Session 10: Bandits and Bullshit

Present characters:
- Vorach
- Sidna
- Serafina
- Zeal
 
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Vorach throws Serafina an apple, and offers her an open ear to talk about her curse, if she wants to (acknowledging that it would probably be weird to do it that night because they just met so she doesn't have to). Zeal can't seem to get comfy and when he does sleep he seems to be having bad nightmares with dark moving shapes and snowstorms. The party wakes up and Vorach starts roasting pomegranate seeds. Svana wakes up Sidna, boasting an unfortunate bulge on her forehead from last night's antics. She's ready to go because she really wants those bandits that want her dead dead, but Sidna wanted an extra hour of sleep. Svana asks about Zeal's many holy symbols and he explains that he doesn't deny other people's worship despite what he does himself. He explains that he has a mantra which keeps him under control most of the time, with his concentrated, chaos-like state in his battle stance. He gets pains in his sleep because of his inner rage/frenzy that helps provide this power of his.
 
He shares this mantra with Sidna, and she asks if he intends for her to say it if he should ever lose control in battle. He's unsure. She remarks on how vulnerable and open he's being with her, and he explains that if she'd do the same he'd be there for her, but she's reticent to share so much of her past with someone who she's known for so little (she hasn't known him that long, apparently!). Zeal and Sidna remark they aren't afraid of each other. He forgets she's an orc, apparently, and that wasn't meant to be a compliment. Svana then points out that she asked if they were going to go and Sidna states that not everything is about her, this was a conversation that had to be had - show some patience, we already promised to help you!
 
Sidna and Zeal smell smoke and go discover Vorach cooking while Serafina's gone absolutely feral on a non-roasted pomegranate. The party convenes back in Sidna's room. Vorach introduces himself and gets the low-down on the current situation. Svana calls them Jackasses. Bandits had her pretend to be dead in the road so people would stop their carts and could be robbed. This plan failed against Sidna and Zeal, because Zeal shot her with fire. She explains bandits have a bounty in Clearwater, can be collected with bodies or hands(?) and that's where Vorach says we should leave her for safety while we take care of the bandits. We go to collect Willow, but she's already left, so we go back to meet Rasmir, the half-scale priest. She winces and mentions that a fire was started, and Vorach says that wouldn't have happened if he had a brazier, they should provide one. She is so thrown off that she agrees. Win for the working class!
 
We go through the shimmering stained glass hallway. Vorach waits outside while the rest of theparty ventures in and collects what appears to be an ornate egg that Ulharst pulls out from the water, about 30 cm tall , which Serafina takes - it's about 50kg heavy, which is heavy as FUCK. It may not be comfortable, as it was originally designed to be a prison, but this should still be more comfortable than Jingahar's current situation. Ulharst is reticent to share too much more information about the technique that will be used to put the soul in the egg, as it's an ancient, powerful magic. He offers us transport, and we decide to take him up on that. The party bids him farewell and agree to meet up at the tear. Svenna, not Svana, is absolutely aghast at the fact that that was a real life dragon.
 
We move out to gather our transport and Zeal casts speak with animals. The new horse's name is...Greg. Oh god, he's so awful he's getting D&D horse'd. Rubble, Windblaze, and Greg. Sidna and Vorach take the larger cart with Serafina in the back. Zeal drives the other cart. While he undergoes horse therapy using his ritual speak with animals. the rest of the party discusses curses, with Vorach explaining the difference between an active curse and one that's more passively picked up (through being born or secondary infection). During this, Serafina offers to get him in touch with a powerful wizard from her past, which he accepts - though he specifies he will only do so as a last resort, because this person seems to have beef with Serafina. While they discuss the fire test that's used on cursed (black) blood/bile, the party begins to hear weird sounds. As they come up on a large bend, Vorach and Serafina spot goblins swarming over a cart. That's all Zeal needs to hear, and he cocks his shillelagh before we all cool guy walk up to start combat.
 
Serafina viciously mocks one goblin, shortly before Vorach puts him and another goblin unconscious, while a kobold falls from the cart as well (presumably a victim)! Two are left standing, and Sidna charges forward, launching a javeling that barely grazes off of the gobin's thick head. He bolts while the other goblin moves to shake his one of his remaining buddies awake. Zeal advances and darts a bunch of bolts out of his chest, striking the one that's fleeing as well as the one that's shaking his buddies awake. Fortunately Serafina is quick, and uses her crossbow to take out the one that had been woken up. An arrow flies at Vorach, but shadows catch it and snap it in half. Another goblin charges from the bushes towards Zeal, who just holds out his shillelagh and lets him run into it. Another charges Sidna, but these goblins are kinda...pathetic. Zeal draws closer and recognises the kobold as a travelling merchant: Beans. Someone that Sidna (or at least Jess) knows about. Serafina steps up and "steals" a kill from Sidna with her rapier, but takes an arrow in the shoulder. Fortunately she sees the goblin that did it hiding up in the trees. Sidna rushes up and kills the goblin that had just slashed Vorach only moments after his blood congealed and stabbed it in the throat, causing its head to fly off and smack him in the nose. Ouch.
 
Inspired by this, Zeal goes for the hills and golf swing coup de grace's the goblin he was next to and sends ITS head flying into the bandit's head, who is HORRIFIED. As the rest of the goblins begin to flee at this, Serafina levels her gaze at the one who shot at her and pulls the arrow from her shoulder and send it back at the goblin. causing it to shatter in her crossbow but still launching the arrow head at the goblin. As they all flee, Zeal smashes the bandit's chest and causes a sickening crack with his shillelagh. He slashes back, which causes Vorach to retaliate, stabbing him in the back with his black blood and killing him. He scolds Zeal, saying that it was unnecessary and he could have been useful, but Zeal disagrees, instead saying that he was useful: his hands would provide a bounty.
 
While Vorach leans against the cart for support, Beans is woken up by Sidna and Zeal, who is excited to see customers! The party negotiates a deal with Beans, agreeing to escort him into town for some discounts at his store. He's also seen Vorach's mum recently, recognising her spear and saying he'd seen his mum no less than two months (moons) ago! Vorach excitedly invites him to sit in the wagon to chat, and Beans turns to get his secret chest (no looking!) while Sidna investigates the corpses and ends up taking a goblin hand, though Zeal carted off the bandit's body.
 
Apparently Zeal's met Beans before, but can't recall asking a favour, though Beans seems to remember differently. He reveals a delicate looking sphere, admonishing Zeal to be careful as it's "very breakable" before handing it over. It looks like crystallised fire.The rest of us seem to see this stone disappear into his eyes, like the energy siphoning off of it and into him. He heals Vorach's wounds with this new power, and that's session!