Collision Arc (Arc 1)

Part 1
In complete darkness, the party first finds themselves fumbling in the dark as they try to figure out where they are currently being held. After hearing two voices arguing with one another, they are blinded by a light before appearing inside a dressing room inside the entertainment hub/tavern, The Best Stop.

One of the voices is their talent manager and mentor Boogie, who has since taken them under his wing on behalf of the Heroes’ Guild following their graduation, though they have only just begun their certification process. The other is Aventura, the owner of the establishment they are currently in.

After some general questioning, she reiterates the current predicament to the group: Boogie had signed them up to perform in Tillan-Ait as their first genuine mission, only to hide their status as Heroes’ Guild members much to the chagrin of the audience and settlement’s community. The ensuing heckling spurned Boogie to start a fight and with the party joining in as well, Aventura was forced to use her spatial magic and trap them inside her hat until the dust settled.

For their release, Boogie agreed to carry out a “favor” of hers and accepted a given address as their sole lead. He heads back into the fray, seeking a guide. Picking a rather scantily clad halfling with the stage name Gnacho, the party is rather apprehensive. Onesina in particular recalls Boogie initially being deemed a legend at the Guild until witnessing his methods first-hand.

After their initial greetings, Gnacho then asks for a participant for his act in return for the aforementioned tour. They eventually settle on Raipora, with Kumo resilient upon being the halfling’s first pick and the two venture to the stage when he is beckoned. However, the encounter ends in disaster as the dragon-born accidently pukes fire and kills Gnacho in the process. The group is far too flabbergasted to do much and so his body is reduced to ash only a minute later while the crowd runs in horror. Aventura herself is shocked though all she can muster is vague threats at them about finding a replacement as the group leaves fairly scot-free.

Outside, Boogie manages to communicate with a passerby who warns them of the nightly neighborhood dangers from a human cult bent on eradicating those outside their definition of normal. Rather than fixating on that, he proudly tells them that he finally knows where to go and that their concerns only lie with that. He then presents the drawing that only Kumo manages to decipher while Runa fails to get a nearby bird to defecate on Boogie.

They all eventually agree to camp out despite the danger as Selise’s companion Esky joins up with them after being forced to wait outside. Finally settling in, the group is unnerved in the manner Boogie sleeps in but take turns keeping watch until morning arrives.

Part 2
The team rises to find Boogie still asleep, prompting them to prod him awake despite their unwillingness to test it out. Raipora offers and doing so results in him plummeting down the nearby cliffside, which strangely makes no sound. As Runa scans the surroundings for him, she notices a gathering of humans carting off covered goods before seeing him unscathed two floors below. She takes a raven form to easily reach him, resulting in the others following suit.

Meeting him at the bottom, they decide to trek onward towards their destination, halting at a rather ornate house flanked by two pillar structures resembling the legendary hero Charm Dimeshore in mythologized twin form. Boogie keys them in further on the favor, noting it involves the disappearance of a golem and her son. On arrival at the doorstep, there is no response to their frequent knocks. Following further investigation of the grounds, it’s clear that they must use more drastic measures upon Runa hearing sounds of someone inside from the chimney. Kumo manages to successfully rouse the individual inside using Thaumaturgy as they answer the door.

Gander the silver dragon-born peers her head out and is immediately amazed with Boogie, agreeing that any business the group has is worthwhile in exchange for a close inspection of their mentor. The proposition is reasonable and so they are allowed to enter, though the mention of Aventura makes Gander wary. Inside unveils a trove of antiques and treasures more so than the decorated exterior, Gander admitting that Boogie’s composition is unlike anything she’s ever seen or collected. It’s then that she presents a dagger and before assumptions can be made, clarifies that someone must make a deep incision in her.

