#wayreth

Vodren goes off to help farmers for next year's harvest by blessing thier crops. The people recognize him and they are more than willing to bring him thier seeds in exchange for alms.

Ryai goes to find work as a translator. He finds a young Baronette who wants a plant book translated into Ergoth. While Ryai can read it, he can't write Ergothian and enlists Ace's assistance in translating the text. They split the pay.

Konguq looks for additional passengers they can take and finds a half goblin woman named Cicle looking to sell 20 extremely well trained hunting dogs. Konguq tries to enquire where she got the dogs but Cicle is willing to pay more so she doesn't ask questions. Konguq deduces that the dogs were definitely stolen, but is willing to take her on if she doesn't mind Zim on board. The two agree and Cicle joins the ship.

The group plot's out their path and makes the trek to Wayreth. They travel through Qualinesti waters on their way and Vodren notices a white ship tailing them. Ryai recognizes the ship as the Qualinesti coast guard and makes his way below deck to hide. He hides his things and slips into the hidden compartment on the ship. The ship pulls up to board them and the crew let's the elves on board. Captain Cayono boards and introduces the ship as a part of Coastal Defense Force(Known as Coast of the Fence Force in Abanasinia) and informs them that they are allies of Solomnia and therefore have been informed of the Dandy Rose's status as a pirate ship. Konguq and Ace play dumb about their pirate status and Captain Cayono informs them of thier status as pirates. Captain Cayono asks to look around the ship and they allow him, Ace standing next to where Ryai has hidden himself and keeps the the Captain distracted. The captain finds no evidence of piracy on the ship and eases up on them. Cayono inquires about the elf that was supposed to be traveling with them going by the name of Ryai with the family name Aedlock. Ace lies and tells them that Ryai was with them in Ankatavaka doing translation work for a Baronette, but stayed in Ankatavaka. Captain Cayono accepts the answer and then asks about the Clerics on board. Vodren and Broud both make themselves known. Cayono offers them the opportunity to come to Qualinost and help with their defenses and be rewarded handsomely. The two decline.

Cayono leaves and apologies for the inconvenience, and let's the crew go. He let's them know that he'll still be keeping an eye on their ship but saw no signs of piracy. Once the ship is out of sight Ryai comes out and stays below deck until they are out of Qualinesti waters. Vodren tells Broud what happened during the Test of High Sorcery and what they encountered with Paladithel. Broud seems unbothered, saying that he wasn't going to be friends with Qualinost to begin with.

Before leaving the bay another ship starts coming up from south towards the Dandy Rose. Ace recognizes it as a Tarisian ship, which should be impossible since it's been landlocked for the past 300 years. Konguq checks her telescope and sees the entire crew staffed by undead. They decide to outrun the ship and Vorlo manages to leave the ghost ship in their wake.

The ship makes it to a small village called Greentown without incident after. The Dandies leave the ship and tell the crew to hang out for the next few days while they go to Wayreth. Konguq asks Celiea if she can make Zim a cloak to have him go through the village. She returns with a very loud and garrish cloak. They pass through the village stopped by a baker named Radi trying to sell the group *magic pies* (which are just really good pies) the party buys some and Agratok goes to tell the crew to stop buy and some while they are docked.

The party sets off into the forest on thier way to Wayreth. On the way, the group hears echoing laughter in the distance. The party debates checking out the disturbance, and Broud suggests that Ace go and check it out. Ace sneaks by and sees three large rock like creatures with wings laughing over a red robe wizard's corpse and playing with it's things.

When Ace returns, he describes the creatures and Ryai and Konguq recognize them as Rock Elementals. The party takes a vote and they decide to take them out. They split into two groups in an attempt to sneak up on them. Vodren, Ace, and Ryai manage to hide. Konguq, Bron, Broud, and Vorlo however all fail to sneak up on them, causing them to take off into the trees. With the element of surprise Ryai manages to burn off a branch causing one them to fall and hit the ground hard. The elemental gets up and lunges at Ryai striking him. Ryai returns the favor by striking him back with thunder and force damage. It tries to flee but Ace finishes it off with his cane.

Another elemental leaps off the branch and sinks deep into Broud, hurting him pretty badly. Bron gives the elemental a good smack while Konguq has it explode from the light of her blade. She then dives for the spell book. Vorlo tries but fails to get any hits on the enemy.

