Session 18

Fact Sheet: Leaving Koh’Shar

Date: 15-03-22

Date in-universe: it’s Wednesday when we meet Reva, another Sable Serpent captain.

Players present: Ecchima, Meinhart, Tuur and Vinnie. Marty was excused. Dins was our DM.

Major developments:

.

Notes

Wrapping up our looting of Nasser’s bedroom:

• Storm steals a blue and silver throw, embroidered with pearls as water droplets. It'll make a fitting gift for Aqueel
• Ezra rifles through the gowns. As long as it's not Saree, they figure they can rework it to fit their own more buff physique. They pick a lovely combination in turquoise and gold
• Fyllion just scoffs at the paltry collection of cloaks, nothing compares to his celestial feather of cloak
• Storm gathers all pearl jewellery, since Nasser’s looting servants didn’t appear to appreciate the value of these oceanic gems… He selects one delicate headpiece to send to princess Lydia, and reckons he can keep the rest for Aqueel, as a token of his home and a little wink to his hair

As we're wrapping up our spoils, we hear chanting from the square: people on the street are gathered in jubilation! They're working together to try and redirect the geyser to flow uphill, the way Samson originally intended with his runes.

Dizzy on all the love and joy, Fyllion sneaks out with the intent to celebrate the role of The Young Kraken, who were cleverly hired by Akram, the brilliant new king of the guards. Storm tries to snatch him back, but Fyllion slips from his grasp, since Storm doesn’t want to damage his wondrous feather cloak. Soon Fyllion's belting out all our names, his own especially! A lot of people pick up the refrain and share in Fyllion's joy... even though none of us really want this kind of attention. Didn't Fyllion get the memo we promised Akram we'd be discrete about our use of magic?!

At a glare from Akram, Fyllion incorporates some warbling explanation in his song: it's all science, created by the people who’re in the circle of understanding! Luckily mostly people mainly want to celebrate, and no one stops us as we leave through Nasser's front door (a sleep-drunk, exhausted Mi'Kal in tow).

.

We walk through geyser-splattered streets, wrapping up our shopping for provisions & heading over to Mi'Kal's store.

• Hali buys the pan'demonium: it works as a bludgeoning weapon, and you can activate it (as a bonus action) to either flambé (boiling hot, dim light for 40 feet) or simmer (resist cold damage). It also makes you proficient in cooking, as long as you pan sear your food
• we pick up the flying carpet - Mi'Kal warns us it's a prototype: you have to control it with verbal commands since it can’t read your mind, and you have to ask nicely

Storm asks after the magic eight-ball: Mi’Kal created it when he was studying divination & sold it for 500 gold. Duplication isn’t really in vogue with magical items, and it wouldn’t really be cheaper anyway, because all magical creations contain part of their maker… Misunderstanding the metaphor, Eldrin asks what part of Mi’Kal went into the eight-ball, at which Mi’Kal snipes it’s probably his sweat. Eldrin figures that’s not very impressive since everything here has sweat in it, because everyone is always sweating in the desert. Except Hali, because that's not sweat on her!

Amused, Hali shifts the attention to our upcoming plans: we'll be travelling with Gladiola, to The Vale in the north. Mi’Kal nods he still remembers: The Vale is where he’s from! If we make it there, we can say hi to his parents, Pandolf and Lucerne. Since they stayed in the north, they're winter Eladrin, as opposed to Mi’Kal who became a sun elf in the desert. He implores us to just say everything’s going well. His parents don’t need to know his mentor Samson semi-volunteered in the middle of Mi’Kal’s internship. He hasn’t been home in 5 decades and isn’t planning to return any time soon, since Elvish internships can last a hundred years.

.

Shaking off his last admirers, Fyllion heads over to join us at Mi'Kal's. He mentions Mi'Kal runs a great shop, and the audience is hyped up for Fyllion merchandise. When he hears about that, Mi'Kal is flabbergasted, what can he make for Fyllion's fans?? It can be something simple, like a shirt with his face on it: Fyllion just hopes the fame will boost him, can't we see his hair is bouncier than ever before, just from people loving this one song he’s just been singing in the market square?

