Mini 23: Victory, Curses and Maple Taps Report

General Summary

21st of Keltier 1524 Continued

The battle at the Grandfather Oak grew hectic and stressful as the waves of Goblins were wearing on the party. They considered fleeing and many fell before being brought back up but they were able to be successful. It was apparent that a heavy toll was paid emotionally for this victory by everyone, though Brienda was the one who displayed it the most. Nobu did what he could to reassure her and ground her emotionally.

They move a little away from where all the bodies (breadcrumbs) are before asking Brienda if the trees still mean them harm. Thankfully they don't but they are very sad. Once settled they take an hour to rest and recover as much as they can before addressing the tree and possible captives that could be here. Galanith sets up a bit of a hiding spot to help ensure if someone comes in they won't be so easily seen during this rest.

At 7:30pm, when they have finished their rest, they head over to the tree and the altar. There, they find the dead goblin druid with the remains of a person that they presume was one of the druids held captive here. Balthazar gets some help with removing the bodies that are in his way, since he wishes to identify the altar. Isabelle helps and searches the Goblin druid, hoping to find keys, but only finds some goodberries, a strange focus in the form of a bramble bush which slices open her hand, and a squirming root. Meanwhile, Nobu heads inside the tree to make sure there are no more goblins hiding there. 

Not liking what she finds, Isabelle disposes of the Goodberries and chopping up the squirming root in the hopes of destroying it. However, each of the pieces of the root continue to squirm. Alarmed, the only action she deems proper to deal with this horror is to burn it which Galanith helps her with. This causes it to shriek with inhuman sounds and everyone nearby except Nobu is effected by the smoke and starts to feel unwell. Unaware of the issue outside, Nobu continues his exploration. The inside of the tree is sort of hollowed out, but the centre has a staircase that wraps around the centre part of the tree heading up. He can't see a basement entrance and doesn't want to head up alone. But is happy seeing nothing is hiding in this lower part of the tree. He heads back to see the ground and the smoke and wisely decides to keep his distance.

Meanwhile Balthazar learns the altar has been defiled and re-concercrated to the ice stone god statue. It offered boons to those of Goblinkind, while slowly killing the tree of Erik in the hopes of poisoning Erik himself. He shares this with the group. They consider destroying it, but think better of it as it could be turned back to good with the right druids. They leave it for now and head inside the tree to explore. Heading up, they come to the upper branches that have been flattened out by the grace of Erik to allow his druids to camp and live in this space. There are many destroyed tents up here before they have been pulled together to likely shelter the Goblin army that was here. They look up to see the druids hanging in painful looking positions. It is clear at least a few of them are dead, given they are hanging in their own entrails. However, with the possibility of some of them being alive, Nobu climbs up to check on them, getting down five who are still alive but barely. They apply the last bit of healing to one of the druids, who naturally freaks out since last she saw this place was overcome by Goblins. After going through a wave of emotions and realisation, she goes into a semi-comatose state. 

Isabelle looks around for where the Goblins might have stashed anything of value like healing potions. Going through the tents, she finds where she thinks the Chief might have been staying. Inside is a very nice magical bag that is identified as a Bag of Holding. Emptying it, coins clatter to the ground as well as a few items, the magical ones getting identified by Balthazar:

• A quiver with twenty nice looking arrows (+1 ammunition)
• A scroll (Continual flame)
• Gems (not magical)

Comforting the druid the best she can, Isabelle listens to Balthazar telling them about the items. Though she, and the rest the party are unset to learn that Balthazar detected magical effects on the party. Identifying it, they are currently cursed to be harmed by terrors in their sleep and resistance to rest, risking exhaustion. In the hopes of being able to fix this curse, they will have Galanith remove it from herself and contact the temple in Dharilton to request aid for themselves and the druids in the morning. That is if she can get some rest. They briefly speak with the druid, learning that her name is Myrine giving her some hope before they settle in to get some rest overnight. 