The final elemental tries to huck a large rock at Ace, but fails so poorly it also hits the ground with a large thunk. Bron, Ace, and Ryai surround it and quickly dispose of the creature.

Ryai checks to see if there are any identifiers on the dead wizard and finds the name Winifred. He recognizes the style of the elementals being from the Northern Plainsfolk and that the wizard herself was one of them. Looking at her spell book she was mostly into conjuration with her spells being:

Conjure elemental

Find Familiar

Magic Circle

Magic weapon

Planar Binding

Vodren deduces however that at Winifred's age (being in her 80s) she suffered a heart attack in the last 12 hours. The party takes her things and her body and continue to Wayreth.

Once they get to the tower Ivelos is there to greet them again. He is saddened to see Winifred's body but takes her so she can be buried and allows the group to keep her things. He then tells the two wizards to report to the heads of their order.

Ryai heads up to meet with Par-Salian and recaps quickly what happened while they were away, leaving out certain details. Ryai then rapid fires into asking if there has been any progress on the Dragon Orbs. To which Par-Salian tells him to check in with Justarius since he's been doing more research on them. Ryai also asks if there is any way to discreetly get in touch with an elf in Qualinost and Par-Salian tells him the sending spell is the best way to do so discreetly. Ryai pauses for a moment to think on his options and Par-Salian tells him he looks different from when he was last in Wayreth. Ryai looks at him confused, since his major change happened while he was still in Wayreth. Par-Salian tells him that he's seemed to become more settled in who he is now than before, which leaves Ryai a little speechless. He gives him a flustered thanks and before heading out asks if there is any news from Qualinost. The old wizard tells him that they did not know that's what Paladithel had intended during Ryai's test, but that it is true he intends to sacrifice clerics to boost Qualinost's defenses. Ryai leaves with a checklist of things to do before leaving the tower again.

Konguq and Vodren both go to see Ladonna, something Konguq bemoans. They find Ladonna in her lab and Konguq also gives her a recap, showing the wizard Zim. Ladonna is impressed by the undead creature, saying that he's well on his way of becoming a dread zombie. They enquire further and she tells them that dread zombies are incredibly difficult to make since no one can accurately replicate the process to do so, often getting themselves killed. She tells them that he will eventually gain sentience and how it will behave and become will depend on how Zim is treated. He however will not have the personality of the person before. Ladonna recommends looking into how the Icewalkers preserve thier dead to slow Zim's decay to a halt, practically mummifying him. Konguq promise's to take care of and look after Zim, feeling a strong attachment to him. Ladonna reminds her that she is having strong feelings for a corpse. Ladonna also requests since they're making their way to Ice Reach, that they also try to deal with an elven black robe wizard named Feal-Thas. She explains that he turned coat and joined up with the dragon army and is claiming to come for her position in the tower. Vodren recalls Galera telling him about him earlier. The two agree. Vodren tells Ladonna that Konguq has made a good black robbed wizard. She takes it as an insult.

Ace spends time in the common area while waiting and Jabbie catches Ace and asks him to step into his office (a broom closet) He calls in the IOU from earlier and tells Ace he needs one of his pet projects put down. He describes his creation has having the antlers of white stag, the maw of a large wolf, and the wings of a silver dragon. A fae chimera that refused to listen to him. It unfortunately took off into the woods and is hanging around where the others gather their spell ingredients. Ace tells him they'll handle it but Jabbie wants it done discreetly. Ace agrees and presses for more information about weaknesses. After some flattery Jabbie admits that everything he makes is weak to lightning. But not to tell the others that out right. Ace tells him and waits for the others to return.

The rest comeback and they update everyone on their talks. Ryai confirms that Paladithel is doing exactly as he thought, and needs to get more information from Justarius. Konguq tells them that Zim is possibly becoming a dread Zombie and that how he turns out depends on how he's treated. Ace gives the party the job Jabbie gave them. Both Konguq and Ryai recognize it as a chimera and it's usual trappings. (Can't be put to sleep, has three heads. Silver dragon breathing ice instead of fire) and Ace implies it's weak to lightning, something Konguq is very good at. Ryai looking through Winifred's book recognizes that the spell Magic Circle can be used to trap a fae creature, giving them a chance to trap and whallop the creature to death. The only snag being how long it takes to cast. Vodren has access to Sanctuary to help keep the monster off him, but not until the next day. The group agrees to go after it the next day so they can prepare.

