Session 155

General Summary

• The party and The Quicksilvers split up to find more information, the former going to the dwarves near the park and the latter trying the House of Crystal.
• The party met up with Wendi Hammerfall, who seems to be in another coercive, transactional relationship — this time, with a Rubymist dwarf.
• This time, Wendi seems to be in a lot of debt, and she's willing to sell her "unique" hybrid spell scrolls at a loss just to make ends meet.
• Marvin bought her entire stock of scrolls, and even paid extra to make sure that she at least made a slight profit on the trade.
• Wendi hasn't seen Tilda in a while, as the two have had something of a falling out.
• Wendi marked on Dazki's map the rough location where Maedia Widelove's ghost might be haunting the mines.
• Upon leaving Wendi to her business, the party encountered Maota Helens of Highwater, the local firelord, personally trying to get some stubborn dwarves to evacuate.
• Maota took a liking to Marvin, and she mentioned something to the party about a meeting they would have later, but she was elusive about the details.
• She insisted on learning more about the party beforehand, by challenging them to combat — though she stayed in her avatar form throughout.
• Not too long after the combat started, Virren Sempu'ur (her "betrothed") broke it up and formally invited the party to meet with the government leaders.

Full Recap

The plan is to do more information gathering: The Quicksilvers will head towards the House of Crystal, and the party will try to get information in the areas of the city where the dwarves tend to congregate. (Investigation 28) Dazki remembers seeing shop signs bordering the spiritual area and a park, so that's probably where the dwarves will be during the day. Dwardazik suggests going to that area and keeping an eye out for specifically someone trying to offload a bunch of wares that are particularly unnatural.   In the area, there is an uptick in merchant activity, with BFI making a strong presence. Immediately as they arrive, a pair of gold dwarves flag them down and start trying to haggle. Dwardazik takes the lead in trying to get some info about where to go, and (Persuasion 16) while there's an area that "would curl your whiskers", the pair would have to "clear some things with the higher-ups": it's apparently also "terribly haunted", and if the party could promise to clear it up to make it safer for others, that would be helpful, and the pair could share the location with them.   Negotiations break down when Marvin and (especially) Theran get skeptical about what this pair can offer, so Dazki walks away and tries to find something else. (Perception 26) Dazki finds no dwarven clerics about, but there are dwarven druids. And there's a recognizable voice.

Wendi Moon Hits Your Eye

They follow the voice into a large greenhouse full of carnivorous plants with a stream running through it. This would probably be outright peaceful under normal circumstances, but for two dwarves arguing — well, one of them is arguing, towards Wendi Hammerfall. Wendi has a very old crate and a couple of worn-out scroll cases. (Insight 30) Wendi is trying to sell some of her scrolls, but "she is apparently the bottom of the totem pole, as she is currently getting chewed out, almost like an employer/employee kind of situation". They approach Wendi, and she immediately gets defensive.

Wendi: How you doin'? Murder anyone's friends recently?   Marvin: Whoa-whoa-whoa, I wasn't around for that!   Dwardazik: That's not exactly how it went down. You're very misconstruing the history of all this.   Dazki: Look, what happened was bad. And I get it.   Wendi: "Bad"? We're going with "bad", now? Even my sister had a better grasp of the Common language! "Bad"?!   Dazki: What do you want me to say?   Wendi: I don't want you to say anything! I want you to stay out of my life! You're so entitled... you rescue a person from death one time, and you think they owe you!   Dwardazik: Who ever said that? We just came over to say hi. Thought you looked like you were in a little trouble, there.   Wendi: ...(sigh)... I'm sorry... hi.   Dazki: I promise we're not here to mess with you, or anything like that. We have been sent on government business.   Wendi: Oh! Oh, like, the government business to murder my family? That one?   Dazki: ..."that"... ... ...(sigh)... all right. You know what? Let's just lay everything on the table here. Because of your association with the cult from the academy back in Ashport, they suspect that you are involved in stuff that's up to no good. We don't. We want your help to try to find a woman, Maedia, who we believe is the actual culprit. So that we can make sure that they stay off your fucking back. (He shows her Annu's notes on the Persons of Interest.) (Persuasion 16)   Wendi: I mean... I guess, I certainly... do I have, like, a bounty now?!   Dazki: No, no, there's no bounty or anything.   Wendi: ...that would be really cool...   Dazki: You are, at the moment, just a person of interest whom we've been sent to investigate.   Wendi: Ooh, I've never been a "Person of Interest" before! Mostly, people just ignore and yell at me!   Dwardazik: ...those sound like contradictions.   Dazki: We know it couldn't have been you, because the timelines don't add up. So, we just need to dot the t's and cross the i's, and all that kind of stuff. If you could help us find Maedia, or if you've heard anything about her, that would be particularly helpful.   Wendi: Yeah, the ghost who's haunting the ghostlands. Where all the good minerals are.   Marvin: I can't believe all that "ghost" stuff wasn't made up.   Wendi: Who would make up ghosts? They're totally real.   Marvin: But it's so convenient! You know, "ghost this", "ghost that", "ooh, spooky"!   Wendi: Well, isn't the best treasure under a dragon?   Marvin: No, the best treasure is the coin purse hanging off my belt that gets stolen!   Theran: No, the best treasure was the friends we made along the — wait, hang on...   Wendi: Speaking of that coin purse of yours...

