4. The Ice Ghost House

Calendar: Anvilday, 1st Wayseek, 748 AB

In-Game Timeline: Session began at 5pm inside Melkhis's Igloo. Long rest taken (5pm–1am). Ghost encounter in the cellar (~1am–2am). Departed igloo ~2am; travel to Frost-Star Lighthouse (pre-dawn). Session ended mid-combat on the bridge approach, approximately 4–5am on 2nd Wayseek. All five party members present.

Party Members

• Bam Bam

• Emilio

• Growth — Unconscious; max HP reduced to 0 by Rift Spectre Life Drain.

• Maeve

• Monroe

Rules / Mechanics

Igloo Fear Mechanic

On completing a rest in Melkhis's Igloo, all creatures must make a Wisdom saving throw. Failure: the creature is Frightened of everything outside the igloo for a number of hours equal to the rest taken (8 for a long rest). The Hermit's Kettle grants +1 to this save. Monroe failed this session and was Frightened until she passed a second save (26) at the door before departure.

Spectre Life Drain

A Spectre's Life Drain reduces both the target's current HP and their maximum HP by the damage dealt. The maximum HP reduction persists until the target finishes a long rest or receives magical restoration. Growth's max HP was reduced to 0 on a critical hit (21 necrotic). Bam Bam had his maximum HP reduced by 11. A creature with 0 maximum HP is unconscious and cannot recover HP through normal means.

Gentle Repose — Creative Application

Growth cast Gentle Repose on Bam Bam while he was possessed by Melkhis's ghost. Ruled by the GM that a spell which "keeps death out of a body" would also expel an undead spirit from a living vessel. The ghost was immediately forced out, restoring Bam Bam's control.

Reckless Attack — Opportunity Attack

Bam Bam declared Reckless Attack on his turn and the GM allowed it to apply to a subsequent opportunity attack, as the declaration was made on his turn. Note: this gives the attacking creature Advantage against Bam Bam for the round.

Half Damage Rounds Down

When halving odd damage values (from resistance or saving throws), always round down. E.g., 7 halved = 3.

Harvesting — Incorporeal Undead

Ghosts and similar incorporeal undead yield no flesh, teeth, marrow, or heart. Available components are Ethereal Ichor (small quantity, acts as a spice) and a Frail Essence (magical essence used to power items). Up to three assistants may contribute proficiency bonus (if proficient in Medicine) or half proficiency bonus (if not) to the checks.

Last Session

Previous Session Notes

3. The Spore Forest
The party travelled through the frozen wilderness towards a warmer swamp forest where Growth expected to find Pale Heart Leaf. They found the forest, crossed a river via a bridge to small islands, and fought a Flower creature, spore zombies, rock toads, and small skeletons animated by plant life. Growth harvested the Pale Heart Leaves and other materials. The party then headed for the Frost-Star Lighthouse. A storm began to brew and they sheltered in a small ice-and-stone igloo, arriving at roughly 5pm.

Party Goals

Quests

• Cure the Captain — Pale Heart Leaves obtained (Session 3). The Captain is dying from black-vein poison. Every hour spent not returning to Oakhaven advances his infection.

• Investigate the Lighthouse — Determine why the Frost-Star Lighthouse went dark and prove the group's worth to Skorva. Rift Spectres guard the bridge approach. Combat ongoing.

• Retrieve the Anchor — Thala the Shipwright requested the party retrieve the iron anchor from their shipwreck. A rowing boat or future vessel credit awaits.

• Collect Salvage — Rurik Vale requested ballast plates, iron, rope, and wood from the wreck. The wreck was visible from the lighthouse bridge approach.

• Open the Chest — Maeve possesses a chest entrusted to her by the Captain before the crash. Contents remain unknown.

• Access the Forge — Emilio seeks to use the forge in Oakhaven to craft weapons from monster parts.

Short Term Goals

• Survive the Rift Spectre encounter on the Frost-Star Lighthouse bridge.

• Stabilise or save Growth — currently unconscious with 0 maximum HP.

• Investigate the interior of the Frost-Star Lighthouse.

• Return to Oakhaven with the Pale Heart Leaves before the Captain's infection escalates further.

At a Glance

Locations

• Melkhis's Igloo: Small hemispherical shelter of ice and stone; warm interior with fur rugs, enchanted kettle, a desk with a leather diary, and a hidden trapdoor to a cold cellar below.

• Melkhis's Igloo — Cellar: A cramped, cold dugout containing a defaced stone effigy, a strange brass lantern, and scattered torn parchment; site of the ghost encounter.

