02. September 26, 2009

After resting, Marzolo destroys the Shadowfell Gloves obtained in the last encounter and dwarven greaves to create 2 new +1 amulet of protection. Darwynn uses her alchemy skill to create alchemist acid, alchemist frost, tangle foot bag, antivenom, 2 thunderstones, and clearsense. Marzolo thought over the history of Tieflings and recalled that they could imbue swords with the power of a demon, so it's possible that when Jelenneth was hit with Devik's sword, she was taken over by a demon.

The Party decides to try to track Jelenneth through the tunnels and discover that she moved very quickly at first, and then began to slow down as she moved, probably due to the wound she sustained when attacked. The blood found on the trail appears to be normal. She appears to have a four day head start, and emerged from the tunnels near the Vale of the Dead where the Party encountered the undead at the shack. Kayla tracks Jelenneth above ground with help from Glowen, with the rest of the Party following behind.

Near the Vale of the Dead, the Party decides to rest. Everyone has nightmares:

The Party members wake to discover that their dreams were more real than they thought. They are each standing in a tiny microcosm of their dreams, floating in the ether. They can see but not reach each other, and they are all facing foes. Upon examination, Glowen is unable to determine what foe she is facing. The minions (Dream Motes) keep popping into existence, so the Party decides to try to take out the "big red guy" (Dream Sentinel). Glowen eventually kills the Dream Sentinel, shattering it into pieces. When this happens, the Party sees a feather-covered dark-skinned human appear in the pieces, and then dissapear. The Party then wakes from the dream. Kayla and Glowen notice a pulsing glowing light over the Vale of the Dead, just as the Party saw the last time it was here. The Party goes back to sleep and rises late the next morning.

In the morning, Darwynn doles out alchemical items to the party. Marzolo makes 4 potions of healing for the party to use. Kayla then continues to track Jelenneth with the rest of the Party in tow. Kayla loses the trail, but the Party proceeds in the direction that the tracks were headed to try to find Jelenneth, but on further investigation it turns out that the tracks simply stop. This is because Jelenneth has been ambushed and captured by the Yaunti Malison. Kayla feels that it would be very difficult to track the Yaunti Malison, but she tries anyway. She is unsuccessful. The Party members wrack their brains trying to come up with some way of protecting themselves from the dreams they experience. As Shelby Thundersword considers what she knows of religion, she realizes that Papantzlin was able to manipulate a dream to give Shelby an object (augmenting whetstone). The Party decides to visit the Outcasts to try to learn how to manipulate dreams in the same way that the dark-skinned humans have been.

When the Party arrives at the Outcasts village and is welcomed in. Shelby talks to Papantzlin, and Marzolo talks to Luc to see if they can offer advice on how to use dreams for communication and transfer of objects. Papantzlin suggests that Shelby talk to Tlacelel (her chieftain father) and she offers to translate. Tlacelel proclaims that, since Shelby is a friend of his tribe, a ritual can be performed for each member of the Party to bind them to their dreams and give them control over them. This ritual is considered to be a secret of Tectelhiahtlo. To perform this ritual, a rare ingredient is required: the Coaxoxouhqui, also known as the snake plant. It is long and viney with thick viney tendrils and fiberous roots with massive white flowers. The Party needs to bring the flowers back to the village to the ritual. They only grow in one place - the same location as the ancient tree. The plants allow you to access your dreams, and is located deep in the heart of Yaunti Malison territory. The Party decides to go to the ancient tree to try to get the flowers for the ritual.

On their way to the ancient tree, the Party attempted to sneak through the jungle but discovered they had been unsuccessful when the were attacked by two Yaunti Malison. Glowen killed the male Yaunti Malison archer, while Kayla knocked out the male Yaunti Malison brute as he attempted to run away. The Party interrogates the Yaunti Malison brute, but he refuses to speak until Darwynn talks to him diplomatically. He mentions that the patrols in the area are not predetermined, and the number fluctuates between 1/2 dozen to 2 dozen depending on the time of the month (lunar cycle determines how many are allowed out vs. how many must stay at "home" where the beacon is). He mentions that about 400 of his people live near the beacon. He's unhappy that the Nemians AKA the Tieflings, have returned and do not like the Party because of their association with Tieflings. The Yaunti did find a lone Nemian that they have captured. The Party thinks this may be Jelenneth. The Yaunti have a truce with the ancient tree and they do not bother it - the last time they warred the ancient tree raised the entire jungle up against them. When asked about the fire people, the Yaunti indicates that they sometimes work with the Nezahualpili. When asked if the Yaunti recognizes a sketch of the dark-skinned human who was in the dreams of the Party, all he can say is that it looks like a Nezahualpili. The beacon is a tribute to Zehir.

Items Acquired:

    • Scimitar

    • Long Bow

    • 13 arrows

    • Great sword