User blog:MMetzner/Session 10 - Voices of the Gods


 * After having defeated two very hungry cave trolls within an abandoned cave on Kyratown, Kyanna found an opening in the back of the room which led into a vast cavernous room, filled with a still-lit fire and the carcasses of hundreds of rats. It was clear that the trolls had been living here a very long time. But as Kyanna  glanced up, she realised that the cavern was a mass grave. Skulls twice the size of horses littered the floor, and tortle shells were piled on top of one another, filled with chewed bones.
 * Upon investigating a well, seeing that the tortle bones had been eaten clean, and looking at the amount of rats, the Guardians assumed that the cave trolls had been in these caves since it was abandoned over 350 years ago.
 * Maiya investigated the tortle shell, noticing that each had slightly different markings, noticing different coloured dots, stripes and patterns. They quickly realised that Doya  would be able to determine which shell was his own, however they didn't want the tortle to see the mass grave, or to know that his friends and family had all been killed too. Doya_Shell.jpg
 * Ronan sat on the edge of the well, knowing how much Doya  liked to look at water. She asked him about his own shell and marking, and finding out that it had a red stripe that ran down the spine of the shell. As Ronan relayed the information, the others began to look for any shells that resembled the desciption. Gauner  found a shell stacked under two others shells that matched the description, and pulled it out.
 * Before leaving the cave, the group came across another painting behind the well, Ronan placed the ring back on the let Doya  explain what it might mean. Doya  explained that it was tortle art, and that his friend Neya  used to create similar art. The group momentarily considered finding Neya's bones, but instead vowed to come back to the caves at a later date.
 * While the rest of the group investigated the cavern, Farrus began to grow bored, still standing on the other side of the collapsed walkway. He decided to jump it, barely making the jump and angering Maiya, who was worrying about how she would need to help people back over.
 * The Guardians decided they had learned all they could from the cave, and decided to leave, Maiya unfurled her wings to start carrying people back across the collapsed walkway. As she carried Ronan  across, Maiya slipped, letting Ronan fall. Luckily Ronan was alert to the danger, managing to grab onto Maiyas foot and using exceptional dexterity, swing to the other side of the walkway. Learning from this mistake, the rest of the journies went without a problem, and the group were able to escape the cave with no further pitfalls.
 * As they left the cave into the bright afternoon sun, Farrus felt instantly weak. While the rest of the group pushed the rocks back in front of the entrance to the cave, he sat for an hour until he felt better.
 * Ronan briefly jumped into the eyes of Algie, seeing him still perched up on the clock tower in Trader's Square looking down onto Rusty's Forge.
 * Successfully reaching the Proud Pelt, the Guardians decided to head back to Hogstone.

Trouble at Sea

 * A few hours into the journey home, Ronan spotted a rock off in the distance with a figure standing on it. The captain decided to approach the rock, spotting what looked like a human man waving frantically. Maiya felt the Cube of Seasearching pulsate in her bag, hearing two different noises coming from it.
 * As they approached the island, the man began calling for help, pointing into the ocean where a large fin cut through the surface of the water. Quick as a flash Maiya had her crossbow loaded and fired at the shark, causing it to dive below the surface of the water. Ronan  immediately thought to secure the prizes of Kyratown, wrapping Doya's  bones in some old clothing.
 * Suddenly the shark leapt from below the water to take a huge bite out of the side of the Proud Pelt. but before it could clamp its jaws onto the hull, Kyanna pointed her spear at the beast, releasing a bolt of lightning that sent a shock through it. Standing behind her, Farrus simultaneously released an arrow that lodged deep into the shark's side just before it dived back below the surface.
 * As the group fired shots into the water trying to discern the location of the shark, the second sound from the Cube of Seasearching became apparent as a tentacle shot from below the water to attack Gauner, luckily the tiefling was able to nimbly dart out of the way but now the group had two deadly beasts to deal with.
 * In a moment of panic, Kyanna threw her spear at the shark, missing it by a long way and watching in dismay as the spear, which the druid used to channel her spellcasting, sank into the deep. Moments later the shark leapt back up, taking a huge bite out of Kyanna, knocking her unconcious. Ronan sprang into action, diving at the elf and casting Spare the Dying to keep Kyanna stable.
 * The octopus lunged another tentacle at Gauner, knocking the wind from him but again was unable to grapple him. Gauner retaliated with Hellish Rebuke, damaging the creature and causing it to retract its tentacle back into the sea.
 * Gauner ran to Kyanna's side, pouring a healing potion into her mouth to get her back up on her feet.
 * The shark lunged back out of the water, taking a huge bite of Ronan's arm and leaving her reeling from the attack before diving back into the sea. Backing away and clearly distressed Ronan aimed her flintlock at the giant octopus, firing two eldritch blast at the beast. The first hit the creature directly between the eyes, killing it instantly, while her second shot went astray, causing damage to the hull of the Proud Pelt . Maiya reacted, seeing the potential value of the octopus she attempted to grab a tentacle before it sank into the ocean, but it slipped through her fingers.
 * The group continued to fire on the shark, causing several wounds, but as the shark leapt up in a final aggressive lunge, it took another bite of Ronan, knocking her unconcious on the ship. As it submerged again, blood could be seen floating to the surface, betraying the shark's location.
 * Seeing the blood in the water, Farrus closed an eye and took aim over the side of the ship, firing a deadly arrow into the head of the shark and killing it instantly. The shark floated to the surface as the Guardians, relieved after a hard-fought battle, focused on getting it onto the ship. Using Maiya's rope the group were able to pull the shark aboard, while Kyanna  swam over to the figure on the rock. Climbing aboard his boat she began speaking to the man, who introduced himself as Lorin and claimed to be a merchant out of Oldstein on Errykburgh, on a supply run to Sailor's Wyk. He told the elf that usually his boy was with him to help him steer the ship, but that he was sick.
 * On the Proud Pelt, Maiya staggered back, hearing a voice in her head. The voice was the same as the one she had heard previously, and told her “I see your power grow. Embrace it. Strike down those who would oppose you and become the warrior you were born to be”. 
 * Lorin claimed to be a trader of "magic items, on a budget" and began showing the group his wares, including a potion of animal friendship that would only work with squirrels, an Amulet of Health that only works on the first day of every month, a love potion that had a chance of causing hate, and a headband that increased intelligence but gave the user an electric shock each time a thought was processed.
 * Both Farrus and Ronan  showed interest in the Headband of Intellect, Farrus was interested in setting up a more long-term business with the merchant while Ronan convinced Lorin  that an ordinary spider fang was in fact a 'Mawibaweb' tooth which could be employed as a very dangerous weapon. Lorin suddenly took great interest in the fang as Farrus began asking about items Lorin may be able to procure for them. Lorin admitted that most of the traders in Sailor's Wyk and Errykburgh that he deals with no longer show him their better items as they know he won't have the coin.
 * Finally, after a group discussion, Farrus offered to purchase all of Lorin's wares for 200 gold, on the condition that he would use that money as a seed for him purchasing magical items of higher quality and bringing them to Hogstone . Lorin asked if he could follow the Proud Pelt to see him safely to Sailor's Wyk.

