Session 46
General Summary
- The party starts by going to the location in The Pearl District that Sol gave them earlier.
- Guards in front of the palace notice the party and tried to arrest them, but they manage to escape, in large part due to some quick thinking by Kesmet.
- At the estate in the Pearl District, the party encounters Sol, who is alone.
- Sol wants to turn himself in to Annu, believing that he is likely to do more harm than good with Baxton being in his head. He believes that Annu would be able to thoroughly remove the infection, but that it would probably kill him in the process.
- The party convinces Sol to let them at least try to get a different resolution to the Baxton problem, so Sol is going to go on a fishing boat for a few days.
- Before leaving, Sol lets the party know that this (unfurnished) estate is their reward for rescuing Aldrick earlier. There's no official owner, and guard activity is light in the area.
- The party takes a long rest in the house. During Dazki's shift for the watch, Barry reveals that, when he killed that gnoll during the combat earlier in the day, he remembered that he's killed someone before, in his life before being a fish person.
Full Recap
The session opens with the party in
The Spire of Beasts.
Spexit
The party decides to go to the location that
Sol told them about earlier, in
The Pearl District.
Dwardazik looks around for a place to take a short rest, but nowhere seems like it would be safe in the dark... or at least...
Grogery: we could try climbing up to goblin territory?
Dwardazik: I don't want to go up.
Grogery: Or we could try the dragon...
Dwardazik started marching forward towards the Pearl District, but raised a point:
Dwardazik: You think it's really the best idea to go there? I mean, I get it's a good idea, but how? We will have no cover...
Dazki: I understand, but we need all the info we can get. We should at least consider taking the risk.
Dwardazik: I'm just sayin, if guards come after me, I'm not going to put up with it.
Dazki: If you want to head back and then have some of us go...
Dwardazik: I'm not leavin' my lads!
They put it to a vote. Dwardazik, Kesmet, Grogery, and Dazki all vote to walk to the Pearl District. Which just leaves...
Barry: HUH? Oh... yeah. Houses.
Dazki: You all right? What's goin on, Barry?
Barry: No, we're... good...
Dazki: All right, well, remember, we're all in this together. If you feel you need to talk if something's bothering you, we're here for you. We're your friends. Don't let anything stop you from getting something off your chest if you need to.
Barry: Right, but... this is dangerous here, so... maybe we can do that later.
Dazki: Later it is.
Lookouts Be Lookin' Out
Despite all efforts to try to sneak over to the location, the party is spotted by some guards outside of
The Palace of Pride. The guards call at them to stop; Dwardazik tells the party to keep walking, while Kesmet creates an illusion of one of them stopping. It doesn't work; these are palace guards.
Kesmet
disguises himself as a guy with the exact same shape but with different colors, while Dazki casually just greets the leader. The leader is taken somewhat aback by this; perhaps he isn't expecting the people that he arrests to engage him in polite conversation.
Guard Leader: Um, well, we're gonna need you to come with us for sure, 'cause I'm pretty sure that you are wanted criminals!
Dwardazik turns around slowly, raises his hand, waves it in front of him, and says: "This is not the dwarf you are looking for."
Guard Leader: Oh, that definitely looks like the dwarf we're lookin' for. So are you going to come quietly?
Two guards put their hand on their longswords: We can do this the clean way or the messy way.
Kesmet: You're not guards, you're bandits!
Dazki, approaching the nearest guard: Listen, good sir, I think there's been some kind of a misunderstanding. We're clearly not the people you're looking for. As he says this, he attempts to bribe the guard with something like 20 gold pieces.
The guard is extremely displeased with the bribe attempt -- all it did was prove their guilt. Dwardazik, noticing that everything was falling apart, decided to just kick things off. With a dropkick. To the guard. The guard seemed somewhat surprised by this new development.
Key Combat Moments
- Dazki's opening move was to run onto a rooftop and go stealth, where he stayed for the remainder.
