Citadel's Shadow II, Session 49

Citadel's Shadow II, Session 49 was a session of the Citadel's Shadow II campaign, played on 13 October 2019 (UTC) (12 October 2019 for some participants). Note that small portions of this were discussed/played before or after this date, which are identified by (Best of Both Worlds 2019 09 13) or (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+).
== Personnel ==
===Game Master===
*GM: played by Alden Loveshade
=== Player Characters ===
*Fern the Siegemaster: inventive fox-person student played by Rail Runner
*Kyrie Kelevan: human priestess of Damira played by Michael Lee Viviano
=== Prominent Non-Player Characters ===
*Alarra Gormann: deposed princess of Bortania
*Audrea Daleos: non-certified human mage
*Celeste: young girl acolyte of Leathania
*Donghai Ping: master alchemist of Trynser City
*Jinxi: androgynous human jester with poppet Jack
*Krisdove Atakares: human priestess of Lethania
=== Special ===
*Juan de Fulmando: sword-wielding human alchemist usually played by Alden Loveshade
*Minigallith Atakares: apprentice made journeyman mage
== Events ==
=== 1742 ===
Flowering 30/Gillihís 30 (Landsday/Tresdía) (Padrig's Day/Día de Padrig) (continued): Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagel (Juan de Fulmando), and Kyrie Kelevan traveled in Fulmando, Millisymph in preparation for their trip to Sombrano. They went to El templo de la cosecha en polvo de Leathania (Harvest Powder Temple of Leathania) where they spoke with Pablo Cortez, a priest who spoke both Trynern and Thisslam.
When asked and after checking, Pablo said he had not heard any reports of monsters at El Templo de la estrella de Ladatinia (Star Temple of Leathane) which was located immediately outside of the city of Sombrano. He suggested Pedro Gutierrez as a guide to Sombrano; Pedro said he charged $40 per day, so $200 for the trip to Sombrano and back. However, Juan knew the area, so instead of hiring Pedro as a guide, Kyrie paid him $10 for knowledge of a shortcut they believed would cut half a day both ways off ot their trip (Pedro said he charged half price because it was for the temple). Pedro said there was a very small village near the shortcut path. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12)
Flowering 31/Gillihís 31 (Hammering/Quadía): Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagel (Juan de Fulmando), and Kyrie Kelevan left Fulmando in early morning to head toward Sombrano. They met a group of four people who said they hadn't heard of any problems in Sombrano. Fern found some fresh water, and their day's travel went well. Kyrie, who wasn't used to camping outdoors, had a little trouble sleeping that night, but spent much of that time in prayer. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12)
Flowering 32/Gillihís 32 (Middleday/Cindía): Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagel (Juan de Fulmando), and Kyrie Kelevan continued to travel from Fulmando toward Sombrano. They took the shortcut recommended to them by Pedro Gutierrez. They met a few people, but none reported monsters or other significant problem in Sombrano. However, they did meet someone who came from El Templo de la estrella de Ladatinia (Star Temple of Leathane) of Sombrano. They said the temple was fine, but they did hear about some creatures that had been seen in the wood nearby. They said some of the priests and priestesses were concerned about them, but did not know why. They continued traveling, then made camp for the night. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12)
Flowering 33/Gillihís 33 (Sweatingday/Seisdía) (Spring Equinox): Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagel (Juan de Fulmando), and Kyrie Kelevan arrived at El Templo de la estrella de Ladatinia (Star Temple of Leathane) located on a slight hill immediately northwest of Sombrano. They were greeted by a young woman in Thisslam who seemed a little nervous; she got Priestess Krisdove Atakares who spoke both Thisslam and Trynsern. Upon asking, Kyrie learned she was related to High Priestess Gina Atakares whom Kyrie said had sent her to help Gina's daughter Minigallith Atakares. Krisdove seemed to think it a bit odd that a high priestess of Leathania would send a novice priestess of Damira to help. Krisdove asked a "trick question" which Kyrie successfully corrected, and Kyrie also showed Krisdove the small carved figure she wore around her neck she had been loaned by Gina to identify her; Krisdove accepted Kyrie. She and the High Priestess Tina Gwena accepted Kyrie's story that she needed a Clovis lemon and mistletoe to help Minigallith, as legitimate. Kyrie said Fern and Juan could be trusted, so Krisdove told her the situation.
