A Red Sun Rises Report
General Summary
The morning of the 17th of Someriarch is a somber one as the Reconcilers face the emotions of the loss of their teammate and friend Fiona.
Melatona, staring at the dawn light creeping between the shutters begins to sing Light of a Clear Blue Morning in an effort to console himself and those around him. The beautiful melody known to all in the room is soon broken as the grief of his loss overwhelms Melatona who, tapping his foot trying to keep the beat to begin again, soon stops and mourns Fiona in tears.
Athena, more of one to process internally, honors the wishes of her fallen companion and dons her ring. She also notices Sir Reginald Beranstein experiencing a grief that seems unequivocal to the circumstance and goes to console their newest ally before the despair of a life of loss overwhelms the old knight.
The grief is quickly stowed however as an incredibly happy and triumphant BinBin emerges from the meat locker having survived another full moon with her fighting spirit intact. Her mother Vivian Thimbletop, quickly rallies the Reconcilers into a cookie filled breakfast. Wanting to protect BinBin from any negativity that might impair her fight with her curse Melatona asks Vivian to make an excuse for the Reconcilers to depart as quickly as possible.
Not knowing what lay beyond the door, the group leaves behind the Thimbletop abode and heads towards the center of town. Athena keeps her head down once the stench of death and decay hits her nose, her mind painting a clear picture of what carnage befell the town. Melatona takes in the scene to reveal many deceased bodies, some probably citizens of the town others are longer dead corpses of goblins, canine like humanoids, and red furred goblinoids, piles of bones from unknown species including one skull that resembles a small dragon, as well as a huge cyclops corpse. Along the way, the group notices the body of Fiona surrounded by gnomes who are preparing to take her to the triage and casualty centers set up in the Stone Quarters where the majority of the deaths occurred. Offering instead to take her instead the Reconcilers take Fiona's body to the Moon Hall where she was known by many.
Carrying the gurney across town and cutting through the Firbolg Boroughs the team spots a suspiciously long dead corpse of a creature known as a Beholder. The specimen is smaller than what Athena and Melatona have read about and the curious scene is more muddled as Melatona puts some pieces together about last night: The hoard came from the East, presumably either from the wild magic badlands of the Quarry Wastes or further still, from the Woneil Wood. Woneil's etymology means "One-Eye" though it was thought to be just a name with no underlying meaning. However the spotting of two famously one-eyed fairy tale monsters creates some doubt of the previously determined consensus. Second, goblinoids and the like are from the Caliphates, beyond the Woneil Wood, and thirdly Beholders are the antithesis of everything in Quori culture. These alien creatures abuse and desecrate the beauty of the Dream Realm with their evil desires.
Under the stress of sleep deprivation, anger, grief and now confusion, the 4 companions cast aside formality and march up the stairs to the chamber of the Moon Counsel only to discover they too have suffered a loss. Elias lost his right arm, Mute is missing a chunk of flesh from his side and their third member, the one who facilitated the integration of the mutant rat creatures, lay in a planters box missing his entire upper half. A conversation involving the loss of druidic and clerical healing, losses sustained, and theories on what exactly happened last night. The group then asks if there is any way that they could preserve Fiona's body as to stave off decay while they search for answers to resurrection.
After setting Fiona down in one of the spare rooms and Melatona giving over the rest of his arcane power to heal the most grievously injured, Mute comments, "By whatever power enables you to heal, you are the only one that I know. So I wish you luck in your quest for answers but do not trust to hope. The omens spell doom and the gods have turned their eyes away."
Being beyond exhausted, the group heads to the Open Door for rest. The Open Door was not spared from grief either as Larry Proudfoot, co-owner of the Open Door, husband and father of two, was one of the casualties in last nights attack. A group of mourners is gathered around the shrine of Cyrrolalee praying inside the Inn. Melatona picks a small orphan boy out of the crowd with a severe head wound and inconspicuously heals the boy, to which the crowd begins stirring at the witnessing of miracle which radiates hope throughout the survivors. This sparks a feeling of incredulity in Melatona who turns towards shrine and says under his breath, "That was for you, where have you gone?"
After sleeping throughout the day the Reconcilers decide to see if any shops are open as they prepare to stay on task and out a path to curing BinBin. On their way to Valivoe's Sundries they group crosses path his a noble looking female elf. While on most days this would be a surreal experience, today it is merely an awkward encounter for our weary adventurers. The experience is made more awkward by language barriers and the enigmatic intentions of the elf who names herself Elaria. She does however disclose that she is in need a supply run before she departs again. Upon entering Vallivoes they are greeted by a precariously sword swinging Vallivoe. His store is even more wrecked if it were possible and the sword he wields catches must everyone's eye. After a serious scavenger hunt everyone is able to purchase their wares. Elaria and Melatona are cautiously allowed to examine Vallivoe's sword. The engraving on the sword are foreign to but Elaria is able to read them but doesn't disclose their meaning. Also a quick stop is made at the leather workers shop for a possible armor upgrade for Melatona but he is informed sadly that only the largest of cities would carry such well crafted protection.
By then it is night fall. The Reconcilers depart to help the Thimbletop's again as the Poppy is in full bloom (the regional colloquialism for the poppy moon being full). Billy Joe's festival shows no signs of being held and the were-rat remains mostly unchanged proving to be a most uneventful night for the Athena, Sir Beranstein, and Melatona. Nibbles though, back at the Open Door Inn is instructed in the ways of Wizardry by Elaria who enjoys the nostalgia of the talking rats company. Soon the sun rises on the 18th of Somierarch.
Athena (unknown)
Fiona Silverlake
Melotana
Report Date
18 Jul 2020
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