Session 149

General Summary

• The party manage to put together some makeshift masks and rest at The Cloak and Stagger, purchasing rooms for a week.
• After a long rest, they went to look for the government buildings, finding Jose Mightly already in a conversation with Siraye about some alchemical powder.
• Dazki started catching up with Siraye about their different adventures, when a dwarf burst in to warn them of a problem at "the estate".
• The party learned that Siraye is part of an adventuring party called The Quicksilvers, who have been investigating Turmoil in the area. The party consists of:
• Siraye Quinloth, Dazki's fiancée
• Kris "The Basilisk" Gravesoot, a roguish dwarf whose family was turned to stone by a basilisk
• Apple, a halfling barbarian whose backstory has not been explored in-game yet
• Riley Ellasandra, a human spellcaster whose personality is just as harsh as the spells that she specializes in
• Apparently, the Quicksilvers have rented an estate, and some members had secretly brought back some Turmoil-contaminated eggs with mimic slugs inside of them that infested different areas of the estate while Siraye was out. The party helped eliminate the threats, and Riley used her ice magic to contain the creatures.

Full Recap

  They arrive at The Cloak and Stagger. A bouncer at the entrance stops them and asks them to put on "some kind of obscurement", because "only true crooks and criminals are allowed in here, and they would dare not show their faces!" The bouncer doesn't offer any masks for them to purchase, so:

• Marvin uses his Disguise Kit to whip something up for himself and for Theran.
• Dwardazik obscures his face using some cloth.
• Dazki uses the special property of his Glamoured Studded Leather armor to change it to an outfit that includes a mask.
• Kesmet did something equally appropriate.

This is enough to get them inside. Dwardazik approaches the tavernkeep.

Dwardazik: You got any good ale?   Tavernkeep: What itches you?   Dwardazik: Something to take the tangles outta my beard.   Marvin: I thought you leave those in! You told me it "gives character"!   Dwardazik, shushing him: You're ruining my moment!   Tavernkeep: ...mm-hmm.

The tavernkeep grabs a mug, slips something into it inconspicuously — but not TOO inconspicuously —, and walks past the barrel labeled "ALE", choosing instead to fill the mug from a barrel that's labeled "SPECIAL SECRET ALE". The liquid is an inky black color and smokes a little bit off the side.

Dazki, stopping Dwardazik from drinking it: Look, my friend. I appreciate this, but my friend asked for the good stuff, not the doctored kind of drink, all right? So, maybe stop trying to assassinate my friend here.   Tavernkeep, leaning forward and whispering: Wanna know a secret, O wise-eyed folk? It's all the same garbage here. None of it palatable to anybody. Let the lad have his fun.   Dazki, whispering back: Just for effect. Got it.   Tavernkeep, whispering and just generally looking bored: I won't tell if you don't.

Dazki quietly reassures Dwardazik that it's just for show. Dwardazik drinks a small sip and makes a bit show as if he's being poisoned. Dazki sighs and asks Theran to check him out, which he does: (Medicine 22) not only is Dwardazik not being poisoned, but Theran recognizes that the coloring agent is entirely harmless. Dwardazik gets indignant about how slowly everybody reacted to his apparent poisoning, and Dazki says more loudly that it's all just a game, as everybody else claps — and Dazki gives the barkeep a knowing wink.   They purchase rooms for a week in advance — individual rooms, as the establishment doesn't often get groups. The tavernkeep starts him off at an outrageous price, but when Dazki gets indignant, the tavernkeep gives him a blank look and tells him "this is the part where you haggle me down". Dazki begins to haggle him down just fine, and the only thing he says that even makes the tavernkeep so much as raise an eyebrow is a mention of "I won't go to the authorities" ("how about we do 3 silver, and I don't let the authorities know that you're in the establishment?"). Ultimately, they get rooms for 1.5s per person per night for a week.   The tavernkeep — who also claims to be the owner — gives them keys to their rooms upon request ("it would be impolite to risk damaging your locks" / "you may be the first individual to care for my hardware"), and they head upstairs to drop off their stuff and take a long rest.  

