Co-Workers: Session 37 - I Quit..No, I Quit Report

Written by Raveneye

General Summary

Gerda Short

Gerda returns to the brothel after finding a possible location for Brymoz. The front desk man gives her the note that Abendlied had sent her. Luckily she had prepared the spell ‘sending’ today. She messaged Abendlied and informed her of the situation in less than twenty-five words. Gerda to Abendlied, “Haven’t found Brymroz. Trail led back to the city. Weird stuff, but want to regroup. Please tell me current location.”
Abendlied rides atop the gorgon. The blade is at its hilt in the creature's skin. Suddenly, she receives a message from Gerda. The voice almost made her lose her grip, but she managed to hold on until Terra finished the creature off.
Abendlied, “Brymroz is here. Meet us at the druid grove outside the city in the north. Xopali is probably dead.”
Gerda stands there, confused by the response, and starts heading to the druid grove. However, she begins to question her tracking ability because she tracked Brymroz to the city slums.

After the Battle

Abendlied jumps off the metallic bovine and cleans off the golden blood. She is adding enough pressure to make the bleeding stop. While this was happening, Brymroz looked around the battlefield. Unfortunately, he can only spot two of the three-party members. Suddenly the shrill voice of Abendlied rings aloud in his ears, disrupting his chain of thoughts. Abendlied, “Terra! You know things about nature? Is there anything in here that we can sacrifice in the bull over Xopali or something to make her not stone?”
Terra struggles to regain her voice. The metal-like feet had stomped on top of her, and one of the blows landed on her throat. Nevertheless, she does walk to the slain beast. As she goes past Brymroz, he asks her, “where is your friend? There were three of you?” Then, he answers his question—a solid stone statue of Xopali in ankle-deep crystal blue waters.
Terra and Abendlied just stand there over the beast pondering if there is something in the atrocity to cure Xopali. But, they are too unfamiliar with such a monster to figure it out. Finally, Abendlied shrugs, “Maybe we can ask the pixie fellow to cure her, maybe?” She follows that up with some strategy tips to Terra about waiting for everyone to be ready before breaking a tranced creature. Brymroz angrily watches Abendlied giving the young elf some advice and speaks up, “Also, Terra. Don’t listen to people who run in half-cocked with bad plans. And get people turned into stone.”
Abendlied completely ignores Brymroz and starts walking back to the grove with Terra.
Brymroz gives Abendlied a spiteful look and then turns to the crystal springs to the statue of Xopali. The is frustrated at the two of them for not bother checking on their new comrade. Nevertheless, he begins to examine the clear waters and doesn’t see anything wrong with the water. So, he takes a drink of the water and feels his body seizing up but can shake off the unnatural effects. After shaking off the minor petrification, he walks to the gorgon to examine it. He recalls seeing the creature exhale gas onto Terra, and maybe the organ for that ability is in its mouth or throat area. However, he could not see anything of value in its mouth, so he began dissecting the area around the throat. Finally, he spots something that could be the source of the fumes. There is a putrid-looking gland near the vocal cords. He gingerly takes his dagger out to attempt to remove the organ. But regrettably, he slices through the bag and releases the toxic fumes. Luckily, he could hold his breath in time and get far away from the chilling greenish-yellow gas.
Frustrated with his failed attempt to remove the gland, Brymroz turns his attention to the statue in the pond. The figure, Xopali, is wading in a pool. He wonders if it is still her. He listens for a heartbeat but finds none. Then, he attempts to look for anything magical about the statue but only sees the pool radiating magic. Seeing that there isn’t anything he can do, Brymroz tries to hide nearby and overlook the surrounding area.

