Session 22 - "Crossing the Plains" Report

Jundar 1, 1246

It is a long day of travelling, and as the Fate-Steppers settle down to have lunch, Thais Argyri steps away from the others. She cracks open the novel she found in Cirvai's Garden, reading the first few chapters while Foenix Stolnent also reads the recipe book around the others. While it's in Draconic, and therefore Olena has to translate it for him, Foenix is able to discover a new recipe: potion of resistance.

Then, as they continue on, Micaiah Louvre hears something... singing... up ahead. She recognizes the sound as having some sort of magical element to it, so she warns the rest of the party. They all take precautions, stuffing their ears with cotton or beeswax, while Micaiah approaches undetected.

In a big tree in the middle of the field is a bird-woman, singing. When Micaiah starts a dialogue with her, the bird-woman introduces herself as Thresh. She asks Micaiah (and Thais, when the paladin takes the cotton out of her ears) about what "a man from civilization can't live without." It turns out, that this harpy... thing... is obsessed with a hunter from the nearby town of Talak, and she wants to be with him. Micaiah encourages this, and as Thresh flies off to join a hunt, Micaiah comments that she wishes her the best of luck.

The party approaches Talak, but upon reaching the gates are stopped by a guard who asks them to pay a tax: 18% of the goods entering the city. Both Foenix and Olena are offended by this notion, and even more offended when the guard eyeballs the total of their goods as 50 gold.

They decide not to enter the city, instead going around and passing through the gem mines on the northern side of the city before breaking for camp an hour or two outside of Talak.

It is during this moment of respite, once the others have gone to bed, that Olena confesses something to Foenix: in order to get the information that led them to Cirvai's garden, she promised to slay a serpent that lives out in the desert and bring back its head to Corin, the bard. Foenix, generously, does not judge her or leave her to her fate, instead promising to help her.

In the distance, they notice a small group of formless, white shapes. Alarmed, Foenix sneaks away to get a closer look. It turns out, as he approaches, that there is a herd of sheep grazing about half a mile from the party's encampment. He turns to go back to Olena and let her know the situation, but then he has an idea. He takes 5 gold out of his pack and ties it in a small bag around a sheep's neck. Then, he loops a lead around another sheep's neck and leads it back to the campsite.

Olena is alarmed, but Foenix reassures her that he paid for the sheep, which she reluctantly accepts.

As Jacob Sterling and Thais start their watch, the sky begins to turn darker with storm clouds. Thunder and lightning roll across the sky. Jacob comments about what it's like to be a storm sorcerer, and even talks about the research paper written by a Karasan arcanist about sorcery that he joined the party in order to seek out in this far away country.

Finally, when Micaiah sits down for her (solo) watch, the only thing she sees of any note while she watches the sun rise is a shooting star streak across the horizon. She closes her eyes and makes a wish.

Jundar 2, 1246

As they get ready to leave the next morning, Thais notices the sheep and confronts Foenix on it, assuming he stole it, which he defends.

Then, when the party finally begins to travel towards Vakwari, the talk turns back towards the meeting with Felisis. Most of the party expresses discomfort with his interference in their lives, and what they now owe him for his supposed gifts upon them.

They round a corner and stop in shock. There are bones scattered around the ground - a small humanoid skeleton, with bastardized, man-made wings. Foenix is immediately affronted: "this dumbass tried to fly!"

The others look around, but to their bemusement, there is no place for this inventor to have jumped from. No cliffs, hills, or tall trees. The greater mystery cannot be solved, so after rifling through its pockets (finding a leather-bound book with a cover that suggests that it is devotional in nature that has the inside hollowed out with a silver hip flask nestled inside) and Thais burying the body, they continue on (but not before Jacob sneaks a bone to give to the plant dragon wyrmling, Kona).

They come to a river with a place to ford, and begin to cross. Jacob, Micaiah, Olena, and the wagon make it across safely, but as Thais begins to cross, disaster strikes.

A thin stream of water lifts out of the water and wraps it around Thais's neck, dragging her into the water. Foenix, sitting in front of her in Arkeo, feels the weight shift and turns to see her struggling as she sinks into the depths.

He unsheathes his knife and drops off Arkeo into the stream. It's deep enough that he has to float, but Olena, when she notices the commotion and runs back into the river, only has to wade through the thigh-high water.

Foenix glances around, looking for any sign of the sentient water grappling Thais. He notices a section of liquid beneath the surface that looks almost solid, and he stabs downward, catching and breaking the stream. He only gets a moment of satisfaction before another section of water smacks him across the face.

Olena gets close enough to reach them and rages before stabbing down into the water with her lance like she's spear fishing. Both times, she jabs into the body of what is very clearly a water elemental.

Jacob and Micaiah, still on the shore, finally realize what's happening and Jacob stands up in the cart. He casts out a mind sliver, but the water elemental is staunchly unaffected (critical success).

The water elemental rises out of the river like a wave and crashes down over Thais, Olena and Foenix. Foenix grabs onto Arkeo, keeping himself upright, and Olena simply braces herself to keep from being bowled over. Thais, unfortunately, is caught up in the churning water and gets thrashed around before sinking to the bottom of the river yet again (critical fail).

Thais twists, writhes, and manages to break free from the water elemental's grasp and swims to the surface for a breath of air as Foenix and Olena descend upon the creature, cutting and stabbing. They both strike true, with Olena even getting in a shifter's bite upon the creature.

Micaiah stands up in the cart, and begins to strum his lyre. He sings a mournful, heartbreaking song, and the water elemental shudders, falling apart and collapsing back into the river.

The party in the river drag themselves to the bank, and Thais and Foenix change, shivering.

In the distance, Vakwari stands tall. They are so close to their goal, and yet, there is a sense of foreboding as they begin to trek closer to the city (Make It Worse invoked).