The party watches as the corpses of the plantlike creatures burn, and discuss the stranger letter that Shay found on the desk. The letter mentions a “tree at home dying” and a “sapling transplant failing”. It doesn’t seem meaningful to anyone in the party, so Twig suggests that she and Mr. Pigeon take it so that they can ask around the carnival, after Mr. Pigeon points out a line in the letter to Twig. The party theorizes that perhaps this tree refers to something that happened before the forest became a bog, and that the bodies found here might be related to the plant creatures and the large vine creeper that was described in the letter.
They continue to explore, and discover that in the small back room that appears to have been further hollowed out from the cave, there are casks of ale with multiple lids, one with the Crest of Arbor on it and the Amberhill Brewery, some that have that crest and logo partially sanded off, and a few completed barrels with the Crest of Fjordane and the logo for Fjordane’s Finest on them. Rinn takes two of the old dusty wine bottles, and points out to Marcus and Dandelion two sets of initials carved into the stone. VC and WB. They mention that they plan to ask Joseph about the initials as well as the ale, being a man that they trust.
Mr. Pigeon inspects more of the room, making the torches brighter, before noticing a strange grouping of vines and leaves in the far corner of the room near the ceiling. As he and Twig approach, the large vine creature lurches its vines towards them attempting to knock them to the floor. The party jumps into battle, taking positions around the room and moving towards this creature. As Dandelion strikes out with her eldritch energy, the full form of this creature is now in view, twisting gnarled vines like moving snakes, dripping purple liquid, and a large horrifying thorn-toothed maw at its center. As Shay, Mr. Pigeon, and Twig attempt to dissect the creature with their blades, Marcus taunts and attempts to smash it with his maul, Rinn fires a bolt of blue energy at it, and Dandelion fires bolts of eldritch energy at it. After Rinn’s bolts of energy slam into it, a large vine descends from the ceiling gripping his foot and flipping him upside down, slowly dragging him towards the horrible dripping maw. As the battle continues, the creature drops Rinn, going instead for Mr. Pigeon, as it drags him into the air partially up and into the thorny poisonous mouth. The party continues to slam into this thing with all they have, Twig being grappled by it as well, and flipped upside down dangling directly in front of its mouth, stabbing her rapier into the center of it as it screams, releasing both Mr. Pigeon and Twig from its grasp, sagging on the ceiling above, lifeless.
The party pulls themselves together, tending to their injuries, and sets the beast aflame. Marcus dumps a cask of ale at the center of the runes on the floor, washing them away, tossing a torch into the ale as the party climbs skyward once more, burning the remains of the cavern beneath the well. They head back to Lakemount to tell Nolan what they discovered. Nolan is horrified by their description of the plant creatures that roamed the bottom of the well, and pays them 60 gold pieces for cleaning it up. He says that the only “VC” that he knows would be Valentine Carhart, the fisherman of Lakemount. He also tells them about the Archives in Greymoor, which the strange letter mentions, the large library and records building inside the capital city. They ask once more about Alice Tull, the girl that had gone missing 4 years ago into the bog while playing with the cows, and he tells her that the only clue that was found was one of her shoes, tangled in some vines and roots of the trees along with some boot prints nearby.
Shay tells Nolan that he plans to head to Greymoor to follow up on this letter and the vine creatures, and that he will drop off the key to his shop on a temporary basis for someone else to take over. Marcus asks further about Fjordane’s Finest and the Amberhill Brewery, the former being based out of Greymoor, and Fjordane’s premier brewery before the land exchange between Arbor and Fjordane. Amberhill now serves as the lead brewery, producing a far superior product.
Nolan tells Rinn that he is unfamiliar with the Kingdom of Valenar to the south, and that it does not appear on any of their maps in Lakemount. He instructs him to speak to one of the Dukes of Greymoor or the king depending on if that knowledge is something that interests them. Marcus further inquires about Val, and Nolan tells him that he has been the fisherman for about 30 years, taking over after the previous fisherman retired.
He also tells them about Gwendolyn Plymfaire, owner of the lower portion of Plymfaire Bog and Alistair’s Nook, the general store in town. On a picnic 14 years ago, Alistair Plymfair drowned in the river and his body was swept away. Gwendolyn is the daughter of the High Duke of Greymoor, coming from a wealthy background. She and Alistair both had money, purchasing part of the forest above Lakemount in order to put on festivals in the area, and live a quiet life.
The party goes back to see Joseph and have lunch; several fish sandwiches, tea, ale, milk, and water. They speak briefly with Joseph who thanks them supremely for the extra coin that they give him, telling them that he tries to live his life honorably, to live up to Marcus Shaw III and make people happy. They invite him to the carnival tonight, to sell some casks of ale and see the show. He happily accepts, and they continue eating.
They then head to Alistair’s Nook, purchasing various things between themselves from the owner, Gwendolyn, an older woman with above average quality clothing and fair skin, a golden chain with a locket around her neck that she fiddles with often. She tells them that it was a gift from her late husband before his death. She tells them that she prefers the quiet life after growing up in Greymoor, her more wealthy background having made her a target, and the troubles of the large city never seemed to leave her alone. Marcus asks Gwendolyn about Dandelion’s mirror, and asks if she knows about elvish construction, which she indicates that she does not, and that there are only 2 elves in Lakemount, the co-owner of the tailor shop and the owner of the leatherworkers. She says that despite her husbands death, she tries her best to be happy and see the brighter aspects of life, working with her daughter Charlotte on several crafting projects for the shop. Twig tells her about the dragonborn that sells candles at the carnival, and she says she will stop by to pick them up during the show this evening. Marcus asks where Charlotte is, and she tells him that she is at the Woodcutters shop, picking up scraps for their work.
They leave, and head to speak with Val, asking him about his initials being carved into the cavern beneath the well. He brings them inside to have some tea, as Marcus and Dandelion pet his cat, Snuffles, a big orange fluffy boy. He tells them that he did in fact put his initials down there, being a former ale smuggler with his partner, Will Bennett, the other set of initials. He retired about 30 years ago after being ambushed by men with grey hooded cloaks, who killed Will and took the product they were smuggling. He knows them as the organization of criminals known as the Gilded Mask, per the golden carnival mask emblazoned on their robes. He barely survived, having been off in the woods at the time of the ambush. He tells them that he grew up in Amberhill in an orphanage, where the owner, Big Marge, had the children run communications back and forth between the various crime families in the city in order to pay the orphanage bills, and because they weren’t likely to be stopped by guards. After she died, Val worked for one of the crime families, the Bennett family, where he met the love of his life, Adeline Bennett, and his partner in crime, Will Bennett. A few years later, the family along with Val was arrested for forgery of documents, mostly bills of sale to aid in smuggling efforts, and put in jail, with the exception of Adeline. After he and Will were released, they started their business of smuggling ale and did that for many years before the ambush, storing their ale in the old well. Val tells them that his wife passed 7 years ago, of old age, peacefully in her sleep. Rinn offers to share a bottle of the wine they found in the well, and Val is visibly excited to see the wine again. He thanks them for cleaning up the record of his past, and says that he will see them all tonight at the carnival. The party leaves and heads back to Lakemount proper.
The party heads to Grains & Loaves, the granary and bakery owned by the Tull family. They purchase a few baked goods and speak with the family briefly regarding Lakemount and their lives there. They mention to Rinn that should anyone in his kingdom wish for custom goods, they are happy to outsource whatever is needed for them to bake what is requested. The party leaves, heading back out into the day.
Shay heads to his shop to prepare for the travel out of Lakemount in a few days time, and prepare his shop for someone else to temporarily take over. Mr. Pigeon and Twig head to the carnival to prepare for the evenings festivities. The rest of the party heads to The Silverleaf Inn to assist Joseph in getting his casks of ale and wine over to the Fairegrounds. After carrying them to the gate, they purchase entry passes from an older gentleman at the gate, as Mr. Pigeon dances around the grounds performing some comedic stunts and various balloon tricks.
Shay, Mr. Pigeon, and Twig meet up with the others, and they head over to the Guess The Mimic Game, where they meet the Twins Dax and Dex. Dandelion outsmarts the game using Mage Hand, and Marcus uses divine sense to determine which of the chests is a mimic, the both of them receiving the 5 gold prize, before the game is closed for some “renovations”.
The group then heads over towards axe throwing, meeting Zharlug the Strong, an orc man. The game is free, and they all play and succeed. They then try Test of Strength, Zharlug watching on as Dandelion slams the hammer into it as it clambers heavily into the bell above. He is shocked, and Marcus tells him it is her diet, of milk fish ale and bread. Shay attempts and isn’t able to get it too far up the tower. Marcus then walks forward, refusing the hammer, and punches it with his fist not wanting to break it with his own hammer. He gets it about halfway up the tower, and pays the 2 silver wager that Zharlug had offered.
The group then heads over to the market, and sees a small friendly looking racoon sitting atop a board on a barrel, with a few items, and a sign that says Cucumber’s Stall, Everything 5 Silver. The group purchases all of the items as Cucumber claps and adjusts his hat happily, chittering at them in order to semi explain what the items are for. After the items are purchased, he takes the money, flips the sign up, bows, and jumps off running further into the grounds of the Faire.
As they stand here, they see Gwendolyn and Charlotte walk by, her locket breaking from her necklace and falling to the ground. Marcus picks it up, sealing it without looking, and walks over to her as they stand at the stall of a large silver and gold old dragonborn man named Tarak. Gwendolyn thanks him for returning it, and says she will have the smith repair it. Tarak demonstrates his fire breathing prowess and his like for candle making. Marcus gets a drink for Gwendolyn, as she graciously accepts.
The party then proceeds to the apple picking pool, where they meet Dax and Dex again. Dandelion decides to play, and digs her head into the water, pulling up a pinecone, and crunching it in her mouth as the others watch in horror. Dax and Dex then begin play fighting aggressively in the pool as Marcus takes a few apples for his friends, Charlotte retrieving one for herself. They then take turns dunking Dax and Dex in the Dunk Tank, as they again fight each other.
The group heads to the sparring arena, Marcus facing off against Dandelion, the two of them hitting each other 3 times, in a tie. Twig and Shay spar, with Shay taking a close victory. Then Rinn and Mr. Pigeon spar, Rinn activating Bladesong, and Mr Pigeon pulling two wooden sickles out of the barrel of weapons, creating his duplicate. After each of them get a hit in, Mr. Pigeon defeats Rinn, as the two bow post combat.
They then proceed to the Prayer Booth, Marcus going first with some wooden symbols of his 3 gods. As he prays, he sees the symbols of his gods appear above the wooden symbols, a holy white light cascading down upon him blessing him for his actions thus far, imbuing him with 5 temporary hit points for 24 hours. He places his silver gauntlet and maul on the ground, as the holy light shines off of them casting a sparkly light in the space around him. He puts his hands over them, saying “I am trying, father. Soon it will be better.”
He heads back out, Dandelion going next praying to Silvanus, the only god that she recognizes. It ignites with a greenish light as she prays, ethereal vines cascading up the curtain as she is bathed in comforting holy light, also gaining 5 temporary hit points for 24 hours. Shay then goes, scribing a small circle on the ground inside, praying to his god, as the circle fills with white light and a mix of various colors, basking him in holy light as he feels comforted, also gaining 5 temporary hit points for 24 hours.
The party then proceeds over to the Palm Reading tent, finding Val along the way. They proceed inside, Val, Gwendolyn, and Charlotte sit outside awaiting the party to finish. They walk inside, seeing a half elven woman with dark black hair and very pale greyish skin. She introduces herself as Madame Macabre. She asks Mr. Pigeon, interesting folk or friends? And he confirms they are friends. Dandelion walks forward first, as Madame Macabre says that she would love to read her palms. She tells her that she has traveled very far, and has still far to go, her journey having not yet reached its end. She once again confirms with Mr Pigeon, looking over Dandelion sitting in the chair, that these are friends, which Mr. Pigeon says yes once more. She tells Dandelion that she will have good luck, but she has far to go still.
Marcus walks forward to have his palms read. Marcus inquires about her strange name, and she tells him that it makes sense if you know the story. He indicates that he would like to, and she tells him that perhaps later after the show they can all speak and have a meal. She tells him that she sees tragedy and loss in his palms, but also redemption, succession, and glory. She tells him that he is destined for great things, and Marcus asks great, or good? She sees holiness. Marcus tells her that he wishes to be good and great and she tells him that it is a matter of his actions on his path that determines that. She wishes him luck, and Marcus tells her that his people don’t believe in luck, that his father did not believe in luck, and that it brought him grave misfortune. She wishes him honor and glory, and Marcus wishes life to her, as she chuckles. He then casts Divine Sense, and does detect some amount of undead from her, but not enough to make him think that she is truly undead, just that something is off about her existence. Marcus looks at her palms and feels her cold pale skin, telling her that he sees life in her future, and that she should pursue that goal. She tells him that everyone has their path to success and redemption, and that they will speak on it later.
Shay proceeds forward, shifting the lines in his palms as her fingers go over them, changing the reading as she moves past it. She looks confused, and is unable to read his palms successfully, indicating that she will try again later in the evening.
Twig then has her cat beans read, and she sees a journey fairly far, looking for something, she sees trees and a forest. Twig indicates that it is her home. She tells her that she has very interesting beans, and that she has far to go still, but that she sees success in her path should Twig make the right choices. Twig asks her if she thinks she’ll make it, and Madame Macabre tells her yes, she does believe that she will succeed in her journey.
Rinn walks forward pulling off his gauntlet, saying that Rinn started early with tragedy and loss, also traveling far on his journey. Rinn confirms these facts, and she tells him that she sees storms in his lines. She is not certain as to what it means, that it may be good or bad, but his main line, his destiny indicates storms, and that his journey would dictate his future.
Mr. Pigeon walks forward as she chuckles, removing his gloves revealing normal hands. She says that she has a bit of advantage, having spoken with him before a little bit about his story, the darkness and tragedy in his lines. She tells him how his lines blur, and that they are hard to read. They divide in the center before reconvening into a single line, that there will be a struggle, but that one day he will center himself and succeed on his quest.
Dandelion asks Madame Macabre how she reads their lines, and she says it is a combination of magic, divination, and perception, reading the small ticks and reactions that make people who they are. A sort of secret language that most people subconsciously speak, but few know how to understand it. She tells them all that they will talk further after the show, and the group proceeds out, as Gwendolyn, Val, and Charlotte proceed inside at Marcus’s request.
They head to the show, meeting up with Joseph, being joined later by the other 3. The show begins with Cucumber introducing the circus with his large hat and cane, followed by Tarak performing some firey displays of floral design. The twins follow up, cleaning the ring and fighting with mops and brooms. Next is Twig and Mr Pigeon, Twig swinging and walking deftly high above the crown on wires as Mr. Pigeon and his clone run below carrying small buckets as water splashes everywhere. Next Augustus steps out to perform some combat mechanics as the twins mess with him. Zharlug performs feats of strength silently, as the crowd watches on. The show finishes with Tarak once again performing a floral display with his fire, a flaming set of flowery fireworks.
The show ends and our friends meet together once more, having enjoyed the performance. They proceed to the private quarters to dine as a group with the circus members and Madame Macabre. As they sit, lit by candlelight that casts a warm glow across the tent and table, their host walks in, closing the curtain behind her followed by a cold breeze, saying “Well everyone, it’s time for dinner.”
Madame Macabre sits at the table and speaks with the party as they eat dinner. Marcus inquires further about her past that they spoke briefly about in the palm reading tent, and she tells them that her past was very dark. She is searching for her father, Percival Dae a vampire who killed her mother in front of her at a young age. Her mother, Lilia Dae, was a non vampiric elf, making Madame Macabre, who tells them her real name is Elena Dae, a Dhampir; half vampire.
She is not restricted by the sunlight sensitivity that full vampires are subject to, nor does she drink blood like they do, though she could if she chose to. She has heard word that her father is in Fjordane, and so she brought the carnival here in order to try and find him, along with other business that she needs to attend to in Southport. She also tells them that she has come across other vampires before, and that she does what needs to be done based on a judgement call on her part. Some vampires live a cursed existence, not having chosen to be the way they are, and some are like her father, cruel and evil, using their existence to bring pain to others.
Dandelion tells her that she is searching for something, a mirror, showing her the picture. She asks her if it is special because of its importance to someone, or special because of what it does. Dandelion isn’t sure, but slips and says that the mirror belongs to Oberon. Elena is shocked and indicates that she believes it is indeed special because of what it does. She tells Dandelion to keep the name “The Iron Crown” in mind, as they are an organization that she is a part of that searches for unique items and people, things that are special or abnormal in some way. She gives them the name of a contact should they find them.
Rinn speaks with with Gwendolyn briefly, asking about her father, the High Duke of Greymoor. She tells Rinn that he is a very proper man, and that he would find the offer of tea very appealing and appropriate, and that perhaps a warning regarding Mr. Pigeon’s appearance would be appreciative. She tells him that he is a very busy man, and that he may need to set up a meeting with him, but that he would likely be able to accomplish what he needs. She also mentions that she misses her husband, but likes her life here, and that “he is probably alright.”
The party continues to speak with Elena regarding her past, Marcus inquiring about if she was able to lay her mother to rest, in which she says she was, burying her in the elvish kingdom of Yothalna under their favorite tree. Marcus draws a connection between that tree, the tree dying from the letter in the well, and Twig’s tree at home, and inquires with Twig about this. Twig asks Mr. Pigeon for the letter, and they ask Elena if she is familiar with the name at the bottom of it. She says that she is, they he is a vampire, that they crossed paths in Yothalna, and that she let him go as she did not deem him a threat. He was searching for research regarding a tree, and came from the far southern side of Adoris, sightly north of Rinn’s home. Rinn remembers that he had heard of a cursed tree that sat at the center of the Blightwood, a forest at the lower base of the Mistlands.
Dinner concludes and Elena offers them a ride to Southport in a few days if they are heading that way, which they say that they are. The group splits for the evening, Marcus Rinn and Dandelion taking Gwendolyn and Charlotte back to their home. En route, Marcus asks her about the locket, and she shows him the inside, revealing a picture of Alistair & a baby Charlotte on one side, and the insignia of the Gilded Mask on the other. Marcus enquires why she said that her husband is alright, and presses her subtly regarding his fate. She breaks, and admits quietly that he is alive. Marcus asks if he left to do a job, something that was required of him to keep them safe, and she says yes, and that she has never told anyone. Marcus comforts her and tells her that he will find her husband, and should it be safe for him to return, he will reunite them. Shay mentions that he will bring her the order of lilies and lilacs tomorrow, since they are heading back out into the bog again. She thanks them both, and she and Charlotte proceed inside.
The group heads to bed at the Inn, Dandelion messing with Rinn outside his window once again before they sleep. They awaken and have breakfast the following morning, before heading out into the day. They come across Nolan, who inquires if they are doing well, and what their plans are for the day. They tell him that they plan to go back into the bog to search and make sure everything is cleared out. He thanks them and says he will gladly pay them once more for their services, and that he will need a name for their group upon their return so that he can write a receipt for their services, a requirement of reporting payments to the crown.
The party proceeds out of Lakemount, saying hello to Josiah again, and proceeding to the bog’s edge. They enter at a different place than before, stepping carefully over the muck and twisting roots. Mr. Pigeon and Rinn trip simultaneously, falling face first through curling webs of wet vines, into the murky water at the forest floor. Twig and Marcus find more old booted footprints in the bog. The group proceeds further before coming to a clearing, and what appears to be the old faireground within Plymfaire Forest, before it became Plymfaire Bog. As they reach this clearly, a bloodcurdling screech rings out from somewhere nearby.
The party hears a horrifying screech ring out from the clearing within Plymfaire Bog. They walk carefully inside, and find what appears to be the old fairground. As they look around, Rinn pulls a horn from his side a blows it, trying to draw out whatever is around, having made that noise. They see bubbling in the small pond on the far side of the clearing, and a roaring noise as a mass of spiney vines and plant matter hurls itself through the air towards the group, landing right in front of Rinn, biting at him with its thorny maw.
The fight begins, with the creature slamming into Rinn with its vines and bites, as the party fights back against it. Rinn dives backwards and runs up towards the nearby stage as vines slam towards him. The rest of the group slashes and damages it, before it hurls itself in the air once more towards Rinn, the party flaying it as it flies through the air, making one last bite at Rinn before it falls to the ground dead.
The party makes sure that everyone is okay, as Rinn burns the plant creature on stage. They then walk over to the small house within the clearing, searching through it, finding mostly old materials used for festivals. In the basement, they find a shredded set of clothing and a silvered broken sword, along with a single set of human bones, with 100% of the bones there. The clothing that was there was a black cloak with a shimmery hood, with the insignia of the Gilded Mask emblazoned on it. In a bag nearby, Marcus finds a brass key with the #7 on it, along with 2 crossed arrows in an X pattern pressed into it, appearing to be a logo or insignia of some kind.
They also find a shredded journal, with a few pages intact. Notes inside state
“We found a girl wandering in the bog, she saw us, have to take her back to Southport. Not sure how much she heard. Boss’s call, not ours. Meeting with Iron Crown unsuccessful. Item was not what they expected. Trawlers heading out again to search for more.”
They then head back upstairs, Shay taking a small chest that appeared to be used to store coin in the past. It does not contain a secret compartment, though he does check.
They head over to the archery range which does not contain a balista, just some broken bows and a few arrows, which Shay takes. They check the smaller stage nearby, Dandelion leaping onto the stage and crashing through it to the ground below. Underneath, she finds several golden mushrooms with silver spots, which Shay knows are Lustshrooms, which can cause halucinations and the need to consume all of the mushrooms nearby. He also collects a few other mushrooms, along with some aloe plant.
The party heads to the strange shredded tent that looks significantly newer compared to the rest of the things in the clearing. Inside, is a bedroll and pillow, some scattered loose pages, and a few scientific sketches of the various vine creatures they have fought before:
Vine Blight - Caulivitis Hominum (stalk/stem vine humanoid)
Twig Blight - Distringam Lusibus
(dancing twig)
Crawling Creeper - Ingenti Serfolum (large crawling plant)
Poison Maw - Acanthama Venenum (poison thorn maw)
Bogmangler - Palus Vitisoco (Strangling Bog Vine)
On some of the pages, is the name Eladrel Filor, the same as the note they found within the well. They also find some dead flowers wrapped in a white cloth, black petals with a fainy shimmery red hue, and blue shimmery veins throughout that reflect the light as they are moved, like lightning bolts. A note folded underneath them lists the name Flos Tempestas (druidic), or Storm Flower. Also listed there, is the single word Blightwood. Twig takes the flowers and the note.
The group heads to the market stalls, finding 30 gold within the chests beneath them. The party then heads back to Lakemount, stopping and collecting the 10 bundle bushels of lilacs and lillies within the fields outside of the bog, Marcus slamming into them with his hammer gracefully, as Dandelion cuts them with her boomarang, Shay cutting them nicely with his tools, Twig with her cat beans, Rinn with a dagger, and Mr. Pigeon with his sickles.
They head stop and speak with Nolan, telling him what they found within the bog. He pays them once more, giving them a reciept for their payment, with the temporary group name Mr. Pigeon and the Spanish Inquisition. He thanks them for all they have done for him and Lakemount, and gives them a letter of recommendation/acknowledgement for the Lawkeeper within Southport, where they are heading next. He also tells them some information about the Gilded Mask, acknowledging that he knows of them, and that they operate primarily out of Southport, but appear all over Fjordane. He also tells them they have been operating for a fairly long time, at least since he was a boy, his father having told him about them. He also knows of another organization, The Shadowed Thorns, but does not know much about them or where they are originated. The Crown has been unable to deal with them, due to split resources throughout Fjordane, along with battling the barbaric tribes to the north that have claimed part of Fjordane.
They then head to Alistair's Nook, dropping the flowers off to Gwendolyn and telling her to rest for the day, as she appears very much hungover. She thanks them and also asks that they give her locket to the blacksmith in town, as she does not want to go there today with the noise.
They head to the blacksmith, meeting Charlie and his father Brinley Spulley. Charlie is very personable and kind, while Brinley is fairly grumpy and old. They offer to repair the locket, and Shay asks if they would also be able to repair the bows, which they will. Rinn inquires about the silvered sword, and they inform him that they mostly do repairs here, and to check with any of the smiths within Southport or Greymoor, being larger cities. The group then proceeds towards the Inn for lunch, while Shay briefly dips back to his shop for medicine for Brinley.
The party has lunch in the Silverleaf Inn after Joseph cooks them a delicious meal. He asks the party when they plan to leave Lakemount, and they inform him that they will be leaving soon after finishing up some business.
Marcus asks him again about his thoughts regarding his father, and Joseph tells him that he was one of the greatest men he has ever known, and tells him about how he saved his life from invaders to the North. Strong combat driven humans from the island just north of Fjordane claimed that large portions of Fjordane was their land, and they wished to reclaim it. He tells Marcus that the men that fight with Fjordane are relentless warriors using combat tactics, battle cries, and drums late into the night, keeping the armies on edge. They were able to gain a foothold in Fjordane easily, due to the lack of Crownsguard presence to the North, the area being mostly farms and fisheries. They have been difficult to drive back due to their combat strength and control of a decent swath of land.
Marcus asks Joseph about some of the towns within Fjordane, and where he grew up, and Joseph tells him that he grew up within the town of Greenridge in old Arbor, where his father was a miner. He tells Marcus that there is some criminal activity within Greenridge, but nothing major, due to the proximity of guards given the value of the gems and ores within the mines.
Dandelion plays a tune on her pan flute after Joseph asks the young master Rinn to play something for him on his horn. It isn’t great, but Joseph tells her that he enjoys it anyway. The group then proceeds to Alistair’s Nook and Dandelion purchases a brazier, as well as some herbs and charcoal from Shay.
They then all head to the carnival and Mr. Pigeon and Twig “help” cleanup with the others. Mr. Pigeon begins packing up his things, while Twig picks up 2 buckets and begins circling the faireground filling them with small stones, pretending to look busy. Rinn sees Cucumber jumping up and down on the big top tent as its folded, and he begins casting Detect Magic in order to determine just how magical Cucumber might be. He isn’t magical, but Mr. Pigeon has 2 pockets of magic around his front sleeves. Dandelion purchases a giant bag of incense from Augustus, 3 gold worth.
The carnival folk tell the party how they traveled through the Mistlands from Yothalna with a guide, and that none of them have spent any time in Fjordane or Arbor prior. None of them recognize the key from the bog, but they recognize that it is likely an Inn Key based on size and shape. They also aren’t familiar with the Shadowed Thorns, and tells the party that they keep to themselves for the most part, due to some people judging their lifestyle.
The party walks over to Elena’s tent which has not yet been disassembled, and walk in to speak with her. They ask her how she met Elluin, from the Iron Crown. She tells them that after her mothers death, she was caught stealing from his pockets at the age of 15, and he showed her an unexpected kindness, acting as a father figure for her. She says that he is the head of the Iron Crown, and they met in Yothalna, though she isn’t sure where he is from exactly, but he is elvish. She knows that his last name is Viris, but not much else about him. She tells them that the Iron Crown procures and appraises valuable or unique items or people for others, that they are curators of rare artifacts. Marcus asks about trawlers, and she says that they work with an organization with Southport, and that they send people out on ships to search the shipwrecks off of the coast. She tells them that their organization is all over Adoris, but that it is primarily headquartered in Yothalna. When they find the items, they send word back to the headquarters. She is unsure as to what happens past that point, as she is only a messenger and observer, which allows her to search for her father while she works and care for the carnival members. She does not know of the Shattered Thorns but she does know the Gilded Mask. She knows the key, it is from an Inn within Southport, the Crossed Arrows Inn.
Elena tells them that the carnival folk will be traveling ahead of her, as per normal, but offers to have Mr. Pigeon and Twig travel with her and the rest of the party, which they oblige. She tells them that she’ll be departing the day after next.
The party heads back to the blacksmith, and finds Brinley asleep, and Charlie hands them their goods and thanks Shay for the medicine. He also gives Dandelion a set of old blacksmiths gloves so that she can perform the handshake of the blacksmith.
The party then proceeds to Gwendolyn’s home and Marcus returns her necklace to her. She thanks him and offers to pay, but he indicates that she owes them nothing, as thanks for her great work in the town over the years. She gives them a letter to deliver for her father, as promised.
The party stops at the Granary with Marcus intending to tell the Tull’s about the possible survival of Alice. Rinn thinks that dangling hope in front of them might be cruel, and Marcus tells him that they still have hope, especially due to the shoe they keep on her mantle. He believes that they should know, one way or the other. Marcus tells them that he will not stop until he finds something, and gives them closure. He says that people do still care about them and about her. They thank him profusely and tell them that he is a very good man. Marcus tells them he wants Alice and Charlotte to be reunited just like the family.
The group heads to the center of Lakemount and sit by the well, as Dandelion prepares to cast a spell over the course of an hour, using the incense, charcoal, herbs, and brazier that she purchased earlier. After an hour passes, a small fay pseudodragon appears in a puff of smoke at the center of the brazier, and climbs up Dandelion’s arm and nestles itself in her slightly messy hair.