- Kesmet turned to Grogery and Barry, said "Guys, get away from here!", and made them invisible, leaving just him and Dwardazik. He then walked up to the guards, who had almost surrounded Dwardazik, and said "all right, the two of us give up, just let our friends go."
- When the guards moved to arrest Kesmet and Dwardazik, Kesmet grabs Dwardazik and Dimension Doors them both away.
The guards fail to perceive where anyone went, so the party all make it out just fine, regrouping back at the estate.
Manor? I Hardly Knew 'Er!
The party arrives at the courtyard, looking onto the house. It's a two-story house, very nice looking. Unlike most smaller residential and commercial units, which tend to be connected together, this has its own walls, courtyard, and everything. It's also almost right up against the walls of Ashport itself, so there aren't any neighbors behind it.
The front door is closed. A light is on in the building. Dazki spots somebody inside, either short or sitting down... nobody else. They walk around the back to a second courtyard (second courtyard!) and spot a balcony above, with a door. The back door is unlocked, so Dazki enters in first with the rest following close behind.
Inside, the house is unfurnished. Lots of crates with cloth and other materials. Dazki heads further into the house and sees
Sol sitting in a chair next to a crate that he's turned into a makeshift desk. He seems to be hard at work, as always. When Dazki announces his presence, Sol puts down his book and rises eagerly, looking professional as always, but it's clear that he is overwhelmed by anxiety.
Sol: You've arrived! Was it a great trouble? The... arriving?
Dazki: It was easy enough, thanks to some cleverness from Kesmet.
Sol: Good, good! You're... you're all here, then?
Dazki: Some of us, yeah... is he still distracted?
Sol: Um, I think so... I think I'm good for now. It checks out: Sol is "alone", but his concentration is still very split. Dwardazik presses himself against a wall with his pickaxe and shield at the ready. If something happens, he's barging in.
Dazki: Good! What was so pressing that you had to get in contact with us, then?
Sol: I'm not very fond of this political espionage, especially not on this level. it's very unprofessional. um, ... He wrings his hands nervously.
Dazki, approaching a little more: it's OK, I understand, not what I like to be doing either, but such is the way up north. I'm used to it, unfortunately.
Sol: I don't want to hurt others, but I'm worried I will be used to hurt others.
Kesmet, meanwhile, is experimenting with the tar he picked up earlier. It's flammable -- he plans to put together some makeshift firebombs from the puppets, tar, and cotton from the rug store, at a later time.
Dazki: I think there's absolutely a chance of that.
Sol: I've had a while to think. Some silence. And I think I should remove myself off of the board.
Dazki: Possibly temporarily. Do you have family or something out of the city you can visit for maybe a month or two?
Sol: That just puts them more at risk. Dazki moves closer. So I've been thinking, and... life for Sol is hard right now. My concentration is constantly bouncing between tasks, and... the only way would be to remove the infection from within me.
Dazki: That's quite the statement...
Sol: I think I've decided to turn myself in.
Dazki: What do you mean turn yourself in?
Kesmet: Into what?
Sol: Sir Annu Adabra would be able to remove the infection, but he's terribly thorough.
Dazki: There might not be much of you left afterwards.
Sol: But I think it's what I must do.
Dazki: I think that idea isn't out of the question, but perhaps it would be best if you left the city, see if you could come to some kind of understanding with yourself. We were told by Isaiah that, with some time and with some focus and effort, your blood might help you fight this infection off on your own.
Sol: If I leave, there will be troubles for sure.
Dazki: But if you stay, it will be double. Well, If I were in your position, I'd leave for a while and see if I could fight this off on my own. And if not, then it would be worth going to Annu for.
Sol: I've thought long about this, and I can't just... leave. There would be so much work undone, so many questions unanswered.
Dazki: Yes, it would certainly be --
Sol: And who knows what sort of trouble I would get into out there, if it even be allowed!
Dazki: Well, you were able to come here, weren't you?
