The party resumes combat in the former hospital ruled by Lifeline, a corrupted heart-entity, battling Skindrones, an Ugathal, the Maker, and the Maid while racing to prevent the Maid from waking the heart. After defeating the enemies, Anzu psychically delves into a sleeping creature's mind and discovers the Ashen Pact—six entities overseeing the world—before pulling back. The party then poisons the vat system to kill the remaining sleeping creatures and the heart, claiming the area for the Machine God.
- Combat resumes with two Skindrones calmed and the party positioned atop pods in the hospital area.
- The party trades blows with the Maker, Ugathal, Maid, and Skindrones; Benny takes heavy damage and persistent bleed throughout.
- Anzu casts mind-affecting spells, pulls the Maid into black tentacles with a telekinetic surge, and the illusory creature helps flank.
- The party focus-fires the Maid repeatedly to stop it from banging on the vat and waking Lifeline, the heart, knocking it down each time it regenerates and stands.
- Benny, Argyle, and Anzu eventually defeat the Maker; the controlled Skindrones collapse with it.
- With combat over, Anzu rolls high Occultism and identifies the central vat as Lifeline, the corrupted heart, and discovers intake valves that could poison the entire system.
- Anzu psychically delves into a sleeping creature's mind, experiences a vision of a burning plain with six towering entities (the Ashen Pact) overlooking a city, and barely escapes with a will save prompted by Johnny's verbal rebuke.
- The party retrieves spider venom from the Machine God's lair and injects it into the intake valves, killing all sleeping creatures and Lifeline; the Machine God begins taking over the area.
- Anzu navigates the party back home with GPS assistance, noting proximity to Pale Lantern Society and Amber Call bases.
- Post-session discussion theorizes connections between the Ashen Pact, Echo Fragments of Formless, Old Thessia, and the Voidsong.
CharactersAnzuJohnnyArgyleBennyThe MakerThe MaidSkindronesUgathalSkin SkitterThe Machine GodLifelineLance
LocationsThe StriderLifeline's hospital/lairMachine God's lairPale Lantern Society (referenced)Amber Call (referenced)
FactionsThe Machine GodThe Sleeping ClanThe Ashen PactPale Lantern SocietyAmber CallSable and SunsProtectorateIridescent Church
ItemsSpider venom (level 5 poison)Glowing blue liquid (diluted Sable and Suns fluid)Black raimentsWater skins filled with vat liquidSilver needle darts
Cliffhanger The party returns home after clearing the Sleeping Clan's lair and poisoning Lifeline, with the Machine God beginning to expand his influence—while post-session speculation swirls about the Ashen Pact's connection to Old Thessia and the Echo Fragments of Formless.
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