We meet up at the Lookup. Develop a plan to put on arm bands and head to Millport. We bring Merka and Cooks. Kex “come with us, but youre pathetic”. As we’re leaving the Lookup, Kex shouts “Dog Person is derivative”. Dog Person feels shame.

We go to the Hildebrandt house, talk to Boris. We get a fancy wagon. Jartha rides the horse. We start traveling.

We travel north – cool for a day. Then we start seeing evidence of fade. Then we hear some partying and a chant, smell fire/camping smells. It’s about noon. A little more lush. Lux decides to approach the party. Sees a clearing with humanoids congregating against a cave. Maybe about 12 people. Robes, predominantly.

Lux inches closer, they are in revelry. Couple by the fire.  Don’t see any armbands. They seem like the tripping hippies we saw a while back.  Merka pops out and says I could hear you from across the field. Kex bops him on the head.

We take off our armbands and approach.  This hippy welcomes us. “Hey we’re just having a sesh everyone is welcome as long as you are chill. We’re Cult of 7 Levels.” We mention that we know Lyric. The name Rel is known to us as well – third level – camped near Ash. Gives us option to dose and we’re not sure. We ask about the cave. Members will go in there to try to experience high levels. Discusses the army massing in the NorthWest.  They came from the central plains – a farming town named Corby Farms. All hear rumors. Travelers exchange them. Will return to town of Ash.  More visions of fading as time goes by. Frogae – level 5. Kodo and Podo level six in the cave. We hang out. There’s a Fairsly Food Stand. There a fountain and Stonehenge type deal with a huge tree. Unlike any other tree in the area. Cave in the corner. Waterfall.

Everyone is chill. Out of the cave, an old man appears on the scene. Do you know why you’re here? I know why you’re here – your protection (h/t Ken for quoting title case latest record). I’m the prophet McCartney. Welcome to the Celebration of the Seven Levels. I am all Seven.  There are people in the cave who are tripping maybe violent.

McCartney encourages us to enjoy everything.  Lux checks out food stand – basic shit.  Doesn’t carry apple butter. Cookie stocks up on apples. Talks about maybe making some gummies with the gelatinous cube.

Kex talks to the Prophet. Talks about the pilgrimage to Cave of Visions. Elves think they’re ferrets.  Kex goes rogue and charges the cave. We follow – McCartney says tone down you energy a little, man. Kex says im a frog.

Kodo and Podo in the cave on all fours moaning slowly.  Lux encourage Kex to play a soothing song. The elves energy level is muted but maybe different in the brain. Merka starts playing a long too. Kex nails a 20 – they begin moving, focus on the music and start dancing on two feet.

Lux talks to them. The music is now. We talk about cat people. The journey. Talks about being an animal for a little while. Talks of a vision of a bird in the south spreading love and peace. Feels like nailing his fourth attempt at level six. Suggests opening self up and discovering inner voice. Talk about Rel tripping.  Talks about pure grade shit from Winchendon. McCartney tells us to go by the fire. Level one doesn need the cave.

They talk Lux into taking level one. We head to the fire. Cookie has apple pate with bacon. It’s McCartney, but McDonalds is just fine.

First roll – Lux keeps drugs in mouth. Second roll – not able to swallow it – spit out, coughing. I now have a minus one to attacks and saving throws.  Jartha can’t get it in his mouth.  Kex tries for some reason, can’t drink it. Cooks is already level three. Kex tells Murka to take it. Murka fails to get it in mouth as well. So none of us get high.

Kex explores the tree. Jartha identifies it as a food tree. Cookie sizes it up – leaves of this tree are level seven poison. Kex talks Cooky into making poison. Take GHOST POISON LEAVES.  Jartha grabs some leaves. We make camp for the night. Jartha takes first watch. Murka takes second.

During night – Murka wakes up Kex. Says he hears something – maybe a few things. Lux and Murka stealth out a bit. We hear something like a large creature. Jartha and Kex not far behind. Murka thinks there’s man in armor – but they’re far off, not near. Lux can see a glint of metal. We hear some idle conversation. Murka stealths off, we lose sight of him.  Merka comes back. Shh – they’re cultist. Looks like a patrol – three, all in armor. Jartha puts on arm band.

Jarth stumbles up the path. I got lost I got separated. Charlie Patrol, Alpha patrol.  They suspect Jartha and say come with us. He’s no cultist, he’s got a weapon. JUMP HIS

Initiative. We fight. Cloud of daggers. Jartha gets held in place. Murka busts out a lute.

Later in the fight Murka tries to knock guy out with lute. Almost hits Kex and shatters his lute into a million pieces.

Fight continues. We knock out one guy, kill one, then the other gets questioned by Kex. Claims theyre all constructs on patrol. From base Luga. An hour northwest. It’s a supply camp – from Winchendon. Mentions that cleo pipe is lead.  That guy dies.

We wake up the other guy.  Where do they supplies go. Further north to the main army. Mostly food, medical supplies, orbs. Staves too. Why do you care man. Lu x kicks him in knee.  Staves are gonna bring us to glory or whatever. Cleo has foreseen fading – wants to create a new world.   Believes people are faded are ascended to the world of purity. Saw someone get faded the other night doing troop movements. Kex kills him. We throw bodies in forest. We head back. Frogae asks what happened. Mentions the cultists new of this place. Cookie is like want something to eat. Lux says “a nighttime battle is incomplete without an ADO (after dinner omelet). We eat hand omelets. We get in the wagon.

Lux activates Joffrey – size of camp looga is about 40 people, mostly half orcs. Sees smaller carts headed from south – one large gigantic size cart heading north.

We regroup with the hippies. Then we head out on our cart and head towards Ash.

We’re good for a day. We come across a bunch of dead cultists with long spines sticking out – clawed up by large creature. We see manticore stingers. Most likely nest nearby.

We climb the cragly rocks. We see like hides and corpses and shit. We hear scratching and chewing noises. We see a large pantherlike creature with wings and a spiked tail.  It shrieks and takes flight and it’s fucking on. We end up fighting and defeating two manticores. We take the poison tails. We find a small sack of gems. 30 gold total. And a small ring. Jartha tells Murka to put on the ring, Murka tells Jartha to put on the ring. Jarred takes the ring. We roll back to camp, full rest. We make it to the outskirts of Jaree’s sphere of influence.