Arc 1: According to Polly

Curiouser and Curiouser

• The Pod - still without a name - arrives at a new settlement. 
• Immediately, and old man orders the Pod to leave while ranting about his vegetable garden. This is the second elderly individual to confuse this Pod with another.
• Tressa Shadowbane manages to get his granddaughter's name (Kam) to track them down later before she shoes him off.

Split the Party!

• Citalli joins the villagers catching shellsfish at the exit of a flow tunnel. He learns that the purple ones can't be eaten without proper preparation - luckily with the first hand testimony of a chin-scarred villager - but they are excellent for dyes.
• Xendario visits the village Elder to learn about jobs and ask about any word of what happened to Prism. He learns nothing of Prism, but gets the skinny on three jobs: a level one escort mission, a level 2 delivery mission, and a level 3 trip to the surface to gather sargassum.
• Tatrin Var goes shopping for bloodsponge. 
• Tressa drags Milagros shopping. They find expensive, brightly dyed fabrics (about which Mila is unenthusiastic), and discuss the concept of hatching day gifts (about which Tressa is unenthusiastic). Mila shepherds Tressa away from the hubub and urges her to reconsider the name Prism for the Pod. Although she is eloquent about Tressa's power and the gift of her light, it is merely the fact that Mila herself likes the name that sways Tressa. (That, and the fact that Mila respects her boundaries, unlike Xen.)

Next Steps

• The Pod - still unnamed - agrees to try the trip to the surface for sargassum.
• Xen goes to notify the Elder, but is unable to negotiate a higher fee.
• Tatrin and Tressa visit Kam to learn more about her grandfather's confusion. She insists he "gets like that sometimes," but it does seem that a Pod made a mess of his vegetable garden while on a job for the town. While nobody else seems to be mixing up our heroes' Pod with the mystery Pod, Tatrin and Tressa agree that two instances feels like more than a random coincidence.

Split the Party

• Milagros and Xendario discuss Tressa Shadowbane's refusal to consider the name Prism.  Mila really likes the name, but thinks that Xen's deficiencies as one of his "kind" (ie., men) have lead him to mishandle things with Tressa. Mila offers to talk to Tressa.
• Tressa and Citalli try to go shopping, but there is no shopping to be had in this small town. Citalli probably prefers the rations, anyway.
• Tatrin Var plays with Tako.
• Mila and Xen ask Greymoorefor details on the available jobs: a level 1 escort mission, and a level 2 missing person case. The town's beloved chef, Cecil, left town in search of special ingredients, and has not returned. Mila and Xen agree that Citalli would like to rescue a maker of snacks, Tressa would prefer the higher pay, and they themselves actually care to save a life - and agree to look for Cecil.

Catch a Cook

• The Pod finds sharks hovering over a likely target several hours away from town.
• Tatrin and Tressa take down a shark with a combo punch of a Magic Missile and Guiding Bolt.
• A bloody fight ensues. (Maybe somebody who didn't lose their token miles away and actually knows what happened can add more details?)
• Tressa, who mysteriously vanished from sight, returns to create an unexpected light show - summoning her Spiritual Weapon for the first time.
• A quick flight from the scene prevents further conflict with unknown predators attracted by voluminous blood in the water.
• Cecil has been injured and staving off the hovering sharks with a spear. Without the Pod's timely assistance, he would surely have perished.
• Cecil's injury does not resolve with simple healing, until Citalli's Lesser Restoration ends the unknown disease.

Ruinous Rest

• Xen finds an ancient ruin in which to rest. It is a popular rest site with local day-trippers, and has some basic supplies.
• Cecil turns rations and snails into a small feast.
• Tatrin dreams of walking down a curiously long hallway, hearing the distant sound of industry, descending a spiral staircase, and entering a room.
• The Pod safely returns Cecil to his village. There is much rejoicing. Greymoore reports that another Pod who looked "just like" us took the escort job while we were gone. But he's just confused in his old age, right? 

Calamity

• Tatrin Var successfully slices open a chromatic clam, retrieving the meat, along with 3 miniscule and 1 tiny primal pearls.
• Tatrin, Xendario, Milagros, and Tressa Shadowbane attempt to rig a way to open a second clam and retrieve pearls with Mage Hand, while Citalli distracts a smaller clam from the activity.
• Citalli speaks with the smaller clam. 
• ABSOULTE FUCKING HORROR ensues as the adorable child clam talks about his little sister and his grandpa and invites Citalli to "take the itchies," but can't hold back its natural defenses.
• Adorable Child Clam continues to snap through Citalli's arm while Citalli continues to try to prove his value to the group.
• Grandpa Clam is angry.
• The Pod barely escape from the blood in the water with their Citalli's life intact and his arm in tow, if not intact.