Sol: I suppose...
Dazki: Why not try going to Hythe, vacationing there for a week or two? People would understand, you've been working yourself to the bone no doubt. The rest of the House of Stone can take care of themselves for a little while, while you get yourself back together.
Sol: Truth be told, I don't think they can.
Dazki: That dwarven gentleman, he seemed very competent at his tasks.
Sol: But what of Al without me? He'd be eaten alive out there, but me trying to protect him from all of this is just... I can't do all of this espionage anymore.
Dazki: That's why I'm saying, go take a break. Al will be OK.
Sol: I can't.
Dazki: Why not?
Sol: Eventually, we will no longer be alone. What do you think would happen if I abandoned my post? Not from the house of stone perspective, but from others. I'm dead either way. I might as well take the infection with me.
During that conversation up front with Sol, Kesmet and Barry also have their own:
Kesmet: So, you turned invisible and got here. How was it? What route did you take?
Barry: Unfamiliar...
Kesmet: You still got away, though, right? That's the important part... anyway, do you remember I gave you, like, a puppet, when your mind was still broken and you didn't know which way was up?
Barry: Yeah! Sure...
Kesmet: Was that helpful at all?
Barry: No.
Kesmet: Do you still have it?
Barry: Hold on, let me check. He rifles through his satchel and produces an incredibly tangled puppet, tangled with some grass, lint, and other... stuff... that ends up at the bottom of satchels.
Kesmet: Keep that puppet safe and always think of me. Remember, even if you're invisible and fucked off through the rest of the city, you've got me with you. Just hold onto that.
Barry: Wait, does the puppet spy on me?
Kesmet: No. No it doesn't.
Barry: Well then, how does it know?
Kesmet: It's a metaphor, Barry. It's just a puppet, like a good luck charm.
Barry: OK. He shoves it back into his satchel, weeds and all.
Kesmet: Actually, let me see that puppet.
Barry gives it to him with a sigh. Kesmet burns off all the strings and weeds and... satchel junk. It's no longer a marionette. It's now just a wooden puppet, no strings or anything.
Barry: I don't know if it's better or worse.
Kesmet: Oh come on, it's a gift from your trusted party member Kesmet. You do trust me, right Barry? The question takes Barry by surprise. You seem surprised, what's going on?
Barry: Thank you for the doll back, I guess. He seems confused and aloof. In his eyes, Kesmet just took the puppet from him and gave it back as if it were a new gift.
Kesmet: How are you doing on healing potions, by the way? You good, all set?
Barry: I'm fine, I don't need any.
Kesmet: Maybe not now, but do you have any stocked up?
Barry: I... no...
Kesmet: Good talk, Barry. Good talk. Hey Dwardazik, where are you going?
Dwardazik had been watching Dazki's conversation with Sol intently. Since Dazki wasn't making much progress trying to convince Sol not to kill himself, he decided to reveal himself and give it a try.
Dwardazik: There's got to be a way to make sure you can leave this whole situation cleanly.
Sol: There is one way, and that is to turn myself in. To Annu.
Kesmet, whispering to Dazki: Will this guy turning himself into Annu be good for us? Like, for distracting whoever and getting closer to Dennis?
Dwardazik: He's going to prosecute you.
Sol: He is practically honor-bound to eliminate Turmoil. I'm not immune to fire, but it will work.
Dwardazik: If you're so destined to kill yourself, I can take my pick right now and we can sort it. What are ya trying to prove? Silence. Nothin to say to that, huh? Well then you should fight this! Don't give in! We're wrapped in this nonsense and espionage and garbage from these backstabbing politicians and all the houses here. You can't trust any of em. You can't trust Annu. You can only trust yerself. Why don't we trust each other?
Sol: I don't think I can trust myself any longer. It's the only professional thing to do.
Dwardazik: Perhaps there's a way to deal with this corruption without going to Annu. Surely there's someone else.