.

We head over to the Slumbering Sands, to say goodbye to Enza and Frei. As we walk by the post office, Storm sends of 2 letters: one to princess Lydia & one to the Reinsinger Finnilash. He prepares a third, longer missive that Mondregen can carry home.

Ezra starts the goodbyes with Frei: they agree that the other is plenty cool and fights like a badass! Frei grins: “If you're protecting Gladiola, I worry more for your sanity than for her safety”. After Ezra's shoulder pat, Frei goes for the full bear hug, just gals being guys being pals.

Fyllion mentions Frei inspired him... At first, she tries to play it off by cheekily asking if he’ll start working out, but when he snorts that he’s writing 5 new songs, and one of them will include Frei! When she gives him a watery grin, Hali gently jostles her and tuts teasingly at Lunafreia, jolting her out of the sombering mood. (Artistic licence)

The mood lightened by Hali’s amical teasing, we continue saying goodbye to the Nawa survivors, as they are packing up to try and rebuild Nawa. Storm gives Enza Santiago’s Saree handkerchief, with 8 gold wrapped in it: “We acquired it as a gift from the desert & I'm sure you'll appreciate it. Remember what we talked about "about the statue". Enza nods, before she turns to Ezra. She's knotted a thin leather bracelet for Ezra: “so you won't forget me”. Ezra responds in kind, with an embroidered headscarf Ezra made for her! They promise to write to each other whenever possible, courtesy of Akram. With a delicate gesture, Ezra reaches out their hand. As Enza's hand touches down in Ezra's hand, like a lamb lying down with a lion, Enza feels a blush rise up like the tide overtaking her cheeks. Seizing the moment, Enza leans over and kisses Ezra on the cheek! They both blush adorably at each other.

Fyllion seeks out a quiet corner & reaches out to Virgil. It takes a while before he responds: apparently, he ditched the totem somewhere during the honey-sweet murmurings of the date and its ensuing happy ending. Fyllion wants to be sure Nawa will be safe. Fyllion learns

• salamanders & fire elementals followed Eluviel’s whacky island. They are what caused Nawa’s destruction, Virgil had nothing to do with that & he doesn’t care in the least about a handful of hovels in some forgotten part of a stupid desert
• Virgil did send imps and hell hounds after Eluviel, but those came later & weren’t involved in Nawa’s doom

Fyllion blabs that we're tracking down Eluviel, but Virgil stresses that Fyllion needs to step up his information divulgation if he expects to benefit from this deal with the devil.

.

Our goodbyes said, we meet up with Gladiola. Eldrin is leading Madonna, who's been well tended in the Moonflower's stables and observes him rather indifferently. Gladiola’s cart is sturdy and very practical. Only its quality speaks of her wealth, there's no ostentatious ornamentation. A wonderful white draught horse stands ready to pull the cart. Gladiola's wearing a practical white travelling gown and the only sign of wealth is the silver chatelaine hanging from her belt, with several practical but high-end trinkets, like a pair of scissors, a stylus and a tiny bottle of her favourite perfume.

She greets us and agrees to Aqueel travelling along, although she wasn’t expecting guests (rather than bodyguards). She avoids addressing Aqueel directly, but does intimate she's worried about child endangerment, considering she hired us to protect her from all the stuff she’s heard about the road to The Vale.

Trusting our judgement with regards to Aqueel, she compliments Ezra's new look: it’s a great idea to attract a little less attention. Next, she introduces Lapis her horse, and Chalcedony her dog. His nickname is Chalcy, but she’s the only one who gets to use it.