Next Day

When they get up, Theran is tending the bar. He says that the tavernkeep might be a vampire, since he tried to charm Theran and then went to sleep. A customer interrupts, saying some gobbledygook to Theran and nodding + winking aggressively. Theran grabs a clay mug and starts leafing rapidly through a book behind the bar, responding with a line about "unsettled debts". The patron nods knowingly and rifles through his coin purse, pulling out a copper coin, a silver coin, and ...a couple of chess pieces? Dazki waves him off, and the customer staggers out into the morning. Dazki then asks if Theran knows where the tavernkeep went, which is coincidentally right when the tavernkeep shows up, stretching a little bit of sleep off him.

Tavernkeep: I see the place is (almost) as I've left it. You've done well, kid.   Theran: Thanks!   Tavernkeep: Now go ahead and take a good 4 gold out of the till. You've earned it.   Theran, to himself: Money that I've actually earned!   Dazki: So, how did you manage to convince our friend here?   Tavernkeep: Sometimes, you just have to ask really nicely.   Dazki: And what about the glowing eyes that he mentioned?   Dwardazik: You didn't hurt 'im, did ya?   Tavernkeep: This establishment is a twenty-four hour one, and I like to make sure that things stay... smoothly operational. Even whilst I'm away.   Dazki: That does not answer the question, though I appreciate keeping up the façade.   Tavernkeep: Façades on façades, I suppose. It's hard running an establishment where everyone thinks that they are... beside the law. The talents I have have been a benefit to keeping things peaceful-like.   Dazki: All right, well, look, please, no magic on myself or on my companions, OK? We're here to deal with all the stuff that's going on outside of the city, and that would certainly aid your profit if we could deal with that.   Tavernkeep, putting up a hand to stop him: Let's hear from the lad! (He addresses Theran.) Lad, do you feel overly molested by my presence?   Theran: Not particularly.   Tavernkeep: Do you feel as though you've earned an honest day's work, for maybe only a few times in your life?   Theran: It's... kind-of, yes.   Tavernkeep: Would you have taken up such a noble mantle, had I not asked?   Theran: Probably not.   Tavernkeep, looking back to Dazki: Then what harm has been done here? I say, we've all benefited here.   Dwardazik: Theran... did you get any sleep at all?!   Theran: Uh... ... ...nope...   Dazki: I'm simply asking... it sounded from my friend here that you used some magical means to attempt to persuade him. All I'm asking is that you refrain from that.   Tavernkeep: How about this? I will refrain from such manipulations, if you be neighborly-like. I can tell that you are not a poser, like many of them here. I do not need you picking on this establishment.   Dazki: We are only here because we needed somewhere to sleep while we're in town, and this was recommended to us. I have no intent whatsoever to cause you or your establishment any trouble, nor do my friends.   Tavernkeep: I apologize for my tired transgressions, then.   Dazki: And I apologize for causing you undue concern.   Tavernkeep: I will allow you free food and drink for the night, should you return.   Dazki: That's very kind, thank you.   Dwardazik: But what about breakfast?!   Marvin: And second breakfast!   Dwardazik: And first ale? AND SECOND ALE??   Dazki: Look, breakfast is on me, all right, guys?

Theran directs the party towards the government buildings, located around Fae'lala Medui. Near the base of the tree, nobody seems to be buying or selling anything, nor does the party get asked where they're going or anything like that. The various government buildings are guarded by large unmoving wood elementals, and guards can be seen arguing with (presumably) other government officials.   They find the building for the House of Crystal: here, it's a large museum with a central tower. Inside the museum, very few people are wandering around. A white-haired gnomish gentleman is chatting up an elven woman; Dazki gets closer, and he sees that the woman is Siraye.

Jose: I just have a feeling that you're here asking for forgiveness instead of permission. You're making it sound like you're asking for permission, but I think you've already done the thing — and, honestly, I think my answer's going to be different as to whether I need to figure this out now or later!   Dazki, interrupting: Hey! That's a new tattoo!   Siraye stops to give Dazki a friendly hug, which he returns.   Siraye: Hi! I'm really excited that you're here, and stuff — I just... I really need to finish this conversation first, so...   Dazki: Yep, that's fine, sorry for the interruption, we've got a lot to talk about. I may be here on similar business.   Siraye: You're not much of a businessman, last I recall?   Jose impatiently taps his cane on the ground.   Dazki: I'll leave you two at it, I'll be just over here once you're done.

