I'm Not Flying with that Batsh!t Crazy Pilot! [Session 44]

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Current Situation

• After arriving at Trollskull for a cliffhanger, the group assesses the situation and makes some quick decisions about where to head next. Unfortunately, things get a little out of hand before they do. After finally getting out of Waterdeep, they meet with Elminster at Mirt’s lodge just outside of Nightstone. And that is where their flight ends and new challenges begin.

Session Summary

• Hurrying past the Trollmates, Erky plunks down a sparkling blue, cylindrical item with a dragon's head onto the teleportation circle and unfolds crystal wings. As he does this, Ely asks if anyone is at the tavern and Erky replies yes, there are dozens of guards everywhere outside and wanting entrance to the tavern, but the Gnome has denied them entry. As he talks, the object in the middle of the circle begins to emanate a bluish fog, that blocks the circle. "What's happened? What's gone on?"
• Dhann quickly explains what's happened and Erky says he's just blocked the circle at the tavern with something called the Sands of Sanctum so no one else can teleport in while the fog is in place.
• Ely expresses that they have things they need to grab, and Barrett moves to begin unblocking the hidden passageway in the southern wall. Erky also mentions Trollskull Alley is barricaded off. Elyana is out of spell energy to teleport using the circle, but thankfully Erky will be able to get the group out through the portal. Barrett suggests Erky flee with the group, while Urberous "Urb" Coldor and his family stay, using the position as hired security to maintain an objective and non-conspiratorial relationship with the Trollmates. He then heads up the hidden passage in the wall, Z close behind, while Ely and Dhann remain behind in the basement.
• Erky also heads upstairs, and Dhann maintains a position at the door to the teleportation room, listening for anyone attempting to come into the basement that isn't someone they want down there. Now on the third floor, the Monk and Bard can hear shouting, and then a cry from Urb, from the Chapel, "He's been shot!" followed instantly by a call from Erky, below them, of, "I'm on my way!" Dhann and Ely hear Erky say this, but don't know in response to what.
• Z and Barrett are able to retrieve their things, and when Ely hears the string to her room ping an alarm, she drops Seeming on the two upstairs, knowing they've gotten what they need, and it's better they look like themselves in case they run into anyone helping guard the tavern.
  
• The Gnome then opens the basement door and calls down, "Dhann - Someone's been hurt!" Dhann asks where, and who, and Erky says he thinks it's Maran Blackwood. Upstairs, there's a tumbling sound, and Urb appears, helping Maran along, and the teen has an arrow through his left shoulder. In his other hand, he has a stick with a long, colored string dangling from the end. Urb explains that Maran went to the window to look out at the guards, and from the ground, it must have looked like the boy was holding a bow, so a younger guard reacted and fired an arrow of his own at the perceived threat.
• Barrett reminds Maran to stay out of sight and if anyone asks, he hasn't seen any of the Trollmates since they left for the Summit. Maran asks if they're in trouble, and Barrett says no, and then pulls the arrow out of the boy's shoulder to apply healing. In response, Maran screams in pain. However, the healing makes a large difference in the severity of the wound.
• The Monk then says to take Maran downstairs and use this as a way to show that the City Watch has just attacked an innocent citizen in their own home and they need to back off, and have someone more official come to deal with the situation. On the way out, Barrett replaces the thread across his door. He also replaces Ely's.
• Dhann, in the meantime, makes to head upstairs to check on Maran but Erky, Z, and Barrett enter the basement and Barrett tells Dhann, who asks, that Maran is fine. At the same time, Ely asks the group, "Can anyone else see this?" but no one has any idea what the Warlock is talking about. Z tells Erky Urb will handle the guards at the door and that they're ready to be teleported to Mirt's Hunting Lodge. The Gnome begins to fold up the blue dragon, the fog returning back into the cylinder. Ely asks if Maran is coming back to the Lodge with them, but no, he's on the first floor with Urb and is staying behind with Erky. He explains the circumstances under which Maran was shot by the Watch.
• At this moment, another strange fog begins to appear on the teleportation circle, a green grey mist, and Erky says, panicked, "There's someone coming! I don't know who it is-" but Ely then says, "I think it's okay. I have a feeling I know who it is." Barrett gets ready to hit whoever it may be. The fog forms into a figure, 6'1", very tall, blond, and looking furious. It's Ander Blackwood.
• Much older than they saw him last - perhaps seventeen - a large snowy owl on his shoulder, and his sword drawn. He gives Barrett and Z a quick nod, before pointing his sword directly at Ely and Dhann, still hidden with Seeming, and demands, "Where is my brother?"
• Ely quickly assures Ander of who she and Dhann are, and that Maran is upstairs on the first floor. "We have to get going - you should protect your brother." Ander asks if Maran is hurt, still, but Barrett lets him know it's a light wound now. "What exactly am I protecting him from?" Ely explains there are guards after them, "At Silverhand's order," pipes in Z, and Ander nods and tells Elyana he'll contact her later for further explanation. Barrett covers up the hidden wall passage, and with another nod at Z and Barrett, an apologetic smirk at Dhann, Ander is out of the basement through the main entrance to find Maran.
  
