LotHC

=== Session 1: On the Horizon (The Quarters Life Crisis) ===
* The year is 710 (The 6th Age)
* The crew is at the Quarters once more
** A floating island made of old ships and boards. A city in the middle of the ocean
** 3 Factions: Champions, Scholars, & Mercenaries
* They arrive at The Podge
** Stinky and overlooked, but close to the Brew Docks
** The crew has a little flat in the shack
* They just got back from a mission in Shaderun tracking down a minotaur. It went well.
** They got in yesterday, and we begin in the morning.
** They hear a knock, Sliavard (a little goblin man, messenger for The Spire) is at the door.
*** He is a helper at The Spire (The headquarters for officials on the Quarters), associated w Shaderun but more of a messenger for the Spire’s officials. He’s basically our case manager
** They are requested to The Spire by high noon, reporting to Captain Syra
** Sliavard tells Traz to make sure “the big oaf” doesn’t “make a scene again”
*** She stepped on a dignitary’s robes once
*** She ate what she thought was a buffet but was not
*** She once was showing off how she could knock an apple off someones head and she accidentally knocked off a painting in the Spire
** Their apartment is a one-bedroom with two sets of bunk beds
*** Azdarah has top bunk, Olai underneath. Aloe has other top bunk, Traz underneath
* They decide to go shopping before heading to The Spire
** Everyone gets some health potions, Aloe gets a shield, Azdarah spots a love potion she is briefly curious about
* On their way out, they encounter a snake oil salesman who tries to sell them a “Potion of Immeasurable Health” that supposedly stores up health for when you need it later
** Aloe offers to buy it discounted to spread the word of his wares
** Bognous the Bearer of Goods is elated at the idea of people finally recognizing him
** He gives them a complimentary water bottle too. It’s emblazoned BOGNOUS (Bearer of Goods)
* They head to the Spire, which is visible from any part of the Spire. A blue roofed building that is visible above all else in the Quarters
** There are multiple beacons for the firestorms that roll through the land, and the Spire acts as a middle ground to warn others
** Outside, there are flags for each of the kingdoms. All sorts are milling about, champions, scholars, mercenaries. Many are groups of just champions or just scholars. A mixed group is less likely to get as much renoun
** Sitting at the top of the stairs are three people who looks like they are from Shaderun. Each has a green streak on them somewhere represented. They are snickering as the group passess, one simply staring at them w red hair. Olai stares her down. Aloe flicks fire at them, and they shout in surprise and say “What the hell’s wrong with you?!” Olai says “so much” and the girl snickers
* They walk into the main hall, Sliavard standing there, tapping his foot. He checks his pocket watch and looks miserable
** He asks where they’ve been even though they’re on time. They follow him up several flights of stairs, which is unusual for their rank. Captain Syra’s quarters are much quieter, and she has not given your crew much time before
*** Captain Syra is the Far Reach representative, but she recruits people from all over. She works with the other representatives:
**** Xenir - High Realm
**** Esphan - Shaderun
** Sliavard seems nervous. He turns and repeats to be on their best behavior
* Inside, they see a command room. There is a map table w flags of different colors, 
** There are a bunch of little red arrows pointing down around High Realm
** Captain Syra is talking to Xenir. They are arguing
** Sliavard presents them as The Mercpions (mercenaries + Champions)
** Xenir welcomes them and offers for them to sit.
*** Aloe sits cross-legged on the couch, Traz leans back, Azdarah is manspreading, and Olai stands behind the couch bc there’s not enough room
** He asks what their favorite stories are:
*** Olai
*** Azdarah
** They offer them 1000 gold each to take out a band of criminals. They are tasked with taking out Helgard Rittensmite. Who is said to be hiding out at the criminal outpost at the Isle of the Damned
*** It’s an anarchist haven, though they are armed. It’s difficult to get to. You'd have to get a pretty good reason for going there for them to not question you.
*** During the 4th era, rebels decided to run from their countries and take up there. It’s a big place for the Thieves Guild
*** Traz laughs, and Olai agrees. He asks for more gold, and asks what happened to the last crew. Azdarah remembers that the crew from Shaderun, The Beholders, left months ago and never returned.
*** Syra offers them 3000 each, an extra 2000 if they can recover the bodies of the last crew
*** Traz says he’s out, and Syra counters with 2500 up front, 2500 when they get back
*** Olai asks what they’re not telling them. They say that they must bring Helgard back alive. He’s wanted for killing a delegate of High Realm, Greshand Remus. He was a delegate from High Realm who had recently been visiting Far Reach. They tried to find the person who did it, however, nothing was certain.This follows another assassination that happened in Shaderun, a delegate named Corgak from Shaderun
*** We have to recover some documents and we are NOT to open them
*** They are giving us a crew and a ship
** They decide to leave in the morning
* After the meeting, they decide to go to the Brew Docks to spend their night
** There are several options
*** The Special Olive - High Realm
*** The Nifty Ducks Bar - Far Reach
*** The Snoring Clam - ShadeRun
*** The Measly Shark - The Podge
** They decide to go to the Measly Shark.
*** It smells like bread, there are giant sandwiches. There’s a band playing on a stage. It’s very folky and they’re singing sea shanties
*** Azdarah buys a round for everyone (Olai - Ale, Traz - Beer, Aloe - shots, Azdarah - shots)
*** Everyone is having a good time, there is a good mix of folks from poor to the rich
**** Olai sees two unfriendly faces and one that seems playful. It’s the Shaderun girls from earlier. The two are glaring at Aloe, and the third gives Olai a nod. 
**** He goes over to Aloe and Azdarah. The bartender asks who they’ve caught the eye of. She identifies them as Togg, Blip, and Vercina, part of the Serpent Brothers. Led by Erthos and Remy. Ethos is Vercina’s older brother
** Togg goes up to Aloe and antagonizes her while Blip comes up behind and pulls her hair
*** Aloe gets her shit kinda kicked in
*** Olai threatens Blip and Azdarah threatens Togg and sends them running out the door.
*** Erthos and Remy come to collect their crew, and they seem terrified of Erthos knowing they were into shit. Erthos makes Blip give Olai his week’s earnings (25g) in apology. And agrees to try to keep it from happening again
*** Olai gives the bartender 10g for her troubles
* They go down to be processed. They have them marked as “Unnamed Crew. “ She says that they will be at Dock A, taken by a Captain Kratchet
** They walk toward the docks, where they seem to be keeping the smallest boats. The best boats are in E & D, but there is a mix in each level
** They are met by a man with a red eyepatch,Salgar, who is the first mate of their ship and a genuinely happy guy
** He welcomes them aboard the ________. A low-midtier boat with several repairs and burn marks. 
** They see a crotchety sounding man ordering a bustling crew around, a tall fire genasi with a cleaver in one hand and a turkey leg in another. He’s yelling at the crew to hurry so they aren’t late for dinner. His name is Elias and he gives Azdarah a turkey leg, Salgar
** They drop their stuff off in the quarters and go to meet the captain.
** Salgar introduces them to Captain Kratchet. He says pleased to make your acquaintance, though he’s unsure how long they’ll be alive for. He asks what they know of the Isle of the Damned. He says he doesn’t want to die again. When questioned, he says they’ll have plenty of time for stories later.
*** On the way out, Traz asks if he’s been there before. Captain says that he’s lived there before, so he knows a thing or two
*** He asks Traz how much he cares for his crew. He asks if he’s willing to save them when things get tough
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=== Session 2: Invasive Maneuvers ===
* The party is on the Nameless Ship, having met the captain and coming to the mutual agreement that they are 
** Olai got very little sleep, but was kept awake by the rocking of the boat, feeling sick. He eventually sticks his head out of a porthole
** Azdarah can not stop throwing up all night both on herself and on the crew. Salgar took her to the top deck and took care of her before going to bed himself.
* In the morning, before the sun rises, Salgar comes back downstairs and comes to wake the rest of the party for breakfast.
