Hello, this is why Stephen from Table Story. If you'd like this podcast,
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slash discord. Thank you, Joy. I'm looking you in the eyes and
I'm smiling. Hands are together and though something begins to grip at them,
don't look away. I'm looking right at you. Mhm, no you hurt?
What are you doing? Stop it? You see scales beginning to break
from my skin, red scales across my cheeks. Oh what No, No,
this isn't right, This isn't right. No, no, don't take
Oh I don't want you. I don't know what is happening our hands.
There's something binding them together. There's your blood, is what it is.
So much is flowing out to you. You'll pass out soon. I have
to stop the bleeding. I can't lose my grip. It's I can't move
my hand. I feel like all the strength is being bored for me right
now. Ah, I think I know exactly what this is. Don't you
go dying on me. It's not worth it. I'm not worth it.
Stop it, have malevic. This is a promise, a blood bond.
It seems that our words are heavier than we might have originally expected, but
I meant them so I am not scared a sorcery. This is not of
your doing. This is none of my doing. It's something else's. And
I look down and I see the ground viberating, in the air, itself
viberating around me. It's the land, and this is what it's doing.
I don't want you to die for me. I don't want you to sacrifice
yourself for me. I'm not going to die. I tighten my fingers around
your arm, trying to give you comfort. I'm at the same time trying
to stop the bleeding that I can't move. Ah yeah, ah, my
head, what is this? I see? I'm sorry. You begin to
see images of a war stricken land. You see orcs moving in tribes over
a field of skeletons. The flash is gone. Maybe he gets to see
her mother holding her child and differed him, and just flash timelines go through
an eight year old boy. His mother scolded him for breaking a vase,
and then the anger raises in his body. Skin turns red, orange sprout
scales for the mother looks afraid. The kid lashes at his mother. An
anger cuts her across the chest. She's bleeding heavily. She takes a pot
and hit him in the head and he falls to the ground. Another flash
of her acting as if she loves him, to abandon him deep in wooded
area. And I was told be wolves to feed on the flesh. Scared,
loss, angry, No, what right you have to suck this?
I was on a battlefield, there were there were so many bones and skeletons
and undeat. What is this? I pull you towards me and I hug
you into an embrace. M hm, I accept it. It's okay.
I don't want to be a monster anymore. I don't want you to become
one. Is it, Malavik? You are no monster. I promise we
will figure this out together, all right? Why would you do this for
me? Because you are my friend? Fine, I give you and then
I let the rest of my body weight fall forward. For the first time.
I'm not tense, I'm not flexing, I'm not angry. It's just
no, you're getting yourself into I don't know how far this part of me
will go, how much it will grow. As long as you're there,
I feel like I can push through and I will be there, and I
will protect you as much as I can. But if it ever comes down
to a mere U situation, that will be the one to take the blame
the burden from you. That is my promise. I say nothing as I
hold you, and our arms eventually let go. Do you feel better?
I feel something I don't. Strength is back in me, but I feel
different me too, I feel changed almost mm hmm. I's gon to call
for help. But it's a lot of blood. Yes, I suddenly not
pushing away violently. We were gently, Yes, my hand. It won't
stop bleeding. Gross? Why their blood anyway? I didn't do anything.
I didn't hurt her. Oh can you bandage it? Yarra? Yes,
let me have a look at it. Taking a look at this, does
it seem like it is natural? That like the flow of blood? Does
it seem that it is natural? So here's what you see as you take
Arcilia's hand. To look at this wound, you see that the blood has
stopped. Arcilia, you do not see that. When you look towards the
wound, it's almost as if your blood is continuously flowing towards Malevic's hand and
Malevic on your hand. You can see sort of a mirror of Arsilia's wound.
M hm. For you, Yara, it would look like a scar
on Malvic's hand. Let me have a look at yours as well. What
it won't stop? It won't stop it no, no, you are you?
These are booth scard It looks as if you've had them for a while.
Now it's pointing towards him. It's moving. You don't see that?
No, No, am I crazy? Do you? Karuna Ruschak? Do
you see this? It is? I don't want to look at gross ah
must well, we have to get away from this part of the land.
What what did you do? I did not say this, Malvik. You
begin to feel this first, very shallow beat, like a heartbeat, except
it's coming from the ground below you. There. I'll bend down and I'll
put this car down on top of the place or I've been feeling of reperations.
Yeah, hear what, Just like it's hard to explain a tree,
a tree underneath a tree, there's many roots, yes, roots that entangled
in gold places. That's what this is like the same thing, but veins
almost pulsating with blood maybe not blood something power lay lines. Explain to me
what these lay lines are? May I conduct an arcane a check? Sure?
What are you looking for? I am looking for any kind of spooky
nonsense that's going on between these two. You can definitely make an ourcment check
twenty three. Okay, there's no specific spell that you are aware of that
does what is happening here. However, you have a pretty good general feeling
for what has happened. There's so much magic that is moving through these lay
lines that they have inadvertently used some of it in some sort of ritual.
They've oh, performed blood magic. Eh, what is it? Well,
it's blood magic. You see. You've done something. I'm not sure what,
but there's a lot of magic here in the lay lines, and whatever
you've done is it's very gross. It's very powerful and disgusting. Lay lines
magical power source. Think of it as the veins of Glorian like, Yes,
our roots. No, can you not feel it? And I'll take
both hands. It's rich right here? Sich reminds me of an artery of
some sort. Is a consistent for pounding? Must you cannot feel a ripperating
in your body? I kneel down and try to feel the same. As
soon as you open up your senses are celia. As soon as you focus
on words that are coming out of Malvik's mouth about this and Karoun suggesting what
you have done, you can feel this pulse cebating Galary. It's like all
coming together. I feel it too, almost like everything. Drum beat?
No, something more heavy, a heartbeat? Do you want not feel it?
The blood that you see pulsing from your wound seems to match the rhythm
of the beat. I think we may have become bonded with it. You've
tapped into its power. You can feel that. I am guessing, Yes,
I think that is what happened. What have we done? I don't
know? Eh? Or? Can you not see the blood? Decis?
Cannot? I promise you they cannot either. Let me let me see.
If I press down on his hand covering the wound. Malevic, do you
do you see anything still? Seeping from it. Even if I'm applying pressure,
you would probably see malvic like blood sort of leaking through your's fingers heated.
Yeah, it's just like it's almost like you're not even an obstacle for
it. It just finds his way. You see your hand go ahead,
nothing but still flowing. If they went around your arm, they went around
your hands between the cracks every way slower be formed here your hand and I
reach out to yours malevich. Yeah, I'd like to detect magic, but
ignore the lay line specifically since I know it is there. Oh okay,
I think I'm gonna need a check for you to try to do that.
Absolutely, Yeah, occultism, mor Narkana. Do you think magic is the
reason I was thinking occultism? I will take either. I'm fine with either
at twenty three occultism okay. So uh, it's really hard to avoid sensing
this magic rash talk. It's the equivalent of seeing like with night vision goggles
or something, you know, like the barest hint of a reflection in the
night vision goggles versus someone pouring a ten thousand candlepower flashlight into your night vision
goggles. Describe what you think that that what happens here. I would stumble
back for a moment, being overwhelmed by the magic I see, For lack
of a better term, though maybe I get it very slight hint of red
from his hand, but everything else is so bright it's almost imperceptible. Where
you tapta into something you probably should not have. Blood magic. Blood magic
is always gross. Blood magic is no one need to reverse this or what
what is it doing to them? I don't know. I don't I don't
know magic fine, I feel, I feel. I can't describe it.
It feels like I m it's like when you're weary and you're tired, and
then you eat something and then you get your energy back. But ten times
folded. There were Sharman's back at my where I grew up, and there
was talks of blood magic. It was forbidden, but there was always one
there that dove into this. I came across them multiple times of them taking
art or dead and animals and performing rites and getting angry every time it didn't
work. But the one thing they knew I was watching thought I was interested.
I was. I was just so curious as to why they were doing
such things. And they said something that this type of magic, it's very
powerful, but comes with very strong consequences that when one performs such rights it
could lead to dire dire means. The more strong the the blood magic,
the stronger the consequence. Whack. I have lizard folk lore as a knowledge,
and lizardfolk are known for being very shamanistic in many of their tribes.
Does this ring any bells? Or should I roll or not worry? You
can definitely try Yeah, sixteen. So here's what I'll tell you. With
the sixteen, I think you only have a very vague knowledge about this stuff.
You do have some knowledge, and that is number one. Blood magic
is very powerful and very dangerous. Number two, your knowledge of lay lines
is pretty limited. The fact that blood magic is already powerful and dangerous and
combining them sounds crazy. I think you've done something you should not have,
but I know not of what to reverse it by you've yes, Karhun has
mentioned and used to blood magic, which is exceptionally dangerous. The shamans of
my tribe would not mess with it. I do not know much about it.
