GG Chapter 1: We're All Birds Here

The Session

Our tale begins in an administrative office for Sports Aviated (wholly owned subsidiary of Centranest, Inc.), where four candidates for the upcoming Gau'Sharan Games await receipt of their 2,000 gp stipends for supplies and items:

• Quaxley Smalls, a Duckling bardlock & former adventurer. Works as a jester for a low-ranking birdocrat of the HighNest District.
• Skylark Ashborne, a Phoenicokra paladin-sorcerer of the Ornethian Royal Guard. Child of Berneakilis Ashborne, a high-ranking Phoenicokra birdocrat of the HighNest District.
• Kennifer, an Owlacokra druid hermit living amongst the scattered peaks of the Low Peak territories, controlled by mainland Ornethia.
• Mistral Skyquack, an Aaraduckra rogue-ranger & Ornethian merchant/alchemist/poisoner who searches the Celestic Mountains & other places for rare earth, plants & poison materials. Search for a fungal sample could lead him to the quest, maybe curing a disease.

After a prejudicial & racist encounter with the Stipend Administrator, the gang goes shopping around town:

• Griffith's Armory - weapons, armor & custom magic weapons/armor
• Arlo's Arcana - magic store
• Misgrith's Caudlron - potion store

Griffith's Armory Purchases

For the standard weapon & armor stats, see the following Weapon & Armor lists.

Mistral Skyquack: Trident of the Gullcleaver

A magical trident with the following additional features:

• 800 gp
• +1 to attack & damage rolls, attacks are magical
• No disadvantage for long range (between 20 & 60 ft) attacks
• When you throw this weapon as part of your Attack Action, you can use a Bonus Action (or the other Attack in your Attack Action) to call it back to your hand. If the weapon is currently embedded in a creature, they must make a DC 16 Strength saving throw or suffer the weapon’s damage again on it’s way out.

Skylark Ashborne: Armor of the Undying Ashes

A magical set of Plate Mail (Heavy) with the following additional features:

• 900 gp
• +1 to AC
• When you take more than 20 damage from an attack, spell or other effect, you can use your Reaction to trigger a counterattack of phoenix flame. You can either direct this at a single target within 60 ft, or as a 20 ft AoE centered on yourself (Dex save for anyone in range, DC equals your spellsave DC). Deals the same damage that was dealt to you, but as fire damage.

Quaxley Smalls: Shield of Equity (took 6 damage when testing it out)

A magical shield with the following additional features:

• 1,300 gp (racism premium)
• +3 to AC (when wielded)
• As a Bonus Action with the shield on your back (not wielded), you can activate a pair of magical feathered wings from its sides. 50 ft flying speed until you use all three charges of the Shield ability.
• As a Reaction, you can use these wings to cast the Shield spell around yourself, granting a +5 bonus to your AC for one round. 3 charges per day, recharges upon the next dawn.

Kennifer: Undergrowth Armor w/ Talon Boots

A magical set of Leather Armor (Light) with the following additional features:

• 1,000 gp
• +1 to AC
• +1 to attack & damage rolls from druid & ranger spells cast in this armor
• When you cast a spell that requires Concentration, you can choose to have the armor hold the spell's Concentration on your behalf. When doing so, roll 1d4 & reroll any 1s. The armor will concentrate on the spell for that many rounds, unless you fall unconscious, become incapacitated, or die. While the armor holds your spell, you can cast another Concentration spell without breaking your concentration on the spell your armor is holding. In other words, you can focus on two Concentration spells at a time, rather than the typical one. This armor can be used like this 3 times a day, and regains all charges at dawn. 3 charges per day, recharges upon the next dawn.

Misgrith's Cauldron & Gambling Purchases

Mistral Skyquack (1,200 gp to spend)

• Gambling: Bet 300 gp on birds winning the Gau'Sharan Games. 4/1 to 5/1 odds (the DM doesn't know what this means, so he expects to be utterly swindled by James at the end of the campaign)
• Potion of Fire Breath:150 gp
• Potion of Invulnerability: 3,000 gp, but can be knocked down to 750 gp if he makes a questionable deal with Misgrith, the hag-like vulturcokra running the potion store

Quaxley Smalls (700 gp to spend)

• 4 Potions of Healing: 200 gp
• 5 Potions of Advantage: 500 gp

Skylark Ashborne (1,100 gp to spend)

• 1 Potion of Water Breathing: 200 gp
• 1 Potion of Cloud Giant Strength: 800 gp
• Anything else: 100 gp left

Kennifer (1,000 gp to spend)

• 1 Potion of Water Breathing: 200 gp
• 2 Potion of Invisibility: 360-400 gp
• Anything else: 400-440 gp left

The Church of Eveikna

The boys take a visit to church and separately beesech Eveikna for aid, inspect the religious artwork, etc. Quaxley gets slapped in the face by a racist priest, but manages to teach him a little bit about racism in the end. Eveikna's wind answers the group in separate & mysterious ways. In addition to whisking them towards the amphitheater for the opening ceremony of the games, it also gave each of them one Luck point (reroll any attack roll, ability check or saving throw, can use either the old or new roll).

The Gau'Sharan Games Opening Ceremony

After artistic performances to kick off the ceremony, the five Highlords of the Ornethian Ruling Council take their throne-like seats at the back of the stage. Raptis Overman, CEO & majority owner of Centranest, kicks off the games with words of pomp & Ornethian propaganda, wishing their brave candidates good fortune in the challenges ahead. He explains that as always, CentraNest's proprietary bird drones will be streaming footage of the candidates from all cities, allowing viewers at home to enjoy the show while keeping up with their betting profiles. As always, however, he gives a warning that the closer the drones get to the center, the more interference the feed faces from the Egg's magic. Grand Arcanist Zalutha, head of the College of Avios & Highlord of the Ornethian Ruling Council, commences the Games with a Gate spell, leading the Gau'Sharan Raiders (temporary team name) into the Cordybog Jungle. As the Raiders look back to the audience one last time:

• Skylark acts proud & defiant towards his dad, confident that he will prove himself. This earns respect from Lord Bernikelis Ashborne (phoenicokra) that is blended with the lord's own insecurity.
• Quaxley acts proud & goofy towards his boss, confident that he will prove himself. This earns a look of embarrassment from Lord Cratchersauk (aaracokra).
• Mistral sees Mr. Shwawk (swanocokra), the notorious crime boss & leader of the Aquadown Triad (the main mafia for aaraduckras, ducklings, goosacokras, swanocokras & other water-based Lesser Birds/Low Ornethians except penguicokras). Since Mistral owes him money, Mr. Shwawk wishes him good luck and "can't wait to see him when he gets back".
• Kennifer, being a hermit, doesn't recognize many in the crowd. However, his keen vision spots two protesters: one holding a sign that says "Cryas Was Right", and another holding a sign that says "All Birds Matter" while being dragged out of the venue. Kennifer keeps up with Ornethian history & current events well enough to know that the protestors are on both sides of a complicated societal issue in Ornethia: bird racism & the systemic mistreatment of bird minorities (aaracokra subraces & non-aaracokra bird races). For decades, conspiracy theories & rumors have accused CentraNest & the Ornethian Government of using the Gau'Sharan Games as a way to give bird minorities false hope at a better life while profiting off their sacrifice, leading to high tensions for this year's games.