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Session 143: Days 16 and 17 of Saedan (5/24)

They all follow Fowlyse up through the strange underground barracks. There’s not a sense of calm, but instead a strangeness that comes with the knowledge that this place served as a grave for three sentient creatures for thousands of years.

Fowlyse brushes imaginary dust off their cloak and says that they should go to their office for a bit more privacy. Az did say they wanted to speak with Alaneo because of their interest in the Crestianas.

They add that they’ll leave them at their office and go fetch Alaneo, but during the party they hope that they can have some time alone with Az.

The sun is beginning to set. There is a large stone-lined pit for a large fire that has benches erected and tables and tents pitched nearby. It seems like a central meeting ground that’s been used most nights, not just for celebrations but for dinner.

In the encampment there are carts that have been parked and barrels of wine. They can all start to smell a variety of food that all reminds them of home from different carts. Spiced food like Kastvari cooking. Warm citrusy scents from Striog.

People mingle, trying other people’s food, as Fowlyse draws the Hooligans past the centermost tents back to their personal office. They apologize for how packed it is, but they will give them a moment to discuss things as they fetch Alaneo.

As Fowlyse leaves, Az watches them. Fowlyse seems extremely nervous to go get this person. They don’t seem scared. Az has only seen them act this way when he was almost too young to notice, but there was once when a school friend of Fowlyse’s would come over and they would get nervous exactly like this. Now he recognizes it as a crush.

Yolov asks Az what Fowlyse told him about Alaneo and the Crestianas. Az explains that they are funding Alaneo’s research as part of the Avisian archaeology group and spoke with him before heading towards Port Sci.

They briefly discuss if Alaneo is an innocent person in all this or if he is simply doing his job unaware of the Crestianas’ ulterior motives and what they should ask before they hear a bunch of books fall outside and Fowlyse apologizing.

A younger gentleman with delicate features, brown hair, and light eyes enters with Fowlyse. Fowlyse explains that Alaneo Valtaenla was hired to experiment with different means of magic to study the ruins and the artifacts that they’re finding.

Alaneo bows deeply and says it is his pleasure to provide this assistance to the dig sites. It should be anyone’s pleasure to participate in such a project.

Hava studies him, worried on Fowlyse’s behalf and suspicious of his flashy gestures. She realizes much of the pretentiousness is cultural but also he holds himself with self-assurance and wealth. He’s Kastvari but from his air he isn’t from the capital or Port Sci.

Audacity recognizes he’s probably from one of the much smaller villages around Kastvar. There are a few on the main island and a few on the northernmost island including Dragonspine Village.

Alaneo sweeps into the room and perches on the arm of one of the chairs and asks about their interest in the Crestianas. Yolov says they left Radiscune under strange circumstances and Alaneo says he knows they faked their deaths. It’s none of his business so long as he gets paid to do his work.

Hava asks when he last spoke with the Crestianas and he says a few days ago. He answered some questions about the items he was studying. When Az asks what he does, he explains that he studies magical artifacts, both ones that have no remnants of their former enchantments and some that still give off magical energy.

Yolov asks if he found anything of interest, and Alaneo says he was studying the finger of a gauntlet that interested him with its magical aura. However, the Crestianas were disappointed by it. Az asks what they were interested in.

Alaneo says they were interested in information, or rather how he acquires that information. They will return in a few months after Port Sci, and pay him more to teach them his proprietary magic to study the artifacts. They told him that they’d faked their own deaths, which surprises Hava.

Az asks if they said why, and Alaneo says he didn’t ask as Audacity casts Detect Thoughts. When Az presses him, incredulous, Alaneo looks at Az and says he had just received fifteen hundred gold from them, he wasn’t going to bite the hand that feeds him. The work he is doing is very expensive.

Audacity hears from his surface thoughts a sense of curiosity of why they care.

Alaneo says he would also rather others not bite the hands that feed him. His main benefactors are the Solray Estate and the Crestianas and he needs both to continue his work. Yolov asks if they’re interested in similar findings.

Alaneo says they are and that he has been instructed to send reports to Valnore whenever he can.

Az asks when he last sent a letter, and Alaneo says a month. He is waiting to gather his thoughts on the pinky before he sends the next one. He pauses and then adds that they all must promise not to take this information to a journal. If he sees his work stolen he will be furious.

Everyone looks at Yolov, who says he wouldn’t and also he doesn’t have time at the moment to write articles.

