📜 Session Overview

The party descended into the crystalline gorge, arriving at the Cerilian Spire—domain of the lanky, extravagant Arch Mage Sir Magnus Opus U'rilius Corbus, whose reception hall glared with stuffed trophies: a runic bear, an owlbear's head, and a poised crag cat frozen mid-pounce. After agreeing to clear a newly blocked passage in the mines, the group discovered crystal-encrusted trespassers fused into the blockage and learned that the fragile formations regrew whenever fractured, leeching the essence of anyone mining them. Hours of exhausting work followed, with miners pitching in and town guards eyeing the newcomers with growing approval while the mages of the Spire quietly observed.

Spent and drained, the adventurers returned to Loid—their sentient ship—to rest and debate their next move. Vyr hinted at a mysterious "source" he needed found, something beyond his reach while the Arch Mage of the Cord held sway. Ignorant of what that meant, the group prepared anyway. Hoping to curry favor with the townsfolk, they sought containers to share Loid's unusually potent goodberries, grown huge and hearty under the ship's influence.

Their goodwill struck a violently unlucky snag. At a nearby farm, the Half-Orc farmer discovered Loid grazing on his livestock—after having spawned demons in his pasture only hours earlier—and charged the party in fury. A misplaced step and a botched attack sent the farmer accidentally impaling himself on his own pitchfork. His wife, rushing to help, fell from the loft and shattered her leg. Attempts by the group to save the man backfired further when magic reanimated the body without restoring the soul. Horrified, the wife fled with her undead husband, and the adventurers, desperate and shaken, set the barn ablaze before retreating to Loid.

Smoke curling into the sky, the fallout spread quickly. Agelaius, already at the mines distributing goodberries, discovered their potency had unintended consequences—violent stomach-turning effects on anyone not from Loid's crew. Meanwhile, Tyelkoron arrived at the Spire with Broj, Warwick, and Serina, wordless in his resolve, and confessed to the "murder" at the farm. Unsure how to handle such a claim, the guards deferred to Sir Corbus, who ordered the lot of them shackled and taken to the Spire's magic-dampened cells.

One by one, the entire party was gathered below, their abilities muted, their thoughts unsettled. Only when the word "Realmstriders" echoed through those stone halls did a strange, quiet sleep finally take hold.

⚔️ Key Events

• Meeting the Arch Mage: The party entered Magnus Opus's trophy chamber within the Cerilian Spire, surrounded by the stuffed remains of a runic bear, owlbear head, and poised crag cat—testaments to the mage's power or wealth.
• The Crystal Mine Quest: Magnus tasked the party with clearing a newly blocked passage where thieves or trespassers had become fused with regenerating crystals that drain essence when broken.
• Mining the Living Crystals: The group spent hours chipping away at the fragile crystalline formations, discovering that any large fracture would cause the crystals to regrow by draining the essence of those nearby.
• Gaining Townfolk Favor: The party's tireless mining efforts earned approval from the town guards and notice from the Spire's mages, while local miners assisted in the work.
• Vyr's Mysterious Source: Vyr revealed he seeks a "source" within the region but cannot act directly due to the Arch Mage's connection to the Cord.
• Loid's Goodberry Tree: The sentient ship now grows an oversized goodberry bush/tree, producing potent berries that provide exceptional health and recovery for the crew.
• The Farm Tragedy: A Half-Orc farmer discovered Loid consuming his livestock after the ship had previously spawned demons in his pasture. In his fury, the farmer charged and accidentally impaled himself on his own pitchfork (Natural 1).
• The Wife's Fall: The farmer's wife jumped from the barn loft to help her dying husband but fell badly, breaking her leg in the process.
• Failed Resurrection: The party's attempt to resurrect the farmer went horribly wrong—magic reanimated his body without restoring his soul, creating an undead version instead.
• The Barn Burns: Desperate and horrified, the party set fire to the farm barn as the wife fled with her undead husband, sending black smoke into the sky.
• Explosive Goodberries: Agelaius distributed Loid's enhanced goodberries to the miners, only to discover they caused violent vomiting and digestive distress in normal townsfolk unable to handle their potency.
• Tyelkoron's Confession: Without discussing his intentions, Tyelkoron marched to the Spire with Broj, Warwick, and Serina and surrendered himself to the guards, confessing to the farmer's murder.
• Mass Imprisonment: Sir Corbus ordered the entire party shackled and imprisoned in magic-dampened cells beneath the Cerilian Spire.
• The Word "Realmstriders": As the party settled into their cells, the utterance of the word "Realmstriders" brought a strange, peaceful sleep to all imprisoned.