As Konguq finishes what little spell preparation she can in the captain's quarters, she hears a high-pitched scoff from behind her in her quarters. Turning, she sees a small, grey-skinned figure sitting on the windowsill behind her. It glances at her, then goes back to playing with its ball of water.

She whirls around, pulling out her Blade of the Aurora. “Who are you and what are you doing here?” She does not attack but takes a defensive stance.

The creature scoffs again, but ceases its fiddling and meets her gaze. "So much of your limited time wasted comatose, and then even more lost in fruitless reverie. I find it difficult to determine if your creators were cruel or stupid. Likely both. But this does not answer your questions, and your perseverance in the face of your defects deserves that much at least. You may call me Gadfly, and I am here to offer you a memory capable of overcoming the greatest of a wizard's hurdles: the forgetting of your spells."

She lowers her blade slightly, softening her face. “And why would you do that? You and I have never met. For all I know, you might not even be real. This could a trick from the tower.” She sheaths her blade, striding to her bed. Staring at Gadfly, she sighs deeply. “Besides, I am a merchant by trade. I was not born yesterday, nothing comes for free. What is it you would like in return?”

Gadfly giggles, the water in its hands vibrating with the sound. "So very sharp! *That* is why I offer, because you will be able to make good use of such a gift! As for being a part of the trials, the wizards often use my appearance in their judgements, it's true. But there is little I can say that would prove my reality to you. I am no god, just a hulderfolk. The wizards are the masters here, they can banish me if they see fit."

Gadfly shrugs lightly, then narrows its black eyes. "As for the cost, I too am a trader. Like for like, memory for memory, and that is all I will say on the matter until you state your willingness to bargain."

It hop-shuffles over to Konguq and extends its hand. "Will you deal with me, Konguq?"

Konguq eyes the little creature suspiciously. “How do know you’re not going to screw me over? I’ll need a show of good faith.”

Gadfly smirks. "Oh, very well then. What two of your lost spells are you missing most dearly? I shall restore them to your soggy spellbook."

She think for a moment, finally saying, “I need to able to protect myself, I would like Blur back. I also want Enlarge/Reduce. I’m thinking of new and surprising ways to use it. You do that for me and we have a deal.” She extends her hand. “What do you say?”

Gadfly eagerly shakes her hand, then moves to Konguq's ruined spellbook and begins drawing water out of it with deft motions.

"Excellent! Let us start the bargaining with my most impressive offer: I offer you the ability to perfectly recall any spell you see the formula for. No more special ink, no more hours wasted studying what you already know, just your magical reserves to limit what you can do! In exchange, I think every memory of the one you call Morris should suffice." It turns its head to Konguq and smirks, dark eyes alight with anticipation.

Konguq pales and sits on the bed. “Morris..? I...what do you mean you want my memories of him? Will he still be a member of my crew? Will he know who I am?”

Gadfly floats onto the bed next to her, offering its presence whilst looking over the telescope. "I can only take your memories, his will be unchanged. I like those I deal with to be informed: this is not the first time I have taken such memories. The person forgotten is almost always offended to the point of grief, and the one who forgot has no reason to truly care."

“Then I suppose I could form new memories of him. It would be like you meeting him and falling in love with him all over again.” She shudders a breath. “Does it have to be memories of him?”

Gadfly shrugs, heavier this time. "Perhaps it will be like that for you. No one can say for certain. It must be those memories for such a strong gift, anything else of such magnitude I could take would negate the benefits of my offer. I could accept something lesser for only a portion of the gift, say the ability to recall a limited number of spells without your book each day or being able to prepare any number with enough time spent studying."

It looks away from the telescope and regards Konguq seriously. "You would be giving up an ability most wizards would give a leg to possess in exchange for a love that has not even seen a full month. Its importance to you is not to be understated, otherwise it would not be an even trade, but you should still consider this offer very carefully."

It’s several minutes before Konguq speaks again. She goes over to her desk to sit, grabbing paper and her quill. “Do you have it in your power to deliver a letter to my Morris? The flesh and bone one. I will accept your offer, but there are some ducks I need to put in a row first.”

