Shriek to the Moon of Black

Part 1
Having opened the final door that seals the necromantic wing, the party encounter two people (Marius and Roman) in an ancient and outdated college students uniforms. They thank the party and explain that they have been trapped in the wing when the door closed after trying to breach it themselves two weeks ago. Initially suspicious of the two, the party cautiously proceed into the enter the run down and crumbling necromantic wing where they find the book, Shriek to the Moon of Black, on a pedestal.

Hearing voices as he approaches it, Malik tentatively picks up the book and manages to resist its affront on his mind. Unfortunately, tension breaks out between the party as Enya demands to see the book, concerned Malik will abscond with the book but Malik has reservations about subjecting someone else to its influence. Enya draws his mystic orb and Blitz draws his sword and the group standoff as they try to reason with each other.

Roman grabs the book from Malik and passes it to Enya and Blitz summons a spiritual trident as Malik covers the door. As Enya receives the book he is captivated by its aura/presence and begins to read it. Dee actually manages to snap Enya out of his trance and he closes the book and apologises.

While the group continue to debate who the book is safest with, Alice finds a yearbook of sorts amongst the rubble and sees two students that look like Marius and Roman dated hundreds of years ago.

Spotting Alice, Marius suddenly extends one arm unnaturally 15 feet long and grabs the book from Enya, and starts reading the book. Despite Blitz charging at him, he finishes the incantation before being tackled. The book summons a terrifying shadowy being. Marius and Roman transform, revealing themselves to be featureless doppelgängers.

In the fight that follows, Earendell has one of his invisible friends, Shade, deal some damage to his enemies. Dee and Rory take cover in fear (though Dee casts one spell) but Enya does aid the party with some spells, saving Blitz’s life a tone point before falling unconscious. Myria/Earendell comes very close to dying permanently as the shadow being depletes their life-force through its attacks (via decreasing their max hit points).

As Blitz deals the final blow, diving sword first through the shadow being, it is sucked back into the book before the tome disintegrates.

Myria, back in the form of Alice, spots Celeste for a moment in the shadows. She appears ragged and her clothes are torn and she has a shadowy cuff around her ankle that leads into the darkness. She mentions a man where she is that she thinks Alice sent there before she calls for help. As Alice runs to her she dissipates into the air.

They exit the necromantic wing and pass through the rooms of now deactivated traps without incidence. Saddened that the trip was a disaster, Enya apologises to the other students and the party and thanks them before agreeing to obtain some spell books for Malik as payment for their troubles. He mentions that he will head west in search of a real teacher so that he can properly learn necromancy in a more safe environment.

Part 2
Having vanquished the being summoned from the Shriek to the Moon of Black and emerged from the abandoned necromantic wing of the college, the party leave the college at roughly midnight to head back to the Shivering Ent inn.

Returning to the inn they discover it being redecorated in lieu of the new management taking over the inn. They recognise a painting of High Priest Cyrus Tanagathor being hung up that declares him as the new owner of the inn.

The party rest up for the night and Damien inquires to his sketchbook as to when he can meet the order. A reply explains that operatives exist all over the region and he may encounter them in his travels. Blitz prays to reconnect with Valkur and has another vision of a lone ship on the sea, this time with an island of black and purple malice present and encroaching. Valkur praises Blitz for his endeavours and formally introduces himself as an oceanic protector. He warns Blitz of an oncoming threat of unknown origins that has threatened environment and creatures of the world. He speaks of Mieliki’s forest domain being plagued by this threat and urges Blitz to find its source before it arrives in the ocean’s domain.

The party awakens the next day refreshed and plan their departure from Inkbury that night. They discuss heading to Shelburn to inform Blitz’s family of his safety via the Tarbrush Canopy Forest (in search of answers to the questions posed by Blitz’s vision). As they plan, High Priest Cyrus Tanagathor enters the inn and requests their aid in finding Earl Harkenson of the Southstead who has gone missing in North Gresham preceding the upcoming festival there. As Malik and Damien owe him for their release from the keep dungeons, they agree to help locate the Earl whilst keeping the situation under wraps. He grants them use of an official carriage for their journey.

As the party head out of the inn Dee arrives to provide Malik with the spells he requested.

The party stay their usual cart and horses at a stable while they are out of town.

Damien reveals he has a house in his hometown that they can use as a base of operations if needed.

When their official carriage arrives they head out of the city and travel along the river. They cross a branch of the river and arrive past the mountains at a field dotted with boulders.

Blomf and Damien go out hunting for food whilst the others set up camp by a boulder. They manage to kill several two-headed rabbits and a large majestic elk or deer-like creature with multiple pairs of antlers going down it’s back.

As the party sleep, they are caught by surprise and attacked by a gang of Kenku bandits who steal their coin purses. They kill the Kenkus and investigate their wagon where they encounter a young multicoloured macaw Kenku called Flightless. He is deaf and can only communicate with Alice via thieves cant (portrayed using sign language).