Location: New Vasselheim
Date: Miresen, 20 Brussendar 845 PD (calendar of Exandria)
Occasion: Elvendawn/Midsummer
Party Members:
- Bob the Therapist – changeling warlock with a couch for a familiar
- Rinn – half-elf sorcerer/rogue — NEW GUY
- Stubby – half-elf artificer
- Tāmerai – gnome bard
- Tunk – bugbear monk
Tunk
The rest of the party are not there, and therefore do not know this unless he tells us.
The Cobalt Tower is busy with foot traffic, though not many of the people one sees there are wearing the blue vestments indicating membership in the Order. A youngish monk stands guard at the gate, looking slightly bored. She spies the bugbear’s approach, and is taken aback by the fact that there is a bugbear, but also that he’s wearing Cobalt Soul attire. Tunk pokes a little fun, pretending to go feral for just a moment, then hopping up and laughing. She apologizes for her lack of experience: she’s new to the job. She has him wait inside while she fetches someone, and he watches some monks practicing.
Pretty much all of the monks Tunk sees that are over about 25-30 years old (in human hears; or their equivalent in the other races) is damaged in some way. A missing limb here, a bad scar there. A few missing eyes. The practices seem, at least in part, to be about how to compensate for the abrupt changes in their own bodies, to which many seem still not to be fully accustomed or comfortable. Four more badly damaged Cobalt monks — one missing an eye, one missing a leg, one missing an arm, and one that looks (outwardly) whole — go back and forth for half an hour or so, transporting some books and scrolls into the Tower in multiple trips.
Eventually a human man with dark skin and bright eyes arrives. He wears standard Cobalt Soul vestments in the usual blue and grey, of a finer quality than Tunk’s (and also much warmer looking, rather than thin like Tunk’s), so Tunk interprets this as the person in charge. His right arm is heavily scarred, like some sort of flaming lasso or rope had wrapped around his arm and stayed there for… an uncomfortably long duration. It’s well healed, but ugly enough to make a person wince at the visual implication of severe pain. “Greetings,” he offers Tunk with the little gesture of ‘Cobalt Reconnize Cobalt’. “I am Kusuo, head of the Cobalt Soul in New Vasselheim. Will you come to my office? I would like to speak of how you got here.”
Tunk introduces himself in his standard way. “Hi, I’m Tunk, I’m a bugbear. I’m also a hugbear.” He hugs Kusuo warmly. Kusuo seems startled at first, but sinks into it like a person who is not used to receiving physical comfort but badly needs it. He offers food and drink to fortify Tunk as they talk.
“Tunk from Tal’Dorei,” he begins. “We have few bugbears in the Order, so determining who you are was not difficult. You… you are aware that you have been missing for five years, brother?” He reminds Tunk of the head of the Cobalt Soul in Westruun, with the demeanor of being something of a ‘fixture’ and caring about the job and its people, and seems to be both relieved and joyful, in a quiet way, at the return of a ‘lost’ brother. Tunk feels he’s trustworthy, and so shares with him the story of his recent adventure, culminating with arrival on Issylra.
Kusuo is astonished and not a little impressed. “When you arrived early this morning, the Empress canceled our Council meeting. I now understand why. You reek of both dunamancy and… old magic.” Magic, he goes on to explain, is difficult at best, lately. The larger magics such as teleportation are simply not available. No one’s been able to make a permanent teleportation circle, though they’ve been trying daily for five years. It’s always interrupted somehow, a failure, after a certain amount of time. The longest they’ve gone without such a failure, in fact, is under three months.
On top of that, they are in a strange political situation. He pauses then, and walks to the door of his office. To the person outside he says, “You may leave,” in a tone that is not harsh or rude, but clearly indicates that this is an order rather than a suggestion or request. The person leaves, and Kusuo comes back in and closes the door. “Most people are not willing to send ships to New Vasselheim, and even fewer are willing to take refugees to leave. The nearest destination off of Issylra is on Tal’Dorei, but the name of Briarwood is still held in ill regard there.” He gives a brief synopsis of why. “Politics being what they are, the nearest reasonable port is on Wildemount, which is a month-long voyage at best.”
Tunk asks about all the wounded, and learns that they were present when Vasselheim fell. Kusuo himself was trying to recapture some of the artifacts that were let loose during the destruction. From within the Platinum Sanctuary there was an explosion, and there were other relics exploding in other locations. The Cobalt Soul has been sending monks back to (Old) Vasselheim’s ruins to recover items if possible, but the city is even more dangerous to those who were there at the time, as if the magics released that day are now permanently attached to them. “Much like the magics now attached to you,” he adds. “You are quite… special now, Tunk.”
