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Message: <blockquote data-quote="aartvb" data-source="post: 9528272" data-attributes="member: 7035557">Session 45 (21-8-2024): The Cursed Pistol and the Signed Lanterns501 A.O.V., Winter, Day 14BenDER stays overnight on the train. Around 2:00 AM, he notices Luc carving something into one of the train's lanterns with a small knife. BenDER doesn't think it is part of a ritual.  The following morning, no murders are reported.  When the group arrives at the train, they notice it’s far less crowded than before. Some passengers have died, and many others have postponed their journey due to the previous incidents. Cardiff Hengehill is no longer on board, as they had suspected.  The train departs from Trekhom, heading to Nalaam.  BenDER examines the lantern and discovers that Luc has carved a symbol into it. Morthos uses Detect Magic but finds no traces of magic. Zuna recognizes the symbol—it is in the same style as the ones they encountered earlier in the ziggurat. BenDER decides to place the lantern in his internal Bag of Holding.  While walking through the train, Zuna notices that all the other lanterns bear the same carved symbol. She proceeds to throw every lantern she finds out of the train.  Luc and Ottavia are enjoying wine and cheese. When BenDER and Aurelius question Luc about the symbols, he explains that they are meant to protect the train after the previous day’s events. Luc offers the group wine and cheese. During the conversation, it becomes clear that Luc struggles with social interactions but has a strong background in arcano-science, which he found deeply fulfilling.After a few glasses of wine and some cheese, BenDER and Aurelius leave to check a nearby bookshelf, hoping to find useful information. Disappointed by its lack of valuable books (he only sees heretic books), Aurelius casts Firebolt on the shelf. Thankfully, the train is equipped with sprinklers, which quickly extinguish the fire. However, the books are now ruined.When Ravarel later hears about Luc's studies, he becomes intrigued and eager to learn more.Ravarel and Zuna investigate the food Eleanor gives to her servant and discover that it is laced with a peculiar herb. Zuna recognizes it as something she once consumed in the past. The experience was unpleasant, leaving her unable to recall several hours afterward.Bree confronts Aurelius and BenDER, asking why water is dripping from the ceiling and why the books are charred. Aurelius casually responds, claiming he’s relieved to be rid of the heresy. Bree, unfazed, offers a bottle of wine and suggests they drink together. During their conversation, Bree reveals that she was supposed to travel with Caius Bergaron on this journey, but he never showed up. While Aurelius and BenDER act unaware, they both know Caius is dead. But they do mention that they know Caius.Bree also shares that her arm was severed during the Yearosol War but was later reattached and can now be detached again. She recounts amusing stories of clever tricks she’s pulled with her detachable arm. At one point, she even swaps arms with BenDER, with varying results.Meanwhile, Zuna, Ravarel, and Morthos approach Boone. They have stolen some of Eleanor’s food and given it to Boone, which reduces him to a zombie-like state. They bring him back to their compartment, where Boone, under the influence of the food, confesses to the murders. He claims he was compelled to act by his pistol, which he says is possessed. Boone reveals that he has had the gun for years. He also reveals that his current task is to protect Luc during this journey in exchange for money.  When group members (Zuna and BenDER) touch the pistol, they feel as though their hands are drenched in blood and are drawn to it with an irresistible attraction. To prevent further harm, the group restrains Boone. When the effects of the drug begin to wear off, he starts resisting, desperate to retrieve his pistol, which BenDER has stored in his Bag of Holding.A train staff member passes through the compartment, handing out flyers for a show in Nalaam’s arena at 10:00 PM. The invitation is from Eleanor. The staff member is shocked to see Boone tied up in the compartment and tries to inform Malia. The group intervenes, with Ravarel calming the situation and accompanying the staff member to explain Boone’s predicament to Malia.<code class="bbCodeInline">Note: I loved how they solved this one. Feed Boone the food that keeps Isobel in check. Amazing!</code></blockquote>

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