Session 54
TBA
After all threats had finally been eliminated and things had quieted down in Diremound, the Four Feathers, as well as the remaining members of the Conquest Chamber were left to wonder how they could best take care of the now stranded refugees.
Loxen figured that it would be best to make camp with whatever materials they could find in the ruined and dilapidated town. While Aragir tended to his brothers and Cynic was left to mourn his now sunken Scylla, she eventually managed to get the masses on their feet to march back towards where the Conquest Chamber had previously set up camp. Soul carefully blended into the masses as they made their way away from the harbour to observe those around her, while Yandu’s men were seen moving into dark alleys and corners to take care of any remaining ghouls or threats.
On the way, Aragir remembered that the library was still in pristine condition and wondered if perhaps with some convincing Darius would allow them to house the most vulnerable there for the time being. While persuasion was not Aragir’s strong suit, Cynic and Loxen quickly helped turn the conversation and helped convince the old Earth Genasi to let some people in if Aragir helped him clear out the old basement.
Before the two left to do their work, Cynic asked Darius about the Blood Knights, and he showed him the map he’d found on the Scylla. The elderly man then showed him an old book, and explained that the Blood Knights were somewhat of a legend. A small group not hailing from the Eastern Kingdoms but Esuna, where they were responsible for relentless violence and killings. The book depicted a demonic knight clad in red and covered in spikes, with a blade as large as its entire body, and a helmet covered in blood. Not much more could be said about them, as they had been reduced to mere rumors in the region.
When the basement had been cleared out to be used as an infirmary, Aragir let himself slide down onto the floor. From there he spotted yet another beam of light that shot up from Elkenveil, though this time strangely four figures could be seen in the light, as if the beam had created a rift in the sky. An object was thrown down before the rift closed and the sky looked unaffected yet again. Upon closer inspection, the object seemed to be a mere piece of brick, though it was unlike that of any of the nearby structures. It was slightly cold to the touch, and seemed to be a yellowish grey sandstone as opposed to the dark grey stone bricks of Diremound.
When the makeshift encampment that Loxen, with some help from Soul, had organised was finished, it stretched from the three large spires all the way to streets close to the harbour. The library was standing firm at its center. Darius asked Cynic to lead those who were in need the most inside the building, figuring that the aasimar had the right skills and judgement to do so. After all, with his improvised speech he had managed to lift the crowd’s spirit somewhat while they were waiting before. Meanwhile, the beams of light continued to appear with increasing frequency.
When people were slowly retreating for the night, a seemingly exhausted Aragir carefully approached Loxen, and asked her if she still had energy to spare to cast her healing magic on him. Without too much elaboration, he explained to her that an old affliction made it hard for him to breathe, which is why he would often try to not overexert himself. To his luck, her Lesser Restoration spell seemed to have done the trick, and although he was still tired from the eventful day he moved with some increased vigor to lead Loxen and the others to his brothers for a proper introduction.
On the way back to the library, Cynic asked how Aragir was doing, and in return the wizard apologised for sinking the Scylla. He asked what Captain Redeye meant to him, though Cynic told him they were never as close as he was with his current team members. When asked whether he had met Redeye after the pirate attack in his past, he said that he needed to survive and the captain happened to appear at the wrong time.
Soul asked whether Redeye was already undead back then, but Cynic assured her that he was not. He could not tell when this change could have happened.
Soul then mentioned the stone that was in the old man’s head, and Aragir explained that it was a Saffron Stone, and that it had seemingly taken control of the captain.
Cynic then promised he would tell the others more about the Rattlers later before the group continued their way into the library.
Once inside, the group finally met up with Aragir’s brothers. Though Druindar seemed confused about why Aragir had traveled to Diremound to begin with, he eventually calmed down and thanked the group for helping them. Loxen excitedly asked the brothers about the family, their own adventuring stories, and why Aragir left the Scarlet Academy.
Erevan was more than happy to oblige, and quickly told Loxen about his adventures and achievements in Avalon, showing off some of his badges and medals.
