Mattiverse Next - Session 32

Rhythm of the Spheres

• Bethanalay grabs Four and pulls him to the dance floor.
• Bobwhite and Beldon recognize that this song is an up-tempo version of the hymn that opened the vault, only with different words.
• As this song begins to play, a great number of halflings take to the floor. Among them, you see Beth dragging Four onto the floor with her.
• Four and Bethanalay dance... sort of? They are not in tempo with the music at all and, frankly, are not even in synch with one another.
• Four sways in weird ways, funky at times, eyes wide, as if drinking in everything... but really nothing.

Wolf-father, at the door You don't smile anymore You're a drifter, shape-shifter Let me see you run, hey-ya hey-ya Holy light over the night Oh, keep the spirit strong Watch it grow, child of war Oh, keep holdin' on

• The tempo quickens..

When I run through the deep dark forest long After this begun Where the sun would set The trees were dead And the rivers were none And I hope for a trace To lead me back home from this place But there was no sound there was only me, and my disgrace Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey!) (Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey!) (Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey!) (Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey-ya) Wolf-mother, where you been? You look so worn, so thin You're a taker, devils-maker Let me hear you sing, hey-ya hey-ya Wolf-father, at the door You don't smile anymore You're a drifter, shape-shifter Let me see you run, hey-ya hey-ya Wayward winds, a voice that sings Of a forgotten land See it fall, child of war Oh, lend a mending hand When I run through the deep dark forest long After this begun Where the sun would set The trees were dead And the rivers were none And I hope for a trace To lead me back home from this place But there was no sound there was only me, and my disgrace (Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey!) (Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey!) (Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey!) (Heyyyyy, Hey-Hey! Heyyyy, Hey Hey-ya)

• Beth and Four begin kissing.
• The crowd is applauding wildly and cheering at the end of the dance.
• As the music dies, Four can just be heard saying, "Oh, I'll stay as long as I can convince my brothers to stay... I don't know what's going on, but I'm very much vibing with the future I'm feeling tonight"
• Beth and Four leave the dance floor.... and begin to leave the venue entirely.

The date is , 1st Harvest (Autumn), 1515 FI

• The boys regroup the next morning. Four didn't come back last night, but does show up... eventually. His grin is close to knocking his ears off.
• The rest are already in discussion

Banner: Autumn already. we gotta get outta of this town Beldon: you know it banner, falls a good time for travel

• Four immediately launches into a rambling explanation of his night. Not those details, but the snatches and fragments of the extremely wild dreaming he did between those things.

"And the Ubrekt tore down our great city, leaving not one stone atop another when they were done."

• The boys spend the morning discussing Four's dream and decompressing from the big days. As they wrap it up, it is near lunchtime. Bethanalay enters, looking crisp and professional.
• Beth waves at Four, and the rest. Her cheeks are flushed and she has a smile on her face.

