Session 9 Player Recap - Bringing Nela Back (2026-08-26)

Session 9 Recap: Bringing Nela Back #

The wolves did not stay dead.

As the party pushed toward Nela’s cries, cracking bones sounded behind them. The three Hemowolves rose again and spread out through the undergrowth. The party brought them down a second time, then took precautions: Gashesh cut off their heads, Fren supplied oil, and Ishtar set the piled bodies alight.

The stench left Fren doubled over and vomiting. Beneath the party’s feet, roots began grabbing at boots. Progress became a succession of falls, cuts, and helping one another upright. Aurelia’s scratched left arm grew cold and stiff. Ahead, an animated tree struck Ishtar hard enough to send her sprawling.

Once Fren could cast again, his icy armor froze the growth that lashed at him. He led the others through it into a clearing, where corrupted trees poured out red mist and a separate tangle of roots formed something like a basket.

Gashesh confronted the moving tree while the others attacked from range. Aurelia healed Ishtar, and Fire Bolt set the guardian’s canopy burning. The party then turned its attacks on the mist-producing trees, breaking through bark that filled with foul red sap. When the last of those trees fell still, the grove stopped moving.

Inside the basket was Nela, motionless beneath a red membrane. Aurelia used her remaining healing spells to shrivel the roots around her. Gashesh cut through the membrane and pulled her free.

She was not breathing.

The party cleared sticky red sap from her mouth with water and their fingers. Gashesh tried to revive her; Fren took over, and Nela finally coughed up a clump of red matter, drew a breath, and began to cry. Aurelia gathered her up and reassured her.

Back at the caravan, Nela ran into her father’s arms. The rescuers received a heroes’ welcome, followed by a request to quarantine with Nela, away from the other travelers and the animals. The caravan would remain overnight. When Aurelia explained her lingering numbness, Branka sent a guard to clean and treat the wound. Warmth returned, and eventually her arm felt like her own again.

Later, Gashesh asked Branka for quiet company. Bianca’s death had driven his urgency to save Nela, and he knew he had endangered his companions. Branka sat with him away from the caravan, a quartz crystal between them. Over the next couple of hours, he began to find some clarity about his grief and his responsibility to the people still beside him.

Where we left off #

• Nela is alive and back with her father.
• The party has been asked to quarantine after its exposure in the grove.
• The caravan is staying overnight and plans to leave in the morning.
• Valdengratz lies ahead. Fren hopes his earlier message will bring help, and has suggested using the contraband barrels to prompt a caravan search.