Episode 24- Fallout

Menelwen glanced at Theamen as the party braced themselves. She put a hand on his cheek. “I love you. Don't die, keep a level head.”

“I'll do my best. I love you too.” He gave her a kiss.

They opened the door, ready to drop the fireball. A blast of wind slammed into the party.Henry, Theamen, and Menelwen are thrown off the bridge. Thok tried to save Menelwen but failed. They landed in the water below.

Three blowgun attacks hit Thok in the chest, The Hurricanes and Howling Hatred cult members ride the air current to attack him.

Thok attacks, using his new sword. It freezes and shatters one of the guys. Scruffy manages to kill two, backing Thok up.

Rosette smirked, snapping her fingers. Shocks of lightning go through Thok and Scruffy as she uses Chain Lightning.It richochetes and hits everyone, knocking the party out cold.

Vega, who had been absent as the fight started saw three figures scooping Menelwen, Theamen, and Henry out of the water. They were dragged back into the chamber. He saw Rosette directing people as the doors closed behind them.

Vega was left all alone...debating about what to do.

He made a pact, taking on a level in paladin. His resolve steeled with new powers, he wildshaped into a flying snake and slipped in. He saw the cultists cleaning up from the mess. He followed the staircase up to a room that had a high throne on a marble dias.

A moon elf rested on the throne, her feathered wings behind her and near transparent robes covered her forom.

Four figures were chained to the wall.

Rosette stepped over. “I took care of them a lot easier than expected. Is there anything else?”

“Send for the clerics. We don't need our little toys breaking on us so quickly. And find the other one. Invite him to come...have a conversation.”

Rosette nodded, turning. Vega saw that she had Drown. She left.

About forty-five minutes passed before men in robes entered and bowed before the moon elf. “Which one?”

“Three of them are spell casters. Wake the orc.”

Smelling salts and an incantation brought Thok up to one hit point and conscious.

“Kalinoth I presume.” His voice was thick but clear.

“I see you got my letter, champions of Red Larch.” She purred.

“Yeah, we did.”

“You're no match for me or my people.”

“Mmhm.” Thok was not giving her the satisfaction.

“Abundantly. But I'm feeling generous. You can atone for your sins.” She studied her nails as though they were more interesting than the conversation. “Marlos has become a thorn in my side. I want you to kill him.”

“Really. You want us to kill him.”

“Yes.”

“Waiting for the catch here.”

“It's simple. Kill him or die here. If I send you, and you die to Marlos, I've lost nothing.” She put on an innocent expression. “Oh no Marlos, I would never do anything like that.” She smirked. “If you go, you go in peace. I'll have my underlings lead you out. Fail to kill him, I'll send my lieutenant after you. She held back today.”

Thok glanced at Henry, still out cold. “How did Rosette join?”

“I'm a masterful recruiter. See how easy it is to get you to work for me now?”

“What else?” Thok pressed.

“I don't know what you mean.”

“What happened to Vega?” Thok asked. He was the only one not chained.

“My lieutenant is looking for him. He wasn't caught in the blast.”

“They still okay?” He jerked his chin towards Menelwen, Theamen and Henry.

“They're alive.”

“Where is he?”

“Marlos?” Kalinoth looked at him. “Sacred Stone Monastery. Keep going down. If he's there, kill him. If not, he'll be back. It was always so terrible when we had meetings at his place. He has no mirrors anywhere...”

Thok agreed to her condition. What else could he do? “Restore us to working order and have us led out then.”

Vega slipped out to meet up with Rosette.

The party was restored to one hit point. Still gagged but awake.

Henry managed to prevent himself from being turned on as Kalinoth walked up to him. “Cast a spell and I'll kill you child.” She yanked the gag from his mouth.

“Where's Rosette?”

“Looking for your missing companion.”

“What do you have on her?”

“Her allegiance. It's a scary world out there. Everyone needs protection. It just matters where you found it. My lieutenant chose wisely. Unlike you.”

“What secret do you have on her?”

Her eyes narrowed at the word.

“Did that touch a nerve?” Henry snapped.

“I don't know. Did it?” She took a stab at his eye socket. Henry passed out from the pain, the nerves still incredibly raw.

The party sees four small figures with crossbows marching in to escort the,. Kenku. As they were marched out, they passed Rosette. Henry was unconscious in Thok's arms.

“He opened his mouth,didn't he?” She scoffed. “Tell Henry to check the sewn in place. Idiot.” She brushed past them.

The Kenku led them out to the gate that Thok had broken into. Their possessions were dropped. Vega caught up to them, casting mass cure wounds on the ground.

Henry came to, taking a step away to check the sewn in place. He found a note and ten gold pieces. “Glass eye for shape, eye patch for looks.”

Menelwen used her once a day cure wounds on Theamen. He in turn used lay on hands to bring her up to full hit points.

“We should plan.” Menelwen sighed.

“As much as I hate to suggest it, we're about ten days away from Waterdeep.” Theamen frowned. “We can restock, learn, and get Henry the proper medical attention that he needs.”

They agreed that this was the most sensible course of action. The party goes up the stairs, out the doorway as the sun started to rise.

After putting some distance between themselves and the air cult, they stopped for a rest around 11. Theamen takes his breastplate off, and just curled up. Menelwen passed out with him.

