1. Journals

45. Breaking News!

June 21, 2025

27th Nymm, 999 YK

  • They sleep, spending their first night in Festering Holt, ready to find a guide the next day.
  • Knobby Rowan continues to brush Okor's fur until he tells him to stop, which he does not.
  • Rotrak spends the night customising a little cloth doll to look like Xander, as he only needs two hours of sleep.
  • Okor's player reminds everyone that he traded Honest Lyla for a spoon and all of Rotrak's money yesterday.
  • Mirnac prays at the fireplace in the taproom before going to bed. She tells Kalok Shash of the events of the last few days, and how she's doing. What the people are like, her opinions on things. Kalok Shash listens silently, asking a few clarifying questions, and then wishes Mirnac a good night.
  • "You have a good night too" Mirnac says to the fire, after not having spoken aloud for over 20 minutes.
  • Szfalka tries to slither up into the rafters, but thinks they cannot hold his weight. He finds Pestilence, Rotrak's familiar, up there. Szfalka stabs Pestilence.
  • Pestilence makes the most rancid sounding squawk and flies off.
  • Bloody spy bird
  • Rotrak chastens the bird for being naughty and spying on Szfalka, and then patches them up.
  • The rest of them all wake in the morning, with nothing untoward having happened in the night.
  • They all head down to the tavern and get some food. Karbal greets them all cheerfully.
  • Xander does not greet the others.
  • Rotrak is being weird and Mirnac is unreasonably chipper. She asks how they all slept?
  • Xander shrugs. Rotrak says "like a babe" and then presses Xander for details, but he says no comment.
  • Rotrak enquires about Okor, and Xander goes to check on him.
  • Rotrak then watches Mirnac as she pierces her thigh with her fork and mixes her blood into the stew before eating. Fascinating.
  • Rotrak questions why she does this? She says that all Ghaash'kala do this. Has Rotrak never seen a Ghaash'kala eat?
  • Apparently Rotrak's never actually seen a Ghaash'kala.
  • Szfalka just sat in silence watching this interaction, having somehow fully consumed his food when no one was looking.
  • Xander enters the stable, where Okor is eating a bowl of stew that Knobby Rowan fetched for him.
  • Xander tells Okor that they leave in 10 minutes, so get ready. Okor says he'll be there in 20, which Xander ignores.
  • Okor asks Rowan who he knows in town. Rowan mentions Drolga Flamespurned and Morel.
  • As promised, Okor returns to the others 10 minutes late.
  • Okor mentions his leads, and they go and find Drolga, following the ash trail.
  • Drolga is an intimidating figure, an orc infused with fire. She greets them with a phrase in Orcish, that no one speaks. Mirnac recognises the word "shash".
  • They talk to her for a bit, and ask about Shaazarak. She can take them, but she has a couple conditions. Anything that will improve the lives of the people here, she brings back.
  • Xander says no weapons, they keep those. Drolga argues, but Okor intimidates her into backing down.
  • Drolga also specifies she will not treat with fiends. Any demons encountered will be fought or avoided.
  • They agree, and Okor asks Rotrak what "treat" means. Rotrak clarifies that it means "parlay", which is very helpful. Thank you Rotrak.
  • They go to speak to some others. Drolga says they know how to find her, and repeats her Orcish phrase. Rotrak asks what it means. "May the flame burn away your pain."
  • Mirnac is a fan!
  • They walk off, and Okor mentions another lead: Morel, a dwarf in the tavern who seems to know things.
  • Xander tells him to lead the way, and he says that he thinks Xander should do it this time.
  • Rotrak asks if he can lead the way, he's good with people!
  • There's a pause, and then Xander goes "oh, you're not joking"
  • As they walk, a dirty human man steps out of an alleyway and walks alongside them, before speaking. "Hey, I couldn't help but overhear youse were looking for a guide to Shazam, I can help but I got a condition"
  • Did he just say Shazam?
  • Okor tells him to leave.
  • He apologises for whatever mistep he made, and clarifies. He just has one condition! He can take them to Shazam, but he needs them to take him to Thronehold! He's got an inheritence to pick up.
  • Xander is the only one who knows what or where Thronehold is.
  • Oh, name's Gallie! He shakes hands with Szfalka, and then asks if Szfalka would want to be a Knight.
  • Szfalka doesn't know what a Knight is. Rotrak says they come around every day, when it gets dark.
  • Mirnac comments that it seems like a good deal.
  • Okor says he already said no.
  • Mirnac asked who made him leader?
  • Okor starts cracking his knuckles.
  • Szfalka whispers to the others, what if they just accept and then just kill him?
  • Xander doesn't think he can take them, he's clearly insane. He says he saw the way to Shaazarak in a dream!
  • Also Okor already said no and is Szfalka gonna argue with Okor?
