Threads of the Past - 28/03/2023 - Archie’s Extracts
Apr 1, 2023 21:34:34 GMT
Riah and One of the Friends like this
Post by Andy D on Apr 1, 2023 21:34:34 GMT
In the Wake of the Goliath
My young friend, Master Kavel Castiron has established himself as a titan of an adventurer in the Dawnlands. He is proof that working consistently on one’s physical strength and conditioning is tremendously important, not least if your endeavours often lead to combat. In addition, Kavel makes valid points on the importance of strength for longevity, chiefly; the stronger your muscles; the stronger your balance; the least likely you will trip and hurt yourself in your senior years. Kavel is also one of the most persistently helpful individuals I’ve ever encountered. I’ve never once known him to not offer his help to someone he’s met.
Perhaps it is a consequence of his continued cycle of helpfulness that he doesn’t seem to always follow up on past matters that have yet to be fully explored. He shows interest and desire to resolve previously left open matters. But, he always ends up opening a new point of investigation instead; by aiding the next person to benefit from his good nature.
So, I find it falls to me to deal with the threads of his past adventures, and see if I can tie up the loose ends. It’s also the case that everytime he recounts one of his adventures, he glosses over the parts that are of great interest to me. For example, when retelling me about his recent journey to the Court of Rebirth, I was told, “you should go Archie, because just being there you feel refreshed, and young.” Unfortunately, Kavel did not have any insight into how the Court caused a restorative effect. Nevertheless, my young friend does deserve my gratitude, especially as he seems to inadvertently scout out areas of interest for me. Sometimes I wonder if Kavel might accidentally stumble upon the secret to humanoid longevity, bring it back, show me, and without the faintest idea what he’s found, ask, “do you know what this is, Archie? Is it good for strength?”
I will have to make my way to the Court of Rebirth soon. As it happened though,I ran into the young Half-Drow lady, Ms Calla Prim, who required companions for a journey to the Court of Summer. In particular, Ms Prim would be going to the Summer Warrens, an archive of sorts, from which I may uncover knowledge from the Feywild on longevity. Doubly intriguing was that Ms. Prim had recently been to the Temple of All Seasons in the Court of Harmony, where Kavel has been and left a gigantic dangling thread to be pulled on. So, in the pursuit of longevity, and tying up loose threads for Kaval, and in addition; helping a fellow wizard; I agreed to join young Calla’s expedition.
Joining me on this adventure were Ms. Calla Prim herself; a Half-Drow Abjurer specialist, and remarkably also gifted as a divine magic practitioner. There was also, Rosemary; a Human Abjurer (I wondered if abjuration magic was popular among younger arcane experts these days?). We were also joined by the very young, Mittens McKittens; the Tabaxi Illusionist, and young Corilla; another Half-Drow in the team, but this time a specialist in psychic magic that centred around creating psychic blades. All in all, we had four wizards in our five member party. Perfect, it seemed, for a research heavy task…
On Feywild Academics and Cultural Similarities
A Sprite and Pixie were our escorts to the Court of Harmony in the Summer Court. Upon arriving in the Feywild, my already vast amount of curiosity for all things was heightened beyond normal - this was all in line with the elevated vibrancy of the surrounding nature of the Feywild.
We were met by Record Master Artolos, an elderly-looking Goat-Centaur. At the time he was accompanied by a clothed mouse companion on his shoulder. There were also three assistants: Nettle; a Dryad woman, Galan and Jasper; both male Elves. These were the people chiefly exploring the mysterious, re-arisen Temple of All Seasons. We were there to assist in uncovering new knowledge of the temple in the Summer Court’s library known as the Warrens.
On the way to the Warrens, Master Galan took note of my third hand account of Kavel’s experience in the Temple. It is as of yet unknown whether Kavel’s party’s activities in the temple have inadvertently caused something quite benign, or entirely disastrous. At the mention of Drusillia and the hunting horn the party acquired for her, Galan was especially curious.