Krisdove said, "The mistletoe can be gathered from several trees. But for the Spring Equinox, you would ideally want it harvested by a virgin priest or priestess. I'm afraid we have rather a shortage of those here." Kyrie said she qualified. Krisdove said she would get Kyrie a scythe to cut it with and a bowl to catch it in; it should not be touched by hands.
Krisdove said, "The Clovis lemon, I'm afraid, is another matter."
When Kryie asked what the problem was, Krisdove said, "There are some creatures there, a little bigger than human sized, with claws. The Clovis lemon is actually overseen by the followers of Sylvania, they are druids. They cannot harm the creatures because of their beliefs, but also we cannot approach the tree." She said an outsider might be able to do something about it, but it would be dangerous.
Kyrie found cutting and catching the mistletoe in a wooden bowl without grabbing hold of the plant to be tricky, but managed on the second try. While Krisdove said they could go to the tree the next day, Kyrie said that they were on a "ridiculously tight schedule" and wanted to go to the tree as soon as possible. Krisdove got Celeste, a young girl acolyte, to guide them there. The group took a bag containing the mistletoe with them. The group did the traditional cheek kissing at parting, and left.
They traveled southwest, which was about the same direction as Fulmando. After a while, the approached the area in the woods where the Clovis lemon tree was. Kyrie wanted to know beforehand when they were close, but by the time Celeste knew they were close, they were very close--and saw bearlike creatures by the lemon tree. They were about the height of adult humans, but had somewhat squat bodies and dark greenish looking fur. There was a pond very nearby to the west. Fern expressed a thought about climbing through the trees to reach the lemon tree; Juan said only if Fern was a much better climber than he was.
Two of the four bear-like creatures seemed to notice them. Kyrie thought the bear that was immediately east of the tree was making a threatening gesture at them with its paw while Fern and Juan thought it was licking its paw. Fern said it would be easier if she had her rifle. Juan said he didn't think shooting at bears by the tree they wanted to protect was a good idea, but Fern said the rifle could have been fired just for its sound to scare the creatures away.
One of the bear creatures waved its arms, and two of the bear creatures started walking on their hind legs toward the group. Kyrie tried speaking to them in Thisslam, Trynsern, and Airdrel, but got no response. The two bearlike creatures got close to the group, and waved their arms and growled. Kyrie tried using the spell Borrow Language on one of the bears; she believed it was "successful," but still got nothing, leading her to suspect they did not have a human-level language. Celeste ran off a bit, and Kyrie retreated; Juan and Fern soon joined Kyrie, and Celeste rejoined them a little later.
Fern's animal empathy led her to suspect the two bears that were threatening were not all that serious about it. The group began to suspect that one of the other two bears was somehow giving signals to the others. Kyrie believed the "head bear" might be a shape-changing druid.
Juan spoke to Celeste, who said she thought they were very rare "orsos verdes" or green bears. Kyrie wondered if the "druid" was getting the bears to take all of the valuable lemons.
The group then noticed the two green bears that were further away started running west, and on their hind legs; they soon jumped in the pond. The two bears closest to the ground started wandering around on all four legs.
Fern and Juan decided to sneak toward the lemon tree while Kyrie worked on a spell. Fern and Juan heard buzzing near the lemon tree; they found there was a bee hive in it. With that knowledge, and the fact another bear (which had gotten close to the tree) went running to the pond, Kyrie changed her spell. She told Juan and Fern to get as close as possible together, which they did, and wind began swirling around them. The bees and some leaves from the lemon tree started swirling in the wind.