Thok took the first watch. Nothing happened, he noticed flying things that appeared to be watching them. But they did nothing.

Menelwen stirred a couple hours later. On hers, she saw some giant vultures, hear the roar of a far off manticore, and the crow that had been hanging out in a nearby tree hopped down.

The next thing she knew, there was a scimitar to her throat. Centari held the other end. “Scream and I'll slit your throat. I was waiting until the level-headed one was alone.”

She froze, watching him.

“Good.” Centari took the blade away. “We'll have a conversation. I want to know why. Why isn't he an abomination anymore?”

“We got a cleric to cure him.”

“There's more.”

“What...what do you mean?”

“If you don't know...then we'll wait until they wake.” Centari folded her arms over her chest. A few hours, the party woke.

“Tell me,” she addressed Vega. “Why are you no longer an abomination?”

He told her that he made a pact with a Celestial. Her expression stayed neutral as she stood. “Very well. You can no longer call the circle your home. I wish you luck, child. With the decisions you made, you'll need it.” She transformed and flew off.

Vega explained that due to his pact with Raizel if he died, he could never be resurrected or come back. He was no longer a vessel for his own soul. He was merely a conduit for a higher power, to be used as a weapon. A sword that is pointed at an enemy. He was their tool.

Henry refused to accept it.

The party, still processing all the information from their last couple encounters moved on. Henry, rubbing his remaining eye paused. He blinked, noticing a trail of smoke coming from the forest. Sneaking, he saw a little boy playing with fire in a clearing. He was giggling, causing the fire to increase and decrease.

Henry didn't even wait, he approached the boy.

“Are you a bandit?” The kid asked.

“No. If I was, I would have done a better job on sneaking up.”

The kid shrugged. “Bandits are stupid.”

“I'm not.”

“How'd you lose the eye then?”

Henry rolled his eye and glanced at the fire. “Want to see something cool?”

“Sure!”

Henry aimed Burning Hands down, half pointed towards himself so as not to hurt the kid. He did however, hurt himself and set part of the forest on fire.

As the trees catch, a blur of motion makes the kid disappear. Because Henry had wandered off, it takes the rest of the party time to catch up.

Seeing the fire and knowing that Henry did it, Menelwen spat out “You're a fucking dumbass.” in Elvish.

“I know!” He had understood but the response was garbled Elvish sounds. Henry was grabbed and rocketed up into the air, his arms windmilling, screaming.

Luca jumped from Henry to a tree, climbing down to Thok.

Henry cried out for help

“But Mama, it was cool!” The kid said. He appeared with a dark skinned elf with white hair. A Drow woman who identified herself as Eclipse.

“Why was my child attacked so viciously?” She demanded. An orc stepped out, wearing robes to join them.

“Are you alright Simon?”

“I'm fine Papa.”

They explain that they had found him in the Underdark. The orc, named Gurrack and his wife had found Simon, rescued him and were going to bring him to Waterdeep. Hopefully to find his parents. Gurrack himself was thrown from his orc clan for studying magic. He was captured and sold to be a slave. Eclipse had taken pity on his and saved him. He did the same for her in turn.

Henry freefalls for a moment then is lowered down. Gurrack had used Levitate on him. Just to mess with him. “What did you learn?” Gurrack asked.

Henry apologized and spoke with Eclipse. She accepted his apology.

“Simon, get the pot open.” The family started cooking.

Theamen stepped aside to talk to Eclipse, paladin to paladin. Thok and Gurrack talk about how far they had come. It had taken the small family three years to get this far. But since their destination was the same, the family agreed to join the party.

Menelwen stayed supervising Henry and Simon with the fire. She talked with Simon. For such a young boy (eight years of age), he reads really hard books. He knew all about Solaris when she mentioned it. She showed him a favorite spell of hers, Mold Earth, She created designs in the dirt.

“I can show you my favorite too!” Simon beamed. He used Conjure animals, creating a bunch of puppies.

Simon was called and helped his Dad create jerked out of the spare meat.

Henry approached Gurrack, asking if he could help teach him magic.

“The best thing you can do it is do us a favor. Make a conscious effort. Think before you cast. That is what wizards do.”

Henry nodded, then started talking to him about Rosette. “Maybe I was too blind to see....maybe I could have gotten her help.”

“She's a grown woman, let her make her mistakes. She'll learn. They always do. Just be there for her when she does.”

“I'm too focused on trying to save her and blaming myself.”

“Don't give her what you think she wants. Give her what she needs.”

After a meal, the party continued on the path to Waterdeep.

~

Henry tried to practice shooting on the road.

“You suck at this.” Simon told him.

“I'm using my bad eye.” Henry defended himself.

“Then use your good eye. You only have one.” Simon then suggested switching hands..

~

Menelwen asked Theamen about his conversation with Eclipse. He said it was nothing to worry about. That she was very motherly, and he would share what she said at some point. He needs to think things through.

They had spoken about her patron, Eilistraee, the Drow goddess of song, dance, swordwork, hunting, moonlight, goodness and beauty. He wanted to find out more about her in town.

~

Along the way, Gurrack, Simon and Henry practiced magic. They played catch with Mage Hand. Menelwen grinned, helping out. She used levitate on Henry ad turned him to make it more of a challenge.

~

The city of Waterdeep rose up in front of them after days of travel.

