Session 5: Training for the Future Report
General Summary
Date: Sumday RainRun 18 - Mournday RainRun 24, 27930 9th Age
Informing the Authorities
The next morning after returning from Kipine Grove, the party informed Constable Brom what happened. Brom was very troubled at the news. He said he was already under pressure from newly arrived representatives from the Temple of Huvoi investigating reports of Pezzlian spies in town. When he heard the cultist was an elf, he begged the party not to let others know because of the anti-elf attitudes in the village. (The elves in Elftown originally came to Thornwall to help build the fortress of the forester Fergus. Several stayed behind when Fergus was driven out of the city, so they are tainted by that recent chapter in Thornwall's history.)
Etin's Training
Etin trained at the temple with Themis. He told her everything about what happened at Kipine Grove. She was troubled with the details and said she would pray on the information. She also told Etin she had a headache, and it was the Knight Declarant Paladin newly arrived in town to investigate reports of Pezzlian spies. She told Etin that he would probably be questioned. And that the Paladin might be mean. She also told him that when she left Thornwall the previous day, she was following up on reports of a great stag that had appeared to some pilgrims. She said she dreamed of this stag and wanted to investigate. Themis also told Etin that she had a dream of him. She dreamed he was a marionette. She wanted to remove his strings but when she did, he faded away. Etin seemed to change and threatened Themis, before returning to normal. She made no reference to the shift and wished him well on his renewed adventures. Taking Themis' talk of a headache literally, Etin went to get some medicine from Casper the herbalist. When he arrived, Etin found no sign of Thunder the wolfhound. Knocking had no effect. Two days later, Etin returned and found Casper. He asked the herbalist for some medicine, which he received and gave to Themis. She gave Etin a blessed white sash for him to wear around his neck.
Valen's Training
Valen trained with an old blacksmith, Kynus Stallman, who was also a bard. Valen trained alongside the Three Bunties. When the topic of an old song came up, Valen successfully taught the blacksmith a more authentic version. He also learned the name of his descendant's house in town, Shadowborn Manor. To access it, he would need to locate the original order to seal the building, get it reversed by the Town Council, and possess the deed. The town curator Annette, once Valen located her, said she would search for the documents, but was not all that eager to. Valen also asked Flidais to help him find some poisonous plants nearby in the forest. She agreed to.Flidais' Training
Symon directed Flidais to a druid named Retta who would train her. Symon made a comment about being no fan of druids. He adventured with a druid who he did not get along with, but thought Retta was okay. Flidais talked to Retta about Kipine Grove. The druid told her about the Forest God worshiped by the dwarves in this area of the Commonwealth. She suggested speaking to the dwarves at the brewery.Tri's Training
Tri began training the new Thornwall militia with quarterstaffs and buckets of sand and water. The two tonttu sisters performed well as did the chatty carpenter. The butcher was not up for fighting, but convinced Tri to allow him to bring meatpies for the trainees twice a day. The elven stonemason excelled. The dwarvish teen struggled, but was keen to succeed. Constable Brom and Silas the veteran caretaker helped out and adopted Tri's plans for training. Tri also received some very special cheese from Doldar, the last of its kind. He gave some to Etin but told him not to eat any until he is alone. A few days after his training began, Tri awoke to find an open chest of gith make in his room. Inside was a new comfortable outfit in his size (also of gith make), six sweet gith honey cakes, and a note that said, "Fergus is a thrall. Be careful. Be safe." To Tri, that word "thrall" made him immediately think about mindflayers.New Developments
During their training, the party learned the earthquake that occurred on the night of the 16th caused massive destruction in two northern cities. Travel northwards to them is currently disrupted. The mayor advertised a new adventurers' task, but the Dire Dogs seemed to pounce on it while the party was training. Tri shared his note with the party, as well as information about his quest on this plane. This news angered Etin. Valen cast multiple identify spells and discovered the dagger from Kipine Grove was magical. The party finally investigated the scroll case and found it contained a map. They finally unwrapped the carved stone and discovered it was a carved into the form of a skeletal stag with nine holes drilled in it. When laid over the map, it presumably identified the locations of other dwarven shrines like Kipine Grove.
Seeking the Fáith
Flidais guided the party to the Doire Fuinnseann (part of the way on Tri's shoulders). As they got closer, Flidais heard whispering of a dwarvish prayer in her mind. Then the party heard drums and deep throated singing Flidais identified as mourning. When they reached the sacred grove, Flidais met her old mentor, Belron. He told her the fáith had gone mad. She had been taken over by a dark fae aiosidhe who had corrupted her. Belron said they had fought the aiosidhe off, but it always returned. Belron feared it was because the fáith welcomed her in. Belron said if the party wanted to try and talk with the fáith, they would need to banish the aiosidhe. This would involve each of the party battling one of the four aspects of the aiosidhe.
Character(s) interacted with
Constable Brom Symon Tri's Militia: Elsa and Anna Bakersfield (tonttu sisters), Jos (butcher), Rokos (carpenter), Dona (elvish stonemason), Naj (dwarf teen), Silas (caretaker) Themis Casper Kynus Stallman, blacksmith and bard Retta, urban druid Belron, Flidais' mentor