The party heads back to Joseph’s for dinner, the inn slightly busy with customers. They order fish stew and some other items, as well as drinks for the evening. Marcus asks what the party would like to do before leaving, and Rinn says he would like to check the boards again to see if there is anyone that needs anything, and to grab some extra money before departing.
Marcus asks Twig about her home, and what her favorite thing that she collected was. She tells them about her island home with trees and rocks, and about her queen who founded the tribe after finding one of the storm flowers growing in a hole within a large tree. Rinn Detects Magic on the flowers and finds that they contain very faint traces of abjuration and necromantic magics. Marcus is curious as to why Eladrel had the flowers and what he was doing with them. Shay points out the scientific drawings, that perhaps they were being studied, and not something that he had worked with before. The party theorizes that the vine monsters were likely brought to life by accident, as part of an experiment in his trying to save the dying tree.
The party then speaks further with Twig, who tells them about the single flower that was found by the queen long ago, in a hollow within a very large tree. Rinn asks if they worshiped the flower, and Twig stutters a bit and Rinn states that he understands, there are likely gatherings around it. Shay asks if Twig was sent to find another flower, as the current one is dying, and Twig states that the flower is dying and she was sent out in an exploratory way, but is not clear with the party on her motivations.
The party finishes their dinner and finishes chatting amongst themselves.
Rinn inspects all 3 flowers and reports that they all have the same magical aura of faint necromancy and abjuration, but one also has faint traces of evocation. No one in the group is familiar with necromancy, or has come across it before, though Rinn understands the definition of what it does and is used for.
They talk more about Oberon and Dandelion, and the party asks her how she will get home, and how she came to Adoris. She said that she went to sleep, and woke up laying in a field of dandelions, just a few feet away from where Marcus eventually found her searching. Marcus says that he plans to inquire about whether the Iron Crown has come across the mirror, or similar trinkets in their search. Dandelion tells them that Oberon is not the only person that knows the mirror exists, but that only he knows it is missing. Rinn inquires what the mirror does, and Dandelion tells him she thinks that you can look in it and see their reflection, at which point Rinn goes upstairs to go to bed.
The party then finishes dinner and heads to sleep. The following morning after breakfast, Shay heads to his shop to finish preparing to leave the next day, while the rest of the group heads to check the boards at Rinn’s request. They see a request still there from the other day, from Felix Green, the local woodcutter. Felix has a letter that must be delivered to Resplendent Replicas within Greymoor.
Before heading there, they head over to the bakery and order some rolls and goods to take the next morning for their travels.
Felix tells them that his father is a woodcarver and crafter, and that he knows his father misses the city, but is too nervous to offer his crafting skills himself. Felix plans to submit a letter with a small carved trinket that his father made to the owner of Resplendent Replicas, Maiyana, who is an extremely talented enchanter and crafter, often making replicas of items that are of value to people, many times replicating trinkets that are gifted to them by family, so that they can remain safe. They also meet Felix’s dog, Bear, and Marcus inquires if he is for sale. Felix tells him no, but he does have puppies. Marcus excitedly walks into the woodcutting building over to the puppies, and picks up the runt of the litter, immediately taking to him as it licks his nose. He pays Felix, who thanks him, and the party leaves.
The party then heads to the faireground which has been completely packed up aside from Elena’s tent. Her carriage is nearby, and they speak with her briefly about leaving tomorrow. They then shop by Shay’s shop, who heads with them to the Lawkeeper’s Office to drop off the key, as well as a list of who in town receives medicines and how they are made.
They then head to Alistair’s Nook and Marcus grabs supplies for his dog, as the rest of the party waits for him. They then head to dinner at the Inn, and Dandelion decides on the name Shimmer for her dragon. Before they head to sleep, Joseph gives Marcus something that his father had given to him before leaving the military. He hands him a small leather journal, empty, the pages of which Marcus Shaw III had used to write letters to Marcus’s mother. He tells Marcus that he had been given the journal with the hopes that he would one day use the journal to tell his stories and travels, as well as possibly write letters to someone.
They all head to sleep, and awaken the next morning, have breakfast, and then head to the Caravan after picking up the rolls from the bakery. Marcus requests to drive the caravan, and Elena obliges. They travel on the eastward road out of Lakemount for a time, before coming across a small gate, and a man seated on a tree stump. He inquires about the contents of the caravan, and they tell him they are carrying carnival members to Southport. The man tells them they would be classified as a non-merchant caravan, and hands them a blue flag to mark their carriage, so that the guards know who is traveling on the road.
They then travel for the remainder of the day, and set up camp off of the road. They begin to cook dinner, and all share a meal as they chat. Marcus asks if Elena ever had run-ins with unsavory folk on the road, and that folks generally have a reason for the things that they do, whether it be a struggle to feed their family and have to turn to crime, or simply misguided by an authority figure. She tries to judge things on a case by case basis and evaluate them based on their motives, resorting to violence if need be.
She also tells them, after Marcus asks, that she believes that Eladrel was not one of those people that insights chaos, and that he seemed like he was attempting to do good with his attempts to save the tree from his home. Shay inquires about the necromantic magic, and indicates that her description of it does not sound as bad as it really is. Elena indicates that she does not believe magic itself to be good or evil, in the sense that knowledge is subject to the perspective of the writer and the reader. A description of a spell could be written in such a way that it appears to be helpful, when in reality it is harmful. In itself, that does not make the magic evil, but should a bad person choose to use it for that purpose, they are evil in doing so.
Dandelion has Shimmer fly up high into the sky and see what he sees, as she views through his eyes. She does not see much, but does see a light in the distance coming their way from Lakemount. A few moments later, a carriage rides up with the words “Vantrack Wares & Comforts”, pulled by a single white horse, with a middle aged human man wearing a brown leather cowboy hat and a long green coat. His carriage has a white flag, indicating merchant. He asks if they wouldn’t mind sharing a meal and a conversation this evening, and introduces himself as Arthur Beltan, or Trak for short. Shay asks why Trak, and he indicates that it is an abbreviation of an elvish name that was given to him by a man south near the kingdom of valenar to the South. Vantrak means Path Traveler.
Rinn inquires about the man that gave him that name, and about what he knows about Valenar. Arthur tells them that he was given the name from a man named Immeral Tiris, which Rinn says he knows. He tells them the story of how his father set up his own delivery company in his home town within old Fjordane, now current Arbor, in the Kings Bluff’s Mountain Range. That slowly expanded to the smaller towns outside of the mountain range, and eventually to the small village of Kenmare, just north of the Kingdom of Valenar, sat within a thick forest.
Arthur states that he delivered water and supplies to Kenmare, and that he remembers some strange symbols on the banners within the village, and a large stone building at its center. Rinn asks if he recognizes the symbol that he has, and pulls out a drawing of it to show Arthur. Arthur says he does not, but he can draw it for him, and he does.
They ask Arthur for a map of some of the roads within Arbor and Arthur indicates that he will draw a map for them of what he can remember, but he hasn’t been there in some time. He tells them that he, along with a coalition of merchants throughout Adoris, form the Travelers Guild, which he started. Their goal is to travel the roads of Adoris and provide goods and services to those that need them, or that might be lost along their journeys. They travel back to his home town yearly for a meeting, and to see his father.
Rinn asks if Arthur would travel with them to Southport, and Arthur says that he would, though he never stays in one place for more than a day at most, simply stopping to gather any supplies that he would need. Marcus asks about potential bandits along the road, and Arthur says that he often pays them gold and they allow him to pass. Some are unmarked, but the majority along this road belong to the Gilded Mask.
Rinn inquires about the necklace that he carries with him, and asks if Arthur recognizes it. Arthur tells him that all of the people within the town wore it, though he isn’t sure exactly what it means or what it is. Arthur had come to deliver water when he found Kenmare burned, and found Immeral there with a small child that was found among the trees, and realizes that Rinn must be this child. Tiris means (vigil or watch) in elvish. He tells them that he will happily talk more with Rinn about Kenmare in the morning, and heads to sleep.
As everyone prepares for bed, Marcus grabs a scrap of blanket soaked in water for each person and gives it with them to sleep, so that it picks up their scent if they get lost, and his dog can find them. He also asks Arthur privately about a handshake of the travelers, genuine or made up, for Dandelion. Marcus then heads to sleep holding his dog, leaning against Elena’s cart as the rest of them fall asleep in their tents.
The party wakes up the next morning after an uneventful sleep, and start cooking breakfast. Arthur joins them, and says that he hopes they had a relaxing sleep. Rinn indicates he doesn’t really enjoy sleeping in tents, and Arthur tells him he’ll get used to it, and to use a lot of pillows. Rinn asks who his pillow guy is, and Arthur tells him “Dudley Kestle”, owner of Dudley’s Divine Sleep Sacks within the city of Southport.
They sit for breakfast and speak, and Arthur tells them the story regarding Rinn’s people, in the city of Kenmare. He tells them of the Alanar Forest closer to the coast, that surrounds the Kingdom of Valenar, with very tall ash-colored trees with flame colored leaves. Those trees are fairly fire resistant, and extremely rugged and difficult to cut down. Northward from there lies the Whispering Woods, an extremely thick canopy of black oak trees, with very little light making its way into the forest. It is lit by bioluminescent fungus and lightning bugs, casting the forest in an eerie twilight glow.
He also tells them of several sounds that he heard within the forest while he traveled, monstrous sounds, though he never saw anything dangerous within. He has also heard that the forest is supposedly home to dryads, and often hears laughter and whispers on the wind that blows through the trees, leafy glowing figures out of the corner of his eyes, never quite getting a good look at them. He tells them that the forest has many winding paths and is easy to get lost. He also said that it rained a fair bit as he got close to Kenmare.
The day he found Kenmare burning, he approached the forest and found a line of trees, 15ft wide, burned completely to ash, directly to Kenmare from the outer edge. He tried to make his way there, but the ash was so thick and covered the roots and dips in the earth, making it impossible to traverse with his carriage. He went into the trees and made his way to Kenmare. As he entered the clearing, he found Kenmare charred and burned, no bodies in sight, but blood seeping into the ground. A single set of drag marks made their way into the trees. Arthur was surrounded by Immeral’s men quickly, but they realized he was not a threat. Arthur stated that there was no sign of the people of Kenmare, not a track or trace, other than baby Rinn, left along the treeline.
He tells them that Kenmare was fairly small, modest lodgings, with a large stone church at its center, with banners lining the central path towards it. The largest concentration of force from whatever caused this, was focused on the church, the stained-glass window blown inward. The window, and the banners, depicted the same symbol, which Arthur draws for him. Shay recognizes that it looks similar to holy symbol for the god of storms, Talos. Upon hearing this, Elena tells Rinn to recall that her palm reading indicated storms in his lines. She admits that palm reading is not a perfect science, it is observation and a bit of divination, it is magic. She is not normally around to see her predictions come to light, and says this is new territory for her as far as something lining up.
Arthur tells them that very few people knew that the village existed, and that he was one of the few outsiders that ever went there. He also indicates that everyone within the village wore the same necklace that Rinn wears, but he is unsure as to what it does or what it is. Marcus asks if the first time he came to Kenmare, he was greeted outside of the Whispering Woods and guided, and Arthur indicates that he was. Marcus asks if he was given one of those necklaces, and Arthur indicates that he was, and gets it from his carriage. Marcus asks if they might have it, if he no longer needs it, in case they make their way to the Whispering Woods in the future. Arthur hands it over, and Marcus compares it to Rinn’s necklace, finding it to be of similar crafting, and that both contain abjuration magic.
Marcus states that he wishes to eventually give it to Dandelion so that she will be protected within the Whispering Woods, so that she can try to converse with the dryads safely.
Dandelion then tells them the story of Lireopalt, the Swift, and his love Gale, both of them supposedly having fought against the gods in the old war, a story that Oberon had told her. They both fought with swords, named Storm & Wind. She indicates that Oberon told her many stories of warriors from Adoris, and that he is very smart.
The party heads back onto the road, with Arthur traveling in his carriage just ahead of them. After a few hours ride, they come across 2 spiked gates blocking their path, and a few men slowly surrounding the carriage, with one man sitting atop a pulled over carriage. A man approaches Marcus and tells them that they need to pay the road tax, in order to pass. Marcus says he is unfamiliar with it, and the mans says it is a 10 gold cost per occupant of the carriage. Marcus tells him that it is a city road, confused as to why there would be a tax. The man tells him they control this aspect of the road, and the other man that had been sitting atop the carriage step on the side of the road tells them to hold a second, and approaches the carriage.
He tells Marcus that he looks familiar, at least his armor. He asks him if he is “his boy”, referring to Marcus Shaw III. Marcus says yes, and asks if he had run-ins with him. He tells them no, but his father, a former military man did. He tells him that his grandfather was a Fjordanian general, killed in a skirmish with the men from across the sea, and that his father joined upon his grandfathers death. Marcus Shaw III took him under his wing, and trained him, making him his right hand man. When he abandoned his post, his father was left in charge of a strategic mission with the barbaric tribes, which went horribly wrong, and he was kicked from the army, blamed for the poor success of the mission. He tells him that his mother, forced to marry his prick of an elvish stepfather, is in this life now too.
Marcus tells him that the mission must have been folly, and said that his father would have stood up to his commanding officers and not let the mission happen, and that the mans father should have done the same. The man tells them that the crown took his grandfather from him, and that Marcus Shaw III is responsible for his fathers death, when the last drop of liquor left the bottle and he kicked the chair out from under him. Marcus tells him that each of them have their own burdens to bare, and Marcus tells him that he would love to show him what a true soldier looks like, and that he will break his hands in front of his men. The man tells them if they are both military men, surely they should command their men in battle. Marcus says if you need them, but he hopes they are better trained than the ones that the mans father led into battle.
They all square up to fight, and the battle begins. As his friends fight, Marcus walks forward, weaponless, and just raises his arms, fearing many of the men, as the captain of the men charges forward towards his friends, spinning his blades towards them. The party decimates them handily, leaving only the captain remaining. Marcus embraces him, commanding him to forgive himself. The man drops to the floor, his weapons clanging on the ground. A single tear runs down his face as he kneels in front of Marcus. Marcus binds his hands, stepping onto the mans weapons, saying that he thinks this is a choice that should have been made long ago. Marcus, searching the man, finds a single sending stone in his pocket. He tells the man that he will speak about this tonight, and that he believes he can be a better man than he has been so far in life, and that he must tells Marcus what led him to this path, so that he can un-sew those seeds. Marcus tells him his name, and the man introduces himself as Murdoc Palmer III. Marcus says “Good to meet you, soldier.” And leads him over to the carriage.
Marcus secures Murdoch by the carriage as Mr. Pigeon walks over to the knocked out Rinn, and picks up his swords, inspecting their quality; the sharpness of the blade, the runes scribed on the sides of them, how they fit together. Afterwards, he revives Rinn, who thanks him and is helped up by Mr. Pigeon.
Shay then searches the bandit carriage and finds a few items which Rinn later identifies as a Wand of Smiles, Googles of Night, a Mystery Key, and a sending stone. Shay also finds a few tools and a chest that sounds like it contains gold from the “road tax”.
The party then speaks with Murdoc, who tells them the hierarchy that he knows of regarding the Gilded Mask, his direct report being the Road Leader, Raymond Popkins. He tells them how his step-father, Fivrel Blackflower, runs the Shadowed Thorns, the criminal organization that controls the Gilded Mask.
He tells them how he developed the system with the flags marking the caravans so that they do not attempt to stop people that either don’t have money or that are armed, risking their lives. They stick to the easy and wealthier targets. He tells them how they have a man down the road that keeps an eye out for the caravans, sending messages back as to which ones are coming by so they can set up. Murdoc contacts the young man, Simon, and tells him to return and surrender.
Murdoc then tells them that after his father died 20 years ago, his mother did anything she could to make coin until she met Fivrel, marrying him. He then worked at the racetracks in Greymoor for 7 years before being to Southport 10 years ago to work with the Road Leader. Marcus asks where the money goes it, if it goes to the Crossed Arrows Inn. Murdoc tells them that it is one of the entrances to their headquarters, and that he would not advise going there alone, or right away, as there are far too many men at this point.
Marcus asks if the Gilded Mask is involved with kidnappings, and Murdoc tells them that they don’t generally deal with kidnapping, but an organization that finances partially for the Gilded Mask, The Crimson Dawn, are slavers that work out of the Heaven’s Summit Mountains, mining ores within the mountain, shipping them out to sea far enough to be out of sight of the coastline, then back to the Southport Docks, controlled by the Fjordane’s Finest Shipping Company, their Dockmaster handling the faking of invoices and manifests, as the ores are smelted into weapons and sold to the crown under the guise of them being imported from Tradour. They also import wines from Ohtasolor and Tradour, reselling them within Fjordane. He tells Marcus that if his people were taken from their home, it is likely that the Crimson Dawn has most if not all of them.
Marcus asks about the leader of the Gilded Mask, and Murdoc tells them that supposedly 40-50 years ago when the Gilded Mask was started within Greymoor, the man known as “The Masked Man”, (an auburn haired, cyan eyed man that always wears a golden mask) combined and consolidated all of the smaller bandit and criminal organizations within Greymoor. They worked as security and transportation for Fjordane’s Finest Brewery, as well as controlling the racetracks within Greymoor. After he left, the organization splintered and the members each formed offshoots of the original group, each calling themselves the Gilded Mask.
Marcus asks about Alice Tull, and Murdoc tells them that there is a girl that was taken from a meeting with the Iron Crown, and taken back to Southport and placed under the care of “The Masked Man”. Marcus asks about what the Iron Crown had been meeting about, and Murdoc tells them that there is a legend that a ship containing some of the weapons and relics of the old warriors that fought with the gods sunk off shore of Adoris as it sailed towards Cantor, and the Iron Crown hired the Gilded Mask to act as trawlers, searching the shipwrecks off of the coast in order to find these old relics. In a merchant ship they had found what appear to be, according to legend, the blade of Kerymnodel, Raven Tongue, the elvish warrior. A silver blade with runes scribed on them, but reversed, and the symbols of moonrise, sunset, death, and stars, with a purple gem in the hilt. However, the blade was a replica, and did not appear to be the original blade.
Simon, the other man walks up, and sits next to Murdoc, Marcus not binding his hands, realizing that he is a kid in his early 20s. Murdoc asks if their goal is to disband the Gilded Mask and eventually the Shadowed Thorns, he tells them that starting with the Crimson Dawn would aid in that effort, reducing a large amount of the finances from the Gilded Mask. In addition, shutting down the gambling halls owned by GM, and potentially stopping the shipping company. Marcus asks if Murdoc can and will lead them to the Crimson Dawn, and Murdoc says that he will lead them to the Crimson Dawn, that he didn’t wish for this life. He states that he won’t make excuses and say that every action he has taken is a result of his circumstances, but he wishes to stop his stepfather and the actions that he takes.
Marcus states that they will need to be disguised in order to get into the city after Murdoc states that the gate guards are paid, but the Lawkeeper is not, just a few of the guards within the city. Mr. Pigeon gestures that he could disguise them with clown makeup in order to get them in. Murdoc also tells the party about “The Overseer”, the liason with the Shadowed Thorns, that oversees the operations of the GM, and his brother who runs the gambling halls within Southport.
Marcus tells him that he intends to take Murdoc to the lawkeeper with the coin and the list of people that the coin should be returned to, along with his confession of his crimes.
Marcus then takes Murdoc over to start digging the graves for the bodies, while the rest of the party sits and has lunch, inspecting these items with Rinn, and dividing them up. Mr. Pigeon dresses up Simon like a clown, attempting to teach him how to be a clown while Rinn shoots firebolts at his feet to make him dance. He does reasonably well, but not great. Elena chuckles, and says that he is welcome in the carnival if he does need employment in the future. They decided on the name Lamb Chop, currently Student Lamb Chop, until he graduates from Mr. Pigeon’s Clown College. Mr. Pigeon however indicates that he would not be a replacement clown, but maybe a backup or understudy.
Dandelion searches the nearby trees for things for dinner, finds the head that Mr. Pigeon punted into the trees, and has shimmer fly it over to Marcus, dropping it into the pile of bodies. Marcus jams the head back onto the body and it sinks down slightly, but appears to be mostly there. As the day grows towards night, Marcus and Murdoch finish burying the bodies, as Marcus marks all of the graves with wooden crosses that he carves from nearby branches.
After dinner, he and Murdoch walk over to dig one more grave at Marcus’s request. As they do, Murdoch inquires what it is for. Marcus tells him that there must be a grave for him, in case any of the GM come searching for him, he must appear to be dead. He and Murdoch speak for a while, and Marcus says that he believes that Murdoch can be a better man, and that there are paths forward that will lead to his redemption, and that he considers him a friend now. Murdoch tells him that he will stay by his side and offer him the loyalty of a solider and that of a friend as well. He tells Marcus that the old Murdoch is one deserving of that grave and that he is now gone and buried. They mark the graves with the names of the dead, Murdoch marking his own. Marcus then puts a second marking, indicating that these graves belong to the dead of the Gilded Mask, killed by Marcus Shaw IV, and the date.
As the party prepares to sleep, Murdoch says that he will keep watch this evening, and that he will prove his worth to them, Dandelion saying that she will have Shimmer watch him to ensure he does not try to flee. Everyone heads to their tents, Dandelion and Marcus sleeping outside.
Mr. Pigeon heads to his own tent, waiting for the others to fall asleep, and begins tracing runes on the ground, lighting incense, herbs, and a bit of his own blood inside of a brazier, closing his eyes and waiting a few moments as the runes trace with purple light. He then looks into a bucket of water at the center of the circle, seeing his reflection, but a different face appears on top of his. He stares in recognition as the elvish figure opens its eyes, and slowly groans in a low rumbling voice “….why have you not slain them. Why do you stay.”. Mr. Pigeon says that he honors the lady Shar with his actions, that blood has been shed of others, and that these are friends that will help him to find and kill the remaining Blackflowers. The voice states that he does not need them, that he can do this alone, that the cat and his friends cloud his judgement. He asks Mr. Pigeon to release him, and Mr. Pigeon chuckles and says that he will remain caged. At this, the figure slams his hands against the underside of the water, which ripples as he does it. The voice states that one day, he will be released, but for now, he waits and watches. Mr. Pigeon says that his actions honor Shar, and that he does not answer to him, dismissing the ritual, cleaning up, and falling into a deep sleep.
He awakens the next morning, putting on his clown makeup, revealing (only to the viewers/listeners) a large scar on his throat from ear to ear.
The party awakens the following morning and speaks briefly with Murdoc, who hands his letter of confession to Marcus, who reads it. They decide on a clown name for Murdoch, Mr. Pigeon settling on Mr. Sad Bird. He also instructs Simon to fix his makeup, half of it having smudged off.
They head out on the road after teaching Murdoch to make balloon animals very poorly. As they get closer, Mr. Pigeon applies makeup to Murdoch. They enter the city gates, and the guards take their flag from them and directs them to the carriage parking area within the upper portion of Southport, at the top of the slight roll of the hill on which it sits. They park, and the stablemaster Clement approaches them and they stable their horses. They then see Arthur, who says goodbye to the group, and Rinn give him a hug, thanking him for telling him about his people. Elena heads to the fairground within the city in order to get her things in order, telling Marcus that she will introduce them to the Iron Crown the following evening. Dandelion sends Shimmer out to look for where to buy mirrors.
They head to the Lawkeepers office and meet Sheila Rosewall, telling her about stopping the crimes of the Gilded Mask on the road, and that Murdoch wished to confess for his crimes. Sheila tells them that the idea of releasing a criminal into the care of someone else is unorthodox, but given that she served with Marcus Shaw III in the military and believed him to be a very good man, she trusts Marcus, especially with the recommendation of Nolan from Lakemount. She gives the group temporary Southport Watch badges, and tells them that this will help them with talking to people within the town. She also tells them that the Southport Watch is one of the branches of the Guildmasters Consortium that run Southport. Marcus inquires about the crownsguard and if she knows of any traitors within them. She says that while she liaisons with them, they are always appointed by Fjordane, while the Lawkeepers in each city control their own aspects separate from the crown. She gives them the name of the leader of the Crownsguard within Southport, Reginald Burgess.
They leave Murdoch in the care of Sheila temporarily, and head to the first shop, The Frosted Forge, meeting Dulrom Frostbraid, returning his coin and gems that were stolen from his caravan of goods returning from Greenridge, after an order of weaponry was sent there for the crown. Rinn inquries about silvering his blade, and Dulrom tells them that it is normally done by monster hunters, as it has some sort of strength against them. Rinn hands over his blades, and asks them to be silvered, giving the broken silvered sword in order to get a discount. He also tells them that he is from the kingdom of Bhaldir on the other side of Adoris, but that it is not the original home of the dwarves, where he learned his craft of frost tempering weapons.
They head to the Jazzy Florist, meeting Victoria Barnes, a florist whose mother was a jazz musician, hence the name of the business. The building is filled with rows of flowers, and Marcus inquires about the single stormflower that he sees after returning her stolen gold. She tells them that she found it in the woods outside of Greymoor, that it is the only one she has ever found. She frequently travels around in order to find and breed flowers from around Fjordane, and sometimes further, in order to make the largest variety of floral designs within the kingdom. Marcus purchases the storm flower from her and gives it to Twig.
They then head to Dudley’s Divine Slumber Sacks, a store filled with various silks and fabrics on one side, and stuffings on the other. At the back is a large red velvet thrown, with the bald portly halfing figure of Dudley lounging on it. After speaking with Dudley for some time, Rinn places an order for a pillow, as well as a repair of his shirt. Marcus buys a bed for Fluffy. He tells the group about his Underground Pillow Ring, and that if they’re interested, to come to the back of the store after dark, where the red light is. He tells them that tonight will be a free for all pillow fight, and that if they don’t have pillows they are able to rent one.
They then head to the Muggery, and speak with Martin Mugenthal, who admits after some minor prodding that he does in fact participate in the pillow fights, and that he would be there tonight. They return his gold, and Rinn orders a flask, while Marcus purchases a bowl for Fluffy, and Dandelion purchases a mug. They speak more with Martin and Duncan, the son of Clement the stablemaster.
Martin tells the group that the pillow fighting ring started about 5 years ago and that’s when he first won. He tells them that it takes place every week or month depending on when Dudley sets things up. He tells them that Duncan does not participate in the fighting though he does watch sometimes. The group discusses ring names, Martin telling them that his is “The Heckler”.
The group then proceeds to Smokebeard’s Enchanted Pipes, speaking with the halfling man known as Smokebeard, Rinn purchasing two Smokebeard’s Beardsmoker pipes immediately, making a beard out of smoke. Smokebeard tells them that he sells other types of enchanted pipes. Smoking pipes, weapon pipes (like a lead pipe), musical pipes, and more.
Marcus returns the stolen gold to him, and he offers them each a beardsmoker pipe (of his own creation) as thanks. Marcus tells him that he will be returning in a few days to purchase a pipe from him.
The group heads outside and heads to Heudoro’s Quill, meeting Heudoro Scribetusk, the high orc owner of the establishment. The store itself is full of papers and inks of various qualities. Heudoro receives the 50 gold from Marcus, telling them that he has been here 20 years owning and operating this shop. He tells them of his home in the High Orc Kingdom of Ordin Dol across the Mistlands. He tells them that he wanted to get away from his home kingdom for a change of pace, out of the shadow of the “Forbidden Rise” mountain range near the Mourning Wood. He enjoys people watching, particularly fascinated with the somewhat barbaric warring tendencies of humans, something that his people have abandoned in favor of studying knowledge and magic. He also wished to be near the water, having gone on a fishing trip in his youth. Heudoro tells them that his ring name is the Ambassador, being a strange man from a foreign land.
The party then proceeds to a general store, The Lucky Caravan, led by Shimmer who flies them through the city streets. They purchase a simple mirror for each party member, made of metal plated with gold, silver, and brass colorings. Shay tells them about the clown saying “Where theres one clown, theres a herd.” after being asked about the several clowns they are discussing. Marcus also purchases some blocks of lavender scented incense.
The party then proceeds to the lawkeepers office and Murdoc is placed back into their care, as they discuss their evening plans. Sheila coyly alludes that she knows about the pillow fights as Rinn displays the image of the pillow in his hand once more, wishing them good luck. Marcus tells her that he told the shopkeepers in town to send word to Sheila for him, so that he could provide assistance for them.
The party then heads to an Inn they had passed, The Topaz Flask, and meet Thaldek Oakstone, getting rooms and a late lunch. They enjoy their meal over the next few hours, and chat amongst themselves. Marcus asks about any evening activities that Thaldek enjoys, and he tells them that he likes stargazing, as well as attending some of the smaller festivals in the city square. Informal festivals with music, food, and dancing, often organized by the traveling merchants and townsfolk as they see fit. They purchase additional pillows for the rooms, and head upstairs, leaving most of their gear with them. Dandelion sneaks 2 mushrooms and a stinkshroom inside a small bag of sand, as well as the wand of smiles. Rinn casts detect magic on the Storm Flower that Marcus purchased, and finds that it contains abjuration magic, but does not contain the necromantic magic that the others they found do have.