• The group agree for Erky to send them to the Lodge, and Erky, after handing the Sands of Sanctum to Dhann for the group to keep for the time being, begins casting the appropriate magic to send them off. And then, seconds later, the Trollmates are standing in the cellar of Mirt's Lodge.
• With the sudden drop in stress, urgency, and action, the group decides to take a breath to assess their current situation, and where to go from here. Hopefully, Elminster Aumar will reach out to them soon. It's about eleven at night, at this point. Barrett asks the group if they should move to clear their names, or pursue the larger quest to assist Ander, and Z mentions again that no one in the group has officially been charged with anything, so he thinks they should get on with the path they're being led down; the bigger picture. He's not sure what their next step is, but the steps will ultimately lead to dealing with the Church of Cyric.
  
• The next large step, regardless of what happens immediately, is the search for the Moonstone in the Anauroch desert.
• Dhann says he thinks their two main options are to either do something to help alleviate what's just happened in the city, or to pursue the larger quest first. He brings up, as a suggestion to cover the former, going to Amphail to see if the group can find the third piece of the relic Father Evencrest is in need of to take care of the growing number of orphans in the city. "Potentially, that is a bit of a way to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the city if we want to negate a direct effect of the Cult." Z says, "I like the idea of supporting the city so there's something left of it when we get back to it."
• The Cleric also reminds the group that Elminster said he'd be able to get the group to the Sunset Mountains and he didn't necessarily need the Trollmates to be in a specific spot in order to teleport them there.
• Z thinks the group should get some sleep and decide in the morning, but perhaps the more humanitarian mission is the better one to pursue at present. It's decided, at least for now, to find something to eat, and try to settle down as best as possible after all of the chaos of the day. A bit of time is spent on this, and everyone finds themselves to be able to settle somewhat in one of the sitting rooms. Mirt's place is comfortable, to put it simply.
• Before everyone makes to break into separate rooms to try and get some sleep, Ander appears before Elyana - with a new ability, she's able to speak directly to him, sometimes see him, but only Ely can do these things. No one else in the group can see or hear the young man.
  • What are the updates from Trollskull? The guards haven't come in, "someone official" came in and spoke to Erky. Erky covered for the group, and the man smiled and looked past at Ander, and from his description, the man at the tavern was Barnibus Blastwind. He winked, and turned to shout at the guards, and Emmer Jundhyll was also there, and the latter ordered the guards to stay in position overnight, but he also said none of the Trollmates were there.
    
  • Maran is fine, even if he was a little scared. He's working on some sort of "strings and sticks" contraption.
  • Ander then tells the group the thing they're searching for in Myth Drannor is a Mythallar. He's actually never been to Myth Drannor himself, but Elminster says that's the place to look.
    
  • Ander doesn't really have the capability to get them instantaneously to Myth Drannor. "It will take weeks in your time, possibly a year in mine."
  • Barrett says airship could potentially be hailed from The Roaming Isle, if it's floating closely enough, to get the group from the Sunset Mountains to the east, or, they could conduct their business in Amphail and have an airship meet them and take them east. Mention of Bryst Grimson comes up and Z says, "I'm not flying with that crazy, batshit captain again, forget that!"
    
  • Elminster hasn't reached out to Ander, and Ander hasn't been able to reach him, but he doesn't get the sense the Mage is in any present danger.
  • Barrett asks if a Mythal will work, and Ander doesn't know - but Elminster might.
    
