Previously: Chapter 64: Rekindled
A Shadow in the Skies
As the party wanders through the plains, they try to keep a lookout for danger. Around them, a vast barren landscape with some low-hanging clouds fills their vision, and in the distance they can see a few beasts roaming on the horizon. Dandelion notices a large shadow in the skies, much bigger than a regular bird, that blocks the sunlight for a split second. She decides to keep an eye on it, but is unsure what it could be. Maybe a dragon? On the road behind them, a few travelers can be seen vaguely in the distance, trailed by a wagon of sorts. They decide to head onwards to Swellingstrum which is waiting on the horizon, about a day’s march away.
After a few hours of marching, Dandelion keeps watching the skies, having spotted the shadow a few more times, but it still hasn’t gotten too close to them. Might just be a trick of the light. Ahead of them they see a small hillock with a few large boulders on it, as well as what appears to be a tree. Of course Dandelion wants to check it out. Penny joins her in climbing the small hillock to get a closer look, while Relic and Kal hangs back, watching out for hidden dangers.
Before Dandelion and Penny get close enough to get a good look at the tree, the ground starts to vibrate. They can feel something burrowing up from deep below, too quickly for them to react to it. Kal and Relic both see a large bullet-shaped monstrosity bursting out from below, landing on Penny and Dandelion, who is struck by a barrage of feet and claws. Penny manages to stay on her feet, but Dandelion falls down. Kal gets closer in order to attack, but she doesn’t get far before another monstrosity comes from below, this time targeting Kal. The party has wandered straight into the territory of a flock of bulettes.
Relic manifests his mind in order to get a better overview, and jumps on top of the large rock next to them, out of danger, since Dandelion shouted out that Bulettes cannot burrow through solid rock. Penny casts Bane on those that she can see, while Relic uses a Mind Spike in order to keep at least one of them in focus at all times. A third bulette burst from below, attacking Dandelion who has been trying to get away from the first one that attacked them.
Penny uses her Wand of Wonders, hoping to get a good attack at the one right in front of her, but it backfires, stunning her for a moment. From her perspective, the wand did something awesome. The bulette uses its deadly leap, knocking Penny to the ground as she cannot resist it in her current condition. Relic chucks a chromatic orb at the one threatening Penny, just as Kal gets on top of the boulder. This angers the bulette, who takes a running jump on top of the boulder, nearly knocking both Kal and Relic off.
Relic, thinking quickly, uses fly on himself in order to get away from the bulette. It manages to get a good bite out of one of his legs, but not enough to take him down. Floating in the air, he uses his telekinetic powers to pull the bulette towards him. This surprises the monstrosity, which is unable to keep its balance, and falls to the ground below. Kal, having summoned her spirit guardians, also does a fair bit of damage to the bulette that attacked them, and so, the bulette burrows below ground, retreating.
The two other bulettes are now in direct combat with Dandelion, who has summoned a draconic spirit to help, while Penny has snapped out of her condition. The draconic spirit manages to get a few good hits in on all of the bulettes, severely wounding at least one of them which Penny manages to finish off with a low-level inflict wounds. Kal moves closer with her Spirit Guardians, wounding the bulette which is hiding below ground, prompting it to escape with what little life it has left. The party has survived the ambush, without losing anyone to these landsharks.
Relic and the Draconic Spirit flies around to look for dangers they might have missed. As they do, Relic notices the shadow that Dandelion talked about earlier getting bigger and bigger, before a massive bird-like creature comes bursting out of the clouds. Relic quickly lands, preparing for another fight, with Kal summoning a brightlance, while holding up her shield. Penny panics, getting flashbacks to when she was almost taken by a dragon, and turns herself invisible. Dandelion recognizes this as a Roc, and they usually don’t bother to go after anything as small as them, so she tells the rest of the party to stand down.
