Favor, Episode 18: Trading Favors

## Starring

Sage Stafford as Aoife Flannery
Naseem Etemad as Fittonia 'Toni' Silvertail
Katie Budabin as Lluvyras 'Lu' Ssath
Celeste Conowitch as Dungeon Master

**Episode 18: Trading Favors** *(2x18)* is the eighteenth episode of the first arc of the the second Venture Maidens campaign.

**CONTENT WARNING:** *This episode contains instances of **Gaslighting*** *and* **Coersion.**

## Synopsis

*Our crew returns to where their deal was struck*

*But the journey is riddled with bad luck*

*For even statues kill for sport*

*On the isle of heaven's court*

### Dreaming of Birds

The candles have burned out and the fire has been reduced to glowing embers. Rook looks over the embroidery and seems satisfied with the effect before shoving the items back into their box and under the floorboard that she had retrieved them from.

Toni, not wanting to get further embroiled with the Wierd Sisters, asks Rook if there is a repellant for the Dream Dragons that have been visiting her. Rook admits that she is worried because the Dream Dragons shouldn’t have anything to do with the Wierd Sisters because they are part of seperate courts. She suggests they would need to go to a library or to someone who knows more to find out any information.

Aoife tells Rook about her dream involving birds and remembering a name, and Lu clears her throat. The drow fills them in on the fact that she has had two seperate dreams, which has never happened to her before. The first dream was of her fiance, but the second dream was of the mist fey they had saved from the bell and a tree. She had pulled a cage from the tree and there were miniature versions of Rook and Toni in it that turned into birds when she released them and she was told to remember a name and that the name would be important.

Rook tells them that she has never had a dream and Aoife is baffled that she has never experienced one as a human. Toni suggests lucid dreaming as a defense to regain control in their dreams. Lu just wants the dreams to stop. Aoife asks if Lu noticed any Dream Dragons lurking about when she woke up, but Lu denies it, instead pulling out the two marbles that had appeared after each dream.

Rook doesn’t know a lot about the Sleeping Court because they are outsiders, even among the other courts. She tells them that they need to find a way to prevent the Sleeping Court from entering their dreams, especially if the court is mixed up with the Wierd Sisters in any way. She knows of a few places in Coven that they can go to find out more information, but they need to take care of the favor that the Wierd Sisters called in first.

### Crossing Point

Rook calls for Gordon, who comes rolling down the stairs. He is not pleased with the completed ritual and the Maiden’s permanence in the house. Rook commands Gordon to take them to the crossing point and the house shakes and lifts, beginning its trek back towards the Wildes.

Lu decides to make some sandwiches and Toni, wanting to flex their new sway, asks Gordon to wash her laundry. She deposits the pile on top of the creature and can hear him repeating the word “laundry” from beneath it. Aoife sits down and writes a letter to her best friend from back home. Toni decides to relax and read a book on plant care, taking a moment to breath.

Eventually, they feel the house come to a stop, and the moment it touches down on the ground Rook comes running down the stairs to announce their arrival. Lu asks Rook if she suggests anything else for them to take with them, and the bounty hunter explains that she does have weapons, but does not believe it is a good idea for the Maidens to carry them because other fey would not look upon them kindly. She tells them that they should just go in, get the mission, and get out, firmly demanding that they accept nothing from the fey. She tells the Maidens that if they ask a fey if they are trying to make a bargain, then the fey has to tell them the truth.

They remind each other of the names they give to fey. Lu calls for Gordon to bring Toni’s laundry and armor and a board in the ceiling opens up, dropping everything onto the floor. Toni picks it up and notices that it smells slightly of pumpkin spice and is tinted slightly oranger than when she had given it to Gordon. She thanks him and puts the armor back on.

Rook tells the group that they will be stepping out of the house into the In-Between. The In -Between is the most dangerous place in the Wildes because it moves around and they need to stay on guard and follow her until they get to the demesne. When she opens the door, they are met with a dense fog and the smell of water and verdant trees. Rook steps down and scans the area, readies her crossbow, and travels into the mist. The group quickly follows behind, looking at the large black trees they pass by, like giant looming shadows in the thick mist.

### Row Your Boat

They follow Rook closer to the smell of water until the girl holds up her hand for them to stop a listens to her surroundings. She turns and asks if any of them have a coin and Lu hands her a copper piece. Without hesitation Rook chucks the copper piece in front of her and they all hear it splash. They wait for a moment until they see a glow growing brighter and brighter, like an approaching lantern.

After a few moments a row boat comes drifting into view with the lantern hanging from its front. Something in the back is propelling the boat forward with a long pole. As it gets closer they can see that the creatures is almost transluscent with pinpoints of light within.

Lu asks if it is safe to board and Rook nods, still leary of the creature at the back of the boat. They pile into the boat, but Lu is the last to get on, latching her hand around Toni’s arm. She is terrified of sailing and being on the water after what happened with her fiance. Toni tells her to keep holding on, reassuring her that she will be okay.

