Session 24: Catching Up with Old Friends
DM added a new Dossier to Journal > Logs in Foundry!Sartorii took the lizards home to the tower, and Clarence followed to make sure Sweet doesn't eat the lizards.
Rutana and the Sprite remain with Dunlan.
The Sprite flits to the gatehouse a couple blocks southeast. He informs the guards that his friend was attacked by an orc with lizards!
The guards are not surprised about the attack, but they are surprised the orc was beaten. They follow him back to the flophouse, arriving 20 minutes later.
The Sergeant struts in and mocks Dunlan, "Looks like you finally overstepped! I new a Numerian savage like you wouldn't be able to stay out of trouble for long!" He gestures the other guards to slap manacles on Dunlan. Afterward, he recognizes the party as the heroes of Greenwall. Thus follows a bunch of racist banter, the party and the other guards standing around in awkward silence. Eventually they stuff Dunlan in cart. Dunlan gives the party one last glance before he's carted away.
It takes an hour for the party to make it back home.
The lizards follow Sartorii willingly, honoring Dunlan's order.
The party elects to wait and see what effect their actions had, rather than stirring the pot any more.
The next day, the party goes to check on Gilder.
There are a few stubborn blood stains in the alley. Gloriana appears incredibly stressed.
Gilder has a few scars, a very prominent one up his right cheek, but his hands are pristine. His bandages need to be changed every now and then, but nothing is infected. He can work with breaks, and should be fine by the end of the month. He's proud, feeling he won the encounter.
Gilder is flattered the party came to check on him. They're freaked out, but healing. They heard Dunlan got arrested and are anxious of further backlash.
The Sprite, from his perch in Sartorii's pocket, hands them some snacks he'd acquired through foraging.
"Trail mix, fuck yeah. Are those chocolate chips?"
Afterward, Rutana breaks off to go to Naialah's.
The rest of the party heads to the Apothecary's Guild to see how they're faring nowadays.
The building is unchanged, very busy. The garden out back is more green and verdant, as if they'd hired a druid to work full time. The willow sapling the party brought back is now two people tall.
Ginseng, the receptionist, is still behind the desk. She looks like she's about to fall asleep.
"That busy, huh?" Sartorii asks.
Ginseng pulls a stick of rock candy out of her mouth. "No matter how busy, there's always time to relax. What brings the heroes of Greenwall here?"
The party asks how they're doing, if the cuttings took root well.
It took root perfectly. Everyone has their medications back. Greenwall is sending more cuttings too, the new Sylpheum is working hard and the town's thriving.
"Hey if you head out that way, tell the paladin I said... Hey~"
"Hey~. Just like that?"
"Just like that."
The Sprite thanks her for the update with more trail mix.
"Sweet, are those chocolate chips?"
Meanwhile, Naialah's shop is busy-ish today. She has a few people sitting and waiting for haircuts, and one with a toothache. She's currently working on an older fellow's beard. Rutana can't see how he's dressed beneath his sheet, but his shoes are highly polished.
Naialah greets Rutana as she enters. Rutana sits in the waiting room.
"Shouldn't take long!" Naialah twirls her scissors and works pretty quickly. Once finished, the man hands her two gold for the beard trim.
"Thank you for trim, ma'am. I hope to see you at festival tomorrow, yes?" he says in a thick accent.
"Sure thing, m'lord," Naialah responds with a curtsey before the man clomps out.
The rest of the appointments go quickly, Naialah taking just 30 minutes to get through the rest of the haircuts and a tooth pulling.
When it's Rutana's turn, Naialah sits behind her desk and empties all her coin into a locked desk drawer.
"So how can I help you today, did you get bit by something else?"
"Well funny story."
"Oh come on!"
Naialah doesn't ask for payment up front, knowing Rutana is good for it, and takes a look at her leg to make sure there's no infection.
It seems fine, and should heal up in a couple days.
"Think of it as getting the bad luck out of the way early. I'm sure this isn't a pattern. We can put our pattern-recognition skills away. If in about a week the wounds are not healed, come back and I'll look into it. You'll probably be fine by tomorrow."
Rutana thanks her and pays one silver for the checkup.
"So. I heard there was a little scuffle toward the slums last night."
"Yeah I got bit by a lizard, see!"
"Yes I see. I just want to be sure you know what you're doing."
"Oh I never do but I do anyway."
"You know what fair. I'll be here to patch you up. Whatever you're doing, you're getting a medal for it soon, so it must be right. At least our benevolent ruler thinks so. How much do you know about Brevoy politics?"
The bare minimum to survive.
"Well let's just say, getting this medal will ingratiate you with some people, and enrage others. It's no secret that we are on the verge of civil war and I've grown fond of you. Read up on the last 20 years, it could do a lot to help. The vanishing hurt this country more than I think we'll ever know."
Rutana makes the awkward small talk you make with a friend before bolting, and leaves.
Sartorii wants to check up on the people who got isekai'd. The DM dies.
The party meets back up at the Church of Abadar, only needing to wait five minutes for Rutana to rejoin.
