They discuss how they're looking resource wise, and whether they want to
rest.
Bhaltair and Naze are both low on spells.
Bhaltair is okay with not resting, they're not expecting a fight.
They decide to go explore Harrowmark, and they'll rest before going anywhere
else.
Rigwi Thromwud is with them, we keep forgetting about her
They take another gecko ride up the cleft, they're getting used to it. It's
not far, either.
They arrive in Harrowmark, and they're faced with the reality that it is
built for giants. Nothing is sized for them, this is the home of the
Fomor'ren and the other giantfolk. The architecture is brutalist and pragmatic,
built with defense in mind, and there's very little decoration. Runmae
appreciates the pragmatism but kinda wishes there were at least carvings or
murals to break them up a bit. She's also used to being a bit smaller than
everything.
Valaari is the opposite. They're used to being the biggest, and so it's
unsettling.
Bhaltair is used to large things, they lived in the Reaches, but cities in
general make them uncomfortable so this is more of that. The sheer size of
the buildings is a little comforting though, it reminds them of the
redwoods. Like reverse vertigo? There's lots of cover
Naze feels similar to Bhaltair, they're used to
The Labyrinth and feeling boxed in, but cities are alien to him. Harrowmark isn't
any more or less comfortable than the rest of the city though, he's just
uncomfortable with the whole thing.
Warren feels very much underfoot, and skittish. He doesn't like being around
the giants, he's worried about being squished. Valaari tries to reassure
him, he's too quick to be stepped on!
Rigwi lets them take it in and then says she can offer some suggestions for
landmarks, or they can wander?
Rigwi talks for a while about the
Forum Fomor and the way that Vralkast's government functions. It's kinda
anarchistic, democratic, but there's also this all powerful force in the
Wyrd Vigil that technically has the final say on everything, they just don't.
They only intervene if the security of the city is threatened.
The Fomorians leave everyone else to kinda self-govern, and over time the
people have learned how to function and what gets them killed by the giants.
Runmae is curious about the structure of the Wyrd Vigil? It has three
generals that split responsibility, and they delegate to others. It's the
most hierarchical organisation in the city.
She's curious how often the generals change? Is there not a risk of ones
getting popular and causing rebellions?
Rigwi doesn't know, she can't really answer that. There's no counter to the
Fomorians, if one of them tried to grab power, who can stop them?
There is a story of the Gogmagog, a giant that betrayed the city. Maybe it's
happened before?
Rigwi then lists off some other notable landmarks they might want to see,
including a giant bath house with water heated by hydrothermal vent demons.
As you do.
Oh and there's Martyr's Square, where the
Wyrd Vigil train their members!
There is broad interest in the Wyrd Vigil, anything they can learn from
another military is useful information. They'll go there first.
As they head there, they make note that almost all of the Wyrd Vigilants are
kinda weird. Naze in particular notes they all have grafts or other physical
mutations.
They arrive at the training ground, and they watch a duel between two
fomorians. One with a harpoon and shield, one with a greataxe. It's
terrifying to watch, these guys are so powerful.
After it ends, the harpoon wielder wins, and the greataxe wielder makes a
notch into a nearby boulder. They then pull each other into a soldierly
embrace, and the rest of the fomorians split off into pairs to spar.
The harpoon wielder then locks eyes with Valaari, and approaches the group.
She's so scary, but then she gets close and she crouches down and her
expression softens. They get a hit of the perfume she's wearing, and she
goes "Hi! Are you new here?"
They are totally disarmed by this
Valaari goes to speak but Warren speaks first. "ugh yeah you here often?"
"All the time actually!
Gaohargr, Reaptide General"
She extends a massive hand to the group. They'll need to shake her fingers.
"Ugh yeah...just here with my group. Did you say you were a general?"
"Yes! Alongside Balaer and
Tuhokai! Were you thinking of signing up"
Valaari says no, they're just passing through
"Did you watch the fight?"
"We did! It was very impressive!"
"Thank you! It wasn't...too impressive, though, was it?"
"Why would you not want to be impressive in battle?"
"Umm...you wouldn't. I just...nevermind. What brings you to Harrowmark?"
They wanted to see Martyr's Square, to see the fighting!
They ask if they train every day?
"Yes! We train new recruits, spar to keep our skills sharp, and to raise
morale! To show people what a fully realised fomorian is capable of!"
"Yeah I can't imagine anyone wanting to fight you..."
"And yet, people attack the city almost every day!"
"Creatures from Khyber, you mean?"
"yes!"
Valaari dances around arguing that the things from Khyber aren't people
Runmae has some questions about how the military works.
Do they fight in formation? She only sees them sparring one on one right
now. Gaohargr explains that they do train for it, but most of the time
they're fighting things smaller than them. They do train for it, but in
practice the smaller folk fight in formation and the fomorians try and
maintain a safe distance from them. A misplaced foot can kill someone,
they're very aware of their size.
They also all serve on the serpentkeels at some point.
Runmae asks if they train in one specific fighting style? Do they split into
divisions?
Gaohargr explains that they all have varied capabilities, but there's a
baseline style they all know and then develop on. Body modification is
common.