** Traz asks for somewhere private, only to realize that there isn’t any. He pushes around some barrels in storage and makes a little alcove
** He performs some sort of religious ritual
** The crew mills around for a bit
** Percef turns to Aloe and asks what she knows of their mission. She says they’re looking for someone. She asks Aloe why they’re sending them, and she agrees that she hates bureaucracy
** Percef grills Aloe for info on how guarded the Spire is and information on the layout and height of the building
** She says she’s been sailing for roughly 16 years w a break in there
** Aloe asks why the ship has no name, and Percef says they scratched out the name because they couldn’t decide
** Tieron steps in and asks them to help around the ship. He gives Olai a bucket mop to swab the deck, which he accepts with humility. He asks Aloe what she can do. When she says she’s a performer, he asks disappointedly if she knows any shanties. She agrees. He asks Azdarah to help with the sails, who has finally gotten her shit together
* On Traz’s way down, he passes Olai, who looks miserable. As Olai descends the stairs, he spots a faint glow from behind some barrels and sees Traz step out from behind them. He asks Traz if he’s okay, and Traz asks if he’s okay, having thrown up all night. Olai tells him he was requested by the captain
** The captain tells Traz that they will reach the Isle of the Damned in roughly 5 days. He says that there could be a bit of a problem with them just showing up
** They wont be happy with a crew rolling up on them, and they wouldn’t be too fond of any of them. 
** The captain says they should try to get there by nightfall. Sneak onto another ship, steal their supplies, and then wait until morning. In the morning, they can sneak in past the walls.
** Traz says that they dont need to steal from another ship to get the seals they may need, that he already has them
** They said they should go to the Silver Coin  Inn and order the King’s Feast
** Kratchet says that he plans on leaving his crew on the ship
* The party spends the next several days learning how to man a ship. Aside from Salgar, they’re treated fairly coldly. Elias is nice enough if he’s talking about food.
** Aloe and Olai  notices that the crew is very wary of the party. They dont know how to interact with people outside of themselves. They talk to each other, and act normal, but as soon as one of the party members is around, they are skeptical and harsh. Percef asks a lot of questions about The Quarters
** They will talk about being smugglers/merchants
* Traz talks to Azdarah about being more subtle, perhaps just not speaking outdoors. He tells her to add more curse words and be meaner. She doesn’t quite understand, and she’s a little offended at the idea that she isn’t intimidating as is. Percef and Salgar
* On the third night aboard, Olai has a dream (he doesn’t need to sleep, but he chooses to). He’s standing out in the forest by his home. He can hear the wildlife around him, chittering, until he hears a branch snap behind him. It’s Vikaris. He asks him what he’s doing, that they’re going to be late. He says there was a fire in town, the old innkeeper Herma”s place. Olai offers that they loot the remains. Vikaris chides him, saying they have to have morals somewhere. He says he hates the life they live, one day he wants to have a life beyond what they’ve been given. Olai tells him that it’s good to have dreams. He asks Olai if he doesn’t want that for himself, and Olai looks sad. He says he has more hope for Vikaris than for himself.
** The memory fragments, and as they’re walking down the road, Vikaris’ face appears suddenly right before him. He tries to grab Vik by the shoulders, but his hands pass through like mist before he falls.
** When he hits the ground, he looks up, and he’s laying under a single tree in a field. He sees Vik stand over him, and he asks “Have you ever heard the stories of the gods of High Realm?” He begins to tell Vik of the gods, but something in his stomach tells him that this is wrong. When Olai knew him, he would never speak of the gods except to damn him. His skin is almost translucent and paper-thin. He’s nothing but bone. Olai asks what happened to him.
** “In the beginning, Henos believed that the wisest thing was to preserve the sanctity of Yyfire by protecting it from humanoids. She believed that the world was good enough without them. However, Cantis, Oteus, Anren, and Lomnos believed that the world deserved the beauty of humanoids.
** One day, Cantis snuck away from the heavens and came to earth. She found a hidden cavern where none of the gods could see. She had stolen a seed from Sinen, and planted it within soil surrounded by rock. Here, a tree sprouted with leaves made of fire.”
** The tree above them bursts into fire, but Vikaris does not move. He simply starts humming an old tune.
* The fourth day, the sea is choppier than it has been, but both Olai and Azdarah manage to hold their stomachs. The ship begins taking on heavy winds. Captain Kratchet comes out of his office and begins shouting orders. Azdarah and Tieron are on Sail Duty. Olai and Wes are stationed at the helm. Aloe and Percef are below deck bailing water. Traz and Hemani are managing from above deck.
** The wind begins howling, the rain burning as it pelts their skin. Azdarah sees a rope snap and grabs it out of the air and pulls it back in, tying it back down.
** Percef asks Aloe if she’s okay with water, and Aloe says no, it doesn’t hurt her, but she confesses that she doesn’t like it and doesn’t know how to swim. While they’re bailing, Aloe notices that Percef looks like she’s been branded and scarred.
** At the helm, Olai watches as the wheel begins to spin uncontrollably. He tries to grab it to stop it, but it is spinning so fast that it breaks his arm. Wes grabs him away and glares at him, telling him to fix his arm. Olai screams at them to grab the wheel
** The ship takes a steep turn, a wave knocking it violently to the side, slamming Traz against the hull. Hemani grabs him and steadies him.
** Azdarah and Tieron watch as another rope farther up snaps, part of the sail droops downward
** Back at the helm, Wes is struggling to keep the wheel held. Olai gets up and helps her keep the boat from spinning even more
** Traz also tries to climb the mast and gets up there but is unable to grab the rope
** Azdarah looks behind her and sees a massive wave hit the ship. Tieron goes flying off the mast and crashes down to the deck, unconscious. Wes goes flying across the deck, his back crashing against the side railing. Down below, Percef loses her footing.
* Captain Kratchet comes out and tries to take the wheel from Olai but also struggles to keep the wheel. Olai grabs the wheel to help steady him.
** Traz is able to grab the rope, and teleports over to attach the rope to the beam.
** For a moment, all seems still. They realize we’re in the eye of the storm.
** Traz is able to make it back down, but on the horizon, he sees dark red clouds with bolts of lightning
*** Firestorms started this century, so relatively recent. They are viscous and seemingly targeted but no one knows where they come from. There are firewatch towers throughout the ocean to warn of firestorms. They are magical in nature.
** Traz yells for everyone to get below deck, that a firestorm is coming
* Everyone rushes downstairs except for Captain Kratchet. He says that he’ll keep the ship steered. Olai stops him saying he’ll die out there, but the Captain says he doesn’t die. He always survives.
** The bowels of the ship is cast in total darkness except for a red hue leaking through the portholes. Cracks of violent lightening rock the boat. This goes on for about 30 minutes, and they could feel electricity in the air.
* Eventually, it fades, and the sound of rain dissipates. The party runs upstairs to find that the Captain is nowhere to be seen.
** There are chunks of the ship that are missing and the door to the captain’s quarters is cracked open, and out steps the Captain holding a bottle of rum
** His entire crew surrounds him in a relieved hug
** Aloe and Olai begin repairing the ship
* Everyone begins repairing the ship the best they can. The Captain pulls Traz into his office to consult. They agree that they need to get their bearings and stop at the nearest land
** They realize that they have essentially turned back toward Shaderun. They agree to stop at Culcherhithe
** Olai and Hemani take the first skeleton shift. Olai realizes that even though his eyes are covered by a cloth, he is able to perfectly navigate and see where they need to be. Olai asks how he does it, and says its a useful skill.
*** He says first you must lose some of the senses to gain access to others.
*** He asks Olai what he’s looking for, and he says “what has been lost”
*** Hemani tells him that he cant be scared to lose what you have to gain something new
*** Olai realizes that even though Hemani was turned away from him, he could hear him with perfect clarity
* Aloe finds Olai and uses healing word to fix his broken hand. Usually her magic looks red and fiery, but on Olai, it turns dark and crackling with strange energy
** She asks what they were talking about, and Olai says they weren’t and eggs Aloe a bit before she goes off to bed
* Azdarah and Percef take the next shift 
** She says the last name was the Painted Sparrow, but they just recently acquired this ship. She says they were going to name it the Painted Sparrow II. Azdarah asks what happened to the first ship and Percef tells her that they used to be a different crew, the Captain was the same, but when they were younger, they were making some runs and everything went wrong and they were attacked by High Realm. 