It comes out that the Cobalt Soul is not well respected in New Vasselheim. “We watch the Empress, as we do many leaders in many lands. She is aware that we are not beholden to her, or to any leader or nation, but only to Ioun, the Knowing Mentor. Empress Lydia is interested in dunamancy. She claims she wants to cleanse the land and restore the ability to use more powerful magics [meta: over level 5 spells], which would allow them to safely house relics again, and would also solidify her hold on Isslyra. We do not trust her intentions.
“But you are in a unique position where you have an ability she does not. You and your friends traversed the wildlands without issue! You would be able to enter Old Vasselheim, or even the Godless Lands to the south!” Kusuo informs Tunk that no sending spells can be used there, and no scrying has been possible on anywhere in the southern half of Isslyra, since the fall of Vasselheim. Expeditions there do not return. Ships sent there are found empty along the shore. “One was haunted. We stopped checking after that.” That is why the Empress is reluctant to send anyone there.
“My brother,” Kusuo wonders as he shifts to a more comfortable posture that doesn’t seem to trigger his ‘phantom limb’ pain, “do you know what Expositors are?” Tunk has heard the term. It’s an urban legend that young monks whisper to each other in giggling threats. “The Expositors will take you away!” Tunk knows there’s nothing of reality to it, it’s a myth used to keep the younglings in line.
Except that Kusuo’s expression gives Tunk pause, and for the first time he considers that there might be something to the idea. Kusuo elaborates, “Expositors are committed to truth and to justice, above all else. If you wondered why it took me so long to come out to meet you..? I was speaking to your headmaster in Westruun. He speaks very well of you. Normally we invite people with a bit more experience to join us, but you are an exception. You and your friends are protected from the wild magics that now infest the continent.
“We have sources within the Empress’s court. It is our calling to expose lies and corruption and reveal truth, and we have reason to believe that the Empress is hiding something, somewhere in the Godless Lands, south of the Sunderpeak Range. She feels that you might be able to do her a favor. I will be clear: I do not command or order you, but ask you, if you will undertake the training for an Expositor. You may decline, and will not be negatively judged if you do. But I think you could find some of our lost brothers, and I think that you would be the safest person to make the attempt, if you are willing.” Even the idea that this could happen seems to fill Kusuo with relief and hope. “For now, stay with your friends, and do not draw attention to yourself as a Cobalt monk. If the Empress’s informants see you here too often, she will think you’re a spy. Which is what I am asking you to be.”
Tunk takes a knee to accept the charge, but Kusuo kneels beside him, then lifts them both back up to standing. “We bow to no one, my brother.” And this time, he’s the one who initiates the hug.
Kusuo also offers to get Tunk kitted up with new, warmer robes, as his thin linen ones are not best suited to the chilly environment on Issylra. He then gives Tunk a medallion, which can be shown to no one but another Cobalt Soul member, and only in secret, to let them know that Tunk’s on the job. (The medallion is thicker than a standard coin, and covered in symbols that another Cobalt monk would recognize but no one else would think anything of them. Finally, he tells Tunk to send him messages via the Temple of Ioun, and address them to “Patrick.” Kusuo will get the messages, and he will try to respond when possible.
Tunk asks about the Godless Lands. Kusuo tells him that they held cities, a few seaports, fishing villages. And plains. Beautiful, open plains. Between the Godless Lands and the north lies the Sunderpeak Mountain Range, home to a rift between this world at the elemental plane of fire, and the Fire Ashari once lived around the rift in Pyrah, protecting it. When Vasselheim exploded, however, so did Pyrah. They lost a large percentage of their population, and while the rift supposedly closed, few people were willing to go and check and verify this. Some dragonborn live there now, and that is where Cembiten and Jeremiah went as well. It is also home, as are the plains below, to many dangerous animals. It always was, but it’s worse now. The good news is that most wild animals will leave a person alone, if they are left alone. But what Kusuo once knew about the area no longer applies, and even the few cities that have been rebuilt were a struggle. What was once an ancient land is now shantytowns and ersatz villages. Moreover, some roads simply vanish even while being built. There are now tunnels below ground that cannot be mapped because they move every so often. If not for all the deaths, it would be… cool.
Tunk promises to send messages when he can, and keep the private things private. They part ways; Kusuo asks another monk to lead Tunk out so it doesn’t look like he spent his whole time with Kusuo. He also offers Tunk a scroll. “This will explain how to learn more about others when you fight them. It is not a talent easily learned, but you will learn it eventually, and then you will know why we of the Cobalt Soul have become so damn smart.” It is a scroll of combat forms [meta: which Tunk can use as he levels up].
The one-eyed monk returns for Tunk, adjusting an eyepatch over left eye. He wasn’t wearing it before, and the missing eye looked gross. He leads Tunk outside, offering to walk him to the embassy. On the way back, Tunk spots Rinn, Stubby, and Tāmarai, carrying a big honkin basket of pies. The sun is moving, clouds are moving, time is passing, there’s pies in the offing, it’s a good day to be Tunk.