The dark colored bees seemed sometimes to have a yellow glow; Juan identified them as 
"¡Abejas del sol! Bees of the sun! Sun bees!" He said they could start fires, and Fern noticed a blowing leaf looked slightly scorched. On Kyrie's cry, Juan and Fern both tried grabbing a lemon as soon as the wind stopped. Together they got two, then immediately ran away. Kyrie told them to stay in the eye of the windstorm, which they did until Kyrie ended it.
Kyrie, through Juan's translation, apologized to Celeste for not fixing the problem. Celeste said the sun bees were holy and should stay there. The druids could work with them. Fern, Juan, and Kyrie then continued on back to Fulmando after Kyrie and then Juan made prayers of thanks. Juan assured Kyrie that the level of wind she had temporarily created was normal for the area, so shouldn't have harmed the lemon tree at all.
That evening, the wind blew their blankets, and the group didn't get a full night's sleep. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12)
Flowering 34/Gillihís 34 (Reckoning/Sidía): Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagel (Juan de Fulmando), and Kyrie Kelevan continued heading southwest to the port in Fulmando. They camped for the night. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12)
Flowering 35/Gillihís 35 (Lordsday/Odía): Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagel (Juan de Fulmando), and Kyrie Kelevan hurriedly headed southwest to the port in Fulmando. They arrived at their ship with little time to spare. There they joined Master Donghai Ping, his wife Donghai Xiang, and their son Donghai Chang. They boarded ship, and headed for Milspar. Kyrie, unfortunately, got seasick. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12)
Flowering 36/Gillihís 36 (Lordsday/Nudía): Master Donghai Ping, his wife Donghai Xiang, their son Donghai Chang, Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagel (Juan de Fulmando), and Kyrie Kelevan arrived on board ship at Milspar. There they spent the night at La posada de la paloma blanca, "The Inn of the White Dove." (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12)
Flowering 37/Gillihís 37 (Godsday/Undía): Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster) and others noticed a group of four people, apparently young women, wearing something they hadn't seen any young women other than Fern wear. They had dresses as usual, but they were also wearing hoodies, as Fern did. She and novice Priestess Kyrie Kelevan were recognized with the phrase, "¡El zorra encapuchada y la sacerdotisa!" (The hooded fox and the priestess!)
They also noticed a small group of people who were being hung by the neck. They recognized some of them as being people they fought behind La vaca negra (The Black Cow) tavern in Milspar during the kidnapping of Princess Alarra Gormann who was there watching them hang.
At 10:00, about 60 people went through a temporary gate in an outbuilding of El mesón de la rosa y el cangrejo (Rose and Crab Inn) in Montículo Perlat, Milspar, Millisymph. They arrived through a gate in an outbuilding at Twelve Rose Inn in the Uphill Ward of Trynser City. Among them were Master Donghai Ping, Donghai Xiang, Donghai Chang, Donghai Fern (Fern the Siegemaster), Juan Silvio-Vagle (Juan de Fulmando), Kyrie Kelevan, Tatiana Magrina, Oren Neel, Chia Neel, and Alicia Neel. Most of the people who came through that and the later gates that day were returning to Trynser City, but some were residents of Millisymph who had bought tickets from some who had gone to Millisymph and did not return through a gate to Trynser City.
Accompanied by Fern and Juan, Kyrie met with High Priestess Gina Atakares of the Palace of the Lady With Seven Golden Rings. Kyrie delivered the mistletoe and the two Clovis lemons, also called Julio lemons, which Gina had called Clovio lemons. The lemons were yellow with a reddish tinge (and had pinkish fruit).