** She asked why they attacked
** She asks if Azdarah knows of the child slavery in High Realm. The Captain would free them and take them out to the seas. They were attacked and sent back to the mines and the Captain found himself dead. But he always finds a way to survive
** Percef sheds a single tear and then spends the rest of the shift teaching Azdarah how to sail
* In the morning, they pull into Culchurehithe
** It’s a fairly large city mostly made of rock.
** They port in by the merchant area. There are fisher boats that guide them into the docks
**
* Azdarah and Aloe go armor shopping
** Aloe stops Azdarah from getting a warranty on her breastplate, which she misunderstands to be a “War Tea”
* Olai and Traz go shopping for magical items
** Olai finds a ring of protection on sale for 2000 
** He tries to haggle it down, but its already 50% off. The salesman is final
** He asks the salesman if he knows of any items that would locate a person
** He says his name is Addrus Gumneln and he gives Olai a sending stone to let him know what he finds. Olai gives him 50 gold as a contingency for when he brings it back
** Azdarah gets a cloak of protection, Aloe gets a bag of holding
* After their shopping, the party goes to the Sinking Seaman tavern
** Aloe knows the bartender, Lucan, who used to be a member of High Realm but has turned away from that and moved to Shaderun
** Lucan asks Aloe to perform and she doesn’t want to. He tries to overcharge her, but she manages to haggle the price down for the crew if she performs for him
** Azdarah has one drink, Olai has 4 and is feeling it
* They see Wes and Percef in the tavern.
** They ask everyone where they’re from
*** Aloe says she’s from Shaderun and that she’s a bard
*** Azdarah says she’s from High Keep, and Wes asks how she felt about it. She tells her that growing up wasn’t great, but she’s loved her time with the Omnifyre family. Wes understands thats Azdarah is basically an indentured servant
*** Olai says he’s from Alabar
** Wes says she’s from High Realm, but ran away at a young age
* IT’S FLOSWYNN 23RD
* The crew grabs two rooms at the Inn for the night
** Aloe pays Olai to bunk with Traz, the two characters who dont sleep
** In the middle of the night, Aloe hears the door creak open. She hurls a warning shot of fire at the door, which wakes Azdarah up and the intruder to flee
** The intruder drops a piece of paper, it’s a note for Aloe. It says that they look forward to seeing them when they get back. It seems that Aloe has a stalker
* The next morning, the ship is still not fixed, and in fact they need another day
* Aloe wants to go back and find something to protect her from her stalker
** Olai leads her back to Adruss’s shop and he thinks they’re a couple
*** has a Ring of Mind Shielding
*** He’s selling it for 8000gp, but Aloe offers to trade it for Bognus’ Potion of Immeasurable Health with a promise of the two of them are Brand Ambassadors
* Aloe and Olai return to the Sinking Seaman, and Aloe infers to Lucan that her and Olai are engaged
** He offers Olai 4 gold to be a bouncer for a meeting upstairs
** Aloe looks at the food headed upstairs and tells Olai they need to get some
** A fancy couple and their friend walk up with an invitation. Aloe charms the woman, Valroyce to take her upstairs as a close friend
** Olai stands guard at the top of the stairs
* Upstairs, there are tables with little name plates. Valroyce pulls Aloe’s chair out for her
** There is one more couple in the room
** The woman tells her that they’re having a soiree to honor the retirement of their member of parliament, Ebermund Holstier.
*** He’s an old crotchety member of Shaderun parliament who has been there forever. He’s not as corrupt as many of the others but is extremely strict. He’s been there one of the longest
** Olai signals to Aloe that its the guy
** Aloe talks to Valroyce about who may replace Ebermund, but they aren’t sure yet, but most likely he will be thankful to whoever has thrown this bash
* Olai checks everyone in, until one man shows up in all black, whose invitation has a red wax instead of a black one. There is a quote “Without passion, thou art already dead” underneath it is addressed to a set of initials: S. R.
** He says its his uncle, and Olai can see the resemblance.
* The man immediately goes and stabs Ebermund, and then everyone in the room procedurally goes and stabs him, including Aloe. Meanwhile, Olai proceeds to guard the door.
** Once the stabbening is complete, they bring out plates of lamb and other extravagant foods that Olai and Aloe take
** Olai also gets tips as people exit the establishment
* Meanwhile, Traz is giving Azdarah a makeover to make her more lowkey
** They also find icecream, Azdarah eats elderberry and Traz gets vanilla
** Azdarah eats hers too fast and gets brainfreeze and is convinced its poisoned
** She tries to keep Traz from eating the “iced cream”
** Traz buys more books and sells his old one
* The party meets back up together, where Olai and Aloe are finishing up their meals
** Aloe asks Lucan for rooms, but he says he’s booked for the night. He’s lying.
** Aloe negotiates a performance for four beds for the night
* Olai offers to keep watch for Aloe that night
** In the middle of the night, he sees a halfling peek around the corners
** Olai walks around the corner only to find a blade at his throat
** Olai asks what he wants from them. He says that he is simply the messenger for his boss. His boss is keeping an eye on them.
** Olai asks if he has a name, which we learn is Targin, and tells him to drop the secrecy and just deliver the letter next time. The halfling agrees
* The next day, Floswynn 25th, the ship is ready to go!
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=== Session 3: Damned if I Do ===
* The first night on the ship, Hemani and Olai have skeleton duty.
** Traz goes back to his barrel huddle and does a spooky prayer (but no one knows that)
** It’s a calm night, and the wind is with them
* Then, Percef and Aloe take the next shift
** Percef shows Aloe some of the ropes
* Olai and Aloe notice that the sky begins to change. The sky is becoming dark, even during the day, and there is a hellish glow in the clouds. It seems similar to the firestorm. Olai knows that they are in the Ocean of Fire. Generally, this is how this sea looks and that its normal to see. There isn’t a firestorm
** Traz doesnt know that and goes to Kratchet. He says that its normal. Traz says he’s never seen it during the day though he’s been to the Isle of the Damned.
** Kratchet asks what he did there, but Traz won’t say
* Azdarah is working out below deck
* Olai is watching the crew, and he notices that he’s being watched by Hemani
** He motions for Olai to join him away from the others. Olai asks him what he wants
** He asks if he’s thought about what he said the other night. He asks if he’s thought about what he’s looking for
** Olai says yes, that he knows what he’s looking for and intends to find it, no matter the cost.
** Hemani says that he needs to be prepared to not find what he’s looking for and to be open to finding something more
** Hemani turns to Olai, mouth uncovered, and unmoving. He says “You’re not meant to understand right now. You’re still in the haze of being lost. Don’t worry, at one point you’ll find clarity.”
** He reaches and touches Olai’s forehead, the image of the burning tree ignites in his mind. Olai feels a burning sensation
** He comes to an hour later, and slumps against the side of the hull and sits to think
* Aloe goes to get hot water for tea from Elias and then asks Azdarah if she can plug her ears to let her pray
** Azdarah is confused and asks why she cannot just pray with Azdarah there
** She recommends that Azdarah plug her ears with wax so she can keep working out
** Azdarah ends up going upstairs to work out with Salgar
* Olai begins to go back downstairs and hears the end of Aloe’s prayer
** “Anyways uh - the elf guy seems to think we won’t be making it back so maybe we’ll just die! Maybe we just… get blown to bits before we even step foot on the island. I’ve got some thoughts on how to avoid that but uh- we’ll see what ends up happening.”
** And then he immediately gets awkward and goes back upstairs
* They arrive that night to the Island of the Damned, which is a rocky spiring island that looks to be almost uninhabitable except for the high rock walls that form a city in the rock. They arrive to the South Dock
** There are 3 guards waiting for them
** Traz takes the paperwork they got from the Spire and casts illusory script on it
* The Captain and Traz go up to the guard and give them the paperwork that Traz has made look like a message from Culchurehithe requesting deliveries from the Isle of the Damned
** The guard comments that they’re getting demanding of the Isle
** Traz says that there’s a few items in high demand of some specialty merchants
** They say they’ll be there for 5 days at most
** Traz says if they manage to make no problems at all, it wouldn’t be the Isle of the Damned
** They are free to pass
* Captains tells the crew that only he and Hemani will be joining the party, that way it ensures a quick getaway if needed.
