Session 21-B: This, Too, Is Fate

## Key Plot Developments

Bogtooth, Pix, and Tremble awaken in the Foaming Mug inn. Stool Team Five reveals they are familiar with loss: when they first left the Neverlight Grove, they were Stool Team Twelve. Despite the familiarity, the sensation of grief is difficult to process. Previously, they could count on their elders (such as Mister Stool) in the Grove to continue the cycle of death and rebirth; now, everything seems uncertain. The goblins, disturbed, try their best to comfort the myconid collective.

Tremble emphasizes the importance of purifying the Rockblight before trying to handle the oozes; if the gnomes have easy access to their earth elementals, they can more readily fortify themselves against an invasion. Bogtooth and Pix believe that the destruction of the city (just like Sloobludop and the Neverlight Grove were lost) is inevitable and want the inhabitants to leave. Tremble's forceful argument wins the day.

Bogtooth decides to summon multiple animals to help them brave the Rockblight. After the creatures make a comical mess of Tappy's inn, they collect "Rocky" and journey back into the cold, barren, and hostile area.

Taking pains to avoid drawing any restless spirits' attention, they proceed deeper into the Rockblight.

A shallow, swiftly flowing stream bisects this cave. Crystalline formations sprout from the floor on both sides of the stream, and rough-hewn staircases at the back of the cave climb 30 feet to a barren stone ledge with a pair of winged statues perched atop it. The group is surprised when the winged statues reveal their true form: they are wicked gargoyles. As they attempt to beat back the attackers, a new creature emerges from the earth: an earth elemental, crackling with black and red veins, attacks. The monster deals punishing amounts of damage and burrows through the earth, but they defeat it.

Tremble leads the group back into the crystal garden. He considers taking them in to address the ominous drow statues, but intuits a shocking discovery: the statue of the gnome that inspired him to use crystals against the medusa is Jimjar's father. The burgeoning artificer uses every ounce of dexterity and encouragement his family can provide him to safely and surgically move the statue out of the garden. The Rockblight must be purified, but Tremble will stop at nothing to reunite Jimjar's entire family.

## Memorable Quotations

**Tremble:** Well, a ghost attacked Mister Mev, so now he's really, really, really old.

* **Stool Team Five:** To live is to lose and to love.
* **Bogtooth:** Nah. To live is to WIN!

**Tremble** (arguing the oozes, despite almost killing Bogtooth, are not an imminent threat): Everything almost kills Bogtooth! That's not a real danger!

**Stool Team Five:** We are Stool Team Six no longer. We have lost another of our pod. We are now Stool Team Five.

* **Stool Team Five:** Tremble is very good at firing arrows.
* **Bogtooth:** He is very good at it.
* **Pix:** He is very good at it.
* **Tremble:** He IS very good at it!

**Stool Team Five:** We love you. We mourn and we love you. These are strange feelings.

* **Stool** (in a Session Two flashback scene): When you die, you will become soil, and I'll ingest you, and you'll be part of me.
* **Tremble:** So eventually, I become Stool? Neat!

**Bogtooth** (speaking to every animal he summons): Don't eat anything unless I tell you to! You're all each other's ride or dies. You love each other!

* **Pix:** Geo, I'm so sorry that you can't come with us. I'm really gonna miss you and all your funny jokes.
* **"Rocky"** (who cannot speak Pix's language): ....

**Tappy**: I am smiling to hide my discomfort. Maybe this is normal in goblin villages, but I do not know where these animals are coming from. Maybe I should be charging stabling fees.

**Pix:** Bogtooth, have I ever told you the story of the great goblin warrior who was so great because he was soooo quiet?

**Tremble** (as he prepares to move Jimjar's father out of the Rockblight): This, too, is fate.