Mussel Recovery

• With divine aid and Mila's assistance, Tressa manages to bind Citalli's barely-there arm in place so the tissue can reknit.
• Citalli cries himself to sleep. Tressa shows no mercy until he can't possibly hear it.
• The next morning, Mila thanks Tressa for saving her life that one time after their less than wise encounter with a primal shark. Loudly. Near Citalli. 
• Citalli admits to Tressa that he doesn't want the Pod to hate him. Tressa gives terribly dour advice that nobody has done enough yet to earn anyone's true like or dislike - for example, she doesn't particularly care for Tatrin, but that could change. She promises she'll like him better if he doesn't get in the way of negotiating for pay. 

Rakin' in the Clams

• The Pod arrives at the next small settlement.
• Greymoore greets the Pod and pays 2gp, 5 sand dollars, and explains the pay structure of the Pod system (see also: Job Pay ).
• Two new jobs are available: a level 1 escort job, and a level 2 missing persons job. (See also: Job Pay).
• Xen, completely disregarding Tressa's clearly stated boundary that she absolutely has a problem with taking the name "Prism," asks the group if they've considered the name any further.
• Tressa refuses to even participate in such a ludicrous discussion and flounces off, only to discover a little shadow in the form of Citalli, who now apparently has decided that they've bonded, despite the fact that she has been more than a touch abrasive with him.

Unnamed Small Community is Unnamed and Small

• We arrive at last at the first village where we can get work.
• Everybody here is like, old. 
• The Elder hires us to assist Torax in herding cow-like fish who have outgrown their work. Torax is less than enthused.
• Xendario practices with his bow with wildly divergent results.
• Xen leads the party in Backstory Reveals to build trust among the Pod.

Xen's Backstory

• Xen's father was the Wayfinder of Prism, a nomadic community. He showed no favoritism to family - perhaps the opposite.
• Xen's grandmother trained him, and he achieved the rank of Scoutmaster.
• While he was out scouting, his entire community was decimated by an unseen foe or force.
• Xen wants to make a name for Prism again to draw notice and clues - and possibly the attention of those who attacked before.
• He wants answers so he can weigh his options. The possibility of retribution calls.

Tatrin's Backstory

• Tatrin Var is an archaeologist who worked with a crew of six others.
• Someone attacked their crew at a dig site.
• Tatrin survived the attack by hiding among the bodies and playing dead.
• Tatrin left his happy home and family to join a Pod as a way to grow stronger so he can get revenge for the death of his crew.

Less than Forthcoming: Citalli, Mila, Tressa, and Implications of The Big Share

• Citalli is from an isolated island. His people rarely leave. But his uncle (one of their greatest adventurers, according the impartial and unbiased Citalli) gifted him with his adventuring gear and the advice that "revenge makes your stomach feel funny."
• Milagrosshares that her family gradually faded from her life. And no other details to add to this grand sharing of information?!
• Tressa Shadowbane admits that she incurred a debt in her past, and has no intention of repaying it. But it's TOTALLY OKAY GUYS, because the people of Thalassoloniki can't see past their own noses and aren't likely to bother to leave their grand city, which is so isolated it isn't even on the Pod system.
• Xen asks if there are any objections to naming our Pod Prism. Tressa objects strenuously for "personal reasons," and declines any further explanation.
• Tatrin and Xen clasp hands, arriving at a mutual understanding in their definitely healthy pursuits for revenge.

Maybe Torax Didn't Need Us After All, But We Got Paid Anyway

• Xen's excellent perception steers us clear of danger, but the rest of the party struggles to contribute meaningfully to herding the cowfish. 
• We receive a pay token for our dubious work, to be redeemed at a larger village.
• En route to said larger village, we find four chromatic crabs. Tasty eats and possible primal pearls are within reach - if we can keep life and limb during the extraction process.

Original Session Recording: June 27, 2024

Podcast Posted: 

• A wild sandstorm appears! Xendario leads the way out.

• After making camp, Xen practices with his bow. 
• Tatrin asks Tressa about her ritualistic mending. Tressa throws shade at Tatrin for the privilege of his wealth, because she cannot afford to replace her possessions if they fall into disrepair. She does admit the ability is part of a gift from her goddess.
• Citalli attempts to use wild shape and Taco's assistance to seal the goldfish net while the Pod sleeps, but both Tressa Shadowbane and Tatrin Var catch him.