The Druid Grove

Gerda reaches the temple of Mielikki. The grounds have a spattering of beautiful wildflowers and tall blade grass. It is hard to find who maintains this establishment, but it is pretty peaceful. Time here feels slow and gentle. It gives Gerda time to think to herself. Regrettably, that wouldn’t last long. Not too long after her arrival, four unusual-looking guards and a bloodhound. They wear dull banded mail and maroon wool and leather armors with unusual-looking masks covering their entire face. She also notices a variety of silver weaponry, and one, in particular, is a four-pronged grappling hook and chain. Last night, something must have happened at the grove to get a trained force of guards to the peaceful lands. These four guards talk to the fairy priestess of the woodland—the tiny humanoid points in the direction where she last saw the wanted leonin and wererat. Abendlied and Terra followed the clear stream that led them to the springs back to the Dryads Forest. They have been relatively quiet as they hike through the terrain. They have caught a glimpse of guards with a bloodhound not too far from them. The soldiers have not noticed the ladies since they are more camouflaged to the surroundings. They assume that the guards are hunting for Brymroz, and both ladies do their best to avoid these men. Gerda sits there in the tranquil circle of the nature goddess, and she is startled by the yowling voice of Abendlied. The teenage-looking lady happily walks to Gerda and gives her a giant bear hug. The sudden burst of happily human-like emotions takes Gerda off guard.
Abendlied hisses to Gerda, “Don’t mention Brymroz!”
Abendlied spins to the pixie, “Your bull problem has been taken care of and on a related note. Can you cure petrification?”
Anna, the fairy, and Abendlied discuss an additional wrinkle of Xopali. Alas, Anna cannot do it today, and she’ll need the material components and 100 gp worth of diamond dust to perform the spell. Abendlied agrees to this and takes leave of the Dryads Forest with Gerda and Terra. The fairy leaves the temple and heads to the springs. She had mentioned that toxins would need to be filtered out.
The party starts to return to Merperro, a city they all really enjoy, to get more spell components that could rive people in dire need. Abendlied grabs the back of Gerda's arm, “Do you still have sending prepared? Tell Brymroz that there are some people with a dog coming his direction. We can’t get there faster than the guards.”
Gerda to Brymroz mentions guards with a dog and the fairy priestess are heading to the spring. Brymroz responds, “Are they coming to hurt the statue?” After hearing that message, Brymoz goes deeper into the wilds. He hopes that the smell of the toxic gas deters the nose of the hound from chasing him.
Abendlied casually talks about Brymroz walking back to town, “So, fuck Brymroz! Why are we trying to find him?”
Gerda, “What happened after you guys left, and why is Xopali a statue?”
Abendlied starts her story, “Because we fought a creature that breathed things that make things into statues. But, a shortlist of what Brymroz has done, beyond the obvious to make me hate him. Is he caused me to get fined by the city guard. Which had tracking magic get placed on me, which is always a great feeling from a despot. Before I paid them off.”
Gerda, “Do you still have tracking magic on ya?”
Abendlied, “Not to my knowledge. Then, he came to talk to a group of people. Literally, a minute before, he shapeshifted into a were-creature and attacked the camp or at least circling it very threatening. Before the druid in charge chased him off. So, that was a continuing example of his wonderful judgment. And then, when I told him to ‘Fuck Off,’ he continued to stalk us for a while.”
Gerda, “Um, I mean, assuming he didn’t want to lose track of you. While also giving you space. But…”
Abendlied, “I was fine with him losing track of us. So, at a certain point, like I don’t know if it was intentional, but at a certain point. Umm, how do I say this? Incompetence and stupidity are indispensable from malice. And, Brymroz has at least crossed that line twice in the past two days. He attacked people and guards in a middle of a concert, and then he shapeshifted into a were-creature. Which he knew it was going to happen, near a group of people.”
Gerda, “Ohh Boy.”
Abendlied, “And mostly causing me to get fined. Which, in honesty, is like icing on this cake in suppose a separate note. Also, he’s passive-aggressive and bitchy about it.”
Gerda, “Well, I certainly…uh! I don’t blame you for being upset with him. I’m upset with him. However, I would also like to talk with him first. Before we figure out what we’re doing next. ”
Abendlied, “What combination of words are you envisioning will say to make this fine?”
Gerda, “I don’t know? But, that it's usually why you try to give somebody a chance to explain themselves.”
Abendlied, “Hmmm, well, I don’t object with you speaking to him again. He does not seem like he’ll be overtly aggressive towards you. But, in the meantime, I don’t have any idea where he is. You told him to leave the spring for obvious reasons. And, he is not wanted in the druid grove. Because the city already sent word on what he looks like, and the pixie doesn’t like him. She didn’t like him before he transformed into a wererat. And tried to attack he or his, I actually don’t know the gender, sacred grove. So, um, not going to find allies in that sacred order.”
