Session 41: The Slayer Savior War Report
General Summary
After reading his notes, and Eleanor cursing up a storm outside the carriage, Ragia determines that Ornable had a piece of enchanted garment that allowed him to teleport to a spot he was intimately familiar with.
Finally calming down, Eleanor paces about, grumbling while looking ready to punch something. Ayame, her tailed poofed up gently takes the notebook as well, searching it for clues.
Ater sime time, her investigation on his notebook details his journey. He started by getting in contact with a major political player within Anguish, a dragon, and set up a deal to take out Cinerosa from the global stage. The sticks that Ornable had on his person were meant to be his way of contacting the dragon, and Ayame gets a feeling, with all of the letters he had sent out to people, that he has no other way of contacting the dragon magically. Ayame closes the notebook.
"He will probably have to meet with the dragon in person now, though I haven't determined where he might have teleported too." Ayame says looking to Ragia. "Can you determine where he vanished too?"
"Sorry," The kobold says. "Still grabbing onto the new magics we have been working on together but... Its somewhere he knows intimately, so probably his stash of artefacts. Maybe the key is the pendant?"
"Well... lets get to the next town, we can get Nahemah treatment for her throat. Maybe restock."
Nahemah shrugs and whispers with a raspy, harsh voice. "Need mirror... scrying." She says while clearing her throat.
Ragia nods. "With scrying, the locket should show us where it is when he activated his garment, we just need to find how to do that ourselves."
"While we go to town we can figure out the locket and get that mirror." Ayame says, making her way into the drivers seat with Sebastian again, sitting on his lap. Eleanor, still fuming, takes a moment to punch a tree in the woods to let off some steam before the party sets out to Scalare.
The party arrives to the capital city without fanfare, but does manage to see the gathering of troops marching northwards as they get within sight of the walls of the city. On the northern face, where the party approaches from, they find four towers completely demolished, and many flying creatures doing mock battles in the air, while horse riders, lancers, and many spear wielding soldiers have taken up arms and are prepping for combat. The party continues into the city, giving a customary nod of acknowledgement to Nahemah Dai'Gishkin, Eleanor Primrose and Ayame Shiori, known dragonslayerrs within the kingdom.
Still traveling in the cart, Nahemah notices a trickle of blood from Eleanors hand, to which she holds out her own hand, channeling her blessing as the bleeding on Eleanor's hand stops. Eleanor looks at her hand, her expression softening before she shakes her head softly. "Sorry..." She says as the party quietly makes their way through the city streets.
Ragia meanwhile, a small metal bar in han has been trying to open it, unsuccessfully as the piece of metal snaps, the kobold spitting out a curse silently in draconic before looking to Eleanor. "Ele, who in the city might listen to us and have the power to direct troops we could go to, to warn about anguish?"
Eleanor groans, rubbing her head, "Ugh... um... Fuck, not really sure Rags... I was just a thug half my time here, I could try talkin to the guild though... If they believe me, they'd know who to talk to probably."
"Probably a good idea." Ayame says, poking her head from atop the carriage into the open window. "Maybe we should split up? Me and Ragia can sell the tradegoods, buy some supplies and that mirror for Nahemah. Meanwhile, the two of you could get her some treatment for her throat, and warn your guild buddies, then we meet up back at hell in a few hours?"
Eleanor rubs her head, "I... guess? I dunno where folks go for treatment, didn't get hurt a lot on jobs but we could find one of the churches sure."
Ayame nods. "The only reason I suggest it is to save time. Don't let Ornable get too far ahead of us."
"Right... yeah, it's already enough that he got away the first time... can't let it happen a third."
With the party in agreement, they split off. Eleanor easily finds a healer along with Nahemah, getting some treatment, some homeopathic remedies that make her throat feel better, but refusing coin, the healers reccomend a good nights sleep to allow her to be right as rain again, the remedies helping her voice so she could at least speak without pain.
Ayame and ragia find buyers for the incense, and a mirror to help with Nahemahs eventual scrying, gaining a large payday for a bag filled to the brim with incense.
