My City of Ruins - 20/07/2022 - A Kavel Perspective

Stonegate Rendez Vous

Zola was late.

Zola had asked a bunch of us to come with her and check out a religious person that had something to do with the business in Phlegethos. I wasn’t involved in what I would describe as the ‘middle part of the Azellah saga’, but I was happy to help comrade Zola in this matter, especially since Sorrel would not be able to join us, since she had another matter to attend to.

So, I was here at the Stonegate, one of the entrances/exits to the city, and Zola was not. If memory serves me correctly, Zola’s tardiness should have been expected.

Hello Kavel!” Came the voice of my younger comrade, Pipper, a lizardfolk artificer. Pipper had also come to this meeting point to help Zola, because Zola had asked. I admired this quality in Pipper and told her so. I don’t think I have seen Pipper since that time we infiltrated the Breakers - this was many months ago now. Pipper received some coin back then called the ‘Call of Umberlee’ that would call her back to the ocean, or something like that. I wondered if she had ever ‘felt the call of Umberlee’, since I last saw her?

Velania and Marto turned up next. This was the first time I had seen both of these ‘Azellah saga’ comrades, since the battle. When I hugged Velania, my angel-like, cleric friend, I could feel her body was closed. She had recently experienced love come to an end. I imagined that I too would feel, perhaps, like her if I heard news that Nathalie will no longer see me…

Marto, on the other hand, seemed a bit changed since last I saw him after the Azellah saga. New haircut, nice beard, the scars from the Azellah had healed well enough and his smouldering plate armour was cleaned-up and on point again. Marto was also carrying a large hamper of food - I think he must be feeling changed and a little bit back to himself - Marto brought food! Marto always looks after his comrades’ bellies! Marto is quintessentially a good comrade. When Marto and Pipper hugged, I joined in over the top of them and squeezed them both.


The Cavalry Arrives - So to Speak

The trotting of a large beast could be heard, eventually revealing itself to be Corr’Vandor, Zola’s magnificent elk fey steed and the lady herself arriving on ‘feywild’ time. Despite her complacent regard to being on time, it was very good to see the mighty half-drow paladin again.


The Case of Pipper Being Taken Advantage of - Part 1

A lot of chat was happening. At some point, it was revealed that little, comrade Pipper did something for Zah’Ranin, the bitey of the fiends. I explained that Zah’Ranin was dead now. Pipper was convinced that Zah’Ranin was a friend.

It was explained to me the person Zola wanted us to see, Themis, was a neutral party in the unending battle of angels and demons. Themis was the one who gifted Pollux to comrade Zola, but also Castor to Ophanim. To me, Themis sounded like an arms dealer benefiting from sales to both sides. I said as much.

“That’s how they usually do it,” a voice said from behind us. Another ally from the mission of rescuing High Diviner Rholor had joined us. The Jackal was here.


Jackal Questions/Looks Out For(?) Comrade Zola

Jackal had appeared out of nowhere like a dad questioning where his rebellious daughter thought she was going, as she left the house unannounced. Jackal was very suspicious and deprecating of Zola’s choice to go ‘question’ the Oracle who had helped both sides of the unending conflict (that Jackal himself was quite central to - comrade Velania explained that).

Jackal had mentioned Sorrel, like Zola, he had found to be in bad shape. I saw my sister Sorrel last week. All things concerned, she seemed to be having a good time up in the crow’s nest drinking cider while the rest of that team was working - I’ll have to check in on her again.

Jackal paid us a compliment, as he said, “of all the many powerful people I have seen…”

“Thank you,” I said in response.

“... yes big man - some were decent, the rest have their heads up their arses,” Jackal finished. Oh, I guess I didn’t realise he was mid sentence when I thanked him.

Comrade Velania enquired into the Jackal’s feelings - the question was dismissed with attention drawn once again to Sorrel - really felt I must check up on Sorrel when I got back from this mission.

Zola asked about An’Ahkrim, the fiend that changed sides to help end the unending conflict. The Jackal said he’d tell her if she came back from visiting the Oracle without blood on her hands, and then he disappeared in the blink of an eye.


A Bright Idea

Yes Marto!

When I heard we were travelling to the Sunset Spines to reach the Oracle my heart sunk. Even though I appreciate the mountains like no other as a goliath, going to the Spines or Port Ffirst for that matter messes up my carpentry instruction, since the journey to those places are long. Marto suggested we go back to Portal Plaza, and use Castor and Pollux as teleportation locating devices, and teleport to the Sunset Spines.

I asked which of the magic-users here would be casting teleportation like comrade Felix does, only for Marto to point out none of the magic-users here could cast that high level of a spell… I really thought magic-users sort this stuff out before joining a party. When I join a party everyone can tick off strength from the essentials list. When magic-users join a party it seems to be a mixed bag whether we’ll be able to put a tick against; healing, familiar, teleportation and other utility and support magic. I want there to be a filtering system for magic-users when they join a party!

