Session 59

Once More on the Hunt

Date: Wednesday, 21 July, 2021
Attending Players: Ashara, Embra, Ish'Mael, Victalyassa
Time 3.5 Hours (Total: 194.5 Hours)

Game Time 22nd of Sowmeadow, 7 AM
To
22nd of Sowmeadow, Noon
Game Locations:
Valtaska

"G-guards..." the meek voice echoed out. The woman looked pale, even for an annurin as her voice called out barely above a whisper.

The room stood silent, only the dust moved in the late morning light that shown through the window. She found her hands twitching as she tried to call out again.

"G-g-guards...robbed," she trembled, the face of death that left mere moments ago burned into her mind. The look of pure wrath on the edge of unchecked violence. She found her legs begin to shake, her hands moved slowly to her chest. "Help...help!"

She moved a quivering foot forward. He weight seemed to shift slowly, her body feeling like a frozen block of ice just barely thawing. Another step and she found herself closer to the front door. If she could reach it, she knew she'd be safe.

"I need...I need help!" there was strength behind her voice now. It gave her confidence. Her muscles still trembled, but they obeyed her now. She stepped forward, then followed it with another step. In a slow, stumbling manner, she reached forward until she grasped the handle of the front door.

As her fingers touched the metal handle, a jolt of fear shot through her. The handle was cold, like the skin of the monstrosity that robbed her. With a fierce shake of her head, she pushed past it and flung the door open and stepping into the daylight.

"Guards! Robbery! Robbery!" She yelled out, her voice shaken but loud. Though the chilly dread was deep in her core, a warmth of retribution rose up as she watched one of the captains riding up on his horse, a few more guards in tow.