As a result, and combining that with nell leyline, what you've done
me have consequences we will not know until you trigger them and it will not
be good. Then we will have to be careful until we can discover more
information. Oh what did you do to initiate this ritual? I am no
spellcaster, but I cut my hand. I just made a promise. Oh
what promise? That Malvik would not have to go through his struggles alone?
But I would protect him. I would help him, no matter the cost.
And I Alia says these words. You can hear them echo off of
the mountains nearby. You made a pact. I promised to be her stream.
You're blade. I will not see her fall. Best hope you don't.
There's more. There was battlefield and envision, bust of undead skeletons,
things war all around me, the boy and his mother. Mhm. Perhaps
we are linked beyond just flesh. You are. Do not break those promises.
What they were scales? They were scalales. And I go to look
at her hand, her face. The scales are gone from my face.
Now for a second there, I thought you hook. I thought you contracted
what I oh, I think I think that is You're not You're not suffering.
No horns, mo, dear, Okay, No, I don't think
so. I wouldn't want this to be a part of you. I might
suggest you never leave each other aside you have. How literal this fact may
be, I have something to tell you all. I didn't want to go
down this road with this. I didn't know how long we were going to
be together, or whether or whether we were to continue to be companions.
I come from a line I don't know much, but I was told Tiefling
is a name that is given to us. We are formed from two different
sides of the world's sort, different planes of existence. When a packed or
a bond, or the flesh the mine, some even deeper than that,
are formed, something happens. A lot to call it forbidden. I was
told that they may skip generations, but it definitely didn't skip me. There
are beings called plain order scions, powerful beans that have unimaginable power, some
of the demonic variety, some of the angelic. My mother met a man,
beautiful man, and what I was told, everyone knew him, everyone
felt some charm. Anytime they saw him. They almost felt like being on
their knees. There is a as saying that some of the most powerful scions
can disguise themselves in groups of people. You will never know this man unmistakenly
fell in love with one of his many nights of frolicking. Now, would's
said that it's almost impossible for such a being to impregnate a normal human health.
But if it does happen, the chance of that being living through birth
is low, depending on how powerful that ssion is. And unfortunately, my
father is not just your ordinary planear scion. He is of a ancient red
dragon variety. The demonic red Dragon Galerian, as you know, was once
ruled by these creatures. When I was born, there were no signs,
and so I reached about the age of eight years old. I stripped the
memories from my brain a long time ago, but they were between the room
where we went and had our memories exchanged it. Now things have come back.
I always thought that the change happened in a beautiful meadow full of flowers,
But no. My mother was angry, upset, she was with child.
She tried to love me, but I kept making mistakes, kept showing
signs. Something would catch on fire when I was sleeping. I had no
idea how or why, or I was getting picked on in the streets.
People would call my mother or they would lash out. When I lashed out,
things happened. I'd lose costiousness, wake up in the next A kid
would be bleeding or worse. My mother had to leave the cities to find
a cottage. She tried to treat me normal, but my eyes color would
change, I would broaden, my fingers would become more elongated. Her love
would seep away just as much as my humanity. I did something, spilled
a pot something. She scolded me, threw her water on me, slapped
me. I am blanked, sahed out, and I ripped across her chests.
Nothing fatal. I noticed what I was doing when I was doing it,
and I pulled back and I tried to say I was sorry. She
took that hot pan and hit me with it as hard as she could.
The next thing you knew, I was in this forest. Cursets were in
the hand maid yelling, screaming. Then the pitchforks came and the torches and
the mobs. She sold me out. They chased me. Wolves were in
that forest. I got attacked. I thought I was dead. That was
found by a group of hunters. Said I was barely alive, but the
wounds were closing, but slowly, as the wounds close, the scales came,
the horns, the tail. First they treated me as a worker.
He noticed as I grew, I became stronger. He trained me, turned
me into a weapon. But to me, that was my family. The
shamans knew of what I was, they didn't know the connection. I'm sorry
I kept this from you. I have this promise. I made this pact.
Now that I remember, around a shamanistic circle. I noticed that the
shamans not so much preyed, but they would practice in these circles and hope
for something so much that it would become true. So I did the same.
I said that if I ever came across a dragon, I'd kill it.
I'd take its life for ruining my life until I reached him. So
now you see where my hate and my affinity comes from. Every fiber of
my being overruns and overtakes. When I see one, I just want to
rip its just open and take the one thing that keeps it going. That
is my story. That is who I am. Monster, never loved,
never given the chance, and now all I care about just finding him and
turning him inside out. Take and see what he has done to me.
The danger that comes in with this is that I feel myself changing. Every
year. These scales grow, lonslengthen, the eggs in my back, my
spine, I feel it growing inside of me. The rage is uncontrollable at
times. The beast can be leashed at any time, and I was afraid
to be around, to get close to any ofview, because I don't know
what would happen. But on this day, in this very moment, the
beast has been quelled. I don't know what you've done, I say,
I feel like I'm in more control. I believe that you are stronger than
your anger. We shall have to find out. I will not hurt you,
willingly any of you, but if you have to contain me, if
you have to put me down, if so, you have been here for
us through so much since you first met us. You've been nothing but helpful
and kind. Sure there have been if culties. I look over to our
ash talk, perhaps some miscommunication, but I think that we can. I
can speak for all of us that you are trying your best and there is
always room for everyone to grow well. I have when I told you this
until now I accept you all companionship. I will do what I can to
help protect you, but do know that, as I said before, consequences
come, whether they're good or bad. I do not know if even my
father knows who I am, if he knows I exist, or cares that
if we ever come across him, you run and don't look back, no
matter what happens. I don't think it'll come to that, because who knows
how many of me are out there. They gallivan, they do what they
want to do. But I will say, we're seeing more dragons than I
have seen and my upcoming of age. Lately, the land is changing,
something is bringing them about. We have to be ready for everything. We
need to get to that spot where we are destined to go immediately. Have
a bad feeling about what's about to happen. These leigh lines are unnatural,
they said, don't feel like it, but I have things to do before
that day comes. They want to find your sister. They want to take
Karun back to Oski a lure. I want to show a Rash talk the
shamanistic people of my tribe better understandings, and I say, I want you
to travel and get as much knowledge as you can before whatever is about to
happen. Happens, and I'll stand up. It's funny how everything rests on
our souldiers. How many of us are out there that's willing to do this.
We may find even more allies. That's why there are five of us
that is split evenly. Regardless, we shoulder it together. Yes, and
what do we do for those that have fallen? What good does it do
them? They must have family, friends, companions that need them, want
them around. What kind of excuse that we make for them? The doctor
sends people out to their deaths. We could have died so many times.
The fallen choose try and make a better tomorrow, at least the ones that
we've had. There is no excuse to be made. And you would notice
that I have a coin in my hand that I've been running my thumb along
this entire conversation. It is not up to us to give excuses. It
is up to us to show that the sacrifice was not for nothing, to
the families that they were important as they were, so don't feel bad about
it. We did keep our heads up. We need to work through all
of this, each up the journey together. Wait, your companion that fell
lay lines. There could be some some connection there as well. Maybe one
day we could find a way they bring them back through lay lines, if
possible. It seems like this, this magic is on. It's great.
Every time I touch it, I feel liver. I've ever anting my old
body. It's like needs to be studied more. You should keep going.
I wasted too much of your time. It's not a waste, No,
and I'd take it as silly. It did not inform you. If you
return to this place in but a few years, the pool will work again.
Yes, I hadn't gotten to that part. Will it work on me?
I'm born with this is believe the removes curses. It should I don't
know if this is a curse. It's a part of me. Try at
least. There are also many avenues we can still explore. Yet, Yes,
the divine there is confronting your father. Perhaps there is more information to
be had from him, as much as you want to tear his throat out.
There's bits and pieces of memories that are not my own, fragmented,
very fragmented, lessons, maybe teaches, maybe a part. I don't know.
I've heard that once you're a part of this thing, it becomes a
part of you. It's almost like you're an extension of who they are.
There is a I or I have to take more time, but there is
something there. I feel like. I almost feel like I know how to
do what he did when he disguised himself as a normal person. Maybe I
could. Maybe I could do the same. Maybe I could at least not
look like this. What am I am? I not better than him if
I do the same thing, if I don't accept who I am, It's
a trick to make people think that I'm something that I'm not. That doesn't
make things better. It makes it worse in the end, because then I'm
just lying to them. It depends on how you act. Look all assopt
this curse maybe or not. When we do go into public cities, do
not worry about me. You won't lash out, they said, don't.
