Session 14: Hard Negotiation Report

Calista, Ballisar, and Orin enter the royal tent while the Wayfarer and Azidael stay outside. Wayfarer guards goods and Azidael was denied because of his race. The party negotiates a deal with Abat Rishon wherein the Atamani will become special citizens within the united Astoria, have special trade rights, and the Astorians will help them defeat the Kleeruch once the civil war is over. In the meantime, Mother of Sky Kadira will offer the party any supplies they need.

Azidael and Wayfarer go out into the camp and get themselves into trouble. The Wayfarer challenges some Menon Artem Kezon to a ‘duel’ of sorts? However, they don’t speak the same language and things go somewhat awry. The lancer agrees to the duel, but doesn’t understand the concept of the joust. He draws a bow at the beginning of the fight to test their skills in marksmanship, but the Wayfarer charges him directly and immediately unhorses him. The people around are mortified. They come forward angrily and begin to throw mud and dirt toward Azidael and the Wayfarer. Things look tense, but then Azidael has an idea. Knowing that the Atamani are rather superstitious, he uses Vojûn to purify some water. The people are immediately silenced and in awe by this, and revere him as some chosen of Artem and Marasi. They bring him more buckets of water and vast amounts of food and fruits to Azidael to purify, and are wild with joy as he exhausts himself by completing the task on every occasion.

Azidael asks group at large about the negotiations. He learns about the agreement for Astoria to help the Asir Atamani against the Kleeruch. However, nothing can be done until spring and until the Abat Artayin are removed from the Astorian region. Once that time has come and past, it would be possible for Asir Atamani warriors to pour into the eastern reaches and make war against the Third Son. They could operate as scouts or soldiers in equal measure, so Kadira assured them.

Azidael speaks with Calista. They talk about the assassins, connections in Sohenas, and other things. He guesses Daraphon, who runs operations in Sohenas, but Calista says negative. However, she knows who Daraphon is and that she knows the person that Calista knows in Sohenas- confusing, right? They also have a long discussion on every manner of life subjects, growing a useful character bond. Topics regarding names come up, and Azidael explains how he is the first son of Denthatus, while Calista states she is part of the venerable Artayin family.

Orin speaks with Calista. Calista confirms that her and Orin cannot head back to Illidost together, since the needs of the Atamani come first in her mind. However, she does harbor some similar concerns regarding the affairs of the party and the double-crossing reputation of Azidael. Should the need arise, they could perhaps oust the Dhrak’onyth from the party and steer the party true until spring.

Calista speaks with Kadira. She thanks mother sky for her hospitality and secures sleeping quarters.

Party encounters a mass grave with a sign that says 'Wella Astegir' on it, or 'welcome Astorians'. Upon the mound was a patch of strange red and black flowers, which are known as Naarnael, or spiritpedal or spiritstem to the Vestidians. There were burning plumes of smoke in the near distance. It was a burned refugee camp, filled with ash and destroyed supplies. Only a few bodies remain there, since the majority were thrown into the pit. They avoid the place entirely, and rather wisely. The true nature was only half-known, merely a suggestion of something horrible which seemed entirely at home in the violent land of Othos.

Party continues and stops in Worthend to resupply. They see the city and its ancient dark stone walls along with the squat buildings of white plaster and thatch. It is unimpressive to most of them. They walk through the streets and Ballisar sells the great lump of silver for 3 Doriths, 3 Achemals, 1 Toland, and 1 Cearl krun. This is later used to purchase 45 rations. The woman selling them warns the party about horrors between the Ellenon rivers and the Wengath. Brigands and Vojûnic beasts made that region home and assaulted those of foreign kind. Should the party remain wary then it is possible to avoid them, she had been told, but weapons were of equal assurance in that regard.

As the day proceeded, sparse flakes of snow began to tumble forth from the sky. First frost, the harbinger of winter did arrive and communicate its icy message.

Departing from the stout homes of thatch which were legion in Worthend, the party approached the craggy bluffs of Dorithin, miles to the south and flanked by two tributaries of the Great Dike built to defend it millennia ago. Yet, this wonder was not the object of their travels. Word circulated among the peoples of the east that an ancestor grove inhabited the nearby woodlands, ancient and somber in its enduring survivals. Such groves were the symbol of the ancient iterations of ancestor faith, prior to the polished times of Folkmer when the Vestidians built for their ancestors’ temples like the other cultures of Qadal. Few remained, for the years and blights of the land have been cruel upon them. Indeed, many were purposefully destroyed by Typhon during his rampage to ease the murderous crossing of the gray landscape. The Grove of Dorith survived on account of its hidden nature and respectable power, keeping at bay such evils with deadly efficiency. Waiting until dawn to approach, the party camped.

During the night watch of Azidael, a familiar figure emerged from the undergrowth with brazen confidence, taking not one moment to look either left or right. Eryssis, the enigmatic assassin of encounters past came forth with her silent sister in tow. All around them was thick gloom and drab silence, nothing sounding out beside the faith crackling of falling snow. The pair settled themselves beside the watchman and spoke to him without knowledge of his allies. This said, Eryssis participated in most of the discussion while Hirriat scanned the low horizon. She spoke to Azidael about the latest occurrences, notably the intense activity of Syrgus and surprising rapidity of his campaign. She offered vague hints that Illidost had been attacked, but offered no detailes beyond it. She also delivered a letter from Syrgus which Azidael accepted, but noted that he wished to delay before responding once again. Constant exchange might become suspicious and his collusion discovered. Finally, Eryssis departed by expressing some concern about the quick pace of events. ‘Others’ were watching events in Othos, though she never spoke as to whom, and these recent conflicts could spark some larger conflagration. With them gone, Azidael drifted to sleep and the next day came just a few hours later.