Chapter 3, Part I: Possession is 9/10s of the Raccoon

The Bullseye: Issue #4

(Editor: Oxford Kahma)

    Written by Steve

Louie Dahlia

    Written by Sean

Hey, Punk. Sorry I had to take off on such short notice when I wasn't around at Wiltspar long.

Theo needed to head back to PC to go to Psyona's library in the Disdiv and asked me to tag along. He wanted to look into that Van Ricketts fuckface and I guess he learned some interesting things about the guy. He tried to tell me about it but, he talks too fast for me sometimes so a lotta that shit went right over my head. Tziri he's the bummy elf who still lives with his mom and Chauncey tagged along, I kinda felt bad, it was painfully obvious that Chauncey needs to get out more, I've never seen someone so excited to go to a library, not even Theo.

While we were in the library, Theo and I went into this weird room that only all the blessed can enter. It was... It was eye-opening. We got outta the library and I headed back to The Void of Nocturne. I know this stuff freaks you out but I think this is really important. Probably the most important thing I've done in my whole life... I talked to a cleric and got a holy symbol from him from now on, when people see me, I want them to know exactly who I am and who I represent. When we came back from that little errand, I thought I was gonna be able to stick around but not long after I came back to Wiltspar, Zara came storming back in, tossed me the warm ring I let her borrow and locked herself away. I've never seen her so shook up before.

The way I hear it, the team took an AGI quest to deal with a possessed doll fuckin' creepy as fuck, I know. It seemed straightforward but it went really bad for Zara and her pet rat thing. Boaty and Rix were talking to the spirit possessing the doll and wanted to recruit it to be a part of the Void Queen's crew as some sorta lookout?

I have no fuckin' clue but it seemed like a good idea to them at the time. In the client's back yard, the possessed doll who can fuckin' control fire, by the way scorched a grid into the ground with fire and made them basically hopscotch their way to it and if they failed, a fuckin' wall of fire would push them all the way back to the house.

Apparently, Zara was still in the house when this all went down cuz she let the client's daughter play with her pet rat and when shit started popping off, she went to get the rat and the client's daughter put in a dress I thought that visual was funny till I heard the rest of the story and Zara didn't think anything of it but when she had gotten her rat back, the team had convinced the spirit to come with them as a lookout so it possessed the rat. Zara fuckin' panicked understandably so, her pet rat thing might freak me out but, I understand that it means the fuckin' world to her and, I unfortunately understand what it's like to be possessed and it fuckin' sucks. I wouldn't wish that shit on someone I hated, much less an innocent animal. Luckily, the spirit left the rat's body without any issues but still...

It's also a little disappointing to me that the team only really took it seriously after Zara had a full blown mental breakdown because of it. I get that what we're doing is a big deal and that it's stressful and being a little detached makes it easier to cope but, if we're supposed to be a team, we have to be there for each other or this all falls apart. I've gotta stop thinking about this cuz I'm getting pissed even writing this to you. I think I'm gonna say something to them, I'll try to keep a level head but I'm not gonna make any promises.

Theodore

    Written by Justin

We decide to take the moderate quest and rest before we do it

The quest is to TAKE a doll that is wearing a green lace dress and has LIFELIKE eyes

Letter for us: Dear Moonlighters, I am to understand that you have arrived in Haupstatdt. Ariana Grayforge has informed this person we are trustworthy and that we can help them. -J They want us to meet them at the AGI in 2 days time

We talk about our options. Might go to the Moose Hole to see what we overhear

We decide to go check out the Moosehole

As we walk in Zara notices two people clocking us as we walk in, a lingering look

Boaty is gonna ride the mechanical moose

He makes it 56 seconds! Not bad for a first try

There are a number of Crystalian military here, drinking in pairs, they are off duty but they are still in uniform even off duty

Rix spots some halflings that look like they are an adventuring party

They are from the area

They say as adventurers it's not the best time for us to be here

The Stalward has been buttoned up for two days

The Northreach Glades are and have been a controversial topic

Zara notices that the two men that Boaty was talking to are clocking us

There is one soldier who is super drunk but Theo thinks getting too close might be dangerous

Boaty notices they may have swindled him on the bull moose

Slugs McKenzie is the bull moose champion, 7 damn minutes

Is he actually a slug?

Boaty tries the bull again, we're all watching to see if someone is sabotaging him

Trouble goes to distract the bartender and buys Boaty more time

Boaty makes it over 4 minutes on the bull, let's fucking go

Long rest. Portent are 17 and 1.