I won't try to. But they will look at me strange. They will
call me names, they will throw stuff at me. Maybe I'll just wait
outside. What sort of changes is if they are exposed to it? No,
do not shy away because people are cruel. You take strength to stand
up to them. And do you have a lot of that? We shall
see mhm ear lean over to Karun though if you were to throw anything,
you would be very good at it. You feel quite a lot to me.
On our way, our next location that we go when we find it,
let's make a promise to each other. If we cross paths of anything
that you were looking for, we handle that situation as we go along.
If we come across a place, Sara, that you see that your sister
has been or maybe strike a memory, don't be afraid to tell us.
But from now we don't keep secrets or anything from each other. Agreed.
I thought my sister to be dead, actually, but you never mentioned this,
well right, I avoided it, but didn't say she was alive at
any point. It's just an assumption. But do you remember in the memory
Cash and they were asking us for our a core memory something important didn't mm
hmm. My memory was of my sister Vera, my final moments with her.
I am. I was a a field medic for it was on the
front lines of the gravelands, and my sister was a ferocious fighter. The
creatures there, they are, they are formidable to say the least. And
my sister was returned to me in a stage beyond my capabilities. When we
were in the memory cash. That was the memory that I offered, but
they rejected it. I still do not understand why, but they whispered to
me that it was some sort of divine intervention, some sort of happened since
that made it so that the memory was altered. So either she is dead
or I never had a sister, or she's alive. I don't know.
I just did not want to make it anyone's problem, but you keep bringing
her up, so I figure I would let you know that I am and
my memories are altered as well, and I have no grasp on it.
I don't even know who I am really, So I suppose we shall find
out along the way. Not only do we find out, we can all
start today to become something better than what we were yesterday. You are your
our proud healer, has saved us on many occasions, who brought us back
from the brink of death. Who is braver than she puts on, Who's
not afraid to run and eat a battle, to save a companion, to
risk our own skin, and to curse herself so that one of us lives.
That's who I know you are. That's a memory that you can store
right now until we find the others and my people who you would be a
shield maiden, a protector of those who cannot protect theirselves, who may not
have the strength of a front liner, but has the mental compais ability to
break the lines of the possible. I have seen you lift us up from
the worst wounds. Ever, so with that you start today is who you
are? Makes you wonder why the divine stick their noses in fucking anything?
Really must mean that we have a lot too to figure out what this whole
thing. It's not much, but h if we are speaking open and honestly,
it might be best for you to not speak of my patronage er.
I follow the mosquito which I may have mentioned, may have not. She
is not looked upon well. Many consider her evil. She is not not
me, but other witches and others who know of her only see her as
pestilence and draining of life. She is more complex, but it would be
wise to not mention her er it will bring you would not want to be
associated with me at that point. M A awake is usually death, though,
but it brings life. It is a cycle. Why are you here,
rasta? Why are you not with your people? It is rare to
see your type, your kind wearing about hum. I was cast out.
I am in exile. Oh, I can never return. Seems that we
have more in common than we thought. If you could return, would you
want to? No? The family I have left would only be harmed,
so I would never return. Most don't want me there anyway. I am
seen as an abomination, so I am better with others and not my own.
What if you start your own try? That would require a mate,
which would require me to find others of my kind. You can always take
one. That was a joke because sorry, I try to be funny with
it doesn't really work as much as the works with you. Sorry, it's
all right. You never know what we might come across though. It is
true, but I do not follow the ways of my people. Starting a
tribe would be almost sacrilegious. You are Shamans by nature. I am not.
I choose a different path. Yes. Would you say in our own
way that perhaps we are your tribe? Mmm? I'd rather not. Actually,
I do not mean that as an insult. I do not wish for
a tribe. I wish for companions, which you have. Yes, I
do good as you Karun. You're back too, from what I've heard your
normal self, I didn't know that was even nothing. Yes, if we
are sharing, then I had a lovely childhood and my parents loved me very
much. Secrets and lies are for lesser creatures, so that's all. Can
I do an insight check? Be a perception check? Yeah? Yeah?
Wow, we share all twenty into a thirty three dead serious? Oh oh
you're serious? So your life was perfect? That's right? Then why are
you here? Because I like you? No before us? Well curious,
I think I really want to know you know a little bit more about the
world. Mhmm. Interesting. Well, also, I'm completely fine with making
a little promise to not have any more secrets or whatever you were scheming.
But also, can we say maybe no more blood magic because it is very
gross. I believe that we weren't doing it. Our sea wasn't performing blood
magic out of a practice or it's icky. Yes, say uh you're cutting
up in hands about that. If you start feeling any changes, please let
me know. Yeah, only if you promised. Listen. H h Well,
now that we all know a good bit about each other, should probably
get going. I'm pretty sure they're worried. Perhaps the group sort of left
behind Denigi and Sakawachie at the place where the bones were being buried in two
sets of bones that were found inside the miroga. What do you do now?
I'm going to head back. As we begin heading back, I would
like to put my arm over a rash Talk's shoulders and give him a hug.
He doesn't dug back, but it's just because he doesn't really get it.
I'm squeezing you out of affection. Ah ah. And he then puts
his art around you and probably squeezes too hard. Impossible. I'm made out
of pure muscle. You bounce right off, that is true. M m
mm hmm. Do we return to this sleeping moves or do we scout more
towards the argoblins. I don't know about the rest of you, but I
could probably use a little bit of a wrist and schweaty. Yes, I
I'll suggest, I'll say, once we perform the rites of these two individuals,
for Psakawachi and Aninga, we should create a fire in the cave while
we have a down win nothing big that will smoke us out, but enough
to get warm, and there's a lake inside. I feel like we are
lucky to be able to bathe and rest and look over our wounds. I
am feeling like I'm losing energy with every step. I'll go begin to gather
some wood for the fire we set up camp. Yes, yeah, I
will. I will look for some game done if there's any around while we
are preparing to set up camp. I do want to look and see if
there are any other signs of outside of the cave or any other directions,
if there are any other signs of human life or humanoid life. I should
say, as we did hear about the Smiling Wolves men that went missing,
we could assume that the second bit of corpse was them, but I'd still
like to double check. Sure, make a perception check natural for twenty nine.
Wow. Okay, so here's what you find. Yah. You find
some clothing, maybe amongst some of the viscera, leathers and such. They
could really belong to anybody, But there is something that gives you an indication
that this person was a member of the Smiling Wolves. There's a I think
a dagger that you find. It's been sort of destroyed, but there is
a maker's mark on it that you would remember from some of the various supplies
that you saw in the Smiling Wolves camp. I will hold on to this
dagger until we return to the camp. I believe I've figured out who the
second body is, the man that miss went missing from the Smiling Wolves camp.
This belonged to him. It has their mark. So it looks like
we have no friend of this to bring back. But at least we don't
have to keep looking mm hmm. If you've returned back to the cave area,
you know you'd see Danigi and Saquachi kind of looking expectantly towards you as
you return, and I think as you sort of begin to look around and
you find this stuff, whoever sort of speaks to Sakawachi and Danige. You
know they're they're obviously very upset about losing palm ok, you know, but
they inquire if you're okay and if everyone's all right, And I think Saka
Watchie would probably mentioned to you, are we returning to the Smiling Wolves camp?
Willie Cook and Numa are probably very worried. You've been gone most of
the day. Look to the others, do we wish to camp here or
should we head back? You think are there are limited time before the goblins
arrive. Time is not on our side. I believe that Denique in back
is if you wish to return to your companions, Psycho Watch, I believes
is more than capable of getting you back. What time is it. It's
late afternoon now, I mean, how long is the trip to the Smiling
Wolves? Probably an hour, which means that the stars are going to start
coming out soon, right, I would say probably by the time you get
there. If you left now, hm, maybe it would be wise said
back. All right, let's go. But when we get there, I'm
crefting a spyglass. Also, I may have a small job for you as
well. Run if you will. What kind of small job? Allen,
buckle the hatchet and spin it around on the handle hill and pull out a
ruin. Uh, we would like for you too. This is a ruin
of return hatchet. If you could not try to Okay, careful, let
me see I take it. Is this something that I could that I could
work with? Yeah? I mean you build that truly. I will need
to work on it for some time, but probably do it tonight if we
get there soon enough and I am not disturbed. Oh, I will make
sure you're not disturbed. Why don't you take it for now and give it
back to me when we are through with the journey. I will do it
tonight. Thank you. I appreciate it. Don we forfeit camp and we
make our way there. You can rest where we are at their camp instead?