Back on Hogstone

 * The Guardians arrived back home at around 10pm in the evening, as they docked they could see from the appearance of the Jagged pelt that Inga and Thyra  must have returned from Sailor's Wyk. Ronan  confirmed this by seeing through Algie's eyes and seeing that he was perched in a tree opposite the Sleeping Stag.
 * The group began preserving the giant shark and the cave troll's head with salt and sand, making another excellent job at it.
 * Gauner headed to the Sleeping Stag to pick up some food for the group, smiling at Inga and making it clear that he was pleased to see her. He told Inga  about the shark and trolls, blushing when Inga referred to them as heroes. Inga told him that they should catch up tomorrow, as she'd had a bit to drink. Gauner ran back to the group, having forgotten the food he'd gone in for.
 * The group headed to the Hall of Beasts, carrying the giant shark between 3 of them, and Gauner carrying the troll head. Symond  was extremely impressed with the specimins, already mentally planning out on which plinths he was going to display them. He initially offered the group 500 gold for the shark and 250 for the cave troll, but after some negotiation from Gauner, he was persuaded to increase the payment to 600 gold pieces for the shark. The group helped Symond haul the shark onto a plinth and left Symond to his rest.
 * Most of the Guardians went to their respective rooms while Ronan went to sleep on the Proud Pelt.
 * During the night, Farrus snuck out of the Guardians Tower and down to the docks, where he deftly snuck Lorin's Headband of Intellect into one of Ronan's pouches before sneaking back to the Tower, leaving Lorin's Amulet of Health by Maiya's door and Lorin's Potion of Animal Friendship by Gauners before heading back to sleep.
 * During the night Maiya awoke, feeling a vision come to her. She saw the same ship as before, with the red and black sails and MaiyaVision1.jpgd eye, but this time interjected with a second scene of two hands shaking, one adorned with gold and ruby rings and the other encased in menacing black lobstered steel. The scene then shifted back to the ship, with the tornado of red smoke encircling it, and the eyes opening again. Maiya awoke with a resolve to try and understand the vision.

