Session 3

After a week's hiatus, we're back with **Session 3: Flying the Nest**, which took place on 16/10/2023. In this Session, a mission to Cavernsoot Hollows is proposed and the troops finally up and leave camp. They set off on a journey to the mysterious rock gnome settlement to the north, their objective, to acquire weapons, armour and magic items for the Thessian Freedom Fighters. However, they must make some stops along the way to acquire gold and resources for their journey.

## Po'Dar is Up and At 'Em

Opening up with a description of the camp in the early hours of the morning, Gul-ik-Garak-Po'Dar is the only conscious one in camp as the day begins and has with them the Cybernetic Eye that they crafted for Bram 'Iron-Eye'. A marvel of artificer engineering, the eyeball itself is encased in a polished iron and bronze shell and has a steampunk aesthetic. Gears and cogs adorn its surface, gleaming with a warm metallic hue. A circular glass lens in the center conceals the socket that protrudes out the back of the eye, a tiny outstretched metal hand is on the end, waiting to be attached to Bram's optic nerve.

Po'Dar feeds their pet/prisoner, the Parthian Beastmaster who they have named 'Squishy' and Achilles of Thessia emerges from his tent, fully dressed and wide awake, exactly as he looked the previous night when he retreated to his tent. He has words with Po'Dar, praising them and the party for their actions last night fighting off the snakes and apprehending Squishy. Achilles makes his approval of the party known to Po'Dar and agrees to greenlight any operation that they and the others might want to propose. Po'Dar suggests a trip to Rust Ridge where they believe there to be a mining camp of Dwarven unpaid interns. Achilles dismisses this saying "All in good time" and prompting Po'Dar to assemble the troops first. Po'Dar then asks Achilles where Bram is, to which Achilles lies and says he wouldn't presume to know where all his officers are at any point in time but presumably in his own tent getting dressed. Po'Dar shows their hand by revealing that they know about Achilles and Bram's physically intimate relationship and Achilles leaves in a bit of a huff.

## Awakening from Elven Trance

Meanwhile, Althea lies awake in the watchtower, having completed her short elven trance but is unable to leave her position as Oui Leaghas, who is butt-ass naked, is harassing her in her sleep. Wrapping her up in a bear hug and smothering her with her tiny but strong dwarven form.

Lowen awakens from their trance and goes looking for food. In the mess hall a large cauldron of cold watery oats is the main attraction only because there is nothing else on the menu. Lowen takes a bowl and, displaying an incredible expertise of their fledgling sorcerer abilities, heats the bowl with a perfectly controlled fireball. The arcane fire suspended in the air between Lowen's hand and the bottom of the bowl, magically changes the form of this cold soup of oats and water. The water bubbles and the oats expand and in no time at all, Lowen has a perfect bowl of porridge.

Althea joins Po'Dar at the smouldering campfire and asks for the piece of tech that would amplify her sending stone's signal. She then takes leave from Po'Dar's presence as her sending stone whirs to life. She receives five days worth of messages from her friend Amity and returns with a newfound enthusiasm, eager to leave the camp and journey north. Upon her return, Althea sees that Lowen and Oui Leaghas have assembled at the campfire too and are awaiting orders from Achilles.

## Here comes the General

The General gives a general outline of the day's missions and operations despite warnings from the group that a mole could be listening and to be more cautious. Achilles then opens the floor for any suggestions. Po'Dar urges the general to authorise a rescue mission to Rust Ridge to liberate the dwarven unpaid interns that work the mines there. Achilles is generally dismissive of the suggestion. Lowen then enlightens the group with information about a rock gnome settlement on the southern face of Stone Creek, a mountain just north of Rust Ridge. This settlement known asCavernsoot Hollows is famous for its resident magic item vendors. Achilles is intrigued by this place and immediately authorises a mission to this location to purchase an army's worth of weaponry from these Rock Gnomes. The party will journey to Cavensoot Hollows via Rust Ridge at Po'Dar's request. Oui Leaghas has a breakdown at the mere mention of Rust Ridge in the mission briefing and storms off, Lowen following her close behind.

## Lowen and Oui Leaghas' Heart-to-heart

Lowen follows Oui Leaghas to the watchtower where she sleeps every night. After some words of support and encouragement, Oui Leaghas is urged to spill her heart out and tells Lowen the significance of Rust Ridge to her and how difficult it would be for her to face her brothers and sisters again after escaping and leaving them behind. Lowen intuits an insincerity and dishonesty in Leaghas' words and presses further, asking what the real reason is for her visible upset. Leaghas tells Lowen that she doesn't want the party to go to Rust Ridge because it's dangerous and she cares about Lowen and doesn't want them to get hurt. Lowen intuits this admission to be less of a lie and more a half truth. Resigned to the reality that this was the best they were going to get, Lowen drops the subject altogether and returns to the rest of the party.