~To be continued...!~

Episode 23- Eye Spy

Henry moved and sat next to Theamen. “Hey.” He nudged his shoulder.

Theamen didn't move or speak.

Thok picked Henry up, taking him from the room to Menelwen and Theamen time. They spoke a bit more, about Kerris and why he didn't tell her. Luca sided with her, rubbing against her legs. “..To certain death?” She offered him her hand.

He glanced up at her, taking it. “To certain death.”

They regrouped and noticed Vega missing. “Where's Vega?”

“Don't worry about it.” Thok answered.

“If we come across her, what do you want us to do?” Menelwen asked Henry as they traveled to the crevice.

“Knock her out? No lethal. Hopefully she won't even be there.”

“Got it. Well then, to certain death?”

“To certain death.”

Thok rolled his eyes. He was the only one who hadn't pledged to his death.

“Oh, where's your sense of fun?” Theamen asked. “Besides, if I die I never have to deal with Kerris or my father again. I'm fine with that.”

Thok passed Menelwen the circlet to attune to. Then started sliding down the cliff to the ledge with the crevice. They arrived at the entrance.

“I have a bad feeling about this...” Henry frowned.

“We're going into a crevice full of cultists. I would be more concerned if you had a good feeling.” Theamen shrugged.

“Ah Henry, you'll need light.” Menelwen pointed out as the crevice was pitch black. Henry lit his dagger. Theamen used Light on a copper piece in order to be a little more stealthy.

They moved slowly down the steep steps. It became clear that these were Dwarvish in construction and it was a back entrance. It took about three hours to descend the stairs until the Dwarven city came into view. A misty waterfall fell into darkness on one side of the cavern.

Agonized wails, whimpering pleas and cries of pain or torment echo in the cavern.

Making their way to the gate, they begin investigating. The door was barred from the inside. Thok stuck his sword through with the intent of lifting it out of the way. He ended up cutting it instead. The door opened, revealing a hallway that zig zagged with arrow slits in the wall.

There didn't appear to be any traps..

Thok stabbed through an arrow slit. Nothing happened. “Go and check ahead.” He told Henry.

Henry stealthed ahead, nothing happening. He came back without checking the other arrow slits as Thok had intended.

So Thok sent him back to check. But Henry is human and can't see in the darkness. So peering through the arrow slit with a lit dagger...

An arrow found purchase in his eye. Henry screamed. It echoed in the hallway. He crawled back to the party after going the wrong way, just in shock. Blood poured from his eye.

“How...how bad is it?”

“It's bad.” Theamen sat him down. Taking a deep breath, he started looking to see what he could do. “So Henry, how are your Elvish lessons going?” He asked in Elvish.

“Eeeh...”

“Oh good, he understood that.” Theamen switched to Orchish to talk to Thok. “I need to take it out and I'm a little afraid it'll take the eye with it.”

There weren't really any other options. Menelwen held Henry tight while Theamen worked. He got the arrow out...with the eye attached.

After it was done, there was the sound of a mole falling down stairs as Vega caught up to them. “What happened?”

His eyes go to Henry, seeing Menelwen holding him, covered in Henry's blood. Theamen held the arrow with an eye attached.

“Shit.” Vega walked over, casting cure wounds on him.

Henry reached up and found out his eye was missing. He started freaking out. He puked, Menelwen managed to avoid the splatter. She cleaned him up.

“Do you think he learned anything?” Thok asked.

“You're the one who told him to stick his head into the hole!”

Menelwen helped wrap the wound.

Theamen didn't know what to do with the eye until he decided to put it in a jar. He then offered it to Henry. He didn't take it, just the arrow. Shrugging, Theamen pocketed the jar with his eye.

“I'll shoot the fucker with it.”

“Oh, so you got a good look at him.” Theamen said without thinking.

“I was just screaming ten minutes ago.” He got up, adjusting. “I'm taking charge. As leader.” Henry said. Everyone started laughing.

Theamen took Henry aside for a moment, explaining that it wasn't meant to be malicious. They were just contact high from the relief that he was alive. He had crawled back with blood, so much blood and an arrow in his eye. It could have been much worse.

The party moves on, army crawling through the hall. Through the trail of blood. Vega puked. “You've seen blood before. You've eaten worse.” Theamen rolled his eyes.

After reaching the door, and going through, the next hall opened into a T shape. The hallway was clear.

Thok heard bad music, very bad music coming from a door on the left. The party moved with as much stealth as possible.

At the intersection, they went left. There were several humans chained at the base of obelisks. It was clear that they were starving to death. What's more...they were wearing cultist robes.

Henry asked why they were put there.

“We, we were left for the test. We must survive on air alone...”

“Fuck that, we're going to save you.” Henry started cutting them down. As he did, they started screaming. Out of fear that they would alert other cult members, Vega, Menelwen, and Thok killed them.

Further down the hall, it turned south. Vega reached over and cast Darkvision on Henry. That earned him a good solid punch. If Vega had been there to cast it earlier...he never would have held a lit dagger up and lost his eye.

The room they find was actually the one Henry was shot from.He takes a crossbow and bolts. “Don't fall asleep on me.” He glowered at Vega.

Vega flexed his claws. “Watch it. You deserve it.” Thok warned. Vega shrugged, letting the claws receed. He followed the party back to the hall.

