C2 Session 25: Driving Mistress Everhand to Drink Report

General Summary

6th of Diesmir 1545 Continued

At 5pm the party separates to try and track down Tavi and save Date Palm.

Ana hiding in the forge and will be the home guard in case information comes back to the guild. Brin is checking Tavi's notification location before heading to the fighting pits where he will meet Oshwyt and Idorii. Margaret is taking a short rest before going to the markets with Bonsen and Vareth.

Ana a moment to think in Ubek's forge while candidates leave the building before going to check on Jamal. She asked him if they had ever met Tavi before and he said before interviewing them last week, he had never seen them before. Ana asked where the village was that his body came from and Jamal was able to give a rough area on a map for her.

Jamal is interested in looking into more, but would prefer to do so after they head to Tephu. Ana want to make Jamal scarce in case Tavi comes back for him with reinforcements from whoever might not want Jamal's body walking around. They grab Ubek and head to the hall of Blessed Rebirth.

At 5:30pm Brin arrives at the Tooth and Hookah and speaks with Faarhad to leave a message for Tavi. In the message, he requests Tavi meet him at the inn at noon tomorrow to discuss their mutual business regarding the guild. Faarhad promises to get the message to Tavi and Brin leaves for the fighting pits.

After taking her hours rest to regain some magic, she finds Bonsen and Vareth to head to the markets to look for clues.

Ana heads to Mistress Everhand's office with Ubek and Jamal. They are invited in for tea as they discuss Jamal's need to stay hidden. She is more then happy to have Jamal here and believes Fikra could use the company. They discuss check ins to keep Jamal updated about the safety of the guild as he finishes writing letters to the applicants either accepting their offer of work or denying them. Ana offers to deliver them with Ubek acting as her escort before leaving. 

By 6pm, Brin arrives at the fighting pit, meeting Oshwyt and Idorii there. They go see Magha together to get Oshwyt permission to have Brin meet with the thieves guild in town. Magha is familiar with Oshwyt and seems to have a playful banter based relationship with him while being polite and friendly with Brin and Idorii since they have both been into her fighting pit. The situation is explained and Magha takes a bit of convincing before allowing Brin to meet her business partner. He's warned there is no walking out on this world once he has walked in, but he's confident that he can handle it. Oshwyt becomes Brin's probation officer of sorts as Brin willing joins the thieves guild. They are left waiting in the office while Magha leaves to go and get her business partner.

By 7pm, Margaret and her entourage arrive in the markets and start asking around to see if anyone saw anything. As luck would have it, some people did see a halfling helping a Khinasi man walk. It looked rather funny. Margaret is able to track them down to the Veins and the specific building they went into as she talks to people she passes for information. She tries to send a message, but in the end accidently casts a sleet storm on top of the roof. Instead she gets Vareth to contact Ana.

At 7pm, Ana arrives at the Tooth and Hookah to begin dropping off the letters, avoiding Marik except to give him a double rejection and heading off to Aunty Anjet's before heading to Terhk's in her letter drops.

At 7pm, Mahga returns with a human Khinasi woman who had her face mostly veiled. This is Eswab, the Queen of Scows and Magha's business partner. Eswab and Brin discuss Tavi and Eswab will do her best to get him information on the figure in the next two to three hours. Eswab warns Brin to have Jamal watched as there is a chance the halfling will come back for him if all else fails to track them down. Within a week, Brin will need to do his official initiation. Afterwards Brin, Oshwyt and Idorii head back to the guild.

By 8pm Ana had finally gotten to Terhk's and saw Revik, the one who withdrew his application at the bar. She apologises for her companions' behaviours. He's leaving town the day after tomorrow as Shoufal doesn't seem to have the fresh start he wanted. She thanks him for the information about the Iron Guild and warns him to stay away from certain places to avoid becoming a slave. Just after this interaction she gets a sending from Vareth.

Ana uses her book to contact Margaret for more information before heading towards the Vein district with the half of the directions she was given.

Brin returns to the guild at 8pm to discover Jamal is not here. Oryn tells him that he left with Ana and Ubek earlier in the evening. Brin organises Idorii and Oshwyt to take watches for trouble. Idorii pushily takes the first watch.

