Session 16 - Witches and Potions
General Summary
36th of Planting
The team came down to breakfast and found that Janora had left saying that they had left early but would be back for lunch. That seemed to be a signal for everyone to scatter and spend the morning pursuing their own various research interests around the city.Denye headed back up to The Hill and Library. She wanted to finish writing up her research project and submit it to the library. She had almost completed her work when she accidently knocked over the inkwell, spilling ink all over her papers. With a squawk of annoyance she took a break and went looking for a snack. After a slice of fresh bread and tankard of water, she started over. Luckily the ink missed her notes and between those and her memory she was able to rewrite the document in short time. By the time she was done however, she needed to be getting back to the Rose.
Ell spent some time exploring new businesses that had opened in Haven since he had left. Down by the docks he found a large warehouse that had some interesting equipment inside as well as quite a bit of wool being carted in. Speaking with several of the carters, he learned that this was some sort of joint project between a weaver and an artificer. Apparently this machinery could take raw wool, card and spin it, and then even weave cloth!
The other new place was a small spice store called Al Kehim’s World of Spices. At first somewhat suspicious Ell questioned this Bur'an, but he seemed a likeable and honest elf. Ell bought a few firesweeteners from the man who seemed quite excited to have a customer. After that he headed up to the Guild Hall and talked his way into the records where he found some information about both businesses.
There wasn't much to be learned about the spice merchant, but his papers and licenses seemed to be in order. As for the manufactorium, it seemed that the carter was correct. The building was a joint venture a local weaver, a human woman named Ratha Gilmoira, and an gnome artificer who went by the unlikely name of Elwin Rightspoon. The project was being backed by a merchant named Govin Chisle. The Chisle name was known to Ell, a mid-level trader who would occasionally work for the Ainsoss. Further perusal of the records gleaned that Chisle has recently suffered a series of business losses in the last several months and had recently taken out a number of loans to finance this factory.
Jilken meanwhile had spent some time exploring the town and eventually found herself at Grandmother’s House, a smallish tavern that seemed to be mostly full of old fighters. Ordering a beer, the elf asked around about any troubles in the area, and specifically about the Trees or blights but only one or two even remembered old granny tales about the Trees. The old bartender suggested that Jilken check the job board near the Guild Conclave for open contracts.
But when the elven fighter got there, there was only one real assignment of interest...escorting a dwarven cleric to some research site to the southeast. Seeing Ell walk out of the Conclave building, the two of them began making their way back to the Rose to meet up with the others. Along the way they ran into Janora who fell into step and apologized for their early departure this morning.
Heading back to the Rose Denye spotted a boreal owl Strig in the street who flew up briefly to get out from under an approaching horse Letting out a squawk of excitement and confusion at seeing another Birdkin so far from the Humblewood, she ran forward and greeting him like a long-lost friend.
That proved to be somewhat embarrassing and confusing for both parties. The Strig, and he was definitely Birdkin, went by the name Percival Smythe. He was insistent that he was simply is a halfling who was changed by magic, but he also has no proof as he has no memory before a year ago.
Elaborating, the owl told Denye of how the halflings of Barebarrow found him wandering in the woods with no memory. Muttering curses about Fey trickery, they took him in and fed him and got him cleaned up. He came to Haven to see if the healers could do anything for his memory. Now he is one of the best drafters in the city.
The poor Corva was hard-pressed to know what to make of the tale. It was possible that there were other Birdkin in the world or it could indeed be some sort of curse, although she found that unlikely. In the end, she told him of the Alderheart and promises that this owl shape was most likely his original shape. She also gave him a map and directions and suggests that he might want to visit. If she was correct, perhaps it could jog his memory. Thanking her, Percival hurried off and Denye took a few moments to smooth her feathers.
Turning, she saw that the others were waiting near the door to the inn, the wizard shrugged and motioned for them to proceed her inside. Over lunch, Janora shared some of what they had learned from speaking with the local witches, including a new potion that they wanted to try making that would imbue leather armor with poison properties. But they still needed several spell ingredients and asked the group’s help in acquiring the items.
"Most of these should be relatively simple to acquire," said Janora. "There is a grove about an hours ride outside town where we can get the eldaimur berries and iron Thistle. The ormu is right here in the city. Unfortunately it's in the sewers. In a perverse twist of luck, there have been sightings of a shambling mound down there as well."
At that point Janora sighed. "I don't know where were are going to get harpy ovum. We fought some on the boat, but I didn't think about anything like that."
Across the table, Jilken broke out into a huge grin. Reaching into her pack she pulled out a small glass jar and handed it to Janora, having thriftily harvested a set of Harpy ovum a few days ago. Shocked and suprised, Janora was at first hesitant to accept, but Jilken made it clear that she was interested in this potion as well.
Deciding that it seemed like a nice afternoon for a ride, the party hired horses and following the directions they were given, Janora easily found the spot. A small waterfall fed a stream that cut across the clearing, but there were clearly eldaimur bushes on the far side against a short cliff, full of ripe berries.
Most of the party began to collect berries, but Jilken circled up on top of the cliff and climbed a tree, giving herself a good lookout point. That proved to be a smart move when an owlbear came crashing out of the forest. It was very aggressive and proved resistant to scaring off, no matter what the party tried.
The reason for her aggression became clear when a young owlbear emerged from a nearby cave. With a roar that sent the young one running the mother turned on the party with increased ferocity. In the end the mother died so that her child could escape. Jilken and Janora honored that sacrifice by harvesting much of the body.
Back at the Compass Rose, once the party had washed up and come down to dinner, the bartender Linbul brought over a package and sat it on the table in front of Janora. The note on top proved to be from Wayfinder Majorus Brightfinger. She had been able to able to shake loose that old memory and had included a copy of the report. The elder dwarf also ask that they take copies of the five books that included the Kelveren's mark to Wexwood and the Archive.
Jilken just grunted at the stack, "Well I guess we are heading back to north afterall."
37th of Planting
The next morning the party, despite misgivings, headed down into the sewer. Sagra showed them the proper grate and they came down at the intersection of a large open chamber next to two large pools.Two barrels floated in one of the pools. One barrel was out toward the middle, but the other was drifting quite near the edge. Ell walked over and grabbed it to pull it over. With shock he discovered his hand was stuck to the barrel and just managed to pull away as the lid of the barrel broke open into a spiked maw. Having never seen a mimic before the team wasn't quite sure how to handle it. But in fairly short order, the monster sank toward the bottom of the pool.
That crisis concluded, Janora easily spotted the ormu in a nearby passageway and began collecting the moss. While doing so, they also discovered the remains of what appeared to be Shado hideout. Clearly abandoned, there were signs of a fight but no bodies and no blood.
Jilken discovered a large chest with a rather mid-level lock, that had an perfectly hidden trap. Triggered by her lockpicking, a cloud of blueish gas exploded outward. Whatever it was it, seemed to have little effect on the Aiel. Opening the chest they discovered a small fortune in platinum bars. Jilken smiled even broader and laughed, "We are so going back to Aubergine's!"
Ell also uncovered a letter, written by his elder brother. Moving back into the main area, Janora found some tracks that looked as if something large had been drug through the grim and dust on the platform. Following it back to a plank bridge with a short passage and several room branched off.
Janora snuck forward and found the large vegetative mass in one of the rooms. Pulling back for a quick discussion, Janora shared some information that they had learned about dealing with these mounds. In particular, that lighting was to be avoided at all costs and that both fire and cold would be less effective than usual.
Report Date
29 Jan 2021
Primary Location