They head to Dudley’s and meet Roxanne by the back door of the shop, who lets them in. They head down the double set of stairs into a large open stadium style room, filled with various padded obstacles to duck behind and climb on. They find Martin, who is putting his items into the lockers at the side of the stadium. They also see Heudoro, and meet another man, Jasper, who has a tattoo of a mask on his chest. He asks Marcus if he wants to bet, 50 gold, on the outcome of the fight. Marcus agrees, and Dandelion also bets 1 gold.
Dudley descends down from the ceiling on his thrown, it being lowered by some assistants from above that are straining against some sort of pulley and gear system. Seeing the party, he yells “I made the Throne Elevator!” Dudley introduces each of the party members with their given ring names, as well as the 9 other fighters for the evening, including Heudoro, Martin, Jasper (The Gambler), and the reining champion, The Crow, a small gnomeish man dressed in all black.
The fight begins, Marcus immediately beating the hell out of Jasper, who, clearly cheating, tosses some ball bearings on the ground behind Marcus trying to trip him. Marcus after a few rounds, beats Jasper who collapses on the ground, smacking his back on a padded fence. Twig backflips over one of the other fighters, smashing him in the back of the head before nimbly leaping up to the top of the pillar. Shay, hidden, hurls himself over one of the padded fences, stabbing another one of the fighters in the kidneys, knocking him down. He stuffs the strange pink chalk disk into the mouth of the downed man, and 40lbs of food and drink erupts from his mouth, growing in size and assembling itself safely into a nice feast on the ring floor. Rinn duels with Heudoro, who calls him paperboy, as they wail at each other, eventually defeating him. Heudoro bows and tells him to stop by his shop sometime, and that he fought well and with respect. Mr. Pigeon duplicates himself and dances and cartwheels towards two of the fighters, smacking them both with his pillows. Dandelion, from the top of the pillar, goes invisible, sneaking around, stealing Marcus’s ribbons from him with her mage hand, smashing Rinn with a pillow case containing the stinkshroom. Twig, with the assistance of Shay, Mr. Pigeon, and Dandelion, take out the reigning champion The Crow. The rest of the fighters defeated, the party begins to fight among themselves, Mr. Pigeon temporarily blinding Rinn with his magic, who runs headfirst into Marcus’s arms, who hugs him and holds him in place. He breaks free and runs, and is clobbered by Shay, knocking him down. Shay also defeats Mr. Pigeon, the only remaining fighter aside from the invisible Dandelion, who he concedes to. Dandelion is declared the victor by Dudley.
Marcus walks over to Jasper, helping him up, telling him that they will have a talk later. Jasper hands over the 50 gold to Marcus, and the 2 gold to Dandelion, before being carted off by Dudley’s men, who tells them, that Sheila wishes to speak with them in the other room. They walk under the nearby curtain and find Sheila at the end of a long table, as well as Martin and Heudoro. Sheila tells them that they fought well, and says that she feels they have earned this information and a chance at something great. She asks if they would like to assist her in her quest to make Fjordane a better place outside of the purview of the Fjordanian Crown. The party says it sounds like something they would be interested in, and Sheila says “Excellent, welcome to The Unsleeping Eye”.
The party sits at the table with Sheila and are quickly joined by Dudley, a man they are introduced to as Clay Monaghan (leader of the Southport Watch), Martin Muginthal, Clement (the stablemaster), Heudoro Scribetusk, and Thaldek Oakstone.
Sheila tells them about this organization that she started 20 years ago, The Unsleeping Eye, in order to deal with large amounts of crime within Fjordane that the crown could not or would not assist with. She grew up in the orphanage in Southport, joined the military (serving with Marcus Shaw III), then became the lawkeeper in Southport. She pleaded with the Fjordanian crown for 10 years for assistance but it fell on deaf ears.
The consolidation of the bandit groups within Southport under the Gilded Mask has been a blessing and a curse. Smaller bandit gangs rarely exist now, so small crime is no longer an issue. However the larger infiltration of the city of Southport, and the targeting on the roads, is a problem.
Sheila tells them that they have branches of her organization within Greymoor, Southport, and Greenridge, with Lawkeeper Nolan heading up the sole post in Lakemount, keeping an eye out at the border.
The group speaks of the possibility of taking out the Crimson Dawn and financially crippling the Gilded Mask, as per Murdoc’s suggestion. Marcus brings up that it would be good for Sheila to attempt to assault the Gambling Halls run by the Gilded Mask at the same time as the party attacks the docks of the Fjordane’s Finest Shipping Company by sea, traveling from the Crimson Dawn Stronghold after their defeat.
The group decides to bring Heudoro with them, being told that he is the transportation, teleportation, and magic leader for the Unsleeping Eye. Heudoro states that in each of the 3 major points within Fjordane (Greymoor, Southport, Greenridge), there are teleportation circles that only the guardians of know the sigils. They are protected by a member from the Unsleeping Eye, and are normally used to send goods back and forth, but the magic is temperamental. People can be sent via these circles, but only in emergency situations. Heudoro will be watching the carriage with all of their goods, as well as be available should the party need any goods transported to the Crimson Dawn Stronghold before leaving for Southport by sea.
Marcus also inquires with Sheila as to what Arbor gained by trading land with Fjordane, having given away Amberhill and the farms nearby, which would have been an extremely valuable resource, along with the mountain range of Greenridge. Sheila states that she doesn’t know, but the land exchange in terms of sheer amount was fairly even, with Arbor also gaining access to a coastal region in order to build a trading town of their own, Withere, the “sister city” of Southport. Marcus asks about Allaway Ales, and Sheila tells him that it is another brewery based out of Amberhill.
The plan now made, the party shops and heads to bed for the evening. Rinn asks Marcus on their way back to the Inn for the necklace that Arthur gave him, and Marcus hands it over telling Rinn to hold onto it until it is needed. He assists Rinn in carrying the large throne that Dudley had paid Shay to take care of, the intials YM (Young Master) sown into them. After doing so, he takes out a bent golden coin with 3 scratch marks in it, and hands it to Rinn. Rinn asks what it is, and Marcus tells him that it is a coin that was given to him by his father, that was given to him by a gold dragon that he had made a deal with, saving and returning its child. The coin offered protection from this dragon, and Marcus states that he believes Rinn’s town was burned by this dragon, or its child, possibly in the crossfire from this initial act. He is not sure as to what the reasoning is, but believes there is someone out there that has more information on why this happened. The party all head to sleep, awakening the next morning.
Everyone has breakfast and heads out to prepare to leave. Marcus and Murdoc get a carriage and horses from Clement, while Rinn retrieves his swords from Dulrom, now silvered on the edges and sharpened. They gather into the caravan and head out, traveling for the remainder of the day, growing closer and closer to the base of the Bellowing Peaks Mountain range where the Stronghold of the Crimson Dawn lies.
Our party speaks with Murdoc as they settle down to camp during the evening. Murdoc tells them about where they are headed, the village called Ottigar. Shay and Rinn realize that the language is similar to dwarvish, and are able to translate Ottigar to Dread Dwelling, in common. He further tells them that there is one man he trusts in Ottigar, that seems to be there under more mundane circumstances, and not like the rest of them. The mans name is Kolbein, and he owns and runs the tavern/inn in the village, called Vantar hönd, or The Missing Hand.
The group discusses the plan for getting into Ottigar, and Murdoc tells them that they have 2 options. Either they can enter the town under the guise of being there from the Gilded Mask as they know Murdoc, and then sneak out of the inn at night into the mines (where Murdoc has never been and is not allowed). The alternative is that they can sneak over the walls at night, and into the mines. The group decides that into the town first, then sneaking out of the inn, is the better plan.
They head to sleep, and set out after lunch the following day, arriving in the evening time to the walls. They are let inside, and head directly to the inn, where they meet Kolbein. He directs them to the back room where they sit and eat and speak with him. Shay inquires about the symbols on the banners within the town, as well as the tattoo on his arm. Kolbein tells him that his people are called “Vatn Folk”, or water people in common. The symbol/tattoo refer to that name.
The Vatn Folk are all a race called Dvergviður, or Dwarfkin, and reside on the island directly to the north. Humans and dwarves left during the great war, chasing each other in their massive ships. A terrible storm trapped them all on that island, destroying all of their ships. They decided that, unable to get back to the land mass, they would stop fighting and join together to survive. Over the centuries their people became one. The language they use is a hybrid between dwarvish and common. Kolbein tells them how he lost his left hand in the war between Fjordane and his people, though he says he is not much of a fighter and is happy to be alive.
They finish their food and head to sleep in their rooms. As night falls, Murdoc knocks on their door and grabs all of them to head towards the mountain. They sneak their way through the down, and Dandelion charms and distracts the guard, and Rinn puts him to sleep. They sneak into the mountain, tossing the key out the gate to the guard.
They make their way through the early rooms and halls of the mountain, eventually finding a sleeping man, which Shay swiftly dispatches. They hear voices in a room up ahead, and they set a small fire, wafting the smoke down deep into the mountain in order to force someone to come to them, where they have advantage. The smoke draws 2 of the guards, who are quickly killed, but not before one yells out “INVADERS!”. The remaining guards move down the hall towards our waiting, friends, taunting them to come fight.
“What business have you with the Crimson Dawn?”. Marcus replies “A finale of sorts.” The voice rings out once more, “Why do you fight in the darkness, instead of in the light, like men?”. Rinn speaks in dwarvish, “Come and get me, half-breed.”
Our party continues their fight with the bandit captain and his men, the latter charging forward around the corner towards the nearest target, Twig. Swinging his greataxe, he strikes Twig, slamming her into the nearby wall before spinning towards Shay, striking him. He uses the momentum of his movement to carry him 5 feet towards Marcus, but the tip of his axe catches on the wall and he drops it behind.
Mr. Pigeon creates his duplicate, distracting one of the other men, as Twig and Shay collectively stab another multiple times, each dipping back into the shadowy corners of the room as they do. The party each takes a hit at the captain, Rinn stabbing him in the spots where his armor is missing with a shadowy spectral blade, before Marcus moves behind him and crushes his spine, his body falling at Rinn’s feet. The smaller man attempts to stab Marcus and Mr. Pigeon with a poison coated dagger, but they shrug this off. Murdoch, taking inspiration from Marcus, turns his greataxe sideways and slams the smaller man into the ground as well. Dandelion shoots a large blast of eldritch energy down the nearby hallway, striking one of the other men straight in the chest, knocking his lifeless body tumbling backwards.
Shay relieves the captain of his keys, his coins, and his head, as the party moves down the hallway towards the archers in the room behind. Rinn tells them to surrender, and they respond “Live for my land, die for my land.” Dandelion creeps into the back room, invisible, and throws 2 mugs up the stairs behind one of the archers, distracting him. The party moves into position, Marcus moving into the room and smashing his shortsword into the one archer, instantly killing him. Rinn and Dandelion dispatch the other archer swifty.
The party then investigates the large figure at the back of the room, locked in a cage. Rinn indicates to the party that this is a troll, though he has never seen one in person. Marcus recalls that trolls were used previously in the wars, as chained warriors from the armies that came over the Bellowing Peaks Mountain Range. He surmises that this could perhaps be a friend, or at least that he would not bring them harm. They see him huddled out of the light, and dim the torch. The troll thanks them in broken common, and introduces himself as Rog, mostly answering their questions and not speaking otherwise. Marcus feeds him, as he appears malnourished. They tell him they will be back shortly to help him, as Mr. Pigeon places a slightly bulbous balloon animal troll into the cage.
They move into the next room as Shay unlocks the door, and find a thin hallway being used as a storage room. Moving further into the next room, they find a larger space with ores and gems in a mixed state of being processed, some mining equipment, and a large box full of random items. Among these items is a bag of holding, and a slightly creepy looking doll that says “HELP ME” in a high pitched voice when it is picked up. The party all collectively hate the doll, and attempt to speak to it, but it does not respond. Rinn shakes it trying to get it to answer, and it says “RELEASE ME!”. He drops it, and as it hits the ground it yells “PICK ME UP”! He does so, and asks it how he can release it, but it does not respond. He pokes it and it yells “DON’T DO THAT!”. The party concludes that it is either a toy, or its just the worst so they shove it into the bag of holding alongside the other items. They also split the 600 gold they find.
They proceed into the next room, and find a large cage full of people and another door. Marcus walks up and recognizes a younger man named Peyton that had been taken 2 years ago during one of the bandit raids. He is shocked to see Marcus, and tells him that Matthias is also here, along with many of his people from their home. Shay unlocks the cage and Marcus runs over to Matthias. “Chauntea has clearly blessed us this day if you are here.” Marcus asks if all of their people are here and Matthias says he believes that some of them escaped into the night to places unknown as the “golden fields burned brighter than ever, before being snuffed out forever.” Marcus tells him that they will speak more on it later, and Matthias agrees, before telling him that he is sorry for what happened, and that they took the effigy. Marcus says “as he lived.” though is confused why they would have taken an effigy of prayer. Matthias tells them that he does not know, and has not seen it here.
The party uses the strange gelatinous beads they found in order to feed and nourish the prisoners. They then release Rog, who thanks them again, telling Marcus about his home in the nearby forest “Shine Water” before correcting himself to “Shine River”, struggling with the common. Marcus tells him should he ever find more of his people, he will send them there.
Shay, Twig, Mr Pigeon, and Dandelion head towards the front of the mountain to get Rog over the wall and fetch Kolbein, as Marcus tends to his people, and Rinn heads into the mine with Matthias to see the strange room he told them about that they were never to go in. Shay imitates the voice of the captain, as the guard runs towards them, immediately being killed by Shay. Dandelion runs through the town, invisible, to the inn to fetch Kolbein. She hands him a letter (still invisible) asking him to come hunt with Murdoch once more, and a feather from a bird they had hunted together. Kolbein grabs his things and Dandelion shoves him through the town towards the mountain. They head back inside and meet the others, Rinn having just returned from the strange room within the mine, containing a large stone door with strange carvings on it
Our party meets back up in the prisoner’s chamber before gathering everyone, and heading deeper into the mine, to the strange room that Matthias told them about. They enter the space and find 5 crates and barrels scattered around the room. Rinn attempts to open one but is unable to get a grasp on it with his blade. Dandelion and Marcus open some of the other ones, and find mirrors inside at specific angles, built into the boxes.
Shay notices that there is a grid scraped into the ground, the same as in the picture on the back wall. The picture has markings on the ground with the dwarvish letter B, along with the words “Life Imitates Art” in dwarvish and elvish. In the center, a riddle is written that the party discerns to mean “Fire”, and Rinn lights one in the small bowl indented into the center of the room.
As the fire is lit, Shay and Marcus move the barrels and boxes into the spots on the map, and they immediately swivel in place, as shadows cast by the light from the fire filter through them, writing on the left wall “No matter how parched. No matter how rolled. No matter if magic. No matter how old.”. Rinn immediately realizes this refers to paper, and throws a piece of paper into the fire.
The boxes and barrels swivel in place, scraping against the ground, as writing appears on another wall “I am green with envy when placed beneath the sky. I breathe not the air you breathe, yet you do not wonder why. If you were to shelter me, I would simply shrivel and die.”. Dandelion jumps in excitement and throws a piece of a plant from her hair into the fire. It shrivels and the barrels move once more.
On the back wall, written, “The foolish man wastes me, The average man spends me, the wise man invests me, Yet all men succumb to me.”. Marcus realizes that the answer is time, and pulls out his hourglass, placing it in a small hole at the back of the room that is lit up.
The back wall begins to groan as the floor shakes, and the wall sinks into the ground, revealing a space in front of them. They look inside and find a very obvious pressure plate, with a large boulder at the top of a ramp. In dwarvish on the plate is written “Emergency Seal”. The party assumes that this would release the boulder, closing in whatever this place is in case of emergency. They make their way past this into the chamber beyond, Rinn acting as a traffic director for all 50 former prisoners of the Crimson Dawn.
They make their way into a much larger chamber, with some tables and chairs overturned in the room. At the back of the room, is a detailed seal to honor the god Lathander, made with gemstones and gold. Inside, they find highly detailed stone statues of armored figures wielding warhammers fighting cloaked ones, and cloaked figures fighting other cloaked figures.
Between the party, they realize that these armored figures, elves and dwarves, must have been associated with Lathander based on their armor. They realize that there are 2 sets of cloaked figures, some that worship the god Selune (a mix of elves and other races, but more elves than anything else), and some that worship the god Shar (mostly human). The statues appear to be all unique and in different positions around the room, some of which seem injured, but not as if the stone was chipped in an accident. They look highly realistic, and extraordinarily detailed.
They proceed into the next chamber, and find 3 doorways. Rinn feels a draft from the leftmost room, and they proceed there, past more statues. Inside they find a small kitchen, with long rotted food that has since turned to dust and nothingness. The kitchen itself is in a state of complete disarray, with more of these statues and signs of battle. In the corner, leaning up against the wall, is a real Warhammer, matching the ones that the statues are holding. A statue here is also slumped up against the wall, appearing to be dying or dead. Marcus takes this Warhammer, as it contains the holy symbols for Lathander, and he wishes to preserve it and honor it.
Back into the other room, the party goes north, into a larger church/worship area that is highly decorated with symbols of Lathander, but this too is battle torn and full of statues. At the back of the room sits a burned out altar, and Rinn runs up to see if there is tome. He finds a book of worship to the god Lathander, as expected, and flips through it briefly before feeling a tickling on the back of his leg. He jumps and turns, finding a frayed banner that is fixed to the wall behind him, a draft pushing fragments of it into his leg. He pulls it back and finds a hallway. They plan to scout forward, and as they do, Mr. Pigeon and Marcus head back into the previous room to check on a few things.
Mr. Pigeon heads to the bedchambers, the area that they had not checked, and finds ruined beds, and a full set of damaged plate armor scattered around the room, as more of these statues fight and are in the process of donning their armor. He collects this set of armor and gives it to Marcus, who in the previous room is fixing the symbol of Lathander on the wall, placing scattered gems and gold pieces back into place. He also walks over to 2 of the statues that appear to be in pain, an elf pulling a dwarf away from the battle. He pulls out his holy water and marks the symbol of the god tier with the water, a sort of ritual to lay these lost statues to rest.
Mr. Pigeon tells him (in pantomime) that the bedchambers contain many of these armored figures, were killed in their beds, and that it seems that while they must have lived here, the other figures seemingly did not.
The rest of the group makes their way up the winding hallway into a much larger space, with 50 foot high ceilings. In front of them lies a path of stone, flanked by a floor of glass. This room is also filled with these statues, gigantic fractured pillars of pink marble that ascend up into the ceiling, as well as a very large tree. This tree is split, fractured half and half with shadowy darkness, and very pastel colored glowing leaves. The walls behind this tree also mirror this, with half of it covered in darkness and shadow, with floating ash, and the other half with colored vines and flowers. Dandelion excitedly points at the tree and says that this reminds her of home. The party also sees a pale greyish-blue skinned elvish woman covered in white vine tattoos sitting cross legged in the center of the room, eyes closed, with her hair floating behind her. Shay runs back to fetch the others, and brings Marcus and Mr. Pigeon back with him.
They walk forward and this womans eyes snap open, and she looks around the room and says “What brings you all to the Temple of the Morninglord?”. Marcus tells her that they are passing through, trying to find a way out for the people they have rescued, to return them to a new home. Marcus asks her what this place is, and who she is. She tells them that this is a Temple of Lathander, and home of The Order of Aster. Dandelion recognizes the word Aster, in that it refers to a birthflower. She tells them that she is the Guardian of the Immortal Flower, the flower belonging to the god Lathander, gifted to this plane from his gardens in the astral plane. Marcus asks where the Order of Aster is now, and she gestures around her, still not looking at anything in particular, and says “all around me, here”. The party asks her what caused this, and she tells them that this is the result of divine magics, from the presence of all 3 gods represented here colliding at once during The Night of Temple Fires, on the night the war with gods and mortals began.
She continues looking around the space, as Rinn heads towards the tree past her. She reaches out and grabs him lightly, not looking in his direction, and utters “Only the pure of heart and soul may pluck the flower of the Morninglord”. He tells her that he will not touch it, and only wishes to look. She lets go, and he continues walking. The party looks past her to the tree, and sees in a small cut out portion of the tree trunk, a flickering ethereal looking stormflower. Flanking the tree, touching its bark on either side are 2 clerics, one of Selune and one of Shar.
Dandelion immediately dances towards the tree and touches both sides of it, slamming her hands onto it. Rinn grabs towards her but as he does, she lets go of the shadow-y side, and immediately vanishes from sight. Everyone looks around rapidly, and Rinn’s eyes refocus and sees a tiny flying pixie Dandelion, flying in the branches of the tree. She lets go, and after a few seconds, pops back into view, her normal self. Rinn looks at her in confusion and slight horror, and she just laughs and does it again.
Twig walks up to the woman on the floor, and Shay asks if she has a name. She introduces herself as Heruil Firlote, translating in elvish to “Guardian of the Immortal Flower”. Shay and Rinn look at each other, and say “so you were literally born, to be a guardian of this flower.” She says yes, that is true, and asks what year it is. They tell her the year 4295, and she says she was born in 225, and has been waiting here all this time, though it does not feel that long.
Twig pulls out the stormflower that she possesses, and asks her if this is another of the flowers. Heruil tells her that it is a copy, a falsehood, that it is wicked. Twig tells her about her queen, and that the flower in her home is dying, taking her queen with it. Heruil tells her that her queen must possess one of these false flowers, and that they were created from a petal from one of the original flowers from Lathander’s garden. She tells her that their creation has a horrifying origin, though no one inquires further.
Twig walks towards the tree towards the flower, and looks back and forth at Mr. Pigeon and the flower, for guidance. “I want to touch it, I have to.” Heruil calls out, “If you believe yourself to be the true guardian of the flower, then your grasp will bind you to it, and start you on a journey to find its true home”.
Rinn asks “What happens if she isn’t the guardian, or isn’t pure of heart?”. She replies, “Then she will be consumed like the others.” The party looks down, and sees piles of ash at the base of the tree. “There have been others that have come before you, searching for the legend of the immortal flower, but none have been the guardian.” Twig reaches out and grabs the flower, and the flower begins to flicker more rapidly and glow brightly. White markings begin wrapping around her fingers and arms, as the white vine tattoos vanish from Heruil’s body and appear on Twig’s.
“The true guardian has been found, one not born in this place, and not bound by its walls. Perhaps the Spires of the Morning will one day rise again.” Marcus asks if that is what the pink marble was for. Heruil indicates that these spires once ascended through the mountain, capped in bronze, silver, and gold, and reflecting dawns first light down into the gardens of Chauntea below the mountain. Marcus tells her that he is from there, and she mentions that she has heard that good people are from there, but has never been. Marcus helps her up after giving her the remaining holy water to drink, seeing that it sustains her, at least for now.
Heruil walks over to Twig, takes her cat hands, and tells her that she must travel to the Feywild, to the temple that the flower created in order to protect itself from the forces of Shar and Selune, who both tried to bring the planes of the Shadowfel and Feywild into the material plane, to affect the flower as they attempted to take it. Twig asks what she must do with the remaining flowers, should she find anymore of these copies. Heruil tells her that she must purify the flowers in the waters of Lathander in the Feywild, in the Temple of the Immortal Flower, as it is the only way to destroy them.
Marcus asks Heruil if she has seen her reflection in all these years, and she says that she has not looked. Marcus leads her over to an area of glassy floor and shows her her reflection. She mentions that she looks much different than she remembers, older, and colder. She tells them that her appearance used to change with the seasons, though she is not sure that she will anymore. Marcus tells her that hopefully the morning sun will help her find herself.
The party collects themselves, and makes their way with the former prisoners, and Heruil herself, out of the back of the room towards a sheer cliff face, using Kolbein’s rope ladder to make their way down. As Heruil climbs down, the dawn sign crests over the ocean to the east, casting her in its glow. Her hair and clothing begins to change to an autumn auburn color, some color coming back to her skin. She steps off of the ladder, looks up into the sun, closes her eyes, and sheds a single tear.
Our party finishes making their way down the side of the mountain and stops in a small clearing. They speak briefly and make a plan to have the prisoners alongside Heruil make their way safely to Lakemount. Marcus writes a letter to Nolan explaining who these people are, and how they can help Lakemount, and gives it to Heruil along with 200 gold to pay for the expenses of house building and other requirements.
Heruil tells Twig that she is not sure what will happen or how her journey will progress, but that the flower should manifest things for her at times, through her dreams or through visions. It would likely lead her towards other of these fake flowers that need to be taken and purified. Twig asks her what will happen to her (Heruil) now, and Heruil replies she thought that she would pass on, but it seems as though the holy water will sustain her for now, and that Lathander has more for her to accomplish on this plane. Twig takes her hands and tells her that she will do her best. Heruil tells her that she is not sure if any of the Order of Aster still exist, but that she should seek out information about them, or any followers of Lathander in case they can be of help.
The people of Goldview and Heruil head off to the west towards to the road to Lakemount. The party speaks about what happened with Dandelion, as everyone is confused as to what happened when she touched the tree and became small. She says that no, everything else got very large and that that is how she is when she is at home, and that everyone else is very large where she is from. The party theorizes that the people of the Feywild, including Oberon and Queen Titania, are normal sized, and that Dandelion shrinks when she is there. She tells them that the mirror she is looking for is missing, and that Oberon didn’t tell Titania, so not to tell anyone else.
Rinn asks Twig to look at her arm, and she allows him to look but not touch. Rinn looks at these tattoos and attempts to draw them in order to find any patterns in them as they trace around her. He indicates that she should look at the rest of them in private, and she agrees.
Marcus asks about her home, and where she is from, and Twig tells them about her island home with her clan, the Tangled Vines clan, created by her Queen, Fields of Clover. They share the island with another clan, the Thundering Creeks, but they do not interact. Marcus asks if they have ever fought, and Twig said no, not that she knows of. As far as she is aware, they live in peace but keep to their opposite sides of the island. The party also speaks about the existence of Tabaxi vs small cats, such as the one that Val has. Twig also demonstrates the Tabaxi greeting on Mr. Pigeon, turning towards him and headbutting him at full force. He rubs his head and throws his hands up in exasperation and moves away from the party.
Everyone gets moving towards the front of the mountain to grab Heudoro, and make their way to the docks. They do so, asking Heudoro to send a message to Sheila to wait for nightfall to assault the gambling halls, as they will be waiting to invade the docks until the cover of dark. They get onto the cart and make their way to the small cove where the docks of the Crimson Dawn are. Half of the party splits and sneaks around into the water to one of the ships, and the other half begins soaking a log with oil and preparing to roll it towards the docks. Rinn ignites the log as Marcus and Murdoc push it towards the docks. The men on the ship spring into action before the docks ignite as combat begins. The party is able to defeat them, with 2 remaining dockworkers surrendering.
During the battle, Dandelion knocks one of the men off of the ship and cannonballs him in the chest, Rinn stabs the captain directly in his kidneys
and through his heart, Shay cuts the head off the wizard on the ship, Twig stuffs dynamite into the mouth of the man in the crows nest and kicks him off of it as he explodes in midair, Mr. Pigeon disguises himself as the captain and tricks one of the men into attacking his own captain, and Marcus fears several of the men simultaneously and dangles his shackles in front of the captains face, slamming him with his mace. Twig jumps down from the crows nest and stabs the disguised Mr. Pigeon, not knowing that he isn’t the real captain. He pulls his jester hat out of the chest of the illusion, shaking and jingling it in Twig’s face. She drops to her knees and apologizes, but Mr. Pigeon shrugs her off and attempts to heal himself, walking away.
After the 2 dockworkers surrender, they are shackled and prepared to be brought aboard the other ship as the party searches this one. Mr. Pigeon heads into the captains quarters to search for things, and Shay, having heard Mr. Pigeon speak as the disguised captain, follows him discretely inside.
Mr. Pigeon heads into the Captain’s Quarters and finds nautical trade maps between Fjordane and Tradour, along with a journal. Shay walks in and Mr. Pigeon quickly rips a page from the journal and hides it in his sleeve along with some of the captains clothing items and hat. Shay inspects the pipes nearby, and finds gold in the captains chest, along with a secret compartment containing a spyglass from a Tradour merchant vessel.
Shay asks Mr. Pigeon about his ability to speak, and Mr. Pigeon closes the door, revealing his secret to Shay. The two of them speak about their reasons for being on this journey, and Mr. Pigeon reveals that he keeps his voice and identity a secret, having cultivated it for years in order to best hide from his enemies, the Blackflowers.
Shay indicates that he too has had run-ins with the Blackflowers, and that he understands hiding, changing his eyes to milky white pupil-less color. Mr. Pigeon says that is a gift that should not go unappreciated, and Shay says that his gift is a curse, having led to his being in the Blackflower home for some time. Mr. Pigeon reveals the scar on his neck under his frills, and Shay says that the two of them will speak more on the Blackflowers another time. Mr. Pigeon asks Shay to keep his secret, saying that Marcus may not understand the vengeance and method that Mr. Pigeon intends to enact on Fivrel Blackflower.
