Day 20 (continued)
The bodies of the guards lie about on the lawn. The gap in the hedges before them leads to the maze. The group takes a rest to revitalise. Theren resummons Runcible. The party agrees to head into the maze and stick together. Thumpy sits on a rock and sniggers.
They use the left-hand wall trick and take the left hand path. The hedges seem to get taller and darker. Gage sinks lower to the floor, shuffling along and looking around. Gage feels himself getting dizzy, almost misaligned – he stumbles. Theren feels himself getting dizzy and stumbles – confusion abounds amongst the party. They reach a dead end – they retrace their steps using the left-hand trick.
They continue on. Lavender ploughs forward with determination, dragging the others behind her. They reach the end of the maze and the lawn which opens up in front of them is filled with beautiful multi-coloured flowers. A cherry blossom tree with perpetually falling petals is in the centre of the lawn. Several different fey creatures are cavorting.
They look around for Merisa but there is a lot of movement – they hear a whisper – Anaphel has spotted her beneath the tree, eating grapes. A satyr stands beside them – Theren knows it is a trickster – chaotic, self-centred, silly but fun, bacchanalian – they avoid fighting, but will if threatened.
They approach the tree – the satyr spots them and whistles – the revelry slows and the creatures watch. Lavender asks Merisa if she wants to go home. Merisa is confused that it is time to go home – the satyr told her that she couldn’t go home. Lavender says that they are tricksy liars and glances intimidatingly at the satyr. The satyr clicks and the child disappears – Gage knows that this was a short range teleportation.
Lv states that she defeated the guards and maze and has no more desire to spill blood. The satyr does not want that either and says that there are other ways to get her back. Theren asks what ways, before Lavender threatens him again. Lavender asks what the favour would be. The satyr is not forthcoming. Theren states that they do not have much to trade. Gage offers up a small clockwork spider to trade. The satyr is not interested. Theren offers up the strange letter that he picked up. The satyr says that it’s fine but not worth a child.
Lavender wants to do the favour; Theren, feeling slightly less wise than usual, wants to try the riddle; Gage leans towards the riddle; Anaphel thinks the favour is probably safer – if they fail the riddle, the child is lost. Gage is swayed and chooses the favour.
The satyr just wants one person’s name. They party discusses how this is a bad idea. Lavender states that that is a trade, not a favour. The satyr offers his name – Lavender does not want it. The satyr only wants three things – sex, alcohol and partying. Gage reasons that he does not, then, want the girl. The satyr states that he is merely holding her for another. He demands a name.
Theren offers Runcible’s name, but the satyr rejects it, as it is not Runcible giving the name. Theren decides that his name is the easiest to give – as he has fey ancestry, and he believes that he is protected by his patron. Dark, woody green smoke comes out of Theren’s mouth – the satyr breathes it in. Some tricksy fey magic just occurred – he doesn’t know what. The satyr says that he can keep his name.
He clicks and Merisa reappears, looking pale. He speaks to her kindly and tells her to be good and never offer someone a favour again. As Merisa runs to them, they are ejected from the fey dimension.
The goblin has barely moved and almost no time has passed. Theren and Gage feel the befuddledness dissipate. They return Merisa to her mother outside the tavern – she wraps her in a cloak. They agree it’s time to retire as they must be up early. As they discuss together, Lavender calls Theren by his name and he feels a sharp pain. He flinches visibly – he says there’s a pain in his head.
They enter the tavern – the Sweet and Sour Skunk Inn. Lavender pays for cheap rooms – Thumpy is sitting on the bar as an almiraj drinking beer from a saucer. A goblin with violently green skin tries to persuade them to upgrade but Lavender is determined to have the cheap rooms. Lavender goes to sleep without ceremony.
Th goes to meditate and communicate with his patron – as he meditates, the whispers of names return – he hears every name he can think of – some he doesn’t recognise but he knows he knows them – he sees visions of other people talking about a being without a name – he is made more powerful by people not knowing its name – he gets a vision of the last person to call the being by name – this person is tied in ropes of pure gold and dragged into another dimension – he understands that the payment his patron spoke of must happen at a specific moment – the patron is waiting for something to happen before taking payment.