Wendi offers to sell some of her hybrid, reconstructed spell scrolls to the party. As before, anybody can use these scrolls to cast spells, even people who aren't adept at magic... the catch is that we can only know the name of the reconstructed spell, not necessarily what it does, since she doesn't have the money that it would take to "burn" some scrolls for experiments.   Marvin buys all seven, and when he learns that she's going to lose money on every transaction if she sells at her asking price (she asks for 24g per scroll, even though each scroll costs 25g to create), he willingly pays 200g for the lot.

• Zone of Invisibility
• Protection from Metal
• Disguise Monster
• Cone of Missile
• Hold Hands
• Healing Bolt
• Dominate Arrow

Theran offers to Send to Wendi to report on how they work; if any of them are particularly helpful, they might later work out a business arrangement with Wendi to have her craft some more in the future.

Wendi: This is going to go a long way towards repaying the debts that I have. And it almost makes up for the fact that you keep murdering my friends and family!   Marvin: Yeah, about that?   Theran: You guys are going to have to explain what exactly happened with that.   Marvin: I didn't hear about that part. I heard something about a turtle and a ship, I didn't hear anything about actual murder?   Wendi: Well, you guys murdered, like, two of my Rubymist friends — the tiger- and the bear-person — and you shaved the third guy's beard off! And that's very rude!   Marvin: Wendi. What were their names?   Wendi: ..."tiger-... person", and "bear-... person"...   Marvin: OK, OK, I'm starting to understand —   Wendi: They were good friends of mine! Very good friends!   Dazki: And, in defense of the other ones that we had to... encounter... they were —   Wendi: They were the only people who accepted me for who I want to be, instead of who people think I'm supposed to be!   Dazki: They were using you to break into the library!   Wendi: That's just, like, your opinion!   Dazki: All right, so, what did you do with them other than digging tunnels at their behest?   Wendi: I mean, I brought them, like, food and stuff? They like food.   Dazki: That sounds not like a friendship, but much more like — at best — an employer / employee relationship.   Wendi: I can't believe you're saying this. You just don't get it!   Dazki: I'll admit it, I don't understand dwarven culture very well, yes. You are correct.   Wendi: ...stupid dwarven culture.   Dazki: ?   Wendi: I just want to be who I want to be! I don't want to be associated with "oh, your family are blacksmiths, we have traditions we have to upkeep"!   Dazki: Yeah, I get that. I guess I'm just... you know what? Forget it. I'm just confused and being stupid. Don't worry about it.   Theran: Oh, trust me, elves are just as bad.   Wendi: And where'd that...   Marvin: I see you've noticed.   Wendi: Um. Did the... are they just gone? Did you kill them, too?   Dazki: No.   Wendi: Did they decide to think differently, and then you just got rid of 'em?   Dwardazik: Grogery risked his life, and gave his life, to save all of us. He died a goddamn hero. We're gonna bring him back... so, watch your mouth! Give him the respect he deserves.   Dazki: Remember how Baxton was manipulating people?   Wendi: I mean, some say he was manipulating people... that's what the rumors are.   Dazki: That was completely true. There are plenty of people where he literally used Turmoil to control their minds and actions. There is proof and evidence and recorded documentation of that.   Wendi: Sure there is.   Dazki: And he was one of six people that are involved with this Turmoil thing that we are searching.   Wendi: OK, so, who are the other four?   Dazki: The other five — well, four if you include Maedia as the other one we're looking for, here —   Wendi: A ghost? Really?   Dazki: We don't think she's actually dead.   Wendi: Ghosts are dead.   Dazki: What I mean is that we don't think she's actually a ghost.   Wendi: OK, sure, what are the other four?   Dazki: There was Vicra Lammergeyer, —   Wendi: Never heard of 'im.   