After nearly an hour of waiting, Margaret sees a patrol coming and has to move so they don't see her clearly and question her since curfew is about to start. Just as they've given them the slip, Margaret finally hears from Ana again. They have a confusing back and forth before Ana and Ubek can finally meet up with Margaret, Bonsen and Vareth.

Cautiously they enter the apartment building they believe Date Palm was taken into. Inside is a lobby style common room with a desk. On the desk is a bell and a sign "Landlord assistance avaliable from 10-2, ring bell for emergencies." Ana looks for a directory while Margaret looks for a door to a cellar or basement. Margaret isn't successful, but Ana finds a floor directory with family names. She finds Flickwhistle and a note is attached to the name plate. It says:

Come on up. We're having tea. Stairs at the end of the hallway. 2 floor, 3rd door to the level of the stairs.

The group makes their way up for the room, ready for a trap to spring on them. However, upstairs they find the pair in a 1 bedroom apartment with no apparent trap. Date palm is tied to the chair with one hand free that is sitting next to a cup of tea. Tavi sits in the other. They offer the group tea and Ana requests honey with hers.

Tavi is very direct as they get the honey in seeing if this man works for them. Tavi had been concerned that Date Palm had actually been working for someone else and is a little offended that they had them tailed. They seem to have spotted Margaret an hour ago and it gave credence to what Date Palm had told Tavi. As a result Tavi had given Date Palm a potion to undo some of the damage that had occurred during his time in their presence.

During the conversation Margaret uses Detect Thoughts while asking some very direct questions about Jamal. Through this they learn:

• Tavi was worried Hassan might have been the traitor that led to the loss of the village Jamal started in.
• Tavi was also worried about who the guild was aligned to.
• Hassan and Tavi used to work together.
• Implied the Sultana was is a Red King when Ana says they haven't done any jobs for the Red Kings and Tavi corrects her with reminding them of the job they did for the Sultana.
• The idea of Hassan, now Jamal, not remembering Tavi or his old identity which they can't decide if it is worse than thinking Hassan was dead.
• Tavi and Hassan's group is destroyed with Tavi the only surviving member.
• Tavi believes that their group was targeted by the Red Kings because they were acting against them.

While they were talking, at 9:45pm Vareth was directed to let Brin know that they found Date Palm and came to an understanding with Tavi. By 10pm, the group left Tavi's apartment without issue, sneaking back to the guild with the use of invisibility and Ana turning into a blue owl.

Brin is relieved to hear the news and lets Idorii and Oshwyt know they no longer need watches. He stays in reception to wait for the group to return.

At 11pm as Margaret, Ana (as a blue owl), Ubek, Vareth, Bonson and Date Palm return to the guild they find Brin waiting at the reception desk for them. Date Palm is permitted to go lay down while the group has a small chat and gives Brin some of the information about what happened, but it's very light on details. Afterwards everyone but Brin retires to their rooms.

Margaret does one last ritual before bed. Legend Lore on Azari's missing constellation.

"Once, a sword blazed among the stars, its edge bright as dawn, its hilt a crown of silver flame. It marked the place where Azari, stranger-born, took his oath beneath the firmament and rose as a god among men, searching for his place in this new world. His darkness gave home to others from the light, a herald of the rejected and unwanted. But in the war without end, his life torn apart, and the shadow he contained engulfed the world and his heart. The sword turned black; the crown became a circlet of ice. The heavens shunned him, tearing his stars from the sky lest mortals remember his name as anything but a relic of the old gods. Yet whispers say the constellation was not destroyed, only hidden, for should the seven shards of that celestial blade be found and named again, the true god might awaken... or the Cold Rider will ride eternal for a creature lost in his own darkness. Some nights it reappears in brief moments of regained strength but they are few and far between in shadow shackles."

Not long after the party leaves Brin to wait in piece, Eswab arrives. She shares the following information:

• Tavi has many Alisas and is not connected to the thieves guild.
• Live in the Veins District and been in town for two weeks.
• They ask for a man named Hassan.
• Hassan and Tavi were likely in a relationship previously based on questions being asked.
• Born intersex and are gender fluid.
• Tavi move like they're in hiding from someone while conducting their own search.

