Well, here it goes.
Berrik defies the odds by rolling a nat 20 and coming back with 1 HP. He grabs Null and Dimension Doors them both 150 ft. up, well out of the kraken's reach. Silas Lays on Hands Cade for all he's got, bringing him up 40 points before he puts some distance between him and the kraken. Cade polymorphs himself into a giant ape, but still finds himself grappled. At least he can't be swallowed. Flynn does what he does best, Eldritch Blasting the beast. Null, too far up to do much of anything, forces a healing potion down a newly unconscious Berrik's gullet before taking one herself. Lotty cannot bring herself to leave her oldest friend behind and descends to cast Enlarge on Ape!Cade to give him a better chance of escaping the kraken's grip. This is unfortunately not enough as the kraken triples down on its grapple of Cade and wallops him, causing him to lose concentration and drop the Giant Ape form. Despite Cade shrinking instantly down to normal size, the kraken manages to hold its grip on him still. Anyone who is able scrambles to free Cade or take pot shots at the beast. It isn't enough. The kraken bites Cade and swallows him. Panic sets in among the free members of the Ashen Company. Cade feels acid sear into his body. The kraken cuts its losses and dives. The free members of the Ashen Company are no longer free, now captives of despair as they watch any hope for Cade's survival disappear beneath the waves. Cade succumbs and the darkness take him. We stare at the choppy waters left in the kraken's wake for what feels like a lifetime, begging the depths for mercy. Alas, the sea holds no pity.
We reach the nearby cliffs before our flight fades. We know we have to bring Cade back, but we're still floundering through the shock of it all as we try to cobble together a plan of action. Like clockwork, a somewhat familiar figure approaches us. Elven and green-eyed still, but female this time, Nass makes herself known. Callous bitch that she is, Nass takes the time to taunt everyone individually (except Flynn, but they still somehow each promise to be the other's end). No one takes any of this well and despite our attempts to ignore her, the Ashen Company is further rattled. After she leaves, we decide against resting. We have to get moving - She knows Cade is gone and she knows where we are. Whatever we're going to do, we have to do it quick. Berrik draws a circle and takes us back to Sierrona. We need to get to Alya ASAP.
Remmi is the only one we meet on our way out of the Last Stand Inn. We fill him in on our situation and he sympathizes, giving us 2k gold to help pay for the resurrection. We head home to grab cash and any supplies left in our home storages. Null shoves Berrik some gold for more scrolls of Non-Detection before Berrik heads to the Order of the Arcane Eye to buy what we need to get to Alya. Maybe he also bought a two-fer of Heineken to pour a few out for his pal. Who knows what these resurrection rituals are gonna call for?
Before we go, we try to figure how to approach Alya. We muse about disguises for a bit, but end up deciding that Alya won't welcome us as strangers. Flynn was polymorphed into a sheep during this conversation, because Mordecai has a great sense of humour. Berrik casts Sending to Acting Divine, Knight-Commander Phineas, and explains the party's predicament. "Cade is dead and we intend to bring him back. We can pay. Please help us." Phineas responds that he is away from Alya, but that Saint Bhraum can help. Good, that settles it. Berrik re-ups everyone's Non-Detection, and off we go to Alya.
We're met with drawn swords in Alya, but are quickly welcomed once we explain who we are. Bhraum will be here in a couple of hours, so we have some time to rest in the meantime. Our rep as heroes of the Battle of Alya comes through, as the fancy barrack has been set aside for us. We are each given red sashes to wear as identifiers. Sheep!Flynn starts to chew on his. As we settle into the penthouse barrack, Silas and Lotty start to muse on how to pray to the gods for help in bringing Cade back. Did he follow any gods? Which of the Exalted Gods would listen? The gods left, but Silas is still certain that they're listening. That Aeon hears mortal pleas. That prayers can and will help deliver Cade back to us.
Flynn pops back into goblin form, confused by the soggy wad of fabric in his mouth. The world gets quiet as the Ashen Company waits for Bhraum and for what comes next.
