Session 140

General Summary

• The party dispatched the large heartworms and some of the smaller swarms of other worms while "Barf" regained control of himself, and then they fled the scene as more swarms of reinforcements kept popping up from the meat chunks.
• Helen was very excited after the fight, mostly because she thinks she has a dog now, but also because the fight looked really cool (especially Kesmet), and the worms looked really gross and scary, and she thinks she has a dog now.
• They took her back to the nearby village of Sonta'ar's Workshop, where an ashfall festival was drawing to an end. She ran to her father, Egbert, the mayor.
• Egbert explained that he didn't have a lot to offer as a reward for saving Helen, but he did offer to let Kesmet borrow a ceremonial crown.
• This raised Dwardazik's suspicions, to the surprise of everyone else, and when Egbert teased him for being afraid, he punched the halfling in the chest.
• Dazki calmed down the dwarf, as Egbert and another halfling from the village explained: the town's folklore history features a fire genasi who had once saved the village from a demon. So, every year during the ashfall, they celebrate with a festival where they symbolically burn away their negative thoughts and emotions. So, Egbert had thought it might be really neat to have an actual fire genasi participate in this year's tradition.
• Apparently, part of the tradition involves people being challenged to play "fun little games" to compete to see who will wear the crown by the end.

Full Recap

Heartworm Hills

Combat Summary

• "Barf" started off quivering and shaking.
• Kesmet and Marvin opened up by attacking the worms closest to the heart at range, killing two and gravely injuring the third.
• The third worm called for reinforcements, and the meat cubes from around the area formed into writhing, wriggling swarms of worms.
• Marvin cast an extremely high-level Fly spell to get everybody except Dazki and "Barf" into the air. He tried to pick up the dog himself, but the dog sprouted some sort of Turmoil-based tentacles that physically kept it in place.
• On a particularly well-timed hit, instead of doing extra damage with his melee attack, Dwardazik began to glow, and the glowing force lashed out in his stead.
• Throughout some more combat, "Barf" finally regained his composure and headed over to some of the dead worms to eat their carcasses.
• After another particularly well-timed hit, Dwardazik started to glow again, but nothing extra happened immediately.
• They decided to leave, and they convinced "Barf" to let Helen ride him on the way out. Dazki, Theran, and (especially) Kesmet took pot shots at the worms as they left. Kesmet's Fireball spell hit Dwardazik, and this did extra damage to the dwarf, triggering a vulnerability to fire that would last for several more hours.

After the combat, Helen is really excited that she has a dog now (the party disagrees). They decide to contact Jim to ask if he could still access the Windbreaking Drill to clear the Turmoil infestation in the area. His response is that the drill was only useful once.   Helen "was out picking herbs with Pappy, but I don't know where Pappy went, so we should tell dad". They decide to take her back to town, and Helen is still really excited: "and then we can keep the puppy, and then we can win the festival, and it's gonna be the best day ever!". Dwardazik tries to convince Helen that "Barf" needs "special medicine", but it doesn't do anything; Dazki explains that "Barf" is actually their dog, and so she can't keep him. They agree to let her borrow him until they get back into town.   She describes the festival (in her own words):

Helen: Are you guys excited for the festival, too?   Marvin: Oh, absolutely!   Theran: What sort of festival do you guys celebrate down here?   Helen: It's the ashfall, it's a festival! I like festivals.   Theran: Festivals are pretty fun.   Helen: Festivals are where you can eat lots of food and play lots of games and then you can be a better person, 'cause you can put all the mean stuff that you put away.   Dazki: And so how do you do that at the festival?   Helen: It's really cool, there's a big statue.   Dazki: Uh-huh, and what do you do with the statue?   Helen: At the end of the festival, the festival king gets to light it on fire!   Dazki: OK, so it's a big burning effigy.   Helen: I don't know what that is, but it sounds like a bad word.   Dazki: An effigy is just a big thing that looks like a person.   Helen: OK.   Dazki: So if there's a big statue, and it looked like you, then that would be an effigy.   Helen: OK.   Dazki: So, the statue is an effigy.   Theran: I mean, usually statues make pretty bad effigies, because they can't burn.   Helen: No, it's OK, this one's made out of wood and straw, and people draw pictures and write words about all of the stuff that they're sad that they did, and then it all burns away, and then you're like, a new better person!   Dazki: Sounds like a very fun festival. I'm looking forward to it. You said it's tomorrow?   Helen: It's now!   Dazki: OK!   Helen: We have to hurry! ...slowly! (She had previously suggested that they go slowly and carefully.)

