9/25/2021

Character question: What is your worst habit? When inspiration strikes, I am compelled to at least sketch it into my workbook, if not fully capture the vision, no matter the location or time expenditure.
Start with INSP, +d6, +d6
 
Begin day 5 on the airship. I take third watch. We remain unmolested for the remainder of the trip it seems. On third watch, Melfina asks me nonchalantly if I have ever heard of Asmodeus. REL check pass, he is the greatest archdevil, lord of the 9th level of Hell and overlord of Hell in general. Daughter of Asmodeus, Glasya, former mistress of erinyes (which are angels that made a pact with Asmodeus to depart Hell, as opposed to harpies which are angels that still serve in Hell and lead armies there.) is another name that calls to mind. INSI from me vs DEC from Melfina, and I lose the rolloff. I am suspicious of her and trying to get more out of her, but it seems she's just asking in something approximating her version of casual inquiry. I burned INSP to try to suss it out, to no avail.
 
Day 6 passes without event. This is now the furthest away from the city that I have ever been. I dream, and am flying through the clouds, no ship, just me. I feel the disconnect, an emptiness, a coldness. Then, one of my spirit guardians appears to guide me on. I see the city before me, my shop, my loved ones. All is well. But a shifting shadow draws my attention, and I try to pursue. It upsets the calm of daily life. I smell parchment and blood, reaching for the shadow figure's shoulder. Just before I make contact, I awake.
 
Day 7, we are slated to arrive in Lake Town soon. Druss is slow to rise; old son must have slept poorly. The airship lands in open water and guides it into the dock, trying to hide the technology of an airship from the populace. ATH check to maintain composure during the landing, pass. It takes into the later afternoon to reach the dock, as we had to land out of visual range and sail in. We see a massive wooden dragon effigy being built right at the docks. We see evidence that a festival is in the offing, but Harvest is over and Winter Solstice is too far off. Lake Town equates to real-world New Orleans in that it is a party Mecca that is often hit by disaster but keeps bouncing back. There are lots of races, but it is still primarily human. There is a small courthouse that is their temple to Lady Constance. We have arrived during the Festival of the Midnight Dragon, where they burn the dragon effigy for calm winter seas, in celebration of their history of being raided by Goliaths (a la the Vikings). We don't need to get rooms, as we're going to stay on the ship. They're leaving at dawn though, so we do have to get a room. The inn is like an old-style plantation home. Once we enter, there is a busy dining area to the right, as well as a bar and check-in area. We are greeted by a race I have never seen, one dummy thicc bunny girl, named Rizzo Ratlan (4'6" or so), who clambers onto a stool so we can see her above the counter. We ask for a room, and she notes Druss's fatigue. Rizzo calls out to "honey" for some harvest soup and sourdough bread bowls. She has a double room for us, and a cot to set all 5 of us up in the room. Rizzo's husband, Gozzy, eventually comes out to help, and he is taller, with ears always on alert. They have kids out and about between 5 and 20 years of age. The captain of the guard is a large Goliath woman. There is no bad blood with Goliaths due to the history of raiding, as even when they were actively doing it, it was a cornerstone of balance in the local economy. I wish to check in with my temple, so I head to the courthouse. I am greeted by High Priest Impartial, also the city's judge (older human male, mellow disposition). I ask for the lay of the land, and he recalls Diligence, who trained under him in the past. He advises that folks get rowdy in the evening. Then he brings up Raven's Wood and Lark's Peak, where there have been a number of disappearances. There is talk of rot, yet oversized plants. The forest seems to be shifting. They don't deforest much, but do need timber, and families hunt to make ends meet. Large search parties end up intact but perturbed, while smaller ones (=<3) disappear completely. He demonstrates the blight on a stick sample he has, where blackened bark peels back to have sickly looking sap. The wood fiber under seems fresh and healthy, but the surface crumbles as moss rubbed between one's fingers would. Folks started going missing about 3 months ago, and the blight has about 1.5 months since the beginning. Lastly, I ask about fauna we may encounter. He lists owlbears, regular bears, and bearowls, which are small bears with wings that will fuck you up. However, they should not be around this time of year. Marda and Melfina head to the Sanctum's little outpost in this town. Everyone returns to the inn, and the party is in full swing. Humans are running the bar while Rizzo is out working the crowd. I go out with Marda and Rorin, and begin to tie one on. About 4 drinks in, I'm buzzed and having a good time. In my euphoria, it seems the lights flicker and change colors, snuff out, and relight. The crowd really enjoys it, and I feel some of that emptiness I felt before recede. The party goes on into the night, and as midnight nears, Druss wants to know why the effigy is a dragon, specifically. In the old world, dragons were a menace (a la Spider-man). A visiting dragon (copper) didn't like the tone of their merriment and burned the town down, then Goliaths raided but, seeing the state of the town, helped rebuild it and fucked off. They came back next year and raided for realsies, but whatever. Druss is roped into providing the flame, and takes one of the four corners to light when the drumming stops. In the revelry, Rorin notices something the could have been part of a Red Dragon tattoo. As well, two of the street vendors and the Mayor (Sharon) have the Arch tattoos. We all eventually make it back to the room.
 
End with +d6, +d6