  • Ultimately, Ander can't assist with finding a Mythallar - that's Elminster's side of affairs - as he need to focus wholly on his current training.
• The Lodge is well stocked with provisions and basic gear, and Barrett prepares some rations for the group to take with them, whenever they decide to leave. It's at this time that the Trollmates restock a bit from the goods Mirt houses here. Dhann casts Locate Object, thinking Erky may have left behind some of the enchanted chalk Ely can use to draw teleportation circles, and is able to find some in a chest filled with other basic components for spells, in what looks to be Erky's room at the Lodge. He leaves behind a sum of gold to hopefully cover the resupply cost of anything they take from the Lodge. Barrett lends Dhann one of his clubs from Elminster, and then finds a cabinet stocked with various potions, as well as equipment in various chests and closets and everyone picks up some gear:
  
  • 1 Potion of Spiderclimb
  • 8 Potions of Healing (3 Barrett, 2 Z, 1 Ely, 2 Dhann)
    
  • Barrett refills his quiver with arrows
    
  • 1 Wand of "Enemy Detection" (Ely uses Mage Hand to do this, rather than her own hand. "Fun and creepy at the same time," remarks Z.)
• Dhann takes a moment to Send to Blackstaff:
  
  • "Out of city proper. Can you let Renaer know, if possible? Haven't heard anything else that occurred. Are you alright? Don't answer if it's dangerous."
  • Response: "Glad you're okay. Silverhand was injured. The focus is now on Elminster. We need to speak. Stay out of city. Message tomorrow."
• The Cleric then lets the group know about the response, and Barrett writes a small note for Mirt, letting the Moneylender know what they've taken from his stores.
  • "Thanks for the loans. We will settle up later." - signed Friends of the Ardeep Elves
    
• Barrett goes outside to check the stables and see if there are any horses or vehicles. There's two horses and a carriage, well tended; it's the same horses and buggy the group had seen with Mirt and Velrosa Nandar. The dog kennel is empty and looks to have been for quite a long time.
• As he's coming back in, and shuts the door behind him, the door locks by itself and he gets the impression that the house somehow is able to sense that the Trollmates are welcome within the walls. From their previous visits, the gang also knows the place is well defended and equipped with many traps and secrets.
• The door's barely locked itself when there's the sounds of a disturbance on the lawn, and the group rushes to see what's happening. From the roaring and massive explosion that follows, there's no way it's anything besides Elminster and his signature booming entrance. Two giant dog statues on the outside of the Lodge have animated and are attacking the Mage, but are no match as he blasts one of them into a pile of rubble. Other defenses on the outside of the house are coming to life to attack him, but Ely yells at the second stone dog, "Elminster's on our side! Don't attack him!" And mid-jump, it freezes, but the Lion Sword follows through and cleaves it in two, smattering the halves across the lawn. "Thank you! That was...unexpected. Where is everyone?"
  
• Everyone has been watching, and everyone is a bit on edge. Z calls, "Hold fast! Who are you again?" Elminster laughs loudly as he realizes Z is trying to test him and the Mage makes a joke about mindflayers. He's Elminster. The Mage flings an arm over Z's shoulder and brings him to the house while Z hisses, "Don't ever do that again."
• "Well! Uh...I think I've gotten myself into a little bit of trouble, with the Waterdeep people." He chuckles. "I didn't hit her thaaaaat hard." Elminster explains it was Xanathar that was the true problem and he was trying to...defend Laeral Silverhand ("Kind of").
• Elminster, while light about the whole situation, it's clear he's trying to do so for the sake of the group. He asks after Maran, and then asks jokingly about how the group plans to get everyone out of this current pickle. All jokes aside, he couldn't let the group remain in the castle, and the ruckus was the best and only way out of that situation he could think of in the moment.
• Discussing options with Elminster:
  • Current fugitives as they are, the Church in the city will have to wait. The stones, or the Mythallar, should be the next step. Elminster considers the Mythal for a second that Barrett asks after, but the Mage lets him know that that Mythal has its purpose and should remain where it is.
  • It's most likely they can find an expended one, in Myth Drannor, but it will have to be recharged. That, however, is a challenge for another day. One needs to be located in the first place.
  • Once they get to the Sunset Mountains, a flying beast or vehicle would help speed things along considerably. Turns out he knows Grimson, and for the time being, that name and plan are shot down.
    