They travel to "the town": Sonta'ar's Workshop.

Sonta'ar Is an Anagram of "At Arson"

Helen has immediately run out of the cart, and into the arms of a halfling in a beige cloak and green shirt, with bright orange hair. He asks Helen about where her Pappy went, as the rest of the party approach.

Helen, bursting with excitement: There was a dog! And there was, like, a bunch of big angry worms, and then we were all attacked by angry worms, and I have a dog now —   Dazki: You do NOT have a dog now.   Helen: — and then all of a sudden, we were all attacked by giant worms, and I don't know where Pappy is, but then the fire guy, and he, like, he blowed up all the worms!   Dwardazik: Wait, that's not your Pappy?   Egbert: I... you need to slow down a little bit! (He sets her down on the ground, gives her a couple of coppers, and tries to get her to go anywhere else, but she's too excited.)   Helen: And the guy! And the guy is just like in the stories, and he blew up, he blew up all the bad ugly worms, and he saved everybody! And the other people helped too!   Egbert, patting Helen on the head: I'm sure all of that definitely happened.   Dwardazik, approaching: The name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth. Pleasure to make your acquaintance!   Dwardazik gives a slight bow, as Egbert enthusiastically extends his hand for a handshake.   Egbert: My name is Egbert Handbasket, and I'm the mayor of this here little town!   Dwardazik shakes his hand, putting on a show of his formidable strength as he does. Egbert tries to keep up. He does not.   Dwardazik, releasing him: Ha-ha-ha! Good attempt! (Pats Egbert on the shoulder.)   Egbert: I'm sorry if Helen here has been a bit of a handful! She and her stories...   While Egbert is distracted, Kesmet secretly snags one of the decorations from around town.   Dwardazik: Well, let me introduce you to some of my compatriots over here! (He motions to the rest of the party, naming them as he does so.) This is Egbert, the mayor! I'm sure he can show us a nice time!   Theran: Excuse me for asking, but are you this charming girl's father?   Egbert: Yes, yes, indeed I am! She wasn't too much trouble, was she? She tends to wander off...   Dazki: Ahh... no, no, she found our lost dog and seems to believe it's hers now. If you could, maybe, gently dissuade her from that?   Egbert, with a very long sigh: Honey, you know we can't have a dog. I... we... I can't do it, all right?   Helen: No, this dog is special and different! It's a special, different dog, and you can have this dog!   Egbert: No, I can't... I don't...   Kesmet: It's a demon dog.   Dazki: Kesmet, you know it's not a demon.   Kesmet: Close enough —   Dazki: Just because it pees on your shoes every morning is no reason for you to call it a demon!   Egbert: Well, I must know why you have brought sweet little Helen down here, instead of...   Dazki: She was being harangued by some wildlife when we found her. There was no one else with her at the time.   Helen: There was, like, so many worms! And there was, like, blood, and guts! And there was fire everywhere! And the guy, like, the guy in the story — remember, the story? — and then he, he blewed them all up! And now, I'm safe! And we can have a dog!   Egbert: No, we can't have a dog...   Dwardazik: Helen mentioned that her parents were nearby, and she didn't seem like she could handle herself out there. We took a gamble that the nearest town — this one — was where she lived. There were some nasty creatures out that way. I'd highly recommend avoiding going too far to the east.   Egbert, suddenly taking a much more serious tone: "Nasty creatures"? So, she really was in trouble?   Kesmet: She also mentioned a... a "burning"? A big statue, something?   Egbert, dismissive: Yes, at the end of the festival, we burn this large effigy. It's, like, a whole thing based on our town's history — (He goes back to his serious tone) but I'm more interested in this whole... did you really save Helen out there?

