#ficus narrah

We carry on from this point as Luctan spends his last spell slot for the rest of his rest on healing Amelia, before bringing in the called over Ficus, Belli’s older brother and daring Rogue, to aide in the investigation.

As the party get situated in their respective positions, they begin their inquiry on the subject of the assassins. The tired, bloody and bruised group learn information, both old and new as they were, indeed, hired to defend the home from attackers, who conspired to kill Nelatha’s mother. Due to their resemblence, it’s easy to mistake one for the other and thus, they had believed she was still in town.

Nel shares that vampires of varying levels of power also would find interest in such organizations and aide in numbers, maybe finances, as partaking in the trade of assassination was amusing to them.

What more, from Ficus, the party learn that, based on their ring tattoos, are normally sent after high calibre targets. So all this makes sense.

In the process of the discussion, Luctan asks for and hopes for Nel’s honesty, as crudely he puts it, he doesn’t want to be “fucked up the ass” by shady business. This, combined with his question on whether this was connected to Nel’s hand being covered in someone else’s blood, back at one of the Spires were related.

And she would confirm.

Nelatha was, in all essense, a vigilante. Her work as a Bard aided her in collecting lore on various people and she saw it her duty to “Nip” certain people in the “bun”, before they became trouble for the rest of society.

Luck trusted her, ultimately as she had been up front with them on other things, so lying now would be pointless...A peaceful rest of the evening did not come, however, as inter-party arguments would arise.

Before the group could reach their resting point on this night, certain tensions would build to boiling points. Amelia, hurt and tired, in the physical and emotional sense would share conflicting words with Luck, who would turn to a silent state, getting the message fairly quickly.

Belli’s casual innuendos would only worsen the situation, when making jokes about her brother and Luck having sex, which would in turn cause Luck to get annoyed and Mournimar try to defuse the situation, only to argue with Belli over it. Tired and done with everything this evening, the blue and red of the team would head to their rooms, cutting the conversation short and over with for the night.

Malak would be lost in all this and be left to his own devices, as he was still quite new to the party, even with the 1st joined combat they partook in. But his time to shine would eventually come, surely.

The following day, Mournimar and Belli would try and reconcile with each other, as the quick to attach to each other people they were, while Luck tried to follow Amelia, concerned over last night’s end and the state of the woman, who shared her story with him first.

He would try to apologize, uncertain of himself and why they didn’t go with her to the meeting spot with Sabrina. He was certainly frustrated over the sudden change that he partook in from that plan. Something that, as friends they owed Amelia at the least.

Amelia would spill her soul, in turn at that time. Rightfully she had words for not just one tiefling, but the other and their Bard for how she was left to feel for months, since Sa Doma. He was the one there and so she spoke her mind, a load of negative feelings being released on the fighter.

It was upsetting, especially so as Luck knew that her points were more than valid. They were a reality he helped create with his actions and inactions. And failing to make a progress in a good direction at that time, he stood in the middle of the street as she left for a meeting with Sabrina.

Belli and Mournimar would manage to fair better in their own conversation as Belli expressed her own woes. As the Bard, it was her duty to raise people’s spirits and she saw it as her failure to do so the previous night, after the fight. And Mournimar encouraged her to not give up in that regard. But to also be mindful of how others would take private matters of the intimate being discussed. Also timing.

All the hwile Ficus, Malak and Nel had a cup of tea together.

With the heavy stuff being released out in the open, as time passed Luck had some seemingly better, well, Luck, in talking to Amelia. As he and Belli tried to make a gathering with Sabrina happen, Belli got in touch with the Wizard.

From the conversation, the eager to make thiings right Bard managed to get an approval from Sab, as long as Amelia would be down for it. Thusly, Luck took it as his responsibility to approach Amelia and ask if it would be ok for everyone to meet up with her sister. This time for real.

It was, to say the least from Luck, both his responsibility to Amelia, as her friend and to everyone to point them in the direction. Luctan would admit, for the first time since even before he showed everyone his true appearance, that he liked them. He liked Belli and Mournimar, he liked Burk when he was around and he was sure that, if Malak stayed with them for long, he’d like him as well.

He admitted that he liked Amelia as well. He appreciated her and let her in on a secret, regarding his own confidence. Something, partially as to why he more often than not wore armor even when in-doors. The reason why it was so hard for him to open up to people. Which was why he was also hiding his face, after all. The first people he met, when he came to Seon, from his home, via teleport scroll.

Though by this point it was quite obvious to him that the party were nothing like his attackers, he still held back, sub and consciously about himself so as not to leave himself open. And yet, he would admit it now the vulnerability.

He cared for all of them and wanted the best for them. After everything the lot of them had been through: The Death Cult, twice over, the dopplegenger at sea, the sea itself! Felaren... The Potentia followers in Sa Doma and the improputation of the tiefling, by Burk; and the flurries on the road to Crystalgate. The hezrou!

After all that. After dealing to some extent with everyone else’s history and family shenanigans, he owed it to her and they all owed it to her, to Amelia, to be there for her in the time she got to spend with her own family.

Not just because it was a tit-for-tat, but also because it was something he desired to be there for, legitimately.

The Disaster Duo’s natures and motives regarding Luck, aside, Amelia did ultimately agree to a meeting at the Tabernax Tavern, the spot that had been quickly becoming the party’s meeting spot over the week they had been in Crystalgate for.

Belli would be their go-between to confirm with Sabrina, via Sending Spell.

And we would get that meetinglater on, during the 2 week time skip that followed. (which is Kaiju-speak for “We couldn’t quite get that done this week, so it’ll happen next session~!)

With the meeting happening, each party member took to their own devices as they prepared for the tournament. When not interacting with one another, casually and through training, they would each look into their CG goals and empowering mechanisms...

Mournimar would invest in buying trick arrows, ones called “Arrows of Sparrows”. Projectiles, which flew twice as far and twice as fast. And for his improvement under Peppery Pete, he would be handed a Gem of Dyun Sight, which would give him 120ft of True Sight. He would be able to see through Illusions and invisibility.

Malak’s two weeks were his own and for his training he’d receive a special ring. (Which is again, Kaiju speak for: stuff that will be elaborated on next session, because real life).

In his time of solitude, Luctan was a particularly busy bea. From collecting supplies and renting out Delemmak’s forge during the evenings to build himself new armor... to asking Belli for assistance in messaging Jayne and Nash, regarding the ball and Dak, respectively.

Jayne had arrived not too long ago in Crystalgate and given the ball to a trusted person in Lady Duststone. Belli would point her in the direction of the animal cafe, much to the glee of the gnomish wizard head lawyer.

Nash would update them, regarding Dak. He was well, though he had begun to think Nash was interested in him. As she was a lesbian, that wasn’t the case. So he seemed safe for now...

From those actions, to all the more. Luck would investigate them. The Traveling Gentlemen. Via persuasion, he’d learn about their favorite spot of gathering. The Tabernax Tavern. Something which shook him. They had occupied the same place at different times and had missed each other. The opportunity to catch them early on, missed. Frustrating.

