Chapter 3: The Song-Wind City

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May 16, 2025 11:13 pm
Dalton looked around at the downed enemies. "There have been a surprising number of things trying to eat us recently."

"Go ahead and do what you need to try to help find home."

He wondered how far away home might be.
May 19, 2025 10:45 am
Lesedi looks at the remains of the fallen fire creatures, which have crumbled to ash. "Oh, I don't think those fire scamps were trying to eat you! Just burn you for fun!" She collects some of the ashes into empty glass vials and stores them in her pouch. "Good spell components," she explains.

The petite elf then you leads you to an adjoining building where her office is located, decorated in various shades of pink, of course. Once there, she bids you to stand still as she casts her spell. Her orange eyes seem to glow brightly as she waves her hands before each of you in turn. You can feel a subtle thrumming of the air around you.

"Hmm, yes I see. Your auras are strong, ripe with potential. I can see the energies of your home world around you still, but they are merged with this world's. And I can feel the power of divinity that has touched you. It is colored in brown and gray. I see... two faces in profile... Oh, interesting..."

Lesedi puts her hands down, and the magical energies dissipate. She smiles up at you. "I think I know who brought you here," she says with a singsong tone. "A goddess called Alseta, the Welcomer. Alseta holds sway over transitions. Physical transitions through doorways and portals or over thresholds, metaphorical transitions, and even the forward flow of time—Alseta influences them all. And some elves associate her with the aiduara, the gates such as the one through which you arrived here. She must have brought you to our world for a purpose. Maybe if we can find that purpose, we can help you fulfill it and allow you to make your way back home!"
May 19, 2025 4:52 pm
Novac's first reaction was disbelief and doubt, followed by anger and frustration, but eventually gave way to resignation. "Sure! Why not!" he thought. "Of course there was a god involved. After all, they had landed in fairytale land." He chuckled, thinking about how AJ might feel just now. After all, the magic fire stuff had gone to her head, and she was already ready to fight gods and whatnot. After a while, he felt calm enough to talk. "Thank you for the reading, Lesedi. Would you by any chance know why we were 'chosen'? Also, would you be able to tell us what the goddess would want us to accomplish?" He couldn't believe his own words. Why would he even consider this tale to be true? But what else could he do? Just play along, do what is needed, and get home.
May 19, 2025 5:15 pm
Just burn us for fun? Relatable, I suppose. Calmed down after the necessary meditation to cage the flame, AJ followed after Lesedi. Hmm, cute office. Too much pink for my tastes though. The mention of strong auras and potential evoked a burning anticipation to seize the capabilities this world had to offer. Confirmation that this was the work of a goddess wasn't much surprise to her at this point. However, she couldn't help but throw eyebrows up at the domain of 'transitions'.

"A literal goddess of another universe transitioned me- us. That would certainly explain some things. Well, I don't imagine this kind of thing happens for any small reason. We've probably got some big mission to do here. Based on the timing of it, it probably has to do with this Godsrain and the time of strife, as everybody keeps reminding us. It's a scramble to seize the power left behind by the god of war. Alseta is divinity, so she has a stake in it. We're probably expected to be her agents in some form or another."
Last edited May 20, 2025 10:51 am
May 19, 2025 9:59 pm
"Oh - burned for fun - well I suppose it is nice to have some variety." the sarcasm was very obvious.


"Why kidnap people from another world... has to be plenty of more talented people in this one."

Dalton looked at Lesedi for a moment. "I noticed that you did not mention being able to send us home - only that if we figure out what task this goddess recruited us for that maybe then there might be a way home. Basically - we are forced to do what this unknown being wants us to do until it is finished."
May 20, 2025 10:13 am
Lesedi gives Dalton a resigned nod. "Even the most powerful teleportation spell I'm aware of can only move people to other planets in the same solar system. I believe yours is in an entirely different galaxy! Barring discovering a ritual to open a gateway of immense power or another act of divine intervention, it looks like you might be stuck here for a while."