The party meets back up at hell just after nightfall, with Ayame giving Nahemah the new mirror. Inspecting it, Nahemah gives a light nod, putting it inside her bag. "I-I need to rest before I can scry." She says, her voice still sore and rough, but much better with proper treatment.
Ayame nods, giving a reasuring smile and patting Nahemah's back. "Sounds perfect."
Entering into Hell, Eleanor spots her old partner, and current guildmaster Rory on stage in drag, singing her heart out as she gives them a wave from across the bar. She leans over to the party to whisper to them. "If we're resting anyways we'll just wait on my pal to meet up with us in a moment. I'd rather go through them than through one of the folks in the guild with less pleasant feelings about me."
Ayame nods. "Sounds good! Me and Ragia have been working on the amulet, we just need to dispel the magical lock on it and we can use it."
"I can dispel lthe locket, easily. Just give me time in the morning." Nahemah says weakly.
"Perfect!" Ayame responds as Rory makes their way off stage.
Rory makes their way to Eleanor, smiling wide. "Hey big girl~" They say effeminately. "I heard your delivery went well, consider your debts paid."
Eleanor rubs her head with a chuckle, "Your changing tones always catches me off guard, but glad the news came through good. Unfortunately I've actually got less than good news along with me... Figured you'd be best to talk to since it's news I think the whole of Cinerosa needs to know and I dunno who else to talk to."
Rory nods, looking about. "Allright, lets discuss this in the corner... quietly." They say, making their way to a quiet corner of the tavern, where a few brooding cuthroat types are sititng, not acknowleging each others existance before Rory shoos them away, "No time for wanna be adventurers, get outta here." They say before taking a seat at a booth.
Eleanor watches them run off elsewhere as the party starts to sit down, taking a moment for everyone to settle in before she takes a seat as well, continuing to rub her head as she tries to keep calm. "Well to start... you know about the war about to go on between here and Baal right?"
Rory nods, "Of course. Just this morning as everyone was waking up, a group of spellcasters took down most of the towers on the northern wall. Its the most direct attack on our city by another kingdom outside of Anguish in two hundred years. Wren declared war just as everyone would have finished breakfast."
Eleanor nods as she listens. "Well nfortunately I've got bad news about that whole thing, some rich trader fuck on deaths door basically spent his entire fortune to coerce that war in a deal with Anguish to make an opening against Cinerosa."
Rory looks at Eleanor blankly for a long few moments before their face grows to that of concern. "Sweetie... did you take a harder hit than normal on your travels? You mean to tell me that one guy goes into Baal, convinces their armies to attack traders along the border, spread lies and rumors about our own armies raiding cities on their side of the border, then pay people to become suicide bombers?"
"He had a stupid amount of money, do you know Ornable?" Ragia says.
"I mean sure, I know him, but at the same time, you can't get people to go commit suicide by destroying permanent structures at a town unless they wanted to do so anyway..." Rory says. "Even if he did pay them an unfathomable amount of money to do so, they decided to do it, and Baal refuses to refute the actions of their armies, or their priesthood. When your home is attacked, you fight back, its the natural law of Cinerosa."
Ayame pipes up. "He used a relic, causing them to go mad, he collects magical items and artifacts. Even taking the stance that this is all wrong, do you have any plan to resist anguish should they decide this is a perfect time to wipe you out? Your armies movements and positions lead you open to an attack from anguish, you will be slaughtered by fighting a war on two fronts, it is a hopeless situation"
Rory sighs, taking off their wig to scratch their bald head before putting it back on. "Allright... lets say this is all true. What proof do you have?"
Eleanor looks to Ragia, "We have his notebook right?"
Ayame pulls out the notebook. "Also, I invaded Ornable's mind for a time... What I say is the truth."
"Well, there is also the fact that Anguish just lead an assault on the kingdom not even a week ago. They don't have the time to set up another major assault while we go spend a week or two spitting at Baal." Rory says eying the notebook. "But I'd be more than happy to take a look at that."
"Bring this information to whomever you need, and perhaps mention that if Cinerosa falls, then Baal will no longer have a buffer between it and the armies from Anguish. That fact may help the peace talks." Ayame says, handing Rory the book.