Luck would carry on his search and learn of sounds of spells going off in the woods and someone, Landis, flying around with his wings. Phantom Limb pain enducing.

And then. Then he’d catch a glimpse of Dink, the Orc, out in the open,walking amongst the populace. But by the time he’d get to where he had seen the man, Luck would miss him. RAGE ENDUCING!

For his training, he’d receive the completed Greatsword, enchanted with Luck’s requested spells, in tact. And once per day he’d use a certain one of them to just... relax.

His last notable deed during the two weeks, he’d call Ficus for assistance and hire him to do a service. 12 platinum given to Ficus, 3 of which he’d hold onto and spread down the line as his hirees would spread the required information.

Belli Narah... Oh, Belli Narah. She had quite the time in her two weeks. Between visiting Cedric and the training, she sepent the remainder, when not around everyone in the party, prepping for and performing on stage with her fellow Bardy Narahs. and she would absolutely KILL IT on stage, outshining all her siblings and her father! Much to Hon’s shock and awe, too!

She would help reconcile the relationship of her father and Ficus, helping them grow as people and as a duo.

And she’d also bring Mournimar again and again to the family in attempts to get them to adopt him. The ranger would end up finding himself the center of a Narah embrace on a few occasions and Morgan would receive the most pats.

For her efforts for the tournament, Peppery Pete would give her special gauntlets. “The Gauntlets Of Heroes Yet Unsung “ As a perfformer and as a Vicious Mockerer, her power would grow.

She’d make peace with Pete, finally. They’d fistbump as he revealed he’d change the name of the Orcish Strength Potion and after some brainstorming, they’d redub it to “ Ichor of the Himbo “.

Amelia’s time would be special. For her. For Nel. For her and Nel. For her, Nel and Sabrina and eventually, Sabrina’s boyfriend.

Amelia would spend plenty of time with Nel as the two would walk together, talk together and bake together. They’d make, as Amelia had sworn to do, a cake for Old Greg from the South East of Crystalgate.

Through her efforts she grew as a person. Through her trials and tribulations she became stronger and faster and more dexterous.

Her gift from Peppery Pete were a pair of boots, which he begged her to put on, as he was quite disturbed by the monk’s decision to walk barefoot everywhere.

They were the Boots of Speed. Their fame well known in fantasy.

With all this done. The party would reach level 8.

2 weeks have passed. The Springtime Welcoming Tournament was in coming.

With the passing of the night, comes the light of day.

The trio of Belli, Luctan and Mournimar awake alongside Morgan and the elf baby with notably Amelia, Archie, Burk and Rimefang missing. Luctan does elaborate where Amelia had gone, though it gets missed in the confusion when everyone wonders what happened with Burk.

Thinking quickly on her feet, Belli sends a message to Burk to check where he is. But all he answers with is that  Rimefang’s fine, don’t know where Amelia is.”

As Luctan fixes the baby up for the day, packing him like a little baby burrito (a babitto, if you will), the remaining bunch go upstairs, while Belli gives a call to Amelia. Amelia, who had been having the most wonderful of sleeps she has had since a long while.

“No.”

Belli sends her a message again with a whistle.

“No. Just no.”

Luctan has to repeat himself on where Amelia actually is, much to the amusement of the adopted duo.

As they climb up the stairs, everything seems normal and as expected from the previous night, people coming and going, welcomed and- And the party for some reason get approached by a very confused human, wearing the robes of the temple of Keemis.

Brunette, with an undercut, in his 30′s, scars on his arms and face, the kind man delivers a letter to the bunch, asking if they’re the Cultbusters.

“Are you the Cultbusters?”

“Depends on who’s asking?”- Belli.

“3 of them!”- Mournimar.

After a brief sibling argument about just up and telling people their identities, the man elaborates that the letter is written by Burk. Or. Well, he helped Burk write that letter for the party.

Mournimar is the one to read it to everyone else. All lower case, a lot of the words are misspelled.

“ hi. this is from burk. i am leaving now. ive been thinking and i think i do not need to be here anymore. i found one of the guys i was looking for and it was really easy and no ofense but i was hoping for cold hard killers and u r not. but you were all realy nice to me, nicer than any one has before so i am going to miss all of u very much. rimefang is coming with me because hes too cool for u. also i think hes geting bigger cause he started sheding or some thing i dont know. i left some scales for u, and ur share of the gold. there is a lot of stuff i wana go do and i feel bad draging u guys with me so i gotta go do it my self. but i want u all to know im not just going to kill people for me. i am doing stuff for u. For amelia and luc i am going to come back and we are gona have the best fight ever and learn a lot. For beli i am going to steal the biggest shinyest kazoo i can find. For morni i will stop punching wolfs and also be nicer to weird animals i find in the forest. u were all very nice and good with peeple and not good at vilence, and thats a good thing. but i dont fit in. bye for a while

 burk “

The trio are devastated. Belli is the most vocal, with Mournimar having to calm her down, while Luctan stands stoically, with the baby in his arm.

Burk left.

It’s heart breaking.

It’s heart breaking and the cleric tries to cast Calm Emotions on the lot of them to try and soothe their woes. Mournimar fails his save, Luctan doesn’t even try and Belli tanks that and starts shouting at him for imposing his magic on them, without their consent.

“Don’t you fucking dare try and tell me what to fucking feel.” -  She is emotion personified.

When things calm down, Luctan apologizes and asks for the messenger’s name.

“ My name is Malak. I am a Devotee of Keemis. I’ve been living here in this temple for a few years.” He had heard of the Cultbusters’ reputation and found interest and want to join them on their questing, seeing as they’ve stirred some cults out of their comfort.

Thrown them out of their rhythm, if you will.

He is accepted, Belli referring to him as their “intern” for now and, with introductions made, and Malak gathering his equipment, the bunch of them take to the last tavern they had gone to for breakfast and meeting back up with Amelia.

Amelia waits for them there. Nel had spoken to her about how she managed to get her mother to agree on leaving town for a while with the help of a family friend. And she had made some sort of offer to Amelia.

The group are again together at the tavern and introduce Malak. Amelia and Malak shake hands as a distraught Belli pays the tavern keeper to go and work the kitchen for a while.

Amelia encourages her. “The fact he wrote us a letter means he cared about The Cultbusters.” She gently holds Belli’s arm, ‘cause Belli’s abandonment issues have kicked in hard.

There’s stress baking and then there’s stress cooking. And Belli does this handily. And she makes... so much food! 1st, second, third Breakfasts, if those were actual things, of course.

“It’ll be alright. He had to do what he had to do.”

As Belli comes and goes with increasingly more and more plates of food, we end up talking about the baby and his future. The little elven boy keeps tugging at Luctan’s hair, fussing at him and getting fussed at.

A few suggestions get made. From Malak’s suggestion to raise the child in the orphanage, to the talk with Nel the other day, involving handing him over to a rich family.

