Session 035: Hot™ Springs Resort
General Summary
We begin with North Wind waking up on the shore of the newly freed oases that protect the Tinderwield. The crew treats themselves to a swim, courtesy of the Summer Goddess. They then discuss the next phase of their journey across the Desert of the Shifting Sands. Talasea realizes that the marks the group noted on Young Cab's map back in Ounacho may not have been indicating oasises. He immediately informs the group that they were instead traps and a conspiracy, because that was apparently the most logical conclusion. So the group decides to forgo their original path and instead head straight towards Abgan, the final Summerian settlement before the Springish border.
A seven day journey turns into eight as the North Wind trudges through sand and sun and heat.
On their way, they sing sea shanties and blues songs (and discuss the Springish hit "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffet). Zenith experiments with his bevy of new magical abilities. Talasea sets off light shows to distract from their presence and manages to disturb a flock of giant birds that he identifies as the legendary and totally real king peacock. Aphid tells the group about singing sand dunes. They encounter desperate travellers and drive them from their camp site with the haunting illusion of the ghost lemon king.
One day towards the end of the journey, Zenith takes an opportunity to try out the gloves he obtained from SAFE-T in order to steadily navigate their course. That night at camp, Jack realizes his wedding ring is gone. Talasea notices it tucked into the wristband of Zenith's glove. Confrontation leads to Zenith admitting that he's fully bewildered and didn't take it. Talasea believes him. Jack, not so much. It doesn't help that when Zenith goes to give it back he finds it difficult to release it, instead slipping it onto his finger. Zenith manages to return the ring, but a thought lingers in the back of his mind: mine.
But at long last, the group arrives safely on the other side of the desert and finds themselves in Abgan. They get a brief look at the town, with its highly varied population and the merchants set up to trade on every corner. They head straight towards an inn, settling on Hot Springs Resort, home of the first shower. The enthusiastic innkeeper, a goliath named Liha Phomsouva, sells them on a resort experience and leads them to a luxury suite that is as bamboo themed as the rest of the place.
Everyone decides to go try out the Hot Springs™ showers and for the first time in about two weeks get a chance to truly bathe. While there, a bored Talasea overhears a snippet of conversation: "...really worried..." "...it's not like it's the first time it's happened..."
Tal immediately steps out of his shower, calling out to offer his help. The voices turn out to be two employees who are operating the showers. They are reluctant to speak up, but are eventually convinced to speak about it further. The two people, half-elf cousins who introduce themselves as Barnaby and Misha, promise to come to their suite that evening to discuss it in private and ask that the group not let Liha know about the situation.
Later that night, Barnaby and Misha explain that Barnaby's parent, Freyre is prone to disappearing for short periods of time, and typically shows up drunk with some form of wealth, refusing to say anything about what occurred. This time, they've been gone for an unusually long time. And yesterday they received a note while at work:
"look beneath the roses, they're in danger"
Upon questioning, the two say that there are several gardens in town, and a winery called the Rose Respite that is not open yet. Barnaby hesitantly explains that Freyre is often up to criminal activities and asks that the group not turn them into the authorities. Barnaby and Misha then suggest that the group start by speaking to Barnaby's mother in-law, Amelia, to whom Freyre is more willing to talk about their activities. They live in a bright blue house over at The Stairsteps, and are there during the day taking care of their daughter Lydia.
Once the two depart, the North Wind prepares for bed, looking forward to the morning's mani pedis and a new mystery to investigate.
A seven day journey turns into eight as the North Wind trudges through sand and sun and heat.
On their way, they sing sea shanties and blues songs (and discuss the Springish hit "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffet). Zenith experiments with his bevy of new magical abilities. Talasea sets off light shows to distract from their presence and manages to disturb a flock of giant birds that he identifies as the legendary and totally real king peacock. Aphid tells the group about singing sand dunes. They encounter desperate travellers and drive them from their camp site with the haunting illusion of the ghost lemon king.
One day towards the end of the journey, Zenith takes an opportunity to try out the gloves he obtained from SAFE-T in order to steadily navigate their course. That night at camp, Jack realizes his wedding ring is gone. Talasea notices it tucked into the wristband of Zenith's glove. Confrontation leads to Zenith admitting that he's fully bewildered and didn't take it. Talasea believes him. Jack, not so much. It doesn't help that when Zenith goes to give it back he finds it difficult to release it, instead slipping it onto his finger. Zenith manages to return the ring, but a thought lingers in the back of his mind: mine.
But at long last, the group arrives safely on the other side of the desert and finds themselves in Abgan. They get a brief look at the town, with its highly varied population and the merchants set up to trade on every corner. They head straight towards an inn, settling on Hot Springs Resort, home of the first shower. The enthusiastic innkeeper, a goliath named Liha Phomsouva, sells them on a resort experience and leads them to a luxury suite that is as bamboo themed as the rest of the place.
Everyone decides to go try out the Hot Springs™ showers and for the first time in about two weeks get a chance to truly bathe. While there, a bored Talasea overhears a snippet of conversation: "...really worried..." "...it's not like it's the first time it's happened..."
Tal immediately steps out of his shower, calling out to offer his help. The voices turn out to be two employees who are operating the showers. They are reluctant to speak up, but are eventually convinced to speak about it further. The two people, half-elf cousins who introduce themselves as Barnaby and Misha, promise to come to their suite that evening to discuss it in private and ask that the group not let Liha know about the situation.
Later that night, Barnaby and Misha explain that Barnaby's parent, Freyre is prone to disappearing for short periods of time, and typically shows up drunk with some form of wealth, refusing to say anything about what occurred. This time, they've been gone for an unusually long time. And yesterday they received a note while at work:
"look beneath the roses, they're in danger"
Upon questioning, the two say that there are several gardens in town, and a winery called the Rose Respite that is not open yet. Barnaby hesitantly explains that Freyre is often up to criminal activities and asks that the group not turn them into the authorities. Barnaby and Misha then suggest that the group start by speaking to Barnaby's mother in-law, Amelia, to whom Freyre is more willing to talk about their activities. They live in a bright blue house over at The Stairsteps, and are there during the day taking care of their daughter Lydia.
Once the two depart, the North Wind prepares for bed, looking forward to the morning's mani pedis and a new mystery to investigate.
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