User blog:MMetzner/Session 11 - Return to Sailor's Wyk

Recap:

''In the caves of Kyratown the group successfully identified what they believe are the remains of the tortle Doya, and brought them back to Hogstone. Mannaphi told them that although he doesn’t have the power to perform a resurrection, he knows of one being that can, an old Tabaxi life cleric named Gifted Hand, who Mannaphi believes lives on the tabaxi islands to the East. With the spellbook that Inga and Thyra  brought back from Sailor’s Wyk, Mannaphi told the group that he could now discern the location of Gifted Hand’s apprentice, a spice islander named Razza Al Haq , who Mannaphi was friends with, or alternatively they could send short messages. Meanwhile on Sailor’s Wyk, Inga reported that Landon has called for a day of celebration on the 30th September to include feasting, drinking and a pirates craving tournament that Inga is sure is rigged, that begins at the Mutineer tavern with the final being held in Landon Mutt’s mansion. Inga also noted that the Stranger’s Rest Temple had burned to the ground, and that Landon had put word out that it was an accident caused by a brazier catching a rug. Back on Hogstone Maiya opened up both to Mannaphi and to the group about the visions she had been experiencing, and her recurring vision of a closed eye on a Mutt Clan ship, a tornado of red mist and the eye opening again, with a new detail which showed a handshake between a hand adorned with ruby rings, which Manapphi suggested may be King Valon, and an unknown figure armored in black lobstered steel gauntlets. Mannaphi also suggested that it was in no doubt that these messages came from a god, but that gods usually communicate with mortals in one consistent manor, where Maiya had been receiving visions as well as auditory hallucinations. Mannaphi believed that what Maiya was experiencing was not from one god, but two.''


 * The group stood just outside the Mage’s Tower on Hogstone, mid-morning on the 27th September. Maiya was trying to come to terms with the news she had just received from Mannaphi  that she may be receiving visions from two gods. Growing up in a world where religion was scarce, and coming to the Thousand Islands which was much the same, gods were something she had not expected. After discussing their plans for Sailor's Wyk, and deciding to head there in a few days time for the day of celebration despite assuming it was a trap, the group went back into Mannaphi's chambers. Maiya asked the wizard about his friend Razza Al Haq , and if he would be willing to help them find Gifted Hand . Using his new spellbook Mannaphi was able to contact Razza, who telepathically replied instantly with the words "Gifted Hand in hiding, Mutt Clan were looking for him, seeking his help, what do you need?" Maiya called Ronan into the room to help her construct a reply, sending that "There's group on Hogstone helping fight Mutt's, could you come and help, or could we come and get you? Buy fruit when like".
 * Razza replied instantly with "I can help, only in person, pirate activity heavy, find me on Growing Shower, yes, we have plenty of fruit here"
 * After receiving this message, Mannaphi confessed that spellcasting again had made him weary, and asked if they could take a break. The Guardians agreed and began to walk back to the Guardian's Tower, where Jussi caught up with them to let them know that the repairs on the main gate had completed. Jussi planned to start building shacks with help from the four archers between the orchards and Merchant's Wharf.
 * The group began making plans for a return to Sailor's Wyk, centering around watching the Pirate's Craving tournament at The Mutineer before using some form of substance to knock out the eventual winner before taking their place. In attempting to create a poison Kyanna transformed into a giant spider, before being milked for venom.
 * After turning back to Elven form, Kyanna visited Jussi at his workshop, asking him to forge her a spear. Jussi was very accomodating, agreeing to forge one and bring it to her in a day or two. After this she headed to the centre of the island. Sitting on the floor to concentrate, she cast Plant Growth, feeling the vitality in the plants around the island growing increasingly over 8 hours.
 * Ronan transformed Algie into a raven. Gauner bought some additional lockpicks as Ronan bought some incense and herbs.
 * The group spent a few days helping to build 4 shacks on the island.

Day 15 - September 30th, 420

 * The group awakened at sunrise, rested and ready for adventure. Taking to the Proud Pelt they sailed to Sailor's Wyk, taking on new agreed upon identities of Sarah (Kyanna), Marsha (Maiya), Carl Carlson (Gauner), Lenny Leonardson (Farrus) and Dandelion Brandybuck (Ronan). The group landed on the East of the island.
 * The group headed into Trader's Square, which was already busy with people celebrating, indulging in the free food and ale. Suddenly Ronan felt something on her hip, and noticed her map roll containing her Vasco Magelos maps had been stolen, glimpsing a child running away into a nearby alleyway. The group took chase, with Ronan, Farrus, Maiya and Kyanna running straight after the child, while Gauner held back to judge the situation. Farrus attempted to cut the child off at the pass by veering down another alleyway, readying a metal pellet into his sling.  Maiya continued the chase, diving onto the child and knocking them off their feet. The child managed to get back up, evading Maiya's grasping hands, but as the child ran around the next corner, Farrus' sling was ready and waiting, and the hunter's instincts took over, firing the metal pellet directly between the eyes of the oncoming thief. Whether it was the direct shot or the crash of the back of their head on the stone floor that killed her is unknown, but was was certain was that the child was dead.
 * Overcome with guilt the Guardians gathered around the child's lifeless body. Kyanna and Ronan  both attempted spells to heal who they had now identified as a small girl, but as Maiya laid her hands on the child to use her hands to heal the child, the Aasimar suddenly fell backwards, sliding down the wall of the alleyway and seeing a vision of a child encircled in red, surrounded by white hands, drawing the essence of red from the child and leaving them in the glow of a brilliant green.
 * Maiya snapped back into herself, coming face to face with the open eyes and angry, hissing, tongue-less mouth of the child, revealing her to be a girl around the same age as the thief that Maiya and Kyanna had encountered in their room on their first visit to Sailor's Wyk. The girl immediately got up, sprinting into another dark alleyway as the group looked on in astonishment.
 * Farrus and Maiya struggled to come to terms with what had happened. Farrus didn't understand how the girl had lived, and Maiya continued to try and understand her visions and how they had affected the situation. Farrus walked away from the group, heading to a tavern.
 * After the events that had unfolded in the alleyway, the rest of the Guardians decided that they needed a drink too. They headed to The Mutineer tavern. Farrus arrived first, grabbing a drink and finding a dark corner to sit, with the others arriving not long afterwards.
 * As they entered, Maiya looked around the tavern, spotting Farrus in the corner but not seeing any other familiar faces, while Gauner recognised Bryndell, of Bryndell's Boutique , looking through a deck of cards.
 * Ronan talked to Last Orders, the tabaxi bartender at The Mutineer about the Pirate's Craving tournament. Last Orders replied that it had just begun, gesturing towards two players with appearance of pirates, studiously playing Pirate's Craving at a nearby table. Last Orders identified them as Jean-Jacques and Grace. Ronan also noticed a man in Sailor's Wyk guard uniform standing over the head of the table where the game was bing played, and remembering what she had been told about 'watchers', who would ensure no magic or otherwise untoward methods were being used during a game.
 * Kyanna asked Last Orders what the prize money for the tournament would be, to which he replied that it would be the buy-in gold of all who entered, plus 500 gold put in by Landon . Ronan found out that the final of the tournament would be played tonight, and asked if she could attend.
 * Maiya and Ronan headed outside the tavern, while inside, the rest of the group were suddenly drawn towards the Pirate's Craving table as Jean-Jacques threw down his hand in disgust after being beaten by Grace . With this, the group reconvened outside the Mutineer.