Gerda, “Alright, he has pissed everyone off in a five-mile radius. Well, alright, let's go get the diamond dust and then figure out where Brymroz is.”
The party walks through the busy streets of Merperro and heads to the Golden Fleece; they have been frequent customers of this establishment. Gerda purchases more diamond dust as a safety measure. Abendlied suggests spreading the diamond dust to others. Since the experience with the gorgon had taught her a lesson. The teachable moment is not to have valuable supplies on one person. Just in case that one person turns into stone.
After leaving town and to the Dryads Forest. Gerda asks if they have heard of a place known as the “Emerald Circle?”
Gerda, “It was where my initial tracking of Brymroz led me inside the city.”
Abendlied rolls her eyes, “Oh, he is that stupid too. Great.”
Gerda, “And, while I didn’t find Brymroz, there’s um. There is something in that part of town that was making my holy symbol go crazy. There is something significant there, but I don’t know what it is beyond that.”
Abendlied, “When does your holy symbol normally go haywire?”
Gerda, “It normally does that when lycanthropes are near.”
Abendlied, “Well, it seems this place has a population of lycanthrope. So, probably was someone there. We’ve been meaning to buy silver weapons, but we don’t.”
Gerda, “That might be helpful. Well, I’m still hopeful that we can rid Brymroz of his curse. And there is a bunch of lycanthropes in town, then presumably one of them is the one who cursed him. Well, we talk about this more once we get Xopali and Brymrox back. But maybe that is worth looking into.”
Before returning to the Dryads Forest, the party heads to the docks to find a weaponsmith. They see the shop of a half-orc blacksmith. She is a tall beauty with gold piercings through her tusks, and she has well tone physic from the years of working the forges. The party purchases several weapons. Abendlied cursed long sword gives her displeasure when she bout a long silver sword. But, she ignores that feeling. Terra and Gerda both purchase their desired weaponry.
Finally, they go back to the grove and camp for the night. The following day, Anna, the fairy, leads the party back to the pool. The tiny fairy with a large bag of diamond dust. The sack is nearly as large as her. She dumps the load over onto Xopali then begins an incantation. The glittering diamond dust flies all around the static statue. Each particle of glitter changes there forms to tiny needles. Once the creation of the glowing syringes is complete, they all pierce through the solid stone. They are shattering the magical effect and releasing Xopali from the prison of rock.
Xopali looks around, startled, “What’s going on? What happened?”
Abendlied, “We killed it. You owe Gerda 100 gold pieces.”
Xopali, “Say what now?”
Gerda, “You were turned to stone.”
Xopali drags herself out of the pool and dries herself off. Anna takes out six tiny bottles from her waistline. She gives them to Abendlied, “Here is your reward. Two potions each for the three people that completed the job. I thank you for the task and apologize for what had happened to your companion.”
Xopali hands her reward to Gerda to pay the diamonds used to save her.
Abendlied, “Well, this has been a fairly fair endeavor.”
Anna, “Thank you. You guys should be careful. There is a fugitive in these woods.”
Abendlied, “Seem horrible. Do you know anything about him? Did the guards say anything about him, in particular, to keep an eye out for?”
Anna, “Uh, they weren’t able to find him yet. But, they are still searching the surrounding area.”
Abendlied, “That’s good. Hopefully, the fugitive is smart and leaves. And never returns. Because he caused a lot of trouble from what I’ve heard.”
Anna, “I heard he smashed a little girl's face in.”
Gerda, “Well, he didn’t smash her face in. He….”
Abendlied stopping Gerda, “Gerda! Gerda, we’ve all heard the story of what has happened. Who’s to say what is the truth.”
Anna, “Then he used some necrotic sound noise against the crowd.”
Abendlied, “Oh, I’ve heard that one as well. Horrible.”
Anna, “What a monster?!”
Abendlied, “I know. Both inside and out. Anyway, nice doing business with you.”
Anna, “I wonder if he was that wererat that we saw the other night?”
Abendlied, “Very possibly, that explains why the guards were wearing silver weapons yesterday.”
Anna, “Yeah, yeah. I informed them about the wererat and him. SO, to make sure they have what they need in searching for him.”
Abendlied, “That’s fair. Do you think you need an escort back to your grove, or do you feel safe from here?”
Anna, “Oh, I’m fine. Thank you very much.”
Abendlied, “Great. I do apologize, but I didn’t catch your name. I was kinda distracted.”
Anna, “I’m Anna!”
Abendlied, “Anna, yes. Sorry, I heard that mentioned several times. I appreciate it, Anna. If we’re ever in the area again. We’ll come and visit.”
Anna, “Thank you, safe travels.”