They discuss back and forth, as though they have a rapport. Siraye is asking to acquire a certain kind of alchemical powder (she's not an alchemist), and Jose muses that she wouldn't possibly know that she needed that powder unless she has already gotten to the problem that the powder causes — and resolves. Jose wanders off without giving her anything.

Dazki: Sorry about that interruption. I'm assuming that was Jose?   Siraye: Yeah. Yeah, that's Jose. Good ol' curator of the museum...   Dazki: Yeah. So, your last letter said you'd seen some pretty crazy things, huh?   Siraye: OK, it is really ridiculous down here. I'm so glad that you've picked a nice safer area, but honestly, it's been way more fun down here! Like, I know, it looks boring, "oh look, the wood elf, in the wood elf area", but honestly, it's been absolutely insane down here!   Dazki: I dunno, I think I probably have you beat.   Siraye: I definitely don't think you do.   Dazki: All right, what's something that you've seen?   Dwardazik: Maybe... over an ale, to talk about it?   Siraye: Um, ...now, I know you were eavesdropping, and I would love to catch up, but... ... ...I really was asking for forgiveness over permission here, so... ...   Marvin: I see where he gets it from.   Dazki: Yeah, I kinda figured. If you need to, we can walk and talk. I hear you've made some interesting friends in the area that I would like to meet.   Dwardazik: It's been a while.   Dazki: Yeah, sorry, quick introductions. Siraye, this is Dwardazik and Kesmet (they were on the boat with us to Muckwater), —   Siraye: Oh yeah! I remember you guys! You seem... just about the same.   Dazki: This is Marvin, and —   Siraye: Oh, a bard! That's fun.   Marvin: A pleasure to meet you in this timeline!   Dazki: — and Nathan.   Siraye, looking quizzical: "Nathan"? It's definitely "Nathan"?   Dazki: Look, my dad's name is David.   Marvin: "Dav'id"!   Dazki: He says it's "Dav'id", but it's "David". So is "Nathan" really that hard to believe? But yeah, let's walk and talk. I've heard about some of your friends, and I would be interested in meeting them. I think Dwardazik knows Wendi.   Siraye: "Wendi"?   Dwardazik: It's a dwarf.   Dazki: Wendi Hammerfall. We heard she was down in this area too.   Dwardazik: Young rascal? Messing with dark arts she shouldn't be messing with?   Siraye: Well, I hope she's OK.   Dwardazik: Have you seen her? Anything at all?

Just as they're about to open the door to leave the museum, a new person bursts through the door. It's another dwarf, covered in black leathers, wearing a big cloak and wielding a heavy crossbow on his back. His arms are covered in runic tattoos.

Kris: Hey, Siry, we've got a real problem, and we've got to go!   Seeing that she's with friends, he clears his throat and stands more upright, and speaks in a lower, more gruff voice.   Kris: Siry. We have to go. There's danger in the estate.   Dwardazik approaches, and Kris crosses his arms, giving him a side-eyed glance.   Kris: There's no time for introductions. The world as we know it is at stake!   Dazki: We have important business, so we will tag along. I think our business might be related to yours.   Dwardazik: "No time for introductions"...?   Siraye: OK, sure. (What do you mean, "there's a problem at the estate"?)   They briskly walk in the direction of "the estate", talking in hushed tones.   Kris: Keep it down, it's definitely illicit.   Marvin: When is anything we do ever not?   Siraye: ...what do you mean "illicit"?   Kris: Well, you know those eggs we recovered from... uhh... what was it... the crystal and the hunting camp and all that?   Siraye: What do you mean, the — ...we didn't "recover" the eggs. We left them there. They are contamin—... ...