The town square is absolutely packed, busy as hell; stall being set up, banners being raised, the church with seven banners across the front of it bearing different shields and symbologies.
The party slinks into the church where it is less busy, but only just; it is also the bank, after all. They move from the business section to the cloister, which is more like a hotel with this point. 20 rooms have been separated into bedrooms and footlockers for the 40 refugees from The Cube. Prince Eitan is talking with notary Auron, assistant to Arabella. Eitan is speaking Common, seemingly, sharing information of where he came from and what his home was like; historically important information that Auron ferociously scribbles down.
An acolyte greets the party and asks how they can be helped.
Sartorii states they're here to check up on the people who were freed from the vessel, and the acolytes who helped them.
Xalvador retired. He used his wages to buy a small manor on the edge of town.
The acolyte shakes the hand of whoever is closest. Her name is Sibyl! She's a pretty short half-elf with smooth, brown skin and tight curls of black hair.
Sibyl shows the party through the church. Most of the refugees are taking classes in Common. Others are showing off what they can do so the acolytes can help them find a trade or occupation. Other acolytes are helping some to find their way home.
There are fewer refugees left now, about 15, who were trapped so long that their homes no longer even exist.
In the back of the chapel is a well-dressed man talking to Arabella, having a very frank conversation. He is speaking to her on equal terms.
The party checks up on prince Eitan. He is wearing a choker that translates his speech as he talks.
(It was here that the note-taker discovered Eitan's name had changed since session 19.)
"Friends. Heroes! Thank you. The prince of all the southern sands acknowledges you."
Sartorii asks if he's doing alright.
"Alright is..."
"Given the circumstances."
"Given the circumstances, yes. I am. I require no honorifics as I am told my home is several leagues under the sea."
Rutana offers condolences. The Sprite offers trail mix.
"Gods above, are those chocolate chips?!"
On a more serious note, "It just doesn't feel real. How does one quantify a people? For most of it to be gone? I can live a hundred years and not adjust to it."
The Sprite invites them to their tower.
"One of these days I shall grace your home with my presence. Did you know that in this time even my god is dead?"
"He died for hope. We hope that you can find a good life here."
He nods, then shrugs. "It is bizarre. I was never that religious in my old life. But!" He claps a hand on Auron's back, who accidentally scribbles across the book. "My new friend here has been chronicling my history!"
Eitan is excited to celebrate in the way of the new world in a couple days. For 10,000 years he has felt nothing, let alone excitement. He is excited to, as the acolytes here say, get his drink on.
Up next is the Cartwright Farm.
The Sprite splits off from the party to shake down a library in search of more spells. He uses the party's recent admission to the upper tier to find an arcanum: The New Stetven Mage's Guild. The arcanum is basically a prestigious university. Old, very pretty, well-kept grounds around it, very tall. It is run by an archmage, an incredibly old human and incredibly well-known in the area. Not reclusive, but he doesn't talk much.
Archmage Nemerly.
The Sprite saunters in the front door, looking around for a receptionist's desk.
The space is used very well, many people walking around with robes and staves and focuses. It's built like an open-air mall, with areas dedicated to shops, lounges, and eating areas, with an open area in the center lit by a skylight. The whole place is lit by a bluish-glow, brass orbs containing light spells, and the whole place smells of parchment.
When the Sprite steps in he sees a young man in grey robes with ink-stained fingers and big round spectacles. "Oh. Hi there. How can I help you?"
The Sprite states he's looking for spells or cantrips to fill out his repertoire.
"If you're looking for knowledge-aid spells, you'll want a divination aid book." He hands the Sprite a little card and directs him to Divination for Beginners. He has it for a week, it'll cost 15g to rent, and it has a scrying spell to find it if not returned in time.
The book contains Approximate, read aura, share lore, timely tutor, and a few others. The Sprite would need to find Quick Sort on his own.
He asks what book is popular in magi circles nowadays.
Most of the trendsetters are finished with what we have here, but I hear there's a new treatise on Azlanti culture coming out soon!
He thanks the receptionist, pays him with 15g and trail mix, and leaves.
Cartwright farm is doing much better. Weeded, crops are handled, family is doing okay, if a bit traumatized.
"We can't believe we got an ancient evil defeated for the cost of a fence."
It's a very good fence.
"I'm no hero, but if you need anything—Anything!—I owe you...not just a life debt, but I owe you everything that made my life worth living."
Clarence asks about barding for his drake, but he wants to pay for it.
"My son works better with leather than I would ever be able to. We can check with him if that's alright."
Walthur Cartwright is in the barn. It's a lot cleaner than when they were last in here. He's pretty handsome, 21, with a dark rattail, his mom's green eyes, and a purposeful 5 o'clock shadow. He's currently shoeing horses, but he hops up when the party arrives. The horse he's working on whinnies at him, so he plops back down to continue.
"What can I do for you?" he says with a stutter.
"I need barding for my riding drake."
"Your, your what."
"I have measurements if you need them."
