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Session 158: Day 20 of Saedan (1/17)

The fire burns the body, leaving behind the impression of the elven figure Spring had seemed in death. By the time the fire ebbs and goes out, spring has returned. Everything is fresh and green. Out the windows, where there had been once filthy mushroom creatures, those are being overcome with bright brilliant greenery.

While they all rest, Yolov goes over to Hava, who is dissociating a little in front of the fire. They have a quiet conversation in which Yolov apologizes for his failures during the fight. Hava protests and says he didn’t fail, he was helping. Yolov points out that he failed both counterspells and didn’t help her or Galowen.

She says he was trying and besides, she’s supposed to be the healer. They both agree to do their best, before Yolov tries to cheer her up by reminding her that they’ll be able to see her family soon and Taion back at the magic house.

She says visiting home will be interesting and Yolov admits he noticed it seemed complicated from things Maeve said, but they all have her back no matter what happens when she gets home. He gives her an awkward pat in an attempt at comfort as she says that the Blue Team has to stick together.

Meanwhile Diana is thinking up titles, enlisting the Summer Prince’s help as she recounts the stories of their fey-slaying and dragon-slaying while leaving herself out of the narrative. Both Az and Summer point out that she was very vital to their success, and Audacity reminds her that she was also knighted by the Avisian queen.

Diana nods to herself as she squishes the knightly title in front of the names on her paper.

Summer proclaims that she is the grand knight, Sir Diana, slayer of shadows and breaker of ice, repeller of pirates and slayers of harpies, defender of dragons.

Diana says they'll be remembered as Donnie and the Hooligans, pointing out Az as Donnie, which prompts Summer to ask if that means Az isn’t a Hooligan.

Hava says he doesn’t want to be but he is. Diana agrees it will be confusing for the history books.

Az says he supposes as Audacity’s lips twitch in amusement.

Summer congratulates him on being a hooligan.

Az says a doubtful thank you as he scritches Sabara under her chin.

It feels as though they are all witnessing from the early dredges of spring into a lively season all at once. It strikes them all after a few hours of relaxation that it is time to figure out a way out of here.

Diana is collecting the sand behind Yolov as he walks around to peer at the windows.

Yolov sighs deeply, remarking plaintively that everyone else’s experimental potions lasted an hour before he goes over to Az and tells him that he understands why Az ran with Diana after Spring threatened them all, but if he needs reminders on how Spring is a liar, Yolov is happy to explain all the lies that he observed in the brief time he encountered Spring.

He asks Az about his powers and learns they are not gone, just reduced. Any specific boon Spring gave him, any extra spell, is currently unavailable. Yolov gives Az the Summon Undead spell scroll from the magic house and the Wand of Fear Asa gave him, though he advises Az not to use the Summon Undead spell in public.

Hava asks Evie where the fracture is, and she says there is no fracture between the planes here. The party begins to search, heading down to the base of the tower where Az used to visit his patron. Most of them don’t see any obvious entryway or exit, but Hava and Audacity spot when they glance over their shoulders that the edge of Az’s bag is twitching as though something is moving faintly.

Audacity squints and then looks at the rest of the group to see if they’ve noticed. Hava and Diana have also noticed. There’s a slightly awkward wiggle that could be confused as being part of Az’s movement.

Audacity points it out. When Az opens up his bag, the mask has transformed to a smaller mask, with feathers and strings that seem to swing back and forth without any breeze.

Yolov reaches out and touches it, casting Identify. A lot of the information fills his head, including screaming until the screaming stops. The group watches Yolov make several faces before Yolov explains what it is: a magical item called the Burden of Spring that Az could use, which could give Az all his abilities back and strengthen his abilities as a warlock and allow Az to get them all back to the material plane, but also might imprison his soul if he dies.

Audacity dryly says that the mask doesn’t match his aesthetic and Az says that’s true. They all watch as the mask transforms into a pendant.

When Az pats it in gratitude for changing, it reaches out one of its strings around his wrist, either in possessive or affectionate gesture. He realizes it has a sentient personality much like Hava’s trident.

Summer shudders, though Sabara and Medrash seem unbothered by the pendant. He says that Spring had this with them even before the war. He isn’t sure if Spring influenced the mask or vice versa, but he suspects the former.

They decide not to let Az put on the pendant for the moment, wanting to look for a way out first. They search the woods around the tower, the woods responding to Az’s presence, vines pulling back and away to avoid tripping him. It’s easy to navigate this ever-blooming spring with Az there.

They walk for a while, until they see in the distance the tower rising again, and they find themselves back at the base of the Tower. Using Yolov’s sand they all realize they’ve been walking in a straight line.

Az looks at the pendant and asks if it can get them to the portal out of there.