✨ Character Moments

👥 NPCs Encountered

🔍 Important Discoveries

💰 Loot & Rewards

• Crystal Mining Payment: The party dispensed a large portion of crystals used for trade goods within the mining settlement, earning goodwill with the townsfolk and guards.
• Loid's Enhanced Goodberries: Access to oversized, potent goodberries that provide exceptional healing for the crew (though dangerous to normal people).
• Knowledge of Crystal Regeneration: Understanding how the living crystals drain essence to regrow when fractured.
• Favor with Miners: The guards and townsfolk now view the party with approval for their mining efforts (though this may be complicated by recent events).
• Magnus Opus's Attention: The Arch Mage now knows of the party and their capabilities, having tasked them with clearing the mines and witnessed their willingness to labor.
• Imprisonment & Information: While currently detained, the party gained firsthand knowledge of the Spire's magic-dampened cells and the guards' protocols.
• Experience: Awarded for surviving the mining operation, navigating complex social situations, and enduring the consequences of their actions (even the tragic ones).

📝 DM Notes

Session Highlights: These two sessions were defined by escalating consequences and cascading misfortune. The mining operation started strong and showcased the party's willingness to help. The goodberry distribution was well-intentioned but hilarious in its failure. The farm sequence, however, became genuinely dark—a Natural 1 leading to accidental death, followed by a catastrophic resurrection failure. The players were genuinely shocked and uncomfortable, which created powerful roleplay moments.

The Farm Tragedy: This sequence became a defining moment for the campaign. The farmer's critical fumble felt fair and realistic, but the resurrection going wrong was unexpected by everyone. The decision to create an undead instead of restoring the soul added horror and consequence that will ripple forward. The wife fleeing with the undead husband is a haunting image that will likely return later.

Tyelkoron's Confession: Tyelkoron's player made a bold, unexpected choice to confess. This wasn't planned or discussed with the party, which made it feel genuine and dramatic. His willingness to accept responsibility for the group's actions—even when the death was accidental—shows character growth and moral complexity. The other players' decision to follow him into imprisonment demonstrated party cohesion.

Goodberry Gastrointestinal Disaster: The enhanced goodberries causing violent reactions in normal people was both comedic and revealing. It highlights that the party has been fundamentally changed by their time aboard Loid—they're no longer entirely "normal." This biological difference will have future implications.

The Word "Realmstriders": Introducing a sleep effect triggered by their group name plants a seed for future revelations. Is it protection? A curse? A connection to their patron or purpose? The players are now intrigued by this mysterious response.

Magnus Opus: Successfully maintained him as a controlling, pompous authority figure. His trophy collection continues to emphasize his power or cruelty. Having him order the party's imprisonment keeps him as an antagonist while providing a structured way to move the plot forward.

Pacing & Tone: The shift from productive mining to tragic farm sequence to imprisonment created excellent dramatic arc. Starting hopeful, descending into horror, and ending with uncertainty left players emotionally engaged and eager to see what comes next.

Player Reactions: The farm sequence generated genuine distress at the table—players felt bad about the farmer's death and worse about the resurrection failure. The barn burning was a desperate act that felt earned. Tyelkoron's confession surprised everyone and created immediate tension. Overall engagement was extremely high throughout both sessions.

🎭 Looking Ahead