Menelwen made a motion to take over the leadership. Theamen shook his head. “Wereboar, teleport, alone.”

“It would have worked. Besides, look at your options.”

“Yes, I know. Mr. Eye-pokey, the child, the other child, or yourself.” Was his response.

She snorted, knocking her shoulder against his. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

Before checking the right of the hallway, they return to the room with the bad music.

“What's the worst that can happen?” Henry asked.

“You lose another eye followed by death.” Theamen answered.

“You're just a ray of sunshine today, huh?”

Henry snuck in, checking it out. It was a grand plaza with a fountain in the middle of the room. There was an elf trying and failing to play the pipes that seemed to be made of bone. Everyone was wearing feathered robes, very hard. They were practicing hard, so much so it appeared that their very lives may have depended on it. Henry made his way back, informing the party.

“Maybe they're practicing for some kind of ceremony...?”

The party put it to a vote, to attack or not to attack.

Two votes yes: Theamen and Henry

Two votes no: Menelwen and Vega.

“Why?” Menelwen asked.

“They're music is offensive to my ears.” Theamen shrugged.

Thok broke the tie...to attack!

The party gets the drop on them. Henry attacked first, using shadow blade then dropped one. Vega used ice knife which hit three of the musicians. Three of the musicans dropped, leaving two standing.

Menelwen knew how much Theamen wanted to fight so she used a firebolt. “Go on, I know you wanted this.”

He rushed forward, killing the remaining two.

With combat concluded, Vega recognized the instruments as being made out of human ribs. The elf was a moon elf, strange.

The party moves on to the passage north of the obelisks. It opened up to a path that lead across water to a pair of double doors.

Behind the doors, chanting could be heard. “Yan-C-Bin” over and over.

Peeking in, there was a collection of cultists hovering off the ground. Pillars lined the sides of the chamber and a huge pit that appeared to have a column of air coming from it.

The chanting was getting faster.

They close the door, prepping to fight. Menelwen summoned Scruffy, intending on sending him in first before drppping a fireball.

Deep breath...

~To be continued...~

Episode 22- Old Faces

Red Larch has been destroyed. “What now?” Henry asked, looking around.

Thok crushed the note in his hand. “We answer them.”

The party split up, investgating to see if there were any survivors or anything that could be recovered. Menelwen was distraught, having been through something like this before. Henry followed the smell of brine and pickles. He hauled and flipped some rubble off to reveal the body of Grund.

It took a good number of hours to collect the bodies. Menelwen used Mold Earth to create graves. Henry retrieved a few cucumber seeds and planted them over Grund's grave.

The party leaves after tending to everything they could but head on a different path. The woods open up to reveal rolling fields of crops. Wheat sways, a windmill and small cottage.

“Thok...was this your home?” Henry asked.

“This is my home.” Thok nodded, leading the way forward. A very large woman was hanging clothes on a line outside of the cottage. She was a full-blooded orchish woman, her jet black hair cut short and smaller tusks protruded from her mouth.

“Thoky!” She beamed when seeing him. She picked him up like he was a child.

“Hey mom.”

A small human man, about 5ft 2 inches walked out in spectacles. When Thok was released, he picked his father up in a hug.

“Come in.” Thok's mom beamed, leading the party inside the cozy farm house. “Thoky, where are your manners?”

Thok chuckled, setting the table. Mama Thok picked Henry up and plopped him down at the table. She provided milk and stew. “When was the last time you were home? Years?”

“Months.”

“Oh yes! He was home for my birthday.” His parents introduced themselves as Olinar and Marvin Fletcher.

Henry was just stunned, unsure what to do with such a warm and loving family environment. Olinar put Vega in charge of chopping vegetables. She gave Luca milk and meat.

Over dinner, Marvin asked, “So Thok. How goes the adventuring life?”

“You know how it is.”

“No, I don't. Your mother was the adventure.” He chuckled.

“We're trying to save the world.” He told him.

“Ah those are the days...your mother knows all about that. Something about dragons...” he mused.

Vega fixed the stone in the mill for them after helping in the kitchen.

Over dinner the party got to know more about Thok's parents, how they met. Marvin was a writer who had been tasked with writing the story of Olinar's party. Thok took out the book, offering it to Menelwen who started reading. She shared it with Theamen.

Olinar got up and retrieved a frost-brand sword and gave it to Thok to “avoid being a bad parent.” “Use your head. You use, you stay alive, you do not lose.” She told him.

“Of course.”

“You good boy Thoky.”

Everyone helped with the dishes after dinner before turning in. Thok was too big for his bed so he allowed Lily to take it.

Menelwen and Theamen rested on cots in the main room.

Vega forgoes a long rest to enrich the farmland. When he did rest, he checked in on Henry.

“You know...I envy you.”

“Have you lost family?” Henry asked.

“My older sister.”

“What happened?” This was the first time he really opened up to Henry.

“...It was because I wasn't strong enough. My own weakness caused her to die. You still have a chance to get stronger to save yours.”

“I hope I don't let you down.”

Vega offered him a smile. “That's why I want to help you. You're like a brother to me.”

Henry felt heat rise in his cheeks. “...Rosette and I looked out for each other. I worry....that I was a burden or obligation for her..”