• In the morning, the Pod discusses some of their background.
• Citalli and Tatrin have been on land and describe "dry," which Milagros knows from healing chambers where heavily wounded are taken to avoid blood in the water. 
• Citalli checks a star chart every morning, given to him by his Uncle, along with other adventuring gear.
• Tressa inquires about Xen's bow, which he shares is an heirloom.
• Difference between the ocean's regions are discussed in terms of light, reading, and sight. 

• The Dolphin Corps arrive at camp, having sought us out after our expected arrival for the next leg of the journey was delayed while we talked.
• Citalli and Xen impress Captain Dud'lee with their ability to ride the primal dolphins through their playful antics.
• Tressa attempts to join in the dolphin tricks, but Mila has to rescue her from getting washed away. 
• The Dolphin Corps has a shelter where we rest - the primal dolphins rest there and do not resurface for air.

• Xen guides is away from one last spot of terrible before we reach the Mornacor Depths: piranha swarms.
• We have arrived at last and must choose where to travel on the Mornacor Depths map to look for work. 
• We each choose where to display our emblem, and discuss our first move in this new region.

Original Session Recording: June 13, 2024

Podcast Posted: 

• Citalli finds a ring, and lacking the proper digits to wear it, pockets the shiny. 
• Xendario practices with his bow, which wears on him quickly. 

• Lore drop! Reflecting back on our travels with other communities, some members of the Pod realize that Tatrin Var's arcane talents aren't likely to make him the most popular fish at the party when used openly. 
• What Tressa Shadowbane knows: history claims that wizards caused a certain tear near her city of origin. The people of the city now defend the ocean against the tear, which leaks a demonic influence into the world. Wizards, they teach, are not to be trusted. But then again, Tressa also knows that the powerful from her city set not to be trusted, either. 
• What Tatrin knows: The Spires was a location of arcane magic where practitioners once experienced a time of explosive growth and development. But wizards are gonna wizard, and a lack of caution somehow brought the end of the Third Tide and the rising of the Fourth. Darn wizards. 
• What Milagros and Xen know: somewhat less.
• What Citalli knows: goldfish are tasty.

• Xen channels his inner Crush and attempts to teach the Pod how to enter a current for travel. Tatrin learns the lesson exactly as is taught to him. 
• Mila insists we rid the region of a foul infestation of the dreaded lionfish prior to our arrival at said current.
• Xen's entry lessons don't fully pay off for everyone, least of all Citalli, who clobbers a few nearby hapless helpers.

• We join travelers inside ocean tumbleweed.
• Xen is disappointed by a lack of familiar faces, and has a secret conversation with Captain Fontain, a bald, orange merfolk person with a cephalopod body. This is all normal behavior for Xen, whose father crews a similar vessel. But everyone is too distracted by their personal antics to notice any of these character details.
• Mila seeks help in her quest to learn about making traps, and teaches Tressa a simple blessing.
• Tressa gets laid again.
• Citalli tries orders a side of calamari with his goldfish, but Tako survives the bite attack. After the rocky start, Citalli uses wildshape to bond with Tako as a fellow octopus and take a run at obtaining the goldfish net from Tatrin. While he can cannot convince Tako to betray his wizard buddy, he does gain good insight into Tako behavior and learns that Tatrin does actually have the goldfish net.

• Tressa casts detect evil and good to vibe check Tatrin, who, it turns out, isn't evil... yet. 
• Player speculation that Tatrin is the big bad. But it's just a joke... right?

Original Session Recording: June 6, 2024

Podcast Posted: 

Tatrin "Money Bags" Var arrives to travel with the group sporting new armor, a sword, and a book (WTF is a book?), and the Pods set out on the first leg of travel to the Mornacor Depths. Along the way, Mila assures Tressa Shadowbane there is no judgement for her... outside interests.

Along the second, solo portion of travel, the Pod settles into new nightly habits. Xendario and Milagros attempt to build a net trap for defense. It succeeds rather too well and must be reset. Alas, the first danger the Pod meets comes after they break camp and travel the ocean floor. Xen learns the hard way not to scout too far ahead of the group, and is unconscious before we can retaliate against the incoming bandits. Citalli reveals hidden abilities and takes out a bandit with one shooting star (WTF is a shooting star?). The group quickly dispatches the remaining bandit. Money Bags reveals he has a small supply of blood sponge - a handy happenstance, as bleeding wounds are likely to attract the attention of predators, and Xen is bloody indeed. 

Tatrin and Xen cut through the bandits' clothes to look for loose change and discover brands indicating they were cast out of their former community. Of Tressa and Mila, the less apparently pious of the two is the one to offer something distantly resembling and awkward burial rite for the not-so-dearly departed.

