Session 11 Report

General Summary

The party had left off standing on the shore after Michael, Donovan, and Anahe departed. Together, everyone decided to start examining the loot they acquired from Ayer's office. Brooks examined the cane gun he had taken after Ayer's defeat. He also took a look at the papers that were in Ayer's pockets, but could not read Elvish, and gave it to Fanna to read. Fanna discovered the papers were correspondence with an Ondinian entity, and Ayer was supplying them weapons.   Thien started examining the intricate, blue and white ceramic boxes, along with the items inside. Altogether, there were six boxes, and the following items were in them: Living Lapel Pin + Living Necktie, Petrified Coal, Shard Ointment, Stonebound Scribe, Dish of Cleansing, and Heartstain. With his Arcana roll, he was able to discern most of the properties of the items, but not all of them. The party doled out the items accordingly, leaving the Living Lapel Pin and Living Necktie for last. It was decided that the Hundun, Soup, would wear the Living Necktie, and Brooks would wear the Living Lapel Pin that goes with it.   Some more time passed, and the party settled down for the night. Nadyn and Amanti sat down to think about what they would say to Donovan once they were back in the capital, as Michael encouraged them to talk to him and apologize for their actions. Lost for ideas, they turned to Fanna and Thien, who suggested getting him a so-called "Apology Plant." The two attempted to scavenge for any interesting plants Donovan might like, but didn't come up with anything fruitful. Amanti tried next, and found a beautiful, orange and scarlet flower with pointed leaves and a long, wispy, tufted center--A Sun-Streaked Cloud.   An interested Thien also tried to discern the nature and biology of Soup, finding that they pretty much were basically a furry, fleshy, winged blob. Curious of Soup's intellectual abilities, the party then tried to train Soup. Amanti tried first, but found Soup to not be the most responsive. When Thien and Brooks tried however, they were much more successful, getting Soup to properly sit on command, using pets as the reward.   The next day, the party set off on their last day on the river. However, they found that the river seemed off once again--Instead of being peaceful and relaxing, things were anxiety-inducing and obnoxious. Eventually, suspicion gathered on the feather the party collected last session. Suspecting that the river spirits were angry at the party and wanted the feather back, Fanna was encouraged to offer the feather up. When they did so, a being from the river lunged forward and attempted to drag Fanna underwater, but Fanna was saved by Amanti, who cast Water Walk on them. Fanna then scared the being off with the Fear spell.   Still, the greenery around the river began to lash out at the boat. The party was more adamant that the feather was the source of the problem, but Fanna did not want to give it up. After some arguing, Fanna finally released the feather, where it was snatched up by overhanging vines and absorbed. The party was forced into combat with the overhanging vines and the tree they were attached to. The vines attempted to grab some of the party, successfully grabbing onto Brooks and lifting him into the air. Thien opted to open his mind and try to sense why the river was acting so agitated, eventually deducing that the spirits were fighting over control over the feather itself. Fanna and Amanti cast spells at the tree, and Thien shot Brooks out of the vines' grasp. Together, the party swiftly rowed out of the conflict, leaving the river spirits to fight amongst themselves. A flustered Nadyn later commented how it reminded him of combat during the civil war, and that instead of river spirits, it was wind spirits that he learned to watch out for.   Later in the day, the party finally arrived back at The Capital. They returned the boat, Fanna unsuccessfully trying to scam the guy they rented the boat from. As he had questioned the party about Soup, the party debated on what to do with Soup so they wouldn't get constantly stared at, and Fanna eventually decided to put Soup in their lute bag. The party continued walking through the capital, noticing that things were still as noisy and sensory-overloading as the river. Two birds then arrived with letters for the party: One was addressed to Thien, from his parents. They told him how they were coming to The Capital for the Kite-Flying Festival, and that they would be staying at a local inn. The other was addressed to the party, from Michael. He told them to meet him and Anahe at a cafe by the park with the large ginkgo tree.   The party headed there and wasted no time asking Michael about why they were attacked at the river. Michael asked the party if they noticed that things had seemed different to them--the change in perception that they've been experiencing. When the party said yes, Michael told them how it meant they reached a level of power that they could now sense spirits and the spirit world more aptly than the average person. Spirits could interact with them physically to the point of entering combat with them, as opposed to only small or very specific interactions. Likewise, the feather they were in posession of belonged to a crane spirit that was at least a thousand years old. A being of that age would naturally have great wisdom and power, so the spirits of the river wanted a chance to take a sample of that wisdom and power for themselves.   A frustrated Thien asked why Michael was seemingly acting so cryptic to the group, and Michael remarked he wasn't aware that the party had reached this level of power. It usually occurred after a major, life-altering event in someone's life, such as slaying a powerful foe, which made Michael wonder what the party was really up to up-river. Unfortunately, due to being short on time, Michael could not press the party for more info, so he moved on. As suddenly being in tune with Spirits to the level they were was a sensory overload for them, Michael offered to grant the party talismans that would ease their stress. The party agreed, and Michael gave them temporary, pre-prepared charms in the meantime. Their powers would last 24 hours, after which they would wear away. The party would meet Michael in the same spot the next day at 4pm for the more permanent talismans.   Michael than addressed the main thing he invited the party over for: Mentoring Nadyn. Michael was interested in some kind of payment in exchange for taking Nadyn in and mentoring him. The party all collectively looked at Brooks, who after the peer pressure, gave up the gold he had taken from Ayer's safe. After this, Amanti, Nadyn, and Michael agreed that Michael would be paid 5g a week, and Nadyn would be with Michael four days a week, for five weeks to start off with.   As time was short, Michael left the party with a few more points of advice: One, he would give them a sending stone, who's powers would last until the end of the Kite-Flying Festival. If they had anything pressing to tell him, send him a messege on it, and he'll try to get back to it as best as he can. Two, there exist many other Spirit Mediums like him, but not all of them act with the purest of intentions. They will likely notice the party and their growing abilities, so the party should be careful with who they interact with going forward. Third, Donovan was likely home from work by now, if the party wanted to go see him and start making things right.   Now having said his piece, Michael and Anahe departed, leaving the party in the late summer afternoon of the city.