The decision is hard to make. Whether he likes it or not, Luctan’s attached himself to the little one, but he knows he can’t keep him with the party as dangers keep increasing on their journey. He had been having waking flashes back to every incident since the child was with them and how scared he was from the screams and roars and hurts and aches.

He couldn’t let the baby travel with them further. He knew what he was going to do, regardless of where the baby went, but still.

Amelia catches up with Malak on his Keemis Clergy work.

 He’s been at this for 5-6 years or so. He heard about the party after the CB helped arrest the local cultists. He’s fascinated by souls and how they transition, based on their alignment. He’s searching for an answer to this question. Basically, he’s looking for research.

Amelia asks where he’s from.

“I’m from Lian. It is not a good place to raise a kid and I left home, got a lot of people from my home town killed. We wanted to leave, thought we’d make our own band of soldiers to fight in the war and I’m the only one left. And so I try to find some meaning in the senseless death and resurrection and ended up meeting some Keemis priests. Fell in with them and came up here.”

The gang try to cheer him up about his backstory woes and some end up sharing their own troubles. Mournimar does so. Luctan gives away the shocker that his family owned slaves and that triggered his sense of aiding those in need, freeing the captive ones and fleeing via teleport scroll.  And lastly Belli tells the tragic story of her family.

Doting on the baby commences, while Mournimar gives Malak some pointers on the shenanigans he is up for with Belli, now that he is part of the group.

Following their hefty meal, Mournimar gets his new armor. Better fitted than his previous one. Since he found it in the barracks??? This one is more custom. Studded Leather, which raises his AC + 1

Going back on forth on where to go next, during this tragic shopping episode, Belli shares Burk’s treasures with the cleric, seeing as he had left them for the rest.

Before anything can be really bought, though, aside of the meals, we go for the payment on the Serial Kilelr job.

As the party draw closer to the dungeons, Mournimar suggests Belli let Luctan talk, which offends Belli, who gets encouragement from Luck and Malak that she’ll do great. Malak ingretiating himself by casting Guidance and Enhance Ability on the Half-Orc Bard, right before she approaches the receptionists, an older Half-Elf man and a yellow tiefling.

“Now is the time to prove them wrong.”

The conversation is quick and Belli shines during this process. We are thanked, the lot of us, for the work we did and are pointed to the office of the Captain in charge.

While walking, we get a few pointers on places to visit around town.

Generally South-West of the city is a good night’s time.” the HElf answers Amelia. Though, uh,  he wouldn’t know personally. Definitely.

We walk down to the office, knock on the door before walking in.

We are welcomed in by the Halfling woman inside. She’s dressed well for her job. Not exactly the outfit one would expect for prison duty, but then again, they didn’t have a good idea on that, themselves. Blue eyes observe us warmly and kindly, through a wavy bob haircut, while she fiddles with the cuff of one of her sleeves. Her office is bare, maybe she’s new, maybe it’s how she likes it.

She kind of looks everyone up and down. “I’m guessing you’re the folks we’ve been expecting, huh?”

The party apologize as they didn’t have a proper schedule in mind and the thought is shared vice-versa as it just... Really was like that sometimes? Often times?! A lot. It happened a lot.

For finding the hide out of the slayer of cityfolk, for convincing his husband to give himself up and testify about his beloved, the ‘busters gain a monetary reward. As she pulls out a big chest on the table, Belli tries to convince her to unionise. To some possible success? She certainly seems curious about the suggestion itself.

Ames kinda looks her up and down and gives a smol little thumbs up

She’s a valuable worker, she’s worth more.

On behalf of the city of Crystalgate, thank you for all of your efforst in intervening with the issue. The culprits have been dealt with.” Much to the four original members’ surprise, the husband has been released, having promissedto turn over a new leaf.

Luctan would later ask the captain, who introduced herself to the five as River Blackbrace (Just River), where he could find the husband and, after ensuring her that he planned no ill will towards the man, she guesses he’d be back in town or at one of the temples.

The woman feels like rewarding us with more, since this isn’t her gold, yeah? Lots of paperwork time prevented. The five are given suggestions on places to go and spend our money. Between " Neladrie's Rarities” and “Snipper’s Hall’, the clothing store of Grinella, they have some good options on their way.

Grinella is the best at her work, as far as River’s concerned.

Before they go, we mention to River that we plan on participating in the Spring Festival’s tournament.

River mentions that it was originally created as a celebration of the heroes Septum Sabata. It’s a series of trials re-creating what they went through to save everyone. Malak has watched it a few times and things happening around the arena a few good times. He’s the local CG expert.

And if they really feel down, there’s also a place... a-a-

Café where they summon fae animals.

And should they need a good book,  there’s a library in the north east. “The Lady Stormweaver National Library.” The conversation about books prompts Luctan to show off the “Handerstaad” he got from Sa Doma.

And River spills the tea that Kheyha is a local. And has spent some time in the dungeons for her alcoholism antics. (Never meet your heroes, kids.)

They are suggested to stay away from the Ebryosis followers. Best leave those kinky fellas to their own “dungeons”.

As they walk walk to the clothes and magical trinkets shops, Mournimar has a heart to heart with Belli, apologizing for his behavior. While Luctan checks the money with Malak. The sibs hug it out, while the money is counted and distributed amongst all of them, even as Malak protests some.

There’s a faint tingle of wind chimes as the five go to one of the most eclectic collections of goods of various kinds we’ve ever seen. Sort of an order to it, anyways. A rainbow pattern across the show. Vaguely arranged in no particular order. Pretty much everything’s in a different size and shape.

A high elven woman, Neladrie, sits in a tall stool behind a desk, very long hair. She glances vaguely at us and has a monocular on.

Good morning. Feel free to look around. Please be aware you’re being watched, so don’t get any funny ideas. And Welcome.”  She points at her watchful little pseudodragon, watching from the rafters.

Belli uses mage hand to pat the dragon.

She knows she’s a good gorl.

The search commences as each member of the party search foritems with some help of the shopkeeper.

Malak gains supplies for his Divination magic, including dragon bones.

Mournimar tries and fails to find anything that could enhance his wisdom.

Amelia gets her hands on some lovely sea shells.

Luctan gets helped with finding a focus for his recently developed magical abilities. A small purple crystal.

All the while Belli takes her pick, between some wild musical instruments.

There is an holy banjo with all the gods’ symbols.

There’s a great axe with a wider handle. A didgerydeath, if you will.

And also, what appears to be a kazoo 2. One sort of kazoo entrance and branches out into different sights. It’s like if a kazoo had different pitches.

There’s also a set of bagpipes.

And last, but not least, an ukulele of sorts. Upon testing it, the ukulute sounds like a spannish guitar, almost.

Ostentatious is her brand and after testing all the instruments, she agrees to buy the ukulute.

With purchases made, the gang take the next step of their journey, going to the “Snipper’s Hall”, where they meet the one and only  Grindelia Snipper. A Goblin Woman, standing atop a 7ft tall step ladder, measuring a tall model with her arm tattoo.

“OH! Welcome!” 

