Session Thirty-Two: Bag Foes
General Summary
- 17 of Solas -
The party read their letters and discussed what to do. The day would entail visiting Professor Revayne, Emma, and then searching for Songbird. Cyrus was also concerned about the rubies. He explained to Lunestra that he needed seven star rubies to help his friend make a haven for the dancers. Lunestra offered a solution, she picked the problem apart for a minute and then suggested setting up a distraction and robbing them while leaving behind fakes in their place so they wouldn't be noticed readily. The party began to become a bit more suspicious of her but she claimed that she had been around bandits a bit and had begun to understand their thoughts.
The group got ready, Yarrow took out Starshine, and they made their way to the Council Perch. On the western side of the Perch was the Great Perch Library of Humblewood. The group made their way inside to a large corridor that led to the larger building.
A tall crane saw the party and came to introduce himself. His name was Mordane Swiftgale and he worked for Professor Revayne. He led them into the main floor of the building. Here the tree and its branches grew through the floor. Plants and leaves were shaped into different forms that echoed the shapes of the bookcases in the background. Books and scrolls were everywhere. In the walls, on bookcases, in cupboards. Mordane guided the party to a circular room in the rear of the library. The guards moved aside and the party entered the large discussion room.
Once the party entered the room and sat down Professor Revayne began to speak. Cyrus cut him off and told him that they hadn't done anything. Lunestra asked if this was about Mr. Brackshaw. Professor Revayne continued and told the party that he believed them about their accounts told to the council the other day. He would like them to stay and retell him everything so he could hear it again without pretenses.
Cyrus mainly recounted the events leading up to Alderheart. Mordane and Professor Revayne both took notes. At the end of the recount Professor Revayne thanked them and asked them if they would help him. He wanted to know about a few things.
- Gesme has been quiet and different. He wanted to know more and has been asking everyone about any information they have about it.
- Lord Bloodbeak and Sir Copperfeather have been acting strangely as of late and Lord Walsch has been much more militant. Professor Revayne wanted the party to investigate the three of them and see if anything was going on that the rest of the council should be aware of.
- The Avium is in disarray. Odwald, Clara, Aldous, and so many more professors were either leaving or turning to crime. Also certain students have gone missing. All in all the Avium is in need of investigation.
"Yarrow is really worried about Dan. Can you send to him and get back to Yarrow so he stops." "uhhh yeah yeah, I understand. The little champ is probably worried. Give me a moment and I'll contact him. Thanks cutie."Alabaster got the return message and wretched audibly at the advance. The party looked at him concerned and a moment later Yarrow heard his grandfather.
"I contacted Dan, he's fine and arriving at Alderheart soon today. He's been moving slowly to avoid the fey. Tell Cyrus I said Hi <3" "Thanks, wanted make sure I didn't need to find him. Oak heart is here and he was born of, and feeds on, blood. No worries."The group made their way to the Perch Guard Headquarters. As they approached the building many people started exiting the building. It was time for a shift in guards. Yarrow saw Emma and her group and waved them down. Ade ran to Alabaster screaming, and the two started to fight one another. Emma approached Yarrow and asked him about her uncle as she didn't see him around. Lunestra suggested that they go inside and talk. Inside they went to Baldwin's office and Emma closed the door. In the silence Cyrus began to speak up and told Emma about Aldous and the betrayal with Yarrow filling in details. At first she didn't believe them but after a few details she had a grim look on her face. She asked Cyrus if she could have Aldous's staff. Cyrus was just about to give it to her when Yarrow stopped him and asked if she was going to use the staff as a focus for divination magic to find Aldous. She nodded and Yarrow said that they wouldn't help her in that case because Aldous was too powerful. Emma thought for a moment and then offered a solution. They would spar. Whichever group wins would get Aldous's staff and belongings. Yarrow and Emma agreed and they set up to meet tomorrow morning to spar.
Outside Alabaster and Ade were fighting. Alabaster asked him how he was doing and marveled at the Jerbeens progress. The bard had to cast some spells just to keep the raging young soldier from landing multiple hits. As they continued a large Raptor in immaculate armor came to them and began to yell at Ade who fell to attention. Ade was ordered to return to his commanding officer and waved at Alabaster with an angry smile and left.
