Session 50 - Artifacts and Inquiry

General Summary

3rd Harvest

After the events of the last couple of days, several of the party slept late into the morning, but eventually everyone came down into the common room of the inn. The innkeeper was more than happy to let the group use one of the private meeting rooms and after they had settled around the table, Ell asked, "Does anyone still have pressing business? We've been on a tight schedule for weeks I think, maybe moons. How are folks feeling, what do we want to do?"

Denye fluffed her feathers, "I have a backlog of projects that need my attention." Ticking them off on her claw, she enumerated, "Vellikar needs those glasses, we all need those earrings either expanded or replaced, I'm still in the middle of fixing that second pistol. I'm sure there were other things, where's my list?" Falling silent, she began rummaging through her pockets."

"I would like to go shopping again," said Vellikar, leaning forward, "That was a lot of fun."

Janora nodded, "I should probably check-in on my cottage and village. It will be a good place to practice with the new bell as well...less chance of harming innocents."

"So then, do we want to split up and get back together in a couple of weeks?" asked Jilken, looking thoughtful, "We've still go things that need doing and I doubt they are going to wait forever."

Ell shook his head, "I wasn't necessarily suggesting we split for weeks, I just wanted to make sure that we didn't have anything that had to happen immediately and get a feel for what folks were interested in pursuing if we are out from under a deadline."

Janora let out a sigh, "Well, we definitely have some findings to review, identify and split up. I suppose we can start there. We should also readdress the poem and perhaps decide which one we want to go after next. Assuming of course that you all are still willing?"

Jilken nodded, "I've got a feeling we are going to need those at some point."

"So do I," added Denye, softly.

"Right then," said Janora, "a day of planning and getting things in order and then an evening of getting drunk."

With that the party began pulling out the various items and sacks that had been collected since meeting back up in mid-Amberspell. Denye sat down and began ritually casting Detect Magic as Ell and Janora began stacking the gold and other coins to one side of the table. As the spell completed, several items on the table rang with various tones. Gathering the items to her, the wizard began to cast Identify on them.

Surprisingly neither of the strange books that had been discovered rang with any magic at all. Neither did the tin of Dreamweaver Biscuits. After Denye pronounced it clean, Ranunkel shrugged and reached for the tin, "Might as well eat one then."

Jilken tried one as well and reported, "A little dry, but a nice ginger and cinnamon combination."

Denye shook her head, "I don't know if eating strange food is really the right idea, though Jilken with your iron stomach, you should be fine. I've seen the things you'll eat, and perhaps more frightening, I've seen where you draw the line of things you won't. I have never been that hungry. In some ways it's really quite impressive."

"And I hope you never are," replied Jilken somberly, "perhaps someday I will take you all south to my home and you can see the sands that have scoured my people and me for centuries."

Denye's eyes pinned for a moment or two before replying, "That would be a very interesting trip, I'm sure I could learn a lot." Turning her attention back to the table the wizard continued Identifying the various magical items, writing a short summary of each in her print-perfect Common.

Once everything had been identified and claimed, Denye picked up the metal spell book and began to examine it more closely. Each of the flat brass plates was inscribed with charts, circles, and shorthand that the wizard clearly recognized as spell diagrams. Unfortunately, it wasn't a style that she had seen before and would need some time to study and translate each spell within the book. Excitedly Denye said, "This is definitely a wizard's spellbook. I don't recognize the spells, but I'm sure if I sit down with them, I'll be able to work out what they do. Just think, these might be spells that no one in 500 years remembers."

Ell sighed, "Well then I guess it's yours. What about this other book?" Picking up the pale leatherbound book he tired to open it, but the covers refused to separate. Annoyed, the warlock looked for a lock or clasp, something holding it together, but found nothing. Handing it to Denye, she tried to open it as well with similar results. Everyone tried but still the book refused to open.

"You know," said Janora, tracing the two moons on the cover, "This shows Arini standing in the shadow of Rilar."

"Maybe you could cast Moonbeam on it?" suggested Ell.

"We can try, I suppose," said Janora, "if that doesn't work, we have a few options." Pulling out a small grubby book, Janora flipped a few pages consulting a table or two. Snapping it closed with a satisfied nod, the witch added, "Rilar should be full soon and Arini is waxing. If that doesn't work, there will be an eclipse of the moons in the middle of Sov'van when they will both be full."

Ell grimaced, "That's a ways off, maybe we'll get lucky and your Moonbeam will be enough."

Exeryone pressed themselves up against the wall and the witch called down a Moonbeam. As the pillar of milky white light filled the room from ceiling to floor, Janora reached out and tried to open the book on the table, but it still didn't open. Sighing, the witch dismissed the spell and said, "If no one minds, I will hold on to this for now," slipping it into their bag when no one objected.

Turning to regard the gold, Janora said, "What should we do with all of that?"

"Well," said Ell rubbing his hands, "it might make sense to invest at least some of this or at least put it in the bank."