Naze asks about that, they're interested in it. Are they useful?
Of course they are! But for the most part, the fomorians aren't the ones
with the grafts, it's the smaller folk trying to emulate them. There's a
certain level of idolisation of the fomorians and their forms. The fomorians
do mutate though, just not intentionally.
Runmae asks how they communicate orders? For the most part, verbally. There
are individuals with telepathic capabilities, but it's not common enough to
structure around.
Bhaltair asks Valaari if they're still looking for allies? "Yes, absolutely"
Do they want to try and bring Vralkast into their conflict?
Yes, they think so, but they don't think the Fomorians will help them. Is it
worth trying?
Valaari explains to Gaohargr what they're doing here, what they're fighting,
and that they're looking for allies.
Gaohargr asks what kind of assistance they'd be looking for?
"Heck, even one Fomorian would be an immense help...we also know our enemies
are using Khyber, trying to exit the Labyrinth. Sharing information could be
powerful."
Gaohargr says they wouldn't prevent Everdelver's or merchants from trading with them, but if they want a formal
exchange of any kind they'd need to convince the
Forum Fomor.
They ask how they can do that? The next Tidal Moot is in 8 days, they can
just turn up and make their case. It'll be tough though. Even if they can
convince the forum, they likely couldn't dedicate any significant forces.
Bhaltair could see the benefit in even one fomorian who can train them.
It might help their chances though if she vouched for them, and she does
have a favour to ask...
She asks again if she's too scary? or perhaps
Tuhokai is just oblivious?
Warren's rat heart shatters
Valaari is confused?
Warren asks if she's tried just being honest? Has she told Tuhokai?
"Well, no, but is it even worth considering? A relationship between generals
would raise eyebrows, could cause dissent?"
"Sometimes, dissent is fine. It can be worth it"
Valaari hears "dissent is fine" and shoots him the most bomastic side eye
"I don't know how long fomorians live, but you don't know how long you're
gonna have with someone. You've gotta grab it with both hands, the worst
thing she can say is 'yeah I'm not into you', and then you move on."
Gaohargr isn't sure, how does she even do that without disgracing her
position?
"You could write her a letter, maybe? Or give her something that means
something to you? There's lots of different ways to say it without saying
it"
Valaari thinks they're already doing the right thing! How better to build
respect than fighting someone?
Warren says that's not what
"Why would you want to get close to someone who's a wimp in battle?"
Naze deflates a little
Warren says you can definitely fall in love with someone who can't fight,
it's not the biggest factor. "Sometimes someone makes you laugh, or has
pretty eyes, or..."
Valaari cuts him off. "How is any of that important? In our lives? You need
to know they can hold their own, that they'll stick around"
Valaari thinks they aren't the right one for this conversation
Warren says Kalok Shash is all well and good, but sometimes you need
something more personal. Kalok Shash has never called to or spoken to him,
another person can be something worth fighting for
"Or maybe I'm just stupid, I don't know."
"You don't need to take my advice, beautiful giant woman, but that is my
advice. You never know what's going to happen, and you'll really kick
yourself if you don't say it. Regret is...a lot"
"I'll think about it. Thank you for the advice."
"You're welcome, and if you're ever looking for a rebound..."
Oh this smelly little rat man
She stands back up to her 28ft tall height, and tells them they're welcome
to stay and watch more, but she won't take up more of their time. They thank
her for talking to them.
Jimmy wants to scream about how bad of an idea it is to have a romantic
relationship in the chain of command, but his character wouldn't, so he has
to hold his tongue
And nobody else says it
They stay and watch the sparring for a bit longer, entertained and educated
by the way the Wyrd Vigil fight. They would love to have a Fomorian come
with them to train them
They observe several more bouts, including group fights where multiple
smaller folk spar with a fomorian. The fomorians are weirdly graceful, very
intentional about the placement of their limbs, and that makes them even
scarier.
The party watch that fight particularly closely, to try and pick up what
they can about fighting larger combatants
For the next stop, Naze wants to visit the bathhouse but Valaari wants to
see both the Anopticon and the Wyrding.
Valaari takes charge, and they head to the Anopticon next.
This structure is sized completely for giants. They have to climb the steps,
and when they get to the front desk it is sized for a giant. Bhaltair has to
use a spell to fly to get up.
He lands on the desk, and says Hi (in Common) to the Fomorian working at the
desk and waves. Once they have their attention, they point down, point to
themselves, and then fly back down.
The fomorian stands up to look over the desk, and sees them all stood there.
Valaari tries some broken dwarven to communicate, with Runmae's support.
They express curiosity about the anopticon.
Runmae takes over, Valaari is struggling with it. The desk fomorian asks
what they want to know?
"What is this place?"
"The anopticon is a refuge for fomorians, where they can get relief from
their cursed sight. Each room is filled with anti-light."
Two questions. What is this cursed sight, and what is anti-light? You mean
darkness?
Fomorians have cursed sight
No, they don't mean darkness
"...can we see it?"
"No, it's anti-light"
"Can we experience it?"
