Session 29
1-29-24
Three days to grieve
November 9th
After their meal, Ophelia pulls Eden aside and expresses with what words she can that she is sorry if her words hurt Eden. She's not quite able to apologize openly, but tries to get that concept across to Eden. He isn't entirely receptive but acknowledges what she says about her intents, and that she does respect him. After that lukewarm conversation, it's Ophelia's turn to be pulled out to join Della's nightly walk. They nervously broach the subject of how they'll handle Ravnium if they encounter them. Della wants to try and help them, whatever that means, and tries to explain to Ophelia why as she's still opposed to the idea. For their part, they see themselves in Ravnium's situation, and that's why they're inclined to help them. Ophelia points out, rightfully, that by doing so they may make enemies with the seraphs. Even though she's not entirely in agreement, she respects Della for standing firm in their choice.
Faust and Eden are left alone inside the community center. They have some sightly strange conversation, Faust asking Eden about his knitting, about why he seems to simply be knitting, pulling apart, and knitting the same strip of yarn. Eden explains that he forgot to buy more, and is considering scavanging yarn from Respit when they pass through. This prompts Faust to ask about Respit and he reacts strangely to Eden's recounting. So much so that Eden comments on it, which Faust also reacts strangely to by laughing nervously and insisting he's being normal. The conversation ambles on and eventually conclude when he has more yarn, Eden will knit Basil a large scarf. He proposes this to Ophelia who agrees to let him try at least.
November 10th
They travel the next day, going through Respit and successfully finding a safely kept basket of yarn inside one of the homes.
A few hours later the forests are beginning to come into view as they move back towards the bottom of the mountains. Before anyone sees it they all begin smelling a heavily decomposed body. When they stand still for a moment, Ophelia is able to hear the swarm of flies buzzing over the body. She leads them towards the smell and the sounds, and they find the upper half of a wolfs body. Immedietely, Ophelia and Della notice how strange it is that the corpse has been left alone by scavengers. The more Ophelia and Della examine the creature, it becomes horribly apparent the wolf died when something burst out of it from the inside. Worse, there appear to be chemical burns around what remains of its corpse. Faust is able to recognize the evidence that points to the creature being called a wolfentroika, mutated wolves that appear in trios, working perfectly in synch together. They are, also, notoriously hard to kill.
When Ophelia starts trying to track pawprints left around the body, which turn out to be smaller than normal, compared to the dead wolf and especially what they expect from a fully grown wolfentroika. After a short while of tracking they manage to find the wolves den, but Eden stops the group, citing his lack of prepared healing spells.
November 11th
The party goes and kills dogs successfully!