Rinn spots Tunk as the trio are headed back to the embassy after their early lunch. Tunk accepts a pie from the basket atop Tam’s head, then takes the basket itself. As they walk, the foursome hear people talking about going to the festival after the workday is over, about playing games and winning contests and eating faire foods. There’s a general feeling that the three want to go, and Rinn is obligated to go with them, so fun is about to be had. Rinn peels off of the group to go check in at the Slayer’s Take, and promises to return to the embassy in about an hour.
Tunk and Tāmarai
The rest of the party don’t know this unless T&T tell them.
Tunk and Tāmarai eagerly head for the baths, calling for Stubby and Bob to join them. Bob, however, is dead-asleep in his chosen room, with his couch having reverted to imp form asleep on the other bed. Stubby doesn’t respond, but the bugbear and gnome do their best to inaugurate that tub. It’s at the perfect temperature somehow. They clean themselves, then sink in for a nice relaxing soak. Well, Tunk relaxes. Tāmarai does laps. She’s tiny, and the bathing pool is large enough and deep enough. When she calms down, she simply floats in the middle.
Eventually she asks, “Where do you come from, Tunk? Your accent is not that of Whitestone.”
Tunk mentions Westruun. And that’s it.
Rinn and Stubby
The others don’t know this unless Rinn tells them his part, and/or Stubby tells them her part.
Stubby takes advantage of Tam’s distraction with bathing to sneakily shadow Rinn on the way back to Slayer’s Take. The town is swimming with people doing work, some already heading to The Greens for the festival. Even with the crowds, though, it’s a quick walk to the ST. Sitting outside at a table, as if this is ‘their’ spot, is Otel Tasithar (a drow fellow with a below-the-knee amputation), reading. “Rinn? Who the hell did you find???” Rinn explains. Otel’s scroll is Rinn’s contract from the Empress. The gold is Rinn’s to distribute as he feels we need, and Rinn can keep anything the group doesn’t spend after a week. Rinn is to keep an eye on the group from Tal’Dorei and report to Empress if we do anything “unbecoming of New Vasselheim.”
The contract is straightforward. Babysitting. Show the group around, take them places, notice if they do or purchase anything suspicious. Rinn is supposed to inform (he doesn’t initial that bit, but Stubby can’t tell from her vantage point), and keep the foreigners out of trouble for a week, with the possibility for Rinn to extend the contract and be their local liaison for 2gp/week, which is significant. Rinn is still worried, however, about why the Empress asked specifically for him.
Rinn
The others don’t know this unless Rinn tells them.
Otel leads Rinn into his office and sits at desk with heavy sigh. “You know how we don’t go to Old Vasselheim all the time because people come back bibbledy? The Empress has suggested to us that those who were not on Issylra during the destruction are safer to enter Old Vasselheim. I believe she asked for you specifically because she’s going to try to trick those poor children into going to Old Vasselheim, or worse, beyond the Sunderpeak Mountains. Nothing in your contract says you have to go with them. It clearly says to help them in New Vasselheim. If they decide to be idiots and go, and you wish to go with, I’m willing to subcontract you at normal rates for an adventure into Old Vasselheim. If you don’t, I will back you when you refuse..” The normal daily rate is doubled for going to Old Vasselheim. Rinn has no plans to be an idiot, but who knows about these weirdo Tal’Doreian people?
Otel mentions that vampires called Briarwoods took over Whitestone, killed the ruling family, and subjugated that town. They were from Rexxentrum, Wildemount. Wildemount doesn’t offer information freely, but Briarwood are persona non gratis (which is an Elvish phrase). What is known is that Empress Lydia Briarwood used to be called Janet Yellowtree. Otel views Rinn as one of the brightest young men they’ve had in 5 years. He sees Rinn as wise, capable, and having gone through hell. He would know, he’s been to the hell dimension. Gangsta know gangsta; hell know hell. Rinn… shrugs. He loves a good shrug. Never met a shrug he didn’t like. “If things go pear-shaped, if you need help, the contract you signed with us means we are obligated to help you.”
Rinn doesn’t think going to a festival could be trouble, so he’s fine to go with them. He gets washed up and leaves the Slayer’s Take to return to the embassy.
Rinn & Stubby
The others don’t know this unless R&S tell them.
When Rinn went inside, Stubby couldn’t follow and didn’t know which window to look into. So she’s now just sitting in a bush, waiting for Rinn to come back out. He surprises her; she thought she was better hidden.
Stubby demands in thieves’ cant, “How much are you getting paid to spy on us?” Rinn doesn’t answer, but attempts to shove Stubby into the alley and against the wall of the building. It’s not the best attempt, but then, Stubby’s attempt to resist isn’t the best either. A comedy of flailing errors eventually leads to a mutual, aggressively casual lean against the wall.