Oui Leaghas goes to the Hot Springs without Lowen to clear her head. Meanwhile back at camp, Bram 'Iron-Eye' has arisen and is about to receive a very special gift.

## Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis

Bram 'Iron Eye' is greeted that morning by a cheerful Gul-ik-Garak-Po'Dar at the ashes of the previous night's campfire. Po'Dar presents Bram with an ornate box, within the box is a cybernetic eye. Overjoyed, Bram agrees to surgery right away, Po'Dar, Althea and Lowen will conduct the procedure. Althea uses her magic to put Bram in a numb anaesthetised state. Lowen makes the initial incision then, using their sterilised tinkerer's tools. They are so delicate in their action that they heal Bram one hitpoint. Carefully, Lowen the surgeon removes the "leftover gunk" from the eye. This debris is gingerly extracted and disposed of, revealing the damaged optic nerve beneath. The cybernetic eye is brought into the operating area by Po'Dar then. It gleams with a metallic sheen, wires and circuits visible beneath a translucent artificial lens. One wire at the back of the eye ends with a joint similar to a tiny bionic outstretched hand. The cybernetic eye is securely connected to the optic nerve and the surrounding tissue with the outstretched hand looking wire bonding with the damaged optic nerve like the ponytail in James Cameron's Avatar. Althea then hastily seals the incision from the natural eye's removal, causing a fair bit of damage and then uses her healing magic to instantly heal the wounds she causes. Po'Dar remotely activates the cybernetic eye then, and its calibration begins. The eye automatically adjusts its focus, ensuring that Bram's vision will be as clear as possible. The group monitors Bram as he wakes from the anaesthesia. As he begins to acclimate to his new cybernetic eye, the small indentations and sigils in the metal begin to hum and glow. Bram Iron-Eye's aura glows from the cybernetic eye with a brilliant and vibrant shade of cobalt blue.

## Departure

Before their departure, Achilles gave Lowen some resources, parting words of advice and a request. In spite of limited resources, Achilles could provide a few dedicated fighters to the party. Corporals Talia and Gregor would accompany the party under Lowen's command. This would be a test in Lowen's ability to delegate and dictate as a commander.

Achilles had some advice for the party on how to avoid Parthian soldiers but stay on track; "As you venture to Cavernsoot Hollows, remember to stick to the roads but keep a vigilant eye out for Parthian patrols and checkpoints. We don't want to invite unnecessary trouble. And do not wander too deeply into the wilderness."

The General had further advice on how to acquire additional resources for the quest ahead: "On your way, I suggest you stop in Tumbleweed. Elmar Barthen runs a well-stocked store there. It's wise to gather rations and other provisions, just in case. You might also learn something useful about the road ahead."

Achilles also has a request of the party regarding the gold that will be needed to buy the magic items in Cavernsoot Hollows: "Our coffers are running lower than I'd like to admit. I won't have the gold to grant you for acquiring those magic items, weaponry, and armour in Cavernsoot Hollows. However, if you're able to pick up a quest along the way that'll help fund these efforts, I'll ensure you have the first pick of the best equipment they offer. You can also rest assured that upon your return to camp in five days, you will be appropriately compensated for your services."

The party agree to do exactly that and maybe on their return from Cavernsoot Hollows, they will have enough weaponry to motivate the Unpaid Interns at Rust Ridge to stage a rebellion, they can get them on the way home.

Achilles ensures the group that he has the utmost confidence in their abilities and to show his support for this journey, authorizes the advance payment of their wages for the next five days.

*The Quartermaster hands each of the party members a generous sum of Thessian drachma, which practically sparkles in the dawn sunlight.*

Achiles then switches to a somber but pragmatic tone, explaining that if the party do not return within five days Achilles will personally inform their loved ones of their demise. Achilles goes around to each member with a form on which they can provide the names and addresses of their loved ones. Lowen being the only member of the group with family members alive and on this plane of existence duly writes down the name of his father Torvir and the address of the Humptywood residence.

Lowen ships Talia and Gregor and begins referring to them as one singular unit Talgor

Without further ado, the party embark on their journey to Tumbleweed via Rust Ridge, well, the whole party except Oui Leaghas. She falls asleep on one of the two horses.

## Rust Ridge

As our heroes approach Rust Ridge, the landscape changes dramatically. They find themselves in a narrow valley sandwiched between two massive, rust-colored mounds of rock. The sheer cliffs of these mounds loom high above, casting the valley into shadow, save for occasional beam of sunlight that manages to pierce through. The air carries a palpable sense of desolation, as if the very earth itself here has surrendered to the rule of the Parthian Imperium and the relentless passage of time.