They travel across the water and Toni asks how often Rook has come to Coven this way. The bounty hunter reveals that she has only been this way once or twice, preferring to use a fairy ring like the one they had used the last time. Aoife introduces herself as Saoirse to the creature in the back of the boat, and the light specks in its body shifts around in response.

Finally they scrape onto land and they pile onto the large island. Pebbles form a shoreline that lead into a path and crumbled marble columns and statues come into view through the mist. Lu thanks the creature for getting them there in one piece before quickly exiting. Rook tells them that they have changed some stuff around, but she should be able to get them to the Wierd Sisters.

Toni asks if the Wierd Sisters are in charge of the Heavenly Court, but Rook informs her that they are not the Sovereign and are likely possible Courtiers but it is impossible to tell. She also reveals that all of the members of the Heavenly Court are quiet powerful and very secretive. Lu reminds them of the mission and they march forward into the mist. Abandoned ruins mark the passage of time as they step over stones and vegetation, and the only sound to penetrate the silence is the occassional call of a bird.

Lu and Toni are on high alert, pouring all of her focus on the statues and ruins in case something pops out to harm them. Aoife, unlike the other two, happens to glance over and see motion near one of the buildings, making out a huge humanoid shadow just on the edge of the mist. She throws her arm out and points out what she had seen. They pick up the pace and can catch more of these humanoid creatures out of the corner of their eyes.

Tired of not knowing what they are seeing, Lu activates the Heat Vision setting on her magical glasses, but instantly knows that these creatures are not emitting any kind of heat. She turns her glasses off and tells the group her findings. They speed up even more, nearly at a run, when a large gate looms up at them out of the mist.

### Talking Statues

The columns of the gate are women carved of white marble, and turn their heads to look down at the group as they pass between them. A booming voice echoes out at them, asking what they seek. Toni says they are here to return a favor for the Wierd Sisters and the statues ask if they know the way. Aoife immediately asks if the statue is trying to make a deal and the statue admits that they would need something in return for pointing them in the correct direction.

Aoife looks back at Rook, who declines the statue’s offer and goes around the gate. They continue up the path through miles of ruins until they reach a plaza they have been in before. Somehow they circled back on themselves, even though they have been walking in a straight direction the entire time. Rook points and spins, landing on the west and begins to head that direction but stops when the group hears a small voice calling out for their attention from a pile of rubble to the side of the road.

The voice asks if they can move the rocks so that they can see each other and Lu tells the voice that it will cost a small favor. The voice agrees and asks them to move the rocks. Toni moves the shattered remains of a statue out of the way to reveal a marble bust. The bust thanks the fighter for moving the rocks. Lu asks the bust who she is and the bust says she is just a statue who has been here a very long time.

The bust asks if they are visitors and asks if they can take her with them when they leave. Rook doesn’t know why they are playing with trash and Lu argues with her for being rude. The bust promises not to be a bother, and offers to bribe them. Lu reminds the bust that she still owes the group a favor and wants her to lead them to where they need to go and they can get to know her in the meantime.

Lu asks the bust if she has always been a statue, and the bust doesn’t think she has always been a statue because if she was, then she wouldn’t be so upset about being a statue now. Lu picks her up and asks for directions to the Wierd Sisters. The bust directs them to go west and calls out directions as they go.

They travel until they see a ring of silvery birch trees in the center of the island. The bust tells them that the Wierd Sisters are in there. Lu offers to put the bust in her bag, and the bust agrees since she doesn’t remember if the Sisters had anything to do with her current condition, but she felt a deep fear of them. Lu shoves the bust into the bag as Aoife makes a joke about being bustier.

### The Glass Garden

Toni leads the way into the birch trees, followed by Rook who attempts to appear nonthreatening. As they pass through the gateway, the scenery shifts to a familiar field in the middle of nowhere, filled with iron-wrought tables. Rain patters down against toppled chairs, tables, and broken teacups. They look around the Glass Garden and spot the stained glass pavillion in the center.

Lights shine from inside the pavillion and Toni leads the group to it. Stepping inside, the silks that were pulled aside the last time that were here have ben drawn to keep out the chill and the rain. The satin lounges sit empty and one of the Wierd Sisters sits at a table on the far side of the room. She is draped in an ephemeral wrap of pinpointed stars, much like the creature that had rowed the boat.

She turns towards the group and Toni realizes that it is not Celine, the Sister that had been contacting her directly. This is the one that stood at the back during their first meeting and seemed to be in charge of the other two Sisters. She says that it is good that Toni has come quickly and that they appreciate that. Toni is taken aback that the Sister knows her actual name instead of the fake name that they gave them last time. She asks Toni to step in out of the rain but Lu stops her, asking if that is something that the fighter needs. The Sister tells them that it isn’t a favor, but she can tell that Rook has been working her charm on them.