It was a great pleasure conversing with Master Galan and Record Keeper Artolos on the history of the Temple. It was unsurprising that one would find fellow academics in the Feywild. Wherever one goes, no matter what cultural differences you see; people are still very much the same. In a similar way, it was unsurprising to find infantile mischief was enjoyed in the Feywild much like it is on the Material plane. In particular, the drawing of phallic shapes for amusement is clearly a shared cultural phenomenon. We have May and Kay to thank for the cultural enlightenment, and poor Artlo, Mitten’s goat steed too for providing, one suspects unintentionally, the canvas.
On the Summer Warrens
The Feywild is a physical law defying environment. Perhaps though, it might be best to say that the Feywild is a Material Plane physical law defying environment. I have little doubt that the Feywild obeys its own physical laws; we simply have yet to understand them. Case in point, walking with intent to reach your destination appears to be all you need to reach said destination - directions are superfluous. We walked in a clearing, then a forest, and then arrived at the Summer Warrens. The transitional points of the journey, or any deviation from walking a straight line, were not apparent as they would be on the Material Plane.
The blend of nature and magic in the architecture of the Summer Court is sublime. The approach to the Summer Warrens took us over a gigantic fallen tree bridge before we reached the humanoid-sized entrance to the Warrens.
I was able to have a quick conversation with Galan about my area of interest; humanoid longevity. Galan reiterated what I have come to learn from my reading; many people have tried to understand the way in which time passes in the Feywild, and how it is out of sync with the Material Plane, but little success has been achieved here.
We travelled through many tunnels illuminated by a strange luminescent water held in small containers. I was able to see the source of this liquid. Perhaps another time I will be able to examine it.
It was pleasing to see many Feywild people in the warrens busying themselves with research and discussion.
We came across a scholar in the midst of categorising many varied items from a find of some sort. Two of my companions were permitted to take an object each from the collection. At a later alcove where I witnessed Willowwisps recharging the lights, I also witnessed a peculiar storage for records. Artolos was flicking through plants as if they were pages of a book. Whilst imitating Artolos, me and a fellow adventurer came across a couple of items we were permitted to keep. I came across a saucer-sized jigsaw puzzle piece, which had artwork on it of a jug of water. Galan, who I hope was not pulling my leg, informed me that this was rather lucky of me. Galan explained that finding puzzle pieces with jugs on them is considered lucky and will award the finder with prolonged life. It’s certainly what I wanted to hear. I must do some research on Feywild folklore...
On the Necessity of a ‘Goliath’ Type in Combat
Several of us in the adventuring party later recollected noticing that the mouse on Artolos’s shoulder scuppered when the assistants arrived. Corilla also observed that Jasper was missing when we passed through several of the tunnels before reaching the cavern that Artolos had discovered contained an item relating to the Temple of All Seasons.
Artolos raced to the dark stone cavern ahead of us. The rest of us with our bi-pedal legs fell behind Artolos and his swift quadrupedal legs. When Artolos reached the cavern he witnessed Jasper saving himself from harm by teleporting elsewhere. The source of Jasper’s threat was the mouse that had gone missing from Artolos’s shoulder!
As the rest of us entered the cavern, we saw a five headed Chimera statue, below which stood Artolos, shocked at his mouse companion vanishing in a flash of light following Jasper’s own disappearance. Following this, the Chimera statue came to live and flew up to the top of the cavern to gain an elevated position of attack on us. The five heads were; lion, serpent, goat, eagle and dragon. The dragon head breathed fire on us.
In an instant, the fire from the Chimera had taken down two of my party! Two of us were saved by our preparation of the spell Absorb Elements. The impact of the fire still hurt immensely, mind you, but both Calla and I were saved from clinging on to life as our spells reduced the damage imparted on us. Corilla was saved by her quick feet.
