User blog:MMetzner/Session 8 - The Ring


 * as Ronan woke up, she felt a pulsing on her hand, and heard the words "Helloo, is somebody wearing my ring?" Ronan found out that the soul of a tortle named Doya of Clan Tengo inhabited the ring, and had been trapped in there since the year 80SD. Doya wanted to know if the battle with the steelskins was over and if they had won, to which Ronan said that they had. Doya said that if he was killed in the battle, he would be transported into the ring, where one of the village elders could bring him back.
 * Ronan discovered that while wearing the ring, Doya could see through her eyes. She also found out that Doya was from the island of Kai Po . When Ronan showed Doya a map to try to determine where Kai Po might be, he was immediately drawn to the date in the bottom corner. Now extremely confused, he repeatadly asked "Why?"
 * The Guardians met in the main room of the Sleeping Stag, meeting back up with Farrus who had slept in isolation at the Guardians Tower the previous night.
 * Ronan went to visit Mannaphi in his tower. she asked questions about the ring. Mannaphi told her that if there was a soul in the ring, then the bones of the inhabitant must still be intact. When Ronan asked if he had heard the term 'Steelskins' pertaining to Hogstone history, to which Mannaphi replied that much of the older history of Hogstone had been lost to time. Mannaphi had also not heard of any island named Kai Po.
 * Ronan attempted to instigate a conversation between Doya and Mannaphi, but while only Ronan could hear Doya, conversation proved difficult. Mannaphi borrowed Ronans map, showing it to Doya who asked why all the names were different, and specifically why his island of Kai Po was now named Kyratown . Ronan told him that it was just due to language differences.
 * Mannaphi, remembering his history, noted that in the year 80 Queen Kyra ruled Hogstone, and recounted that in those years, the Hogstone Kings and Queens tamed the islands surrounding Hogstone of vicious beasts and monsters to make living space for the burgeoning population of Hogstone.
 * Meanwhile, Farrus went to visit Jussi at his workshop to apologise for attacking him the previous day. Jussi accepted the apology, and gave Farrus the arrowheads that he had been working on for him.
 * Back at the Stag, Kyanna and Maiya had a conversation about morality, about how to know what the right thing to do is. Kyanna seemed disillusioned by having not completed more of her Megalos Ergo, while Maiya explained that doing good was about putting others first, and that in that sense they were doing good.
 * The Guardians continued their plan for improving the quality of the taxidermy of the sea monster they had given to Symond.
 * With everyone converged at the Sleeping Stag, Ronan told the group about Doya, his history, and the ring. They discussed their next steps, including trying to find the bones of Doya, trying to procure a spellbook for Mannaphi.
 * Next they discussed potential names for their new ship, settling on The Proud Pelt. Farrus then went to help with the repairs on the castle gate, while Maiya went to visit Goreg.
 * At Merchant's Wharf, Thyra gave Maiya some papers she had made promoting her new stall, asking her to spread them around when the Guardians visited new lands, she also mentioned teaching Goreg some customer service skills. Thyra mentioned having contacts on Sailor's Wyk to help her get more supplies in. Maiya purchased some Potions of Healing. Upon visiting Goreg, she saw that the half-orc merchant had taken Thyra's customer service tips to heart, and updated the name of his shop to the BUY FRUIT WHEN LIKE SHOP. Maiya bought some red apples from him.Goreg asked where he could live now, pointing to the ground where he had slept the previous night. Maiya promised to help Goreg, giving up her room at the Sleeping Stag so he could stay there, and paying his first week of lodging.
 * Meanwhile Ronan, Farrus and Kyanna visited the Hall of Beasts, where they attempted to improve the quality of the sea-creature exhibit. After building a circular plinth to place it upon Symond was satisfied, paying them the outstanding 250 gold pieces.
 * As this was going on, Gauner walked down to the docks and boarded the Proud Pelt. He began cleaning the decks.
 * The group decided to visit the docks area to find Gauner. As they approached the Crossroads, Farrus saw the Sleeping Stag ablaze, with fire engulfing the whole building although looking at it, none of the other Guardians could see it. Although Farrus did not act on his vision, he had a new impulse as the group walked towards the docks.
 * As they reached the Proud Pelt, Farrus drew his sword and attacked Gauner to the shock and horror of the rest of the Guardians. Out of pure instinct the tiefling boy cast Hellish Rebuke, damaging the frenzied blood hunter.
 * The rest of the Guardians took to the fight, as Farrus drew his deadly bow. His deadly accuracy downed Gauner, almost knocking him unconcious. Maiya, unfurling her wings attempted to pull Farrus off the ship and into the water, but Farrus managed to shrug her off. Gauner escaped the crazed Farrus by diving into the water and hiding.
 * Ronan fired a shot of necrotic energy from her weapon, hitting Farrus hard before Kyanna protected Gauner further by turning him invisible.
 * Not being able to see Gauner, a confused and angered Farrus turned to Ronan, unleashing a destructive shot from his bow that pierced the pirate's armor and knocked her unconcious. He then drank one of the potions of healing given to him by Maiya.
 * Revived by Kyanna, Ronan stood, picking her weapon back off the floor and firing directly at Farrus, knocking him out instantly. Maiya immediately tied the Blood Hunter up, before dragging him off of the ship and into the nearby warehouse.