Sol: Turmoil can only be eliminated by the purest of elemental.
Dwardazik: Annu might be pure, but he's pure evil is what he is.
Sol: He's done more than an adequate job of ridding the Turmoil he's gotten his hands on. I trust he will end his infection if I go to him. I don't trust he will do so in a very ethical manner, but he will do it.
Dwardazik walks up to him, puts his hand up, and leans down to talk to him... and slaps him lightly: Stop trying to kill yourself, you dummy!
Grogery: Killing yourself is definitely not professional.
Dazki: Here's the thing. We are working to try to stop this, right, you trust us on that?
Sol: Um, um... I don't know.
Dazki: OK, that's entirely fair, but I'm going to tell you that if you stay away from Annu, we have a chance at working against the friend in your head. There's a chance that, if we're successful, then you will be alone again inside your mind. But you need to give us time to be able to do that.
Sol: I don't know how much time we have, it's moving so quick.
Dazki: I know, and we don't either, but if you go to Annu right now, things will get worse.
Sol: If I go back to the house of stone, things will get worse.
Dazki: That's why I suggested you get a vacation.
Grogery: If you need an excuse for head-friend, you can just say it's getting too hot.
Sol: There's a vicious cleverness with him that you don't see on the surface when you interact with him. I doubt he can be tricked.
Dazki: Maybe not, but we have to try.
Grogery: Either way, he'd rather you go out of town than to Annu.
Sol: All the more reason to go to Annu.
Grogery: If you go to Annu right now, we are going to be screwed.
Dakzi: If you go to Annu, then he's going to try something else to get to Al.
Sol: Then what's the plan? I wither away into some monstrosity?
At this point, Kesmet takes the others aside to discuss strategy, since both Dazki and Dwardazik haven't managed to break Sol's resolve yet. Throughout this part, Grogery keeps Sol talking: Sol would rather sacrifice himself to save others than become evil and put everything he loved and worked for in danger. He can be the bigger man, he thinks. He likens it to blackmail: if he doesn't do things Baxton's way, then he will be
made to do hurtful things.
(aside)
Kesmet: He's super worried about what's going on in his head. Obviously, he lost his spirit quest. What if we hide him somewhere, maybe take him to the dragon or something?
Dazki: That's a bad idea.
Kesmet: OK... we can tell him that Annu has been replaced by a doppelganger, and the real Annu is working with us!
Dazki: That... won't work.
Kesmet: What do you suggest then? Your ideas aren't working.
Dazki: The best move is to get him out of the city.
Kesmet: What about The House of Cards? Can we dump him on them?
Dazki: I don't want to owe them even more...
Kesmet: Maybe we can dump him on Oskar!
Dazki: Oskar is missing...
Kesmet: I'm sure he's fine...
Dazki: Well, my method doesn't seem to work. Go for it, Kesmet.
Back to talking directly with Sol:
Kesmet: So, uh, don't go to Annu just yet. If you don't want to hurt anybody, then maybe you can stay with some friends of ours, and they can look after you and make sure you don't hurt yourself or anybody else. Just tough it out for a while, OK? Maybe even something that doesn't completely kill you? How does that sound, just live for a little while longer!
Sol: Even if you could imprison away my body, he could still get into my mind. He could still know everything I know and everything I think, at a whim! Kesmet is going to believe that The Gentlemen's Club are so incompetent that Baxton will just leave. Do I know anything dangerous?
Dazki, to Kesmet: Yes.
Kesmet: Yes, apparently you do. Don't tell Dennis anything you know.
Sol: Then it doesn't matter where I am.
Kesmet: Then you can stay with the people we suggested. It can't hurt, right?
Sol: You're wiling to put them in danger for a person you hardly know?
Kesmet: They won't be in any danger. In for a copper, in for a gold.
Sol: They will be.
Kesmet: How much danger? Is it, like, 100% likely that they'll stub their toes, or...?
Sol: You're not taking this seriously.