The elf shrugs. "The good news is that it doesn't seem like anybody's forcing you to do anything. You could probably go off and do anything you wanted here on Golarion. But it's my hypothesis that fulfilling the tasks that Alseta brought you here to accomplish is your best bet for getting home."

She looks to Novac. "I can't claim to guess as to Alseta's motives. The goddess's faith is not widespread here in the Mwangi Expanse. She is more of a Taldan goddess, and her main followers are on Avistan far to the north. I can see about sending messages to members of her clergy there. It may take some time, but perhaps one of her faithful will journey here to meet with you and she more light on the Welcomer's goals."
May 20, 2025 4:36 pm
Novac turns to his companions, "Okay, as I see it, we have a few options. We could either wait around and see if the goddess decides to send us a 'sign.' We could have Lesedi send a messenger and wait for their return with an answer, or we could go there and speak with the clerics ourselves. We could also wait months until the head professor returns. None of these are ideal, but they're all we have." He turns to Lesedi, "How long would a messenger to Avistan and back take?"
Last edited May 20, 2025 4:37 pm
May 20, 2025 5:50 pm
"A few weeks, at least. The Welcomer’s faith is relatively small, and Avistan is quite far away. Even with magic, it will take time for an emissary to travel there, find the right person, and travel back."
May 20, 2025 6:16 pm
"So, would it make sense for us to go there on our own to dave time?"
Last edited May 20, 2025 6:17 pm
May 20, 2025 6:27 pm
"I suppose. But if you choose to stay here, I'd love to study you more! You know... for science?"
May 20, 2025 6:47 pm
"For science!"

It was hard not to give into the amusement of echoing that sentiment, and so she did. AJ giggled slightly before looking back to her companions.

"But seriously though, let's just stay here. The head professor will eventually return, we can wait for an envoy of the Welcomer from Avistan, and take this opportunity to come to grips with our current selves and abilities. I don't know about you guys, but I'm not eager to go on another trek where I catch the plague for several days. It was hell. I'd rather let those people come to us. We can get involved here in the meantime. I'm sure there's some heroics or something to get up to. And if that's not your thing..."

Her eyes glance over at Novac.

"You can always just pretend you're normal and do whatever it is you normally do, I guess."
May 20, 2025 8:57 pm
"Doing what I normally do?" Novac erupted in laughter, unable to contain himself. Tears streamed from his eyes as he struggled to regain composure. Finally, serious once more, he declared, "What I normally do wouldn't be tolerated here, and I highly doubt this world would just let me off with a slap on the wrist if I were caught." Turning to the group, Novac implored, "It's about saving time! We can't afford to dally. I've been gone too long already. We're nearing the point where staying in this world becomes our best option."
May 21, 2025 12:48 pm
Al’s mind was reeling, taking in the incredulity of receiving such momentous news while in a quaint office.

"What could a goddess want with us - with me?"

Not wanting to take a hard stance, Al raises his arms in exasperation.

"Listen, I tend to both agree and disagree. It’s true that staying here would be more safe, and potentially more useful in understanding our new selves.

At the same time, I don’t like being used as a pawn for some grand game of the all-powerful. It doesn’t usually end well for servants and champions of gods. My goal remains to get back to Earth as soon as we can."


He took a second to scan the room, a bit uncomfortable with the attention he drew to himself.