  Dazki: Oh great, did someone touch something they shouldn't have?   Dwardazik: If we're going to be fighting giant spiders, could you maybe, you know, at least be sharing your name, lad?   Siraye: ...it's always something... ...uh, ... Haha! No, we're great! No, it's fine! Hahaha... good to see you! Want to come see my house?   Dazki: Sounds great. Just so you know, we were sent by Annu Adabra and them up in Ashport. We've been dealing with some crazy shit too.   Siraye: Oh, really? The government work doesn't really suit you well, I'm kind of surprised...   Marvin laughs hysterically at that comment.   Kris: GUYS, can we have this get-together later? There's literally things infesting the house!   Dazki: Yes. To both.   Dwardazik: You'd think that, by now, senior adventurers would know the importance of an introduction and not just panicking for trivial work.   Siraye: OK, fine! Quick introductions while we're on our way!   Dwardazik, grumpily: Oh, but nooooo, we've gotta go "right nowwwwww"! Got "no time"! "Gotta go"!   Siraye, pointing to the dwarf: This is Kris. He doesn't like when I call him that. I'm Siraye Quinloth. Some of you know me, some of you don't. We are currently watching the summer estate of an old lady who may or may not have been devoured by ooze. We're not sure on that yet, but we still promised we'd look after the estate while we're here, and now (apparently) it's infested with eggs! Good? We good now?   Theran: Infested with eggs, or with things hatching from the eggs?   Dwardazik: The name's Longbeard, nice to meet ya. Now, what are we scrambling?   Kris, completely straightfaced: Ha. I liked that. That's a pun on eggs. My name's not Kris, by the way.   Dwardazik: My name's not Longbeard, by the way.   Kris: You can call me "The Basilisk".   Dazki: I like "Kris" better.   Theran: "The Basil-Kris".   Dwardazik: Is that because when the ladies look at you, they get hard? Hahaha! (He slaps Kris on the back.)   Kris: My family was turned to stone by a family of basilisks, and I've sworn their vengeance.   Dwardazik: That's a little less entertaining.

Just A Little Egg-xtra

They arrive at the estate and meet a human named Riley Ellasandra and a halfling named Apple. Riley is clearly already very annoyed, looking down at a pile of what seem to be broken monster eggs. Apple is down on all fours, sniffing the floor.   The group is named The Quicksilvers (Kris: "Because we'll do anything for a quick silver!" / Siraye: "That's not correct!")

Riley: Ohmigosh. Could you guys have taken any longer to get here?!   Marvin: Depends! How much are we being paid?   Kris: I've got the short little legs, you know that!   Dazki: So. You must be Riley. Your reputation precedes you.   Riley: And yours definitely does not. Who are you again?   Dazki: Dazki Sylroris, at your service.   Riley, dismissively: Oh, right, right, the — the boyfriend. Who, like, doesn't wanna be there. I geddit.   Dwardazik: The name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth —   Riley: OK, like, we don't need to have, like, a fucking conference right now. We kinda have a very time-sensitive essue?   Dazki: All right, well, what's the issue? I'm sure we can help.   Riley, ignoring him: And, thankfully for you guys, I've figured a lot of what's going on right here, and you guys just kinda need to, like, help out, if you're gonna be here?   Dazki: Why don't you tell us what the issue is, and we'll see what we can do!   Riley: You see these eggs here?   Marvin: Oh, these? I thought these were just big rocks!   Riley: No, they're eggs.   Dwardazik: Well, the rest of my companions are Nathan, Marvin, and Kesmet. How can we assist you then, eh?   Kris: OK, here's what I know so far. You don't take eggs, even if they tell you that they need protection and are worth a lot of money! Maybe don't listen to the eggs if they say that! Second thing. I found seven eggs. I come down here to check on 'em, I see seven broken eggs... and one totally normal egg. That's eight eggs.   Marvin: That's almost a baker's dozen!   Riley, sarcastically: Omigod, he can count still!   Dwardazik: What do you mean by a "normal egg"?   Kris: Another one. Exactly like the other eggs, except not broken. But I know I only had seven eggs!   Dazki: All right, and we need to find the things that were in the seven eggs, I would assume?   Riley: That's the thing. Like, it turns out the extra egg, it wasn't an egg. It was, like, memmicking being an egg?   Marvin: Wait, did you just use the word "mimic"? I don't like that!   Dazki: OK, so the extra egg is a mimic of some kind.   Riley: Well, hurr's the thing again, 'cause, like, I totally crushed the egg. And it wasn't an egg. It was actually like an egg-shaped, like, larva or something?   Dazki: OK.   Riley: But, it's OK, 'cause... I killed the egg.   Dwardazik: So! We find any of the slimey creatures crawling around, and we smash it underneath our iron boot! Is that the plan?   Riley: Well, they could be ennywhere in hurr now, because somebody decided to keep their treasure out in the open?   Dazki: All right! So, search the house for the creatures and, I would assume, eliminate them.

