MBATF: War for the Dead Rose Report

General Summary

Tyrael Day at the Festival

A mile outside of town located at a wine warehouse turned into a makeshift hospital. Tyrael finished doing his rounds around the hospital. Doing everything he can do to assist the victims of Barjols. He steps out of the barn to bathe in the cool breeze and the warm sun. Amber Lightharbor skips down through the vineyard towards the warehouse hospital. A floral crown of babies breath, rose stems and daisies adorn her curly red hair. She is nibbling fluffy strings of corn syrup flavor strawberries. She hands Tyrael a cone of the same sweet stringy stuff.    

Amber Lightharbor   “Here you need to try this. Isn’t it good? It is my thanks for you helping us out here. These victims need you and your friends' help. The things you guys have done is great to lift their spirits. I saw some of your friends at the festival. You should go find them or just go enjoy the festivities.”

    Tyrael took the advice of the good-spirited young woman. He walks through a very decorative colorful gate of flowers. Inside the town square are hordes of tourists. They are all here for the festival. There are people from all parts of the kingdom and further. Just inside the walls are rows of booths. There is a booth selling silver necklaces with turquoise rocks as the center stone. The next stand is selling wood carvings of owlbears, dragons, and goblins. A portly bald man with a thick red beard is showing people how to glass blow. Another stall with the joyous sound of children laughing. They are playfully running out with beautiful and funky floral crowns. The smell of sweet and salty meats linger in Tyrael’s nose. He sauntered over to the food court. The sheer amount of festival foods blows his mind. The nose knows that the shaved lamb gyro in pennies is the food for him. He engulfs one of the pennies then he casually begins eating his second.   A massive crowd is forming near the location of the blacksmith shop. There is a feat of athletics sign up going on. The game is known as Epaule. Two people enter a ring and lock their shoulders to each other with the hands behind the back. They begin to try to shove the other person out of the ring. During sign up, Tyrael starts to hear tales of a lost Auroch herd.   The competitors are massive specimens. Only one of them stands above the rest. There is a tall tattoo giantkin known as a goliath on one side of the ring. This goliath goes shoulder to shoulder with a sturdy dwarf. Surprisingly the dwarf gave the goliath a difficult time, but the goliath won.   A few more competitors go before Tyrael is up. Tyrael enters the ring. Coming into the ring is a tall ailing young human man. They lock shoulders. Tyrael notices that the young man trapezius muscle is stout. The ringing of the bell starts the contest of strength. This strong young man is giving Tyrael a tough time, but he manages to shove him out of the ring. Tyrael celebrates with a display of flames, causing the crowd to go into a frenzy. Absconding from the ring, he overhears that something happened to Jane Vindefromage.   A few more matches go by before the second start. Tyrael is the first one to go in round two. He faces this sweaty half-orc. He feels the greasy skin of the man as they lock shoulders. Tyrael shakes involuntary. He makes short work of the half-orc. Tyrael not wanting to remain connected to this unhygienic person. He leaves the ring.   He hears more rumors about some people investigating the issue at Jane Vindefromage ranch. Some of these whispers describe some of his friends. He casually walks away from the game. He finds himself scanning the heads of the crow. Try to see if he can find his friends. He hears more stories about a two-head creature killing a herd of Aurochs. Tyrael actively looks for his friends but unable to find them. Tyrael’s blood pressure rises as he asks for the location of Jane Vindefromage. Tyrael’s beckon to one of the people discussing the story.    

Tyrael   “Where can I find Jane Vindefromage?”   Gossiping Person   “I heard she is distraught at the Pissenain.”

    Tyrael dashes towards the inn. He is dodging the people in the crowded streets. He bursts through the doors to see a panic-stricken woman. The visibly shaken woman must be Jane. Tyrael briskly walks to her.    

Tyrael   “Are you Jane Vindefromage?”

    She looks up at him shaking.    

Jane Vindefromage   “Yes. Yes, I am.”   Tyrael   “Where can I find them? Where is your ranch?”

    She explains to Tyrael on how to get to her ranch from here. He thanks her and runs off. Stepping back outside the rumor has changed. People are saying the adventurers are returning. The people are also murmuring that they’re severely hurt. Tyrael rushes to the northwestern gates. He spots the silhouette of Baruuta. Next to Barruta is an outline he has never seen before. Getting closer, he sees that burnt face of that outline. It is Marrlow. Marrlow holds a limp Ah-chi. Tyrael frantically searches for a pulse on Ah-chi. Marrlow eyes tear up. Baruuta places his hand on Tyrael.    