Brymroz vs. Abendlied

Abendlied is looking at Gerda, waiting for her to contact him. Finally, she reaches him and informs them they are at the springs waiting for him to arrive. Abendlied and Terra walk to the other side of the clearing to avoid any potential conflict. Abendlied informs Gerda that she has to convince her to stay after talking to Brymroz.
Brymroz arrives at the crystal springs in about thirty minutes. Gerda notices that Brymroz is acting nervously and twitchy. He hears the playing of music on the other side of the clearing. The nervous leonin growls to himself, catching the treacherous Terra with Abendlied. But, he continues to walk to Gerda and Xopali. Despite the tension between the two visible factions of the group. His expression lightens up a bit seeing Gerda.
Brymroz speaks to Gerda, “You’re back.”
Gerda, “Hey, Brym.”
Brymroz nervously says, “I-I, I got the stuff or the-the remains for the spell. No, we need timing and somebody to cast it.”
Gerda, “Oh, you got the thing to heal your curse?”
Brymroz reaches into a side pocket, pulls out a tuft of hair, and then quickly puts it back into his cloak.
Gerda, “Alright, that is a plus at least.”
Brymroz looks over to Abendlied and Terra, “Yeah, no thanks to jackass and the treacherous elf.”
Gerda nods her head in discomfort, “So, Brymroz, we need to about what happened?”
Brymroz sighs, “Uh, are we talking about the concert incident or the were-lycanthrope incident?”
Gerda, “Um, the concert and everything that happened after that.”
Brymroz, “Well, you saw what was happening at the concert. I tried to get close to help Abendlied out. I accidentally bumped into a girl. Before I knew it, I had people in my face. So, I encouraged them to get out of my face with a roar.”
Gerda, “And, it didn’t occur to you….”
Brymroz interrupts Gerda, “Guards came up, of course. It worked. They got out of my face. I….”
Gerda, “I’m aware it worked. Keep going.”
Brymroz, “I helped Abendlied, and she’s pissed. Somewhat understandably.”
Gerda, “Wait, wait, wait, at what stage did you help Abendlied?”
Brymroz, “Oh, she tried to kick me, but I was able to cast ‘guidance’ for her performance.”
Gerda, “Ahhh.”
Brymroz, “And then the guards came up. I didn’t want to start a scene and went with them for a little bit. But, they were super adamant about arresting me. They wanted to put me in chains and-and take me away. That’s. I-I, I couldn’t allow that. I tried to explain the other people assaulted me. So, I tried scaring them away. But, they wouldn’t hear nothing of it. It’s kinda weird? The guards were really fast-acting about that.”
Gerda, “Well, you….”
Brymroz cuts Gerda off, “Well, one thing led to another. We-we got into a fight. I ran off, and I do apologize for a-the deliberate remark. ”
Gerda, “Yeah, that’s was….”
Brymroz, The deliberate remark, I do apologize for. I was trying to find humor in the humorless situation.”
Gerda, “By leaving me to the guards. That you did not want to let take you or put you under arrest under any circumstances.”
Brymroz, “I knew they weren’t arresting you.”
Gerda, “Did you?!”
Brymroz sheepishly says, “Yes.”
Gerda, “Because they almost arrest Xopali. When she wouldn’t say anything about you.” Brymroz puzzled, “She was nowhere near the chase? What happened? How the guards get to her?”
Gerda, “Because after you left, they came back to the concert site to interrogate everyone.”
Brymroz, “Really?”
Gerda, “Yep.”
Brymroz, “Also weird.”
Gerda, “Why is that weird? That’s, sort of, what city guards suppose to do.”
Bryrmoz, “Most towns guard that I’m accustomed to would tell you to piss off. Unless it happened right underneath their noses. I didn’t run in the direction of the concert. I ran in a completely different direction.
Gerda, “Yes, but ahhh.”
Brymroz, “And didn’t they try to uh. Wasn’t there some remarks about a vendor told us when we were headed towards the town square?”
Gerda, with a confused look, “What?!”
Brymroz, “About last-minute changes to the concert.”
Gerda, growing frustrated, “Maybe, I don’t..Ugh!”
Brymroz, “And then, the swiftness of the guard's reactions and especially the swiftness of the people getting into my face. They didn’t even check on the girl. The just uh. I bumped into a girl. She goes down, and immediately there are two people in my face. I fled into the night and realized, ‘Hey, I need to get out of the city. But, I also need the hair or pound of flesh from a….’”
Gerda, “And you opted for the pound of flesh?”
Brymroz, “No, I did show you the tuft of hair that I got from her. I got that and got out of the city. Before you know, a bunch of alarms goes off, and the guards mobilize. And, I waited outside the temple. Not wanting to go near the roads. Just in case, you know, a patrol of guards or bounty hunters. Whatever I had caused. Upon waiting, I saw Abendlied. Who eloquently told me to fuck off. And, I fucked off for a bit, but I got really nervous. Because I don’t want this curse. And, I remembered it had to be cast on a full moon before I transformed for it to work. And, I went to the temple to beg for healing because I couldn’t find you. But they uh already knew about the incident, and I guess there is a strong exaggeration on what’s going on.”
Gerda, “Mhmm.”
Brymroz, “So, they told me to leave. I fled as far as I could. Before blacking out and waking up the next day naked. My shame and dignity exposed to the world. God knows what I ate, and god knows what I did. I fled back to where I hid all my belongings and recovered them. Then ran off to the woods. I saw Xopali, Terra, and a-a-mmm you know who walking along. I followed them for a bit. Hopefully, you would join up with them or lead me to you.”