Onesina agrees along with the others using Runa’s surgical knowledge much to the chagrin of Boogie (who closes his ‘eyes’ somehow), Gander noting that it must catch nerve endings to work. She excludes the true intention on account of the conditions it requires. The cut is made however, with Onesina digging her finger in upon instruction and then removing it as quickly. (Boogie repeatedly remarks on the incident being a sex thing.) The blood from the wound forms mysterious etchings on her skin which Gander interprets before warning her of its corrosive effects should they stay in contact with her for too long. She then wipes it on Boogie’s cloak, seeing its actual effect in action as it bores a hole through the fabric.

As the dragon-born explains her powers, she notes that her blood has prophetic abilities but only arises through pain and is in a specific language only known to some few. Even then, it is always in riddle form. She boils it down and remarks that the search for the golem and her son will be fruitful at a location known as Fork in the Road towards the cliff’s base. It’s then that she reiterates the dangers of the cult who have become bold enough to venture out in daylight recently despite being a threat from when the golems first arrived years ago under Aventura. Her experience was just as harsh, having nearly been robbed after falling into one of their traps with Aventura and confining herself in her home as a result. The group decides to bid her farewell before nightfall at her behest, her final remarks to not keep guilt heavy on the shoulders and that their tutelage under Boogie is far more than coincidental.

Low on money, they forgo transport costs they had spent beforehand on their arrival and once again take to scaling down the slope. They all successfully make it down using footholds at Onesina’s observation though Boogie slips and falls once again soundlessly. As they enter Fork in the Road, the place has since been fairly destroyed even with the inhabitants lingering around. The group luckily finds the golem right by the supposed bar’s entrance. Listanda, as she reveals to be her name, then remarks that she hasn’t been called it for some time on account of having previously died and changed into her current state.

Part 3
Only able to afford some water as the golem consumes their rocks on the rocks, The Boogiers introduce themselves to Listanda and mention Aventura’s concern over her and her son. She is then reminded through their associations with the Heroes’ Guild of similar hopefuls that came to her hometown on the plains of Wiltcherung when she was alive.

Hosting the skeletal remains of a colossus, her peoples that respected the land were threatened by colonizers seeking to drain the rare resources and so desperately sought help from the outside. Unfortunately, the heroes that responded to the plea were ousted not long after arriving and the conflict broke out into an eventual massacre that included her and her son Elroi being tortured, hung and burned alive. The remaining spirit of the colossus proceeded to plague the land and revive the two to carry out its will as cautionary tales, their new forms derived from its calcified heart. Still living in fear, the two fled to Tillan-Ait and used their condition to entertain the masses while recounting their tragic tale. Little did they know news traveled fast and some of the colonizers had gotten word and sought them out, fueling a cult into similar practices with some of the human population at the cliff’s base. She then mentions the more recent aggravated assaults had driven her son to his breaking point and he had gone missing a week prior after one of their shows attempting to look into it.

Desperate, she asks the group for help even after hearing the commotion at The Best Stop until Boogie notes two figures walking in and driving the pubcrawlers to run off, including the owner. The attempt to act cool fails and the figures Baja and Gris, catching onto the increased tension in the air, unveil themselves as they release ensnaring strings. Runa and Selise are caught while Listanda breaks the only window for the remainder to escape. Though Onesina attempts to go back for them, Listanda breaks the attempt and reasons that they need a proper opportunity first.

The rest of the members gather far enough to then discuss plans as they observe the two witches in the distance, leaving in a cart not unlike the one Runa saw earlier. They overhear talks of “eating” and decide that even with the hunters most likely enticing them to take the bait, they should try to sneak behind and access what they’re dealing with. Seeing that no one is quite serious, Listanda takes it upon herself to devise a plan and seize their chance before it’s too late. That fails, however, when Kumo is chosen alongside Esky and proceeds to stub their toe so horribly that they alert the witches of their exact location.

A chase ensues as Baja and Gris morph the cart into a monstrous entity using splintered wood to sprout spider-like legs, hollering at the thrill as they aim for the others. Listanda hoists Kumo over their shoulder as Boogie hijacks her other one to direct Raipora to pick up Onesina. Esky takes the hint and follows with the pursuit on! Hot on their trails, Gris goes to the back of the cart to pick up an enhancing vial and strikes up some conversation with Runa and Selise only for the two to immediately dismiss it. She fumes at the inability for them to see eye to eye and swallows the liquid in one take, causing her to take on a more monstrous form capable of doing immense damage to her surroundings and further transforming their vehicle.

