Show Me Your Teeth - 19/07/2023 - Archie’s Extracts
Jul 20, 2023 22:19:15 GMT
Jaezred Vandree, Riah, and 1 more like this
Post by Andy D on Jul 20, 2023 22:19:15 GMT
On Guardianship of Young Wizards
I have written elsewhere about the unsuitability of teenagers led alone children entering into the life of an adventurer. Though, I would say begrudgingly, even here - exceptions can be found. But these exceptions are not the example to trailblaze a path forward for our youths to hurtle forth into a profession where their young lives are at extreme risk. The young wizard Mittens McKittens has demonstrated a precocious penchant for causing trouble, yet he is also a promising illusionist, who with the right guidance could very well develop into a fine young wizard.
I have been eager to meet with Miss Kennari, Mittens’ guardian and tutor, for a while now. It would be good to share notes on the young tabaxi’s progress and comportment during adventures. I believe Miss Calla Prim, one of the two abjurer specialists I know here in the Dawnlands, is protective of young Mittens. But, I believe it falls on more of us to also keep an eye out for the young illusionist. Especially as we have discovered that Mittens has been without Miss Kennari for some time now! To the young man's credit, he has been looking after himself well enough. Initially, the boy lied about his guardian’s absence. One can partially excuse that on a desire to not be the centre of attention for something alarming. However, it is indeed very alarming. Raine, a shared acquaintance, and musically gifted magician half-elf, has agreed with me to look in on Mittens weekly and make sure he is eating well. I will suggest to him he come to Daring Academy with me, once a week, so he can practise his spells under my supervision and in an environment suited to magical practise. It is, I feel, also necessary to offer the young wizard support in locating his guardian and see to her safety. It isn’t right to find oneself in the position of having to be guardian to your guardian, but this is the situation Mittens has found himself in.
Whatever does our new adventuring acquaintance, Lilith think of us, I wonder? Mittens invited the tiefling nature magician at the very last minute and out of nowhere. Quite an odd welcome for an adventurer new to the Dawnlands.
Regarding young Mittens’ spell learning; I do wonder if not only my supervision of his spell practice would be good for him, but my tutelage as well? Young wizards today are all rather eager to rush towards mastering a more advanced, exciting and very dangerous spell like Fireball, whilst they skip right over mastering solid, deductive spells such as; Identify, and Detect Magic. I was a little appalled to learn Mittens had casted neither of those spells on the box of teeth that brought us together and had been in his possession for some time now!
On Being Followed in Feythorn Forest
Mittens had received a vision in his dreams of his absent guardian, Miss Kennari. The vision of Miss Kennari had transferred to Mittens the directions for the journey to get the box of teeth he acquired in the Summer Warrens (Great Library in the Feywild’s Summer Court) back to its proper owner.
I used my very own crafted Nystul’s Magic Aura scroll to place a false aura upon Mitten’s box, to disguise the divination and necrotic energy it emitted. The scroll worked a charm - I do so hope my teammates talk up the scroll's success for future business.
After a brunch at Neery’s Pies, we departed Daring Heights via Gravegate and headed into the Feythorn. We walked past Feyverge Valley. Much of the forest we trekked through was home to trees native to the Feywild, what with the silvery blue veins to the leaves and large, golden apples that the trees bore. When we reached Silvanus Shrine under the dark night’s sky we came upon three pillars of stone, which Mittens confirmed was where we needed to reach in order to planeshift to a less savoury region of the Feywild.
For all the expertise that the team demonstrated whilst orienteering in the forest, magically aided or otherwise, we were slow to spot our tail.
An individual by the name of Kerrak was following us. Mittens and Raine were familiar with the unseelie person, and were not on friendly terms with her. Raine attacked our stalker with a Psychic Lance spell, downing her. In the sudden development of combat, I followed up by casting Bigby’s Hand and pinning the downed opponent to the ground. A terse exchange of words occurred between Kerrak and Mittens. It appears, in hindsight, that Kerrak was telling the truth when she claimed to be following Mittens to make sure the box of teeth made it back to where it supposedly belonged. Kerrak was in fact responsible for helping us activate the plane-shifting ability of the three pillars - with a blood letting material component, and we arrived in the Feywild shortly thereafter
On a Less Hospitable Region of the Feywild and Dealing With Many Unknowns
In stark contrast to the glorious fey trees of the Feythorn, the new forest we found ourselves within was a horrid collection of bone-dry trees of twisted, misshapen forestry. No succulent, golden apples in sight. Kerrak led us to a cave entrance that had the appearance of a horrifying creature's toothy mouth. Most unwelcoming.
And so, much like my younger, immensely stronger friend has experienced in the Feywild, I too have now been involved in a situation in which I was not certain; who I was dealing with, what their intentions are, whether their claims are correct, and whether we should have brought them the item they requested?
We were greeted by an individual called Vanhim - who proclaimed himself the owner of the box of teeth. Allegedly, the box was stolen by the Queen of the Summer Court (by herself truly or a proxy, I’m not sure) for unknown reasons. If true, perhaps I need not worry too much about the box and its teeths’ importance; Mittens did find it randomly amongst the green ‘shelves’ of the Summer Warren’s library; it was not under lock and key.
In the unfamiliar, dreadful, and unwelcoming environment we found ourselves in, the upper hand did not rest with us. There was an altercation for the box. Mittens was injured, and we were lucky, it seemed, that this was all the price we paid that day.
Mittens pushes his luck too recklessly when encountering mighty adversaries. This is far from sensible. His composure and moral compass can be erratic, and yet his behaviour is surprisingly (and thankfully) restrained at times. While his emotions led him to hit a downed and restrained Kerrak, he was not willing to put manicles on her. Whilst provoked into following Vanhim into his dangerous lair, he listened to my guidance to depart from the area at once.
On Tiny Huts and Teleportation Circles
It was still very late when we arrived back on the Material plane, through the three pillars of the Feythorn.
I did not prepare the spell Galdur’s Tower that day, I was only able to offer Leomund’s Tiny Hut by way of encampment for the team - cramped, but well protected from erratic temperatures and uninvited insects. Perhaps more importantly - it’s impenetrable to those unwelcome to enter, and from magical bombardment.
With no riches gained, and no desire amongst the team to trek back if not needed, I casted the spell Teleportation Circle. This was the first time I had casted that spell during an adventure. Long distance teleportation is a marvel! Insect bites, sore feet and time lost; all magnificently avoided with the application of chalk and magical learning… but also 50gp of precious gems - a very expensive spell component! Teleportation Circle is wonderful, albeit extravagant. As I’ve recently achieved proficiency with the Contingency spell, it behoves me to be more frugal with the use of my gem reserves, as I’m going to need to fund a very expensive ivory and gem decorated statuette of myself for the spell to be field ready!
Looking at things through a more positive lens, I suppose the use of the teleportation circle did grant me more time to work on Lord Vandree’s Dimension Door spell, which even sold at a considerable discount, will still net me a good profit.
I advised Mittens to write to someone he is familiar with in the Summer Court and inform them of our recent excursion to a Seelie-free region of the Feywild and what transpired. When I check up on him later in the week, I do hope he has already sent the letter.