Gerda, “I was back in the city looking for you.”
Brymroz, wide eyed, “Ohh? Found me.” Shrugging sheepishly. “And then, there was this fight with a bull-looking creature. That, I didn’t see most of the battle. But, when I got there. Terra needed help. I helped her. I couldn’t see Xopali until after the battle. And saw what had happened to her.” He nods in Xopali’s direction, “It’s good to see you recovered. And then-ah, you told me, ‘hey, hide.’ Through a weird message in my head.”
Gerda, “Yes, it is a spell called ‘sending.’”
Brymroz, “Sending. It’s an interesting spell.” Sighs, “and now we’re here. I did try to apologize to Abendlied once. But that is when she told me to fuck off. It’s not like I was doing anything specifically trying to hurt her or piss her off. It’s just, shit happens.”
Gerda, “Brymroz, are you familiar with a concept de-escalation?”
Bryrmoz, “I presume it means the opposite of escalation.”
Gerda, “Yes.”
Brymroz, “The only way that my previous charter ever de-escalated a situation was to slaughter opposition. And, when your enemy is dead. Then, things are decelerated, de-escalated.”
Gerda, “Ah, that explains a lot. With de-escalation, however, the goal is to smooth things over. So that they don’t progress to violence. And hopefully, nobody dies, or gets arrested, or injured.”
Bryrmoz, “A concept that I only seen with you and only tried with Terra.”
Gerda, “Aww.”
Brymroz, “I didn’t know it was called de-escalation. I just remember that Terra wasn’t part of our group, and Abendlied was pissed at her and didn’t want her around. You and I were the only ones to speak up.
Gerda, “Alright, well. Trying to figure out the best place to start with this is? There were a lot of points where…. Let’s back up and go to the concert. I cannot think of a single parent who wouldn’t be upset. If a large and strong-looking stranger suddenly knocked over their child.”
Brymroz, “Oh that, I was. Yeah, that was understandable. But, when they respond with hostility.”
Gerda, “ Well, yes. That is what I’m saying. Parents are almost always going to be very protective of their children.”
Brymroz, “Oh, I do understand that concept. But none of them were hurt, and I de-escalated the situation by scaring them away.”
Gerda, “No, no, that was escalating. That was not de-escalation.”
Brymroz, confused, “But, they ran away.”
Gerda, “De-escalation would have been a sincere apology to the parent and the child. And that probably would have resulted in the parents chewing you out a bit. But, then, hopefully going on their way.”
Brymroz, “Um, I couldn’t tell that from their level of hostility from the level of hostility of them ending up hitting you with weapons.”
Gerda, “If you had managed to convince the parent at that point in time. That you, in fact, did not mean to cause any harm to their child, and you regretted doing so. They probably wouldn’t have gone to the city guard. Do you see where I’m going with this? Because….”
Bryrmoz interrupting, “Anybody could have knocked them over. Would they have reacted such if it was somebody else?”
Gerda, “Maybe, maybe not. We can’t know at this point. But, by not, as far as the parent knew, you were, ‘ok,’ with potentially injuring their child and not caring. And that lodged you in their heads as a threat. Not only to their child but potentially to other people. Which then escalated when you used a magical fear roar effect on everyone around you. Which then made a bunch of people near you view you as a threat—the entire point of having a city guard. You know, regardless of how good or evil or not the city is. Any city guards their purpose is to prevent harm to its citizens. So, if you go around shoving people and you are a six-foot-tall, very muscular person. And then, you go around deliberately terrifying people. Of course, that will bring the city guard down on you. Because their job is to make sure you are not a threat to their citizens.”
Brymroz, “I was trying to explain that to the guard. But they wouldn’t even listen up to that point. Before they were trying to shackle me.”
Gerda sighs in frustration. Brymroz, “Pulling out their whatever whistly flute thing.”
Gerda, “What whistly flute thing, you mean their whistle?”
Brymroz, “Yeah.”
Gerda, “What about it?”
Bryrmoz, “When he pulled that out, that’s when I got into hostile mode.”
Gerda, “You? Oh, Brymroz, tell me you didn’t attack them because they whistled at you?”
Brymroz, “No, no, no, they didn’t get to whistle. So, I….”
Gerda, “So, you attacked them because they were about to whistle? I mean, I heard them whistling. Is that why you, oh, is that….”
Brymroz, “I already began to run at that point. They, uh, they pulled out their whistle for whatever. I assume it was to bring more people into the fight.”
Gerda, “Ugh!”
Brymroz, “ I did almost, well, somewhat hurt a guard. Who seemed to get over it. It didn’t look like I had crippled him. I assume that is why they are still after me. Unless the girl was really rich.”
Gerda, “No, probably not Brymroz.” She’s just nodding her head.
Bryrmoz, “Right, so. Because I hurt the guard is probably why they’re still after me.”
Gerda, “Yes”
Brymroz, “Right, right.”
Gerda, “So, for future reference, it depends on the severity of one’s crime and, admittingly, what the local laws are that change from place to place. However, just because they are arresting you. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be in prison for all time. Sometimes, if it's something minor, they may just lock you up for the night and let you go in the morning.”
Brymroz, “After they whip and beat you to unconsciously, you mean? That’s been what I’ve known.”
Gerda, “Ay, I realize that.”
Brymroz, “These guys were no lord to put their hands on their weapons. Whistle or not.”
