Session 3

Departed too soon

With his dying breath Sarick asks the party to take his necklace and find out where it would have brought him. The necklace was left with him when he was left as an orphan. All he had managed to find out, was what brought him to Arradsia. As Sarick lies there staining the white ground a deep red with his blood. The party decides to bury him between the roots of the mangrove tree, stripping him of his belongings, so that they may be returned to the adventurer’s guild. Plaman choosing to carry his belongings.

As the last shovel of dirt is laid on the grave, Plaman clean his sword, saving some of the blood and using it to mark one of the stones from his backpack, before placing it on the fresh grave, thanking his deity for the strength to survive and keep protecting his tribe.

Paeris pull out an almond shaped seed, planting the “Lady of the Heart” flower on the body. As the seed comes into contact with the fresh soil it immediately start sprouting roots enveloping the body, using whatever energy and life-force remains to form a protective cocoon around the body, holding it in an eternal protective embrace. The seed grows a small evergreen bush, erupting with tight bunches of blood-red stellate flowers. Making the cycle complete and safeguarding the eternal rest of Sarick, by protecting him from being resurrected or reanimated. Paeris does notice that the plant grows as usual, but the flowers wilt quicker than normal, there is something disturbing the Verdant.

After this the party holds a moment of silence in honour of the fallen companion, they each think back about those they lost along the way.

Plaman reminisces about the companions he lust during the many wars he fought in. They are the ones he holds in his prayers during his morning ritual. Each morning he stacks stones to keep him grounded.

Felix, having been only moments away from death himself, realizes how real the stakes are and the gravity of the situation and the adventure sets in.

Cassian hasn’t really lost any people, except his parents when he was twenty years old. He has a very young daughter, learning she is suffering from the same condition he is. The condition is hereditary, making him wonder who of his parents had this condition.

Dusk sets on the salt marshes, Thomas still holding on tight to the tooth. It is apparent he is willing to die for it. Cassian uses a spell to clean Thomas and walks up the hill, looking over the marshes.

Roughing it in the marshes

Felix suggests that we shouldn’t make our way back through the marshes during the night and that we should sleep in the tree. The height should give them some protection he says. Yet, hearing his intentions of climbing the tree again, the rest of the party immediately grows worried. Cassian pulls out the map and asks Thomas if there is a safe space to spend the night. Eventually the party decide on a grassy hill a little ways away. Plaman hands the toy, he took from his home, to Thomas and wraps him in a blanket as the party sets out for the hill.

Felix not entirely in agreement with the decision to head for the hill, decides to scout ahead. Still shaken from having to confront death for the first time, he looks out over the marshes, seeing something in the distance but is unable to make it out.

The party arrives at the hill, a fireplace already there with some firewood stacked to the side. On the edge of the hill is a small dock, far out of the water, but it hints at how high the water could get during a the wet season. The party starts a fire and sits down. Cassian asks Thomas what the tooth has been saying to him. Thomas replies that the tooth hasn’t been speaking to him. But the child seems distracted and not entirely present. Cassian just sits with the boy, looking at the tooth, wondering what creature the tooth came from.

The tooth seemed to come from a drake, but it is very old. Cassian tells the boy about what they just learned, but the child has no reaction. Plaman offers them some rations and despite saying he wasn’t hungry, Thomas still eats some of them.

As the party prepares to go to sleep, Felix suggests that they should keep a watch. Deep in the night, during Felix’ watch, suddenly all sounds stop, Felix looks around at the edge of the light cast by the fire. He sees a figure walking across the hills, carrying something. As soon as he blinks the figure has disappeared. The rest of the night passes by uneventful.

The sun rises over the salt marshes, bringing a new day. Plaman commemorates Sarick in his morning ritual. Cassian stretches, all his joints aching and cracking. He tries getting Felix to joins his morning gymnastics. Cassian asks the rest of the party if they know anything about the tooth and why the child is so attached to it. Paeris suggests they can carve a log into a tooth and pull a switcheroo when Thomas isn’t looking. Cassian suggests he can leave a spiritual message in Thomas’ head, saying to give the tooth to him. Cassian has heard the tooth speak to him before, so he is able to mimic the voice. After some convincing he manages to convey the message to Thomas. Thomas finally relenting and giving the tooth to Cassian. The child is still visibly torn and fighting to hold onto the tooth. Cassian finally takes hold of the tooth and it feels so very right to hold it like Gollum with the ring…

A not so warm welcome

Thomas leads the party back to the city, after a while they start to recognize the landscape and how they came into the marshes in the first place. The gate between the marshes and the city has been left open. Plaman continuously tries to replicate the mindtrick Cassian used on the boy, trying to put a message in his head. Thomas feeling noticeably lighter and more relieved as the party gets closer to the city and his home. When the party gets closer to the gate, there are some people hanging around the gate, Thomas informs us that these thugs, clad in leather armour are Sharitan knots, pirates, most likely from the “Ren Vonn” gang.

The thugs see the party coming closer to the gate and pull out their short swords. Plaman takes front and center stage, trying to intimidate the thugs, but isn’t very successful. The thugs yell to the party to give them the tooth or they will perish. Cassian refuses to hand over the tooth, Felix throws a spear in response at the leader, surprising him, the spear landing in his side. The leader yells up to get us!

