Guide of the Cartographer

Written by Darwin (Justin)

Getting ready to join the merchant caravan from the tent town to Dawnway.

Head towards Dawnway, about a day's journey. Partway through the trip, the caravan comes to a stop. We're stopping for lunch. Mews tends to the horses. They set up a makeshift kitchen to cook an elaborate feast for lunch. Someone shouts "make way please," and a Goliath couple bring in a big mahogany table and chairs. It starts to lightly snow. Many dishes come out, a lot of variety-- dishes from all over the world.

Mews talks to some other Tabaxi-- they used to be from Lightjay?

Pawline's family's hunt used to be the Ruby of the Mountains, from the mountain range on Lightjay. It is Frostwane Eve.

What do we do for Frostwane?

Hector doesn't want to share and is eating peasant stew. Darwin is looking for a hearty meal and a whiskey in this moment. Owen's family has a secluded vacation ranch. Victoro grew up on the streets and always looked forward to the extra loot from pickpocketing those who are shopping and such. Aer, in Treefyre, recalls that a lot of people have to work hard to meet the demand for their crafts. Ardyn would entertain orphans around the holidays. Mews' hunt would have a few different cultural holiday traditions mixed together-- probably chaotic. This is what the Knightingale's mission is all about: allowing people to be themselves.

Seluna Ironfist begins to read a story to the children-- the Song of Frostwane.

Talune comes over and brings us all a mug of hot chocolate, made with the finest cocoa beans straight from Carracosta, courtesy of Frip. Frip, a large firbolg, just nods at us and smiles. The hot chocolate transports Ardyn back to earlier times (he is from Carracosta). Owen notices Ardyn shift slightly and let his guard down.

Ardyn hears a loud explosive noise ring out from within the forest.

Lila Ironfist runs up in a panic and says, "Milo went into the forest, and there was just that explosion, we were just playing a game..."

Mews successfully tracks Hank's (baby centaur) hoofsteps.

Hank says they were just playing and the ground started to move. Milo climbed up a rock, and now he's climbing about 50 feet up-- he looks scared like something that happened might stop him.

Mews climbs up; Ardyn levitates.

As Mews gets halfway up, everything starts to shake again. Milo falls to a ledge and lands on his back. Mews loses her grip and tumbles off the wall, but she lands on her feet. Hector pulls up and sees that on the ledge where Milo is, there is a cloud of transparent magic expanding outwards.

I sense, with knowledge I have from Benson, that this is a snarl.

As I think that, Milo gets pulled into the book, and the book topples off the ledge. Mews tries to catch the book but doesn't get there in time. Ardyn catches the book, and the magic balloons up and out-- a cloud of iridescent magic takes over the clearing, engulfing all of us.

Vision turns bright white, we're falling.

We hear music and smell something sweet and delicious. Eyes open, and we're suddenly on the semi-familiar streets of Dawnway, standing in front of a tavern and chapel. Conflicting music plays from each building. It smells like delicious pie coming from the tavern-- figgy, plummy pie.

Ardyn tries the Sending Stone and gets a staticy feedback response.

This version of Dawnway is different in a few ways. There's a chapel nearby with people leaving, but the chapel was not here the last time we were in Dawnway. I notice that the people are wearing very dated clothes, like from my great-grandparents' era.

The chapel is a very generalist church to the creators.

Detect Magic picks up a bit of magic coming off the incense outside the chapel. Divine Sense picks up a Celestial-- it's his horse. The chapel has been magically consecrated. The elven cleric out front welcomes us on this Frostwane Eve. The year is 1670.

The cleric's wife exits the chapel and lets us know about the quest board.

The quest is from a local heretic and miser-- a spiritual stain on the quest board.

The quest board:

The Cleric offers to do us a kindness if we complete the quest, his name is Father Oleander, aka the Flockfather. We head to the bank. Lights are all off, old-ass elf writing in a large book, white hair, bald head top, very wrinkled, permanent frown. In front of him standing is a younger elf man clutching his hat.

Marley Jacobs trying to make him a better person and to give away his fortunes. Around 10 years of the ghosts visiting; Marley appears as a floating ghost with chains. Grooge is a miserable old fuck (obviously).

We go to his house and wait in his bedroom for the ghosts to appear. Marley arrives "Grooge I can't give up on your soul, why do you want it to be bartered away by the demons in the hells"

Marley's daughter is related to me? He is pulled down as he leaves.

A woman in a white robe takes us away to a classroom? Robe lady freezes Grooge, we can either help her or defeat her and she can return us to our time. Owen has her take us to the time where Grooge rejected the love of his life. Daphne reaches out to him and invites him to come in and asks him to spend Frostwane with her. He gives her a small box, and leaves. The box contains a necklace that Grooge made himself. She smiles as she sees it, in spite of its poor craftsmanship. Our persuasion/deception has pushed Grooge a bit in the right direction.