Beth: Morning, boys! Four is just giddy and gestures her over. Beldon: I was just telling these knuckleheads its time to ride, back me up here Beth sits down next to Four. Beth: That was--ah--some night, eh? Beldon: I played extra hard for you kids, glad you didn't mess it up Four: I was making the case that we should stick around, maybe a week or so. Take a little rest. Beth smiles. Beth: I think that's a good idea, actually. Beth: Beldon, I'm reminded of a story my nan used to tell me as a kid. "The Dog that Caught the Chariot Wheel." You know it? Four: My head is still swimming from whatever I drank last night, though--I may need to take that part easy for once Beldon: I know that dog no good ever came from catching a damn wheel Beth: Exactly so. Beth: But, that dog chased that chariot, didn't he? Didn't even know why. Just felt he had to give chase. Beth: Caught that wheel and what happened? Rolled right over his thick skull. Beth: But nobody's skull's that thick, not even Xar. Four (missing-the-vibe): Chasing is good for the soul sometimes Beth smiles at Four. Beth: And sometimes its good to be caught. But, in this case, we're trying to be metaphorical. Four: Ah, another one of those metaphors Beldon: I always know exactly what I'm doing, I dunno what you mean, I'm not chasing any wheels! Beth: Do you even know what you are chasing? Beldon: Spider dogs! Beldon: Weird-ass demons! Beth: And what happens when you catch them? Four: Thought we were running from those? Four: I, for one, want us to find some sort of peace one day, instead of spider and snake dogs Beldon: Probably we'll have to kill them that's what we usually do Beth looks to Bobwhite. Beth: You see these aren't *plans* right? Beth: "Give chase. Catch bone." That's no way to deal with...(lowers her voice) this. Beldon: Oh my god don't ask him that, he's gonna start carrying on about histories and contingencies! Beth: Frankly, it's a miracle you're not dead already. Four gets lost looking at Beth, eating his scrambled eggs with a dumb smile on his face, zoning out a bit. Beth: Four tells me what you're doing is...for the good. And, maybe, but I don't think you even know what you're doing or why. Four: Our whole family is cursed with good hearts Beth: It sounds to me, nothing personal, that you're doing it for you. Because you want to...be a story? Tell a story? I don't know. I just don't hear anything about *halflings* in what you're doing. Four: But we never were great with plans.. Bobwhite does better than most I've known Beldon: Well, it's not so much that we want to do it, its just we have an immediate problem and then a second problem for later Beldon: You know we can track each other? All the pieces? Bobwhite: We work with what we've got, we haven't had the initiative yet Four: 99 problems at least Beth: So, you hurry to leave here...to...what? Go off into ever greater threats you know nothing about? Beldon: Maybe Four: Well, this all started I think because of Dogmoot which was very halflings Bobwhite: To be fair, we have threats we know a little bit about _here_ that we want to leave behind, too Beth: I am not asking you to...not...do whatever your doing. I want that thing gone more than I want it here! But I'm afraid you're just going to rush me, and all of us, into greater trouble with your recklessness. Beldon: Everything is moving and all you nerds want to do it read books Beldon: I thought about leaving it here with you, seemed likely you could have kept it safe Beldon: But honestly it looks like things are shitting the bed in the swamp and I decided you probably wouldn't hold it for long Bobwhite: I mean, she let us do "something" so she wouldn't have to Bobwhite: If she had another option it wouldn't have been that, bro Beth: Bobwhite is right, I don't want THAT--the less I know the better! Beth: I am not asking you to...not...do whatever your doing. I want that thing gone more than I want it here, but I'm afraid you're just going to rush me, and all of us, into greater trouble with your recklessness. Beth: The swamp...is concerning. And, perhaps we can talk about that if you stay for a little longer. Beldon: Uuughh, Banner, you're the only one here with any damn sense about when to ride Beth: Bobwhite: You're very passionate and militant. I'm not sure I agree with your view of our people, but I respect it. But, I bet we'll agree on this--what is the strength of our people? Four: The swamp... man, I still smell some of that ol stinky water from those hydra ruins on me... oh, that's not what we're talking about? Bobwhite: It's working together, and it's adapting to what we've got Bobwhite: When we do those things we're better off and when we don't we aren't Bobwhite: ...also luck Bobwhite: But luck we recognize and capitalize on Beldon: "Always be lucky", that's what Sari says Beth: Agree. But, luck is created more often than it's found. Beth: I agree, by the way -- So, tell me this. If the strength of our people is *our people*...why are you three so dead set on rushing forward by yourself like...human adventurers. You're surrounded by friends here, one of the major hubs of all the Routes. Beldon: I'll entertain a plan, I thought we were on our own with this Beldon: Good luck trying to get a plan out of a druid, he'll, I'm sure, give us a tedious lecture about plans Beth: What's your hurry to catch that chariot? Wouldn't it be worth it to maybe learn a little about that chase? You won't have another opportunity as good as this one. Beth: I...I know you can't stay forever, or even for long for long. But... If you get Four killed, I'll learn to raise the dead just so I can kill you myself. Bobwhite: We've been on our own but that was out of lack of options, and she has a point, with this many pieces we're not in danger of some wiggly spider thing getting all of it anymore Beldon: Well, that's weird Four blushes. Bobwhite: If there's anything that overrode anything up to this point it was not having enough to work with, so maybe now we do guys, I dunno Bobwhite: You know how I already talked about spreading the word about the stuff we know, leaving some threads to pull on later, maybe now we can hammer on that a little Beldon: I'm not feeling lucky right now feels like just my damn luck we'd have to stay fine whatever just for a bit I'll do it Four: We'd love to learn a lot more about what we're up against, it's just been very hard to find that info or find anyone who is willing to help Beth: If only you knew a University-Trained divination expert. Beth shrugs. Beth: Maybe if you boys could find one, your luck would improve. Bobwhite: (rolling his eyes pointedly with a half-smile) IF ONLY Bobwhite: Hey Beth can you cast a spell to find us a divination expert Beth winks. Four: And she's a beautiful one at tha--hey, guys, wait, she means HER Bobwhite throws a roll at Four. Four eats it, unconcerned. Beldon: Last town all we knew was necromancers and I'm not exactly looking for more of that Beth: Anyway, I need to get back to work --- hopefully I'll see you for dinner. Beldon grumbles Four: Absolutely and afterwards! Beth: Sorry about running out on the tab -- I'll get this one. I wasn't in the most clear headed state. Beth kisses Four's cheek and leaves five platinum. Bobwhite scoops 'em up Beth giggles nervously. Beth: The swamp...is concerning. And, perhaps we can talk about that if you stay for a little longer.

Staying!