As all of this is unfolding there is a figure leaning against the wall, near the gate. This figure is wearing a cloak, his hood down, the sun reflecting of the shortbow on his back.

The leader of the thugs takes the spear and throws it back and Felix, but lands short. Cassian puts the tooth in his backpack, chucking a dagger at the leader, hitting him in the foot. Felix picks up the spear and throws it right back at the leader, this time the leader is able to dodge and the spear lands on the path behind him. The leader returns the throw with a taunt.

As the thugs run up to the party, Paeris casts “Entangle” making vines sprout from the ground. As the thugs ran up they ready their crossbows, but they get tangled in the vines making them miss their shots. One bolt flies of to the side, while the other bounces of from the edge of Plaman’s shield. Paeris throws an ice knife at the leader, hitting him between the eyes, killing him. As he falls back, he yells out with his dying breath “Run, tell Ren!”. The mysterious figure walks up, aiming his shortbow, the arrow going straight through the head of one of the thugs, killing him.

Cassian throws his dagger at another thug, hitting him the shoulder. Felix, walks from the path into the puddles around the path, picking up his spear once again. He raises his spear, not to throw, but to stab at the thug in front of him, the spear going straight through the body, leaving the thug barely standing. The thug in return smacks Felix with the but of his crossbow, giving him a bruise.

The remaining thug walks up to plaman, attacking him. Plaman just takes the hit, looking down at the thug and laughing at the pathetic attempt and swings his sword in response. The thug is able to duck down and the last minute as the swords flies over his head. Paeris walks up to the thug, waving his hand over his staff, imbuing it with “Shillelag”, and striking at the thug, striking him heavily.

The mysterious figure walks up, through the vines and over the dead bodies, slicing the thug’s knee, making him buckle down, after which the figure slits his throat, nearly decapitating the thug. Cassian throws his signature ice disc, killing his target and the last remaining thug dies from the shards. As is tradition now, the shards also hit Plaman.

As the party discusses what to do with the bodies, Cassian gathers his daggers and Felix goes back to collect his spear, the stranger walks up to the party, introducing himself as Roman and asking if we were looking for the boy. Roman continues asking about Sarick and where he is. The party informs him of the unfortunate faith that found Sarick, as Plaman shows his stuff to Roman. Roman’s eyes immediately go to the necklace, saying he really needs it. The party refuses to hand it over like that, to a complete stranger. After some discussion about the items and wether or not to hand them over, Roman decides to go with the party to the adventuring guild. Plaman kicks the bodies, like they are little stones on his path, into the water.

Back home at last

We stand at the edge of the city, the air smelling like hot metal and drake blood. The party decides to bring Thomas home first; as they walk through the city they hear a child signing a song, which has six phrases. The party reaches Lisa’s apartment as Plaman knocks on the door. There is some commotion inside as footsteps can be heard shuffling towards the door. The door opens slowly first, but upon seeing the party and her son, Lisa opens the door wide, happy to see her son again. She invites the party inside, asking where the other member of our party is. The party informs her of what happened. Lisa offers us some bread and butter.

The party refuses the reward of five silver pieces, saying she had more use for them. Lisa says she cannot let us go without a reward and instead gives us the following; Cassian receives a chit for the harbour, allowing him to drive a boat there. Paeris receives a twist of dried fever herb, an uncommon brewing ingredient, that can be used to make a remedy against fever. Lisa turns to Plaman, mentioning brother Ostaphan, saying he should burn a candle at the mission house for his fallen companions. In fact Lisa decides that she will take us to Ostaphan right away and introduce the party herself.

As the party finds their way to brother Ostaphan, he thanks them for rescuing the boy and their aid to the blinds. Children have been disappearing for a while saying he is glad Thomas didn’t. Cassian mentions his attachment to the tooth, brother Ostaphan turning to Thomas putting his hand on his head and removing all thoughts of the tooth. Thomas is no longer scared and he seems a lot calmer now. Brother Ostaphan offers to heal the party as well, saying that we can come to the mission house whenever we are hurt in the city.

Plaman puts his hand on brother Ostaphan’s shoulder saying “My brother in faith” as brother Ostaphan takes away all his fears until the next long rest. He does the same for Felix. Cassian saying that he is sorry that brother Ostaphan wasn’t able to fix Felix’ face.

Finally brother Ostaphan asks about the fallen member in the party, they tell him the story. Brother Ostaphan leads the party out the back of the mission house, to some small catacombs, he leads them to an empty spot in the back. Brother Ostaphan asks which inscription should be placed on the lantern; Plaman dictating:

To Sam, who’s face we didn’t know…

Rowan speaking up and correcting him, saying the name was “Sarick”. As brother Ostaphan lights the lantern, he asks the party to hold hands and join him in saying a small prayer. After which the party returns to the charter house, to return Sarick’s items and inform Borric that they were able to return the child. Borric thanks the party for taking the quest and wants to give them an additional reward. Each member of the party receives one common healing potion and one bronze charter chit.

After all the events of the day, the party returns to the laughing weasel, for a drink. Outside the harbour is busy as usual, the noise of the ships and their rigging, the seagulls, the waves lapping against the piers; all of them unaware, unbothered by what happened today. Cassian telling the party that he wants to explore the “frontier”. He believes it holds the cure to his condition and that of his daughter. Each member of the party vows to join him on this adventure and exploration.