|
Having the evening in Ephremon, the group pursued their own interests. Evangeline worked on and finished TTC and then proceeded to interrupt Fix, who was working on forging obtainium parts for another TTC. Forsythe lifted a pouch from a nicely dressed elf, then followed him to the upper level and while there he overheard some conversation about the dangers in the eastern forest. He proposed that he and his comrades could possibly help with this and was invited to that evening's council.
Kadath sought out some elders to learn more about the Falgreen and found his way to the library. In the library, Kadath found the same information about the Falgreen as was told to him by the elder, Genlan. Across many books, it only mentions her as a goddess who brings luck and safety to the people. She aided them in building the city and would warn them if a tree was to fall (except the most recent one about 100 years ago). Climbing higher in the library, Kadath found the older books. One that grabbed his attention was titled "Those They Missed". Inside it mentioned that the gods each went their separate ways, Malar going to the forest. No other gods were mentioned, but the information about Malar was that he was a trickster with bestial savagery and bloodlust. He often brought about chaos. As Kadath looked through newer books, less mentions of Malar appeared, and were soon replaced entirely by the Falgreen. Forsythe found Fix and Evangeline, and explained the possibility of getting a job. Together, they headed to the Cloud Tree for the meeting. Kadath joined them on the way and they soon found themselves before the council. High Elder Farven, who Forsythe had spoken with, received approval of the idea from a fellow elder and Mistress Zybella, telepathically, negotiated the payment of 6500 gold and a date with Fix upon completion of the task. Farven then called forth Juric to guide the group to the location. The next morning Forsythe found an older woman who had previously dealt with what was called broken hounds. She described them and let him know they were more dangerous if they were in packs. Taking note of this, he rejoined the group and they set off to the east, following Juric. During their trek, a Juriskar was heard approaching, but Forsythe managed to scare it away using some fly-by tactics in his eagle form. On day five, they reached the edge of the swamp where they saw the hint of red within the water.
0 Comments
The group went to the Trentson estate where Fix, with Kadath, finds his mother in her office. He showed his mother the pendant of the Jagged Dream he had made for Gavyn. With her approval, he left to find Gavyn. Evangeline wandered the house until seeing Fix head to Gavyn's room and joined him. Inside, Gavyn was given a cut of the auction profits and the pendant, which he immediately put on. As they headed out, Evangeline also gave him some gold, giving him a wink as she left. After waiving down Forsythe, who was practicing a new wild shape, the group headed to Finnel's again. Finnel agreed to teleport the group to Thriest and without much warning, he tapped his cane upon the carpet and they went.
In Thriest, they went to the Order of Balance where they met Trinaster, a paladin of the Raven Queen who had just returned from the Beyond and then they sought out Erwin, finding him with Tatra in a study room. Kadath filled in Erwin with everything except the fortune told to Fix. Tatra reminded Kadath that the storm was coming, and looked at Forsythe when telling them once again to make their acts be neigh. A bit of time passed as they conversed when Tatra called out that the Fates were gray. Fix then took the replica deck and found the fate card. It had indeed changed, giving the party three unfinished cards. As they discuss which to search after first, Tatra tells them Giselle is as wise as she is old, leading them to stick to the original plan...to the swamp for the sun card. They are offered rooms for the night and in the morning Erwin would teleport them to Ephremon, a city in the trees. The next morning they teleported to Ephremon and, once there, Kadath learns that they liked Erwin when he visited even though he was not a believer of the Falgreen. They were directed to the Owl's Nest, where most visitors are sent, and inside they spoke with the barkeep. He was quite happy to share about the city and his life, disclosing the ancient blood that runs in his people. He also stated that strange dogs, ridden by strange men, have recently been reported coming out of the swamp, few returned after such an encounter, and no one ventures that far east anymore. After some inquiry, he introduced them to Juric who agreed to guide them through the Ba-Adenu forest to the edge of the swamp. As the bidding closed, the rogue that had been watching left the Gryphon. Forsythe then left with Evangeline still invisible behind him, ducked into an ally, changed into a dwarf, then moved onward toward the Trentson estate. Fix and Kadath left the tavern, followed by the fighter that had been watching, and after a few turns, confronted him. The fighter divulged that he had been hired by Jinik Reprut to confirm if Fix was involved in the auction. Fix told him he had no knowledge of any auction and sent the fighter on his way. Forsythe, who had begun to head toward Fix and Kadath, switched into an eagle and followed the fighter. He saw that he met up with the rogue figure from earlier and decided to switch targets and continued to follow the rogue until he went into the lower level of Qi.