Though she manages to hit Raipora mid-flight with shrapnel, Onesina counters with her strength to keep them from being ensnared by the now formed maw of the cart. Then she uses the gained distance to land and deliver a swing of her warhammer that lands directly into the chest of Gris, launching her roughly into the cart’s back and ending the chase.

Part 4
As Onesina celebrates the small victory, Runa uses the distraction and unsuccessfully casts Faerie Fire. Baja in the meanwhile launches off the cart with Gris to defend themselves, Raipora rushing into the fray and getting a proper strike at Baja. Boogie then senses others approaching from the bushes and decides to handle them himself much to Listanda’s opposition. The two witches take to the cart again and prepare another attack as Kumo readies Sacred Flame when Boogie returns apprehended by two other hooded individuals who proceed to call off Baja and Gris, claiming they have the situation covered.

As the two ride off, Boogie reluctantly tries to get a handle after being cornered and uses his last resort; he opens his “face” as the others stare in horror and then engulfs the head of the taller individual. In a panic at Kumo’s threat that it will continue should they not answer their questions, Patawa reveals himself and exclaims that he and the currently trapped Karan were only trying to help as everyone else gathers. Listanda urges Boogie to release his grip. Karan is seemingly traumatized by whatever he saw while inside Boogie’s mouth (which tore off bits of his flesh) but Patawa continues after Listanda vaguely recognizes him, admitting he has come to seek forgiveness on account of his father Eljio’s mistakes after being mentored under Karan as a runaway.

While Listanda is seemingly conflicted, she admits that she has no powers capable of freeing them from the curse though Patawa is only concerned with atonement. The golem leaves to dwell upon the news and reflect as Boogie remains despondent, Onesina asking for further clarification. He seems to be withholding certain information but when Onesina goes to prod further, she accidentally kisses him on the cheek, prompting Boogie to mistake it for another sexual thing. The misunderstanding causes Patawa to flush, though Kumo ignores it to ask who he’s working for.

Runa and Selise are then shown being forced into a cell by Baja and Gris, the former wistfully looking at the small child also inside before the two silently leave. Still feeling the after-effects of the paralysis, the girl seizes their attention as she introduces herself as Elemeno. Although appearing rather plain, Runa notices her skin is entirely scar tissue, with markings upon markings of strange symbols occupying her whole body save for around her facial features (resembling a skull). When she attempts to read them, Elemeno tells her the consequences of doing so: an entire loss of language reading comprehension and interpretation which even she herself has fallen prey to. She then tells the two her skin is the reason she’s being held captive and that the woman in charge, Conchita, has been consuming those she’s kidnapped though Baja has done her best to keep her safe. She also has a strange reluctance towards heroes and admits this place is better than her previous home. Reassuring her they can rescue her, the two by her unique naming convention go by R and S.

As Runa finds weakness in the bar, Selise manages to pick up conversation through the walls and overhears what she presumes is Conchita with a human cult follower. She picks up that Elemeno, who they call the living scroll, has been force fed some liquid while a dragon escaped her clutches in return for its location as well as security being upped. Selise is then distracted by Elemeno’s statically charged hair as she affirms if Elemeno was indeed fed something against her will. The young girl says yes and as Runa transforms into a bear after finally finding the bars’ weakness, she is thrown off by a smell so awful, she reverts back immediately.

After reasoning that it may have been her diet from a raccoon she was imprisoned with earlier, Selise promises that they’ll bring her for better food which Elemeno says reminds her of her father. In turn, she speaks about Baja who then shows up with a torch and frees them as Elemeno rushes to embrace her. While Runa and Selise are wary, Baja admits that she hopes they can bring reinforcements to defeat Colette, Conchita’s real namesake. Baja then specifies her powers as being the ability to sap and absorb the strength of the beings she consumes.

