5e WNW: The Heart of a God

Session 16 of the weird new world campaign was played on Friday 6/19

The party consisted of the following:
Veidt, 1/2 Elf Wizard 5 [John (Absent, but kindly substituted by Erindale)]
Nessendra, Wood Elf Cleric 5 (Erindale)
Kethra, Human Fighter 5 (Nikki)
Bach, Dragonborn Warlock 5 (Erik - Absent, but kindly substituted by Hanna)
Riia, Human Ranger 5 (Hanna)
Guy Noir, ½ Elf Rogue 5 (Nadia)
Anya Bowen, Tiefling Ranger 5 (Allison)

5th Level!

With the beating heart in hand, the Master crumpled to the ground, and for the first time a look of real fear passed over his eyes. The zombies also crumpled, and the island began to fall apart. The party booked it for the (relative) safety of the swampland, and immediately hoofed it as far and as fast as they could.

It wasn't long before they realized that the Master was following them above. When they finally couldn't go any further, both from exhaustion and the lack of daylight, the party stopped and made camp. The Master was never far, but seemed hesitant to try a frontal assault. Instead he tried to talk to them, offering to cure them of their ailments. Unfortunately for him, Nessendra's newfound abilities allowed her to do that herself. He cursed in frustration and took again to the sky.

A quiet night passed, and the party continued north, encountering nothing except the Master the whole way. He followed, helpless to stop them from giving his very existence away. When the party reached the boardwalk, about a mile from Anura, he again tried to talk to them, begging them to give him back his heart, offering the moon and the sky, even a way for them to free Anura without his own death. "I have a scroll that will allow you to go to the citadel at the source of the river where the forces of Chaos once stood strong. There, within it's walls, you might find the artifact that turned him to stone in the first place."

A brief discussion followed and the party made a counter offer. They'd wait 3 days, and he could go to the citadel and get the item. He stamped his foot, blustered, and finally agreed. So they camped, for 3 days and 3 nights, and on the 4th day, with no sign of the Master they prepared to pack up and go to Anura. As they did so, the boardwalk began to vibrate slightly, and a troop of about 20 mercenaries, 6 lizardmen, and the Alabaster Lady marched up, demanding to know why they have not yet delivered the heart to her husband. There was some hemming and hawing, and then together they all went to Anura's glade.

Anura's stony surface seemed to ripple, and his eyes glowed even brighter as they approached. Stepping forward with the heart, Anura lurched forward, grasping the beating thing between his great claws.

And then it stopped, turning to stone, and Anura froze once again. The Alabaster Lady screamed in grief, and then turned on the party. They quickly agreed to go to the citadel themselves to either free the Master and/or gain possession of the item that turned the divine beings to stone. Quickstep they returned to the boardwalk, and to the city on the river...