Marvin: And you never will. Dead man.   Dazki: You don't want to. He was performing deranged experiments on live people.   Marvin: And he never will again.   Dazki: Pendel Codagio, who was trying to resurrect the great serpent, —   Wendi: All right, that seems bad too.   Dazki: One person we haven't been able to find yet, called "Fogwalker", —   Wendi: That's a stupid name, but whatever.   Theran: Pretty sure he's trying to make two planes collide, and that's not a good thing.   Dazki: And then the last person is one of the other names on this list here, Riley Ellasandra.   Wendi: Oh, that bitch.   Dwardazik: Finally! Someone finally sees the truth!   Dazki: ...yes. So, we're looking for Maedia, because she is allegedly nearby, going by the pseudonym "Mother Girth". We believe that she is responsible for the worms attacking the area.   Wendi: You think the ghost is controlling a bunch of worms?   Theran: At the very least, it's a good direction to look in. She's either directly involved, or indirectly involved. Either way, she has information we need.   Wendi: Well, I mean, cool, I guess? And I was on the list too, right?   Dazki: You were on the list because of your previous association with Baxton.   Wendi: Neat! Did I have, like, a cool name too, and stuff?   Dazki: No, because as far as I know, you are not one of this group of people.   (Insight 32) Wendi is strangely disappointed that she doesn't have a cool warlock name, like all the other warlocks. Between the fact that she asked what the "other four" wanted, and her disappointment from being once again ignored, ...it's strange, considering that you're listing terribly evil people.   Theran: So, it says here that you're avoiding your sister?   Wendi: Yeah.   Dazki: Why are you trying to avoid Tilda?   Wendi: Because she doesn't get it!   Dazki: What doesn't she get?   Wendi: She's so traditional. And all she wants to do is, like... living with her is like being in a prison, and then she's the warden and gets to decide everything you do! And one of the things that she definitely doesn't want me to do is, like, magic. And that's exactly what everybody else said, too!   Dazki: Why do you want to do magic?   Wendi: ...when I saw all the mages at the academy, they just seemed so cool! People seemed to like them, and I was never really as good a smith as everybody else.   Dazki: That's fair... I think being your authentic self, plenty of people would like you for who you are.   Wendi: Well, I mean, I'm making friends here. So...   Dazki: That interaction didn't look particularly friendly, with your —   Wendi: He's just having a bad day, because I owe him a bunch of money!   Dazki: And why do you owe him a bunch of money?   Wendi: Because it takes money to craft.   Marvin: The transaction we just made now, is that going to help you out of that at all?   Wendi: Definitely.   Marvin: Glad to hear it.   Wendi: It does go a way towards paying off my friends here.   Dazki: So how did you get involved with such a coercive short-term loan?   Wendi: It's not coercive! We're helping each other out! Why do you guys think they're so coercive all the time, just because they do magic too?   Dazki: No, we think they're being coercive because it looked like he was treating you particularly poorly.   Wendi: He's just having a bad day! Don't you sometimes have a bad day?   Dazki: Today. Today is a bad day. Today is an absolutely fucking awful day.   Dwardazik: Wendi, when people have a bad day, they don't do what we just saw there. That person is having a bad life.   Dazki glares at Dwardazik.   Theran: You know, it occurs to me that some of these spells... I think I know a group of people who might have a use for more of this kind of stuff.   Marvin: Our "friends" at the organization that starts with a W?   Theran: ...what?   Marvin: Oh shit, you weren't here for that.   Theran: I was gonna say there's a house nearby with some people who would want to be able to disguise some monsters on their way out of compounds...   Dazki: Maybe we should hold off on introducing them.   