The conversation progressed into their origins. Their place of birth was a small town somewhat to the south of the main continent of Esuna called Illerius, known for its harbor nearby, where their father still lived. Aragir admitted that he did not often keep track of what exactly kept his father busy, and immediately asked after their younger sister Gaelil.
Erevan explained that she continued to travel the world in aid of the sick and that she was trying to find a cure for an illness that plagued the world.
Loxen then asked if they had more siblings, but Aragir reassured her that it was just the four of them; Druindar, Aragir, Erevan and Gaelira from eldest to youngest.
Aragir then explained that elves commonly have a childhood name that is separate from those they choose in adulthood, which is of a more spiritual kind and can vary depending on the individual. After some pressing he reluctantly admitted that his own childhood name was Ara, though he reiterated that it was uncommon for anyone outside of the family to use it and that it would make him uncomfortable if they did.
The group eventually left the library and settled down in a tent Loxen had prepared for them; For what she had on hand it looked surprisingly cozy still. Aragir sat down to offer the others some of the various spirits he had on hand, while Loxen asked Erevan to join her to catch some fish for the group.
On their way back to the harbour, Loxen briefly asked the younger brother about their elven longevity, and whether this made it difficult for them to share time with other, shorter lived, races. Erevan didn’t seem too bothered by it, expressing that the more important thing was the journey he made and how much of the world he would see throughout his life. Loxen tried to encourage him to spend more time with Aragir, though Erevan seemed convinced that everything was fine the way it was already.
With help of Loxen’s Thunderous Smite the two managed to incapacitate a bunch of fish, which they then swiftly took out of the water to the best of their ability. On their way back they handed out some fish to the refugees and Yandu’s troops until they reached their tent, where they prepared them on the fire at the center with help of some herbs from the stash Delbellis had left behind.
After their meal Cynic decided to make another visit to Darius, and tried to convince him to turn the library into an inn. Though the Genasi was unreceptive at first, he eventually warmed up to the idea. Cynic reiterated that they could work together to boost their profits. He offered him a drink to seal the deal, which seemed to please the old man.
Soul, a bit tipsy from the drinks by now, took some time to write letters in code to her distant colleagues, as well as read through the captain’s logs she had taken from the ship. She found that the Scylla was originally called the ‘Gerrymander’, a merchant ship that captain Redeye had specifically chosen for transportation. With it, they took the mineral Mythalium from the Wavering Isles and brought it to several other locations by order of the Rousso family.
Cynic then returned to the tent, and Soul asked him about his past with, and knowledge about the Rattlers. He explained that the Rattlers used to have several ships, and that Redeye was once the captain but he had lost his position to someone else. This meant that there could yet be another Rattler ship out there. Though according to him, this other captain was not as bad as Redeye was.
Soul tried to get the name of this new captain out of him, but Cynic would only tell her more if she told him more about herself first. She explained that she was interested in going after the Rattlers because the team she was with about three to four years ago had been attacked by the pirates, and that she wanted to destroy them.
Cynic explained that he was no longer with the Rattlers at that point, as he had left over a disagreement. Though he could not get on board with the complete destruction of his old crew, he agreed to help her with those that deserved it as long as she let the good ones go.
As Loxen lay rolled up, ready to sleep, Tempus spoke to her. He commended her bravery and strength, and told her she continued to grow stronger. But then he apologised, and explained to her that in his desire for power he had led her to the armour. While he thought that its strength proved useful to them in their quest to help others, there was something about it; It had a desire of its own. For an exchange of power, he proposed that the dragonborn kill something. Preferably an evil or inconvenient creature. Though he had not yet figured out what exactly was inside this armour, he had felt a sort of fractured conscience in it.
A bit uncertain of Tempus’ convictions, Loxen then asked whether power stood above everything, to which the god replied that it was honour and justice that superseded all, and that power was a mere tool to honour these values.
Once everyone was asleep Aragir cast Tiny Hut around their tent, and then carefully mended Elrune’s journal. Reading through it, he found it chronicled the journey the scientist had made to investigate a land mass to the North of Avalon, past the Misty Channel; A land that was nowadays known as Istros Borealis.
What could have happened there? And why was the son he had addressed in his letter now waiting in Elkenveil…?