  • The group informs him of the issue of the food shortage in the city and that they may pursue the relic of Chauntea, with Dhann recounting all he told the group about it. Elminster isn't opposed to the idea, but then says he feels terrible - there's more he's learned the group doesn't know yet.
  • He doesn't know the plans, but he's learned about the timeline. They have three months before Drezlin Nandar is going to act again. Time, for the moment, is on the side of good.
  • The Cult is apparently more of a distraction than anything, and a good one, at that. It's not just Waterdeep, it's the Sword Coast. North, south, all the major cities are just as impacted. Whatever will be done by good, needs to be done on a much larger scale.
  • They NEED to find a Mythallar. Without question.
  • Ander's training and relationship with the Mythallar will be his final challenge before confronting Cyric.
  • The Shadowstone and the Moonstone need to be located and acquired. Selûne has the latter, and Damian Krale, the former, but his location is currently unknown. At least Selûne is somewhere in the Anauroch Desert.
  • The Moonstone is rumored to be near the "standing stones" and is well protected. If you don't know what you're looking for, you won't find it. She supposedly has some helpers south of the desert that are the keepers of the directions to her location. Not much is known about them, but, that might be a good start in finding the goddess. On the edge, the southeastern side of the desert.
  • The stones will most likely be key for helping Ander with the Mythallar. It might all need to come together very quickly. 
  • Mystryl (Mystra), unfortunately, is being very scarce in her messages, when she sends them at all.
  • The current rumor about the The Nightstone is that it's been stolen by giants.
  • Elminster has a teleportation circle in the Sunset Mountains, so he can guarantee their safe arrival in the mountains.
  • If the group can locate a Mythallar, it will take Elminster and at least "two others" to recharge it with a new purpose for Ander. He still needs to find those two folk.
  • When the group is closer to Myth Drannor, he'll be joining them to find one along the unpredictable terrain.
  • Going to Amphail affords Elminster a bit more time to pin down transportation for the group to the Sunset Mountains, and then further east. When they're done in Amphail, reach out to Ander to then get in contact with the Mage.
• It's been a long day, and everyone sits down to enjoy a small meal together to have an hour or two of respite and catching up. Z fills in Elminster about the Stone of Golorr and the Naked Pirate, Zardoz Zord, and Dhann asks if Elminster's ever met Deldreg. After recounting what happened in the library with the skeletal dragon, Elminster remarks that perhaps that's an option later, should they need a favor from the long-dead beast. However - don't put too much stock in that. Green dragons are prideful. But it's certainly something to keep in mind. As for the Stone of Golorr, it leads to a massive treasure, supposedly hidden by Dagult Neverember underneath Waterdeep. "The stone itself is evil, for certain! It holds secrets, makes pacts with its owners, so to speak." When he remarks the stone is lost, he gives Z a knowing look and a grin.
  
• Z recounts the ditty of The Greasy Cat and Elminster says he thinks it's about a mythical creature called a Unknown. He says to be careful if it is indeed a Rakshasa, "They're shifty little fellows."
• Ely attempts to locate something in the Bag of Holding, but whatever it is, she can't seem to find it.
• Bringing up the topic of the books from the Nandar's library, he asks if they have "The Book of Vile Darkness," and they describe the fleshy, green book and Elminster says that this sounds like it. The book, apparently, changes overtime in its appearance, and it details how to create a lich. They tell him they have it in the bag, and he comments that no one should read it, and to not lose it. It's a very powerful artifact. Do NOT attune to it, or even take it out of the bag. But if it's the actual book Drezlin used to make himself a lich, it can be used against him.
• At this time he tells the group to be on the lookout for Drezlin's phylactery, and after telling him about the one in the library, it's clear that Drezlin has multiple. And if they can destroy all of them, his soul will have nowhere to hide. As long as a phylactery exists, he can recreate himself.
• They also fill in Elminster on the dark arrow and it most likely being used by Cyric's twins, Risque and Muse. Describing the twin figures The Elves of Ardeep saw, Elminster wonders as to why they, out of everyone would try to kill Drezlin. They fill him in on the details of Drezlin becoming a lich and the Mage then confirms that this means they know a way to free Cyric and it involves Drezlin. He doesn't understand the entire arrow business, though, and Barrett shows him the sketches from the shaft of the arrow. Elminster looks at them closely and he says it's very plain. The symbols are almost meaningless, as if the crude arrow was an attempt to be disguised as something else. Dhann wonders if it was treated like a spell scroll, imbued with the power to deliver a single spell in an accurate shot.
  
