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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lykkenthrope" data-source="post: 9781718" data-attributes="member: 7045440">Session 19The session began with the party nearing the lake. The air was cooler here, though without Indomitability’s boon it would still have been barely bearable.As they approached the lake, they heard distant singing carried over the crackling of the fire. The sound was strange and beautiful: a hopeful dirge woven with magic. The flames of the forest dimmed in response to the melody, though the it was easy to tell the voices seemed weary and the fire seemed to push back on this weakness, flickering angrily. Tiljann warned the group not to disturb the singers, explaining that to interrupt the song would mean death for everyone.When the river widened and the shore came into view, Tiljann motioned for the group to follow. Before they moved forward, Grom winced as a sharp headache struck him. He said nothing of it but offered to stay behind and watch the entrance to the village, reminding everyone that Kazyk was still at large. The party agreed this was a smart and sensible precaution.This left Vic, Sorian, Torrent, Crystin, and Reshi following Tiljann into the village. The beach around them was dotted with stone huts, and as the party approached, curious eyes peeked out from doorways. The most notable feature in the village was a giant wooden platform where four Seela stood atop singing that haunting song towards the lake. Everyone had noticed the party now and some of the Seela stepped closer, eager to see the newcomers, but others retreated into the safety of caves carved into the cliffside. Tiljann called out in Sylvan, reassuring them, but then shouted for Papuvin.A moment later, an older Seela descended from one of the upper caves. A spear rested in his hands, and though his body looked frail, it was clear he still knew how to fight. He impressively used his ruined wings to glide down to the beach and land in front of the party.After a short conversation with Tiljann, Papuvin turned to the group and invited them to join him in his cave. While it was an invitation, it was clear they could not turn it down.As they followed Papuvin way up the path, a younger Seela came up to Torrent and Vic. He whispered quickly that he wished to speak with them privately later, if they could spare the time, his cave was on the far side of the village.Papuvin asked Tiljann to leave so he could speak with the party alone. When she was gone, he explained that she was still very young for their kind, full of hope and naivety. Once he was certain she was out of earshot, he invited the group to sit.Sorian spoke openly with him about their purpose in the forest, their need to get a notebook to Seaquen, that Ragesia was invading Gate Pass. Papuvin saw their honesty and lowered his guard. He remarked that not much had changed in 100 years. They saw the tension leave his posture and the weariness showed on his face that came with long years of duty and loss. Papuvin admitted that part of him had hoped, as Tiljann had, that they might have come to help the Seela.[SPOILER="Long Written Out Lore Drop"]The group asked about the song being sung across the lake. Papuvin told them it was The Song of Forms, a song taught to them by the very earth. They once sang it each spring to renew the forest. However, when Indomitability entered the forest and disrupted the natural cycle, they began singing it to strengthen Timbre, the spirit of the Innenotdar, who had grown weak from the corruption spreading through the woods.However, the song had an unexpected effect. It trapped the invading creature in the last form it had taken, that of a great stag. Then, using the Living Blade the hero Arielle pinned the beast to the lake’s depths. The Living Blade longed to take root and the song kept the creature bound within its mortal shape. Between the two, Indomitability was and has been imprisoned.Years later, when the fires came, the Seela made no attempt to flee. They believed their fates were tied to the forest’s and chose to remain honoring their vow and singing their sacred song to the very end. But they did not burn. They did not die. So, they kept singing and they still sing now.From this, the party realized that Indomitability had not caused the fires, much to Sorian’s frustration. Some of the forest had burned in the first blaze, but when the fire reached the glade of the First Tree, it stopped spreading. The flames no longer consumed, only burned endlessly. Papuvin believed this was because the beast’s undying nature had become tied to the forest itself through the Living Blade.The group then asked what he believed would happen if Indomitability were freed. Papuvin answered plainly: he believed the forest would finally burn, and that all Seela and firetouched would perish with it.He went on to explain that the remaining Seela were divided. Nearly half wished to stop singing and let the natural cycle take its course, to let the forest die so that new, living one could be born. The rest, including Papuvin, felt bound by oath to continue the song and keep the beast imprisoned, no matter the cost.Papuvin longed for a way to destroy Indomitability permanently, he could be persuaded to join those to let the natural order occur as long as they weren’t breaking their vow. Though, more than anything, he wanted a way to save his people, especially the young ones like Tiljann, who had never known a life beyond the fire.He suggested that Timbre might know more, but she had not been seen since Arielle’s death and was said to burn within her glade, lost to grief. Papuvin offered that they may be able to retrieve a lock of Arille’s hair from her Shrine in a village up river, that that hair might be enough to get Timbre to speak with them.[/SPOILER]Big take aways from the talk with Papuvin: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They learned about the Song of Forms and its power to keep Indomitability in a mortal form.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Indomitability did not set the fire.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Papuvin believed Indomitability’s essence flowed through the Living Blade and is what was keeping the forest from burning.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Seela’s fate was tied to the First Tree, so if that tree burned down the Seela would die.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Half the Seela wanted to stop singing and allow the natural order of things to occur.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Half wanted to honor their vow to keep singing and keep Indomitability trapped.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Papuvin offered that Timbre might know more, they might be able to speak with her if they took her a lock of her wife’s hair that could be found at the Shrine up river</li> </ul>Ze recalled the missing relic from the shrine and asked if it held any power. Papuvin said it had none, only sentimental value. But if it had been stolen, he said, there was one being who might have taken it: Gwen, the nymph of the lake.Gwen had once been Arielle’s closest friend, and many believed she had been in love with her. When Arielle chose Timbre, Gwen’s love turned to jealousy. Some blamed her envy for luring Indomitability into the forest. Over time, she became consumed by grief and rage, turning her anger on Timbre and blaming her for Arielle’s death.[SPOILER="DM Note. Spoilers for Gwen, Timbre, and Arielle"]I was intrigued by another's write ups that, if I recall correctly, didn't view Gwen as the jealous, jilted lover but instead had some questions about Timbre and her relationship with Arielle. I decided to offer my group 3 different versions of the love triangle.  I had Tiljann tell the base story without including Gwen at all.  Papuvin offered their first, with Gwen as a jealous unrequited lover.  In the next session they will get one where Arielle and Gwen were lovers, but broke up and Gwen has a more intense stalkery vibe that's outlined in the module.  Then they will get a version where Arielle and Gwen were lovers, but Arielle was unable to turn Timbre down and save her people. So Arielle and Gwen had to sneak around to be with each other. I'll go into depth when we get here with how this really engaged my players in them having to decide which "truth" they believed and the implications of if they were wrong.  [/SPOILER]As the sun set, Papuvin said it was time for him to take his turn singing the song. Before leaving, he offered the group a place to rest. He apologized that he could not give them more help, he himself did not know how to leave the forest unless Indomitability allowed it. Still, he made one final request. If they found a way to save his people while pursuing their own escape, he would be forever in their debt.(Session End)DM Note.  I used Navi as my Seela language and used the song "The Storm" by TheFatRat as my Song of Forms. I edited it so I have a different verisons: a group singing, a solo singer (Tiljann), and an instrumental version for background music while in the village (oh and an English Translation for Sorian who could understand Slyvan!).  If anyone is interested in hearing my edits, please message me.  I don't want to link it here due to possible CC issues.</blockquote>

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