Not just that we wants to see a cool drake, but he would prefer to see the drake. He'd never seen one before and would need to see how its body moves so he can properly make the barding.
He pulls out a long linen strip with buckles on it and instructs Clarence to put it on Kimber tonight, and bring Kimber over tomorrow evening. It would show the friction points so he knows where not to put uncomfortable things.
He finishes shoeing the horse and stands. "I didn't get to properly thank you for saving...everyone, really. I'm sorry I put you through that. I'm sorry I put everyone through that. I know it's just bad luck, but... It was just so close to ending."
"The important thing is it didn't end and everyone's okay. Well everyone's alive."
"Thank you. I'll have the saddle done as soon as I can."
"I'm sure it will be fun seeing Kimber tomorrow!"
"Is it okay if I bring my little brother to see? He could use a pick-me-up."
"Yeah!" Clarence plans to stay up late working on tricks with Kimber.
The encounter took two hours.
It is now noon.
The Sprite is tucked atop a shelf in the tower, studiously studying his new borrowed book.
He spends five hours reading and succeeds learning all his spells.
Other spells in the book:
Anticipate Peril, lvl 1
Augury, lvl 2
Translate (Already known)
Detect Magic (Already Known)
Detect Poison (Divine, rip)
Allusion to Impeccable Flow, but not actually here. The page is missing.
He succeeds in learning Anticipate Peril and Augury, too.
Game advances to dawn.
The party wakes to a letter outside with the official seal of New Stetven gracing a plain envelope, From the Office of Guard Captain Astrafel, and a pretty large burlap sack in a cube shape filled with wrapped paper parcels. Additionally, a stack of four shoe boxes and a sealed box with a wax seal on the front bearing the Gnomish Jewelry insignia.
The letter from Astrafel reads,
Good morning, I hope this letter finds you well.
It has gotten to me that you assisted in the arrest of one of Besh's lieutenants.
I am not going to chastise you, I just want you to be safe. If it's gotten to me, it's gotten to everybody important. The worst thing about my position is I am the last one to learn any important information.
I look forward to seeing you at the party tomorrow.
They also find there is some steel scrap missing from where the party has been repairing their gear. Someone set up a slapdash forge on their property.
Sartorii uses Dunlan's necklace to ask the pets if they've seen anything.
The second she activates the necklace she hears, "Oh this will be interesting, Victor! Oh yes I know, Vera. Another one can talk to us!"
Kimber is just itching her sides. I hate it, I hate this fucking thing, I hate it I hate it I hate it I want it gone.
Sartorii assures her it'll be gone. Kimber flops at her side.
Sweet walks over and clacks at Sartorii's head. "Curious. I didn't know you could talk."
"It's just a temporary thing!"
"Hm. That's probably for the best."
"Hm. You have opinions, don't you. You're more eloquent than I thought."
"Well that's rude."
"Our first meeting was not the best."
"You were in my space. I was hungry."
Vera: If seeking to bite someone, I recommend that one! Flicks her tongue at Rutana.
Victor: Yes, looks like human, tastes like fox!
Cortez flaps up and snitches that he saw the little doll digging in yard last night.
"Ser Dori?!"
"Yes?" he calls from outside the window.
"What were you doing last night, buddy?"
"I was trying to forge myself a sword! I just made slag. If only I had an actual forge."
He walks in and hands Sartorii a rolled up paper with a charcoal drawing. It's a very detailed schematic of a sword.
Before the talk to animals spell ends, Sartorii turns to the animals and asks if they have any requests.
Sweet immediately pipes up, "A bride! A male!"
Vera and Victory look up and say in unison, "Chicken."
They do a little wiggle at the thought of live chickens. Sartorii plans on getting a rooster and some chickens.
Cortez requests pears. Ripe ones. Somft.
Kimber just wants the thing off, but also seconds the chickens.
Fast forward to 5pm. The party takes Kimber to Cartwright Farm for his barding.
Heading to the farm, the party sees many people flocking to New Stetven for the festivities. On the way, Kimber is super excited to get the thing off.
Walthur takes the thing off and stretches it out. He takes a pizza cutter to it and removes the parts that got worn down. This is the pattern by which he decides where to put fabric and straps so as not to cause Kimber discomfort.
The younger brother, Asher, is utterly delighted by Kimber. He's a bit scared, but his curiosity at seeing a mini dragon in his barn is winning out. Gregor actually managed to get Mona out of the house to watch as well.
Clarence shows Asher where to pet Kimber.
Halfway through Walthur's work Asher finds that sweet spot and Kimber nearly flops right down on him.
After the measurements are over and Asher had a lot of time to play, Walthur states it will take him a few days to put the barding together. He won't be working on the holiday, but it can be done by Monday morning. He can't promise it will be perfect, but he can promise he'll do his best.
Gregor proclaims Clarence will be super pleased, his boy never disappoints with leather!
Walthur is in awe that his dad's actually complimenting him, having assumed he'd fucked up so bad with The Cube that no one would forgive him.
Next session, the Merry Mead festival and the award ceremony.