Theran: They're not going to be back until later, but it seems like they could be able to benefit from her over the long-term.   Dazki: Yes, but given the trauma that I did to them recently, I don't think that we should introduce them to anyone just yet.   Wendi: What trauma? What did you do now?   Dazki: I had a bad day. And I was afraid, and I acted upon my fear to threaten someone's life in a particularly frightening manner.   Wendi: I think that's a step up, considering that you didn't murder 'em...   Dazki: ... ... ...thanks.   Wendi: You're welcome!   Theran: Either way, those people have experience with certain types of stuff... Might be able to provide Wendi with some tips in moving forward with her craft? Or at least handling magic a little bit better?   Wendi: Wait, you guys know, like, wizards and stuff?   Dazki: Yes, but again, the wizard of the group is the one whom I threatened to murder. So I don't think she will appreciate me introducing anyone to her.   Wendi: Oh.   Dazki: But we could possibly introduce you to some people at the House of Crystal who might be able to benefit from your expertise?   Wendi: Really?   Dazki: Possibly. We would need to talk to some people first, see if they'd be interested and willing, show them some of your wares.   Wendi: Well, I don't have any more wares.   Dazki: The ones that we acquired from you, we could use those as examples.   Wendi: That would go a long way to making me feel better about you.   Dwardazik: Oh, yeah, that's definitely our number one priority, Wendi.   Dazki: Out of curiosity, though, how did you get involved with Baxton back in Ashport?   Wendi: He ran the Scholars Guild. All those people that those stuffy elitists wouldn't let learn, he lets them learn.   Dazki: And what did he help teach you?   Wendi: No, no, I'm not falling for this trick again!   Marvin, raising an eyebrow: Aww, see that, Dazki? She's wise to your little tricks.   Dazki: Your name is on the list. We're doing our due diligence, all right? We have to report to people that, yes, we interviewed you. I don't want to lie about that.   Marvin: There's a difference between "person of interest" and "suspect", OK? You are not a "suspect", OK? You just might have information that you don't realize is important to us.   Wendi: Oh, OK. So, there's a bunch of different types of magic. And I'm not good at any of them!   Theran: By the sounds of it, you're good at crafting scrolls?   Wendi: That's, like, crafting, though. That's not, like, magic stuff.   Theran: I was in much a similar situation as you for a long time. What sorts of magic have you tried out?   Wendi: Well, I have my little companion around here somewhere...   Marvin: You mean the rodent with the long tail?   Wendi: Yeah, you know what, I'm pretty sure that familiars are supposed to follow orders, but I think we're both a bit rebellious. I haven't seen him in a while. Not since he went off chasing that dog.   Dazki: You mean (description of "Barf")? That dog?   Wendi: Yeah, I guess so? I mean, I guess, it's a dog. It's got legs and spots. Like a dog does.   Dazki: Did it only have four legs, or did it have eight legs?   Wendi: Dogs only have four legs!   Theran: ...this dog can sometimes have more legs.   Dazki: The dog is a magic dog.   Wendi: ...OK? So, that's magic right there.   Dazki: Do you know where it went?   Wendi: It could be anywhere by now.   Dazki: A direction?   Wendi: Uh, ...north? I've been here, like, all day. Anyway, now I can, like, shoot stuff. Which is neat.   Dazki: What do you mean, you can "shoot stuff"?   Wendi: Do you want to see? I'm still getting the hang of it...   Marvin: As long as it doesn't involve us being shot.   Wendi: Well, I don't want to hurt any of the plants...   Theran: You can shoot the dirt? The ground? A rock?   Wendi shoots an Eldritch Blast at a rock; it misses its mark, takes a curve, and slams into the dirt.   Wendi: ...OK, it doesn't always work.   Marvin: I'm sure you'll get there one day.   Dazki: Do you have any more for us other than "the ghost is in the haunted area"?