Part 5
Patawa gives further details on Colette, including how she devours her victims inside-out solely through her saliva and is surprisingly the head of the cult despite only being a teenager. He believes that her championing their cause was advantageous considering her means of gaining power and goes on to tell them of her spatial powers, which she uses to maintain the hideout’s secrecy in a pocket dimension at the expense of needing lackeys to carry out the rest of her plans. The recent acquisition of “a living scroll” made her especially calculated, Patawa claiming that their sneaking around was made the more difficult to conduct, especially having a secret code of knocks needed to enter. As for why they began infiltrating the cult in the first place, he admits that he kept it away from Listanda in fear of her growing furious. When they had first come to Tillan-Ait, they had ran into Elroi prior to Listanda and wanting to make amends, had agreed to aid him no matter what. The result was him asking the two to join him in bringing down the cult from the inside, only those plans went awry and resulted in Elroi’s capture.

The group pleads with Patawa to be honest upon Listanda’s return despite his fears to which he agrees and warns them to prepare for the coming battle. Though they suggest gathering others, he mentions that word spread fast of their mishap at the Best Stop and so they continue on with the small amount of firepower that he and Karan managed to snag before their meeting: firecrackers and an incantation known as Frostfeet that is required to be spoken before activation (“Glevier encluso ict poto”). The group take these after heeding his advice and so Listanda returns.

Patawa, urged by the group, tells Listanda the truth though Boogie attempts to say it for him as an apology for hurting Karan. Listanda doesn’t take it too well, though she remains calm enough to merely direct the others to prepare immediately as she threatens Patawa that they better recover her son or else. Boogie offers to be a distraction when they do make their confrontation at the hideout, Kumo suggesting they could if they were able to swallow whole people. Karan opens up for the first time since being traumatized, admitting there are more than 50 individuals at the entrance at a time. The rest of the time is spent going over the layout, with them detailing two main cavernous pathways. With one being the prison, Kumo asks if Elroi is held captive there as well, though both Patawa and Karan are both uncertain. Patawa then takes a moment to check on Karan’s wellbeing before they are on their way.

Finally heading behind their two guides as they scale the cliff, Patawa shows signs of being perplexed by the lack of cult followers and uneventfulness despite the amount of chaos there had been earlier. The two eventually lead the group right back to The Best Stop, resulting in poor reactions from everyone.

Just as the two try to convince the others, Gris falls from above. She admits that she isn’t there to fight as her and her sister are choosing to abandon ship, proceeding to hand over a sword that Patawa recognizes as a mangled Elroi. Telling him that is not Colette’s work but rather the humans and their sick idea of fun, she leaves while implying that they have all been taken out. The group chooses not to pursue seeing the state of Listanda as she mourns over her son, Kumo only having done a precautionary Cure Wounds in the event any of them were charged at. Aware that he is still alive, she pulls herself together at the kind and encouraging words of the others. The heartfelt moment however, is ruined after someone claiming to be Gnacho’s cousin intrudes, having been there to pick up the ashes. With Raipora about to cry, Boogie rushes to deal with the mess and slams down the locked door of The Best Stop with little effort.

Back to Runa and Selise, the druid asks what Colette possibly wanted with Elemeno. Baja responds back by referencing the phrase “the stolen words” which even she doesn’t know the meaning of before mentioning Gander, who had traded her safety for Elemeno’s whereabouts. Betrayed, Baja continues by saying Elemeno was only in the area for the advertised traveling aquarium and famous golem act. She exchanges a brief farewell before asking the two to take care of Elemeno and carries on, leaving them with a promise of disabled traps and a clean escape. As they rush towards the exit with haste, they see all the dealt-with bodies of the human cultists which seem to have been done by Baja as evidenced from the lacerations. Confronted with a portal as the only means of leaving, they pass through and find themselves bursting from a dressing closet into the same room they and the other Boogiers had first been released into by Aventura.

