Session 33

Date: 19 November 2020

Prev: Session 32

Next: Session 34

The next morning, the party discusses the night's attack. Because the creature first targeted Raen, Mino suggests that it was trying to spy on them and report back to Raen's enemy. Quill isn't so sure - this creature was more of a lasting magical construct, while the magic Alamer used was verbal and immediate. He thinks rather it was something that was sent to mess with them, and targeting Raen was just opportunistic. The blindness was probably just one of several annoying things it could do.

They ask Astrid to tell them more about Swansing, in part because she doesn't seem to like the city all that much despite living there. She explains that she doesn't particularly like its duke, Athtar. When she was 11, he made an insulting comment to her face about her ancestry and lack of status ("it's unfortunate you're not a full elf", as she would then be able to inherit from one or the other of her parents). Astrid reveals he's been in power for 172 years, and the city has gotten used to him - he's been there so long, there's kind of an "it is what it is" attitude. The party wonders why no one has attempted to have him removed from power, since they know that's possible. There's a general policy of noninterference from other nobles and cities in the region, due to the Vale's history, so as far as she knows the grand duke hasn't been approached.

Astrid explains a little bit about that history, since most of the party isn't from the region. The Fairweather Vale used to be a kingdom, but was fractured after the Iron Revenant, a usurping warlord, took power. It became instead a kind of federation of city-states, mediated by a grand duke and emphasizing continuity of rule using heirs and tanists. This fracture is still seen today in the divergent riverine and pastoral cultures of the northern forests, central plains, and southern cliffs. Swansing, given its central location, is firmly pastoral. It has a lot of underground rivers and water sources, so the area around it is good for farming.

She talks a bit more about some of the other nearby towns to the north. Mossgarden is known for its wine, in particular a characteristic nice white blend. The image of gardening moss piques Nergil's interest. Quill mentions that he had considered coming here at one point, but the mages' guild is supposed to be very insular, and he can't be bothered trying to get into the good graces of that kind of group, it's too much work. Astrid sort of agrees - she has fewer contacts in this city, although more access to her money. Her apartments are small - Mino alone would overwhelm the room - but her maid has been looking for places for them and has secured an inn.

As they continue on, the hills start to rise and they see more and more farms nestled between them. As they pass one, they see a group of men sharpening weapons and grooming a very large boar. Mino is thrilled and shouts hello; one guy sharpening a greataxe raises the weapon in greeting. The party is diverted slightly as Mino leads them over to say hello, realizing that the boar's shoulder is almost as tall as he is. Corrin pets the animal carefully and respectfully while Mino asks where it came from. The man grooming the boar explains that you "have to capture them from wild herds if you want to tame them", they're not domesticated. Where are these herds? The north, the man explains.

Mino wants to know how taming one would go, but the man isn't actually sure how "the warmother did it. Food, then the bridle?" Mino isn't familiar with this term or this person, and the man seems to have expected that. He explains that they're far from home, otherwise all would know Sejuani". Mino remembers that Ashe was also from the North, so he asks if they know her. At the mention of her name, all activity around the small camp stops, and the man they've been speaking to says "I think you should leave." Corrin mentions that he beat her in a contest, but the man seems to have a low opinion of Ashe, responding, "that wouldn't be hard". Corrin persists, wanting to know why they dislike Ashe so much. The man explains that his tribe and Ashe's are at war. "Ashe seeks peace through talk, not strength." The party decides to exit this conversation before it goes further. As they leave, they feel like they're still being watched. Mino still wants a boar, though.

They follow the road through the cleft between two hills and past Lake Toncour to stand in line at the gate. Pasky fades into the shadows to not attract unwanted attention. Astrid explains that she won't be able to simply get them in like in Old Bay, since her name doesn't carry any weight here. They'll need to put down a reason for their visit, but they don't need papers because they're not doing business. Astrid, as a resident, easily enters. Nergil claims he's here for pleasure, but they don't totally buy it. Astrid explains they'll be staying at The Ruby Thorn inn, but the guards ask each member of the party for their name and place of origin.