Gadfly hops off of the bed and onto the desk, putting its foot on top of the ink vial. "It is within my power, but you may not write the letter and get the full benefit of what I offer. It is the impact of what you lose that has value, not the memories themselves. Any attempt to influence the flow of Fate ruins the bargain."

“I can’t tell him I’m sorry? That I must sacrifice something that brings me joy in order to be powerful? That I hope one day, he can forgive me?" She stares at Gadfly, eyes brimming and voice shaking. “I was told I must make sacrifices. Fine, if I must then I will. However, these are my sacrifices I make knowing the cost, and I’ll not have anyone misunderstand my choices. I don’t have to tell him everything. At least let me apologize.”

Gadfly meets her gaze, hard at first, then softening slightly. It looks away a split-second before Konguq does. "Fine, I will deliver your message. Just don't blame me if it doesn't turn out the way you hope."

After a few minutes, mostly thinking rather than writing, Konguq finishes her letter. It is too far away from Ace's point-of-view to see the words. “Ok, what happens now?”

Gadfly holds its hand out to take the letter. As Konguq gives the rolled scroll to the hulderfolk, a white spark leaps from its hand to hers. The spark shoots up her arm to her head and there is a flash inside her skull, creating a visual similar to putting one's hand against a bright lantern and seeing the finger bones through the skin.

"The trade is done. I look forward to hearing the tales of your deeds as they echo through the ages. Fate favour you, Konguq." Gadfly moves its ball of water beneath itself, creating a whirlpool that it quickly drops into and then drains away into nothing.

Ryai takes a shot at the shark and it turns to the elf, telling him how he loves how frail elves are. It bites into him as well, infecting him with plauge. With the wounds it aquired, it the shark turns tail and begins to flee with Gregor chasing after it. Vodren rushes to heal and stabilize the party, with Ryai managing to wake up. In the distance the party hears Gregor wail then cackle, indicating he killed the shark.

The air is tense as the party brushed with death. Ace still unconscious from the encounter. Bron offers to raid the place while the party returns to ship. They take the Dimernesti with them as they leave the ruins. The scenery changes as they leave, with life springing into the tide pools. As they begin to walk trees appear. For Vodren it looks like the ones he grew up with in the goblin tribe, for Ryai it's the trees of Qualinost, and for Konguq it's the withering trees of Ice Reach. Two robed figures approach the group and welcome them to Wayreth. The party is a little stunned to have somehow traveled so far from their original location. The party follows the figures to the tower.

At the entrance they are met by an elf wearing red robes named Ivelos. Ryai takes interest in the elf, knowing that elves will outcast an elf if they choose any other robe other than white. Ivelos tells them that Konguq and Ryai were recommended to be ready for the Test of High Sorcery. Ryai asks who recommended them, to which the elf replies Rumblegut did. He sent a message to the tower that they had killed him and now they were ready for it. Ryai recognizes the spell as a death curse cast by Rumblegut.

The party is taken into the tower and shown their rooms. It was then while counting out the rooms they realized that Bron didn't make it with them. The party requests a potion to help wake up their fallen allies. Ace wakes up extremely dazed and not too pleased with ending up in a wizard tower and retires for the night.

Konguq, Vodren, and Ryai go to check on the Dimernesti and wake him up. He too is not very happy to wake up in a wizard tower and demands to be taken home. The Dimernesti then drags Konguq to the nearest wizard, which ended up being a white robbed half elf. They try to explain thier situation to him but he is extremely put off by the group, especially when they mention the death curse from Rumblegut. However a black robbed dwarf named Beryl Runestone approaches the group. She tells them that an enemy of Rumblegut was a friend of hers and does offer to help the Dimernesti get home. The Dimernesti not pleased with waiting storms off on his own. To which Konguq and him get into a disagreement, Konguq saying that he owes the party and should do as she says, and the Dimernesti pissed the party took him at all. Beryl casts a spell the freezes him in place and she promise's to get him home. Ryai notices the Rune symbol on her and recognizes it as a part of the Runestone clan. A clan of dwarves that is known to work with magic. Something that is uncommon for dwarves.