22nd of Keltier 1524

Galanith is thankfully able to rest overnight without issue, but many of the others are not so lucky. Their nightmares are so vivid and distressing, they take psychic damage. This nearly causes Balthazar to start bleeding out morning but just manages to hang on. As a result, any magic spent by Isabelle, Kaida or Balthazar are not regained by resting on this day. Many of them, including Galanith are exhausted by the curse. Taking advantage of Avani's blessing to have her spells back, Galanith immediately removes the curse from herself before discussing with the party that they for sure want her to contact the temple instead of removing the curse from someone like Balthazar who did not do well overnight. They all agree it is for the best that they contact the temple, though Balthazar does really want the curse gone, worried he'll die in his sleep. Galanith decides to contact the Champion Ruimiele directly with their request for aid.

Sending: "Goblins at tree dead. Altar desecrated, many druids killed. We are cursed and tired, resting here. If possible, send aid. Only Sending I can today."

Ruimiele: "Good News. I'll have a group send out to you. Should be there by end of day. Rest up. Thank you. May Haelyn bless you."

Galanith shares this wonderful news with the group, and they are all relieved to hear this. They ensure they take care of the druids, but wait for their aid to arrive. The druids that did not survive the ordeal with the goblins, are taken to a burial mound by the party under the instruction of Myrine to give them their last rites. Though those used in the ritial to attack the tree, should be burnt and not placed within the soil for fear of continuing to spread lingering negative magic into the soil. Isabelle makes sure that the druids get the coins and gems back, but the magical items weren't theirs. So the party keeps them. They will need to send for a druid with a high enough ability and connection to Erik to fix the altar. They are sure that Günther from the Capital would be the best person to notify about this as he would be able to arrange a suitable person to come out if he can't do it himself. 

Balthazar is reading a book about magic that he picked up before this journey had begun. Tired of reading about the Rouge, he starts this one. He learns:

Aethyr is not a form of magic, but an unrefined medium through which all magic dreams itself into being from the weave. Specifically between elemental energies, divine will and mortal thought which impacts the weave and often is involved in drawing magic from the weave.

"Magic does not flow through Aethyr; magic is what Aethry imagines itself to be when looked upon by minds of order."

Oceans and mirrors are both used as allegories as the author warns that exposure to raw Aethyr can rewrite the boundaries between self (the magic user) and the spell, causing the magician to either be draw into the weave or to become a part of their own spell (often in very undesirable ways).

When the Aethyr is divided it is called a "Fracture". This happens when the gods impose order upon the world and cut it away from the primal source of the primal flux of magic. It is through this process that the weave was created. In the margins there is a hand written note:

"All Order is Theft."
"All Spells are Lies."

To the author, the weave and divine law are parasitic structures, siphoning chaos into predictable outcomes.

Those who follow the gods are the "Dreamers of the Cage."

As Balthazar finishes his reading for the day, he finds a formula called "The First Equation of Flux". Not a spell, but a mathematical meditation that could allow someone to glimpse the Aethyr directly.

By 6pm, the battalion from the temple has arrived including a regiment of clerics and paladins to aid those who need it. They immediately remove the curses from the party and tend to the druids by removing their exhaustion. They also have a group of clerics to cleanse the altar. They cannot put it back to how it was, but they can prevent the negative powers coming from it continuing to impact the tree and helping the goblins with their goals. The party agrees they need to head back to the capital and maybe in the future they can deal with this stone ice statue god. They will stay until the altar has been cleansed just in case. 

23rd of Keltier 1524

The next day, the party has some relaxing activities while waiting for the day long ritual for cleansing to be completed. Nobu tries to teach Brienda some drawing basics, and she's not bad which pleases him. Galanith watches over the ritual and tends to the druids to assist them if needed. She also contacts Günther to tell him about their need for aid for the druids and someone specifically to assist with putting the altar back to the way it was for Erik, which he will happily do.  Isabelle double checks what they can keep from what they found before going out to get Allag and their horses who are still in a clearing to the North. She takes three guards with her just in case of trouble. Thankfully, she had since their horses were being attacked by an Ettin. Working together, they were able to take the Ettin down without any issues. They take the horses back to the grove, while Isabelle talk to Allag, explaining the plan. They were worried the horse/Dwarf would be upset, but he is not. He reminds Isabelle about the Dwarf the champion told them about and would like to follow that lead before heading back to his clans stronghold given it was taken down by a single individual.