** Salgar is sad about this
* The party heads to the Silver Coin Inn
** There are rough people there, a man gets stabbed in the hand when they walk in
** There’s booths on the outskirts of the room and a lot of noise from the center of the room. The booths are almost inset and walled off from each other. Most of the booths are walled off, making it quieter. Olai notices a sigil above each booth, which look to be protection sigil
** Olai walks up to the bar and orders the King’s Feast
** The bartender’s demeanor changes and she asks for 100 gold
*** Olai tells her 50 now and 50 after
*** She tells them to get a booth and their meal will come shortly
** The bartender comes back with plates and plates of food. Once
*** She says they will have rooms 101 and 102 (a suite, the bigger room)
* A man comes to sit at the table and starts eating 
** He says that Helgard runs this town, and is one of the most feared criminals there
** He’s located in the NorthWest HighMark district.
*** High Marks bc there are high marks on their heads
** He lives there with a lot of guards hounds and cronies
** Books are kept in the East Library in the Eastern Wing of his manor. 2nd floor. Usually has about 2 guards
** He suggests that a couple of people get taken in to be inside the holding area, they can break out, help the others get in, and goes out the north side up by the wall
** The last group tried to attack head on and got got by the hounds outside
* He says that if they want to take some more time, there’s another way they could get a leg up
** Olai, Traz, and Aloe know that the city was thrown up very quickly, and there were some tunnels dug under the walls. Traz and Aloe know that most of the houses and buildings in the older areas (like High Mark)  have been there for at least a century. There are only ever 3 architects that have built there. 
** Brish, an old half-orc architect worked on High Mark. He passed away and passed his plans down to his “greedy son of a bitch” daughter
* He says that he only leaves his mansion to do business or go on a mission
** He says Kurvi knows his schedule, but he’s always with Helgard. But he does send him to the smuggler’s market every other day for goods. He also passes out info to some of Helgards lower urchins
** helgard never said why he needed to kill Remus but he became obsessed with it. He said it went beyond the scope of his organization
* He says to tell Hops (the bartender) that we need a lamp for the room if they need to contact him again. He says his name is Mothrom, but they can call him Moth
* Before headed upstairs, Olai gives Hops the other 50. She gives him a drink in “good faith”
* Before bed, the flames in the lamps in the room flicker and go out
** Azdarah yells and wakes everyone up but there is nothing to be found
** Olai agrees to keep watch all night
* Once Traz closes his eyes, he goes into a mindscape and talks with something. He asks what he’s to do. He asks if Helgard makes it to the Spire if it will jeopardize something. The thing says to make sure that no one sees Helgard’s files. Traz must ensure that none of it goes wrong. It says to not make Helgard his enemy. It says that Helgard is a pawn and is to be captured. It says Helgard needs to be desperate. Traz is being assigned on a mission by this deity. It tells him that the “brooding one” (Olai) (Traz calls him a kid) should be protected. It says if he fails, he cannot be protected from “Seatross???”
* Day is Floswynn 26th
______________________________________________________________________________
=== Session 4: ‘Aint Nothin But a Hellhound Dog ===
* Floswynn 27th
* Traz offers that the party splits up, some of them going to find Kurvi and some of them go find the architects daughter
** Olai opts to go with Traz
** Aloe and Olai have a “car fight” at the breakfast table
** Kratchet gets on to them for being children
* Olai and Traz go to the Smuggler’s Market to look for Kurvi
** They’re going around the market, and everyone looks to be a bit shady. There’s one man standing on the edge of a strip of shops. He makes direct eye contact with Traz, and his smug smirk drops from his face. He quickly runs off
** Olai tells Traz to keep it lowkey. They flank around both sides of the building but they lose track of him
** Traz yells to Olai if he saw where he went, but Olai runs up to him to shut him up.
** Olai says that he needs to be more lowkey 
** A little goblin lady asks if they’re looking for someone. Traz says his brother, but Olai tries to quickly usher them away
* As they are leaving, they run into a frost troll who asks if they’re snooping. Traz says no, but is not convincing. The troll scoops both of them up and carries them off.
** They try to wiggle free, but they are quickly knocked unconscious
** They hear the goblin lady (Ink) scoff at them before losing consciousness
* Meanwhile, the other group decides to ask Hops if she knows anything about the daughter of the architect, Brush
** She knows she used to live close to the Grog Trap
** Azdarah asks if there’s a city planner who may know more about Brish. Hops tells them that there are 2 architects who have done all the buildings for the city, Brish and Yari. She says the other architect, Yari, has been missing for over a decade from a lightning storm. She tells them that he was a family friend. His family is also dead from “a broken heart.”
** There are rumours he had an apprentice working out of the Urchin district, but he didn’t want her getting caught up in things since she was a child
** The Captain mentions that he and his crew would know kids around that time
* They decide to go off to the urchin district.
** They notice several troll guards walking around, and one of them is attracted to Azdarah, his friend bringing him back saying “We are looking for bad men, not sexy ladies”
** Kratchet leads them to the Rockcrest Inn. Kratchet is immediately slapped across the face by a woman named Kuvira, and dragged by the beard into a back room
** Aloe and Hemani make small talk about her travels to Far Reach and her family history. Aloe says she’s really close to her family. Her mom is a merchant and her father a fire genie. They can be overbearing when it comes to her travels. But she prays to her father
** Hemani talks about how his family, his brothers and sisters, are still kept in High Realm, most likely still in the mines. He says there are more than one kind of hurt, and taking away his blindfold, his eyes have been slashed. His tongue has been cut out and scars where his mouth had been sewn shut. He says he prayed to Cantis, who gave him his “gift”
* Kratchet returns with info on who we can find at the Grog trap
** They head to the Grog Trap, which smells like corn and alcohol
** They notice a lot of the trolls are gone now
** The Captain begs them to act normal. (They won’t) and says they’re looking for a gnome named Fiddlestib. She has purple hair, an angular face, and looks like a gnome
* Aloe goes up to the bar and asks if her friend Fiddlestib has been around. The bartender says they’ve never seen them together before. Azdarah orders a grog
** She drinks half of it but notices it tastes weird
** Kratchet makes his way around the room greeting everyone while Hemani sticks close to the door
** After the band stops, the bartender pulls Aloe aside and tells her that Fiddlestib hasn’t been there in a while, but she suspects that she’s holed up in her workshop. Aloe asks where it is, and the bartender says that she’ll be in a yellow building with blue shutters
** Aloe asks if the lackeys come around here a lot, and the bartender pushes her against the wall. She says Helgard has eyes and ears everywhere. She says they used to be a safe place, but no where has been safe for a while
** Aloe asks the best way to go, and the bartender says they should try the tunnels
** She tells them that there’s an old access in the highmark district next to the old library that should get them into the tunnels
** The bartender says her name is Hulga. She apologizes for giving Azdarah the spit bucket
* They are walking down the alley when they notice that they are being followed. They turn around and see a dog following them.
** Azdarah invites it closer before Kratchet screams “Hellhounds!!!”
** The party is surrounded by 5 hellhounds
** They viciously attack the grounp, knocking both Aloe and Hemani unconscious
** Suddenly, however, they are pulled away as if called back
** They pick up their wounded, Azdarah literally  picks up Hemani, and they decide to go knock on Fiddlestib’s door
* Fiddlestib is a little gnome with googly goggles with a hammer and apron
** Azdarah asks if she can help with her building, and Fiddle asks if they’re there about the sweetcakes
** They are not
** She asks if they were followed and if anyone knows they were looking for her. The answer to both is yes.
** They have Hemani tell her what’s happening, in case someone is listening
** She lifts a rug to reveal a hatch in the floor leading to a basement workshop. She gives a blueprint to them
* They offer her amnesty on the ship while they try to take down Helgard, otherwise, they will surely come after her
______________________________________________________________________________
=== Session 5: For Whom the Death Bell Troll ===
* Traz and Olai wake up on the floor of a dark room, with no light save for a few beams escaping through the ceiling bricks.
** There are two separate cells, and they are being watched by a business casual troll, who is asleep
** Their heads ache and they struggle to remember what happened
** The troll has a hammer
** They hear a croaking voice coming from another cell “One of you should be the bait”
*** Traz thinks it’s his god. He whispers back “I thought I was supposed to protect him not use him as bait”
*** Dwokhil (the guy) says he’s in on the plan, but Olai doesnt trust him.
*** He says that helgard found out who he was and put him in here
**** He says he was a scholar, part of a mercenary group from the quarters. They hadn't been there a day before helgard found out they were coming for him
**** They asked for the King’s Feast but no one ever met them. On their way back from the bar they were attacked by hellhounds
**** Everyone else has died, but he simply wont die
* Az is helping Aloe walk, and Hemani is limping along as well
** They need a doctor, and they ask Fiddlestib if she knows of someone who can help and not be upset they’re torn apart by dogs
** She tells them its time to meet the resistance
** She takes them under the tunnels, and brings them to a false wall, behind which lies The Refuge, a nustling underground city filled with members of the Resistance
* She takes them to a water genasi cleric named Bamoubo
** She heals them up for 100g
** Aloe also asks if she has some certain plants (Bull rush, dainaberry, nightshade, mandrake, Serapias Tubrith) because she has had “insomnia”
** She sells Aloe some Bull Rush before quickly ushering them out the door
* Fiddlestib says she plans on staying in the underground city, and they thank her for all her help
* Aloe offers to psychically message Olai “Found blueprints. We are being watched and followed. Where are you?”
