Ep 60: "Ropeburn"

Fliers had been posted everywhere in the city about the restrictions that had been lifted by the new Council. They had voted on multiple changes during their first day in session. They had also chosen Vasafra to be The Head of the Council.

The Library and University were now government funded, the weapons and religion bans had been lifted, the boat lift had been given full clearance to begin operation again, and the city was selling off the homes of the former King to help fund the government. The City Watch was also being fully funded and established. They would receive full armor and weapons from the Divine Foundry.

The group spent their mornings running errands or getting personal tasks done, as usual. Oisin spent some time in the Nature Temple, working in the gardens and learning more about the deities there. Kali began setting up a secret shrine to the prime deities in an abandoned building in the temple district.

Owen and Holly spoke about the administration of the hospital. He was concerned she would not have enough time to look after the hospital with her new duties as the head of the Dawn District. She assured him that with the complete funding of the hospital, she’d have more than enough resources to cover everything.

Mari hired some help for Sunflower Dreams. Nyx worked as Bridget in the Greasers Guild. Lark and Foster roamed the city posting fliers. They all went to the Beer Forge for their standing lunch meeting.

The Beer Forge was lively, and even the Cowboy and hooded figure were there enjoying their meals. The group decided to go down to the next segment of the "stale tunnel". It hadn’t been completely explored yet.

The Stale Tunnel was uneventful until the group reached a vast chasm. Kali, used the Rope of Climbing and some ki points to attempt to jump the 35' span. It took two tries, but she eventually secured the other end to a stalagmite on the other side so that the rest of the group could cross.

Nyx, began to cross the rope tight walk style, but slipped, and was thankfully caught by the additional rope they had attached as an anchor. Suddenly, two Ropers, creatures that looked similar to stalagmites but had tentacles they could use like whips, appeared on either side of the chasm. Kali was trapped on one end of the cavern, Nyx balanced precariously on the rope stretched across the chasm, and the rest were on the other side of the chasm. They were out of sight of Kali and most could not see much.

Most of the group was stuck without light and couldn’t see Kali in need of aide. Despite the heroic efforts of Lark to reach her, including a Misty Step cast mid-leap while riding Foster across the chasm, Kali was torn apart by the Roper. Lark dispatched that Roper, gathered a finger from what was left of Kali, and grabbed her belongings.

The rest of the party battled to escape the tentacles of the Roper while being hindered by a lack of light. Lark had been carrying the light before he leapt across the gap. Owen used an illusion of a dragon to startle the Roper and it started to flee. Unfortunately, it was dragging Owen and the others with it toward the chasm.

Oisin and Mari managed to get loose, but Owen was still grappled by the creature.  Lark rushed back to help the group as the Roper got to the edge of the cliff, about to drag Owen down 300 feet to his doom. Lark arrived just in time to sever the tentacle holding Owen and the Roper fell, tentacle-less, to its grisly demise.

The party mourned for Kali on the walk back. Owen sang a beautiful song in elvish to honor Kali as they walked back to the city. When they got back, Owen and Lark went to find Primeheart at his camp, but he was not there. They went to the Nature Temple to meet the others.

Nyx, along with Mari and Oisin, brought Kali's finger to the Nature Temple in search of Ezra. In their rush and haste to get Kali healed, Nyx caused Ezra to name a different price for the Reincarnation. Nyx would have to do 1000 hours of labor in the gardens there, to learn patience, in order for him to cast the Reincarnate spell. Nyx reluctantly agreed to do so and Ezra began the ritual.

Lark and Owen arrived in time for the ritual to begin. Beautiful and kind words from Lark, Mari, and Nyx brought Kali back to life as a beautiful bronze dragonborn. She promptly showed her thanks to Nyx with a tender kiss and ‘thank you’ hugs to all the others.

When Lark presented her with the sacred text from her Order, she was incredibly moved and thanked him profusely. Then she headed off to Primeheart’s to rest and talk to him about what had happened.