Through the Mists

Session 19: The Unicorn’s Sanctuary

At a glance

Summary

Carver summoned Pearl before Rage broke the brazier’s remaining chains. Rage drank a greater healing potion, then severed the last restraint. Heat flooded the torture chamber as an enormous fire elemental formed, larger than any elemental the party had faced. It called smaller sparks into the fight and drew a sword of smoldering black stone from its own flame.

Chromatic orbs, Ignatius’s disciplined blows, and Rage’s reckless axe work wore the great elemental down. Pearl delivered the final blow. The party then destroyed the swarming lesser elementals it had called.

Pearl's earthen fist tears through the immense fire elemental as Rage, Carver, and Ignatius attack in the brazier chamber.

Pearl’s decisive strike ended the great elemental. View image record.

Hyskosa used Rage’s blood to make a scrying pool in the basin. Azalin Rex first gave them only darkness and nothingness. Ebb appeared within Castle Avernus, examining damage to the tower. Ankhtepot worked magic around a giant golden heart while an eagle circled overhead. Firan Zal’honan appeared as an amber-dripping claylike figure among earthen chambers and amber sarcophagi. Allaric met with elder vampires, including Baron Metus. Strahd walked a miserable town beneath Castle Ravenloft, looking through windows and knocking on doors.

Hyskosa guides a blood-dark scrying pool as Ankhtepot's golden vision appears within it.

Hyskosa’s scrying brought Ankhtepot’s golden vision into the copper basin. View image record.

After Hyskosa’s ash ritual, a second question about Azalin produced a searching view from high over Castle Avernus rather than the earlier void. The party rested, ran back through the Bone Chambers, reunited with its companions, and left the castle. Ebb screeched again as they slipped down the switchback toward the Mists.

At the pass’s foot, Ignatius found a bloody trail whose blood held healing properties. It led to a wounded white unicorn. Carver healed her, and she thanked the party telepathically before asking it to escort her to her cave. There Rage’s cursed trophy necklace vanished. The unicorn gave the party two vials of blood, each functioning as a greater healing potion, and sanctuary for the night.

Carver's healing magic steadies a wounded white unicorn beside its cave while Rage and Ignatius keep watch.

Carver’s healing gave the wounded unicorn strength enough to reach her sanctuary. View image record.

At dawn the company ran for the retreating Mists, holding an Azalin-faced coin. It emerged on Martira Bay’s northern edge.

Key events

  1. Rage broke the final chains, releasing an enormous fire elemental and its lesser sparks.
  2. Pearl dealt the killing blow to the greater elemental; the party cleared its smaller allies.
  3. Hyskosa’s blood scrying revealed visions concerning Azalin, Ebb, Ankhtepot, Firan, Allaric, and Strahd.
  4. The party departed Castle Avernus with its followers and returned to Martira Bay through the Mists.
  5. Carver healed a wounded unicorn; Rage’s cursed necklace disappeared in her cave.
  6. The unicorn gave the party two greater-healing-potion vials of unicorn blood and sanctuary.

Story threads

Rewards, losses, and character changes

  • Two vials of unicorn blood, functioning as greater healing potions — party loot
  • Rage’s cursed trophy necklace — disappeared
  • One potion of greater healing — consumed by Rage

Open questions

  • Why did Azalin first appear as nothingness, then as an active searching view over Castle Avernus?
  • What was Ankhtepot seeking around the giant golden heart?
  • Where was Firan Zal’honan, and what was he doing among the amber sarcophagi?
  • Why did the unicorn’s cave remove Rage’s necklace?

Next session

  • Immediate situation: The company has returned to northern Martira Bay after an overnight sanctuary in the unicorn’s cave.
  • Likely goals: Follow the scrying leads, reckon with the expanded company, and decide what to do next from Martira Bay.

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