• Corrin gives the name Frodo Underhill, from "under the hill", and introduces Ro as Sam. The guard isn't totally convinced. Which hill, exactly? Corrin fumbles but remembers Mournhill, which satisfies the guard.
• Mino writes on a piece of paper "I am a monk", but this isn't enough information for the guards. Corrin backs him up by explaining that he's a little simple, and they let it pass.
• Nergil claims he is Dave, from East Isle.
• Raen gives his real name, the first in the party to do so, and says "you don't know where I'm from". When pressed, he mentions Tymill, and the guards in fact haven't heard of it.
• Quill gives his full name, of Fishmouth.

Before they continue, the guards confer about Ro, since he's clearly not a pet, but neither is he livestock or a beast of burden. They settle on a fee of 1 silver for Ro's entry, which Corrin begrudgingly pays. As they enter, Astrid suggests stopping for food first. There's a nearby square by the wall and waterfront where new visitors often go.

In the square, the group suddenly hears someone excitedly calling Nergil's name. Two tieflings approach, bearing a family resemblance to him. Nergil introduces them as his siblings, Damien and Dessi (and her little dog, too, though Dessi also explains this deadpan as if Nergil hadn't said it. The party wonders how many siblings Nergil actually has, but none of the three can accurately answer that question, they don't actually know. Nergil doesn't understand why Quill finds that concerning, though Corrin thinks it's rad.

Nergil asks why his siblings are here, and Damien explains they're doing stuff for their dad. Corrin wants to know what kind of stuff, but Desi cuts in - don't worry about it. Corrin goes to pet Champion, but Dessi pulls him away. Nergil mutters "it's not for petting" as Dessi stares Corrin dead in the eyes and pets Champion once. Corrin wants to know why Nergil doesn't have a dog, and Dessi explains that he could have had a dog, but chose his ritual book instead.

As they're chatting, a merchant is unloading some goods from a cart about twenty feet away. There's the faint sound of a vial shattering and a muttered curse, then with a burst of cold air a frost salamander condensates near the wagon. It breathes out a gust of icy wind, freezing and killing the driver, one of his horses, and a couple of other people in the square instantly. Dessi, who was on the edge of the cone, faints from the sudden chill, though Nergil drags her back and does a bad job at making sure she's okay. Quill hastes Mino, who charges in to attack. Damien follows suit, making his hell longsword appear and bringing it down with eldritch power. Corrin marks his target and throws fire as nearby guards rush in to give commoners time to escape. Meanwhile, Astrid casts mass healing word and draws one of her cards to empower Mino. Raen slips in to try and free the other horse, but finds it hard to cut through the frozen leather of the harness.

The frost salamander's tail thrashes, hitting the side of the cart and the group hears another vial shatter. Sure enough, a moment later a second has appeared and scaled a building; its own cone of cold kills the guards instantly. Mino exchanges blows with the first, then repositions himself next to the cart; he sees a third vial, cracked, in a hay-lined shoebox. He shouts to Quill to take the vial and use mage hand to get it into the mouth of the frost salamander, although he doesn't quite manage to make this happen. Damien casts burning hands, covering the first salamander with a sheet of fire, and Nergil turns up the heat with a carefully placed fireball, ending that salamander. Desi turns to the salamander on the roof; she sends Champion to attack it while she bombards with scorching rays, but this is not a successful strategy. Corrin throws flame again while sending his own companion onto the roof, knocking the frost salamander through the roof and to the ground. Astrid tries to magically slow it, although it evades her spell. More guards have joined the fray at this point, rushing by as Raen cuts the horse free. He turns and throws the hell dagger at the salamander, leading Damien to notice the weapon he wields.

The salamander gets back on its feet and attacks the nearest target - Raen - who doesn't quite manage to avoid the flurry. Quill sees the last vial about to shatter and casts scorching ray, breaking the vial and burning away the vapor before it coalesces. Mino uses the salamander's attacks on Raen as an opportunity to get a bunch of his own attacks in, screaming from battle lust, and Damien joins him in the rush while empowering his hell longsword. Nergil steps up and prepares his own burning hands, which streams forth in a sheet, covering the salamander and melting it away completely. Dessi stares open-mouthed for a moment, but begrudgingly admits that to her surprise, Nergil really has gotten stronger.