Dazki gently suggests that they talk somewhere... "less public". Egbert dismisses Helen to go have fun at the festival, and he takes them inside one of the houses. A small, square building with a fireplace crackling in the back. One simple little desk. Rather than a bookshelf, just some haphazard books and scrolls lie in the corner. And... nary anything else.   Dazki confirms Helen's story and gives the location, explaining that the worms were borne of Turmoil. Egbert initially disbelieves him ("now I know yer pullin' my leg, that's just impossible!" / "hasn't been here for, like, over 80 years!"). They push the point further, and Dwardazik even suggests evacuating.

Egbert: An evacuation?! We're in the middle of a festival! Tonight's the last night of the festival!   Dazki: At the very least, we will send word to the House of Crystal. Hopefully, they'll be able to get some Fireguard here to take care of it quickly.   Egbert: I mean, I can try to send word to the Woods?   Dazki: Are there people there who would be able to deal with a problem like this?   Egbert: I mean, the... government, and stuff?   Dazki: Sorry, in our experience, certain sections of the government are not great at dealing with this.   Egbert: Listen, I've lived in the plains my whole life. We ain't never had no problems with 'em, so, I could send word? I mean, I pay taxes. They should be able to send somebody!   Dazki: And we can send word to our contacts in Ashport as well.   Egbert: But there's no reason to be such a downer! And, I'm so very grateful about you saving Helen and all that... (she's kind-of all I have left)...   Dazki: Of course! Can't leave a little girl in danger, out in the wilderness.   Dwardazik: It was no problem. Any dwarf worth his honor would —   Egbert: Are you really a man of... of fire? Helen said you were doing quite a bit of... of fire?   Dazki, pointing to Kesmet: He is the firestarter there.   Kesmet:

  Theran: They probably want you to set something on fire.   Kesmet: Uh... oh! Yeah, then I probably did do it! ...what's going on?   Egbert: Well, this whole festival here is kind of about fire and rebirth, and... shucks, I don't really have a lot to offer you as a reward except for...   Dazki: Tell you what, if you can offer us room and board for the night, we'll call it even.   Egbert: No-no-no, room and board is always free for halflings. That's not going to cut it! (He hesitates.) ...I do have one thing...   Kesmet: Is it gold? I'm running a bit low...   Egbert: If you are staying until the end of the festival?   Theran: Which is tomorrow.   Dwardazik: Wouldn't it technically be tonight?   Kesmet: Yeah, didn't he say that today was the last day?   Dazki: Yes, I believe we will be.   Dwardazik: We've been on the road a long time. We have no intention of leaving immediately, unless you don't let us stay...   Egbert: Your "firestarter", as you called him. It seems like he did a lot of the effort, —   Kesmet:   Egbert: — and he really does remind me a lot of the hero in the old story. I don't really have, like, a key to the city or a vast amount of gold or anything like that, but...

Egbert goes behind his desk to pull out a large — for him — ornate wooden treasure chest, which he sets on his desk. He takes out a key from his pocket to unlock three locks on its front, and then creaks it open. He pulls out a crown made out of gold and brambles. It has six fire opals atop six little spikes atop the crown.