Rory takes the book, and pages through it. "We aren't stupid... we will obviously have a defensive army still here in the city... and its our northern border of the city thats suffering, vs anguish, which is hurting from the south... but war was declared... I can try getting word that we need more troops for defense back home, but I doubt that it would do more than just fall on deaf ears, or they say its already taken care of because of all the people still left in the city."
"How long would it take to recall everyone should a full scale invasion take place?" Ragia asks.
"Depends on how far away they are. The border is basically 20 hours away, so if they are only at the border, probably a full day but they would be exausted by that point." Rory says with a sigh.
"Well, we have laid bare your enemies plans, it is up to you to do what you will with that information, we intend to leave in the morning and pursue Ornable" Ayame says.
Eleanor rubs her head, "I'm not even sure tellin' ya would stop the war but we can't just say anything. If those monsters up in Anguish think they're gettin an opportunity to stomp out this place once and for all you know they'll throw everything they have. But yeah, we're goin after Ornable in the mornin, I don't hate archeology or whatever but that man can't get away with this... maybe he'll have a way to stop things too"
Rory humms as they continue to flip through the pages. "Ill tell you what... This notebook has some pretty in depth information, I would like to take it off of your hands, and in return, I'll do whatever I can to get a message out to someone who can shore up the defences of the city. Won't cost you a single penny actually."
Eleanor thinks... "Well.." She looks to Ragia and Ayame, "Y'all went through that books contents more than me, I trust Rory here but you two know more about if that's okay."
"It better not cost us any penny, with the literal whole trade history of this continent held in that book." Ragia says with a humph.
"Knowing what I know that kind of info would sell for a whole ton so sorta feels like we're givin away a lotta cash." Eleanor says.
"We're getting severly underpaid for just gifting it for you to be honest, but if the team wanna do that, ill stand by their decision, that's how sure we are about this." Ragia says.
Rory smiles. "Well its either that or risk a kingdom being burnt to a crisp by dragons." He says, wiggling the book.
Eleanor chuckles out loud a bit, "You bluff like any of us are from here, I crawled out of a hole, remember?" She says jokingly, "This's more a moral thing for myself. I'm willin though if everyone else agrees."
Ayame look straight at Rory. Your kingdom and it's people's lives are of no consequence to me, I'm simply doing this because Ornable annoys me and I want to catch him, if doing something good happens to come from that then so be it."
Nahemah sighs. "Look, just do whatever's best for everyone at large. I don't want more people to die than what's necessary. We'll be tracking Ornable down ourselves, hopefully we can catch him -- but he said himself he only had 2 months to live at MOST. The best we could probably do is find what he was looking for, come back with his corpse, and say that the true Casus Belli for this war was a stupid old greedy man."
Rory nods and stands up, putting the book down their dress into their fake cleavage. "That sounds like a deal to me. As a show of faith, your rooms here tonight are on me, get some sleep, and good luck hunting the elderly tomorrow." They say with a chuckle.
Eleanor gives a wave as Rory heads off. "Will do."
Ayame nods and smiles "Thank you and...good luck on whatever you are going to do" she says as she stands.
Ragia looks around as the party seems to relax slightly. Noticing the green dragonborn she met previously going about, serving food to people. He looks healthier, less frail and thin. Just like the bartender, he is wearing a red lacy bra and bootyshorts, as well as the fake wings.
Feeling flirty, Ragia goes off to spend time with the dragonborn while the rest of the party settles down, gets some food and have a good nights rest.
Vamendour 16/625
After a rest, the party awakens and Nahemah takes the locket from Ragia, palming it between her hands and dispelling the magic. "Hey it worked!" Nahemah says, gathering everyone together to open it.
"Good job!" Eleanor exclaims. "Now... what's in it?"
Nahemah opens the locket, she can see arcane etchings along the edge, not lit at the moment, but everyone can tell they could at any minute with the dispelled magic at hand. Inside the locket, a picture of a youthful woman with a child is pressed in, surrounded by additional runes. On the other side, a small glowing saphire. The saphire itself suddenly lights up, and a 3d image is projected a foot above the saphire.