The pendant gives a gentle tug towards the left. This time they go the same way they came, following Yolov’s sand trail towards the back of the tower instead of away from the tower. It leads them on this winding, twisting path that is going in a circle until eventually it stops thirty-five, forty feet from the base of the tower in the last dredges of the sinking mud being overtaken by the late blooms and blossoms of spring.

Az doesn’t see anything at first, but the pendant gives another handful of tugs and he catches just the glimmer of something in the mud. When he kicks the mud slightly to the side, it’s hard to discern how mud can cover a still deep pool of water, but it is.

Now, revealed, there is a perfect reflecting pool of water. It’s about three feet wide and two and a half feet tall. When he looks into it, he sees his reflection back at him. When he sticks his hand into it, the water ripples. There’s the slightest sensation of cool breeze against his fingertips. He’s distracted by the rippling fragments of his face in the water, an older Az of forty or fifty in an empty home with beautiful things and no one to share them with, just for a moment before it disappears.

But he feels a cool breeze on his fingertips instead of water.

Az says that he thinks this is it, but asks them to hold onto him as he sticks his head inside. He sees that he is three hundred feet up above cliffs and crashing water. It’s hard to tell if it’s the material plane or the Feywild. He sees no sign of Tari or a way to safely fall.

Az explains what he sees and they debate Tari’s absence. Winter says that Tari is a woman of her word, and Hava immediately jumps through the water. Yolov yelps in alarm as everyone else begins to jump through, hurriedly telling Winter that Tari was forced to be his Keeper and planned to stay behind so Winter won’t be pursued in the material plane, if he wants to bring her with them, Yolov will help however he can.

Winter cups Yolov’s cheek and assures him that Tari is clever before he shoves Yolov through the portal.

Hava freefalls, knowing that she is falling so fast and so far that she will die upon impact upon the water even though she can swim. She can see her friends falling around her as well, before there are sudden flashes of gemstones in the sunlight.

Each of them is plucked out of the air and deposited gently atop the water by gem wyrmlings. Just as quickly, before they can even start to sink, they are jerked down into the feeling of sand and heat. As they feel themselves return to their bodies, they find themselves piled up together outside the tower in Striog.

They all begin to pick themselves up, dry and untouched by water, and exclaim over the experience. Hava eyes everyone, who all look beat to shit.

Winter immediately complains about the heat and the sand. He looks horrified as they all tell him this is considered winter in Striog.

Audacity shakes himself off and says that he has had a weird few days before he hugs Az and says that if anyone says that sort of bullshit to him again, just tell him and he’ll kill them for him.

Az hugs him back, thanking him.

There is also sunlight, though it’s impossible to tell how much time has passed since they went into the Feywild. Az braces himself and goes in search of his dad, hoping that days haven’t passed.

He finds his father in the kitchen managing a bunch of cooking with Sazu, his eldest sibling, and two of his spouses, one of whom Az knows is a nonbinary elven figure named Karah. The other one he hasn’t met before; she’s a half-orc. They’re all in the process of cooking a tremendous amount of sides.

As soon as he walks in, Sazu extends out his arms and says there he is.

Az says hi and, trying to be casual, awkwardly asks what day it is.

Sazu looks amused and says all that adventuring must be getting to him. It’s the 20th of Saedan.

Az relaxes as Audacity looks confused and Yolov looks relieved that the Feywild hasn’t brought them out after days or a week.

Sazu explains that Yahig is bringing the fish but he’s running late so they’ve been getting the sides ready. Az’s father says that they’re making everything Az loves, giving him a taste of home before he leaves.

Az looks touched and says he’ll be happy to share his food with his friends who haven’t really gotten to enjoy Striogian food. He makes introductions for Sazu and his friends, stumbling a little when he gets to Winter and Summer.

The Archfey both look violently out of their respective elements.

Sazu takes clear interest in everyone. When Az introduces Summer and Winter,he explains that they picked them up recently on their adventures via the Feywild. They’re new, so treat them gently.

Sazu clearly thinks of several questions before giving up on all of them in favor of welcoming them to Striog and to their house.

Az’s dad whispers, “Feywild?” and Az promises to explain after dinner before he darts off to the family portrait. He can see his mother’s face clearly, and even when he looks away he can remember it again. It’s hard to think that there was ever a time he didn’t remember her face or her name. Her name was Vashonne.

Az tries not to cry as he looks at her face.

It’s hard to believe that he forgot her name, because his father used to tell him that when they were dating and throughout much of their relationship, he used to call her Shonnie. It’s one reason he called Az Donnie, because they were so much alike, even their nicknames were similar.

He’s consumed with emotions, crying and sitting down in the hallway, staying there until his father comes out and checks on him. His father puts an arm over his shoulder and says that he can sit out here as long as he wants.

