Session 52: The Poly Dwarf

General Summary

Ilbryen

  Knowledge is freedom. Ignorance is slavery.     That is a common quote spoken among the novices and acolytes of Emone. And while there is some value to the sentiment, it is not entirely true. Teach a person in shackles to read and they are still in shackles. The mind becomes more free to explore, but it does not remove all shackles that hold a person down. However, a person who understands that they are not free is at least in a better place to change their circumstances. But, freedom is a very tricky thing and it is almost never an absolute.     The ability to negotiate the value of one’s labor is a step toward independence and freedom. And one of the more efficient ways to negotiate the value of one’s labor is through collective bargaining.     The kobolds of Boora Bog who aided Eastbridge were outcast from their bog and had nowhere to stay. For a while, they camped outside of the League Hall. However, that did not last too long. Duke Tertius opened the gates of Eastbridge to the kobolds, who were met with some reluctance by all, except for those who would exploit them as cheap labor.     It has been Ilbryen who has worked the most to see that the kobolds are compensated fairly, and now they find themself sitting at a bargaining table between Otis, the head of the rat catchers guild and Guc Fugguc, Kobold representative and leader of the Shrine of Ydarion’s Mother’s Mother’s Mother.   Ilbryen sat with Guc and Otis, trying to settle their dispute. Guc claimed that the kobolds were not being paid for their work. Otis stated that the kobolds were paid 1 copper for every 8 tails brought to them. Guc said that the tails were the tastiest part of the rats, which is why they were not brought back. When Otis suggested that they bring back the rat heads, Guc said that it was the second tastiest part.   Ilbryen discovered that Otis used to pay the previous rat-catchers, mostly made up of Human children, 1 copper for every three tails. He claimed that the price disparity was because the kobolds ate the rats and therefore did not need the coin to pay for food. Ilbryen argued on the unfair treatment of the kobolds, but Otis pointed out that even an “honor system” wherein the kobolds could state how many rats they killed would not work because the kobolds were unable to count very high.   Growing frustrated in the meeting, Guc shouts to Otis to “bite yourself”, which he did. Ilbryen immediately realized that it was divine magic and the casting of the spell command. Guc then commanded Otis to “pay”, wherein he started to take out coins to pay the kobold.   Guc’s casting of command, however, mean that something was granting him divine magic and perhaps Ydarion’s Mother’s Mother’s Mother’s Mother was not quite so preposterous of a religion. Ilbryen informed Guc of the morality of casting spells such as command, and negotiated a deal between Otis and the kobolds, wherein they would receive 1 copper for every 5 tails, but a counter would accompany the kobolds and the extra expense would be taken from the overall cost of paying for every 5 tails instead of 8.    

The Gathering

  The party gathered at the League Hall on Wisphollow 22nd, the first day of spring and the vernal equinox. Perhaps it was when everyone decided to meet up again, or perhaps it is just by chance that everyone is together once again. With the start of spring, there was still some crispness in the air and the nights tended to be cold and require a fire to keep warm.     Travel was starting to pick up again, and there were a half-dozen customers in the League Hall, mostly local regulars who are just on the cusp of adventure. They listened to the stories and often ply Bolvaic to share a few stories of his exploits by buying him a drink. A particular favorite story of this group is the story of when Bolvaic was swallowed whole and fought his way out of the belly of an invisible beast. Bolvaic has yet to catch the side bet that the group of listeners make with one another to see how many details change in this telling.     Also present was Aralmeni, who had come to visit with some regularity, though only when she had time away from assisting Tertius’ grandmother, Meadh McGowan. Donk is also present with his squire, Snirk. The group sits down for dinner together, enjoying the reunions–although everyone has seen everyone else throughout the winter, this is the first time in a long time that all of you are gathered together.   The group recounted their exploits over the past winter. Levi discussed the issue he had after receiving taboos put upon him from the bear spirit that he encountered. Ilbryen tried to remove curse, but discovered that it was not a curse, but rather a Fey taboo that prohibited him from resting in a bed and entering a private home without permission.   Tertius introduced the group to the Fox, which had arrived and acts as his familiar. However, the fox claims that he is here instead to eat the food that is provided, as he rings the servant’s bell to be fed chicken whenever he desires and he sleeps in the big bed as Tertius and Levi sleep on the floor. Though there was no bell to ring here at the hall, Levi told the fox that Reggie was the one to get food from, so the fox went over and pulled at Reggie’s pant leg, causing him to drop a platter of food onto the floor that the fox happily ate.   Bolvaic spoke of his meeting with the Drow emissary and the relations between him and the drow house, which may be asking for assistance and trade with him. Illevaere spoke about visiting their father and their sister’s baby. They spoke of the vision that was shared with them and their taking of a poison meant for the chosen of Caena.   Tiarjead spoke of finding the Oleander scouting party and their message pertaining to Paeaetonium, which Tertius was familiar with as Jorrunde had stated that there were Oleander ships present and she saw a great maelstrom. Illevaere felt that this tied in with their vision.   During the dinner, Aralmeni nervously asked Illevaere if they could speak privately. The pair stepped outside of the League Hall and Aralmeni nervously spoke with Illevaere, telling them that she did not want to come off as the “other woman” when it comes to Bolvaic and that she and Illevaere are in the minority, but she does not expect Bolvaic to adhere to the same restrictions. She isn’t looking to horde Bolvaic all to herself, but instead that she fully expected him to be poly.   This confused Illevaere for a moment, until Aralmeni clarified that she meant for Bolvaic to be polytheistic and open to Ctenmillar as well as Caena. She explained that non-priests are able to appreciate a multitude of gods. A farmer may pray to Sucellus to ask for a good harvest. But then when it rains too much, they might offer a prayer to Belenos to let the sun come out to let their crops grow. And, in a drought, they might pray to Tempest to bring rains. Come the time of harvest, they might offer a prayer ro Thiulla for a temperate autumn to harvest in. When their bounty is being shipped, they might pray to Ran to keep the seas calm for the journey and then offer prayer to Midone to see that their wares are sold at a fair price.   Aralmeni explained that she still thinks that Caena should serve a big part in Bolvaic’s life since, have you seen what Bolvaic eats? Illevaere explained that they believe that Bolvaic is still known to Caena and that there were no ill feelings between the pair.   Donk explained to the party that he had achieved everything that he could, since he jumped from the roof of the League Hall and survived and he has taken on Snirk as his squire. He explains that he is off to head into The Feywild to find Rivariin, since Rivariin went off into the Feywild to hind his mentor, he just assumes that this is what you are supposed to do.   As the night wore on, Obadiah Larson arrived at the League Hall, surprising Levi who did not believe that his grandfather was still alive. Obadiah said that he was sleeping and that when he sleeps, he sleeps for a long time. He stated that he returned to the village of Hofsa and he spoke to Ingrid, who informed him of Levi’s whereabouts and presented him with his old furs.   Obadiah stated that his return with not without purpose as the Cult of the Claw has been stirring up trouble in the Blood Tribes, looking to summon and seize control of The Wild Hunt. He told Levi that he would speak more upon it in the morning and went out into the woods to rest for the night.   When Bolvaic returned to his room, a drow messenger named Elkantar of House Teken’duis awaited him within. He told him that he was there to seek the dwarf’s support for the expeditions below ground. Bolvaic said that it was something that would have to be discussed with the group and Elkantar agreed to return in the morning to speak to the gathered group, leaving out the window to spend the night before returning in the morning, where the party needed to decide a course of action to take.