Session 30

Date: 29 October 2020

Prev: Session 29

Next: Session 31

After the fight, Mino grabs Quill and gives him a noogie, which Quill is unable to immediately escape from begrudgingly accepts. Nergil can tell the crowd of townsfolk that is gathering is surprised and confused, and proclaims “Thank heavens the Lighthaus Inspektorz are here!” in an effort to drum up name recognition. Unfortunately, no one in the crowd seems to know what he means. Astrid helps Pasky and Nergil to their feet with cure wounds, and Quill casts it on himself. The knights firmly request the party come back to the comte's and recount the events, to which they acquiesce. They relax a little when Nergil namedrops Kenzie in conversation.

Elaim meets the group at the manor entrance in full emergency supervisor mode, complete with hi-vis vest. The knights send a house guard to retrieve the fallen guards. The party sits to the side of a makeshift triage space (also known as the banquet hall), watching Elaim move around at an 11. The handful of house servants begin setting up some food, and some of them give Pasky confused looks. Mino decides to make a point to them, and flags down one of the servants to harass them. He informs the servent that "You'll serve Pasky", although the confused servant replies "um, we're not serving anyone?" Mino attempts to drive his point home by dramatically firmly stating "WELL, YOU WILL NOW."

Kenzie enters eventually and approaches the group. They've heard two different reports (from the guards and knights) but would like their first-hand experience as well. The group explains that, in the end, Quill killed a marilith. Kenzie explains they were confused when Astrid left - she felt the same "ripping" feeling, used a spell to see what was happening, but by the time she flew over, the Inspektorz were already there. They confirm they also felt the rip at the standing stones. Quill asks Kenzie if they saw anyone suspicious, and they affirm there are no reports of anyone opening the portal. They offer a reward specifically to Quill (but the group more broadly) for his brave and decisive action.

The group briefly discusses whether this portal is spontaneous or deliberate and conclude that it was spontaneous, but potentially because of the undermining of the stones or in a crack in their metaphysical support structure. They also wonder about the marilith's motivation, but more or less assume that when she saw her chance when the portal opened and took it, because Pandemonium is fairly inhospitable. Nergil suggests that Dreli check on the stones more often, and Dreli reluctantly cedes the point. Mino begins to freak out that things are escalating - portals opening unexpectedly - but Pasky reassures him: "We can do anything if we're together!"

Kenzie is less reassured and more explicitly worried. The house that was destroyed (by Astrid, but destroyed nonetheless during a planar incursion) belonged to an influential trader named Dow, and Kenzie wonders "How will the Dow recover from this?" They plan on meeting with the guards' families and doing damage control for the market's reputation, but that still leaves the question of how to handle future incursions. There's no stable adventurer presence in the town, just the guards and the couple of knights. Quinn was able to help with the bugbears, but she is a ranger and was just passing through. Dreli's talents lie more towards support rather than combat.

The party discusses if they should stick around, or perhaps teleport back to the town if needed, if they check in now and again with sending. Because of the cost and time to cast, teleportation isn’t really feasible. Should they also investigateTahm Kench and getting him on their side? Could they ask Kenzie for money? As they retire for the night, Mino escapes to the library and finds an introductory book on gods. Why did the marilith make a comment about Winnehild to Mino? He figures it was probably bravado. The group goes to bed, although Nergil spends some time practicing and transcribing illusory script from the spellbook they purchased.

In the morning, Mino takes a moment to pray to Winnehild, despite his unfamiliarity with praying or religious practices in general. At breakfast there are horsehead apples, a variety grown around Redford; Raen is not unimpressed. Over breakfast, Nergil asks Quill what kind of reward he might request. Quill answers flatly "money", but has no idea what amount would be acceptable. Astrid assures that Kenzie won't shortchange them, but they're welcome to ask for a specific amount. The party just can't really agree what would be good. They reflect on the fight the previous day, and Mino argues passionately for the idea that Quill could use telekinesis to throw him around the field. After several long minutes of being lectured and diagrammed at, Mino eventually capitulates that haste is probably just the better option.

When they meet with Kenzie, Quill asks for gold. Kenzie was already going to offer an honorarium, so they confer with Elaim and offer a total of 750 gold. The party asks about the River King. Kenzie recounts some of the legends around him and offers a guard to escort them, but they decline. They'll just pay a casual visit on their own.

They're directed to the southern bridge and when they arrive

They meet Kenzie; quill wants gold, and Kenzie was already going to offer an honorarium, so they confer with elaim and offer 750g. the party asks about the river king, Kenzie recants some of the legends around them and offers a guard to escort. 1.5 foot high with an offering dish, carved with no weathering, coppers in the dish. Pasky is like, “I’ve been here bfore. I fought a wererat”. The group investigates pretty thoroughly, but don’t find much of anything. Nergil casts detect magic, sees some glows on his friends and the bridge stones and the rabbit’s foot, but not corrin’s bow or the statue. Mino touches it, but nothing remarkable happens.

Nergil gives the gold tooth. Tahm eats the tooth. Mino: any suspicious characters? Tahm: what are you offering? Mino: violence? Nergil offers his fake signet ring. Tahm accepts for three questions, but after eating the ring, claims he doesn’t promise true answers. The party confers: what to ask? Tahm: I’m interested in YOUR interest. Mino has trouble with this and attempts to goad Tahm, and he remains unflappable.

1. Which 2. Besides the hole in the other side of the world, no river he’s connected to is poisoned.

Nergil calls his dad. “do you know tahm?” silence “what have you gotten mixed up in? do you not trust me?” “does he have a reason to lie?”

1. Which nature spirits 2. I’ve heard of none.

The party tries to figure out the final question. Astrid points out that the 2nd question is probably honest, because he wants to establish a pattern of trust before screwing you over.

1. What is the full name 2. Etheon Symol.

Tahm offers another deal: “more information? Your hunger is my satiation.” Corrin: what kind of information? The party is tense. Tahm says “his goal and his motivation”. Mino: what’s in my pocket? Do you want it? Tahm: your kind is good at many things, but not trickery. Tahm explains it is the hunger for something and the willingness to give up something of value that matters. Mino offers blinky, and asks about 3 questions – Tahm Kench says he’ll only take the question that’s really burning in Mino’s heart. Mino hedges about 3 questions, but Tahm is firm.

1. What is Symol’s weakness? 2. That shield is more valuable than the answer.

Mino: so, more than 1 answer? Tahm: sure, 2 selfish questions. But is it worth it?

1. When I was a kid, I was found in the woods. Where did I come before that? 2. A village of Minotaur in Mt Celestia called Tirig

Mino goes to leave instead of the second question. The river surges its banks and holds Mino, and hold person is cast. Mino’s question:

1. How do I kill you? 2. I can’t be killed; I am eternal. There will always be desire.

Mino relents. Tahm eats the shield and disappears back into the river.

Raen: “WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT”