Session 131

General Summary

• Marvin and Kesmet shared the story leading up to (and including) Grogery's death with Morn'Tharur.
• The performance was so good that the dragon only attacked Dwardazik, and only a little, and only because he was asking for it.
• Morn'Tharur, newly invigorated by this plot twist, demanded to be freed from his chains so he could rescue Grogery's soul himself.
• Apparently, it would be really hard to break him free, in no small part because the dragon (claims to have) murdered the previous firelord who put him there.
• He also refused to promise them that he wouldn't kill a bunch of innocent people and destroy Ashport along the way, which really put a damper on the party's motivations to free a gigantic ancient dragon in the middle of a major population center.
• Dazki went home to write a eulogy for Grogery, as the others went to the Horseshoe Road Inn to have some drinks.
• A couple of drunks had just violently thrown Jimson Datura out for having "an argument". Dwardazik resolved that situation, and they invited Jim to join them.
• Jim is in town to see what the deal is with Annu being in government, and he has brought along the zombie organ grinder, "Kelly", from Overlook.
• When Jim revealed that he's sleeping in an alleyway and has already been mugged over it, Dwardazik insisted that he come with them back to the manor so he could have somewhere safe to sleep for the night.
• Dazki woke everyone up early — quite too early for Marvin, Kesmet, and Dwardazik — so that they could attend the remembrance for Grogery at sunrise.
• Rosalin was already awake, seemingly unable to get any decent sleep with strangers — Jim and Kelly — in the house.
• Dazki asked Jim and Kelly to leave for now so that Rosalin can get some rest, but he promised to let them return later.
• At the cathedral, Isaiah wrapped up the usual daily sun salutation and moved on to the remembrance for Grogery's "lost and wayward soul".
• The gathering was small: Isaiah had kept the news low-key, worrying that the fame of "Grogery the Great" might lead to the wrong kind of attention otherwise.
• Every party member in attendance — except Barry — stood at the podium and said (or, in Dwardazik's case, sang) some words.
• Not too long after the party members said their piece, a crowd of Grogery's "fans" burst in to do their crowd thing, so the party quietly escaped.

Full Recap

The party members recall that Morn'Tharur is not likely to receive the news of Grogery's death very well, so they spend some time planning on how to approach it. The general idea is that the party will play up the theatrics of the story, appealing to the dragon's love of an engaging story to hopefully soften the blow. Theran finds it weird to see such a wild space in the middle of a city, but he listens for snippets of conversation, in case his proficiency in Draconic might be useful.

Theran: ...I think they recognize that we're here, and they might recognize that Grogery isn't with us.   Dazki: All the more reason to make haste and to tell our story as well and honestly as we can.   Theran: They have little Draconic names for each of us, and it's actually kind-of cute.   Dwardazik: They have a name for you?   Theran: I don't think they have one for me, necessarily, but they called Dazki "riddle-cloak".   Marvin: Ah! That seems appropriate.   Dazki: Heh. All right.   Theran: I'll let you know if I hear anything hostile.   Dwardazik: Hopefully, this means that our journey in will be uneventful.   Dazki: Yep.

They make their way to the center.

Dragon it Out

Dazki: Greetings, great dragon! We come to you with more tales of adventure!

Theran stands towards the back of the party.

Morn'Tharur: You have returned here. I was worried I'd never see you again.   Marvin: We are honored to be in your thoughts in such a way, and we are also honored to see you again, great Morn'Tharur.   Dwardazik: It's been a hell of a journey.   Morn'Tharur: I can... smell your fear.   Dwardazik: What, is it obvious? We did just come from the nearby river... might be kind-of sewage-y. Knew we should've showered before coming here.   Morn'Tharur: Tell me, O great extensions of my own story, why are you here alone?   Marvin: Well, you're right to smell fear on us, but there is something more that we fear. I think it will become clear as we explain it — we want to make sure you've heard it from us and not secondhand. That's why we came to you so soon after returning to the city.   Morn'Tharur: In your meekness and uncertainty, I cannot hear your voice from that distance. Will you shout at me, or will you come closer?

Kesmet suggests to the party that he start using Minor Illusion to repeat what Marvin says louder, but Dwardazik wants him to save it for effects during the performance. Dwardazik comes closer, and some others do too. Morn'Tharur notices the hesitation.

Morn'Tharur: So far, you have awoken me from my slumber, yelled at me from across the room, and as yet have done nothing for me.   Marvin: Let us correct that. Kesmet, if you would join me in the performance?   Morn'Tharur: Where is my Treasure™?   Dwardazik: You are absolutely correct, Morn'Tharur, and I apologize. I did not introduce myself. As I'm sure you're aware, my name is Dwardazik. It has been some time since we've seen each other. Do you fare well?   Morn'Tharur: I'm as well as any captive can be under these circumstances.   Dwardazik: Then as my companions are preparing a play to describe what has happened on our adventures, ...your Treasure™ is not here. But if we simply told you why, it would be a spoiler to this epic that we are preparing. Let's not waste a good story because we're a little impatient!   Morn'Tharur: Do you insult me, now?   Dwardazik: I'm simply stating why we haven't told you where your Treasure™ is.   Morn'Tharur: Hmmph. Then get on with it.   Kesmet: I'll insult you if you want. You're a big impatient baby! There.   Everyone but Dwardazik:

  Dwardazik:

Marvin begins his performance, with Kesmet's direct assistance (and some further assistance from Theran) he manages to (Performance 40) outright convince Morn'Tharur not to attack them. It even attracts the attention of several kobolds.

