10. 07/21/2018 Session Writeup

## Session Summary

The party woke up early in the morning, and after a few aborted attempt to read the Annals of Melikov, Farideh asked Yulia for details on the trials.  Yulia told her that they would have a chance to do the trials with someone else who had been studying for longer. Taer went out for breakfast and meets a very enthusiastic young dragonborn who asks if she is on a coming of age journey or quest.  Taer decides that yes, she is, and tells the dragonborn that snacks are very important for quests.

The group made their way down to the trial caves, where they met a human with scruffy hair and immaculate robes named Paolo. Paolo introduced himself as a cleric of Mystra, who had been in Melikov’s Rest studying and hoping to talk to Melikov on behalf of his monastery.  When he had passed through the port city of Valkat on his way here, he had done so without any issue - no reports of plague or closings at the time. After a month in Melikov’s rest, Paolo was very eager to leave.

The trials included getting past a grumpy but not very aggressive bear, physically getting an object, and solving a riddle while ignoring the temptation of items with further knowledge, power, and possible bags of holding.  The group succeeded in the tests, and is given a set of sending stones to take them to Melikov.

Together, the group went to Melikov, an ancient silver dragon.  Farideh and Paolo noticed that there is an ensorceled chain binding Melikov to the cave.  Melikov allowed them to speak, but only after demanding that Masina takes off some sort of protection.  Paolo requested that there be an exchange of ideas between his monastery and the people of Melikov’s Rest - Melikov agreed to it, though before specifying that he would require any recipient of his knowledge to come pass the tests themselves.  Farideh asked her questions next - finding that Melikov was unconcerned about his knowledge disappearing from the outside world. He explained to Farideh that while he did experiments with Kel of Myev, that knowledge was used to use dragonfire weapons, later used against dragons.  He suggested that the dragonborn of Melikov’s Rest may be able to help against the Path of Emanence.

Afterward, the group talked to Sophia - Paolo conveying Melikov’s approval of his request, and Farideh requesting help.  Sophia seemed skeptical of Farideh’s charges against the Path of Emanence, but offered two members of her community to investigate as part of a coming of age ceremony.  Sophia specified that the party was expected to help protect the two dragonborn, and when Farideh emphasized that the trip had already been deadly, Sophia gave Farideh a coin that would allow Sophia to know Farideh’s location.

After a short shopping trip, the group came up with a plan - the party would split up, with most of the party going to investigate Kvari Keep undercover, and Farideh staying back with the younger dragonborn.

In the morning, the party met up with the two dragonborn designated to help them - Yulia’s daughter, Zuza, and the young dragonborn that Taer ran into the day before, Tami.  Zuza was trailed by an armored bear, Datvig. Tami appeared to be very excited by the journey. Zuza appeared less so.

Later in the afternoon, the party walked into a bandit trap. They survived, and even found the bandit’s hideout to take more loot.