The scene changes, giant redhead ghost shows up, cornucopia torch. "Grooge, you tricky bastard." Ghost of Frostwane Present. We go to see where Daphne is today. Her husband is dead since last year and this is her first Frostwane alone. She is sitting alone at a table, soup in front of her, looks delicious, one bowl on that table.

We head to Barbaby's house, woman carrying in a small, but beautifully cooked bird. Young girl goes to grab "little Lenny."

Owen tries to appeal to family with Grooge. Natural 20! Grooge wants to see a glimpse of the future if he changes, but Present Ghost says Future Ghost is acting weird lately.

We go to the future, we see Grooge with Daphne, and he's smiling. The air takes on that Snarly sheen and the scene changes again. We're in a graveyard, the reaper is here.

Bolt of lightning hits the reaper in the head, the shimmering snarl takes over, the hood of the robe flows back, underneath the robe is a face of unparalleled horror. The face is half melted, oozing muscle. Shimmery. Every mistake and pain we've ever felt, all in an instant.

Fight with the reaper. Partway through, Owen disguises himself into Lenny as a zombie and freaks Grooge the fuck out.

Hector gets the killing blow and Owen hits Grooge with emotional damage.

The graveyard falls out from underneath us, and we are in Grooge's bedroom, the sun rising over the horizon.

3000 GP from Scrooge, the priest gives us a vial of thick, black liquid, Victoro takes it. Priest says it tastes awful, but if you ever find yourself in a tricky situation, you would be wise to consider using it.

The past ghost takes us back to the instant we left. She disappears and in her place is a key on the ground. Looking around we see we're standing in a crater where the snarl ensnared us.

There are magic particles leftover, floating around us, Aer can see this. It is unusual that she can see this

Marley's daughter had a baby with the love of her life, Alan Fox, and that she named the little girl after him, Marley. I let everyone know this.

Benson's theory: The main effect of this snarl was a time travel effect, and it pulled in some elements from around it

We bring the kids back and the Ironfists are happy to see them (yell-hug). I buy a new fiddle and Owen buys Goggles of Night.

Caravan heads out for Dawnway. Ardyn working on his jewelcrafting proficiency

We arrive at Dawnway. We follow the Ironfists and grab our masks. Head to the back of the tavern, cellar door blocked with a big piece of wood. Man pokes something in the trash can and opens the door for us

A ton of people here, all in masks, worn, plain-colored clothing, some kids. A couple of smaller groups amongst the larger groups. Most facing a large platform against the wall. Back wall is bookended by the two headed bird symbol

Maggie in the corner watching (security)

Suddenly, the chatter in the room stops, turns to the platform, woman in a long purple cloak, violet cowl, ceramic mask in the shape of a bird, very sharp. The mask doesn't muffle her, she speaks in a voice familiar to Hector.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. Some of you have chosen to come here in spite of what might happen to you. All of you, every last one, came here not out of anger or sadness, but out of hope, hope for a solution, hope for a better tomorrow, for yourselves, and a better, stronger future for your children. A planet welcome to everyone. A world where you don't have to struggle. She knows people are angry and scared, and at a loss for how to fix it. It is hope that is our strongest weapon. All of you that have given us your time, your attention, and hope, turn that fear, anger and hurt into something stronger. A movement that will give us our lives back. Lend us your voice. Join the Vox Owls." Cheers fill the room. The Knightingale hops into the crowd and begins speaking to the people around her.

Hector hears some guards talking outside like a sus meeting might be happening. He comes and tells us and we warn everyone. Maggie gonna get the people out through a secret side entrance

Maggie and the Knightingale are going to meet us in room 3A of the tavern

Hector and I talk the guards out of investigating. We meet up at the tavern. Hector pulls me aside and says he CANNOT go to this meeting. I cover for him, Ardyn susses me out.

Mews and Aer quietly look around upstairs, the rest of us get drinks

Room 3A completely warded with Abjuration magic. Aer tries to message through the wall, Maggie does respond.

Enchantment (aura) and Divination (item) magic from the Knightingale. Enchantment (item and aura) from Maggie

Ardyn calls me out on lying about Hector, I tell him the truth.

They put us in a zone of truth. The Knightingale asks us all our names. She reveals that Owen's mom saved her life.Ardyn says his name is Artemi, he has a Russian accent?

I dispel the zone of truth, because that is bullshit

Hector enters

The Knightingale has a horribly disfigured left side of her face, scarring from the forehead down to her neck. Hector knows this face, in spite of the disfigurement. She looks at him and knows that armor

She stumbles backwards, "Hector?!!?!?!?"

She seems surprised that he is alive, and vice versa. They were friends and worked together. She hired Oleg to bring professor Benson back to her. I make her aware that we were in a Snarl.

Knightingale is struggling and Maggie steps in. Beatrix is her name

Return to Session Recap