Marvin, wrapping up the performance: ...and I swear to you and to everyone listening right now: we're going to get Grogery back. That is my promise to you, great dragon. We felt it would be an injustice if you did not hear it from us.   Morn'Tharur is silent at first. Strange for him, as he usually has some sort of critique on your stories.   Kesmet: You're awfully silent, Morn'Tharur. You usually have some sort of critique on our stories.   The great beast suddenly bucks against his restraints.   Kesmet: So, was that a ★☆☆☆☆? A ★★★★★? I can't really... we're not sign linguists.   His struggles are futile, only managing to send debris tumbling from the ceiling. He resigns himself back to captivity, for now.   Morn'Tharur: Step forth.   All but Kesmet step forward. Kesmet makes an obvious fake of himself using Minor Illusion while keeping his distance. The kobolds seem to have left the space.   Morn'Tharur: The more fragile the treasure, the more ferociously it must be defended. I have been resigned a while now, for my murderous ways, in a deep depression. Forgotten. My heart turned to stone. But a treasure must be defended, or it is not a treasure. And that entity has looted my hoard for the last time.   Another strong pull against the magical chains that bind the dragon.   Morn'Tharur: You will release me, and I will get my Treasure™ back!   Marvin: And how, Morn'Tharur, should we do that? Is it... are we physically capable?   Kesmet: We get a lot of butter, and he has to back out the other way. ...also, there's the magic chains. I think that's going to take more than butter.   Theran: I could probably move some of this debris, but it would take forever, and it might take the whole tower down on top of him.   Dwardazik: Morn'Tharur, I understand your anger and your fury, for I feel it just the same as you. I will get revenge for what has occurred here, and we will save Grogery if he is still there. Against Mirage Prime and all his terrible actions. But what do you want us to do? You're bound here. Just by moving, you'd probably destroy the city! And even if we would release you... how?   Morn'Tharur raises his talon and slams it into the ground. The tower itself seems to quake.   Morn'Tharur: I don't care how. And I do not want revenge. If I must destroy this whole city to save my Treasure™, I will.   Kesmet: That doesn't save the Treasure™, it just destroys a bunch of shit your Treasure™ loved!   Marvin: ...Kesmet...   Kesmet: Well, what? He did!   Morn'Tharur: I don't care if he's mortal or god, or if he has empires aiding him. My Treasure™ will be mine!   Marvin: I'll be honest, Morn'Tharur, I actually really dig your attitude about this right now. I really do, and I actually really want to help you out of this. It pains me to see you like this. I'm just trying to think of a way to actually help.   Theran: I might have an idea. These chains, we might need to do some more research on them, but maybe it should be possible... if we polymorph you, we might be able to get you out more easily?   Marvin: No way... would that work?   Theran: These are really powerful magical chains. It might not.

Kesmet tries to Dispel any magic on the chains. It does nothing. Dazki (Arcana 18) sees that these chains are incredibly difficult and specific to remove. He also knows that (Arcana 25) large, more powerful dragons usually have the capability of changing shape themselves and innate spellcasting; this dragon has done nothing of the sort to change his situation, so the chains must be dampening his magic.

Dwardazik, getting right up to his face: Morn'Tharur. If we pledge to assist you in every way possible — and we will get you out of this cage — you need to make a pledge to us that you will not destroy this city, or at least to destroy as little as you can. There are innocents here, damnit! Grogery wouldn't want this!   Morn'Tharur: I do not pledge my loyalty to a mere Kerin.   Dwardazik: You will not get assistance from me if you can't even control yourself. But my offer still stands.   Morn'Tharur: Oh, does it?   Dwardazik: Morn'Tharur, you've lived a long life, no doubt. If you have enemies within this city, then fine. Go after them. I care not. But my true purpose is for the civilians. Those who would be caught in the crossfire. All right? I would do anything possible to save Grogery — and, frankly, your power would aid me in that, so we have the same mission — but I'm not going to go against what Grogery also stood for. Helping others. Innocents.   Kesmet: Can you at least promise us you won't be an ass? We were even offering to help free you, like, way long ago, and you were all mopey about it.   Morn'Tharur: The last entities to show me such little respect have died. I don't care if you are adventures, great fighters, or even a firelord. I do not take disrespect.   Kesmet: You don't care if we're the bastards that are gonna get you back your Treasure™? All that other crap doesn't matter.

Dwardazik turns his back to the dragon and begins to walk away. Morn'Tharur slashes at him with his claw as he does so.

