition. The man smiles as his final moments come, whispering that he is visited by "an angel with the sweetest smile" as she cares for him. That smile would carry over to his death, similar to the smile put upon everyone we had encountered before this vision.
Another flash, and we are transported a scene upon the road leading to those same chambers. Lady Sorshen makes her way down the road before being accosted by her aides, a woman and a confused child. The woman insists her child is possessed by demons and that the lady remedy the situation. To which the lady assures he is not afflicted by demons, but of night terrors which she promptly attempts to remove by pressing her hand to his forehead. The disquiet apparent on the child is quickly replaced by a familiar, empty, blissful smile. Lady Sorshen seems fatigued by the act, but relieved upon seeing the child suffer no longer.
Rapid scenes begin to flash in this vision, a montage of various individuals in need seeking Lady Sorshen's help that she always provides without fail. At last our vision focuses on the lady within her chambers, exhausted. Her aides surround her, encouraging her to rest for a time, but she refuses. More people are waiting to be healed.
Next we see even more and more ailing peoples, all manners of horrible afflictions, all remedied by Lady Sorshen, all taxing her more and more. She wakes up screaming in her own bed, sweating from her own night terrors. Her senses dull, confusion sets over her amid a cacophony of voices asking for treatment. One moment she's in her bed, the next she's treating a patient, the next she's in public, all place and times blurring together.
A moment of clarity comes into focus as Lady Sorshen is surrounded by other priests, a sense of accomplishment, celebration is in the air as she's gifted a present sent by the other runelords in appreciation for her work. In sharp contrast, she is completely disheveled looking ill and missing moons worth of sleep. She turns towards substance abuse to keep herself going, not heeding her aides' advice to rest even as she poisons herself with drugs to continue. The celebration ends in a fit of vomit.
Scenes of mania play out where Lady Sorshen yells at her patients, growing more desperate to see each and every person healed. She goes to such lengths as taking these patients into deep physical embraces. The treatment continues to grow increasingly involved as she finds herself naked often, then forcing herself onto patients, even doing unspeakable acts upon minors in her care. Everyone she interacts with is left with a smile, but at long last she looks at herself and see what a wretched creature she's become.
Using her staff she carves the familiar smile onto her own face, and dies with blood pouring from her ripped apart cheeks. - Kasumi