“Yes, the family obligation...because those ties are strong indeed.” Vega agreed.

“I'm nervous. About going to the spire I mean. What if I see her?”

“You won't be alone.” Vega assured him. “We'll all be there for you.”

That was enough to settle his mind to rest. Until he decided he wanted to see Lily, just to talk. Henry failed to sneak out.

“Henry...” Vega said, eyes still closed. “You can just walk.”

“Shut up Vega.” Thok said. “Henry, why are you sneaking here?” He rolled over, falling back asleep. As he walked outside, he saw a shape in the grass. A fox. It vanished through the grass. Henry followed it. Turns out it was Lily.

“Since this is our last chance to talk about it...I'm going to be blunt. I'm staying here.”

“What?”

She explained that if she kept going forward with the party that she was a liability and a risk.

“But how-”

She changed her appearance to look like a young half orc girl. “I'll be hiding in plain sight.”

“When did you decide?”

“Yesterday.”

“After we saw everything...” Henry frowned. She nodded. “...I wish you the best.”

“You too. Don't die. And after, make sure they don't.” She slipped off to sneak back into the house. Heartbroken, Henry returned to the barn. He went to wake Thok. As a reflex, Thok grabbed him by the throat.

“Oh, it's Henry.” He released him, coughing and sputtering. “Oh get over it.”

“You knew?”

“Yeah.”

“Will she be safe?” Henry asked.

“Have you read the book? Met my mother? Yes, she'll be safe,”

Still hurt, Henry went to take the sleeping Luca (in a food coma) from Thok, but failed to do so.

The Next Morning

Still full from dinner, everyone met up for breakfast. Thok's father looked at his fruit and oatmeal.

“It's good for your heart.” Olinar told him.

“Fuck my heart, I wanna eat.” He grumbled. Thok slipped his father bacon when his mother's back was turned; a well practiced move.

After saying their thanks and goodbyes, the party minus Lily headed towards the spire. Vega checked out the path ahead as a giant eagle. There were some shadowy figures but nothing to be worried about. Yet.

Avoiding the plateau and gnoll packs, they arrived at the bridge to the spire. It was rickety but would hold. They crossed the bridge, Thok leading the charge. An eagle head battering ram slammed into him as he went through the door, skidding back out onto the bridge. Henry checked for traps, finding nothing else other than that.

Checking out the rooms as they climbed they tower revealed...nothing. Empty except for scorched beds and rotting sacks of vegetables in the storage rooms. They climbed to the top. Smoke was distorting the sight of a figure and a spyglass. Vultures circled overhead.

The figure was tied to a pole, overlooking the edge. They recognized it when the smoke blew slightly. Kaylessa! She was still breathing but looked to be in bad shape. A trip wire was set up that would drop her if any of them misstepped.

Thok and Vega stepped over, carefully. Henry disarmed it, Thok catching her. Vega did a medicine check to see that she was near death. Thok investigated the spyglass and the note that had numbers on it. Failing to understand it, he handed it over to Menelwen.

After about an hour, while Theamen and Vega tended to Kaylessa, she found the fissure in the rock a few miles away. Hooded figures were standing there, facing the tower. Then they turned, vanishing through a door or pathway.

They bring Kaylessa down to a bed. Menelwen cushions and tends to her during the night. It was a fitful night for Kaylessa.

The next morning, she was able to speak even just a little bit. She told them about how a group had walked into town with a box, so carefully carried. When it was opened, a sky blue and white mist orb was revealed. It was something that appeared to be worshipped. They chanted for an hour and then the orb just exploded outward, a maelstrom, like being caught in a hurricane. She had woken up with a girl standing over her. A cruel smile and auburn hair...

The next thing she remembered was waking again to stare out over the valley.

Henry stood, walking out of the room.

Vega and Menelwen followed him. They had to talk and reassure him about Rosette...and that they would need to face her. But they would do what they could to save her. “Don't give into despair. Don't become like me.” Vega told him.

They hugged him.

Thok and Theamen spoke about what to do with Kaylessa. They needed to keep her safe...but they did need to press on and couldn't take her with them. Theamen decided the best course of action would be to send word to his father to come and collect her. He wouldn't want to help Theamen, but he would do it for Kaylessa.

For this, they needed a way to send long distance messages.

Vega had the capability. He split off to find a bird to send the message, He offered food to a raven and instructed it where to go.

The party waited with Kaylessa until they heard a crack. Rushing up to the roof of the spire, they saw a teleportation circle materialize. Two paladins of Mystra flanked a half elf female. She wore scale mail armor, robers over it. Her hair was deep brown and pulled back to reveal her slightly pointed ears. “Hey The, been a long time.” She walked over and rapped her knuckles on his breastplate.

“Kerris, it's been a while.”

Menelwen twitched, not liking how close she was to him. “You have history?” She asked, trying to gauge the other woman.

“Mm and if he hadn't left, a future.”

“Excuse me?”

“You've been getting him in trouble. And well, I couldn't have my future husband be put death by his father.”

“Future husband?!”

Theamen was growing increasingly uncomfortable. The party brings Kerris and the paladins down to Kaylessa.

She checked Kaylessa out. “She needs proper healers.”

“We did what we could. But we need to press on. To take care of the cults.”

Kerris looked at Menelwen, raising an eyebrow. “You lack competent healers.”

