Lucent Monastery loomed ahead, its quiet dirt path inviting both caution and curiosity. The Aspidale Mountains surrounded the party as they approached, their minds racing with strategies for the encounter ahead. Sira Antkeep pondered their approach—diplomacy, deception, or force—while Sol’andrus Van Diel suggested conversation first, ready to back them up. But Rin, driven by urgency, dashed ahead toward the building.
Upon reaching a low stone fence encircling a garden, Rin was met by two sisters tending to the area. They demanded to know the party’s allegiance, prompting Sira Antkeep to declare her commitment to societal betterment. This declaration sparked combat; one sister attacked Rin but missed, while Caravaggio engaged the other sister, only to be tripped and struck in return. Sol fired a nonlethal shot, wounding the sister, and Rin identified their vulnerability to holy damage. Sira Antkeep landed a critical blow, knocking one sister unconscious, and Caravaggio followed suit, ending the skirmish.
With the sisters subdued, the party entered Lucent Monastery, discovering a plain interior marked by a plaque referencing Asmodeus, the Dark Prince. Sol checked for traps and opened the next door, revealing a chapel-like room with a massive pentagram. Sira Antkeep examined the pulpit, uncovering a hidden panel containing a statue of Asmodeus and a set of Handwraps Of Mighty Blows, which Caravaggio equipped. The party decided to clear the hallway before proceeding, discovering an empty dining room and simple bedrooms, where they found a +1 Bo Staff and a leather satchel containing gold.
In the kitchen, Rin encountered two strange creatures under the supervision of a woman, who ordered them to attack. Sol’s initial shot barely affected one creature, while the woman struck Rin hard. Sira Antkeep rushed to heal Rin, and Caravaggio entered the fray, attacking the woman. After a series of exchanges, the party managed to subdue the creatures and the Supervising Woman, with Sol firing a nonlethal shot to knock her out. They paused to tend their wounds before moving deeper into Lucent Monastery.
The next room revealed a dojo where two sisters were training. The party prepared Isaac, Sira Antkeep’s summon, to engage first. The fight began with Sol shooting one sister, while Rin cast Winter’s Clutch to hinder their movement. Sira Antkeep sent Isaac in, knocking one sister unconscious, and Sol finished the other. After searching the dojo, they found a +1 Whip and an unusual weapon, Thorn Of Milani Talisman.
Caravaggio then stumbled into a study, where Sister Andrea was working. She demanded to know their intentions, and Sira Antkeep revealed they sought information on Vero Ahala. Andrea agreed to talk but summoned a creature to defend herself. The ensuing battle was fierce, with Sol landing a critical shot on the Captain Bane’s Devil and the party struggling against Andrea’s attacks. Despite her resistance, they managed to knock her unconscious after a tense exchange, securing her along with the other sisters.
Reviving Andrea, the party learned of Hellknight Ahala’s ritual to summon a powerful devil in the Chitterwood. She warned them that the sisters would respect their mercy if they spared them. With their questions answered, the party left Lucent Monastery and made their way to Umok, where they were welcomed as heroes. They rested, sold off treasure, and prepared for their next venture.
Entering the Chitterwood, they followed signs of ritual activity to a large petrified stump, where they encountered several Orts, including a red elite ort. The battle was swift, with Sol’s cold-infused shots and the party’s combined efforts leading to victory. After the fight, they discovered a hidden cache of Ritual Supplies and a magical shield. As they took a moment to regroup, an unsettling feeling crept over them—something in the Chitterwood was watching.
Threads to Watch: The fate of the sisters; the nature of the ritual in the Chitterwood; the identity of the watcher in the Chitterwood.