• Elminstr is also told how Drezlin seemed to be on the path to redemption until he was killed before he was no longer useful and it seems that him being killed was needed, for whatever hand he has in the unknown event occurring in three month's time.
• Dhann then takes out the small journal he got from the library that details Elminster as a villain responsible for the destruction of Thultanthar:
  • This journal describes a brief history of The City of Shade, a Netherese flying city formed almost 3,000 years ago was once situated above the Anauroch desert. The high mage of Thultanthar had been experimenting with moving the entire city to the Shadow Plane. Legend holds that he finally resolved the issue and was able to shift to Shadowfell but then, for some reason, was prevented from returning to the material plane. For over 1,700 years, the inhabitants battled the malaugrym and the other shadowy horrors of the realm, while each generation became gradually more attuned to the plane itself, becoming what were eventually known as shadovar. Finally, in 1372, the city returned to Toril and the and the material plane. For the next 113 years, they attempted to expand the city. Attacks on Myth Drannor brought the city into a time of ruin. In 1487, Elminster Aumar brought the city to the ground completely destroying it the final remnants of Myth Drannor in the process.
    This book describes, in detail, Elminster Aumar as a villain, responsible for the deaths of thousands of people on the ground and in Thultanthar. It villifies him and seems to be written from the perspective of a survivor from Thultanthar.
• He says he by no means sees this as a change in how he views Elminster, but wanted to ask after it. Elminster understands, and some talk is had about perspective, and from what views stories and histories may be written from. Dhann asks if this means they shouldn't mention Elminster's name in Myth Drannor in terms of association, and Elminster chuckles and agrees that it's probably best to mention him as rarely as possible.
• Elminster also tells the group that there is no longer any need for the twelve keys to release Cyric from his prison. In their planning, the side of evil has found a way around that and rendered the keys moot. "Whatever this event is, is a precursor to Cyric's release, unless we change the story. The Shadow magic, used by Drezlin, shouldn't be here. The more there is, the more there is for Drezlin to use."
• Z asks if Elminster doesn't have a shadow magic sponge, and Elminster chuckles and says he's been working on some way to detect it, to find large quantities of it and perhaps find where Drezlin's resources of the magic are. Dhann speaks up here and describes the moment in the Nandar library when he was able to sense with the Glove of Radiance that there was no Shadow present, and Elminster is very interested by this. He asks if they have any Shadow they can experiment with, and the blue box from Mintarn is recalled from the Bag of Holding, the trigger word of "Cyric" is mentioned, (Z granting Dhann some musical inspiration, just in case!) and the box is opened.
• Dhann concentrates to see if he can manifest the same kind of reaction from the artifact. With inspiration and a blessing from his friends, and a moment of religious reflection, his hand, in the Gauntlet of Ogre Power, heats up to the point of Dhann needing to remove all coverings down to his bare hand, as the heat is so intense it starts to burn. On the back of his right hand is a white, glowing Eye of Helm and with further experimentation at the table, Dhann finds he's able to sense the direction of Shadow magic, roughly the amount of it, and through walls and without needing to see the dark stuff, up to a distance of 50'. Attempting this with the Glove of Radiance on his hand results in a high risk of injury, and both the Radiant abilities of the Glove, and the Shadow-sense in his hand cancel each other out. Z chirrups, "You've got a nose, and a hand for evil!"
  
• Throughout the experimentation, Elminster plays with the mundane Shadow in the chest like a grown demigod child. Winding down and puffing away on his pipe, it's clear that even with the heavier topics, talking with the Trollmates has done him some good, too.
  
• At this time, the conversation becomes lighter as the stories are more lighthearted, entertaining, and small talk of the familiar kind is made. It's clear to everyone that Elminster isn't taking it lightly that the group no longer has Trollskull as a home base, or access to Waterdeep, given the circumstances they've been subjected to. He seeks assurances from the group that Maran will be alright, as while the boy doesn't seem to have...anything to do with this story, he has a way of becoming fond to those around him and he has shown his qualities as a brave and talented youth.The idea is pitched that perhaps Maran can live in Nightstone for a time, until things in Waterdeep calm down, and Barrett suggest Ely try to reach out to Ander and see if she can get in contact with him.
  
