Session Report 31 - Exploding Remount
General Summary
"It's ok. We all make mistakes. I've killed more people than I'd like to admit that I didn't want to, but it's ok. We move on. We change."
-Ramone
A Festival & Fooling Around
Now with some time o kill, the party splits up in Frost Remount and tries their best to enjoy their time there. Curious about the nature of the baked goods made of snow, Locke, Ramone, & Gunther head to the town's bakery. They don't get many good answers but learn that the gnomes use a "snoven" to bake. Powered by ice, of course.Ramone and Locke both stop at the one store on the isle which is willing to trade in gold. Ramone buys a cleaner for his new spyglass while Locke scams the shopkeep, using magic to make a pearl he fashioned from snow to appear very illustrious. Locke buys the only gun on the isle - an antique - as well as a few "snow poppers" in return for the pearl and a few gold.
Meanwhile, Laire is spending time with the young gnome who calls herself Colonel Stockington. They play festival games together and generally enjoy themselves, forming a strong connection in a short span of time. Laire prods her on her views on her impending death, finding that she is scared bus accepting of it. The young gnome gives Laire an amulet of Mordi as a keepsake since the gnome won't be needing it anyways.
Plotting & Bomb-Making
Grov finds himself in cahoots with the revolutionary gnome Monty, who wishes to prevent the collapse of the remount or escape the village. He and Monty discuss the plan, in which first the two will fashion a pipe bomb and then, when the time is right, alongside a couple of conspirators, they will row out behind the mountain and launch the bomb into it using a pseudo-cannon-like device. Grov is also tasked with making sure his party doesn't interfere and is given a treasure map to where a magical trinket is buried. Grov knows not the nature of the trinket but thinks this will suffice to distract his party.He then proceeds to help make the pipe bomb and arranges a rendezvous point. Night falls, and he returns to the party.
The Remount Explosion of '23
Grov returns, pretending to have kicked some snow and found the treasure map. While Laire doubts this claim slightly, Grov manages to bluff just enough to waive suspicion for now - even given the fact that he stormed off in rage earlier that day.Gunther, ever eager for treasure, bites and begins to scurry off toward the treasure. Ramone and Laire follow shortly after, while Locke says he'll return to the ship. Grov sticks around the village for a minute before heading for the rendezvous point.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the party, Locke uses magic to go invisible and steals a valuable stone from the merchant before heading back to the ship - a stone which can, once per day, turn you into a rock for a minute.
Gunther and co. head for the treasure, digging it up only to find it is an ordinary option of healing. Disappointed, the group trudges back to the ship.
Grov meets with his co-conspirators and gets on their homemade Rowboat. They circle around the mountain and, when the time is right, Monty hoists up the pseudo-cannon and places the pipe bomb in it, having Grov light it with his lightning breath. The bomb flies towards the mountain and detonates, sending about a third of the snow directly into the sea.
The villagers are now angry, some even bearing torches, and the Crew of The Driftwood realizes they should probably get out of there ASAP. Ramone spots the rowboat in the distance and sees Grov on it. The ship lowers its sails and prepares to get Grov aboard before the villagers can do any harm to The Driftwood. Monty and co. jump off the rowboat, saying that Grov can have it, but not before Monty hands the dragonborn some gold for his services. Gunther, previously sour about the potion, instantly brightens up upon finding that the ship once again has two rowboats. The Driftwood catches the wind as the villagers reach the shore and the ship is off.
Hurt Feelings & New Warmth
While Grov is happy about what he managed to do, he is still in need of a talking to. The Captain confronts him, saying that while it is ok to act according to his moral compass, it isn't ok to deceive his crewmembers. Trust goes both ways, and Grov didn't even know whether the crew would be opposed to the plan knowing there were gnomes who didn't want to die. Grov acknowledges this and apologizes.The ship exits Yuel's Graveyard, and the crew breathes a sigh of relief as they are once again able to wear light clothes and not worry about the cold. The firepit on the main deck finally goes out and the attitudes of the crew improve a bit.
Laire, on the other hand, is feeling a bit rotten. He pulls Ramone aside to confide in him. Laire is happy that Stockington survived, but feels terrible for being willing to abandon her to her fate. It isn't as though she wanted to die, it was merely that she was ok with it. And Laire let it happen. Ramone comforts his companion, telling him that each person makes mistakes and it's best to move on. Ramone suggests the two have some ale, though Laire decides to have wine instead.
Scoping Out the Isle Of Many Covens
The next day, The Isle of Many Covens appears on the horizon and Snitchflick calls, "Captain, Captain! Land ho!". Ouchie is itching for an opportunity to give more ouchies and makes it very clear he wants to head to the isle to beat up some hags. The expeditionary crew agrees to take the ogre with them, especially considering that Chuck is feeling a bit under the weather and won't be joiningThe isle consists of a few biomes - a beach, a swamp, a forest, some low hills and some higher, mountainous, ones. Sailing around the isle, Ramone does not spot a ship, but with keen observation manages to see markings left by one on the beach. Also, on the same beach, he spots a woman fanning herself with a large leaf.
The crew sends out their rowboats, landing on the beach and approaching the woman cautiously. Gunther can immediately tell that she is some kind of hag, though he doesn't know what. She is disguised as a human and talks floatily. When asked about the boat she tells that it was here once and now it is gone. She blames the "Ripping Club" for taking it but doesn't provide much useful information. The group eventually ends their conversation with her and begins their way into the forest.
Coven of The Mahogany Star
They pass a number of concerning signs - most worryingly totems of human and animal bones. They eventually reach an unnaturally dark clearing in the forest which contains a few full animal pens and a large, slightly elevated, cabin. Ouchie wants to rampage in the cabin, but the crew holds him back for now. One member of the crew knocks on the door and, after a bit of shuffling inside, a night hag lets them in after seeing they are outsiders.Three night hags are present, and they introduce themselves as Darky, Gloomy, and Shady - members of The Coven of the Mahogany Star. When asked about the ship they say it once belonged to the Coven of the Mournful Waves but was stolen. They think that the Synagogue of the Stupendous Sisters did it, though they have no direct proof. When asked for further information, the hags press for a deal of some sort, hoping to get a scrap of somebody's soul. When nobody offers, one of them points out that Laire smells like he only has half his soul left, and wonders who he gave it to. Nonetheless, Locke drives a hard bargain, and the hags agree to share their information in return for the elimination of a hag from the Coven of the Diplomatic Sun as well as messing with the Stupendous Sisters. They then begin to talk.
Report Date
28 Jan 2023
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