Menelwen formed fists at her side, gritting her teeth. Thok was laughing in the corner. “Our healeras are fine.” She spat.

“Our healer's Vega.”

“Shut up!”

Henry pictured her naked almost instantly, blushing furiously. Kerris smirked. “I expected more out of a wizard, really. Control your thoughts lest you come off as stupid...and really Theamen? A full elf? Your father won't be happy...” As a cleric of knowledge, she was able to read the surface thoughts.

The paladins picked Kaylessa up and brought her upstairs. “See you The.” Kerris grinned, leaving.

They vanished.

“Well...I'll go throw myself off the tower.” Theamen stood.

“Oh no you're not.” Menelwen grabbed and pulled him back. “What's going on?”

He explained that she was a childhood friend, the niece of his instructor. The bethrothal was forced upon him in an attempt to bond the families. His father hadn't been happy, but both her human half and elf half were from noble families so he begrudgingly agreed.

“She's insufferable, coniving, a liar. Worse, a politician who will do whatever she needs for political goal.”

“Why didn't you tell me sooner?”

“Because I figured it was broken given my father almost executed me.”

“I see.” Menelwen sighed, still shaking with slight rage. They had bigger things to take care of. Like handling the air cult for one...

~To be Continued...~

Episode 21- The Offer

The hell hounds joined the fray and charged straight for Henry. Luca transformed and took off with Henry into the air. This gave Henry the distance he needed to shoot at the enemies.

With Henry out of the way, the hell hounds rounded on Thok. Thok used riposte but was almost downed from the attacks.

Theamen looked between Thok and Menelwen, gripping his sword tight. “I'll be back.” He promised her, killing the hound that Thok used riposte against.

“Goddammit Thok, you better not die on us. Fucking son of a bitch!” Lily yelled, using Healing word on Thok.

“Language you lady!” Menelwen chastised but truly didn't care.

“You can watch it when I'm not dying.” Lily snapped back.

Vega, seeing how hurt the party was used Mass Cure Wounds and bonus action healed Henry.

A third cultist joined the other two on top of the scaffolding that overlooked the wicker giant and shot at Henry.

Thok hits the remaining hell hound that was on him.

Menelwen shifted, aiming Shatter up at the cultists before ducking behind a pillar.

Gurgles smashed the hell hound, and moved for the cultists.

Henry flew closer, grabbing onto one of the cultists with the intent on throwing him off the ledge. He failed. “The fuck are you doing boy?!”

Luca bit the guy in retaliation.

Smoke came from the path the party had used to get there as three figures came charging up. One was a white furred tabaxi...jamming out on a lute that sounded like a full orchestra from one instrument.

A full blooded orc in full half plate armor with a goatee held a mace like a microphone and was singing. On his chest was the symbol of Dionysis, the god of revelry. Spirit guardians, a mixture of male and females were his back up singers and copied his moves.

The third figure that joined shaking his head was a short stout warf with brown hair, a bushy beard, and blue eyes in chainmail with a shield. His shield bore the symbol of Apollo.

The dwarf, Helios shot one of the cultists on the scaffolding with a guiding bolt.

The tabaxi stood, still jamming out used his bonus action to inspire the orc. The orc then moonwalked to Lily and healed her.

“I don't know what to make of you. But thank you.”

“After all this time with us, this is strange?” Thok called to Lily.

“Thok, none of you have ever danced up to me.”

“Which are your allies?” The orc asked.

Lily glanced around. “Eh, kill the archers.”

Theamen used his full movement to get to the scaffolding, still singing. The two different songs clashed, causing dissonance.

Vega moved the ball of water up to the cultsists, trying to drown them. Theamen looked at the cultists, then to Vega. He shook his head and tightened his grip.

The cultists shoot at Vega. One hit, one miss, and one started singing wildly in the panic.

Thok shot at one, killing him. The water filled with blood that started spreading to his allies.

Menelwen aimed another shatter at the cultists. They passed but the scaffolding broke. One died from the fall, another was barely alive. Gurgles moved to kill him but knocked him out instead.

Theamen had been about to take the scaffolding down as well. Menelwen moved to help him up. As she did, the orc grabbed her hand.

“How damaged are you?”

“Ah...I'm...alright...? A little worse for wear-” She tried to take her hand back but he held fast. “Who are you?”

“Let me introduce myself.” He grinned. “Evan Heartman.” He produced a picture with his signature stamped on it. “For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss.”



“While I'm flattered...I'm already taken.”



“Who haslaid claim to this woman?” Evan glanced around.



“That would be me.” Theamen picked himself up, taking her hands from Evan. The tabaxi and dwarf were introduced as Todd and Helos Ironfist. They had heard the commotion and came to see what was going on. After finding out what the party was doing, they agreed to help.



“If the world ends, I can't drink.” Evan shrugged.



“Or flirt with ladies.” Menelwen rolled her eyes. He glanced over to her and winked.



Henry landed, huffing. “He better not hit on Lily too.” To which Evan cited that he had age standards.



With the scaffolding broken, they had to find an alternate way up. Between Vega and Thok, they made stairs with the decanter of endless water and freezing.



Todd and Lily stayed down there with the bound/unconscious cultist. Menelwen used Mage armor.



“Menelwen, please use mage armor.” Thok groaned. Just the fact that she hadn't had it on before...