"I don't see why not"
They ask for their names, which they write down, and they gesture to one of
the side rooms with a wall of darkness at the door.
They also warn them to stay close to the wall, because they won't be able to
see
"So it is darkness?"
"No"
They enter the room, and experience the purest darkness. Very reminiscent of
the
Glitterdrift, it is a complete absense of any light whatsoever.
Bhaltair experiences it as having a physical weight to it, there's substance
to this darkness. They can't get the details of how it works, but there are
enchantments woven throughout the room maintaining it.
Valaari tries to use their special friend to ascertain anything about the
fomorians cursed sight. They don't learn details of the curse, but they do
learn that the fomorians were cursed by an archfey to "resemble the deeds of
their ruler". A very, very long time ago. Tens of thousands of years.
But not what the curse does. Damn :(
Okay, they head out. They've seen what they wanted to.
Naze mentions the bath again. Valaari says not yet.
They head to the Wyrding, an enormous hall filled with meditating fomorians.
Valaari wonders if all Fomorians have the capacity for telepathy?
Each of the fomorians is telepathically connected to one of the serpentkeel
ships, and they're all noting on maps where their associated ships are so
that the rough whereabouts of everyone can be tracked. It would be
enormously useful.
They go up to the first fomorian they can see that isn't meditating,
introduce themselves, and ask about how this all works?
They're more than happy to explain how it all works. It's not an inherent
gift, they are trained to perform the magic that creates the telepathic
connection between an Anchorite and a Ship Soul. It's a long term
connection, traumatic to break, so it's generally for life for the Ship Soul
(but the fomorians live a long time).
Bhaltair thinks it sounds achievable for them to learn this, telepathic bond
is a 5th rank spell. They lack the right spell tradition in the party to do
it, but this would be so so useful for the Ghaash'kala to keep track of and
coordinate their patrols.
They ask if they could be taught, but the anchorite is unsure. "You'd need
the approval of the Forum"
Another item on the list
Even if they can't secure a fighting force to annihilate the tribes, there's
still a lot they could bring back from Vralkast.
Valaari wants to visit the Butcher's Break next.
A whole street is dedicated to the butchering of leviathans. Massive cranes
haul them up from the harbour, and then the fomorians process them into
bone, gristle, meat and guts. All of it is used, nothing is wasted. It's a
very well run operation, they keep it clean, they freeze the meat to keep it
fresh.
Rigwi explains the Meat Tide, every half-cycle they have a tide where the
food gets distributed. It's a bit of a game, districts will try to steal the
food in transit from each other. Not everyone is happy with how much meat
their district is allocated on a given tide cycle.
Usually there is enough, but there is not always enough to go around.
It's also humbling to see giant sea monsters being handled like this.
Valaari is practically salivating at the idea of deploying an army of
Fomorians against the Carrion Tribes
They really need to prepare a solid argument. They have 8 days to prepare.
They're already practicing, trying to think of what they can offer.
If they have lots of highly trained demon killers, they could try and deal
with threats before they reach the city, if only they had a few fomorians to
help them deal with the current problem. Eh? Eh?
Naze asks again about the baths. He's finally getting his wish!
They head to Journey's End, the only structure in Harrowmark that's been
decorated. It's run by a collection of the guilds and unions that run the
city, and they operate it as a public service. There are multiple tiered
baths, of varying sizes, so that everybody can conceivably be accomodated
for. And the best part is that it's completely free!
It is communal changing rooms though
Each pool is separated plumbed, Naze is amazed. The plumbing for this place
must be insane!
And the water is heated by hydrothermal vent demons!
This is the thing that's stretching Will's suspension of disbelief, the
plumbing.
"I draw the line at unrealistic plumbing"
HYDROTHERMAL VENT DEMONS
Valaari asks if they're bathing?
They look around a bit. The baths are communal, and it's very very busy.
It's the most naked people that Naze has ever seen. He's captivated by all
the...bits. Some he recognises, some he doesn't
But he's a doctor, it's nothing he hasn't seen before.
"You know what they say, when in Vralkast" - Naze
"Get your bits out" - Warren
They get changed. Bhaltair doesn't want to go in a bath, so they're gonna
watch their stuff while the others bathe.
The others all get in a bath. Some of them people watch a bit, but Valaari
isn't bothered about others.
Warren makes awkward eye contact with a naked boggle. It's
Big Bingle. He's now seen his bingle.
Runmae watches some goblins chatting next to one of the fomorian baths, and
then the fomorian gets up and the water being displaced washes them into a
nearby bath. The fomorian gingerly apologises.
They wash themselves down before getting into the baths.
This is also the first time any of them have seen Valaari take off their
prosthetic leg! They take it off before they get in the bath.
(They do keep it clean though)
This is also the first major opportunity they've had to really bathe and
relax other than Bhaltair's magic pool. Taking a bath is a fairly novel
experience for most of them.
Valaari fantasizes about Vralkast being a regular destination for the
Ghaash'kala, they could holiday here.
They're going to deploy a tourism industry after asking for help with the
tribes.
They remain in the baths for the rest of the day, until they're ready to go
to bed.