The Sister asks if they would like some tea, but Toni declines and wants to get down to business. The Wierd Sister asks that the Maidens retrieve a book in the possession of an Archfey and to bring it back to her before the next full moon in the mortal realm. If it is completed within the time frame, then one of Toni’s favors will be settled. She doesn’t care how they find the book or the Archfey, but she needs it back before the next full moon.

Toni asks what the book is and the Sister responds that it is something that the Archfey, named Penny, has had in their possession for too long and she would see it removed. The Sister asks if there is any other information they need and Toni asks for her name, which she answers as Hecate. Toni is curious what is in the book that Hecate wants so badly and the fey declines to answer. She snaps her fingers and pulls a woven branch ring from the air, handing it to Toni as a way to bring the book back to her swiftly. Toni clarifies it will not cost a favor before accepting it and putting it in her bag.

As they leave, Toni turns back and blows a kiss to Hecate, who blushes. Lu tells Toni that the fey will eat her alive and Toni says she wouldn’t complain. Aoife remembers a song her dad used to sing about Hecate, knowing that some people in the mortal realm consider her a goddess of witchcraft and dark magic that people can call on in the darkest of moments.

Mulling this over as she wanders back through the ruins, Aoife speaks out loud, wondering if the downfall of the gods has opened the door for Hecate and others like her to strike more bargains with mortals to increase their own power. Lu agrees that it is a logical argument and she doesn’t feel good about tracking down this book for the powerful fey, but can’t see any other way to fill Toni’s obligation to the Sisters.

Toni pipes up, saying that she does not want to find a way around the favor because it is her favor to repay and powerful people are always seeking more power anyways. Aoife lays a hand on Toni’s arm and looks up at her, pleading for the fighter to be careful. Every song she has heard of Hecate ends in heartbreak, and she doesn’t want the same for Toni. The half-orc is grateful for all of their help, but she understands if any of them want to bow out of the obligation. They all agree to help Toni, but Lu adds that if she sees another route she will present it to Toni to consider and decide.

Aoife asks what an Archfey is and Rook explains that normal fey join a court and gain power through that connection, but Archfey are born strange and dangerous, like magic spins around them and messes with the area around them. Most Archfey build their own worlds and sequister themselves away, but Rook and most fey have never actually met an Archfey due to the stigma around them. She supposes that they will all probably die trying to get the book from one.

Aoife laments that she might die right after getting a boyfriend and Lu, who did not know this information, is aghast at not being told. They all lapse into silence as Lu mulls over the new information, trying to figure out when and who Aoife would even have met to start dating or if she has ever even had “the talk”.

As they see the boats ahead, Lu reaches into her bag for the bust, who says she wants to leave and not to be here anymore, though she doesn’t remember why. Aoife tosses a copper coin into the water, hoping to summon another boat to take the bust to the other side of the lake, but the starry amoeba in the first boat just looks at the coin falling into the water and its stars rearrange.

Lu looks at the amoeba and asks if it is okay for the bust to come with them, but recieves no answer. Lu feels bad and is nervous about taking the bust across. The bust begs them to take her to the other side of the lake and not to leave her here. Aoife suggests putting her in the Bag of Holding and the bust agrees. Lu shoves her in the Bag of Holding and they all load up onto the boat, making their way back across the lake in silence.

They scrape against the far shore and they can see the chicken house in the distance. Lu opens the Bag of Holding and reaches in to get the head. She expects to feel stone, but instead feels fine human hair and cold skin. She pulls out the cold severed head of the woman. Her eyes are closed and she has a peaceful smile. Lu is sad, but still happy that they could be of service to the woman. Aoife extends her hand, summoning her magical shovel, and they dig a hole to bury her in. This is where our adventure comes to an end, until next time! -Venture Away

## Featured Characters

### Player Characters

* Aoife Flannery
* Fittonia 'Toni' Silvertail
* Lluvyras 'Lu' Ssath

### Non-Player Characters

* Gordon
* Rook
* Hecate

## Locations

* The Wildes
	+ Heavenly Court Demesne
		- Glass Garden

## Quotes

“Any insight we could garner on that would make me feel a lot more comfortable, because I hate dreaming. I do not like not being in control and I would like it to stop.” -Lu

“We’re stuck in the middle of the Wildes and you are afraid of a boat. That’s great.” -Rook

“Shut the fuck up.” -Lu

“That rude! I’m pretty sure that’s rude. I can’t remember, but I am pretty sure that’s rude.” -The Bust

“Do you think she wanted to be bustier, and this is what they did about it?” -Aoife

“The good news is that we don’t have to worry about the future stuff because the Archfey is probably going to kill us.” -Rook

“I just got a boyfriend and you’re telling me I’m gonna die!?” -Aoife

“YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND!?” -Lu

## Trivia

Having completed the ritual, the Maidens will now always be able to see the Chicken Hut, know its location, and they can command Gordon to obey them.

The Wierd Sisters are part of the Heavenly Court

The Dream Dragons are part of the Sleeping Court

Members of Toni’s community practice lucid dreaming

The Chicken Hut can travel more easily in the Fey Realm than the Mortal Realm.