Session 28

General Summary

11th of Wealsun, year 595
Indy, the intellect devourer inhabiting the body of a star-spawn seer, enraged that the party has abandoned the search for his promised food, begins to use the seer's powers to warp space. Fortunately, Irina was able to withstand the brunt of the attack, but still suffered psychic damage that triggered the voices at the edge of her hearing and pain from her sacrificial scarring. Even without its orb and scepter, Indy the seer was able to enact a great deal of damage using psychic blasts and walking through party members.
Suddenly, an arrow appeared in the seer and the party saw a pair of women, bows in hand, running up the hill at them. With their help, and Toby's skillful attacks, Indy is destroyed. But then, the younger of the two newcomers notices Irina and moves to attack! The older of the two, familiar to Malex, reminds him she is Edefror, and arcane archer and long-time lieutenant to Captain Shava of the Guard. She hold back her companion, Erilanne, to allow Malex to explain why they should not follow through on their standing orders to kill all tiefling. And he does, in fact, present such a complete, earnest, and sincere telling of the events, that Edie is completely mollified. Although the younger archer appears less persuaded and remains dubious.
They reveal to the party that they had been recently escorted out of Crescent by the militia before they could fulfill their task of assassinating the tiefling inside, and Captain Shava herself would be arriving in 2 days to negotiate an accord between the Guard and the Militia. It seems ever since the monstrous creatures began appearing, Crescent has been on virtual lockdown. But then, once the beacon of light appeared on the horizon, a portent of something terrible to come, felt by all, the city gates have been locked to anyone who is not a resident or summoned specifically by the Council of Marshals.
They attempt to approach anyway, and halfway there come upon a wagon and mule, led by an elderly Jacob with his daughter Poll and her husband Rolff. Merchants who travel between Crescent and Settleton, they were kicked out of Crescent for not being residents. They inform the party that Crescent had even been letting in refugees from Hasturton (which, according to them, has been turned literally upside down by mages from Settleton to stop the monsters coming from there), until they shut the gates the day before. Now anyone not already living there were not welcome.
They reach the main gate to find it well guarded by soldiers, headed by a Captain Hildebrand. After a bit of verbal parley, Irina reveals herself and suggests that she is High Martial Bertrin Ironson niece (thanks to information given by Edie regarding tiefling Errutt's adopted status with his family). She actually is able to persuade the captain to let them in, which he does so with admonition that all bows are to be unstrung and all weapons peace-bound. Any fighting inside the walls is highly frowned upon (although when pressed, he agrees that self-defense is acceptable -- although they better have witnesses to attest to it). Everyone in the party complies, although Toby appears to successfully hide a falsely bound blade. And they are let in.
Edie leads then to the Temple of Kord where Anixibis, the dying tiefling woman lives and teaches children. They are greeted as the sun begins to set by Abbess Ferrya who leads them to her. As they walk, they learn a bit of Anixibis, that she and her (presumed) brother, Errutt were found on the steps of the temple as babies. Where Errutt was adopted to the High Marshal's family, Anixibis was "adopted" by the Temple where she studied to take the oath of priestess. However, upon coming of age, she decided not to wear the vestments, and instead serve Kord by teaching and helping the community.
They reach Anixibis looking over one of the gardens awaiting them. Irina sits next to her, and they converse about the events of the last several weeks, and a bit about herself. She indeed is dying, she assures them, and despite their best efforts, the Temple clerics cannot turn back the source. And she is coming to peace with that. Then Irina explains why they're there, and leaves it to Anixibis to put the pieces together and realize what they are asking. She requests some time to think on it.
In the meantime, the Abbess takes the party to a place they can rest and eat, and receive healing care. After a couple of hours, Anixibis finds them, and explains that she has followed the teachings of Kord, in her own way her entire life. And Kord teaches bravery and courage. If her death can be used to save untold numbers, then it is her honor to do so. But she asks that before they leave, she try one last time to speak to her brother, who has refused to see her for years. Even so, she must try once more. She collects a pack, shares a gentle goodbye with the Abbess, and they enter the night streets to The Dryad's Hammer.
As they walk, a pair of city guards eyes them warily, taking particular note of the party's weaponry, but appear satisfied and make no moves. When they enter the upscale tavern, the party is taken aback by how large it is. A performer sings in one corner, and in a darkened far corner appears to be a private area with people playing cards. The barkeep who mans a large U-shaped bar, notices Anixibis and urges her to not try this again -- she is sure to be disappointed. But she insists.
As she and half the party head back to the private tables, Wally notices who is singing on the stage, and it is none other than the renown Halavar Lorritris, the elven bard who is famous across the westlands, though rarely deigns to stop by Portville. Wally is stunned by Halavar's performance, and naturally, the crowd is eagerly appreciative as well. As Toby and Wally discuss a way for Wally to get up and stage with him, Moose the proprietor comes on stage holding a pouch, and announces his "challenge" is still open for anyone to perform better than "their" Halavar to win 50 gold. A wealthy looking gentleman in the crowd offers to match it, and while Halavary appears embarrassed by the display, the crowd seems certain no one will ever take up the challenge.
