Day 16
Lavender has strange feelings, like her body exists but she can’t use it. She wonders if she is in another dimension. It doesn’t feel like anything familiar. She is weightless and incorporeal, like a consciousness floating. A voice penetrates the static surroundings, asking how she got there. She gives no reply. She is not even sure if she can speak. Eventually she says that they were losing. Her voice fills the void like an icy blue pulse – she finds this reassuring.
She describes their battle, speaking of necromancer, slaves, underground caverns. Lavender is asked about her thoughts on death. The voice says that this is not death – it is far worse, like a form of purgatory. Lavender says that death does not frighten her but that there is much left to do. The voice says that it is not her time. Lavender asks the identity of the voice. The voice gives no reply but says that there is no way out other than the person who put her here.
Lavender replies that there must be another way out – she says that she is never alone. The icy blue light fills the void around her. The voice admires her devotion to her goddess and her companions but asks who Lavender would choose between them. After a long deliberation, Lavender chooses Auriel before her party.
The voice attempts to rile her by slating her faith in her companions. Lavender tries to remain calm. The nothingness begins to crack. Lavender feels her body begin to return to her and she is shunted out of the void.
The party exit the mausoleum. Aurius has his tail between his legs. Theren storms off. Gage is annoyed with Temerity also. Anaphel is clearly fatigued and frustrated. A bolt of blinding white light leaves their hand and bisects a nearby tree. They apologise for their outburst and suggest proceeding back to the camp. Anaphel spreads their wings and flies off. Temerity wanders back off in the direction of the camp, playing a relaxing tune on his lute. Gage is stewing on his failure – he swore to protect Lavender and failed. The group arrives back at camp, minus Theren, who takes a bit longer to arrive.
The sun is beginning to rise – everyone realises that Lavender is asleep in her bedroll. Runcible is curled up beside her. Theren recalls Runcible to him and sits with his back to the camp, a distance away. Temerity pets his critters, Gage gets on with work. Anaphel lands and the grass frosts around them. They put a hand on Lavender’s head and her body relaxes visibly. Gage asks if she is hurt. Anaphel replies that physically she is fine but time will tell if there are any mental wounds.
Lavender wakes after about an hour. Anaphel asks if she is alright. Lavender replies that she is fine. Theren notices that Lavender has awakened and walks off down the road, unobserved by anyone. Anaphel comments on Theren’s departure and that the best chance of getting him back is for Lavender to go after him. Lavender wobbles up and, leaving her shield, jogs off after him.
Korako looks up at Temerity with big eyes and asks what happened and why there is so much sadness. Temerity discusses the opportunities afforded by failure and notices that the companions have not failed as much as he has and lack the ability to deal with the experience. Korako says that Temerity should help his companions. Temerity says that they probably need a bit of time first. He picks up Chikatika and sits with her in his lap, pondering his connection with her. A green glow surrounds Chikatika and Temerity, making him feel comfortable.
Gage tries to sleep but can’t turn his brain off. He finds it strange that he’s starting to care for people. His inability to get to sleep is alien to him. Anaphel steps over to Gage’s bedroll. Gage confesses that he’s not good with mysticism and magic. Anaphel says they are here to discuss emotions, not magic, unless Gage considers them one and the same. Gage distrusts emotions – they cause more trouble than they’re worth. Anaphel says that emotions are natural and important – without them, he will be closed off from so many experiences. Gage asks Anaphel how to do the best with what he has. Anaphel replies that he has a choice – he can change his purpose. He was a soldier – given orders, not making choices. Gage says that he cannot devote himself to religion. Anaphel replies that they are not saying that, but the only way to get better at making choices is to try. Gage and Anaphel stay beside each other, feeling more rested. Gage can finally sleep.
Lavender clonks up behind Theren. He tenses at her approach – he wanted to be followed but doesn’t want to talk to her. She shouts at him to stop. He pauses, doesn’t turn around and then keeps walking. She jogs after him again and demands to know where he is going. Anywhere is the reply. She calls after him that she will not chase him into a mausoleum. He pauses for a moment and replies that that’s good. She mentions their previous argument in front of Bromelia. He says that she should have left him there. She hoists him over her shoulder. He uses eldritch blast and Tasha’s hideous laughter, but neither succeed against her – he is too frantic. She throws him down in full rage. He splats to the ground, seriously wounded, on the verge of death, as his wounds had not been healed since the fight in the mausoleum. Horror crosses her face as she realises what she has done. She kneels in a panic, frost gathers around her fingers, uncontrolled. It surrounds Theren as she places her hands on him. Her breath is short and panicked. He stabilises. Her tears freeze to her face. Theren says he’s sorry. He repeats the apology that he couldn’t protect her. She picks him up and carries him back to camp. Anaphel notices Lavender return with him. She passes Theren over to Anaphel and asks for them to help him. Anaphel puts Theren in his bedroll, places a hand on his head and he drifts to sleep.
