Session 45 - Journeying Back Report

General Summary

Evening 4th Sungleam   The combat with Otawa is finished, the avatars dead. XIV stands over the ruins of the avatars for a time. He decides to go on a walk alone with his thoughts. Panser and Aarkatus group near Otawa, soon joined by Elxis and Akio.   Elxis and Akio then take a short walk to talk about the thing they both just felt when the avatars died, a power surge, as though the avatar's magic merged with them - the Taman'Gori to Elxis, and Taman'Raka to Akio.   While the adventurers regroup around Otawa, who is still unconscious and pinned to the ground by XIV's centipede, suddenly XIV calls for the centipede to drag Otawa to him. The group fear that XIV will kill Otawa. Elxis stays back, as Otawa's wolf seems ready to attack.   Panser and Akio pursue XIV, Akio using his new teleportation magic to catch up with XIV. Akio and XIV have a heated argument.  

"You've killed enough. You are not a god." -Akio Matsumoto

  XIV threatens Akio with his hammer, disturbing him. He doesn't kill Otawa. Instead, he mounts his centipede and sets off in the direction of Atama, dragging Otawa in the centipede's maw. The rest of the group come together to follow him. Elxis has her mechanical dragon euphoria breath the wolf, pacifying it. Aarkatus leads the way.   Morning 5th Sungleam   It's the early morning. The adventurers are all exhausted. They finally reach Atama. Elxis, Akio and Panser discuss the varying ways they "see" magic; Elxis, like a system of circuits and algorithms, Akio like a natural force, Panser says he does not see it at all and simply uses it. XIV remains silent.   The group reach Atama and come to the tent of Motaakai, hearing a familiar voice within. Going inside, they realise Geoffrey has been taken captive! He is relieved to see the group. The group explain that Geoffrey was an ally of theirs. Geoffrey explains grimly that Cel'Niana was killed while Geoffrey was captured. Elxis is plunged into grief.   Motaakai has the group kneel, and they oblige, even XIV, begrudgingly. Panser begins to recount the story of their journey through the warfield, the Orc camp, and Eutrakha, as well as the Rhunaka temple. Motaakai hears that the group has done far more than he asked. They also tell Motaakai of Otawa's betrayal, turning against the group as they returned.   The elder Makharata is there at Motaakai's side and argues vehemently that Otawa never betrayed Motaakai, rather, the adventurers did. He alleges that they were swayed to the Orc's side. But XIV tells Motaakai of Otawa's words - "Fuck Motaakai" - and Motaakai is furious. XIV uses his centipede to drag Otawa's unconscious body before Motaakai.   Motaakai interrogates Otawa about the betrayal. XIV secretly casts Zone of Truth on him. Meanwhile, the others help to heal Geoffrey, who is bruised and battered from his capture.   Otawa owns up to his betrayal, and Motaakai has him taken out of the tent, instructing the group to follow. Motaakai, with Otawa captured at his side and Makharata not far behind, lead the adventurers to the city Agora. Many of the Atama peoples gather to see.   Motaakai, solemn at the betrayal, makes Otawa tell him who else was part of the betrayal. Otawa implies Makharata was in on it. Makharata pleads, but to no avail. Both of the offending elders are made to kneel before Otawa.   Panser wishes to see no more death. He pleads that Motaakai spare them; to show that the goblins are indeed more civilised than they are often made out to be. "Maybe in a better world", Otawa says, and stabs Otawa. Makharata tries to run but XIV grabs his face and crushes his skull.   Motaakai congratulates the adventurers before the gathered goblins.   The group return to Motaakai's tent. Motaakai says that they have his utmost respect and trust after the events. Aarkatus is congratulated, and surprised with his very own wooden mask, showing a graduation within the tribe. Aarkatus gives a tearful farewell to the group.  

In my memory, it will be as a dream, but one that will bring me hope and courage. Thank you. -Aarkatus

  Panser casting Heroism on Aarkatus, he says goodbye once more, and he leaves the tent. This is the last they see of him.   5th Sungleam   The group are allowed to sleep in the maskmaker's quarters connected to the forge, which they do most of the day. XIV does his sentry's rest outside. Akio, as the others sleep, admires the masks upon the walls, marvelling at the culture of the goblin peoples.   Evening 5th Sungleam   Panser uses a casting of Plant Growth to enrich the crops of Atama, as he promised. Not much else happens this evening.   6th Sungleam   The group spend the morning at the city Agora, listening to the music and enjoying the culture around them. Panser and Geoffrey join in on the drumming as the goblins watch a wrestling activity between young goblins. Akio returns to the workshop and watches the maskmaker Tokari at work, who wears a bronze mask fashioned to look like a dwarf.   Panser spends the rest of the day growing the plants.   By the evening, everyone is back in the maskmaker's quarters. XIV, Akio and Geoffrey argue in favour of leaving the city tomorrow, while Elxis wishes to stay another day. Panser is eventually convinced to XIV's side.   Later, Elxis goes outside to speak to XIV. He tries to console him about the death of the Avatars, though XIV is dismissive of him.  