Connecting with a caravan again for the third leg of travel, the Pod eats shrimp soup for the first time. Tressa negotiates a fee to mend odds and ends, and Mila and Xen go hunting. Xen's strange weapon, it turns out, can occasionally turn on him if not wielded properly.

... and, introducing Tatrin 's familiar: TAKO ( Tako), the friendly octopus!

Original Session Recording: May 30, 2024

Podcast Posted:

• Tatrin Var, Xendario, Citalli, Milagros, and Tressa Shadowbane make their Pod emblem. From top to bottom:
  • A fancy knot tied by Yardenah.
  • A dolphin, puka shell, and sand dollar denoting the current Ohi Humaha Concordant.
  • A sun shell marked by Yardenah to denote the year.
  • Group mark: a chunk of driftwood, in hopes of having it carved at a later date.
  • Our individual marks on our separate cords:
    • Xen: a scrimshaw of an octopus
    • Mila: a pearl
    • Tressa: a black pearl
    • Tatrin: a spiral shell, slightly worn, with purple and blue veins
    • Citalli: a bead filled with star sand
• The group has chosen to delay naming at this time, but learned of other group names: Valiance (highly regarded Pod with reputation as the best there is), the Good Neighbors, the Last Straw, the Shark Scraps. Groups of higher ranks have long and winding emblems as they add new sections when they rise in rank.
• The group goes back to Lorilla's sea cave to discuss choosing a region to start Pod work: The Shining Grove, The Mornacor Depths.
  • Tatrin knows The Shining Groves will be picked over for archaeological discoveries because it is populated. His brother-in-law was familiar with The Shining Groves.
  • Mila looks wary of The Shining Groves. 
  • Tressa is resistant to either Brightwater region, but only advocates not to go to The Shining Groves.
  • Someone (?) knows that there will be plentiful but fairly boring hunting in Mornacor Depths, and more sporadic but more challenging hunting in Phae'son Taloc.
  • The group settles on Mornacor Depths as their first destination, in the belief that it might be a more reasonable challenge than Phae'son Taloc at first.
• Pod work may be competitive, with pay going to the first Pod to complete a job, but travel is free and we might be resupplied within reason when in need.
• Tatrin treats the group to lunch; Tressa catches escaping fish instead.
• Different members of the group clock how well each of us does (or does not) fit in with the general population.
  • Citalli is a different green, but not too far off from other green (lizards? axolotls?).
  • River merfolk like Tatrin, with legs, are rare.
  • Tressa's ability to control her bioluminescence is rare.
  • Xen's bow is rare.
  • Mila is the only unremarkable one of the group. (Just don't say that where Tressa can hear you.)
• Citalli begs for goldfish.
• Xen and Tressa take day labor herding fish for 5 sand dollars a day.
• Xen is saddened by the passing of Cnidaria 18.
• Tressa gets laid.
• Tatrin spends time with Larilla, who gives him her net of goldfish, on the condition that he doesn't tell Citalli about it.

Original Session Recording: May 23, 2024

Podcast Posted: 

• Milagros, traveling with her sister Tressa Shadowbane  has been sent to the Ohi Humaha Concordant to deliver a package to Kelda, the Mother Arc.
• They arrive at the Mother's Rest, a few days in advance of the Concordant.
• Mila spars with a shark momma who's sick of lying around. Shortly after, she finally gives birth.

The Boys

• A motley assortment of travelers - Tatrin Var, Xendario, and Citalli - arrive at the Ohi Humaha Gathering Grounds with Larilla. She has offered them a place to stay and several bags of goldfish snacks.
• Larilla introduces the boys to Aban of the Shoal Collective.

The Meet Cute

• Yardenah, a Shoal Master in the collective introduces our sundry party-members-to-be to the Pod system, of which newly formed Tyxm groups are the lowest rank.
• Pod member emblems are strings of shells, beads, and various bric-a-brac. From top to bottom: 
  • knot representing the Shoal Collective member who takes your oath
  • 3 identifiers for where you take your oath; for this Concordant: dolphin, puka shell, sand dollar
  • sun shell marking the year: 2548
  • group mark 
  • individual mark, blood bonded to its owner as a magical dog tag

• Pods must have a minimum of four members. Lacking sufficient numbers on their own (or better options in sight), the girls and the boys agree to form a Pod together. On a trial basis, you understand.
• Citalli eats many goldfish.

Original Session Recording: May 17, 2024

Podcast Posted: April 6th, 2026