Gage has a couple of drinks before bed – he looks out for someone who knows the local area – a gruff guy wearing pelts is in the corner – he has a long curved sword. Gage introduces himself as a herbalist. The man has a huge scar across one of his eyes – he is wary and mentions that he’s just passing through the area and dismisses Gage.
Temerity is making his way south towards Durendal, not always via the road. He occasionally trips and stumbles or goes through nettles – it is not a pleasant journey. He makes it to the outskirts of the village – he sees the caravan they are accompanying and ignores it. He continues to walk out of the village and secludes himself to rest during the daylight hours.
Day 21
The party wakes and heads to the caravan. The elf greets them officiously but is concerned that Oliver, one of the drivers, is missing. She describes him – a halfling, freckles, ginger hair. They head back to the inn to look for him. Gage asks the goblin behind the bar about Oliver. The goblin said Oliver drank too much and caused a problem – he gives them the room number. The party heads up to the room.
Gage leads them up to the room efficiently. A do not disturb sign is on the handle. Lavender knocks twice with no answer. Gage tries to pick the lock – the lockpick gets stuck in the keyhole. Lavender kicks the door open – it is an expensive room with luxurious furnishings. As the door swings open, Oliver and a tiefling sit up and cover themselves. Lavender tells him that Soliana is waiting for him. Oliver scrambles around getting dressed and runs out of the door with them.
They arrive back at the caravan with barely any time left. The caravan heads out of the village, heading south to Avalon. As the caravan travels, Theren and Lavender remain on guard duty resolutely. Gage takes an interest in Lake Sido as they pass it – it does not seem particularly special. The caravan arrives at Avalon in good time – it’s mid-afternoon when they arrive. Soliana sends the caravan to the other side of the city and tells them when to report back for duty.
Gage wants to forage but this is a big city and lacks the opportunities for it. Theren heads to a green space in order to meditate. Lavender heads off but does not say where she is going.
Gage heads to Silvanus’ Beard, just outside the south-east of the city. As he approaches, it appears to be a farming enclave. He looks around for someone who may be in charge to learn about the place. A huge, buff elf dominates the area – Gage heads to speak to him. Gage asks about the local area, specifically foraging. Halsen welcomes Gage and leads him to other druids and introduces him; he discusses sustainable fishing methods, animal husbandry. Gage is impressed with what he sees and agrees to spread the word of green. Gage asks Halsen about necromantic goings-on in the city. Halsen has heard about necromantic tainting of druidic areas but they have not been targeted specifically. Gage explains that in Arcadia necromancy has caused devastation. Halsen strides off with purpose towards a small hut and returns with two items: a very dark green cloak with embroidered leaves around the edges – this magical cloak will give him boosts to nature and survival; and a moss-covered stone that will give assistance when needed. Gage is overwhelmed and thanks Halsen. Halsen offers him accommodation and sustenance for the evening.
Lavender heads towards home, taking a circuitous route. She finally reaches her childhood neighbourhood – a flood of memories returns. She reaches her house – glimmering white marble walls, plants and bushes neatly trimmed, immaculate lawn. She stares at it for several minutes before going to knock on the door. The door slowly creaks open – it is the maid – a halfling lady who recognises her. Lavender states she has come to see her grandmother. The maid says that she is out at a special dinner and will be back later this evening. Lavender asks after her father – the maid says that he’s in his study. Lavender says she will return later and asks the maid to tell her grandmother to expect her. She leaves.
Theren heads to Phoenix Hill to meditate on his patron – he tries but he keeps getting distracted by something on Unicorn Hill nearby – he gets vexed and heads over – he sees various animals posturing playfully – Theren watches for a while as they play together. A raven flies around a jackalope and a weasel, teasing them. He starts to get bored watching them and tries to meditate again but cannot – he storms off with a bit of a tantrum.