Are we taking the bodies or are we doing the rights here? I
believe the intention was to do the rights here. Now I look to Sakawachie
size and uh the sort of nods hmm. If it would be possible to
return Pommack to our home, mm hmm mm hmm. Yes, that would
feel but I do not expect we will be returning soon. You can take
the bodies with us. How would you do such a thing? Carry it
open my bag of holding? Oh magic, what sort of magic? It
is bigger on the inside. You could bring Pomack's bodies side that small bag
one of us. Could we have a couple of these to look just just
a point of contention, out of character. I'm sure we would have checked
on the remaining insights that we have from a dronis in that bag? Has
it decayed whatsoever? There's question in there They're not supposed to it's I believe
it keeps everything at the same place. I think we looked the last time.
Yeah, which is why we can't put like organic things in there,
living things because they would die. Yeah, Okay, the reason I asked
was because I did not take gentle repose. You said that out of character.
I don't think that it does not know that the head is in there,
so that all right? Yeah, and Saquachi just kind of like look
at each other, and Sacawachi says it would not cause an imposition. Wrap
it in a blanket the body for ease of removal and placement. I think
that would be the wisest. But we can use this bag and I have
no issue, and I will then also take there's like a tear. There's
like a tear that just you know, falling down the corner of Soccawachie's eye.
That would be most appreciated. I'll let them wrap a Mack's body as
they wish, and then with yours help place him in one of the bags
of holding. Sure it'll take a little while, but you're able to do
that. Dnigi is probably the one that helps. And you know, ask
Sakawachie to to assist you with whatever you need. But after some time you
do that. Are you heading back to the Smiling Wolves camp before we do?
I would like to also make sure we gather up the remains of the
Smiling Wolves member as well. Don't know right over doing it for them?
Okay, very well, I will not be touching it. Okay? Are
you headed out? Yes? Quickly, and only so that I can go
to sleep. Sure, so m Socouachi will guide you. Apparently you did.
Yes. I always do cast guidance on her when she's looking to the
stars, so that would be another plus one if she needs it. I
think she just got a thirty something, so I think she also has the
astrolabe, so why not have even more? I'm just double checking, but
yeah, oh yeah, crushed it. Okay, yeah, I just forgot
what the bonus was. I knew it was something I'm seeing. Okay.
Uh. Sankowachi has no trouble guiding you back with this astrolabe, and with
guidance, you make your way back through the confusing illusionary magic of SkyWatch.
Returning to the Smiling Wolves can MP. You are greeted outside by Yana,
who is keeping guard outside the camp. Oh, I see you have returned.
Welcome back, you haveytings. Greetings. Are you well? Is everyone
is anyone hurt? I'm great, thank you. We were mostly successful.
Unfortunately we have bad news about the smiling wolf that we were looking. I
see you should speak with Matts. Yes, we will make our way as
you pass, Yanna, thank you, Kay offering consoling, squeeze with their
shoulder and just kind of pats your your hand. Nods as you walk past.
You can hear them like, take a deep breath and straighten their stance
as the card before we go. Uh, I'd like to offer my hand
to whoever's holding the dagger we found. Oh yeah, much the same,
Salts. Would you like it? Yes? Please, Perhaps you would know
who this would be best to give to. And I offer the dagger out
to them. It was theirs. Yes, I think this was his noice
The life of a mercenary. She takes a moment and then hands it back
to you and says, yes, return these to Matts. I think,
are you sure? Yes, Mats is our We think of ourselves like a
family heroes, one that is very interested in money. Yes, but we
we try to look after each other as best as we can. In Matsy
is a good leader all rights and nightfalls. Asu Yana returns the dagger to
you or what means of it? Kind it back to Yara and join the
others putting into the camp. You ahead for a or do you? Yes?
I don't like to make assumptions, so we should speak to Matts before
we go get rest. I think red yes. Ending over the bodies as
well. Perhaps this is where we should should let's Sakawachi and Diniyi rejoin their
companions mhm. Sakawachi and de Nii. Well, just sort of nod to
you and say I will let Uli Kuk and Inuma know what has happened.
When you are ready, we can perform. We we have a ceremony when
someone dies. If you would like to be a part of it, you
may yes, thank you, thank you. I think I'll follow them since
I have Mark in my bag to help them get that ready so they can
take the time they need. Mm hmm. We will catch up with you
mhm, and I will head towards Matt. I'm going to go with Karoon.
Uh let's get out of here. Ah. Yes, I'll follow the
crafting tend away m best of luck m hmm. I will be heading with
as Celia, I'm frantically trying to find the name of the other person from
the Smiling Wolves that you knew you're a You're a standing guard outside of Matt's
tent. It's easy approach and he nods his head. Matts is inside if
you wish to talk with him, Yes, thank you, eating all right,
trying to stay busy. It is not my turn to go out into
a SkyWatch. From what Matts has said, we only have a few days
before we see more obsidian outraders, so we are taking shifts, making sure
that someone is always remaining in camp, and some are always searching for a
more loot. Did you happen to have any new recruits come in? We
came across a bit of trouble towards the Mystic Market. Yes, there was
someone who stumbled into the camp. There was a very very boisterous sort of
conversation that happened between Matts and them. Well, hopefully they're more helpful than
trouble. I think that is a common occurrence with any of the new recruits
for the Smiling Wolves. Oh, no, that's what I'm sure that you
can handle it, are you well? Did you find them in trouble in
the city, lots of it. We've had so much trouble, but we're
all right. That is good to hear. As long as you make it
back with all of your body parts and the smile on your face, that
is a good day. That is the smiling wolves Mottel at least, thank
you. And as I begin to visitor Yara, you might notice that I
am actively cupping my hands together, almost as if trying to hide the scar
that is on my right hand. And I started with your shoulder. We've
returned. I see that welcome back. I had the pleasure of speaking with
that mercenary. B thank you for sending them by. You are always thinking
of me. I see. Well, let's be honest. It seems like
the best solution. Things are difficult out here, and perhaps you could use
the help. Yes, this would be good if we only have a few
days before the Obsidian authoraiders reinforce this city. I think it is best if
we have as much help as possible. A plus, it is a good
opportunity to see if they would try to stab us in the back, m
Jara. Do you want to yes, of course. See Matt sort of
sniffing the air a little bit. Are you sure if you were not hurt?
He looks towards you or Celia, questioning la face sniff myself. I
suppose I could use a bath. You know, nothing but a few scripts
and tumbles. Got a new scar, Show off my new scar. Hmm
yep, yarrah. You know that almost sounds to me like you need to
make a deception check. But I'm not your g I will ask for a
deception check. Yes, I am canonically a bad liar. Fourteen, Matt
says, an eyebrow raised and he nods his head. I see you,
I look pleadingly. Tiara fully blushing. Hmmm, yes, unfortunately we encountered.
Got a dragon. I'm sorry, Yes, I am not kidding or
well done? What was it called? And moroga? Oh what this is
a what? Where did it destroy the city? I don't see any smoke
or flames. No, no, no, no, I would be happy
to tell you exactly what it is. And I pull out my journal and
I go into special interest, full over info dumping mode about Miroga. There's
the I feel like we have a gate walker's montage that happens periodically when this
music comes on. It's like the gate Walker's montage, which is like you
know, like we see all these dramatic angles of like explanations and pointing and
diagrams and things little stick figures yep, and then malevik ate its heart.
Why uh why not? Everyone has their customs. I suppose I am glad
that you are all light. This sounds very troubling, and along with this
we did find answers about which Hissoi and the companion of Sakawachi and Diniki.
I assume since they are not with you, these are bad tidings that you
bring. I would pull out the dagger and offer it to him. Ah,
this is very sad, but Hissoi was m hm h. HISSOI would
not appreciate us being sad on their behalf ISSOI would want us to remember the
good times, and there were many. But I appreciate you bringing this back.
There's more. I do also have in my bag here his remains.
Should you wish for them? We brought them back? Ah magic a beg
mhm yes, that would. We will have a bonfire tonight, then we
will. We will have a celebration of history's life, not a sad passing
of their death. And that is what we do here that the smiling boves.
We remember the good times. And if you would permit it, perhaps
tonight you can tell me more about essay, I hold up the journal.
I could write about what they were like in life. That would be most
appreciated. I knew when we first met you that you can see he gets
like a little choked up for a second. Nasa said, we will have
a celebration tonight and you will join us. Yes, we are going to
rejoin our companions. The Nigi and Saquachi are preparing their own rights for their
fallen companion. Ah. Yes, and we will as I have spoken,
we will prepare. We will prepare what we have promised for you as well.
We will make ready raft and we will open the the lockhouse. What
you have said, these goblins, if they are reinforcing Skywatcher, will not
be safe for you to live to the west. It might be best if
you if you take the river north. No, it is then we will
see you later. Then, Yes, thank you for these what are the
news? And and we will make sure that we'll have everything prepared in if
not tomorrow, in the following day. HM. That will give us time
to rest. Then right, and I will hold the tent flap open for
Yarra. I will do a small curtsy to Matt and I will leave.
