Session Overview#
In this pivotal session, the party deals with the aftermath of their battle at the corrupted druid shrine, makes crucial decisions about Frankie’s lycanthropy, and uncovers devastating truths about Red’s family history while accidentally destroying evidence in a house fire.
Key Events#
Closing the Portal#
The session opens with Eleanor successfully closing the infernal portal at the shrine using her ancestral amulet. The portal collapses after a final desperate attempt by devils to break through, with a spectral clawed hand trying to drag itself into the world. Eleanor’s magic prevails, cleansing the shrine and restoring it to its natural state as gentle rain begins to fall and flowers bloom where corruption once festered.
Eleanor presents the Portal-Closing Amulet to Red, explaining it can be used to close other infernal rifts they might encounter in their travels.
Frankie’s Transformation Decision#
The party engages in an extensive discussion about Frankie the werewolf’s future. Eleanor offers three options:
- Full healing - Complete removal of lycanthropy
- Controlled lycanthropy - Maintain werewolf abilities with control, but risk becoming an uncontrollable beast during rare celestial alignments (twice yearly)
- Status quo - Remain as currently affected
The decision is complicated by the presence of the artificial Eldoran moon, which forces Frankie to transform every night rather than just during full moons. After much deliberation and discussion about celestial alignments and potential solutions (including jokes about “blowing up the moon”), the party unanimously chooses full healing. Eleanor successfully performs the ritual, restoring Frankie to human form.
Political Aftermath in Milstrom#
Returning to town, the party encounters a town meeting at the Common Mug. The citizens are debating their future governance after the mayor’s death:
- Willamay advocates for a democratic council elected by the people
- Boone Rockwell suggests expanding the existing council structure rather than complete change
- Maggie and Big O support whatever keeps the community strong
When asked for their input, the party’s suggestions range from single leadership (Silas) to representation and accountability (Olivia) to completely unconventional ideas (Goblin Law from Bru). Ultimately, they recommend taking time to consider all options rather than making hasty decisions, leading the town to postpone the decision for a month.
The Magnolia Investigation#
Following up on Roscoe’s tip about Red’s parents’ murder, the party visits Magnolia, an elderly halfling woman who lives in a cottage filled with quilted furniture. During their visit over tea (which contains mild hallucinogenic herbs), Magnolia reveals crucial information:
- She witnessed Zeke leaving Red’s parents’ house on the night they died
- She overheard an argument between Zeke and Red’s parents
- After Zeke left, she heard Red’s parents discussing how “Zeke knows too much” and that “maybe they will take care of him”
- She then heard sounds of violence and believes it was a murder-suicide triggered by whatever Zeke told them
Important Note: Magnolia’s reliability as a witness is questionable due to her regular consumption of mildly psychoactive tea that affects memory.
Breaking into Zeke’s Cottage#
The party locates Zeke’s cottage in the woods, finding it apparently empty but with a fire still burning. Silas successfully picks the lock after disarming a needle trap, but the group’s investigation leads to disaster:
Key Discoveries:
- Zeke’s Journal: Reveals he is a spy for the Eldoran Empire
- Murder Revelation: Zeke deliberately poisoned the well water at Red’s family home, making their deaths appear like illness rather than murder
- Surveillance: Zeke has been monitoring Red and tracking Goliath movements in the mountains
- Escape Plans: Recent entries suggest Zeke was preparing to leave town
The Fire Disaster: While investigating, the party accidentally causes a grease fire when trying to extinguish Zeke’s cooking pot. Their attempts to put it out with water only make it worse, and the cottage burns down completely. Fortunately, they escape with Zeke’s journal and a bag of the same herbs Magnolia uses in her tea.
The Chase and Escape#
Using survival skills enhanced by psychic abilities, Silas tracks Zeke’s trail from the burned cottage to the Gold Road, where they discover:
- Zeke rendezvoused with horses and riders
- Purple wisps (possibly magical tracking traces) lead toward the horizon
- He has too much of a head start to catch on foot
The party realizes Zeke is likely heading to Eldora, putting their investigation on hold until they can follow.
Negotiating the Caravan Delay#
Before departing on the Pilgrim’s Path to search for Olivia’s grandson George, the party needs to handle their contract with Tien’s tiefling trading caravan. Helisana attempts to negotiate having them wait, but despite having advantage from party assistance, rolls poorly and ends up agreeing to pay 200 gold for the traders to wait in Milstrom during their detour.
Setting Out on the Pilgrim’s Path#
The session concludes with the party beginning their journey on the Pilgrim’s Path with Roscoe as their guide. The landscape shifts from vibrant colors to muted grays as they climb into the mountains, following ancient stones marked with the balanced scales of Tyr.
They make camp for the evening and spot a shepherd’s cottage with smoke rising from its chimney, setting up the next leg of their adventure.
Character Development & Relationships#
- Red processes the devastating revelation about his parents’ murder and the identity of their killer
- Olivia demonstrates leadership in political discussions and shows crafting skills by making gifts
- Silas proves invaluable with his investigative and stealth abilities, though his greed continues to be a defining trait
- Helisana struggles with substance use throughout the session, affecting her social interactions
- Bru maintains his explosive enthusiasm while being “managed” by the more responsible party members
- Elspeth serves as a voice of reason and technical expertise
Loot & Items Acquired#
- Portal-Closing Amulet (given to Red by Eleanor)
- Demon Finger (trophy from the portal battle)
- Quilted Blankets (gifts from Magnolia)
- Zeke’s Journal (crucial evidence of the murder and espionage)
- Hallucinogenic Herbs (Zeke’s stash)
Ongoing Plot Threads#
- Zeke’s Escape: The murderer of Red’s parents has fled toward Eldora
- George’s Search: Following the Pilgrim’s Path to find Olivia’s grandson
- The Artificial Moon: Ongoing concerns about the Eldoran Empire’s fake moon
- Caravan Contract: 200 gold expense and time pressure to complete the pilgrimage
- Portal Network: The amulet suggests more infernal rifts may need closing
- Milstrom’s Government: The town’s political future remains undecided
Session Themes#
This session expertly balanced investigation, character development, and world-building while advancing multiple plot threads. The accidental destruction of evidence added tension and consequences to the party’s actions, while the revelation about Red’s parents provided crucial backstory development. The session maintained the campaign’s blend of serious moments and comedic interactions, particularly around party dynamics and substance use.
The title “Burning Down the House” perfectly captures both the literal house fire and the metaphorical burning down of Red’s understanding of his family’s fate, making this a memorable and impactful session in the campaign’s narrative arc.