Session Thirty-eight: New Friends, Old Friends, and Stonewing

General Summary

- 21 of Solas -

Cyrus, after receiving the message from Uyncis, began sending to Crioth.

"There's a sickness in Brackenmill, it's urgent please send help immediately preferably the avium. I'll make it worth your while. JKJKJK sorry wrong number. Let me know when you're there."

"Don't worry I can come on command. I'll inform people at the Avium and also contact some clerics from St. Ignace if they're not all crazy yet. Winky Face"

The party decided that the next step was to visit the great beast atop the mountain. They got everything together and head out of the hideout. Outside the sun was setting and nighttime was upon them. Yarrow summoned Artip and Lexund as giant eagles and the party climbed atop them to scour the mountain tops.
After an hour or so they found a clearing on a peak of the mountain. Cooper noticed that the clearing had a few large stones from different areas of the world. Cyrus looked down and saw a small kneeling skeleton in the clearing. The party decided to land before the clearing and walked into it. The path here was deeper than near the bandit hideout. There were stone walls that surrounded the clearing and the path that went up high.
Cooper began to climb the wall at the north end of the clearing. As he got up a ways the rock began to buckle and move. He climbed down and the party went over to the south edge of the clearing near the skeleton. Yarrow continued to talk with Artip and Lexund before noticing the skeletons pose. It was in a prayer position. Yarrow got down in the same position and spoke in the language of the giant beasts.

"Hello Great Bird Creature! We are here to be your new friend!" Yarrow screeched. Cyrus and Cooper pulled back as Yarrow screamed loudly in the sounds of an eagle screeching. The large north wall and the peak of the mountain began to move. The stone shifted and great stone wings spread out blocking out the moon. Inside was a massive beast of stone and feather in the form of an eagle. It looked to the sky and shouted in Giant Eagle.
"WHO CALLS FOR STONEWING!" A blast of air went through the cavern and the walls around the clearing and the path opened their wings as well. They all had similar forms but were smaller in signs. Stonewing and the other creatures had glowing yellow eyes which illuminated the night. Yarrow stood up tall.
"Hi I'm Yarrow Fermata. I'm from Meadowfern and we have some questions for you about various things!" The rest of the party looked at Yarrow who finished squawking in a bit of concern. Stonewing lowered his massive head and peered at the Tola. His yellow eyes were not eyes at all but massive caverns that led deep into his head with yellow light emanating from inside.
"What Offering Have You Brought Me Little One?" Stonewing waited and Yarrow finally replied.
"What offering would you like?" The creature raised his face to the sky again.
"MANY HAVE GIVEN ME PRECIOUS STONES AND GEMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD!"
"Did you like those offerings?" Stonewing quickly looked down back at the Tola. Then there was quiet. Obviously this creature hadn't heard such questions before. Stonewing lowered his head and started to breath in to smell the group. The strength of the air pulled the party in closer to Stonewing and he nodded.
"You Are A Fey. What Do The Fey Wish Of Me?" Yarrow shook his head.
"I'm only part Fey but I work for the White Stag. The White Stag sent me to help the scorched grove and to help the guardian there so the forest could heal." Yarrow smiled.
"Does The White Stag Need Me Or Are You Here On Your Own?"
"I'm here because of my own stuff. The White Stag is actually a little mad at me still I think." Stonewing nodded and then raised his wings to the sky again.
"THEN IF YOU WANT MY HELP YOU MUST COMPLETE A TEST OF STRENGTH!"

During this time Cooper began to climb some of the smaller creatures. They were unmoved by his advances and didn't move as he climbed them. He poured over them, looked at their wings and eyes. He cast detect magic and saw that they were almost composed of magic specifically transmutation and conjuration. After some thinking Cooper got off of the one he was on and started to think. These smaller creatures may be golems and not alive in their own right. What about this Stonewing though?