• Ely thinks it, to see if she can do so, and the response from Ander in her mind is almost instantaneous. "Of course I can hear you. Is everything okay?" Ely says yeah, she guesses, and asks what Ander thinks about relaying to Maran and Mirt about his brother moving to Nightstone. Ander said he'll ask, but Maran seems to be happiest in Trollskull and is working on several projects and most likely won't want to leave. Elyana agrees and says his feelings need to be considered and they just want everyone to be okay.
• Dhann asks Ely how long she's had the ability to reach out to Ander like that, and Elyana responds she has absolutely no idea. "I don't know! Now?" Dhann ushers Elminster's hands from the Shadow and sticks the chest back in the Bag. There's a lot to think about.
  

-

Barrett chuckles as Elminster finishes another adventurous tale, still amazed that the semi-demi-god is sitting with them in a hunting lodge, swapping stories into the wee hours of the night.  During the pause that follows, he speaks up. "Elminster, I want to thank you again for the generous gifts you provided to me after I returned from...well, from wherever I returned from.  But I feel I need to ask you: was that Staff of Striking a, uh, precious family heirloom or anything?" He pauses, but reading Elminster's questioning expression he adds, "You see, I was convinced that when we were away at the Summit, Trollskull would be raided or...worse. I thought I was being clever by giving the staff to some trusted allies to hold for me, just in case.  But as it turns out, all I've done is cut myself off from the staff, because there wasn't time to retrieve it from them. I hope to get it back at some point, but I can't be sure that will ever happen. Anyway, I'm sorry if I've lost something you held dear."

Then he quickly adds, "But I still have your pipe, handkerchief, cheese and spoons!  And I've loaned one of the clubs to Dhann, so we've both got something to defend ourselves with."

With a fairly loud chuckle Elminster replies, "No, it was not. I'm embarrassed to say that in my old age I've likely forgotten more than I remember. Trinkets like that have come and gone through my lifetime and some even more than once. I've learned, for the most part, that things are things. If they don't have feelings then I consider almost all of them disposable. Now, a good pipe, a good spoon, and a sentient item that will hand by your side through thick and thin," He pats the Lion Sword, "Put those together with strong-hearted allies, and you really have everything you need. Well, I wouldn't say no to a really good soup occasionally as well. And I do like tarts. Ok, so a pipe, a spoon, a smart sword, good people, good soup, and tarts. There, that about completes the list!" Elminster roars with laughter and finishes with, "No, nothing special. But we should find you a new trinket for sure!"

Barrett can't help but laugh along.  It seems like all the recharge time that they had over the last three days was wiped out by the stress of the last three hours, but joining in the merriment brings back some of the joy. "Well, that is, ah...that is some wisdom that I will certainly ponder. Particularly the part about the tarts." He pauses for a moment, then says, "I have requested a replacement trinket or two - artifacts from my Order, actually - which were supposed to arrive sometime soon. I doubt I'll be able to collect them in Waterdeep...but maybe when you return to bampf us to the Sunset Mountains, if you happen to be near Trollskull and the timing is right, you could bring them to me.  But I guess, if you are spending time on other planes now, that probably won't work out." A question jumps to Barrett's mind.
"Say, you didn’t happen to cross paths with a Tortle named Yelqen in your many adventures, did you?" He uses his new Minor Illusion cantrip to create a small, still image of the ancient monk on the table.

Dhann lets the conversation move around him for a bit, preferring to remain quiet and in thought while all of them settle into the small reprieve from danger and suspense. He wants to experiment more, but at present that feels disruptive and so he'll bide his time on that. Instead, he leans a bit closer to the Warlock's seat, keeping his voice politely low so as not to interrupt Elminster and Barrett's chatting, and asks, "Ely - would you mind recalling the medicinal reader from the Bag? The Humors, I believe the title is."

The Warlock in question pauses her own feverish search through her personal backpack with a heavy sigh. "Yes." She sets her the bag aside and swings the Bag of Holding around onto her lap. "Gladly." She adds as she throws opens the flap of the bag and sticks her hand inside to only a second later feel the worn cover of The Humors in her hand. She checks it before handing the book over to Dhann. "Anything else?" She looks as if she wants to tack some sly remark onto the end of her simple question, but smirks back at him instead.