As we step outside, I lower my voice to you. This has been
quite a difficult journey, hasn't it. Yes, it seems it gets more
and more difficult by the day, does it not. Oh? I think
there is some grace that we are able to give these people peace, however
small it might be. It's good to give others a resolution. M shows
that it is possible for us. I reached down and I tried to take
your hand. I give it a squeeze. We will find our resolutions.
You know, I've been thinking a lot about Johnnes. Yes, me too.
Perhaps we all know him soon. I was thinking the same thing.
I maybe tonight. It seems that in a way, people are saying goodbyes
in different ways. We could we wish to maybe read this letter first?
Why not more? Yes, perhaps once we joined the others. I think
that will be good. It'll give us a direction, hopefully. M hmm.
I'm going to go look for our Hashtak and the others. Yes,
I will join you. Let's do that. Let's go and I'll squeeze your
hand as well. My hand is warm. It's so warm. I guess
you're cold ass hands. At least I'm not clammy, right, Sue.
So Uh. I think over the night here we have this sort of ceremony
for uh Pomack and hissoi, and I think there's a bit of a contrast
that happens. The Smiling Wolves are sort of celebrating the life of hissoi,
and Sakawachi and Denigi are probably a bit more solemn about Palmack. Pamack was
their storyteller, the person that would be best to speak at such such an
event, recalling the tales of their journey here and all of their trials and
tribulations, much like what you have all gone through. They've kind of had
their own journey, their own sacrifices and adventure to make it here for this
Meat and the Smiling Wolves camp talks about hissoy, and there's a lot of
over the top stories, and there's a lot of you know, dirty jokes,
and there's that really that sort of rough but really happy feeling I think
that you have from these mercenaries. These people perform all kinds of things for
money. The Smiling Wolves appear to at least have some morals amongst any mercenaries
that you might have met, just judging from their stories and whatnot, they've
killed, they have made sacrifices much like you have. They've gotten by as
best as they can in this world. There's a story about his toy drinking
too much and embarrassing themselves in front of some Prevoi nobles and basically lose a
contract that would have made the smiling holes very rich. But Matt speaks up
and says it was worth it. Nobody wanted to work with the nobles anyway.
Besides, I will always look back on the memory of Hissoi as being
the most vomit I have ever seen anyone throw up. I don't even know
where they got that much food and drink to throw up. It made no
sense, much like their magic bag, it held more than was possible.
And everyone starts to laugh remembering these moments, and you can see people holding
up drinks and drinking too much and having their own remembrances of Hissoi. But
you have all in all, and I ever rememberance of Palmark and Hissoi,
and you eat well, and you rest well to steal away the others during
all of this. Absolutely, is that what you were going to do,
Assyria, Yes, I was going to say that I take special care in
chronicling this night. We're both celebrations, the one from Palmark and the one
for HISSOI and I journal them with as much detail as I can. We'll
go up to each one of our group, just gather them up and trying
to go somewhere private for a moment. Well, all of this, the
remembrance that it is going on, has made myself and our Celia remember a
little as well. We we still have a Dronis's letter. We were thinking
of handling his remains tonight, but it may be better to read first,
would say you? Yeah, by handling his remains, do you mean to
bury him? Mhm, it is appropriate. Oh, I'm sorry, I
must have misled you. I meant to just review the letter together. I
vow it was his wish to be brought home right. Yes, though there
is always a chance to bring him back, albeit very costly. One ritual
exactly of resurrection. You need but a part of them for it, though
it is not within our own casabilities. Talk is talking. I'm going to
need you to make a check for me. Please, okay, can you
please make a will saving throw? That is a natural one? Mm questions?
Do I rerule that? I don't think so. I think I'll accept
it for narrative reasons. Okay, you start to lose a rash talks conversation.
Here we will be as this happens. There is a sort of sound
of something sort of grating against each other. First you don't recognize the sound,
and then it starts to make sense to you. It starts to sound
like sand falling, And as a rash talk is talking, you can hear
like another voice kind of droning in the distance. There is a sense of
familiarity with this choice. Do I recognize it? No? But you think
you can hear? A balance must be maintained. Allance? What balance?
Yara says this out loud, as you're talking a rash tarckets very strange.
Yes, that, but but allance? That's not usually what you do for
a visual area. What the river in the distance beyond smiling wolves camp in
the docks h M. Seems to stand out to you. The sounds of
the river seem closer than they should be. I go to walk closer.
Ye, where are you going well. I think you should have an elven
burial. Mh, yeah, yeah, yeah. What are you doing in
the day? The river Yarra? Things distort and you see a large hour.
Do I recognize the place? You've been to that tower before? You?
A rah, please roll a oh. Let's see what you got.
Let's see what you got. I'm gonna make a secret role for you.
If it's bad, use my hero points. I don't care. I can't
not for the secret role. You've been to this tower before, Yara,
and you cannot remember. What does it look like? Dark and tall,
very tall, the tallest building you've ever seen. There is a series of
bridges leading across the river to this tower. I walk towards it. Across
the bridge, you can see Yara is about to step into the river.
Everybody, Oh, I will grab Yara. H. As they grab you,
the tower fades away, the bridges leading to it disappear. M h,
what are you doing? You were just saying reading a letter. Then
you just got up and started walking towards the river, and okay, are
you fine? You heard uh huh? I heard a voice? Did you
not hear it? No? It was my voice. I said, he
needs an eleven burial. No, no, no, no. I didn't
know who the voice was, but it was familiar. You're familiar. What
did they say? Something about balance? They needed to be balanced. And
then then there was a tower. It was it was right there. I'm
not I'm not making it up. Over there, Yes, it was right
there. There's nothing, but there's nothing there. I don't see it either.
On the far side of the river, you just see, you know,
just sort of rough landscape and the walls that encompass SkyWatch. Can I
can I examine the patient with occultism or canne to detect any kind of magical
malfeasance? Sure? Which would you like to use? Either one? Which
is appropriate? You picked? Okay? Uh? Come here, look into
my eyes. Right. It doesn't appear that there's any sort of spell on
your What you can tell you seem fine. I don't like it. Earlier
you mentioned altered memories of the divine. I'd like to do a religion check
if possible, you know, I think I'll readroll it eighteen. Okay,
I'm rerolling twenty. I'm trying to link any God's goddesses more if it seems
similar to the altered memories, any of that note. Yeah, it's interesting
that Yara hasn't really brought this up. Urash tocket has to make a little
sense to you. It sounds a lot like Yara is talking about a very
prominent goddess Forasma. Forasma shepherds Galarians recently departed souls to their final reward upon
death. Souls migrate via the River of Souls, the Forasma's bunyard, which
sits in a top an impossibly tall spire that pierces the astral plane. I
relay this, Why are you getting visions from Forasma? Uh? What Forasma
god is so departed, Lady of the graves? Yes, yes, the
river symbolism of the souls traversing the spire that pearces the astral the plane.
Does that have anything to do with the balance? What were we talking about
before? Yeah, resurrecting Padroness. We could put a tree over the grave
is an eleven tradition, so that the tree, you know, could feed
on the body. Whack. When they made mention about the balance needing to
be maintained, hmm, did it feel as though I was the imbalance or
that a dronesis make a perception check Natural twenty okay, neither. As you
start to think on it, Yara, you remember that the imbalance, it
was not caused by you. It was not caused by your sister. You
remember a conversation inside the spire with Forasma herself, Forasma with her ashen skin,
white hair, and an hour glass resting upon her throne. Only bits
and pieces, but this river being close by conversation with your friends begins to
remind you of something that was purposely kept from you. Forasma said something about
an imbalance, something about a creature in the north, an alien creature that
does not belong on Galarian. H. There's a conversation there. You are
that you can't remember something about your sister. You gravelands and some sort of
well, a bargain was struck. H You see Forisma reaching towards your head.
She puts a hand on the side of your head and your your temple,
the thumb on your forehead. Things flash white. You are in a
different body. You've been sent back. What what did you bargain? I
can't remember. The balance must be maintained. M h kay, you're here.
We've been asking you questions all this time, and you've been staring off
his face again. You see the tower again. I touched my forehead.
I'm sorry, I heard I had a memory. It's it's fragmented as well.
I am no. I I had some sort of a vision that I
was in Despire, in some sort of a throne room, a woman who
looks like me. She feels so familiar. It feels as if she with
for asthma. But that's not possible. I wouldn't be sitting in a room
with for asthma for anything. H m hmm. That is not necessarily true.
The divine do sometimes intervene h I made some sort of a bargain.
Apparently you talked about it's the gravelands, about my sister, about a whale,
some alien creature that doesn't belong to Glarian in the north. A h
did you? But that is the black frost whale, the one from Castravelle.