Gerda, “Ugh, the point is, if you go around shoving children. Making….”
Brymroz, “I didn’t shove her. I was trying to keep the time of the music and maneuver my way in. And, I messed up….”
Gerda, “Brymroz, Brymroz, BRYMROZ!”
Brymroz sadly says, “You guys are saying I did that on purpose.”
Gerda, “I know, I know you weren’t trying to harm her. But, a parent doesn’t know that, and the city guard doesn’t know that. They don’t know you. They don’t know your intentions. So all they have to go off of are your actions that they have witnessed. And, the actions they have witnessed are that you are a very strong and dangerous person.” Gerda angrily raises her voice, “Who doesn’t care about shoving other people around and may cause them injury! So, they need to deal with that because that is literally their job.”
Brymroz chuckles to himself and then huffs aloud in frustration.
Gerda, “So, the next time that happens. Instead….” Gerda catches herself, “Sometimes, not always admittedly, sometimes you have to fight your way out of things. But, sometimes, you can avoid any of that nastiness by looking and sincerely apologizing. And then, there doesn’t need to be any fighting or any arrest, or maybe the guards say you will need to leave town now. And, uh.”
Brymroz being remorseful, “Um, I panicked when they brought out the shackles.”
Gerda, “Apparently, yes.”
Brymroz, “However, I don’t see how that pisses Abendlied off so much?”
Gerda, “Because Brym, you scared away a bunch of her audience in the middle of her performance. They canceled the entire concert, Brymroz.”
Brymroz, “Oh. I was not aware of that.”
Gerda, “Yes, they had to shut the whole concert down.”
Brymroz, “Maybe, you can tell me what was going on since we parted?”
Gerda, “Well, umm, going back to the concert. I saw you shoved passed a bunch of people and then let out what was, for the record, a very frightening roar. Um, it could be useful, admittedly, something that might be useful in combat when we’re fighting actual enemies that would like to kill us. It is not a good thing to do when we’re in the midst of a bunch of people that we would like to get along with. Um, I was getting a bit frustrated with you at that point. So, I figure, I would just leave you to talk to the guards and clean up your own mess. That apparently was not the right call. Then, I heard a commotion off from where the guards had taken you. And, so I came after you to try and make sure you’re doing, ok. The next thing I knew, you had a whole bunch of guards running after you. And you ran passed me saying that I could deal with them. Then you ran off to who knows where. The guards came back to where the concert was being held and had to cancel the concert because they needed to interrogate everyone as to what they knew about this very aggressive leonin criminal on the loose. Thankfully, we had no idea where you’d gone. They almost arrested Xopali because she didn’t want to say anything. We finally got the guards to leave us alone as they continued the search. Xopali and I went out searching for you. The next day, Abendlied got fined for the incident.”
Bryrmoz chuckles about hearing Abendlied getting fined. Gerda responds with a dirty look and stares at him coldly.
Gerda, “Can you understand, maybe now, why Abendlied was so upset with your behavior. Given that she had to, literally, pay for all the shit that went down you caused.”
Brymroz snorts aloud stubbornly, “But, yes.”
Gerda, “This party is about to fall apart, and I’m trying to keep it from falling apart. But, if you're just going to laugh at this, should I be trying?”
Brymroz, “The party is about to fall apart?” Then, he raises his voice, “Nothing I did was directed at or towards Abendlied. And, yet, the day after the concert she goes and gets one of our members killed. Turned to stone.”
Gerda, “What?!”
Bryrmoz, with a raised voice, “She had no intentions in waiting for you, or waiting for me, or getting any kind of back, or showing any sort of plan to deal with whatever bull they were dealing with. They led Xopali at this pond, got in a fight, somebody died. That’s on her. I tried approaching and apologizing for the outburst at the concert. I didn’t know it got that bad for her. So, yeah, that part on me. Anything afterward, on her.”
Xopali is watching the argument escalate, “Resolution?, What is our resolution to be? You can’t just do nothing.”
Gerda sullen, “I don’t know where to go from here, Brymroz? I am trying to carry out my mission to the best of my ability, and working with this group has been good for that. I think. But, this group is about to fracture. And, you and Abendlied, and possibly you and Terra, need to figure out some way to not constantly be at loggerheads. And also, you need to work on us getting kicked out of town. But, that is a secondary issue.” Xopali, “Perhaps some time apart is best in this situation? Some time to cool off?”
Brymroz whispers to himself, “Or turn to stone.”
Gerda, “Don’t turn to stone. That’s expensive to fix.”
Bryrmroz, “No, I mean to get turned to stone. That’s what happened when the party separated last time.”
Gerda, “Oh, I see what you’re saying. Being separated has caused some additional difficulties.”
Xopali, “Each side has their feeling, opinions, but progress made.”
Gerda, “Well, I think I’ve gone over everything that I was a direct witness to. While I would ask that you work on your temper and confrontationality. When we’re in town, I am still willing and happy to continue working with all of you. But, there is only so much that I can do. If you want me to come to try and help the way things are between you and the other members of the party. I am willing to do so. But, ultimately, you guys are going to have to work things out between yourselves.”