“I didn't have a chance before!” Not that it would have helped with the fireball...



“Theamen, can you impress upon her the importance of mage armor?” He asked the bladesinger.



“I've been trying, but she's as stubborn as anything.” He shrugged.



Upon reaching the top and stepping inside Scarlet Moon Hall, they noticed a hole in the floor and stairs that went up. The party headed up. They check around, not finding much. The floor creaks and drops out from under them. Vega, acting quickly created an ice slide that managed to catch all of the party except Evan.



Five creatures of fire were waiting for them and attacked. The fight didn't last long, allowing Vega with assistance from Evan's Beacon of Hope to heal everyone. Vega made a spiral ice staircase that brought everyone back up to where they had been.



Going further up, they find an elder man smoking a pipe, flanked by three other men. This, was Elizar Dryflaggon. He had heard about our...adventures and more so our use of fire. The fire cult was well pleased with us.



Evan looked at the group. “What the fuck have you been up to?”



“It's a long story.Maybe later of drinks.” Menelwen answered



“I'll hold you to that lass.”
Dryflaggon offered a deal. We keep doing what we were doing...attacking all the other cults, and they would give us information. Valuable information.



As a show of faith, he offered up the following information: Rosette was currently the air bitch's lapdog. Marlos's pet project was expanding his horizons, finding a way and becoming eternal. To become the earth itself. He attacked Menelwen's home because it was believed that the desert elves were connected to Pure Earth; earth that was untouched by earth or plant. Dryflaggon advised to not look him in the eyes or you'll be immortalized in stone.



Dryflaggon also told them about the fire cult's goal. To burn away what was in their way, to push back what has become overgrown, what is plump and greedy. Burn away that which seeks to kill people.” He even said they could take time to consider the offer.



Evan didn't like how he was making sense, so he used Zone of Truth with Dryflaggon's consent. Menelwen faiiled her saving throw against it.



Theamen leaned over to her and in Elvish asked her “Do you think the bastard (Evan) is handsome?”



“No.”



“I love you.”



Vega asked about the intent behind the ritual that they had been about to perform. The burning man ritual was a cover for the true one.



All the questions that were asked were answered truthfully. Before they left to discuss (Dryflaggon would send a messenger to them in the morning for their answer) , Evan walked to Menelwen. “If you weren't with him, would we have had a chance?”



She looked at him. “No...I'm sorry. You really are a great guy but no.”



They left and conferenced. One important part was Helos knew Remove Curse. He cured Vega of his lcanthropy. As they walked down to their camp, Henry asked “So who's taking the deal?” Henry himself was leaning towards taking it. It was better to walk side with one cult to gather information on the others. They needed information to save Rosette after all.



“We're no closer to saving her!” Henry argued.



“Yes, but siding with a cult isn't going to help. We'll only get burned in the end.” Menelwen snapped. They started arguing. It rose to a point that Menelwen walked away. “If cooler heads need to prevail, then I need to take a walk.” Theamen followed her.



Thok and Vega had words, concerned about how Vega agreeing with the cult's reasoning was isturbing.



Henry walked with Lily, still fuming. “I know they're right.”



“Messing with the fire cult is a bad idea, but finding information on these people is more difficult. Flying blindly at these things isn't just dangerous, it's stupid. Eventually you won't react quick enough and something will kill you.” Lily countered. It was more about survival than morals. “We need information. We need to stop reacting and start hunting.” Henry nodded, agreeing with her. “But I will say...you need to learn to lie. When you lie, and lie well you give people what they expect. When you learn to lead, you show people what you want they to know.”



After their conversation,Henry went to find Menelwen. She was still furious, still coming down from her anger. Henry just continued the argument without listening to her.



Todd, Helos and Evan took a walk, trying to figure out what to do. Their plan became to speak their piece to the party and separate for now.



When they did, Thok and Evan did a warrior clasp. “You have a friend in Grog. And don't forget to smile. Orcs get a bad rap, don't forget to enjoy your life.” He moonwalked out to “I'm a bitch, I'm a lover...”



After the departure, Thok and Henry spoke about the deal. He talked him out of it. The party regrouped, coming to a decision. They would not go with the fire cult, and moe on to the Sacred Stone Monastery to save the members of the Delegation.



They take a long rest. In the morning, a messenger comes and gets their decision. The party leaves, planning on going to Red Larch to resupply before facing the Earth Cult.



As they got closer, they saw fallen trees, evidence of a fierce storm. Red Larch was in shambles. Buildings were leveled. Everything and everyone was gone.



In the town square, a spear with a note stood up in the ground.



“You take my stronghold, I take yours. Bring Drown to what remains of my spire.-Aerisi Kalinoth”

~To Be Continued...~

Episode 20- Fighting Fire with Fire, the Battle Begins!

After some more thought about using the lycanthropes to do some damage to the cults, the plan was agreed on. To a point. The Sacred Stone Monastary was out due to members of the Mirabar Delegation still being there. So the party agreed to send them to Feathergale Spire and the Sighing Valley.

With a set plan, Vega went to go and speak with them.He brought them a map, saying that while it was his hunting ground, he was giving it time to replenish. Vega assured them that the knights they were worried about were gone. The lycanthropes agreed to leave at sundown and shared the ribs of moose that were closer to the consistency of beef tartar. The lycans shared with him the finer recipes for serving elf (elf kebab, elf-ducken which is a drow inside a wood elf, inside a high elf and if you're feeling really fancy, inside an eladrin).

