12th - 15th Nymm, 999 YK
- The party have arrived at Vaanka Dar, returning from the Eldeen Reaches.
- Runmae decides to spend some time crafting some consumables, specifically Bronze Bull Pendants.
- She then changes her mind and decides to use the time to transfer the runes off of the equipment they've looted, so they can sell the equipment.
- She transfers a +1 weapon potency rune from one of the looted greataxes to Warren's shortbow.
- She transfers another +1 rune to her hammer, and a striking rune to her crossbow.
- They decide to keep the accursed staff for the moment, though nobody is using it.
- Whilst crafting, Runmae blacks out for a bit, and when she comes to, she sees that she has modified one of the warpwood seeds. She's added more material to it, wood, even though she doesn't usually craft with wood.
- She performs some work to identify the seed she's crafted, and whilst she's not sure what it does, she does recognise that it's imbued with magic, and that it needs to be planted inside a person.
- She has a job to do, so for now, she puts the seed away and continues transferring the runes.
- Naze spends the downtime evolving Zekko into a little drake.
- Bhaltair acquires some formulas for consumables, and spends some time crafting them.
- Valaari, Naze, and Warren are otherwise finding peace and quiet while they can, taking the opportunity to get away from the others.
- Bhaltair is approached by a shy shifter druid named Acorn. He asks if they are Bhaltair, the one who went into the Eldeen Reaches?
- He wants to know what's going on out there. He used to be an Ashbound druid, so he'd like to know what's happening.
- Bhaltair invites them for a meal, so they can talk and explain what happened.
- Acorn hesitantly accepts, and Bhaltair explains the non-sensitive events that happened.
- Acorn also explains that the Ashbound and the Ghaash'kala used to work together, but not for a couple centuries. Acorn doesn't know why they stopped, but the Ashbound seem to think that the Ghaash'kala don't want the Ashbound's help.
- Acorn isn't good with people, and doesn't know how to approach the issue. Bhaltair says it's all about getting the right people to speak to each other.
- Bhaltair suggests they go ask what the problem is!
- "Like, now?"
- Bhaltair is already up and putting away the stuff.
- Bhaltair goes to find Valaari, Acorn in tow, to give them some authority.
- Valaari wanted to be alone while they contemplate stuff, so Bhaltair tells Acorn to wait while they go speak to them
- Bhaltair waits around until they have Valaari's attention.
- "Can I help you?"
- "Yes I'm glad you asked!"
- Bhaltair explains the issue, they want to know what happened between the Ashbound and the Ghaash'kala.
- "Who is we?"
- Acorn walks over. Hi.
- Valaari asks Acorn why they want to know, and Acorn explains their history and why they want to try and fix the relationship.
- They head up to the Observatory to speak to Silvik Raam.
- Silvik checks their records, and explains that during the Silver Crusade, the Ashbound, who were supposed to protect the Ghaash'kala's back, allowed a horde of lycanthropes to attack Vaanka Dar from the Eldeen Reaches side of the wall. Something the Ghaash'kala viewed as an unforgivable failure.
- Bhaltair suggests that they try to get the Vaanka leaders to reach out to the Ashbound and talk. Acorn would make an excellent ambassador, they used to be Ashbound and they'll care about the result.
- Bhaltair offers to make them some tea to calm their nerves.
- They go to the communal area to have the tea and run into Runmae, who is very sweaty apparently.
- Bhaltair asks what they're doing to get so sweaty, and Runmae says transferring runes.
- "You get so sweaty doing that?"
- "It's hard work!"
- Bhaltair offers her some tea, but she says water is fine. Then she asks if Bhaltair is busy.
- Bhaltair says they're just making tea, they've got maybe 5 minutes. Runmae says that's not enough time, and asks Bhaltair to come find her later. She needs their opinion on something, it'll just take longer than 5 minutes to explain.
- "Is it something Naze needs to look at?"
- "No! It's not a medical thing! I'm in the prime of my life"
- Okay yeah, sure
- Warren is off somewhere rubbing dirt on himself. He says he's like a cast iron pan, cleaning him in the woods removed his flavour.
- Bhaltair finishes making tea, giving it to Acorn and anyone else who wants it.
- Bhaltair says they think Valaari needs to initiate the conversation with Dalkal Mal'fonn, and then they can push Acorn forward. It needs to be leader to leader!
- Valaari asks what they want them to say
- Bhaltair explains, they want the Ashbound and Ghaash'kala to reopen communications, and explain the history they have.
- Dalkal listens, and asks if any of them would be willing to be an ambassador? They also need a solution to get the Ashbound to come to Vaanka Dar.
- Bhaltair suggests sending The Mask to get them in initial contact, then they can periodically come on their own.
- Dalkal congratulates Acorn on their new role as ambassador to the Ashbound. Acorn looks incredibly uncomfortable.
- Valaari pats Acorn on the shoulder and then leaves.
- Bhaltair will send the Mask off the following day. They ask Acorn to spend the time thinking about what message they want to send.
- Acorn thanks them for their help, then Bhaltair goes to find Runmae.
- Runmae is still in the workshop when Bhaltair arrives.
- Runmae awkwardly starts a conversation after ensuring nobody else is present in the workshop.
- "I, uhh, wanna ask you about something"
- Runmae shows Bhaltair the seed they made.
- "I think that came from a tree. It's a seed. Dwarves don't make seeds?"
- Runmae explains that it was one of the warpwood tree seeds, she thinks. When she was crafting the other day, she blacked out and when she came to she had this seed.