Xopali, “What is needed to move forward at this point, an apology?”
Brymroz, “Having seen how quickly Abendlied gets her dismissiveness riled up. I’m not sure an apology is going to cut it. From either side, really.”
Gerda, “It doesn’t mean it's worth trying. Well, I’m going to go set up my bedroll over there.” She points at the spot in between the split parties.
Xopali, “Perhaps, it is a good time to have a meal?”
Gerda, frustrated, “That sounds excellent. If you would like my help with something, I will be over there cooking.”
Brymroz, “Anything is better than the trash I probably ate as a frecking rat.”
Gerda, “Oh, so you are a wererat?”
Brymroz freezes his body at that moment, realizing what he just said. Then his body folds on itself in despair.
Abendlied walks halfway to Gerda, “Gerda, can I talk to you, please.”
Gerda walks over to where Abendlied and Terra are sitting. They have a lengthy discussion. Then, Gerda walks back to the group, looking sad. Brymroz mingles towards the group to have some of the food that Gerda had made. Finally, Abendlied announces that she is leaving. She says her farewells to everyone but Brymroz.
Abendlied, “It was nice to meet you, Xopali.”
Xopali, “To you, as well. What will you do, and where will you go?”
Abendlied, “I will probably take a caravan going north. It’s a big world. But, maybe, I’ll figure something out in ten years.”
Bryrmoz stands up angrily, “What the fuck!”
Abendlied continues her goodbye s and completely dismisses Bryrmoz’s reaction, “You know how long I live. Right, Gerda? Like, do you know how long my species lives? Is it at least ten years? So what are you talking average, you think?”
Gerda, not surprised she is leaving, “Uh, I don’t know how it is for whatever you are. But, on the short end. I think of humans being on the short end, and they are probably about eighty years.”
Abendlied, “Ok, and everybody keeps on saying I look like I’m in my teens. So, you’re talking about probably sixty-something?”
Gerda, “Hopefully, I think orcs and half-orcs can be significantly shorter than that. But you do look more human than orc. So, with any luck, you should have about sixty years or so.”
Abendlied, “Ok, I can take ten years to figure everything out.”
Gerda, “Best of luck to you. Blessings of Selune go with you.”
Abendlied looks to Terra, “Good luck with Bryrmoz.”
Abendlied begins walking in the direction of the nearest road, and Brymroz speaks up, “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?!”
Abendlied doesn’t bother to turn around to respond, “Leaving.”
Byrmroz, “Why?!”
Abendlied keeps walking, “Because of you.”
Bryrmoz, “Oh, the fuck you do!”
Abendlied ignores Brymroz and continues walking.
Brymroz negatively moves towards Abendlied, “Oy! Meat sack!”
Gerda, concerned, “Bryrmoz, what are you doing?”
Brymroz, “She’s leaving! Why are you letting her leave?”
Gerda, “You really want me to answer that question?”
Brymroz, “Yeah, I want for you to answer that question. You spend all this time trying to keep the party together, and you let HER walk away. Bob walked away. R’in disappeared. She is going to get people killed.”
Abendlied stops at the mention of ‘Bob,’ and she walks back to the group, “Oh yeah, you’re right. I forgot something.” She takes out all the party items from the bag of holding and thrusts those weapons at Gerda, “These are technically group items. I don’t want to make the same mistake that Bob pulled. Here you go. Now, good boy.”
He is frustrated and nervous about the whole situation, Bryrmoz darts his eyes back and forth. He finally notices that Gerda and Terra both have silver weaponry on them. Brymroz backs away from Gerda.
Brymrozstaring at the silver weapons, “What the fuck is going on here?”
Gerda, “Because we are currently in an area filled with lycanthropes.
Brymrozslowly walks away from Gerda and the group. His body grows twitchier, “So, she just walks away!? I don’t think she walks away from anything.” Brymroz narrows his eyes, “Fuck you, guys, too!”
Gerda drops all her silver weapons and walks to Brymroz. Brymroz quickens his pace and looks ready to bolt.
Gerda, “Bryromz, before you go accusing Abendlied of going off and killing someone.”
Brymroz is still backing away, “No, no, no, not purposely killed. She’ll get her party killed. Whoever she ends up with.”
Gerda, “Brym, did you do anything to mitigate your risk to other people. Before you turned into a wererat?”
Brymroz, “I tried to flee the area and tried to get myself cured. I begged and offered payment, and nobody would listen to me. Terra betrays me the first chance she gets because she wants to get chummy with Abendlied. Abendlied is like flint, tinder, and lantern oil. You do one thing against her. She’s willing to band you for life. Yeah, you guys!!! I’ll never trust Terra. You, you keep an eye on everybody else here. I know you’ll pull it all together, just not with them and with me.”
Gerda, “Alright, do you have another way to make yourself cured?”
Bryrmoz, “I can do it myself, and I’m pretty sure there are plenty of temples between here and Jierskaad.”
Gerda, “Alright, best of luck to you then.”
Bryrmoz walks to Gerda, “Here, I know this isn’t your cup of tea. But, it is much less than my cup of tea.” He hands her a necromantic scroll and the staff of Adar. Before he leaves, he gives Terra a dirty gesture. Terra returns the gesture at him. Brymroz runs into the woods.
Gerda goes back to cooking lunch, then remembers. She sends a message to Abendlied and mentions, “Brymroz has permanently taken his leave.”
Abendlied, “If this is a trick, I’ll be very angry.”