• Frost-Star Lighthouse (Bridge Approach): A stone bridge crossing churning black waters toward the lighthouse bluffs; guarded by approximately ten Rift Spectres; combat ongoing at session end.

People

• Melkhis: Ghost haunting the cellar of his own igloo; wore cracked brass goggles; spoke cryptically about the gods, the sky's "stitches," and "the ticking man." Possessed Bam Bam; destroyed by Monroe's Illusory Darts.

Monsters / Creatures

• Melkhis (Ghost): Incorporeal undead. Resistant to non-magical weapon damage; immune to poison and necrotic. Attacked with Withering Touch; used Horrific Visage and Possession. Destroyed.

• Rift Spectres (×10): Beings of blue-green-purple Rift energy drifting around the Frost-Star Lighthouse bridge. Resistant to non-magical damage; immune to poison and necrotic. Life Drain reduces maximum HP. Two destroyed; approximately eight remain active.

Loot / Important Items

• The Hermit's Kettle — enchanted iron kettle; +1 Wisdom saves for 4 hours from brewed tea. Taken by Growth.

• Ethereal Ichor — small quantity; magical spice ingredient. Harvested from Melkhis. Held by Growth.

• Frail Essence — magical essence to power items. Harvested from Melkhis. Held by Growth.

• 2 Bundles of Roots — plant roots gathered by Growth during the march. Held by Growth.

• Rocky Jr. — a companion rock for Bam Bam's pet rock Rocky, tied together with string. Held by Bam Bam.

• Strange Brass Lantern — in igloo cellar; emits green-purple light; not taken or identified. Likely a Rift Shard containment lamp.

• Paranoiac's Diary — on igloo desk/floor; not read. Contains a survival map and lore about Melkhis's descent.

Story

Summary of Events

• Growth discovered a hidden trapdoor beneath a rug in the igloo; the party descended into the cellar after a long rest.

• The party took a long rest with rotating watches. Emilio slept the full duration.

  • During Bam Bam's watch: he attempted to trim his hair with his maul — it came out in armfuls rather than being cut.

  • During Monroe's watch: Monroe stood outside alone for two hours and observed a pulsing green-purple ball of light drifting in the treeline. Later, inside, Monroe heard a whisper from below: "The gods didn't abandon us."

  • During Maeve's watch: Maeve also heard the whisper. Neither she nor Monroe investigated until morning.

  • During Growth's watch: Growth identified the tea kettle as magically enchanted and brewed tea for the party. Growth took the kettle.

• On waking, Monroe failed a saving throw and became Frightened of the outside. The rest of the party were unaffected.

• The party descended into the cellar. Emilio kept watch upstairs. The cellar contained a defaced stone effigy, bone offerings, scattered torn parchment, and a brass lantern emitting a green-purple glow.

• Maeve heard the whisper again in the cellar. Monroe spotted a translucent ghost with cracked brass goggles pass through the wall.

• The ghost identified himself as Melkhis. He claimed to have been "unmade" by the gods for seeing through their deception; stated the sky was false; and referred to "the ticking man" who would come to collect a debt of time.

• Bam Bam attacked Melkhis and his maul passed through — Melkhis flew upward in fury and combat began.

  • Melkhis possessed Bam Bam; Monroe recognised the possession; Growth expelled Melkhis using Gentle Repose, restoring Bam Bam's control.

  • Growth was struck by Melkhis's Horrific Visage, took psychic damage, and became Frightened.

  • Monroe destroyed Melkhis with a final volley; the ghost shattered with a whispered last word.

• Growth harvested Melkhis's remains with party assistance, obtaining Ethereal Ichor and a Frail Essence.

• The party departed the igloo around 2am. Monroe overcame her Frightened condition at the door. Bam Bam hesitated at the sight of the dark tundra but was persuaded to continue.

• Navigation failed; the party lost approximately one hour. Five humanoid footprints were spotted in the snow heading away in one direction.

• Growth foraged during travel, harvesting two bundles of roots. Bam Bam found a companion rock for Rocky and tied them together with string.

• All party members gained one level of Exhaustion from the cold. The party had not eaten.

• On approach to the Frost-Star Lighthouse, Monroe spotted approximately ten wisps of Rift energy circling the lighthouse and bridge. The party pressed forward.

• Combat with Rift Spectres began on approach — session ended mid-combat.

  • Growth was critically hit by the first spectre, reducing their maximum HP to zero. Growth collapsed unconscious.

  • Bam Bam's max HP was also reduced by a second spectre's Life Drain.