General Summary
A Feast for the Ages
The hard job of preparing and cooking turned into truly a team effort, as each party member took their turns in a Themarlun DrakespineAnghor Spider Legsrevelry continuesclientele
Drink Drink Drink!
As the night begins to unfold, Elasha, the head of the Cross Upon the Wood elves, and ally of the party, comes to join the fun. She and the dwarf Kona, both start a drinking contest that all are invited too. The variety and scale of the drinks is something to behold, during which, among many other fanciful stories, Vandre somehow comes about looking like a tree!
The nigh bores on and as the ale flows, a drunken Kona tells the story of how Ivor once defeated an Oliphaunt nearly by himself to save a group of Militia. During the Battle of the Five Armies, they fought a contingent of orcs and Easterlings, separated from the main force, left for dead, until Ivor strode to the front ranks and killed the massive beast. It was the bravest thing she had ever seen. Ivor, out of embarrassment or pride, tells her to stop talking. But Elasha confirms to Vandre that the story is, in fact, very true.
Interestingly, the story also ends with the smaller tale about how the tusks of the beast were bade into a Ivory Handled Dagger, that Tyvor, Ivor's brother, had created for him to commemorate the fight. As the party winds down, Meager Mike tells the group they too must perform the Ritual of Lemuralia throughout Smaug's Lair, if they wish to sanctify the grounds.
"Ghosts of my father, be gone!"
In succession, each member of the group, fills their mouths with beans, bequeaths: Ghosts of my Father, be gone!, while the rest bang pots and pans to drive out the spirits from the building. Shockingly, as each hero takes his turn, they are met by actual specters from their own lives! Each greets them with a portent and a quest to fulfill so the spirits may rest peacefully.
Eschelon, either because of too much wine or too little, flubs his line, and the party also becomes cursed! A rune now marks all of their forearms, and they feel ever weak against the powers of fire.
The party is left shaken but invigorated, as more adventure surely awaits them.
