Session 2: Perfect Peace
General Summary
The Treaty of Mushrooms and Peas
In the The Glittering Valley, Baboushka leads the treaty negotiations between The Pea Kingdom and The Mushroom Kingdom. Both sides have been hurt by their 500-year war and both want retributions. As the kingdoms line up along both edges of the valley, Bogdan, the animal charming goblin who cannot understand the negotiations that are taking place in the Sylvan language, notices that both sides are avoiding the well that is known to hold a Samovila. Baboushka realises and pursuades the leaders, Tzar Gorokh IV and Boris Mushroomcap that both kingdoms are fighting over territory that is unideal for the growing and cultivating of their respective plants. She argues that the Peas, who need lots of sunlight and a long tall structure to climb, should make their kingdom in the high branches of the nearby Spruce Trees, while the Mushrooms, should stick to the base of the tree where it is shaded and damp. The beauty of the resulting Peas Treaty is that both sides have an equal tactical advantage over the other (the peas have the high-ground, while the mushrooms have access to the supply source). They are also guarded by the Spruce, who will also be able to maintain a level of peace between the two kingdoms. Having successfully conducted the diplomatic agreement, Baboushka is presented with the Rubakha of the Mushroom Kingdom, which marks her out as a friend to all Leshys.
Show spoiler
Not to be outdone, Tzar Gorokh offers Baboushka some peashoots that she weaves into the Rubakha. The Leshys admit that they haven't been entirely honest with Baboushka about the Samovila. It turns out that she has become a lot more agressive that even other spirits of the same kind.
Then Bogdan and Baboushka leave the valley, Bogdan riding that father Timber Wolf and Baboushka riding Sergie, the Bear.
This also means that any leshys with the Touch of Winter will not attack her.
Polkan Ambush on the Road
Meanwhile, Vasilly has joined the Mishkinaries in their golden carriage heading towards the village of Ketterpesh. The mishkinaries tell him more about the structure of the Church of the White God, including the three branches of office: the Kultura Order, the Mishkinary Order, and the Inkvitsition. They recruit/pressure Vasilly into agreeing to become a mishkinary, and give him a contract and holy text. Since all of the documents are written in Celestial, Vasilly cannot understand them, but he uses his apparent conversion to attempt to convince the mishkinaries to leave Ketterpesh to him to convert. As he is starting his negotiation, the carriage is ambushed by a family of Cossack Polkans, who were attracted to the oppulent wealth on display. The Horse is so injured in the legs that he can no longer walk. Rather than risk a fight, Vasilly immediately invites the leader, who he never learns the name of, to take the entire carriage, as well as the holy text and golden charm he was just given by the mishkinaries.
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Bogdan and Baboushka find the injured horse, and Bogdan heals it. With Baboushka riding the newly healed horse, and Bogdan back on Sergie, it doesn't take the two long to reunite with Vasilly and the mishkinaries, who are now walking to the village on foot. In order to make up for lost time, Vasilly places Tatyana Tolstaya on Sergie's back (much to her horror), and the band arrive in Ketterpesh without further incident.
None of the Cossack Polkans can read Celestial at this point, but they are now inspired to learn in order to understand their enemy better.
Ketterpesh
When they arrive at the gates, the Dvorovoi of the courtyard calls to Bogdan that the bear and horse need to be stored in the Storehouse. With Sergie safely enclosed, Bogdan, Vasilly and Baboushka introduce the Mishkinaries to the town. Vasilly purchases a new bed for Bogdan from Nikolas the carpenter, who tells him it will be ready tomorrow. In the square they meet Kuklo, the Witch puppeteer, who is spreading the messages of Chernabog in his puppet shows, and Kolodet, who is furious at the Orthobog invaders, who she fears will take away her village from her. She threatens Vasilly that she will flood the entire village, unless the intruders leave. Vasilly tries to talk to the Posadnik, but he explains that, although he suspicious of the visitors, he cannot throw them out due to the village's hospitality by-laws (he adds that this is also the reason he tolerates Bogdan's Goblin presence). The party retire to the Meadhall, where they encounter Grusha. As regulars she serves them their favourite meals (paid for by Gotyik Mishkinov) and chats with them about their Dead House. Vasilly gets a chance to study the rock that Bogdan was gifted by the Timber Wolf family in the Glittering Valley, and identifies it as a signifier of magical activity. According to legend, the presence of the flint indicates a nearby entrance to the Mines of the Malachite Maid, that are said to run under all of Ruslavia. Bogdan spends the evening gathering intel about the beliefs of the Church of the Black God from Kuklo, who gifts Bogdan a lolly pop for being such an attentive listener. He learns the tale of The parting of the brothers.Shadow Puppetry
That night, Vasilly is awoken by a whispering in a language he doesn't recognise. He notices Kuklo's puppet, Petrushka, is over by Bogdan's bed, whispering ominiously into the goblin child's ear. Vasilly wakes Baboushka who is able to identify it as Abyssal. The puppet is whispering a mantra of encouragement (Bogdan is his own person, he can make his own decisions, etc.). Very quickly, without even waking Bogdan, Vasilly and Baboushka are able to capture the puppet, tie it up in its own strings and stuff it in their closet until morning. That morning, Bogdan and Baboushka create an elaborate illusion to trick Kuklo into leaving the village. They pose as Chernabog himself (Kuklo's Witch patron) using a combination of voice alteration, illusions and shaping the shadows into a sillhouette, and the summoning of a celestial Dog to mimic the dog in the origin myth that Kuklo had told Bogdan the night before. They learn that this would set Kuklo off his original quest (which involved something in the Forest of Frost), but eventually they are able to convince Kuklo to leave and find Balanov the Healer in Ketterpost.
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Meanwhile, Vasilly convinces Gotyik to leave for Ketterburg with his sister and Tatyana, claiming that they can do better work in the big city and promising to spread the word of the Church of the White God amongst the villagers in Ketterpesh. Gotyik agrees and gives Vasilly 15 gold pieces to carry out the new mishkinary duties.
Balanov is also a witch, meaning that they only need one more companion to become their own coven.
Show spoiler
As the mishkinaries pull out of the courtyard in their newly purchased cart, and Kuklo heads out of the gates towards the fortress in the east, Vasilly once more visits Kolodets Well, and tosses all of the gold that Gotyik paid him into the depths.
And that is where we will pick up next time.Unknown to Vasilly, Gotyik writes a letter to his brother Hans Mishkinov, outlining the change of plans.
Rewards Granted
Experience
The Peas Treaty Negotiations [Tzar Gorokh and Boris Mushroomcap] (533)Stepan Koptyo [Polkan Warrior] (133)
Mishkinaries (135)
Petrushka (67)
Kuklo (800)
Treasure
Rubakha of the Mushroom KingdomHoly text of the Church of the White God (written in Celestial)
Golden trinket
Lollypop
