Session 17 - Strange Portents
General Summary
37th of Planting - cont.
Having spent some time coming up with a plan that the party hoped would work, they broke and then swiftly put their plan into action. Janora leapt forward and with a clenching of their fist, forced large spikes to grow up out of the floor within the chamber where the shambling mound laired.The others followed quickly behind and began pelting it with crossbow bolts and arcane blasts. Jilken's grasping arrows tore the creature up as it kept advancing on the party. Ell conjured a cloud of daggers in the doorway so that it would have to take even more damage to come at them.
As the clorafiend got near the door, a strange eerie piping began drifting out the of room behind the mound. The song was both a dreadful dirge but also seemed to be a cheery marching song, particularly once the squeaking of rats joined in as several swarms of rats appeared and began climbing up onto both Janora and Ell.
Freaking out, they began flailing and kicking at the small beasts, with Ell blasting out a wave of Hellish Rebuke. The rats were quickly crushed and the shambling mound went down a moment later.
Pushing past the shambling mound, Denye found a smallish goblin, with brown smears across his face and short red feathers stuck to the back of his head. This odd little fellow also had a set of panpipes in his hand, which Ell immediately grabbed with Mage Hand.
Questioning him, the team learned that his name was Beetle and he claimed this part of the sewers as his home. He was also quite upset that the group had killed his friend.
Denye was quite moved by his story and seemed somewhat guilty for invading his home. The others were more sanguine about it, having dealt with the large monster which was clearly a threat. In the end, the team let Beetle run off, which he did after snatching back his pipes.
Pulling the large mass out of the doorway, Janora and Ell set to butchering the mound. Between them, they were able to find a handful of coin along with the twisited, wooden core of the mound.
The team spent a bit more time exploring some of the other areas, but when they were attacked by a few more rat swarms without finding anything interesting, the group decided it was time to out of the sewers and into some hot baths.
After returning to the Compass Rose and heading directly for the bathhouse, the adventures met back in the common room for lunch and to decide what to do with the rest of the day.
Jilken wanted to head back to the Celestial Dragon right away. Her reasoning was sound...get rid of the platinum before the Shado realized they had stolen it.
Janora was also quite interested in returning to the witches and brewing this potion, but agreed to head over to Aubergine's first.
Entering the small little shop front in Crafter's Row, the party found themselves once more in the impressive marble splendor of the Aubergine's shop. As the party drew near the central counter space, it was clear that the Dragonborn wizard was with another customer.
And what a customer, covered in a mottled green chitin and looks something like a praying mantis. Long legs with a backward knee lead up to a stretched thorax, with four arms that end in hand-like claws. Their insectoid head had two black, multi-faceted compound eyes; two small antennae sprouting from the top; and a complex jaw structure with large sharp mandibles.
Jilken recognized it as a Thri-Kreen, rumored to live on Scattered Savannah on the other side of the Spine.
It seemed that they were finishing up their business, for the creature gave Aubergine a nod, turned, and swifitly left via the green door. Jilken followed and attempted to step out of the door, but was blocked by an invisible wall of force.
As the elf returned, the copper Dragonborn smiled and said, "I do apologize, but the magic of the portals is such that you can only leave through the door you came in. Can you imagine if people could just use my shop as a sort of grand central station for moving about the world? No thank you."
Smiling at the others Aubergine spread his hands. "But here we have the clever little research wizard and her friends. Now what I can do to help? Perhaps you have thought on some of my wares and wish to purchase, yes?"
Denye's feathers puffed a bit and she said, "Yes actually, we are interested in several items. But uh...I was interested in asking if you have anything, such a wand or amulet that would help increase accuracy in ranged spell attacks?"
The Dragonborn wizard thought for several long moments before replying, "Not at the moment. I believe I know of something that should please you, but it will take some time for me to craft. I could have it ready for you tomorrow morning, yes?"
Denye was quite pleased and nodded vigorously. Excitedly, Jilken asked, "Do you still have that collapsible spear? I'd like to look at it again." Accepting it gingerly, Jilken extended the staff and stared mesmerized into the sparking blade. Without even turning her head, she asked Aubergine the price, and handed over two platinum bars without even an attempt at bargaining.
The party also picked up the telepathic earrings, although Ell did do a bit of bargaining for those. Satisfied with their purchases, the party bid Aubergine farewell, with Denye promising to come back in the morning.
That accomplished, the party headed back towards the inn, but stopped when they neared Thistle Do Nicely. "You all are welcome to come in and watch, but I wouldn't be offended if you wanted to just head back to the inn."
Denye rustled her wings, "I would love to watch, I'm always interested in learning about new magics."
Jilken nodded as well, "Yeah, I'd like to see what you do with all those ingredients. Not that gathering them wasn't fun, but I'd like to see the process through, ya know."
With a shrug, Janora led them all into the shop. Looking much as it had yesterday, Sagra sat at the front counter mixing something in a large marble mortar. While Old Mandie was asleep in her rocking chair near the fire. In the second rocking chair was a translucent woman who appeared to be doing needlepoint.
Before anyone could say anything, Mandie's head shoots up and her milky half-blind eyes locked on to Janora. "Is it time?" Turning to her familiar she said, "Evangelina, help me get the caldron down" and began attempting to pull down a large cast iron pot, hanging on a hook on the side of the fireplace.