Forsythe switched back into a dwarf and continued his pursuit of the rogue until he lost him in a warehouse and could not find the hidden door in the abandoned office. Kadath joined him and, through some inquiry, they met up with Gavyn who showed them the “back door” into the underbelly of the city. They traveled to a large meeting room and found the rogue sitting at a table with a drink in his hand. Gavyn confirmed, based on his own experience, the two were most likely hired to see who was behind the auction. The rogue probably tried to follow the lady taking the bids, and the fighter to follow Kofic to see if the Trentsons were involved. With this information, Kadath and Forsythe decided to leave this alone and went back to meet up with Fix and Evangeline. The group then headed to the Trentson home and reviewed the bids. After a bit of discussion, they decided that Strulduk would be the winner of the auction and that they would deliver the painting in person. Following this, they burned all other bids. Not wanting the Order of Truth to know their business, Fix asked Gavyn for an alternate means of teleportation. He gave directions to Finnel, an elderly man and the brother of Giselle, who teleported the group to Charmonde where they arrived on a bridge above the Jerribost River. They quickly gathered their bearings and headed to Stulduk’s estate. The guards recognized Fix, Kadath, and Evangeline and welcomed them inside despite the late hour, and saw them to the sitting room. Some time later, Strulduk came and welcomed them and, after learning of his win, he placed the painting in his main hall where he promised to tease Gaera about it. He then offered the group lodging for the evening, which they accepted, and then went to bed. The group dispersed into their rooms. Once in their rooms Evangeline portioned out the payment and discussed Gavyn’s cut. Fix worked his forge to make a Jagged Dream pendant out of obtainium. The rest then went to sleep in the eerily quiet house. The next morning, Stulduk was already eating breakfast when the rest came into the room. They discussed their need to return to Qi and Strulduk let the group know he could do so, but to keep this knowledge to themselves. When they passed through the library to reach the circle to be teleported, several of the group found books that they were interested in. Stulduk allowed them to borrow the books, knowing that, in time, they would return them. He then sent them to Qi, just outside of the upper district. Forsythe, having been left in Thriest, did a few odd jobs for Silvia. Upon being asked about the snowflake pendant, he requested to deliver it personally. He was sent to Bodrov where he found Isabella Harak at the Shattered Window. There, he negotiated a higher price and left her with the nasty taste of ale to reminder of the deal. He then returned to Thriest to rest. In the morning, he teleported to Qi to meet up with the rest of the group.
Fix, Evangeline, and Kadath kept conversation light at dinner with Dolren, but once they began to retire to rest, Evangeline gathered them in Kadath’s room. Upon inspecting the cards, they saw what appeared to be Gaera on the ruin card. Fix suggested visiting a seer in Qi that evening and directed them to the southern portion to Madame Giselle. Once inside Madam Giselle’s, Evangeline and Kadath (through their various means) discovered an imp in one corner and a scrying like orb permanently affixed in another corner. After 15 minutes, an elderly woman, hunched and walking with a cane, shuffled into the room. Showing her the finished cards, she informed them that these specific decks were once magical, made by powerful mages in the 2nd or 3rd age. She produced a replica deck to show them. Evangeline was able to determine the clouded card was actually the sun card. The two unfinished cards were then placed upon the table face down where Giselle took a moment with each. Pulling back from the ruin card as if bit, but the other was more pleasant. She informed them to do that one first. She allowed them to take the replica deck on loan. Before leaving, Evangeline asked for her fortune. Giselle pulled out her own deck, shuffled, and drew three cards: Justice, Emperor (upside down), and Priestess. Briefly she stated that justice would be wielded, but not by Evangeline, where it will kill the hidden ruler. Evangeline would aid in restoring the balance. Fix then also asked for a reading on his own ambitions. Giselle shuffled and pulled three more cards: Four of Cups (upside down), Five of Swords, and Fool. Briefly she stated that the family was going to go through some distress causing things to be flipped, but the swords showed support. Three swords crossed will come out as leaders, the other two major supporters. The fool would also be a support, however hidden as they only look a fool. They return to the Trentson home and rest. At breakfast, most of the family had returned. Once all had departed, Gavyn spoke with the group regarding the auction to take place. All was set at the Gryphon for that evening. As the group began to disperse to take care of any business beforehand, Fix asked his mother about the armor being delivered. A bit later, Evangeline thanked her for the room she was given (giving a bit of information about her shifting situation). They then met up with Forsythe and gave him the plan. When the time came, Forsythe (in his elvin female form) came into the tavern with Evangeline, invisible, behind him. Gavyn confirmed he was the one to take the bids before making rounds at the tavern. Several messengers came in with envelopes to hand to Forsythe. He took a moment to sift through the bids and burned any that were too low, saving only the ones with serious offers. Kadath and Fix came into the tavern a bit later and watched the crowd, spotting two men also watching the bidding. |
AuthorDungeons & Dad Jokes Archives
April 2025
Got a question? Ask our lore keeper.
|
RSS Feed