Eswab bids Brin a good night and promises to keep the opportunities and obligations Brin has taken on to be as minor as possible. He will soon hear a date for his initiation.

7th of Diesmir 1545

Ana and Brin are up at 8am for breakfast and an early morning run. Brin returns just as Ana finishes making her breakfast. By 9am they have both finished and cleaned up. During this Margaret joins them. They start to discuss guild business. Margaret gives Brin a slightly more expansive explanation of what happened last night.

Afterwards the conversation shifts to setting up for Tephu. They want to take Kael, Durn and Jamal with them to Tephu.

They also discuss and decide on who they want to head off with the caravan. Thalos, Bronek, Sora, Rylin, Jeriam and Sir Tarhun will go. If there is time before the caravan leaves they can have Revi and Ubek look at the cages in the secret compartments. The caravan will take the route the party took. However, after Gnarlwood and they make the drop, they will loop up to Shadowfen, Whispering Pines, Lunara's Grove before return South of Djafra and returning the way they came.

Brin also wants to personally go to the farm. Margaret will magically help Brin get there, but he'll be on his own for the return. He'll discuss with guild members about volunteers. Though he quickly finds out this is something Jamal was already arranging before he had to go into hiding. Thistle has ledgers for Jamal to assist with the guild taking over management of the farm. He talks to the group about the need for Jamal back the guild. He has a side conversation with Oshwyt about his induction before getting ready to leave.

At 9:30am Margaret summons a spectral steed for Brin to get three hours into his walk to the farm in just one hour, while just having an extra hour to walk. Ana also leaves at 9:30am to go and collect Jamal now it is safe.

Margaret spends two hours scribing Divination scroll into her ritual book while showing Lyra has this works. She now focuses on trying to learn to scribe herself. She trials some attention focusing tea with Lyra.

At 10am, Ana arrives at the hall of Blessed Rebirth and heads downstairs to the secret to hear wailing coming from Selene. She was very upset to hear what happened to Date Palm as she possessively keeping him her nest that she has made here to keep him safe. Selene half-heartedly threatens Ana with eating her if she sends Date Palm into danger again. Fikra is very firm about not eating friends and Ana promises this is not a good idea as bad things will happen.

Eventually Ana goes to find Fikra and Jamal who are in a side room, trying to work and avoiding Selene's wailing. Ana updates Jamal on most of what they learned about Tavi. As they go to leave, Fikra tells Ana she will be sending a letter off soon to her family if Ana would also like to send something.

As Brin rides, he discovers the horse is riding is surprisingly cold. Not enough to hurt him, but as the heat of the day is not yet here it is rather uncomfortable. It fades at 10:30am and he continues walking, hoping to warm his legs back up.

When Ana gets back with Jamal at 11am, he gets an update from Oryn to discover half the work he did overnight with trying to work out caravans and routes was done by the party this morning. He looks over the notes Oryn made for him as he reworks his numbers and estimations since he will pay the group going in advance due to the danger of the trip.

At 11:30am, Brin arrives in Al-Majd and finds the farm without too much issue. He can't seem to spot an obvious supervisor so he heads to the house. Brin gets the basics about the farm operations:

• There are three supervisors that run in shifts. They have different amount of workers for different shifts, with the day shift having the most.
• Some farming has to happen ritualistically at different times of the day as they are magical components.
• The house is mostly an office but has an ability to house people if needed.

Brin wants to quickly get lunch and to get a treat for the workers, promising to return soon to continue discussions. He heads into the small villages and sees many of the stores double up. Like a Bakery and Bookstore, and a General Store and a Café. The inn seems to be the only thing that has one identity. Brin heads into the inn for lunch.

At noon, Revi and her dog construction returns for their follow up interview. During the interview the following things are discussed and learned:

• Void forged steel, is a process of refining metal and forging it into useable steel using the void.
• Her Master, Krexli "Sparkwhistle" Tindlefuse, went missing and he was the one that developed this technique.
• Revi has pages from his journal, but not the whole thing.
• Void forged steel has power between the light and shadow world of Cerilia. Making something puts it in both worlds and they are connected.