Ahead of them the valley floor is a vast expanse of red, dusty earth, marred by a series of trenches and deep gouges. Rows upon rows of weary figures toil away with pickaxes, their ragged clothing and bodies caked in the same rustlike dust that colours the landscape. These figures are dwarves, their faces etched with weariness, eyes dulled by the monotony of their labor. The Unpaid Interns work seemingly unsupervised.

As Po'Dar observes the dwarves toiling in the oppressive dust, they sense a subtle hum of arcane energy in the air and the ground which hints at the untold secrets hidden within these rust-red rocks. Po'Dar and Lowen reason that they must be mining Cœur d'Arcane and immediately start pocketing these magic rocks.Po'Dar grabs some of the Dwarf Interns and attempts to talk sense into them to no avail. The dwarves say things like "The pickaxe is our chain". Next Po'Dar tries to talk to a taller humanoid intern who seems like they might be a human. Po'Dar tells him that the adventurers are from the Thessian Freedom Fighters, he just laughs at them saying "Freedom? Hah, freedom is what got us here in the first place", "And what'll you do? Take on the entire Parthian army?" and eventually "Don't waste your breath. We've given up. Just go."

## Welcome to Tumbleweed

As the party leaves Rust Ridge behind, a desolate and eerie atmosphere begins to dissipate. The narrow valley between the two rust-colored mounds of rock, where the dwarven "unpaid interns" toil away with pickaxes, fades into the background. The landscape becomes less suffocating, and the sight of the town of Tumbleweed emerges on the horizon. Tumbleweed stands like an oasis in the vast, rugged wilderness. Its structures, though modest are a sight for sore eyes.

Corporals Thalia and Gregor decide to set up camp in the treeline just on the outskirts of Tumbleweed on account of being wanted criminals in the civilized world. Gregor offers to sign a wanted poster for Althea if she brings one back.

As the party enters Tumbleweed from the northwest, they find themselves on a narrow road between two structures. To the left stands an ancient towering building that could be a wizard's tower, but it's surrounded by overgrown trees and appears abandoned. To the right, they spot the familiar trading house of their friendly dragonborn merchant, Elmar Barthen—Barthen's Bombastic Beautiful Bargain Bin, or simply B5. Opting to leave the wizard tower for another day, the party drops in on Elmar Barthen. Before entering the shop, Althea disguises herself as a local woman she sees on the street. This woman happens to be T'rissa The Sun Speaker, a priestess in the Temple of Radiance and one of the four Matriarchs who sits on the Tumbleweed Mayoral Council

As the party enters B5, they're greeted by the familiar scent of incense and a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours. The interior is cluttered with trinkets, scrolls, and strange contraptions. At the centre of the shop, enclosed in his circular desk, they find Elmar Barthen, the charismatic dragonborn bard and merchant known to them as Elmo.

Elmar, with his emerald scales shimmering in the dim light, is busily packing supplies into bags behind a wooden counter. He glances up as the party enters and breaks into a wide, theatrical smile. "Ah, my friends, welcome to the emporium of wonders! What can I do for you today?"

It's evident to the party members that despite his cordial greeting, Elmar is not in fact happy to see them and seems to be leaving in a hurry. When they interrogate him on this fact, Elmar reassures them that he is just packing up his cart to go about the region of Popularis in his capacity as a travelling merchant.

Elmar attempts to make conversation with Po'Dar and they immediately pull a weapon on him. Perhaps it will be an enemies to lovers kind of romance. Elmar has nothing the party are looking for, claiming to be out of stock of anything Lowen and Althea ask for. Then Lowen knocks over a shelf of display wands while Althea disguised as T'rissa robs Elmar's bag of holding and runs. An apologetic Elmar redirects Lowen and Po'Dar to Ali Mar's general store in the centre of town. "Not to worry, my dear friends. While my store may be running a bit low on certain items, my competition, Ali Mar, has a fine general goods store not too far from here. You'll find nearly as good items at his place. Just follow the street down yonder, and you can't miss it. Tell him Elmo sent you, and he'll treat you well."

As Lowen and Po'Dar darken the doorstep of Ali Mar's General Store, Althea makes her way to the temporary camp to stash away the bag of holding. She drops the minor illusion so as not to scare Oui Leaghas, Gregor and Talia and THAT is where we end the session.

## Trivia

At the end of the session we were discussing how Ireland is at a higher latitude than Ontario but is always warmer and Jonny said "Mexico sends us their hot hot waves."

to which Matthew responded "Shame they don't send us their hot hot women."

by far the most out of character thing Matthew has ever said in our presence.

Then he killed Natalie in subway surfer! Who is this new Matthew? Mom I'm scared.