Session 11: The Drowning Star

Following the battle at the docks, the party’s ship remains heavily damaged. Seeking a place to rest, the party returns to the tavern. A local Lord of the Manor offers to host the group at his mansion for a fee; however, only Solara agrees to the arrangement, ultimately securing her stay for free.

While Jin remains outside the mansion, he observes the Lord of the Manor through a window. The man removes a bandage, revealing a grievous stab wound on his back. Inside, the Lord questions Solara regarding their business in Blackreef. She reveals their destination: the Drowning Star.

Outside, Jin notices shifting shadows and a strange mist seeping into the house. As he attempts to warn Solara, Glasya manifests behind her. Glasya presents a dire ultimatum: Solara must choose between her or the Flame.

The Lord of the Manor is seen floating beyond Jin’s position, remarking on the presence of an “uninvited visitor.”

"You should always be wary of things you don't understand"

The party remains split as the night deepens.

Vesper returns to the graveyard. Finding the graves uncovered, they begins to play their viol. The spirit of a little girl appears, delighted by the music, though a spirit boy nearby remains unimpressed, claiming he has heard better.

"What kind of music do you like?" **Vesper** asks.

“Scary music,” the girl replies.

Vesper obliges with a more sinister melody. As the child’s smile grows, she invites them to return the following day, promising to bring her friends.

Morning arrives, and the Lord of the Manor is absent, reportedly out on errands. At the inn, Moss wakes to find his window slightly ajar. His pack has been rifled through; Gimbol’s sword and all of the late gnome's belongings have been stolen.

At the graveyard, Vesper finds the site has returned to normal, the graves sealed once more.

The party reunites at the tavern where Cranky One Eye (Willy) informs them he has secured a few crew members but requires more, including a mage. He explains that he cannot take the ship all the way to the Drowning Star and will have to drop them offshore.

While Moss searches for Varnus Dreg, suspecting him of the theft, Solara and Jin head to the docks. They encounter two sailors who claim to know a mage capable of assisting. Solara hires them, completing the ship's crew.

Yarp

At the tavern, Moss observes Varnus Dreg entering with a dwarf named Bullog, who is unarmored but carries an axe and shield. Varnus instructs Bullog to watch over Gimbol, threatening consequences if the debt isn't paid. When Moss reveals Gimbol is dead, Varnus pivots, ordering Bullog to bring back meteorite metal instead.

Varnus provides Bullog with a diamond—which the dwarf promptly eats—and sends him to join the party’s expedition. As the day ends, Moss and Bullog head to the boat, where Moss spots a massive, watery apparition beneath the surface.

At the manor, Jin is invited to dinner, where a roasted boar is served. Meanwhile, Vesper returns to the graves. The spirit girl and her friends appear, including the boy who remains critical of the music.

"I used to be in the circus, I think," **Vesper** notes.

“Bad things happened the last time the circus came. That's why we're here,” the girl responds.

The spirits ask if Vesper can set them free. Vesper suggests it may be possible when the circus returns, though the boy scoffs before disappearing. The remaining ghosts hand Vesper a flyer for The Black Moon Circus, and Vesper promises to try to return at the time of the circus to fix things.

In the manor, the Lord offers Solara some of the glowing Moon Wine as previously seen at the New Moon Festival, they talk for a while, he reveals he deals in “antiquities” before they retire to his chambers to totally bang a lot. During the night, the Lord reveals his true nature, biting Solara’s neck.

The following morning, Vesper informs the party of their findings, and the party departs on Willy’s ship. As they sail, a wave with a strange silvery glow strikes the vessel. While most remain steady, Moss is knocked overboard. Bullog pulls him back up, but Moss feels as though the island itself recognized his arrival. Solara finds herself plagued by a new hunger and hears the voice of the Lord of the Manor in her mind.

"You said you'd still be here."

“I'll be back after the job is done,” Solara replies.

### The Star’s Defense A storm breaks as they approach. Two water elementals with stars embedded in their faces rise from the sea, crashing walls of water against the boat and knocking the mage from the crow's nest.

As they attempt to outrun the storm, massive tendrils emerge from the depths, dragging sailors under and grabbing both Bullog and Solara. Solara strikes back with Eldritch Blast, which appears darker and more flame-like than usual. A voice echoes through the waves:

"You belong to the star."

The fog breaks as the ship stops. The party takes a smaller boat toward the island, feeling a powerful gravitational pull that tugs at their very bones. A rhythmic, heartbeat-like thumping shakes the area as they dock as they hear a voice in their minds.

"Come back to me"

A void opens in the center of the island, and a massive Leviathan rises from the hole. A fierce battle ensues as the creature fires beams of starlight at the party.

As the Leviathan retracts and the star begins to fold, the void spins violently, pulling the party toward the center. The Leviathan is eventually slain, and a glowing orb floats upward.

🗝️ Orb of the First Dawn

Moss transforms into a shark to help the party escape the current. As they struggle, a spectral hand reaches out—it is Gimbol Hearthseeker, manifesting his Mage Hand. Having mysteriously taken the place of Bullog, Gimbol grasps the orb, sealing the gravity void at the cost of being momentarily lost within the artifact.

In the aftermath, Gimbol’s shadow now takes the form of the dwarf barbarian, Bullog, and the barbarian’s axe has been transformed into Gimbol’s shortsword.