Elemeno, beginning to feel sick, descends the flight of stairs into the now emptied main room and catches Boogie sweeping up Gnacho’s ashes with a dustpan. As she falls into his arms, he is elated upon catching Runa and Selise although a sudden shriek throws everyone off balance. Now glowing a pale blue and suspended in air, Elemeno begins to speak to Boogie in an otherwise unintelligible whisper and tells him that she is her worst nightmare as she promises to fix him. She then takes the ashes and resuscitates Gnacho by repairing his body instantaneously. Before she can do anything to Boogie, she lastly calls him “Ob” before Gnacho’s flailing makes her fall off balance and go unconsciousness.

Although the others were waiting outside, they managed to witness the entire spectacle and rush in to help as Boogie storms off from the lack of action taken to help him. Selise rushes in to attend to Elemeno and is relieved upon Kumo’s inspection that she is stable while Runa catches the rest up on what happened in their absence. While the group is ecstatic upon seeing him, Gnacho shares concerning words but otherwise has no memory of himself or his identity. Debating on whether they should be truthful to Gnacho’s cousin outside, Onesina decides to check on Boogie seeing as everyone else is preoccupied. As she approaches him at the doorsteps, he shrugs her off, repeating Elemeno’s final words to himself.

Part 6
Patawa fills in Runa and Selise on what happened when they split off as well, confirming that Elemeno was as important to Colette as another vial which he believed was to be fed to her. Selise mentions having heard it from what she believes was Colette herself, worrying over what effects may have yet to manifest in the child. Kumo makes an effort to get Boogie in on their planning while he and Onesina begin to converse again, Boogie bringing up how he has yet to see a being quite like himself. Onesina reassures him that while she doesn’t know of any like him either, she hasn’t seen a lot of the world and is sure that he is anything but the abomination he believes himself to be.

Back inside, the group figures what the best strategy is as defeating Colette is crucial to keeping Elemeno safe. As Runa lets them know of Gander’s involvement in the whole situation, they all are surprised to hear Aventura from out of the blue. Having returned from said dragon-born’s place to check in on her, she is pleased to see Listanda but begins to throw accusations which prompts Runa to do the same. Gnacho then makes himself known which causes further chaos amidst the confusion. Despite trying to cement how important it is for them to flee and regroup, the mention of Colette makes Aventura react and ask more questions. Just then, Listanda warns of a presence and urges them to defend Elemeno and the halflings especially.

It’s then that a fight ensues as horrendous blobs of translucent liquid appear and surround the perimeter of the tavern. Onesina is the only one who gets distracted, realizing that the liquid is corrosive as it burns the edge of her cloak. They eventually best the creatures as Patawa realizes they were made by Colette’s saliva from the smell. Runa, having bit into some of said blobs in bear form, worries about what it may do to her body though Patawa reasons if nothing happened so far, she should be fine. He does take note of the subtle change in her forehead though. Boogie then asks if they can abandon Elemeno though no one listens. Gnacho’s cousin then pipes up about what exactly is happening though he is thankful for their protection.

Eventually the group decides it best to be polite and admit that while they have no idea what happened to Gnacho prior, they are certain the two should return home for their own safety. They take it to consideration and the group bids farewell to the halflings, knowing it was the better decision.

Part 7
As Kumo reasons that the group has paid their dues to Aventura following the battle, Aventura is also caught up by their mentions of a Colette. Though she is reluctant to trust in them as they are her, Listanda’s presence affirms that they are capable and so she admits knowing Colette personally. She then reasons that they should visit Gander once again for proper answers as she also mentioned a child, which she assumes may be the unconscious Elemeno. Patawa and Listanda reason with a reluctant Kumo that even if it is a trap, the sooner they meet Colette the better. Kumo continues to oppose and so cornered, Aventura admits her relationship to Colette as her grandmother and if it truly is her they are discussing.