** He responds “In helgards prison. Breaking Out with Traz and another merc. Get here ASAP”
* They plan to stage a fight in front of Hops in case they were the ones informing the hounds in order to get them to send them 
* Meanwhile, Traz Misty Steps out of the cell, almost waking the guard, grabs the keys
** The guard whips around, grabs Traz and slams him on the ground
** Traz manages to shove the keys in his pocket without the troll noticing
** The troll continues to smash Traz, and he manages to slide the keys to Olai without the troll noticing
** Olai unlocks his cell and hits the troll with a spell, causing the troll to turn to attack Oali.
** Traz is knocked unconscious by the troll and is dropped to the floor.
** The troll fully turns his attention to Olai, standing outside the cell 
** Olai is able to coax the troll into his cell, juke him, and shut the door behind him, and lock him in
* Traz eventually regains consciousness and notices that In the corner of the prison, there is a shimmering portal in the corner. Olai can see into the ethereal plane (?), there is a shadowy man with broad build standing there with his arms crossed
** Olai frees Dwokhil and Olai and him heads upstairs
** Traz stays behind (and speaks with Nokdem).
** They gather all their items, plus find the items of Dwokhill’s party (extra healing potions).
** Traz assures them that there aren’t any hellhounds here, Dwokhill doesn’t trust him initially.
* Floswynn 27th
______________________________________________________________________________
=== Interlude: feat. Mads & Cass ===
You come here often? :3Cassidy
;) yeah bby wydMaddie
Uwu  let’s play some games ;)
Psst maybe you….
And I……
Could make sure I dont die
Thanks boo <3
New phone, who dis?
</3
I crie every tiem
;_;
(TT_TT)
______________________________________________________________________________
=== Session 6: Fluster cuck ===
* Aloe and Azdarah are on their way to the Silver Coin Inn to see Hops
** Meanwhile, the Boys are getting ready to fight the troll
** They feel like they’re being hunted from a distance
** Kratchet tells Azdarah to keep an eye out for a music box
* They put on quite the show, going as far as to imitate a full fight and screaming match
** Azdarah pretends to slash at Kratchet, and they pretend to disband
** Hemani flips them off on the way out
** They then to up to Hops and tell her that they plan on leaving via the East Dock
** They ask the best route and she’s kinda racist about it
** They exit the Inn and spray themselves with perfume to mask their scent from the dogs 
* Back in the mansion, the boys realize there is no door
** Against one wall, there is a weapons rack of only spears. Traz finds an odd one out and pulls it. It’s a lever that opens a panel in the stone wall
** It opens up to a lavish bedroom with a canopy bed, everything covered in deep reds and fancy furniture
** Traz looks through a bookshelf and finds a lot of religious texts about demons and the gods of the Argyle Circle
*** The Existential Theology of the Fallen Lords
*** The Argyle Circle in Creation
*** (some books seem out of place, less worn, reminds Traz of a familiar style, stuff he knows about certain books….in certain…..places)
*** (out of place, newer text, teal binding/mystical) The Myths and Legends of Yyfire: The Tales of the Gods Before the Fallen
*** Traz takes all the books
** Olai looks through an ornate dresser. It’s very ornate, and he notices that the light casts on the symbol of a tree with shimmering leaves that the setting sun makes look like they are burning. He can’t seem to pull himself away from it, he is entranced by this symbol
** There is jewelry pieces on top, a music box, and clothes fit for a very tiny man
*** 7 rings and a music box
** Traz investigates a water basin, with a wet towel beside it, in which the water seems dark and rippling
*** He sticks his hands into the basin
*** As his fingertips touch the water, the liquid feels too thick to be normal water. It crawls up his arms forming sharp claws, ripping the flesh from his limbs and starts pulling him into the water
*** He sees these little golden bands flare up around the rim of the basin pulsing with a dim magical light that turns blue. Traz realizes this is a form of mirror guardian
**** Traz tries to flip the bowl over, and fails. The creature scrapes and pulls at Traz, rending more flesh from bone. 
**** Olai assists, and they manage to flip the bowl over, the creature giving a screech.
*** They spot a mirror in the corner, and Olai tries to cover it with a cloth, but isn’t quick enough. The creature grabs him by the throat
* Azdarah and Aloe arrive on the scene. They set a bush on fire in front of the house, drawing the two trolls guarding the front entrance
** Azdarah looks in the study window, seeing ornate furniture and display cases, and ebony cut statues of demon lords Nokdem and Progzna, and a few other smaller statues. On the other side, there are statues of Paviga, Ubistre, and Lavituus.
*** The Progzna statue is a proud bust
** Azdarah opens the window and looks back to Aloe, who isn’t looking before being suddenly snatched up by a troll, drug through the window to face helgard, who is standing by his desk
** He asks what she’s doing here. Azdarah says they have come to speak to him. She explains that the Spire has sent them here to die. She explains that the Spire wants them to bring him back, though they expect to not see them again.
** He asks her if she would go back there. She asks either her home or her kingdom. He asks if she would return to her king. She said it would depend if she could return to her home.
** He asks what she wants from him, and she says that they could all speak cordially as a meeting
* helgard tells the trolls to get Olai and Traz and bring them to the dinning room. Dwokhill comes with them as well, saying he will stay with them until the end of their mission
** He asks where their loyalties lie, again. And Traz says that he isn’t loyal to his king
** Meanwhile, Aloe searches the study and obtains helgard’s documents, a book on demonology, a blue elephant pendant, and a fossilized leaf that is warm to the touch 
** Olai asks why they want to make it look like they want him so badly
*** He says otherwise it would be too obvious
*** He says that they are pawns for them, but some people on the board are more like bishops, making bigger moves
*** They dont want someone that everyone can see. They send someone like Helgard for the right price, so he trades off a piece of his soul to help them and he covers up their messes. He does what needs to be done and is willing to work any deal
*** There is someone directing him and making hi
*** Everyone thinks the firestorms are the wrath of the gods, but the kingdoms have a much bigger plot to play. Especially High Realm. They’d rather watch the world burn than for the world to see them for what they are
*** He says they’re scared of us, that we have too many ties to whats going on. And there’s a big old cover up going on
*** He says the gods have it out for them
* Olai offers that they take helgard with them, which would unravel the Spire’s plans. And get them both information they need
* He asks them who is going to make the oath, and Traz steps forward.
** They agree that they are to protect helgard and not leave him behind
** Traz asks that it goes both ways, and helgard agrees that he will not leave them behind
** They cut their hands and scoop the blood into a locket
** helgard reels back like Traz’s blood burns, and he says he has bad blood
* Olai says he will step in in place of Traz.
** He asks what makes blood bad, and helgard says its what it’s bound to
** Olai agrees and the blood oath is made
** helgard says that they are tied
* Aloe knocks on the window, and the troll says that she should come in, and wipe her feet on the mat
** The troll invites her in, and they fill Aloe in
* The hellhounds return (-1 whose name was Daisy), and helgard says that one hound, Doxie, will be coming with them. 
** He sends her out to “get dinner” before they head to the ship
* Evening of Floswynn 27th
______________________________________________________________________________
=== Session 7: Helgard Your Secrets ===
* Traz tells Helgard that the Spire cannot have the documents and that they need to make sure they do not get him
** Aloe and Olai are suspicious
** He says no one there should see them
** Olai asks what’s on them
*** He says plans, names, routes, and something that’s a lot of trouble. He says no one should touch them or know where they are
** Traz tells Helgard that they may raid his house and he agrees and tells Traz to get the documents
* The documents are not in the study (Aloe has them)
** Traz runs into Kurvi and asks him where the documents are
** He tells him they made a deal with Helgard, and Kurvi asks why
** When Traz doesnt tell him, Kurvi hits him with a fireball
* Meanwhile, Azdarah asks about the music box
** helgard says only one person would know about that
** Aloe whispers to Olai that Traz isn’t gonna find the documents
** Olai says that she should help Traz in his old age
* Aloe meets Traz in the study, and tells him she has the documents
** Traz tells her to keep them 
** They go back to the ballroom and tell Helgard that Kurvi’s gonna keep an eye on them and Kurvi says they’re always in the study
** Helgard agrees to let “Kurvi look over them since they’re there” (he knows)
*** Olai knows that Helgard knows
* They take the tunnels back to the ship. The crew is unhappy to see Helgard there
** Kratchet asks to see both Traz and Azdarah in his office
**
** Azdarah and Krachet are weird (complementary) and Traz is uncomfortable
** Azdarah tells Krachet that Olai made a blood oath 
** He asks Traz why his blood didn’t work
** Azdarah asks Kratchet why the music box is so important. He says it once belonged to him. It was a gift he held very dearly. He says there is one man who he hates and wishes to see him fail, and it’s Helgaurd. When he died, when his children were taken from him, Helgard is one of the ones who betrayed him. From the salvaged bits and pieces of his ship, helgard was able to take the music box. Sources have told him that upon learning of his whereabouts, helgard had information on his stolen children that he kept hidden there.
