Mattiverse Next - Session 34

ORC-FIGHT CONTINUES

• There are some cunning opponents in here, with clever tricks. They're ultimately no match for the Boys, though.
  • (but there is at least one tense moment in the scene)

After you run out of breath, you survive for a number of rounds equal to Con Modifier (minimum 1). At the next turn, you drop to 0 hit points and are dying. You can’t stabilize or heal until you can breathe again.

• On the bodies are electrum coins, which is notable

Electrum is an extinct currency, once the exclusive province of OLD WYDMOOR. It is of great interest to coin collectors and historians. Since the establishment of New Wydmoor,the production of Electrum has ceased. The date of these coins go as far back as 1293. And none are dated later than 1400, the last date such coins were struck. [7 EP, 300 CP] -> Banner [7 EP, 300 CP] -> Beldon [7 EP, 300 CP] -> Bobwhite [7 EP, 300 CP] -> Four

• The Boys continue.

The date is , 9th Harvest (Autumn), 1515 FI

• The next day, they bump into a strange tree:

You find an old tree with a wizened face carved into the trunk. Hanging from the branches, on rotting twine, are skulls of various humanoid races. Everyone notices a medium sized piece of marble, clearly out of place geologically, half buried near the trunk of the tree. Laying on the marble is a necklace of incredible beauty, made of silver and gold, inlaid with jewels. The centerpiece of the necklace is a large ruby, meticulously fashioned in the shape of a heart.

• It's clearly some sort of "hag shit" (Beldon's words). They give it a pass, and the next couple of days are uneventful.

The date is , 9th Harvest (Autumn), 1515 FI The date is , 10th Harvest (Autumn), 1515 FI

• But the next encounter really fucks em up:

A stream of cool, clean water flowing between the trees Beldon: hey what you doing to those poor dogs? GM: Aren't you cute! Who are the sweetest little boys? Beldon: bro, what did you give them dogs, we were riding em Beldon: bobwhites kinds sweet, but banners funky at best The creature strides across the stream, feet making the water ripple but as one walking across a rainy road. She leans down and scratches one of the dogs behind the ears. It rolls over in its sleep, and she begins to rub its belly. Beldon: they're good dogs Beldon: but I'm partial to the cat, you heard a old ricky bobby before? Beldon: he's a real good cat GM: No, but he looks like a sweet little tiger. But you... GM: You are a sick little boy. Beldon: oh yeah I heard that before, I got into some trouble is all Beldon: it was the better of the options I had let me tell you what GM: Drink of my stream, fair boy, and be healed. You are clearly a friend to my forest. You must purge the blight before it consumes you. Beldon: drink your drink fast! You feel a cool tingle spread across your body. GM: Your attunement with the wand is broken! Beldon: you come here often baby? GM: I see you have a lyre, though I feel you are at heart an honest man. Beldon: yeah?!? great! GM: Sing me a song. It soothes the savage beast, and I am nothing if not that. Four snickers a little, confusedly. (Beldon sings Wolf out of his repertoire and puts together a pretty good performance) GM: Oh, a song of the ancient land. I have not heard some of these words in ages. GM: This word, [Wolf] -- a beautiful song I've not heard in some time. Beldon: we been doing more shapeshifting then I care to Beldon: its weird work GM: Rowdy boys, but mommas boys at heart. Don't forget to listen, little hounds. Beldon: oh yeah you know it! GM: Oh... One more thing. Beldon: you want to ditch these boys and I'll teach you some other songs? GM: It is my understanding that among your people it is common to give a gratuity for a lovely song. You like coins, I understand. Take this one -- a singular currency for a singular buyer. I can see in your fate-strand the inevitability of this exchange. GM: Drink, now, boys, of my stream. I am long friend to your kind. Beldon: jokes aside, it was a delight to make your acquaintance The date is , 10th Harvest (Autumn), 1515 FI Spell: Heroes' Feast Beldon: told you boys it was better to take the short cut! The coin she gives you is a copper piece, but the size of a dinner plate. On one side is four hounds... Beldon recognizes them as the four halfling dog spirits. Beldon: look! got them dogs on it! On the other side, a side profile of a draconic visage, with the subtle hint of a smirk. Beldon: those dogs love us! Bobwhite: Comprehend Languages (Ritual Only) - Bobwhite: Huh wild Bobwhite: Doesn't work One theory about Comprehend Languages is that it taps into the collective knowledge of the world -- a language completely lost to time, unreadable by any living being -- might not be translatable even by magic. GM: So, a completely extinct language. Beldon: huh, well all that reading was cool. forced march? Bobwhite: "all that reading" he says after we don't read a single word Beldon: its literally the same to me either way, I don't read Bobwhite: Identify VSM (Ritual Only) - These vials shimmer with the potential of lost knowledge. msallen13: These vials shimmer with the potential of lost knowledge. The date is , 12th Harvest (Autumn), 1515 FI Hello?! Four [Halfling]: Hello?! Four [Halfling]: Why does my voice sound strange? Four [Halfling]: This sounds strange Everyone may add language: HALFLING Four [Halfling]: Why are you looking at me funny? Follow me now? Banner: hey Beldon, let's see that plate again Four [Halfling]: How'd we get that? Bobwhite [Halfling]: Pull it out now we gotta Beldon [Halfling]: ugh reading? again?!? Beldon gets the plate out A Gift From Koparr Kyprios, the Liberator. [Draconic Side] Four [Halfling]: So strange talking like this Beldon [Halfling]: seems normal to me bro, but I'm the lance of the wolfen khan Bobwhite [Halfling]: i didn't know i could even do this back of the throat thing Be fast, be quick, be lucky, be together [Dog Side] Four [Halfling]: <3 <3 Bobwhite [Halfling]: oh you're gonna wanna read this bro Bobwhite [Halfling]: take the plunge Beldon [Halfling]: that's almost never true but every once in a while Four [Halfling]: Wait, maybe I can't speak normal languages anymore? Mounted on the dogs, and with nothing but open plains in front of you, you make excellent time. Banner [Primordial]: [Translation] i still speak this nonsense You end the day at a roadhouse a half a days ride from town. [2 GP each] River Halfling Captain Capt. Azulle Ganso