On the docks, Marcus and Rinn speak with the two remaining ship workers, pleading for Marcus not to kill them. They introduce themselves as Steinun and Erling, and Marcus inquires with them as to why they are here, and what the Crimson Dawn did here.
They indicate that 21 years ago they were approached by their Captain, on a mission tasked by Haulfrun Kjartan, son of the general of the Vatn Folk, Ubbein. Not wanting to say no, they agree to go along and join the crew. They arrive here and spend 2 years building Ottigar. The next few years were spent mostly pillaging merchant ships, but also taking some of the merchants prisoner for Haulfrun to rule over.
In 4281 they were approached by the Gilded Mask and hired to provide ore from them. Haulfrun agrees on the condition that they leave him alone and let him run his end of things with no interference. The merchants are used to mine until their death, and are then replaced with the people of Goldview after 2 raids on their town.
Steinun mentions that he is ashamed of what he has done, and does not believe himself to be a horrible man, simply having followed a bad man. He does not believe he, at this time, deserves forgiveness. Marcus indicates that he believes he can be a better man and that his penance for his crimes can be helped by speaking with Sheila in Southport upon their return. Marcus removes their shackles after taking their weapons, seeing that they are simple weapons and not family heirlooms or religious weaponry, which he would not have taken as a holy man.
Dandelion searches the ship and finds several bundles of dynamite, holding them aloft for everyone to see, yelling “I FOUND TUBES!” None of them know what these are, but did see them explode when Twig used them, and should at the very least be careful. Rinn stuffs them in his bag of holding for later, along with a small stumpy stick of dynamite that he found.
Shay and Mr. Pigeon leave the room, and Mr. Pigeon gives the journal to Shay, which Shay spends some time translating, giving it to Marcus. Shay gives the spyglass to Dandelion so that she could look through it and remind her of home. She does so, the wrong way, seeing a very small Shay, saying she does not think it is working. She flips it around and see Shay very large and close now, and is very pleased with the result.
The party gathers their things and heads onto the other ship, one that Steinun indicates carries silver, iron, and small amounts of copper and gold ore, along with wines from Tradour that they had taken from merchant vessels. They set sail, everyone resting after taking some personal time to themselves, Rinn identifying the magical items they retrieved from the Crimson Dawn stronghold. Dandelion is visibly uncomfortable with the open ocean at first, saying that they must look out for holes or they’ll fall and get stuck.
Marcus speaks with Kolbein, at his request, and Kolbein says that he is sorry for what trouble his people have been for Fjordane and Goldview. Marcus mentions that he believes there is and should be apologies on both sides, that the corruption of Fjordane and Southport seems much more deep rooted than he initially feared. Kolbein tells him about what started the war, how their former, now current leader Torvald Hrutsson left their home in order to make peace with Fjordane, and re-enter the land. He did not return for 5 years, and returned alone without any of his companions, indicating that he had been kidnapped by Fjordane, and only just escaped. Kolbein indicated that was a very different man when he returned, that though he knew your name and who you were, the look in his eyes was emotionless, staring right through you as though you’d never met. Not a violent man when he left, but ruthless and war hungry when he returned.
Marcus indicates that, no matter what, he will return Kolbein to his home and to his family, that he is a good man and that he is terribly sorry that his injury befell him as a result of a war he did not wish to participate in. Kolbein tells him that he pretended as though, while in his tavern in Ottigar, that he was home, but as he went outside, he was reminded that he was very far away. Marcus indicates that he was a prisoner in a foreign place, but that he is now a free man. Kolbein looks up at the sun, closes his eyes, and breathes deeply. Marcus heads to sleep.
The party awakens, Rinn handing out the magical items to the group to discuss how to divvy out. Dandelion sees Shimmer sitting in the captains quarters, poking his head out. She follows him inside and finds him sitting on a small barrel. She opens the lid, and sees a small amount of sea water inside, the smell of salt brushing past her nose. In the reflection, she sees Oberon smiling at her. “Hello, Little Dewdrop.”
Dandelion speaks with the reflection of Oberon. She tells him that she hasn’t had too much luck with the mirror yet, but has found some friends that are helping her. She tells Oberon that she is safe, but that she has been fighting, and that the people here seem to want to fight a lot. Oberon tells her that he’ll try to do some searching as well, and that Dandelion can contact him through natural waters. Contacting her through buckets of water and other such forms requires more effort, and he might be caught doing so. Titania has not yet discovered the missing mirror. Dandelion thanks him and Oberon leaves, hearing someone coming.
Back on the deck, the party discusses the plan. They decided that Shay, disguised as the captain, will accompany Marcus and Rinn onto the docks. Twig, Dandelion, and Mr. Pigeon will sneak off the ship earlier, and onto another part of the dock to flank any potential combatants. As they approach, Murdoch asks for some dynamite in order to blow up the forge, feeling responsible for the damage it has caused. Marcus and Rinn look at him and tell him no, the forge can just be taken later and given to good people, that it doesn’t need to be blown up. Murdoch agrees and says he will just stay on the boat and guard in case something happens.
As they wait, Twig has a moment where her tattoos glow slightly, her vision fades, and everything around her rings and echoes before falling silent. She is blinded by sunlight, as a figure steps into view. A well armored man walks forward, introducing himself as Lathander, acknowledging that she is the guardian of the flower. He tells Twig how he can offer her a gift that she may use in combat, but that he cannot fight her battles for her, that there are multiple people he must protect on this plane. He says he knows the journey ahead of her will be tough, but that his followers will assist however they can, should she find them. Twig is gifted the spell Moonlight, and Lathander indicates that she will be able to use that in order to purify the false flowers, in addition to using it in battle. Twig asks why her, why can’t he get the flower himself? He says that there are many gods, not just him, and not all have good intentions. Should he leave his home and seek the flower himself, there would be consequences for others that he cannot control. Twig asks what she can do with the flower when she finds it, and if she can gift it to someone. Lathander tells her that whoever she gifts it to, or whatever she does with it, will be entirely her choice, and that she is trusted to make the right choice when the time comes. The sunlight fades and her vision returns.
Rinn hands out the magical items to everyone, and the party waits. As they approach the dock, the 3 sneaky friends jump into the water and swim towards another part of the dock. The ship approaches, and Shay gets off and speaks with Elias, the man that they were told would be meeting them. He asks what they have on board, and Shay tells them the ores and ales that they are expecting. Elias asks if they need help, and Shay tells him no, that they should have things covered. Marcus walks down and carries a crate over to the stairs that Elias tells him leads down to the forge. He introduces himself to Elias and asks if he has a last name. Elias tells him Bennett, and Marcus asks if his father is Will Bennett, and Elias tells him yes. Marcus tells him that the Captain is not here tonight, and that he is not coming back. He pulls out his shackles and tells him that there will be no more shipments, and that they are part of the Southport Watch. Elias seems confused, and stalls while fiddling with something in his pocket. Marcus asks him to show him his hands, and Elias stalls further, before agreeing and doing so.
A man from the far side of the dock yells out “Elias?” Elias tells him that they are being taken over by the Southport Watch, and that he is being taken captive. Marcus speaks with the man, revealed to be Will Bennett, and asks him to surrender, saying that he has enough shackles for everyone here. Will tells Marcus that he can’t surrender, that he has things he must take care of. Two men walk out of the building at the far side of the dock towards the party. Hearing a loud noise further off, Will waves his hand quickly, a wall of fire appearing behind the men, cutting off the way out, before fleeing into the night.
Murdoch takes Elias onto the ship, as the party flanks the two men walking their way, weapons drawn. Rinn dashes forward tripping as he blows his horn before bladesinging and preparing for the fight. Twig jumps deftly from the water, stabbing the cloaked man several times before dipping back into the darkness. The larger man rushes towards Rinn, swinging his greatsword into his side, wounding him severely, before rushing past towards Shay, slashing him as well. Dandelion scales a nearby building, hexing the larger man that attacked Rinn. Rinn shifts to the side, running up to the larger man and stabbing him twice in the back. Marcus moves behind him, slamming into his back with his maul, striking fear into him, and shifting him out of range of his friends. Mr. Pigeon duplicates himself, and after being dragged towards the cloaked man by a whip of lightning, stabs his sickles into him, holding his body up and watching the life leave his eyes. Rinn attempts to strike the man with a bolt of spectral energy, which fails. He falls to his knees in frustration, dooting his horn aggressively. The energy arcs from the horn, striking the man in the chest somehow. The larger man fights on, before being slain by Marcus. As he falls, Marcus says “It did not have to be like this.” before stabbing the man through the chest with his blade.
Marcus heals Rinn, as Dandelion sneaks into the window of the building and searches it, finding a manifest of names associated with the Gilded Mask and Southport Docks. She finds stairs down, leading out into the night towards the city. She runs back to tell her friends. Everyone else gathers themselves, as they walk back to the ship briefly, speaking with Elias and Murdoch. Murdoch fetches Heudoro, and Elias asks If they plan to kill his father like they did the other two men, frustrated with their uselessness in protecting him as they had for a long time. The party indicates that if his father fights then yes, they too will take him down like the rest. Elias, saddened and frustrated that his father left him behind, indicates that his life, and the docks of Southport, are all that he has known. Marcus asks him if he had heard stories about Val, and while he doesn’t know the name, he assumed his father had smuggled in the past as he does now.
Marcus runs into the building and out the back, followed close behind by his friends. As they run through the city, they come across Sheila, speaking with her briefly, before she thanks them, and they follow her fighters through the city streets of Southport towards the gambling halls. Entering through large dark wooden doors, they find stairs down, and a man at a desk. He asks what they’re here for, and Marcus tosses shackles at his feet, stating that should he want to live, he should put those on. The man stands, well dressed, and puts the shackles on. “Take me away!”, stepping outside, and sitting on the ground.
The party walks down the stairs, Marcus handing the Warhammer of Lathander to Sheila alongside her battleaxe. Marcus tells her that she should be the one to bust down the doors, and that it is her work that led to this point. She says she would be honored, and on the count of three, she and Marcus slam their weapons into the doors, cracking them open.
Our friends smash their way through the doors of the gambling halls with Marcus’ maul and Sheila’s Warhammer. As they do, Sheila winks and the tattooed eyes on the back of her hand glow with holy light. As her hammer slams into the ground, a wave of healing holy energy sweeps behind her, healing the party and her own men. Sheila tells them that her men will handle the bandits, and that the party should get after the other two, pointing at the figure of Will and a figured wearing a gilded mask that duck behind a curtain at the back of the room.
The party rushes forward as Sheila and her men rush up the stairs on each side of the large hall, beginning to fight with the bandits. They make their way past the curtain and come to a set of large double doors at the end of a short hallway. They throw open the doors and are met with two 7 foot tall humans wrapped in chainmail, shields and swords at the ready. Marcus and Rinn stand before them, the rest of the party behind them as 4 more men make their way out of the edges of the room, blocking the party into this small space.
Rinn, Marcus, and Dandelion fight the two large beef boys sliding out of the way of their blades and slamming attacks into them whenever they see an opening in their defenses. Shay, Mr. Pigeon, and Twig fight the 4 men at the back, jumping across gaps between the gambling tables and roulette wheels. As they fight, the party watches as Will and the masked figure, revealed to be Alistair Plymfaire, fight in the room beyond the large men guarding the door.
The two of them yell at each other as they fight:
“You understand this life, it’s what you know. I gave you the chance to relive your former glory! To choose to be a leader of something bigger than yourself!” - W
“Choice? They gave me no choice! By turning me onto them, you killed me. I will die here, or be arrested, and pray that they don’t still kill my family.” - A
“You know this is wrong, deep down I KNOW you know” - A
“I… have to do this. I will not spend the rest of my life rotting away in a prison cell! I can’t do that to my son.” - W
“You did THIS to your son! You raised him here, and its all he’s ever known! He doesn’t even know who you used to be!” - A
“You have to yield Alistair! Or stand by me and fight them. We both are family men, we fight for our children. I do what I do for Elias, you know that.” - W
“....Did you do this for your son, or did you do this for you? Are you a family man or aren’t you? My daughter’s life has been threatened more times than I can count. I will not sit idly by and let you kill me to cleanse your conscience of my presence. What would Elias think of you if he saw you now?! Are you proud of who you are?” - A
“.....I’m sorry. Get out of here. Save your family. GO!” – W
Alistair stands and goes to leave the room. As he does, a cloaked figure drops from the back wall and rushes towards him with a shadow-y spectral dagger outstretched from his hand. Will yells, and pushes Alistair out of the way, taking the blade of the dagger himself. He falls, shoving Alistair towards the door, who stumbles and runs out of the room. The party defeats the first of the two beef boys along with the four Gilded Mask bandits behind, and the other beef boy surrenders. The party then rushes by him to fight against the shadow assassin. As the party filters in, the assassin fades into the darkness and dips back to a sconce on the far wall, throwing spectral shadow daggers at Dandelion, Twig, Shay, and Rinn. Shay and Dandelion manage to dodge some of the daggers as they dip through the storm, flanked by Twig and Rinn who dodge through the blades and send them flying off into the far walls.
Marcus rushes to Will’s side and drags him to the corner of the room, attempting to heal him, seeing that his wound is fatal. Will grabs his hand and stops him, asking for Marcus to please not heal him, that he does not deserve forgiveness for what he has done. He asks if Val is okay, and Marcus tells him yes, he is alive, and that he hopes that someday if he should atone for his crimes through a higher power than he, that he sees his sister and his friend again. Marcus then takes Will’s dagger, and plunges it into Will’s heart as the life leaves his eyes.
The battle continues and eventually Dandelion, shielded by Marcus, casts her sleep spell putting Marcus and the assassin to sleep. Marcus rushes out of the room to find Alistair, as the others secure the assassin.
Marcus retrieves Alistair from a nearby room, who surrenders to him while trying to protect a young girl which is revealed to be the missing Alice Tull. Marcus thanks him for protecting her for so long, and says that he will need to tell Sheila what he knows and hope that is enough to atone for what he has done, given some leeway due to his family being threatened. Marcus hopes to take him back to Lakemount to reunite him with his family, and Alice with her family.
The others wake up the assassin with Mr. Pigeon’s sickles around his neck after Shay inspects him to make sure he is unarmed and has no way of escape. He awakens, and the party speaks to him about his goals here and why he had to kill Alistair. He indicates to Shay that Alistair had attempted to escape, and thus needed to be taken out. They speak briefly about his dealings with Fivrel Blackflower, and he sees a flicker of recognition on Shay’s face. The two speak, and Shay asks how he came into service of the Blackflowers. The assassin states plainly “how does anyone with my skillset come into their service?”. He continues to give taunting non-answers to questions that Shay has, before laughing and stating that “The grip of the Blackflowers extends far beyond this kingdom and this city, and that both of these human kingdoms will fall into their control, and that all will know the name Fivrel Blackflower”. At this point, Shay nods to Mr. Pigeon and as he goes to cut the mans throat, Rinn slaps the blades away, telling them to keep him alive.
Dandelion speaks briefly with Sheila about what has happened, and Sheila heals her, before the two walk back into the room. They debate briefly on what to do with the assassin, and Shay indicates that the man will only be a danger to her city, and that he cannot be trusted to be contained. Sheila walks up to the man and condemns him for his crimes against the city, stabbing him in the heart. As he dies, he laughs and his skin fades to a mottled grey, his eyes a milky white, and all of his markings and tattoos vanishing. The cloak fades to a light grey color and sags around his corpse. Rinn removes the badge from his pocket, throws it at Sheila, and says “Fuck your watch.” before storming off. Sheila follows after him and says that she is sorry, but she had to do that to protect her people. Rinn asks her if she has killed before, in the war when they took prisoners. Sheila told him no, she has not killed another prisoner before, but none have been so dangerous as this man. Rinn says “It only takes one.” And turns, walking through the red curtain back into the hall.
Rinn takes his leave through the red curtain at the front of the room and is met with the sight of a few guards tending to the wounds of others, while other collected the bodies of bandits and piled them in the center of the room in preparation for removal. Among them were the bodies of a few guards, but the bandit bodies outnumbered them by a great many. Rinn walks up to one of the guards tending to the wounded, and asks him to heal the slice on his foot, and the guard does so.
Rinn then heads to the dock and informs Murdoc about the halls having been taken and asks to speak to Elias in private. The two walk into the captains quarters and Elias asks if his father is dead. Rinn tells him yes, and that he is sorry. Rinn asks him about the shadow-y assassin, but Elias says he doesn’t know anything about him. Rinn asks him about the other bladesinger, Maxwell, and says that the necklace he found on him belonged to his people.
Elias tells him stories about Maxwell, about how he took care of and watched over him for 20 years, since about the time he was 5 years old. When he was 10, the two of them were approached by hooded cloaked men and demanded their money, threatening to take Elias if Maxwell did not comply. Maxwell instructed Elias to close his eyes, who did so. When he opened them, the men were gone, but Elias says that he recognized the muffled screams and sounds of a blade when his eyes were shut.
He doesn’t know if Maxwell was a good man, but that he was his friend and his protector. He further tells Rinn that Maxwell told him stories about where he learned to fight the way he does. He said that he was taught by an elvish teacher Valorah Ohtar (warrior/champion), in Ohtasolor (Warhome at Land’s Edge). The skill was passed down, as was the name, from one known only as The Archwarrior.
Rinn says he has never heard of this, but draws a connection to his people due to the Archbishop and Archmage, two of the three pillars of the Kingdom of Valendar, the 3rd being the Monarch. Elias tells him that while Maxwell did learn from this teacher, he left before he could complete his training, and thus did not take the family name Ohtar, believing he was not deserving of it. Elias said that he isn’t sure why he left, but that he said needed a lot of money, and was looking for something or some way that he could become more like his teacher. Rinn asks, “like… an elf?”. Elias tells him that he isn’t sure, that Maxwell didn’t go further. Elias hopes that Maxwell finds peace in his death. Rinn crushes through the shackles around Elias’s hands, and tells him that he believes that he will be found innocent of any crimes, but to look out for himself.
Rinn leaves, and asks Murdoc from the dock if he knows of a Shipwright. Murdoc tells him he isn’t sure, but knows that most of/all the ships in Fjordane are built by the gnomes and halflings that live on the other side of the Mistlands. He tells him that they are artificers, and that Dudley is one, so maybe he would know more. Rinn then heads back towards the tavern. As he does so, a guard runs up to him, panting, and hands him a sack of 400 gold; his share of the Gilded Mask raids from Sheila.
Back in the Gambling Halls, Marcus, Shay, Dandelion, Twig, and Mr. Pigeon speak briefly with Sheila about what happened, and Marcus introduces Alistair to the rest of the group, along with Alice Tull, the missing girl from Lakemount. Marcus asks if Alistair’s information would be enough as atonement for his crimes, and if Sheila would do him the kindness of also allowing Alistair to fall into his care. Sheila says that depending on what information Alistair has, she would be open to the same arrangement that she used for Murdoc’s atonement, but that he would need to be locked up for the evening before questioning in the morning. Alistair extends his hands and is shackled by Sheila. Marcus and Dandelion then leave to head to the tavern for the evening. Before doing so, the rest of the group is also given their share of 400 gold each.
Shay searches the body of the assassin privately and finds a few things including some weapons and tools, poisons, dossiers of Alistair, Will, Sheila, and a few others in town as well as the “Overseer”, alongside a coded missive that he is able to decipher. Shay tells Sheila that this man was a blight to Southport and that she made the right decision in killing him. He would have been a danger to her city and that she should be on the lookout for more like him. She should consider anyone a threat, even her most trusted individuals, and that she should keep her eyes open for any suspect behavior. Shay isn’t sure if others will come like him, or if they are here already, but that she cannot be too careful.
Sheila thanks him, and offers to leave cloaks behind to carry the bodies out in secret, at the request of Shay who indicates that both this body and Will’s should be disposed of discretely and in a way that could not be traced. Sheila points them in the direction of the cooking ward of the city, saying that there are open fire pits far enough apart to not draw the eyes of any passersby, especially at this late hour.
The 3 disguise the bodies and carry them down to the edge of the city, in a large open field full of fire pits and drunken city folk. No one pays them any mind as they dispose of the bodies, burning them. After some time passes, Shay removes the bones in order to grind them into powder. Twig takes all of the teeth, which have popcorned and exploded from the heat of the flames. Shay asks Mr. Pigeon and Twig about what their plans are, and they both indicate they plan to stay with the group for the time being, on their way to Greymoor. Shay says that he will speak to Murdoc about Fivrel Blackflower, and see whatever additional information he might have on him. Twig asks Shay what this man was, and inquires as to what happened to make him a monster and no longer a man. Shay says that he was broken down into what he is, and that he understands the pain and suffering that likely went a long with it.
The three head towards the carnival in order to get a mortar and pestle from Tarak, their dragonborn friend. They first come across Cucumber, and Shay trades him a piece of gold for another of the pink pellets that created a large amount of food. Twig hands over the largest of the teeth to Cucumber and receives a small carved frog in return. They then head to Tarak and Shay gets one of his spare mortar and pestles. The group then heads back towards the tavern for the night.
Back in the tavern, Dandelion and Marcus order food from the tavern owner, Thaldek, and sit and speak about how Marcus will be returning to Lakemount briefly to check on his people, and reunite Alistair with his family and Alice with hers. Dandelion offers half of her gold to Marcus in order to pay for things, but Marcus indicates that they will be fine, that he intends to give his share to Nolan in order to distribute to Felix and others in town in order to pay for houses for his people. They begin to eat their food when Rinn enters. Rinn sits and orders a strong drink.
Marcus tells him what happened in the halls after he left, and Rinn orders a drink and sits with them. He asks Marcus if what happened to the assassin sits well with him, with him being killed that way. Marcus says that while death will never sit well with him, the assassin was no longer a person anymore, and that killing him was not only justice for the city of Southport, and for Will, but a pity on a lost soul. Rinn tells him that he does not see it that way, that he does not consider what happened to be justice. He says that it matters how we die. He says that he does not bear the responsibility of killing someone that way. Marcus says that if that is the case, the group should consider the question, of do we actually bear the responsibility of deciding who lives and who dies. He says that the man moved in ways none of them have ever seen, and that he is not sure that he could have been held by a simple jail cell. Marcus says that sometimes in life tough decisions need to be made, and that he doesn’t think that death should be a comfort, and that he doesn’t want the group to become comfortable with taking the life of other person. Marcus says that he would love to better understand justice if they all can. Rinn tells him that it is an interesting perspective, finishes his drink, and goes up to sleep.
Some time passes, and the other three return from their nightly errands. Shay tells Marcus and Dandelion about what he found on the body of the assassin, and translates roughly what the missive says. He said it is not signed, but points to the marking of a black ink flower at the bottom. Shay tells Marcus that they disposed of the body, and Will’s for the safety of Southport and others not knowing. He says that the best plan for Alistair would be to coach him on how to act like not himself, so that he can hide in plain sight and not be targeted by any of the Blackflowers’ or any other assassins that come looking. Shay says he doesn’t believe Sheila is in danger, and that he informed her of the risks involved and what to look for. The party heads up to sleep for the night.
In his room, Rinn finishes his drink and inspects the belongings that he took off of Maxwell. On the necklace that matches Rinn’s own and the one he got from Arthur, Maxwells initials are carved under the leather banding that wraps around the top, hidden from view. The construction of it looks fairly identical to the other two. The sword itself appears to be of older style construction, matching the style that Rinn recognizes having been used by the older combat trainers within The Tower. The metal however, looks fairly new. It looks to have been crafted recently, but using an older style. The sheathe of the sword is leather, slightly worn, and is wrapped in metal banding that looks like a cyclone. It starts thicker at the top and spirals around and down the length of the sheathe towards the tip.
He then wraps up the belongings and heads to bed. As he does so, he sees a slight glow from outside. He looks, and sees a tiny dancing Dandelion. He closes the curtains and goes to sleep, putting all 3 necklaces on. He feels a comfort, and falls into a deeply relaxing sleep.
In Shay’s room, he is grinding the bones into dust one by one in the mortar and pestle. Mr. Pigeon knocks on the door and enters. The two speak about Fivrel Blackflower, some aspects of Shay’s past regarding the Blackflowers, and how the two of them both want him dead. Shay tells him how he used to, under a different mask that he refers to as “the knife”, work for the Blackflower family, not by his own choice. The two discuss that Fivrel must be removed, and that “The Overseer” might be a good way to get close to Fivrel should Shay decide to take up another mask, though he is hesitant to wear the face of one that is not apart of himself. He says that he has spent much time crafting this mask and that he does not yet wish to reveal it. Mr. Pigeon says that after Firvrel is gone, he is not sure what he will do, and how motivated he feels to move forward past that. Shay states that he is not sure if removing Fivrel Blackflower is the end of his balancing.
Mr. Pigeon states that he intends to be the one to kill Fivrel Blackflower, and that he hopes it does not conflict with Shay’s or anyone else’s goals. He heads to sleep, and Shay finishes grinding the remainder of the bones before going to bed.
Twig is blinded by daylight, akin to the other vision that she had from Lathander before. When the light fades, she finds herself inside a large chapel with stained glass windows of Torm, Tyr, and the crest of Fjordane. On the raised area at the back of the chapel, by the altar, are 5 suits of armor on the ground. Twig moves towards them in the shadows of the room and as she gets closer she realizes that they are soldiers, heavily wounded. The doors at the back swing open and Twig hides under the pews.
Two men walk in, both hooded cloaks, one tall and one much shorter. They speak about the wounded soldiers, and the taller man ponders how long the king will continue this frivolous war to the north, and how long he will have to send the souls of these dying soldiers into the arms of their graceful gods. The smaller man leaves, and the taller man removes his hood with very pale hands, revealing silver hair and long pointed elvish ears.
He walks to each of the soldiers and puts runes on the ground beneath their heads with chalk. He then walks to the first solider and begins to trace runes in the air, as the soldiers wounds begin to heal. No sooner does the life start to return to the soldier than the elvish man stabs into him with a spectral shadow blade into his throat, as the man coughs and sputters blood. Blue whisps float into the air towards the elvish mans chest, and his cloak falls open revealing a Stormflower, one of the fake ones that Lathander had warned about, encased in a glass tube, the blue whisps flowing into it, stopping only when the solider died. The elvish man moved to the next solider, and Twig’s vision faded.
Rinn, asleep in his room, experiences a strange dream of his own. As he falls asleep with the 3 pendants of the people of Kenmare on him, he started to hear the sounds of rain and wind. Thunder woke him up and as he opened his eyes, he was greeted with darkness in front of him, followed by what looked like cloth. As he moved his hand to push it from his eyes, he was met with the hand of a child, no more than 6 months old. He sees a woman looking out a window at the foot of his small bassinet. She speaks to him, and appears to be the mother of whoever’s eyes this vision is taking place from. She shows him the rain out the window, and Rinn sees what appears to be the village of Kenmare as Arthur had previously described it to him, the banners with the half lightning bolts descending down into what now looks like the silver color of an iron blade. The scene continues, as the woman tells the child that she loves him, and sets him back to sleep. As sleep begins to take Rinn again, the door of the room bursts open, and a man, not much older than Rinn, that looks extremely similar to him except for the blue eyes, enters. He utters the name “Christina…” looking at the woman. Thunder strikes again, louder this time, and Rinn wakes up in his room, covered in sweat. Rinn awakens, writes down what he saw, takes the coin and gets dressed, heading downstairs for breakfast.
Rinn is joined by everyone else as they awaken for breakfast. They eat, speaking briefly with the extremely tired, likely under the influence of some substance morning person not morning person morning shift tavern employee, Hugh Man. Hugh gets them their breakfast, although it is in the wrong order. The party speaks briefly about the events of the night before, and head out on their errands for the day. Rinn heads out into Southport as the others head towards Sheila’s to speak with her and see the interrogation.
Sheila invites them in to speak with the prisoners, the first being Gavin. Marcus asks Gavin what his role was, and if he was blackmailed or coerced. He tells Marcus that he willingly participated for years, making armor and weapons for the Gilded Mask that they sold, using the stolen ores. He said that he formerly worked in Greenridge as a miner in his younger years, leaving when he was 25 to come here and make something with his hands. He says that he made whatever was requested of him, and that he was offered work by the Gilded Mask, and that he needed the money, due to the dwarven forges in the city outnumbering him handily, most people trusting the dwarven methods. He says that he makes a good weapon and that he takes pride in his work, and that he wouldn’t mark and of his weapons with any sort of signature, and that the work speaks for itself. He wanted people to see his blade and know that it was his without any sort of marking signifying it as such. He tells Marcus that Will approached him as he was about to lose his shop. He tells them that silvered blades went to Tradour mostly, though he can’t be sure. Marcus offers him the opportunity, if Sheila should accept it, to serve his sentence as an employee for the Southport Watch, crafting armor and weapons for Sheila and her men. Gavin is confused, seeing no downside to this deal. Marcus tells him that he understands the pressure he was under, and that a good smith is always important. He tells him to remember the name Marcus Shaw IV, and Gavin tells him that he will, and that he will answer the call if needed. Sheila agrees with these terms, and the group proceeds to Alistair in the next room.