 * The Guardians woke Farrus up. Similarly to the incident with Jussi, Farrus didn't remember a thing after his false vision of the burning inn. After some prompting, Farrus asked everyone to gather, and began to tell the story of his past, how he had been born Asger Von Hagen Fulgrim in snowy Windhelm in the Kingdom of Hale, and how after fighting in a 12 year civil war against neighbouring Roul he was ambushed. Rescued from the battlefield but subjected to torture and terrible chemical and biological testing by a hag named Beezor Rotthorn , Farrus escaped and burned her house to the ground while she was asleep inside, or so he thought. He permanantly took the name Farrus, in honour of his fallen friend.
 * The Guardians discussed ways to protect themselves from further incidents with Farrus, agreeing that in the future they would use the codeword call and response 'BUY FRUIT' and 'WHEN LIKE'.
 * Helena knocked on the warehouse door, passing on a message that Mannaphi had asked to see Farrus. Maiya suggested that the group go together, and Farrus accepted.
 * Farrus explained to Mannaphi what had happened at the docks. Mannaphi described to the Guardians some theories he had found from his research, that there were potentially two ways Rotthorn could be altering Farrus' perceptions, either she was close by, usingtraditional magic, or she could be in possession of a Heart Stone, which would allow her to be manipulating his reality from the ethereal plane. He warned that if this was the case, then Rotthorn had become incredibly powerful. He also detailed a few spells that might protect Farrus from the mind affecting curses of the hag.
 * Leaving the Mage's tower, the Guardians walked to the Sleeping Stag, where they checked that Goreg had successfully found his way there. Britta  told them that he had, and had sold them some fruit. While most of the Guardians enjoyed roasted goat, Farrus went to the grave of Karkuro. Suspicious of the fallen cleric's dark magic, and paranoid about the events surrounding Rotthorn, Farrus wanted to make sure there were no signs of necrotic activity around the grave.
 * Back at the Sleeping Stag, the Guardians attempted to set up business between Britta and Helena, Goreg  and Thyra  to use the now hefty surplus of apples on the island in different ways, baking apple pies and crumbles. The parties all sounded interested.
 * Ronan walked down to the docks alone to communicate with Doya again, finding out that he was a tortle. Ronan explained to Doya that the world had changed since the battle in which he was killed. She told him that she wanted to explain everything to him but that she wanted all the answers first. She then looked into the water's reflection so that Doya could see her face. The pirate promised Doya that they would help him. The pair sat and stared into the water silently.
 * When Kyanna and Gauner decided to head to bed, Maiya left the Sleeping Stag to sit out on a grassy ridge. Looking up to the stars, looking for a connection but feeling a fool, she asked aloud "Hello?" Going on to ask for a message that could help explain the visions and voices she had been seeing and hearing, something less cryptic. Maiya was shown the same vision that she experienced recentlly, of a longship clouded in black smoke with closed eyes on the sails, a tornado of red smoke and then the eyes opening again.
 * With this, the Guardians all independently went to sleep, Ronan still outside by the docks.

Day 10 - September 25th 420
 * While the rest of the Guardians woke to the smell of fried fish supplied by Maiya. Ronan awoke to the sounds of a boat coming in. Ronan immediately recognised Claus, and a man that Ronan vagulely remembered from Errykburgh . The men were keen to take up the offer of living on Hogstone. Ronan explained that while there was still a shortage of houses, there were rooms at the inn and that they might be able to help them out at first.
 * Suddenly Ronan felt a strange sense that the men were there to hurt her. To Claus' shock Ronan pulled her weapon on him. Claus tried to reassure the pirate, asking if they had permission to dock. Ronan cast Phantasmal Force, creating an illusion of a giant kraken just out to sea. With Claus distracted by the sea-beast, Ronan turned and ran back towards the tower. When she was within 100 feet of the tower, Ronan commanded Algie to rouse the Guardians, flailing around and gaina the attention of Kyanna before running towards Ronan.
 * Ronan returned to Claus . With the phantasmal force now broken he was incredibly confused, his companions Dandeon and Oleon  had not seen the beast, and were equally as confused. Ronan sent a telepathic message to the rest of the group, explaining that she had a strange feeling about the men.
 * Kyanna cast Detect Magic, seeing a glow around Ronan, herself and the magical items the party had on them, but the men themselves showed no traces of magic.
 * Dandeon and Oleon could be overheard saying that they were feeling a little unwelcome, Maiya tried to put them at ease, and explained that they would get free accomodation and a tax break if they helped to construct some houses. They were initially skeptical as they were led to believe there would be homes for them already, but after being told of the Sleeping Stag they were more enthused. As the new inhabitants parted company with the Guardians to head to the Hall of Beasts, Ronan still felt uneasy. Perceptively thinking that this feeling might be something to do with Doya's Ring, she took it off, immediately losing the feeling of paranoia she had. She telepathically told the rest of the Guardians that the danger she had alerted them to had been a false alarm. She also explained to the group that Doya was a tortle.
 * The Guardians discussed the history of Hogstone and Doya's fate, proposing that while they couldn't change history, and would not blame current inhabitants of Hogstone, that they would not condone the practices. Ronan went so far as to suggest that she may not want to represent Hogstone as a Guardian. Maiya pointed out that while they had been on the exclusively human Hogstone, nobody had seemed surprised by, or hostile to their group which contained an elf, tiefling, aasimar and Kalashtar.