OttD Session 37: Intermission I, Love and War

General Summary

The session begins where we left off: with Tornac having just been fired from a cannon. The party's first order of business is to fly over and lower a rope ladder to retrieve him. This leads to quite a bit of brainstorming between Pestle and Vun Roade regarding ways to rig up some sort of enchantment to get themselves on and off of Barry the Airship. After this is done, they fly back towards the island near where Zerrof is working.
Nihilo is also in the area, observing Zerrof's work. The party fails to get Zerrof's attention and instead elects to talk to Nihilo about the void. Nihilo says he is Conduit of the void, so he and Aliquid are both well versed in communing with the creatures of the Far Realms. He assures Pestle that, with several hundred years of training, he too could learn to safely commune with the void.
They also attempt to prod him for more information regarding ways to leave Vigrid, but Nihilo refuses to answer for fear of Black and White.
At about this time Zerrof finishes construction on Nihilo's project. Nihilo expresses his gratitude then takes out a wooden box and struggles for some time to properly assemble the components.
While this is happening, Zerrof climbs up the ladder to investigate Barry the Airship. Both he and Tornac hang out near the mast so they don't have to think too much about how high up in the air they are. The group spends some time talking about Nihilo and investigating the inner workings of Barry the Airship. Most notably they determine the way Firing Barry the Airship's Cannons works. Nihilo also finishes construction of his device, which turns out to be a music box, and departs to the Church of Ascension.
As this is wrapping up Madani climbs aboard the ship and, after some small talk regarding Alloralla Heilar, goads the group into a sparring match. She wants a fight with Mazu and allows one other member of the party to join her. Zerrof volunteers first, but after Madani complains that sounds "boring" Vun Roade takes his place. They go to spar in the town fountain, with Sconce watching. Madani says that if the party can impress her sufficiently she will reveal a secret about Penguin. Tornac has dropped from the call and therefore remains on the ship.
The fight is very slow and nonconclusive, as properties of The Town cut damage by half and elemental resistances on both sides cuts much of the remaining damage in half again. Additionally both sides have regeneration. Mazu provides it to both herself and Vun Roade, and Madani receives it from her Conduit power. Madani demonstrates considerable combat prowess, including the ability to engulf herself in flames and cast Shapechange to turn herself into a pit fiend. She does not hold this form long, however, as Mazu casts a 9th level dispel magic on it.

ultimately the fight ends due to Mazu expending Madani's legendary resistances and then casting plane shift. Both women disappear. After a few minutes of the party and Sconce worrying both women reappear. Mazu apparently took the both of them back to her palace in New Neprius, and that was impressive enough to conclude the contest.

Madani then proceeds into casual small talk, complementing both Zerrof and Mazu on their prowess. She and Adoven Verdonnet also tease Zerrof for being a "protective boyfriend". When Zerrof explains that their relationship "isn't like that" he catches Mazu looking away. It quickly becomes clear that Mazu does indeed have romantic feelings toward Zerrof, but Madani changes the subject before things can get too awkward.
According to her Penguin is secretly a giant coward. The party attempts to defend Penguin as just being cautious, but Madani insists he is a "fucking coward" with a history of running away from fights. She also, with a mischievous grin, reveals that Penguin and Sconce have slept together. Sconce is clearly surprised, but quickly regains his composure. Madani eventually leaves with the intention of tracking Tornac down and punching him in the face for no apparent reason other than her own amusement.
The remainder of the session is spent talking to Sconce. He explains that Iapetus periodically summons gods to The Arena by drawing from a deck of cards. Whoever he draws is "judged", and if allowed to survive Iapetus draws another card and repeats until one is sentenced to mortality. They also discuss what it takes to actually kill Iapetus. Not only is he extremely powerful, but the magic of The Town prevents anyone from killing him. It is uncertain whether or not Iapetus had ever died before in the course of the Training Games, but Sconce promises to find out.
Sconce's newfound faith to The Raven Queen is also brought up, and at the request of Pestle he looks up Alloralla Heilar(person:8c327b94-de20-43a0-af41-4ee58d4e2019) in a very large book and determines that she has passed on to @[Arcadia.
Sconce also talks a bit about Mama Bear. Apparently Mama Bear is now a follower of Penguin, since they had all learned to place considerable face in each other during The Blood Crusades anyway. The party is stunned to hear this news, but Sconce insists it is true. He also hints that there is something else happening too, but refuses to elaborate.
The party also spends a lot of time debating what side they are on. Ultimately they decide they do not like any option proposed so far and want to try and find a way they can change the Preservation Proclamation into something more suited to dealing with The World of Forms. The session ends there.

Notes

Pre-Game music / The Music Box:

Report Date

20 Feb 2020