Marrlow   “He is gone. My friend.”

   

Harvesting of Ah-chi

The party enters the Pissenain, a busy rustic inn. Jane looks up at the commotion that is entering the inn. She sees the group of people that went to her ranch. They all have sustained a massive amount of fire damage. The helpful man, from earlier, catches her eye. He looks sullen and is carrying a fallen comrade in his arms. She ran up to Marrlow. A river of tears rolls out of her eyes.    

Jane Vindefromage   “I’m sorry! I’m sorry...”

    Tyrael walks to the bartender Dean Lightharbor. Dean recognizes the group since he has helped at the makeshift hospital.    

Tyrael   “Can we get a room?”

    Dean slides a room key to Tyrael. He is saddened to see the physical and emotional state of the group.    

Dean Lightharbor   “On the house.”

    Tyrael walks up the squeaking stair to the second floor of the inn. He found the room. The room that is freely given by the innkeeper. He slides the multi-tooth key into the lock. Everything feels like it is in slow motion as the door begins to unlock. Tyrael collapses to the ground shortly after he closes the door. He sobs on his hands and knees. He clenches his holy symbol causing his knuckles to go white for a red Dragonborn. Tears pour down onto his symbol of Ilmater. He is Praying to his deity for an answer, for a sign, or anything.   There is a look of shell shocked on the faces of Marrlow, Baruuta, and Astrid. They sit there dumbfounded, not knowing the next move. It felt like an eternity, sitting there waiting for Tyrael to come back. He does come back holding onto his holy symbol Ilmater.    

Tyrael   “We must find a temple of Ilmater. We can’t go to Lebrook to the temple of Helm. We are wanted here.”

    Walking behind Tyrael is Dean Lightharbor.    

Dean Lightharbor   “If time is of the essence. Maybe the lady of the harvest can help.”   Astrid   “Who is the lady of the harvest?”   Dean Lightharbor   “The lady of the harvest is the goddess Karametra. She blesses us with bountiful harvests of the land. This festival is for her to give us a fertile harvest for the coming fall.”   Tyrael   “So, you can say she is at her most powerful during this time?”   Dean Lightharbor   “I wouldn’t say that she is more powerful during this time. She does tend to listen more than usual during this time. I can take you the spiritual leader of Karametra.”   Marrlow   “Yes, please take us.”

    He asks one of his daughters to watch over the inn. Dean asks the group to follow him. Baruuta is still in shock from his near-death experience. Doesn’t notice everyone leaving. People at the festival are respectfully moving out of the way. They walk out of the northwestern gates of the town. They observe something as they travel through the rows trellises of the vineyard. The grape filled lattices are all heading to a single point in the field. The same direction that Dean is taking them.   They arrive at the epicenter of the vineyard. A gazebo of spiraling vines and ivy create the support structure of the building. Under the gazebo is a statue made of the same climbing roots forming an elegant woman. The sculpture is of a miraculous woman that gives life to the soil and plants, Karametra. A familiar man taille the vines on the outskirts of the temple. He looks upon the group and puts the sheers away. You’ve all seen him at the makeshift hospital, but never introduced yourselves.    

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Greetings heroes of Barjols. You are all heroes to them in more ways than one. How can I be of assistance?”   Marrlow   “Our friend has fallen. Do you have the capability of helping him?”   Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Take a knee so that I may look at him closer.”

    Marrlow takes a knee in front of Aceline. Aceline examines the frail remains of Ah-chi. He breathes into Ah-chi mouth then places his ear next to it. Like he is listening for the spirit of Ah-chi. The spiritual leader carefully examines the wounds.    

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Yes. Yes, it is possible to recover your friend from the spirit realm.”   Marrlow   “We’ll do anything for your help.”   Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “The lady will need three boons and a stipend.”

    Marrlow handed over the payment for the raise dead process.    

Marrlow   “What are these boons?”   Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “The boons are to earn the favor of Karametra. Each one of you must gain a favor.”

    Aceline looks at Marrlow. He points to three trellises rows in the north.    