Az says he didn’t mean to leave everyone, and his father says sometimes he sits here too and thinks about what she’d think about all of this. Az tells him that when they have that talk after dinner, but he’ll need alcohol.

Az’s father turns to face him and says they can talk about it any time.

Az delays the conversation, asking if anyone else is coming for dinner.

His father says that he tried to get everyone home but they’re all busy elsewhere, Mulhra is in Kastvar, Samin is still at his monastery, Fowlyse is at their dig, Ina is with her kids who have a cold. It will just be them, their friends, Yahig and Sazu.

Az remarks on how empty the house is now, and his father says that he’s glad Az has brought his friends. Az says he’ll have to bring them around more often. His father says that he’s waiting for someone to start a fight like Yahig.

Az’s father seems unworried about not having enough food, admitting that he never figured out how to stop cooking as though the whole family was home.

Az volunteers to help with the food, standing and dusting himself off. He asks if they have scraps for Sabara and Medrash and they return to the kitchen. When he offers bacon to the ice pseudodragon, Winter hisses at him and says he should only have ice before he relents with one piece.

As the ice pseudodragon devours the bacon, Yolov asks its name.

Winter says it doesn’t have one but Summer calls him out until he admits that he named it Cicle, like Icicle.

Az’s father says that he doesn’t need to know the details about their time at the Night Market though he hopes they enjoyed themselves. Hava laughs anxiously before Az’s father says that hopefully they didn’t get into too much trouble.

One time they had to create a new law thanks to Sazu. Apparently he once set off alarms throughout Cantor because he went to change the time of the masterclock at the Senate Hall.

Audacity says he likes Az’s siblings, and they debate Mulhra, with Sazu teasing Az that she’s lovely, she and Az just have never gotten along, before Az asks after Arlin, who Sazu has thankfully not seen recently. He says the guy is an asshole before Az’s father taps him with a spoon.

Soon Yahig arrives. He looks like the biggest, burliest orc the entire group has ever seen. Well built, with short cropped hair and huge tusks, except he is three feet tall. Over his shoulder is a huge sack of fish.

He comes in, putting the fish down. He and Az’s dad are the same height. He says that he brought the fish and managed to bring all of it, despite suspicions from his family that he wouldn’t succeed. No one was being an asshole on the tram this time.

Az says that they only thought that because he never brings everything, something always happens. Last time he lost half of the alcohol.

Yahig says it wasn’t his fault someone knocked into him. He adds that his partner couldn’t make it, she’s under the weather. When Az looks alarmed, Yahig says she’s fine.

Hava leans over and asks Az which of his family is single. Az says there is a new rule, no one is allowed to hook up with his family. Hava pouts and says so that means it’s just his dad or Sazu, who is in open relationships with his partners.

Audacity tells her that when they visit his monastery, everyone is single. Hava gets excited at the prospect of a monastery orgy and Audacity murmurs that it wouldn’t be the first time.

Everyone moves into the dining room, Az bringing some of the appetizers.

It’s easy to sit and talk. Az’s family is a loud, raucous group and it’s a loud raucous meal. There are so many stories that Az never wanted everyone to hear. Endless stories of Az as a baby, Az as a child, like the time that Az learned how to walk and immediately walked directly into the post for the stairs and gave himself a black eye.

The dinner goes pretty late. There’s wine and liquor being passed around with the dessert.

There’s only one fight that has to be broken up, which makes Az realize his family is on their best behavior. But it is very nice. Az experiences a sensation of remembering other meals with his family, all loving and comfortable. The dessert gets moved to the living room, where everyone can relax.

Eventually Yahig gets ready to leave, saying he has to get back to his better half. Az studies him but can’t tell if he has a prosthetic like the artificer threatened Az. But he also knows that those prosthetics were meant to mimic the natural body.

Az tugs Audacity along to talk to Yahig and explain the ghost metal. Yahig stiffens when Az asks if he got a prosthetic and claims he doesn’t know what Az is talking about. Az knows he’s lying and tells him that it might have a soul in it and it might stop working in the future.

Yahig says he wasn’t told about any souls, he wouldn’t have bought it if he’d known. He hasn’t seen Arlin since the piece was installed. Az gives him Sasha’s name and address and tells him that she can help.

Yahig sighs that it probably won’t be as good, but he’ll take it over having a ghost in his foot. He groans that he should have listened to his wife. She’d told him not to do it; she’d thought it was a little sketchy.

Az says that they make themselves look good on purpose and they have been doing this for a while.

Yahig swears Az to secrecy and says that his foot got roughed up in a shipping accident. At first he thought he could get accustomed to something less fancy, but that would have slowed his return to the shop, which he couldn’t allow when his wife was newly pregnant. They’ll tell the family in their own time.