Egbert: Now, I can't promise to let you keep this, as it is an heirloom, but... how would you like to be the Festival King tonight?   Dwardazik: Hold up. Excuse me. (He holds up a hand.) That looks... quite interesting, and all, but we don't necessarily accept items such as this from people we don't exactly know.   Egbert: ...OK?   Dazki: What are you talking about, Dwardazik? He's just...   Egbert: ...I'm not letting you keep it!   Kesmet: Yeah, I think it's, like, a symbolic thing?   Dwardazik: Oh? Then you put it on!   Egbert shrugs and puts it on. It's a little big for his head, and it leans to one side. After a time...   Theran: I'ma cast Checkity-Check on it. He casts Checkity-Check on it.   Dazki: You guys, you don't need to be so worried about the kindness of strangers!   Theran's Checkity-Check reveals that the crown is definitely magic, of the evocation and abjuration schools.   Theran: Huh... it is magical!   Egbert: Well, yeah. That's really the best way to light the effigy at the end of the festival. And it is the king's honor to do so!   Dwardazik: I understand, but I care about our safety a little bit. I would rather know if the mystical hero's ceremonial crown has anything special about it. But if Theran says it looks fairly benign, then I don't see it as an issue.   Egbert: It's very special, which is why I'm not allowing you to keep it! And, certainly, the others in the village will also be trying to vie for it. But somebody needs to start with it!   Dwardazik: What's that supposed to mean?   Kesmet: Wait, are we gonna be fighting people?!   Egbert: Not fighting, we're very peaceful folk here.   Kesmet: ...uh-huh... so, what you're saying is, if I accept the honor of the crown or whatever, no one's going to come after me to fight me for it?   Egbert: No, but they might challenge you to some fun little games here and there!   Dwardazik: Eh, I don't think we should get involved...   Kesmet: Define "fun". And define "games".   Dazki: Why are we being so afraid of this?!   Theran: Yeah, no, this sounds like fun! This doesn't seem harmful!   Dazki: It's just a local festival!   Marvin: Yeah, I dunno about you guys, but I'm looking forward to the music and the festivities!   Kesmet, pulling Dazki aside and whispering to him: Listen, man, I kinda used a lot of magic in that fight thing. I'm a bit spent. So, if we have to fight people...   Theran, whispering back: We're not gonna have to fight people!!!   Dazki, also whispering: We're not gonna have to fight! The worst thing you may have to do is play a game of ring toss or something.   Egbert, not whispering: Oh, that would be a good idea for a game!   Kesmet, back to whispering: But what if it's, like, rings of fire or something?   Theran: Well, it's a good thing you're resistant to fire, then!   Dwardazik, facepalming: Suit yourself...   Egbert, taking the crown off his head: Just try it on!   Kesmet: You swear no one's going to try to fight me for this thing, right?   Egbert: ...well...   Kesmet: What do you mean "well"?!   Egbert: How good are you at dancing?   Marvin: Well, he's an acrobat...   Kesmet: ...sorry...?   Theran: DANCE FIGHT!   Dazki: There's not going to be any actual violence for the crown!   (Insight 25) Egbert is just genuinely confused why a bunch of really powerful-looking people are scared of his silly little crown.   Egbert: Is it... are you bad at dancing? Because we have other events, too...   Kesmet, taking the crown: I'm not bad at dancing. (He examines it a little and (Arcana 18) determines what the evocation part of its magical properties is all about.)   Egbert: Of course, it's mostly ornamental... I wouldn't necessarily attune to it, because you're probably gonna have to give it up if you guys are this scared to, like, do simple little events.   Dwardazik: Now, listen here!   Dazki: Dwardazik, you are acting very afraid. His assessment is not incorrect.   Kesmet: We'll participate. (He whispers to Dazki:) It just gives a slight ability, a little like something else I can do.   Dwardazik: Now, Mr. Egbert, I've been very polite with you, but I do not appreciate you calling me scared or a coward!   Dazki: Then maybe, Dwardazik, you shouldn't act like one!   Egbert: Ooh, coward! Say it!   Dwardazik punches Egbert, acting before either Theran, Kesmet, or even Dazki can move to intercept.   Dazki, moving between them: Dwardazik, what the hell are you doing?!?!

Egbert bends down to catch his breath, when a second halfling enters through the door. "A lady one this time", her hair curled "obnoxiously". Tons of face paint and eye shadow.