The Roc swoops down at the fallen bulette, and grabs it with its claws, flying off with it into the clouds again, most likely to feast on. Penny turns herself visible again as soon as the “danger” is over. She and Dandelion both go to check out the tree, digging around in the dirt around it. Penny suddenly touches something soft, and pulls out a sword wrapped in a cloth. A beautiful elven sword, with an accompanying ring which falls out. Dandelion uses her detect magic, and the sword is magical, the ring is not. They take it with them so that Relic can identify it. Breathing a sigh of relief, the party decides to move on to take a short rest. Relic, who was flying, spotted where the territory of the bulettes ended, so they move beyond that, and a bit further, before sitting down, having Kal cooking some food over the campfire, while Penny plays a motivating tune for them.
The Postman
Just as the party finishes up their rest, and prepares to pack their stuff, Dandelion and Penny both notice a figure in the distance, approaching at supernatural speeds, trailed by a plume of dirt. Thinking it might be another threat getting close, they start to prepare, but they have no time before it is upon them. A satyr, wearing goggles and carrying a messenger bag skids to a stop, making long streaks in the soil as he breaks.
“Is this the group known as… “the flock”?”
The party confirms this for the satyr, who replies that they are a hard group to track down, having gone from Eilian to the Emerald Earth Sanctuary, before finally pinning them down to here, in the central plains. He produces a letter, telling them that Thervan Avalast asked him to deliver it, as it was rather urgent. Impressed at the speeds at which the satyr travels, they ask how could they reach him if they were to require his services, to which he introduces himself as Fleetwind Thistlehoof, and that they only need to contact him via sending, and he will come as soon as he can, and that he can deliver packages and letters quickly, quietly, and between planes if needed.
They ask him if he is able to retrieve something from the Feywild, specifically an Edenflower, but he immediately shoots down that idea, saying that such a rare flower is not something that is easily acquired, only a few people are known to have them. They say that they know about this, but hoped that he might be able to anyway. Seems like they themselves will have to go to retrieve the Edenflower if they have any hope of saving Gleamshroud.
Fleetwind tells them that he has several more stops he has to make, and so bids the party adieu, before he comically bursts into a run and is gone before they have a chance to say something. A plume of dust disappears over the horizon, and so Penny opens up the letter, but has a hard time reading it. A handwritten note fell out, which she picks up and gives to Kal, along with the letter. Kal reads out loud.
To the Distinguished Guests of Moroxia,
The Royal Court of Ravenforge extends a cordial invitation to one and all for the grand banquet in celebration of the Coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Satine Bouchard. This momentous occasion will be held in the grand halls of Ravenhill Castle, on the 28th of february, ending the Month of Mourning.
This event marks not only a new chapter in our kingdom's storied history but also a time to unite in solidarity and hope. The evening shall be a splendid affair, filled with festivities, music, and the spirit of a new beginning.
Join us in honoring the legacy of the past and embracing the promise of the future under the benevolent reign of Queen Satine.
With Great Anticipation, The Royal Court of Ravenforge
She looks at the handwritten note, and finds it to be from Thervan himself.
P.S. In light of recent events, extensive security measures have been implemented for the safety and peace of mind of all our esteemed guests. The castle's defenses have been meticulously reinforced by my own hand, with the exception of the throne room, which has been expertly warded by the renowned Elder Archmage Delphine. Rest assured, the well-being of all attendees is our utmost priority.
We eagerly await your presence at this historic and joyous celebration.
Thervan Avalast, Elder Archmage of Abjuration
The party felt compelled to join in on the coronation in case something happens, but agrees amongst themselves that based on the letter, they shouldn’t be needed, as it looks like Thervan and Delphine has it covered. They still agree to go, as it might be a relaxing event for once, hopefully. They put the letter in the bag of holding, and continues onwards towards Swellingstrum.
