Morning After the Dream

• Several party members (Belladonna, Osric, and Calliope) wake up startled by intense, visceral nightmares.
• The campfire has burned out, and the group discovers that East Woa looks entirely different in the daylight.
  • The previous night, the town appeared decrepit and scary.
  • In the morning, it is bustling, vibrant, and filled with "magical energy" and fairy lights.
• The party enters the local tavern, meeting a large amphibian barkeep named Bubba.

The Nature of the Town's Curse

• The party learns that East Woa was established 161 years ago.
• Approximately 80 years ago, a bitter student allegedly cursed the town, intertwining the citizens with the town's life force.
• The town "dies" every night at midnight:
  • Leaves vanish from trees, water disappears from the well, and buildings look dilapidated.
  • Residents who stay too long lose the will to leave.
  • Those who attempt to leave the town after being affected start to bleed from their ears or face fatal consequences.

Seeking Quests and Assistance

• The group visits the Witch Academy to speak with Professor William, the headmaster.
• Professor William explains the magical nature of the curse and the school’s efforts to contain it.
  • He has created a barrier for the school using enchanted bricks, which prevents the students from becoming "foggy" or succumbing to the curse.
  • He agrees to lend the party four enchanted bricks to protect them while they investigate the source of the curse.
• The party plans to enter the catacombs beneath the town to find a cure.
  • The entrance is located at the bottom of the town well, which only becomes accessible (dry) at night.

Preparations and Social Interactions

• Belladonna uses her charms a man named Spencer (Human, Creepy) to acquire a full set of expensive winter gear (valued at 250 gold) from a local shopkeeper.
• The party convenes to discuss the risks:
  • They are warned not to eat or drink anything produced within the town to avoid further infection. (Whoops - Nelyse and Belladonna already had drinks)
  • They coordinate a meeting with Professor William at nightfall to receive the protective bricks and rope for the descent.

Descent into the Catacombs

• At midnight, the town's energy shifts to "bloodlust" and the well water drains.
• The party uses a rope and a metal spike (piton) to descend approximately 75feet into the catacombs.
• During the descent, one-member (Nelyse) struggles with the heat of the enchanted brick, which feels like it is "searing" into the skin, and hears a voice "chewing" at her brain she falls yanking the rope and pickaxe down with her - narrowly avoiding getting struck with it.
• The group reaches the bottom and finds themselves in a large stone chamber.
  • Large tree roots in the shape of human lungs are attached to the ceiling and appear to be breathing.
  • The party splits into two groups to investigate different corridors.

Initial Discoveries Underground

• The Trunk Room: One group finds a room containing a singular chest.
  • Inside the chest, they find 25 gold, 16 silver, a preserved crimson needle plant, and a wooden spool.
  • Underneath the chest, the words "GET OUT" are carved into the floor.
• The Elongated Face: The other group encounters an ominous, elongated face peeking around a corner.
  • The encounter causes an intense feeling of dread, but the entity retreats back toward the "lungs."
  • They hear a strange "clicking" sound emanating from behind a tree-like structure.

Initiative and Initial Combat

• The encounter begins with the group hearing a clicking sound and the cracking of branches as a Wood Woad rushes at them.
• Initiative rolls are established for the party:
• The creature attempts to attack with a large club but misses.
• A strategic discussion reveals the creature's stats:
  • It is vulnerable to fire.
  • it is resistant to bludgeoning and piercing damage.

The Burning of the Wood Woad

• Osric uses Burning Hands with a lucky point to impose disadvantage on the creature's saving throw.
• Despite the creature succeeding on its save, it takes fire damage and screams.
• The creature retaliates with a body slam and club attack on Osric, dealing 26 bludgeoning damage and knocking him prone.
• A party member (Voltaren) casts Fireball, dealing a massive 58 damage due to the creature's fire vulnerability.
• The Wood Woad is incinerated, turning into ash and embers.

Exploration of the Lungs

• The group notices the "lungs" (roots) above them constricting.
• Calliope notices an elongated face peering at them but avoids eye contact.
• The party investigates the area where the Wood Woad was; some ash is collected into vials as loot.
• As they move forward, they encounter a tall, thin creature with "clown feet."
• The group suffers necrotic damage from the creature's presence:
  • Calliope takes 14 necrotic damage.
  • Others take 10 to 17 damage as their hearts "constrict."

Battle with the Bodak

• The creature is identified as a Bodak, a dangerous entity with a "death glare" that can kill instantly upon eye contact.
• Calliope performs a "genius maneuver" by throwing a cloak over the Bodak's head to blind it and prevent its gaze attack.
• Combat ensues while the creature is prone:
  • The party uses Divine Smite and magical weapon attacks.
  • The Bodak is resistant to non-magical bludgeoning and slashing damage.
• Nelyse lands the finishing blows, including radiant damage, killing the Bodak.

The Forming Heart and Cliffhanger

• While the fight occurs, characters observe the "root lungs" becoming fleshier.
• A small hole in the ceiling drips water, forming a fleshy heart about 10 feet above.
• As the Bodak dies, the heart fully enlarges and a Mind Witness (a hybrid of a Mind Flayer and a Beholder) crawls through the ceiling.
• The session ends on a cliffhanger as the party faces this new high-level threat.