"Ahh excelent... got it to work." Says an image of Ornable as he sits down on a chair and smiles to those watching. "Greetings my dearest friends. The fact that you are seeing this message means two things have happened. One, I have chosen you as the one who will take over my collection of artifacts, and for that, I say thank you for your support, kindness, or if you are actually a theif, im sorry that this saphire will not be sufficient for you, but the collection will keep you satiated for the rest of your life should you choose to make it public. In the event this is a thief, my name is Ornable Frobisher, and I collect artifacts from before the consumption. In order to access my collection at any time, a single vehicle that can be drawn by no more than two horses must be present, as the entire vehicle will be transported to its destination. I have set up my base of operations in the ruins of Sergale, after hiring a few adventurers to clear out the leftover monsters from the ruins. It is a simple life, quiet, but I love my home in earnest. As such, the easiest way to get there with your vehicle is to simply press down on the saphire for no less than three secconds. At that time, your vehicle will be transported no matter where you are on Pondera. The second reason that you are seeing this message is becausee I have passed on from this world. The collection you will see in a few short moments has been my lifes work for the past fourty years." He gives a long pause, looking at the ground for a few moments. "I lost... a lot when I took on this task. But I believe that this wil help all species come to terms with their far flung past, their faith, and maybe even the gods themselves could learn a thing or two from my collection. I wish you the best, and, if my corpse is nearby, I wish to be cremated, and my ashes dispersed into the soil within the lillys in the forest just outside of Sergale. I thank you for your time, and hope you will heed my wishes. This is my last will. If you wish to repeat this message, press the saphire twice."
With that, the recording fades away and the party is left with the locket.
Eleanor rubs her temples, grumbling. "That's a real sob story but I still want to punch that mans face in."
Ayame pouts slightly and sighs. "I like him. I'll make sure his ashes are spread as he wishes... Well... this will get us to him... or at the very least, his collection."
"I'm still going to punch him." Nahemah says. "Regardless, now that we have this, scrying him will be a breeze. The more you know about someone, the easier it is to Scry, especially if you have a possession of theirs."
Ayame nods her head in respone as ragia speaks up. "Wait, so that means if he's out there, he's pretty much on the other side of the world right now."
"So wait... you think he warped to his collection then?" Eleanor asks.
"It would be the safest place to go to if your life is threatened... but even if he hasn't, we should still go and secure the collection."
"Since the collection is close to Orzhov, we can just send the location to the headmaster. She'll find a way in." Ragia says.
"Yeah but... I want those things... well... some of them." Ayame says sheepishly.
"If his immediate goal was to ensure that he could make his way to anguish in time, why would he teleport himself across the world to do so? He more than likely teleported somewhere far closer, and his warp was more than likely somewhere safe for him in the event of danger." Nahemah says, tapping her chin in thought.
Ayame pauses from this and thinks for a few moments before pouting. "Yeah your probably right... maybe his exploded cart?"
"Possibly." Says Nahemah. "He could also just have another hideout. I can just scry him so we don't have to guess."
"Yeah that makes sence." Ayame says with a nod.
"Probably the safest move." Ragia says.
Nahemah takes out the mirror she was given and places it on the table between everyone's breakfast, finishing off her food and pouring some water in a bowl, placing it next and the locket next to the mirror before she gives a sigh. "Here we go." She says closing her eyes and beginning to cast.
Naomi meditates over the bowl for an hour while she casts the spell. As she does so she can hear coughing, and wheezing as the sounds of a cart can be heard. Then, she is there, Ornable traveling in a cart with ragged, dirty clothing that makes him look like a beggar. He looks deathly ill, with blood on his sleeve from his coughing. A merchant at the front of the cart, driving it looks back to Ornable. "You aren't going to die on top of my produce are you?" and ornable chuckles with a slight shake of his head. "No no, far from-cough- it in fact." He says looking up as the trees start to give way to the open fields. Ornable looks over and sees that his previous companions have long since left him, understandable as he dissapeared the previous morning. "I don't think you got any sleep either, you should rest." Ornable gives a nod and leans back in the cart, cuddling his head against some broccli for a pillow as he starts to doze off.