Alaneo says in that case he can show them what both Solray and the Crestianas are interested in.

Yolov jumps at the chance.

Alaneo sweeps out of the tent and leads them to an ornate tent that’s clearly housing, and then a smaller tent that has black-out curtains connected to it. He opens the smaller tent and tells them not to touch anything as Yolov enters first.

There is a series of long desks shaped in a U-shape, with a lamp and a canvas on one of the desks. There are tweezers, a chisel, all sorts of things to handle and examine objects. There are artifacts neatly laid out on one side of the U: a stone, a potential beam of the building, pieces of an old armor, the spine of a destroyed tome.

There are another series of artifacts on the adjacent table that have details written out next to them. There is also something written on the papers’ insides that they cannot read. This is clearly a processing area.

Alaneo sweeps his robes back and takes one of the processed sheets and shows them all the dented and scratched and golden pieces of metal of a gauntlet’s pinky. He tells them to take a close look at it and explains that this was a piece of armor that was found in the tunnels during the excavation. It was on the first floor of the building. It is unclear who it belonged to.

He begins to cast something, reaching over the artifact. Yolov watches these extremely sharp tendrils being pulled from the item like they’re being ripped off the gauntlet against its will. It’s the drawing of old ancient energy that’s never supposed to have come through that is now coming through.

It’s almost uncomfortable to watch. It’s pulling at the fabric of raw magic and the rest of the world. It’s very arrogant, Yolov realizes, what Alaneo is doing.

Alaneo flicks energy upwards. It becomes almost dark webbing as it flashes around them and shows a sharp-eyed woman with dark, curly hair that’s held back in a tight bun who’s wearing gold armor. She’s panting and banging on a golden door in a hallway. There’s a red-orange rug under her feet. It’s easy to recognize the training ground pre-ruin.

She’s silent, but Yolov reads her lips as she calls out, “Wake up, wake up. General, we need you!” She looks over her shoulder as though something is coming before she rushes away.

The spindly ink substance retracts back into the pinky.

Yolov slowly asks if this application drains the magical memory and Alaneo says it doesn’t seem to. He has done this with the pinky four times before and has always been able to do it.

Yolov knows that with this magic, the Sworn Edge would be able to return to Tessvar Forest and learn about Illania even without the scroll. It’s clear to him that the Crestianas want this to learn about the Sword.

He tells Alaneo that the magic is impressive but also could be used for evil purposes. Alaneo says the pursuit of knowledge is vital, and Yolov agrees, but he thinks Alaneo hasn’t thought through that some magical artifacts in the past were dangerous and this might allow dangerous people to learn about them. The Crestianas are in league with the same people who attacked Silvrafel, Springrest, and Radiscune.

Alaneo says he appreciates the warnings, but he has no reason to trust them. He has known the Crestianas for a very long time and doesn’t believe they would be part of such a terrible organization. He’ll teach them what they paid him for when they return in a few months.

Yolov says he understands it’s hard to believe. He doublechecks that the Crestianas will be paying Alaneo to teach them this magic, not take him elsewhere to cast it himself. It means he’s likely safe from being kidnapped and forced to do anything against his will. Yolov asks if he would be willing to teach the Solray Estate this magic and Alaneo says he would be happy to for a fee.

Seeing that Yolov looks genuinely worried on his behalf, Alaneo tosses Yolov a very smooth stone, a Sending Stone. He says it is for emergencies. If the Crestianas are as dangerous as he thinks they are, this will help them set up a meeting in Port Sci.

Az offers to pay him for it, and Alaneo says it didn’t cost anything.

He then dismisses them, saying that he hopes they’re happy but he has work to do. Fowlyse clears their throat and invites him to the party. Alaneo declines as the Hooligans depart, with Audacity lingering behind to attempt to commiserate that his friends are never happy. This gets a wry remark about Alaneo being in academia where people are also rarely happy.

In the Telepathic Bond, Yolov suggests they take the Hilt of the Shadow to him in the morning, but only once Hava can potentially Remove Curse off of him in case his new magic attunes him to it.

Elsewhere the party is beginning. The Hooligans find themselves drawn into multiple conversations, everyone asking them what archaeological teams they’re from. Diana confuses a woman, who listens to her stories with interest as Diana tells her stories about their adventures.

Towards the end of the evening, Fowlyse approaches Az. They’re down to their waistcoat and has a sherry in their hand. They say that now they have some privacy away from his friends, they think Az should lead the conversation considering all the changes since they last saw each other. The eyes and the scars.

