Day 17.3: of Nightmares & Death

I escape the clutches of the pond monster once, but get dragged under a second time. HIM (Diana) comes to my rescue by growing large beneath me so I can breathe, and gives me a chance to escape once more. I appeal to the creatures – we are not here to hurt you, but to release you – and manage to release 2 of the three fighting us. Mutu unfortunately attacks the last bunny, angering it. Charles realizes my way is better.

The party vanquishes the monster in the pond. The tortured agony of the animals is released in peace (though Mutu misunderstood the memo on what “tough love” really means). The religious ones manage to “cleanse” the pond so for a while it will remain calm and unpolluted (not permanent unless we can get out of here?) I do receive a vision from the water and the torture Bessenne has endured at the hands of Gregor. I WILL help her end him. I am unsure if our disruptions have helped or hurt her though. Mutu also receives a vision – one that I am unsure if it disturbs me or not.

Are Mutu and I connected in some way?

Are we all connected in some way to the cause of the missing moment?

We continue further into Gregor’s mind. After much discussion, we decide to explore some of the side paths to gain information before pressing once more into the 3-path trial explained to us in the oubliette, choosing the right path. Within another dreamscape we find a many-eyed, horned abomination that seemed to communicate through sigils that turned to words. He is identified as Xonthran. The vision shows Gregor as a young boy at first terrified, then intrigued, making a deal with the creature to capture the music of the cosmos, despite the risks of madness

“The King in Yellow gifts you this sigil, one that must be inscribed upon a being that dwells between life and death. Find that which is living yet not, and upon it, carve the key.”

“Seek out Ossoyo the three eyed, trapped in a prison of frozen dreams. It is there, in the silence of his eternal stasis, that you must send the key with inscribed with the sigil. Not where the elves have bound it, but in the realm of his confinement.”

“Hastor’s Wrath will end the music, not Ossoyo”

This creature was different to me than the others before – more “real” as though an outside entity existing within the hell of Gregor’s mind and not a dream created by Gregor. He looked at us and stated, “not the keys – YET”! (WTH does that mean?)

Before we can figure out more, Mutu attacks. A brutal fight ensues. Mutu takes the brunt of so many attacks, but things get worse quickly. First Charles nearly dies, but Diana manages to heal him (and he heals himself), then Diana dies. With HIM gone, the creature follows up with several vicious attacks on Mutu, taking him down. My own attacks were less than effective more often than naught, but I am able to bring Mutu back from the brink of oblivion (I must protect my family!), while Charles bring Diana back. Filled with a new vigor of life, Mutu manages to finish the creature off for good.

A powerful new [Staff of Discordant Notes] is given to Diana. Hopefully to help us navigate this hellscape easier. Battered and beaten, are party needs to rest. But I am unsure if that is possible.