Throughout the combat with our wizard heavy team, it became alarmingly clear that we were all Support and no Frontline. The absence of a ‘Goliath-type’ was most noticeable. Corilla, to her credit, brought to our side a pair of summoned lions from magical figurines, which made up for our absent frontline defenders. Ms Corilla also possessed the ability to generate psychic knives, and was very proficient at throwing them at the enemy. This talent, I observed, was hidden behind an absent fondness for study, and a ‘summertime’ adolescent bearing. Be that as it may; Corilla’s tactical mind for battle, I have respect for, and mean to tell her this when next we meet.
Ms. Prim showed herself to be an extremely versatile wizard. I was able to observe she isn’t just a proficient abjurer, but she is also divinely blessed and also appears to possess an element of the Eldritch to her magic. I witnessed Calla produce healing for one of our allies as well as teleportation support, in addition to Eldritch projectiles well aimed at the Chimera.
Ms. Rosemary had a rough time during the combat on account of the fire based attack from the dragon’s head. However, she proved that she can hold her own with expert use of the Chromatic Orb spell, choosing to embed acid into the orbs and smashing the orbs directly into the flying underside of the Chimera.
Young Mr. McKittens, also experienced the same ‘rough’ time as Ms. Rosemary. I am pleased to see, however, that he has developed the good sense to restrict his movement to staying within cover, and only sticking his head above the proverbial parapet to cast the Magic Missiles spell, which to be fair, he was very successful with.
My Bigby’s Hand spell continues to prove itself as a battlefield wonder. I was able to aggress the Chimera with fisticuffs above my own natural ability and wrestle the beast, as if I could match Kavel and his superior grappling skills.
However, Bigby’s Hand is not an invincible magical tool. The Chimera was able to strike down my spell, and without the magical force to reproduce it, my spell was dismissed without my accord. I relied on Scriber altered spells of the Scorching Ray spell in Bigby’s absence. Both Thundering Rays, and following Rosemary’s example, Aciding Rays were good choices.
My desire for a frontline of soldiers was at its peak, when the Chimera chose me as a sparring partner. No sooner did it focus me in its fiery sights, and almost burn me alive, did it claw at me with its lion claws, and bite me with its snake head’s teeth. I felt enormously woozy as much of my blood left my body and rather ruined my suit. Young Mittens’ final volley of Magic Missiles bested the Chimera none too soon. I have continued concern about a thirteen year old boy adventuring, but credit should be given where it is deserved, and Mr. McKittens came to my aid.
Artolos, Galan and Nettle had found cover during the battle and fortunately they were unharmed. Behind the plinth where the Chimera once stood, we found a small pile of shiftweave and a lever made from cold-iron, a substance quite harmful to Fey. A man named Krux'erhal had the lever sealed in a protective box, and also provided some recompense for the party’s assistance in the cavern. Calla was permitted to take the shiftweave, and I must say, learning of its properties, I am quite jealous. I enjoy my plentiful wardrobe, but if my attire were made of shiftweave, I would probably never be caught in an all day adventure without any evening wear.
On Local Concerns and a Meeting to Set Up
I had asked about Ms Kenari from Mittens when I met him at Portal Plaza. His words and demeanour were evasive. Calla, I believe also observed this, and I believe I saw her converse with Mittens as we arrived back in Daring Heights. I am pleased to see I am not the only one concerned with the young man.
If the young Mittens’ teacher - and I believe also care-giver too - is unwell or otherwise unable to provide care, I would have some concern. I would like to meet her to find out. Not least because I wish to inform her of some observations I’ve had of Mittens that I believe she would like to know. Case in point, Mittens displayed either a complete lack of self awareness or sheer cheek in naming his goat steed Artlo, after Record Keeper Artolos. I feel it’s also important to inform Ms. Kenari of the two occasions in which I have witnessed the near death of the young Tabaxi on account of fire. If not for the Potion of Greater Healing I forced down Mitten’s throat during the Chimera fight, I’m not sure if I would have been seeking Ms. Kenari to bring her of news something more grave.