"Welp, ladies we've got him." Nahemah says as the bowl of water and mirror glow, showing exactly what she is seeing. "If we hurry we can get to him by noon. He's only a few hours away."
Eleanor gives a clap in response. "Welp! Lets go get him... again." She says before giving Nahemah a gentle pat. "Also, great job!"
Ayame gives a smile, and a nod of approval to Nahemah as well as she stands. "Outstanding spellwork!"
Nahemah sighs, and starts putting everything away, getting ready to leave. "Lets get this old fuck already."
Two and a half hours later, the party is trotting north of the city when they come upon the produce cart. Nahemah sighs, looking to the rest of the party as they approach. "Lets try to not scare off the other merchant. He's not involved."
"Should I possess Ornable again?" Ayame says, standing up and giving a stretch while Sebastian takes the reigns.
"He didn't look very well in the mirror, you sure you wanna feel what it's like to be him?"
The merchant, finally close to the party waves at them. "Any news from Scalare? A legion of soldiers just went northbound not long ago. I reccomend turning back for now!" He shouts at the party.
"We're just here to pick up your passenger, he should have been able to tell you about the soldiers too!" Ragia yells back, while Ayame stops the cart.
In the produce cart, Ornable shakilly sits up and looks at the party with a sigh and nod. "Yup, those are my friends. Stop the cart, you can let me out." Ornable says, patting the merchant on the shoulder, picking up a stick of wood as he wipes the sleep from his eyes, the cart coming to a complete stop while ornable hobbles out, using the stick as a walking cane.
Ayame hops off the cart and makes her way to Ornable, helping him off. Ornable giving Ayame a thankful nod before looking back to the merchant. "Safe travels friend, and thank you for the clothes, I hope the information I gave you will help you make up for the loss." He says as the two men do some quick banter, and share a soft chuckle with one another. The merchant gives a nod to the party and ornable before his carriage sets out again. Ornable watches the man leave with a sigh before quietly saying to Ayame. "Let him leave sight before we move on with this... he wants to be a good person, it would be better he thinks he dropped me off safely, even if it is a lie."
"He did... or at least you are safe from me... I don't agree with your methods, but I do believe your goals are noble." Ayame says as the merchant dissapears from sight in the distance.
Nahemah looks at ornable with a mixture of pity and disgust, making her way over to him and giving him a quick spell to keep him steady. "That should ease any pain you have right now. Thank Rhamnasia that we are taught to care for the weak and dying, for I would not help you otherwise."
"Noble but dangerous." Ornable says, wagging a finger to Ayame. "Andmany who would know what my real intentions are would say I'm a monster... and the fact is, if I was left alive, I would go through with it just the same." He says before looking to Nahemah. "So, your goddess would also state that, as I am nothing more than a dangerous... wounded... weak... and dying creature... it would be easier on everyone if you stopped me here and now." He says with a smile, but giving Nahemah a knowing nod as well. "But just the same, I thank you for easing my pain."
Nahemah, scoffs, and wipes at her eye. "How well for you that you can still be... introspective in the last days of your life."
Ornable chuckles. "When you get as old as I... when you make friends with those who have been dealing in business for centuries... death is just another phase of life... the fact that I still can't bring myself to see the destruction of a kingdom as a terrible trade." He says with a soft sigh but chuckles. "Probably means I've gone mad."
"You played and you lost," Ragia says hopping out of the carriage as well. "Will you at least help us undo what you started knowing we won't let you get to the reward worth all this sacrifice anyway?"
"Ya could've gotten other folks to take up the hunt... for those artifacts." Eleanor says, looking dour at Ornable. "Didn't have to become a monster."
He shakes his head. "No... I couldn't undo what I've done even if I wanted too. Tensions were high between Baal and Cinerosa long before I arrived. I just gave both sides a little nudge. Even if I did undo it, they would just execute me for treason in two different kingdoms anyway." He says with a chuckle, before looking to Eleanor. "But as far as hunting artifacts in Anguish? Nobody wants to fight more than one dragon at a time... they are hugely territorial. Even Cinerosan warriors stay within their lands, hoping for dragons to come in so that they can be separated from one another."