We were told of it. It was sealed in the ground the north.
I M. I suppose this is a good time to ask the questian.
Why are you here, Yara? What made you seek out the doctor?
Well, pace must be rained. I thought it that it was my
condition, like all of us. I mean, were you not curious when
you heard the rumors of the doctor. Of course I was driven to find
out more, but I do not know why. I speak. Balance must
be maintained. We should, we should get back to the camp. At
least, it's just getting cold. A boy, this water, I'm sorry.
A conifer? What a conifer? Like a deciduous pine or some sort
of some sort of a pine. I think you're talking about trees? Got
you fit the burial when you guys talking about I think let's get back to
the camp. Yes, and to read a letter from an old friend.
Yeah, maybe we should think on this in the morning and just finish what
we were going to do. And something like that happens again. At least
we all notified that if you walk towards the water, it may not be
for your best interest. I saw a bridge there. I'm sorry it was
not. There's not anything like that. It's all right. It seems that
we are all seeing different things today. Yes, it appears so. Oh,
I need a drink, and I will walk back towards the camp and
procure a drink and then go back to where we were meeting, join yard
by the fire. See grab a drink as well, or have a drinking
man and I'll then reach into my my bag and I will pull out a
letter technique. Could you describe the outside of the letter? Sure? It
is printed on paper that was made from a distant land where we are now.
This land is a land of sand sneer catapesh The rony late Oasis is
a place that is ruled by a certain group of elves that are merciless and
very very very good at what they do, so much that the neighboring powers
that maybe do not disturb them. They have this sort of agreement to where
anybody enters the land, they have to pass through those elves to get to
those areas. The trade is made Atabti is very known for trade, and
a lot of port come in for no goods. So that paper was made
by a sort of cacti tree, hammered and molded over and over again to
make it, you know, to where it's it would be dried and written
on. It can survive blood water just the way it is. The ink
is a special ink of eldin Elven tradition. This ink is beautiful. It's
not something that mira quill can do. Has a shimmer when you see it
in the sunlight. It has almost like a how oil looks on water.
It's this very interesting shimmer. The way it was folded before it was beat
up, it was very with care and love, and it wasn't something that
was just thrown into a pocket. It was in a special hidden area that
on his head. And when the paper it's opened, it has this sort
of silky yet sturdy filled to it. As the glint from the fire hits
the ink, you'll see that shimmer. There you have it. He was
always one for a flourish was he not let me sink? Mm hmm,
damn you what? Maybe a cactus fit the tree? Ah h do your
trees? H I can read it if you'd like, please, I think
we're ready. It is addressed to a Telia I believe is that another companion?
No? Do we recall a journal's ever mentioning someone by this name to
us? Is it Adonali's sister? I don't know if he ever spoke it
out loud though. If it's his sister, I think he mentioned it to
Celia one time. Mm hmm, yeah, it's I think that's his sister.
M hm. You taught me how to fight, oh, to take
care of myself? And when it pinch to close off emotions and become one
with a sand for say, you also protected me from all of the looks
and stairs out yet when we'd done at towns around the oasis. Even though
I am half half elf, you and mother and the others treated and raised
me with no misplacing of my feelings. I thank you for that, my
dear sister. I am bad at writing these letters, thinks Sippin. Well
interesting to say the least. I can't really remember it all, but I
will come home soon to tell you and mother of all my adventures, just
like father, as father ever come back yet at all. Anyway, I
met a group of interesting individuals. One is a giant lizard that can cast
magic. I have not yet told him, but he may want to stop
washing in river water. He always says bugs around him and I seem to
eat a lot more lately. But for some odd reason, he's a mastard
cook. I want to find out more about this one. There is this
other one. She's an elf, not like you and mother, but one
who likes to collect a viscera and other weird things. Oh that's you,
Karoom. I'm sure not to sleep next to that one because of her experiments.
Oh, and could you teach me how to communicate through telepathy? That
one shouts in my head and I try to speak back, but say things
out loud all the time. You were communicating telepathically with him all the time,
well, I would explain, occasionally him yelling out of nowhere, Yes,
whispering, really, sir, it's an everthing. Oh and there is
this large, muscular, amazing, gentle, beautiful orc. They are caring
and kind, honest, maybe too honest at times, but when I look
at them, I can't help but to just feel constant acceptance. And well,
let's just say, I feel as though they would do anything for me.
Towering power, filled with care and expressive ferocity. You would really like
them, I feel. With the first one I met, when I don't
really remember what happened before I met them, there was this skit. It's
crossed out here, but I best tell you this in person, just in
case the letter does not make it. There is this other one. Something
is incredibly intriguing about her skin is as pale as ash air, as white
as the eastern stands when the sun is right above it. She was defensive
at first, guarded what was good reason. She caught my interest. I
didn't want to get too close to anyone because of what you told me.
But this one in the orc really opened my heart. She saved my life,
you know. Once, oh all these undead I was surrounded and I
didn't perry after I thrust and forgot my footwork, so it got lodged in
too deep and took what felt like a fatal hit. But then this blue
gold light enveloped me, and I felt like I could take on the world.
After never felt something for someone as I felt I was starting to brew
up inside me for this one. I denied these feelings for the sake of
attachments, but I felt different. I gave her a flute. Okay,
fine, it was something I got off of a kill, but still it
would have had the same meaning. Right anyway. She's something called a dusk
walker. I don't know much, but something about being resurrected. Do you
think that if I ever look? I know you don't like me talking like
this, but if something ever happened to me, do you think I would
come back again? Would I be myself? Is she herself? I want
to speak more with her. I often catch myself staring at her and I
try not to lock gaze, but it's something with her eyes. I get
lost in them. Anyway, we are getting ready to head out to some
forest area for investigation because I can't talk about and I can't talk about it
because it's top secrets and stuff. Look, Sis, I know you said
not to have any attachments and to be prepared because being an elf means so
those around me will more than likely pass on before me. I just feel
safe around them, and I feel as though I want to protect them.
Maybe this is what mother meant when she said, and you are surrounded by
those who are right by you, and you by them. The stars,
the moon, the earth beneath your feet, the warmth from the sun itself
will all feel connected. You will be grateful for the wind suddenly kissing you
as you walk through the leaf the leaf blanketed forests, finding yourself smiling at
just being alive in the moment with those who matter most that my son has.
When you know the true meaning of being in elf and have found your
tribe. I know it's silly, and you always tell me to watch my
back because the moment you trust is the moment your guard is down and that's
when they try to stab you on your back. And I'll prove to you
one day that maybe there are exceptions. I will return home soon and you'll
meet them all. I miss you and mother so much. And if you
see my father, please tell him to be ready for tons of stories.
And there's some smudging here. M hm oh they're calling me now more to
come. I'll send us out tomorrow. See you soon, Teleia. There's
much love adrones. Mm hmm. I missed him, me too. I'll
take his coin and I'll flip it. M heads m. Do do you
think he would wish to return? It almost seemed like he would in the
letter. And that shall be our mission for us perhaps? How did he
How did it happen? I killed him? It's far more complex than that.
Why he asked me too? What do this? Makes some sense?
It seems like he was having a breakthrough and he'd asked you to kill him.
It's a long story. He was captured and about to be tortured,
and I said, would you rather than me do it quickly or at the
hands of this monster? So I did this. We were all sacrifice so
we could leave. Ah. He gave his life for you. To live.
That's right. Who is the letter addressed to? Do we have a
name and the location? Perhaps we could deliver it. Is there any sort
of location on it? Out of character? No, you just know that
the paper was made from a special cactie. It only grows in the Roni
oasis Mercy the paper. Yes, yeah, it's impossible for me to discern
the type of material make a crafting. It would be pretty tough. Thirty
okay, yeah, yeah, it appears to be a very particular type of
cactus. Where does it grow? Again? Correct spelling? There it is
that's under dead. Here you go for context. Our character sheets are all
like in a folder and then there's a subfolder called dead and that's where I
Yeah, it made it very find but I just like sleeping schlumbering me.
It's just a head me right now. Okay, oh here, I'll help
you with this too. There you go. Does a vournai kickus n a
vulnanoi coctus. It grows only in a very particular oasis cat a pH Yeah
near catchup? Mm hmmm do we know where this is? Schood live and
paper? Uh strong? So I will take a any kind of I mean
navigation. I probably know as a diplomat, I've had to look at lots
of maps. Uh. If anybody has been down far south across the inner
Sea, then I'll give you the role. Otherwise I will take Oh,
let's see, well, what can we do here with society? Be society?
Yeah, okay, I can do that. Yeah yeah, okay.
So okay, so are Celia and Rash talk. You've heard of cantiflash before.