Kesmet: The day I start taking things seriously is the day I die. Now how dangerous is your shit?
Sol: I don't know, and that's what makes it so dangerous.
Kesmet: You'll be fine! Just stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and don't talk to strangers! ...except, well, the guys we're going to introduce you to. They're probably strangers too...
Sol turns to the other members of the party, though he's clearly considering Kesmet's idea.
Grogery: You care for Master Baster quite a lot, don't you?
Sol: It is my professional opinion that he is the best man for the job.
Grogery: I see. Besides professional opinions and all that, if you were to turn yourself in to Annu and then summarily be immolated, how do you think Master Baster is going to react to something like that? How do you think he would react if something happened that made you prefer death to still being around and working with him?
Sol: It would be good if he could be alive to see those things. It would be selfish to stay alive just to see his face.
Grogery: We have encountered people who have been through this too. Some handled it better than others, but one of them was free enough that he was able to take a stab at Baxton.
Sol: Oh, really?
Grogery: You have the advantage of having the element of fire in your blood. You stand a much better chance than he did.
Sol: What if I can't?
Grogery: But what if you can?
Sol: Sometimes, optimism gets people killed.
Grogery: If you could do it, then you would be even further proof that he is not all-powerful.
Sol: All research says otherwise.
Grogery: As a follower of Pelor, I know exactly how powerful hope can be here.
Sol: Hope has never cleared any Turmoil.
Kesmet: Neither has giving up.
Grogery: Then we're not hoping hard enough. Besides, even if you turn yourself in, Baxton wants someone close to Baster. He'll just pick someone else who has less of a reason to put Baster's best interests at heart.
Sol: Oh no...
Grogery: He could potentially pick the dwarf, or someone in a more sneaky position. You at least have the advantage of having someone you care about to fight for.
Kesmet: Or even worse, what if he goes after Al himself?
Sol: He can't! Otherwise... he would have, right?
Grogery: Maybe you protected him. Maybe you were in the way.
Sol: How do I continue to be... in the way?
Grogery: Number 1, if Annu catches you, you probably won't be allowed to be in the way for much longer.
Sol: I don't know how much longer I can keep this up, though. I certainly can't take on Baxton. I'm no fighter!
Dazki: But we can, and we're trying to. You have to stay strong for just a little while longer. You can do this, we all believe in you!
Sol: Maybe I should go... "missing"... for a few days.
Grogery: There's a pretty handy excuse. We ran into some guards on the way over here, Annu is still very much at large and not in a very good mood (as much as he can be said to be "in a mood"). You can be made to disappear for a few days at the very least to let things die down.
Sol: I don't know if it's allowed, but I will try very hard to, I suppose. But it's bad to only have one plan. Just waiting something out doesn't get the job done.
Dazki: Is the link two-ways? Can you use the connection to look in on him?
Sol: I haven't tried.
Dazki remembers back to what they know about Turmoil from previous encounters with it and discussions with Isaiah, and thinks it through. The bit of Turmoil seems tied specifically to Baxton. So, although it would be incredibly difficult, if someone knew how to deal with Turmoil, then they might be able to use the same link to go back to Baxton. Of course, Turmoil is inherently chaotic, but this bit is, in fact, linked to Baxton specifically. That's why Biali was specifically upset at Baxton, why the animals seem to have the fucked-up eye on the same side of the head as Baxton.
He relays this to Sol as best he can and that, with practice and work, he might be able to use this link to his advantage.
Grogery: If Turmoil is inherently chaotic, Baxton can't have complete control over it.
Sol: But what if he does?
Kesmet: If he could have, then he would have gone directly to Al. You can do this. We believe in you.
Sol: If I exiled myself, what if I'm made to come back? Is there a way to not be made to come back? Kesmet, can your friends do that?
Kesmet: What do you mean, like, go on vacation and have to wait for the boat?
Sol: Oh, a boat! That's hard to get from one place to the other. I'm certainly no good at swimming.
