Oshuamp - Episode 15: A Defiled Black Claw

Recap
Nesgrim finds himself standing in the familiar woods of the Ogarpul, the forest near his home town of Hrayek. The smoke near his father dissipates around him, and Nesgrim can see that he is kneeling in front of a mound of dirt, and is holding a bouquet of white lilies. He looks fatigued, feeble, and distraught. Nesgrim realizes this is the spot where he and his father dug a memorial for his mother after her death, despite having burned her body when she died. His father lays the lilies over the mound of earth, and is horrified as his father whispers to the gravesite, and the dirt stirs near where his father’s hand is laid. The flowers wilt and separate from their stems, cascading over the mound, and the dirt splits slightly, as a black claw breaks through, grasping his father’s hand, talons sinking into his flesh near his wrist.

His father promises that Nesgrim is pure, and he won’t let Nesgrim become a thrall of the Defiled, instead serving in his place. He stands before Nesgrim, turning to face him, and a horrifying ethereal shadow looms behind him, tendrils stretching outward, clinging to his face, rending away the flesh. A final warning slips out in, warning Nesgrim of the cry of a Seraph.

Ethir watches as Nesgrim stands stationary, his palms sweating and slightly trembling. The brazier’s flames extinguish; Adrian shudders again in ecstasy, remarking how interesting Nesgrim is and the intense satisfaction he has from his visions. Adrian and Ethir discuss their thoughts on how their different visions functions. They posit that Ethir sees a soul as it stands in a liminal space between life and death; whereas Adrian is able to see a pinnacle moment in the life of the person, and why he usually sees the death of a family member, or close friend.

Ethir fears that Nesgrim’s father made some sort of bargain, similar to Desielle. Adrian asks about Ethir’s perspectives and the “task” he feels he has been given with ferrying souls across the river. Ethir becomes upset with Adrian’s philosophy and remarks that it is inappropriate to use it to horrify people and is meant for helping the dead. They ascend the steps and rejoin their friends on the main floor of the shop, and the communication becomes more tense as Ethir’s opinion of Adrian fades rapidly. Yahlumlo, after staring intently at the eye in the jar, is interested in a vision, and says that he would accept the risk.

Ethir, Yahlumlo, Nesgrim, and Felix, follow Adrian into the basement and see a tattoo of a Black Claw on his back, watch as he performs the ritual once more for Yahlumlo. The others stand again, watching as Yahlumlo, inside the circle, stands motionless, staring at the smoke by Adrian’s face.

Yahlumlo finds himself standing alone in the forests of the Hravawode, near his home, and feels an intense chill around his feet, and stares at a swirling vortex of snow blankets his feet, twisting around his body as it elevates. The snowfall appears to twist together, and looks similar to wisps of white hair, and Yahlumlo feels the frost bind his feet to the ground, and the cold pulls his hands in front of him, binding them together. The snow falls from his conjoined palms, forming a long, sharp icicle below. The swirling winds around his waist suddenly birth a set of eyes, and one engorges as Yahlumlo looks into it, and he hears a chilling, shrill laugh echo around him. The vision begins to fade, the icicle cracks and splinters, and the vortex sinks to his feet.

Yahlumlo chooses not to confide yet in his friends about his vision, and the group hurriedly return upstairs. Adrian continues to provoke Nesgrim and Ritora before they leave, offering mysterious hints as to their past and their current situation. Yahlumlo gives Adrian a few piececs of silver that are stained with his blood, and says he will return for more information. Ethir separates himself to return to his bone museum to mark and bury all the items he has so that Adrian does not abuse his power. The others head towards the Pawnman to check in with Clark, drop off the ale for Madeleine, and Yahlumo wants to ensure Seamus is alright.

Clark accepts the ale, pays Felix, and tells the party about his work with Luna and their efforts to protect the isolated peculiars in the city. He is concerned that not all of the children that were supposed to make it to the Orphanage did, and is afraid they may be peculiars and have been taken by the guards. They promise to return if he requires more assistance, and he thanks them for all their hard work.

They return to Ethir’s museum to find it empty and he conveys his hatred of Adrian, and his disgraceful philosophy. They discuss the vision of Nesgrim and make several connections to the words and visuals he describes. He informs them that he wasn’t born in Hrayek, but in Rarfli, and Felix knows the city is in the southeast part of the continent, far from Hrayek, and is an Orc city. Nesgrim is confused as to why he was born there, and is even more afraid when they tell him that Hrayek is Elvish for “Exiled.”

He tells Felix that he grew up with many exotic and peculiar people, and does not understand why Felix wasn’t raised there, too. Felix tells them he grew up in Yengema, which means “Hidden.” Realizing that it was growing late, they leave to return Luna’s tavern, and Ritora whistles for her owl. She sees it flying from the east, near the center part of the city, and has a small rodent in its mouth. Ritora recoils in horror as she sees the claws of the Owl have turned black.