Wendi indicates that she can, and Dazki lends her his map and an ink pen to mark on it. She makes over-exaggerated strokes on it, circling something that she's not sure about before crossing it out, unthinkingly using the pen to emphasize that there's a spot where she's saying it isn't, outright making a whole mess of it... but the mess generally centers around a location, which I guess is nice? "BFI says it's really complicated to get there, but dwarves have been getting there since before BFI was selling """guides""", so I'm not buying it" and "follow the river until you get haunted" are two things that come out of this.

Dazki: Is there anything else you can tell us that would be helpful? About your associations with Baxton, anything about this Maedia?   Wendi: You're so obsessed with Baxton! You've, like, ruined his whole career!   Dwardazik: Wendi, you have no idea.   Wendi: Just, like, drop it, OK?   Dazki: Yeah, I may have ruined more than his career...   Wendi: I know. You stabbed him.   Dazki: Yeah.   Wendi: You stabbed him all the way to death.   Dazki: All right, well, thank you for your help. Hopefully, purchasing those scrolls will help put you towards being good with your suppliers, and we'll see if we can get you involved with the House of Crystal if any of them are interested.   Wendi: That would be really cool of you.   Dazki: We'll be in touch. You typically sell your goods here, in this greenhouse?   Wendi: Well, not anymore, as I have no more goods.   Dazki: How could we find you if we needed to?   Wendi: Honestly, if you could find me, then my sister could find me, so I don't know if that's the best idea.   Dazki: All right, fine. If we need to find you, we will Send to you, how's that sound?   Wendi: Yeah, Send to me! That's always cool when that happens! It means somebody's thinkin' about ya!   Dazki: Sounds good. Just out of curiosity, random question, if you wanted a cool warlock nickname, what would you want yours to be?

She doesn't have one in mind. Theran proposes "The Spell Stitcher", and Marvin tries "The Cacophony" or a slight tweak like "The Spell Surgeon". "The Spell Stitcher" seems to resonate with everyone, so that's what they go with. It's leagues better than "Mother Girth", anyway. Speaking of "Mother Girth"...

Wendi: I mean, I kinda feel sorry for her, though.   Dazki: Really? Why?   Wendi: I mean, everybody kinda made fun of her the whole time, and she's the last one of her family line. I might not believe in all that tradition stuff, but most other dwarves do. It just seems like a super bummer way to live.   Dwardazik: There's nothing wrong with living by dwarven tradition...   Dazki: I thought you believed that Maedia was a ghost?   Wendi: I guess that's true. You can't be a ghost and a worm mother. You guys are very confusing.   Theran: We're trying to learn more about this situation. It could be that Mother Girth is playing into the legend of Maedia to try to scare people away from her breeding grounds.   Wendi: Sure...   Theran: Or it could be that she was Maedia, and people are just mistaking the spooky noises or whatever as a ghost.   Wendi: Can you do me a favor? Can you let me know when you defeat the big spooky warlock ghost thing with the worms?   Dazki: Sure, we will let you know when we defeat the warlock with the worms.   Marvin: The Spell Stitcher will receive a Sending.   Wendi: OK.   Dazki: Any particular reason why you're interested?   Wendi, quickly: No, no, it's totally...   (Insight 17) Wendi wants to be known. She wants to be herself, and that people love that for her. And if that means that she has to be a little unconventional... then just, uh... let her know when there's a spot open, is all.   Dazki: All right, well, good luck with your loan shark, I guess.   Wendi: He's not a loan shark! Why do you think everybody's always out to get you?!   Dazki: I'm sorry, does he turn into a bear instead? Is he a loan bear?   Theran: He might be a loan wolf.   Dazki: Oh yeah, that would make sense.   Wendi: ... ... ...I mean, he does turn into a wolf... but that doesn't mean...   Dazki: What's his name?   Wendi: ...Wolf Person...   Dazki: Got it. So we'll just look for the Loan Wolf whenever we want to find him.   Wendi: I... ...OK.   Dazki: Keep your chin up, Wendi.   Wendi: I should probably get out of here. They've been trying to get all of the visitors in the city to evacuate.   Dazki: Yeah, they have.   Wendi: And that goes doubly for all of us hanging out. They usually, you know, don't mind people being here. But ever since the whole big attack, now it's """unsafe""".   Dazki: Well, um, ...yeah. It's true that it's not safe here. In the other areas that were attacked by the worms, some really weird shit has happened there shortly thereafter.   Wendi: Listen, I don't gotta know any of the details, all right?   Dazki: All right, just, uh... do you have anywhere that you could go?   Wendi: I mean, I've been in this town longer than you have...   Dazki: Sure, but if you're evacuating, —   Wendi: I'm not evacuating!!! I'm gonna hide from the guards!   Dazki: All right, well, be careful then!   Wendi, muttering to herself: "...evacuating..." when has a dwarf ever "evacuated" anywhere? Seriously...   Dwardazik: Well, Wendi, it's very important to know one's own limits. Like when a cave-in's about to happen, you'd better make sure that you and every other dwarf on your side gets out of there safely.   Wendi: Oh, shove off.   Dwardazik: Well! That's the last time I ever try to give you advice!   Wendi: Why don't you tell my sister I said hi! I bet she'd love that!   Dazki: Is she in the city?   Wendi: She's in the city?!   Dazki: I was asking.   Wendi: Oh, I hope not!   Dazki: All right. Well, if we see her, we'll tell her that you said hello. Until later, then.   Wendi: Yep.

