The Old Lands - Session 14 - 7/21/2025

🪨 Session 13 – “The Egg & The Echo”

Date: 6/23/2025
Location: The seas and coastline of the Glass Coast.
DM: Collin Ritzinger
Players: Dillon (Grim), Emily (Stevia), Matt (Oberyn)

📜 Session Recap

The party ventured across the volatile volcanic terrain of the Glass Coast, led by their faithful guide Scrambles and narrowly avoiding natural disasters through clever skill checks. Upon reaching a ritual site, Uncle Dino attempted to sever Oberyn’s soul from the corrupted obsidian egg, triggering a catastrophic blast that left Oberyn dead. Desperate to bring him back, the party prepared an ambush on Skiffler, a mutated green dragon, crafting a deadly explosive and infiltrating the lair to rescue hostages and set the trap. The resulting battle was chaotic and cinematic—complete with an elephant summoned from a wand—culminating in Skiffler’s defeat and Oberyn’s resurrection. With new treasure in hand and their bond stronger than ever, the party now turns its eyes downward, preparing to descend into the Underdark. First, however, they must deal with the encroaching swarm of glass gators.

The Hermit’s Identity Revealed - Gear Distribution & Preparation

Session 14 opened with Grim becoming the first to figure out the true identity of the engimatic Hermit. The Hermit was one of many identities of the goddess, Rozvankee. It also turned out Rozvankee revealed herself to the party and helped them along their journey several times already. Rozvankee was spying on the party and overheard this revelation. She rewarded them many items for their continued help.

The party then distributed their rewards received from Rozvankee. Grim eagerly claimed a dragon slaying musket, Oberyn took the dragon slaying longsword, and Stevia chose a dragon slaying short bow, storing an additional dragon slaying short bow and dragon slaying low boy safely in their bag of holding. As the party discussed equipment and strategic capabilities, preparations were made to confront the incoming threat: a swarm of aggressive glass gators. With Stevia's sharp perception, the group recognized they were surrounded by over 4 dozen of these creatures, howling ominously in the distance.

Leveraging their abilities and magical items, the party formulated a quick plan. Stevia used her Carpet of Flying, Grim readied himself strategically, and Oberyn employed a magical Bellhop Topper. This allowed everyone to get off of the dangerous swamp floors. Understanding the looming threat, they agreed to avoid direct combat and instead prepare to support Scrambles, their loyal glass gator companion.

The alpha glass gator and his swarm surrounds Scrambles and the party.

King Maw & The Glass Gator Swarm, Rise of the King Omelet

Scrambles was visibly agitated by the approach of the Alpha Glass Gator, King Maw, signaling the inevitable clash for dominance. The party quickly decided to aid Scrambles indirectly through a skill challenge. Stevia cast Speak with Animals to communicate directly, revealing Scrambles' determination to prove himself stronger and his plea for subtle support. Grim insightfully identified weaknesses in the Alpha, which Stevia swiftly communicated, while Oberyn used his physical presence to intimidate and prevent other glass gators from interfering.

The battle escalated dramatically as Scrambles grappled ferociously with King Maw. Stevia inspired him through a stirring performance on her bagpipes, playing an intense rendition of "Eye of the Tiger." Oberyn's intimidating size held back the swarm, supporting Scrambles as he wrestled for dominance, and Grim provided tactical as well as medical advice. After a brutal struggle, Scrambles emerged victorious, earning the new title "King Omelet." In a touching farewell, Scrambles chose to stay behind to lead his newfound subjects, giving Grim a symbolic alpha call whistle and promising future aid. Scrambles and the swarm also agreed to escort the parties to a safe entrance to the Underdark.

Scrambles defeats King Maw and becomes the new alpha of the glass gator swarm

Underdark Exploration Begins, Discovery of the Faerzress

Scrambles and the glass gators reveal a sinkhole to the Underdark.

Venturing deeper into the Underdark, the party navigated treacherous volcanic terrain and unstable tunnels, until coming to the Bonechime Bridge. The Bonechime Bridge was stretched over a nearly bottomless bit cut into a perfect circle. This bridge was made even more dangerous by the presence of volatile fungal spores and strong gusts of the Faerzress. With careful skill checks and cooperative teamwork, they avoided any complications while crossing the bridge.

Astute snooping from Grim, however, revealed they were not alone. A powerful group of drows from the rival empire of Rhaglunieath and under the direct orders of Arch-General Xazrith herself. Further great investigative work by the party not only helped them avoid confrontation with slimes that could endless regenerate, but they also successfully sabotaged this Drow’s party progress. This allowed the party to get a good distance in front of the dangerous Drows.

Regenerative slimes lurk within the reflective surfaces of the Faerzress melted rock of the Underdark.

🌌 Faerzress – The Bleed of a Forgotten God

Overview:
Faerzress is a unique environmental phenomenon that suffuses the Underdark above Ca’Nip and Delvahrum. In the Age of Black, it is more than a magical interference—it's the subconscious bleed of Ebrietas, an Outer God who seeks to forget itself. This irradiated psionic haze disrupts normal metaphysical processes and infects the very fabric of memory, Source, and rest.

Environmental Effect:
When taking a long rest, any creature that wishes to regain spell slots must succeed on a DC 18 Charisma saving throw. On a failure, spell slots are not regained. The Faerzress resists restoration—those who sleep in its currents awaken drained, hollow, and occasionally... altered.