Sagra whirled around and muttered a squawk of alarm (sounding much like an eagle) before running over to help the old woman. The Grey Lady spirit had been trying to help, but could not move the heavy iron pot. Wrestling the pot down Sagra set it to the floor and taking the kettle off the hook, she called Jocylin down. "Janora is back and Mother Candlewick has decided that it is potion brewing time. Maybe she's synced up again."
"Of course I have," was the old woman's offended reply, "we're going to brew some Stone Release for that nice giantess." When no one said anything, Mandie sighed "Whippersnappers...can't see a joke. Do you have the ingredients for your Poisoner's Revenge potion?"
Janora who was watching all of this happen and was a little stunned nodded, "Yes, we got the last of the ingredients this morning, down in the sewer." That last word was said with a bit of a shudder.
Jocylin, appearing now on the flight of stairs said, "Excellent. Then come, let us share this skill with you. With what you have told me, you will find this potion quite useful." Leading Janora over to one end of the long table, Jocylin welcomed the rest of the party and bade them find seats and make themselves comfortable. Asking Sagra to bring tea for the guests, she opened the Book of Twilight and walked Janora through prepping the various items as directed.
While Jocylin and Janora were chopping and scraping, Mandie had gotten a large jug from somewhere and poured a quantity of vinegar into the cauldron. Pushing into the fire to boil, Mandie kept muttering that you can throw it all it the pot as is. But when everything was ready to actually craft she takes over.
Pulling Janora over to the boiling cauldron, Mandie began directing the half-elf on adding the ingredients one at a time as they cast the spell. They did hit one snag however, Janora had used all of her magical energies during the fight with the mound.
Once again, Denye came to the rescue, "I still have some energy. I know that wizardly energy is different, but I'm willing to try."
Mandie shrugged, "Can't say, but come over here and help us brew this. I don't think it will hurt anything."
With that the spell was cast and Janora was presented by the spirit woman with a large spoon that appeared to be blacked iron, but was in reality ironwood, from the heart of a treeent. "Stir it 81 times widdershins," commanded the old crone. "And then once it has boiled down we can bottle it and then you will be able to apply it as you will."
An hour or so later and they were doing just that. During that time, Jocylin proved to be an excellent host and kept the party supplied with some very interesting Shin'a'in tea as well as conversation. But everyone was quite happy when it was finished.
Before taking their leave, Janora expressed their heartfelt thanks at the assistance of the Candlewicks and their warm welcome for a fellow witch. Mandie just grunted, "There is always more work to be done, and when a willing pair of hands appears, you pass on what you know. And you are more than just a pair of hands; you stand on the road to power, may you choose wisely." With that, Mandie handed Janora two books. One was a copy of the Candlewick Book of Twilight. The other proved to be a ritual spell book bound in green leather with a pair of antlers framing a crescent moon.
As the party left, Sagra ran after and gifted Janora with a paper envelope, containing three twists of paper. Across the front of the envelope is written Venomcleanse tea. At Janora's quizzical look, the halfling raised a hand and said, "I can't say for sure, but Graww'al seems to think you will need this."
Taking the small package Janora laughed, albeit a bit sourly, "You are probably right if the past is the predictor of the future. Thank you for your generosity."
As the party began making their way back to the Rose, Janora was trying to absorb the last couple of hours. That distraction was why it took them a moment to identify the strange sparkle in the corner of their eye. The spark was in the middle of a mural and as Janora focused on it, the spark spread forming a door of light. As Janora called the others attention to the strange phenomenon, there was a soft *pop* and the door began an actual door of solid wood, painted blue.
A moment later the door swung inward and a tall half-elven woman with deep blue hair in a loose bun and golden eyes stepped out. Wearing a loosely wrapped lilac gown, as well as an incongruously ratty plaid apron, she looked around for a moment or two before spotting the team and beckoning them over.
As the party approached she smiled and said, ""Here is the elven fighter. And the witch and their familiar. Ah yes, the feathered wizard, such an adorable pet. Which would make you the noble with the silver tongue. Won't you all come in and have a drink with me.”
Denye began to bristle at being called a pet and started to correct the woman when she laughed and held a hand up in apology. "My dear, that was not my intention. I was speaking of your tree lizard familiar. You are most certainly not a pet. You are a wizard of great potential...yes great potential. But come, let us speak inside."
Stepping back inside and holding the door open, the party stepped into a quite fine looking parlor, befitting of any noble. Dark maroon carpet covers the floor, the chairs and table are elegantly carved, with a selection of fresh fruit and sweet pastries in crystal dishes in the center of the table, and the walls are a deep maple. On the back wall was a portrait of Eskarina and two others: to her left a pale, red-haired half-elf boy of about 15 holding a branch-like wand with lightning around it, and on the right a tall sharp faced human woman with a tight white bun and a white cat on her shoulder, cloaked in shadow. The room is magically lit with bright light.
As the elf busied herself with assembling a tea service, she glanced around at the assembled group. "You will have to pardon me, while I believe that you are the four I was searching for, I don't actually know your names."
Denye quickly volunteered her name as did Jilken. Both Ell and Janora were more hesitant, not sure what to make of their half-elven host. A bit grudingly, Ell shared his first name only. Before Janora would share theirs they asked, "And what of yourself? Clearly you have significate experience in the magical arts. What or who might you be?"
The woman with blue hair laughed "That is a fair question, I suppose. Who am I? Who am I? Names are such delicate things, as are first impressions and new beginnings. Well, they say it’s not what you call me, but what I answer to that matters. What should you call me? Who am I today? Or am I who? But no...please, call me Eskarina Price.”
Report Date
12 Feb 2021
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