Alistair speaks with them, Marcus asking about the bog and aspects of the Gilded Mask, and Fivrel Blackflower. Alistair tells them that he had overheard things about how this all came to be. 25 years ago Fjordane’s Finest financed the election of a new Duke of Commerce, and elvish man named Jandar, in exchange for a contract for the docks in Southport. Upon hearing this name, Shay leaves the room. Jandar wins the election, and they are awarded the contract, spending their remaining money building infrastructure, purchasing and upgrading ships, and creating trade routes over 5 years. 20 years ago, 5 years after the election, they are approached by Fivrel Blackflower’s man, the Overseer, and threatened, telling them that Jandar works for him, and that if they did not smuggle for him and do as he asked, he would revoke their contract and they would lose everything. They agreed. 14 years ago, the Gilded Mask offshoots were still an issue in and around Southport, so Will’s men approached Alistair and threatened him and his family if he did not return and act as the face of the Gilded Mask once more.
Alistair tells him that he did what he had to in order to survive, and protected Alice the best he could after she had been kidnapped. He also tells them that the corruption of the Blackflowers likely extends further into Greymoor than is obvious on the surface, though he is not certain by how much. He tells them that Fivrel Blackflower is the most dangerous person he has even come across in his life, even though he has never met him. He tells them that he doesn’t know if Gwendolyn’s father is safe in Greymoor.
The group steps outside to speak to Sheila about what to do with Alistair, and Shay slips back inside. He speaks with Alistair about his safety, and Alistair tells him that he will hide in plain sight and be himself, as that is the most unrecognizable thing he could do after 14 years of being someone else. He says that he will protect himself and his family, and stay in contact with Nolan should anything suspect come up. Shay heads back outside after speaking with him. The party comes back in, and Alistair is released into Marcus’s care. The party speaks briefly before Marcus fetches Elias and Alice, getting a carriage at the front gate, and riding with Alice up front as the two of them talk after he gives Alice her new dog, Fluffy. Alice is extremely happy with this, and they ride back towards Lakemount as Elias and Alistair sit in the back of the carriage.
Rinn speaks with Hugh Man after the others leave the tavern for the morning, asking where he can get any “puff puff”. He tells him that pillows are like clouds, and when you blow smoke, its also like clouds. Rinn realizes he means Dudley, laughs, pays him a gold, and leaves. He heads to Heudoro, purchasing several scrolls of magic for him, as Heudoro demonstrates their use. Rinn asks for anything peculiar, and Heudoro tells him about several spells that are a bit less common for wizards. Rinn asks him about spellcrafting or spell altering. Heudoro tells him that it is uncommon, and dangerous, though the Tieflings in the two Tiefling kingdoms over the Mistlands do that. There is a large wall surrounding their two kingdoms, with unguarded gates around the edge. The center meeting point of the two kingdoms is a warzone, the two altering and crafting spells to throw at each other, attempting more and more powerful versions. Anyone can enter these kingdoms, but they are treacherous. Heudoro tells him that should he ever find his way there and discover that knowledge, that he would love to learn it with him. Rinn tells him that he will absolutely return, and offers him to come to his home kingdom and teach and sell his magic there, to people that more appreciate spells than the paper they come on.
He heads to visit Dudley, and has his clothing repaired, exchanging for a new shirt while his are repaired. He also purchases some puff puff from Dudley, and asks him about ships. Dudley tells him of the kingdom where he is from, and the city where ships are built by artificers. He gives him a letter to give to someone there, so that Rinn’s people can get a ship ahead of the others. Rinn thanks him, and heads back out into the day.
Marcus takes Alistair, Alice, and Elias to Lakemount. He speaks briefly with Alistair about the future before heading off towards Alistair’s Nook to find his family. He takes Alice and Elias over to the Granary to the Tull Family. Alice is nervous, but Marcus encourages her to go in. Tom jumps over the counter in shock after seeing her, falling to his knees and embracing Alice. A few moments later, Marcus enters and Tom thanks him profusely, hugging Marcus. Marcus sends in Fluffy, who tackles Alice, and Tom & Leticia laugh and thanks Marcus for everything. Elias purchases some things for himself and for Val, and Marcus purchases a roll for himself.
The two proceed to Val’s fishery, and are interrupted by Nolan, who sees Marcus walking across the center of town. He speaks with Nolan and hands over the 500 gold in order to build things for his people. Nolan tells him that his people are being taken care of, and Marcus asks if there is a way they could help the farms of Josiah in town. He tells him that he will speak to them, and that there is a particularly tough patch of land north of town that doesn’t seem to grow things as well, and that the people of Goldview would be a perfect match to re-invigorate it with crops again.
Marcus and Elias proceed to see Val who is extremely happy to see him. Marcus tells Val what happened, and the fate of Will. Val is confused, but understands why Will did what he did, and says that there is only so much bad a man can put into the world before all that’s left to pay for it is to pass on and atone somewhere else. Marcus pats his tattoo of Tyr, saying that he believes Will can atone for his crimes. Marcus tells Elias that Val would almost certainly love to sit with a glass of wine and tell Elias all of the stories about Will. The group eats lunch as Val pulls out the bottle of wine that the group had brought back from the bog.
Marcus sets off to Alistair’s Nook and is hugged by Gwendolyn, who cries into his shoulder and thanks him profusely for bringing him back to her. She wasn’t certain that she’d ever see Alistair again, and the two of them speak briefly, before telling him that they plan to go into the fields above Lakemount and have a picnic with Charlotte. Marcus tells her that Alistair kept Alice Tull safe over these years, and that Alistair is still the same man she knew all those years ago. Marcus leaves as Gwendolyn closes the shop to head out into the day.
Marcus sits by the well at the center of town and closes his eyes to catch his breath. He asks the gods on this sacred ground to look over this town and to protect these people, and bring them peace. Heruil’s voice rings out as Marcus opens his eyes and sees her leaning on the other side of the well. She speaks with him and gives him two gifts that were recently bestowed upon her by Lathander, a glowing globe to light his way, and a ring that allows him to walk upon water. She dips a cup into the well and sips at the holy water. Heruil looks far better than she had before, her fall colors returning to her. She tells Marcus that Val has been teaching her to swim. Marcus tells her that he will be next heading to Greymoor to try and re-inspire the citizens of this kingdom. Marcus heads back into his carriage and begins to head back to Lakemount. He is stopped by Joseph, and the two of them speak briefly before Joseph hands him lunch along side a tankard of ale. He heads back towards Lakemount alone, with only his four horses and large carriage.
In Lakemount, Rinn runs into Dandelion, Shay, Mr. Pigeon, and Twig on their way to the shops. Shay asks Rinn if he’d like to speak about what happened last night, and Rinn tells him no. The group meets Lucy Lethher, the owner of Lucy’s Leathers, a very strange looking dark storefront. They are ushered inside by the shoe salesman, Horrak Stonefoot next door. The group purchases a great number of shoes from him, along with some custom orders. Shay and Mr. Pigeon leave, bumping into Murdoch as they round the corner. He indicates that he is watching over Dandelion and Marcus’s request, to make sure she does not get into any trouble. The two wish to speak with him, and he says that he will gladly speak with them later this evening. The two head back to the tavern for the day to rest.
Rinn, Dandelion, and Twig, speak with Lucy next door, as Twig orders a monstrosity of a custom molded mask that Lucy refers to as “Skindarella”. Kolbein approaches Rinn and the others and tells them that Marcus has offered to stop the war to the North and return him home, and offers to teach Rinn’s people how to sail if he is able to assist in that venture. Rinn says that sounds great, and Kolbein thanks him before walking off. They then proceed to Smokebeard’s and Rinn orders a long wizardly pipe with something to smoke, and a box to carry it in. The group then proceeds to the carnival.
Shay and Mr. Pigeon meet later that night with Murdoch as they head to the smith in order for Shay to order a new weapon. He asks for Murdoch’s help in choosing one, and settles on a rapier, a plain one with no markings or decorations. They head back towards the tavern and as they do, Shay asks Murdoch about the assassin, and that it mentions “The Hunt” alongside Murdoch’s name. Murdoch says that he has never seen that type of assassin before, and that he doesn’t know what the hunt means. He says that Fivrel rarely spoke of his childhood or his past.
Murdoch mentions that when they first met he tried to get closer to him and learn about him, and Fivrel did not speak of it and mentioned only a tragic event in his past, but would not go further. Murdoch mentions that when he left, 10 years ago, Fivrel was in Greymoor but 10 years is a long time and he is not certain if he is still there. Shay asks about Jandar, and Murdoch mentions that he knew that he worked with Fivrel, or was at least in his pocket, though he does not know the extent of the corruption, or if Jandar still holds the office of Duke of Commerce. He tells him that each of the offices have a private residence within the city that passes to another when they are elected. Murdoch mentions that he plans to stay in Southport and attempt to repair the city from his part in the Gilded Mask. Murdoch heads to sleep, and Mr. Pigeon and Shay head to Shay’s room to speak.
The two speak further on Jandar and Fivrel, and that Jandar absolutely needs to be ended after he has been used up. Shay mentions that while Jandar is a lead for them, he is a dangerous lead. They mention that the Blackflower’s mark on the land should be easy to find, and that even if there are false paper trails and leads, they will eventually find the source of the corruption and quell it. Mr. Pigeon mentions that he plans to rest over the next few days, that being part of the carnival kept him busy. The two speak about how their jobs became their identities for them both, and Shay reveals more of his “gift”, changing the color of his arm. Shay indicates that he plans to give this mask a rest during the downtime. Mr. Pigeon says that he is unsure of what he plans to do after the Blackflowers, but leaving a good thing behind might be nice.
Mr. Pigeon asks what the real name of “the cultivator” is, and Shay introduces themself as Jun. Mr. Pigeon reveals his true name to be Cærimyr, and both pledge to keep the others secret for the time being. They speak on Rinn, and Shay indicates that he is trustworthy, as are the rest of the group. Mr. Pigeon states that while his first impression of Rinn was negative, with the Bladesinging being the art of MP’s people, he is growing on him. He says that Rinn seems to do the magic well, and while the swords seem to look like the ancestral blades of the Valenar, they are newer copies, and not true ancestral blades like the ones Mr. Pigeon lost. Shay says that he thinks Rinn is a smart man and that he doubts the elves would have sent Rinn on a political journey should he not be capable of negotiation. Mr. Pigeon agrees, and says that Rinn’s use of the Valenar Bladesinging seems to be honorable to the elves, and that Rinn is searching for his own heritage just like Mr. Pigeon, and that he believes he will continue to grow on him. Mr. Pigeon leaves and heads to sleep, as does Shay.
Dandelion speaks with Elena at the carnival about the mirror that she is searching for. Elena tells her that the description that Dandelion gives her of the man that supposedly has the mirror, is a man that worked with her step-father. She is not sure to what capacity, but she knows that his name is Velthuil and that he traveled between the two elvish kingdoms to the north across the Mistlands. She tells Dandelion that this man worked with the Iron Crown in order to look for something that he needed. She says that should she cross his path, or any of the Iron Crown, that she is welcome to use her name in order to gain access to the initial circle of members, but that she would likely need to pose as someone looking to purchase a relic or item in order to get further beyond that.
She also tells Dandelion about how if items that are collected by the Iron Crown are determined to be non-magical, or not what they are looking for, that they are inscribed with the marking of an iron crown, and resold in various places around Adoris. Many of these items are taken to the Night Market within Greymoor, another within the capital of Arbor. They are not public, and their location is hidden, and she advises Dandelion to ask around more of the seedier/sketchier taverns within Greymoor in order to discern its location and how to gain its access.
Outside, Twig and Rinn practice their combat, Rinn having asked Twig to show him how to wield a rapier. His initial trials with it are rough around the edges, though he gets more and more comfortable over time, and learns how to use it effectively over the coming days. In the end, Twig asks for payment, and Rinn looks confused. She points out the small shiny rock that he has in his possession, and Rinn hands it over while looking at her inquisitively. Twig tells Rinn that she protects Mr. Pigeon, that no one can hurt him except her, and that if he doesn’t want to drink his milk then he will be cursed with weak bones and that is his fault.
In his room, Mr. Pigeon prepares his ritual in private. Cyricær the Huntkeeper appears in the mirror, and speaks with him about the recent killings, and asks Mr. Pigeon to release him so that he may tear this land apart brick by brick until he finds it. Mr. Pigeon tells him no, that he can find it on his own, and that he will one day wield the blade to cleanse the Blackflowers. Cyricaer taunts him regarding his companions, and the burden of his “condition”. He also speaks about strangling the life from this land through Mr. Pigeons hand, and Mr. Pigeon says “Yes, the correct life.”. Cyricaer chuckles and begins to fade away, whispering “One day, I’ll take control…”. After this happens, as he performs his normal nightly prayers, as the moonlight streams into the room, Mr. Pigeon hears the whisper of Shar in the back of his mind “You are so close now…”, so quiet to not be able to tell if it is really there. As Mr. Pigeon looks around, he sees the pattern of the face of a woman on the floor in the moonlight, and as he blinks, it is gone, as he still hears “So close…” repeating a few more times.
A few days later, Marcus returns from Lakemount and Marcus meets the rest of the party for breakfast. They speak with Hugh Man again who tells them that he doesn’t really want to work, and wants to dance through life, but not physically dance because that is too much work. The group then decides that he should be a clown, and gives him the title “The Melancholy Moose” after Mr. Pigeon dresses him up. He tells them that he would like to wear the outfit of a clown and pretend to be a clown, but not be a clown. Shay tells him that there is a lot of drinking in clown work, and he tells them “I would now like to be a clown.” He then prepares their breakfast and leaves the tavern, possibly forever. Twig shows off her mask from Lucy, introducing it as Skinderella, stating that it is to cover her eyes and help her sleep.
Marcus checks in about all that happened in Lakemount, telling the party that everything is settled there for the time being and that everyone is reunited to the best of his ability. The party heads outside and sees Murdoch and Kolbein sitting, watching the townsfolk, and eating ice cream. The party walks up to them and asks where they got the treats, and they point to a store called Freezing Rock Confectionaries. They head over and order ice cream from the dwarven man working there. He mixes the flavors himself, smashing them together, after dispensing them out of a large boxy machine with numerous gears and clockworks, clearly built by an artificer. He also tells them his name, Magmun Coldstone, and tells them about his father, The Ice Cream King, the creator of the Freezing Rock Confectionaries brand of frozen treats, that lives/lived within Frostholm. Magmun got a loan from him and had artificers build him this machine to dispense the ice cream.
The party rests before heading out the following morning for Greymoor. Rinn in his room, performs a ritual, casting the spell Find Familiar over the course of an hour, using the things he purchased from around the city. As the familiar is created, from out of the ashes, comes a raven with blue shimmery tipped wings and sapphire colored eyes. As Rinn goes to sleep, the raven watches him from his headboard. The bird chirps out as it looks at him, and the sound of a storm comes out. Rinn looks at it confused, and thought it seems odd, he knows that through his studies that the familiar that is created is an imprint of the caster, and something that is unique to the person who cast the spell. He surmises that the blue eyes, the shimmery wing tips, and the storm sounds are part of the piece of himself that went into casting the spell.
The party awakens the next morning, and Murdoch tells them that he wishes to stay behind in Southport for the time being and help Sheila keep the city safe, and bids his goodbyes, hoping to see them again. They then head to the carriage at the edge of town, and Marcus drives, and Rinn and Dandelion sit up front with him, the other 3 hanging in the back of the carriage. Shay and Mr. Pigeon work on hand signals while Twig takes a nap.
Dandelion tells the group about what Elena told her about the man she is looking for, as well as the Night Markets within Greymoor and the capital of Arbor as well. She also tells them about how the Iron Crown marks the items that are not what they are looking for, and sends them out to be resold. Marcus then asks Mr. Pigeon when he gained his magic, after talking with the others about if they were born with magic or if they learned it/gained access to it later. Mr. Pigeon tells him from praying, and that he gained access to it before the circus. They speak about the fact that his family worships Selune, but not all of his “people”, his race, worshipped Selune, that other gods were worshipped, Shar included. Mr. Pigeon tells them that he grew up in Ohtasolor, after Dandelion asks about Yothalna, pointing northward.
Marcus asks about Mr. Pigeon’s family, asking if they were sad when he left, and asks about where his family lived. Marcus and Shay surmise that that he had to leave, and that his family was killed in the process, after Mr. Pigeon makes a cutting notion across his throat. He indicates that he was a child when it happened, and that the children were not spared, though that he survived. He tells the group about his missing family blades after they ask follow up questions, saying that they are not inherently religious, but they are important artifacts for his family. Marcus tells them about his parent’s death, and how the visage of Chauntea was taken after the holy ground was desecrated. The group isn’t sure if anything was taken from Rinn’s home when it was burned, and though the flower from Twig’s home wasn’t stolen, it is dying. Rinn tells them that most of the rangers from his elven home wielded their family blades, though Rinn’s were crafted specially for him. Mr. Pigeon describes how his blades are made from specific metals and specific styles, a concentrated magic. Rinn’s, while looking similar, are made using small amounts of this metal, but are not ancestral blades like Mr. Pigeon is looking for.
As the group speaks, Rinn holds out his arm and whistles, and his raven lands on his arm. Dandelion looks around confused, and Rinn tells them that he summoned the bird the same way Dandelion did with summoning shimmer. As the day becomes night, the party comes across a sign for an inn, called “The Raven and the Ring”.
They approach, and see a very handsome elvish man dressed in a green tunic punching a halfling man in the street. As he hears them, he looks up, smiles, and says “Ah, good evening! Be with you in a moment friends!”
The party speaks with the elvish man who introduces himself as Drystan, as holy energy fades from his bandage wrapped hands depicting the symbol for Mielikki. The group realizes as they get closer that Drystan is not attacking the halfling man, introduced as Marvias, he is striking him with open palm and his knuckles, delivered healing to the badly injured man.
Marvias tells them that he was attacked by an Owlbear nearby while gathering things from the woods. Drystan tells the group that this is abnormal for the area, and Rinn, as the only member aside from Dandelion that knows what an Owlbear is, agrees. The party then heads towards the nearby in, along a small path through the oak trees. They are greeted with quite a sight, oversized oak trees with deep purple shimmery leaves housing several room sized buildings that wrap around the trunk, several gardens, a tavern with a water wheel, and an orchard in the distance. Drystan leads them to the tavern and introduces his wife, Ayleth, the stablemaster for The Raven and the Ring.
They head inside, leaving a sleeping Twig in the carriage, and see 2 other patrons sitting at the bar, and they proceed to a table. Drystan tells them that he has been running the tavern for 60 years, and his father 30 before that. Marcus asks Dandelion about how two people from the Feywild would greet each other, and Drystan comments that he is surprised to see another outside of the Feywild, especially one as young as Dandelion is. He offers to speak with them during dinner, and goes off to prepare food for them. Dandelion tells them not to tell Drystan why she is here, because it’s a secret, and Titania might find out.
As they are waiting, a figure calls out “Holy shit, Marcus??”. Marcus turns and sees Edwin Ward, a 17 year old boy from Goldview that was taken 2 years ago during one of the bandit raids. Marcus embraces him and the two speak about what happened. Edwin tells the group that he was taken to Southport to the docks, to work on the trawlers out at sea searching for relics and magical items in the waters. He fiddles with his sleeves, and reveals that during one of his escape attempts he was branded with the pirate symbol of the Fjordane’s Finest Trading Company so that he would not be trusted by any guards within the city limits should he escape again. Marcus asks if he was ever hurt, and Edwin tells him no, they were not hurt, they were fed enough to give them energy to swim and kept in small rooms, but never hurt. Marcus tells him the fate of the people of Goldview, and of Goldview itself, along with his parents and the visage of Chauntea.
Drystan comes back with their food and sits with them after sending one of the patrons, now revealed to be an employee, Kenrick Turner, out to “give us a little rain”. After a few moments, the group hears the sounds of rain pitter-pattering against the roof above, and then stop. Rinn stands and looks outside, watching as Kenrick, standing over top of a chalk lined magic circle, slowly moves the clouds above the circle of trees where the tavern sits.
Drystan tells them that it is rather hard to get from the Feywild these days and that he was shocked to see another from the Feywild, and that he came here when he was 10 years old. Drystan tells them how the Feywild works and how his family made this place like home. He tells them about “The Ring”, one of several portals around this plane of existence, this one sitting below the tavern in a cave. He tells them how his father, nicknamed “The Raven”, was the previous guardian of The Ring, and his passing means that it has become Drystan’s responsibility now. He tells them that each guardian is given the name of a creature that they take as a moniker, to identify them to other members and mark their portals with. His father was given “The Raven”, hence the name of the tavern “The Raven and the Ring”.
He tells them about Feywater, water from places that are found both in the Feywild and the Material Plane, like a lake or pond that exists in both places. Both the Feywild and Material plane are the same shape, land masses are identical, but certain features (trees, holes, lakes, etc) are not necessarily in identical places. Feywater is only found in these matching points, in thin spots between the planes. As the planes shift, sometimes things can slip through to the other plane, though it is rare without a portal. The Feywater is used to open the portal, and the group asks to see The Ring. Drystan tells them that he would gladly show them, as he trusts Dandelion. He tells them about his mothers passing, a few days after his father, in the orchard outside where she slept and passed among the stars. The following morning, a Raven showed up, with long feathers and a blue and green shimmer to it. Drystan isn’t sure where it came from, but believes it to be his parents somehow watching over him, given that the colors match those of his parents eyes, and the Raven itself matching the moniker of his father that he now holds himself.
Marcus tells the group that he wishes to remain upstairs with Edwin, and the rest of the group proceeds downstairs. Drystan stops the spinning wheel by pushing a lever in the wall, and leads them to the kitchen, through a hidden door, and down some stairs into a cavern below the tavern. He leads them down to a small room, revealing a patch of earth containing a large ring of branches and vines. He tells them about how the portal works, and dumps water into a wooden container at the top of the ring, which filters down along the vines, dripping, reminding Dandelion of the reflective face of her mirror.
Shay asks Drystan if he has used all his water, and Drystan says that he used the last of it to send his parents bodies back to the Feywild after their death. He has not found any nearby, stating that the sources around this grove have dried up, which worry him. Dandelion is memorized by the ring, running her hands along the vines and the water, glowing as she does. Drystan tells them that if this water was Feywater, this would be a portal to the Feywild. Shay asks him if there is a temple within the Feywild nearby, and he tells them that there is a temple that is sometimes there and sometimes is not. He believes that it moves, and the group compares this to the flickering flower within the Temple of Lathander before Twig bound itself to it. He was only 10 when he left the Feywild, so he does not remember more, and the temple itself was a days ride or more away when it was there.
Dandelion lays on the floor beneath the ring and continues to glow. Afterwards, the group proceeds upstairs. Upstairs, Marcus speaks more with Edwin about what happened, and his friends, and where the people of Goldview are in Lakemount. He asks Edwin to deliver a letter to Heruil should he make his way back to Lakemount, for a visit or otherwise. Marcus believes that she might have, or know of some Feywater and asks him to bring some back and leave it for Drystan should he find some. Marcus mentions that Dandelion is looking for it, and that it would be immensely helpful. He tells Edwin that he is sorry for what happened to him, and is glad that he wasn’t hurt.
The two speak on the relics that the Iron Crown was searching for, and Edwin postures that he is terrified as to what the people behind them would do with the power they find, as is Marcus. Marcus thanks him for his information, and tells him that he hopes that he will make his way to Lakemount to see his people again, even if he returns here later.
#GoofyGoober in the chat
Twig awakens in the carriage back in the orchard, and makes her way to the tavern, speaking with Ayleth along the way. She enters, and is greeted by her friends, no longer wearing her sleep mask. She orders a live fish, biting it and shaking her head aggressively.
The party talks about Oberon and Titania and the Feywild, and Drystan comes over to see if the party needs anything. Marcus gets nervous that he might have heard something, and speaks very cautiously, ordering several pies for the party. Rinn then slinks out the door quickly, looking back, bumping into Kenrick who is standing right outside finishing up his storm calling.
The party speaks about if Drystan heard what they were saying, and talks more about things before Drystan returns with pie and they ask him for tea. Drystan asks if Marcus is okay, seeing his discomfort. He tells Drystan that it is odd to feel the comfort of this place, as a great many things have happened to the party. Drystan tells him that a lot of people feel similarly, as many travelers pass through here on their journey.
Drystan heads back to make the tea, and Shay sneaks over to the kitchen to see if Drystan is listening or talking to anyone, but it doesn’t seem like he is doing anything aside from making the tea. The party comes to the conclusion that it doesn’t much matter if he did hear anything, and though they want to keep it private, he likely has a general idea anyway. Edwin enjoys the pies as well, and agrees to not say anything to Drystan after the party realizes he is also sitting there, as they had forgotten.
Drystan brings back the tea and walks back over to the bar, telling the party that their rooms will be ready whenever they need. Shay and Dandelion inform Marcus about what was below the tavern, in the cave with the Ring, and how the portal would work when Feywater was poured into it, as well as how Dandelion glowed. They also speak about the temple, and Marcus asks Dandelion if the sun rises or sets in the Feywild, and Dandelion tells him no, but stars appear and vanish, in a perpetual state of dawn and dusk, with orange-y pink skies, and slight dark blue hues when the stars appear, marking the day and night cycle. Marcus ponders if that is when the temple “moves”, and possibly why. They ask Drystan if the Feywater can be made into alcohols, and he tells them that he isn’t sure if they would be any good, but knows from stories that they are used for mostly ritualistic purposes, and not to drink. He tells them that if some amount of Fey resides within a person, if they are part or full Fey, that Feywater has a healing purpose.
Marcus asks about the burial process of fey, and Drystan tells them that many are buried, though some are cremated first, and purified if they were diseased, before being used to nurture the land. Drystan tells them his parents names as well, Esmond and Dyana. He tells the party about the previous guardians, and that he was told they retired when his parents took up the post, and that his parents made the tavern what it is today, the previous guardians not doing much more than a small building hiding the Ring below the ground. He also tells them that many of the Fey worship Lathander as well as Mielikki, as did his parents, though he prefers the nature and calm of the night to be very peaceful and quiet.
Outside, Rinn bumps into Kenrick, watching him. He asks how he is able to control the weather, and Kenrick compares it to the spell Control Weather, to a minor degree. He tells him that the skill is unique to where he grew up, and was taught by his brother. Rinn asks where he came from, and Kenrick tells him Kenmare, Rinn telling him that he doesn’t know it, though Kenrick suspects he must know something based on how Rinn reacts. He tells Rinn that he hasn’t seen his brother in 20 years, and Rinn informs him of his brothers death in the city, being on the wrong side of a battle in the city. Kenrick is visibly upset, and Rinn hands him his brother’s blade. He tells Rinn that he wasn’t sure if he would ever see him again, but had hoped one day he had come back. He said that his brother didn’t always agree with people, and that was one of the reasons he and his brother left 30 years ago, when he was 6. Rinn informs him of Kenmare’s fate, and that he was the last surviving member of their people. Kenrick tells him that along with him and his brother, several other younger folk fled the town during a disagreement between a small group of people with the town leaders over something.
He tells Rinn that he isn’t entirely certain what the purpose of the town was, but that something important was being protecting and guarded in the church. Rinn pulls out the drawing of the banner, and Kenrick tells him that the banner referred to the god Talos, god of storms, pointing at the lightning bolts, and a blade in the lower half of each of the bolts. He tells Rinn that Maxwell told him about it, and though he isn’t sure what was kept in the church, though he imagines it has something to do with the drawings. Rinn draws a comparison to the fact that the flower is kept in the temple, the church of Lathander where Heruil was, as well as one of the stories he was told as a child about Lireopalt, the Swift, and how he bestowed the gift of Bladesinging on the Valenar elves.
The party walks out to head to bed after being handed keys by Drystan, and finds Rinn outside, leaning against the entrance to the tavern, while Kenrick looks up at the sky. They hand out the keys, and everyone heads to their rooms. Marcus destroys portions of a mirror in order to scrape silver from it, and as he breaks it, yells “FUCK”. Unbeknownst to him, Rinn’s raven had flow into Dandelion’s window, and exits through the door as Dandelion chases and catches it in the hall, replicating the sound of Marcus yelling “FUCK”. Dandelion brings the raven back to Rinn, who laughs and says he was just making sure everything was okay. He then heads to sleep, as Drystan comes and fetches Twig and Dandelion from their rooms to look at the Ring once more in private, and a first time for Twig, Drystan sensing something special about her.
He leads them down, and they both look at the Ring, speaking more about how the portal works, as well as the Feywild and Feywater to Twig. He pulls a very very small vial of Feywater out of his cloak, taking a small drop and adding it to a large bucket of water. He admits that he did not tell the party about the Feywater he has because it is so little, not remotely enough to go back through, and that he has it to sustain him in case he is injured or if no one comes to replace him in the future. He tells them that Feywater is difficult to find, that a person must be scribed with the water and bound to it, in order to find it. He takes another small drop and draws a druidic symbol on the foreheads of Dandelion and Twig, saying that they will be able to recognize it in the future, as it slowly glitters in front of them. He then dumps the bucket of water into the top of the Ring, as the Feywild flashes in front of them as it drips down, for only a brief instant, no more than a flash or a blink.