But, here we were - the Rholor rescue squad, plus Pipper. Minus Sorrel… and minus Silivia too… I observed that my thoughts went from active planning to sadness, as I remembered Silvia…


Somewhere in the Sunset Spines

From Portal Plaza, we teleported on to a cliffside road. It was confirmed we were near where we needed to go, because most of the others recognised the spot as the place where they fought a big scorpion man, where Zola lost a sword before gaining Pollux.

A well aimed crossbow bolt suddenly struck Marto between the gaps in his plate by his right shoulder!

We were all on guard at this point.

“What the fuck do you want?!” We heard from above, but could not pinpoint where exactly, as Marto bled out from the piercing bolt inside his shoulder.

“To talk with Themis!” one from my team replied.

“Fuck off!”” was the unfriendly response.

The unknown hostile pointed out to Zola that she had both swords, so, “what the fuck else,” could she want? Zola responded that she just wanted to check on Themis. Our unknown hostile loosed a bolt into Zola’s shoulder. Ouch! The hostile was an extremely good aim from their hidden vantage point.

Comrade Velania, ever the cool-headed peacekeeper persuaded the hostile to let us through by removing her armour. Zola was instructed to drop her swords - which she was not thrilled about. Marto joined in with the unarming.

“That looks arcane as shit!” Our aggressor pointed out, and Pipper voluntarily removed her mechanical right arm.

I didn’t give a shit about removing my weapons, since I was a Dwarven Stonehands Fighting badass.

“Look Zola,” I began, a smug tone in my voice, “I too am removing all my weapons. I’m putting my maul on the ground, my handaxes, these spears and javelins, this horn of blasting - I am so very defenceless now. What could I do if…”

“We’re aware the goliath is probably still dangerous without weapons! It’s a risk we're willing to accept!” A shout came from above. I guess I was fooling no one.

Fortunately Zola complied and laid down her twin swords.

A masked individual jumped down from the 30ft cliff ledge pointing a rather exquisite looking crossbow at us, and put all our gear into, what must have been, a bag of holding - it took a while to put my extensive stack of weapons, I don’t even use anymore, into the bag. Did I mention the handcrafted heavy clubs I made myself or the halo knife?

Pointing the front of the crossbow at us, the masked individual guided us to where we needed to go.


Cliffside Journey

Zola healed herself of her grievous bolt wound… I did not realise my double-slashy comrade could do this. Fascinating!

Comrade Pipper offered a healing potion to help comrade Marto, but Velania was on the job with some divine healing magic. Soon neither of my wounded comrades were suffering any harm.

Almost an hour later we came across, what looked to me as, an abandoned mercenary camp. Empty tents, cold fires, discarded items - a ghost camp.

Our guide still held his crossbow pointed at us. There was a central tent and a figure emerged from it.

The tent occupant went back in and escorted a tiefling lady out from the tent and on to an altar - she looked like she needed the help. This was Themis, and she looked under fed and frail.


Themis vs. Zola -
Are You Culpable If You Give Aid to A Violent Individual When Threatened And You Claim It Is Your Duty To Do So Anyway?

… I think I agreed with Zola, in principle. I was not a fan of the argument through duty - the duty was wrong. But, I could give allowances, I suppose. Plus, I wasn’t about to interject with my opinion. There was a simmering argument going on. I thought it best to refrain from joining in, and to stick to silence instead.

To be fair to Themis, and she explained it herself, her entire reason to be had vanished - she was feeling utterly without purpose, and we - the Rholor rescue squad - were responsible for that, and here we were, confronting her in a weakened state, for what reason? To kill everyone who wasn’t entirely on our side? I was pretty sure we, at least I, was not the arsehole in this situation, but it still wasn’t an entirely clear cut situation. To think any further was causing me something akin to psychic damage. So, I let Themis and Zola’s tete-a-tete go on with no interference from me.

At one point Themis started to do what appeared to be an Oracle trick on each of us. She would address us individually, look up to the sky with pupiless eyes and reveal something about us. Zola certainly got the lion’s share of this.

“Why haven’t you moved on then?” Zola asked.

“Why haven’t you?” Themis replied, Touche.

Like with The Jackal there was this moment of interrogation from Themis, which seemed like a teacher questioning a rebellious child.

Zola came back for a rebuttal, “did he (Ophanim) take the sword from you?”

Though this seemed like a question to corner Themis into admitting culpability, it led to a diffusion of sorts. Themis agreed to share with Zola records of Ophanims past, horrifying deeds.

Though I was silent for most of the verbal exchange, it was my turn eventually to be addressed. “Would you have been by her side, if she chose to kill me?” Themis asked.

This was a difficult question. Would I have stood by my comrade Zola’s side, just because it's Zola, even if I didn’t fully understand what was happening? With some reflection, I did say, “I would have tried to persuade her otherwise - the Jackal, funnily enough, advised Zola not to pursue killing you, too,” Marto nodded in agreement with my words.