Denye suggested, "Perhaps we should form a company?"

"That's probably a good idea," said Jilken, "but if we are going to split up, I should probably go back and check in with the elders."

"For now," began Denye, "Let's split up half the gold now, 7 ways, Tear should get a share, and then we'll resolve the rest after we've get back together."

That seemed agreeable to everyone and the gold quickly vanished from the table. Both Vellikar and Janora were getting twitching from being inside for so long and the team decided to take a break, agreeing to meet back in the private room in an hour. Vellikar, Janora, and Jilken all headed outside to get some fresh air, Ranunkel following genially after. Denye just pulled out one of her sketchbooks and went back to her design for darkvision goggles as Ell, with Tear at his heels, went out to speak with Haveral Glimmerdust the innkeeper and confirmed that the room was available for the rest of the day and order lunch for when the others got back,

Lunch was a creamy fish stew and dark crusty bread so fresh it steamed when broken open. Over lunch the team discussed the idea of a company and what to name it. Ell shared several of the names he's heard from his family. Janora got annoyed at being called Nosy, but several of the names made the group laugh. None of them seemed right however and the party eventually sat it aside to discuss other topics.

After the barboy had been in to clear the dishes and refill the pitchers of beer and water, Jilken said, "So how long of a break were you all thinking of taking? If I go home it will take me about 10 weeks to get there and back." Glowering darkly she added, "If nothing happens at sea."

Denye shook her head, "I don't need that much time, I think I should be able to clear up most of my to-do list in a couple of weeks. Is there anyway we could get you closer to home? Maybe Janora's Forest spell?"

Jilken frowned and muttered, "No trees in the desert."

At the same time Janora shook their head, "I've never been to Umberfell."

"Wait a minute," said Denye brightening, "I HAVE been to Umberfell. I studied with Secret of the Bluffs in Arborlisle Harbor for a while over the hot season. I'm fairly sure I wrote down the glyphs for his circle."

Jilken tilted her head in thought, "It's on the far side, and on the wrong side of the The Spine, but I wouldn't have to cross the ocean."

Janora looked thoughtful, "Wasn't one of bells somewhere in your desert?" Pulling out a notebook they pulled out the poem and read, "The Reasoner dreams beneath the sand, In a temple of the Sphinx sans nose. To find this bell, you must stand, Where once a mighty empire rose."

Jilken nodded, "Sphinxes were thought to be benevolent protectors and fierce guardians by the Bur'aiel. The sands are always shifting to reveal another ruin, only to bury it once more when the winds shift. I'm not sure where or what the temple is, but if we are looking the birthplace of the empire, it could only be Tokan'eska."

Ranunukel leaned forward excitedly and asked, "Tokan'eska? That sounds interesting, what's that?"

"Like I said," Jilken replied with a shurg, "supposedly it is the seed of the empire, it's also been lost since the Jenn Aiel vanished." After a moment or two of thought, she added, "Well not entirely lost, every hundred years or so someone claims to have found it, but no one has been able to enter and then they could never find it again. Come to think of it, all of the reports were from Seitch Voxis. That's probably as good a place to start as any."

Denye nodded, "Then we should make that bell our next priority. If you can wait a bit, we can all go down together and you can show us your home."

Jilken nodded, "That sounds like a plan. It's generally better to travel the bled with a group anyway. My year isn't up yet, a pair of weeks shouldn't matter."

"Good," said Denye with a beaky grin, "that should give me time to contact Secret of the Bluff...and learn the teleport spell." This last was said in an undertone, but not nearly as quietly as she thought. Raising her voice to normal she went on, "We should head back to Haven and speak to Aubergine. I'm sure he'll buy that plate mail and I need to talk to him about some supplies."

Janora wanted to head home for a bit but all the others agreed that Haven was the next stop at least. Janora promised that they would be along in a few weeks. Plan in place, the party adjourned for the afternoon, promising to meet back up for dinner and a good night of drinking, and folks scattered to take attend to personal business.

Dinner proved to be a lively affair with folks sharing stories from their homes as well as some of the early adventures. By this point the tavern room had filled with townfolk and a pair of bards took to the stage with harp and hand drum and began playing a lively tune. Now much more relaxed and mellow, Ell suggested with a mischievous grin, "Hey Jilken, I bet Janora here can drink you under the table."

"Highly unlikely," Jilken scoffed, "no offense to you Janora, but I've beaten all the elders in my clan...and that was drinking the awful stuff Old Revalor got from the dragonborn."

Janora chuckled, "We'll see about that. You've never seen me cut loose, I might have a few surprises up my sleeve." No one else wanted in on the contest, so Janroa hailed the innkeeper and called for a bottle of the strongest drink he had along with a pair of shot glasses.

Master Glimmerdust appeared a few moments later with a squarish glass bottle filled with a rich, dark amber liquid. "This here is Bonebraids 100 y.o. dwarven whiskey, guaranteed to be at least 200% proof."