Just Like that Kevin Bacon Movie
When the party finally, after a long day's walking, gets close enough to the city, they get a good overview of what they have to work with. Down river from the city around 2-300 meters, a bridge has collapsed, and they can see what appears to be a single structure outside the city walls that still is in use, as a pot with a plant in it is hanging outside the front door. The party makes their way to the collapsed bridge, where Relic uses his magic to make a new one. He spends the entirety of the spell duration, to make it look as pretty and intricate as possible, before the party crosses, and heads upwards towards the town proper.
They don’t get very far before they spot a small person coming out of the building they noticed earlier, who starts running towards them, and shouting at them. They can barely make out that the person is yelling at them to hurry up. The ground starts to vibrate again, and the party for a moment wonders if more bulettes are incoming, but suddenly, from within the city itself, a massive purple looking worm comes bursting out from the ground, reaching far over the city walls. The party all take flight, with Penny and Relic both casting fly, while Dandelion wildshapes into a giant eagle, picking up Kal at the same time. The halfling who came running up gives them a thumbs up, before running back to her house.
The party lands on the rock that the house rests on, and the halfling gestures them inside, telling them that they were smart to take flight, otherwise the purple worm definitely would have noticed and attacked them. Dandelion, still in eagle shape, takes flight to survey the situation in the city, while the halfling, who introduces herself as Tamsyn, along with her pet cat Prowler, tells them about the situation. Apparently, the purple worm is an abnormally large one that has settled underneath the city for a few years now, and Tamsyn took it upon herself to stay in order to warn people to avoid the city. Usually she manages to spot people before they get too close, but not always, and the city is large, meaning she doesn’t have the ability to ward off everyone, and those that get through more often than not end up as food for Rumblejaw, the name she has given to the purple worm.
Dandelion, scouring over the city, notices a few interesting buildings that might be worth checking out, among them a temple and what appears to be an official building of sorts, but no trace of any theater as far as she can see. In the center of the city she sees an open square with an intact statue in the middle. A large shape rests next to it, which suddenly shifts and moves. The purple worm then burrows itself underground. Satisfied that she has done her best, she returns to the party and tells them what she has found.
The party, feeling bad for Tamsyn who has been “trapped” here for the last two years, offers to help her by getting her out, but she refuses as long as Rumblejaw still sticks around. She wonders what the hells the party is doing here, and they tell her that they are on a quest given to them from the gods. She asks if they maybe can do the quest somewhere else, but they are looking for a specific object that might be hiding within the city itself, telling her that they are seeking a theater of any kind. Tamsyn mentions that she knows the location of the Starlit Stage, which sounds about right, which she found while surveying the city during her time here. She is unwilling to tell them where it is, as she doesn’t want them to go into the city.
The party pledges themselves to releasing her of her watch by taking down Rumblejaw. Tamsyn laughs at this, saying they must be mad to go against such a dangerous creature. The party indeed might be mad, but says that they feel compelled to help out. Tamsyn thinks about it, and says that she will join in the fight, but the party says that this will be too dangerous for her, as although she is a druid, she is not nearly powerful enough, and they don’t want to get her killed. In either case, if the party manages to chase away the worm or even better, kill it, she will show them where the theater is. In the meantime, Penny writes a song that she will play on her travels, warning people to stay away from the city due to the danger.
Dandelion tells Tamsyn about her name, and what she used to be called, explaining her motivations, reasoning, and her story. Tamsyn understands, and finds the idea of choosing your name a beautiful notion, even though she could never do such herself. They discuss whether a dandelion is a weed or not, but in the end agree that it has lots of good properties.
Tamsyn, having been isolated for the last few years, asks if there is any news from the outside world, and is shocked to learn that the king is dead, and that the queen is to be crowned in a few days. They ask where she is from, and she tells them that she hails originally from Shortlot, which she misses dearly. Penny asks if she wants to check in on anyone, offering to cast a sending to someone. Tamsyn wonders how her aunt, Rosiebell is doing. Last time she was in Shortlot, Rosiebell was the treasurer. Penny sends a sending to Jasper, the innkeeper, asking how Rosiebell is doing, and Tamsyn says hello. She gets a response asking if she means the Mayor, and that he can pass on the message, but acting very confused about it. Tamsyn is glad to hear that her aunt is okay.
