Notes of the Warkeeper
Chapter 2, Part V
Written by Mews (Sara)
Mews saw Artemi, for a moment... "Are his spiders forming ... is that a human? Is that a pocket watch?" Mews has flashes of some things as they run past.
We can't be distracted, must follow Catrina – she's dead, we have her now!
Mews chases Catrina. Catches up to her, of course.
Blood? What.. what is this? She's slowly climbing a wall. She's alone. She's... defenseless. Now is the... defenseless... ? Like, Fang? Like my, mother? And she can die like...
... there are words, Mews knows Catrina said something, but all that is actually heard is a very loud ringing... and a voice. A voice... like Fang's. A voice, "This.. this is not, this is NOT strength.."
But... ?? Catrina has it all, she has Blightjay, she has the Hunt, she needs more? She... she is selling them out... again. She has such a way, she can sway anyone... can't she?? Not like this... not LIKE THIS!! UGH!!
Mews turns and walks... Mews runs, before any minds can be swayed. Before anything can be changed... . away from Catrina and towards the Unit, seeking "Mercy"?
"The next time!" ... "the next time, Catrina! ... " did she hear us? I WILL kill her, next time.
Mews returns to the group.
After returning to the party Mews immediately finds a tree, as well as some debris from the destroyed estate, and punches/claws/swings away with their axe until they can't stand or swing any longer.
All the while, Guy places a hand on Mews giving 35 HP
Aer attempts to talk with Mews, but anger is all Mews could muster, and it blinds them.
Mews is unable to speak – but in their head is a loudness not felt in years. "I am a good person, I did the right thing, I am not a bringer of death and disorder I am a loyal friend and aspiring hero. I am a good person. I am a good person... and I hate it. Why? Why didn't I just end this burning pain, this one remaining mistake? WHY am I so weak?" ... over and over, with each punch a self-hating thought, with each scratch and slash a pointed self-reflecting question.
After some time, we talk about the team issues we are facing. Aer brings it up head on, confronting Guy about his decision to subdue a party member so quickly and during dangerous circumstance.
The party has some tense moments but overall, no one means any ill-will. And then, Guy gives out these REALLY fun toys... more fun than Mews has ever received!
SO SQUISHYYYYY!!
We then decide, before leaving this village, as a group, we need to help Aer return to the medical outpost and figure out the conundrum with her father.
During all this time, there is a whole village of people taking back their freedom. After what The "Mercy" Unit did to the main Slaver's estate, leaderless guards are being overrun and taken down. We need to help put an end to these atrocities too!
Meanwhile, a Tabaxi named Nix shows up with a letter for Owen, from his parents. They want his home and he to be kept in a library safe away from danger. He plans to help us out, working with The Feathers and sending intel from there. He will be sending us some Sending Stones. But all in all, realizes that combat isn't for him.
Mews thinks a library is the perfect place for Owen! But will really miss getting turned into a REALLY BIG cat. Owen says his goodbyes to all, and before he leaves, he shares the BIG CAT spell with Aer! HUZZAH!
With everything that's happening, and with Catrina on the forefront of Mews' mind, they have completely neglected their Bro. This whole time Artemi has been struggling with his magical dagger. Aer has attempted to help, but Artemi doesn't want to give it up! He is prepared to hurt Aer over this weapon!!? That isn't the bro I know! What is this?
So we decide that Artemi, Aer, Darwin and Mews will head over to the Healing House to speak with the healer about Aer's father. And Guy, Aine, Victoro... and Nix? He is still here? Huh, ok. Well, they are all staying back where we met up previously (in the road?) with Shuck's decapitated head... and talk about how to speak with his dead consciousness.
After making sure the healer can help Aer's father, we head back to the group and decide to make camp before doing any dead speaking sessions. There are battle sounds, yelling, fires burning... as the villagers continue to take back their home.
While magic talk happens, Mews asks Nix to collect firewood and such. Offers a ration to Nix as well. Artemi warns Mews quickly, before they head out with Nix, to be careful around this new fellow and of bonding too quickly. Mews then precedes to challenge Nix to a tree climbing contest!
Victoro asks Guy for the Sending Stone to check in with Beatrix and Benson. Victoro fills them in on everything we have experienced and found out about GIimmer, the mines, the slavery...