Wally takes up the challenge. He goes up to the stage and is told that he can perform anything he likes, song, poem, tale, and Halavar will perform next using the same medium and matching the tone, elements, and themes. Whoever the audience likes more, wins. Wally says normally he'd perform with lute but is without, and Halavar approaches with his Selunian lute! Once of the most valuable instruments in the lands! But in a show that reveals the bard is not as humble and effacing as he appears, switches it up and offers for Wally to use his old practice lute. Wally is basically just happy to even be there, and gratefully takes it. He then performs a song about a family that comes together to fight a great oceanic threat, and in fact performs exceptionally well! Possibly the best he ever has. The audience is amazed, clearly, which flusters Halavar so much, his own performance is lacking. Wally is the clear winner!
Miffed and embarrassed, Halavar wagers another 100 gold AND his very own lute for Wally to keep, for a re-match. He goes first, and epic poem that takes familiar and old and loved elements with a unique twist. It is a very competent performance. But Wally once again pulls out a surprise performance, edging besting his idol. The crowd goes wild, so to speak, and Halavar is actually gracious and sincere when he congratulates Wally (if still apparently somewhat chagrined) and hands Wally his Selunian lute. Wally, however, asks if he may keep the "old practice" lute instead (Halavar would never own anything of low quality, so even his "old" lute is by far better than Wally has ever touched before). Halavar is stunned and is clearly impressed by the young halfling. And while the tavern crowd is calling for more, the tall elf put his arm around Wally's shoulder and spoke only to him, saying, "You may have taught me a thing or two. I think I'll be seeing you around here a lot more often."
Meanwhile, at the other end of the vast tavern, in the shadowy darkness where the air is filled with the scent of candles, food, ale, wood smoke, and fine perfumes only the well-to-do could wear, Errutt was lord of the table where two others sat playing cards. He had two very proficient bodyguards near at hand. As the rest of the party approached the raised floor the private tables sat, the bouncer stood in the way and admonished, "Invite only." Malex stood forward and informed him Errutt's sister was here to speak with him on an urgent manner, and slipped the man some gold. He shrugged, said he'd deliver the message, and went to whisper in the tiefling's ear. He pointedly avoided looking in the party's direction as he listened, then waved the bouncer off. The big guy returned saying Errutt had no interest in speaking with her. Malex asked if he got the gold, and the bouncer smiled, saying innocently that he thought that was for him to deliver the message. Malex, miffed, offered more coin and quipped it was enough to pay Errutt's stake. Hearing this, Errutt burst forth laughing, exclaiming that if one of them wanted to play a hand of cards with him, if he lost, he'd speak with Anixibis. But if he won, they would leave and never return. Irina was unfamiliar with the game, but Malex thought she would be the better player, and quickly told her the rules. Edie stepped up and covertly handed Irina a gold coin and said, "Be sure to bet with this, it should bring you luck."
Irina walked to the table as an amused Errutt brusquely waved away the other that were sitting there, leaving himself and Irina. Cards were dealt, bets made, more cards, more bets... Irina finally assumed Errutt was bluffing and when he bet big, she raised with a couple of very fine items in her possession. But when the cards were revealed, he just barely beat her hand.
She rose to leave without a scene, but spoke inside his mind that while he could keep the winnings he cheater her out of, it would be in his best interest to let his sister speak with him. Shocked, he was intimidated enough to put on a show "magnanimously" agreeing to speak with Anixibis. She came up to the table, and the party watched as it appeared she spoke to him and he made a show of barely paying attention. He looked down and thoughtful, then surly and silent as she rose, back straight, and walked away, saying to Irina, "Thank you for allowing me to say what I had to."
As the party started to leave, Toby could not hold his ire any longer, and hid among the shadows and made his way to Errutt's elbow where he chided the man for being an ass to his sister who was sacrificing herself for the good of all including him. Shocked and aghast, Errutt claimed she said no such thing to him, and demanded his equally shocked bodyguards throw Toby out. They bum-rushed him out of the Dryad, and the party regrouped in the night air.
They walked for a block, considering their next move, when Edie asked no one in particular where Erilanne was. Everyone realized no one had seen her for quite some time, and it was then that a squad of town guard and militia with Erilanne came around the corner. The leader of the group proclaimed, "By order of the Crescent Militia, for your own safety, the tiefling are being placed under protective custody and are to come with us. The rest of you may go."
Quickly, Irina grabbed Anixibis and flew into the air to the solders' surprise. She yelled, "You said the rest can go, so I believe we'll be leaving," to which the squad leader cracked his neck side to said and said, "Looks like we're doing this...."

Rewards Granted

• 200 gp tavern performance prize
• masterwork lute (adds +1 to Perform when using it)

Character(s) interacted with

• Edefror - Guard lieutenant of Captain Shava
• Erilanne - Guard
• Jacob, Poll, and Rolff - merchants
• Captain Hilderbrand - Crescent gate captain
• Abbess Ferrya - abbess of Crescent Temple of Kord
• Anixibis - young tiefling woman
• Moose - proprietor of The Dryad's Hammer tavern
• Halavar Lorritris - famous elven bard
• Errutt - young tiefling man and adopted son of High Martial Bertrin Ironson
• bouncer and bodyguards

Report Date

30 Mar 2020