* They set off from the dock, and Olai asks Aloe what they’re supposed to do with helgard. Olai asks Aloe to watch him sometimes. He gives her his desserts and they will swap bunks if she will watch him sometimes. She says she will watch him for one night
** Helgaurd teaches Olai how to play Serpent Hand
*** “Seven stack snakes”
** Aloe goes to ask Elias if she can have hot water and to pray in the kitchen. She does
*** Aloe gets high and prays to 4 gods: Dauphin, Lomnos, Cantis, and (redacted, who she was not supposed to contact again)
*** Elias puts on earmuffs and doesn’t listen.
*** Elias says he doesn’t want to be at sea but doesn’t want to leave the crew behind
*** Aloe asks Elias if he knows his parents. He doesn’t, he was orphaned. Aloe misses her family. Elias says he doesn’t have anyone to go home to.
*** Elias says he has no one on land, but Tusmar (Kratchet) took him in when he was young. He says the crew is kinda like his family
*** Aloe says her dad is well connected on Shaderun, and offers Elias if he wants to stay with other fire genasi, to let her know. She says there is a whole community.
** Azdarah is following Kratchet around he is teaching her about sailing
** Olai learns how to play Serpent Hand
*** As he’s playing, he can see on one of the face cards (Queen), there is the image of a tree, and there is a glimmer. Olai’s vision seems to tunnel, and he feels himself almost like he’s standing by this tree. He hears from behind him “The tree is quite beautiful, isn’t it?” He turns, confused, and sees that it’s Vikaris “the tree, its quite beautiful isn’t it? Wedont have anything like it in Shaderun.” “We don’t have much of anything in SR” “Well…I mean… You’re right. But we also have so much” “maybe..one tree”. “Do you miss it Olai?” “I can’t” “Why?” Olai is quiet and doesn’t respond. “I didn’t want to leave. You..you know I didn;t want to leave, right?” “Why not?” “Why didn’t I want to leave?” “Its better for you this way. Things are better this way.” “I found no peace. I can find. No. peace.” “Why are you doing this?” “Its said that she pulled-” he faces the flames “its said that she pulled a human from the flames and gave them the name of Yyfire they were tall, with eyes that asked many questions. Cantis was immediately obsessed with them. She taught them words and songs, and spend many years tucked away in that cave with them. However eventually she knew she must go back to the heavens so that Henos would not become sus.” Olai snaps in front of Vik’s face and he is crying “before she left, Yyfire asked her to give them others to be around. Conflicted, Cantis eventually gave into their request and pulled more humanoids from the fire. She was sad to leave but Cantis returned to the heavens. Before she left, she made the Humanoids promise to never leave the cave.” Olai shakes Vik to wake him up, but he doesn’t stop “Years passed while Cantis was away. In the heavens she was greeted with curiosity and skepticism with where she had been. Eventually she told her brother and her friend Anren and Lomnos about the person she had created and the cave. About Yyfire.” Olai yells at him “They went down to visit the humans together however Oteus followed them due to his own greed and curiosity” Vik turns for the first time and looks at Olai with burning irises. “I can never know peace, Olai.” 
*** Helgard snaps in front of Olais face, Olai yells at his vision to stop
*** Helgard berates him and Olai excuses himself and steps away
*** Olai goes to a corner (traz corner? yes) and goes to pull out his sending stone, he stops when he realizes he was holding the Queen card.
*** The hair that swoops down over one side of her face, she holds a pipe flute with little tusks peeking over her lip. There's a crown around her head made from lilies. Its an image of Cantis 
*** Olai tosses the card and catches his breath before pulling his stone out
**** “Any luck?”
*** Hemani and Percef hear Olai shouting and Hemani goes to him and encourages him to go get a breath of fresh air. 
*** Olai asks Traz to cover for him with Helgard. 
*** Helgard gets up and retrieves the card 
*** Traz tells helgard that he couldn’t find the documents, and Kurvi told him to fuck off before throwing fire at him
*** Traz asks helgard how it’s gonna go when we walk in with them. He says that he received word of them coming from the Spire, so they probably will be surprised that they’re alive.
**** helgard says that they’ll make him their prisoner, and he says they should figure that out if Olai is going to make it
**** Traz says that he may not be concerned with him
**** helgard says he knows for a fact he won’t be left behind. That they both work for higher powers and that everything has its purpose. 
**** helgard tells Traz to watch out for his “bad blood,” that it may be more trouble than its worth. Traz says he doesn’t know what it’s worth
*** Traz suggests that they may not have to have him captured at all. They could have helgard simply act as their prisoner, and they play along with their plan, pretend to be clueless. helgard says he isn’t on good terms with all of the Spire though. 
**** He says the only thing he did wrong was keep the documents bc its put a bounty on his head.
**** Traz asks if they know what’s on the documents. helgard says that Xenir wrote them. He’s the one out for them all. He says as far as he knows, High Realm and Shaderun are the only two who know what’s going on, so to watch out for Xenir and Esphan
*** helgard asks Traz what he remembers of the firestorms first starting, and the initial expeditions. None of the ships returned, and those that did brought back a fucked up crew. He asks Traz who he thinks signed the papers for those missions: Captain Syra. Used to be a captain of the Far Reach military.
**** Note: Traz notices that there are some inconsistencies with how he tells the story, but that there are bits missing. He never heard of Syra being part of that. But he knows people are fearful of her
*** Traz asks if helgard can tell him what’s on the first page, he could make a believable copy
** Olai eventually gets a response from Addrus 4 hours later: “I am following a lead that might interest you. Give me a couple more days, and I will report back. Continue to represent the brand.” 
______________________________________________________________________________
=== Session 8: I Just Got a Letter ===
* That night, Helguard sleeps on the floor beneath Olai’s hammock
* When Aloe comes down from the tea, Aloe notices a shimmering figure silhouette in the darkness.
** She asks who’s there, and it says “I heard you, calling out, into the darkness.” “Not for you.” It says “It’s relative, isn’t it.” “Hardly.” “Well, I do believe I was the only one who answered.” “Well consider this: I don’t want your answer.” “You called out for a piece of me. You need some guidance.” “Not from you.” “You are blinded by the light” “Which is a good thing! Generally people don’t think following darkness is a good thing” “You are naive if you think you’re following good” “I didn’t say I was following good, I said I wasn’t following you.” “Your mind must be too small to comprehend what you have done.” “It must be too small for you to take residence in then.” “I will be seeing you again.” “Yeah, seeing me with other things.” The shadow morphs around Aloe and engulfs her. The void engulfs her until she is standing in an empty space. In the distance she can hear voices talking until they eventually float away. “You think that my domain is where this darkness comes from?” She can hear families calling out for each other. “You think that I am one of these entities that can bring this upon you?” She can hear the voices of her party talking excitedly about the minotaur they fought, Olai complimenting Azdarah and Traz. “But there is more to the darkness. There is more you do not understand. Your fears. Your secrets. They keep you from being able to make meaning of the cataclystic world that you’ve been brought into. You are looking for light in dieties that have been touched by darkness. And yet you are too scared to look for the light in those of us who are dark. Your way is blocked and you are lost. But you’re never going to find your way out if you keep along this path.”