Dazki: I know some people up north. I can write you a letter that will get you access to some families up in the elven lands and they can help you up there.
Sol: That's too far, I need to be here. If I'm not here, he can find somebody else.
Kesmet: I think we should send him to the friends I'm thinking about here.
Sol: If I'm gone too long, he will find another.
Grogery: I wonder if there's an easy way we can get in contact, so we can respond appropriately?
Dazki: Kesmet, do you still have that bird? He pulls it out. Use this to send us a message.
Sol: I already have one of those. Everyone has one of those. I need to go somewhere, where I cannot leave.
Grogery: How easy would it be to have someone take a delightful... boat... vacation? Just like in a place where the guards can't find him?
Dazki: Fishing ship! We can pay to have you on a fishing ship. The bigger ones are usually out for a few days before they come back with their catch.
Sol: And while I'm gone, you'll fix this?
Dazki: We are working our hardest and our fastest at it.
Grogery: We will make progress.
Kesmet: You also don't even have to hide from the guards or anything. You can just say this is an opportunity to talk with the fishers to figure out what they need, to make things more efficient. Renovations, and all that.
Sol: OK, I think we should give this a shot. I owe you guys that much. Oh, and speaking of debts yet to be paid! Sol's demeanor changes. He seems more in his element, now that he's talking about bureaucracy. I believe we had made a deal earlier that I need to honor. This strange change in circumstance is no excuse to breach a contract. This estate here, it's a newer build and, though it's not entirely furnished, guard disturbance in this part of town is minimal. It doesn't currently have an owner on the books, so...
Grogery: You're giving us an estate? That's amazing!
Dwardazik: Really?
Sol: The foundation is of dwarven design, but it still has the insulation that humans are known for.
Dwardazik: That's a really generous gift!
Dazki: We thank you.
Grogery: This is incredibly generous.
Dwardazik: Once people find out, there's no way we're going to be able to stay here safely...
Sol: I haven't filled out any paperwork yet.
Dwardazik: Might there be any... secret dwarven passages?
Sol: Not yet, but one of the larders is still being dug out.
Dazki: I think we should all turn in now... we need to be up before dawn so we can get you to a fishing ship at the docks.
Sol: I can find my own way, but I'm counting on you.
Dazki, reaching out his hand: We will do everything in our power, and then some. Sol grasps Dazki's hand with both of his. It's incredibly warm, and there's a slight tremble from the intensity of emotions he's feeling right now. He still holds professionalism about him. A little bit of fear is good. It keeps you from making foolish risks. just don't let it control you.
Sol: OK. So, you're free to stay here, but... um... like I said, it's unfurnished at the moment.
Dwardazik: Just give me a corner I can lay in without worrying about getting stabbed in the back, and I'll be fine.
Dazki: We can work on furnishing it ourselves. Thank you very much!
Sol: It's much smaller than I'm sure some of you are used to, but I'm sure it can make a nice summer home.
Dazki: I appreciate how modern it is.
Sol: I think I will leave now. I will honor our decision as if it were a verbal contract.
Dazki: As will we.
Grogery: Of course!
Dwardazik: Aye!
Sol: I will live my life a few days longer.
Dwardazik: That's what you need to do, lad.
Sol neatly gathers his logbooks, wipes the ink off the tip of his quill, calmly attempts to cap up his ink bottle, packs up everything he has, and leaves.
House It Going?
The party with no name explores the estate with no name.
Editor's note: they make a lot of observations about the house, and there were some initial ideas about what each room could be used for. I didn't record much, especially things that are on the map itself.
Kesmet looks outside to see if there's any guard activity, since the party did just ditch a bunch of guards. True Sol's suggestion, there seem to be very few guards in this area, at all. This does seem to be a richer part of the city, so a lot of houses in the area probably hire their own private security.