Az pauses before he says he has power now. He can do things he’s never done before. Also everyone else in the group has scars. They’ve probably seen Galowen’s scars once he’s half-clothed. Fowlyse gets briefly distracted by this, wondering why Az is looking at Galowen shirtless, before asking about the powers.

Az shows them an Eldritch Blast, holding it in his hand.

Fowlyse asks where he got these abilities. Az says he found a patron whose ideas he agreed with. An Archfey. Fowlyse asks if it has anything to do with these fractures. Did he discover his patron through a fracture to the Feywild?

Az says it’s a little more complicated than that. There are other people helping them close the fractures. He reminds Fowlyse of the little ball in the glass Hava was talking to earlier. It is a piece of an entity. After he explains, Fowlyse looks interested and asks for introductions.

He holds out his tattooed hand. Fowlyse has a conversation with her before he says she is absolutely fascinating. Az sighs a little before he says they can talk with her as much as they like later. She’s been helping them close the portals like the ones in the barracks so that the rifts don’t cause any more problems.

Fowlyse says it is fascinating. They are so terribly concerned for Az’s well-being. Az points out that they had murderers visiting and also didn’t know whether or not the skeletons were liches. Fowlyse says it’s hard to prove a negative, Azeldonne, and they found the skeletons excellent companions. Az says they shouldn’t full name him.

Fowlyse asks what he gave to his patron. Az says nothing before Fowlyse says they know that’s not how it works. Az says he made an agreement to seek out the patron’s old companions. He’s found one, and some might still be in the Feywild.

Fowlyse asks what happens once he’s done and fulfilled the agreement and Az says he doesn’t know. Fowlyse says they have a right to be concerned, Az just fought a purple worm. Az argues that it wouldn’t have been better to be devoured and points out that the worm happened upon him. He didn’t go searching for it.

Fowlyse says they suspect that many things happen upon him. Az says he wishes it didn’t happen as often as it does. Fowlyse is quiet for a moment before they say they appreciate Az’s assistance. They needed help.

Az says they shouldn’t scold him then. He wanted to have power, to be able to do something with his life. It’s exciting. Scary, sometimes, and he doesn’t like parts of it, but it’s exciting despite all that.

Fowlyse says they’re all very worried about him. No one ever thought he was weak or powerless.

Az says he didn’t have any talents like the rest of them. He was just waiting for Dad to retire hopefully before Az died and then help lead the family business. He was trapped in that house and now he’s out seeing the world and he’s met so many more people. He’s not running into the middle of battle or swinging a sword at the purple worm. He’s trying to stay out of range of danger.

Fowlyse says Lina writes them every week about him. Az says he might be seeing her soon. Fowlyse says Yaz has his wife Send to them every morning to check and see if Fowlyse has spoken with Az. The number one question from everyone is if Az is safe.

Az says he’s been sending letters as often as he can, but sometimes the letters take a while.

Fowlyse says they know it is an ask for him to keep in touch with all of their siblings. They don’t want to be a burden. They reiterate that none of them thought Az was weak or had no prospects. They all just thought he was young and had time to grow. Obviously he’s growing on this adventure, but will he come home when it’s done?

Az says he doesn’t know.

Fowlyse says they hope that maybe he’ll at least stop by in the future.

Az promises he will.

Fowlyse doesn’t mean to chide him or lecture him. They all just miss him. The house has been terribly empty every time they’ve visited. They suspect that Father would have gone insane by now if the other siblings hadn’t taken time to visit these last few months.

Az says he wants to visit soon and introduce his friends. He asks Fowlyse to write as well before he apologizes if he made things awkward between Fowlyse and Alaneo.

Fowlyse says things were already awkward. Az tells them they’ll have to talk to him a little more than they seem to currently. He nudges Fowlyse to go and find Alaneo in his tent and have a private dance or tell him all about the purple worm.

Fowlyse looks a little queasy and nervous but heads off in the direction of Alaneo’s workshop tent.

They all get a long rest in their respective tents. It is an early morning, with people not bothering to be quiet outside their tents as they all seem to expect everyone up at this hour.

As they are pulled from slumber, there is a distant build of energy and conversation. A little bit of chattering that grows until they hear people shouting in concern and the sounds of footsteps running back and forth.