"Snipper’s Hall” is a long building, like a miniature Viking lounge house, with elements of stone to keep it stable. There is a wide variety of different sort of premade outfits, models of different heights going from 4.5 to 8ft tall... And. There’s a jewelry section.

After a greeting, the party make their requests and orders in a friendly sort of manner. Mournimar buys a jacket and a stag brooch, Belli gets herself a new, lovely outfit, a dress of blue and pink, as well as a canine bracelet. Malak’s fine as he is and Amelia is left uncertain with what to purchase.

Upon Luctan’s request... A custom outfit which’ll take a few days to put together, the poor secret Tieflingman gets handled with amazing strength and tenacity by the spunky and overly friendly goblin woman, who measures him nice and well with her arm and finger, taking his numbers with keen eyes, even with his armor still on.

He can’t be sure why, but the very suggestion she’s sent people to get treatment over the roughhousing sends a chill down his spine. The elf baby just has a blast during the entire developement.

Business transaction made, the next stop is “Peppery Pete’s Pile of Potions.”

Belli is still angry with the old gnome, over his potions involving Orcish strength, given the negative stereotype about Orcish intelligence lowering the user’s titular stat.

A stern talking to is to be had, before any dealings get made there.

Along the way to the shop, Luctan asks Malak if he knows anything about the tournament, beyond what the party had heard and he shares his knowledge with the gang:

“The Tournament is divided into three trials The Trial of the Elemental Lords, the Trial of the Beast and the Trial of the Betrayed.

The Trial of the Elemental Lords involves the blending of the elements being worked into a challenge that teams must overcome together.

The Trial of the Beast involves fighting a mighty beast that establishes victors as a cut above the rest.

The Trial of the Betrayed is the grand finale, the remaining 2 groups battle it out. But there are clerics on standby. You cannot aim to kill, just to knock unconscious. Any deliberate murder would be acted upon as such in a court of lawAfter the tournament, a party is held for all groups within the Echosmith Hall and the champions are presented with their rewards.”

Luctan’s mind wanders. Things to be re-worked in his goals.

The lot of them soon reach the shop and, upon summoning Pete inside, welcomes are had. Arguing commences between the Half-Orc and the Gnome as Pete ultimately admits that he stopped producing the particualr offending potion, much to the losses in his product.

Ideas are being thrown around on potions Pete could work on in turn, before any business could be had, involving the party’s wants and needs.

Aside from getting a Greater Health Potion and a new Potion of Wizard’s Folly (after giving his first one to Danton back in Sa Doma), the party have... particular requests.

Belli takes note of the “ Basilisk Tears “ potion. For 200 gold, she most definitely buys that and makes plans. Fast plans on the use.

On Luctan’s end, with the deal being made for Peter sponsoring the adventurers for the tournament to come, Luctan gives in to the support of the full party, now that they are all in the shop, as opposed to only half there. With the price for his sword’s modification being brought down to 1,000 gold and the helping hand of Mournimar, Amelia and Malak, who didn’t even want the share of money given to him, Luctan accets.

And hands his greatsword over to the gnome for the specific enchantments he requested.

Belli has that moment of realization, you know? The one, where you just know that you have to move, while the moving is available and contacts Ficus about the Potion of Basilisk Tears, a concoction that might JUST bring her family back to their old selves!

With the party’s blessings, she runs off towards the Crusty Challice, where Ficus will wait for her.

But she doesn’t go alone as Mournimar tails her, just to make sure she doesn’t get messed with, before getting to her older brother. All the while the rest of the group are welcomed to the back of the shop by Pete for training.

As the work out commences, Mournimar follows. And as he follows, he keeps an eye out for anyone shady that might be watching Belli on her way out of the walls of the city.

He doesn’t see anyone. But gets the feeling that he is watched. He investigates that feeling. He notices that someone in the crowd is watching him. Seems to be, looks like a bald older man, stocky built, little bit tall and for a second the tiefling swears there's the faint glimmer of horns in his shadow, but then they disappear. As does he as Mournimar tries to find him in the crowd. To no avail.

Regardless, he continues on the path to the tavern.

There’s a bit of a smog in the tavern as people’ve lit cigarettes and pipes. Belli and Ficus have a good long talk as she shows him the potion of Basilisk tears. They are shaken, misty eyed and anxious to see if it works. This horror that befell their family... It could end in the next couple of days!

By the time she hugs Ficus, Mournimar has entered the tavern and commenced watching over the shadyness that may be observed from the patrons.

Which is to say, he’s basically looking through a sea of shade.

He does notice, though, one of the bartenders has a sort of, finely shaped jaw and stood up black hair, a bit of stubble and seems to be watching Mournimar a bit more intently than normal.

Mournimar tries to stealth closer to the guy, even though he’s aware. He tries to figure out who the guy is, but he has no idea.

Eye contact is made between the two as the guy slides a glass with Brandy over to Mournimar and just continues with his work behind the bar.

Mourni has a leetl sip to make sure everything’s Gucci. Tastes like some of the brandy from around Bavorum. Nostalgic.

Through some small talk, Mournimar learns that the man’s name is “Joe”. Just a working Joe, you know?

It’s less of a talk and more of an interrogation as they don’t break eye contact.

“The brandy’s on the house, Mournimar.” the man answers with the name that the tiefling hadn’t given him. Like. At all.

No answer given on how he knows that.

He backs out the back door with a wink and Mournimar follows after her.

There’s no way the Half-Orcs don’t see this by now and they dash and jump on after the digitigrade ranger, who finds himself and Morgan out in the back alley, with no sign of the mystery man, named Joe.

He tries everything he can, from following tracks, to Hunter’s Mark, to Morgan’s snoofer, but nothing works. The man is just... gone.

With the Narahs catching up to him, he explains what happened and has to be talked down from pointlessly searching for a man, or whoever, who is just “GONE”.

It is then that Belli must explain to him that she has to leave Crystalgate with Ficus. To try the potion on her family. It’s hard on Mournimar, but the frazzled tiefling understands.

Belli hands him Orion and states that, if anything is to happen, she’ll call the others. They then agree to meet up with the others for a proper goodbye.

The others, by the way, doing pretty well for themselves in this new enviroment.

A deal has been made that every time Amelia does good in the training, Archie gets a treat.

Given that the chunky kitty is on his back, getting pats on his big belly from the baby, she’s killed this training.

The entire development has left the running quartet staggering back to the rest of the party. Mournimar doesn’t spot anything off on the way back. 

As everyone reconvenes, Mournimar gives them an update on the respective situations, giving in detail a description of this “Joe” character. He worries it could be related to Lazarus, his ex. Or Kahlia. Or Potencia herself. He gets calmed by Luctan’s wording on the subject.

“We’re a bunch of famous and attractive people. Let’s face it. we have fans.”

As the party splits up, with Belli making her goodbyes with the rest of the gang, Luctan Blesses her and Ficus, which catches Malak’s attention. Thinking about the type of magic being used, he can tell that, though holy, it is not one of the Five that has given Luctan his abilities.