"That's a terrible way to make friends!" Yarrow screamed at Stonewing. The large creature stopped and spread his wings farther in his stance.
"I DO NOT NEED FRIENDS I NEED FOLLOWERS!"
"That seems terribly lonely." Stonewing stopped. The yellow light of his eyes flickered for a second.
"I-I DO NOT GET LONELY!" Around this time Cooper decided to try and climb Stonewing. Cooper made it up fairly far before Stonewing looked down and buffeted him off.
"What is this strength of test and can we be friends afterwards?" There was a silence. "Oh also can we make camp first? We just killed the bandits here and we're really tired." Stonewing lowered himself to the Tola again.
"You Killed The Bandits? What Of Mendez? Their Leader?" Stonewing seemed very interested in this person. Yarrow shrugged and began to explain all that had happened backwards. That they killed the bandits here after killing their leader in Alderheart. That before Alderheart they tried to seal the scorched grove but were betrayed and that they got help from the Tenders after killing Gifu. Stonewing stopped Yarrow after hearing Gifu's name.
"WHERE IS MY COIN?!" Stonewing shouted to the sky. The party panicked for a moment and then Yarrow asked Stonewing what coin he meant. Stonewing's coin protected him from enchantments and could expand his voice for all to hear. Yarrow thought for a moment and then asked Cyrus for the coin they got from Serra Hyne.
Cyrus looked through his things. Specifically the things that Alabaster left behind. He couldn't find that coin, one of the circle of Kren rings, or the crystal shield that they got from Ashbarrow. He did however find Gifu's Circle of Kren ring which was still attached to one of Alabaster's notes. He handed the ring over to Yarrow who held it up to Stonewing.
"We don't have your coin, I think the person who betrayed us took it when he stole the other things from us. We have Gifu's ring though. We took it when we killed him." Stonewing smelled again and shook his head.
"THAT RING IS EVIL AND FILLED WITH FORBIDDEN MAGIC. I WANT MY RING!" Yarrow nodded and began to explain what Aldous looked like and what happened between them. After the explanation Stonewing told them it would be safe to camp in his roost for the night. Stonewing then went back to his spot atop the peak and him and his children turned and shifted back to stone.

The party set up camp. Yarrow made food for everyone as well as for Stonewing and each of his children and placed their meals nearby where he thought each one was. Yarrow also brought out Warder and fed him but also drugged his food with a sleeping potion.

Cyrus sat with Navin and the two began to talk. Cyrus talked a bit about himself with the blind hedge. Eventually Navin opened up and began to talk about his struggles to find work and the oppression of the birdfolk in the capitol. Navin was eventually sucked up into the Bandit Coalition which promised not only food and money but also the dissolvement of the bird council and the structure which had oppressed him.

Cooper spent time on his own preparing his poisons and speculating about his god. Gilex, Teph, and Lunestra all chatted with each other about their various experiences and Lunestra comforted them a bit after their trying times.

After Warder fell asleep Yarrow drank a potion of animal speech and then howled to the moon. He howled 'friends' to the sky hoping to reach the wolves he sent to the mountain back when they were in Brackenmill. After a few minutes he heard a pack of howls. 'Friends' 'Pack Leader'. Yarrow smiled and then turned to Artip and Lexund and thanked them for their help. The two smiled and danced around and told Yarrow that they should come dance with them sometime. Yarrow smiled and the two fey eagles disappeared.

Cyrus and Navin finished talking. Navin a little nervous for the next day asked Cooper for a dagger or a shield and Cooper fitted him with one of his extras.

Cyrus opened his box with the worms and started to talk to them. "It's been a bit. I know you probably can't understand what I'm saying. I haven't forgotten about you guys." The worms twisted together and began to point to the west with a quick flash of blue arcane energy. Cyrus nodded, "We'll get you home," and then closed the box.

The party went to sleep. Cyrus took first watch and focused on the mages that they found suspicious of them and the threat their magics posed. Cooper took second watch and on his watch he saw a flash of light over Alderheart. Not terribly large or long but definitely noticeable. On third watch Yarrow met with the wolves that he had called earlier. The leader of the pack was a wolf with a horribly mutated face and purple goo oozing from various wounds. On the wolfs chest was a crest, the one Yarrow had given to the wolf in Brackenmill.

The two chatted like old friends. The wolf had spent time killing bandits and also plants that moved like people. He was trying his best to keep his senses and not go into a rage all the time but it was getting harder and harder. Yarrow nodded and said that he too has been killing bandits. Their hideout was down the way and mostly empty now. The wolves could make their home there and if more bandits show they could have ambushes for them. Yarrow did warn them that a silver wyrm was magically asleep there and they should avoid it. The wolves nodded and took off for the bandit hideout.

- 22 of Solas -

The party explained the events of the night to each other from their watches and Lunestra started the day by casting Aid on everyone. Cooper and Cyrus started making plans for the test of strength while Yarrow woke up Stonewing and his children.