** Aloe’s greatest fear is being alone
* It’s Dryder 2nd
* Aloe gets up and goes to Olai who has not slept all night. She offers to start her 24 hours of watching Helgard. It is 5am
** Olai accidentally wakes Helgard getting out of his hammock, and he asks where he’s going.
** He says he needs to be alone for a bit
* Olai goes to Hemani and ask how their end of the mission was
** Hemani says it went well
** Olai asks if Hemani would do him a favor and keep everyone away for a bit
** He crawls under a tarp in the back of the ship for a couple of hours and Hemani protects him from socialization
* Olai tells Helgard that Traz is looking for him but keeps Aloe behind, and asks her if she wants to read the documents
** She says that they shouldn’t though
** Olai says that they should know what the weapon they are holding is
** Aloe says that she will read them and let Olai know after the team meeting
** Olai threatens to cut her leg off if she doesn't
* Helgard finds Traz and they start to discuss what they might do with him at the Spire
** He says they might put him at the top of the Spire or in the bottom holding cells
** Traz tells Helgard that he can perform a magical branding that will help them locate Helgard in case they are separated
** They agree that both deals will be dispelled at the same time
** Traz conducts the ritual, taking damage, and branding Helgard with two parallel lines
* Azdarah is learning from Kratchet. He’s teaching her how to read maps when Aloe comes to collect Azdarah for the meeting
** Azdarah struggles with map scaling
* Aloe goes to read the documents:
** Travel ban past the northeast channel, the Calmeuse Straight
** Soon they will begin working w ShadeRun to cut of supplies and support for Far Reach
** It talks about the followers of The Fallen, which is a religious group
** High Realm has been trying to stop word from spreading about the murders of the delegates that the followers of The Fallen have been committing
** The Fallen want to stir up fear and make people realize there’s something going on
** High Realm and Shade Run want to protect the integrity of Henos as The Almighty (the leader of the gods)
** It’s noted that the power of The Chained One grows, and with it, the fire storms grow stronger and more frequent. The fear it won’t be much longer until the Chained One is freed.
** “Henos’ blessing to each of you”
* Aloe rejoins the party and the meeting begins
** Olai asks what they’re gonna do
** Traz tells the group that he branded Helgard, meaning he can tell where he is at all times and he cannot injure another creature in Traz’s sight
** He did not know that he cannot injure something else, and realizes he’s been tricked
** They agree to take Helgard in, tied up, and pretend everything is normal
* They arrive at the Spire. The Captain calls out to the crew to dock the ship
** Olai and Aloe pull the sails
** Azdarah is at the helm with Hemani
* They arrive at the Quarters, and Azdarah and Aloe immediately want to see Bognous
** When they find him, he has a light blue swirling glittering liquid.
** They tell him they have represented his brand in far off lands of Culturehithe
** Aloe tells Olai to show him the rings from Addrus and Olai gives the speech
** He tells them that his new potion is a potion of imagination rejuvenation (allegedly….its Bardic Inspiration in a bottle!)
** Aloe buys the potion for 10 gp
** He also gives him a pamphlet
** He gives everybody (including Olai) pins to be brand ambassadors
** Olai tells him he should attempt to bear more than one good at a time
** He makes him Senior Brand Ambassador and agrees to pay him 30% of his weekly earnings
* Olai realizes that people are noticing that they are walking through the Quarters with Helgard, one of the highest profile criminals in the world
** On the steps, they see Blip and Togg glaring at them but they quickly realize who is with them and they back down
** Vercina is watching from farther away and gives Olai a nod. Olai nods back and she approaches. Vercina walks beside Olai, she says she’s surprised they’re alive, and Olai is too. She says they should celebrate, the Mercpion’s names will be on The Quarters newspapers. He says they’ll be on a lot more than that
* They enter the Spire and Sliavaard is surprised to see them alive. They ask him to go collect the Council members
** As they are waiting, Azdarah catches a painting on the wall toward the High Realm sector of the building. She walks over to it, its a painting of the Argyle Circle, which is depicted as a temple room with thrones for each of the eight gods, one taller for Henos, the Almighty One. She also sees Oteus, Daphine, & Ygara with the other chairs standing between them, empty. Traz notices Azdarah walk over and follows her. It’s an old, original painting from 200 years old, but Traz notices that the painting has been redone, and doesn’t have the integrity of the original. He notices that the empty thrones have been painted over. At some point, those gods were on the painting.
** Azdarah tells Traz that it reminds her of home, but she doesn't seem happy about it
* Xenir welcomes them, and says that they can take Helgard off their hands.
** Aloe recognizes the malice in Xenir’s voice, but also Xenir is trying to get a read on the group.
** Olai notices that Helgard tenses up and his eyes go wide
** Olai offers that they be there for Helgard’s interrogation
** They refuse to give Hel
** gard until they are paid
** They are paid 2500 gp extra  
* Before they leave, Olai pulls Aloe aside and asks what they should do
** They decide to find Sliavaard
** They ask him to send word to Syra and Esphan that Xenir took Helgard and tried to bribe them
** Olai also gives Sliavaard an extra 250gp for his services
* The crew goes home, and the place reeks. It has been sitting for a week now.
** Aloe has an unmarked letter
** Azdarah has a letter from the Omnifyre family with a giant red and orange wax seal
*** It has a little meerkat in the stamp
*** they are preparing for a special visitor
*** It is signed from Caus (mom), Quentin (dad), and Shefar (baby bro) Omnifyre. Notably, Maevis’ name is missing.from the letter
*** Aloe also gets a special order of herbs
*** Olai gets a box of rings from Addrus & a note that says “Still working on what you asked for, but don’t give up hope. Please continue to represent the brand of Addrus. And I have included your salary” It’s 5 sp
*** Traz received the newest edition of the Yyfire Traveler
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Session 9: The Tree Is Not Actually on Fire
* Azdarah announces that Maevis is missing
** She goes to Aloe to ask if she thinks she’s missing or just doesn’t want to talk to Azdarah anymore
** Azdarah decides to write a letter to Maevis and have Aloe look it over
** Aloe asks Olai if he wants to go out tomorrow night, Olai’s kind of out
* Traz says that they should discuss what to do the next day and wants everyone to read the documents that Aloe has
** He makes everyone agree not to to give them to the Spire
** They also all agree that no one should speak except for Olai
* Olai decides to go out drinking alone
** He returns to the Measly Shark
** The bartender asks how he is, and says he’s very tired. She pours him 2 drinks
** Olai begins to think about his visions of Vik and he drinks to forget, but he can’t
** In the memory, he remembers a tapping noise, and it simply grows louder and louder until he startles with a thud, and Vercina startles him out of his trance
*** She sits with hm and they have a drnk
*** She says that they’re about to head out on a mission to High Realm
*** Olai issues her a warning not to trust anyone
*** She says her brother has Daddy Issues and is latched on to the nearest authority figure: Xenir
* It is the next morning, Dyder 3rd 
** When they awake, Sliavaard is simply in their home
*** He notifies them that the letters have been sent
*** And that they have been requested at high noon that day
*** He also tries to make small talk and invites them to the theater to go see The King and the Frog
* The crew decides to go shopping
** They get some healing potions
** And go see Bognous
*** He is now bearer of TWO goods
**** He has two imagination rejuvenation potions
**** Aloe buys both of them - they look decent quality
**** They also explain that he should have multiple different goods
*** They also convince him to try one of his potions
**** He drinks it and a fire explodes out of his stomach, ranging 20 feet and damaging those who did not dodge it
**** Olai tells Adruss to not drink the potion
* They return to the Spire
** They beat Sliavaard there, and Olai opens his office and sits himself down in Sliavaard’s office chair
*** He has a photo of his parents from Far Reach, his mother kind and his father stone faced
*** He has a quill pen collection
*** His name is misspelled on his name plate
*** There’s a to do list with everything marked out: 
**** Reorganize case files
**** Meeting w Captain Syra
**** Complete documentation for Xenir
**** Meet with Mercpions for debrief
**** On the back
***** Make friends has yet to be crossed off
** Several minutes later, Sliavaard runs through the door into Traz
*** He looks disheveled and his gold pendant is missing
* They enter the meeting room, and only Xenir is sitting there
** Xenir says that Syra and Esphan won’t be joining them, and they have other business
** Suddenly, Syra and Esphan bust through the door
*** Xenir is surprised and frustrated to see them
** Xenir asks what happened
*** Olai and Traz give a mostly true account of what happened, leaving out important details but telling the truth
*** Xenir asks Traz directly if he knows where the documents are, and Traz lies but is seen
*** They tell them not to be concerned with what happens to Helguard
* Xenir tells them that they are to be contracted to go to High Realm before he is cut off by Captain Syra who tells them she has already signed the contracts for them to go to Far Reach