Belle: Well, well! Looks like I'm going to have to work really hard for my family to get the crown this year, seeing as a bunch of bullies have already stolen it from you! (She puts out a hand to shake Dwardazik's.) I am Belle Ringslayer, matron of the Ringslayers — and usual winner of the crown! A pleasure doing business with you!   Dwardazik, ignoring her initially and addressing Dazki: He was askin' for it!   Dazki: No he wasn't!!   Dwardazik: Yes he was!   Belle: Are you going to shake my hand or what?   Dwardazik shakes her hand, which she meets enthusiastically.   Dwardazik, rushed: The name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth, and this is not exactly a good time.   Belle: Oh-ho! But I think it's going to be an excellent time! It's been a while since I've had to challenge somebody else for my crown!   Dwardazik: Look, we've got a couple of things to deal with, let alone the fact that this asshole over here is a complete... asshole. Can you tell us a little bit what this crown even means? 'cause it looks like Egbert was trying to pawn it off on us.   Dazki: For god's sake, Dwardazik, really?! Do you not... whoever has the crown at the end of the festival, after all the games, gets to light the effigy!   Kesmet: That part sounds good.   Dazki: That's what the crown is for! Or, at least, that's my guess. I don't see how it could be anything else!   Dwardazik: Oh. OK. Kesmet, can I borrow the crown, please?   Kesmet: Uh, sure. (He hands it over, and Dwardazik puts it on.)   Dwardazik: Hello. Would you like to take the crown from me?   Egbert, struggling through his breaths: I didn't... mean... gimme back that crown!   Dwardazik: You want it? Come and take it!   Dazki: I apologize, my dwarven friend tends to have a bit of a...   Theran: ...temper?   Dazki: ...an inferiority complex.   Marvin: Why do you have to preface that with "my dwarven friend"?   Theran: It's an elven thing...   Dazki: Fair point. Dwardazik tends to have a bit of an inferiority complex.   Egbert, still panting: Perhaps I should... I should explain... further?   Dazki: Please, do.   Theran: Explanations are good.   Egbert: We don't get many genasi around here, all right? And part of this town's inception, its folklore, kind-of revolves around genasi. So I think it would only be right... if... people would try to take... (he stops a bit to catch his breath)... if people would try to win the crown from him. I mean, it's a fi... ...it's a fire festival, for cryin' out loud!   Dwardazik: Ugh. (He takes off the crown and gives it back.)   Egbert: And, quite frankly, I really think you have a — if you can write — a lot of writing to do, mister dwarf!   Dwardazik: ?   Egbert: 'cause you're gonna be full of regret if this is how you... (he pants)... how you interact with everybody.   Dwardazik: Only the ones who call me cowards.   Egbert: Well, feel free to attach your regrets or negative emotions... to maybe a piece of paper, or small trinket... instead of directly into my sternum next time! This is a festival of forgiveness and rebirth, after all.   Kesmet: To write angry letters to Santa, and then burn them!   Egbert: Not quite, actually.   Dwardazik: So, that's what you do? You write your regrets, attach them to this statue, then light it on fire? Symbolic for letting it burn away and all that?   Theran: Symbolic for being able to let go of your regrets and not let them have any hold on you any longer.   Kesmet: Getting peace and harmony and all that. Sounds great.   Egbert: Exactly.   Dwardazik: Sounds a bit more interesting than I thought.   Egbert: I mean, it's all metaphorical. You don't actually burn your enemies or anything like that.   Dwardazik takes out a piece of paper.   Egbert: In the original folklore, there was a genasi named Sonta'ar. He saved this village from anger and villainy caused by an evil, corrupting demon.   Kesmet: Was it our "demon"?   Egbert: So we try to, once a year with the ashfall, burn our corruption, allowing him to once again save this village from negative thought and emotion. It's just, like, a festival, OK? We good?   Theran: Sounds fun!   Dwardazik: Seems reasonable.   Dazki: I look forward to participating. Thank you very much.   Egbert: Now, there will be other families vying for that crown. If you get challenged, I do hope that you try to defend it. Until then, you have the crown, so free food, drink, board, anything you'd like!   Kesmet: Oh, the crown gets you free shit for wearing it?   Egbert: I mean, you're the merry king!   Kesmet: Hell yeah!   Marvin: That's quite generous of you.   Egbert: As long as you can keep it!   Kesmet: Not a problem, I got this. Guys, free food!