Day 12 - September 27th 420
 * The morning begun, as many mornings had begun over the past couple of weeks, with breakfast at the Sleeping Stag . Kyanna gathered the Guardians at the Tower . As Gauner awoke he found the potion that Farrus had left for him, while downstairs Maiya discovered Lorin's Amulet of Health.  Over at Hogstone Docks, Ronan awoke to find Lorin's Headband of Intellect, attaching it to her belt. She headed over to meet the others. Whilst attempting to slip the headband back into Farrus' pack, she was immediately caught. Farrus insisted that Ronan keep it. As Kyanna arrived, Farrus gifted her Lorin's Philter of Love.
 * The group sat at their table alongside Inga, as Britta brought out bacon for everyone. Inga began catching everyone up on the news from Sailor's Wyk . That the Stranger's Rest Temple had burned to the ground, and that the official word was that a brazier had caught fire to a rug, which Inga found highly suspicious. She mentioned seeing posters up around Trader's Square proclaiming a day of celebration on the 30th September by Landon Mutt , including feasting, drinking and a Pirate's Craving tournament starting at the Mutineer Tavern, with the finals being held at the Governor's Mansion, with Landon himself competing. The tournament has a 500gp buy-in.
 * Inga mentioned speaking to Rusty  and Darryn the Fletcher, both of whom were keen to get off the island, but both mentioned being watched by Sailor's Wyk guards after what had happened with Goreg  and Thyra . Inga went on that there was a new merchant that had taken over Thyra's old store, but that Rusty suspected she was a spy working for Landon. Caedwella  had no intention of leaving the island as she had become too frail, but wished Inga well.
 * Inga pulled 3 potions of healing and a spellbook from her pack, placing them on the table. She then brought out an arrow and gave it to Farrus. It shimmered with radiant energy.
 * Maiya asked Inga if she remembered anyone from the Mutt Clan wearing gold or ruby jewellery, to which she answered that Landon  liked to look fancy, but that she didn't know of anyone wearing black lobstered steel. Maiya theorised that perhaps the Stranger's Rest temple burning down may be linked to her vision, that perhaps a deal had been struck involving the bodies being shipped out, and that deal had now been completed. Inga interjected that it seemed like a coincidence that the day of celebration would be called immediately after the Temple had burned.
 * Maiya asked if Inga could play Pirate's Craving, to which she replied that she was terrible  and didn't even own a deck anymore. When Ronan asked her where they could pick up more cards, Inga told them that any tavern or merchant in Sailor's Wyk would likely have cards to trade or sell.
 * Farrus was skeptical about the Pirate's Craving tournament, seeing it as a trap and remembering the last time they were inside the mansion, where they succombed to poison gas coming from a floor vent, triggered by a closing door.
 * The group decided to speak to Mannaphi, and headed to the Mage's Tower. Farrus gave the spellbook that Inga had brought back from Sailor's Wyk to the wizard, who was extremely grateful, vowing the begin rescribing immediately.
 * Mannaphi was impressed that the Guardians had managed to track down Doya's  remains, and explained that while full resurrection was not a skill he possessed, he did know of someone that could help. An old Tabaxi Cleric named Gifted Hand who lived on the Tabaxi islands far to the east. Mannaphi told the group that he used to know Gifted Hand's apprentice, a man named Razza Al Haq, and that with some time to rescribe his spellbook, he may be able to locate Razza, or send a telepathic message to him.
 * Gauner showed Mannaphi the potions they found in the cave in Kyratown . The wizard was able to identify them as a Potion of Beast Strength and a Potion of Beast Size.
 * Mannaphi could sense there was something Maiya  wanted to talk about, and asked her what was wrong. Maiya was reluctant to speak in front of the group, but continued regardless. She told Mannaphi about the visions and voices she had been experiencing, especially the recurring visions of the ship with the closed eyes opening, and a deal being made. Mannaphi confessed that regarding the description of the supposed deal, the black lobstered steel meant nothing to him, but that ruby rings were a trademark of Valon Mutt . He mused on the subject of the closed eyes opening again, agreeing with Maiya that it could symbolise the Mutt Clan watching them, although an alternate reading could be that it symbolised a rebirth, or an awakening.
 * Mannaphi asked if these visions always came to her in the same way, Maiya  confessed that although most came to her in cryptic visual dreams, recently she had heard voices in her head that differed in their tone, encouraging her to pursue power. Mannaphi thought about this for a while, before proclaiming that the most troubling aspect here was that most gods, if that was where these visions were coming from, only communicated with their subjects in one consistent method, whereas that was clearly not the case here, and surmising that what Maiya may be dealing with was not one god, but two. Mannaphi told Maiya to pay even greater attention to her visions, so that they could learn more.
 * Maiya spoke of her family, of how her parents had realised that she was different, and enlisted local mages to determine exactly what she was, and that upon learning of her Aasimar blood, how they had planned to use her as a weapon.
 * Mannaphi vowed to continue researching his books, and that they should keep talking about any visions Maiya has.
 * Turning to Farrus, Mannaphi told the Blood Hunter that he had been thinking more on his hauntings by the hag Beezor Rotthorn, and that even a powerful hag, in possession of a Heart Stone and travelling through the ethereal plane, would still need to come into physical contact to adminster the kind of visions he had been experiencing, and had come to the conclusion that Rotthorn must be a hag of exceptional power and a singular focus, and that the focus seemed to be Farrus. He mentioned that she would need some kind of link, and that the brand Farrus mentioned before must be that link.
 * Farrus passed a leather-bound tome to Mannaphi, proclaiming that it belonged to Rotthorn and that he had been using it for some time. It contained information on the alchemical properties that she had tested on Farrus and their effects, which Farrus had then used to formulate his mutagens. He left the book with Mannaphi, to see if the wizard could learn anything more from it.