Session 38: Wilderness Wandering in a Woebegone Wasteland Report

General Summary

Rested, trained, and ready to take on the Sudarnen Badlands, the party ponders what to do next. Many in the group seemed terribly confused regarding their location, their plans, in some cases their own names... Roy suggested a visit to The Master to take their leave formally. Prior to taking their leave, they did take a few hours to restock and resupply. They also went through the posessions of the assassin they killed over a month earlier (finally remembering that the equipment was shoveled into the purse). Opening the purse, they found some basic equipment, but just gave those things away. They also found 20 crossbow bolts of walloping, a Spell scroll with Magic Circle, Serpent Arrows, and Beacon of Despair, and slippers of spider climbing. Shopping, spring cleaning, and resupply complete, they made their way to the tower at the center of town.

When they finally requested their audience with The Master, they were quickly ushered into that being's presence. The Master asked if they were certain they must leave, and chose to do so. Some discussion ensued, but in the end Roisin Marshfield asserted the need to fulfill a purpose. The Master looked to each in turn, reminding them of their destiny if they continued this path, and asked if they wished to leave knowing the cost, that only the Rose would survive the end of the journey. Having received confirmation from each in turn, The Master explained it would not stop them. The Master asked Roy what boon he sought, and Roy asked for a scale. The Master explained that a scale could not be taken, and once given would never regrow or return, and that giving a scale also meant giving a year of life, one of very few that remain. The Master gave Roy the scale he sought, warning him that he must wear it against his skin at all times so long as he carried it. When Roy picked up the scale, a cord of dried tendon formed allowing Roy to wear it as a necklace (albeit one with a scale the size of a large dinner plate on the end he also saw the spot where the scale fell off, seeing no skin beneath, rather the exposed muscle the scale had protected. The Master gave a final admonition to avoid a Castle on their path, and the party stepped outside and made their way south. Upon stepping outside of town, they turned back to look and saw nothing whatsoever remained, only empty land. An arrow sailed out of nowhere, landing at Roisin Marshfield's feet. A note on the arrow said "Sorry I could not got with you, but my place is here now. Be well, be safe, goodbye, my Princess. Goro". On the back, scrawled quickly, was a final statement. "Also, I'm ok with being clean here" Roisin Marshfield realized then that their friend had found a true home. Cigfran advised them all to be very careful, to watch their step and follow closely, for this seemingly gentle land was fraught with danger, and what looks like gentle hills can suddenly reveal a hidden canyon that cannot be seen until one is right on top of it and already falling off the cliff edge. Roisin Marshfield also realized she had persuaded The Master to assist the party without combat, and this had enabled her scarf to grow even more powerful. Almost immediately, the party found themselves facing a fortress, a castle of some sort. They crested a slight rise in the middle of an empty plain, and were 20 feet from a massive stone wall. Facing this 30 foot tall, rounded, and tracing an undulating curve that followed a natural terrain level, they saw crenelations atop a battlement at the peak of the wall. They talked about going around, and heard a voice above. "Come now, it would be rude to pass by without at least coming in to share a meal." Looking up the party were shocked to see a massive dragon head peeking over the wall. The party tried to demure, but their "host" insisted they accept its hospitality, so they walked around to the entrance and walked in. Inside this walled structure they found themselves in a palatial tent decorated with an arabian flair, and the massive ancient dragon, scales of aged copper, reclined against cushions and smoking from a water pipe. As they filtered in and took seats, the dragon asked if they might tell some riddles, and, when asked, explained its name as "The Copper Bolt". The party tried a well-tread riddle about the letter 'e', which the dragon easily solved. The dragon then asked a riddle. "I am found in the sea and consume both play and story. With your flesh I share but a color; and if you've followed me this far, I have misled you. What am I?" The party puzzled for quite some time, and eventually conceded the riddle. The dragon explained "It is a red herring!". From there, the servants, a host of marvelous magical constructs, brought in and served a meal. The dragon explained they had learned the spell from an associate, long before. When Roy asked who it was who taught the spell, the dragon explained it was an innovative young wizard named Wilderin. Roy stated he had something belonging to "him". The dragon gently corrected that Wilderin was an amazing halfing woman. The dragon had not seen Wilderin in centuries, and wondered if that wizard had met with some misfortune, but also mentioned a spell called "Wilderin's Wonder Weave" that created a flash of color and light that mezmerized viewers; perhaps a renamed spell. The dragon also mentioned one of their favorite spells of Wilderin was Wilderin's Wonderous Watcher Ward, a nice way to create a space for rest. They also mentioned a final spell under development last time they spoke, something to be called perhaps "Wilderin's Work of Wonder" which would rip open the fabric of reality, conjure a windstorm, whirling everything within some large radius into the rip and throwing them to other planes, leaving behind only an artistic creation such as a statue, sand painting, or similar. They also mentioned a draconic spell, known by the "Azure Terror", a blue dragon nearby, called "Breath of the Celestial Dragon"; but humans called it "Meteor Swarm". Boris asked a riddle about candles, and the dragon perceived that Boris is a priest and servant of Justice. The dragon mentioned one of their best friends is a servant of justice, noting that she likes cold places and has a habit of traveling polymorphed into a human and among humans, often befriending grandchildren of a friend long deceased to compensate for the short lives of her friends. The dragon mentioned they should look up a priestess of Justice in the city of Kreilæbeig, and tell her they spoke with the "Copper Bolt" who suggested she take a short vacation and come for a visit. A desert was brought, something completely new to the party, a cold dish soft and smooth, and very sweet, a bit like chocolate. The dragon smiled and chuckled, then laughed loudly as the party consumed their treat, while pointing at them all. Jeeves was the first to notice the reason; everyone's lips and tongues had turned bright pink. Cigfran was less than impressed, but Jeeves was and expressed admiration. The Dragon was quite happy their prank was well received. The dragon, as the meal ended, welcomed them to continue their journey. Roy asked if he could have a scale to study. The dragon, immediately saw through the poor attempt at deception, and sensed the scale of the serpent. The dragon agreed, however, to part with a scale if the party would deal with a local irritation technically in the blue dragon's territory. Roy kind of shamed the party into going along with it. Roy also offered to teach a spell, if possible and of interest. After some mild discussion, Roy demonstrated a spell called "Gravity Sinkhole" and agreed to let the dragon copy the content. With a gesture the dragon summoned a stand and their own book, and with another magical gesture summoned a magnification as they began copying the spell; spending a couple of hours. The dragon also called out the "chef" which turned out to be an even more powerful conjured servant. Finally turning to their mission, the dragon transformed into an image of their quarry, and described how best to face it. Sending them out a side door, they were shortly before a ruined tower that served as a lair for the horror. Choosing to enter immediately, rather than wait, despite the late hour; the party stepped in and saw a dark chamber. Within the space they saw a flickering shape, and a dark voice said "aahhh, the dragon has sent me more playthings".