It is very far. It is across the Inner Seat. It is
near the Malwogee Expanse. So uh, just for a visual for our audience,
let's bring up the map here, give me a moment, because it's
a very big map. All right. So where the group is now is
all the way up here, okay, the SkyWatch. They started their journey
from leaps thought in shutterwood of Usta La over here and way way way down
south past Absalom, which is kind of like the equivalent of New York City
in this in this place, it is kind of like the capital of the
inner city, way past Absalom, down south. It's Canapash adronicist from a
world away. That is a very long journey that he took. Mhm.
I believe that is thousands of miles, yes, many thousands, probably like
three thousand miles like that. Well, it's worth holding on to the letter
in case we find the Saves down south. Yes, yes, for an
elegant recipient years at a blink of an eye, hope that we're able to
meet them. Perhaps by then, maybe he will be on the journey with
us. Hmm. Maybe I can make another bargain with Forrasma. Perhaps about
that you mentioned a balance. If you meet a bargain with Trasma, I
wonder what you gave up? Do not quite know? You did mention memories
being altered in the memory cash. Perhaps it was knowledge of something family you
mentioned your sister and being unknowledgeable about things. I mean, what could have
led me to being in there? Is the main question, I suppose,
because did I somehow transport to the boneyard? Did I die when I was
speaking to her? Oh, go ahead, I'm sorry, I interrupted,
No, no, no no. When I was speaking to her, I
was myself, and then she did something. She put her hand on me,
and all of a sudden I was not myself. When you mean your
self, do you mean you now you before death? Me before I was
a dusk walker. I am now something else. Yes, the bargain was
to become a dusk walker. Maybe it was for you to gain another chance.
But instead of being free, you're there to serve until you finish your
part of the bargain. Well, I will not endeavor to piss off a
god. I suppose we shall try and figure this out. Well, if
she made mention of that creature in the north, perhaps it is the whale.
Perhaps the second chance was to take care of that. Yeah, maybe
that is the bargain, But there was something about the whale as swell someone
you don't remember. The good news is we all have the same goal of
going there anyway. M M. Final question. You do not need to
speak on the motivations, but do you remember if you were dust squawker before
you entered the gate? I was not. Wait, actually before I enter
the gate, before you entered the gate was I. I don't believe so,
but GM correct me if I'm wrong. You remember clearly that you were
not. No, no, no, no no no. I was not.
It was myself. I was human. Perhaps you met her through the
gate. I hate to bring it up, but if your memories old,
maybe you weren't human ever, maybe you were a creation made by Forasthma.
I heard that the gods can do whatever they want. That is not a
bargain, though there'd be no need created to give her life. That's not
a bargain. Yeah, there's one of a duty. Yes, and to
the gate receives something you wished for but do not remember, and then became
a dust squawker in some sort of bargain. Okay, do you remember what
you saw in the gate? Perhaps that's connected. It was my sister h
ad memories, I know, but you were unsure if she was dead or
alive? Correct? I don't know now pretendingly do not. Did you give
your life for her to live? Your bargain is to become a tool of
a god. This is not unheard of. Maybe I don't know. Would
you do that for your sister to live? Anything? I would do anything
for Vera. I think we have our answer. Not knowing implies contradictions in
your memory. She was dead, You enter a place you do not quite
remember, make a pact. She now lives, and as we know as
of today, words with powerful meanings behind it, beyond just audible means,
can create things beyond our imagination. I'm going to chug the remainder of my
drink and slam it down on the table. I need sleep, I think.
Mm hmmm, I think we are. Yes, I looking into working
on this hedget. Yes, Yes, I greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
M muh okay, So yeah, you would have you would have had
some time. I mean the celebration was going on and kind of went in
and out. But we can say, uh that you will have time to
do this. Uh, but I don't think it would be right now.
Okay, I don't if you were, if you were kind of like all
sort of getting ready to rest or whatever, we can kind of uh talk
about how everything is reconciled. If you want to do that. Sure,
let me see the hatchet and the thing and I will take a look at
it. I believe you have it the other so you did? Were there
any other scenes here than anybody wanted to have? No? But I would
give Karn the herbs that I took from Castroville. I have been holding onto
these for you. It smells like Castroville. It is the way that I'd
like you to keep track of this stuff. I think is we don't have
to get super specific about each of the herbs. We can say that there
will be various uh sort of levels of ingredients, okay, and you can
craft whatever like level of that potion you have ingredients. Okay, I figure
that's the easiest way. Right. The ones were the unique ones you gave
specifically that had special effects for certain potions. Right, These will these will
essentially be Uh do you still have the notes on that? Because I don't
think I did. I wrote, I posted them into the discord. Okay,
So we can say that that will be of the lesser level. Uh.
So you have basically ingredients for two lesser level oceans. Good. I
will take very good care of this, okay. And if everyone is sort
of like heading to rest and you want to kind of like have time to
get yourself settled before you leave. It was communicated to you by Matts based
on you know, a messenger leaving and giving you a rough amount of time,
is that you basically had like another day before you should probably head out
of Skywatcher. You would have like an extra day beyond this rest to kind
of wrap anything up that you needed to before you left. So if people
are doing any sort of crafting, or what have you. You can do
that here. I won't take your twenty one their karun. You are able
to set up that rune on the hatchet without much trouble with twenty one,
and let's stick with karun for right now. In terms of doing any crafting.
Uh, what other crafting would you like to do? You mentioned the
spy glass. Is that I would like I would like to make the spy
glass. I've been trying to make the spyglass for days. Sure, absolutely,
you have time now I would be crafting a spy glass. Sure another
crafting check? All right one moment, thirty one? Absolutely easy, peasy.
You have created a spyglass coar, fantastic, And yeah, you still
have time to do other stuff. I'd say another Uh, we'll say with
a thirty one, you craft a shit out of that spy glass very quickly.
Yeah, go Phil agree, it looks like a very proper elven spy
glass. Anything else that you would like to craft in the in the meantime?
Or would you like to break down the elixirs that you have? I
would be breaking down the elixes? Okay, So you had a total of
four elixirs that were picked up two moderate eagle eyes and what was the other
one, Cheetah something cheetah moderate Cheetah elixa moderate cheat. We have two of
those two moderate eagle eyes and that's it. Yeah, so Karun, you
can potentially break those down. I'll take a crafting role for each of those,
and depending on how well you do, you will vary how many ingredients
you go through to sort of reverse engineer those. All right, you can
add to the recipes. This is the role. Then for the eagle eye
okay, okay, twenty eight, you will go through one of those eagle
eye elixirs and you can now add the moderate eagle Eye elixir to your recipes.
Fantashtick and this is for the cheetah one. I will roll that again
a sixteen getting rerolled through twenty nine. You also go through the moderate Cheetahs
elixir and you learn that recipe. After breaking everything down, it's going to
take you the better part of the day to kind of create the spyglass,
break down these elixirs, and take various breaks and things. But you have
a very productive day. You get a lot done, and now you've got
yourself a new spyglass. Malevic has a hatchet with the run of returning on
it, and you have two new recipes, the Moderate Cheetahs Elixir and the
Moderate Eagle Eye Elixir. Fantashtick. Thank you. This is not the best
Karun has rolled. I just want to answer the chat. Normally, I
don't do that during show. Karun has rolled fucking crazy for crafting roles.
There is also a collapsible ladder, an extendable collapsible ladder that Karun has crafted
from detritus around the ruined observatory. Okay, so some good shit, some
good ship cannot help being in elf. Yeah she was half perfect? Would
you made that? But still? And I made that one when that was
half pervert? Just shows you how strong the elvis. So you all have
had that extra day of rest or anything else that you wanted to do,
mates, Matts has gathered has been gathering various things for you and getting stuff
set up. Did anybody else want to do anything during this day of rest?
Yes? I would like to go around and gather stories from the various
smiling wolves. And I would also yeah, okay, it's twenty okay,
uh yeah, I mean you've kind of you've kind of shared some some booze
with the Smiling Wolve. There's a few that are willing to sort of be
a little more open with you. I think Yoruf and Yanna especially tell you
a few stories. I think there's a tale of some some probably some some
shitty jobs that they took on that they should not have taken. Some uh,
some, I think some of the lower ranked members of the Smiling Wolves
found them, and Matt's was trying to be encouraging and went along with the
job, regardless of knowing that they would probably end in well, not disaster,
but they wouldn't exactly be very fruitful. And they tell tales of some
of their more spectacular escapades, some of which involved some of the nobility in
Brevoi, and how the Smiling Wolves have danced on the edge of the way
that Joroff described it was danced on the edge of a sword, in that
sometimes they would find themselves running astray of the nobles, and some of the
times they found themselves working with them. And Matt's point of view was always
that nobles are shipped to work with. They are a pain in the ass.