Dazki: YOU GUYS. Come on, we're trying to help a friend here!   Kesmet: Friends don't attack each other like that.   Dazki: Can we not fight for just a few minutes?! I know everyone here is tense and unhappy about the situation, but fighting amongst ourselves is not going to help. Please, I beg of you, great Morn'Tharur, forgive my friends. In their grief, they speak out in ways that they know better, and I ask you that you also please attempt to rein in said grief, that we may work together and solve the situation at hand! (Persuasion 21)   Morn'Tharur: I see that without the guidance of the light, you guys have grown a bit dim in your decision-making. And you can forgo examining those chains: the second I murdered that previous firelord, there was no traditional way for me to escape.   Dwardazik walks back to the tunnel and waits for the others.   Dazki: I see. And how would they have been removed originally?   Morn'Tharur: I wouldn't know. But it would take an entity of great power to remove them.   Marvin: We might know a couple of those. Entities of great power, that is.   Morn'Tharur: That, or I will take this tower down myself! The chains must bind to something, after all...   Kesmet: Yeah, you have fun with that.   Dazki: Please, give us time to go and research and learn how we might remove these chains, or see if we can find someone who would be willing to assist and might have powerful enough magics. Would that be acceptable?   Morn'Tharur: Nothing is "acceptable". You have shown great disregard, though you have shown great respect in overcoming your fear to see me. And, for some reason, have brought a new follower. I do not know why you deem this individual a suitable replacement.   Dazki: This young man with us is Grogery's brother. Grogery was adopted into his family.   Marvin: And, capable as he might be, I would like to go on the record in saying that there's literally absolutely no one on this planet who could replace Grogery.   Morn'Tharur, turning to look at Theran: You've managed to keep your cool.   Theran: ...somehow... ah...   Morn'Tharur: I don't like when people are recast in my stories. You will either be a welcome addition to the crew, or you will quickly die by the third episode. I will let you choose, for now.   Theran: well... OK... um, how about this... there is a precedent that, when meeting important officials for the first time in high elven culture, that you present a gift to them. (He takes out his signet ring and puts it on the ground in front of the dragon's claws.) My parents are going to probably come looking for me at some point, and I'm going to be in a lot of trouble if I have lost this. So, you know that I'm going to have to come back here to get this eventually, once this story is over and Grogery is back with us.   Kesmet: If you give him the ring, we'll have to fight him for it later!   Theran: Consider this collateral for the mistake that was made, and for the sacrifices that were allowed to happen. When we return your Treasure™, hopefully either the signet ring will cease to matter to me, or there will be other treasures that can be given in compensation for it.   Morn'Tharur: At least somebody has some tact around here.   Kesmet: That makes one of us.   Morn'Tharur: I know it's a stereotype, but I do like treasure. (The signet ring disappears under the massive hand of the dragon, his claws scraping against the ground leaving gashes and dust, joining the rest of his treasure. Never to be seen or heard from again.)   Dazki: Come on, guys, we have a lot of work to do to find a way to get Morn'Tharur out of his predicament. We should go and get started very quickly.   Marvin: Agreed.   Dazki: Great Morn'Tharur, I am sorry that we had to bring you this bad news. Thank you for your understanding and your graciousness in receiving it.   Kesmet: He attacked Dwardazik!   Marvin: Next time we meet, Morn'Tharur, it will be under better circumstances than today. (He also apologizes for some Silvery Barbs he made at the dragon in an unsuccessful attempt to save Dwardazik.)   Morn'Tharur: Stupidity and cowardice are very similar to a dragon.   Marvin: What is bravery without a dash of recklessness, though?   Morn'Tharur: I think that's stupidity.   Marvin: Yeah. Yeah, you're right.   Morn'Tharur: Perhaps you should leave, before you make any more mistakes.   Marvin: OK!   Theran, bowing to the dragon: Thank you for your time and presence, O great master of this tower. May we meet under happier circumstances.

They leave.

Theran: Ugh... Marvin, I feel like your horoscope was doing a lot of heavy lifting back there.   Dazki: I'm going to suggest we all leave as quickly as we can.

Instead of doing that, Dwardazik ruffles through his pack, takes out two sets of rations, finds the nearest kobold, and hands it to them.

Theran, responding in Draconic: "Kind bread, yes — sun bread, not necessarily. Do you want more?"   Dwardazik: Didn't realize you spoke so much.   This really confused the kobold.   Dwardazik: What are your thoughts, then? Are you thinking about Goodberry?   Theran casts Goodberry and gives some to the kobold. It eats way too many   Kobold, mouth full of berries: Arduskyr

They take their leave.

Dazki: Honestly, that went probably about as good as we could expect.   Marvin: Yeah. Yeah. And I would blame the dragon for trying to attack Dwardazik, but at the same time... I don't know, I feel like it was inevitable.   Theran: OK, so I just saw a dragon and lived. OK.   Dazki: We've all done and said things out of grief recently, so I feel like I do not have any room to judge.   Marvin: Though, Dwardazik, your concerns are valid — releasing the dragon would be quite devastating on the city — you've gotta admit, we could use an ally like that.   Dwardazik: He seems like no ally to me.   Marvin: If he wants to fight Mirage Prime, I'd say let 'im.   Dwardazik: Yeah, but at what cost?   Marvin: I get your point about the destruction, but I thought the implication was that he would only cause destruction if he forced his way out through brute strength? And that if we somehow broke his magical chains, then it wouldn't result in such destruction? Or do we still think this tower would come crashing down either way?   Dazki: I have no idea, honestly.   Theran: There are things we can do to, like, try to reinforce the tower or evacuate it, or... — the point being that Mirage Prime took Grogery from us. We need to use every advantage possible in going after him! We can get him out safely, it's just a matter of figuring out how to do it. And we're going to figure out how to do it!   Kesmet: You know... is the dragon an advantage, though? He seems just kind-of like... mindlessly going towards a thing. How is physically attacking Mirage Prime going to help?   Theran: He has magic. He has knowledge of ancient times. that we don't.   Dwardazik: Let's face it. He's a prisoner at the bottom of this tower, right? Didn't the firelord send him there? Why are we wasting our time with this dragon who was defeated by someone stronger? Let's simply go to the firelord and make our appeal!   Kesmet: But didn't he say that the previous firelord... and then didn't he, like, kill him or something, and then there was no one left to free him?   Dazki: Yeah.   Kesmet: Anyway, I'm just sayin'... he's all on about "ooh, My Treasure™, Grogery", but then he goes and attacks Dwardazik, and... this guy is unhinged. He can't just talk about "oh we're disrespecting him" and then go spit on Grogery's memory by attacking somebody that Grogery sacrificed himself to save.   Marvin: That is a valid concern...   Kesmet: Fuck the dragon! Let him rot!   Theran: I mean... guys. Dwardazik punched me within a day of us meeting.   Dwardazik: ...couple minutes...   Kesmet: Yeah, but Dwardazik's not a dragon.   Dazki: It shouldn't matter that Dwardazik is not a dragon. It's basically the same thing.   Kesmet: Is it? He's, like, saying "respect me and free me", but then, you know, not giving us any reason to do so other than "he might not murder us".   Dwardazik: It's not the same at all.   Theran: He's saying he's going to go after Mirage Prime!!   Kesmet: And do what?   Theran: It's a dragon!! How are you guys not getting this?!   Dwardazik: He's going to destroy the city in the process!   Theran: He doesn't want revenge, he just wants to fight the same bad guys that we are.   Dwardazik: Have you seen how big that dragon is?   Theran: Yes!! It's amazing!!   Kesmet: Where's the bad guy? What's he gonna do? What's his plan? Is he just gonna fly up to a giant miasma of "Mirage Prime" or whatever? Does he have some way to teleport to that creepy Red Desert? What is his plan, other than "roar, fly in a random direction, and maybe burn down the entire town"?   Theran: At the very least, he's like a political asset.   Dwardazik: "A political asset"?!   Theran: The people in charge of the city don't want a dragon flying around causing mayhem. We could get more information, see other books.   Dwardazik: What do you mean?!   Theran: I don't know what I mean, I just —   Dwardazik: If we release this dragon, where's he going to go?   Kesmet: I dunno, but we're going to get in trouble again. And I'm pretty sure the firelord told us that, the next time, we're getting executed.   Dwardazik: We'd be Criminals Number One. And I would be fine with that, if I knew that Morn'Tharur is actually going to help us. He's a force of destruction — which, might I add, could be manipulated (or angled, or guided, depending on your preferred verbiage) to do good. But, he is a prisoner. You think he's going to harbor good thoughts towards this city? All it took for me was that simple conversation to realize that us trying to help him is probably going to do more harm than good.   Theran: He harbors good thoughts towards Grogery.   Dwardazik: I don't even know if he does. Grogery was Grogery. Grogery was someone for everyone. He wasn't just some coin for the dragon to possess in his hoard.