Margaret uses Detect Thoughts once she finds out Revi and her Master were actively trying to use the void in their creations. Like the dog construction that follows Revi around. She focuses in on the dog and she hears a similar distorted voice to the one from her void dream. It breaks her concentration on the spell but the voice is now in her head. Ana realises something is wrong and turns on Revi. Revi doesn't find this funny as this is what would sometimes happen with her master, just suddenly spacing out.

As Ana and Revi talk, Ana taps into the Form of Dread that Azari has blessed her with, to force this entity from her mind. As she does her hair billows out around her and it feels like the sun suddenly went behind a cloud, her eyes darken and temperature drops around them. Margaret gets a feeling of relief and pride with an animalist twist to it, likely coming from using the power like Azari is happy she has done this.

Margaret extends an offer of work to Revi at the guild if she stops making and using void forged steels, while destroying any she has including in the dog. Revi is reluctant to do this, but they convince her that it needs to be done. Margaret arranges for the dog to stay with the guild and gets Revi to get her things. She also pays Ubek to make a lead box for 300 gold. Afterwards Margaret goes back to scribing and Ana heads to the spa to unwind.

While Brin is at the inn, he notices the serving lad accidently puts down a glass a little hard, but instead of it sloshing everywhere it is unnaturally still. Much to everyone's surprise. Brin asks about anything weird happening it town, but turns up nothing.

He heads back to the farm. He learns:

• The Khirdai temple is looking to expand into the village for security.
• The farm recommended 6 guild members for pair rotations with the shift.
• The village bands together when they can.
• Ollie is the man on day shift as a supervisor.

Brin is recommended to stop by the haberdasher and livestock store for a hat on his way out of town since he can't rent a horse. He get a wide brim straw hat and fills up his water (that is unnaturally slow) before starting his walk back.

At 4pm Margaret stops scribing to head to the hall of Blessed Rebirth for components. She even takes a moment to talk to Mistress Everhand about the void dog and taking it apart. She explains the issue with the steel which leads to a conversation about her void dream.

After a very long conversation, and driving Mistress Everhand to drink, they arrange to have a medical examination of half the guild tomorrow for several issues. Once Selene's scale rot is clear, her care can go back to the guild and then the space below the hall of Blessed Rebirth can be used for deconstructing the dog.

Margaret is also given a dream journal to try and keep track of the forcing influencing Margaret via her dreams. Mistress Everhand has more information on Bolothamogg. He wants to consume light and is big on implicit and explicit deals. Deals can be made through people with connection, so those people don't have to agree themselves.

After a very distressing conversation for Everhand, Margaret head back to the guild for 6pm.

Ana gets back at the guild for 4:30pm and relaxes as she waits for others.

At 6pm Margaret returns and chats with Ana. She tells Ana about the check-ups and what led this. Ana suggests they get Mistress Everhand whiskey for this. They also discuss better methods for checking things then reading thoughts and signals before Ana leaves to buy whiskey. Margaret goes back to scribing.

At 6:30pm Brin return to the guild. After getting a quick bit and confirming the water problem is here too, he goes to find Margaret. He shows Margaret the water issue. She ritually casts identify on him. While this happens, he tells her about his day. Margaret learns:

• The seed has grown. Communication within him is opening as shadows darken and water stills in his presence.
• Curse: Brin's head will detach itself from his head should he die.

Margaret doesn't tell him what she finds, just demands he find Ana and buy a second bottle of whiskey.

At 7pm the party reconvinces. Margaret tells Brin about his curse and tells him not to die. She fills him in on the rest of what the identify told him. They arrange for everyone who needs to see Everhand tomorrow to be at the guild for 9am.

Ana goes to get some dinner before getting some rest. Margaret finishes her spell before getting some rest. Brin bombards Jamal a little before getting some rest. As Brin goes to sleep, he hears fleeting whispers of an unknown language. Not enough to stop his sleeping, but the silence of the night is no longer quiet for him.