Trapped in Darkness

Summary

At the conclusion of Session 2, the entire party enters the six-foot-tall Underground Tunnel beneath the Rex Tree. The moment the last member crosses the threshold, the door shoots back up from the earth with a grinding sound, sealing them inside and trapping them in total darkness. Vasso whispers that "the mother tree swallowed us" and believes the tree wants them there. The party realizes the Magical Butterfly Brooch provides only very dim light—enough to see the faces of people nearby but not far ahead—and the session ends on this cliffhanger with the party sealed underground.

Details

In Session 2, the party descends into the tunnel beneath the Rex Tree. As the GM describes: "the four of you pass into the tunnel, and the second the last one of you passes the threshold, the door shoots back up from the earth and shuts behind you, locking you in total darkness."

Sealed inside, Vasso reacts with a whispered proclamation: "Vassa whispers to everyone that the mother tree swallowed us. The mother tree swallowed us, everyone." Vasso adds, "She wants us here."

Cat immediately begins meowing, apparently trying to determine whether Monster made it inside with them before the door closed.

The party discovers that their Magical Butterfly Brooch, while magical, offers limited help in their predicament. As the GM explains: "I think if it does make light, it's very, very dim. Like, it's enough that you can see, like, the faces of the people next to you, but not very far ahead." The GM suggests a solution: "If you. If it were to fly forward, you'd probably be able to follow it, but that's"—leaving the thought unfinished as the session concludes.

Participants

• Vasso — interprets the door closing as the mother tree swallowing them and believes the tree wants them there
• Cat — meows repeatedly, attempting to locate Monster
• Sucks — present in the party when the door seals
• Safia — present in the party when the door seals
• Monster — Cat's companion; uncertain whether they made it through the door in time

Consequences

• The party is sealed underground in the Underground Tunnel beneath the Rex Tree with no immediate means of escape
• The group is trapped in near-total darkness with only the dim light from the Magical Butterfly Brooch for illumination
• The party faces a choice: remain clustered where the butterfly's light can illuminate their faces, or send it forward as a guide and follow it deeper into the tunnel
• Session 2 ends on this cliffhanger, leaving the party's next move unresolved