Session 099 - Where Do We Go From Here?

General Summary

It was almost midnight by the time the party had arrived at the Three Bells and everyone had collapsed; in shock, exhaustion, or despair. Tear and Ell slept like rocks, but Jilken and Janora tossed and turned while Denye dreamt she was flying and arguing with the Dawnmother.
Jilken eventually gave up on trance and spent some time cleaning and treating her weapons. That kept her busy until the sun had begun to light the sky and she decided to head downstairs to await the others. Denye was also awake and hearing the Aiel in the hall, she decided to follow, still disheveled and in shock from the last 36 hours. Secret and Karobark are at one of the booths by the windows, the table is covered with stacks of books and papers. Denye headed directly for the bar to get something hot before coming over to look at the notes the pair of senior wizards were discussing.
Between them, they had worked out the basic design of an Abyssal detection spell and Secret believes he can increase the range, but it’s going to require a lot of power. Denye suggested that rather than a single spell, they build a series of emitters and place them on the signal towers that Ell was building. As if summoned, the young man came down the stairs as Denye was telling her mentors about the signaling machines the inventor had crafted. He joined the conversation with interest but pointed out that currently they were only building the towers to connect Port Frost with Wexwood. Karobark was very interested in the towers, suggesting he might have some magical methods of tower building.
This discussion went on for a while before Janora came down. She stopped at the table but didn’t bother to sit down. The conversation changed to what had happened the day before and the true threat that was facing the lands. Secret was able to share a bit of information about the Lost Kingdom, the Wall, and the Writ. Both elder wizards were quite dismayed to hear that anyone was interested in bringing back the Dark Titan, much less releasing the Chained Oblivion. After a bit more conversation on the subject and confirming that there were no immediate needs, the witch announced she was headed over to Black Pearl Ink to hopefully get her tattoo.
It’s a quiet morning in the shop and Master Tod was the only one in the shop. He was sitting at the front desk drinking tea and reading a broadsheet, but set both aside as Janora walked in. He was quite happy to see her and while he wasn’t expecting the request to get the tattoo immediately he was certainly willing. The large tortale ushered the witch back to one of the work areas and began setting up as he asked if she had decided on the actual design. She had and described a corvid skull across her back, with raven wings that spread across her shoulders and down her arms. Janora was a bit leery about undressing in the shop, but eventually took her place on the table. The tattoo took almost the entire day and while the beginning was somewhat painful, the witch was able to use the pain to trance and focused on the spell being anchored in her skin.
After Janora left, the conversation turned back to the signal towers and the demon watching spell. Ell was quite interested in getting the system set up faster and he was more than happy to use them to monitor the land for danger. That brought the conversation back to the question of how to power the sensor network. The Weave here was still too weak and unstable for the steady flow of power. Denye suggested that they should probably speak to Auburgine, he was quite good with crafting such things. After a short earring discussion, Denye also told her mentors about the celestial sword the party had recovered from Dino Island. That sounded quite promising and the group spent a few hours chasing that line of thought. Most of the conversation was too esoteric for Ell, Tear, and Jilken…although they were quite interested. At one point Denye realized that she had been talking to Secret and Karobark as if they were colleagues, not mentors. She clamped her beak shut with a snap before opening it again to offer a soft “Sorry, masters.” That drew a wink from the half-orc, while the tabaxi chuckled before reminding Denye that the Obscura Veritas did not have graduations…but they do recognize accomplishment and scholarship. He emphasized that by asking her to continue explaining her work with the power crystals and the generator array.
By late afternoon the group had worked out a plan that should have most of western Ellebore covered by Suncrest. That left the eastern half of the continent to worry about. Karobark assured them that the Tayledras would have their own way of watching, and could probably watch over their sibs as well. That just left Casia and who knew what the Sunpriests and Lightwardens would do. They could send messages, but there wasn’t any real way of ensuring the warning was acted upon. That seemed likely to be the next thing the party would have to deal with and Jilken suggested that they reach out to Zendack…he owed them a favor after all. Karobark and Secret agreed that if the party had more immediate business they would take charge of the sensor/tower project. Ell immediately started writing letters of introduction to his inventor in Port Frost and his man of business in Wexwood as well as his Haven representative.
As the dinner hour neared, Janora used the earrings to let the others know that she was finished and on her way back to the inn, sore, but ready to move on. Promising that she would be back soon, she suggested that they discuss where the team should go next, with her preference being going after the remaining bells. Denye mentioned that she should go home to confront the Canopy Council and collect the Speaker…and find out why they didn’t come when she called for aid. The wizard was just saying that she would probably go alone when she got a message from Jena that sent her into a panic. Her cousin's message was, “Denye, you said one of your friends is a healer? Can you bring them home? Things…things are bad. You were safer away from here but now, oh Denye, Father is...”
Denye sent back a panicked affirmative that she would be there soon, coming through the Avium. Turning to her friends, she began to babble as she pulled out chalk and other materia for a Teleport Circle. Janora directed Forest to take off and get there faster, as the others scrambled up to their rooms to grab gear. Denye turned to Secret and Karobark and told them about the message and how she needed to get home right away. The two elder wizards were immediately understanding and promised to get moving on the tower project. By the time Denye had the magic circle ready, everyone had reunited and were ready to go. As the circle flared up around the party and the familiar stretching sensation began, Ell’s arm jerked, as if on a string and flew back to knock Tear out of the envelope of the spell, mid-transit. The world vanished but reappeared as a stone room in the Avium, but it was just the four adventurers…and Janora’s pets.

Report Date

18 Jun 2024