Session 35 - No Place Like Home

*"What's coming is something that your friend Autumn has seen before, at the roots of the tree. Pay some time when you can. Go to the roots with him. See what I know lives in the earth." - Stonespeaker to Elias*

This is the 35th session of the game Ashes.

## Summary

The Patrons are in the office of Coinmaster Escal, known to Emeran as Erhard Frey, and things are tense. Erhard begins to explain that he and Emeran know each other from the past. Erhard offers to Emeran a chance to discuss things that happened later, but Emeran wants to know what happened now. Emeran believes that Erhard was the one who sold out the Pharmacopeia to the Blackdale soldiers, telling them that they were helping both sides during the war.

Erhard says that he would never rat out the group, as he cared for everyone in the group, and they had taken him in as one of their own. He explains briefly that he has had to change his name a number of times, and that Erhard isn't even his real name. When the Pharmacopeia was taken prisoner, Erhard managed to lie his way into being released, saying that he was the cousin of a nobleman within Blackdale, using the knowledge he picked up when the Pharmacopeia passed through the real noble's estate. He figured that if all of the group were taken, none of them would make it, and the Blackdale soldiers believed him. He was let go for a time, and kept under their watch, but he made a mistake in trying to convince the soldiers to release Vimak, who he claimed to be his envoy. They figured he was lying and put him back in a different camp, several in fact. He and Vimak were brought to a camp to be executed, and he witnessed the Blackdale soldiers behead Vimak. He made friends with another one of the captives, someone important in Blackdale, and the two of them eventually escaped together. He eventually joined her organization, and that's all he felt comfortable sharing with Emeran.

He took time in trying to track down the remaining members of the Pharmacopeia. Guest was somewhere in Bottom City, and Lillin was within Kronstrad working as a blacksmith but didn't want any part of Erhard or the Pharmacopeia in her life. She left the smithy she was working at after telling Erhard to forget about her. The other male members of Emeran's camp were taken to Vunderkeep near the end of the war and were taken across the sea with whoever ran the camp. Erhard then gives the party each 100 platinum pieces, and the party asked Erhard to pay the cat, he conceded and gave Flora three silver pieces.

The Patrons contemplate finding a home in the city, and to get new horses, both of which can be inquired about at the District Warden's home in the Gullies. The guards of the place seem to be vets in the military as opposed to actual city guards. The group meets with Callie Wingwright and begins to ask about what's been going on around here. There's a new captain of the guard operating in the Southern Stockade which has caused Callie to request not to have guards around, however, Bryden Dwyer sent over some of his vet friends to watch over the place. They talk for a bit about options for getting a place within the Gullies, and that the party would need to speak with specific District Wardens depending on where in town they want to buy (Referring them to Francesca Sacra the District Warden of Hillside).

The party makes their way to Fortunate Road and speaks with Enos for a bit about what they have planned, and ask him why he joined with the vets. They also speak briefly with Dewey before meeting with Bryden Dwyer, leader of the vets. Dwyer informs them about what was going on with the recent clashes with the guards and explains how he might've tracked down the leader of the inner city rioters. The party says they'll try and talk with the leader and are told to go speak with Batts at the Setting Sun bar.

The party then makes their way to the Borrowed Nest and speaks with Joleen about Matron Olivia's death. Joleen talks about how she fought to the end, and she left a cryptic message:

“A Chord conjured brings the crows. Crows arrive in murders, and crows consume the dead. Our city turned to stone or ash, matter not, the city shrouded in darkness, or blessed in light, matter not, there will always be crows left to feed on what remains.”

The party surmises after a brief religious lesson from the resident death experts Themus and Autumn that a splintered organization of Matron followers must have killed Olivia and are planning to do more.

The Patrons then head to the Setting Sun, meet with Batts and head to the headquarters of the Inner City Rioters, and find out that it's the same building that Dumont works out of. Themus decides to go speak with Dumont, who eventually reveals that he is in fact the leader of the rioters, and uses Sir Oswald as the face. Dumont opens up a bit more, stating why he is trying to take control over the city and shows his sympathy to Themus by postponing the job he had planned until Themus returned from dealing with the Demons who had a hand in killing his parents. Dumont promises to send aid if they need it.

The party then makes their way to see Detective Burnside, and learn from his partner Cooper that he had to take a leave of absence since he became obsessed with the demonic activity within the city, and the case of the Red Sky. He believes that a member of the Arcanis is The Face. When the party goes to see him at his apartment he tells them much of the same, that he specifically believes that the person behind the experiments on Sybil was Elwin Eisenach. The handwriting of the Face and Elwin is nearly identical, in addition, Elwin's mentor is Grand Audiphant Van Horn, who mentored both Delphine and Gregor Strauss. He tells the party that if they encounter Elwin, to bring him back alive for questioning, to crack the case open that the Arcanis are involved in shady and dangerous things.

The party buys some potions for the adventure and Acelus goes to speak with Mabel to pick up some spells. He shows Mabel the spells Strauss had begun and asks if the two of them could finish them, to which Mabel says she could help but it would cost in material components. Emeran also buys a new carriage.

Elias visits the Stone Center with Astraea, Themus, and Autumn. Builder Brightwood tries to help with the brand that Elias received after being brought back by the Stonespeaker. He suggests for Elias to try and contact the Stonespeaker, and has the idea to try and bury Elias. Elias saved him the trouble by casting Meld into Stone, descending into the ground. Elias makes contact with the Stonespeaker. The Stonespeaker reminds Elias of the pact they made and that Elias must help him stop something coming, stating that it is something Autumn has seen at the roots of the Birthtree. He reassures Elias before he leaves that he is always close. Elias relays this info to the party, and to Autumn. They talk about their time at the tree when Autumn had his vision.

We end the session with the plan of leaving the city with Rook to go investigate the demonic activity in Brunstock.