Dazki: Guys, I think we should just get going for now, OK?   Marvin: Yeah. All right.

Dwardazik gives a silver coin to a kobold "cleric".

Back to Civilization

Outside of the Spire of Beasts, they hail a cab and have a conversation along the way.

Marvin: Let's be real, guys, we can argue as much as we want about freeing our "friend", but who would even have the knowledge we seek?   Dwardazik: Annu.   Marvin: Well, yes, maybe, but he's not gonna help!   Dazki: No, but we may be able to find some things in the libraries of the House of Crystal that we have access to. ...or in areas of the House of Crystal that we don't have access to.   Theran: Here's something interesting. So, the Red Desert teleported me into The Phantasmagoria, which really shouldn't have been possible. Suppose there's a way we could use it to get Morn'Tharur out of chains? We need to do more research on it anyway.   Dazki: That seems reasonable. It's an avenue worth pursuing.   Marvin: I have a better idea. Dwardazik, didn't you promise us a tavern tonight?   Dwardazik: Let's fuckin' go!   Dazki: You guys, go ahead. I've got to write something for tomorrow morning.   Marvin: Speaking of preparations, do you need help with preparations for your father?   Dazki: Like I said, we'll worry about that after everything with Grogery. For now, screw him.   Marvin: All right.   Theran: I will probably write something for tomorrow as well, but I am interested in this "tavern" place, to which I have never been.   Marvin: Oh, we've got to show you.

Dazki continues along the road back home in another carriage while the other party members stay.

Dwardazik, approaching him: Hey, Jim, is that you?   Jim: ...hello. Am I blocking traffic? My apologies.   Dwardazik: Damn, Jim! I didn't expect to see ya here! I should buy you a drink! In fact, I'm buyin' everyone drinks! (He points to any onlookers.) (Not you guys.)   Jim: I don't remember us being allies.   Marvin: Did you leave Overlook?   Dwardazik walks with Jim towards the tavern, but one of the two drunkards stops him.   Drunk 1: Nah-nah-no. He's not comin' back in here!   Dwardazik: Oh, here we go...   Dwardazik: And why is that?   Drunk 1: He's clearly an evil cultist!   Marvin: Oh, come on! Do you think every mysterious looking person with a bald head, and tattoos on his bald head, and a black cloak, is a cult member?   Jim: With all due respect, I thought we were in the middle of a rather heated philosophical discussion. I hadn't realized it was an argument. If it makes you feel any better, I could just leave. It's fine.   Dwardazik: Nah-nah-nah. Jim, hold up. How about this. (He turns to the drunkards.) Jim's with us. If you've got a problem with Jim, you've got a problem with me. Do you have a problem with me? (Intimidation 11)   Jim, who you now notice has a black eye: There's really no reason for all of this hostility, guys. It's fine, really. I'll just go do something else.   Dwardazik: I'm not so sure I'll be able to enjoy a nice ale here with such bad company around me. Kinda smells bad, you know what I mean? Almost like they just came off of shoveling some manure.   Drunk 1, cracking his knuckles: Looks like we have more than one individual we need to show some "respect" to. Let's show 'em some "respect", boys!

Drunk 2 looks confused for a while, before seeming to get the idea. Dwardazik opens his Skin of Endless Ale and speaks "Geyser", blasting Drunk 1 into the bar, and then grabs Drunk 2, swings him around, and throws him in there too. This leaves puddles of ale everywhere inside the place. Orson comes out from behind the bar with a rag to clean up a spill.

Orson: Oh! Uh, hey guys!   Dwardazik: Hey, Orson! Pleasure to see ya!   Orson: So, ...you guys still exist, which is super cool. What happened to my bar, though?   Kesmet: There was a disagreement.   Dwardazik: You see, Jim over here was trying to drink some tea, but then these two drunkards over here decided it would be a really good idea to spill ale all over the place. And I thought they were being really disrespectful to your establishment, so I taught 'em a lesson.   Jim: I think that is a fairly accurate account of events, yes. I'm willing to help clean up the mess, if you have any extra... towels?   Dwardazik: Oh, come on... Kesmet, do your mumbo-jumbo-magic-gizmo so we can start drinkin', all right?   Kesmet: My what?!   Dwardazik: Mumbo-jumbo-magic-gizmo! You know, the thing where it's like, "poof, that's not soap"? Say your catchphrase and make it all go away!   Kesmet: No, clean it up yourself!   Theran: Imaginary Fil'Amon! The rags start cleaning up the bar by themselves.   Jim: I want to help.   Dwardazik: Nah, nah, Jim. You're drinkin' with us. Good job, Theran!   Theran: Thanks!   Dwardazik: All right. First, second, third, fourth, fifth rounds on me! If you keep goin', we're gonna keep goin'!   Jim: I don't drink spirits, but I would enjoy some tea.   Dwardazik: Whatever, Jim. We're drinkin'. Gimme some, uh... milk... for Jim over here, or somethin'.