Gina Atakares greatly appreciated Kyrie bringing them. She also agreed that, as Master Donghai Ping supplied the services of his employee Juan and temporary employee Fern to make it possible, he should get one of the two lemons, which he soon did. Gina said she did not say that her half-sister Krisdove Atakares was a priestess at El Templo de la estrella de Ladatinia (Star Temple of Leathane) because she did not know for certain if her half-sister was, and did not want their relationship influencing the decision of the authorities at that temple.
Fern, Juan, and Kyrie met Princess Alarra Gormann as she came through the gate later that day. Hundreds of people came through a series of created gates at the inn during the day. Juan reminded them that he would very soon leave with others to travel to Aborea to try to rescue his family and others from slavery. Juan quietly asked Princess Alarra and Kyrie to make sure Fern would be all right. He told Kyrie, "I think I might...you are..." then said, "Wait for me; all of you; I'll be back," and kissed Kyrie goodbye the cheek, then did the same Fern and even Princess Alarra after asking her permission.
Among those from Millisymph who came were Sir Juan Montero (knight of Orden de Oldonia), María del Carmen Benítez (priestess of Leathania/Ladatinia), and "Matías Rosario" (original name Matthias Burkhart, squire of Sir Juan of Orden de Oldonia/former slave of Aborea), and "Virgilio Guerra" (original name Virgil Augustas, scout/former slave of Aborea). They soon met with Audrea Daleos (magic user of Trynser City), "Draotameia" (original name Edyth Grey, hermana de Surrea/former slave of Aborea), "Juan de Fulmando" (original name Juan Silvio-Vagle, guard/alchemist/former slave of Aborea), and "Williams Freedman" (original name Chadwick Williams, armorer/former slave of Aborea) who had recruited many of them in Millisymph with suggestions from Juan de Fulmando.
Jinxi turned in sketches and skits and scripts to Madame Maude Lynn's Theater of Thrills Jinxi had traded for with material from Maude Lynn's. Maude Lynn, mistress of ceremonies, was somewhat skeptical, but her husband Rollo Morliss, theater manager, was quite impressed with the new material, especially as interest in Millisymph had recently gone up. They paid Jinxi for the time gone to Millsymph. The theater would soon promote Jinxi with, "Return of the renowned jester Jinxi, returning from performing by special invitation for the Rei of Millisymph!!!"
Fern returned to St. Bassard's School and Home for Disadvantaged Youth. Instead of receiving a hero's welcome, she found herself in trouble. Fern's partners on a project for the Festival of Damira, Snowy Zeddick and Chloris Jennigan, had not been happy about Fern leaving in the middle of an important project--until they were told she planned to meet Professor Terri "Smart" Brunt. Brunt was a professor of engineering and mechanics at El ingenio de la Universidad de la luz de las estrellas (The Academy of Starlight Engine AKA The University of Starlight Ingenuity) in Fulmando, Millisymph. He was known as one of the greatest inventors of the Lamadien region and even of all Edyleine, and was an alumnus of St. Bassard's. They hoped Fern could ask him for help and advice.
In addition, the St. Bassard's faculty and staff had approved the trip for Fern to visit the university and learn straight from Professor Brunt, and likely visit the university library, which they thought would be "highly educational." But none of that happened. Instead, they learned, "Fern cooked crabs and chased green bears." Fern was put on restriction for several days. Instead of being upset by it, Fern saw that as an opportunity to "hit the books."
After she rested, Kyrie made a full report of her trip. She amended her opinion, and then suspected that, based on finding the beehive, the green bears might have been trying not to get lemons from the tree, but to get honey from the sun bees. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 09 13) (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12) (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
Flowering 38 (Mustering): Juan de Fulmando said goodbye to his now former wards Fuylu de Fulmando and Heva de Fulmando, his employer Master Donghai Ping, and Ping's wife Xiang and son Chang. Master Ping said he expected Juan to return with a new household staff (Juan's father and mother Silvio Ferrarius and Delores Vagle) and alchemical/demon dust worker (Juan's younger sister Yesenia Silvio-Vagle). Mastr Ping gave Juan something to take with him. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
Flowering 39 (Landsday): Juan de Fulmando and Audrea Daleos said goodbye to Ethel Boulavier, Eliza Boulavier, Eri Snow, Jinxi, kissing them on the cheek, and said goodbye to the others at Maisson Boulavier. Eliza started crying, with worries they would not be coming back. To lighten things up, Jinxi insisted Juan kiss the poppet Jack on the cheek, which Juan did. Juan and Audrea did paid to reserve a two-bed room there for another month.
