Session 10
General Summary
The weather is lovely in Varoona as Moira follows Volo through the city to a quaint bakery and cafe tucked into an little alcove off the main, busier streets. After ordering a hearty breakfast, Moira launched right into conversation without thought of the consequences... and she almost spilled all the beans about Erwin. Instead, she made a deal with Volo... if Moira wins, she can keep her secrets and get Volo's bird, Thanatos, for a day. But, if Volo wins, she has to spill everything...
Meanwhile, Newt and The Widow both ended up going to the Temple... though not planning to go together. Newt spoke with a priestess of Varoona about the Namakan Games before strolling into town to make his presence known to the locals. The Widow went upstairs – under the watchful escort of the High Priestess – to speak with Erwin about what he might need to build shotgun shells. He then proceeded to terrorize a blacksmith and two jewelry shops with his life story and the traits all alcoholics share.
Having finished brunch, Volo led Moira a little ways up the street to the Gladiator ring - a large pit in the ground with decorative silver wave-like fencing to keep over enthusiastic onlookers from joining the fight unexpectedly. Upon arriving, a priestess and a human man seemed to be settling some feud. After casting a spell of some sort, a wave of uncontrolled magic erupted and a fiery fissure opened behind the priestess. From within, a horrible fiendish creature with claws, wings, elongated neck, and beak emerged. Without hesitation, Volo jumped into the pit, hitting the creature twice before beheading it on the third swing. With blood on his axe, he invited Moira to spar.
Before heading back to get his tattoo done, Newt gathered information on the Von'Della family. While Lady Eirina Von'Della - the representative for the Arcane Guild in the city - seems to be well-liked, an event in her recent past is the hot topic of rumors. It seems that about twenty years ago, Eirina was the only survivor of a bizarre attack on her family estate outside the city... Nine months later, her son, Callon, was born. Lady Von'Della has not returned to the estate since the incident and many claim it to be haunted.
Bella Five returned from her trance having finished Rani's tattoos. After applying a salve, Rani quickly departed for the Theater for her dancing lesson with Ezra. Noticing the insects and realizing that it was the swarms who would be painting, the backstage director - Marigold Nightwalker - was more than thrilled to offer Rani a deal: free access to the paints for practice on the condition that the theater sell or use the resulting art for their productions. Think of the uproar! The people of Varoona would love it!
Ezra and Rani spent most of the afternoon dancing. Impressed with her talent and intrigued by her relationship with the swarm, Ezra expressed a willingness to continue their lessons in the future. Perhaps, if she'd like of course, Rani could perform with his small dancing group or alongside him in the larger-scale play currently housed in the theater. When Rani's tattoos have healed... she may be stopping by after hours.
Back in the gladiator ring, Moira faced down Diavolo the Executioner. With the first move, he charged forward cracking Moira hard with the blunt end of his axe - still coated in flecks of ichor. Moira successfully managed to hold Volo for a turn and to blind him for another, smacking him lightly with her summoned baguette. Although she managed to run away, he quickly caught up, hoisting her in the air. Although he said "Don't play fair", he wasn't expected Moira's next move... After loudly declaring "I win", she promptly cast sleep on herself. She awoke in Volo's arm outside the ring. As he set her on her feet, he informed her that she had, in fact, won... he promised her a day with Thanatos and gave her the gold she won. After kissing Moira's hand, Volo departed... and Moira booked it to Chaos Reigns.
After returning to Chaos Reigns from her dancing lesson, Rani went to speak with Auntie Four about the two unique items in her possession. Auntie Four dated the map to well before the Dread King... possibly before the creation of the calendar. Bottom line.... it's incredibly old. The suspects the diary belongs to one of the last priestesses of Judas as it seems to have a date referring to right before the rise and subsequent fall of the Dread King.
At the end of the day, the party returned to Cali's Cabana - with three members freshly tattooed. After Cali had excused herself, the Deep End once again discussed what to do about Erwin, the hottest discussion topic for the past couple of days. When everyone had fallen asleep, Newt snuck out and summoned Thanatos... requesting to speak with Volo. After waiting for a half hour, the blue dragonborn arrived. In the dead of night in the streets of Varoona... Newt stood up to Volo, persuading him to strike a deal. Instead of Erwin, Newt and his friends will help Volo gain another bounty... for free. He'll be in touch.
Everyone enjoyed some charming (or not so charming) dreams. Moira spoke with a cloaked figure who gave vaguely cryptic answer to general questions regarding Olivantha. Newt felt a sense of dread closing in on him and entered the Temple of Ah'Shal to find an elderly tiefling man preparing his corpse. Rani returned home and spent time dancing with her swarm alongside a comforting, yet abstract presence. The Widow went to "therapy" deciding that now is a great time to get to now his god, Therarask. It seems they're fond of golden spice.
On the morning of the 26th, the party headed to the Temple where the High Priestess was incredibly defensive of Erwin, not trusting the integrity of the party, particularly Newt. Despite this, Newt declared Erwin safe and that it was now his head on the line before he turned and left.
Thalassa bid them goodbye, hoping that they prove her initial conceptions of them wrong...
Now, it seems its time to look for monsters, wait for this bounty Volo speaks of, and perhaps investigate a haunted estate...
Report Date
10 Jun 2021
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