• A week of downtime commences.
  • Four does carousing and relaxation mostly.
  • Banner gets beat up for money
  • Beldon does something I forgot
  • Bobwhite researches (with the Petaran book)
    • 1. The code is difficult to decipher, but does seem to be in GNOMISH of all languages. No wonder it's so tough to crack, the gnomish alphabet has 376 characters!
    • 2. The book itself does not have any actual information on the construction of fire weapons. It, instead, seems to be a treatise arguing that the Petaran Wizards should explore non-martial uses for Smokepowder. This book claims to be the first of several planned volumes, this one arguing that smokepowder can be used for artistic and enjoyment purposes.
    • 3. The book is written by Bashir al Ayad, with a publication date about two decades ago.

The date is , 8th Harvest (Autumn), 1515 FI

• With the efforts of their master diviner, they learn quite a bit more about the Lance:
  • Three parts: Advantage on Saves vs Spell. 5 Charge/Turn Counts as +1 Small Spear (1d4 P) Minor Benefit: Gain Eldrich Blast cantrip
  • Four parts: 3: Wind Wall (+3 Charges) 6 Charge/Turn Charge rate becomes 1d6/part Minor Benefit: Immune to Charm and Fear Attribute Modifier becomes +4
  • Five parts: 4: Polymorph (+4 Charges) 7 Charge/Turn Counts as +2 Spear (1d6 P) Major Benefit: Heal 1d6/round if >=1 HP
  • Six parts: 5: Greater Restoration (+5 Charges) 8 Charge/Turn Major Benefit: Summon Whirlwind (see pdf) Attribute Modifier becomes +5
  • Seven parts: 6: True Seeing (+6 Charges) 9 Charge/Turn Charge rate becomes 1d10/part Counts as +3 Lance if Mounted
• The spells on each piece are:
  • Cure Wounds
  • Bless
  • Mass Healing Word
  • Freedom of Movement
  • Haste
  • Mass Cure Wounds
  • Raise Dead

Beth: So...These spider demons. Beth: The lance doesn't bring them in. Beth: They're...in the lance. The lance contains a demiplane of hell trapped inside of it. Four: A demi-what? Banner: Cool Beth: Best I can reckon. These magics are incredibly ancient and powerful. Magic that left the earth with the Demipantheon. Four: Whoah Beth: So... yeah. DANG-EAR-OUS Beth: All the more reason to keep them disunited. Do you really want to make hell larger? Four: Definitely not! And even the ol' druids couldn't destroy this thing... Beth: I'm really happy you boys decided to listen to reason. Beth: So, what is next? You have some other group chasing pieces, right? Beth: Are you just going to plan to crash into them head on? Rushing after that Chariot? Four: Yeah, they have some pieces... Four: Well, we've learned a lot about the power of friendship along the way Beth: Have you considered sometimes the best way to chase is to be chased? *smiles at four* Four: Make them come to us? Beldon: Yea my no account shit for brains brother Beth nods at Four. Beldon: He's going after the other one, keeps talking about our ma maybe but also he seems screwed up in the head Beth: Exactly. It's one thing when a dog is chasing sticks in the yard. It's another when other dogs are coming to fight you for the stick. Four: At least he's a halfling Beth: I have selfish reasons for suggesting this. Beth blushes. Beth: Not those! Well.. not exclusively so! Beth blushes. Four: Well, there's some other pieces that it might be better to have before they get them all, right? Beldon: no that doesn't work I can't lose a raise so I cant let 'em catch me even if its the plan Beth: There are...things...mustering in the Swamps. My cousins tell me the Lizardfolk tribe is...wiped out? Beldon: Yeah you got "things in the swamps" shit man. It was a massacre. Beth: This is the kind of stuff the Longshanks find unconcerning, especially as preoccupied as they are with their own internal machinations. Four: We saw some of it firsthand actually Beth: Then, its true. Four: Maybe there's some lizards somewhere? We didn't look under every log... Banner: Did Four tell you about the armored lizard man too? That thing was freaky Beth: I have had bad dreams, and my auguries have been revealing to me ill omened winds. Four: We saw the dragon turtles had been drained of blood Banner minor illusion image of the armored guy Beth: I fear that perhaps there will not be a Wydmoor to return to if you just run off. Beldon: Yeah the lizard man lich king gave us his head, then we gave it to the reds. Don't tell 'em we told you Beth: It's a small community for us small fries. Word gets around. Beth winks. Beth: I know it will take you from your errand, but perhaps... Four: Wydmoor is strong, not much could ruin it. <then suddenly remembers his dreams> Beth: Well, have you considered that as you track them they can track you? Four: We do try to hide the wand locations, we're at least good at hiding Banner: That's part of why we've been keeping on the move Beth: I was hoping you might ensconce here for a time longer. Help me figure out what's going on in the swamp? The swamp is the South halflings livelihood, and much neglected by the longshanks. Beth: I could certainly make it worth your while, if such where required. You know that I trust your--well, not your judgement but at least your intentions. Beth chuckles nervously. Beldon: I thought we were on a clock but these boys are telling me only two of the pieces merged together Four: We managed the swamp pretty well actually Beth: Which is to say, I have every reason to see you want to succeed. Hopefully you are interested in the community as you say. I pray you will make good on that vow now.