"Maybe there’s a middle road, it doesn’t have to be black and white. If we’re dealing with a long wait either way, maybe we can take some time to learn what’s facing us and perhaps get stronger through training. After a couple of weeks, either we power up or we can convince some locals to accompany us to meet the Welcomer’s faithful."
May 22, 2025 1:01 am
Novac turned to Lesedi. "It seems my magic-loving friends are set on staying. Would you mind sending a messenger to the Welcomers? Also, while you're busy experimenting with them, could you suggest an inexpensive place for us to stay? We're on a tight budget." He then looked at AJ and Al. "Once you two are finished with your scientific endeavors, come find me."
May 22, 2025 1:48 am
Dalton stood listening to the others. "I honestly do not know what we should do. If we go in search of the worshipers of this god, then we will not be here if other options turn up. If we wait here, we may spend months waiting while we do nothing."
May 22, 2025 12:01 pm
Furrowing and raising her eyebrows, AJ watched Novac uncomfortably while he laughed. Although she wasn't aware of how unhinged she may have came across while trying to fit in to this new world, she was deeply aware of the struggles the others seemed to be forecasting in trying to accept it. In particular, it still didn't make sense to her why Novac was so eager to return at all. Looking at the three of them, a sigh escaped her.

"Look, as far as I've been able to tell, this place looks and feels like the worlds that people have imagined since time immemorial. Maybe there's a reason for that. The existence of this place, to me, implies that there may have been a little bit of truth to anything that anyone imagined back home. There's a saying you may have heard of: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. We're in a fantasy world. Do what fantasy people do. Losing our collective shit and rushing around, pleading for people to send us back, doesn't seem like its gonna be enough to get us anywhere. Be adventurers. Train. Get stronger. Help people. Earn a reputation. The powers and skills we have make that possible. We can become people of influence. We won't just be helpless refugees, but people able to contribute to our own return. Or are you going to simply coast by waiting for someone to save you? Regardless of what reality you're in, when has that ever been something you can expect?"

The more she spoke, the more impassioned she became. It all seemed obvious to her the longer she'd been here, and the frustration with the others not getting it was becoming difficult to bear.
Last edited May 22, 2025 12:05 pm
May 22, 2025 3:35 pm
Novac looked sternly at AJ, unable to believe what he'd just heard. "Do you know the difference between a fantasy world and our own? In a game, pain isn't real! Diseases aren't real! And most importantly, death isn't real. But you couldn't tell the difference! Both Dalton and I were at death's door fighting that plant monster, and I can tell you, it felt pretty damn real." He took a deep breath to calm himself. "But you know what? You can stay here forever if you like it so much."
May 22, 2025 4:20 pm
"Wow. I was fucking sick too, but if that's how you're gonna act, don't fucking talk to me."

Just as AJ sensed the conversation had gone beyond the point of being rational to spiteful, she shut down and closed the door on the conversation herself. There wasn't even a moment's hesitation before she walked outside, seeking solitude and separation from Novac after his aggressive tongue-lashing. Making it out of the office and a good distance away, the woman pressed her back up against the wall and slid down. Why did I have to get sent here with that asshole? Why couldn't it have been Abbey? Then maybe I never would go back.
Last edited May 22, 2025 4:21 pm
May 22, 2025 8:14 pm
Caught off guard by the altercation between Novac and AJ, Al watched silently as AJ left the office.

Turning to Novac, Al sighed with resignation. As he thought of what to say, he absentmindedly began feeling the point of his tusks.

"Listen Novac … I’ll respect your wishes and won’t try to insist on a specific path we should all take. For what it’s worth, my instinct is agreeing with you completely. I’m honestly not sure why I’m hesitating even now to admit that.

To be honest, I’m afraid. We all suffered to get here and it seems like our problems are just beginning. But I meant what I said before about this group being the only ones I can trust. I’ll try and learn what I can about my new abilities, and you can bet I’ll use them towards getting us all home."


Al slicked back his hair, feeling the strangeness of his orcish ears.

"Professor Lesedi, how safe is this city? I wouldn’t want AJ to get into any trouble, especially not now."
May 23, 2025 10:21 am
"Nantambu is very safe. Any trouble your friend might get into would likely be of her own making," Lesedi says with a wry smile. But the smile quickly turns to an expression of concern. "But maybe one of you should talk to her? I can only imagine the stress you have been under lately. A sympathetic ear might go a long way towards easing the burden in her heart."
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