Beregost

Upon seeing the others enter the house I follow suit and chuckle wryly at the conversation between Dieter and Aiwë.

"A black widow, indeed. Now, let’s find those boots and get out of here! It’s past my bedtime."

Jan 8, 2023 5:49 am

As the adrenaline fades, Stella strains her weary mind struggles to figure out how the spiders got there and why they all fought to the death.

"Vigor of the Sleepless Knights," she pleads in druidic, calling upon the stars to focus her drifting thoughts. (Guidance)

How many were in the satchel Sheemish was investigating? The opening was rather small, after all...planar hijinks perhaps? Tunnels in the cellar maybe?

Last edited January 8, 2023 5:53 am

Rolls

Investigation - (1d20+4+1d4)

(18) + (4) + 4 = 26

Jan 8, 2023 4:44 pm

Shelur looks solemnly at the desiccated man. "Lets give the boots to the Flaming Fists. They can investigate whether or not Landrin really killed her husband."

She brushes the man's hair from his face, imagining that they were her father's golden locks instead, and that the dark house were unknowable tunnels of stone. She memorized the way the webs shine in the dim light and the dry texture of taut flesh, and hums a few bars of lonely and haunting song.

Then she steps back. "I'm hungry," she announces with a wicked grin to Dieter, and goes outside.

Last edited January 8, 2023 4:47 pm

Araklusta

Jan 8, 2023 4:49 pm

As Stella takes a look at the enchanted pack Sheemish found, she senses traces of... druidic magic? Yes, nature's power was called on to preserve and protect these eggs. And to help the spiders within them grow quickly and strong. But for all of the recognizable touch of primal magic, Stella also feels something dark and sinister about it. Brutal, savage intent. Is it possible that an evil druid was involved? Is it possible for a druid to be evil? Troubling questions.

Jan 9, 2023 2:46 am

Victor.Strokov Inactive for 3 months

Outside, Aiwë surveys the wolf spiders then grabs the thickest hairy leg and slices it off at the joint. A swirl with her knife inside the thick exoskeleton loosens the pale flesh inside.

She eyes it. "You can totally eat this," she mutters in Orcish. To the crowd still eyeing the bodies she shouts, "Two gold and I'll eat this!" She laughs. "Just kidding. I'm going to anyway."

As Dieter exits the house she raises the spider leg and sucks out the meat like she's downing an ale.

"Hm!" Shelur waves the leg at Dieter as she finishes chewing. "It's basically like knucklehead trout. C'mon, Dieter, we've gotta paladin in our party, what are you afraid of??"

Last edited January 9, 2023 2:47 am

Dieter

Jan 9, 2023 3:04 am

Catsqui1688 Inactive forever!

Aiwë turns to dieter but he’s already gone. He pushes his way out of the crowd and disappears down the street. Dieter may be dramatic but he’s a youth of his word. He eventually finds himself at Tulfgar’s door.

Jan 9, 2023 3:43 am

I follow the party outside and head back to the inn to rest.

Jabbbahut

Jan 9, 2023 6:15 am

Sheemish gives a low whistle and Stitch flits back to his side, the two bow before the crowd with Stitch bobbing up and down as best she can. The cheers turn to groans as the bowing is interrupted by Aiwe's celebratory snack food. Sheemish gives a weak smile while shaking his head. He gives a grateful nod to Stella and hands her the satchel from house maybe she could discern more of its use and keep it or maybe it would fetch a good price in town for its abilities?

After the team collects their winnings from the crowd, the tired blacksmith heads back to the Inn. Tinkering and whirring gears can be heard briefly coming from his room followed soon by exhausted snoring.

Last edited January 9, 2023 6:18 am

Araklusta

Jan 9, 2023 8:39 pm

For Beregost's newest heroic adventurers, the night brings welcome relief from a day filled with travel and battle.

OOC:

Everyone except Dieter must pay 3 gold pieces for staying at an inn, which includes dinner, a bed, and breakfast the next day.

The morning brings refreshment for all, and with renewed energy the companions see to a few errands in town before they set out once more for Nashkel...

OOC:

Feel free to do stuff here in town this morning! Also feel free to post back in the Wilderness thread here

for the day's travel. Hurray for timey-wimey!

Jan 9, 2023 8:52 pm

Stella takes the satchel from Sheemish, "I'll see what I can figure out. I'll need to go and buy a pearl first though...a big one...also I have some recommendations on some changes to our group's armor situation. I figure you'd be the man for that." She digs out a piece of rolled up parchment she had scratched out a list on during their travels, as well as a pouch of 90 gold pieces based on typical armor prices.

She gives any remaining spider eggs to Awie, helps collect and counts any money from the bets.

Last edited January 9, 2023 8:54 pm

Jan 9, 2023 9:00 pm

In the morning, Stella searches around (preferably with a companion) for a pearl for purchase as a spellcasting component. (Spends 100 gp of her personal funds)

If there's time, she'll cast Identify on the druidic satchel Sheemish found in the spider-infested home.

Last edited January 9, 2023 9:01 pm

Jan 9, 2023 9:02 pm

Aiwë accompanies Stella on her errands. As they walk, Aiwë begins to talk.

"Stella, do you really want to go home? Now?"