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Marrlow, your favor is to clean out the irrigation ditches of rot and weeds from that hectare. You must then gather the refuse and return it here.”

    Aceline looks at Astrid. Points towards a trellis row.    

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Astrid, you must go to that hectare and begin pruning the healthy grapes and fill three baskets full. Return here with the baskets.”

    Aceline looks at Tyrael.    

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Tyrael, you must take the refuse that Marrlow has gathered. Spread it evenly on the ground in front of the shrine and cleanse it with fire, then place Ah-chi body on the smoldering refuse.”

    Marrlow grabs the nearby hoe, rake, and wheel barrel. He takes those items to the area pointed to him. He begins clearing out the first acre with no issue. The last two acres became back-breaking. The roots and leaves were plenty in the back half. Various size limestones and clay clumps made it a grueling work for him. It took him a couple of hours to clean out the irrigation ditches of that hectare.   Astrid grabbed the three baskets and hand sheers. She had issues filling the first basket, but once she got the hang of things. She blew through the other two wicker baskets.   They patiently waited for Marrlow to finish. Marrlow moves slowly to return to the shrine. He had difficulties with his task. Tyrael takes over control of the wheel barrel and rake. He takes the gathered items in the wheel barrel and spreads it evenly onto the ground with the rake. Tyrael using his fire breath. Cleanse the refuse with flame. He picks up Ah-chi with the assistance of Aceline and lays the body onto the bristling waste.   A large partially burn figure steps into the light of the temple, Baruuta has located the ceremony. He is unsure that the service is for burial or raise dead. Baruuta pulls his thief tools and places it into the low flames then takes a seat next to the others. Aceline informs that three people must take a basket full of grapes. Crush those grapes over the body of the fallen. Tyrael grabs a wicker basket and crushes it and the grapes over Ah-chi. The juices hit the smoking body and producing even more smoke. Astrid and Baruuta grasp remaining wicker baskets. In unison, they grab a handful of grapes and squeezes the juices onto the body. Near the smoldering head of Ah-chi, Aceline kneels.    

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “You all now must plead to your lost friend.”

    Marrlow and Astrid both say their heartfelt pleas to Ah-chi.    

Tyrael   “Ah-chi... Please. Please come back. You can't leave, not after everything we've gone through to get here. I know I've complained about the danger your bounty has placed us all in... But I've laid down my life to protect yours in the past, and I'm furious that I wasn't there to do it again when you needed me the most.   I will pull down the very heavens themselves to bring you back if I have to. You can't leave us. Not like this.”

     

Baruuta  

“Oh Ah-chi

I hardly knew ye

Sorry you died

I’m trying not to cry

Please come back if you prefer

So Feival can play with Hoobird”

    He starts the process to cast the raise dead spell. Green grape vines erupt from the smoldering fire. The vines wrap around the body of Ah-chi, covering him completely. The lively roots quickly turn into dead vines and then into dust. The bed of refuse that the still corpse is on turns into black ash. The ceremony is over. Ah-chi still lays there unmoving to the naked eye.    

Tyrael   “Did it work?”

    Aceline bow near the head of Ah-ch and listens.    

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Your friend is back. He is just in a deep slumber.”

    An exhale of relief is heard from Ah-chi friends. Tyrael picks up the slumbering kenku. They all leave the shine of Karametra. They’re walking in a single file back to town. Getting closer to town, Marrlow notices several humanoid silhouettes on the other side of the lattices. They are the townspeople. The people are peacefully praying for Ah-chi.   They leave the somber vineyard and enters into the town at night. The festival is in a full-blown dance party. People are in the streets doing the fox-trot and playing live music. The party enters the Pissenain. It is even more lively inside the inn. Halflings fill the establishment and are smoking, drinking, and dancing. One of them has managed to hang off the Ankheg trophy. The party enters their room. They lay Ah-chi down in one of the two beds. Everyone found their sleeping spot and closed their eyes for the night.  

Murder of Siblings

Tyrael woke before everyone else. He hears the sound of Ah-chi snoring cutely. He is still troubled by the day before. He feels guilty for not being there for his friend. He was too caught up in his baggage to enjoy the festival with his friends. Tyrael wanders to the shrine of Karametra. He notices Aceline gathering the darken ashes from the night before.    