Jim: I don't think this is wise.   Dwardazik: All right, all right, everyone gather 'round... here's to Grogs! ("To Grogs!") Now chug!

Theran (Constitution Save 2) is practically a goner, and Marvin (Constitution Save 7) and Dwardazik (Constitution Save 7) aren't doing much better. Jim doesn't drink any alcohol.

Marvin: Is there anything we can get Jim?   They get him some more tea, which doesn't get him drunk, but it's something.   Theran: ...is the room sposetobe spinning eversoslightly?   Dwardazik: That means it's working!   Theran: It feels like time is an illusion.   Marvin + Dwardazik: It is!   Dwardazik: See? Great minds think alike! (He slaps Marvin on the back.)

Editor's note: I'm doing it, I'm including the AI-generated art for this guy. There's literally nothing out there that comes close.

Dwardazik, putting a couple of gold pieces on the counter for Orson: Make sure we've got rooms. Just in case.   Theran: don'twehave, like, a house orsomething?   Dwardazik: If we can make it.   Marvin: Knowing this dwarf, we can always make it.   Orson: I mean, I... ... ...sure!   Dwardazik: Keep 'em comin'! (He jumps on the table and (Performance 20) does a dance.)   Marvin: So, Jim, I gotta ask... how much do you remember?   Jim: Oh, right. Um, large portions, I suppose.   Marvin: But not everything?   Jim: It's awfully hard for a mind to remember "everything".   Kesmet: You owe us 25 gold. (Deception 10)   Marvin: So, you weren't completely immune to the effects of the town?   Jim: Seems like my god still watches over me.   Marvin: So, what brings you to Ashport? New start and all that?   Jim: I have an interest that's been itching me.   Marvin: And what's that?   Jim: I can't shake the fact that you said there was a lich in government.   Marvin: You're the one who told me that he was an archlich!   Jim: I hadn't expected to run into you here, so, my apologies for not having proper attire, or any of the gold that I apparently owe you.   Marvin: Well, we definitely left each other... not on the right foot, last we spoke, OK? Words were said, spells were thrown (I think). Can you remember things from before your time at "the place"?   Jim: You'll have to be more specific.   Marvin: Before Overlook?   Jim: "Before Overlook"...? I don't understand "before Overlook".   Marvin: Were you born there?!   Jim: Indeed, I was.   Marvin: OK, that changes things. Wow. I need another drink after that.   Jim: You do realize that all this poisonous material you're imbibing is not going to really decrease the hurt you're currently feeling in your soul?   Kesmet: Hey. Fuck you.   Jim: My apologies. I just wanted to make sure you knew.   Theran: I wanted to try a new thing, and ifs... weird, we'll figureitout later.   Marvin: Painkillers might not cure anything, but it definitely numbs it down.   Jim: As long as you are aware that you are soothing merely the body and not the soul.   Marvin: ...extremely aware.   Theran: Sometimes the body needsachance to catchupwith the soul, and the mind, and you just needtolike, chill for a bit, and then youcan kinda geteverything onto the same tempo.   Jim: I have already learned — twice, now — not to engage in the conversation I was about to engage in. Adaptation, and all that.   Theran: Adaptation is fun.   Marvin: So, how do you know our mutual undead "friend", anyway?   Theran: We're all talkingabout Annu, right?   Marvin:

  Marvin: The walls have ears!   Theran: I hope you're not being literal.   Marvin: I am.   Jim: I don't believe he is.   Marvin: I am!   Kesmet casts a Minor Illusion of some ears on a spot in the wall.   Theran: O gods of the sky, they didn't tellme drinks would dothis... I'm hallucinating ears...   Marvin: Yeah, that's normally a mushrooms thing.   Dwardazik: Hey, listen to this: (he rips a massive fart).   Theran: So wait, you're hereabout the lich guy?   Jim: I don't know whether it's my god or my curiosity that has drawn me to look into the situation, but here I am. And here you are! Worse for wear, but intact.   Marvin: Yeah, here we are.   Jim: Still determined to make a pretty corpse. You've been pretty risky.   Marvin: Damn right!   Theran: Grogery was the riskiest of them all, and it's sad.   Jim: But I really shouldn't keep you here. If I don't leave at a reasonable time, all the good spots of the alleyway will be taken by vagrants.   Marvin: You're sleeping... out on the streets?   Jim: Yes.   Theran: I mean, we literallyjust paidfor rooms, why can't hesleepin one of those?   Marvin: Yeah, we already paid for one.   Jim: Upstairs? I'm afraid Kelly won't go upstairs.   Theran: Who's Kelly?   Marvin: Is she here?   Jim motions over to the individual playing the organ grinder.   Jim: He's not a fan of stairs since the... ... ...incident. Any heights, really. And it's fine. It costs no money to live in the alleyway.   Marvin: Sure, it costs no money, but it costs your dignity, though!   Dwardazik: N-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-no. No. (He pokes Jim.) No.   Theran: Are there, like, rooms downstairs? Is that how tavernswork?   Dwardazik: No sleeping alleyways!   Jim: I don't see the problem.   Theran: 'cause it's, like, dirty, and youmight get mugged. or something.   Jim: I've already been mugged. What's the worst that can happen?   Theran: Getting mugged twice.   Marvin: And then getting killed?   Dwardazik: You know what's better than getting mugged twice? (He holds up his mug.) Getting mugged three times!   Theran: Ha, it's a joke!   Jim: I have little else for them to take. It would merely be an inconvenience for them to mug me again.   Dwardazik: Why are you even sleep in the alleyway, huh?   Jim: Where else should one meditate? I don't have any money.   Dwardazik: Just go to your room?   Marvin: Apparently Kelly's not going to walk upstairs, though.   Jim: And as much as I don't mind getting mugged, I would really prefer Kelly to remain intact. I did make a promise.   Dwardazik: Just... ... ... ...I don't understand. Make the problem go away! (He points his finger around to each party member, seemingly thinking about each person, before stopping at Kesmet. Make it go away, Kesmet!   Kesmet: I "make problems go away" in a very specific way that, I've been informed several times, is not healing. I don't think I'm the right person to "make problems go away" right now.   Dwardazik: You're right. Marvin!   Marvin: eh?   Dwardazik: ... ... ...get rid of the alleyway.   Jim, now by the drunk Theran: I don't mean to pry. I find your soul is confused and worried.   Theran: List'n. Everybody's souls are "confused and worried" if you get it deepenough down. Everybody is scared of dying, and we all just havedifferent paths we take tobe less scaredofdying. Just how the world works.   Jim: I think, though you may lack confidence now, your soul would very much wish to be strong.   Theran: That's a... yeah, makes sense.   Jim pats him a few times on the shoulder.   Dwardazik: Jim, just... someone get us a carriage, we're goin' back. Jim, get the fuck in the carriage.   Theran: He's an adult, he can do what he wants. I am also an adult who can do what he wants.   Jim: I am of the opinion that whatever the dwarf wants me to do, I have to do, as — given his current state of inebriation — he could tear me limb from limb. I do request that my friend, Sir Kelly, come with us.   Marvin: Yeah, sure... honestly, should probably get him out of sight. I'm starting to remember exactly who Kelly was, now...   Dwardazik: Music's damn good!   Marvin: I'm honestly surprised someone hasn't arrested you yet for just having Kelly around.   Jim: I think the disguise is adequate for now.   Marvin: Yeah, but the smell is gonna come back eventually.   Jim: I am running low on incense, yes.