They exit, and Dazki and Theran muse about what Wendi meant by "the other four" (instead of "the other five"). Dazki thinks that it could have been a slip-up, and Wendi is actually "Mother Girth", whereas Theran thinks that Wendi just automatically assumed that she was one of the six unthinkingly... but they should still try to lift her up enough so that she doesn't become a "number seven" or otherwise take the place of one of the already-defeated others. Theran particularly empathizes with Wendi feeling like a black sheep and trying to do something with her life ("it's very easy for people to turn to desperate things when they don't think they have another choice").

Dazki: Well, hey, at least you weren't "the disaster son", right?   Theran: Oh no, I just THERAN just completely left his own family behind, and he's now playing a very good game of hide-and-seek. I'm sure that's not resulting in a disaster.   Dazki: I'm trying to make a joke. Trying to lighten the mood, all right?   Theran: Don't call yourself something bad to lighten the mood. That's just awkward.   Dazki: Eh, but it's kinda true.   Theran: The point is, I think it's a good idea to at least introduce her to the Quicksilvers, and see if they can be people in her corner.   Dazki: I'm worried that, if she is "Mother Girth", that Riley is there.   Theran: If she is, then Riley is like "cool, that's Mother Girth", and "Mother Girth" is taken care of.   Dazki: ...I really get the impression that that would not be the case. She wanted to stop and kill "Mother Girth" and "Fogwalker".   Theran: So, you're just going to leave her as she is?   Dazki: Right now, I think we should investigate Maedia and hope that I am wrong.   Theran: And how many more weeks is that going to be? How much deeper in debt is she going to get into? How much more desperate is she going to get while waiting for us to get around to the "happy ending" part where we can fix all the tiny problems?   Dazki, getting frustrated: Well, look, if you have a way that you think we can solve every goddamn problem, then please, let me know!!   Theran, matching his frustration level: Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just out in the middle of nowhere! I'm eventually going to to back home, I'm not going to get to solve all the little problems when all of this is over. ...(He recenters himself)... We shouldn't be having an argument, we have a job to do.   Dazki, also recentering himself: ...you're not wrong. She needs some people to help her.   Theran: I understand the long-term is important, but there are people who need our help, now.   Dazki: Well. I would be worried for her immediate safety if she met up with Riley. I'm going to be completely honest about that.   Theran: Then we'll find somewhere else for her to hide out. Other people who can take care of her, or at least help be a moderating influence.   Dazki: That's why I suggested we see if she can associate with the House of Crystal.   Theran: All right. That works.   Dazki: I wasn't trying to throw her to the Loan Wolves. I was just trying to make the best of a bad situation.   Marvin: We understand, Dazki.   Theran: And, admittedly, I read too far into things sometimes.   Marvin: Yes. Yes, you do, "Nathan".   Theran: Sorry I kind of blew up like that.   Dazki: No, it's fine. Better to let it all out in moderated bursts, to people you respect who can handle it, as opposed to sneaking into someone's bedroom and threatening them with all that dumb shit that I do.

Come Hell and High Water

There's a confrontation in progress between some dwarves and guards trying to get them to leave the city. A lizardfolk — Soves, as we quickly find out — makes a direct run towards the group, fleeing from something, pack in hand. He thrusts his sack towards Dazki, saying "this is yours and not mine!", and he continues running off. Just as he does, from around the corner, three BFI dwarves are in hot pursuit of him. Dazki tries to look inside the bag before they catch up to him, but the bag is securely tied shut. The BFI dwarves ask where he went, and Dazki points to where Soves ran off to. He tries to ask the BFI dwarves what Soves did, but they're already gone, with others running after them as well: two guards, and a smallish lady with red skin and burning yellow hair.

