The party fights the Longzhi and begins making their way down into the chasm, also known as the Deep Ethereal.
Characters Interacted With
Liu: Traveling with the party.
Ancient Spider Spirit(?): Gave aid to the party after they angered all of the wildlife in the chasm.
Other Characters Mentioned: Longzhi (fought the party at the beginning), Brooks’ parents, Lauran, Amanti’s Wife/Louisa, Matas, Nadyn (all mentioned in flashbacks)
Session Overview
The session kicked off immediately where the last left off, with the party getting ready to face down the Longzhi. The fight proceeded as normal, but upon being hit by Amanti and his Wildfire Spirit’s attacks, it seemed noticeably hurt by it. The top of the next round, the flowers changed from red to purple, and the Longzhi used it’s lair actions to command the field of flowers to attack the party, dealing massive damage.
As the fight proceeded, it now seemed resistant to most of the attacks the party dealt. Fanna cast Slow on the beast, but was unable to sustain concentration it for long. The next round, the flowers changed color again, this time from purple to black. However, the party theorized that the flowers corresponded to the damage type the Longzhi was weak to that round, and altered their attacks accordingly. Fanna was able to harness their control over Ki to deal an additional necrotic damage to the Longzhi, and its adverse reaction indicated that the party’s theory was correct. The Longzhi, realizing the party figured out its weakness, became scared for its life and attempted to flee, but the party chased it down and killed it.
As the Longzhi died, it released a massive burst of Ki, causing the Sunkissed Cloud flowers to grow wildly out of control, growing several meters high. Amanti plucked a petal off of one of the flowers as it was growing. Satisfied, the party exited the field of flowers, emerging into the chasm proper: Full of cliffs, waterfalls, sloping hills full of greenery and flowers, and teeming with strange animal life.
The party caught the attention of several baboon-like creatures who were lazing on some rocks nearby. They tensed when the party looked back at them. Fanna yelled “monkey” at them, and their words echoed throughout the chasm, attracting the attention and hostility of all of the animal life in the ecosystem. The now-enraged baboon-like creatures launched themselves at Fanna, while the rest of the party immediately was swarmed by hordes of birds and mammals. As the mammals piled on them, biting, clawing, and snarling, birds swooped down and pecked at them. All of the animals angrily screeched at the party, calling them “unclean.” Fanna transformed into an ape and lured the mob of animals away, before teleporting back to the party, providing a brief reprieve from the chaos. However, more waves of animals were on their way. The flustered party decided to flee.
As they fled, a large spider looked out from a hole within the cliff walls, urging the party to take shelter within its abode. The party obeyed, and the spider quickly blocked the entrance before the other animals could come in. Settling down, the spider asked what the party was doing in the Deep Ethereal, as it could clearly tell they were outsiders from the Material Plane. The party explained how they were accompanying Liu on a rescue mission. The spider, after some thought, told the party that the animals likely attacked the party because they still Spiritually unclean, retaining negative thoughts from the Material Plane: All of the grudges, grievances, and guilt. The spider urged the party to meditate and let go of their negative thoughts, saying that they would not be able to focus and achieve their goal if they were distracted by such material needs. They likened it to like how a ship would be unable to navigate on sea during chaotic storm, but if their minds were like calm waters, the ship would be able to sail smoothly. One by one, each party member closed their eyes and reflected on the negative feelings they still had from the Material Plane, and guided by the spider, learned to not cling to their anger and sadness for now: Brooks, his difficult relationship with his parents. Amanti, his family falling apart during the Yumalyan Civil War. And Fanna, their singular pursuit and hatred of Lauran. When the party opened their eyes again, the spider was gone, but whispered a warning to them as it disappeared: They would need to travel forward clearheaded and with an open mind, as it prophesized that whatever they found at the bottom of the pit would shake their faith in someone they previously believed in.
Once the party emerged from the hole in the cliff, they found all of the animals waiting outside. They stared at the party silently, turning their heads to track the party as they walked away, but did not attack. Left alone to continue their journey, the party continued traveling, making their way downward to a forest. As they kept walking through the forest, however, they realized the forest surroundings were looping around them—they were stuck in an endless loop.
The party thought over if there was a way to escape the loop. As they thought, the Wildfire Spirit scrutinized the shadow the tree’s canopy cast on the ground. It formed geometric patterns, and the party realized it could be some sort of map or guide for how to navigate the forest. After experimenting with walking north, south, east, or west of their current location, in different combinations, the party gradually figured out the rules of navigating the forest—walking 20 minutes in a direction moved them one square, and the map rotated 90 degrees clockwise after every 20 minute movement—and was able to make their way out of the forest with collective effort. By the time they emerged from the forest, they were exhausted, having spent the entire day trapped in there. They immediately set up camp, eager to put the frustrating endless-looping forest behind them.
As everyone began to fall asleep, Liu approached Brooks before privately. They asked Brooks if they were happy being with the current party, saying they seemed rather callous and controlling. They reminded Brooks how Fanna called Liu an Aarakocran slur last session (“birdbrain,” DM’s note: lol), and Amanti forcibly held Liu back from flying to the Tiefling Adventurer Spirit to get their dagger back. Brooks said they had gotten used to them for the most part, and he held onto most of the party’s money anyway, so he had a leg up on them. Liu chuckled at Brooks’ hoarding habits, but resumed to seriousness once again. They told Brooks that once they found their party, they could probably talk with the others and see about offering to let Brooks join them. Brooks, surprised by the offer, said they’d have to think about it. Liu was amicable to the prospect, and reassured him he could take his time, they just wanted to bring the idea out into the open. They finished saying that they felt Brooks deserved better, something that took Brooks aback, as they never had anyone say that to him before. As Liu left to go to bed, Brooks saw that the Wildfire Spirit, whom he thought was resting in a meditative trance, had been listening the whole time. Before the horrified Brooks could say anything, the Wildfire Spirit communicated telepathically to him and assured him it wouldn’t tell the others. After all, it was Brooks’ own decision to make, and it didn’t particularly care enough to intercede. After this assurance, everyone finally went to bed and long rested, ready to delve deeper into the abyss once more in search of Liu’s party.
Key Learnings
- The ancient spider prophesized that the party will encounter something that may shake their faith in someone that they believed in at the bottom of this pit.
- Liu extended an offer to Brooks for him to join their party once they finally found and rescued them.
Items Of Importance
- Sunkissed Cloud flower petal