The 22nd of Sowmeadow, a chill moves throughout Valtaska as the adventurers follow General Threev and Drosko to the High General's office. Footsteps echo down the hallway as they move through the silent sections. A few guards and servants move about, hardly looking toward the party as they pass by. As the heroes arrive, they note the room dedicated to the art of military management. Walls lined with books on strategy and scrolls spread throughout the various desktops around.
General Threev sets himself up in his desk and apologizes for the lack of seating. In a chair up against the wall, Kivini sits with a book in his hand, looking up momentarily for a brief greeting. Drosko and Victalyassa, still grasping her alcohol from the breakfast with the King, instantly sit in the two open seats in front of the General's desk, while Embra struts inside and walks over to the the General's award wall, considering to take something. Ish Ma'el follows behind and stands in the center, asking if they should be concerned for being in his office. Ashara leans up against the door jam, crossing her arms and scowling at the furniture.
"I prefer my own office when discussing matters as important as this, while the official tasking for hunting the cult has been assigned to various groups, your party has the most evidence and progress. We are still keeping things 'low-key' with your group in particular," responds the General. "With that being said, the High King speaks of the most immediate threat: the spires. I would only add my own request later, but Kivini, have you found anything?"
Kivini explains his gratitude for being rescued and then explains his position as a researcher of cults of various kinds. He believes that the Deus are ACTUALLY new gods that are forsaken gods that the world is starting to open to. Ish Ma'el asks if this is theological or Arcane as he finds it hard to believe. "The embodied gods and guardians are part of the creation of the world, but these gods are something separate, with power unmatched to fey or devils. They bend the fabric of the universe like any god, but are not acknowledges by the gods or guardians. They are forsaken from the other divines, not treated as equals among the other divine. I don't know why this Deus, the ones worshipped by the Sand Cultists, is as aggressive in this way, such as the Cannibal of the Embodied gods. He is different than the other new Deus and treated different even by them."
"So, are these forsaken gods not... bad?" asks Victalyassa.
Kivini explains that they are more neutral and simply "archons of their domains." The Deus of Sand and Corruption is reaching outside of their domain and causing the current issue. He explains that these gods may have come out of the last age, a powerful spell that came across the land and now lingers in deep caves and ruins around Tanaviak.
"I think the more important question is: How do we kill one?" asks Ish Ma'el. Drosko and Kivini are not able to answer this question. "Well, is Valtaska able to lead an inquisition of sorts to burn these people out, they have gods on their side."
General Threev explains that they have tried to petition to Holona, but the guardians step in to keep them "in-check." Ish Ma'el and Victalyassa debate on the idea if killing every person which follows the Deus would work or not. Victalyassa believing that the god itself would have to be killed to not just come back later. Kivini explains that Alexor was able to contend with the gods and it is possible that mortals could contend with the god, saying that "there is no hero at that level now though." Ashara lets out a quick smirk, believing herself to be this equal after hearing the tales from Ish Ma'els book many nights ago, but she stays silent.
Drosko explains that the party has been through a lot in the last week and Kivini believes that it is possible that when they went to "Hell,"that could have been the realm of the the Deus of Sand and Corruption. Embra and Victalyassa explain what they saw: the slaves, the water, the landscape, and the Alshiva (dragon-like beast).
General Threev explains that the cultists may be at the early part of their plans and asks that the party brings a high-ranking priest back to Valtaska, wanting to know what they are, who they are, and what they have planned. Ish Mael tries to work the price of their job, hoping that killing a god can gain him more Marks but the General slows him down and explains that this should happen slowly and naturally. The rest of the party stay quiet and thinking but Victalyassa asks for more alcohol.. to which she is denied. "Per Drosko's request, you have been granted the day to rest and recuperate before meeting a carriage outside of A-Pot-To-Carry (as Ashara insists)."
The General give them their leave while Drosko talks to the heroes about gathering supplies and other small-talk. A servant brings 4 small bags of 100 High Marks to each adventurer and they each decide what to do with it. Ashara swings the bag of High Marks, noting how heavy it is and decides to leave to assault a blacksmith with the bag of money to get her newly acquired armor re-calibrated to fit her nicely. Ish Ma'el deigns that with 100 High Marks he could be able to acquire a new magical item (up to uncommon level) or high-end potions. Embra decides that she will explore the city while Victalyassa plans to write a letter, but looking to get a Vocalorb of sorts that she can use to communicate with her family easier, and that she wants to find newly updated armor as hers has grown quite dirty and disheveled. Finally, she wants to find a way to help Kal, the robot head on her belt, with Drosko.
Ashara makes her way to the High Market, hearing the sound of hammer strikes which indicate to her where the blacksmith is. She can see as she approaches the open pit where people can watch the blacksmith, who is actively placing scales on the plate armor nearby. Ashara walks right up to the blacksmith, a half-orc male, with the stereotypical shirtless apron and glistening sweat. She gets socially too close to him and demands if he can do the job she wants. He says he may be able to and she pulls it out of her bag and places it on his chest. He whistles sharply and says he could do it easier with this type of armor. He asks about the acquisition of the armor and she explains she killed the dragon and skinned it. He says he can do it for 20 High Marks and the extra dragon scales that come off.
Ashara argues that she only has one bag of Marks and want to keep the scales. She offers the bag and to not cut off his fingers after the job is complete, saying that she will keep all the dragon scales, and after considering his options, he accepts. He offers one of his female servants to get her measurements, but she demands it be him to measure her. She leaves her current armor there to be combined with the copper dragon scale armor. She sits naked at the blacksmith, waiting for the job to be completed with her arms crossed scowling at people that walk by.
Embra goes to the A Pot To Carry after exploring a lot of Valtaska and finds the building left open and unlocked. She notes the one shelf that was recently destroyed by Ashara, but notes that there is a healthy collection of potions that are lying about untouched. Among the mundane common potions for minor ailments, there are several crates of healing potions and greater healing potions, along with potions of climbing lying about. She grabs 12 potions of healing (the entire crate), 6 potions of greater healing, and 4 potions of climbing and places them in the center of the shop, a grand total of 230 High Marks worth of potions.
Ish Ma'el pulls out his list of items which he would like to find, knowing that he would like to find at least of those items, work on his arcane focus, and read his books if time permits. While he is walking around the various parts of Valtaska, he comes to the High Market and finds the magical store which sells the items he seeks, the wand of magic missile. An Annurin woman approaches him as he enters the shop and asks if he needs assistance with not.. looking... so.... dead. Ish Ma'el plays on this by altering his voice to sound more disgusting, secretly deeply insulted. He asks for the wand and is guided to the section of the shop which sells several wands, many of them having spells imbued within them. He spots the Wand of Magic Missiles (250 High Marks), Wand of the War Mage (400 High Marks), and several Wand of Pyrotechnics (Thaumaturgy style visual only) and Wand of Smile (50-100 High Marks range).
Ish Ma'el rifles through the wands, tossing some of the cheaper ones away. He grabs the Wand of Magic Missiles and asks "How much?" She says 250 High Marks. He pulls the tag off and asks again, "How much?" She admits that he may need the weapon more, giving him a 10 percent discount down to 225 High Marks. He points the wand to her nose area and asks again "How...Much?" She puts her hands in the air and warns him that they are patrolled often by the guards. "Negotiating..." he says. She holds her hands up, looking confused and offers 210... Ish Ma'el says 25. "Sir if I let you walk out for only 25, they would hang me for sure. I only work here, I do not own the place." she says. "This is a cheap knock-off," he replies with. She lowers the price to 190 and says she cannot go any lower for fear of losing her job. "40." he says, coldly. She explains that if he doesn't have the money, they can do a payment plan. He decides to invoke his Wrathful Gaze, staring deep into her eyes until she whimpers, taking the wand and walking out.
Victalyassa goes out on the town to look for clothing she can purchase, shopping around the tavern where they normally frequent. She pays 1 Mark for the most exquisite clothing that is tailored to fit her. She is offered a choice of fabric, durable enough to resist being torn off. Another material that is always clean, to which Vic immediately turns it down. She tries to get a Vocalstone orb or something equivalent, but she finds that they are 350 High Marks. A halfling man approaches her as she puts them back down on the shelf. He asks if it is for a lover or something else, explaining that she looks "well-traveled." When she explains it is for her family and she gets no rest, he explains that he has a similar item. Walking to the "Clearance section" he presents her a pair of mirrors of scrying that only work with each other, and the timing is important. Both people gazing into the mirror at the same time can see each other through the mirror, being able to see and speak to each other. She explains that it is exactly what she wants, and he emphasizes that a schedule will have to be made. He offers to sell it for 35 High Marks, she asks for 25 but isn't persuasive enough, having them finally settle on 31 High Marks. She slams down her High Marks and takes the prize excitedly. Excitedly, she writes down exact instructions in a letter and includes 19 High Marks to send to her family. She gives two times for them to communicate: 8am Alsday and 11pm Passday.
A heavy amount of Sand enters Valtaska by midday, less than that which covered their airship earlier. The people in the streets take minor interest in the occurrence as a light dusting begins to cover the area. Victalyassa runs to grab Drosko, noting Burn, and a much larger Bread, sitting in the tavern by him. Drosko calms her down and explains that has been happening since they left and Vic emphasizes the possibility of a sign of something bad to happen. Drosko explains that General Threev is out and that Kivini woke up a bit sick in the morning, a stomach bug possibly related to the events of the last day, but he isn't sure what to do. Victalyassa looks out the window, staring at the grains that mist down outside of the tavern and prepares for what is to come.