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.
Damien approaches nergil bombastically. Desi follows and is exasperated. Nergil says they’re his siblings, desi repeats that needlessly. “how many siblings?” we don’t actually know. Nergil: why is that concerning? Quill: :/ corrin: it’s rad
What are you doing in town? Damien: doing stuff for dad. Corrin: we know stuff! What kind of stuff? Damien: Julia Roberts.gif. desi: don’t worry about it. Corrin goes to pet champion, but desi pulls away, and nrgil goes “Not for petting”. Desi pets exactly once. “nergil could have had a dog but chose a book instead”
Vial shatters
Frost uses breath, kills 3 commoners including driver and 1 horse; desi making saves. Quill hastes mino, mino attacks, Damien eldritch smites with the hell longsword, nergil drags desi out of the way but fails medicine, she gets 19. Corrin produces flame and favored foes. Guards rush and commoners scatter. Raen fails to free the horse but does damage, astrid mass healing word and draws, giving mino balance, 2nd salamander appears
Salamander 1 does attacks, 2 climbs on top of roofs and cone of cold, killing guards, mino attacks and crits then checks the cart to see, finds a 3rd cracked vial in a hay lined shoebox. Mino shouts to quill to take it and mage hand it. Quill comes over, triest omage hand the vial into the mouth of the frost, and fails. Damien burning hands, the frost is on the ropes. Nergil fireballs, big boom and kills the first one. Desi tries to attack with champion and misses, then scorching rays, but they all miss. Corrin produces flame, ro charges over the edge of the roof and knocks it prone as it falls through the roof. Docks guards move in, commoners scatter. Raen cuts the horse free and throws the dagger; astrid tries to cast slow and fails, the horse bolts.
The salamander gets up and makes a ton of attacks on raen which all hit. Quill scorching rays the vial and burns away all the vapor. Mino goes ham, doing a shit ton of damage, and Damien eldritch smites also screaming. Nergil burning hands it to death. Desi: wow you have gotten stronger