Themis paused before responding to me, “people don’t see you, do they?”

“Impossible - I am too tall,” I correctly responded.

“They just see your hands though,” she replied and looked up at the sky, eyes becoming pupiless, “you walk among titans,” Themis said, and then she lowered her head again. As her pupils returned, she said, “don’t forget this.” I nodded in response. I was also surprised that Themis had just described what I felt when I teleported back from Phlegethos with the Rholor Rescue Squad. Themis certainly had Oracle skills, even in her frail state.


The Case of Pipper Being Taken Advantage of - Part 2

Pipper, I learnt, is not forthcoming with the truth about herself, if it does not, she feels, sound worthy of interest from her peers. Perhaps more importantly though, I learnt she was inadvertently responsible for fixing the, at the time, unusable mechanism that caused an outburst of rage in front of the Temple of Seline, that led to Rholor’s capture. Poor Pipper being duped like that. Zah’Ranin fooled her good.


The Cycle Ends / One Last Oracle

Themis said she would walk on until either the gods gave her a new purpose or her body gave up, whichever came first. But, the unending cycle had definitely come to an end. There was, thankfully, an amicable end between Themis and Zola as they wished each other well in moving on.

There was also one last oracle. Themis, frail as she was, took some time to light her brazier and we received a warning of what was yet to come. No rest for the wicked - maybe other adventurers can pick this up? I felt receiving my Phlegethos badge saw an end to active duty on following up Oracle based adventures. I think my comrades that day also agreed.

Themis and her guard went back into their tent. The crossbowman gave us back our weapons. Marto gave him back his bolt and laid out what appeared to be the better half of his hamper for Themis and her remaining entourage. Good man - I too thought they needed the food.

Unfortunately there was no teleporting back to the city. Onwards we walked.


Chatting On the Journey Back

Whilst Zola and Velania were chatting, and Marto seemed content on his own, I went to talk to comrade Pipper.

Comrade Pipper looked like she had lost some of her pep. I told her she should be careful who she helps with her amazing artificer skills; live and learn. I was interested in her next big invention though, and I told her so. She has amazing transforming armour! I wondered what she would make next. I also explained how we all make mistakes, even as we get stronger. Case in point, I wasn’t supposed to tell the quartermaster on the ship last week the name of the island we were sailing towards, and yet I did so anyway. Circumstances can make fools of us all…

I was about to query with comrade Pipper if she was interested in seeing if she could manage roller skating down the rest of this cliff edge with her cool roller-skating footwear. But, then I remembered I wanted to see if Marto had managed to talk to Beets recently, and Marto was drifting over towards us.

Comrade Marto had in fact talked to Beets already. Marto had confessed that he was not ready for a relationship at the moment. I agreed this was good of him to tell Beets. But, more importantly perhaps, Marto mentioned he was worried about Beet’s rage. Marto said Beets exhibited a rage much different to one she has previously shown in battle - certainly much different to my own battlerage - the rage had its own personality. I agreed I would try and help. The chat reminded me that I wanted Sampson and Tim to really help Beets with her rage, since they were good at controlling their lycanthropic bloodlust. But, of course, that wasn’t possible now. Marto extended his condolences.

The conversation moved on to a lighter tone as I mentioned that my small, gentleman, badass friend was quite the lady-killer. Marto was a man with options. Beets and Zola, it seemed to me, had both shown interest in him. Marto started pushing me away from everyone to continue our chat. My bad, I guess?

I told Marto I would have asked his advice on women, if I hadn’t actually met someone in the Feywild. Turns out comrade Marto was in the Court of Harmony when I came to visit and is passingly familiar with the Damphenite Tangle. Marto recognised that the lady/warrior/leader who was the object of my affection must be a sprite. Marto also gave me advice anyway. The advice was that I should do most of my thinking with what is ‘upstairs’ on my body rather than ‘downstairs’. Sure, I thought. But, “I can do both,” I said, stating what seemed like a simple matter of fact to me. Marto’s expression did not appear like he thought I was stating facts.


Back at the Stonegate

Several campfires and nights later we were back at the Stonegate, and I had missed a scheduled lesson in carpentry with Mr. Anton Thames. Nuts!

At the stonegate, while I was realising my scheduling problem, we were met, once again, by the Jackal, who despite his words, I feel, was pleased that Zola did not return with blood on her hands. Jackal promised to take us to see An’Ahkrim at some point, and reminded us to look after the vacant one; my sister Sorrel.

I pointed out that I saw Sorrel the week before, as we travelled to my island. The Jackal wondered how I lost her and asked, “who the fuck was letting the big man make deals for islands?! Soul for an island is not a good trade!” You know, I’m beginning to see what Themis meant, when she said, ‘people don’t see you, do they?’