With Belli and Ficus taking Kevin and Killer, the rest of the party opt to go to the circus on the outskirts of town.

“The Voluptani Mystique “, a big tent circus in the north-west part of town’s outskirts. It’s fabulous on the outside.

They pay and notice at the entrance, a red skinned tiefling woman with a long, ball gown dress, leaning against the booth she stood inside and she waves a hand over and leaves a small mark with Prestidigitation.

Lead inside,  it’s basically how you imagine a circus. An arena with seats around the circle. The four and their animal companions take a seat at the front as the Dancing Lights Cantrip flies around the tent, lighting and highlighting everything and everyone gathered, people of many walks of life. Just here for a little show to end the evening.

A cloud of smoke emits from the middle and the huge entrance of the tent swings shut.

Inside the cloud the lights start hovering, we can see the lights start changing color and go in different directions, erratic and suddenly there are hops from around the room where everyone’s sitting. And back in the middle, when they look, they see a high elf woman with pitch black hair falling long and wavy towards the bottom.

She stands with one hand in the air and one hand spread outwards towards the side. She pauses, looks around the audience and she whistles three high pitched notes. She snaps with her pointing up hand and the lights skatter, going right towards the audience. The cloud disappears and in the time it was there, the original woman is gone and there are two halflings, a man and a woman and they start doing all sorts of contortions. They entwine and roll in a ball. Throughout the whole show there is this almost hypnotic flute music. Pyrotechnic displays and after each one, there is a set of three elven dancer,s almost dangerously close as they maneuver around. Really fucking weird. A whole lot of illusion magic is happening here.

At one point the elven dancers starts flying around and Mallak, being a local, has seen this before.

After 3 hours of this weird bewhildering performance the entire room lights up and it’s completely clear and the original high elf woman, who’s actually an eladrin, is still in that same pose as when things started.

And she says “Thank you all once again, as always, please leave your tips with faith on the way out and thank you. She snaps with fingers and purple energy surrounds her as she leaves.

Bewhildered and amazed, Mournimar kinda wants to give this a go. Run away and joy the circus? Follow your dream, bud!

Having been in Crystalgate for a few years now, Malak had abided in a few viewings of the spectacle and, though it’s often with some modifications, it’s generlaly been the same good experience over time. He’s happy.

Amelia shares with the gang about the possibility of hanging out at Nel’s for a few days. As though there was any question on whether they would say “no” to such an offer.

 As the night covers the sky above Crystalgate, the party find themselves again at the rich sector of town, being watched by a guard.  Nel arrives at the gate, red faced after messaging Amelia. She forgot to give her a badge and was now paying the price with the run she had to make.

Sadly, though a talented bard,  Nel has the muscle content of a slug.

The party soon make it back to Shadowspire Manner, lead by Nel, after introducing Mal to the Half-Elven woman and sharing of Burk’s departure.

They are shown around. the rooms, the kitchen, everything they’d need, before she takes Amelia’s hand and leads her to her room. Nel’s room. She is the body guard and she must guard that body.

Mournimar and Malak opt to crash in Luctan’s room for the evening, deciding not to split the party any further than this.

Luctan watches out of a window for about an hour, while humming to the baby, before going to bed.

As Mournimar and Malak sleep, Mournimar has some kind of dream...

But Luctan doesn’t sleep.

No.

Instead, once he’s sure the others have fallen in rem sleep, he sneaks outside and goes for a short walk around the neighbourhood, doing whatever it is that he does at this time.

After coming back in, 5-10-20-to-30 minutes later, he feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and notices a shadow close to Mournimar, with no one casting it.

Then it disappears.

After investigating out the window, Luctan goes to bed and meditates... on something else.....

Day 2 comes to an end.

Apart of that unfortunate circumstance, the party generally have themselves a well earned sleep. Sort of. Now that I think about it, the baby, Rimefang and the animals have the best sleep, as the straw and wooden frames were hell for the sleepers.

Personal shenanigans aside, by morning time, once we’re together again, everyone agrees to get grub once they’re properly inside the city, as opposed the outskirts of the walls.

Once inside, the party admire the view of the different shapes and sizes of buildings and a variety of people coming and going, following their own path in life. Immediatelly their eyes go to the blue section of town, walled off from the rest, guards protecting it.

Approaching them, the 6 quickly learn from the half elven guard that this is where the people of importance generally live. The rich people district, as it were. Cluing the party in on one of the jobs they are to perform in town, a personal quest for Nelatha, the half-elven bard, whomst clearly was being sought out by dangerous people, if the dead messenger was anything to go by.

The Charisma Duo of Belli and Luctan persuade the woman that they are up to good work and are allowed by the two to walk on in. Prestidigitation is cast. As the party walk,  Belli shares a look with Amelia, regarding the lady guard, which makes the blue Air Genasi flustered from the notion and possibility.

Until everyone has to pop the breaks, since they didn’t know the exact directions for Nelatha’s house. A quick run back and forth by Amelia, with questions asked and directions pointed fixes this tragic fate from becoming all the more and it doesn’t take the Cultbusters much time to get to the premises of a mansion.

Not as immense in size to the Narrahs, but still a presentable height and width to it.  Shadowspire Mannor. Adress of one N. Braville. It’s a traditional manor house with fancy green stained windows. For the aesthetic.

Luctan approaches the door to knock. (Insert ooc conversation, where we joke how it would be funny, since Luctan’s carrying a baby, that this is him delivering a baby to Nel’s. “ You have just won a baby. Congratulations. I’m the stork. “)

Stepping at the rug, wind chime make sounds from his approach. Shuffling behind the door and the one, who comes to the door is a human woman with blonde hair and cheekbones strong enough to kill a man. Older woman, around Amelia’s height. Bags under her eyes.

Pretty soon introductions and explanations are made. This is Norra, mother of Nelatha, if the family resemblence wasn’t a hint enough.

We are welcomed inside as Amelia hands the letter due to mass confusion. “NEL! COME QUICK! WE’VE GOT GUESTS!”

This is definitely a shoes off house. And it reminds Ficus of his and Belli’s auntie.  The group are lead into the front room by the overwhelmed woman. Not exactly a sofa living room, but fancy chairs with high up backs certainly make a change to things. There are tables, as well as an ostentatuous fireplace in the corner.

Not even noticing the half-elven woman next to the flames, Mournimar sits in a non-heterosexual way in one of the chairs. Again,  Nel is sat at the fireplace. Looking not surprised, expectant, actually. We discuss how we got here. A wild ride, for sure.

Luctan nudges Amelia to approach the Half Elven Bard, regarding the letter. And Belli chimes in, as well.  “Give it to her.” Which only adds to the blue girl’s flustered demeanor. It becomes pretty obvious to the rest that Nel had been scrying on everyone’s favorite knee destroyer.