Last edited January 9, 2023 9:03 pm

Jan 9, 2023 9:55 pm

Victor.Strokov Inactive for 3 months

The white-haired girl purses her lips, looking straight ahead and ponders for a moment. "Yes and no," she says. "I'm still terrified by how real getting killed is, and I'm not exactly the warrior-type. Everyone else seems trained and experienced with it. I have training, but...well, my heart was never in it. It..." she huffs and pauses, looking straight ahead.

Aiwë had shown total care for her the night before, pausing to talk even amidst riling crowds and jumping in to encourage and defend her from a giant spider. She could talk to Aiwë.

"It always felt like Papa was trying to turn me into him. And into Wirrow. He wouldn't stop quoting what 'an arcane archer' was and wasn't," see says, emphasizing 'an arcane archer' with an enigmatic expression and her father Zenithral's accent. She swaps the expression for an unamused one.

"That's partially why I spent so much time studying under Dok. And under the stars. There's so much in the world to discover! But...it's a dangerous world..." She sighs. "And at the same time, I'm starting to feel like I have a duty here: Keep people from dying, track our money, and identifying things like...this," she says, holding up the spider nest satchel. "And whatever else is causing so many people troubles here."

"And it does help to know that you have my back," she says with a smile, turning her head to look Aiwë in the eyes for the first time during the conversation.

"Why are you doing what you are?" she asks, turning to face forward again. "What keeps you going?"

Last edited January 9, 2023 9:55 pm

Dieter

Jan 9, 2023 11:51 pm

Dieter appears in the morning as the group musters to leave. He doesn’t make a lot of eye contact and ends up standing next to Runeson silently. He rests his body on a new spear (-1gp) while he waits for marching orders.

Jan 10, 2023 1:06 am

Aiwë listens quietly as Stella talks, nodding here and there.

"Stories repeat, over and over," she says when Stella finishes. "A dozen retellings of the same folk tale. Saki, Ilmadia, Uncle Zen," she smiles at her friend, "Stella. They have a path ahead. A big path, a long and steep path. Saki, Ilmadia, and Zenithral know the twists and turns, and try to prepare their child to know the way. But they don't know it. This retelling is similar, but different. Their earnestness becomes pressure and they drive their child off the path, but..." Aiwë spreads her hands with a laugh. "It still is the path. The story continues, as it did before."

"You're the protagonist now. If you look, you can see where in the story you are. All your mentors have given you pieces of your story but it's up to you to decide where you'll put them now, and how, and they can't do it for you unless you let them. Maybe that's hard for them, but that's because your stories are so similar, and because they love you so much." Aiwë finishes with the same air as closing a ballad at the hearth.

Quote:

"Why are you doing what you are? What keeps you going?"

Aiwë becomes considerably more subdued.

"I... always thought we grew up pretty much the same. You're practically my blood." She laughs. "I've heard so many of Arannis' lectures coming out of your father's mouth. We've been on so many scouting expeditions with your mom, or my dad." Her brow furrows.

"Only... the last few days, seeing how you've reacted to the danger, I realized that when I was on those expeditions they were missions. But for you, standing next to me, they were excursions. And when my mother or your father were working us through drills, that for you it was theory, and for me it was survival." Aiwë stops and surveys the town, an air of gravity around her like she held when Keggruk was dead.

"My people are at war and yours aren't. We grew up very differently." She nods to herself. "I want what you had for these people. If checking out Nashkell helps a little, then I'll do that."

Last edited January 10, 2023 1:07 am

Jan 11, 2023 5:48 am

Quote:

"A dozen retellings of the same folk tale. Saki, Ilmadia, Uncle Zen," she smiles at her friend, "Stella [...] You're the protagonist now."

As Awie recount's Stella's heritage, it starts to make sense. Aiwe was right. It was the same story. Insecurities. Adventures. Dangers. Growth.

Quote:

If you look, you can see where in the story you are. All your mentors have given you pieces of your story but it's up to you to decide where you'll put them now

She had tried to shove Papa's training and love aside...but she didn't need to. He was a mentor. And a very experienced on.

Quote:

"they love you so much."

Stella recalled how her departure from home was almost a bitter mess. But they were able to make it sweet.

"We'll always be under the same stars," his last words to her echo in her mind.

Quote:

"...for you it was theory, and for me it was survival [...] My people are at war and yours aren't. We grew up very differently." She nods to herself. "I want what you had for these people."

Stella had never thought about it that way either. They grew up so close, yet so far. The same stars, but different interpretations. The same glyphs, but different applications.

Stella stops walking, but keeps looking straight ahead, eyes narrowing. "Okay." The protagonist.

"Yes." Stella gives a hint of a smile.

"I think you're absolutely right," she says with a sense of finality and a curt nod. "I've been so focused on the threats that I've forgotten why I left in the first place. I had so much to be grateful for, and now I have a chance for discovery, but also to share what I have."

She tilts her head. "Or help spread what I have," she says, eyes starting to glow violet with the stars in them beginning to spin. "Ilmater teaches to bear others' suffering so they don't have to. But I've always thought that meant just...suffering instead of them."

She looks to Aiwe, a light sense of wonder in her face and voice. "But it doesn't have to be, does it? A farmer who tills barren land doesn't ruin someone else's crops...if...you know what I mean...What I mean is...we can make a real different here, can't we?"

Stella still had a lot to think about, and she wasn't sure how Aiwe did it, but for the first time since those first assassins, Stella felt some hope.

She gives Aiwe a big hug, then turns to keep walking. "Let's get going then."

Last edited January 11, 2023 5:52 am

Jan 11, 2023 6:55 am