  • Szfalka continues to argue for his plan, but Xander shuts him down. "We already don't trust you, you weren't invited to this"
  • Szfalka is offended.
  • Gallie asks them again if they're in? Xander says no, he should leave.
  • Before they continue, Okor looks at Mirnac and tells her that he is in charge. Mirnac comments that Kalok Shash is actually their leader.
  • Szfalka goes "oh brother"
  • Okor punches Mirnac in the face. "Want to try that again?"
  • Mirnac responds by casting "Crisis of Faith" on Okor, who is completely unaffected.
  • Okor responds by hitting her with his hammer. Which is a critical hit. Almost downing her.
  • Xander steps in to break the fight up. "Okor, if you want to lead, you need a team. You can't kill her"
  • "I'm not going to, I'm teaching her a lesson"
  • Xander espouses the virtue of a soft touch, convince her to follow without beating her up.
  • "Mirnac, I won't hit you again if you apologise" and then Okor looks at Xander for apporval.
  • "For what?"
  • Xander clarifies to Mirnac, again, that she's a prisoner. She knows that right?
  • Also she should keep her weird thoughts to herself. "I just care about us all getting back alive from this. If you want to die after that, I don't care."
  • Okor says they should listen to his second in command. Xander. Not Rotrak. Rotrak's third in command.
  • Szfalka bristles.
  • Mirnac asks what to do if they give her contradicting statements?
  • Okor looks at Xander and comments that Mirnac is really trying his patience.
  • Xander suggests they just walk away and move on.
  • Mirnac, stirring the pot, comments that it's interesting that Okor proves his strength by beating up those weaker than himself.
  • Okor tells her to shut up and drink, and shoves a healing potion into her chest. "Follow"
  • Can't argue with that.
  • Rotrak scoops up some of the blood-covered mud from where Mirnac's blood hit the floor. Then he rubs it into her bruise.
  • They move on, Xander wants to avoid any more violence.
  • They go back to the tavern, and locate Morel.
  • Xander thinks Rotrak has stuff in common with this guy, so he should be the one to talk to him.
  • Rotrak walks over and Morel greets him, and asks where he found a member of the The Couriers (Orien Expedition No.2)? Rotrak doesn't know what that means?
  • Morel knows all of them, or at least something about each of them. He's never been to Shaazarak himself, but he knows the way. His price is their stories, he wants to know everything there is to know about all of them. He also won't fight, they'll need to defend him.
  • Rotrak says he needs to discuss it with the group. Morel agrees, and says "have a nice day, Rotrak."
  • Rotrak did not say his name.
  • Rotrak goes back to the group, and explains Morel's terms. Xander says he's not giving his story. Rotrak comments that Morel seemed to know something already, he mentioned the "2nd Orien Expedition"?
  • Xander is taken aback, and reiterates this one's a no. He's not sharing his story.
  • Xander looks at Okor and asks for a decision. Okor was not paying attention. "Oh, uhh, I guess it's a no"
  • "See, it's a no"
  • Okor then asks what a general store is?
  • Xander explains the idea. Maybe they should check it out?
  • Okor goes to investigate, and the others follow. Except Xander, who takes the opportunity to slip out to speak to Morel in private.
  • The proprietor of the general store, Vicemayor Gertrude greets them cheerfully. She's like someone stretched out a halfling. She's also accompanied by Mayor Pokey, who is an ankylosaurus.
  • They have nothing to trade, but she'll supply them if they do her a favour. There's someone in town, Beggar Wayne, who has acquired a printing press. She's pretty sure he's talking shit about her in it, so she wants them to go smash the printing press.
  • Okor agrees, he loves smashing things.
  • Xander approaches Morel.
  • Xander demands to know what Morel knows. They exchange words. Morel sells information for information.
  • What happened to the other expeditioners? Lost to Ghaash'kala
  • Morel explains that Shaazarak is surrounded by a bog, which they'll need to pass through to get to the ruin. The lights in the fog will lead them to their deaths.
  • What made you want to take on the job? Money, curiosity. It was all so long ago
  • Morel shares that the 3rd expedition is alive, they've been going in and out of Khyber. The gnome is wounded. They recently emerged from the Abyssal Forest entrance in the south west of the Labyrinth.
  • Xander explains what warforged are.
  • Rotrak then walks in to inform Xander that Okor is going to smash a printing press.
  • Okor isn't hard to find, he's wandering around looking for the printing press. He doesn't know where the address is, or what a printing press even is.
  • He tells Xander to find the address. Xander asks why. "The mayor told us to smash a printing press so we can get stuff"
  • "What kind of stuff?"
  • "Spoons"
  • Ah
  • "The mayor said to do it so it's all good"
  • "okay, but a printing press is very valuable. Maybe we could gain something from it"
  • Xander is really against smashing the printing press, and tries very hard to convince Okor not to. "Maybe you can trade the owner for it?"