- "You blacked out!? And we're only just hearing about it now?"
- Runmae didn't want to bother anyone.
- "You blacked out and when you came to, you had a new creation?"
- "Yes"
- "Okay. Wait here"
- Runmae tries to stop Bhaltair from leaving, she wanted to see what Bhaltair thought before involving the others.
- Bhaltair is out of their depth here, they've never heard of a person blacking out and creating a seed!
- Bhaltair performs an Object Reading on the seed, and observes Runmae "crafting" it. Runmae sung a lullaby to it in wildsong! and it grew into its current form!
- The players go "aww" and both Bhaltair and Naze's players are like "in what world is that an aww!?"
- Bhaltair sends The Mask to go get Valaari and Naze. Runmae gets stressed out and asks where the Mask is going.
- Bhaltair says to just sit tight!
- They brew some tea to calm Runmae's nerves.
- Bhaltair examines the seed more closely while waiting for the others. They identify that it is not a warpwood seed anymore, but Bhaltair doesn't know what it is. Something about it feels off.
- The Mask fetches Valaari, who then goes and gets Warren before they get Naze.
- The rest of the party arrive in the workshop, where Bhaltair and a very nervous Runmae are waiting.
- Bhaltair says that they think Runmae might be possessed or something. She blacked out, and sung to a seed in wildsong (a language she does not speak) and the seed grew into a different kind of seed.
- Warren asks if they're sure they aren't just drunk?
- Valaari doesn't think Runmae is possessed, and their Brands should protect them from possession. Bhaltair explains that it sounds an awful lot like possession, she blacked out and did things she shouldn't have been able to do!
- Naze goes to try and examine Runmae, and Valaari asks exactly what Runmae was doing when it happened.
- Runmae brushes Naze off, and explains that they were working on the hammer and then next thing they knew they had the seed. They weren't holding it beforehand.
- Naze asks Zaphkiel to try and restrain Runmae so she can be examined.
- Bhaltair performs a psychometric reading whilst Valaari examines the seed.
- Bhaltair's reading doesn't pick up much, but Runmae was inspired whilst crafting the seeds.
- Naze's examination reveals that Runmae seems like she has some kind of fever, her eyes are dilated and she's more sweaty than she should be.
- Valaari doesn't think they know anything about the seed, but then also suddenly understand that it wants to be planted in a person. This frightens them, and they ask Bhaltair if they knew it wanted to be planted in a person.
- "It what?"
- Runmae says "that's why it freaked me out!"
- "You knew!?"
- Bhaltair and Valaari both think about this, and Valaari thinks it could be connected to the Abyssal Forest of Khaar, but Bhaltair thinks it's more Avassh influence. They know stories of wooden soldiers and plant dolgaunt's grown from a person.
- Bhaltair wheels around and casts Status on Runmae.
- They think that it's related to the knowledge that Runmae gained from the Tree of Knowledge, which planted a metaphorical seed in her mind, pushing her to try and become closer to Avassh and the perfect plant form. It's not a curse or a possession, it's Runmae's brain struggling with this knowledge, and the nature of her existence. They don't say anything to others yet.
- Okay
- Bhaltair suggests destroying the seed. Maybe fire?
- Warren suggests they could eat it?
- They're not going to do that
- Bhaltair walks over to Valaari and then casts ignition on the seed.
- Runmae yells "No!" and tries to stop them, with Zaphkiel pulling Naze out of the way
- Valaari moves to intercept Runmae, grappling her and preventing her from stopping Bhaltair.
- The seed screams as it burns, but it's not a sound, it's a psychic effect they all hear in their heads.
- Bhaltair then explains why they destroyed the seed, mentioning Avassh and its connection to the seed.
- Valaari says that they think the tree formed a connection between Runmae and Avassh. If anything weird happens again, she needs to tell them.
- Bhaltair thinks that if Runmae had consumed or planted that seed, it would've consumed her and changed her into an agent of Avassh. It would kill her, and then they would have to kill her (again).
- Warren says that would really suck, cos he likes Runmae
- Runmae says that she doesn't think she'd have consumed the seed, but she doesn't know what she'd do.
- Bhaltair suggests they could try to find someone who can alter Runmae's memory of what she learned, erase the knowledge from her brain, and hope that it stops anything like this happening again.
- Bhaltair isn't capable of casting it yet, but there is a spell that could do it. Another option is Sinnoch, potentially, who could massage the memory out of Runmae's brain with their...magic fingers.
- Sora Jabra is another option, she used to bottle nightmares! She could maybe bottle the memory.
- "You'd have to be willing to remove the memory" - Bhaltair
- "Oh, she is willing. Aren't you, Runmae?" - Valaari
- "I mean I've never made something like that before, imagine what else I could learn... I didn't ask for this, stupid weird orange"
- Runmae tries to explain how it feels, that she feels she needs to do something but isn't sure what, there's just like a pull.
- Valaari thinks this is so, so dangerous. The brand protects them from possession, but this is something more insidious. If Runmae had consumed that seed, she'd likely be dead now.
- Okay, after their current mission, they need to find someone who can remove this knowledge from Runmae's head.
- Bhaltair instructs Runmae not to make any more seeds. Runmae doesn't immediately respond, and they press her again. Runmae says she didn't try to make the first one, but she'll do her best.
- She then gets her warpwood seeds out and gives them to Bhaltair, to be safe.
- Bhaltair then suddenly remembers that they gathered brightwort! They donate 1 bulk of brightwort (and receive 150 gp of "social credit") to Vaanka Dar so that they can grow more to make healing potions.