Episode 40 – One Swam Under the Cultist Nest

As the party looks on towards the Seven’s Sawmill, while the rest of the city begins to slumber, a hooded figure briskly approaches the building and slips inside. Krask attempts to unlock the door but the security is clearly beyond that of a typical shop or storefront. A heavy wooden door leading into the lowest level of the mill yields the same results; they need to find another way in.

With the Oathday moon hanging brightly overhead, Fobias decides to risk the turbulent waters surrounding the mill’s four waterwheels to blindly enter the building via the same route that the shipments of logs would be hoisted up to be processed. Despite the swirling water of the river, he is able to clamber onto a floating log and hoist himself into the undermill. The floor is vacant, save for a complicated network of levers, pullies, and machinery that is creating a discordant symphony with the hollow rhythm of the waterwheels. Fobias unlocks the door and the rest of the party enters.

While discussing next steps in their stealthy infiltration, Theo casts Light to assist those lacking darkvision. Unfortunately, this also draws the attention of some of the mill workers, who confront the group as they head upstairs to the ground floor. It’s a regular old Stormtrooper situation as Barnaby and Krask attempt to convince the workers that they are new hires arriving for their first shift on the job. Pretending that Richard is a ‘seeing-eye wolf’ certainly helps corroborate their story.

Theo, seeing that this line of bluff is only making the workers more suspicious, reaches out to touch the uniform of the closest worker. Something goes wrong with his spell, however, and energy blasts out from his hand, setting the workers on high alert. They lower their hoods which extend into masks and they grab their weapons. It’s a fight!

At first, the workers strike with exceptional speed; one wraps up Theo who tries to discharge his spell, while the other two move to block the stairwell. Krask manages to get the drop on one, connecting with a particularly effective crossbow bolt. Barnaby doesn’t fail to disappoint. In a spectacular display of physical prowess, he vaults over the railing, narrowly avoids a calculated swing of a war razor, delivers a smug line involving skulls and scuffles, and proceeds to decapitate one of the workers in a single blow.

The second worker is brought down by Fobias shortly after, and Richard lunges at the third to incapacitate him before anybody else could be alerted. It’s not enough. Dropping Theo, the worker starts to run up the stairs shouting before Theo’s spell finally connects. Thousands of worms bubble and burst through the worker’s skin as he bolts up the steps. He gets up two flights before Richard catches up and pulls him back down, his broken body erupting in an earthy shower of parasitic annelids. And then, the sound of machines…nothing else.

As the party continues to ascend to the top floor of the mill, they find little of note apart from the thunderous machinery used to perform the daily work of processing lumber. They do find, however, a printing press that is churning out flyers at a rapid rate. A paw print is depicted in the center, missing the third toe from the left, and a drop of blood has formed on the bottom of the pad, dripping downwards. Underneath are the words: “Varisia’s Table. Bring your only Blood.” Fobias takes a copy and stows it away.

Finally the party reaches the top floor. Theo peeks inside and sees a horrific sight.

Ten workers stand with their heads bowed in a circle, surrounding a ring of flickering candles. In the center of the candles, an unconscious man is tied up and presented, his body forming a fleshy X on the ground. He is covered in gashes. The hooded figure is on the far end of the room giving a speech directed towards the ‘Gray Master’. After lots of imagery about tithes, offerings, and debts, the hooded figure takes a hand drill to the forehead of the unconscious man, ending his life. The rest of the robed ‘workers’ continue to chant, bringing their harmony to a raucous climax as the hooded figure removes his cloak.

It is Justice Ironbriar.

What does it mean to bring your only Blood? What sort of dark business is Justice Ironbriar involved in? What crazy situations will our party WORM their way into this week?