I look through the books Morgan got and find one book of Van Rickett's handwritten notes

The party is going to the docks to recruit crew for the ship

I am going to Platinum City to research Van Rickett's history

We head to the library of Psyona, myself, Louie, Tiziri, and Chauncey

Chauncey is particularly excited to be here

First book I find is on the history of alchemy. Because I'm thinking about Van Ricketts I find info easily

In 897 was his rise to be a great alchemist. He was recuited by the ORC to a very high ranking position.

And is partially if not fully respoinsible for the corruption running through Fynali

We step in to the weird room in the Psyona library. Our God items begin to glow.

I place my tiny dancert on the Nova emblem

Chosen CHampions, hear our request, only you may have success, God's hope to renew, reserves in power in our image, throughout our pilgrimage

Body tough, as hardened scales, mighht strikes that won't prevail, rocklike armor through the batter of wars, so you can take more hits than Fynali's oars

A harsh environment with land so fallow, pools of water are scarce or shallow, must grow as tall as can be, the fate of all rests within this tree

Forges fueled a Tanner's hide, symbols of a craftsman's pride, resources gathered from creature parts, turn them in to works of art

Danger lies in depths and leagues, abominations that wait and feed. These ancient evils forever grow, eradicate what lurks below

A call from the shadows, you feel it yearn, a hungry grows restless at every turn, when the blood you have spilled lets the hunger be sated, you'll find what you seek from the ends you've created

The lantern's lit, you close your eyes, preparing yourself for your final goodbye, dance upon the line of mortality, successes and failures determine finality

Restoration, healing, curing what ails, bringing back from the edges, those who are frail, every spell cast or potion brewed, strength is built for each life force renewed

Ancient magics, lost to ages, seek them out and cast their pages, one by one your knowledge grows, each school considered, mastery shows

Fractured children play along, faces taking many forms, scattered throughout all place and time, best their true selves to earn your prize

Entrusted friendships, you'll find unity, across all nations, build community, world renown will be your bar, allies' strength will take you far

A flip of a coin, a roll of a dice, luck will always dictate price, fail or succeed, it does not matter, it's all extremes that you're after

Our ask has been made to you blessed one, go forth now, the tally has begun

As I write all this down, the parchment glows and there is a spell inscribed on the back of it

Louie heads in to the Nocturne Temple, gains blindsight as he enters the darkness

He finds a cleric of Nocturne, says he is starting to believe, asks for a symbol of Nocturne, the cleric hands Louis their own holy symbol in the shape of a half crescent moon

I head to Nova's Complex

It is oddly dusky In here. THe door shuts behind me and the color change to something else. Space around me begins to morph and swirl. I am back in the past when I nudged my younger self in the direction of magic study. I see the version of me that nudged me step out and I just watch myself nudge myself toward the book that helped me get started down my magical journey

I move through that moment to the first time I summoned Pecan into the world.

Tiziri is helping Chauncey carry books through the library

Looking for books on Thanastra

Legends and Lore of Viddeon

There was a moment in history where magical artifacts were stripped away from people and hidden in Bastion ~100+ years ago

Boaty and Morgan go down to the docks to try to find a Navigator and maybe a Helmsman

They meet a gnome by the name of Tristin Biflex. He would be interviewing for the Helmsman position

Boaty and Morgan running a job interview is AMAZING

Tristin will work for 16 gp a week

Looking for a navigator they find a young tiefling, they seem meek and soft-spoken. Their name is Trinity. They have very little experience (except destroying giant lobsters apparently). They move on

Still looking for a navigator. Human wearing fairly fine clothes, he looks a little out of place on these docks. Studied at the naval academy of Cordillero. Worked for the Crystallian army for a little bit. Did do one job with the ORC a long time ago. Collins is his name, Collins O'Malley. He will work for 23 gp a week

Rix has been working on her Cobbler's kit this whole time (making good progress)

We head off to deal with the doll situation. First name of the individual is Tanner and we head to his home

His daughter Gertrude found a doll at the marketplace and brought it home. It's causing problems in the backyard. They can't get rid of it. It was lighting things on fire...

We go out to the backyard to find the doll slumped over on a stump. As we head out there she turns her head towards us and asks if we want to play

The doll inhabits Trouble

Theo wants to end this doll, the party does not agree

Zara heading toward the tree to go back to Wiltspar

Rix takes the doll toward the tree to see if the doll goes through, when Rix goes through the doll does not follow

Rix asks Hanx to come to Haupstadt and look at the doll

Louie asks Rix what the fuck happened

Hanx says he can remove curse on the doll (There is a soul trapped inside?)

He does so, releasing the doll's soul

Louie finds Theo at the water and retrieves him