Dandelion talks about how she wants to befriend that owlbear that likely slipped through from the Feywild somewhere, and Drystan urges her to be careful, as they can be deadly if they are missing their babies or feel threatened. He tells her that he will take care of it, and befriend it, and bring it back to the tavern to live in the Grove. He tells the two of them that he is happy to know them and that he wishes them the best on their journeys, and that he hopes to see them again someday. The two then head back upstairs to bed for the evening.
Marcus wakes up and goes to fetch Dandelion from her room, tripping over her at the foot of his bed. He looks confused and she said that she didn’t want to sleep in her room alone. The two of them walk outside and Marcus asks if she wants to go see the wizard. Dandelion is confused and Marcus tells her that he is referring to Rinn. She is confused because he has swords, and says that she also has swords and pulls out two daggers. Marcus is concerned and tells her to be careful with them.
Before Rinn comes out after hearing a knock on his door, he disguises himself as Marcus and mimic’s Marcus’s voice. Rinn tells Dandelion that he is Marcus, and Marcus says “It is I, Young Master, a wizard, I’m sorry Dandelion I was trying to fool you.” Dandelion looks confused, but goes along with it, as she is able to tell which Marcus is which.
As Shay comes out, he looks confused as Dandelion also disguises herself as a shorter Marcus with crayon drawing style tattoos. Mr. Pigeon then leaves his room, also disguised as a short Marcus, though slightly taller than Dandelion. Twig opens her door, seeing all 4 copies of Marcus, puffs up, hisses, and closes the door. They knock on the door again and Twig does reluctantly exist, after one of the smaller Marcuses doesn’t talk, and she realizes it is Mr. Pigeon.
The party heads to the tavern in the order of 2 small Marcus, then 2 larger Marcus. Drystan looks confused and laughs slightly, asking them to sit for breakfast. They all order the usual, except for Dandelion Marcus who orders it without peppers, and Twig who orders a fish. Twig sits at a different table, still kind of concerned about the many Marcuses.
Twig takes her fish when Drystan returns with it, and goes outside, slamming the fish against the glass as she stares at the party, smooshing its face before taking it, leaving only the head standing in the window. She then jumps on the fish outside, eats a small bit of it, and lays in the sun.
The rest of the party eats their breakfast, telling Drystan that they are heading out shortly after breakfast. He gives Dandelion a few empty wine bottles in order to collect Feywater in the future, should she come across it. She tells Marcus about how Drystan marked her and Twig with a small amount of Feywater, and a druidic symbol, so that they would be able to recognize it. Rinn Marcus gives 10 gold to Drystan for their stay and food, and Marcus Marcus tells him that Marcus is a great tipper, so of course he would tip well and would help however possible. Drystan asks Marcus to help with a broken table, and Rinn Marcus says of course and gets up to follow him, before looking back at the party and winking, misty stepping outside through the nearby window.
Drystan turns after getting to the table, looking confused, and sees Marcus Marcus standing next to Dandelion. Marcus Marcus waves and says he will be over in just a moment. He comes to a wooden table cracked in the middle of the support, intricately carved to look like a tree. Marcus Marcus goes to his room to get his carpenters tools, nodding to Mr. Pigeon Marcus saying that he will be right back. He returns, and fixes the table extremely well, carving some additional falling trees into the bark.
Rinn re-enters the tavern, and sits at Marcus Marcus’s seat, eating the small bit that remained of his breakfast, though Dandelion has covered both Rinn’s and Marcus’s breakfast with honey. Marcus gives Twig the additional two fish, which she thumbs up and lays on the ground still. Marcus speaks with Drystan about Owlbears, and Drystan tells him that people of the Feywild have a symbiotic relationship with many creatures, though they cannot communicate through language. Kenrick enters the tavern and looks confused at the 3 Marcuses, sitting and eating breakfast, speaking with Marcus Marcus, believing him to be disguised Rinn, as MarcusMarcus says “For it is I, the Young Master, See-er of All”. Rinn Marcus then casts prestidigitation on his ham to make the ham gritty and dirty. Marcus Marcus eats it and says “MMM. Of course, just as I, the Young Master Rinn, Devourer of All, enjoy”. Kenrick speaks more with Marcus Marcus about what Rinn offered to him, as Rinn’s bird lands on windowsill and yells FUCK in Marcus’s voice. Rinn drops disguise self and Marcus Marcus says “Oh no, it appears Marcus can change shape, for it is he, Marcus, Changer of Shapes.”. Kenrick, now wise to what is happening, laughs slightly. He thanks actual Rinn this time, and Rinn notices the sword on his hip.
The party thanks Drystan again, and he tells the party if they need anything, that he will be here. They thank Ayleth, and gather into the carriage with a basket of apples, heading out on the road towards Greymoor. Dandelion tells them more about the Ring, and makes an illusion of the Ring in the road in front of them, which the cart goes through. Rinn and Dandelion practice with the daggers, stabbing some apples on the carriage in front of them.
Marcus tells them about his uncle Willie Wonka, a shaman that harvests plant matter into healing salves and lozenges to soothe. Marcus also tells them about his imaginary friend, Willie Jr., being a bit of an outcast. Rinn laughs at the thought of Marcus frolicking through fields with his imaginary friend, and falls off the carriage. He dusts himself off and catches up, getting back on the carriage.
Marcus tells them about how his father is from Greymoor, and that he isn’t sure if the negative reaction to his presence will still be present. Rinn tells Marcus to perhaps wear his full armor, so that the guards might not know who he is. Marcus tells him that the armor itself is known with his father as well, as it used to be silver before he left, but is now blackened. He says that most of the older guards would know who his father was, and that might harbor some sort of hatred towards the name. He imagines that some of the younger guards might understand and want to meet him first, or not know. Rinn tells him that he might need to enter the city separately from Marcus, before he talks to someone to try and establish a trade route with Fjordane, as his job as an emissary comes first. Marcus offers the letter that Gwendolyn wrote to her father, Rowland Wright, the High Duke of Greymoor, in case Rinn needs it in order to establish the trade route. Rinn hands it back to him, saying that it might help him get out of trouble should something happen, and that he should keep it.
As the party approaches the city, they see it is surrounded by tall grey stone walls, and a large wrought iron gate that is up, with guards at the front and on the walls. They get in line behind other carriages, and Rinn steps off to walk towards the gate separately from the group. As they approach, they hear festival parade music and cheering from the other side of the walls. They come to the gate, and the guard asks them what their business is in Greymoor. Marcus tells them business, and the guard waves them in, telling them that they’ve come on a day of a parade, a day of celebration. Mr. Pigeon hands the guard a balloon, which cheers the guard up, saying he was hoping to get one today. Rinn, is asked the same by another guard, telling him that he is an emissary of Valenar. The guard doesn’t know what an emissary is and Rinn asks to speak to another guard. Another guard comes over, and is waved in, telling him to talk to the Office of Jandar, the Duke of Commerce, which is on King’s Way in the city, over by the castle.
The party walks in, and walk together towards the street where the parade is, planning to ask the first person that they see what the parade is for. The person turns around, smiling ear to ear, dressed in a cloak with symbols of Fjordane and holy symbols of the gods celebrated in Fjordane on his cloak. He tells them that it is for a knight, Benjamin Mae, that won a great victory up in the war to the North. He continues to smile very widely at them.
Rinn approaches the party and asks him what the celebration is about, and he gives him almost the same answer word for word as he gave to the party. Rinn gives him a gold coin and says “Thanks, have a drink, on me.” He thanks Rinn, and Marcus asks where an Inn nearby is. He tells them there is, and points them in the direction of a nearby one, The Frazzled Fox. Shay tells the party that he will catch back up with them, and heads out towards the crowd the opposite direction. The areas immediately around the road is pretty packed, though there is space in between the buildings and the inner road.
The rest of the party makes their way towards the inn, but Rinn stays a brief moment more, dancing with the man, as he spins. Mr. Pigeon dances his way down the streets, handing out balloons to people as they walk. As each of the party members walks, they see more people in the crowd dressed like this man, in a celebratory fashion. They also see that, despite the festivities and happy music and cheers, large swathes of people look utterly depressed and sad behind their eyes, forced smiles on many of their faces.
Shay dips into the crowd, Rinn dances and spins with the smiling man, and the rest of the party makes their way towards The Frazzled Fox Inn on Lamplighter’s Way. Rinn, seeing the party move away from him, hurriedly spins with the smiling man before dropping the smile from his own face, and rushing to catch up with them.
The party enters the Inn, a two-story wood and stone building with white fences on either side connecting to the adjacent buildings, and are greeted promptly by a very cheery man who introduces himself as Baldric, the owner. He asks them what they are in need of, and Marcus tells them that they need 4 rooms. Baldric offers them a suite, and tells them that families frequently come here. He also offers to have someone take their things to their rooms. Marcus tells him that they would prefer to carry their own things, and Baldric leads them to their rooms, through a small courtyard to a second building, into a double doored hallway suite where 4 rooms lay. He hands them the keys, and goes to wait in the hall.
The party sets their things down, and Marcus comments that Greymoor is very different than what he was expecting to see based on the stories his father told him. Marcus guesses that Twig and Mr. Pigeon would share a room, but Twig shakes her head no, and Mr. Pigeon will be staying in Shay’s room instead. Dandelion unpacks her belongings, setting her mushrooms out in piles on top of the dresser, next to her blacksmith’s gloves. Rinn observes the parade through a nearby window, and notices guild floats and other things, but nothing out of the ordinary. He locks eyes with some of the sad people, and from the distance he is at, can’t tell if the people seem sad, or if they are drained of energy.
They head back downstairs with Baldric, who asks them what brings them to Greymoor. Marcus tells him that business brings them here, looking for answers for some of their friends. Baldric asks him if they are looking for someone, looking to buy, looking to sell, etc. Marcus mentions that they are looking to purchase a gift for Dandelion’s grandmothers 100th birthday, looking for sentimental trinkets. Baldric mentions that there is the Wall Market on the other side of the city in Merchant’s Village, as well as The Holy Market, in the Divine District.
Baldric prompts the others as to what brings them to the city, and Rinn tells him that he has business with the Duke of Commerce. Baldric says “Oh, Jandar? Wonderful man, always treated my business very fairly.” Rinn, Marcus, and Baldric then speak about Milfs, and Baldric tells him that there are various brothels, as well as some in the theater district. Marcus says, “Oh, there are men I’d like to fight in the Theater District?”. Baldric tells him that there is the Barracks, the military district of the city, but that is closed to outsiders. Marcus mentions that he is starting a Militia, and therefore he needs many milfs.
Baldric asks Mr. Pigeon and Twig what they are here for, and Twig just shakes her head no. He looks at them both and directs them to perhaps the theater district. Twig tells him that they don’t want to be perceived or be called by name, and not to look at them. Baldric looks away and leads them down to the tavern portion of the Inn once more.
They order food and drink, and speak briefly about the city. Baldric returns with food and drink, and Marcus asks about the parade, Baldric tells them that it is a celebration of victory for one of the knights of Fjordane, who rescued a princess after taking out a fort, an elvish princess from Cantor across the sea. She had been taken and was being held by the invaders to the North, that are encroaching on Fjordane’s land and attempting to take over. Baldric tells them that this knight was part of a group that was tasked with entering this fort, a mission that came down from the combat front. His captain, Captain Emerick, fell sick, and the knight, Benjamin Mae, second in command, was giving the opportunity to lead the group. He succeeded valiantly, taking out a great number of the warriors there and saving many of his men. Marcus remembers that his father told him about Captain Emerick as someone that he trusted, and Marcus postures privately that he might seek him out in order to find out more information.
Marcus asks where the soldiers hang out, and Baldric tells them that there are taverns in the Barracks itself, as well as right outside where many of them hang out, as well as a few in The Wharf, the shipping & receiving district of the city. Some of the nobility and higher up ranking soldiers also spend time in The Distillery, a tavern within the Sovereign District. Baldric tells them that while he is not a fan of the war at large, due to the deaths of Fjordanian soldiers, there has been an influx of families coming to Greymoor due to the war recruitment. Marcus asks for more information, and Baldric tells them that it is primarily from Greenridge, a mining town to the western Fjordanian border by the mountain range.
Rinn asks if there is somewhere you can go to think and to speak with someone, and Baldric tells them there are various bathhouses on Bathhouse Row or Steamwalk, as well as on Wiseman’s Walk there is someone there that deals with problems and offers advice. Marcus asks about the various temples within Greymoor, and Baldric tells Marcus of the church “The High Seat”, but there are smaller temples of worship on The Hallowed Steps within the Sovereign District. The party thanks Baldric, and begins to eat.
Shay, having just left the party, dips through the crowd up the street of Greygate, putting his hood up and bumping into a few of the distracted smiling people, swiping the various pins on their cloaks. He then dips through a few people, fixes the pins to his cloak, and locks eyes with one of the smiling figures across the street. They nod at him, and after Shay confirms no one is looking at him, changes his appearance to that of Wren, a persona that Shay had previously referred to as “The Blade” to Mr. Pigeon in private.
Wren looks at the parade, and finds the float with Jandar, flanked by other members of the Office of Commerce, about 50 feet away. As she sees Jandar, a chill rips through her body and she stops sudden, unexpectedly. After what feels like a minute or two, a person behind her bumps into her, snapping her out of it. Looking up at the float, Wren realizes that it has only been a second, shakes it off, and continues walking towards the float. Jandar scans the crowd and waves, looking as if he is not entirely paying attention to what is going on. Wren knows that this is not the case, and though his mind might be elsewhere at this moment, he is always looking for danger or threats.
Wren slips a mirror out of her cloak, slips the hood back, and angles the sun into Jandar’s eyes. Jandar looks for the source of the light, and locks eyes with Wren, his brow furrowing in recognition for a moment, before slipping back into the mindless scanning of the crowd as Wren dips into the crowd, cloak up, changing features to Noam, a young childish figure. Continuing to walk, Noam looks to the rest of the parade, seeing the second to last float containing a rather tall, very handsome human knight, playing to the crowds energy and waving at everyone. This figure is Benjamin Mae, the knight that this parade is all about, as per the sign on the float itself. Behind this float, is another float with large numbers of nobility and high ranking military officials, but the throne on board is empty, without a king.
Noam speaks with another cloaked figure asking where Jandar’s office is, and the office hours. He is told that it is likely closed at the moment, though it is normally open from 8-5, and it is located on Kings Way to the north. Noam makes his way there, shifting into Wren again. Wren walks into Jandar’s office, seeing an elvish woman inside with a guard. She is waved in, and the woman, Elizabeth, tells Wren that Jandar is very busy and out today, but might be back in a few days, and that it would be good to schedule a meeting ahead of time. Wren leaves a message, “Mistress Wren came by, and that she was so very much hoping to see him again.”. The elvish woman asks where she is staying, and Wren tells her that there are a few different Inns within the city, directing her first to the Frazzled Fox, the premier Inn for newcomers.
Wren tells her that she would prefer a less crowded Inn, and is directed to Steamwalk, a road within the Sovereign District, for a great many high-end bathhouses, massage parlors, brothels, and inns. She says that she will pass the message onto Jandar as soon as she can, and Wren says that she will be coming back to call on Jandar soon. Wren then dips through a few of the side streets and slowly takes apart the costume that she has assembled, morphing back into Shay, and making his way back to The Frazzled Fox.
Shay walks in and joins his companions at the table, and Baldric takes his order before heading off. Dandelion tells Shay that she isn’t sure they can trust Baldric, because he didn’t know the handshake of an Innkeeper. Shay says that perhaps there is a regional handshake, though she isn’t sure. The party speaks about what they have learned so far, and Dandelion casts the Wand of Smiles at Rinn, who is minorly displeased with the result, making it hard for him to eat for a bit. Shay tells them about what he saw with Benjamin Mae, and that the king was missing from the float of nobility, with an empty throne.
Marcus says he will be right back, and walks towards the door. Dandelion jumps up and follows him. Marcus walks outside to view the parade, and seeing the floats of guards and nobility, begins stomping on the ground loudly with his metal boots, attracting attention to himself. Several of the older guards and nobles furrow their brows at him, and whisper among themselves, pointing in his direction. The knight, Benjamin Mae, seemingly unaware of who Marcus is or what he is doing, also stomps and claps with Marcus, smiling in his direction, before continuing to spin and play to the crowd.
The parade passes and the crowd behind it begins to disperse. Marcus mentions that Benjamin is far too young for his father to have known him, and isn’t sure why the king is not present on the noble float. He also says that it is strange for a city to have a Wharf when they do not have water nearby, and that he is unsure as to what these laborers do there. The party then stands, and heads to their rooms for the night, aside from Rinn who sits and smokes for a while until nightfall. As they stand, the party sees pictures on the wall of some of the nobles. The party sees a flicker of recognition on Twig’s face for a moment, before she turns and continues walking towards the room. Before Shay leaves, he tells Rinn that Jandar isn’t likely to be in his office for a day or so, and Rinn thanks him for the information.
Back in their rooms, Marcus and Dandelion speak, and Marcus tells her that she is much stronger than she is given credit for, and that the city is not likely to be friendly to Marcus, and it is possible that he will be taken tomorrow. He tells her not to try and stop them, because they would kill her, and he would not have that happen to her or any of their friends, because this is a fight with a Kingdom, not just normal people. Marcus tells her that she must find the mirror, and that they must stop the plague of the Blackflower family on this city. Dandelion says that she hasn’t had many friends before, and Marcus says nor has he. Marcus says that he wanted the imaginary friend to be a part of his family was because it was lonely, and though he always imagined a younger brother, it is nice to finally have a younger sister. Marcus then tucks Dandelion in to bed, pulling the sheets all the way up to her neck.
The hours pass, and everyone falls asleep. Late into the night, they are awoken by a crack of thunder, as the rain begins to heavily fall, almost unsettlingly strong.
Marcus awakens at dawn, and leaves to find a place to pray, dressed in his full armor, sans the face of his helmet. He heads through The Crossing, the street that runs from one side of the city to the other through the center wall, and up towards the Divine District. On his way, he passes the Barracks, a walled off area of the city for military only, with moderately sized wooden walls acting as a border between it, and the rest of the city. Marcus is saddened, knowing that beyond those walls his father used to sit and speak with what he imagines were great soldiers, giving them advice and training much like his own. Now however, a place that he had once come to admire the stories of, is filled with a number of undeserving kind following the lies and corruption that plagues Greymoor, walled off from the commoners.
Marcus walks into the Divine District, up The Path of Reverence, the center street that leads directly to The High Seat, the large cathedral style church of Greymoor, where Torm and Tyr are worshipped, being the two main gods of Fjordane. He stops to hold the large double doors for an old woman, who kindly asks what he is doing up so early. He tells her “I don’t know. I have always woken up early.” She thanks him and enters the church. Marcus follows and walks towards the large statue of Torm, and sits at the front most pew. He contemplates the terrible things that have happened in Greymoor, and prays that his friends will be capable of bringing justice to this city that he will not be able to if he is taken. He thanks Torm & Tyr for their guidance, strength, loyalty, and courage, before standing and walking back into the day towards the castle grounds.
As he reaches the grounds, he looks to a guard standing atop the guard tower, looking to be roughly his fathers age, says good morning, and requests a meeting with the king. The guard looks at him with disdain, and says that is unlikely to be possible, especially for a Shaw. Marcus tells him that he will see the king, and asks the man if he fought with his father. The man tells him yes, and Marcus says “Then you know the man he truly was.”. The man replies “I thought I did”. Marcus once again says, “I will see the king.”. The man sighs and reluctantly says “Don’t get your hopes up…but I’ll see what I can do.” He walks off, returning 15 minutes or so later with a slew of guards in tow as the center gatehouse opens. He says “Your wish has been granted.” as the guards circle Marcus, walking him through the gate towards the castle.
As they walk, Marcus speaks subtly with the older man at the center of the circle, the man not looking in his direction, and Marcus asks if he has ever seen a dragon, asking if he was there when his father did what he did. The man tells him yes, he was there. Marcus tells him that he inherited his fathers want for peace, and that he intends to bring it to this kingdom, but that he fears the dragon he is about to face. The man tells him, “as you should, some dragons live in castles. Things haven’t been right here for some time.” He tells Marcus that his father was a good man, and that he is sorry for what he is about to endure. Marcus tells him that he does not seek retribution, he seeks for peace, and he seeks to return the child. The man tells him that some might not see it that way, and that many keep up appearances here out of tradition or fear, the stories of Marcus Shaw III not easily forgotten.
Marcus walks with the guards into the castle central chamber, where the king sits atop his throne, head in his hands, a cloaked and robed figure next to him. The man whispers in the kings ear, and the king says “A Shaw has returned to Greymoor.” Marcus tells him that he is the last Shaw. The king asks what brings him here, and Marcus tells him that he came here only to see his face and ask him why, after all his father did for this kingdom, why, of all the knights in this kingdom, why were his people slaughtered. Marcus notices pain and a sadness in the kings eyes that he attempts very strongly to hide as he utters the next phrase. “Simple, your father betrayed his people. He left when we needed him most, and that cannot be condoned by the kingdom of Fjordane. Leaves do not fall from this tree.” Marcus tells him that he knows that the leaves are culled, but that no leaf under his fathers watch was wilted, nor has this one, referring to himself.
The king asks him what his name is and what he wants. Marcus tells him that he wants the fowl wickedness that blights this kingdom despite all the light in this city, to find it, and to cull it before it blights the tree. The king tells him that it is a noble pursuit, but that the kingdom of Fjordane cannot sanction such actions, and that he has taken his last steps as a free man inside of this city, and he did so the moment he crossed into the castle grounds. Marcus whispers to the elderly knight next to him “I cannot surrender.”, drawing his maul, holding it two handed while looking at the king and the man next to him, holding it out pointing at the man, looking into his eyes. “I see you, for all the wickedness you are, and I promise no leaf will fall in this kingdom.” Marcus drops the maul and falls to his knees. The man smiles, he looks at the king and the king nods, the knights moving close to Marcus shackling him. The king sentences Marcus to life in prison within Greymoor. As Marcus is being taken away, the man whispers into the kings ear once more. The king interrupts the knights “Apologies, the price for a Shaw is death. This city must witness the ending of your line.” Marcus looks at the king and smiles “My father was right, dragons actually aren’t all that scary.” The kings head falls as Marcus has a hood throne over his head, and is dragged away to a cell somewhere within the city.
Marcus finds himself sitting in the cell alone, the older man standing at the door to the cell. He whispers to Marcus “I’m sorry.” Marcus replies “I don’t need your apology sir, it has only just begun. My name is Marcus Shaw, and the people of this city will know that, even if it is with a noose around my neck, they will know that the last Shaw died for this kingdom, not for the corruption that has so tightly made its way around its neck, like I’m sure this noose will find mine. Torm was right. You can definitely find a purpose in things, and there are people and purposes that are worth dying for.” The elderly man replies with “Hold fast, and pray. Good luck.” before turning and walking off. Marcus removes his armor and sets it onto
The rest of the party awakens to find Marcus missing, a letter to Dandelion stating that he has gone to pray, and a letter to Shay indicating that it is likely his last day, and that he could not possibly endanger Dandelion’s life, nor the rest of their friends. He tells Shay to trust in Rinn, and to keep Dandelion safe. Most of Marcus’s belongings have been left behind around the room, and the party heads to look for Marcus. Shay subtly slips the note to Rinn for him to read, and they head downstairs before heading out into the day.
The head up the street towards the Wall Market, with Dandelion searching high and low for Marcus, while Shay kept an eye out for danger. Not finding anything, they proceeded to The High Seat within the Divine District. Dandelion searches for secret compartments in the pews, which Marcus’s letter instructed her to keep doing. She comes across a holy book with a small cup and ball toy hidden inside. She flips it a few times before putting it back and continuing to look. She comes across a carving of 2 bound hands and a message “There are still those in this city that believe in the sacred and the good, and the blessed of Greymoor will yet endure and survive this plague.” Next to it is a carving of what appears to be a lantern with a druidic symbol carved into it. Dandelion draws it crudely on some paper that she has, before showing it to Shay.
Rinn watches from a distance and smokes at the back of the church. An older priest frowns at him and shakes his head. Rinn grins at him sheepishly and the priest says “Please do not smoke the devils lettuce in a holy place of worship, it is disrespectful.” Rinn puffs out the door instead, and asks “What devil?”. The priest tells him of “The Flame-Eyed One” that according to legend and ancient history, assaulted the city on her own, taking out a great many soldiers, making her way to the castle grounds before vanishing without a trace. Rinn looks at him wide-eyed and says “She assaulted the city all by herself, successfully?” The priest indicates that, yes, this is allegedly what happened. Rinn says he will not smoke in here anymore, puffs out the door once more, and walks towards the front of the church towards Dandelion.
At the back, Shay looks for someone that might have seen Marcus. He sees a younger man dressed in slightly older robes, running back and forth carrying prayer books. Shay stops him, assuming he might have been here for hours, and asks if has seen a person matching Marcus’s description. The boy, Frederic, tells him yes, Marcus was here a few hours ago, and left, but he did not see where he was going. Shay asks if anyone else was here at that time, and Frederic points at an older woman sitting alone in a pew, telling Shay that she is almost always here for a few hours each day, early. Shay walks towards the woman who has her eyes closed, is smiling slightly, and is muttering to herself. She feels his presence and opens her eyes. Shay apologizes for interrupting, and asks the woman if she saw Marcus. The woman, Wilhelmina, tells him yes, she did, that Marcus held the door for her this morning and seemed troubled, though they didn’t speak much more. Shay thanks her, and meets up with Dandelion and Rinn. The three exit the church to attempt to look for Marcus further, possibly in The Wharf, if Marcus had gone to look for soldiers or investigate that area.
Marcus, alone in his cell, sits with his back to the bars looking at his armor, contemplating his fate and his reputation, as well as the reputation of his armor and what it means. He looks at his tattoos, given to him by the people of Goldview, recognizing the heavy weight of all that the Shaw bloodline has held, that if it now comes to rest, that he hopes it can die with dignity and that he can hold, and show that he held until the end. The cloaked figure that whispered to the king walks behind Marcus, “Well well, it appears you have gotten yourself into a heap of trouble Marcus Shaw, you have quite the end coming for you.” Marcus indicates that he understands his fate.
The figure tells him that his story doesn’t have to end this way, that he can help him, if Marcus will let him. Marcus asks how a wicked creature such as him could possibly help. The figure laughs and says that he believes Marcus’s father might have had the same reaction to his question. He tells Marcus that the roots of corruption go deep within Greymoor, and that he needs a holy warrior to bring about change in this kingdom. Marcus tells him that he does not understand the meaning of the word holy. The figure tells Marcus that perhaps he does not, but that the Blackflower name holds such value here, that with a Blackflower and a Shaw at the helm, real power, and real change could be done here. Marcus tells him that he would pluck no fruit from that tree, that it is poison, and that all of the gold he ever wanted in life burned in the fields of grace, and that he will never want again.
The figure asks him if he has considered that the fields could be brought back 10 times their size and their glory. Marcus tells him that it is not about the size of the field or the power of it, it is about who you see the morning glory with, and that the people of Goldview will never again look out with wonder and a feeling of safety, and that it can never be given to them again while this figure lives. The figure tells Marcus that he did take that from him, and that he took his father from him, that every move his father made, was watched with glee as he marched towards his own demise, like a fool. Marcus says that his fathers body burned and his bones lay in the grave that Marcus dug for him, but a knight lives on.
The figure states “You can believe whatever you’d like, Marcus Shaw.” and stands, walking to the corner of Marcus’s vision, transforming as he does, removing the cloak and changing from a human man to an older elvish man with pale skin, long pointed ears, and long silver hair, the unmistakable figure of Jandar. A false flower of Lathander swings from around his neck, and he grins, and says “You will regret turning down this power, and the soldiers whose lives I have taken will cause me to grow stronger than you could possibly imagine. I will crush whatever resistance remains in this city, and it starts with you.”
Marcus replies “Whatever might you possess, I invite you to try, but that is the thing with fallen leaves, some of them bare seeds, and things will continue to grow, not just you.”
Jandar laughs, flips his hair, and replies “You have two days to think upon the sins of your father and wallow in it.” Marcus tells him that he will spend two days celebrating his father and the good deeds that a true knight performed, and that he will cherish every moment.
Jandar replies “And I will cherish your death as much as I cherished every moment that I manipulated your fool of a father, good day, Marcus Shaw.”
Marcus replies “Farewell, Blackflower.”
Jandar says snidely “Oh I am no Blackflower, I am my own. The power that I possess and the power that I stand to obtain, my grip will strengthen on this city. I have the king, I need very little more. I have this war, I have an unlimited supply of souls.”
Marcus tells him “Your reckoning will come, even if it is not at my hands.”