Mews beats Nix! Mews is the fastest Tabaxi around!
We devise a plan to break into this prison building and finally free all the villagers here. Guy and Victoro are going to disguise Victoro as a guard... Now, Darwin is going to act like a prisoner too. Guy and Aine can make Victoro and Darwin believable prison/prisoner? All is going great... until we get into the prison.
Darwin is apparently able to see invisible giant big bad BUG things.. and thank the gods because we get a heads up on it and INITIATIVE:
• Victoro
• Artemi
• Darwin
• BADDIE BUG
• Nix
• Mews
• Aine
• Aer
• Guy
VICTORO can't see it so holds an action to shoot it when possible
ARTEMI gets up to where he thinks the bug baddie is (based on Darwin's insight) Sends his Echo to where it could maybe bookend the baddie and holds his action for visibility.
DARWIN cast Faerie Fire! Now the bug is bathed in violet light (we have advantage on it) and Silvery Barbs is also used... Victoro has more advantage now!
VICTORO can now use held action and shoots with Sneak Attack!
ARTEMI can now use held action as well... NAT 20! Boom
BADDIE BUG moves towards the group, goes after Artemi, Victoro, Nix and Darwin... they frightened of it now.
NIX is a scaredy cat, can't move closer to the bug, no advantage is patient and eventually rolls out of the fear!
MEWS hits the big bad bug twice!
AINE hears a bunch of awful shit in her head, moves in front of Nix and hits with a Guiding Bolt. We now realize, radiant damage does more damage! Then Aine moves behind Mews.
AER attempts to blind the bug, but it doesn't work this time.
GUY moves up next to Mews and attacks the bug baddie with a SMITE too, and that sweet radiant damage does something special!
BADDIE BUG swings back at Guy, MISSES! Huzzah! Attempts to get Mews, and MISSES! But Mews is now kinda on fire...
VICTORO is frightened but hits the bug baddie for big damage. Remains afraid.
ARTEMI is also scared, but the Echo isn't and moves back so the Echo can move towards the baddie... NAT 20! But Aretmi remains afraid too.
DARWIN "You aren't the only frightening one here!" casts a spell but it doesn't affect the bug. But Darwin is no longer afraid!
BADDIE BUG hits Guy, but Mews is a sentinel and cleaves this bug in half! However, the magic axe + this bug's Glimmer goo blood... . = BOOM! It explodes! Mews and Guy are banged up a little, Darwin gracefully avoids it.
Out of combat now.. Aine studies this bug and senses it is (or WAS) a guard at the prison.
Aer dumps water on Mews to put the fire out. GREAT now hairless AND wet. Cats love that.
But Mews appreciates Aer looking out!
Moving down the hall, from the infirmary, Artemi and Mews venture down first and come to two doors. Artemi tries the first one, and it unlocks with the Master Key Darwin had!
But when Artemi opens the door... BOOM creatures! With no arms!? Large brains and mandibles.. INITIATIVE:
• Victoro
• Artemi
• Aine
• BADDIE
• Darwin
• Nix
• Mews
• Aer
• Guy
VICTORO doesn't know anything really about all this... he is 70 feet away.
ARTEMI yells back to the group "Hey, everyone, creepy creatures up here!!" And hits one of the creatures twice!
AINE is about 80 feet back, moves up dashing to just about behind Mews.
CREATURE in front of Artemi shoots the other one with this green energy, it goes through Artemi helping the creature but poisoning Artemi!
CREATURE 2 attacks Mews, BIG psychic damage!
DARWIN tells one creature "You sure are an ugly fuck!" but his spell doesn't work. So he looks around for any more invisible creatures.
NIX is back in the infirmary with Victoro but hears the commotion and comes running! SO FAST (not as fast as Mews tho)! But he gets into the room, punching as he does... KILLING the one creature! HUZZAH! This new guy is great!
MEWS hits at the other one twice!
AER moves up a little and casts Mind Spike on the remaining creature.
GUY moves in next to Artemi and heals him from poison!
VICTORO stays in the infirmary and looks through the room for more loot. Finds a mystery bottle and a Greater Healing potion.
ARTEMI moves around Guy, flanking the creature, hits with no magic! It doesn't explode this time.