Day 17
The party rises after a very long sleep. Aurius and Chikatika are racing around – Aurius is running around her as she rolls. Gage has been organising his pack, very military style. Temerity plays an invigorating tune. Anaphel is completely asleep. Theren is not stirring yet. Eventually Anaphel wakes and looks over at Lavender. Lavender is meditating whilst waiting for the party. Banter occurs between Temerity, Lavender and Anaphel. Anaphel asks Theren how he is. Still alive is his answer. They all pack the camp away and continue on down the road.
Temerity strums a song that is semi-autobiographical, mentioning how he learned to cope with rejection and failure. Theren listens to the song but does not really let the words in. Korako asks Temerity why Theren looks so sad. Temerity replies that he is sulky. Korako murmurs to Chikatika, who wanders over to Theren and indicates to be picked up. Theren pauses and then hefts her up. She nestles and chunters. He absent-mindedly scratches her ears.
Lavender marches vigilantly on point, while Anaphel flies above, Theren hangs back sullenly and Gage and Temerity are in the centre. They walk for a while until they see a patch of mushrooms appear on the side of the road. They are brown with flecks of beige. Theren senses no magic from them. Temerity harvests some mushrooms by skewering them onto sticks and shoving them into his pack.
It takes a while to walk down the road. Towards night time, the group decides to make camp once more. Gage wants to forage again. Lavender insists that Theren accompany him. Theren cannot decide if she’s trying to get rid of him or if she trusts him. Theren and Gage find a range of interesting plants: ferns, mushrooms, berries, eggs too. They bring their bounty back to the camp.
The party cooks together some mushroom omelettes using the ingredients found by Gage and Theren. Anaphel advises Temerity not to use the mushrooms he found. Gage wants to try one – it tastes good, but he spits it out again to be safe.
Temerity and Gage are tinkering with their own projects. Theren approaches Lavender whilst she’s on watch. He confesses that he felt like a failure for not being able to get her back when she disappeared. She tells him to learn from his mistakes. He says that he just wants to help. She says that he is. The conversation becomes quite serious, so she wafts her hand to dispel the seriousness. He takes it as a dismissal and leaves her alone on watch.
Anaphel approaches Temerity. He is carving something intricate, entranced in his work and pays no attention to Anaphel.
Theren holds Runcible and looks inwards, trying once more to reach his patron. He enters a trance and is taken back to his village, outside the weaver’s house, as an adolescent. There’s a section to the side of the house – a lean-to. He has been sent to fetch cloth by his father. A loom and spinning wheel are in the lean-to. Loads of straw is piled in the corner. It is dark inside – a cloth is being woven on the loom. Theren recognises the gold light coming from the cloth on the loom. There are footsteps behind him – he turns. The memory fades. He felt his patron’s presence in the memory but still cannot pinpoint the identity. He feels almost hopeful and sleeps soundly.
Day 18
The party continues on their way to Midward. Anaphel walks beside Lavender, rather than flying above. Lavender appreciates the company, but says nothing. They arrive in Midward mid-afternoon. It is an overcast day – there is no snow this far south. It seems like a nice town.
Theren heads to the marketplace and to sell a shortsword from a fallen foe, as well as his light crossbow (which he never uses). A dusty red-skinned dwarf with jet-black hair greets him and offers him 13 gold pieces for it. Theren asks to look at his staves but declines to purchase one. He heads to an alchemist. Anaphel has disguised themselves again and is following Theren. Theren sells his spider fangs to an alchemist for 10 silver pieces each.
Gage heads to the seedier parts of the town, looking to see if any of his contacts are here. He finds a casino – it’s the sort of place where things usually only happen at night.
Lavender heads to a tavern to sort out accommodation for the night and get some food. Temerity accompanies Lavender. The tavern is called The Snoring Jackal. It seems quite raucous – there’s a bard in the corner. Lavender heads to the bar and hails a tall dragonborn lady, who approaches. She has mirror-blue scales – her name is Azuul. Lavender asks for 5 rooms for the night.
A firbolg bard is strumming away. Temerity recognises the song and plays a back-up to the song.The firbolg looks over and begins to play together with Temerity – they have a jam together. The audience is loving the duetting.
Theren heads to the bookseller, who turns out to be a thin, severe looking woman. She asks if he is searching for something powerful, since all the books are about powerful beings. The bookseller knows of someone in Adalens whose life’s work is studying the extra-planar – he is called Theodore. He sells his books for 7 silver pieces.
They all meet at the tavern. Temerity continues his duet – magic pervades everywhere, whipping up the audience into a frenzy. They sit and discuss finding a caravaner who might take them to Avalon, or even all the way to Onasea. Gage thinks they might find someone in the casino who will give them transport. Lavender says she will leave it to Gage. Theren suggests taking Temerity with him as backup. They agree.