• Luckily, they have ample time on the road to get used to this new situation, before coming to Moyra's Crossing. They waste no time:

Beldon [Halfling]: ahoy, in spite of our better judgement we're looking for a boat! Beldon [Halfling]: oh sorry Beldon: I lost myself there Beldon: ahoy, in spite of our better judgement we're looking for a boat! You boys looking for travel downstream, eh? Always happy to help a cousin. As he says this, he quickly flashes the sign of the geese. GM: Ah, I thought you boys looked like friends of the cause. Heard you might be rollin' this way, in fact. GM: Headed upstream? No questions asked. And no charge. GM: IF. Beldon: yeah news has been scarce from out here, and the swaps rowdy GM: you can do the gaggle a small favor. Beldon: long as it doesn't slow us down too much, we need the wind in our hair Four: Sure! GM: Well, you have a reputation for swift and decisive action. Hitting fast and moving out is right where we live. Beldon: aw shit sometimes I forget some folks just get it GM: A new power has moved into power and has climbed very quickly in the underworld. Beldon: you're my kinda guy I know several overlapping groups of friends back home would be thankful for the elimination of this upstart. GM: I know several overlapping groups of friends back home would be thankful for the elimination of this upstart. \ Beldon: huh? lol you honking riddles at me? classic Bobwhite: Big ask to get us to redo the entire face of local politics on our first night Beldon: where's he at? GM: As outsiders, it would be easiest for you to track them down. Perhaps under the the guise as new vagabonds come into town looking for work. Beldon: it just sounds like an adjustment is all GM: I suspect that is a role you could play with little effort or discomfort. Beldon: boys we're playing that role now am i right? Bobwhite: We're interested in hearing the actual deal, sure Four: Gained Inspiration SUBQUEST: Take Down the Crossing's Upstart Bobwhite: Gained Inspiration Reward: Friendship of the River Halflings, Increased Reputation with Azure Geese Beldon: Drink your drink as fast as you can!