Balthazar continues to read and learns: 

Mortals who channel chaos can begin to lose their fixed identity. It is unclear if this is a warning or a goal with how the text is written.   

“To command Chaos, one must first surrender to it.”  

It turns to more advance magical theory. Going through how chaos cannot be bound, only mirrored through imperfect vessels. There are artifacts called Aethyric Hearts, living crystals that pulse with chaotic resonance, that could be used to gather chaos in a space like lightning to a lightning rod. Legends claim a Heart is hidden somewhere in Dhoesone. 

By 6pm later that day the cleansing ritual is completed successfully. Afterwards, the druids show their gratitude to the party by offering them many gifts. 

• Brienda: Oakleaf Charm: Once, as a reaction, negate a critical hit against you.
• Nubo: Dreamwhisper Seed: Crush it to cast Misty Step as a bonus action.
• Galanith: Starlight Bead: Once, cast Guiding Bolt at 3rd level.
• Isabelle: Beastbone Token: Once, summon an animal spirit (like Conjure Animals with one CR 2 beast).
• Balthazar: Potion of Evergreen Vitality – A one-of-a-kind potion brewed by the druids. When drunk, it restores all disease, poison, and up to 20 hit points instantly, plus the drinker doesn’t need to eat or drink for 7 days.

24th of Keiltier

The party leaves early that morning to head back to Dharilton and are able to make it there without issue. Given they are no longer in the great rush that they were to get here, they stay in the city for the night picking up supplies that they need for the journey back. 

25th of Keiltier

The party departs Dharilton for Honeysuckle and will stay there the night. There is nothing big, but they get beds by the inn's hearth for the night. 

Balthazar copies the continues flame spell into his spellbook. Balthazar does some magic theory lessons with Brienda who graciously gives him one hour of her time before jumping out of the window when she's had enough. He promises to research magic theory that might better apply to her in particular. 

Isabelle listens for rumours while in town. She learns: 

• That giants have been very active in the last week
• The champion Ruimiele has been sick. Has she fallen out of favour with the higher ups that might be corrupt?

Isabelle tries to start some counter rumours about the champion being healed and up in fighting shape. She's not sure if it will stick, but the one person seems convinced. 

26th of Keiltier

Planning their way back to the capital they decide to stay on the road and head South East to have the more scenic route. Asking around town, they learn that is six hours journey to Evaerlin on the roads and they will be unable to make it to Happenstance tomorrow without risking exhausting themselves and the horses. 

The people tell them a bit about Evaerlin since they're heading that way. Apparently it is quite the tourist destination and rather family. It has had to rebuild many times after issues with giants, but always build back. They have a tall watchtower in the North-East of the town which is called the Belltower. Their main export is maple syrup. There is a big festival every spring when the druids come to bless the start of the tapping season. They have a local saying when tending their crops - "with hoe in one hand and spear in the other", demonstrating their mindset towards taking care of themselves and always ready for a fight even during the normal chores of the day. If there is a job to do, they do it. Grateful for the information they thank people before leaving Honeysuckle Abbey and journeying South East.

As they head down the road, it isn't long before they come across a travelling moonshine merchant. At first they are sceptical of the seller, but end up buying some merchandise off him, only offending him slightly by sulking the free sampled offered to see if it's poisoned.

Arriving at the gate at 2pm, they talk with the guard at the gate who has a bit of fun with them before escorting them to the best inn in town. The Bell. It has many maple taps for sale as sourdines. Balthazar asks about bookstores and is reassured that not only do people here read, but there are plenty of bookstores around. Isabelle wants to go and buy a tap, but one that is less marketed to travellers. A back alley one if she can. She finds a tend with a sign for books. She goes to get Balthazar, showing him the tent before continuing her search. Balthazar disappears into the tent.