Ven 33-34, 2424 - Session 11 - Getting the Shaft

With our new found knowledge of the Stonewell mine we all split up to find out some information to help us prepare for what might be to come.

Laslyn decided to check with the blacksmiths at the smithy. She offered her strength to assist them in exchange for information. She found out the mine was closed 22 years ago due to collapsed and missing persons. Officially due to structural issues, but it sounds like there was a demonic ritual area that was breached and caused some havoc. Deep in the mine there was Glassroot discovered, a rare opaque minty green mineral used for enchantments and rituals. Lastly she heard of a man that came out of the mine shaken and wide eyed and never spoke again until his death 10 years later. She further found out that the mining caused some crazy harmonics that caused the mines to flicker due to the Glassroot in the walls. After a few hours of hard work and talking to the smithies Theran, impressed with her work ethic and help, rummaged through his work bench and withdrew a large talon as big as a dagger and offered it to her. The moment she grasped it the forge flames flared up and she felt a great warmth well up inside her. The talon pulsing and glowing faintly. This is the "Claw of Exiled Flame"

Z'ed and I decided to check out town hall for records of the mine's layout or any documents that could have useful information. We met with Marna the village elder. I went to see if i could find any documents about how the mine was constructed and built so we might be able to avoid becoming victims in a cave-in or becoming lost. I found some records that mentioned the excavations of Glassroot, a substance which is now banned was causing hallucinations and strange happens like "shafts being swallowed" and disappearing. Z'ed found some information about some druids that had used some magic circle to seal off parts of the mine due to evil presence emanating from it. As I was looking trough papers there was some weird smudge of ink or ichor that burst off the page and nearly hit me but missed and singed the wall next to me. WTF was that! I dug further back through some of the older papers and found a blueprint of the ritual that was found in the mine. Looks to be a planar binding circle. The symbols on it match some of the runes we found on the Seamwalkers. Seems like they were a vassal or servant for something deeper and more sinical. Z'ed found a chest of some of the notes of the druids. She found a field log with a gorgeous picture inside that had written "". there was a vial hidden inside the pages. She appeared to me to zone out for a second as she looked into it. It was like she wasn't there with me anywhere else but her mind was off somewhere else. After talking to her the vial is some fancy ass tattoo ink that adapts and grows stronger as she does.

Klackers went off on his own to ask about any sicknesses or ailments the mine has caused in its past. While looking through some old medical records he read about a man, the same man Laslyn was hearing about that survived the last cave-in of the mine, he was given the nicknamed the Pale one after the incident. Further digging he found in some tomb of corrupted religious texts he read about "Kaelor the Bound", A name that doesn't appear in newer referenced and texts.

Bruin and Amani went off to mingle with some townsfolk. Bruin started asking about the mine being shut down. Amani taking a different approach went looking for the village "baddie", Shavawnda, to chat her up. They found out from her the Druids told the crew to not start drilling that area and they disregarded that caution. She found a body and gave them a Syndicate Manifest she found on it that referenced some big moves a couple weeks prior. Amani found a sigil that gave off some dark Seamwalker vibes and a voice when she touched it. Fortunately she said her tomb struck back and shielded her mind from the intrusion.

We all met back up and found Klackers had gotten back sooner than the rest and started preparing for us to set out. He commissioned a couple wagons and supplies to take us to the mine to cut down on our travel time. Thank god. I'm tired of walking so far. I got short ass legs. P.I.P. waddled up to the cart as we are about to head out. He was holding a small clasp of metal. He said he made it for me. He mentioned he had a dream of burning but a warm burning. Machines shouldn't have dreams. That's unsettling. He dropped the clasp in my hands. It snapped perfectly into my bandoleer. "P.I.P.'s Singed Clasp" Something tells me this little gift is more than a simple clasp. This little automaton experiment that is P.I.P. is proving full of surprises.

We head out on the road. Klackers curious of P.I.P. inspects him poking and prodding him. Against my wishes Klackers chose to take this time to teach P.I.P. even more foul language in Tanuki. Greaaat! -_-
Further along the road we come across a small structure with a small bear effigy outside. The structure weathered and old. Sunken in the ground it appears to be an alter of some kind. We take a little rest here. Bruin recognized it as an effigy and shrine to her deity. He tried to clean it up and make it look more up to its stature and the honor it deserves. Z'ed cleared the debris and made a small offering to the shrine. We all felt a warmth and blessing upon us almost as a thanks for her effort.

We arrive close to the mines and the camp crew we hired started setting up a base camp with traps and protections. An area we can fall back to in case something goes sideways once we enter the mine. We all pitched in collecting supplies like firewood and the like. While collecting firewood Laslyn got spooked and told the others she felt someone was following her. Not sure if its just paranoia or if someone is tracking us. Amani was clearing some moss and brush and found a faded sigil. A single word carved beneath it. But it seemed to be in a language unknown to her. She comes back and no one recognized the language. I mix up a quick Comprehension Elixir so she can go back and read it. Turned out to be diabolic in nature and said "Kaelor". The same name Klackers found in his research in town. Following Amani back toward the entrance I found some Glassrook that looked like a spiral sigil that shifts upon closer examination. It looked like a tunnel or a mouth that knows me. I felt as if I was walking into it. The sigil shifts and I see the faces of my companions. As I peer into it I feel a presence gazing back at me. This area seems to play tricks on the mind. Bruin saw the shrine flicker. Z'ed saw her reflection in water but it wasn't hers. Something about this place feels heavy and eerie.