Ayame nods. "What is done is done... It can't be undone... what matters most, is the discussion of what happens now."
Ornable nods. "You still deserve the collection. The locket will unlock itself through my death, and you can use it to teleport straight there... get out of this country before the war ruins you as well... if you leave me be, I will still make my way to anguish no matter how painful it may be, and have what I collected sent to the collection before I pass... I still have two months of exploring I can do and I want to make use of every moment of it. If you are going to prevent me from going there... I ask the favor to kill me now, and be done with it." He says with a sorrowful smile to those gathered. "I tire of the pain. Even with this brief respit that Ms. Dai'Gishkin has provided me." "What insurance did you have that what you did would convince the dragons not to reduce you to ash the moment you got within Anguish?" ragia says. "And did the dragons still need to be told that the deed is done?"
Ornable shakes his head. "I had a deal, and I informed them I would go nowhere near their hoards, and my mission, and the bullet." He says motioning to Eleanor. "Which, I can still see in your pocket." He says with a chuckle before turning back to Ragia. "To answer your question... no. Anguish doesn't know about the damage to the north walls yet."
"Are the artefacts you stashed need to get inventoried somewhere? If thats the case we can let you get on with your afterlife, and we'll find a way to get them in a non sacrifical way."
Eleanor huffs with frustration. "Surprised you can still look at me after my little display old man." She says pulling out the bullet. "This an't the kind im familiar with anyways, which means there's probably way more of these things around than we realize."
Ornable chuckles, before looking to Ragia. "To answer your question, everything I collected is catalogued, but I don't know what resides within anguish. I was going to spend as much time as I could traveling to find artifacts.. because im the only one wh ocan see them... but..." He says motioning to Eleanor. "You can find out what they were, what they do... and yes, your display was terrifying... but im tired." He says with another soft chuckle before he starts coughing, his body being wracked by his fit as his already bloody sleave gets even more spots of dark red fluid upon it.
Eleanor squints. "Why can you see them?"
"its your talent right? How did you get it? Could we replicate it?" ragia asks.
"I've had it all my life. Seeing the weave as if i'm staring through water... thats all." Ornable says, wiping his lips.
"I...don't think I can find it in myself to let you go free to continue into anguish" Ayame says with a sad smile "But I am willing to make your passing painless, and to honour your wishes to spread your ashes in the forest as you ask..and to take care of your collection. Or, to honor my previous offer, I can bring you to the guild and your life could be improved, maybe your condition cured."
Nahemah crosses her arms and sighs again. "All I care about is saving those who would die because of this pointless war."
Ornable gives a nod to Ayame. "I'm as ready to die as I'll ever be."
"Do you have any way for us to show that it was you who orchestrated the war? In the interest of trying to spare lives?" Ayame asks, pulling out some bits and baubles to prepare a ritual from her home.
"You could talk to the armorsmiths of both Baal and Cinerosa, who both have reccords that I had armor created at the request of the different kingdoms. With a bit of research and maybe a few weeks, they could confirm it and start peace talks."
"Very well...thank you, I swear that your life's work will not be forgotten, your collection will be protected, and that your efforts will make the world truly better off... in the long run, I pray that you find peace in the afterlife" Ayame says, giving Ornable a bow, while Ragia turns away.
Ornable gives a smile to Ayame, bowing back to her lightly. "I hope to find kindness as you have shown me in the next life... thank you."
Ayame smiles reassuringly to him. 'I'm sure you will." She says before bringing her face in close, and sucking the life out of him, as Ornable peacefully falls limp into Ayame's arms. A shattering sound heard from the locket, as the magical enchantment upon it destroys itself. Seeing this and hearing the sound, Even Eleanor closes her eyes and looks away.
Rewards Granted
Access to Ornable Frobishers magical artifact hoard.
Missions/Quests Completed
The Warmonger.
Character(s) interacted with
@orn
