@mmaranda Glad you're already back in character! You missed a crazy episode, my friend. First the group did an Ashlan blood ritual to astrally project themselves with the mortal component of Lift's soul and almost got lured into Limbo.
@mmaranda Then they found the portal to the Happy Hunting Grounds and the Great River of Souls (the good one, not the Styx), where the souls of the dead Cherin and Ashlan live in giant floating cities. They couldn't find dry ground to land in and of course the Brothers McDamage don't swim!
@mmaranda They solved the problem when Lift (who had all of our powers and memories up to the moment of her death) polymorphed into a giant hippo and they all landed safely in the river.
@mmaranda Lift then tried to summon a guide, but in Beastlands summoning doesn't compel a creature to obey so they had to negotiate with a giant catfish named Jack for directions towards shore. Hamish gave him some coffee beans, which made the catfish jumpy but agreeable.
@mmaranda As they got closer to the river bank however they could hear the cloud spirits singing. Apparently the wilderness in the Beastlands is like a live-action musical, with small woodland creatures singing in close harmony while the larger animals decide whether or not to eat you.
@mmaranda At some point Jack the Catfish couldn't stand the music anymore and left you in the mudflats a couple of miles away from the shore, where a giant Endor-style forest was nestled against the high cliffs of the riverbank. A giant eagle almost ate the party...
@mmaranda ...when Ensel remembered that most animals in the Beastlands could talk and initiated a conversation with the eagle, who decided not to eat them and inform them they were entering the realm of the Cat Lord, a capricious Power who wasn't always friendly to Mankind.
@mmaranda The party, assuming that Lift's love for cats had drawn the immortal part of her soul to this realm, entered cautiously to find a clearing where a bunch of smilodons had been nailed to the trees. Tracking suggested a battle had taken place here- the party followed the tracks...
@mmaranda The tracks led to a branch in the river which appeared to disappear over a rainbow waterfall that simply cascaded off the side of the plane. The party steals a boat from the Ashlan (who are chasing them because the Cat Lord blames them for the sacrilege) and sails over the falls!
@mmaranda After a few moments of free fall the party feel as if they are sailing upon a sea of mists... that's when they crash into what appears to be an entirely Bruuthalese city-state floating in space, complete with a fairy tale castle. The place is in ruins, however.
@mmaranda Through some investigation they learn that this is the Countess Irina's realm on the Demi Plane of Imagination and that she ambushed Lift in the Cat Lord's domain. The party also learns that Lift has been in Irinia's thrall since she was barely able to walk and talk.
@mmaranda Not only does Irina consider Lift to be like a daughter to her, but apparently Lift's affinity with the Demi Plane of Imagination is quite special, owing to her magical abilities and her childlike innocence. If she remained here as a soul she would capable of virtually anything.
@mmaranda Unfortunately Lift's special powers were known to other residents of the Demi Plane of Imagination- such as Khorlov, God-King of Angelina That Never Was and Conqueror of Nonexistent Worlds. No sooner did Lift arrive than Khorlov plundered Irina's realm and ran off with the girl.
@mmaranda The party had now brokered a temporary alliance with the Countess to rescue Lift from Khorlov's realm. When the party was asked what they would need in order to accomplish the tasks, Hamish said something like "a ring of invisibility, a magic carpet, and BRIAN FUCKING MURPHY!"
@mmaranda Aaaaaaaand now you're all caught up!