They take a carriage home.

Home

Theran: I think I needto prepsome stuff for tomorrowmorning. (He does an Ultimate Sneeze-Stopper and is no longer drunk.)

They have a long rest... or at least they try to (Theran is fine), but Dazki wakes them up before Dwardazik, Marvin, or Kesmet can finish their long rest, because they have to be at the eulogy at sunrise. Dwardazik cleans up the best he can, getting into his fine clothes that he last wore to the casino. Rosalin is already up, chugging away at her list of tasks.

Dazki: Rosalin, have you gotten any rest?   Rosalin: I mean... I can, I can rest later, right? So —   Dazki: Or you can rest now. A clear, sharp mind does better at tasks than a tired, unfocused one.   Rosalin: Yeah, but we don't really have the time, so... you know, I'm just going to get a few more things done.   Dazki: I want you to make me a promise, OK? I want you to promise me that by the time we get back from Grogery's remembrance, you will be asleep.   Rosalin: Oh, the rem— oh, no, I forgot about that! All right.   Dazki: So promise me that by the time we get back, you'll be asleep, OK? You don't need to be there, it's OK. Instead, you stay here and get some rest. Grogery would not have wanted you to push yourself like this.   Rosalin: OK, but... he... I don't think I'm gonna sleep, though.   Dazki: Why not?   Rosalin: I can't sleep when other people are in the house!   Dazki: Oh, the — OK. The two in the living room? Yeah, who are they?   Rosalin: I don't know! They just... everybody came back, and I was told that it's "fine" for them to be wherever.   Dazki: Ugh. ... ... Ugh.   Rosalin: So I just... I just kinda... just let that happen. I've got plenty of things to do in other places!   Dazki: All right, I will see what we can do to get them out of here so you can get some rest, OK?

Dazki leaves towards the living room as Theran, Marvin, and Kesmet head downstairs, and they meet up in the main hall. Theran is first, of course, as he is used to being up before sunrise anyway.

Dazki: So Theran, who is that in the living room that you guys apparently brought back with you?   Theran: It's some friend from "Overlook"? Some guy playing this piano thing, and — oof, no wonder my parents said that getting drunk is a bad idea... anyways — guy playing the piano thing, I think his name was Kelly, and then the friend from "Overlook", his name was "Jim"?   Dazki: Oh. OK.   Theran: He apparently didn't have anywhere to stay, and Kelly couldn't sleep upstairs, so they invited him to stay the night over here.   Dazki: "Kelly" wouldn't happen to be a skeleton or a zombie or something, would he?   Theran: Honestly, it was human-shaped, and a lot of things from last night were blurry. (Oh. "Skelly". I get it.)   Dazki: Not a joke. Literally, Jim is a necromancer.   Theran: OK, so let me get this straight. Grogery was around when you guys went to this place called "Overlook", and now you are all friends with a necromancer?   Dazki: "Friends" would be pushing the definition of the word. We are acquainted with him in a not-entirely-negative fashion. Pelor and Grogery had a little bit of a conflict because of that.   Theran: Ooh, OK.   Marvin hears this as he's walking down.   Marvin: Oh yeah, it was openly hostile for a while there.   Theran: But it sounds like you guys were at least enough to sort things out. I think we felt really bad having to force him to sleep in an alleyway, so we were like, "yeah, just spend the night here" or something? I'm presuming when your father is over, they'll be, like... somewhere else?   Dazki: Not what I'm concerned about right now. Rosalin is having issues with unknown people around, she hasn't been able to rest well for a while.   Theran: Oh. Well, Jim seemed like a really nice guy. I'm sure if we explained the situation, he'd understand and at least, like, leave for the day.   Dazki: I certainly hope so.

Theran goes upstairs to check on those still up there as Dazki enters the living room with Jim and Kelly.