As we divvy up the different places on the cart, she implore-orders Eldrin to avoid touching the cart after they've touched their camel. Eldrin sniffs “that camel” has a name, Madonna! We settle in our chosen spots:

• Gladiola Ezra & Fyllion on the bench, steering Lapis
• Eldrin on the camel, wearing their dark glasses
• Hali and Aqueel in the shade on the back deck, while Storm puts his parasol to good use
• Chalcedony lounges inside the cart
• Most of our luggage, including our flying carpet fits onto the roof

As we're leaving, we notice several people are already returning to the town, as the rumour of the water returning is already spreading!

All afternoon long as the wheels eat up the road leading out of Koh’Shar, Gladiola is pretty chatty:

• she's complaining about the drama and lack of safety, she's never experienced that in a backwater town like Koh'Shar. Hah, backwater in the desert, clever, right? Still, all these murders, how horrifying
• soon, her complaints get more general: they're all nouveau riche here, without any understanding of tradition, like that sun elf Nasser. Not that I'm a tribalist, Eldrin, sorry, I just don't think it's right that an immigrant (as all elves are, after the diaspora from Rosaria where they used to live before humans bred like particularly industrious rabbits), have ownership of an entire oasis

For a few hours, Ezra just nods along without really listening. Eventually, they notice Baaloo shifting restlessly in his waterskin-home. As they vault onto the roof, they see dust clouds rolling in. At Ezra’s warning of the approaching sandstorm, Gladiola points out the cart is equipped with a shelter for Lapis and Madonna. She’s not very good at it. Under their breath, Ezra repeats captain Magpie’s favourite insult “you’re about as useful as a chicken with a fork”, so they organise our crew to take over. As soon as we get the animals settled, we're invited inside to shelter with Gladiola.

We are astounded to notice it's bigger on the inside! Gladiola’s private space holds:

• a canopy bed
• a work desk where she keeps the books and can do some basic stonework
• a small sitting area with a carpet and pillows and even a perfume censor hanging from the ceiling.

This is clearly a magical vessel, an important purchase for the Faraday business empire. No wonder Gladiola transported it by boat from Rosaria to Breheima to traverse the desert and the Badlands… it’s both for her personal safety (as chief lapidarist and heir) and for secure transport. Usually, it's Gladiola's uncle Gladstone Faraday who makes this kind of trips, as the cheery face of the Faraday stone company. However, this time she’d been sent out (as a young, but capable Elf in the family) to inspect the newly purchased sapphire mine near the Badlands. Still, when she heard casters are amassing for yet another war, she figured they’d all need diamonds for spell casting… she figures she needs to go support her family in Rosaria right now.

As she laments these humans and their wars, we figure out she used to live in Breheima during the war 50 years ago. She's an elf, so she views time differently, rather like Fyllion and Eldrin, as she assumes, with a sniff. She hastens to clarify she’s not sniffing because Eldrin is a half-elf. She doesn’t object to people loving who they love… but to the camel smell they brought in with them!

During the storm, Ezra decides to rework Nasser's gown. When Gladiola appears to recognize it, Ezra weasels out of the awkwardness by saying they bought it.

In an attempt to distract Gladiola, Storm decides to indulge his curiosity for the magic eight-ball. He doesn’t want to drive her crazy on the first day, he attempts to limit his questions to 5: 2 control questions to assess if the eight-ball tells the truth, and 3 questions Storm actually wants to know:

• does Chalcedony enjoy chilled water as much as Gladiola, who’s been lamenting its absence in the desert? The eight-ball responds with “signs point to no”, which fits with what we know about domestic animals…
• As Storm notices Ezra’s eyes gleaming in interest (due to Ecchima’s NATURAL TWENTY), he throws them under the bus! Does Ezra enjoy Hali’s bagpipe playing more than Fyllion’s bagpipe playing? The eight-ball flickers to “without a doubt”, and with an awkward grin, Ezra mumbles something about Hali being more dedicated to one instrument, while Fyllion has a bigger range
• Next up, is Eluviel evil? The eight-ball at once shows “very doubtful”, although Eldrin adds that no one is truly, entirely, completely free of evil
• are we on the right track to get Aqueel home? The eight-ball remains rather vague “the outlook is good”
• As Storm is frantically thinking “don’t ask if the stick up Gladiola’s butt is longer than a foot”, especially she’s a lot more charming as we get to know her better, Ezra leans over and asks him to ask: Is Saksham still alive? Dins horrified themselves as much as all of us when the eight-ball responded with “don't count on it”