Az promises to keep the secret.

Yahig groans and says he hates talking about these things. Then he tells Az not to get killed, which earns an awkward laugh from Az and a promise that he isn’t planning on it happening any time soon.

Yahig says not to die, it’s the easiest thing to do. He’ll kill him if he does.

Az hugs him and then nudges him towards the door.

Sazu is staying the night as well.

They all start to head off to their own beds when Winter and Summer approach Az. Summer asks to talk to him for a moment.

Az asks if they sleep and need beds, and is told they do, especially in a place as nice as his home. He says they’re welcome to any of the many bedrooms, and they say thank you, and that they actually wanted to give him a gift for saving them.

Az, surprised, asks what it is.

Summer and Winter had argued over the shape of what it should take, Summer planning on something aesthetically pleasing and easy to carry, like a greatsword of some sort. As Az wrinkles his nose, Winter assures him that he thought a ring would be better.

The ring looks like it’s made of ice, with an inlaid ruby. Paradoxically, the ice is warm and the ruby is cold when Az touches them. This is the Boon of Unbound Summer and the Endless Winter, which will grant him more charisma around people and help him with his Eldritch Blasts.

As Summer opens his mouth to clearly launch into a speech he has prepared, Winter takes his arm and says firmly absolutely not before he assures Az that they will share a room, but they first wanted to thank him for freeing them and giving them a second chance.

Az says you’re welcome. It’s strange to think that he used to want to kill them both. Winter looks startled before he says that makes sense but he would have killed Az first. They are all glad that this ended up working out for the best.

Everyone heads to their beds and their rest.

Audacity takes a long bath, intrigued by the way the new scar on his chest never warms and remains like ice against his fingers whenever he touches it.

Meanwhile, Az goes to speak to Hava. He finds her in a bedroom, clad in only one of Kiva's enormous billowing shirts before she closes the door and throws on some pants. Then she lets him inside and asks what’s up.

He says that they’re meeting her parents before they go to the forest. Hava agrees that for some reason she still wants to. He wanted to check and see if they were walking into a political minefield.

Hava asks if it seems like a political minefield and he double checks that her parents are in charge of the island. She says her mother is the high priestess. She says politically there is no issue. Her mother is the spiritual leader of the community, but she doesn’t pass laws. He doesn’t have to worry about anything like that.

Az says he was wondering if her mother would try to drop something on them.

Hava says her mother will probably try to trick her into something and ignore everyone else. Her mother doesn’t like anyone, she’ll be taciturn and standoffish. Az says he won’t take offense as she says it will be tense no matter what. She has to have a long overdue conversation with her parents.

It’s not a political issue, but between her and Az, Hava was engaged when she left. Her mother may think she’s still engaged, though they actually had an amicable parting of ways. So it will be tense. Hava adds that she might not even mention who she’s currently dating.

Az says if she wants to keep quiet about her relationships, they should let the other Hooligans know. He might not have much experience with the islands, but he wanted to be prepared if they needed to steal her back from her mom.

Hava thanks him for asking.

He says you’re welcome and then stammers that he doesn’t know when she asks if he’s okay. It’s complicated.

Hava says she’s sorry she was mean to him. She was scared she was going to have to hurt him.

He says he knows they would have done it out of love. Galowen once tackled him on a mountain to avoid him being compelled by that hand, they can handle it. He just doesn’t know how he was fooled by Spring.

Hava says he isn’t a fool for believing in someone who was supposed to be taking care of him. It’s not his fault he was lied to and that person abused that trust.

Az says he just doesn’t know why he believed them. They killed his mom. He feels stupid.

Hava says he isn’t stupid. People want to feel safe, and when they want to feel safe, they make stupid decisions and do things that when they look back don’t make any sense. He felt safe. She’s just sorry that someone thought so low of him to treat him that way. He didn’t deserve that.

Az says that Winter offered him a partnership.

Hava says that’s interesting.

Az says he hasn’t said yes or no, but Winter and Spring did give him this ring. It only works for warlocks and she can have it if she thinks it would make her feel better.

She says that it’s his and he should decide what to do with it. She hopes it can help with his aim.

Az laughs at that and says he doesn’t know how she’s been a warlock for a shorter amount of time and her aim is so much better.

Hava is quiet for a moment before she says she lost Maeve when they were really young. Her younger sister is so much younger than her, and she loves her, but she always wondered what it would be like if Maeve was still around and they’d gotten to go on adventures together. They could have traveled the world and the Feywild together.

She was missing and missing this thing that she never had with Maeve, but she has it with the Hooligans instead. They’re family to her. She won’t let anyone treat him the way he was before.

Hava hugs him, and he hugs her back.