Hazel woke up quite upset with the memories that returned, especially because she now realized she was never safe with the Fang Crushers and is now being chased by two governments. Armando also recovered his memories, but he seemed more relieved to finally know what happened. The team members shared their memories, Lenny mentioned she got a stern reminder from her goddess. Kalim mentioned dreaming of a song from an old friend, and waking up to a loud roar coming from the forest to the south.
Things that the
discussion between players brought up:
-
There
are currently only 2 known portals between Arvandor and Necelia: one really
heavily guarded and regulated one located in Aerie, and one that is a portable
“one way only” from the Fang Crushers headquarters to Arvandor (used to be to
the Seldarine), but it got stolen and nobody knows where it is currently
leading to.
-
The
Fang Crushers have most definitely been infiltrated by the Drow
-
Kalim
knows Armando’s mother Olena, who has been turned into a vampire, however she
doesn’t attack humanoids and has been hiding for years
The party decided to go
back to Tatiana’s to recover their gear. Once outside, and heading towards the
busy streets of Menell Dilth, the party noticed a significant increase in
people coming to town.
This is the week of the
“Festival of Life”, which starts on the first Demis (Sunday) after Avalan’s
Life Blessing (the first Silver full moon after the Spring Equinox). There are
two moons in Arvandor: Avalan (the Silver Moon) and Vilis (the Blood Moon). By
the end of the Festival of Life celebrations, both moons are at their first and
last quarters, respectively, symbolizing life’s balance. This balance and
transition is very important for the followers of Selune.
The celebrations during
the week of the festival include a few traditions: people in town will be
carrying bags of things and piling them up in the town centre, where at
nightfall they will be lit on fire in huge pyres. This is in a way a “fire of
sacrifice”, because life is believed to mean eternal transition and change,
getting rid of what burdens you and moving on, taking the darkness from the
winter months away and feeding the fire that brings the light. People were
piling all kinds of personal belongings (from letters, to clothing, to
lockboxes with unknown contents) to burn later in the evening.
When the party got back
to “The Murky Ox Inn”, they were happily greeted by Tatiana, who immediately
asked for Miss Hazel (Hazel was disguised, as she was worried about being
chased). Much to Hazel’s content, she told the party that she had a crate for Hazel,
containing Marvin and a note, stating the following:
“I have been
watching you for some time. I heard about how you handled the Murky Ox Farm
situation. Not many would have had the mercy you displayed towards them. I
believe we can help each other. Come meet me at the old cabin at Hermit’s Pass
tomorrow at dusk. Come well armed, it can be dangerous out there.” Signed
“Zaru”.
The party also spoke to
Faith Fast Fingers about the Casino, and she mentioned interest in turning the
building into a shelter/orphanage for all the refugees (especially people
escaping slavery). The party made her aware of the monsters left in there, so
she will be looking to hire people to clean the place up.
The party then
proceeded to recover the remainder of their belongings (everything was just as
they had left in their room). They decided to go meet Zaru, but to get some
supplies before heading out, and “reserving” a trip to Aerie with Sheila
Coppertree. Sheila agreed to wait for them to return for 2 days, and if
they’re not back by then, she’d head out for a few contracts she had prior.
Lenny and Kalim also
went to a store (Arvandor Apparel) to look for a cloak for Lenny. They were put
off by a very snarky store clerk and decided not to buy anything.
On their way south to
Hermit’s Pass they noticed a Cyclops looking for food, just west of their path.
Since the cyclops didn’t notice them, they decided not to engage in combat and
leave it be. Upon reaching the cabin, they checked and noticed that Zaru was
not alone. There was at least one more person present, and Lenny determined it
to be a vampire.
They chose to talk to
Zaru still, and appreciating their peaceful approach, Zaru shared her secrets:
-
She is
in fact a doppleganger, and therefore a very capable spy.
-
She
despised working for Mr. Bigsby, but she did it under the promise of a vial of
dragon’s blood he had in his possession.
-
Her
husband (a half orc male named Bartok) is a vampire who had been feeding on
animals only, as he also didn’t want to harm other people.
-
Zaru
and Bartok joined “The Hopeful Dawn” an organization of vampires who want a
cure, lead by the very Olena (Armando’s mother), who was saved and helped by
Kalim.
-
The
dragon’s blood that Zaru took from Mr. Bigsby worked on Bartok, as after
drinking it he can get the same amount of nutrition from drinking the blood of
any creature (not just humanoids), however he is still sensitive to sunlight.
So it is a half cure, as he doesn’t feel weak and sick anymore, as long as he
consumes any blood, regardless of the animal (rare beef or even fish will do!).
-
The
headquarters of the Hopeful Dawn is the cave that Kalim helped Olena get to,
and Zaru and Bartok are headed there to share the good news.
-
Zaru
asked the group to find more dragon blood to help others get the “half cure” at
least. She heard rumors of a golden dragon to the south, in the Braen’ She-Ran
Wilds. The group collectively recalls that metallic dragons are typically good
natured, and perhaps a peaceful accord can be struck. They also recall that
most metallic dragons have left Arvandor about 2000 years ago, when the
corruption started, and the fact that there’s even rumors of one living in the
forest is a sign of hope.
-
Zaru
offered her services as a spy in exchange, as well as a powerful item she stole
from Mr. Bigsby. She warned the party that the item was likely obtained
illegally by Mr. Bigsby’s thugs, and the one who brought it back perished
shortly after, from injuries displaying necrotic damage.
-
The
item was identified by Hazel as a Blodrur, a spear wielded by the Guardians of
the Great Tree of Yigdrasiil, which is also the source
of legends about travel between worlds. Hazel read books about its sap and
amber being used to create portals between Arvandor and Necelia. She also knows
that the legends speak of a red dragon (named Nidhogg). The dragon was
desperate to sever that connection, as it revels in chaos.
-
The sickly roots of the tree
(attacked by Nidhogg and its offspring) get turned into weapons: the Blodrur.
