15. Into Avelis (Part 6)

## Starring

Kaitlin as CorbinSophia as Laika

Noel as Fran

and

Kat as your DM

—Noel

## Intro

Kaitlin recounts the traumatic time that they and Noel saw the butt-cheeks of a man in the Caribou parking lot.

## Meeting with some nerds

The high-elf woman who spoke to the Guardians is wearing the same red sash with the symbol of the The University of Madrea that Sha was wearing. As the group begins to converse with her, it is clear that although she is able to converse in Ancient Common, she is not completely fluent. As she begins to lose her confidence she asks the Guardians how they came to speak Ancient Common. Corbin laughs at her, as he finds the phrase ‘Yon old tongue-words.’ funny, Fran explains that it’s their native language. It is Laika who finally tells the elf woman about the Estran books.

As the elf woman translates Laika’s message, the gnome woman goes running out of the building to the gate of the city. The human male follows her. The elf woman introduces herself as Amina and explains that she is Sha’s assistant, then she offers the Guardians tea.

## Tea with a side of exposition

Amina introduces her female human colleague as Kallia Ross. In turn, Fran introduces Maeri as the Guardians’ colleague, which makes Laika and Corbin get mad at her and insist that Maeri is their friend.

Amina leads the Guardians down a corridor lined with sour-smelling torches and into a sitting room scarcely lit with candles and a fireplace. Through prompting, Amina explains that she researches dead gods such as Cernunnos and Vioni. The Guardians are surprised to hear her refer to The Goddess as ‘Kai’. This leads into a further discussion of magic where the Guardians are told that people only have magical abilities if they are blessed by a god and therefore on the world below it is extremely uncommon.

When asked about Kai and Torva, Amina explains that to call a god ‘good’ or ‘bad’ would be redundant, likening it to calling the rain ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

—Amina

Continuing, Amina describes the multiple endings of the world of Avelis. It’s at this point that the Guardians develop their mission statement: Kill all the gods, except for Maeri.

## Suburban moms on black Friday and Amina gives a geography lesson.

The gnome woman, called Daladanya, comes back with Nadona and the cart full of books. The Guardian’s aid in carrying them into the building, with Fran saving the ones she wishes to keep much to Daladanya’s annoyance.

The Guardian’s inquire after a map of the area so that they can decide where to proceed to next and Amina leads them to the university’s library. It is in disarray, with not even Fran being able to find her way around it. At the back of the room there is a huge stone slab with a map of the world engraved onto its surface. Despite lamenting how undignified it is, Amina hoists up her robes and clambers onto it to make the Guardian’s a rubbing of the surrounding area of Danmar.

Amina suggests that if the Guardian’s are attempting to get to Torva’s Jaw they should take the Pilgrim’s Path up to the Temple of Iol in the Farah Mountains. The Guardians decide to first head to Fang Lake to get the Protector’s Blade for Dawson before heading up the mountains.

Maeri, who has been mostly quiet since setting foot in the university, speaks up and asks Amina what Kai was the Goddess of. Amina excitedly explains that no one knows.

## Exploring the city

Amina suggests that the Guardian’s explore the city before heading off. Nodona and Maeri stay behind to help the scholars sort the books.

### Birds hate Corbin and Laika might have a future career as a hair stylist

Although originally they all head off in different directions, Laika and Corbin manage to literally run back into each other. They are in front of a large rookery filled entirely of hawks, all of which are viciously screeching at Corbin. The hawks quickly begin swooping and attacking Corbin, causing him and Laika to run into a dilapidated stone building across the street. The hawks refuse to follow them into it.

Looking around the building Corbin and Laika sees a burned altar and a carved relief on the wall: three crossed shovels in front of a red field. Corbin recognises it and realizes that they are in a temple of Vioni. Despite how long the temple seems to have been out of use, there are no plants growing in it. Laika is able to sense that the temple has been desecrated, likely by Torva.

Corbin decides to sacrifice some of his hair onto the altar, when placed down it turns to black ash. Corbin sees this as good omen. Laika helps style his new do with spit.

### Fran probably gives some temple goers an accidental religious experience

Fran makes her way into the fancy district of town. She also finds a temple. The outside of the building is decorated with a large statue of a woman with her arms outstretched and water falling from her palms. Inside the temple is another stature, this time framing an altar stacked with offerings.

Fran goes to the altar and also sacrifices her hair, drenching the offerings in water. There is a gasp around the temple and people look concerned. As Fran leaves the temple she sticks her head under the statue’s hand and gives herself Sailor Moon hair.

## Leaving Danmar

Returning to the university, the Guardians are provided with three horses. Corbin Animal Handles his horse discovers that the horse's name is "The Rock". Laika’s horse charges at her and she gives it back because her loyal steed will always be sweet Gingie.

Amina says goodbye, reminding them to come to the university if they ever travel to Madria. Fran and Corbin perform the orcish neck-grab goodbye with Nodona, which she seems touched by. Laika terrorises the receptionist one last time. Curiously, Fran loads everybody's belongings onto the horse she is supposed to be riding.

Once the group reaches the line out of the city, Fran begins to cut the bandolier that she and Corbin traded for in half. Corbin calls her on her shit instantly and tells her that she is not leaving. As Laika and Corbin begin to try and convince Fran to stay with the group, Maeri motions for silence. In a very Maeri move, she releases them from their duties as her Guardians. Corbin instantly states that he will still work for her.

Laika expresses that she feels like she doesn’t have a purpose without the group, as her entire life all she has ever done is train for the position. In turn Fran brings out Alonia’s necklace and expresses her concerns that she was raised by Torva. After a speech from Maeri, the group devolves into a crying emotional mess and decides to stay together.

## A Message to Chantel

**Noel:**And that's about it from me, but today's message to Chantel is ‘Sam Grafton.’ We’ll never know if the sleeper agent is active because Kat’s not here, but we can hope and we can pray- do-do-do!

## Featured Characters

### PCs

* Fran
* Corbin
* Laika

### NPCs

* Maeri
* Daladanya
* Kallia Ross
* Nodona

## Featured Locations

* Danmar
	+ The University of Danmar
	+ Dilapidated temple of Vioni
	+ Temple of Rove