As Ezra stares at the sewing in their lap, absolutely not almost shredding it with their claws, which are totally not accidentally popping out, not even grinding their teeth because this is all FINE, a small discussion develops between Gladiola and Hali: do we know where Aqueel’s home is, and why are we dragging him towards The Vale if he needs to head towards the ocean? Ships are being commandeered left and right for the war, so any passage right now is very expensive… but Hali stresses Aqueel is a child, as well as (probably) family. (Artistic licence: I didn’t write down who said what, so I just put everything with Hali)

Fyllion asks Gladiola about his last performance: does she remember his new song "promise to Skara" & the way she responded to the name in the title? As Fyllion hums a few bars from the refrain, she remembers! She figures Skara is the shortened version of Skaravel, a name she read somewhere. She can't recall where or what, but she’s sure it's linked to the Fey Wild.

Fyllion explains he's inventing a fictional story, where Skara was written on his main character's body. Any further information could only inspire him, wouldn’t Gladiola want to be an artist’s muse….? He manages to deceive her & she promises to share if ever she remembers anything more.

Continuing the conversation, Gladiola apologises in advance: she has been wondering and doesn't mean any offence, but is he really Fyllion THE arch fey? He hasn't been doing any of the fancy displays of power she'd expect from an arch fey. Fyllion explains a bit of his backstory: part of his powers has to be unlocked in this world, by having people admire him and believe in him. Gladiola is sorry she didn't pay more attention in history class, if only she knew more about arch fey.

• She's impressed that arch fey have to work for their powers
• She's also aware of the differences between the courts. She's heard Fyllion's parents Titania and Oberon are being actively worshipped, so their powers must be most impressive
• If he ever has the opportunity, he could mention her? Perhaps if she manages to help him with the Skaravel thing…? She'd be positively giddy if Titania, queen of the Summer Court, ever knew her name. Fyllion doesn’t harp on the nuance of Spring Court vs Summer Court, he’s quite moved to discover his parents are famous & he's hopeful Gladiola will spill some more details in future conversations

Remembering his mentor, the satyr Ifykon, and musing on the division of the Fey Wild in different courts, Fyllion tells us the fable of the scorpion and the frog. He introduces it as an illuminating illustration of the arch fey mentality:

There once was a scorpion, at the river bank

who wanted to cross but couldn’t swim.

He did not know how, and drew a blank

as there arrived a frog with a grin.

The scorpion said:

“Would you mind, mister frog, if on your back I swing

for I need to cross to the other side.”

“Well mister, how could I trust you and your sting,

no, that thought I can’t abide.”

“Oh, Mr Frog, just take me there

why on earth would I lie

I can’t swim by myself, I swear

if I sting you, we both die.”

The frog thought about it, hard and long

as he said: “fine, you make a good case.”

The scorpion said “you won’t be wrong

I would never lie to your face.”

While swimming the frog felt a pain in his side,

because of which they started to sink

“Why have you done this, why have you lied?!”

The scorpion didn’t even blink.

The scorpion said:

“Because of my nature it’s out of my will,

I had no choice in the matter.”

“I wanted to cross, but also to kill,

unfortunately, I chose the latter".

With a little shiver over the possible bad omen (underscored by Dins' accidentally ominous music), Gladiola compliments him for his storytelling. Ezra mutters that they used to think the scorpion was their mom. As Fyllion’s voice fades away, we notice the storm also has abated.

.

The storm appears to have passed: we can travel on. Gladiola checks on her horse and supervises how we pack up her cart again. Eldrin brushes the sand out of Madonna's fur and eye lashes. We pick our spots again & travel on. Gladiola permits Fyllion to gather himself again, in the privacy of her private quarters.