Said knee destroyer, who had passed the letter onto Nel’s mom, who was reading it elsewhere at this very moment. Yeah, the Letter was for Nel. Luctan checks with the mom, but the man rolls a 0, so nah, Insight check fail. (Luctan 0 count: 1)

Everyone proceeds to just reminisse, now that they were together again.  You and Ames should go on a date.” Belli states and  Nel almost chokes on her drink.

Nel’s mom walks in. “I beg your pardon?” And Belli comes up with the lie of a “friendship date”. -wink-

Pretty soon we end up having to introduce Ficus to nel and there is a recognition between the two. They had met in Sa Doma, under other names. The implications are almost the expected ones by the party.

Well.

Except for Luctan, who just winds up rolling another 0 on his Insight Check. (Luctan 0 count: 2) He was too distracted by the youngster in his arm nest to really notice.

Amelia: “This is fine.”

“Make yourselves at home!”, Norra speaks, before herself and Nel go to a room upstairs, for a moment, to discuss the letter and are soon followed by the Chaos Siblings (and baby), after Belli gets some of the truth out, that nothing that they suspected was the case.

Nel had tried to arrest Ficus a year prior, until she realized what his exact profession was.

While Burk finds some frozen grub for his baby dragon (”Yay, food!”) Ficus tries to make peace with Amelia, with the power of Bumpkin. But alas. As the saying goes  “Pussy doesn’t solve everything.”

Amelia ends up admiring the decour and paintings in the guest room, having hit the jackpot on baby pictures of Nel. Including one of a chubby baby Nel getting a bath. Of her and her mom growing up. All very nice and quaint. Candles around and stuff.

Luctan, distracted by the little one, again ends up rolling a 0. (Luctan 0 count: 3) and cannot exactly succeed on stealth. The elven child is just so enamoured with the tiefling’s hair.

There are hushed voices behind the door, where the Braville women speak.

As the kazoo Bard has a stand off with the baby, the Ranger and Fighter hear most of what gets spoken inside.

Nel wants Norah out of town, because of assassins growing bolder. But the older woman stands her ground, stubborn, like her daughter and refuses to leave so easily. They go back and forth on this subject for a while as they discuss the letter...

Until the subject of Amelia is brought up.

“You’re not gonna listen to me. The least you could do is answer a question. How long have you known the blue one?” Information is traded between them and the mother does consede a bit.  “Interesting, maybe you should go on a friendship date.”

Given the bad stealth roll by the one with the many pointy weapons and the conversation drawing to a close, everyone tries to make a sneaky escape. With everyone, but Luctan succeeding. Nel’s Insight check is too strong, at 32. (But the group totally fools her mother, okay?!)

After some shenanigans and a polite conversation about frozen foods for Rimefang, between Burk and Norra, everyone soon find themselves out of the blue District and down, across a bridge, to a place called “The Tabernax Inn” tavern. One of the many suggested places they could visit, along side such locations as:

“ Ebriosus’Corner”. in the South West. ( an underground place for the “adult life), smoking, passions and raves)

“Tiger’s inn”, the Vineyard.

“ Harper Street” for sweets.

But that doesn’t matter right now. The party are too hungry to go anywhere, but the inn and any attempts to investigate, while walking are quelled for Luctan as the baby is his immediate world to protect.

There are people konked out at tables, inside. A Dark skinned Halfling woman, behind the bar. Giving a look over to the back of her room. There seems to be confetti on the floor. On the stage area there seems to be a large, very tall lute. Bellli recognizes the design. An experimental instrument. A base!

She approaches the stage and is met by the halfling woman, whom she begs to play the instrument. 

With some help of Luctan being the hypeman for the famous Narrah, Belli gets her chance.

And with a 24 in her Performance, she rocks out like there’s no tomorrow.

Food is on the house. Well, not on the house. On Nel.

Over breakfast  the full Brittish breakfast, the group talk in honest about Nel’s problem, which she denies she needs aide with.  People caught wind of Nel’s location and she had to lay low. Simple as that.  She’s obviously Fine. In all senses of the word.

We discuss in more in detail about what went down since last they talked with Nelatha. How they parted ways with Samson, upon reaching town. About the drama in Sa Doma and the news hitting them of Gexum. Of their move to inspect the orb again and the further revelations within. 

Luctan explains the addition of the baby and the party’s physical condition, thanks to the Flurries along the way and the wizard, who had ambushed them at night.

Nel suggests orphanages and delivering the baby to be adopted, which brings Luctan to the thought of how he didn’t even consider writing down that part as a task in Crystalgate. Some reflection is had, while Mournimar gets some pointers to visit the blacksmith  Dellemak, who would give a discount, if the tiefling mentioned he was a friend of “Matilda”. She suggest he just not ask too many questions. Alternatively, for armor, the Darksbane Army’s camp holds a smith, under the  Darkest Nightsbane.

Burk is inquisitive about Nel and Nora’s names and after a few minutes of being coy, the half-elven bard assures him that their names are their names.

Once Belli gets seperated from the guitar, as it’s original performer returns from sleeping upstairs, a Firbolg named “Lauren”...

... she joins Mournimar, Morgan, Burk and Rimefang on a walk to Dellemak’s. All the while Luctan, under the suggestion of Nel, finds the party some work from the Crystalgate Dungeons, joined by Ficus.

Pretty soon, the party are together again.

Mournimar with a new nail bat, an armor in the works and Burk? For the first time since they’ve known him, the party see the Goblin minus his armor.

Once together again, Luctan gives the group the skinny on what they can do for Crystalgate, in exchange for money. Five seperate jobs. Each promissing? Many possibly connected to the same pattern.

1. “Knight Kelvin Mountainsteel wants a job to be done, but the qualifications for said job are quite uncertain. He specifically asks to vet the people, who are to do the job for him, before he can even decide to hire them.”

2.  “Ziaz, Teller of Tales, slain in the Silver District. Anyone with clues to report back and can get a reward.”

3. “ Dame Carzyre Venzyre Carnove Pitra, famous dancer. had called in an Issue of screaming from a nearby home, the local guards are too occupied with other work in this metropolis to answer.”

4. “Lord Arwen of Elevir, Member of the “Circle of Shaksban”, wants help with an issue of possible high powered mage. Needs qualified people, who can handle magic users, rather than the guards.”

5.  “ String of Murders in the Bronze District, details inside.”

Upon the mention of murders, Mournimar can’t help but think of his mother and hopes this isn’t related to her or the cult. Whether that is the case or not is yet to be discovered, alas.

What catches Belli’s attention is the third job. The one of Dame Pitra’s call for aide. Belli’s heard of the dancer before. About 27 years old, the performer was/is a Fire Genasi. A fire dancer, if you will.

Short term, the group agree on what to do from here, for the day at least.

Part one: Try and convince The Darksbane Army to help out at Lake Stren and prevent the shedding of blood, the rise of a mysterious creature from beneath.

Part two: Help the Dancer.

Part three: Investigate the Keemis medalion, back at the Temple of Keemis. A curiosity that had been bothering Luctan since they found the medalion amidst the remains of one of the Flurries.

As they finish their meals and are lead to the location of the DBA, something in the skies catches their attention.

