Session 7 - Fallout

VOD: https://youtu.be/z4XT8KH-Kik Tavern Therapy: https://youtu.be/Ro7bE0ILM9g
Previous Inspiration Awarded: Veiyanitara Lero for rolling in her backstory and a bit of intensity at the end of the last session.

Tuesday, March 25th, 765

*Due to timing issues the events in this episode took place outside of direct timeline order*
Yaros Loubert and Veiyanitara Lero headed down to Bloom Wharf to participate in ship sailing. They each partnered up with different crew members upon the Williamson Whalers vessel. Vei went with a darker-skinned female human Alex Dorian, the first mate, and Yaros went with a young triton gentleman named Zalzas Khonnos. During this event, they each got to sail a small vessel, then were brought back up onto the Williamson Whalers vessel where the whole crew launched the ship to show how things work at scale. After going up and down the Sachez River they docked where the captain had one last surprise for everyone. He showed them a new invention called a steamboat. They were rather secretive of how it worked, but it wowed everyone in the audience. Around the same time Scarlet Nichols headed to the Riverfront Pet Shop whereas she arrived Zelroth was making a big scene screaming "ONLY THE BEST FANCY FEAST FOR MY SUSAN". The shopkeeper said, "yes of course only the best for the Blackiron Bandits" and handed him the bag as he left. After that Scarlet got to talk with her, Katalina Alexandria a younger dwarf woman. Surprised at first at Scarlet's choice of animal to train, her mouse Maisy, she had hope that the training would work and showed her the basics and encouraged her to keep trying and after a while, she would eventually get it.

Friday, March 26th, 765

At this time Scarlet and Vei headed near Boccob University to Kord's Field where they managed to get some pretty good seats near the center of the field. As the show started the 8 heads of the schools of magic came out as they were able to be recognized from the parade. They told the audience that each school of magic would be putting on a presentation. Each student's college can be identified by their robes as they all have colored trim and a symbol on the front pocket. Up first was the College of Evocation led by Dean Horner. Their symbol is a red flame. These students sent out bolts of fire and ice choreographed to cancel each other out with each blow. The next was the College of Conjuration under Dean Cutton whose symbol is an orange sun. This student put out a comedic bit where he pulled creatures and objects out of a hat. The following was the College of Abjuration under Dean Sentos. The symbol for this college is a yellow shield. One student put themselves in an orb of magic while the other two hit it back and forth in a game of pong. The fourth display was the College of Enchantment under Dean Hazelcloud with a green spiral symbol. They called for volunteers from the audience, in which Scarlet was one of the ones chosen. The student did a hypnotist routine, however, Scarlet was unaffected. Next was the College of Devination under Dean Miller with a blue star. This time they brought a dean out and had him do a series of random guesses and were able to predict each one. After that was the College of Transmutation under Dean Zolgen with a purple gem. This one was a routine where a ball ran around a Rube Goldberg machine as four students transformed each corner into something different as it kept climbing further into the sky. The next routine was the College of Necromancy under Dean Hana with circles made of arrows pointing to each other like the ouroboros. These students did a choreographed display of sapping life from one big tree in the middle and bringing back to life other ones, and moving the force around, ended with the tree in the middle alive again. Finally was the College of Illusion under Dean Pulver. This time a large group of students walked out and above them, they perfectly reenacted the bloom festival river parade as the river turned red and the Boccob University float came by. In the end, the deans wished everyone a happy festival and left the words "Everyone please enjoy the rest of the Red Bloom Festival" in skywriting above the field.

Monday, March 29th, 765

The party after experiencing the mysterious woman in the swamp carries Vei back in a near-death state to Rougeford when Vei awakens. Vei demands to see her again but the party informs her that she has left. After some emotional moments the party head back to the city where Bran said he wanted to be by himself to think about what just happened and headed to the labs within Fort Marshop. KK similarly said she wanted to go visit some people she knew on her own.
The rest of the party headed to Obad-Hai’s arboretum where they spoke to the head archdruid Lafren Alderbeam hoping to get answers about what they saw in the swamp. He informed them that matters of people and culture are not of his care and they should seek wisdom elsewhere.
Wanting to be done with their quest they headed to the Divetonk Saloon where they talked to the The Alcohol Brotherhood and gave them the plant they had been tasked to retrieve. Excited, they begin to start their annual fermentation and allow the party to ask their questions in regard to Operation Rougarou. The party learns that business has been great with all of the people flooding into town due to the Low Magic Crystals, and they all love it. They say that The Barbers have asked them to make some antiseptics out of high-proof alcohol and that the The Military of The United Shard themselves have gotten rations for beers and spirits which can provide calories nd keep better on long ship journeys. After learning this the party heads back to Fort Marshoe.
They then spend the entirety of the night into morning hashing things out about the things hidden in their past that the woman had brought up vocally. KK arrived at some point intoxicated and joined in the talks. Some things were brought to the light to build the team, some things were still held close to the chest. These talks last until sunlight the next morning.

Tuesday, March 30th, 765

After the previous very late night, they sleep in the next day, but once they awaken they decided to look further into this woman. Vei, KK, and Scarlet headed to the Bollothglade Historical Museum which Vei had visited previously during the festival, and talked to her new contact Findley Wright, the Museum Keeper since he knew a lot about the history and culture of Rougeford.
In talking to him he said that he had actually written the book on this very topic and pulled one out. In confirming a picture of what the woman looked like, he connected the dots and believed she was the Whistlemarsh Hag. He went a bit deeper into what was known about how the locals truly believe she existed, and many believe she was a true embodiment of evil. The primary historical talk of her was that she and a group of individuals made themselves present after The Battle of Rougeford and killed the governor who had led to an independent Yorkett, William Crenshaw. Then as quickly as she came, disappeared back into the swamps. He told them they could get a copy of the book next door at the library which the three do while getting library cards.
Then Yaros and Tatho head into the swamps to train on the things that they felt in that woman’s presence. Tatho began to run into the waist-deep swamp in resistance while Yaros fires off some long sticks from his bow trying not to truly injure tatho. In this training, they both become incredibly exhausted but manage to push past their natural barrier if even for just a moment. They think with some more training they can really make headway.
The three girls all peel off from each other after their visit with Findley Wright. Scarlet heads into her own way into the swamp where she meditates and recollects on her past. How the magic had caused her pain in her past, how the woman said not to fear it, and that exact feeling she got when encountering her. She arrives at that but is not able to sustain but might with further training. KK headed off to speak with someone special about her own encounters with the woman. Vei headed off to meditate on her own in the swamps as well.
That night everyone makes their way back to their Quarters at Fort Marshope and after speaking for a while the rest of the party realize that Vei had never made it home, and under the full moon they now head off to find Vei, wherever she might be.