Arc 1: According to Polly

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