The session opened mid-battle within the depths of the Silver Canopy - a vast, web-choked region of the continent Miltaur, blanketed in thick, suspended silk. A group of adventurers fought off an ambush of Emberachnids and Vargouilles among strands of clinging web and scattered bodies.
The sounds of combat stirred Ryn from a long, unknowable slumber. Though still encased and physically bound, he managed to project his ego outward and join the fray - aiding the adventurers and requesting their help in finding and freeing his body.
One of the cocoons ruptured during the battle, revealing a corroded Rusty Sword and Shield. Kara attacked one of the Emberachnids with her flame-infused Tattoo Blade, only to discover that the creature resisted the fire. She subsequently removed her Fire Smithing Stone - an augmentation worn as a necklace - to restore her weapon’s effectiveness.
The Emberachnids were strangely hollow, and upon death, crumbled into dust. It was only moments after combat ended that the party noticed small, burning spiders emerging from some of the corpses and covering their bodies.
Among the attackers was a Husk - a gaunt, humanoid creature with zombie-like traits. Like the Emberachnids, it too turned to dust when slain, leaving no trace of flesh or bone. Neither creature appeared truly alive, nor undead.
Following the fight, the party took a short rest. During this time, they questioned Ryn about his origins and nature. He explained The Soul Vessel and its many egos. Ronin emerged and spoke in the tongue of the Reath, which some members of the group recognized. It became clear that the adventurers had encountered others of the Reath.
The Serene attempted to project an image directly into Ryn’s mind - a means of communication typical for their kind - but it failed to land cleanly. As described by the DM: “It was like firing a cannonball into a whirlpool of ships - the image glanced off, unable to find anchor.” Ryn theorized that with time and practice, these projections might eventually reach the right ego more directly.
The adventuring party shared their mission: they had come from a place called Silver Canopy’s Watch, and had entered the Canopy in hopes of discovering what caused its spread. They believed it to be destabilizing the natural ecosystem. They seemed amenable to Ryn’s goal of confronting the Titan Wildfire, suggesting aligned interests.
The party also mentioned something arriving back in Silver Canopy’s Watch soon, and they seemed to be wanting to either avoid that something, or wanting to ensure they were back when that something arrived.
During this conversation, Kara offered Ronin a gold coin - a Reath tradition that formally requests a favour. The gesture resonated deeply with Ronin, conveying not only respect but understanding of his culture. He appeared to accept it, visibly moved.
As the group prepared to move on, they spotted a Spider Dragging a Troll Corpse deeper into the web-strewn forest. Deciding to follow, they hoped it might lead them to a nest or source of the corruption.
En route, they came upon a pair of Gryphons - one adult, one juvenile - under attack from Emberachnids. With the help of a psychic image projected by The Serene, the party managed to gain the creatures’ trust. The session ended ready to combat the attacking Emberachnids.