In the evening we make camp. We can use the side tents & there're some pillows and sleeping bags. Clumsily Gladiola tries to start a fire, but gratefully follows Ezra's instructions as soon as our plucky tiger friend suggests “a way that’s just as easy as your routine”. Ezra is really stepping into Captain Magpie’s educational shoes!

In that same spirit, over the evening, Ezra has a heart-to-heart with Fyllion: “You know that the fable of the scorpion doesn't apply to you, right? You do lie a lot, but you're not actively endangering anyone, right? You weave a web of lies and stories, like a spider, but it's beautiful, and you do it to help us”. Fyllion stammers that he knows he's not a scorpion, he only lied to Akram and a little bit about Simeon. Serious stuff he takes seriously, like, totally, like he’d never neglect keeping Virgil in holy water, and can anyone really be sure about whose blood was on that earring? Wait, what earring are we talking about?

It's a very awkward conversation, especially when Ezra admits they thought he was lying about being a prince. Fyllion is rather hurt by that, it's the core of his identity. His trembling lower lip keeps Ezra from delving deeper in those other potential avenues…

Storm tries to distract Fyllion by massaging his lute hand: “Does the physical pain distract from your emotional pain”? Fyllion lies that it puts him in the mood to play the lute, so he hurries away to tune his instrument next to the campfire.

Ezra asks if Gladiola has a treat they might borrow as an apology... Gladiola can’t offer any liquor, but she does agree to share some of the Turkish Delight. In the end Ezra figures a handmade gift would be better.

Gladiola remarks it's all such a strange coincidence:

• why is an arch fey travelling with a ragtag bunch of wet bandits
• what is someone from high society like Storm doing so far from court
• how come distinctive people like Gladiola & Ezra would meet here, what are the odds they’re both on missions from their esteemed families (Gladiola seems to think Ezra is following in their father’s footsteps)

Storm brushes Aqueel's hair before it’s his bedtime. It’s a strange sensation:

• his hair isn’t really hair, which would get too waterlogged: it feels halfway between seaweed and fins, so it’s not really possible to brush and braid… but Storm can smooth it out. The strands and clumps don’t function as whiskers or feelers do
• the pearls aren't really pearls: it’s particularly lustrous creatine, rather like his nails, growing naturally on some nodes of his not-hair

Both Storm and Aqueel enjoy this quiet bonding time, a different kind of shared moment beyond their language lessons in Aquan and Common. Storm offers the embroidered blanket, ready to tuck Aqueel in. Hali murmurs Aqueel’s sharing he's a little sad to leave the only kids he's seen in years, but also excited to see the world for the first time, during his first cart ride, and longing to potentially go home. (Artistic licence: Ezra translated for Aqueel)

Ezra, Eldrin and Gladiola divide the night watch, but apart from some hunting foxes and snakes, there's nothing to see. We all have a restful night.

.

We wake up refreshed and continue on our journey. This Wednesday's a very balmy day, so travelling is a breeze (pardon Dins for the pun).

We see the loose sand is changing, the terrain is becoming a bit rockier, and some hardy shrubs show up. We can also spot the woody area at the foot of the mountains in the distance: we can estimate about a week away.

As the day progresses, we overtake a family travelling with a donkey. They're not very fast, since the father is walking next to the donkey. He's amazed we've got an entire barrel of water: how did we manage that? They’ve been rationing themselves and their donkey quite harshly: they left Koh'Shar when the drought appeared interminable. With everything they could carry, they started heading to Damanor, a small town whose main activity is tilling, hoping to build a new life there, or at least survive.

• Eldrin trades one of their 2 full waterskins for an empty one. They're very relieved
• Fyllion gives 30 gold and a blessing to travel swiftly, and the exhortation "remember the name, Fyllion"
• Ezra gives one of their last mooncakes, with an approving glance at Fyllion, see you're not a scorpion.
• Hali casts Goodberry and gives the family all 10 berries.