Dazki: Hey, uh, sorry to interrupt your rest, Jim. It's quite a surprise seeing you here.   Jim: There have been a lot of surprises. I assume you wish for me to leave. I can do so immediately.   Dazki: So, it's complicated. I don't want to be rude and kick you out. The problem is, one of the people who live here — you are a stranger to her, and she has difficulty when there are strangers around, so she hasn't really been able to sleep since yesterday.   Jim: I did notice her soul was very restless.   Dazki: She's been through some stuff that it's not really my place to talk about. So where are you staying while you're here?   Jim: Just kind of... around.   Dazki: All right. (shit)   Jim: I try hard to stick to the darker areas. I worry that Kelly might arouse more suspicion as time goes on.   Dazki: Yeah, um, it is highly illegal for Kelly to be here.   Jim: I'm aware of the current ruler's apprehension to the undead. But I made a promise to him, and as difficult as it will be, I will fulfill it.   Dazki: What was that promise, if it's not rude of me to ask or rude of you to tell? I apologize, I'm not very well versed in the ways of your god, so please forgive me if I'm being impolite.   Jim: Sir Kelly's wish is simple. He doesn't want to be alone. He still wants to see the smiling faces of those who would watch him on the streets while he was living. And I am perfectly satisfied being his audience of one.   Dazki: And —   Jim: With all due respect, I have made a promise to him, and promises are somewhat sacred.   Dazki: No, I don't want you to break your promise to him. I'm just trying to think of a way where you can keep your promise to him, but also not potentially get arrested and maybe find somewhere better than (I would assume) the streets and alleys to stay.   Jim: I have no qualms sticking to the alleyways.

Dazki: Tell you what, Jim: how about if we make a compromise for now? You and Kelly, the two of you, go out and play for some crowds. See if you can make some coin doing that. Come back here tonight, we'll see if we can't find a way to make things easier for both of you. That will allow some of the others here to get some rest, and hopefully we'll be able to find a way to make it work after some thought and some discussion. Is that OK with you?   Jim: You wish for me to return? Why not simply let me leave?   Dazki: I don't want to kick people out on the streets if I have the ability to help them. I've already done enough damage to you and to those whom you know and care for. I really don't want to do any more. It was never my intent for any of that to happen, and I don't want to be one who constantly forces you to go through unnecessary challenges.   Jim: It's true I do not have the coin, and I know that you will not accept coin as repayment for your duties. I will find some way to repay you if you allow me to return.   Dazki: Sure. And if you do, that would be wonderful. If not, then don't worry about it. OK? I don't want you to make a promise that would prevent you from fulfilling any other duties that you have.   Jim: My only responsibility at this point is to Kelly. Although, something does draw me here, and I feel if I have the time, I will look into it.   Dazki: OK. Well, if you would, we would be happy to have you back tonight. But I do have to ask, for the sake of Miss Rosalin who lives here, that you and Kelly head out for a few hours, at least. Enough to give her some time to sleep.   Jim: You are being overly gracious. There's no way I could not accept this offer.   Dazki: Well, thank you. (He looks back to Marvin.) Does that seem reasonable to you as well, Marvin?   Marvin: Yeah. Not my house, I can't really say one way or another...   Dazki: It's as much your house as it is mine.   Marvin: Oh, right, it's... right. I keep on forgetting how you guys acquired this place! Still seems strange.

Dazki lets Rosalin know that the two are gone, and that they would make sure that nobody else is expected so that she can get some rest. They go to the cathedral.

A De-Lightful Ceremony

Isaiah: May our prayers reach the ears of those who are lost and warm the hearts of those who are still looking.

Isaiah: I am concerned that you would have expected a great celebration. I felt it more appropriate to keep things more personal. Given the wide amount of rumors and stories spreading about town. People who don't remember but merely wish to gawk. I don't wish to dilute this remembrance in a sort of cacophony of scribes and curious individuals. I've done my best to invite those who might have actually had a chance to remember. I do hope this is adequate, as I feel that the grandness of it all wouldn't've really suited Grogery anyway. And he is merely lost, not forgotten.   Dazki: Thank you, I appreciate the thought and concern you had when setting this up.   Kesmet: It was a beautiful ceremony.   Theran: What you are doing is incredibly respectful to his memory, and I thank you.   Isaiah: I'm afraid I do not have much to speak on myself, when it comes to this. I can offer prayer, but I feel like I never really knew him. I can — as we all do in our own way — remember the fond memories and the nostalgia of the times we had together, but I feel that me speaking here would be a bit tacky. A bit morose. I think it better that those closest to him would be the ones to do as they see fit. They would know what would better reach his ears. You do not have to speak, but — a short story, something you remember, some strange quirk would be helpful. Even if not to him, to those still wishing for more memories of an individual who may not be able to provide any more to them. If any of you are capable of this, do let me know.

The party members coordinate to figure out what order they will go in. Dazki steps up first.

Many of you knew Grogery, or were at least acquainted with him. I thank each and everyone of you for coming here today. I don't have a lot to say, I just know that Grogery was — and still is — a good friend. A good person. He was a credit to the church of Pelor and to everyone he knew.   I know that there are many who would have only seen him as "a goblin", or those who would say that he is "a credit to his race". I ask that you not think of him like that. That's not the memory that he would want. He would want each and every one of you to know that he was just an average goblin — one who was given extraordinary opportunities. And that given the opportunities, anyone — any other goblin, kobold, gnoll, any of them — could become anything they wanted. He was not "a credit to his race", he was a good man, just like so many others have the capability of being.   And in his life, he only wanted to help and provide that opportunity that he had to all of the others. To everyone, of all races, of all kinds. So I will continue to live in that memory of him. Continue to do as he would've wished. And I ask that all of you in his memory, please, do the same. Treat everyone you see — everyone — with the kindness, the grace, and the dignity that Grogery had and that he saw in everyone else.   So, Grogery, thank you for helping me. Thank you for being a wonderful friend for me. And you will always guide me in one way or another, with everything I do. And I hope that you will guide everyone else that has met you as well, because you are truly an inspiration.   Thank you.

Dazki sits down, and Dwardazik approaches the podium after him.