Maota: I thought I told all visitors to leave the park!!   Dazki: We are on our way out for business with the House of Crystal. We are leaving the park.   Maota: Oh, no, no, wait, not you.   Marvin: Not us, you say?   Maota: Most assuredly, not you.   Dazki: Why not?   Maota: I mean... (she gestures towards Marvin)... look at him!   Marvin: Who, me?!   Dazki: ...what about him?   Maota: Oh yes, you!   Marvin: Well! What can Marvin Undersky do for you?   Maota: Anything you want, little man.   Marvin, to the party: It's usually not this easy, guys.   Maota: I can't have you going into the meeting just like that. I want to introduce myself first! Don't you want to introduce yourself?   Marvin: Yes, Marvin Undersky, bard extraordinaire.   Maota: A bard too, huh?   Dazki bows to Maota. Marvin, a bit confused, follows his lead and bows as well.   Marvin: But you have me at a disadvantage! I don't know your name?   Maota: You want me to introduce myself to you?   Dazki: Forgive us, we're from Ashport, and they didn't exactly tell us a lot when they sent us down here.   Maota, to Marvin: Well, I guess while your friends are busy doing... whatever it is they're doing (looking at the ground, I guess?), why don't we go do something?   Marvin: So forward! I don't want to be rude...   Dwardazik: The name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth. Is there anything you need of us as a group? Or just him?   Maota: Oh, somebody's going to eventually stop by and have you guys meet up, or whatever, but you know what's really grinding my gears right now?   Dazki: What would that be?   Maota, turning to some gawking dwarves around: Visitors in the park, who are NOT supposed to be here!!!   The gawking dwarves run off.   Maota, turning back to Marvin: Oh, but not you.   Marvin: That's such a relief to hear. I wouldn't dare abandon you at this time!   Maota: Recite me a poem. (Marvin starts scribbling something down furiously, as she turns to the rest of the party.) I'm not terribly interested in talking with the rest of you, because we are probably going to have to do a meeting later. But, I don't know if I can trust you just by your amount of exploits. So, I'm glad I ran into you ahead of time!   Marvin:

There once was a lass,
Whose name was quite crass.
She was fierce with her sword
And quick with a word!
And also had a nice ass.

  Maota, feigning some applause: It is very nice... but yours ain't bad either, little fella!   Marvin pulls at his collar a little.   Maota: Oh, don't worry... I have that effect on guys.   Marvin: I'm sure you say that to all the bards who come through here.   Maota: I daresay I must stay on task, before my betrothed comes and fetches me.   Marvin: ..."betrothed"...?!   Maota: I don't know if I trust you.   Dazki: What can we offer you, either as collateral or as assurances?   Dwardazik: It would be kind of strange to trust someone you just met. So you've got some wisdom, there.

Maota holds her hand out, and a quarterstaff appears from a wreath of flames. Each end has a stag's antler on it, making it look almost like a bow. She taps it on the ground, and a ring of fire surrounds them all.

Dwardazik: ...ma'am, if you don't mind, could I at least get your name? I am not really from around here.   Maota: I am Firelord Maota Helens of Highwater. And I firmly believe that words lie, unless under duress. The only true way to understand a person is their actions in combat. How their body moves, how their heart races. Not what their silver tongues spit forth.   Dwardazik: Are you threatening us?   Maota: Do you want to be threatened?   Dwardazik: ...uh... I don't think I've ever been asked that question before.   Marvin: What if we said yes?   Dwardazik: Well, it's not going to be the same if you say yes!   Maota: Do you want to be threatened?   Dwardazik: ...no. Please? It would be a terrible waste of our —   Maota: Well, then the next minute or so is gonna be unfortunate for you!