Ryai asks Beryl about Ivelos and wanting to talk to him. Beryl tells him where he can be found and that the man is a bit of a suck up, but Ryai wants to ask him a few things.

Konguq and Ryai recount their story to Beryl from over the past few days. They manage to keep her entertained with their antics. After which the the three go to bed.

Ace wakes up first and enters the common room, he meets Beryl first and she offers him tea. He notes that it tastes like spicy mushrooms, and enjoys it.

Vodren wakes up next and tried to cast detect magic to see if he can locate Rumblegut's curse on the party. He unfortunately lacked the forethought to consider that he was in a wizard 's tower and the whole place is covered in magic. He knocks on Ryai's door, and asks if he can check him for the curse which he obliges. There is no evidence of the curse on the party. When he returns Beryl mentions that the curse was probably just to send the party to the Tower and that Rumblegut probably didn't have enough time to come up with anything more clever. She offers Vodren the spicy mushrooms tea and he also enjoys it. Beryl talks of the dangers of the Test of High Sorcery and how Ryai and Konguq have about a 20% chance of survival. She tells them that they can of course bring helpers, but they only have a 5% chance of survival. Ace says he likes those chances since if they don't come back with Konguq, there is 100% chance Morris will kill the both of them.

Konguq wakes up next, followed by Ryai. Both drink the tea and Konguq likes it, but Ryai finds it unpleasant. The two fill the magic users in on having a helper for the test and Ace chooses to go with Konguq, While Vodren goes with Ryai.

Once they're ready, the party is taken to a room with 21 robed wizards sit.

On a chair of obsidian sits an older woman with black robes lined with silver named Ladonna.

On a chair of carmine sits a balding man in his 40s with a red robe and a red hat named, Justarius.

Finally on a chair of ivory sits a man in his 80s dressed in white named Par-Salian.

The Party explains what happened with Rumblegut and how he died. The Council, while not pleased with the way things occurred, they understood that the world outside the tower is much more savage, and warned the party not to kill any wizard in the tower.

The council then tells the party about the Test and what to expect. That it has a high fatality rate, and that they will be forced to live through their worst nightmares. And that if they live and fail their magic will be removed from them. Ryai and Konguq both accept despite the odds. They ask that they at least send a message back to their ship and crew to let them know, and they get in contact with Bron. Bron has some very strong words in response.

Justarius however chastises Konguq for wearing chainmail and wielding a sword, questioning her trust in her magic. Ace shoots back that she can keep it, but they challenge him on Konguq's ability to keep it.

After the conversation with the wizard council the party is taken to prepare for the test in the tower's library. Vodren decides to try and divine if what they need is in the library. Ryai lets him borrow his Shemesh Cards to use the Augury spell. He pulls as follows

Konguq- the magician upright

Ace- the hanged man reverse

Ryai- the fool upright

Vodren- the Hierophant reverse

Through the reading he divines that Konguq and Ryai will be perfectly fine in the library, but Ace and Vodren will need to look elsewhere.

Vodren starts with with trying to find a place to commune with Habakkuk. In an attempt to commune with him, another wizard brought him to a room with all the constellations. He followed the King Fisher one on its path across the room and felt his connection deepen.

Ace, struggles with what he can do to prepare for the trials in a way that can help Konguq. Doing what he normally does when he feels lost, he goes to the top of the highest point and reflects. He laments about feeling lost and wishing that either Tarth or Callum was there with him to help him out. During his reflection the white robed wizard Par-Salian appears, floating before him. The two talk for a bit about about Ace feeling lost, and the old wizard gives him some advice which helps Ace start to feel better and give him some direction. He returns down the tower and seeks someone who can repair his armor. He is pointed to a black robbed gnome wizard named Jabbie. Jabbie offers to enchant Ace's armor along with a favor in exchange for an IOU down the line. Ace is informed that Jabbie tends to deal in animal splicing that creates creatures like owl bears. Ace at first turns down the offer, and go with just the armor repair. But Jabbie refuses, and says that he left all the normal repairs behind to become a wizard. Ace then agrees to his terms and gained +1 leather armor. After that Ace went to look for a way to practice with his cane sword.