"Thank you," Dhann reaches and takes the book, giving Ely a little one-sided grin in return. "I doubt it's a very funny read, but they do say laughter's good medicine." He doesn't think her smirk has anything to do with the book, but making a stupid joke is his attempt to wind down a little more, if possible. Dhann looks down at the cover of the small reader, then thumbs through a few of the pages, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Elminster," Dhann pauses for half a second, asking the question as he tries to think of an answer at the same time, "We have about three months before whatever Drezlin has planned is supposed to begin. Do any days around that time have any significance to Cyric, before his imprisonment? It's...that's a very specific thing, knowing we have three months." He frowns. "That might just be the time needed to prepare whatever it is, not necessarily point to any days of prior importance."

“Maybe it’s his birthday? Or the anniversary of his ascension to God status,” Ely quips, finally giving up on going through her things and shoving her personally bag back into the Bag or Holding. Instead busies herself with casting Mage Hand and using it to pinch at the illusory Tortle. The spectral fingers cycle through iridescent shades of green, blue, violet and back to green as they pass through Yelquen’s image on the table.

Barrett shifts the image to that of a cartoonish treasure chest with the lid half open.  It is clearly a mimic, with it's oversized teeth a perfectly positioned around the Mage Hand's extended fingers.

To Barret, Elminster replies "Of course I remember Yelqen.  I think I remember something about him making a pretty good soup. And he also appreciated the importance of a good spoon, if I remember! That was many years ago, before I retired to Shadowdale, so somewhere around 1330 or so. He was pretty old then."

"And, Dhann, you are right to think of significant dates but I'm afraid I have none. And three months is very vague too. That piece I got from Mystra. She's been very difficult to understand of late. Her power is still not fully restored and I imagine her ability to see future events is somewhat diminished. However, the image I had was one of green grass and lush trees hung heavy with marinda fruit. Then I saw a desert area with three stones. The stones seemed to be lined up in a triangle and the sun began to fade in the middle of the day. It was very strange. Neither night, nor day, twilight nor dawn."

"The grasses and the fruits on the trees were my judge of the time. Specifically, marinda fruit doesn't ripen until well AFTER the spring equinox. So, I put the clues together and that's what I came up with. Of course, Mystra loves marinda fruit so it may be that she was just wishing for some. But I suspect it was an indicator of time."

"He's still pretty old." Ely mentions about Yelqen, as the mystical hand is now silently slapping it's open palm down through the mimic.

The mimic is replaced in a blink by a pile of ogre droppings, which the hand slaps. Barrett then creates the soft sound of wet contact. He feels he’s getting the hang of this cantrip.

Suddenly, a rancid, wretch-inducing smell begins to emanate from the table, "Haha! You'll wish you hadn't!" Elminster's raucous laughter fills the room and probably the entire lodge. Hopefully, the smell will not follow suit!

As the evening continues, outwardly, Barrett seems happy and content.  Inwardly, he is content...but the pragmatic side of him is already wondering when, if ever, he and his friends will feel this safe again.

Dhann detachedly watches the goings on between the two illusions, still thinking, and at Elminster’s description with the three stones, says, “That makes me think of that space or place between from which one is supposed to gain access to the vault of Dunamancy…” A smell hits him then, and he fights to hold in a grimace. He makes to stand. “If no one thinks it’s a bad idea, I’m going to block the teleportation circle with the Sands that Erky gave us. There’s enough time left on the spell to jam the circle through the night and well into tomorrow.”

Barrett shrugs.  He's never really understood teleportation magics all that well.

Ely covers her nose as the new scent hits her. “I think that’s a good idea.” She starts having the magical hand wave back and forth to disperse the smell as much as it can.

Dhann stands and moves to exit the room, pulling the sparkling hourglass from his components pouch. He'll have to find another rucksack at some point. Making for the back cellar, he quietly Sends his last message for the night: "Erky, blocking circle here. Are you alright? Maran? Everyone? Use or take whatever you need from the Tavern. Helm watch you, and thanks. Stay safe."

"Block anything near wherever you are. Everyone safe here. Guards backed off after Blastwind. Just a perimeter now. We are allowed in and out safely."

