Session 8: Willows Reach Report

General Summary

It has been 4 days since the party has left their continent, and with a pleasent journey quickly coming to its end by nightfall, the crew gathers on deck around noon for a small ceremony, of which the party is invited to attend.
For those gathered around the deck, everyone, including sebastian, makes the grand total of 10 people on board seem like a paltry sum for this size of ship.
Joe Bigley, managing the helm, starts to speak. "As is always the tradition in these waters, we gather to give thanks to those that let us pass. Let us bow our heads in silence to show respect for the water, which grants no mercy."
To that, all the crewmates bow their head, for a long, silent minute. The only sound being the lapping of waves against the boat, and the wind billowing through the sails. After their silent minute, the captain speaks up again. "And with our sign of respect, payment as is due for protection from Credell." he says, pulling 10 copper out of a pouch, and throwing it far overboard. "May our peaceful times last another journey." Joe says before bowing his head. The rest of the crew repeats his statement, and immediately get back to work.
The day proceeds as uneventful as the journey, and the ship sets sight on the shoreline of Gwillith. Even from this far away, the party can see huge trees towering on the horizon, over a sandy shore with miniscule waves, the trees of the great forests of Vitium seem to prosper in the most unlikely of environments.
One of these trees is fairly unique from the rest, a large towering tree with strands of branches billowing down, nearly touching the water. Of the few that do, there are structures connecting the branches to the water with several ships tied off to the ends of the structures, all of them elven make. Atop these floating structures look to be a staircase, grown from the leaves themselves that form their way up into the heart of the branches above. All of this connects to a dock near the shoreline, where the tree makes its rest.
"Welcome to Willow's Reach. We will be landing at the docks on shore." Joe says to the party, navigating his way into the tree as the last lights start to fade from the sky. With that, many lanterns, magically created perhaps, begin to light within Willow's Reach, giving the tree a beautiful, unearthly glow.
Naomi is walking around the deck, taking in the sights of the shore in delight. "Woah, so pretty!!!"
Reaching land after a short time, the party is met by a wood elf, a robe covering his face that is caked with soil, and other substances that even Ayame doesn't need to smell to understand the stench. "Welcome to Willow's Reach travelers." the elf whispers as he ties the boat to shore. "What awaits you in our humble hamlet?" he whispers again in common.
"Ah.....Simply travelers looking to get to land" Ayame says, as the party starts to disembark.
"Sir, I don't mean to be rude, but could you possibly direct me to the local apothecary." Naomi says, shouldering her gear.
The elf nods, pointing up into the branches of the tree itself. "The city resides entirely within the branches of Soulsaisir. Though I have not been in the branches myself. Few of us are relegated to the ground."
Ayame tilts her head "And why is it that you are...relegated to the ground?"
"Disagreements." The elf says simply to Ayame. "Make yourselves at home."
Ayame blinks and nods, smiling "I will, thank you."
"Thank you sir!" Naomi says as well, looking towards the trunk of the massive willow.
Climbing up the trunk already looks to be a different elf, who's robes look cleaner than the one on the dock, but they make steady progress up the steep passageway.
Eleanor follows along the party, half paying attention, but looks to Naomi. "What was that about?"
"Something about a City in the Trees! And uhm, he's hasnt been in it." Naomi says with a shrug.
Eleanor hums, "Neither have I so nothin' lost nothing gained. Do trees normally get this big?" she says, looking up at the canopies of green.
Naomi, looking upon the tree is absolutely sure that trees do get this big. But not a Willow tree. She remembers seeing a few on her travels to visit Violet, and ended up asking one of her mothers about the matter as well. She knows that a tree like this would have to be older than written history itself.
"Yeah, this thing is for sure not normal Eleanor. I'm going to say magic. Maybe. Probably? I can't think of a Willow tree growing this large naturally."
"Ahhhhhh. Yes, magic. Of course" Eleanor sighs. "Everything topside is so wild cause of magic."
"Topside? Do you not have magic where you are from?" Ayame questions Eleanor.
Eleanor looks to Ayame with a blank expression before it turns into one of provoked thought. "I think there was? Not much or like..." she shrugs. "Yeah I don't remember. Its much more visible up here that's fer sure." Eleanor says, gesturing at all the trees.
The party, after a long climb up the tree, with Ragia somehow managing to sneak her way onto Sebastian to allow him to carry her up the stairs, manages to make it towards a more structured area.
One of the first buildings that the party encounters looks to be an open air dining place, with leaves covering over tables like an umbrella would otherwise.