They always ask for more than you should give them, but they do
pay well. I know all about that I was actually trained in courtly graces,
so I am actually capable of being invited to a courtly and noble function.
Professionally, it is not my favorite thing to do. And as I
talk to them, I would like to sketch them. I will reroll that
nine six echent nice. I think what happens here is that I am just
completely enamored by these people. Their stories are rich and moving, and I
am just moved. I just carried away by it. And my drawings are
shitty because I'm spending more time I'm writing and chronicling their stories. But it
is a day of rest. I think while you're all kind of resting,
at some point, you know, Sakawachie would have followed up and thank you
for everything that you've done and still expressed an interest travel with you. I
say that it would be a wonderful idea. Yea, we could use the
help. M hm. It will be safe in numbers, it will be
very helpful if we are taking this raft that was mentioned will be the best
too well to steer it. He's experienced. Mm hmm. Good. Were
assuming that this is a question for the storyteller? Are you assuming that everything
has we are healed up completely or do we need to do that. So
again, the way that rest works in this is that you regain a certain
amount of right points. But we can assume that the the rest of the
group would have assisted tending to your wounds and such. So yeah, you
can. You can assume that you have been fully rested and the party has
hit level five. By the way, it's glory. I have a question
for you act. It is a GM discretion question entirely as a witch.
I have a thing called lessons, which are direct teachings from my patron,
the Mosquito Witch. You get them at certain level ups. However, there
is a very specific note on them, basic lessons. You can select one
of these lessons of the feat or another effect grants you. Another effect is
never specified ever, Okay, I'll have to look into that. I'm not
going to do that right now. That is fair. That's more noting.
My brain would be commune and try to take a day or so to see
if it can be granted. But yeah, I mean, I guess just
me a DM or something with the absolutely took a look for sure. So
day passes following day around and you can see that the smiling wolves has gotten
together. You're sort of send off. Uh. There is a raft waiting
at the docks on the river. It's large and it has been sort of
loaded up with various supplies and goods and things. Let's see all the ship
got to leisure. Yeah, you got a bunch of stuff. Pay day,
pay day, pay day. Getting my type and fingers ready? Okay,
so where is all this ship? Did I lose it? I think
I did? Mm hmmm. Uh. As everyone's handling the logistical stuff in
the foreground, I am in the background, just doing push ups, working
out. It's totally how you work out specific here. I'm trying to entertain
mm hmmm. Uh. Oscilia, hm hmm. You seem to be one
with the versatility in your weapons. Yes, that's correct. Hm. I
am trained in many martial weapons. Uh huh. When we disarmed those mercenaries,
there was the uh great acts from Turner. I believe it is two
handed, but if you would wish it, it is yours, the wife,
I will continue to hold until we can pawn them off. I think
you should hold onto it. The way that I prefer to fight is a
half of free hand. In case I need to reach from one of my
implements, I pull out the amulet. Yes er during my preparations, and
I would have asked this before we fully rested. There's a spell I have
that I can use now. Basically, it gives you a magic shield upon
your arm that you can raise as desired like a normal shield without having it
equipped. I would have asked if you'd like me to have prepared that for
you. Uh, yes, thank you. You get a little smoochy on
your lizard brain. This is Oh, we should use this in battle.
You do it a fantastic combination. I could clock them with this shielded arm
works. It's more for defense than you know, fucking. The greatest defense
is a strong offense. Fair. I suppose if the enemy is dead before
they can attack you, that is a very good defense. Mm. But
nonetheless, this will still be useful and you have your hand free. Yes,
thank you. Now we'll make sure they stay away from you. Appreciated.
Just ask when you wish for it. It is once a sort of
thing mm hmmm, perapsul. Come with a special keyword for it, like
give me a shield. Oh that's a good one, yes, sir as.
The smiling wolves are sort of standing by the docks and you're finishing things
up here. The the raft has been loaded up with the various stuff on
the raft you have received from mass A fan feather token and two bark skin
potions, two hundred gold and rare gems, two hundred gold in mixed coins,
and a traveler's any tool. I'm skeptical. What is the any tool?
The any tool is a magical tool. Uh that before it's activated,
it appears to be like an ash rod capped with steel on either end.
You imagine any specific simple tool, and the any tool transforms into it.
Hm hmm, and it is as effective as the real thing. H you
speaker any tool? Yes, yes, I'm unfamiliar with it that I'm skeptical
mm hmm um. Drug and felt how it looks. I hold it and
imagine nine and three quarter spanner and it appears to be Yes, absolutely,
and it is sholid and heavy and feels like it could really work. Does
any one mind if I borrow this? No? I think I could put
it to some good use. I believe it is made perfectly for you and
what you do? I take it? Thank you? Do you have any
use for these other potions as well? Or do you already know how to
make these? What is this? Is this barkskin? Yes? Mm hmm.
I could break one of these down and learn how to make it,
perhaps given enough time. Yeah you sure, unless you'd like to sell them,
do you? No? No, it will be invaluable if you learn
them. The smell is quite pungent. They seem perhaps a good quality.
I think is it possible to discern the quality? So there is no level
to a barkskin potion? Yeah, there's just the one. Sure, it's
good stuff. So the bark skin potions, Yeah, it doesn't have like
a you know, lesser or whatever. I think they just calm like stones
a can at a certain point. But it's it's considered a level four item.
It's really fun taking some of this stuff and trying to clip your fingernails.
Can't do it. Matts is looking to sort of see you off as
you're all getting ready to load onto the raft. I've been talking with some
of the smarter wolves, he says. This raft will get you to winter
Break Bay no problem. The lake, though, has a mind of its
own. If you're going west to start chorus, the port you will want
to reach will be aged in mendev and that's a long way off. The
raft is good, don't get me wrong, but you'll need something bigger to
make it all the way there there's a ship graveyard and he sort of he
waffles a little bit with his with his hand and says, not far from
winter Break Bay, it's called the Jundle and wrecks. You'll find dozens of
ships there, some no doubt sea worthy enough for your voyage. Don't hate
the ghost stories. You're poppy cock, I'm sure, but hey, who
knows you're good at this treasure hunting thing. Maybe you'll find more than just
a ship amongst the wreckage. As Matt's mentioned ghost stories, my eyes go
wide, they whispered to Koon. I love ghost stories every one we bound
coasts und real, but it's nice to pretend. I will walk up to
Matt the first time in reach out my arm. He's a big stupid smile
on his face. You reach out your arm, he goes to hug you,
and as he's a strong guy, he gives you a mighty hug.
I just look back towards the group, and I know you would light it
up. I'll do two pets and then like a small yes. Yeah,
it will be sad to see you go, but it was nice while you
were here. Enjoy the moment. Yes, ah, start rummaging through my
bags. Do you wish for a parting gift? I do not turn down
gifts. Here I pull out a small, just container. Job. This
is a lizard folk tea. It's made from lizard folk. No, no,
no, it is a tea that my people drink. Ah, that
sounds much more appetizing. Yes, it has slight numbing effects on the tongue
and mouth. It is very pleasant from what I've heard. It does not
affect my people the same as yours. Try it if you wish. It
is different and unique. Thank you for these gifts. This is very kind
of you. Thank you for your help of course. Hmm. But who
is all going with us? Sakawachie is a nigi going or no saquachi ulukuk
and inuma. But I don't want to keep them waiting. I'll nod my
head and walk past the group you know in the wrath and extend my arm
for anyone that needs help getting on. How fastest this current It's not a
super fast one, but yeah, it's moving less than the Blood River um,
probably about the same. Okay, it would most likely not be very
good for you to swim too long in this river. It's very cold.
Oh you definitely wouldn't go then. But it's not made of scary blood,
so no, mhm, neither was the blood river that was. It was
mineral. Well up for debate whether it's blood or not blood. Really,
I will give Matt's a hug, give you, gives you a kind hug
back, and it's good to meet you. Ex it was good to meet
you as well. I am glad you have met other mercenaries that seem to
have scruples. M you will do well, of course, that is what
the Smiling Wolves are all about. We always do well. And everybody sort
of throws up a hand and I throw up my hand as all yeah.
And then it was various like howling around the world. And Matt's sort of
has a foot on the raft. Is everybody loaded on? Yes? Oh
yeah, I'm I'm on the raft. Yeah. With a smile and a
wink, he helps shove the party's raft off from the docks, and the
Smiling Wolves wave and the communal howl goes up. As you begin the sail
away. First watch as we're pushing away, I will say to the others,
looking back, in another life, I think I would have wanted to
stay with people like them m not to be said for humans who would rather
be something else. I like them mhm, Well don't fall in. You
see the gates of the lockhouse open as you pass through, heading north Lake
Mists and veils. Hello, this is why Stephen from Table Story. If
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