A group of people left Trynser City to head for Aborea. These included Audrea Daleos (magic user of Trynser City), "Draotameia" (original name Edyth Grey, hermana de Surrea/former slave of Aborea), "Juan de Fulmando" (original name Juan Silvio-Vagle, guard/alchemist/former slave of Aborea), Sir Juan Montero (knight of Orden de Oldonia), María del Carmen Benítez (priestess of Leathania/Ladatinia), "Matías Rosario" (original name Matthias Burkhart, squire of Sir Juan of Orden de Oldonia/former slave of Aborea), "Williams Freedman" (original name Chadwick Williams, armorer/former slave of Aborea), and "Virgilio Guerra" (original name Virgil Augustas, scout/former slave of Aborea). Edyth Grey kept her slave name but used "Draotameia" for the trip. (Best of Both Worlds 2019 09 13) (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
Flowering 42 (Sweatingday): Minigallith 'Mini" Atakares, daughter of High Priestess Gina Atakares, had been in a coma since falling during a fire at the Ulthrane 32 Balsten Arms Building, a seven-story tenement in Delctra's Cauldron Borough of Trynser City (although she did very briefly become conscious on Ulthrane 33 when she was found to be holding a very fine staff that had somehow gotten to her bed). On this day, she returned to consciousness.
Her elevation from apprentice to journeyman mage by the Shining Luck Mages Guild had been scheduled for Flowering 6, 36 days earlier, but was of course postponed. Both because she spoke of her elevation when first waking, and due to some concern her consciousness might not be permanent, the guild had a hurried "elevation" ceremony at her bedside in the hospital. Those guild members attending included Guildmaster Pei Zhing, her primary teacher and Pei's granddaughter Ona Zhing, Ona's granddaughter Chwe Zhing, and Rajesh Pridoni. Minigallith asked about her friend and guildmember Audrea Daleos; Mini was reminded that Audrea had been removed from the guild many days before Mini fell and became unconcious. Master Pei was concerned that truly elevating Mini might be a mistake, for her memory seemed faulty; Rajesh heartily agreed. As the elevation did not followed the standard form, he, and thus the guild, considered it an "honorary" elevation. (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
Heris 1 (Godsday): Six days after she returned to consciousness, Minigallith "Mini" Atakares was declared by healers to be fully recovered--except that her memory of her personal life appeared to have major gaps. Shining Luck Mages Guild Guildmaster Pei Zhing and Mini's primary teacher Ona Zhing had determined that Mini's magical knowledge and abilities were fully intact, so that her "honorary" elevation from apprentice to journeyman was considered retroactively official. Guild member and conspiracy theorist Rajesh Pridoni objected to the elevation and expressed concern that they could not verify "that is really Minigallith;" his objection was overruled.
Leathane High Priestess Gina Atakares asked novice Damira Priestess Kyrie Kelevan to help keep an eye on her daughter Mini until Mini showed herself fully capable. Kyrie had been instrumental in gaining items to help with Minigallith's recovery. Mini's younger sister Twena Atakares said she would remind her older sister of things "because I remember everything." (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
Heris 2 (Mustering): Minigallith "Mini" Atakares began working on a trial basis for her primary teacher Mistress Ona Zhing.  (Citadel's Shadow II adventure 2019 10 12+)
====== Copyright by Alden Loveshade ======
Category:Citadel's Shadow II
Category:Citadel's Shadow IIb