Jandar replies “You’re welcome to believe. I choose to believe in power, that’s all there is. The roots of your tree, clearly grow deep and are strong, as you have not been dissuaded, but believe me, I will chop down that tree, and I will salt that earth so that nothing ever grows in your line ever again, as I did with your father I will do so with you.”
Marcus says “Then do it.”
Jandar replies once more “For that, my dear boy, you have to wait.” He turns, morphs back into the human man, and pulls his hood up, walking off.
Marcus looks down at the tattoos and at his armor, smiling, “I wonder if that man believes my father a fool, how will he feel when he is proven to be wrong? I hope my friends enjoy that satisfaction on his face.”
As the party walks out of the church, they are greeted with a litany of soldiers walking towards the High Seat, carrying what appears to be a disassembled gallows. The lead knight stands and looks out at everyone “The heretical bloodline of the Shaws’ will be culled from this city henceforth.”
We cut back to the night before and Mr. Pigeon heads out to attempt to scout out Jandar. Twig tails him, and he catches her, but invites her to come along. He removes his makeup and changes, hiding his possessions in the alleyway behind the Inn. The two of them head to Jandar’s office and upon seeing it guarded, scale a nearby building to attempt to enter by roof access.
Mr. Pigeon leaps across, leaving Twig to stay behind and guard. He enters the window, not finding any traps, and searches the office, finding a drawer with some strange seeds, and a symbol carved into the base of it. He also looks for writing samples, and takes a portion of a burnt letter from the trash. Twig sees lights in the stairwell, and Mr. Pigeon hears footsteps coming up. He leaves, jumping to the other building as the two then run back down and exit a nearby alley heading back towards the Inn. They are stopped by two people, one of which they recognize as Arthur, telling them that they are in danger, as are their friends.
They follow Arthur who leads them back to The Last Lantern, a tavern nearby, and into a secret basement area with rooms. He offers them a room, telling them that the tavern they were in originally is not safe, and that his people will get their friends out in the morning, along with their things. The two head to sleep, with Twig blocking the door. The following morning, Arthur knocks on the door, telling them Marcus is in trouble, hands them their things, and leads them out.
Rinn, Dandelion, and Shay hear a familiar voice from behind them and turn to see Arthur, worried look on his face, flanked by Mr. Pigeon and Twig. He tells them what he told the other two, and the group follows him back to The Last Lantern, meeting Scarlett, the fey-looking elvish owner. She speaks with them briefly, taking particular interest in Dandelion. The party speaks with Arthur, as well as Captain Emmerick, about the danger Marcus is in, as is the city, from Jandar. The party asks Captain Emmerick to get a message to Marcus that they will come for him. Captain Emmerick leaves to go speak with him. Dandelion & Rinn leave to attempt to find a lake outside of town to speak with Oberon.
Captain Emmerick arrives to speak with Marcus, telling him what his friends are planning. Marcus tells him that he would rather die swiftly than risk his friends. Captain Emmerick tells him that he is needed to save the city, and that it cannot be done without him, that the scared men that wish to help the King, and not the Crown, will only turn with a Shaw behind them once more. Marcus pleads with him, and Captain Emmerick tells him that if things go wrong, or something should fail, he will get the rest of the party out. He leaves, and Marcus waits a while, before standing up, hammering on the bars, and yelling for Jandar.
Dandelion and Rinn arrive outside of the city, to a small lake near the western wall, Dandelion poking the water to try and speak with Oberon. Shimmer runs down her arm and boops his nose into the water, as a reflection forms into view. Oberon appears, and speaks with Dandelion about what has happened, and her troubles. Dandelion wants him to make her small again, and he says that he can, but it will be much harder to make her large again. They discuss the plan and Dandelion is indeed made small again, 1 foot tall, hovering flying off of the ground, as a fairy once more. Rinn asks her to cover her ears for a few moments so he can speak with Oberon, which he calls Ron, explaining why.
She does so, and Rinn asks Oberon why he sent a child to find the mirror, and why she hasn’t had any help. Oberon tells him that he found Dandelion in a field, with no memories, after Rinn asks her real name. He tells Rinn that it is a complicated story, and that the mirror is extremely important and that Titania cannot know. He trusts Dandelion with his life, and that sending someone to help her would be tough, he isn’t sure who to trust, and the Feywater is drying up. The places where someone could cross planes are controlled by Titania and The Summer Court, which he serves on, and he could not do so without them knowing.
Rinn tells him that he understands, and that he will help look after Dandelion, and that he hopes to visit the Summer Court someday. Dandelion says goodbye to Oberon, and the two head back towards the city, Rinn disguised as a random person, and Dandelion flying overhead riding Shimmer, disguised as a bird.
In his cell, Marcus rests and prays more, after yelling for Jandar. As he does, several guards approach the cell, informing him that he will never see Jandar again. The lead guard introduces himself as Cain, and says that he will break Marcus. Marcus tells him that he is unbreakable. He asks Marcus why he wants to see Jandar, and Marcus tells him that no matter how large and shadowy the tree grows, the flowers beneath it will not all wilt, that eventually they will endure and survive the shadow. Cain swings at Marcus with brass knuckles wrapped in brass thorned vines. After several blows, he asks Marcus again, what is his message for Jandar. Marcus tells him “The same, sir”. Marcus is thrown against the wall and held, as Cain whips his back with chains.
As Marcus falls in and out of consciousness, he has a vision of himself as a child, running towards his mother and father on a warm summer morning. She smiles at him and kisses his head, and asks him to help pick some of the crops, handing him a small basket. She tells him how much of a great helper he is, always. He takes the basket and runs towards the field, looking back at her. She smiles and walks towards him with a basket on her own. Marcus falls, and she rushes towards him. As she gets close, his vision flickers, with visions of the prison fracturing that of his memory. He is thrown into the cell again, as Cain says “Tomorrow.”, leaving Marcus to bleed on the floor.
Shay speaks with some of the cloaked members of Illmatyr about their past, and learns of a story that has been passed down through generations of their people, about a caged knight who would endure a great pain, and be freed. He tells Shay how there were times when they thought that might come to pass, but it had not yet, and perhaps their friend Marcus is this knight. Shay speaks with the others before heading out to people watch throughout the city, and collect some things.
That night, Mr. Pigeon heads out and finds Elena at the carnival, which has been set up in the theater district, and tells her the plan to rescue Marcus. He asks if they can hype up the performance tomorrow, as he will be searching for “duplicates” throughout the city for Twig and himself to perform, as an alibi for them. She agrees, and he heads back to fetch Twig. Twig follows him, and the two head back to the theater district where they come across and performing elf and tabaxi that look similar to them. After they perform, Mr. Pigeon hands them 2 bags each with 50 gold each and beckons for them to come with him. They follow back to the carnival, and Elena informs them of what they will be doing, as well as how much they will be paid. They agree, and then speak with Twig. The female tabaxi looks at Twig’s collection of carvings, and shows some of her own. The two notice that both of them have a snail, and they trade, the tabaxi wearing hers as a necklace. They all practice for a big in the big top tent, before Mr. Pigeon and Twig head back to go to sleep for the night.
Marcus uses his driftglobe to give himself small amounts of light in this otherwise incredibly dark space. He prays, and heals some of his wounds from yesterdays encounter with Cain, and he feels the otherworldly celestial aura of his gods wash over him, comforting him. He hides the driftglobe in the breastplate of his armor as he hears footsteps and chains approaching him once more.
He speaks again with Cain, about how the sunshine that he and the rest of Jandar’s men are greeted with every day is stolen, and not granted. Marcus tells Cain that the pain that Jandar has brought upon these people will be brought back upon him by people more brave than he has ever known. Marcus takes this beating from Cain, withholding a grimace, thinking about the stories that his father told him of the stories of war, and his courage unyielding, and recognizes that his father succeeded despite all of these odds.
As Cain throws a punch, Marcus dodges underneath it and grabs his arm, squeezing his wrist for a moment. As Cain pulls away, Marcus lets go and looks into his eyes. “All the might of men in this world will never overcome nature. Chauntea grows, no man can stop that.” Cain replies that it is a good thing that he is here to stop man, and not nature, and swings at Marcus again. Marcus continues to speak, telling the stories of his father in war, and the lessons that his mother taught him during his time in Goldview. As this continues, Marcus begins to slur his speech and become dizzy with spots in his vision. He connects one final blow into Marcus’ temple, and Marcus passes out. Cain’s voice rings out “He has to remain alive, but he doesn’t have to like it. String him up.”. Marcus is dragged into his cell and pulled up on a rack, his arms bound above him and his legs bound.
Marcus awakens and realizing that he is bleeding, checks to ensure that he is not losing too much blood, nor is he bleeding on his armor. He determines that he isn’t being drawn and quartered, and that he will survive this. He speaks the word for the driftglobe once more, as it illuminates from inside the breastplate, casting an eerie glow in his cage.
Rinn finds a letter in his belongings from the Office of Commerce inviting him to a meeting and dinner. He leaves, still in disguise, and heads out towards King’s Way. He dips into an alley and drops the disguise, continuing on. He enters the building and meets with Elizabeth at the front desk, being brought upstairs by a guard. Rinn, still having detect magic up, scans around him for things as he walks. He sees that the doors are lined with magic, as are all the windows as he enters the office. Behind a large desk sits Jandar, who beckons for Rinn to sit at one of the two chairs. Rinn does, and introduces himself and hands him the letter. Jandar smiles and says “Such a strange disguise you’ve chosen, and an interesting name, you’re much more naïve than we met last, assuming I would not find you.”
Rinn looks confused, and says that they’ve never met, and that he is an emissary. Jandar looks annoyed, and says “Come now, surely you cannot be this foolish to assume I did not know it was you, you locked eyes with me during the parade, you chose this name and stayed in that tavern.”
Rinn again looks confused and does not understand. Jandar opens his desk drawer and fiddles with something, tracing something, as a burst of bright moonlight cascades from the ceiling, bathing Rinn in its light. He looks horrified and goes to scramble out of the way, before realizing nothing is happening. Jandar looks puzzled and apologizes, stating that there must have been a case of mistaken identity. Rinn asks him to explain, troubled at this point. Jandar tells him that he was looking for an old friend, under the name of Wren, and when he arrived around the same time with the name Rinn, he assumed that it was her in disguise, throwing it in his face.
He then asks Rinn what he can help him with, and Rinn tells him about the Kingdom of Valenar in the trees below Arbor, and that they wish to re-join the world and trade. However, he does not trust Jandar, and so he tells him that he has fruits, wines, and other comforts to offer from his people, and though he is a human, his people are elves. Jandar presses him about Valenar, and Rinn reveals very little, omitting some details about his past and his people.
Jandar thanks him, and the two eat a delicious dinner that is brought in by one of his associates. The two talk more about Rinn and his Kingdom, as well as where Rinn is staying. Rinn tells him the Frazzled Fox wasn’t to his liking, and he was seeking other options. Jandar recommends The Looking Glass, telling him that there will be a room waiting for him. Rinn departs, untrusting of Jandar, but doing his best not to let on. He heads back downstairs, asking the guard for his name, and leaving, transforming back into his disguise in an alley, and making his way back to the tavern.
Dandelion makes her way back to the tavern as well, speaking with Scarlett, who looks shocked that she is a fairy/pixie. She tells Dandelion about how her home was transported from the Feywild, and that she was not allowed to leave the circle of trees. She remained there until the fire, where her mother was left behind while fighting it off, having the ability to control fire. She has a childlike wonder in her eyes looking at Dandelion’s small form, and tells her that the two will talk more after they rescue Marcus.
Shay arrives back from his errands and makes several poisons in his room from non-suspect ingredients that he picked up while he was out. Rinn arrives back and finds Dandelion sitting on a table, kicking her legs while sitting with Shimmer. Hearing the voices of his friends, Shay joins them. Rinn tells them about his visit with Jandar, and Shay asks why he did not try to kill him. Rinn tells him that it would have been too risky, Jandar is clearly incredibly dangerous, and appeared so. Rinn tells them that he was invited there with a letter, and that it was a case of mistaken identity, Jandar looking for someone called Wren. Shay points out the names sound similar, and Rinn tells him yes, that is likely the problem.
Dandelion transforms into a 1 foot tall Marcus and floats above everyone, as they continue to talk about things. The party then proceeds to sleep, ready for the following day where they will have to make final preparations to rescue Marcus.
The party awakens and convenes in the basement of The Last Lantern, discussing their plans for the evening with Captain Emmerick. He tells them some information about the prison itself, from the few times he has been inside it, as well as where he will be sending them in. He has heard information that there is a way into the prison from the sewers, and that there might be markings inside. The plan is to enter through the Theater District, and he will lead them to the sewers and remain on the surface. The one known as “The Wanderer” enters and hands them the completed charm of Feign Death, telling them that it cannot be used on someone that does not willing accept it, it will last one hour, and cannot be ended early. The party thanks him, and waits for nightfall, where they head with Captain Emmerick to the sewers.
Captain Emmerick opens the sewer grate for them, sending them into the darkness, leaving it subtly unlocked. The party carefully makes their way along the sewer, coming to a large circular area with multiple pipes leading to different areas of the city. Shay finds thieves cant scratched into the areas above each branching pipe, and determines the one that leads towards the sewers. Dandelion flies around to help look for things, as the others follow behind. As the party comes to another circle at the end of the pipe, they see 3 men by the grate on the far wall in the darkness. Shay calls out to them, using his knowledge of thieves cant to alert these men that they mean them no harm, and that they are here for likely the same thing they are. The men tell them that one of their friends is inside, and that they will go with them and split up. The men unlock the grate and swing it open, head inside, and head left. The party follows, and heads right, into pitch black darkness.
Rinn, having detect magic up, detects abjuration magic on one of the walls in the distance. The party approaches it, and Rinn sees a faint glyph in the darkness. The party heads down a different hallway attempting to avoid this glyph, and finds another glyph at the end of the hall, about 5 feet around a bend. Shay throws a ball bearing at it to attempt to activate it, and it pings loudly off of the stone walls without effect, bouncing to the floor. The party hears footsteps and Mr. Pigeon scales the ceiling as the rest of the party dips around the bend. The footsteps come closer and a figure rounds the bend 60 feet down the hall, illuminating a lantern, casting the hallway with light. The figure rapidly moves towards Mr. Pigeon on the ceiling, moving through the ward as he mutters something under his breath. The party leaps into action, killing the guard, Mr. Pigeon and Shay catching him as he slides towards the floor. Mr. Pigeon attempts to use the movement in order to hurl the guard towards the glyph, but is unable to get him close enough. He and Dandelion shove the body towards the glyph, and it activates after the two of them are close enough, though the body does not seem to trigger it. As it activates, Fog spreads down and around the hall.
The party continues moving, hitting a few dead ends, and avoiding a tripwire trap that is noticed on the floor. Shay leaves ball bearings at each hallway in order to keep track of where they have been and where traps are. The party leaves the body of the guard around a corner, doubling back towards where he seemed to have come from. They find several more glyphs and find their way around through other hallways. Dandelion heads towards a larger room at the end of one of the hallways, and sees someone sitting in a cage, one of several, in the darkness. She determines it is not Marcus, but likely the man that the others were looking for. She heads back to the party and the party rounds another long hallway, seeing another faint blue light through Rinn’s detect magic.
In prison, Marcus fades in and out of consciousness, seeing various shapes and figures in the darkness of his mind, and the room. As he awakens once, he swears that the light of his driftglobe looks like the branches of a tree on the far back wall, before falling back asleep. He finds himself sitting in a patch of dirt, his eyes feel dry and scratchy. He opens them, and finds himself in Goldview, as a 10 year old boy. He stands and looks around, seeing his mother with her basket, standing under the great tree. He approaches her and calls out, as she turns and walks towards him. He falls to his knees and cries, saying that he misses her so much, and how sorry he is for being unable to stop it. She comforts him, and tells him that everything will be okay, and that anything that is lost will always become new in the light and shade of Chauntea.
He stands and embraces her, still crying softly. He looks to the tree behind his mother, and sees a beautiful figure sitting atop the branches, the figure that matches what he has heard of Chauntea herself. His eyes quickly scan down to the base of the tree, and he sees the two graves that he dug for his mother and father there, as his mother smiles and fades from his grasp. He walks towards the tree, falls to his knees, and cries, placing his hands on each of these mounds of dirt, saying “Please, let them grow.” Tears from his face drip down and fall into the soil of these graves. The figure of Chauntea walks in front of his vision, and tilts his chin up towards her. She smiles, with sadness in her eyes, and lowers Marcus’s face once more, as two small buds begin to sprout from the soil.
Marcus says that he understands that it is not them, but it is from them. Marcus says that he knows that they can still give life to this world, as he will try to do as well. She ruffles Marcus’s hair, and lifts him to his feet, as he ages back to his current age, and embraces him. He closes his eyes for a moment, and he feels her grasp fade. He opens his eyes once more, looking down at these buds, and sees that they are beginning to bloom. He looks to the tree once more, and sees small buds piercing through the blackened branches of the extremely burnt tree. He smiles sadly and says, “I do not think people understand the nature of my conquest.”
The party continues down the hall, finding yet another trap, but are cut off by glyphs in every direction. Realizing they need to move towards the center, and that most of the traps thus far have been alerts/non-threatening, they decided to move through this glyph. Twig goes first, but as she leaps over the glyphs, she lands, turns towards her friends, and upon seeing Mr. Pigeon standing in his Captain’s outfit, doubles over in a fit of loud laughter and falls to the floor.
Shay jumps towards her, not suffering the same fate from this glyph, and tries to put his hand over her mouth, but she is rolling around recklessly and he can’t get a grip on her. Everyone backs up and Rinn casts Sleep. Twig’s eyes lull back in her head and she passes out, before being woken up by Mr. Pigeon. They hear footsteps running towards them and move back around the corner, hiding. A guard makes his way around the corner, and they dispatch him rather quickly. They hear more footsteps coming from both directions, so they split within the hallway, each member of the party taking a few hits from the guards and holding their own in the fight. They hear more footsteps further off, heading another direction, and they keep moving.
As the party is moving the bodies, Mr. Pigeon takes a shield, disguises himself as a guard, and rounds a corner, immediately being blinded by another trap in a dead end. The party finds the guard, and readies themselves, but Twig, having seen Mr. Pigeon disguise himself, alerts them that it is not a guard. They keep moving and wind their way around the halls slowly, avoiding all of the halls with glyphs, until they come to a longer straight hallway, with a half moon shaped room at the end.
As they look down the hall, they see Marcus sitting hanging on a wooden rack, bleeding and stirring slightly. Rinn looks at it closely, seeing illusion magic with his detect magic, as well as another glyph behind it. As he looks, he is able to see past the illusion, seeing a staircase below what appears to be a straw scarecrow painted with Marcus’s tattoos at the center of this room. Dandelion sends her mage hand down the hall, and having no traps trigger, flies quickly towards the staircase. As she exits the hall and into the room, she dodges forward as a trap activates, sending web rocketing out from the walls, grease spraying onto the web and the scarecrow Marcus, and candles lighting up on the back walls, one by one. They start floating towards Dandelion inside of the web, lighting the scarecrow aflame, as she ducks into the staircase. The rest of the party runs towards the web, cuts through it, and all quickly make their way into the staircase before the candles reach the web above.
They continue through the winding halls of the lower floor, towards a torchlight that they can see in the distance. They turn and see several guards moving Marcus, as they hear the voice of the head guard ring out. They duck back behind the corner, Dandelion goes invisible, and they prepare to run it. Mr. Pigeon leads with the invisible Dandelion unknowingly behind him. Mr. Pigeon, disguised as a guard, stumbles towards the guard captain, dropping his shield to alert him, and falls to his knees in front of him. As the captain bends towards him, Mr. Pigeon runs up and grabs the face of the man, inflicting necrotic energy upon him. The rest of the party makes their way inside one by one, attacking the two larger guards moving Marcus, as Mr. Pigeon dances around the captain. Marcus, looks at the two guards and says “I told you they would come for me, and that you would fucking die.”, and fears the two of them, as the one drops the rack that Marcus is on, causing it to swivel around. Rinn runs in carrying the bundle of dynamite and a large Warhammer in an effort to scare the guards, which he does successfully. Twig and Shay stab the one guard, as Dandelion assaults the other, running down the length of the wooden rack. The guard, with nowhere to run, stabs Marcus, knocking him unconscious. Rinn rushes forward to attempt to stabilize Marcus, but is not successful. The guard stabs towards Rinn, but misses, as Rinn fires back at him as Dandelion fears him away from her. The guard captain clocks Mr. Pigeon with his brass vine covered knuckles, knocking him out cold. Twig rushes over and ignites the moonlight that Lathander offered her on the guard, as he burns to death in a shadowy spectral moonlight.
The last remaining guard surrenders as Shay kills the first guard and moves towards Marcus, stabilizing him. Mr. Pigeon wakes up, walks over to the guard that surrendered, and hooks his sickles around his head, killing him. He then takes the brass knuckles from the guard captain and smashes his face in with them multiple times.
Marcus thanks his friends for saving him but is worried as to why they did not flee and leave him here. Rinn helps him to his feet and hands him the spare Warhammer from his possessions after Shimmer eats through the ropes binding his hands. Dandelion pouts and looks at Marcus, telling him that he promised not to get captured. The party gets to their feet, and makes their way towards the stairs back the way they came. As they reach the stairs, they look up and see the face of the man they met on their way in, whose name they did not get, searching for his brother (Tommy), bruised and beaten who says “We have to get the fuck out of here.”
The party makes their way out of the dungeon after Theodore, the man they met while breaking into the prison, informs them that he has rescued his brother and dispatched of the other guards. The party leads them back out of the prison into the sewers, and speak briefly with them about the thieves guild, beneath the Saggin’ Dragon tavern in The Wharf, of which there is an entrance in the sewers in an offshoot tunnel. He tells them that not anyone is allowed in, you’d need an introduction or coin in order to gain access, but even he does not have access to some of the lower levels.
The party makes their way back to the surface and finds The Wanderer awaiting their return, alongside his funeral carriage. Everyone gets in the back, with Marcus laying down inside of the coffin at its center, sunken into the floor. Rinn closes it, and Marcus takes a brief nap. They make their way through the city as the rain falls outside, pulling across the street from The Last Lantern. The Wanderer lets them out, telling them that he is available to move them throughout the city whenever necessary, to avoid detection. Shay asks for an extra outfit that people in his profession wear, as well as one of his masks if he has extra. He tells everyone that he will make masks for them, the party thanks him and heads into the dark tavern.
They head inside, finding Scarlett waiting for them, leading them down into the hidden basement. Marcus asks about her fey-like appearance, and points at the small 1 foot tall floating Dandelion. She tells them that she has seen Dandelion’s tiny form, and that she will talk to them all later, after they take care of the city. She rushes off to get them some stew and bread as Arthur greets them with relief. As they sit down, they notice cloaked figures at the back of the basement space, pointing at Marcus and whispering. They rush over and grab at his arms, as Rinn puts his hand on his blade. They whisper “he who sits upon the rack” while looking at Marcus and “fated companions” while looking at the other 5 members of the party. Rinn asks what they are doing and who they are. Shay tells them that they are worshippers of Ilmater, and that the oldest member is Werner.
Werner introduces himself and apologizes for the interruption, telling the party that a story, a prophecy of sorts appears to be coming to pass. This story regards the fate of this city, and of his people, worshippers of Ilmater that have been unable to freely worship their god since the days of old when the gods of Greymoor were switched to Torm and Tyr, pushing Illmater out. The story tells of a caged soldier that returns home after being trapped, and that those that traveled with him would be effectively, the warriors that would save the city and its people. He tells the party that he must retrieve the document that spells out these details, that it is hidden and buried away. They rush off as the party remains here to speak about what happened.
The party talks about what will happen next, and Arthur tells them that from what Captain Emmerick told him, many of the soldiers within Greymoor still believed in Marcus Shaw III, and that what was done to him was treasonous. However, they fear the consequences and have not yet acted until a plan is in place. Marcus, being a Shaw, will help convince them to revolt against the crown, and against Jandar’s grip on it. Marcus tells everyone that Jandar offered to have Marcus join him, to rule Fjordane alongside him as its holy warrior. He knows that the Shaw bloodline offers much worth within the city, and when Marcus refused, knew he needed to be put to death in front of the city, in order to tighten his grip around the kingdom.
Rinn tells Marcus about his meeting with Jandar, and about the moonbeam that cascaded down on him. Mr. Pigeon pulls out a small seed and places it on the table. The party asks where they got it, and Twig tells them that they broke into Jandar’s office a few nights ago and retrieved that from a drawer inside, along with a rune that matches closely with the school of magic for Moonbeam. Marcus takes the seed and asks Chauntea to bless it, and grow it into a small bloom. The seed blooms in his hand into a stark white bud, which he recognizes as a moonflower. Rinn realizes that the spell moonbeam uses moonseed or moonflower seeds in its casting, which are consumed. Rinn also tells the group that the reason this spell was cast on him was because Jandar thought he was someone else, by the name Wren, that hides from Jandar, and that the names were so similar that he assumed she was throwing it in his face.
Arthur tells the party that they have someone in the church that is working with them, Fredrick, that has brought Jandar there on occasion to do rites of passage for dying soldiers returning from the war front to the north. He tells them that is the plan for them confronting him, while the rest of the military loyal to the Shaw name will siege the castle. He tells them that Captain Emmerick will find out when more soldiers are being brought in, and that the party can confront him in the church. Marcus points out that there will need to be some signal that Jandar is there before the rest of the military moves into the castle. He then gets up for a few moments, heading upstairs to check on Scarlett.
Twig tells the party that Jandar has a flower and has been eating souls, and that she saw it happen. The rest of the group looks at her in confusion, and she tells them that she didn’t understand what it meant or what it was, or even if it was real, until now. She tells them the vision she had, the dream, where she watched Jandar walk up to those soldiers and heal them, before stabbing them with a shadow-blade and weaving their life essence into a false flower around his neck. The party asks how this is possible, and Twig tells them that she is unsure, but it is likely from Lathander’s gifts, the same as is the moonlight that burned the man in the prison. She said that after seeing Mr. Pigeon go down, she got incredibly angry, and in a fit of rage traced her tattoos in the air, igniting the man with moonlight and horrible spectral flames.
Marcus tells the party that Jandar has likely gone rogue, that he no longer aligns himself with the Blackflowers, and in his words, that he is his own. He also points out that Rinn’s detecting necromancy in the flowers likely alluded to this, the draining of these souls into the flower to grant long life, just like Twig’s queen, though Twig tells her that her queen wouldn’t have done that. Rinn realizes that from his readings, he knows that as a soul passes on, it can be stored in objects or absorbed by them. Marcus wonders how this vision came to her, and if it could be triggered again by eating a petal of the false flower, or brewing it into a tea, in order to find more of these flowers. He indicates that perhaps these visions are triggered to show her who has a flower, so that she can get them back.
Marcus asks Rinn what magics might have been used to transport Twig there, and Rinn is unsure, though he guesses based on a ritual that his people did (which used plant matter in its communication and vision triggered by it), that perhaps the flower might have been used. He asks Twig if she was playing with the flower before bed, and that it might have caused her to have this vision.
Twig lets Marcus lick the flower, and while it causes a minor amount of pain and tastes horrible, like a battery, nothing else happens. Marcus thinks that maybe the flowers themselves are an incredibly powerful catalyst for magic, and wonders what their origin would have been, understanding that it is a false copy of the Flower of Lathander, from his garden. Twig does not wish to brew the petal into tea, she tells them that she needs to cleanse it in his temple, the one that moves within the Feywild.
The party points out that it rained a lot in Southport, in the inn with Drystan, and now here in Greymoor. They also point out that it rained a lot in Kenmare according to Arthur, and if that was the case, why were they importing water? Marcus wonders if they were importing Feywater there, and possibly Briarwood. Rinn agrees, that it is likely that Kenmare and Briarwood were importing Feywater, and that they would ask Arthur when he comes back.
They ask Twig if her homeland was known for storms, and she tells them that there were storms, but not to a degree that would lead her to believe something was wrong or different. Marcus wonders about the reach of the Blackflowers, and what role the Iron Crown plays, with the collection of powerful magical items, like the blades of Mr. Pigeon’s family that he is searching for (made of a special metal and with a special process), the visage of Chauntea from his own home, many of the other items they have seen. They know that the items that are not “relics” or special enough, are marked with the symbol of the iron crown and re-sold around Adoris. Marcus asks Mr. Pigeon if he has ever fought a Blackflower, and he tells them no, and points to his neck again, reminding them of his very young age when he was nearly killed.
Marcus asks Rinn if the people of Valenar hide anything, and Rinn says no, but Marcus sees that his eyes say yes, they do. The party speaks about “The Flame Eyed One”, a demon that supposedly marched through the city and made its way to the castle, before vanishing without a trace. Marcus remembers this story being told to him by his father, as well as the “Ah Well” in Lakemount, where people fought against monstrous creatures from across the mountains in the Dusklands, and that this could be a demon, or it could have been something else entirely. Rinn also remembers the stories that he has been told, and that there is likely some truth to all of these “bedtime stories”, and that they have been changed and embellished over time. Marcus concurs with this theory.
