Boys Are Bac- in Town

Diplomatic action

Fozz, Chupta, and Crush's time in Bactran reveals much.  The connection of Scizzord to the Temperance Shards and Altomari is opened up and more arrows are pointed towards the Timberbank.  Chupta's mother is given extra magical attention from the party and is the best she has ever been in years.  A quick stop at Shook's Nook gathers the party more toys and leverage.

While the party wanted to go to the Timberbank for Crush, they determined a supply run to Bactran to allow for more unexpected journeys would be prudent. Arriving within the week, they found an airship landing port well under construction. An eclectic entrance into the mid city via giant eagle elevated Fozz into a social standing he was not comfortable with. The trio's meeting with Orwin Oreson was highly expedited due to some prearranged notices. At first, business was was business, requesting diamond dust, ship supplies, and the like. Afterward, a private meeting was called for to speak with Oreson's other identity.   A dance was had between the party seeking out information of a “Scizzord” that Altomari refused having known but despite his best lies and luck, Fozz picked up minor cues to the contrary. With lucky lines on the party's end referencing reptiles, turtles, and dragons along with the lubrication of Dul Kag Holy Water, it was revealed that Scizzord was the man that Altomari had been holding the previous Temperance Shards for. There was truth in that if Scizzord had not reached out or responded to Altomari within an agreed upon time he should be considered dead and the items would be Altomari's to do with as he pleased. However, Crush's interactions and insights into a spirit world Scizzord speaking of returning did not bode well for Altomari. While the business contract was handled correctly, he did not need an upset adventurer returning to him, not when he was supposed to be Orwin Oreson, a prospect for elevation to Maha in the near future.   The party inquired about other jobs the two had done together. Fozz read through the fluff, coldreading, and blatantly improvised truths that Altomari spun. Scizzord had been the one that was more of the Temperance Shard expert. Altomari simply suggested some places he thought had the potential for shards but mainly had historical relics that he wanted and would fund the trips for. The last trip Scizzord had been on was into the tundra to delve into a dragon's horde. Having leads that the ancient peoples of the Tundra would have received a shard to make the wild frost more accommodating, it was likely that such a piece out in the open would find its way into a dragon's horde. In this case, it would be Ersaiag, the Forgotten Breath. All cues continue to point toward the Timberbank and beyond. The party would have to return for Astrid before continuing their voyage.   While in Bactran, they visited Mama Gilgamesh in the Jatri'nin Hastanesi, the hospital that Chupta had put her up in. She was far more lively and sociable than in the past, able to have full conversations in the open rather than partial whispers into ears. The party played games and consulted with her, eventually heading back to her room where Crush attempted a major restorative spell on the elder. While life flowed into her, she responded quite knowingly to the effect. It seemed that this was one of the major treatments she gets every handful of weeks to aid her case. Chupta's summer and autumn of pulling jobs and reorganizing who the hospital thought she was has put her in the utmost of care. Unfortunately, that confirmation showed that Crush had not found the ultimate cure.   Fozz's discerning eye and deeper understanding of the situation led him to an unpleasant conclusion. After a lifetime of disease, Mrs. Gilgamesh was simply towards the end of her natural life. While old, she wasn't so venerable as to guarantee it but the decades of illness had broken down her body too much. All the magical treatment in the world would simply buffer her remaining time. Unless. Fozz pulled Crush to the side. If what she needed was more time, a younger body, the two had long spoken on such a possibility. The potion of Longevity could de-age the elder human. At minimum, it would grant her the years given by the potion. Beyond that, with the level of care for her illness that she was now receiving, de-aging and allowing those years to be spent here could possibly buy her far more than what was on the label. The trio discussed it in private. The next day would see her own opinon on the matter.   Despite the conversation on consent, the younger Gilgamesh's action the next day veered from that course. Chupta decided it would be best to give his mother the potion of longevity, though he attempted to do so abruptly and without explanation on a walk outside the walls of the Jatri'nin Hastanesi. Despite this, his mother cought on to the funny act of giving here a potion while looking out over the glory of the valley outside the view of doctors. She questioned him and tried to correct him on the snake oil sold to him. The Fountain of Youth was not real. Some folk stories are just that, stories. Despite the squabble, she eventually drank the potion and was proven very wrong. She was downright spry again. Chupta promised to return to take his mother to see Cheyrita after they finished their next quests.   Before Leaving Bactran, the partial Menagerie visited Shook's Nook and made a few trades. Playing into Shook's fears of the giant badger they had left with him stealing Astrid's flail, Crush sold him his basics to Aquan linguistic book. In exchange, the party acquired some gold, a transmutable cane-sword, and a collection of quickrivets. Fozz also got some for himself for experimentation.