Old Friend, New Attire

Researcher: Dīca Dux
 
 
Research: N/a
 
 
Report: N/a
 
 
Journal: The "Gargoyle's" crew arrived at Pondmoor, home to the Mages Guild, and were greeted with traffic and signalmen on griffins coordinating the traffic. It was organized well enough for the number of ships and even had ferries to get us to shore. Save for the crowd avoidant goblin, Guffy, and the hooded one, the rest of the crew went to shore to partake in the festival. On the ride to the welcome center we were told to seek anyone in a white robe with a blue sash for directions or information.
Carame said that he had to go meet with someone out at the eastern pass and would meet us at the dueling office if we wanted to compete. The rest of us were ushered into the check-in office and out of the way of foot traffic coming off the ferry. We were asked for names, but seemed a bit forced when Ravash tried to leave without giving the proper check-in. The teller was holding her hand up at arms length to study everyone individually. Only after the first few did we notice that she was comparing us to the bounty board on the far wall. They were trying to head off any troublemakers from their town early. I subtlety looked over the wanted posters to fin Guffy's there. He was wanted for suspect murder and robbery for 15k gp. Whatever they done it must've been incredible for that bounty. When it came to my turn I panicked and told them my name was Doc, there is no sense using my real name out here, and if need be I can fake being the ship's doctor, all races are animals too. We were offered to store any important documents at the office if needed and told that they'd be well secured. When I turned to exit I saw the guard sentinels they were using; large intimidating automata with fire for eyes. Ravash said that he was going to go to the library to do some research. I assumed it was about the cave and materials we assisted him on and followed as I was still interested in the wildlife associated with the local.
We arrived at the North library. It looked like a small, regular building on the outside, but once we stepped in it turned out to be 3 stories tall and as big as two [football] fields. I followed him around until it became obvious that his interest was in spells rather than what I had thought. I decided to look into the books on biology to see if there was anything of interest. One particular one that I read through for a while was titled, "Birds of Tomorrow". It was a book on the migratory patterns of birds and using the info on when to sail. Seemed to be rather informed overall until I got to a latter part. They were trying to theorize using the flight of the birds to generate power. I laughed at that part as I realized that the book was written by an Izzet. They always were trying ridiculous things. I could think of four different biological mechanisms that would generate much better. After awhile I decided to go somewhere closer to my element and took off to wander to the less crowded more natural area. I passed by a Boros guard that I thought I recognized but passed the feeling.
I wandered over a path across a canyon with a stream with a sign saying Eastern Pass. I kept going and met up with Snoball and An-Core outside a tavern called the "Lord's Hall". We walked in to a cross bridge suspended over the actual bar area and a statue of Cayden Cailean, the drunk god. Going down the stairs we recognized Carame talking to a woman at the bar. We walked over to be introduced to the tavern owner, Belladonna and her husband at the bar, Helgar. They were talking with a cuttlefish class fey that disappeared shortly after we arrived. Carame had been able to secure us a room and handed us two extra keys. I pocketed mine and Carame told us of how his friend found a dream stone. They form when someone whishes for something hard enough. Brigignak pip was the tiny finder that normally uses such stones to trade with other fey as a currency. They typically discard such dark whishes, but this one was different. It was a whish for power that might have come from the "The Abductor" the one whose ship we were gathered on when I had the teleportation incident. The stone called to Lamashtu and might have been answered by an Aboleth. Those things are a real pain for the Simic; they are intelligent with the tendency of greedy kings and like to kill or capture the creatures we release. The Abductor might even be cursed and under the influence of the Aboleth that Carame thinks resided in the area around the Isle of Lingering Tears. The sacrifices the we were supposed to be might even to be giving us as slaves to it. He would be continuing to look into it, but in the mean time he told us of the festivities in the events in the days to come.
From full combat rowboat races to team duels and even a full contact flying race for the winged folk, this fest had much to offer and just as many injuries. Belladonna even offered a team up for the rowing races as her group got 5th last year. We decided to take off to go see what the others would want to do. On our way we passed a Boros guard that recognized me, I quickly glanced to discover Jada. I hadn't seen that water genasi since before I hybridized about 8 years ago. We grew up together, trained together. She always had a passion for her research. She was... a good friend. The accident at one of our research groves when we were 16 made her parents transfer her to the mages guild. Too many creatures escaped, too many injuries, too much death. She disappeared after the Boros' outlawing of the Simic. I was shocked to see her to say the least, and simply told her "Lord's Hall tonight if want?". It sounds so stupid to me now, but I really didn't want to talk too much due to my Vedalkin accent. My original race is fairly rare outside of the guild and I didn't need some incident out in public. Last I heard she was signed into the Boros Legion by her parents and was successful as a mage and a scholar working to figure out the cause of the accident, and likely the last one looking. I heard it was a political move by Dimir saboteurs. I don't really remember what happened after seeing her, I just kinda followed An-Core to the North library to meet the others and followed him back to the Tavern after.