Combat Summary

• Marvin started with an Otto's Irresistible Dance spell.
• Dazki tried to put the Dimensional Shackles onto her while she was dancing, but he failed.
• Dwardazik's opening flurry of Trip Attacks knocked her prone. She retaliated by using a Legendary Action to strike Marvin, which gave Dwardazik the opportunity to make one more attack.
• Maota reached out her hand for Marvin to help her up. He took her hand — using a "Scroll of Hold Hands" which he bought from Wendi, learning its effect.
• Dazki disarmed Maota, knocking her quarterstaff out of her grasp. He kicked it away.
• Theran used a "Shooty Blam-Blam" spell, two bolts of which connected with Maota and pushed her (along with Marvin) into the nearby river. She tried to Legendary Action to teleport back, but Marvin counterspelled it.
• Maota complained that the party weren't "showing [her] what [they] have" and that they've "hardly broken a sweat", as she dropped a Fireball centered on herself.
• Another one of her Legendary Actions saw her raise a hand and instantly cause Dwardazik to combust.
• Marvin cast Haste on himself and tried to drag her away back to the river, but Dwardazik hit her with an opportunity attack, which stopped her from leaving.
• Dazki doused Dwardazik and gave Maota an, "All right, you've had your fun, are we good now?".
• Theran used a "Stardust Pew-Pew" spell and coated Maota with a bunch of glitter for someone to exploit with a follow-up attack, but before that could happen...

A figure emerges from the crowd, stepping through the ring of fire.

Virren: I must say, we don't have time for this right now. I do wish for all of us to get going, as soon as you're done playing around?   Dwardazik, taking a cautious step back but keeping his weapon and shield drawn: I'll take that as a yield?   Maota: I've seen what I wanted to see anyway.   Dazki: So? We're done here, then?   Virren, crossing his arms: Yes. I believe we are.   Dazki, sheathing his weapon, also walks casually through the wall of fire, (Dexterity Save 26) taking no damage.   Dwardazik, sheathing his weapon and shield: Was that strictly necessary?   Maota: I believe our meeting here was actually quite informative. You expect me to do business with bunch of people I didn't even get to know? (She glances slightly down to Marvin.)   Marvin: Yeah! You can't do business with people you don't even know?   Dazki: Is this really a proper introduction, though?   Virren, sighing heavily: Sometimes, it's good to blow off steam in stressful situations, I suppose. But we really must be going. I trust you have been adequately informed of what we are meant to do here? (He looks to each party member's face in turn, and he seems to get an accurate read of the answer already.)   Dazki: Us? No, we were told that the information would come after the... "test", we'll say.   Virren, with another heavy sigh: ... ...right. I would like you to meet with the rest of the officials here. I do believe that you are valuable.   Maota: And if you're not, then you're definitely leaving this town!   Dwardazik: We... never meant to cause any harm. We are simply passing through. Might I introduce myself? (He gives a slight bow to Virren.) The name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth. Well, I've experienced combat with your fiancée firsthand. She's very fierce.   Virren: I am Virren Sempu'ur of the Red Woods, leader of the House of Stone here. I have now learned a great deal about your exploits, and I do believe that we have a common enemy. I do humbly request that you meet us, deep in the shade of Fhaorn'Shaalth. ...I... will give you time to clean up before then.   Dazki, who got away practically untouched throughout all that: That is appreciated.   Maota lets the ring of fire drop, and it seems to have had no affect on the grass or other plant life.   Dwardazik, glancing to Marvin and then to the crowd that's gathered around: Let's give a cheer to the Firelord and her fantastic performance!   A few nearby dwarves instinctively cheer, but all the elves — including and especially Dazki — just roll their eyes, unamused.   Marvin: Pandering, Dwardazik? Really?   Dwardazik: Well... it was a good fight. And she is, kind-of... you know... a firelord? Don't want to have another one trying to kill us.   Marvin: I've got to say though, Maota, you're the first firelord who's tried to kill me!   Maota: Oh trust me, if I were trying to kill you, you would know.   Marvin: I've always heard the first time is always a doozy...

Maota, still tied to Marvin, picks him up and walks by Virren. Virren recognizes what's going on and uses a Remove Curse spell to break the two apart. Virren and Maota exchange some more looks, and Maota sets Marvin back down after a moment, and the two leave.   (Insight 31) Based on that look, Virren probably does this 3-4 times a day. He's keeping up appearances, and getting slightly irritated at how often he has to do it. It's slightly hard to tell who actually wears the pants in this relationship. By comparison, nobody in Ashport would have gone up to Rex and do what Virren just did.   (Perception 19) Theran notes that Virren is a Wildfire druid.