Caveats & Private Chats

## **Synopsis**

In Chapter 83: Caveats & Private Chats, Erland returned to Bottled with the deteriorating remains of the Myconid Mutant at the request of Niels Bagas.  Now better composed after his initial outburst, Niels waited patiently as Erland recalled what we knew about the mutant and how it tied in with his sister Anika.

Convinced that we hadn't come to deceive him, Niels began the tale of how the Bagas's got involved in the horrors of the Harvesting Yard – a story of a family fortune squandered and an ambitious young woman whose physical limitations stymied her advancement in the Gentle Void.

With backs against the wall, Anika volunteered herself to be experimented upon – transforming into what we now knew to be a Type-B Mutant.  After struggling to find a contact that could help him, Niels turned to Mr. McKenna – who promised to return his sister for a substantial sum of gold.  McKenna made good on his word – but Niels had no idea just how far-gone Anika's mind was… and the mutant escaped soon after, starting a chain of events that would lead to the massacre at the Mycrawl Den and the vandalization of the Firnogo Vighotrio.

Niels sympathized with Erland's condition, but more than anything else he simply wanted the nightmare to end.  The last bit of information he had in his possession was a note, found among Anika's belongings after she was transported back from the Harvesting Yard.  After letting Erland read it, Niels dissolved the form in a bowl of acid – which along with his sister's demise he hoped would close this grim chapter of his life.

It was perhaps not the full breakthrough we were hoping for, but we confirmed some of our suspicions regarding the promises being made at the camp in the Chaki Mountains – and the note had the first tangible reference thus far to the mysterious "VOID 2" – something that Safira had been keeping an ear out for.

Reconvening back at the Upa Alehouse, we did our best to alleviate the stench from our room – a worthwhile endeavor as Orba planned to have a few private discussions with the other members of the party before we laid down to rest.  Each meeting had a different feel to it, with Orba probing her companions regarding their intentions and their views of Khlyff Ironcloud's contract.

Perhaps the most consequential topic, at least in the short-term, was that of the Saraswati – with Orba wanting not only assurance that she was safe but a confirmation that Beezaura wasn't withholding the contents of the letter from her first encounter with the Gentle Void assassin.  Satisfied with the group's answers and riding high off of Erland's gambling winnings, we indulged in the rare treat of going to sleep at a reasonable hour – allowing us to wake up early and make plans for the day.

Safira's first order of business was local: a visit to Battle-Ready where she hoped to learn some advanced Animus techniques from Sarn Darrow.  For Orba and Beezaura it was off to Na-Qhusi where we had an interest in not only Butez's artistry, but his unique talents that might be connected to the disappearance of Mr. Two.  And finally, Graven and Erland walked to the Steederway – where fast transport to Wampurani-Na would hopefully get us one step closer to speaking with Marvyn Bishop.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: three natural ones were rolled in this Chapter. 1 by Riley, and 2 by John.