Before the Battle of the Bands P1- Journal 19

Session 19 - 11/10/2024
***the story so far***
 
Willow acquires a Journal. The Journal seems to be a documentation of Willow (????????), seemingly someone from Willow's homeland - it seems the Ulgen family has made an enemy.
Diaga acquires 3 Busted Warforged Power Cells.
 
We return back to the city of Heilagur. Everything seems pretty quiet, the Northern Lights are making their appearance, orange bands darting across the eyes. We're scheduled to leave for Tralljor tomorrow morning.
Having a bit of time to make final amends before leaving, I head over to Heilagan Runes to catch up with Ondska Stjärnman, who seems restless and is pacing around the shop, bothered by something. This is unusual for his stoic nature.
Ondska still seems mildly bothered by some news of a personal matter. I politely thank Ondska for the work/research opportunity, and let him know I'll be leaving town tomorrow morning. Ondska is pleased with my visit, but still seems bothered.
I make my way over to the Weapons shop, and sell some weapons. I make a profit of: 12 silver, 7 silver, 3 silver, 2 silver, 35 silver; bringing my total coins to 3 gold, 68 silver, 23 bronze
I give Roger 1 silver in exchange for Arcane Handgun.
The rest of our Party also makes various sales of items before leaving town.
As we leave the city of Heilagur, headed to Tralljor, we find three guys wearing bony armor. Our train makes it to a station near the river in the Dulspeki Forest, about 1 hour's worth of train travel away from Tralljor. The train operators are saying the train needs to stop and refuel.
We find ourselves in an icey plains, with a bunch of signposts. Most people are getting out, feeling the earth, enjoying their surrounds. As we get out, the bone-armor men are talking about "The Fountain of Youth", getting really excited about it for the most part.
As the Bony Boys head off down the path conveniently indicating the supposed "Fountain of Youth", I follow maintaining a distance, with Roger and NPC Willow also following along.
We find ourselves hiking through the Forest, the journey not being too difficult, as we approach a cliffside, spanned by a wooden bridge. Two of the Bony Boys have made it across already. The remaining Bony Boy, a larger fellow, puts one foot on the bridge, which visibly creaks. He takes three steps across, as a portion of the bridge snaps, the man barely making it across.
Roger tries to jump the gap, and manages to jump squarely onto the bridge. Roger falls through the bridge, missing the ledge, landing on a ledge *Beneath* the ledge, landing 10-15ft below the bridge.
Roger managed to find a cave (???).
I climb down the cliff to Roger's level, while NPC Willow stays up top, and manages to climb down, cross, and climb back up safely to the other side.
We split off, Roger and I heading left into the cavern, NPC Willow heading forward behind the Bony Boys.
Roger and I find a large cave of shimmering ore deposits. I GAIN: 1 Raakatite (+2)
While we gather these ore deposits, there's a loud, distant chant. It's difficult to make out what is being said. I indicate to Roger there's something unknown ahead of us, as we inch towards the chanting. We hear some clapping and high-pitched noises, as it suddenly goes quiet. The chanting then goes again, and we can make out a word that sounds like "Kane". The chanting continues for another 30 seconds, and then a loud burst of laughter and clapping erupt. It becomes silent again. Roger and I continue forward.
As we get closer, the chanting becomes clearer - this is a group of young men, teens-20s, chanting, laughing, partying. "CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG" as it gets louder and louder. In the very distance, we turn a corner, and 100 feet in front of us is 6 men wearing sweater vests, black to brown hair, approximately teenagers. One of them is holding a large stone bowl, nearly vertical, sipping from. CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG. A little bit of light flickers into their chamber. As we get closer, it seems to appear that they are drinking from this bowl.
I haven't seen any signs for a while for this "Fountain of Youth", the context clues suggest that this liquid has been tucked away in the mountain for some time. This could either be natural springwater, or indeed a liquid associated with the "Fountain of Youth". The guys continue chanting for another 30 seconds, until the bowl is finished chugged by the one guy. They erupt in shock and laughter. They're having a fantastic time.
I prepare a Lighting in a Bottle potion, as the guys seem to waver off a high. The guys indicate they need to meet up with another group, but seem to chill in the cave still, goofing.
I advance to 30 feet before tossing the potion, as the guys see me, apparantly thinking we've brought friends. I chuck the potion.
< BEGIN BATTLE 23 - THE FOUTAIN OF EUTHS>

Of the 6 guys, one falls down, one seems unaffected, and the rest are startled. One of them reaches for a weapon.