Gerda’s Quest

As the tensions slowly dissipate and the sadness, or relief, sinks in, Abendlied inquires about Gerda’s quest. Gerda takes a moment or two to reflect on her dream.
Gerda's Dream
After recollecting the dream, she realizes that she is close to one of those sites. It isn’t too far off from Lord Jefferies and Lady McFey's home. She leads the party northeast and asks them to keep their eyes open. It takes them a while, but Xopali and Terra notice something off the beaten past. Terra could see more detail, and she spies an impact crater. Around the ditch is a series of wolf prints and notices that they turn into humanoid tracks.
Abendlied recognizes the area. It looks like the spot she arrives at, but the body is missing. She brings this up to everyone.
Abendlied, “Oh, this is where I fell.”
Gerda, “Wait? This is where you appeared? Huh?!”
Abendlied, “I think that makes sense. It’s only an hour walk to Lord Jefferies and Lady McFey’s place.”
Abendlied slides down into the crater.
Abendlied, “The body is not here anymore? I wonder what happened to that?”
Gerda, “Body?!”
Abendlied, “Yeah, a guy that I killed… A guy grabbed me when I first showed up, so I killed him.”
Gerda and Xopali, “Ohhh.” Abendlied asks Terra if she could dig up the area. Just in case there is something underneath the impact creator. But unfortunately, they could not locate anything after sifting through the muddy field. So, they spend an additional hour looking around the area. But, nothing is noticeably different than the crater.
The group refocuses their effort on the additional tracks around. First, Gerda notices five different sets of footprints. Then, she spots two sets of tracks going north and the rest heading back to Merperro. The north tracks are roughly heading to Lord Jeffries and Lady McFey’s home.
The party chooses to follow the tracks north and maybe get some information from their old business associates. Terra and Gerda lead the group by tracking the wolf prints. They eventually enter the valley of Lady McFey. The tracks circle around the known location of the entrance. Then, they see the tracks heading back south. To a seasoned tracker, it appears that the wolves followed the scent here and then started following the same fragrance in a different direction.
As the group starts heading back to Merperro, the tracks are heading back to that location. Gerda hears something. It sounds like a giant bird flapping uncontrollably. She looks up and notices an oversized silhouette spiraling out of control. The closer it gets, the more feature she can recognize. It is an injured aarakocra. Abendlied is wondering why Gerda is looking up, so she looks up and sees the same thing. They all watch as the figure makes a large thud thirty feet away.
They see the aarakocra stand up and wobble about, then fall back down.

Rewards Granted

• 6xhealing potions

Missions/Quests Completed

1. Killed the gorgon
2. Saved Xopali

Character(s) interacted with

1. Anna the priestess at the Dryads Forest

Created Content

Crystal Pond

Campaign

The Co-workers

Protagonists

Brymroz of the Orphayned

Abendlied

Report Date

30 Jan 2022

Primary Location

Merperro

Related Characters

• Abendlied
• Brymroz of the Orphayned
• Gerda Stonekiln