Overlooking the restaraunt is a half wood elf, bringing out plates of beautifully prepared dishes to the three diners within, but there are more buildings to explore as well, should one follow the worn branches that act as roads within the city. "So what're you all doing now that we're no longer landlocked?" Eleanor questions, looking about to the rest of the party. "Should we just declare our group as a gourmet guild ? exploring the world in search of delicacies to stuff ourselves with. I mean, I'm pretty much free to go wherever, though traveling with people is definitely more interesting." Naomi was distracted by the smell of food from the open air restaraunt next to her, lost in thought before snapping back to reality in Eleanors question. "Uhm well, I just want to adventure and see the world. So suffice to say, I'm good to do anythin!" "W-Well uhm! I think we should stick together...I really want to visit Orzhov and explore the world..." Ayame says, her tail swishing. Eleanor ponders the exchange, while two squirrels rush past Naomi, running between her legs and chittering along as other buildings can be seen around. Everything seems to be named in Elven, making it difficult for the party to read what is what and where. The most unique structure sits atop a branch, and looks to be formed from leaves as well, giant ones, which are formed in the shape of a conch shell that is blocking the path down a separate branch all the way to the water. Another building between the resaraunt resembles a wasps nest as it hangs from the branch, dangling above the waters below. A staircase leads down into the nest, with a sign saying "Sleepy Bees." After some minor discussion about needing a place to sleep, the party heads into Sleepy Bees to get some rest. It was upon entry that the party determined that sleepy bees was in fact an inn. After descending the staircase, they found themselves in a reasonably sized lobby, with an elf tapping a carved piece of wood on the countertop, not paying any special attention to the party. She ponders to herself about the carving in hand. Ayame steps up to the elf with the carving. "Hello!" she says in elven, while Naomi repeats the statement in common nervously behind her. The elf looks up from her carving to Ayame and nods. "We don't have any visitors right now. How many rooms?" "Four please." Ayame says, with the hostess nodding and grabbing Ayame four keys, which look crude and simplistic. Ragia takes a closer look at the carving, which appears to be a tube of some sort, maybe a whistle. Naomi takes one of the keys before looking to the elf again. "U-uhm, do you perhaps speak Common?" "I prefer not, but everyone does here." the hostess says boredly. Eleanor blinks at the revelation. "Oh!" "I need to ask, do you know where the local apothecary is? I'm in dire need of new herbs for medicines." Naomi continues her conversation with the hostess. The elf thinks for a few moments before nodding. "You would want to go to the uhh... what's the word in common... Mayors house. His is the conch shell looking one. He is also the town doctor." "Oh! Thank you so much. U-uhm, I'll do my best to learn Elvin, so I apologize for bothering you..." Naomi says, still standing with Ayame between her and the hostess, feeling nervous. She turns back around to the others while Ayame hands them their keys. looks to the others "Uhm, I dont know what everyone else is planning on tomorrow, but I want to go visit the Mayor's house to purchase some herbs and the likes from him." After a quick discussion about immediate plans, the party agrees to go to Welni's Place at the recommendation of the hostess, the open air restaurant they passed on the way into the inn. Welni's place they had passed by on the way to the inn. It was a simple setup, with a platform made of natural wood that protruded from the tree itself forming the base of the dining place, with tables made from thin, spiraled trees. Leaves cover over each table like an umbrella, but beyond them, the peaceful serenity of the shimmering lights within the canopy brings an air of peace.
Welni, the half-elf, was cleaning a table when the party arrived, and after a quick introduction, he seats the party, next to the edge of the dining room. From their position, they could hear the waves from the shore down below the tree.
What followed was a wonderful evening of Elven food, with an appetizer of Zucchini Pancakes with a dill mayo, and a custom dish designed for each of the party members.
To Ragia, he sets before her a plate of deviled eggs with strips of smoked salmon, and a single caper atop it. To Ayame, she gets a plate of garlic roasted pesto over a summer pasta. Eleanor gets a full chunk of cajun roasted cauliflower, still sizzling from its time in an oven. Finally, Naomi gets a butternut squash, steamed and roasted with a variety of wild nuts and fresh herbs. All of this is followed by a platter of Cinnamon buns.
Having enjoyed the meal, the party starts to get ready for sleep when a new person enters the restaraunt. One of the wood elves with a dirty hooded cloak approaches the party. He whispers to them before their table. "Pardon me... Would you happen to spare a few words?"
The party acknowledges him and offers him a seat. "No need to sit, I won't be long. I am with the root wardens, the guardians and growers of this tree you reside in. We are in need of a scroll to help protect this tree during its 400th celebration. We were hoping that one of you might be aware of a spell to summon creatures."
Naomi perks up her head. "Oh! I can do that kind sir." she says before tilting her head in thought. "How are the two related though? My summoning and the need to protect the city with a scroll."
The elf whispers back to Naomi. "The great forests of Vitium are home to a close connection with Vitium, a realm of fairies and fey, that the elves had their shape molded from. Alongside that, the 400th celebration also happens to be right on the cusp of arai going dark, while Rau is nearly full. It is a time of great magic, and the tree is an immense source of magical power if it is taken on the 400th celebration. We will be using that scroll to summon a powerful ally from Vitium itself to help protect that tree. The leader of the root wardens is a druid, so he is unable to cast the appropriate ritual, but, we hope to learn it within the next two days."
Naomi agrees, and as part of the payment, they offer alchemical services for Naomi, and all the required components to obtain the scroll as well, so long as they gain the scroll by morning of the next day, Poviot 23rd.