16 - Farewell Saltspocket...
Previous session: 15 - Aftermath and After Saltspocket
Last preparations...
After a few days after Graath bound his soul to Hosta, the party finishes to prepare their expedition into the mountains, buying gear and provisions.
[Investigation] While searching the hole, Persy finds a journal hard to read, written in Elvish, which is passed to Willum.
[INT Check - Fail ❌] It's really hard to read and hastily written. It seems to be an observation journal, with weird megalomaniacs rants.
Farewells...
On the day of leaving, we say our farewells to our close ones and the people who helped us during our journey in Saltspocket, when we decide to leave, we hear a voice coming from behind, a Tiefling man calls us and wants to join us.
He presents himself as Loyal, and after discussing and warning him about the journey ahead, we agreed to join to let him join the party, and we're heading to the The [[Alderakh]].
Travelling to the Alderakh...
During one night, Or is sitting at the fire with us.
They propose us to help us, in exchange of some help.
(We get introduced to Devil's deal mechanic)
Day 6...
We're passing through a wooded area, and we notice the animals are much bigger (aka to fit the size of the Giants).
Around mid-day, we come across something in the middle of the road, more precisely a pair of boots.
[Investigation - Pass ✔] Persy sees no tracks around. Loyal looks inside the boots, with the left one has a note "Put me on", whereas the other one has "No, seriously."
Persy casts [Detect Magic], but something seems to block the result, then smiles at Willum who wants to put the boots since. After noticing his smile, Willum puts on the boots.
[CHA Save + Acrobatics check - Fail ❌] The boots are adjusting and are too big for Willum. After half a minute, Willum mentions that "Nothing seems to happen", then is launched into the air at high speed. The boots fall and get back to where they were.
Willum has a good view as he's propelled around 200-250ft in the air. Then starts to fall and notices a bunch of corpses in the trees.
He rages before the landing and takes 63 dmg of fall damage, which Reylynn heals a good chunk.
Loyal puts a dagger into the boots, but it doesn't launch. The idea to use the boots as a catapult is a no-go.
When trying to dig out the dirt under, we hear a child saying "Cheaters!" then they start to run away.
Willum chases the boots, and Nesvalyn and Persy chases Willum.
[CHA Save - Fail ❌] The giggling gets louder and louder and Willum doesn't manage to catch them.
The party sees Willum running in slow-motion in a strange pose.
[Detect Magic] Persy sees Fey magic around Willum.
We convince Willum to stop the chase, and resuming the journey.
Day 12...
We're approaching a valley between two hills, with a big winged creature attacking Dwarves who are protecting a wagon, but they don't have ranged weapons.
We decide to help them.
As the creature flies away, the dwarfs get out and taunts the creature. They celebrate and turn towards us. One dwarf comes to us and he introduces himself as Pevir.
Loyal asks if we're going to have a reward.
No.
Nesvalyn asks if it happens often in the region.
It's the Mackarow, it's been chasing them since they have this cargo.
Willum asks what it is.
It's rope and not from the monster.
↪[Insight - Pass ✔] Nesvalyn notices they're lying, and they seem a bit off like a bit delusional.
Nesvalyn tries to put some common sense into them and Willum suggests to have a look on the treasure.
↪ [Persuasion - Pass ✔] They're starting to argue between themselves.
[Sleight of Hand - Pass ✔] Persy casts silently [Invisibility] on Loyal.
↪ Loyal makes his way to the carriage and to the big chest (it's at least 6ft long), and it's wrapped in 6 different chains and locks.
After a while, the dwarves agree to show us and proposes us to escort them to Saltspocket.
↪ [Stealth - Pass ✔] Loyal manages to stay silent.
Pevir pulls out an interesting key.
↪[Perception - Pass ✔] The key contains a smaller key inside, and it gets smaller for each lock.
Pevir is really excited and presents the most exciting treasure Wundera had.
When we look ourselves, we notice that the chest is completely empty. We politely ask them to describe what they see.
Pevir says it's a "Million gold pieces", another dwarf mentions "many gems", another one "dragon eggs to bring them back" and the last one mentions it's "the most wonderful woman I've ever seen".
[Detect Magic] The chest and the dwarfs are surrounded by Fey Magic.
The party regroups to discuss.
We confirm it's an empty chest, and we mentioned there's Fey magic. Nesvalyn wonders if they arrived with the Wyrd.
[INT Check] Reylynn knows that Fey love Wilderness, which is the case in the area.
[Identify] The chest is cursed, but attached to the people instead (contains Fey and various magic).
Persy asks everyone to take a step back from the chest.
↪ [Persuasion - Pass ✔] The dwarfs are stepping back too.
Then Persy casts [Shatter] on the carriage, and everything rattles, but nothing seems to have happened. After a plank cracks, the chest sucks on itself until it implodes.