The party takes a long rest. During his off-half, Dazki strolls through the house. It is indeed quaint (especially for what he's used to), but it's still a 2-story sprawling estate. He's disappointed by the lack of secret doors... how do you expect the servants to get from Point A to Point B without being seen?!
He also notices someone else awake: it's Barry. He's not quite keeping watch, but rather absentmindedly brushing the tip of an arrow. Dazki sits down next to him.
Barry: Hi.
Dazki: It's not easy, is it?
Barry: How do you know if you're a good guy... or a bad guy?
Dazki: It's... He sighs... hard. You just have to keep trusting that what you're doing is to try to help people, and that you're not hurting anybody, to the best of your abilities, while you're doing it. Sometimes everybody makes mistakes and has to do distasteful things. But if you get up every day and try to be a better person than the day before, try to help more people than the day before, hurt fewer people than the day before, then you're one of the good guys. And Barry, I think you are.
Barry: But, like, I killed that guy.
Dazki: Yeah. He was trying to kill one of your friends, you were trying to protect them. It's a hard situation. The fact that you feel bad about it is what makes you a good person.
Barry: I don't... know if I... feel bad about it.
Dazki: What do you feel?
Barry: You said I'm not a bad guy, right?
Dazki: I don't think you are...
Barry: I think I've killed something before.
Dazki: Yeah... I've killed a few people, myself. It's hard.
Barry: But, you... you know you did it. I've been living like I've never murdered anyone before, and... I think I've murdered people before. So what if I'm the bad guy?
Dazki: Who are you today, right now?
Barry: I... am a fish person... who shot a dog person in the throat... and he died. And he didn't do anything to me.
Dazki: No, but he was trying to do something to your friends. We were trying to negotiate and be peaceful, and they attacked us. It's... it's not an easy thing, it's nothing that you should ever get used to.
Barry: But maybe bad guys don't know they're bad guys.
Dazki: Sometimes they don't! But usually the bad guys don't worry about whether or not they're bad guys.
Barry: Do... you worry that you might be a bad guy?
Dazki: All the time. But every day I get up and just try to be a little bit better of a person than I was the day before. It's hard. I struggle with it every day. I've killed 3 people in the past... month and a half. Before then, I'd never killed anybody. I still don't know if I'm doing the right thing, but I've got to keep trying.
Barry: Well I think the majority of us are good guys, then.
Dazki: I think so too, and I think you're one of em too, Barry. Don't ever doubt that... well, doubt it once in a while, just to keep yourself honest.
Barry: I'm getting pretty good with this bow.
Dazki: You are! I'm impressed. A little more practice, and you'll be a match for me!
Barry, a little panicky: I'm not going to shoot you, I promise.
Dazki: No no! I just meant if we shot at targets, you'd be better, with more practice. Just circles off in the distance.
Barry: I don't know, I guess so.
Dazki: And, hey, it's been hard, I know. But I want to try to help you get your memory back, at the very least. Even if you have to stay kind-of as a fish person. I think what we're doing right now might be able to help us, just because it's related to Turmoil, but I don't know. If it doesn't, then after we save the city, that'll be our next priority. OK?
Barry: Deal. You got it, boss!
Dazki: Equal members of the party. No one's boss. OK, friend?
Barry: You got it...
He pauses. He's about to step out of his comfort zone, and this was a really dramatic moment, but "pause for dramatic effect" doesn't quite work as well in writing as we hope it will during the proper sessions. Hopefully adding a few words here will do the trick.
Barry: ...friend!
Dazki: Take a rest, I'll finish up with watch. You look like you need some sleep.
He does, and Dazki finishes up the watch. Meanwhile, Dwardazik has entered the room where Grogery is trying to sleep:
Dwardazik: I can't sleep alone. Can I go to the corner and just sleep there?
Grogery: Every man's sleep is his business.
Dwardazik, grumbling: I'm no man, I'm a dwarf!
Grogery: You're just concerned that if something happens, we need to both react.
Rewards Granted