Tyrael   “Morning, Aceline. Is there anything that I can do around here to help out?”   Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   “Morning, Tyrael. In a matter, there is something you could do. You can take the ashes and mix them in the soil over there.”

    Aceline points to the acres that Marrlow cleaned up.   Tyrael gathers the ashes into a wheel barrel and begins to mix the soil with the ashes. It had been a long time since Tyrael felt this peaceful. He had almost forgotten this feeling.   Astrid woke up shortly after Tyrael left the room. She places the floral crown that Ah-chi built on his snoring chest. She held it tightly the night before. Walking down the stairs, she notices something amusing. There is a passed out halfling hanging from his breeches on an Ankheg pincher. For a moment, she thought she saw Ah-chi eating breakfast. It was just another kenku. Probably here to enjoy the festival. Astrid finds the glassblower booth and begged for him to open it. He agreed. Astrid spent a couple of hours creating a glass sculpture of an owl. Saying aloud to the glassblower but mostly to herself.    

Astrid   “This is to my not so dead friend.”

    Watching Astrid work on this beautiful glass sculpture is the kenku she saw earlier. The kenku is observing every move that Astrid makes. A burst of emotions floods the kenku upon hearing the word dead. The kenku slams into Astrid, nearly knocking the glass sculpture out of her hands.    

Ah-chi   “Dead! Friend dead? Dead who?”   Astrid   “Excuse me! I nearly dropped this. My friend Ah-chi nearly had died but came back to life.”   Ah-chi   “No, Ah-chi I. Died did I not.”

    Astrid feels confused and looks over the kenku. There is some resemblance to her Ah-chi or she could just be racist. There was no harm in taking this strange kenku to meet her strange kenku. Astrid motions to Ah-chi to follow her back to the inn. Astrid opens the room door and goes in and Ah-chi follows. Ah-chi sees the other Ah-chi snoring on the bed. Runs to him leaving the door wide open. The commotion wakes up Marrlow and Baruuta.    

Baruuta   “Ugh! What is going on here? Can’t you see I was sleeping? Wait? Who are you?”   Marrlow   “I second that. Who are you?”   Ah-chi   “Ah-chi.”   Marrlow   “No that is Ah-chi.”   Ah-chi   “No. Ah-chi I. He is…”

    Ah-chi pulls out a piece of paper and spells out “R-A-V-A-G-E-R” and hands the note to Marrlow.    

Ah-chi   “Brother he’s.”

    During this exchange, Tyrael enters the room and closes the door. Ah-chi looks over to Tyrael. Tyrael has a confused expression on his face. Ah-chi leaps over two beds and into a corner whipping out her wand. Her hands are trembling at the sight of Tyrael. Tyrael is currently confused about the current situation.    

Tyrael   “What is going on here?”   Marrlow   “Everyone calm down. Tyrael this is Ah-chi. Ah-chi sister.”   Tyrael   “Ah-chi sister?”

    Everyone catches Tyrael up with the current events. Ah-chi calms down a little but took the farthest distance away from Tyrael to get back to Ravager. Suddenly a burst of black smoke fills the room, and then the shattering of the second-floor window is heard. Tyrael dashes to the direction of the last he saw the fearful kenku. He touches the feathers of the short race. Ah-chi freaked out by the scaly hand of a dragonborn cast gust of wind. She cleared out the room with the spell. Ravager, aka Ah-chi, is missing. Astrid notices a note on the bed. Baruuta picks up the crumble note and reads it aloud.    

Ravager, aka Ah-chi   “Dearly friends,   Ah-Chi no good with speak and no no way to say sowwie. Feel bad for make friends in danger. Ah-Chi think be bounty hunter get attention for sister find me. But just bring danger to all. Runaway, sometimes I think. Choose between Flock and best friend or these now friend friends I trust. Right answer can’t find brain. Think maybe heart say all. Fun. Adventure. Safe. Care. Love. Ah-Chi love friend. Many Friends. Protect friends and these these things, I go back and back when done. Safe keeping, friends.   Sincerely love, Ah-Chi “

      After things calmed down for everyone. Ah-chi cast a spell in an attempt to locate Ravager. Everyone else begins to hear a familiar voice taunting them in their minds. The devil!

Character(s) interacted with

Aceline Mante, Vicar of Karametra   Dean Lightarbor   Amber Lightarbor   Jane Vindefromage