The party regrouped outside the headquarters and decided to spend the afternoon looking for the dancers. They went to the Bright Hollows to the Nymph and Crow. The Nymph and Crow wasn't too busy given the time and Cyrus asked the bartender about Songbird. The bartender said that sometimes Songbird came but that it was too early for him to show up yet. Cyrus offered him 3 gp to give Songbird a message. "To Songbird, From friends of a dancing white cat in search of a pair of quickk stepping birds. Find us or send us a message delivered to Gregor Thornspur." Yarrow gave the bartender a cookie and the group left the tavern. A vulpin cleric in robes of Ardea waved the party down and ran to them. She told them that Lord Nina Walsch invited them to tea and wished to speak with them. The party debated in front of the runner on what to do and decided to visit the temple. The church of Ardea was the centerpiece of the courtyard. Large marble pillars with glimmers of gold shining across the temple. They made their way into the large golden doors and saw paintings, statues, and glass windows showing Ardea, the Dawnmother, in various myths and stories interacting with heroes and other gods. They were led down one of the hallways and Yarrow put Starshine away. In a large back meeting room was Lord Walsch talking with several clerics looking over drawings. Lord Walsch waved the clerics away and thanked the group for meeting her. Lunestra was quick to ask what she wanted from them. Lord Walsch raised her talon and said that she wanted some clarifications and had a question for them. She wanted them to reexplain what happened with Gifu as she was still unsure on whether or not to believe it. She had known Gifu for a very very long time and had never seen a cruel side to him. Cyrus recounted what they knew and offered to show her Gifu's body. Lord Walsch unaware of Gifu's body still being alive was very curious. Alabaster grew frustrated with the conversation and cast sending to Bonda.
"Nina Walsch, the McChicken on the bird council, wants to talk about Gifu. They don't believe us about him. Can you come to Alderheart?" "Yes, I am bring the Summer path and the remnants of the other two paths to Alderheart. Taru has the Winter path going towards Bafal Marg."Alabaster told Lord Walsch that Bonda would be here soon and she could talk to her about things. Lord Walsch nodded and then moved to her second topic. The Sun Dance Festival was coming up. They were making preparations and she was wondering if they would participate. Part of the festival is a reenactment of one of Ardea's great myths, Death to the Sun God, where she blesses a group of heroes and they protect her from a great evil. The group would need to read some lines and praise Ardea and they would be the center of the festival. Alabaster looked at Lord Walsch and firmly said no and started to leave with Cyrus and Yarrow. Lunestra said that they were very busy with important matters and wouldn't be able to help her at this time. As they left Yarrow popped his head back in and told Lord Walsch that some people believe she is evil because she doesn't talk to people enough. The group pulled Yarrow along and they made their way to the Underfall.
The group made their way through the Underfall looking for signs of dancers or Songbird. As they traveled Lunestra began to get a sinking feeling and saw the glints of blades on some passers by. She informed the group that bandits were surrounding them and that a fight would break soon. The group prepared and turned to see the bandits raising crossbows at them. The fight started as a few arrows flew at the party. Alabaster prepared to shatter people and Lunestra moved up front and raised her hands. She called for peace. One of the captains recognized her and called her a traitor for leaving their organization back in Marshview. Lunestra asked what they wanted from the party and the leader, Ibard, said that he was told to either kill the group or get them out of Alderheart. Alabaster and Cyrus both became frustrated saying that they wanted to leave anyway but the council wouldn't let them. Lunestra suggested that they discuss it and find a peaceful solution, fighting back tears.
The party was led to a hideout in the Underfall. They were brought into a room with five bandit captains and asked not to cast magic or try anything funny. The bandits explained again that they were asked to get the group out of Alderheart by any means necessary. Cyrus asked if they could work together since he needed something stolen. The bandits shrugged and said they would need to talk to their bosses. Alabaster pressed them and Yarrow bothered them as well about their bosses. Eventually the captains, one by one, left the room except for a tall Gruis who seemed half asleep. The captains were going to go get their bosses and left one captain in the room with the party, Captain Flim. Flim talked with the group for a minute and continued to chew what seemed like bark from his pocket. As the conversation went on he became more and more delirious until Yarrow offered that he sleep in his bag of colding. The Gruis nodded and curled up in the bag and went to sleep. Once alone the party began to use magic. Yarrow carved out 'Fermata was here' in the walls of the room. Alabaster popped his head out and intimidated the bandits guarding the room they were in and they came back inside. Cyrus took the time to use sending to message Baldwin.
"Can you come get us? We're in the Underfall and bandits got us, bring men. We're in the Eastern root near the Nymph and Crow!" "What! Captured by bandits! Is Lunestra with you? We'll be right there!"The party talked for a minute about what to do and whether or not they should teleport out of the room and up the tree. After a little discussion they began to hear fighting, the clashing of steel, and the sounds of magical fires and explosions.