No one is all that delighted.
Rinn: Do not be that stupid! Do you know what you are saying, what you’re getting into?
Stubby: …Yes? Yes.
Rinn: [steps back, looking ticked off, mutters in draconian] Fuck me sideways with a rusty saw.
Stubby: [in draconic] That would hurt.
Stranger on street: Must be a lovers’ quarrel.
Rinn no longer walks, he stomps like it’s his mission in life to stomp. He has a habit of grabbing at his own wrists now and then.
Bob’s still sleeping so hard by the time Stubby and Rinn return and the bathers are done with their bath.. Mutters “sark” and “I understand” and that’s all the others get out of him. Let him sleep.
Tunk and Tam finish their bath and prestidigitate dry, and Tāmarai spends 40 minutes doing her hair.
The group then walk to the Elvendawn festivities in The Green, which is situated between the nice North Docks and the Rat Docks. The Rat Docks used to be the fishing village that New Vasselheim was built over. It’s inside the walls and relatively safe, but there are always some who prefer a dishonest living. And there are people with thousand-yard stares who can’t do much to make a living anymore. Both tend to stay mostly at the Rat Docks. Rinn wouldn’t walk through the Rat Docks at night without being super wary and preferably accompanied by someone trustable.
This is a small festival compared to that of Whitestone. It’s bright, welcoming, but it’s still a town that’s new and fresh from basically a war. So having a festival at all feels defiant and determined. It’s early afternoon, and there are children running about and giggling with ribbons, hoops and sticks, balls, et cetera. Stalls and hawkers everywhere. Food — the smells, oy. In the center of all, a big stage where someone’s having a pig calling contest. There’s a shell game, a gnome greased up and challenging the populace to come and catch him, some slapping fights, circle wrestling, some buskers playing music or juggling or performing little skits. The city is embracing the fun that they’ve got.
In very impressive displays, Stubby wins three contests: one shooting darts at (bland, tasteless) apples, one with an arcana quiz (Tāmarai gets second place: she wasn’t sure what a couple of words of Common meant, and guessed wrong), and a pie eating contest. She walks away with winner medallions, a lovely dagger, and some fresh silver jingling in her pockets.
[Writer does not know how to mention this in a narratively smooth fashion, but “Gabby,” a human (????) covered in wild beard-hair as far as the eye can see, and spouting Authentic Frontier Jibberish like a boss, sucks at carnival games. He answered every single question in the arcana quiz wrong, and came in dead last at pie eating, but at least these little children were here to see it.]
They also sample several foods that most of them have never had before. There are funnel cakes, sushi (Tāmarai tries it, finding it acceptable but not great, but very much approves of the ones with only tempura or fresh vegetables in them), anpan shaped like fish and filled with sweet bean paste, candy floss, corn dogs, some sweet drinks… Everyone feels a little bit rounder than they did before, in the best possible ways.
At some point, a very well-put-together drow man spots Tāmarai and does a double-take, then makes a very particular bow. Tāmarai returns it, slightly modified. The man looks even more startled, and walks away. Tāmarai doesn’t explain.
The group buy a few needed things, such as warm boots and socks and a lovely warm hood, but Rinn counsels that they shouldn’t really buy things at the fair itself for the most part, because many of the vendors charge more at the festival than they would in their own shops. Tāmarai does get measured for a new pair of boots, though, with a little extra room in them for the thick wool socks she just bought.
Rinn gets a note on his bed, telling him that his signed contract has been delivered back to the Imperial offices, and all is well.
Tāmarai and Stubby also find a note left inside the house: If there’s anything you’re missing, please speak to Rinn to help you acquire household goods. Some kind soul has left them coffee and a pot to boil it in. There are also towels and sheets. Not much else: no cookware, dishes, food. If they intend to remain here for a while, they will need to use some of the money Rinn was given for the purpose.
Take your meds.
Hydrate.
Don’t forget to love each other.
Is it Game Day yet?
Loot:
Tunk:
Expositor identification coin, thicker than any money-coin, very clearly indicates Cobalt Soul with its symbology, yet non-CS people would probably not notice. It’s subtle.
Stubby:
Fancy looking dagger worth ___ (ask DM).
Medallion says Apple Toss High Score, worth absolutely nothing but bragging rights.
70sp
Medallion and 70sp for Arcana Quiz
Medallion, 25sp and tiny pie charm from Pie Eating
Tam:
50sp from Arcana Quiz
Grooming supplies, parasol
Lovely warm hood
Lovely boots and socks (on order, to be delivered on 21 Brussendar or thereabouts)
Rinn:
15sp and tiny pie charm from Pie Eating
Socks