The dwarfs are screaming and spasming, as the magic fades away. Once they stopped, they seem lost.
What's your last memory?
We had a drink at the Halvefort inn, we saw someone shorter (than them), then they're here.
What's a Mackarow?
What's what? It's a stupid name.
From that, they decide to leave to join probably Saltspocket.
Arriving at Halvefort...
We arrive at a small village of 20 buildings, surrounded by a wall half-finished.
It's mostly filled with small people. They seem friendly and greets us. Reylynn notices other Harengons. But most importantly, everyone is wearing the color green.
When approaching to the center square of town, we see a barefoot halfling woman (with long blond hair, and it's held with a flower crown). She looks at us says "Hey, what's up?". She presents herself as Moondrop, and reacts with that same sentence no matter what we say.
When Persy tries to cast [Detect Magic], Moondrop casts [Counterspell] while adding "No need for that, as there's magic around us".
We try to know more, and Willum casts [Detect Magic] and notices nothing, where Moondrop reacts disappointed that we don't believe her.
It's a peaceful circle of druids trying to avoid civilization, known as the Circle of the Infinite Harmony.
They're looking for the Grove of Spring for the past 10 years. From what she explains, the Groves of Autumn and Winter are much in the North.
Despite some bad feelings from some party members, we decide to spend the evening here. A fairy presents herself Starsoul and shows us the bedrooms.
We're arranging to be all in the same bedroom.
[Divine Sense] Nothing is sensed.
[Detect Evil & Good] Everyone is good alignment.
Before dinnertime...
Dinner scene...
The party sits with Moondrop and presents Grasp, where we're trying to learn more about the place and their goals.
When did you start looking for the Grove, and why?
10 years ago, because I had a dream.
Who's the first person to found the wall?
We founded it together.
Any rules against magic?
No, we practice magic, but a different than yours.
Is my (Persy) magic allowed?
We don't really have rules aside the circle of infinite harmony. We're all here for the same goal.
What's going to happen once the grove is found?
We'll be living a state of perpetual rebirth.
What does that mean?
We'll find out when we'll get there.
Willum mentions about each grove being a different state a purpose, then he's explaining that constant rebirthing would be hell.
I understand but we cannot force someone who doesn't want to understand.
Would you help us if we help you?
The village would be yours to claim if you don't want to join us.
(Pointing the half-finished fence) You never have been attacked before?
No.
How?
We live in harmony.
Why building it in first place?
Why are you hyperfixating it?
Has there been a group of Dwarfs recently?
They came a few days ago.
What happened in the inn?
They did violate one of the tenets of the circle (aka drank alcohol).
How did you vibe with the Dwarfs?
We ask them to respect our culture.
Were they punished?
No, not by anything we heard of.
How was their departure?
They took a big box and left out of sudden.
(Asking Grasp the same question)
Rachel is wearing dark green, with black hair recovering her face, with a strange crown of sticks, sitting at the table, and not moving or reacting much. We can't really tell which race, but it's a small one.
Loyal thinks the Fey elements we encountered are connected.
Do you know anything about tricksters Fey in the area?
Yeah, it's been filled with Fey since they're in Wundera. What happened?
(We're sharing the story of the boots)
It was probably Rikiki.
Rikiki? A famous Trickster?
Yeah, it's mostly harmless jokes (Willum didn't share the intel about the corpses in the trees). He's one of the older generations where mortals are meant to be tricked. Nowadays fey don't believe that (and looks at Reylynn).
Discussion with Rachel...
(Loyal and Persy only)
The duo stands up and go to see Rachel, to learn a bit more about her side of the story.
I hope we don't disturb your dinner.
No it's quite all right. The duo notices the dinner is untouched.
Apparently you were the last one to see a group of Dwarves a few days ago.
I'm the one who bewitched them.
They were attacked by a Mackarow. What's a Mackarow?
How did you hear that name?
Well they told us.
They deserved it.
For being inebriated?
For being rude. Being disrespectful to Starsoul.
Being rude is worth for death?
Well they'll reincarnate.
Persy is a bit disappointed to have the answer that quickly and Loyal doesn't have much to ask more. They get back and share the information to the party.
Moondrop asks about the bewitch.
Once she hears that the dwarfs have died, Moondrop cries, stands up and walks up to Rachel.
Persy and Willum joins and gets closer and follow her.
- Rachel? How could you do such an awful thing to these dwarfs?
- They were rude.
- WHAT? You can't bewitch murder people!
And their voices raise.
- ENOUGH. You're a fool, if I can't find that Grove with you, I'll find without you.
Rachel shapeshifts in a familiar form of the Mackarow.
Next session: 17 - The Grove of Spring