Session 6
General Summary
During The Deep End's last day in Oshiv'Ran, Sidon spent the afternoon consuming a southern comfort feast for at least 10 people, prepared by Rill's husband. Moira requested Rani accompany her as a translator to speak with the High Priest, whom she informed about her experiences in the past and her concerns for this strange disease spreading from animals to humans in the future (Rani will remember that). Meanwhile, the Widow exchanged one mechanism for self-harm for - hopefully - a more sanitary and effective means (alchemist supplies).
Treth and Tress Wisecrest - two humble human merchants - guided the group out of the main settlement and up north towards Ezust'Hold. Travel was relatively uneventful, passing through vast agricultural fields, open grassland and grazing lands, and then entering into the seemingly very average Groen's Woods.
Despite being seemingly average, the woods was littered with odd pockets of barren land. Moira built some sandcastles while Rani practiced her burrowing. The pockets of barren land became more and more frequent as the party progressed through the woods.
And, as promised, Mama Ten found the party as they traveled through the - excuse me - her woods. The party accepted her invitation to spend the rest of the day and the night at her cabin. While there, she requested a lock of hair from the Widow, taking it quickly before actually receiving a response. The Widow requested access to her blood witch tome, to which she demanded he earn the right. Find the Thing... gain some knowledge, dumb, stupid, idiot boy.
Mama Ten gave the party a history lesson - claiming to have lived through the War... the Dread King's war to be specific. She spoke of a time when the Dread King marched and Ezust'Hold was the final defense. When the settlement fell, it was Mama Ten who defended her Woods and the shifter lands beyond. She has the scars to prove it.
Feeling restless, Rani challenged Sidon to a duel. Higher armor and consistent strikes gain the upper hand and Sidon won the duel, bloodying Rani.
After arriving in Ezust'Hold, the Widow bought some basic alchemy supplies while the rest of the party visited the memorial: a series of 15 rings of wooden totem poles with honored animals carved at the top and names carved around the rest of the pillar. At the center, a massive, towering tree that rivals those seen in the heart of Antiek'Vee Forest.
Entering the Cliffside Orchard & Ranch, there was a sense of urgency to the air. Within the main estate, one of the owner's - an elegant dark-haired elven woman named Circe - informed you that someone had ransacked their office, stolen gold and an important ring, and then destroyed the paddock. As a result, some of their prized horses appeared to be missing, including her husband's favorite: Tulpar.
A worker burst into the main estate at the moment with news of a fire raging across one of the Orchards. Rani's swarms proved to be incredibly adept at fire control - manipulating the fire into a controlled "tornado" of sorts, making it easier for those with water buckets to put out the fire. When the inferno had calmed, The Widow and Moira investigated some odd - but familiar footprints. The Widow immediately blamed Newt.
At the paddocks, the brother of the High Priest - Tafadzwa - was perturbed at the loss of some of his horses, believing they had been taken. His prized horse, Tulpar, was known to be mischievous, but this was too far, even for that horse. He seemed incredibly intrigued by the possibilities of combining the burrowing capabilities of sand seals with his top-of-the-line steeds. He also passed along the Elvish code words should the party find themselves in a spot of trouble and with Tulpar by their side: "Tulpar, align and unhinge."
After The Widow determined that it wasn't Newt that set the fire - despite the fact that Newt was RIGHT next to The Widow when the fire started - they followed tracks to a rundown cabin with a small group of mares in the busted paddock outside. A winged beast flew overhead, landed, and strolled into the cabin. Making her way to Tulpar and freeing him, Rani whispered the command words. Tulpar, with a glint of glee, stepped back, lined himself up with the cabin, unhinged his jaw, and a sonic beam erupted from deep within him, practically incinerated the cabin.
Two fiends - one looking a bit worse for wear - emerged from the remains of the wrecked cabin, cackling madly in Infernal. Although taller than Newt, they looked oddly familiar. They stood on goat-like legs with cloven hooves, large bat-like wings extending from their back. Their were arms slightly elongated and ended in claws, wrapped around weapons. One set of horns curled backwards, while the other stood straight up. Where their bodies were not covered by reddish-orange scales, tuffs of hair poked out. Although their faces were human-like, their eyes were solid red and they bled black ichor, not blood.
"Ooooooh... Sire will be enraged if we kill this one... but what doesn't kill you certainly makes you stronger."Although they managed to take Rani down, The Widow chose - in a surprising move - to not self-harm and to, instead, heal his fallen member. Shortly after, the remaining fiend was knocked unconscious and apprehended. A charred humanoid corpse was pulled from the wreckage of the house and the gold and ring acquired. Interrogating the fiend revealed little as it seemed to delight in Newt's - and the party's - frustration. After having "Newt's bitch" and the print of horse-shoe engraved into its skin by silver silverware, it claimed that Newt has brothers... if you trust the word of a fiend, that is. It was then promptly sent to its "death" by a very happy Tulpar. As payment and thanks for assisting her and her husband, Circe extended an invitation for dinner. She gifted the party with some of the gold they returned to her as well as a brand new model 1 Arcane Skiff. What better way to spite her father's pitiful attempts for her forgiveness than to give this brand new technological marvel to - no offense - a bunch of randoms? If the party is in need of a place to stay in Varoona, she suggested seeking out her sister, Calypso. Ermin Neverbald was excited to show off the Skiff to Moira, pointing out where she'll be able to pilot it. He, however, immediately became closed off when he was asked why he couldn't accompany the Deep End to Varoona and if there was a bounty on his head. Dinner on the ranch awaits.
Rewards Granted
- 500 gold initially stolen from Lady Circe Valdove and then pried off the charred corpse of a humanoid.
- A brand new Model 1 Arcane Skiff; a gift from Lady Circe Valdove.
Missions/Quests Completed
Although perhaps not at the forefront of the party's mind, you've managed to confirm that no harm seems to have befallen the High Priest's brother, Tafadzwa. Though, this doesn't mean that trouble hasn't found him. Regardless, the threat seems to have been removed.
Now all that remains is to escort Zephus - Lark'Hal royalty - to Varoona and once there... find the "Lady of the Night", the "Heel of Varoona" and discover what she was sent to do there...
Report Date
29 Apr 2021
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