Ep 4: And in the end, we persevered.

In case you missed it in our last session, Bjōlan and Ūpŏnōr set off from the palace to the site of the collapsed ruin within the sewer system of Rejlaz Rhekōlb. Accompanied by a small dispatchment of soldiers, including an irascible old coot named Jōkund, they worked to clear the rubble from the ritual site and uncover the remains that Melbim had glimpsed on the other side; however, when a path was cleared, the body was gone and in its place they found a pack of hideous ghelmōrl, vicious little creatures that are basically a mouth with rows of teeth sitting on two scrawny legs and some bulging eyes jutting off either side. The party of eight was able to dispatch them with relative ease, if after a few nasty bites. Their task successfully failed, Ūpŏnōr convinced Bjōlan to do some cost-free shopping on the way back to the palace.

After gathering some supplies, they returned and found that research does not progress very far in a matter of hours when you have to spend time restoring the texts you're reading along the way, even if you're the formidable trio of Nyb’drum, Fisvénir, and Ashtakkrok. The five of them went off to find Melbim in the palace to see what he had to say for himself when the body he claimed to be there was not to be found. Trouble was he’d gone and gotten himself stabbed in the back, alone in his room. Luckily, Ashtakkrok was able to revivify him with only a lot bit of blood being lost. Then, the accusations started flying, guards were dispatched, and Ūpŏnōr tried to break into Mokaro’s room, several times. Melbim did divulge that the body he saw had telltale markings of belonging to the shadowy Vapbian Brotherhood, but there were few answers to be had at the moment. In the end, it was decided that Melbim perpetuate the ruse that he had been killed, remaining hidden within the palace grounds, and Mokaro return to the Kisstaylnryd, as if to escape looming danger. The session ended with the party making their way into the palace grounds to meet for the first time with King Jōlahr. And with that, you’re caught up for today’s episode of Umbalin & Oblivion.