Roger charges towards the closest guy, swinging his greatsword, and digging into his leg.

I cast Barksin on myself.

Roger swings again, felling the Guy in front of him. A large wound emerges, the man coughing up blood. Roger stomps on the guy, killing him.

One guy lowers his hands.

The guys try to drag the remaining Downed guy to the other side of the cave.

The Guy with the pistol aims at Roger. Without saying anything, the flabbergasted gun guy is focused solely on Roger, dealing 25 force damage. He nudges one of his other mates, who then lunges at Roger, attempting to Grapple. The bloodied student manages to bring Roger to the ground into a state of Prone.

Roger, in a Prone state, uses Necrotic Shroud. Three of the guys cower in fear. The one with the pistol remains unfazed. Roger laughs in the face of the gun slinger, who then shouts "WHAT DO YOU WANT"

I transform into a Sabre-Toothed Tiger, and charge straight at the gunslinger, slashing him with my Claws.

The gunslinger gets up, attempts to shoot me, and in his fear drops the gun, and it goes off, shooting himself.

The other guys are profusely crying at this point, moving away from me.

Roger spills the blood of another guy. There's seemingly something *in* his blood, with a bit of sparkle.

I circle the cave to gain 20 feet of distance, charging one of the Guys, slashing him with my claws, killing him. His Blood also shimmers.

Roger sneaks up behind the remaining guy, slaughtering him in the process, becoming a bloody pulp.

< END BATTLE 23 - THE FOUTAIN OF EUTHS>
I dap Roger up for a battle well done.
The blood being shimmering is odd - my best guess is that whatever the guys drank modified something within their body (likely blood).
There appears to be a small hole in the ground for where the fountain is pointing to. A little thing of water, a few feet downwards into the hole, seems to be still.
I dump my potion of Placebo, and fill it with the contents of Shimmering Blood.
Roger chooses to eat a little bit of their Blood. Roger immediately deals 1 damage to his arm to test the effects, out of which pours Shimmering Blood.
We survey the sum of our work.
As we exit the cave, its about another 10 minute walk back to the cave. Roger comes up with an idea, and we head back to the cave.
As we make our way back to the cave, we manage to meet up with NPC Willow, who remarks about *their* Fountain of Youth. The Bony Boys were saying that it could instantly kill you. (????) The Bony Boys think this because the sign says "Euth". Willow heads off back to the train. Roger and I head back into the cave. We return to the room, with the 2 inch diameter hole in the ground.
While we're carving up the bodies, we notice that each student is wearing a college uniform. It's a very complex crest, which depicts a minotaur's head, and a head of a trident. It specifically says "Collegium Citharoedorum". I recognize this name - its the same college that Willow went to.
*IT IS A REALLY GOOD THING THAT WILLOW DID NOT ENTER THIS CAVE*
I cast Create Bonfire to dispose of the bodies of the college students, and their uniforms. What remains is the stench of flesh, and the stains of their blood on the cave floor.
Roger sends in an army of rats into the hole to retrieve the fluid.
The rat scampers out with a mouthful of fluid. Roger squeezes the content of the rat's mouth into his own mouth.
We make it back to the train station. NPC Willow cannot help but smell the stench of burning flesh on us, but thankfully, does not question it.
On our way via train to Utdanning, about 30 minutes passes, and we see a troop of Vomethndan soldiers marching in the same direction as the train, with weapons in hand. The Bony Boys specifically point them out. The train makes its way to Utdanning. We have NOT been to this city in a long while.
Stepping off the train, the last time we were here the streets were occupied by lots of Promatican troops, which was about 15% of the crowd. It's now about 1%. This is about the typical hubbub of train activity, people biding their time waiting for trains. One different thing is that the CREST of Utdanning is now slightly different, boasting a bit more color (maroon, cyan, orange). Some of these colors are the colors of the Promatican troops that were here. This very well could be with the fact that the troops were here, and that some negotiations occurred, but I can't be sure what the result of these negotiations were. It could also just be a thing related to the month of the year, who even knows. As I stand there making up my mind, I remember that I told Uta about the Battle of the Bands. Rushing out of the train station, I rush past Meadtown, and make my way up the Yarl's lift. Campus seems very quiet right now. As I make my way onto campus. There's a few people outside working on small projects, but much less than before. I don't really have too much time to burn, so I have to move fast to get to Uta's apartment. There's an excitable Earth Genasi who stops me, and asks me about the special projects. The Earth Gensai mentions a lot of the research projects are getting funded by the government. He's likely talking about the Jarl running projects through campus - the Jarl is in charge of both the city and the campus.
I make it to Uta's apartment. My memories of a bustling loud apartment are met with the silence. I use Uta's door buzzer. I hit the buzzer. There's no movement. Uta is either silent, or not there. I buzz again - there's no response. I head back to the train station, with no noteworthy developments. I inexplicably bump into Dr. Motby.
Dr. Motby and I exchange quick pleasantries. Dr. Motby catches me up on Utdanning developments
 
