Expedition 65: A Song for the Mother

### Roster

Clarity “Prism,” Yezra “Stormfriend,” Gonerton “Bookbinder,” Valorie “Vivian” (and Tay'locer "Miss T")

### Summary

We deliver a song to the Mother to make her forget Nexrin's name, Gonerton vomits up a flower, and we fight the Coiling Runes.

### Detailed Writeup

#### *Chapter 1. A Post-Fiend Inquisition*

Prior to the expedition, Tay'locer explains to the group that her former employers are no longer interested in having her work for them, so she would like for her employment with our compact to be more long-term.

Valorie, who is always paranoid, wants to question Tay about her origins, since she registered as part celestial a few weeks ago. Bast sniffs her again, and notes she no longer smells celestial.

Yezra reluctantly casts Zone of Truth on Tay after she said she's had worse job interviews. Valorie starts with the legalese, asking her to repeat the following statements:

“I am Tay’locer and I have not excluded information, given false information, or otherwise dissembled or knowingly misdirected the members Ironwood Compact about my origins and identity.” She repeats this statement.

“I am not a fiend, of fiendish origin, in a compact with a fiend, or some variant, subspecies, or superior example of a fiend.” She repeats this statement.

“I am an elf and could not truthfully describe myself as of extraplanar origin.” She responds, "There are stories that elves come from the feywild, I was, to my knowledge, born on the material plane." Valorie makes sure that she confirms that this is the only extraneous information.

“I have never left the material plane except in the Ironwood Compact’s company.” She responds, "I have visited the feywild on two separate occassions before your employment, and once to the plane of water." Likewise, Valorie confirms these are the only other times.

“I want to restore my companions to life out of responsibility and not because doing so advances some other goal.” She explains that she would also like to have companions from the same age as her, as well as the fact that one of them is her brother.

“I am not working at the behest of any extraplanar entities.” She responds, "My only current employers are the Ironwood Compact. Some of you have extraplanar tie-ins."

“I am not planning to harm or limit the freedom of the members of the Ironwood Compact except in accordance with the fully disclosed and agreed upon terms of my employment and contract.” She repeats this statement.

To not make her feel attacked, Gonerton also steps in the zone of truth and asks Valorie to question him, since he feels she does not trust him. He repeats the same statements.

Valorie explains that she smelled like a celestial on Healer's Day, and Tay explains that she was used as a vessel for Allocer.

#### *Chapter 2. An Auspicious, though Absolutely Disgusting, Meeting with the Mother*

Previously to the expedition, Clarity sent Sorin to go visit the Ash Lord with a letter attached to his leg, explaining that we had the song The Mother requested, and whether we could meet him and The Mother in his hall. A response is tied to Sorin's leg:

*"I am always happy to welcome strangers to my hall,*

*But unfortunately, my wife answers to no beck or call.*

*I do not know if she will come,*

*But if you show up, there will be rum!"*

The day of the expedition, we all sail out on Yezra's boat towards FerRoc, and we intend to head for the Ash Lord's chambers, but by happenstance, we come across The Mother herself. She is in a field of flowers, in a beekeeper's outfit, tending several beehives. She seems not to remember us.

Valorie steps up and says, "Mother. Do you remember me? You called me Vivian, and I would like you to call me so again. I have come to repay a debt. I offer you a song in obviation of and fulfillment of my obligation." At this, she seems to remember us and acknowledges the debt and the fact that the performance of the song will cancel the said debt.

Valorie conjures her mystical pipe organ, and plays beautifully, entrancing the Mother and bringing creatures from across the island to listen.

So entranced, after the performance, the Mother asks Valorie, "What would convince you to stay?" She explains that Valorie would be well cared for in her care and that she could have anything she wanted.

Valorie explains that she has goals past her own well-being, and things she wants to leave behind on the earth. Though she offers to give a lesser song for a lesser service, and she gestures to Gonerton to explain his needs.

Gonerton explains that he would like a flower from the Mother's domain, as well as a great deal of soil which it grows in. He words it in such a way that he thinks he has left the Mother with few options...

The Mother accepts this trade, and confirms that Valorie can perform the new song immediately.

Suddenly, a horrific scene ensues. Gonerton starts to feel a stomachache, which grows more vile and terrible as his stomach overfills with dirt and a flower shoots out of his nose. Valorie, wanting to look on in horror, is seemingly forced to play the pipe organ as this terrifying scene continues. Gonerton violently vomits all of the soil, and regretfully scoops it all up to take home.

Valorie's performance is so-so, but the Mother is adamant that she wants Valorie to stay with her. She offers Valorie as much gold as she wants, specifying that she could leave whenever she liked. Valorie leaves without giving a concrete answer, to the Mother's clear disappointment.

We decide not to go visit the Ash Lord to spare us from encounters with enemies, but Clarity sends him an owl with an explanation. He responds,

*"Of course, as in all my dealings,*

*I endeavor not to keep hard feelings."*

#### *Chapter 3. Something's up with the Coiling Runes*

We return to the edge of the island, near the boat, for a quick escape if we need it. Clarity summons the Coiling Runes by burning the bundle of sticks she was given. He does not come immediately but instead walks into sight about half an hour later.

After questioned as to what he gains by the spell transfer, he explains that he took the magic for himself. He offers to explain the process to Clarity, and holds out his hands. Clarity notes that she'd prefer to do the explaining here, but he responds "I have places to be this week." Clarity settles for a short, although incomplete, explanation.

He explains, "I provide you with a lesson, a stored memory I create for your particular needs, and plant it in your mind as well as pulling and tweaking at the parts of your mind from whence your magics come. I take the knowledge of the spells from you, they go into myself and form the runes which you see before me. It is that magic that sustains me."

Clarity wants to know if that leaves her with less magical potential. The Coiling Runes skirts the question and explains that Clarity found the deal agreeable.

Yezra, listening in, tries to figure out what the coiling runes is up to. With a natural 20 as well as inspiration from Valorie, she understands that he is being careful, precise, and cagey. He is avoiding saying certain things, and there is something more going on here. Specifically, he is not saying false things, but is maneuvering his words to say truthful things.

Yezra motions to Valorie to have Bast sniff him. After explaining to Bast that people should call him "Pozzie" for the next few hours, she has him sniff the mummified creature, and Bast confirms that he is an undead, smelling like Persephone, Valorie's familiar.

Yezra, who isn't a subtle person, says to the Runes, "I sense there's something you're not telling us, and I would like to know what that is, thank you."

He explains that he has been slightly untruthful and that Clarity will not be able to relearn the spells he took from her. Surprised to hear that he has lied, Clarity now wants more reassurance if they are to continue their deal long-term. He understands, and offers to cast Zone of Truth on himself, and starts casting the spell.

After the spell has been cast, Clarity enters the spell radius, feels no spell effect, and effortlessly says "The moon is green and smells of cheese."

"Oh, Fuck." says the Coiling Runes, as the party rolls initiative.

Gonerton blinks Tay'locer away from the action, and she runs. The Coiling Runes casts slow, only affecting Clarity. The bindings unwrap, and the once medium-sized mummified figure turns into three small-sized copies of the mummy. Clarity fireballs two of them, dealing massive damage causing it to lose concentration on the slow spell. Unfortunately, the three small creatures simultaneously cast dimension door and disappear.

The group leaves the island on Yezra's boat. Valorie, certain that he's going to come after us now, suggests that we make a plan to come back and hunt it down.