They examine the eggs and notice that the shells have reflections of surfaces that Siraye recognizes as areas found within the estate. The group agrees that there's Turmoil afoot, so they need to take care of it. Dazki brings up "pure elemental substance", at which point Riley walks over ("UGH, fine, whatever"), rolls up a sleeve, takes off a glove, grabs the squishy bug ("it's SUPER gross"), and turns it to ice. ("See? Wowwwwwwww! Six more to go, guys.")   Siraye likens this infestation to something else they'd seen: "slugs, or worms, or whatever they feel like being that day", infecting other objects. A majority of the party members recognize this. Riley reminds them that the creatures are probably getting bigger, so they shouldn't dawdle with "inane conversations".

Egg Hunt Summary

• Each party member went a different way to try to find where the creatures went.
• Theran transformed into a bear to pick up the scent of the egg creatures.
• The party systematically found the mimics and destroyed them one by one; Kesmet in particular plowed through it, destroying a total of two creatures and heavily damaging a third by the time it was over.
• They couldn't find the last one in time, and it almost took out Siraye before the party could get there and wound it enough for Kris to finish it off.

Dazki: Is everyone OK?   Siraye: Uh... ...mostly!   Dwardazik: Nathan! We might need your services!   Theran: Are you in need of healing?   Siraye: Plus seven... I'm good... (Narrator: She was not "good"... "good enough for now", at best)   Dazki gathers up all the slugs... Riley will dispose of them, even though she "doesn't feel like it".   Dazki: Well, thank you. Even if you don't "feel like it", it's appreciated.   Riley: You really shouldn't, like, patronize me. I know I'm doing a good job?, so...   Dazki: I'm trying to be friendly. Not trying to patronize you. But you're making it very difficult.   Siraye gives him a knowing look of "don't go here".   Theran: Siraye, do you need any more healing?   Siraye: I'm pretty good, actually. We're fine. Are you OK?   Theran: Yeah, I didn't get touched.   Siraye: Yeah, you were a bear, that was neat! And definitely not something you're supposed to be able to do.   Dazki: He's a druid.   Siraye: No he's not.   Theran: I'm a druid.   Siraye: Mmm... no.   Theran: I literally just turned into a bear in front of you!   Kesmet: She's concussed. Don't worry about it.   Siraye: I guess people can change, sure, why not! Today, I guess you're a druid now!   Theran: What's that supposed to mean?!   Dazki: What should he be, then?   Siraye: Uh, his family's clerics, right? So... cleric.   Theran: Uh, yeah, I'm also very far away from my family. You think they approve of me doing stuff like this?   Siraye: I'm also very far away from my family! And I've learned a lot, and I've experienced a lot, and I still don't turn into a bear!   Dazki: That's entirely fair, there's a very good reason that we can get into in just a few minutes. So, you've been investigating this kind of stuff as well, eh?   Siraye: "Investigating" is kind of... kind of a word, isn't it?   Dazki: Well, what would you call it?   Siraye: Just, you know, trying to help out where we can.   Dwardazik: Fostering a bunch of giant egg-laying monsters?   Dazki: ...they were trying to get rid of eggs, just like we were trying to get rid of stuff. It's not exactly an easy task, as we know firsthand.   Siraye: Oh! Yeah, wait! (She turns to her party.) Can we all agree, together, as a group, not to just bring things back from our expeditions without letting people know? That would be great!   Dwardazik: That sure sounds like a really great communication lesson.   Dazki: I guess... fair warning, then: the dog is infected. We've been trying to keep him under control until we get somewhere that can handle the problem.   Siraye:

  Kris:

  Riley:

  Siraye: ...you have a dog?