Marcus tells Rinn about a great gold dragon named Halla, The Shining that attacked a town, desperate to get its child back, which had been stolen by an evil wizard, Gaeleth Sarkan. Marcus Shaw III bartered peace with Halla, in exchange for her eating the evil wizard. He was given the coin, as a sign of their friendship, and that is the coin that was given to Rinn. Marcus believes this town was Kenmare, and that is its fate. Marcus asks Rinn what he knows of dragons, and Rinn tells him that he does not, and has not seen any, but he will slay that one for killing his people when he comes across it when they make their way to the King’s Bluffs mountain range to the south, in what is now Arbor. Twig tells the group that her people were also attacked by a dragon, Myrath, an ice breather, before they fled to their island home.
As they are talking, the worshippers of Ilmater return holding a dirty scroll, themselves also covered in dirt and dust. They kneel in front of the group and Werner holds out the scroll. The party passes it around before Marcus takes it and begins to read.
The party questions what the poem might mean, and assume that it refers to Marcus and the rest of the party, as well as the corruption within the city. The poem also refers to treasures beneath the city, seemingly guarded by The Flame Eyed One, possibly the weapons that this demon used to make its way to the castle long ago. The party asks Werner if there is a vault, why has no one found it? He tells them that their leader wrote this long ago and it has been passed down and kept safe for a long time. The entrance to this secret lair beneath the city is not known, though they have surmised that it is in the Archives, based on the line “beneath the place where knowledge lies”.
Werner also tells them that The Archives used to be a church, before Ilmater was cast out of Greymoor and Torm/Tyr were worshipped in replacement, and the new church was built. Dandelion asks if The Flame Eyed one is bad, because she attacked the city, and Rinn says that she would be, unless the city is in a similar state to how it is now, full of corruption. The party asks more about their leader, and how he could have written this if the Flame Eyed One’s assault on the city happened thousands of years ago. He tells them that their leader is not “alive”, but that they can speak to him through a ritual, and that he has been preserved by The Wanderer and his predecessors. He tells them that his name is Magnus Barnes, and that he is in the Tombs with the Wanderer. The party wishes to speak with him, and Werner tells them that they will await their arrival at the Tombs tomorrow. The party then goes to sleep.
The party awakens, and Dandelion rushes to Mr. Pigeons room to get some of his clown makeup and goes back to Marcus’s room and rubs it into his hair, much to Marcus’s protest. The party walks out into the main room where breakfast is awaiting them. Rinn floats out towards the food but Shay spins him around and sends him floating back towards his room. They also discuss how Dandelion is small, and that she has to visit Oberon in the lake again in order to become large again, but that it might not work permanently.
Captain Emmerick enters with someone that the party recognizes as Benjamin Mae, and the party is informed that he will be coming with them during the assault, and that Benjamin is his ward, sort of. He introduces himself, and is very loud and boisterous. Shay immediately leaves, turned off by his behavior and minor callousness. Captain Emmerick is glad to see them all alive and okay, and Benjamin talks about how excited he is to be working together to take out Jandar to serve the crown. He also talks about the Princess, and how there were a bunch of men at the fort that they stormed, 10 or 20. He says that a few of his men were killed and some were captured, but he was able to take the rest of the Northern Invaders out and take the princess home across the sea. He does not remember her name, but specifies that she was very grateful for being saved, like super grateful, and then mentions that he is a paladin several times.
He speaks about his father, who owns the mine in Greenridge, that he doesn’t speak to frequently, that he has sent letters to him but doesn’t hear back, but says that he gets letters from his mother, who tells him about things going on in Greenridge and things she has done. Marcus asks if he knows the king, and he says that he came to see his family once or twice with a bunch of his men. Captain Emmerick asks Benjamin to fetch waters for them, and he heads upstairs. He tells the group that he will be speaking to the men that are loyal to the true crown and the Shaw name, and apologizes for Benjamin’s abrasiveness but that he is a good kid, and that his upbringing did not offer him much in terms of manners or fatherly figures. Captain Emmerick has done his best to educate him in that stead since he has arrived in the city, but it has been difficult.
The party discusses briefly having Mr. Pigeon and Twig breaking back into Jandar’s office to look for information and ledgers about Greenridge, and anyone with the Mae name. They also speak about looking for someone sending a letter via courier in order to notify Benjamin’s family in Greenridge of what is going on with Jandar. Shay says that he will speak to their new friends in the thieves guild about looking out for this, and about having someone watch Jandar’s office for a courier. Dandelion asks him to also asks about magical items that might be for sale, the mirror specifically, and where people might go to find them. Rinn agrees and says he is interested in what they are fencing in terms of magical items that are stolen.
Marcus asks Benjamin to fetch a letter that his mother sent him, and Benjamin leaves to do that, telling them that they will meet back for dinner later, before heading upstairs. Marcus asks if Captain Emmerick is sure about Benjamin, and he assures him that he is a good person and deserves a chance to prove himself, and that the fight with Jandar will be difficult and perhaps humble him. Marcus asks if the elvish kingdom was gifted anything in exchange for the return of the princess, and that Captain Emmerick will find out by dinner as well, and heads out.
Shay tells the party that he plans to head to the Thieves Guild and speak with them. Marcus brings up concerns of how Benjamin got the princess from this fort, and why she was guarded by only a few men if she was so important. The party wonders if Jandar had something to do with this capturing and returning of her, and what Jandar might be attempting to get. Marcus mentions that perhaps Jandar is preparing for something larger, and if he is truly betraying the Blackflowers and has gone above them, that he would need considerable resources to avoid their retaliation. Marcus asks Shay to ask the thieves guild about if they have any information on the moving of valuable waters, now that Wolfwater has been lost, and if there is anything coming out of the mines in Greenridge aside from ores and metals, and if Benjamin Mae Sr. is alive.
Marcus says that they must visit the Archives to search for the wizard performing the strange experiments in the woods, Eladrel Filor, as well as the entrance to this vault described in the poem. Shay says that he will handle the thieves guild while the others speak with The Wanderer and visit The Tombs, before meeting up for dinner with Benjamin and Captain Emmerick, tackling the Archives the following day after Mr. Pigeon and Twig break into Jandar’s office, possibly with others in the party if they should choose to also go. Shay heads out towards the Thieves Guild, and Mr. Pigeon and Twig head to their room briefly to attempt to prepare for later.
Rinn, Marcus, and Dandelion speak about some of the strange things within the city, and why the prison guards were Elvish inside of a human kingdom. They admit that they do not know Jandar’s true identity, and Rinn guesses that it is almost certainly not his real name. Dandelion thinks that the Blackflowers might have stolen the mirror, and she mentions a strange man that Oberon saw steal the mirror that day, an elvish man with Auburn hair and pale skin, wearing robes with a strange symbol of an ankh on it, with two gems inside, a blue one
and an orange one. The party speaks a bit longer before the door opens and The Wanderer walks in, informing them that their carriage has arrived. Rinn says the name Magnus Barnes before pulling out a chair. The Wanderer sits and Rinn asks how they speak with him. He tells him that they use a ritual spell, speak with dead, and the physical body of Magnus Barnes, which has been preserved over the years by himself and his predecessors. Marcus asks if this spell has a cost, and the Wanderer tells him that it uses certain herbs and incense, plant matter, and that the body is required. The party heads upstairs to head to the carriage.
The party (aside from Shay) heads to the Archives in the back of the Wanderer’s Carriage. He waits down the street for them when they return. They head inside and are greeted with a large church-like space filled with numerous shelves. They are greeted by the head librarian, Geoffrey Pagemore, who they ask about Eladrel Filor. He does not know the name but as they briefly describe him/how long he has been here, he directs them to the back where a private room is. Rinn asks about some books privately and is led to the “restricted section” right outside the private room. As the party walks, they speak about mithril and the Valenar blades, realizing that Twig’s daggers are made from the same material. They also speak about Twig’s Queen, a snow leopard tabaxi that wears a crown of clover, and the fact that they were previously attacked by a white dragon and lived near to the dwarves, who mined the mithril for the Valenar elves long ago.
The rest of the party walks in and meets Eladrel, and older elvish gentleman that looks slightly vampiric in nature, similar to Elena, which matches what she told them about him. Rinn stands outside and searches for books while he listens. He greets them and the party indicates that they know who he is and that they found his experiments in the bog. He tells them of the Gale Callers, his people, who guard sacred blades within what is now known as The Blightwood, within Gale’s Hollow. Inside, there is a feywater lake, and a large willow tree at its center. He tells them of his group of 4 protectors, each of which went out yearly to search for new knowledge and meet with someone called The Archivist, an older grandmotherly woman who obtained and traded in knowledge, trying to re-build a large collection of it.
Eladrel also tells them about one of his members passing away a few years ago, their druid, and their warrior, Gaeleth Sarkhan, not returning from his journey, about 100 years ago, status unknown. Marcus tells him that he knows that name, and asks if Eladrel knows of the town of Kenmare. Eladrel says that he does, but only very little of it. He tells the party about what he can only assume was a great sacrifice ritual that happened about 30 years ago, in the area outside of their hollow, that they witnessed the remnants of, which tainted the earth. When they attempted to create druidic guardians to protect the hollow after they passed, they were tainted by the ground and morphed into the horrific vine beasts that the party saw in the bog near Lakemount.
Rinn finds several books outside that interest him, and pocket them in his bag of holding, while smoking and continuing to listen to what is happening inside of the room. The rest of the party speaks more with Eladrel before Marcus insists that he return to the Hollow so that the last remaining member is not alone. He tells him about Heruil, and that she might, despite her thousands of years of guardianship, wish to guard a gift from the gods once more. Eladrel leaves, and the rest of the party waits as Marcus heads towards the front of the library to inquire about some books.
Shay, cloaked, heads towards the theater district to the sewers once more. He makes his way towards the “fake fakements” labeled area and into the secret tunnel to the thieves guild that he was told about. He is greeted by Throg, a large muscled half orc, whom he pays for some information on where a “higher class” of reliable criminal would be found here, and entry. He heads in the direction that Throg points him, into a large open stone floored space filled with various booths and tables and other criminal types around. He walks towards one and asks the man there, visibly sliding gold towards him, where Krog is. The man points behind him at a large red curtain where a half orc guard stands. Shay thanks him and continues on, handing a small scrap of paper to the guard, telling him that Throg sent him to see Krog.
He is let inside and makes his way down a tunnel towards a larger “study” style room, with fireplace and large oak desk. Krog greets him and the two speak about what Shay is looking for, namely tracking Jandar/observing his offices and possibly intercepting the courier should any missives arrive for him, as well as any information on Benjamin May Sr in Greenridge. Krog ponders this request and Shay pays him ahead of time. Krog asks him for information in exchange, as some of these tasks would be difficult, with the Duke of Commerce not using their services, having previously snubbed them and killed others, and in order to be considered a “regular” here and be trusted. Shay tells him that there might be an opening in the Duke of Commerce spot soon, and that Jandar may be exiting. Krog is interested by this, and says that he will see if this information pans out.
Shay also asks about where one might go to purchase magical goods and other services, and Krog tells him of The Night Market, which contains such things, as well as other services for those with higher access, which he does not have. Shay hands him 50 gold and asks to see the Night Market ahead of time, despite it not being open during the day. Krog grins and steps from his desk, beckoning for Shay to follow.
Shay heads downstairs into the Night Market with Krog, through a curtain to the side back in the main area. The Night Market is a large cavern with massive wooden beams embedded into the stone ceiling, with large swinging lanterns hanging down lighting the space. Along the sides are raised up “piers” with numerous buildings with blacked out windows. Krog tells him that those buildings are for more specific and private uses, and higher tier groups. Shay asks about magical items, and he is informed that the Iron Crown provides such items, though they always arrive just before opening after sundown. He also asks about explosives, and heads towards a stand that Krog points him to, run by a dwarf man named Bang Wizzlesnash.
Shay walks over and places coins on the counter, awakening the loud snoring man beneath. He speaks with him and purchases two smaller explosives that are good for leveling small buildings, though they have protective enchantments on them to ensure someone is not nearby, as well as another one that demolishes a small hole into a wall, consuming all of the rubble and silencing the sound. However, it does not mask the hole in any way. Shay then heads back to the tavern.
The rest of the party rents some books from the library, and are told that they are generally allowed to be rented for one weeks time, though if it takes longer to please just send word. Mr. Pigeon looks through books about some of the history of Adoris, and finds reference to his families home and their fate, and removes it from the book. He does not see any information about Blackflowers, though there are pages in the B section torn out. In an older book, he does find information about Fivrel, much of which they already are familiar with.
The party all reconvene in the tavern and speak about what they learned from Eladrel, as well as what Shay found within the Thieves Guild. They are later joined by Captain Emmerick and Benjamin. Benjamin has a letter from his mother, and hands it to Marcus. Marcus reads it and it seems very, impersonal, as well as being signed in her full name and addressed to Benjamin (not Benny, which Benjamin tells them that she calls him). Marcus passes the letter around for everyone to look at, before inspecting it further. He realizes that there is a message hidden in the letter, with each line having one word further in each time. The message is: I need help father taken away heard shadowed thorns mentioned run. Marcus mentions this to Benjamin who says that he didn’t know there was a message in it and asks who the Shadowed Thorns are. The party tells him that Jandar is, or was, associated with them through Fivrel Blackflower, and Benjamin tells them that it is great that they will be dealing with Jandar so the problem will resolve itself.
Captain Emmerick asks Benjamin to fetch some water upstairs and he leaves. Marcus asks once more if he is sure that Benjamin can be trusted. Emmerick tells him that he believes he can and that he needs to be humbled in this fight, and that he is showing off because he feels a kinship with the party, and that all they have accomplished is impressive, and he wants to be on their level. He is playing up his skills and accomplishments and trying to seem cool to them. Emmerick says that if they do not wish for Benjamin to go with them, he can always send him in with the invasion force instead. The party votes and agrees that Benjamin should go with them, some willingly and some reluctantly since Benjamin already knows so much. Benjamin comes back downstairs and the party notices a slight remnant of tears in his eyes. He smiles at them widely and says, “The waters! As requested!”
The party finishes their conversation with Benjamin, who leaves. They then speak briefly with Captain Emmerick, about how Benjamin seemingly hide his feelings regarding his family, upset that he missed so much in her letters. He also reassures the party that, Benjamin is rather forgetful, and therefore he could not spill any details to others. Marcus indicates that he is very tired, and the party asks Captain Emmerick to watch over him in case of trouble, as the rest of the party heads with Shay to the Night Market. He agrees, and the party heads out into the night.
The party heads through the theater district, past the sounds of the carnival performing, to the sewers and down the now slightly familiar path to the hidden entrance under a tattered red curtain. The head down to the large market beneath, in the cavernous hewn out space. Rinn notices a tiefling man along one of the sides and makes note to visit on their way out. They make their way to the back, where a long wooden table spanning the entire width of this space sits covered in numerous piles of items. They approach the table and speak with an elvish drow, dressed in fairly ornate clothing, with a deep purple vest, a white shirt, and golden cufflinks.
The drow informs them that they can ask for certain items, or if they spot something, and that they specialize in magical items. Shay asks about a magical mirror, and the man asks them if they know what the mirror they are searching for does, if it is a gift or for personal use, etc. The man walks over to the pile, grabs 2 items, and walks back, unfurling a leather bound scroll on the counter, laying the items out in front of him. One of the mirrors Rinn looks at allows you to see someone that you have lost, that has passed on. Rinn sees an older man that looks like him, and based on the vision he had during the evening, he assumes that it is his father. Shay looks over and does not see that, but does see something else (not revealed to the viewers). None of the mirrors he shows them seem to match what Dandelion is looking for. He tells them that there are other markets that items get sent to, as well as the option to have an item searched out for them if there are specifics. Shay describes a brief description of Dandelion’s mirror, and the man thinks before telling them that there are many a mirror that match the description, asking them how important this gift is. Shay tells him that it is important, and the man tells them that when things make the rotation through the markets, that the central office is in Yothalna, and that they can find it should a request be made. He gives them the name of the city and the general location for where the office is.
Shay purchases 10 non magical animal figurines for Twig. Dandelion purchases 2 malleable “air-pod” sending stones that have 4 charges each for the Sending Spell to be sent to the other stone. Rinn inquires about any spell scrolls, and is told about a spell that produces a cone of draconic energy, but decides not to purchase it. They then head over towards the tiefling man that is selling daggers at a stall that Rinn noticed on the way in.
The tiefling man has deep reddish colored skin, very short horns that wrap over the head (and do not curve upward) wearing gloves, a brown leather vest and simple shirt, and glasses. He says with a fairly quiet/nervous sort of voice asking about if they are interested in any weaponry. He introduces himself as Koros, and says that he does not in fact have many/any magical weapons, that he hand makes all of them himself, and brings them here to sell so that he can sell weapons to the common folk (despite the guards being unhappy with this), because he believes that the common folk should be armed in case they need it. Shay purchases 2 small silvered half moon shape daggers that are easily concealed, a hiltless blade that can be kept between the fingers. Dandelion also purchases a small dagger that is retractable and flips down into the hilt.
Rinn asks Koros if he knows much about spellcrafting, and Koros tells him that his people are very familiar with that, and it is the reason that he left. He tells them that he is from the Amnon Empire, born there, one of two of the tiefling kingdoms that are constantly “at war”. He does what he does here, with trying to arm people with small protective weaponry, because of how his home was. His family crafted spells, but were killed, and he fled, not watching to get involved in the business and swore never to do magic. He is “cursed” with its ability but does not use it. He tells them that he doesn’t like magic, and that if he could give this gift to someone else and take it away from himself he would. He said despite it being a great many years, the memory still stings. Koros asks why Rinn inquired about spellcrafting, and Rinn tells him it interests him greatly, and that he is a scholar. Koros sighs loudly and pulls a small leather-bound notebook from his bag, handing it to Rinn. He tells him that it is full of information on spellcrafting, some of its history, things that he wrote down in his time at home and couldn’t bring himself to burn it, and that he kept it around just to feel the weight. Rinn tells him that he can’t take it and asks him for a price. Koros tells him that he has been trying to get rid of this for the better part of 15 years, and that he will be doing him a favor, that it is in better hands than his in the hands of the scholarly man like Rinn. Rinn puts 5 gold down and Koros thanks him and tells him please be careful with it and burn it when he’s done with it, that the knowledge is dangerous, sighing again as he says so. He says that should they need him during the daytime, he usually heads to the tower to look out across the land towards the sea around mid day before going to sleep after being up overnight (though he doesn’t sleep much).
The party leaves and heads towards the exit before an exotic pet shop that catches Dandelion’s eye. Dandelion flies over to a fishtank with a small gnomish man feeding them who is immediately startled. Dandelion purchases a small fish in an orb named Mortimer, an opalescent beta fish with a sapphire stripe, it is much larger inside and if she doesn’t see him, she can call his name and he will come into view. It is pocket dimension adjacent but not a pocket dimension and it only holds a very small fish. Shay also purchases a small shimmer-sized cowboy hat with a strap, presumably for Shimmer. The salesman, Dinner Platte, tells them that his Grandfather was named Dinner and his Great Grandfather Diner, and his great great grandfather, Din, and that’s as far as it goes. Rinn asks what his Grandfather did for a living, and Dinner tells them that he hunted exotic animals, and he did not wish to do that so he started his own business protecting them. The party heads back towards the tavern to go to sleep for the night.
Back in the tavern, Marcus has successfully bathed in a basin at the back of the space, refreshingly cool. Marcus walks towards Cpt. Emmerick and thanks him for never having given up, despite Marcus being close to doing so himself. Cpt. Emmerick says that he doesn’t have the luxury of giving up, generally speaking and that there are times he has wanted to give up, not on Marcus, but with all of this horrible situation. Marcus says that we all wish to give up at times, but that we must rely on the strength of our companions and friends and move forward. Cpt. Emmerick says that he pays Benjamin so much mind because he is something, someone, to work on during all of this darkness and that he deserves a chance to change and be better with a better situation. Marcus says that he understands him, in the sense that he knows the sensation of not allowing yourself to give into overwhelming complicated thoughts, and to just be frivolous to hide the pain, and that there is peace it that. Cpt. Emmerick nods, agreeing that it is true and that there is simplicity in it, and that when you can’t do anything about it, it is sometimes better to not think on it at all, and clear your mind, that tomorrow’s actions are not the thoughts of today.
Marcus thanks Cpt. Emmerick for all that he has done and all that he will do, and that he hopes that Fjordane will thank men like him for their role in the cities salvation and that there may not be a parade, that he is at the heart of it all. Cpt. Emmerick says that he needs no parade, but that he would like to see the dawn, which Marcus agrees. He tells him that Marcus is saving a great many people by following in his fathers footsteps, and that he does so despite all of the tragedy and loss, and that he would have understood if Marcus had not turned out the way that he is now. Marcus tells him that he inherited his fathers fervor and his mothers prudence.
Cpt. Emmerick says that he isn’t certain if there is a beyond but if there is, that his parents are watching down on him and that they would be proud of all that he has done, and that each dawn that rises, a glimmer of that light comes from them. Marcus says that no matter how beaten or broken he is, that he will survive the dusk again, and that he will always stand in reverence of and honor of the name Marcus Shaw, and that one day the name will inspire trust and loyalty in this city again. Cpt Emmerick tells him that he will ensure that even if this older generation of people is too blind to accept the redemption of the name Marcus Shaw, that he will set in motion the next generation to do so with honor, though he won’t be here to see it. Marcus thanks him greatly again, and says that if things for his father had gone better, if he had been raised here, that it would be honorable to have been raised by two great Knights of this city, and though not from birth, he considers Cpt. Emmerick to be family. Cpt. Emmerick echoes this sentiment, and Marcus heads into his room. Cpt. Emmerick says that he will get the two of them a drink and tell him stories of his father and the two of them do so for the next few hours before Marcus falls asleep with a sense of relief and comfort in his mind.
The party prepares the following evening for Mr. Pigeon, Twig, and Shay to head to Jandar’s office, but the rest of the party decides to go as well. Marcus gets disguised with magic as a glorious 7 foot tall voluptuous red dress wearing woman named Victoria who hides his hand axe inside of his disguise with leather strapping, and the party heads out. They make their way towards the Sovereign district, all cloaked up in the shadows while Marcus walks in the center of the street. They come across a very drunk man and Marcus takes the key to the mans room secretly, and sends him on his way to get drinks, stumbling, and they all leave.
They end up in the alley across from Jandar’s office and Marcus walks towards the two guards to distract them, tripping on the way and they catch Marcus and help him up, before nervously looking up at Marcus’s towering feminine figure. Marcus tells them there is a criminal in the alley nearby that accosted him and convinces one of the guards to take a look. As Marcus leads the one guard towards the alley, the party darts across the street next to the building and begins ascending, Mr. Pigeon and Twig walking up the walls and then dropping a rope back down.
Marcus and the guard don’t find a criminal there, but Marcus convinces the guard (along with the other guard at the door) to come back to the Frivolous Fox Inn, telling them that the criminal dropped a key before running off. They semi-reluctantly and nervously agree after telling 2 of the other street guards where they are going. They walk arm in arm with Marcus towards the front of the city.
Up on the roof, the remainder of the party surprises the single guard up above, as Dandelion eldritch blasts the door open loudly. The guard drops both sword and lantern and Mr. Pigeon tries to catch them, but cuts his hand on the blade and sends the lantern cascading down below, crashing on the ground. They kill the guard as another approaches below towards the source of the sound. Shay yells down that they dropped their lantern but have another, and the guard tells them to come see him after the shift but that he is lucky a fire wasn’t started. The party enters Jandar’s office. Shay skirts the outsides of the room, reminding by Rinn of the symbol above. He doesn’t find much on the desk, aside from the seeds and symbol within the desk drawer Mr. Pigeon had indicated before. He takes all of the seeds and scatters them and scratches the symbol with a dagger, carving an ornate W into it and taking the drawer.
Mr. Pigeon finds a coded book inside of another while searching for information about Benajmin Mae’s mother and the goings on in Greenridge and begins throwing books off the shelf and shake them to try to find things inside.
Rinn searches for magical books and books on casting, finding nothing of the sort which strikes Rinn as extremely odd, as Jandar is a caster and clearly a very talented magic wielder.
Dandelion finds a small music box with two small blue gems inside, which Dandelion takes. She cranks the music box and a twinkling sound comes out that Dandelion vaguely recognizes but she isn’t sure as to why she does, a dejavu feeling.
Twig thumbs through some of the larger containers and finds bins of different clothing and things of that nature, taking one of the festival masks alongside all of the pieces of an animal themed chess set, throwing the board away. Inside of the chess board, a small black journal falls out and inside are various descriptions of a relic that lives somewhere within the city of Greymoor, mirroring the legend of the demon that lives beneath the city. It includes journal entries about people that had been tortured for information over the course of a few years, and on the final page of the journal, a name scrawled, circled and underlined, “Malonna”.
Shay walks downstairs, Twig takes all of the clothing and puts on a half rabbit face festival mask and hands a clown mask to Mr. Pigeon. The 3 of them head downstairs, setting down the smaller dynamite which will silently explode and consume the rubble within, which it does just that. Twig goes back upstairs and tells Rinn to use the special dynamite, as they fix it to the ceiling with the very long wick. They light it and sprint downstairs, darting across the alleyway as the building explodes behind them.
Across the city while this is all happening, Marcus leads the two men to the Frivolous Fox Inn, heading inside and leading them to the room. They all 3 head inside and begin searching, not finding much. Marcus feigns finding a crowbar in a pile of clothes and with extremely damsel in distress over the top acting, convinces them to keep searching more, heading back out into the hallway and downstairs to grab ale. As he leaves, he sets a small bell and string over the bottom of the door so it would ring when the door was opened. He comes back upstairs and as the bell rings, falling, throws one of the ales all over his front yelling OH DEAR. The guards rush over to assist, Marcus telling them that he purchased some ale for them, telling them it will be quick, and leading them back towards the room. Marcus seduces the guards further, telling them to close the door after they literally take a glass of ale from between his legs. Marcus puts the lantern light out saying “the bed is there” as the guards move towards the bed, taking their armor off. Marcus puts his back to the door as the guards are on the other side of the room, channeling divinity for conquering Prescence yelling “you fools, you have fallen victim to Victoria, Queen of the Damned!”. The guards are terrified and Marcus dips out of the room, casting thunderous smite on an object behind him, causing a crack of thunder that booms 300 feet out, locking the door with a lock and key, as the guards scramble inside to try and escape in the darkness.
The rest of the party meets back up with Marcus in the tavern and discuss the evenings successes. They discuss the things they found, the gems, the small coded book that Mr. Pigeon found. Shay takes it and looks through it. The book talks about information about what is going on in Greenridge, that Benjamin Mae’s father has been killed, that his mother has been blackmailed into running the family business and is being watched. There are notes that indicate that they have not yet found what they were searching for in the mine, but that there was a passage of interest that they will be investigating soon. It also appears that Jandar is acting on his own accord, there is a name inside “Jasper Cole” that is running things in Greenridge, and he also recognizes a different name, though does not tell the party this.
Twig shows them each of the chess pieces individually as well as all of the clothing, before taking out the small black book containing the information about the demon beneath the city and the relic it guards. Rinn detects magic and finds one of the chess pieces (the White King) that has a swivel-able head. When symbols are lined up, it casts the spell Arcane Eye. Marcus teaches Twig & Dandelion how to play chess, noticing that one of each of the colored pawns have the initials MS and BM on them. Marcus is happy to have what appears to be his father’s old chess set back, as Twig says “This pieces name is Chad”, referring to the one with his initials.
The party rests and heads the following evening to the Archives to enter the dungeon beneath. As they make their way inside and beneath the statue, it leads them down through a cave-like system, to a large stone door with a snake head for the door knocker, with glowing orange gem eyes. Dandelion takes the blue gems and replaces the orange ones. The door slides open with a large scraping sound of stone against stone. Inside, they see a large space and a door on the far side of the room across a set of large stone panels. To the one side, they see a lifeless heap of metal and wires that Shay and Dandelion recognize as a very beat up Warforged. As they approach, the figure spins to life, its eyes glowing, casting a blue light from it. The party sees a beautiful lake-like garden with clear crystal waters, and small glowing flowers floating on lillypads as an older halfling man stands humming to himself, fixing something. He stands back and looks at them, smiling. “Sentry! That’s a good name for you. A beautiful soul. Now I need you to remember this, its important”. The vision scrambles and then cuts to him reciting the poem about the Flame-Eyed One. “You’re going to do great. It might be a long time, but we’ll see each other again. Good luck”. The warforged sputters out, stuttering on its own words “Walter, plans complete. Protected. Relic.”
The eyes fade and a glowing blue orb flows up into the ceiling above them as the warforged slumps further into the ground, lifeless. As the party stands processing what they saw, Twig begins to glow and her tattoos unravel from her, laying into cave paintings scratched into the far wall. As it completes, another vision appears, describing what appears to be the history, life, and tragedy of the Flame-Eyed One, the demon that attacked Greymoor, an elven woman from long ago.