Vega returned afterwards and helped set up camp. Spectral moles were summoned and gathered needed supplied including an extra tent. With camp and watches set, the party turned in for the night.

Thok kept a crossbow pointed at Vega's head through the duration of their watch.

Theamen's watch was uneventful. When Menelwen went to switch with him, they got to speak. He asked a favor of her. “Keep an eye on me.”

“As I usually do.”

“If I seem to be taking actions...making choices that you deem to be too far...pull me back. Stop me.”

“Okay.”

He kissed her cheek and turned in for the night. Her watch was uneventful until Henry woke to join her for the last shift.

“Hey sleepyhead.”

“Hey, do you have anything warmt to drink?”

“No...?”

Henry sat down next to her. He asked about Theamen, worrying about his decisions and the way he seems to be changing. Then he made a request of her as well. “Can...you keep an eye on me? In case I do something stupid?”

“I suppose.”

“Thanks.”

The rest of the night passed uneventfully. The next morning Thok was up first, packing up the tent in thirty seconds flat. He punched Vega awake. Theamen slept in a bit, in Menelwen's bedroll enjoying his time off.

Thok broke up the fire pit, throwing rocks at Vega as he went. The point was to leave no trace of the party being there,

Vega grumbled, wandering off to Menelwen, rubbing his head. They spoke for a bit. “Is...this what family feels like?” He asked.

She blinked, glancing at him. “Yes. It's a very weird family...” she glanced at the others. “but it is. I like this family. I'd like to keep it.”

Henry saw a butterfly go by and burst into flames. Lily had a crisis about possibly turning Henry gay.

Once things were packed up, they went to other camps to see if they could find out anymore information about the rite, Dryflaggon...or if anyone could cure Vega.

The first camp they came up to was a robed elf woman by the name of Garina playing the foddle with two sprites (heartseers)- Felix and Aphid. She had traveled to see the Rite of the Wicker Giant. Garina was a wood elf druid from the circle of the silent moon, who wanted to see nature fixed. They speak about Dryflaggon and about the increased sightings of an Avariel- a winged elf. It was a pleasant interaction. Unfortunately she didn't know how to fix Vega. The party thanked her for her hospitality and moved on.

The second camp was a group of men- three dozing, one hanging around, and another leaning on his staff bored. They lectured Henry about “making nature great again” until the party moved on. One of the men was named Saruki.

The third camp was two men with a tied up bear- Eric and Carl.

The fourth camp had big guys with dogs, hoods covering their features. They seemed really skeevy and smelled BAD. Turns out...the party was right to be wary. As soon as Vega got close, the wargs attacked.

Roll Iniative

Vega went first and dealt good damage to one of the bugbears. Menelwen was next; she dropped a fireball, ending the bugbears and wargs right then and there.

Saruki ran over. “What was that?! There were bugbears?! We were sleeping by bugbears?” Poor guy was traumatized.

The party moved on up the mountain to the Wicker Giant. Henry stealthed closer. He noticed that the flames were contained in the Wicker Giant but were not comsuming it. Vega and Menelwen were not so lucky with stealth.

Roll Iniative

The priests around the giant were incredibly aggressive.

Vega tried to use entangle but succeeded in making the terrain difficult for the rest of his party.

“Arise and cleanse this place of the unworthy!” The wicker Gman bellows, the flames rising higher into the sky.

Thok moved and tried to attack one of the priests.

Menelwen tried something- a wall of water that went through and around the Wicker Giant. Henry shoots at it.

Theamen casted Haste on himself and was about to get across the difficult terrain with no problem. He attacked with Green flame blade.

Lily inspired Henry. “Oh Henry you so fine, you so fine you blow my mind hey Henry.”

A creature comes screeching through the wall of water. A fire elemental joins the fray. It burned away the mess left by Vega's entangle and attacked Theamen-missing both times.

Lily attacked the elemental with the whip. And inspired Thok. “Help him!”

Vega created water to help attack the elemental.

One of the cultists dropped a fireball on Menelwen and Lily. Both of them went unconscious. Another cultist attacked Theamen and missed.

Thok used the circlet of elemental summoning and called for a water elemental that was later dubbed Gurgles! His action surge brought out the decanter of endless water and attacked with it.

Henry shoots at a cultist and hits.

Theamen, seeing Menelwen down activated his new spell- Blade song and began to sing with it. He cleaved one cultist in half, missed the attack of opportunity by the fire elemental and attacked the cultist who casted fireball.

The fire elemental attacked Thok who moved out of the way.

Lily regained consciousness.

Vega water bended the water he created, trying to drown out the fire. He trapped the fire elemental in a water cube.

Theamen made his save against the cultists' Burning Hands spell to keep Blade Song going.

Menelwen regained consciousness, hearing Theamen singing sluggishly from Haste wearing off.

Gurgles killed the fire elemental.

A horrible disturbing howling noise in the distance caught their ears. Aroundthe corner came two dog like creatures, red and black.

Hell Hounds. 

Complete and utter terror filled some of the party.

And Henry was the closest to them...

~To Be Continued...~