Session 45

Seek And You Will Find

After their meeting with Korra the group pondered on what their next move should be. Still concerned, Aragir asked Delbellis if the was sure about wanting to join the researcher to Avalon, and asked her to think it through some more. After Delbellis assured him that she would, he asked her if she remembered how she had previously obtained the old scroll she was carrying. She explained that she had found a hatch in the library, and that she got help from her friend Nyx. At the time she was only able to take one, and grabbed the scroll she felt was the right one. She recommended they involve her friend in their plans again, and after they discussed more of the requirements they proceeded to the training grounds.

Here they found Fayed de Dûn, an old dwarven monk and healer who used to train and take care of Delbellis from when she was very young. He appeared to be instructing a young tiefling girl with fiery blue eyes who was standing next to him, patiently correcting her kata as she tried to copy his movements with increasing intensity. The two were happy to see their old friend back, and after a playful exchange Fayed left Nyx to speak with the group for a bit longer.

Together they discussed their plan for obtaining the remaining information on the scrolls under the library, and decided upon creating a distraction on the plaza so that Aragir could send an Arcane Eye and his familiar into the hatch.

For him to obtain as much information as possible in the limited time they would have, they would need one of Delbellis’ Keen Mind potions. The ingredients for this cocktail could be found in a place called the Old Hunter pub, though as it was a place that served alcohol they would have to find a way to allow Nyx to enter first. To achieve this, Nyx suggested that Cynic played the role of her father.

Before the group left for the pub Cynic quickly approached Fayed, and asked him about how to look after children, as well as how to go about Delbellis’ plans to leave the party. The instructor told him that although it was not possible to convince his aaracokra friend to do anything she didn’t want to do, perhaps it was instead a good idea to give her something to remember them by, and remind her of what was important.

In order to help their plan, Nyx was given the Sword of Vengeance to alter her appearance, though she decided to follow her own plans instead. With the appearance of a firbolg, she managed to convince the barman at the pub that she was in fact an adult. The group was given a round of Garden Ports while Delbellis and Aragir bought potions and ingredients. With some of them somewhat inebriated the group then left to execute their plan.

While Delbellis and Cynic held a mock battle on the plaza, a slightly drunk Nyx serving as their referee, Aragir and Loxen went inside the library. Loxen managed to distract the monk guards with a grand tale of how her father obtained a dragon tooth, while Aragir attempted to open the hatch. Though it was not as inconspicuous as he hoped, he managed to play it off as an honest mistake when the guards’ attention was drawn to him.

Down the hatch, he discovered there were two ancient scrolls on the wall, as well as a tapestry. In ancient aaracokran language, the scrolls spoke of the Illumus Lux;

The Seeing Eye of Illumus Lux paves the way for Answers When the gaze of the Titans diminishes, the godless world may brighten once more Our endless souls will brighten, and may the Illumus Lux illuminate the darkness away before reaching the Next.

Beyond the Green Earth, away from the sun, the realm of the Next remains unseen. When kin may be vanquished in life, it is here the forgiven will depart to though the damned will fall/fade away when judged.

The tapestry depicted a trade between peoples, mostly elves and aaracokra trading goods and information, though it was difficult to discern from what time period it came. The other scrolls mainly seemed to be about the history of Elderwalk. Through his familiar Aragir attempted to view one of them, though after a near-fail he decided to count his blessings and dismiss the owl.

When he and Loxen left the library, they found the mock battle had not yet ended. The two decided to take a little bet, which Aragir won when Cynic made his finishing move. While Cynic’s ego was visibly boosted by his victory, Delbellis took her chance to promote his upcoming guild for the captivated audience.

Nyx was then regarded a member of the Feathers, and Delbellis was once again asked whether she wanted to stay with the party. After some more deliberation she decided that she had to follow her instincts and find out more about what was going on in Avalon. Her master Kira, overhearing the conversation, decided to join her. Although she was less than pleased she would have to be traveling with the ‘mad scientist’ Korra.

After this the sorcerer decided to give her a necklace that he had once raided in his days as a pirate, as a keepsake while she was away from the party. As the group’s interest was piqued, he promised to tell his story around the campfire sometime soon.

To make the most of their last day together, the group decided to go sightseeing around Elderwalk before meeting up with Fayed for dinner. They went to the marketplace first, where they bought signet rings in several colours, each bearing the symbol of a feather, to commemorate the Four Feathers and any that would join them. For the original four, they had the words ‘Founding Feathers’ inscribed in Elvish, Proto Aaracokran, Primordial and Celestial.

After this, to witness the sunset, they went to the outlook of the village; a large sculpture in the form of a hand high above the establishment. Though the view was phenomenal, Aragir could not help but remember the bridge and their descent from the Academy, and cautiously stayed away from the edges. Delbellis then recalled a challenge called the “Height Medicine Trial” in which one would have to walk to the tip of each of the sculpture’s fingers to overcome their fear of heights. If they succeeded, they would receive the blessings of Ilmater, the monks’ primary deity.

With some encouragement from the group the wizard decided to carefully give it a try, though to their regret a gust of wind was all that was needed to have him grasp the ground beneath him and slowly back away from the edges again. But Loxen had not given up hope yet, and continued to encourage him.

As Aragir was trying to get ready to give it another try, the group was addressed by a group of thugs that approached them from behind. They quickly called out for Cynic, and it became clear that they were members of The Getaways looking for retribution. Claiming to own Elderwalk, they all drew out their weapons.

It appeared a fight was inevitable…

January 5th, 2024

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