Having spent the last two years isolated, all she has had to eat is goodberries, and whatever travelers passing by offers to her. Penny takes pity on her, asking what she misses most. Tamsyn immediately replies that she longs for a good chocolate cake. Penny creates the most delicious, extraordinary and lovely chocolate cake she can think of, which Tamsyn happily accepts, and starts gulping down. They promise to bring back some food for her, as well as materials to fix her bed, when they return in a few days. Tamsyn doesn’t want to get her hopes up, and says they don’t have to if they decide to leave her behind, but the group has made their promise, and they will keep it. Relic gives away Bimble’s old bedroll, so that Tamsyn has something better than the old bed she has, at least until they return. Tamsyn gives Relic an old bottle opener she brought with her when she first arrived, so that they can easily get back without problems. Dandelion offers to make another companion for them, but Prowler is opposed to the idea, being happy just being the two of them. Dandelion decides against it.
Almost Spring
Kal leaves a few vegetables for Tamsyn to have for the next few days, and then says their goodbyes. The group gathers around Kal, gives one last look to Tamsyn and Prowler, and is then teleported back to the shrine of Udall through the Word of Recall. It’s nighttime, and they can see that the snow is quickly melting away, signaling the coming of spring. Dandelion gives an offering to Udall of a gold coin, getting a thunder in return from the distance, confusing the guards standing on the wall.
Kal, Relic, Penny and Dandelion wanders through the city on their way back home, seeing the decorations of turquoise and white, the colors of Satine dominating the main street. They try to look out for any dangerous individuals who might be planning to disrupt the coronation, but it seems that most people are just looking forward to the celebration. Penny, using detect thoughts, picks up a few names being talked about, most notably Hasan al-Khetam and Anaya Waterwhisper, both rulers of the Emirate of Khetam and the Unknown, respectively. They also hear that the queen is in town, and can see in the bay outside the city that a fleet of warships carrying the flag of the Akstan Kingdom is docked. Not surprising, as the coronation of a regent is a once in a lifetime event for most people.
Relic, wanting to get home quickly, summons a steed, while Kal picks up a few bowls while walking home with the girls. She hopes that Penny can use the jeweler's tools to make some intricate bowls that she can use to make a Heroes Feast before fighting Rumblejaw. When Relic arrives home, Arin is sitting on the couch reading a book. She is happy to see them return, but panics when only Relic comes through the door, but he assures her that they are all okay, just lagging behind. Relieved, she gives him a hug, telling him that a package arrived from a Gundren Rockseeker. Relic opens the package, finding a wealth of gold and platinum within, their cut from the profits of the forge for the last few months. When the rest of the party arrives, they are happy to stuff their wallets with the money.
Penny takes the bowls and some gems given by Kal, and spends a few hours making them look intricate and beautiful, thinking they will serve the purpose well for use as components. Afterwards, the party takes a well deserved rest, after Penny casts a programmed illusion in Arin’s bedroom of the setting sun, by her request.
The next morning, Relic sends Dandelion and Penny to the Emerald Earth Sanctuary to retrieve the owls. As they are taking a walk with Valthrae, Elmwood and Leyla invite both of them in to have brunch, a nice salad. Showing Dandelion the house Penny grew up in, and sitting down for some food, they talk a bit about how they are doing, before Dandelion sees Argus and Ira through the window, and runs out to greet them. They ask how everything went, and are shocked to hear about Rumblejaw, looking forward to seeing the party take them down. They are also in awe of the encounter with the Roc, and laments missing out, but understands that teleporting is dangerous. Dandelion suggests that next time they can stay in the Bag of Holding while they teleport, which makes the owls very happy.
Dandelion brings Penny and the owls back home through a nearby tree, and they return to their home in order to rest and take a breather, preparing for the hopefully uneventful festivities of the coronation the next day.