  • "Okay, so trade him and then smash it anyway and get the spoons"
  • "No no, don't smash it. Maybe even threaten the guy"
  • Xander convinces him, but Okor says "if this goes wrong it's on your head"
  • On the way, Xander finds a leaflet and reads it. It's completely unintelligible. The person making them doesn't know how to read. Rotrak asks what it says?
  • Xander explains that it says nothing, it's gibberish.
  • They arrive at the hovel of Beggar Wayne, but he's not present. The door is just a wooden board, which falls off it's hinges when Okor knocks on it.
  • Most of the space in the hovel is dedicated to the printing press, which Xander recognises as an old model. This one is in a state of disrepair, it's incredible that it still works? Assuming it does. It's too big for them to just take it, it won't even fit through the door.
  • Okor gets his hammer and gets ready to demolish the building so they can take it. Xander stops him for now, "let's look for the owner"
  • They discuss plans to take the press, Szfalka suggests stabbing it to make it smaller. Xander comments that it's almost broken as it is.
  • "Listen, this guy is printing propaganda about the mayor"
  • "No, it's not, it's gibberish"
  • "But everyone thinks it's propaganda! So it doesn't matter"
  • "Okor, I think the mayor is using you"
  • "No, if I was being lied to, someone would've told me!"
  • Rotrak says he thinks Okor is being lied to. Okor gets angry, "why didn't you say that!?"
  • Xanders thinks they should confront the mayor. "Do you want to be used, Okor?"
  • "What do I care, I get some spoons out of it?"
  • Okor agrees, but he's taking some spoons from here too.
  • Of course, there are no spoons. Okor smashes the one, singular wobbly stool and leaves.
  • Xander wants to speak to the mayor to sort this out.
  • They go back to the general store, and have a conversation with Gertrude and Mayor Pokey, with Gertrude passing on the Mayor's wisdom.
  • Okor gets frustrated and ends it. "Y'know what, no. Xander, we're smashing the printing press"
  • Xander is defeated. Damn. He tells them to go speak to Drolga when they're done doing the mayor's dirty business.
  • Okor smashes the printing press, and then hears a shrill "why!?" from outside.
  • Beggar Wayne is a dirty, pathetic man. He breaks down, demanding to know why they've done this!?
  • Okor says because he wanted to, what's Wayne gonna do about it?
  • Wayne cowers.
  • Okor says that if he hears Wayne is printing anything again, he'll be back providing there's spoons in it for him. "Your debt to society is paid"
  • He leaves a sobbing Beggar Wayne trying to salvage his hovel. They then return to the others, taking a piece of the printing press to prove the job is done.
  • They return, and Okor says that Wayne won't be spouting any more shit. Gertrude asks if they killed him? No
  • "Oh, Mayor Pokey wouldn't have been opposted to that"
  • Damn Pokey
  • Gertrude lets them take as many rations as they can carry, and gives Okor a collection of bone and clay spoons.
  • They acquire some snow shoes, to prevent them sinking into the bog. They get lanterns, tents, and Okor gets a ten foot pole.
  • As they look for Drolga, their intended guide, Xander spots a strange merchant stall. Staffed by a humanoid fox, selling spell scrolls.
  • As players, they know this guy! It's Mr. Fox!
  • Mr. Fox looks at Xander as they approach and greets him cheerfully. "Finally, someone who can read!"
  • Xander is shocked to see such a stall here, as most people cannot read! Mr. Fox explains that people travel through here all the time. It's been quiet lately, though.
  • Szfalka draws his cursed knife, and Mr. Fox tells him to put it away or experience first hand what it feels like to be "nailed to the sky".
  • Mr. Fox has an array of arcane spell scrolls here, but can make other scrolls if they want them. He could also go with them
  • Xander asks why he'd do that? He explains that they look interesting, and he wants to see where this is going.
  • He's also a powerful wizard, his mother is Sul Khatesh, the Keeper of Secrets, after all.
  • Xander asks why he's selling scrolls, if he's so powerful? He says he's not selling them, he's giving them away. He wants people to cast them. More magic in the world makes him happy.
  • Hmm, a tough choice! They are wary of accepting someone who is more powerful than them, but they are also concerned that he can just follow them anyway if he wanted to.
  • None of the group are associated with the Hexgeists, so they distrust a fiend of Sul Khatesh. Okor in particular doesn't like him, as a powerful threat and spellcaster.
  • Another concern of Okor's, that he keeps to himself, is that Mr. Fox can teach the others more magic, making them more powerful, and thus more likely to turn on him.
  • They decide not to take Mr. Fox with them, but they will get some scrolls. He can make 1 scroll every 2 hours.
  • Drolga will be their guide to Shaazarak!
  • They will determine what spells they want before next session.