A dot at first. Then a mass. Which takes the shape of a person flying at 100mph down towards the ground.

Belli prepares herself to cast something to prevent her faaaaaaaall... Until the tiefling, herself casts Feather Fall and makes a dramatic landing. Eye catching, both in the execution and in the appearance of the Executor.

A tiefling of purple skin, red make up and bright green eyes, the acrobatic feminine figure brings attention to herself all the more with rhyming and yeet of a bouquet~!

Ashen is her name and Mysticism is her game!

Having most of everyone around in awe, by this point, Ashen smiles, throws two cards towards them and onlookers, before smashing a small gasbomb into the ground, disappearing from sight.

Upon these cards, there are four simple words:

“ Voltani Mystique” and “Every dusk.”

The younger members of the group can’t help but hoot and holler in excitement at what they had just witnessed.

That was wonderful! STUPENDOUS! And how she flew!

Oh.

She flew.

Luctan pretty quickly goes in a near fetal position over the realization that he too could fly, with wings that is, and now couldn’t. He just sits there, much to the pity of his friends.

Until Amelia steps in. And, like a baller, casts Levitation upon the disguised tiefling man.

To say that this brings happiness to his soul is an understatement as, pretty soon, after the baby gets held safely by another, Luctan proceeds to dance. Twist, turn and spin. Flip and maneuver as though he was flying with his own will and skill. Showing what his maneuvers had been like before tragedy tipped those away from him.

There is so much joy, so much bliss in the performance that he even earns two silver coins out of it from onlookers.

And if not for that.

Then Luctan wouldn’t have seen the figure, eyeballing him from the back.

Luctan recognizes someone from the shadows. Someone, who used to work with his mom. His babysitter at some point. And this is weird since he’s not from around here.

‘Concern.’

It is the morning after the Flurry x 2 battle.

The party are awake, fully rested, healed and feeling stronger than before!

After breakfast is eaten and everyone is ready, the lot of the Cultbusters + Ficus load up on the carriage and take to the road once more. The ROAD TO CRYSTALGATE CITY! (play that funky tune!)

After what feels like an eternity of baby related humor, with the party basically agreeing that Luctan is Dadtan, they reach a fortified settlement, along the river’s path. Thick 30 to 40ft tall walls protect it from incursions and tents surround a proper building resembling an inn.  On the outside of the walled part, there’s only one entrance, a big wooden gate. This is the town of Cidinium.

Asking around, part out of curiosity for local lore and part to get information on the baby, Luctan learns that the tents belong to the relatives of the soldiers.  Quite common for families to stop here, see their loved ones, check on them, see their kids. Asking one of the soldiers in particular, regarding the elven family,  the battlescarred, green haired Half-Orc remembers seeing a few coming and going. They think they remember someone vaglue matching the description leaving a few days ago.

During the queary, we learn that Peppery Pete had magically appeared in the man’s room, which is a welcome reprieve from the grim topic of the child’s family. Luctan learns that up, along the way there is an orphanage that they could leave the little one, if they don’t find relatives of his. Though it is possible that the elves they saw were sent down to Sa Doma, from this outpost.

Luctan gives instructions to retrieve and burry the bodies, maybe ask around, otherwise for his own people, in case they too fell victims to Ogres.

During the conversation Ficus holds a firm, encouraging hand on Belli’s shoulder, as she is not on good terms with authorities.

And the party moves along.

On the way to Lebovia, the formentioned place with the orphanage, Mournimar admits that he feels sick of nature, given the most recent experience. Burk, on the other hand, feels alright in it,fine with it even. It’s just that he doesn’t like anything in it. With the exception of Rimefang.

Rimefang is special

Belli offers to cut Mournimar’s hair, after he talks of wanting it shortened, some...

But. Ah.

Some failed instructions on Ficus and Luctan’s part later cause the poor Bard to cut a bit too much, giving Mournimar that short hair.

(He basically becomes Steve Harrington from Stranger Things. Mournimar is Tiefling Steve).

Key phrases used later and Ficus gets dissed by Belli for his hair choice and Luctan suffers a bad case of the war-flashbags at the mention of “cut tail”, having to then be moved, off the reigns of the horses and in the passanger cart for some R & R with Archie and Orion, the orange cats. One familiar, one normal kitty.

Urged by Mournimar, Belli sits with Luck and apologizes for what happened. Luck, in cat heaven, tells her no hard feelings were had over the phrasing.  Luctan DJ scratch-pats the cats and just nods to Belli. (and that’s where we get that photo, y’all).

The path to Lebovia is very uneventful for the next few days, 3 to be exact, it’s very chill, even. But they get there and Luctan does some more queary-snooping.

But sadly, it’s hard to tell. He gets left with the impression that maybe they were from either Sa Doma or Gorrum.

The party agree to take a rest in Lebovia, with Luctan opting to hold onto the baby, until he is sure he has run out of leads.

The party split to three rooms, with Ficus and Amelia having a conversation in the one they end up in (super secret chat convo!), Ficus very much offering his “services” to Luctan, but the disguised tiefling isn’t in the mood (given the fatherly duties over young Chucklefuck, how could he?!).

Luctan and Burk share a conversation, where Luctan learns a bit about Burk’s enemies, the two remaining. The Golliath appeared quite generic, for his folk. Big, gray and swole. The Half-Elf appears to be with red war paint to make the eyes look shallow/bloody, very shortly cropped black hair, near bald and 5’9” in height. No names given. "I didn’t exactly ask them, while they were slaughtering my people.” answered Burk.

Understanding, Luctan offers to teach Burk to read, something Burk will keep in mind.

On the next day, on the path along Lebovia, Belli and Ficus would know of a cut-off path that goes to the rich people area. Belli promises “no robberies”. Using the air quotes as she speaks.

As they go around Gorrum, they see a silhouette of a military complex, where weapons for the army get forged. Barracks that go several stories high and they can hear military drills being enhanced with thaumaturgy. Shit’s whack, yo.

No one really wants to talk with Luctan about the baby. They all kinda look weirdly at the party, except for Luctan.

Whack.

As vengeance for the way the guy treats the party, Belli has Orion, in seagull form, shit on the guy’s head. Then in the eye. And then, through Thaumaturgy, thanks to Mournimar, ruin the man’s reputation by having Orion say, in the guy’s voice “Oh, shit! I have chlamydia!”

The chaos trio have a good laugh on the way back to the cart, before they continue on their way with the rest of the party. “Don’t Frick with the Clique”, as Belli puts it.

As the party travel up the road, Burk, Amelia and Mournimar notice a kind of, unmoving large shape tucked into a corner. Mournimar gets a bit closer and sees a human woman, lying against a tree with an arrow straight through her chest, pinning her to the tree.

Mournimar checks the woman to see if she’s alive. She doesn’t seem to be breathing. Way less blood comes out of the wound, once Mournimar removes it. Cure Wounds don’t work.