They ran out towards the sounds of battle. They came to a long tunnel and at the end were bandits fighting Perch Guard. Closest to the group was a Cervan in plate mail and a Corvum in leather armor holding a knife. At their feet was a pile of armor and cloth. Lunestra quickly recognized it as Baldwin's armor. Lunestra lifted her swords and began to move to attack. As she did the Corvum raised his talon and a blast of fire ruptured the group causing them to scatter a bit. Alabaster cleared his eyes and through the flames looked around. Clothing on the ground but no blood. Behind these two were other bandits fighting guards. He could see one body but the others were just piles of armor. No bodies. No blood. Yarrow launched himself down the hall and shifted into a treant. The Tola began to grow in size until his form blocked most of the tunnel. He then put a limb on the wall and a red glow scattered into the wood. Wolves made of wood instead of flesh twisted out from the root and began to attack. Cyrus started dancing and as the Cervan in plate started to run at them he cast Phantasmal Force on him. Alabaster looked at the Corvum who stood tall and cocked his head while looking at the party. Smiling, the Corvum was smiling, Alabaster charged his gauntlets and cast Lightning Bolt. The front of people's houses were destroyed and the Corvum was struck squarely with the blast. Lunestra used the distraction to run up and attack the Cervan running at them. She furiously attacked him occasionally glowing with radiant energy as her strikes flashed in pink and white light. The Cervan retaliated with his own attacks knocking Lunestra back a bit. The bandits were overwhelming the Perch Guard at the end of the tunnel. Yarrow reached his hand out to the root and began to communicate with Alderheart.
"I'm attempting to catch people who are hurting you, can you help me?" Yarrow asked the great tree. The walls pulsed with a delicate life. "Danger?" The tree spoke through it's root into Yarrow's wooden limb. The Tola thought for a moment. "Posionous plants grown within your roots." The tree shuddered at the message. "The foreign plants must be weeded." Yarrow began to think for a moment and then worried about this response. "oh no... how about if you just close off for the most part, two tunnels down below." The root shuddered again. "Seal my roots." Yarrow panicked a bit, "Not all of them only two!? Nevermind, we'll talk later, also Oakheart says hi."Yarrow pulled out of his conversation with the roots and moved forward. He looked down the tunnel and cast Plant Growth causing the ground, walls, and ceiling of the tunnel to sprout and grow vines and thorns. Alabaster looked to Lunestra and cast Haste on her. Then he ran into one of the houses in the wall of the root that had been exposed by his lightning strike. In a panic they screamed and then stopped and asked if he was one of the heroes of Brackenmill. Lunestra calmed herself and struck the bandit captain in front of her. Blow after blow glowing with radiance until finally the captain fell. She could see the Corvum down the tunnel as he stabbed a Perch Guard. The Perch Guard screamed and started to turn to dust. Their flesh disappearing and their armor and weapons falling into a pile on the ground. Lunestra ran at the Corvum with her newfound speed. The bandits seemed to have issues moving with the difficult terrain now present in the tunnel. Cyrus, Yarrow, and Lunestra moved up on them. Alabaster emerged from the home he was in and cast Shatter on the bandits killing one of them and hurting the Corvum badly. The Corvum's form began to spark and crumble in fits of light until before them was a Vulpin in a tiara standing proudly. "Interesting." The Vulpin said stretching his neck. Lunestra pointed a sword at him. "Where is Baldwin! What did you do with him!" The Vulpin rolled his eyes and sighed. "I guess I shouldn't expect anything else. You want Baldwin," The Vulpin grabbed something from the dagger and then reached up to his tiara. He popped in what looked like a blue gem and then in a flash of light stood Baldwin. His armor and weapons hadn't changed but it was Baldwin. "fine. Here's Baldwin." Baldwin began to laugh which echoed down the tunnel and surrounded Alabaster. Lunestra dove at Baldwin and began her assault. He dodged out of the way and stabbed her in the side. Lunestra screamed as she felt a searing pain throughout her body. Magic coursed through her and ripped her apart from the inside. After the attack she felt weakened and tired as if she had partially died. Yarrow saw this and, being unable to move down the tunnel in his current form, turned back into himself. He then raised a paw and cast Heat Metal on the dagger. Baldwin screamed and dropped the dagger in response. Then with an icy glare he looked at the Tola. "No!" He shouted in indignation as Cyrus ran at him and cast Witch Bolt. The bolt struck Baldwin and Cyrus spung around the Raptor kicking the dagger away from him. Lunestra picked up the dagger and began to run. Baldwing raised a Talon and shot her and the remaining bandit with a Fireball. Yarrow moved forward again and cast Polymorph on Baldwin. Baldwin looked at him enraged and then shifted into a snail. Alabaster ran forward and scooped up the snail in bottle. The group quickly ran together and started to debate what to do. While Alabaster, Yarrow, and Cyrus talked about their plans Lunestra looked down at the dagger in her talon. She looked and there was one white gem fully formed near the hilt and one gem almost done but not quite. It gleamed back at her with a pink sheen.
Report Date
14 Sep 2020
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