In the cellar, Dhann places the Sands in the center of the teleportation circle, and unfolds the sparkling wings. He waits for a few moments to ensure that the spell begins to fog up the surrounding area before heading back to the table where everyone is still discussing the matters at hand. He tries not to breathe too deeply - that stench was awful.

"Is Marinda fruit potentially a sign of location, as well as time?" Dhann looks to Elminster, and then Elyana. "Is it present in Myth Drannor anywhere? Or the Dalelands? I'm not familiar with it. I think you've done the most overland travel, Ely, is that a familiar tree to you?"

"I sent back to the Tavern, also - sounds like the guards have backed off after the initial questioning. There's a perimeter, but those who stay at Trollskull are able to come and go safely."

The spectral hand finally fades away as Elyana speaks in a nasally voice. “That sounds about right given what Ander reported as well.”

She considers Dhann’s next question. At first mention, the name doesn’t ring any bells but searching her mind, a sudden tingle of sour flavor permeates her memory. She smacks her tongue in is slight disgust. “Oh right! Wow, it’s been quite some time since I’ve had to eat that. Comes handy for clearing a stuffy nose. Miranda fruit trees tend to grow freely on the edge of the forests… up in areas north of the Dalelands and also west of the desert. But I haven’t spent enough, if any time in Myth Drannor to know if it grows there. Wouldn’t be too surprising though.”

"That sounds like both a sign of time, and of direction, if we take it literally. I've never been that far east, so I may be off without a map, but that's very much in the area we're being pointed towards. Almost to the extreme." Dhann places a hand on his chin in thought. "Interesting..."

“We have a map. I took a very thick atlas from Nandar’s library,” Barrett interjects. “But I understand your point.”

Elminster finishes tugging on his pipe a little bit, and he looks around at each of them, and he says, "I feel like I should say thank you. You've done a lot. I'm afraid what you're about to do is infinitely harder than what you've done to this point. So I'm not sure 'thanks' is well-timed. I'll say I'm very glad to have your help. I'm very confident in each of you. Very fortunate to have such people willing to go this far."

"You're not just strokin' our fur, are you?" Z gives a playful grin, but eyes Elminster with a bright stare.

"No- maybe it's the ale," Elminster chuckles. "No," He continues, growing a bit more serious again, "This will be a challenge, and I have bee alongside others, some who are now gods. You are...among the top of them, for now."

There's a few moments of deep silence, as each of the Trollmates processes the words of the Mage, in their own way. "Very well," Elminster stands from the table and busies himself in tamping down his pipe and preparing to leave. "I have my own work to do, and you have, I think an orphanage to rescue or some other such goody thing like that. Good luck with that goody thing."

"And with your endeavors as well," Dhann says.

"If you need me, Ander is probably the best way to reach me. I'm, well, I'll just tell you. I'm working on moving between planes, and sometimes it gets a little harder than you would expect. My next target is the Astral Sea, and, well- I may be there for a little bit. But - Ander can usually reach me - usually. Either way, every time I can, I will check in with you directly from here on out. I know this challenge is big, and I don't want to leave you, and let you feel like it's your own."

"We appreciate your assurances," Ely nods at the Mage's concerns, understanding.

"Now, when I leave," Elminster points a large hand at the door and tilts his head, "Are those damn dogs going to..."

"You're leaving, so...maybe not?" The Warlock shrugs, golden-dipped curls rising on her shoulders. "You also, broke them, so I don't know if they're still viable?"

"Yeah, well..."

Barrett stands. "I'll walk you out, so they leave you alone - and hopefully we'll see you in a couple days, after we finish up our dealings in Amphail, so you can move us along on our journey."

"Yes, I will definitely work on that before I leave. Very well!" Elminster nods again. Dhann offers his hand in thanks, and as the two meet grips, a bit of Guidance hits Elminster's palm. "Thank you," he says, with a very solemn and respectful bow, along with a little grin. "That is very kind." Dhann returns the nod, silent, but also respectful.

-

Next time on...

Another evening with Elminster. With challenges behind them, and before them, the Trollmates are grateful for the little bit of friendship and chatter they've been gifted this night. Making their ways to their nightly meditations, connectings, prayers, and weavings, the four of them turn in, to prepare for the morning.