"I knew them for days at most. It's not a connection, it was the fact that they offered answers to what I am. They could have let me seen closer to what the root of my being might be. I don't want your pity or your sympathy." -XIV

 

"When we get to Iaidar's place, I swear on my life I will help you find out what you are." "We will find out what you are, where you came from. What your purpose is in the first place." -Elxis Fulnar

  XIV thanks Elxis, and Elxis goes inside. The adventurers sleep.   7th Sungleam   Everyone wakes up as the maskmakers return to the forge and resume their work. Akio again watches the maskmaking process. The group then lead Motaakai to see how Panser has enriched the farms, and Panser uses his plant growth spell to make the beanstalks grow to massive size. He plays a song on his lute, one of the first he ever learned, back in Valdur. Motaakai, who is high on dreamleaf, is amazed and confused.   They ask for a formal letter of alliance from Motaakai, and he obliges. He signs a letter and Elxis puts it in the Bag of Holding.   The group leave Atama. They console Elxis about the death of Cel. It was implied by Motaakai that there is nothing left of her, as their request to bury her was solemnly denied.   After hours of walking, the group settle down and sleep.   8th Sungleam   In the morning, the adventurers reach Licua, the third time they have been here. Elxis goes off by herself to find a workshop to rent. She finds one, pays the smith, and spends the day carving a wooden memorial figure of Cel.   Panser, meanwhile, goes to help grow the crops. The farmers quickly recognise him. They follow him around as he tells stories, sings songs, and works his magic.   XIV, Geoffrey and Akio pass the residence of Umenorin Veranian, the mayor of the town who did not take well to their last visit. They see a glimpse of him in the window - he quickly pulls the curtain shut and vanishes. The group of three sneak to his back door. Panser and his group of farmers watch from the fields.   XIV tries to pull the back door open and fails. Umenorin rushes to the door and they have a yelling argument, XIV belittling Umenorin and calling him a baby. Panser casts message to taunt Umenorin, who flies into a rage, shattering some of his pottery and ordering the guards to arrest him. Unsurprisingly the guards are hesitant, given XIV's size and strength.   Furious, Umenorin has XIV follow him to the town center, still wearing a bathrobe, face red with rage. He challenges XIV to a fight. What kind of fight it is, is ambiguous. In front of a couple hundred townspeople XIV taunts Umenorin. It seems like Umenorin's already tenuous favour with the peoples is waning.   XIV later goes to the tavern with Akio and Geoffrey and there, they get drunk and tell their stories of adventure, embellishing. Panser does the same with the group of farmers. He omits parts and makes sure to paint the goblins in a positive light.   XIV also allows people to ride around town on the centipede steed.   After Elxis finishes her carving, she joins the group in the tavern, and Panser does so too. They have a great, drunken night, telling raucous stories. They sleep upstairs, where the bar owner allows them to stay.   Morning 9th Sungleam   Elxis wakes up earlier than the others, and returns to the forge she rented to make a metal box to hold the carving of Cel in. XIV is unaffected by hangovers and goes to get pastries and coffee for everyone before they are awake.   They begin their travels. Elxis and Panser ride the centipede, Elxis reading a book on Kaldar weaponry and technology that she found in the inventory of the Library Automaton, found in Jandro's Redoubt. She fails to find anything on Kaldar constructs, so no clues about XIV's origin or function.   Everyone stops in the shade of a rock, where discarded bones from previous campers lie. They stay for the night.   10th Sungleam   After an hour of searching, the group finds a stream to wash themselves in. Akio and Panser discuss how Akio has gained new magic. Panser shows him a book on casting higher-tier spells that he found in Jandro's Redoubt.   The group travels.   In the afternoon, they reach Visikin Town. Everyone goes to the Wind God's Charm tavern and indulges the familiar bartender, Rangrim Evermead, with highly embellished versions of their travels. They sleep in the tavern.   11th Sungleam   Rangrim makes breakfast for everyone. A few of them are a bit hungover. Everyone eats up and moves on, continuing their travels.   They set up to sleep at an old logger's campsite.   12th Sungleam   At midday, the group arrive in the town of Huragu. The day is passed quietly. Panser grows the crops. They hear that many people are moving to Alduran after the crop failings of the last season.   They sleep at an inn.   13th Sungleam   The day is spent travelling. Panser practices spells of a higher Tier than he can yet cast. XIV thinks about the sword he saw in his recent dream.   14th Sungleam   The adventurers reach the ruins of the Port of Bronzeshore. They explore for a few hours, finding what seemed to have once been a shipyard. XIV stumbles upon an ancient Kaldar shrine. He meditates there, briefly sensing a flicker of light within him. Panser notices that the "XIV" inscription on his gorget lights up for a brief moment.   To his disappointment, XIV finds no further revelations here, but does feel a great sense of solace, more so than ever before. Panser hands him a tiny fragment of rock that was part of the shrine.   The group reach the Steelbeak, still there after thirty days of absence. They inspect it for damage. XIV returns the anchor to the ship, Panser inspects it for meddling. Elxis, Geoffrey and Panser take the sails from the Bag of Holding and put them back up.   As the tide rises, XIV pushes the ship off the shore. Panser brings up the brew he made and all the group share a drink on the deck of the Steelbeak. The evening passes jovially. Panser casts Sending to Iaidar, telling him they are on their way.   XIV meditates, the rock from the shrine in his hand.   15th Sungleam - 16th Sungleam   The group sails. The weather is warm, the seas calm. Panser practices spells. Geoffrey continues to teach drums to XIV. Elxis experiments with new powers. Akio relaxes. XIV further meditates.   Evening 16th Sungleam   Everyone disembarks at Iaidar's estate, making their way up to the house. Everyone is eating dinner. Iaidar is gleeful to see them and invites them down to a special table set up for them, with a fried fish, salads and vegetables of many kinds.   He tells them to indulge him in their stories, and Panser begins a long recounting. The group is all exhausted and most of them wish to rest. XIV seems to be uncomfortable with Iaidar's presence.   The conversation turns to talk of their plans.