Session 34: The Mortal Realm

General Summary

Clocks

Recap

Vinum 10 to 12, 3033: Year of Darkness

Finally returned to the Mortal Realm, the Omens took a moment to mourn their loss. They buried Ilya with a few items. His treasured alchemy jug, the helm of telepathy he crafted Augustana, the crushed red pepper flakes Lorelai made with him the first time they had poison time together. Andy blessed every handful of dirt. Sapphire was barely holding it together.

Following the funeral, Lorelai took a moment to commune with Aspen, becoming the Herald of House Carthelian, bearer of the Aspen Tongue. While she did that in her circle of eldritch flame, Amara explained the strange situation the Omens were in to the Thunderbirds, caught between one deal with Aspen and another with the Gray Lady. When she came back, Athena encouraged Lorelai to avoid using the sword, but Lorelai has never felt so powerful.

The Thunderbirds said goodbye to their friends and lovers, promising to meet them in Millich, where they would get a head start on constructing the Carthelian Estate for them while they tracked down the universal solvent. Khorvis and Dorian decided they'd travel with them, too, for a while. Just to Arcanfield, where Dorian will write up a report on what he's seen so far in this quest. Khorvis is going with as an escort, and to see if the university knows anything about the Pathfinders' legacy. They'll join them again on their way back to Millich.

The Omens camped for the night near the grave. In the night, they saw the Sun and Moon assassins pay their respects, memorializing Ilya's resting place with a pair of their swords. A new character, Orianna Floraine, Emissary of Spring, joined the party, seeking Amara on her way to the Kingsmoot. Additionally, Amara had a dream about a door in the mountains, later identified as Whiteplume Mountain, and Augustana made friends with a cat that isn't actually a cat.

Continuing on the road to Handelberg, they met a road block of goblins, but persuaded the gang to leave them alone. Upon pain of death. No, no tolls either. They stopped for the night at the Woodthrush Inn, run by Helen, a small middle-aged halfling. She welcomed the group, got them anything they needed, and rented them a set of rooms. She also entertains a shady clientele, a man who entered nearing midnight as the Omens caroused nearby. He asked for the corner room and bore a wanted poster of the Omens, but a dated one; only Amara and Andy would be recognizable.

Helen pulled him outside to talk, speaking in Abyssal. Andy and Lorelai moved to investigate, and Andy, understanding Abyssal, could make out a few snatches of conversation. They spoke of events in the southeast, near the borders of Fulminaria and the Southern Wilds; a meeting being arranged in Ignix; and the Kingsmoot. They seemed to talk about the events in circles, almost as if in code, and made it hard to follow their conversation.

Attempting to get a good look at him, Lorelai found that this man was obscured in such a way even she couldn't see into his cloak. However, as he and Helen reentered, Andy was able to see through the illusion the cloak of obscurity gave him; he is a high elf, well kempt, wearing a blue set of military mage robes, and a pendant of a shattered sun around his neck.

Andy saw him see them look at him, and register Andy and Amara's presence before hurrying towards the rooms.

Notes