Session 17 - Investigating Axiom Part 2 Report

General Summary

As the party assembled to begin their investigation of Axiom, Rayla Moonshadow was absent. Winnow Olafson and Rayla exchanged a flurry of letters via Stumpy, ultimately leading to Rayla venturing in the bramble thicket to find Yira Inkstep. After finding herself somewhat lost, she was cordially invited to follow The Smile Man to Yira's hut.

While at the hut, Yira revealed that her intention was to understand what Willow Meadowstride had done years ago at the Fey Gate so that she too could return home. She proposed a new deal. Her antagonism would cease if Rayla used her magic chisel to return to Yira just a small piece of the Fey Gate. She would return Avex Steelhoof to full control of himself, revealing the stalwart centaur to be under the effects of some sort of mind control. Rayla agreed to new terms, agreeing to return the Fey Gate piece and, per the terms of the pact, not tell a soul from Hollow about it.

Meanwhile Dac Earreac and Feyre Blackwood decided to press forward with their investigation into Axiom. They met up with Ones in the Timecog District and made their way to Axiom, passing a check point that was in part indimidatingly guarded by members of the Brass Spears of Novus. After Ones slipped one of the Gearforged guards a few gold coins, he allowed Ones to bring Feyre and Dac in. Ones departed on business of his own and left them to explore. They were regaled by Delia Xhowa, a gearforged bard who was street busking. At Dac's request, Delia also sang the somewhat suggestive song "The Gearforged Got The Girl."

Rayla returned to Hollow, encountering an irate Bramble Lightfeather who had recieved a letter from Winnow about Rayla's activities. Frustrated with the way she was keeping secrets, Bramble was about to storm off, but Rayla was able to talk him down -- and talk him to leaving Hollow to take refuge at Winnow’s Apartment. They quickly traveled for the Sunhollow District, Bramble aprehensively transforming into a disguised form. Winnow accepted them into her home and began to discuss next steps, trouble arose when Rayla broke her pact with Yira by telling Bramble about the deal. A letter from from Yira arrived at Winnow's home, transforming into a massive animated oragami snake. The snake seemed intent on constricting Bramble, but thanks to the quick work of Winnow and the teleporting powers of Rayla's flaming companion Ember, the snake was destroyed and Bramble saved.

Feeling like her sanctum of safety had been violated by the trouble that Rayla brought to it, Winnow angrily demanded that Bramble and Rayla leave. They immediately did so, Bramble apologizing and doing his best to cheer Rayla up and assure her that together they could defeat Yira.

Still, the quest from Kara Towers was before them, and separately Winnow and Rayla resolved to join their friends in Axiom.