After a brief respite by the tranquil Lake, the party made the strategic choice to heal and regroup rather than chase after the fleeing Cauthooj. Shadow Bell, the storm druid, took charge, expertly tending to the party’s wounds and ensuring everyone was at full strength before they continued their exploration. They confirmed their possession of Three Lenses, including an ochre one, but the mysterious function of this lens eluded Rhys, the drow rogue. Recalling a lead, they set their sights on a vault near the Lake rumored to hold vital information about the lenses.
As they approached the imposing double doors of a lakeside Lodge, the air was thick with intrigue as they overheard a conversation in an unfamiliar language, echoing the explosive speakers they had encountered earlier. Slych, the elemental kineticist, discovered that the doors were barricaded from within, not locked. Utilizing Shadow Bell’s spore-speaking ability, they gleaned that no one had passed through those doors recently. Adam’andiél scouted a southeastern exit that led into a murky swamp, but the party ultimately decided to forge north around the Lake through the enchanting Mushroom Forest.
With a determined push, Adam’andiél forced the barricaded doors open, triggering a lightning bolt trap that struck several party members, sparing only Shadow Bell. Inside, they were met with a large hall filled with ramshackle furniture and confronted by several fierce Calini defenders. The battle erupted as Slych unleashed an area impulse, deafening one of the defenders, while Lightwing blasted the front ranks and healed himself, readying for the fight ahead.
The Calini defenders quickly closed in on Adam’andiél, who attempted to trip two of them with a sweeping strike but only succeeded against one. Shadow Bell’s Electric Arc fizzled midair, forcing her to raise her shield for protection. Rhys seized the opportunity to ambush an unsuspecting Calini, while Slych provided kinetic healing to bolster Adam’andiél’s defenses. As the battle raged on, Adam’andiél used Stand Still to strike a moving Calini, while Lightwing’s magic caused another to retch uncontrollably, turning the tide of battle.
Rhys applied pressure with his Duelist Challenge, inflicting persistent bleed on a defender. The chaos escalated when a Calini exploded upon death, triggering a chain reaction of corpse explosions that injured several party members. Amidst the turmoil, Lightwing managed to stabilize the team with a powerful healing spell, bringing Slych back to consciousness just in time to continue the fight.
With the Calini defenders vanquished, the party secured the Lodge’s Lodge and retreated to the Boathouse for a much-needed rest. Upon returning to the Lodge, Adam’andiél opened a brightly lit door, revealing a chamber lined with urns from which ghostly Calini presences emerged. The Brightwalkers, radiant Calini ghosts, unleashed a blinding light aura that forced the party to steel themselves against its effects. Slick managed to resist the aura, while Rhys briefly succumbed to its overwhelming power.
The battle with the Brightwalkers was fierce and exhilarating, with Lightwing’s Vitality Lash and Shadow Bell’s spells striking true against their spectral foes. After a series of explosive deaths among the Brightwalkers, the party emerged victorious, leveling up to level 10, their spirits soaring with newfound power. They scouted a Stairwell leading up but wisely chose to close the door, avoiding the risk of being flanked.
In a small Junk Room, Slych discovered Geludu, a Calini seer, who revealed her people’s tragic plight and vowed vengeance upon learning of their deaths. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, Geludu launched a fierce attack, leading to a chaotic confrontation. The party struggled against her powerful spells, including a devastating Cone of Cold that inflicted significant damage. In a climactic moment, Adam’andiél struck the final blow, killing Geludu, but not without triggering a death effect that injured several party members.
With the seer slain and the Lodge level temporarily secured, the party prepared to embrace their level 10 advancements, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.