When they hear we were instrumental in solving Koh’Shar’s drought, they marvel at us. When they zero in on the moist-looking Hali, she huffs with great reluctance that it’s just sweat: Koh’Shar’s problems were solved through complicated technology and mystifying science! Right, Fyllion? Nothing to see here! (Artistic licence). The family decide to make demi-tour and head back to Koh’Shar.

.

As ever, during the heat of the day we shelter Lapis and Madonna from the sun under the tent sails. As we head inside for our own siesta, Ezra sees a hatch in the floor of the cart. This time, the windows aren't battened down against a sand storm, so thanks a NATURAL TWENTY, Ezra catches a glimpse from the space beyond: it's Gladiola's store room, where she hoards her sweets... but Ezra also spots a case of alchemist's fire! Gladiola hurries to explain that the case is shockproof so we should be safe. She adds that the rumour is the road to the Vale is overgrown with a sort of magical bramble vines that resist any attempts to cut it down. And of course, any magicians that might deal with it, are conscripted and sent to the war front! So, the alchemist's fire was her solution. Ezra flatters her, how clever to think of such a solution! It’s just amazing that she connected those dots, in a way no one else ever thought to solve the problem!

.

After the siesta, we encounter a woman walking by herself across the sand, with a scarf draped over her head. She's struggling a little to make up the hill at the side of a valley. She turns when she hears the cart. She's looking pretty young and she's in need of help: can we spare some water for her?

Since Hali has been discretely refilling our waterskins and even secretly refreshing Gladiola's barrel (artistic licence), no one objects, even Gladiola is willing to help out with the words "I can be heroic as well". Ezra gives her the same sagely approving nod Captain Magpie used to give. Again, we explain Koh'Shar has water again, through a marvel of technology and science no one really understands...

It turns out we're all headed to Damanor to restock, she was just worried she wouldn’t make it when she’d clumsily spilt the last of her water. Ezra glances at Gladiola but they prefer to ask Eldrin to help the woman out with a ride. Eldrin introduces Madonna. The woman titters that’s a strange name for a boy camel. We refute this: a brave camel can have any name that suits, why are names gendered anyway?

As an apology, the woman offers Madonna a treat, and we spot she's carrying a scimitar. She casually mentions it's just for self-defence, she' a woman travelling alone, although she figures maybe that’s no longer necessary. After all, just a few kilometres back, she met a guard who told her the Sable Serpent had been exterminated...

While Storm introduces the other travellers, after she’s already met Madonna and we learn her name is Rani, Eldrin and Ezra remain a bit suspicious, with Santiago “Foxglove the polecat” in mind. Fyllion puffs up that we did that & Ezra adds that every bandit was killed. As Storm attempts to specify that some patrols were still out, so don’t go thinking all bandits are gone, Ezra observes Rani closely, but Rani's reaction seems very natural. Ezra concludes it’s unlikely she's part of the surviving bandit patrols.

Reassured, Ezra recounts how Fyllion taunted Na’Dir, the leading serpent, to take a bit out of his neck, like a true hero protecting his friends and his love interest… only to be interrupted by Rani’s cheeky grin, as she urges us to hand over the dagger.

At first, Ezra tries to bluff with their own dagger, but Rani quickly disabuses us of the notion. As she’s distracted by her own snark, Fyllion manages to take her by surprise. He casts suggestion & orders her to walk away as far as possible for the next 8 hours!

As Rani smiles that that’s an understandable demand and turns to start walking, we hear two arrows whistle through the air. With a squelching sound they slam in Lapis... who goes down with a pained nicker. Gladiola freaks out, but still manages to grab Aqueel before she hunkers down inside the cart.

Rani, now revealed as Saatia’s fellow captain Reva, is still under Fyllion's compulsion, but her men surround us, ready for a fight the next session!

Episode Guide

Previously: session 17 Saving Koh'Shar's water

Next: session 19 Too many motherfucking snakes in this motherfucking desert