Ryai's studying leads him back to the topic of the dragon orbs. He finds a little extra information about when they were first used in the second dragon war, where the wizards used them to lure the dragons to the ground and have the earth swallow the Dragons and their Bakali army whole. While there, he speaks with the librarian further about the dragon armies currently and how they wish they could get a hold of a live draconian to study. The librarian also tells Ryai about a new order of wizards not associated with the high council called the gray robes. Ryai also learns thay they work with the dragon armies.

The librarian also asks Ryai about his choice of robes, to which he wasn't certain and wanted to ask Ivelos about his choice. The librarian directs Ryai to where he can be found.

Ryai finds Ivelos and tells him he wants to ask a few questions. Ivelos tells him he can't tell him about the trial, but Ryai didn't come for him about that. Ryai asks what lead him to becoming a dark elf and why he chose the red robes. Ivelos tells him simply, it was for love. He fell in love with a human woman named Andrea and figured since he was on his way out to begin with, might as well don the red robes. He then asks if Ryai had given thought to which robes he would wear, to which Ryai has. He knows his family would prefer the white robes, but he too fears being close to outcasted, and considers red as well. When Ivelos asks why, Ryai admits that he was not born a man and Ivelos understands where some of the fear comes from. Ryai then also piles on the fact that he's the last of his line, running away from his fiance, and the company he surrounds himself with. Ivelos tells him that being the last of his line, he might have some sway since without him the line ends. He does warn him about the trial again, but Ryai knows he's going to need stronger magic if he wants to find the dragon orbs. To which Ivelos gives him an incredulous look. Ryai tells him him he found their locations in the tomb of Paaz-Sannon and has already discovered 4/5 of locations. Ivelos tells Ryai that he needs to share the information with Justarius, knowing that the wizards at some point needed to pick a side and will need the information if they're going to make a move. Ryai agrees, under the condition he gets credited for his contribution.

Konguq tries to find more information on her tribe's traditions and magic, but unfortunately struggles to find any thing else.

Konguq and Ryai are then interviewed about their magic, how they learned, and what spells they got.

Ryai starts saying that all he learned, he learned in the gardens of his home from his uncle, Aydrinel. His uncle however never took the test of High Sorcery. After leaving Ryai began to learn from others on his journey until it lead him here. He notes his greatest example of his magic use being when he used the Moonbeam spell against the Wereboar in Crossing. When asked about how he felt about that, Ryai admits it was exhilarating.

Konguq's tribe hasn't had a wizard in over 100 years since the last one was killed. When Konguq began to show signs they tried to educate her as best as possible, but where most of thier information was kept was destroyed by the walrus men and thus had very little. With the aid of one of the tribe elders, she did her best to teach herself and took off to learn more.

When asked about how she felt about Ryai, who grew up and learned in the lap of luxury, she didn't seem to mind so much, since the two were both learning from each other.

When they asked Ryai about how he felt about Konguq being self taught, Ryai admitted there was a sense of pride and infuriation when worked with her. He admired his uncle's skill and knows he's also self taught. But he also uses the sense of infuriation as a motivator to do better in his own magic.

The two give them a list of thier spells and they are warned again about the trials and the risk to their companions. Ryai tells them that he owes Vodren his life and won't throw him under. They doubt him on this.

After they were done, the party sat for a meal and talked about the upcoming trials. Ace reassures Konguq that he'll always have her back, and Vodren tells Ryai he'd never forgiven himself if something happened to him. Konguq gives Vodren a pep talk and Ryai asks if there were anymore secrets anyone needed to say before they went into the trial. Everyone else said they had laid everything on the table previously, and are going in with a clear mind.

Before they head to bed, Vodren tries to pray to Habakkuk to help the party in the coming trials. Habakkuk does not answer. Instead he is shown the moon Solinari and gets the feeling Habakkuk can't help him here. However the moon's blessing does fall over the party, with Ace dreaming of the night he challenged the Wereboar and stole his hammer from his hands.

Konguq and Ryai however, can't remember theirs.

The next morning the party wakes, with Ace having a renewed sense of self, and they prepare for the trial.

Par-Salian tells them to trust thier magic

Justarius tells them to trust themselves

Ladonna tells them to do whatever it takes to survive.

As the door opens before the four, there is a darkness that not even Ryai's vision could pierce through. Ryai grabs Vodren's hand, and he squeezes back in response. Ace slips something into Konguq's pack.

And they enter