Onesina attempts to insight her for any signs of deception and again awkwardly invades personal space to Aventura’s and Boogie’s disdain. Kumo and Runa also look for any suspicious activity but presume her to be telling the truth after studying behavioral cues. Seeing no ill will, they take to Gander’s house. On the walk there, Boogie asks if they can abandon Elemeno. Selise promises that she’ll keep distance between the two but Boogie exclaims that she is dangerous given her previous outburst. He rescinds seeing as no one else supports him. Aventura then unveils a secret pathway behind some bushes she and Gander crafted after their mishap with the humans below. As she reminisces, she admits that the two used to have a proper friendship though the attack had Gander recede into her home and paranoid ways.

Aventura is relieved to see Listanda in high spirits though and decides to go down the line of questioning as to how the group knows Colette. Upon hearing of her granddaughter’s involvement with the recent cult activity, she relates it back to a personal experience in her youth where she dealt with similarly cruel individuals, ending up permanently disfigured in the process. Using her spatial powers to make ends meet for her dependent family, she would be caught stealing and then tortured by a wealthy man in town along with the siblings she took in tow, with his son carrying out his untrained transmutation magic on their bodies until all but Aventura succumbed. Recognized as a criminal there, she would be forced to flee to Tillan-Ait and claims that she had hoped her son would never relive her mistakes.

She then explains that he did regardless, bringing Colette back and irresponsibly making Aventura act babysitter. In the meantime, Aventura discovered her granddaughter shared her same magic capabilities and tried to train her though she vanished without a trace. Colette would return later that same evening she disappeared with her tongue severed from her mouth. From that point, Aventura saw Colette exponentially improve her magic despite no further involvement from her until one day Colette managed to put her tongue back in place. She notes that was when Colette began to act extremely strange, her father then abandoning them with no notice save for a brief letter. Aventura concludes Colette then did the same as a teenager and she has been looking for her ever since. Though the group offers their consolations, Aventura is motivated to get to the bottom of what has been happening for the sake of the community. Patawa, as they discuss this, goes to Listanda to reaffirm his loyalty and apologies regarding Elroi’s predicament which she regards.

The group then halts at a gap, though Aventura tells them it is merely a ruse as she taps into her magic and creates a portal for them to use for teleporting to Gander’s place. Theorizing that Colette has been doing the same on a grander scale, most likely using her place of business to find new victims considering its popularity, she allows them to enter one by one. As they do, Kumo takes a now conscious Karan aside to ask what he means by an earlier comment regarding Boogie. The man answers that inside Boogie is a nothingness that cannot be conceived. Onesina also analyzes Aventura’s magic for a time to see that it functions only for the means of teleportation and bubbles around those that enter rather than acting as a sustained pocket of space.

On the other side, Elemeno wakes as the group congregates at the front of Gander’s house. The others ask if she is familiar with the house or Gander to which she responds no, though when introduced to Listanda she mentions that the golem’s heart must hurt. Aventura then knocks to see that Gander is once again not responding. Upon further inspection, Raipora feels the wounds inflicted upon Gander bringing her closer to death as she peers in the sole window and finds the other dragon-born splayed out on the floor.

Though Aventura and Esky both attempt to breach inside the house, their attempts fail by some unknown magic that pushes them both forcefully. Though the others try as well in vain, Aventura recognizes that the magic is Colette’s and she has somehow cloaked the entire place with portals so that even if they were to break in, it would not be feasible to enter. The strength leads her to believe that she is also nearby. Runa then feels a surge in energy that she registers from one of the flanking Charm Dimeshore pillars as they others search for the source. Colette surrenders her position peacefully, descending to speak her piece.

Aventura immediately rushes over to slap her granddaughter though Colette doesn’t react, teleporting away to once again gain some distance. She greets only Elemeno before telling The Boogiers of her true intentions: steeling herself with power to destroy Elemeno before she fulfills her potential as a weapon of mass destruction. She even recalls the intended effects of the potion she had the child consume to test her theory before going on to explain her new tongue was gifted by an entity older than time known and in its stead, offers them its knowledge if they comply. To further prove her point, she even mentions the religion Runa has been seeking out.