In her hand is a small folded envelope. Belli takes the envelope, there’s a wax seal and only Belli can make a check on  it (Ficus would have recognized is as well, but he rolled a Nat 1, so it didn’t matter).

Her parents mentioned The Triad, back in the day, a group of really high class exclusive bards, but they were never allowed in, which was strange, since they were always allowed places. Hoity-Toity elven bards.

The name and address on the paper is N. Braville, Shadowspire Manor, Platinum District, Crystalgate.

This is a letter for Nelatha! The words “Quick and Urgent” quite evident on the paper!    (congrats, guys! We got a dellivery quest!)

With her base perception,  Amelia finds a coinpurse with 15 gold and 2 platinum, while Luctan’s eyes fall on a dagger (that boy loves him some pointy weapons). 

It, the coin purse, has the emblem of the Messenger’s guild, but it’s embroidered in golden silk and based on the badges she has, she’s a high ranking messenger of the guild.

The dagger itself is fairly normal, but it does hold the name  “ leliana “ in Elven, which Mournimar translates for him.

Seeng as the kill is quite fresh and a pursuer is surely nearby, the party decide to burry the body and make their way to Crystalgate, warn the Messenger guild of their fallen comrade and also deliver the letter to Nel. 

On the way, Belli sends a message to Nel, regarding what happened.

With the knowledge that the Narah girl can cast Message, Nel “can’t wait” to get more messages from Belli. She will wait for their arrival. She’s with her mom for the next few days. She’ll see them then.

Belli mimics Nel’s voice to the party. Amelia’s eye twitches during this bit.

The party head north a bit, up the stream, after this. The sun is setting earlier than expected, so we camp, before reaching the Narah mansion.

Deciding on Turns, Mournimar takes the first, with nothing eventful occuring. Luctan follows, with Ficus and Belli to be after him.

...

DURING LUCTAN’S TURN!

During Luctan’s watch, he notices that there’s a slight shake, from the brush nearby. There seems to be disturbed earth.  From walking around the rocky alcove, what seems to initially be a weirdly shaped dog, with a weird, bulbous head, turns out to be a canine with 2 heads. (Yeah, given Luctan’s Human/Tiefling personas, that is oddly apt for him to find).

One head growls at Luctan, the other carries a piece of parchment, staring at him.  It walks towards him as he wonders, to no aveil, what this being is, exactly. 

It comes towards him, slowly. It drops the scroll 10ft from where they’ré camped and then backs up.

Luctan approaches, takes the scroll and-

On the inside, in very neat letters, it says (DEEZ NUTS!!! Nah, nah, just kidding. It says:) “Give me the letter and have it be over with.”

Luctan writes a message back, drops the scroll at the dog, the dog clearly isn’t happy. It waits a few seconds, expecting something. Luctan just smiles. The dog eventually rises to it’s feet and howls from both heads.

Dex saves time-

Out of nowhere, a powerful fireball strikes upon the sleeping party.  Amelia, Mournimar and Belli each take 30 points of fire damage. A small spark flies from behind a rock from the south and encompasses the whole camp.

Pained, from the blast, which equally hurts him and Burk, for 15 damage, Luctan delivers his Hellish Rebuke in the direction of the caster. “CASTIGARE DI INFERNALIS!”. And causes some damage to the wily green dressed mage.

Enraged, Burk charges the wizard and swings with his axe. Recklessly, he slashes and strikes, adding on his pint sized fury onto the blow. The initial attack succeeds, but as a reaction, Burk’s second attack is blocked by the guy.

Panicking over the damage Belli,  Amelia and Mournimar took, Luctan’s body begins to glow. He reaches a hand out towards his friends as strange patterns of golden light appear over him, his disguised eyes flashing purple as he casts, for the first time ever, “Healing Word” with a powerful “No”, directed at Belli.

Confused over what had just happened, he quickly re-focuses on the sudden combat that’s begun and, with Burk handling the wizard, he charges the dog, putting it in a grapple, catching each of it’s heads. He brings the two headed dog down and commands it to “Sit”.

Rimefang, not liking the fire, makes distance between himself and the party, taking Archie the Cat along with him to safety. 

The mage, on his turn, terrified by the raging barbarian, slams his hand against the ground and brings up huge chunks of hale and Burk takes half the damage of the blast. 4 bludgeoning damage and 22 cold damage.

(Yeah, ok, so this is my bad, but I misremembered the events and initially thought the Cone of Cold was what came first?!) 

He winks at Burk and disappears into mist. And reappears on top of the rock, 20ft high.

(After out of character we agree that The Monk Dunk is the in-universe version of the fastball special), a wounded Amelia approaches Burk and offers to throw him at the wizard. Burk agrees, but the throw isn’t very productive. Burk is too beefy, ok?!

Instead, Amelia takes to her darts and strikes the man.

He looks signifigantly hurt, while Amelia wades through the difficult terrain of the Cone of Cold’s radius.

- Belli, on her turn, casts her Trademark "Sleep” on the man. This attempts reveals to the party that the man bust be elven or half-elf in race, as he shrugs it off with ease. Elves really only needing meditation to pass their time.

On her turn, Belli gives Burk one of her inspirational kazoo songs, while Ficus rises to his feet and charges the hound that Luctan grapples. With a miss, however, he takes the expedius action to make distance between himself and a very disappointed Luctan, who appears to have some pity for the two headed animal.

Mournimar’s turn. He fires his bow, shooting a sneaky arrow at the mage, piercing his body. With a second arrow, he strikes again, arrowing the magic man in the chest.

In the meanwhile of all this, a winded, wounded Morgan takes to stand before Belli. The dire wolf seems to barely keep himself vertical as he growls at the elven magic user.

(And for those wondering, according to the DM, the baby is tite, nestled between Luctan’s back and his shield. I guess you could say Luctan has a constant backpack for the little one.

On Burk’s turn, the little green man climbs like a beast up the rocks that the wizard had climbed up to and shoves said wizard off the 20ft rock. With a thud, he drops. 

Feeling inspired by Belli’s music, and using his spiked elbows, Burk takes a dive.

SMASHING on top of the winded and prone mage, thus giving us the debut of The Cragreaver People’s Elbow!

Due to the imact, the man’s head bounces sideways and he avoids what could very well have been a mortal strike by the goblin.

Asking if Morgan’s ok, Luctan heals him with another Healing Word. Then glares at the dog, trying to wrestle free from his grip and, glaring, he shouts, using thaumaturgy. “HEEL!”

The Dog of Janus promptly whimpers at the command of the tiefling as Rimefang joins at Luctan’s side, hissing and  threatening with his wings.

Panicking, the mage brings a crystal out of his pocket, holds it to his mouth, wreathes through it and fires a 60ft cone of yet again!

The cone strikes Burk and Amelia, with the latter taking 32 damage, while the former reduces said damage to 16. The blow was too strong for the monk, however and she drops, her body amidst the ice.

Amelia’s will keeps her in just enough to succeed on a death saving throw...

She’s down, but not out completely and as we get to this part.

We end on this cliffhanger.