As they all jump to their feet, grabbing their things at this sudden tension and panic, they start to smell smoke. Outside their tents they see that a fire is spreading quickly from tent to tent as what probably started as a small fire is now consuming the central tent and the tents around it.

Yolov casts Haste on Audacity as he pulls out some Dust of Dryness.

When Audacity gets to the main tents with Medrash, he sends Medrash up to drop it onto the central tent, extinguishing a lot of the flames and partially collapsing it.

Mages and people with buckets work on the other flames and the different tents as Adrin and Diana both attempt to use cold breath on nearby flames as well. Diana is able to help stop the spread of the fire while Adrin douses two of the tents in ice that melts and puts out the flames.

Yolov is distracted casting Ice Storm to assist, but the rest of the party realizes that two separate fires were started. Az scans the crowd for his sibling, seeing archaeologists running around and bringing people to a medical tent away from the fire.

He looks for places where people are helping because they know Fowlyse would be trying to help. They see a flash of their sibling bolting down the road, carrying something against their chest away from the fires.

Az Misty Steps with a forceful energy that leaves vines in his wake and races to catch up with Fowlyse. They skid to stop, holding two jugs to their chest, as Az gets in front of them. They tell Az that they have to go. When Az grabs one of the jugs, he realizes it’s filled with oil.

He immediately pours it out and hides the evidence before he demands to know what’s going on.

Fowlyse says they don’t know, they woke up alone and went to check another space in the tent. They don’t know what happened next. They went into the workshop and there was something there that flashed. They found themselves holding these jars and smelling smoke.

Az hisses that he knew they should have killed him. Fowlyse protests at that, and then says they don’t know where Mathali is. She’s usually in the library.

Az takes Fowlyse back to the dig as Fowlyse repeats that they don’t know what happened. Something flashed and then they were just there. Az promises them that they probably had magic cast on them. His friends can help figure it out.

Az looks at his sibling. It doesn’t seem like Modify Memory, but they might have been briefly possessed. He realizes something might have cursed Fowlyse. By the time that they get there, the fires have been stopped and people are checking on the injured.

The party hears a bunch of the archaeologists blaming each other, accusing the other groups of not properly dousing their fires the night before.

Az finds Mathali getting healed at the medical tent. Fowlyse immediately rushes over to her. No one sees any sign of Alaneo. Az explains in Telepathic Bond what’s going on and Yolov says that some of them should go check on Fowlyse potentially being cursed and the others go to investigate Alaneo.

Hava goes over to the healing tent. Az doesn’t tell Fowlyse what Hava’s doing and claims that she’s healing. Fowlyse says that Mathali is the one who’s been injured but doesn’t protest when Az says he is worried about his sibling and asks them to let Hava look them over.

Hava studies Fowlyse but it’s hard to tell if they’re cursed. The only way she would know for sure is if she tries to remove the curse. She casts Remove Curse. As she does, she feels her magic pulse through their body, feeling the energy breaking up something and the magic work. There was absolutely a curse on Fowlyse.

Hava tells them that they look much better now. Fowlyse says they feel a little better. They’re glad no one was seriously hurt. Even Mathali seems mostly annoyed at her work’s disruption, asking about the papers and the library.

Fowlyse says her safety is the priority. Mathali says that the runes were working, which means the library survived. No one died and nothing too important was lost. Things like this happen at dig sites, though two fires at once is a lot.

Az studies her, but realizes with all the readiness from the archaeologists that fires happen from time to time.

Meanwhile, everyone else heads to Alaneo’s tent. Peering inside, it is a very nice, well appointed space, shelves filled with books and a writing desk. It’s a little bit of a mess; the bed’s unmade. There’s some clothing tossed about and books on the floor.

As Az and Fowlyse enter, Az looks away from his sibling’s waistcoat on the ground.

They go into the empty room. Yolov looks around for any evidence of a struggle and doesn’t find one, but what he does notice immediately is that Alaneo’s shoes are by the door. His clothes aren’t packed. There’s a little canvas suitcase. If he left, he didn’t plan to leave so abruptly.

He starts to cast Detect Magic and hears the gentle clearing of a throat and a simple, “May I ask what you’re doing in my room?”

Alaneo is standing there. He says he has no memory of the fire. He just woke up in the middle of the sands with this. He drops an empty oil jug at their feet. Audacity dryly asks if he also saw a flash of light.

When Alaneo asks how he knows that, Az says that he wasn’t the only person that it happened to.

Alaneo says that is fascinating.