"Hello Stonewing! Do you guys want breakfast?" The great stone eagle opened his wings and stepped from his perch.
"I Do Not Eat." Yarrow cocked his head to the side.
"Have you ever tried?" Stonewing spread his wings wide and shouted,
"I DO NOT EAT!" Yarrow shrugged and smiled.
"Okay Stonewing, well I think we are almost ready to take your strength of test." Looking over Yarrow saw the mages climbing into Cooper's bag of holding and Cyrus talking with Navin and Lunestra.
"Very Well. For This Test You Must Touch My Beak Before The Sun Sets. I Will Travel To The Other Peak Of The Mountain Range. My Children Will Be Protecting My Path And I Will Create Winds Once I Find The Other Peak. If You Finish My Test You Will Be Worthy Of My Power And I Will Offer One Favour To Each Of You." Yarrow looked around at the smaller stone birds.
"What about your children? They might get hurt if we fight back?" Yarrow asked the great beast. Stonewing raised his wings again.
"IF THEY CANNOT SURVIVE THE TEST OF STRENGTH THEN THEY ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH." Yarrow looked around at them. Between Cooper climbing one yesterday and the fact that didn't take any actions besides commands gave him the information he wanted. Yarrow walked over to the party.
"Alright guys, let me know when everyone is ready and I can ask to start. We have to touch his beak before sundown while his children attack. Oh, Also they're not his children. I think he can summon them or make them so he doesn't care if they get destroyed. I think he's really lonely." The party nodded and they continued their plans. Everyone would be in a bag of holding or colding and Cooper and Cyrus would be the only ones outside the bags. Yarrow popped his head out of his bag on Cyrus's belt and readied himself to cast a spell.
"Alright Stonewing we accept your challenge and we are ready to start!" Stonewing spread his wings and looked as if he was ready to jump.
"VERY GOOD LET THE TEST BEGIN!" Stonewing buffeted his wings low and got ready for take off. Yarrow quickly cast a spell and vines and energies from the earth sprang up and threatened to hold Stonewing down. Stonewing broke free immediately and jettisoned into the sky flying hundreds of feet away.
Stonewing's children all lept into the air as well and started moving towards the party. Cooper quickly cast dispel on one, its eyes flickered out for a moment but the magic was too strong. Cyrus took the moment to cast Fly on both himself and Cooper.
Stonewing's children started attacking one after another. The large stone beasts slammed into Cooper. Stone beaks and claws tore at the Mapach, many of them not getting through his armor but others damaging him greatly. Cooper acted as a distraction and motioned for Cyrus to go.
Cyrus smiled, focused on Stonewing, and with alarming speed shot past the great beast. Stonewing surprised and seeing the Vulpin ahead of him now created a gust of wind to push Cyrus away. Cyrus pushed through the wind and landed on Stonewing's beak.
Stonewing stopped and flew back to his roost. His children all stopped attacking and went back to their posts. Cyrus flew off of Stonewing and the party all exited their bags and stood in the roost.
"You Have Passed My Test... Surprisingly Quickly... You May Each Ask Of Me One Thing." The party celebrated and then started to think. They had questions and desires each of their own to ask about. What was Stonewing capable of and what did he know about? Yarrow would translate for him.
Teph stepped forward first, "How many beasts are there like you? There must be others?" Stonewing took a moment and seemed to count in his head. "There Were Two Dozen When We Were Awakened By The Great Rhythm. We Took To The Rhythm More Than You Smaller Beasts As You Took To It More Than The Lesser Beasts." Teph took notes as Yarrow told him this and Navin walked forward.
"My eyes were taken from me! I want to be able to see again!"
Stonewing raised his wings to the sky. Yellow miasma traveled out of his eyes and the cracks in his stone visage glowed. The yellow light traveled down to Navin and surrounded him. The light began to burrow into the scars over his eyes and his skin began to petrify. In a scream of pain the Mapach doubled over as the top half of his head became as stone. With a gasp he looked up, the holes dug into his head burrowed deep, and a yellow light shone brightly from them. Navin took a minute and then began to run around.
"I can see..." he looked at his hands and the party of people around him, "sort of... everything is yellow and I think I can see... magic?" Navin poked around and as the pain subsided became overjoyed with his eyes.
Yarrow looked to Warder and asked him if he was ready. After a few exchanges Warder shouted at Stonewing.
"Where is the hall of the lost Gods!?" Yarrow looked at him with a huff, "Is that how you want to say it?" Warder nodded and Yarrow shouted the question up to Stonewing.
"They Are Below Us, One Hall Below Us Here And One Hall In Kagi." Yarrow repeated the answer to Warder who lit up with excitement. Gilex then stepped forward after talking with Navin.
"I want your power! People keep taking advantage of me and I wish for it to end!" Yarrow repeated the request to Stonewing who turned to the Tola.
"His Name Is Not His Own. He May Only Get My Power If You Wish It Young Fey." Yarrow nodded and Stonewing raised himself once more. Again the eerie yellow light traveled from his eyes and mouth and surrounded the Jerbeen. The energy burrowed into his eyes and mouth and petrified his flesh. Stone wings grew from his back and he was lifted into the air by the magic around him. After the transformation Gilex stood and happily looked around seemingly witnessing magic for the first time.
Cyrus was next and held his box of worms aloft, "Tell me if releasing these worms will be bad or good. These worms are wizards Hiki the all seeing and Furo the master of life." Stonewing reached down and breathed in deeply.
"These Smell Of Fiends. They Are Tainted By Power From The Elemental Anchors. If They Tried To Steal The Energies Of Strom's Anchor Then They Are Most Likely Cursed By Him. Releasing Them Could Be Very Dangerous." Next Lunestra moved forward holding her holy symbol, Cooper at her side.
"How do we stop the Darkbringer? How do we stop him?"
"The Darkbringer Cannot Return On Their Own. Their Cultists Are Using The Book Of Bark To Replants Their Seeds. They Are Disrupting The Elemental Anchors And Ruining The Balance Of This World. You Must Get The Borealis, Seal And Stabilize The Elemental Anchors, And Help Gesme. If Gesme Is Lost It Will Not Be Long Before The World Weakens And The Darkbringer Returns. If The Darkbringer Does Return Not Much Can Be Done. There Are Artefacts, Anchors Of Magic, Which Make Mortals Incredibly Powerful. If The The Darkbringer Returns Those Artefacts May Be The Only Chance To Seal Him Back Once More." At the mention of Gesme Cooper lit up. He thought for a moment.
"Tell me everything you know of the disappearance of Gesme in great detail." Cooper said cautiously.
"The Darkbringer Cannot Return On Their Own. Their Cultists Are Using The Book Of Bark To Replants Their Seeds. They Are Disrupting The Elemental Anchors And Ruining The Balance Of This World. You Must Get The Borealis, Seal And Stabilize The Elemental Anchors, And Help Gesme. If Gesme Is Lost It Will Not Be Long Before The World Weakens And The Darkbringer Returns. If The Darkbringer Does Return Not Much Can Be Done. There Are Artefacts, Anchors Of Magic, Which Make Mortals Incredibly Powerful. If The The Darkbringer Returns Those Artefacts May Be The Only Chance To Seal Him Back Once More." Lunestra and Cooper began to talk with one another after Stonewing finished leaving only Yarrow with the great eagle. Yarrow smiled up at Stonewing who looked down confused.
"What Do You Wish For?" Stonewing asked getting a confused look back from Yarrow.
"I already told you. I would like to be friends with you as I am friends with the White Stag and Oakheart." A little taken aback Stonewing questioned, "You Would Like To Be A Vassal Of My Power?" Yarrow shook his head.
"No I just want to be your friend. But to get your coin back I may ask for some of your power." Stonewing nodded but still seemed confused.

