> [!infobox|wikipedia] > # Recording > [](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vUsAayuv30) > # Basic Information > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Session # | 23 | > Play Date | 2024-10-06 | > Players | Deathmouse<br>JC<br>Kiwi<br>Lacer<br>Vael | > Party Level | 6 | > # Session Details > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Date | [[Campaigns/The Bloody Nails/Calendar/Year - 2507/02 - Water, 2nd.png\|5th Water, 2nd - 2507]]<br>to<br>[[Campaigns/The Bloody Nails/Calendar/Year - 2507/02 - Water, 2nd.png\|7th Water, 2nd - 2507]] | > Location | [[Val Miriel]]<br>[[The Ruby Falls Goldmine]] > Characters | [[Jerek]]<br>[[Thaddeus Karr]]<br>[[Trak Aeris]] | ## Summary The session began in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion at [[Serenity Plaza]]. Under the cover of [[Kai]]’s fog cloud and a floating illusion of a mercury nail, the party fled the scene, racing back to [[River's Watch]] to retrieve their wagon. While the main group bluffed their way through the eastern gates of [[Val Miriel]] just before lockdown, [[Eryndor]] was pulled aside by the mysterious [[Trak Aeris]]. This detour led him deep into the hidden sanctuary of [[The Order of Ravens]], where he held a sombre vigil at the bedside of his dying father, [[Jerek]]. Securing new contacts and a signet from the Nest father, [[Thaddeus Karr]], Eryndor rode hard to reunite with his companions on the road north. The journey to the mountains was fraught with tension but devoid of combat. [[Vaeleran]] utilised his imposing presence - and his past identity as [[General Korvas]] - to intervene in a roadside harassment of some merchants by Imperial soldiers, allowing the party to pass without bloodshed. Upon arriving at [[The Ruby Falls Goldmine]], the party found an unsettling silence. The worker huts were abandoned, devoid of bodies but marked by strange, deep scratches and overturned furniture. Venturing into the mine, the investigation turned from mystery to horror. The party explored the dark tunnels, sending a flaming minecart careening down the tracks to illuminate the depths. In a newly excavated tunnel, they discovered a breach into a natural cavern filled with luminescent mushrooms and strange, white stalagmites. Upon closer inspection, Kai realized the "stalagmites" were actually soft, sticky webs containing the preserved corpses of the missing miners. As [[Ryo]] fired a flaming arrow deeper into the cavern to investigate, the silence was shattered by the sound of thousands of skittering legs rushing toward them from the darkness. ## Details ### Escape from Val Miriel * **The flight:** Following the battle with the fire elementals, [[Kai]] cast *Fog Cloud* and *Spiritual Weapon* (creating a giant spinning nail symbol) to cover their escape. [[Ryo]] used *Disguise Self* to blend in. * **The split:** At [[River's Watch]], the party retrieved their wagon. [[Trak Aeris]] appeared and requested [[Eryndor]] follow him, separating him from the group. * **The Gate:** The main party reached the eastern gate just as guards were debating closing it. The guards, anxious about the chaos in the city, waved them through without a thorough inspection. ### The Raven's Nest (Eryndor's Arc) * **The Hideout:** [[Trak Aeris|Trak]] led [[Eryndor]] through [[The Artisan Way]] and into a luxurious, gold-trimmed tavern called [[The Gilded Crow]]. A secret entrance behind a keg led to The Nest, a massive underground base with a river running through its centre. * **Jerek:** Eryndor was taken to his father, [[Jerek]], who had collapsed from exhaustion. They shared a brief, emotional conversation where Jerek revealed a lead on Eryndor’s mother: a Raven named Jema in [[Val Luminor]] believes Elves are being held in the dungeons there. * **The Nestfather:** Eryndor met with [[Thaddeus Karr]], the Nestfather. Thaddeus provided a Raven brooch and agreed to send word to the Nest in [[Val Aran]] to expect "[[The Bloody Nails]]." * **Departure:** Eryndor briefly saw the young girl [[Lia]] training with a rapier before securing a horse from Lady Marielle at The Gilded Crow to rush back to the party. ### The Journey North * **Regrouping:** The party camped on the road; [[Dondar]] transcribed spells while [[Kai]] and [[Ryo]] foraged. [[Eryndor]] rejoined them the following afternoon. * **The Imperial Encounter:** The group spotted Imperial soldiers harassing a merchant wagon. * **The Bluff:** [[Vaeleran]] approached the captain. Utilising *Eagle's Splendor* cast by Kai, Vaeleran successfully intimidated the captain by implying he was on a secret mission as [[General Korvas]]. The soldiers backed down, and Kai bought flour from the relieved merchants. * **The Turnoff:** They eventually reached the overgrown, snowy path leading to [[The Ruby Falls Goldmine]]. ### Investigation of Ruby Falls * **The Surface:** The mine exterior was abandoned. The waterfall cascaded over red moss, giving it the appearance of bleeding ruby. * **The Huts:** The worker cabins were empty. There was no blood, but furniture was overturned, and large, straight scratch marks were found on the floors and walls. * **The Workshop:** The ore processing area and wheelhouse were running but empty. No refined gold was found, only raw ore, suggesting whatever attacked wasn't interested in wealth. ### Into the Depths * **The Entry:** [[Kai]] cast *Eyes of the Night* to give the party darkvision. [[Dondar]] placed an *Alarm* spell at the entrance. * **The Flaming Cart:** In the staging area, the party loaded a minecart with wood, lit it on fire, and kicked it down the main track. It rolled until it stopped on a bridge in a massive natural cavern, revealing only more abandoned equipment. * **The Alien Tunnel:** Backtracking, the party explored a side tunnel. They found strange circular markings in the gravel, resembling walking stick indentations of varying sizes. * **The Breach:** The tunnel ended where miners had broken through into a humid, natural cavern filled with glowing fungi and strange dust. * **The Webs:** The party found large, greyish-white "stalagmites." Kai poked one with his spear, discovering it was soft and sticky. Cutting it open revealed a dead human miner encased within. * **The Climax:** [[Vaeleran]] burned one of the webs, revealing a corpse with massive bite marks. [[Ryo]] shot a flaming arrow deep into the tunnel, hitting a massive wall of webbing. * **Cliffhanger:** As the fire spread on the distant web, a loud, chittering sound of skittering legs began to echo from the deep, rushing toward the party.