I consider Grogery a clanmate. The actions we took together. We strove. Our struggles. I wanted to sing something for you today. Something that we like to say on these kinds of occasions. Not a particularly popular song among my kind, but I thought it might be appropriate.   Editor's note: I copy-pasted below what I was given in a private whisper and just added markup formatting.   ♫   The fallen of battle
Those struck by disease
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream   In dark dwarven caverns
In bright elven trees
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream   On-His-black sky-throne
The dead he all sees
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream   There in that high place
The judgement is said
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream   For there the gone will learn
The fate of the dead
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream   To nightmare or dream
The fallen is lead.
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream.   Thus spoke the under King
"And so shall it be.
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream."   "I shall claim this right
For eternity."
Nothing to nothing
From death into dream   So it has ever been.
And so shall it be.
From nothing, to nothing.
From death, into dream.   ♫

Dwardazik exits. Kesmet is up next.

All right, I feel I gotta also say a few words. 'cause, you know, Grogery was also important to me. OK, let's see...   Grogery was, uh... Grogery. And, uh... he was an important and valued member of our party. He saved our lives, like, a bunch of times, and he was always saying weird stuff like "you've gotta be better" and "walk in the light", or something-or-other. I don't have the best memory.   Um. And. Some of us weren't the greatest of people, and despite that, he still stuck around with us. Even sacrificed himself so the rest of us could make it out alive.   I'm not crying, you're crying.   And... uh, yeah, that's all I've got.

He sits back down. Marvin's turn next. Not quite reaching up over the podium, a cleric brings him over a stool to stand on.

While I didn't know Grogery as long as the others I travel with here, I do know that he always brought out the best in all of us. Wherever he went — wherever we went, together — he made everything shine brighter.   To reiterate what Dazki said earlier, he was just a fantastic person. Period. No one who's ever met him could argue otherwise. He saved us so many times and always looked out for innocents. He is an example to anyone, and anyone who says otherwise just hasn't met him yet.   And it's just tough knowing that so many people won't get to know how great a person he was. He's changed us all for the better, every single one of us. And we're never going to forget that.   Thanks.

Kesmet steps down, and Theran nervously takes up the last spot, opens up his notebook, and starts to read.

I used to have an eldest brother named Yniris. When he died, my family mourned him... for about a day, before they decided he wasn't worth the effort anymore. They did all the proper mourning rites — they acted like it was a deep loss and everything — but a week later, behind closed doors, it became clear that they wanted to move on and pretend like he never existed. And it hurt knowing how someone so bright could be forgotten by his own parents as soon as he couldn't be useful to them. His death felt more like an inconvenience to the family than anything else, and it kept making me wonder, "Was that all people were to each other, once you got powerful enough? Just 'convenience' or 'inconvenience', allies and enemies all just shuffling around each other, until some of us shuffled off?"   When Grogery came into my life, he helped to show me that this was not true. He was the least convenient adopted brother an elf could ask for. My parents didn't respect him and did everything they could do try to keep us apart. He could never follow me into classrooms or noble dinners or public appearances. But somehow, I've come to appreciate those "inconveniences", because they helped me prove to myself that I actually loved him... if that makes sense? Love doesn't mean much if it's the convenient thing to do. There were times when I risked getting into trouble just by trying to spend time with him, but I did it anyway. He was worth it.   The servants sometimes whispered mean things about him behind his back, calling him a "pest" or a "menace" or a "vermin". When I tried to stand up for him, they would often whisper mean things behind my back too, but I still stood up for him. And even after he left for Ashport, the things I did to try to reconnect with him and the lines I crossed... none of that came without a price, and I made sacrifices. But that's just what love is: it's about making sacrifices and doing hard things to do what's best for the people you love.   Grogery loved the world and the people around him. Everywhere that he went, he did whatever he could to make the world a better place, and — to everyone's surprise — he actually succeeded! It turns out anyone can make a difference if they're given the freedom to do what they're good at, and Grogery was good at helping people. At healing people. At soothing pain. He was good at showing people how every creature on this world has a tiny star inside of them, and that we all just need the chance to shine.   When the world was a cloudy, dark, bleak, frustrating, and hopeless place, he was good at chasing the shadows away. When the world told him he was destined for a life of meaningless servitude or hopeless destitution, he told the world, "NO". When dark forces played with destiny to try to make it impossible for their vassals to die, Grogery sacrificed his own life to prove that nothing is predestined, no threat is invincible, and nothing is impossible.   The darkness we're fighting against wants us to think that the heavens are impossible to change. They want us to think that the brightest stars in the sky are the old ones, the ones who are permanent fixtures of those unchanging heavens. They want us to think that, when a star does die, it's gone forever — but none of that is how the world actually works. The orbits of the stars may not move much over an individual lifetime, but it does happen. With enough patience, and a long enough timeframe. The stars that burn the brightest are really the ones who live the shortest. They spend what short lives they have burning hotter and more brilliantly than those around them would ever dare to do. And the dead stars aren't actually gone for good — the nebulae and fragments that they leave behind end up going on to become part of future stars. A dead star can be reborn if given the right chance.   I didn't realize this at first, but when Grogery and I first encountered each other, I gave him a gift. I gave him the chance to grow up in a safe environment, filled with cooked food, good books, and kind clerics. He used this opportunity to touch the lives around him, giving them chances and opportunities they'd never have seen otherwise. And in a bittersweet way, his death also gave me an opportunity: it gave me the chance to push my boundaries further, to see the world outside of my parents' influence, and to have the freedom I need to truly make a difference.   Grogery lit paths for people, he fought suffering, and he was a beacon for change. I can only hope I will one day grow up to be such a good and meaningful person. And it's only because of him that I've had the courage to try. Grogery, if your soul is somewhere you can hear me, thank you for everything you have done. I hope that we'll one day meet again, either in this life or the hereafter.   I love you, brother.

Theran steps down.

Dazki, shaking his head: If they want to make a big deal out of it, let 'em. Everything important has already been said. They're just making fools of themselves, here. We don't care about what they have to say. Or, at least, I don't.   Marvin: Agreed.   Dwardazik: Big legend for a small goblin.

They take the secret back way out of the cathedral grounds.