Oshuamp - Episode 6: Whose Spirits Shine in the Night

Recap
Following the image of Sister Madeleine, the party watches as she walks dreamily towards her office. They hear the lullaby echoing from inside, and open the door – to their surprise they see Desielle sitting in her chair, sipping a cup of tea from a broken, but reformed teacup.

She halts her humming as she greets them and offers them seats and tea. They question what she is doing in Madeleine’s office, and she informs them that the orphans who will be brought as a result of the First of Elsyth will need assistance, placement, and support in the morning. As Madeleine is still recuperating from her injury, she, as second in charge, must make sure all things are in order to receive the new orphans.

Desielle offers tea to Nesgrim and Ritora, the two individuals that she despises and has been offended by. They accept, and Ritora takes small sips because she witnessed a suspicious earthly sludge descend from the teapot into her cup. Desielle reminds herself aloud that she must brew a fresh pot for Madeleine soon.

Nesgrim drinks the entirety after a brief internal deliberation, and consumes the dirt.

Desielle reminds them that they are friends, and that Ritora will still pay for the broken teacup.

They leave and prepare to rest for the evening; as they do, they hear a baby crying once more from behind the desk, and question what Desielle is doing. She answers their questions with poise and calm, leaving them with the fear of what the truth is.

Nesgrim notices he is desperately thirsty, and cannot satisfy his thirst. He begins to spit up small pieces of rubble and dirty soil. Ritora, after being pressed by Yahlumlo and Ethir, confesses that she is familiar with this desecrated earth, and that it is indeed from her home woods, the Avaeth, and that the plague prevented life from growing anymore. She believes that Desielle’s brother, may have learned Ritora travelled to Oshuamp, and that this is a message, a threat, to her.

While they rest, Ethir watches over Ritora, and then the pair return to the boys’ dormitory, pausing at the Office as they hear Desielle singing to the crying babe. Ethir attempts to look through the keyhole, and is horrified by the bloodshot eye looking back at him.

Ritora sits outside in the hallway, her back against the door, protecting her friends. Nesgrim awakens multiple times to spit up more dirt and finds it is difficult to breathe, and compulsively has been reaching for his waterskin.

In the morning, Nesgrim succumbs to the dehydration and charm, and begins walking towards the office as he hears the voice of Desielle emanating in his mind: “hush, child, don’t say a word.”

After discussion and deliberation, they permit Nesgrim to walk and follow him closely, gathering his belongings. He approaches the office and attempts to enter, but they stop him. Desielle sings from within as the cries from the baby grow louder, and she chides the group for their unwillingness to enter. She promises them information, but they refuse. Ethir Detects Magic and discerns there is Abjuration emanating from within, and a horrifying purple mist pours out through the keyhole.

Nesgrim, Ethir, and Ritora fall to the ground, and Desielle breaks through the door, pushing Yahlumlo to the side. As she appears before them, the illusory visage fades, and a horrifying creature stands above them, with pale green hair, dull green skin, brown robes, calloused and leathery skin, a necklace of small skulls, and an engorged eye.

Desielle utilizes her various magical items to unleash hazardous and catastrophic magic onto the party as they desperately fight her off. Ritora is knocked down twice as she is targeted specifically for her prior insults. As they land the final blows, she falls, cackling with laughter. Ethir begins to crush her skull with his boot, fracturing the skull and watches as black ichor and dirt pour out from her body and clothes.

As the skull breaks, the engorged eye spins and turns towards Ethir, catching his gaze.