Ell paid the dwarf and as the innkeeper returned to his bar, the young man cracked the bottle open and poured each of them a shot and with that the contest was on. By the time Janora and Jilken were halfway through the bottle, the contest had collected the attention of most of the common room. Never one to miss an opportunity, Ell began circulating the room, collecting bets on one or the other of the pair.

By the time the first bottle was finished, Jilken was definitely feeling the effects if the blurry eyes and occasional slurring were any indication. Strangely, Janora looked perfectly sober, if a little annoyed and confused. Ell slid the second bottle onto the table, already opened.

Jilken lasted for another four rounds of shots, but after taking the final one, her eyes closed and she fell over backwards off the bench. Vellikar, who had seen this coming and had worked his way over to stand behind the elf, caught her before she hit the floor. As the common room erupted into cheers and boos, the firbolg druid, along with Ranunkel, began carrying Jilken up to her room.

As those who had bet on the witch lined up to speak to Ell about their winnings, Janora pushed away from the table with a sigh and a scowl. Moving over to stand next to Denye, the witch asked, "Are you feeling up to explaining something?"

"Meby," chirped Denye happily, "is my second cider. Things are starting to look a bit fuzzy."

Janora sighed again, "That's alright, we can talk about it in the morning." Saying goodnight to their friends, the witch headed back up to their room, thinking of how happy they would be to sleep in their own bed for a change."

4th Harvest

The next morning the party gathered in the common room. Jilken was awake and while her eyes itched and burned, she had no hangover. A few of the others were not so lucky and winced a bit whenever there was a loud noise. Breakfast seemed to help; eggs, fried ham slices, fried tubers, and pancakes with baked apples in the center.

As they were eating, Denye asked, "What was it that you wanted to talk to me about last night, Janora?"

"You know," said Janora, "I've always been able to hold my liquor but that stuff didn't even touch me last night, I could have been drinking water all night. Do you think it could be some sort of effect from the twisted magic down in that ruin?"

"It's possible," replied the wizard, tilting her head in thought, "probable even, if this is something new." Unfocusing her eyes Denye reached out with her magical senses and examined the witch. Nodding she refocused on Janora and said, "There is definitely a spell of some sort on you. The good news is that I don't think it's permeant, the structure of the spell is already starting to degrade. I doubt it will last out the season, probably only a few weeks."

"If that's the case," said Ell leaning forward excited, "I know we just made plans to take some down time, but perhaps we should look this wild magic in the eye and call it a gift."

Janora snorted in derision, "Please, tell me how my not being able to get drunk is a gift for anyone?"

"There are many bars and parties where the rich and the influential like to gather," said Ell with a smile, "the ability to look and act drunk, without actually being drunk makes it very easy to learn information from drunk men. I know that several of us are interested in the goings-on in the world, learning more about the Shado in Dreford for example. I know you were planning on heading home, Janora, but would be willing to come to Haven with us for a little while longer?"

Janora ran their hand over their face, "Fuck, that is a very good point. I suppose you are right, alright, alright, you've got three days. But how exactly do you plan to introduce me to these people?"

"First," said Ell with a wicked gleam, "we need to go shopping, but we should do that in Haven. Is everyone ready to head out?"

Everyone was and so, with breakfast concluded, the party headed up to their rooms to gather bags and meet up at the stable. After collecting the horses, Janora led the party westward across the river and into the Pelagris Forest. Much more comfortable under their familiar trees, the witch took an hour or two to just walk and feel the forest around them, Eventually satisfied, Janora cast All Forest Are One and another hour or so later the party found themselves exiting the Wynifrith Wilds.

From there it was a short ride down to the road and by mid-afternoon the party was riding up to the gates of the city. As they approached, Ell said, "I don't think we should stay at the Hall, do we want to get rooms at the Compass Rose?"

"Sound good to me," offered Denye.

Janora looked thoughtful for a moment, "I'm not sure, we're known to stay at the Rose when we are in the city. If we don't want people to know we are back, then maybe we should stay somewhere else."

Denye nodded, "That sounds reasonable. Ell, do you know of any other inns."

"Hmm, The Perfumed Cloud is probably not a good idea if we want to keep a low profile," mused Ell. Snapping his fingers he added, "I know, there is an inn over in the Docklands, Three Sails, I think it's called. It's a bit rougher, but the beer is strong and the beds don't have any bugs."

Jilken laughed, "That's enough for me, lead on."

It took almost an hour to get across the city, but Ell easily found The Three Sheets Inn. A half dozen or so long rough wooden tables, filled the common room and were currently about half-full. The scent of roasting boar wafting out of the kitchen, mostly managing to cover the scents of sweat and stale beer. The barkeep, a tall man with wide shoulder and more salt than pepper hair, introduced himself as Bref Ronez and was more than happy to rent the party three double rooms.

Report Date

17 Jun 2022

Secondary Location

Haven