Tian's words dig him a deeper hole
Score: 340 | 06/28/21 |
18/10/42 Aper Tertius
Tian and Susti share a conversation. Batthu invisibly waits in the corner Tian acts as if he is attempting to trade food for orium but the conversation turns to finalising the deal. Tian attempts to hand platinum cloth over as a sign of good faith but Susti recoils. Susti explains that before important deals they must confirm the deal by each taking a binding bracelet. Tian learns the purpose and function of the devices and attempts to back out. His story unravels more and Batthu whispers in his ear that they can escape if needed. Susti hears this and as Batthu appears, attempting to cloak them both, the genasi counters the spell. The flurry of magic is shut down by the genasi wizard before Tian hurls a bead of force, containing the wizard and allowing them to escape.
Around 15 minutes of running later, the tired pair arrive back with Cefesee, Belam and Lowan. The pair recap their escape before the group retreat back into the pocket plane. They run deeper into the woods and after some time emerge by the river. They see the air shimmer nearby and a strange house.
Knocking on the door, a giant with grey skin and patches of bark. Her hair appears to be vines and she is shocked by the appearance of four mortals. The party correctly assume this to be Deichtine, daughter of the Forest Father. They plead for sanctuary and are taken in.
She finds makeshift mugs and provides them with fresh water before being regaled by the party's story. They explain their purpose and begin to push her for help. Much like the Daku-Merri, she dislikes conflict and has no wish to take sides between her children. Cefesee storms off to the other side of the balcony they are sat upon. Eventually the party push too far and Deichtine dismissed them back to the library in Artoria (where Batthu viewed home to be).
The group stand in the transportation circle of the library with a few shocked people around. The librarian on duty is called Nona Aulus Herma. The library empties in a panic and Nona runs off the fetch Batthu's father. As the place empties, Batthu writes a note for her father and leaves it on the table as vines begin to grow over the door. Deichtine arrives through the transportation circle and speaks with the group. She agrees to take them back to her home but only if Batthu is blindfolded so she doesn't see Deichtine's personal transportation circle.
Back further north the group arrive and Deichtine asks them to leave. Cefesee delivers an impassioned speech over her duty to them as her families responsibility. Deichtine summons a large dewdrop that hardens into a golden orb. She hands this to Cefesee as a favour for a later time. The party also ask whether she could help with Belam's hand. She explains that Father Light made contact with a far realm of strange creatures that he drew some of into this realm. The area was somewhere to the north but the Thri-Kreen were an offshoot of that incursion (though they were now more normal than their ancestors).
The group ask for shelter for rest and Deichtine agrees.