• Short rests are unaffected, making this environment unusually favorable for warlocks and short-rest-centric builds.
• Drow scouts have been spotted using amulets that seem to shield them from Faerzress entirely, hinting at their unholy pacts and aberrant patrons.

Narrative Implications:
Faerzress is both passive and reactive. The more the party interacts with it, the more it remembers... and the more dangerous the consequences become. This divine haze may provoke temporal paradoxes, fragmented dreams, or even mirror-versions of the players echoing through broken timelines.

Adventurers who investigate or sever Faerzress veins may gain brief but potent boons:

“Faerzress is not evil by intent—it is trauma echoing through magic. It doesn’t punish. It forgets. And in doing so, it erases what touches it.”

A dangerous Faerzress Bloom and the strange fungal creatures that thrive off it.

The Ossuary Garden & The Drow Party

The party infiltrated the Ossuary Garden, an eerily beautiful place guarded by mysterious dryads known as the Bonewives. Negotiations were delicate, with Stevia successfully convincing the dryads of their mutual interest: defeating a nearby group of drow who threatened the stability of the region. The dryads tasked the adventurers with bringing back the heads of these drow as proof of their sincerity and alliance.

Using superior tactics and stealth, the party successfully orchestrated an ambush on the drow. They skillfully separated the tabaxis slaves away from their drow captures, strategically employing deception and distraction to avoid direct confrontation until the perfect moment. When the last tabaxi slave was finally out of danger's way, Grim's started an avalanche that killed all the drow.

The dryad witch coven of the Ossuary Gardens

Tabaxis Join The Crusade, Dryads Give Their Rewards

After their victorious ambush, the group freed the tabaxi slaves. The party found that two tabaxi were the moral leaders of the group - Murv and She-Who-Sings-To-Chains. Both tabaxis came from a federation of tabaxi clans found within the Fractured Lands. It seemed these tabaxis had goals that overlapped somewhat with the Black Church’s and agreed to join the Black Church’s cause. Murv specifically wanted to reunite with his brother, Murf, and see all tabaxi freed. She-Who-Sings-To-Chains wanted to avenge her clan and bring divine judgement upon the evil Drow empire.

Oberyn recovered three drow heads from the aftermath, satisfying the dryads' gruesome demand. In return, the dryads presented Stevia with a powerful sacrificial mask - the Visage of the Old Ways. The Dryads’ typically cryptic speech was overwhelmed with excitement in Stevia. The dryads revealed themselves to not just be cultists of Kalé, but a coven of witches who wished to resurrect an Armageddon Beast that died in the First Age. They also invited Stevia into their coven. Stevia, lying through her teeth, showed feigned excitement to join after her mission was completed. During this distraction, Grim stole 5 perserved pituitary glands of tarassques. This would allow Stevia (or someone from the Black Church) to cast the legendary spell, Cataract of Fire, five times.

The Choir of It-THAt-Was-Never-Born,

The party then entered what was called the Choir of It-That-Was-Never-Born. This appeared to be a large chamber of black glass faces, each weeping blood or singing in backward tongues. In the center, a still pool reflected nothing—literally nothing. The party could hear faint signing coming from the reflective mirrors and the still pool within the chamber. It was discovered that a strange semi-divine aberration was hiding in the reflective pool.

The create spoke to the party telepathically and revealed itself as Midwife of the Folded Eye. It protected what was unborn here. The strange, powerful creature also offered a challenge to those who were worthy of feeding their child. The Midwife of the Folded Eye revealed they would lose their name and identity, but also be granted a curse and a great boon. The party wisely decided to skip this challenge and save their energy for the remarkable dangers that lurked beyond.

The Choir of It-That-Was-Never-Born and the Midwife of the Folded Eye that lives there.

Fungal City & the Maw of Names

The party finally reached a safe cavern to rest. They also discovered, however, they were not alone. A migrating city of fungal humanoids were also resting here. This city seemed to be looking for a safe way back into the Middledark and then the Lowerdark. Though a path nearby proved to be the shortest path through both the Middledark and Lowerdark, it was remarkably dangerous. The corruption of Ebrietas and its Faerzress lurked here.

The fungal city would be avoiding this path, but wished the party well and offered them access to their shops. The party restocked their supplies and acquired unique magical items. This included 3 Tears of the Hyphal Saints and 3 Crypt Marrow Charms. With new resources in hand, the party prepared themselves mentally and physically for their impending descent through the Maw of Names and into deeper, more perilous territory.

The Maw of Names stands between the party and their way through the Middledark and Underdark.

🗨️ Quotable Quotes

“The egg is gone... but your soul isn't clean, Oberyn. Just unshackled.”

— Uncle Dino

“Don’t worry, I’ve cooked worse than dragon gland. Once made soup from a screamer eel’s resentment.”

— Senji Izganda

“I’ll talk to the hostages. My face is the least terrifying thing in this cavern.”

— Tim Patty

“Grim. Steady your hands. We’re crafting a trap, not a tomb.”

— Stevia Nox

“There’s two kinds of bitterness in this world—dragon spite and false friendship. I’ll feed you the first, and warn you ‘bout the second.”

— Senji Izganda

“Next time I get resurrected, I expect a drink waiting. And less ash in my beard.”

— Oberyn Stoneveil

“The elephant stays. He’s part of the crew now.”

— Gianni “No-Shoes” Feretti