** She hands Olai a folder with the details: 
*** They are too meet Haymus in Lylesar in Far Reach as representatives of the Spire for the Crimson Ball
** The only signature on the papers is Captain Syra’s
** Xenir tells them that he was going to have them go to High Realm with the Serpent Brothers
** Syra passes Olai a note asking them to meet her in the Open Air Market before they depart on the 5th
* They decide to get food and drink at the Measly Shark
** They discuss their new assignment and Olai shares that Syra didn’t get the monarch’s signature
* Traz goes home to read
* Azdarah goes to check on Kratchet and the crew
** Kratchet says there was a visitor earlier, Captain Syra herself came to visit with Sliavaard
** She spends the day with the crew prepping the ship and she eats dinner with them
* Aloe grabs Olai and says they’re going to the docks
** She says its because Olai loves the docks, he’s always sitting by the docks
** They go do D Dock, which has less and less people the more they walk on
** About ¾ of the way down, they start to notice that there is absolutely no one around
** Aloe says they’re meeting someone, who suddenly appears, 
** Aloe introduces Olai as “the one she asked for”
** Dawn says that it was mostly for Aloe’s comfort, 
* Dawn tells Aloe and Olai that they have made quite the stir in the Spire
** Aloe asks how Dawn knew what our next mission was gonna be
** She says she has inside sources. She calls herself a merchant of information
** She says that they were originally going to be sent to High Keep and get them killed
** Dawn mentions that she wants something in the Forbidden Isles
*** She wants “The Doorway”
*** She says she wants to go home
*** She says she’s from Faerun, but that they wouldn’t know it
**** Olai tells her not to presume what they know
** Olai resolutely states that no one should go to the Forbidden Isles
** Dawn says that it’s surrounded by firestorms
** She says that she’s made a living off of acquiring goods from this world and bringing them back to Faerun
** She says the portal is tearing apart, becoming unchained from time itself
** She says that one day, the firestorms will overtake the world unless they put an end to it
** She says that the firestorms have to do with the Argyle Circle
** She says to figure out more about the Argyle Circle and the Fallen
** She says to follow any leads about the murdered delegates
** Olai asks Dawn to keep an eye on Helgard
** She says she has some information on the Laulava-si (sp?)
* Aloe says she only came about the information about the Laulava-si (sp?)
** Dawn says that if they follow the steps, she’ll get them information
** Dawn says it’s a HIM
* They go back to the Measly Shark 
** They get whiskey and vodka shots
** Aloe starts drinking and Olai proposes a drinking game (Truth to Drink, it’s like Truth or Drink but backwards)
** He loses. Terribly.
** Aloe finds out that Olai has
*** Been to the Forbidden Isles
*** Been through the portal inside the cavern
*** Died after being involved with the wrong guy
*** Was brought back for some reason
** He finds out that the gods are interested in Aloe and that she is connected to them somehow
** She’s looking to find others who are as connected as she is
** He also tells her that he’s been through the portal and is also dead
** She doesn’t trust him now
* Azdarah returns to find Traz gripping a book so tightly
** She asks what he’s reading, which is The Argyle Circle in Creation
** She asks what’s so upsetting to him about it, and he says it’s wrong
*** He says when they teach it in High Realm, Henos is just and makes no mistakes.
***
* Traz says that he doesn’t believe that they can fight the gods alone
* Azdarah says that she doesn’t think that Henos minds when people misuse her words; instead, it’s about the power
* Azdarah asks why this makes Traz so angry
** Because the kingdoms (?) lied to them and doesn’t care about them
** No one in High Keep is innocent of this
*** They will all pay, and Traz will make sure of it
* Can you hate a place so much and still call it home? (Azdarah)
** And if the people you love are also wrong, what of that?
*** Traz - then you are also wrong, and you are blinded
*** Azdarah - thinks there’s more to it than that
* Traz is not going to stop until every inch, every person, every family is gone from High Realm
** It has created a poison, a fire, that has to be suffocated
** Even those who are victims will go with it
** Azdarah says that there may come a day when she must protect those who are dear to her, and that it includes Traz; however, she will stop him if he comes to those who she loves
* Olai and Aloe come home, pissed as all hell
** Olai goes to bed and Aloe says “oh you go to bed? Where you sleep?”
** Olai throws one of Traz’ books “The Myths and Legends of Yyfire: The Tales of the Gods Before the Fallen” at Aloe’s head
** Azdarah goes to pick up the book for Traz and she sees the title “The Legend of the Hidden Tree” and it has a drawing of a tree with a shining red around the leaves
** Traz says that the illustration conveys fire around the tree
** Olai asks what it was, and asks Traz to read the story
** [Henos’s Tree Story]
** “So the tree is not actually on fire but that it’s a metaphor”
* Aloe asks about the fossilized leaf and shows it to everyone
** Olai also takes out the music box and shows it to everyone
** Traz mentions that there may be a monster in the box
** Azdarah says that Kratchet wanted the box
* Everyone goes to bed upset 
In Summary:
Aloe's pissed
Azdarah's thinking thoughts
Olai's dead
And Traz is gonna bomb the school
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=== Session 10: The Kids are Fighting ===
* Olai gets whispers in his dreams
** He gets dreams that are too normal, it’s off-putting (pre-death normal stuff)
** He looks alive again in his dreams
** The whispers say his name until he jolts from his sleep
* Everyone stays away from each other the next day, Aloe leaves, Traz packs his books, Azdarah goes with the crew
** Azdarah tells Kratchet to let Elias prepare his favorite meals (Pickled Eel Soup, Stuffed Crab w seaweed crumbles, quinoa, creamed spinach, and a High Realm Tri-layer Milk Cake)
** She stays on the ship
** Traz and Aloe notice that Azdarah is missing and Aloe is slightly worried
* They go to the docks in the morning
* Olai and Aloe go to the Open Market to meet Captain Syra
** Olai tells her that Far Reach is in danger from Xenir and Esphan
** Olai recommends talking to Helgard, who can shed light on their espionnage
** Olai tells Syra that they know what was on the documents
* They set sail
** Dwokhill says that he will likely get off when they reach Far Reach
** Traz takes some ritual time
* They arrive at the port of Lylesar and are greeted with docks that tow the boat in mechanically
** The people are wearing different clothing with lots of metal chains and accents
** The architecture looks more victorian than fantasy. There are many statues around
** There is a carriage waiting for them with the kingdom’s insignia at the end of the dock
* Azdarah knocks on the carriage and asks for Haymus
** He is a nervous little orc guy in fancy dress
** He says that the Crimson Ball will be at the end of the week, and that the kingdom opens its doors for the second week to visitors for festivities
** It’s a day’s ride to tomorrow evening
** He says it’s not advisable to stop at the smaller villages along the way, so he recommends stopping
*** He describes a plague overtaking the smaller villages that starts with a bad cough and bloody irises
*** He says it started about a year ago
*** They’ve taken measures to contain the illness to those smaller villages
* As they pass through the plague villages and they see people handing out food rations and smell the putrid stink of burning flesh
* When they arrive in Saltstall Keep, they see people talking on sending stones and seeing fancier architecture
** They say that they will be staying in the 3rd floor of the  West Wing
** Haymus says that they will have the Skitter-skidoos, a jazz band from Shaderun
** There’s a fruit basket
* There are many people bustling around in the Great Hall, many political court dealings but there are clothing styles present from all 3 kingdoms
** Azdarah notices that there are less High Realm representatives than one would think, and none of the higher officials
** Azdarah sees a servant of high realm walking by with the Omnifire family crest. It looks likes someone who would be accompanying a member of the family
** Traz sees a familiar official talking about his work for his kingdom. Says he was a peacekeeper. He’s spent time trying to cut down on espionage and “dealing with the rougher crowd.” (republican)
** He says his hands have been stained with the “filthy blood of urchins.” He says he was chosen to represent his kingdom because he knows the value of his kingdom.
* Haymus takes them upstairs for makeovers
** They have servants of their own, a kitchen, a billiards room, and a lounge
** They all have their own rooms
** Traz says they dont need servants
** Suzette, one of the servants, 
** He leaves them all pocketwatches and itineraries
* Once Aloe sets her stuff down, Traz starts going through Aloe’s things
** Her and Azdarah walk in on Traz, and Aloe goes the fuck off on him and Olai for lying to everyone
** Aloe and Olai go to their rooms
** Azdarah talks to Traz about just opening up to the team instead of carrying everything on his own
** He agrees to talk to them in the morning
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__FORCETOC__