The party made camp and began to talk about what they had learned. Cyrus took this time to message Crioth.

"Just checking in did you ever check on Brackenmill? Did the avium send anyone? Greater restoration spells reset the symptoms."

"I messaged the head of the Avium and Sterling in St. Ignace. Apparently they're having the same issue there so we'll network for a solution, a sexy solution. <3"

"Can we not do that and can we do that a bit faster!"

"Baby don't rush me, there's not much I can do. I'll stay in Meadowfern and keep all the booky bookies in contact. I can always help you destress if you need. : P"

Cyrus shifted himself and sent to Uyncis.

"Help is on the way, stay safe"

"I will. We have things under control for now. Thank you for getting into contact with people. Stay safe yourself."

Cooper got one of the wands they got from the bandit hideout and took time to attune to it. With it as his new focus he began to cast scrying. Cyrus used his hat of disguise to take the form of Aldous and Yarrow handed Cooper Aldous' boots. Cooper did his ritual and at the end flicked his warhammer with the wand. The sheen of the warhammer shone bright and began to reflect a different image.

They saw Aldous running in the scorched grove. He was carrying a dark book and his staff and seemed to be running from invisible creatures. Yarrow summoned Artip and Lexund nearby and the party watched as the Corvum with dark feathers which glowed red in the sun was scratched and accosted by unseen foes.
Yarrow pointed to the Corvum and told Artip and Lexund that they needed to find him. They both said that that was the White Stags territory and that they weren't allowed to go there. Yarrow promised them the name of Warder the mage and they both nodded. The Prince would like Warder and the Prince wanted to see Yarrow. Yarrow asked where he could see the Prince and the two eagles said just to follow the music in the forest at night. Yarrow thanked them for the information but said that he wasn't going to go there just yet. They then asked him to play music and Yarrow told Cooper. Cooper began to sing terribly and the two eagles tried their best to dance to it.
Cyrus ignored this to send to Oakheart

"Aldous, the one who stole the borealis, is in the scorched grove. If you want to get it back you should stop him."

"Very good little one. I will tell the trees who can walk. In the meantime Alderheart has started to wake and needs help."

Report Date

10 Jul 2021