Promaticans were taking hold of the city for a little bit, and a deal was struck between the Promatican government and the Vomethndan government. He looks around, and remarks about the war kicking up, giving notes of excitement about potentially new customers, but shares a worry about *too much excitement*. He talks about an increase in protests, a bunch of government officials, seizing houses, etc. I press, and Dr. Motby leans in, and thinks there were Ezlekhian spies. But then he laughs, and moves on. As I run back to the train station, I remind Dr. Motby about the Battle of the Bands, who replies that he's a sponser POG NOISES.
The train leaves Utdanning, headed to Tralljor. We make it to Tralljor.
As we approach the town and make it to the town square, there's a large crowd of people. This is a very eccentric crowd, with a couple of *large* demons, chains around their necks, muzzles on their mouths.
A woman goes up on the podium, and starts talking to the crowd about the preparation for the Battle of the Bands.
We make our way two the back of the crowd. In the back stands two players with guitars strapped to their back, punk rock outfits adorned.
The woman bows, and introduces herself as Jarl Gudren.
The bands introduce themselves:

Night Shift

The Vials Davis Experience

Willow introduces us as 'Party 2'

Everyone turns and stares.

Vampire Weekend (introduced by Saint Germaine)

Yarl Gudren continues speaking, welcoming us to enjoy our time in the little town of Tralljor. Breakdown will occur tomorrow morning, outlining specific tasks each person will be responsible for during the festival. Everyone shall meet tomorrow morning at 10am.
She holds up two fingers - we have TWO days before the start of the festival. She remarks how lodging will be provided, so long as you indicate you're a part of the Battle of the Bands.
The bands disperse, and I talk with Saint Germaine, as he appears to be a vampire. He's holding a black umbrella. We start to exchange words, and I'm unsure whether he actually *is* a vampire. I turn to the girl, playfully teasing, and she reassures me that he is NOT a vampire, but is a Dhampir.
Rosebud looks at me, and goes "look, ONE of the people in Vampire Weekend is a vampire. Phoenix is fucking crazy sometimes."
Rosebud and Germaine are willing to introduce us to Phoenix.
A man with drooping black hair, using a black umbrella, littered with piercings, approximately 20s. We exchange words, and Phoenix remarks that there's a lot of vampires down in Ezlekh if you know where to look.
Phoenix and I head southeast to the cornfield, and I do my best to explain the situation, and show them the Shimmering Blood.
Phoenix's downtrodded eyes *light up*, leaning in. He clearly recognizes this is Fountain of Youth.
Phoenix expains that there's a lot of fake ones, but there's a real one. It takes YEARS off your life. It doesn't extend your life however much you drink. I can't tell if he's trying to deceive me, but he's very interested in the vial, despite being low-energy.
I input a sigil lock onto the Potion of Shimmering Blood [Radiant: ᚱ/Bludgeoning: ᛒ/Force: ᛉ].
 
<I HAVE TO GO TO BED>