Session 12 - The Ice Worm

Taking a moment to rest within the opening of the cave, Arraz takes off the hat of disguise. Toni takes a nap and all heal up from the sprint through the caves below. Arraz makes a long speech apologizing for "Miranda Qifall" acting out so violently toward the party stating that he and the others are trying to put a leash on her but she has some sort of grudge or feud with Toni in particular. Arraz feels guilty for having told the Hunters that they would not be attacked if they kept to themselves yet were attacked anyway. Vordia gets somewhat angered and responds, saying that helping them on this mission as an apology is great and all but the assassin needs to stop attacking the Hunters for it to really mean anything. Arraz also tells the four of them that he is starting to have doubts about Whitebloom. He worries the ends will not justify the means. The party eventually comes to terms with this acting as a semi-truce with Arraz in particular, though their antagonization of Whitebloom as a whole remains.

The Hunters get up and proceed out into the clearing. The clearing has some sparse trees and rocks, ice spikes, and appears to be almost dug down into the mountain. Patch spots the Maius and the party spreads out. Vordia climbs into a tree while the others take cover behind various rocks and pines. Sensing their presence, the Maius rights itself like a striking cobra and unleashes a hail of black ice to threaten the troop. The group hesitates, but Arraz pulls out a pistol and aims to shoot. Picking up on the cue, Patch draws a bow and Vordia slings her spells. But all of these blows just glance off the icy plating of the massive worm. The beast shoots out its mandibles from these stretchy tendrils of flesh which rip into Toni. Gab rushes over and heals her. The rest of the crew spend time trying to flank or distract the ice worm yet it keeps evading or blocking their attacks. Vordia calls an unseen servant to shake trees while she throws more eldritch blasts, and they slowly start to deal some damage. The ice worm keeps shooting massive freezing pillars up at everyone, most of them evading or riding the pillars to their peaks. Gab scores a number of devastating hits alongside Toni thanks to his Bless spell. The Maius tunnels into the ground and reemerges further back, releasing another breath of black ice. It hits most of the party who take a load of damage, Toni being knocked unconscious and falling to the ground from a pillar. The monster then pulled Gab in with the retractable mandibles and froze him solid within an ice spike. His final living thoughts were of Melodious Vow and how he was unable to help her, and how he just hoped that the Maius would be spared destruction. Seeing their friend frozen and unaware of his status, the party releases all they have. Vordia jumps down from her tree and rushes over with a Sorching Ray, which reflects off of the ice spike containing Gab and incinerates the Maius as it collapses to the ground.

But it is a victory with a cost. Patch rushes over to stabilize Toni while Vordia and Arraz go to unfreeze Gab. They melt the ice cube with a variety of spells and tinder, but upon receiving him they discover a heart devoid of any beat. The whole tone darkens. After a moment to process, the three standing decide to split. Arraz stays back to try and collect whatever riches to perhaps aid in a resurrection ritual. Vordia and Patch scavenge what they can, including a few magical items. The two of them take an unconscious Toni and deceased Gab down through the cave, finding that the yetis they'd encountered before seemed to have run off after the meal they had with their former companion. They make brisk pace back to Saile, informing Onika through the Sending Stone what happened. The two push through the night and eventually Toni wakes, distraught at the news of Gab. Not long after, the Hunters spot a trail of purple off in the distance in the deep night. They pause their march and tense as it draws near. Coming closer, they see it is Onika who came out to help them. The party fill Onika in on what happened in more detail, and with their magical assistance, speed back to Saile the rest of the way.

As they run through the streets, they make the decision to head back to the Emerald Scent to see if there is anything they can do. At the door to Greenhall stands Palatine, Capitoline's twin brother. Vordia yells at him to let them in, which he instantly obliges seeing the situation. They run up to the top floor where Sila resides. Sila greets the party dressed in silks as it is deep into the night at this point. The party enters her room and set Gab down on the satin couch that rests in the middle of the grand bedroom. Sila gently caresses Gab's face and casts Gentle Repose while she summons two of her clerics. The party proposes a deal with the leader of the Scent, and they agree that the party may cover half the cost of a Raise Dead spell and owe a debt to Sila if she can provide the other half. Upon agreement, Sila retreats downstairs to the gang's treasury to acquire the components for the ritual. Patch notices a purple glow on Gab and reaches into his pocket. They pulls out a peculiar purple crystal that pulses with light. Instantly, their vision fades as it is overcome with a sight of a large metallic creature hastening through the wilderness. Their vision returns and they quickly set the gem back.

As the group try to pool their funds from the ice worm's lair, a rumble shifts through the room. And another. A low hum turns to a loud screech of splitting stone. Above them, the stone ceiling of Sila's abode cracks. Everyone in the room readies themselves. It cracks some more. A hole forms not unlike the one the Hunters made in the sinus of the dead Maius. And from that hole drops a brass-colored orb the size of a beach ball. It rotates to reveal two bright purple eyes and a voice emanates. She says that she felt Gab's life force fall and rushed over as quickly as possible. She claims she can help bring back Gab. She turns to Patch and just asks simply "Do I know you?". And Patch falls unconscious.