 So we begin with you all in Akluna Rene and Nathaniel you are all Standing in the chapel of the Raven Queen amidst a broken down tearful Kara Miharian Gently holding a locket with a portrait of her sister in the hand The chapel itself is beaten and broken and cracks in the stone and bones on the floor and scorch marks of spells litter the entire area and You all stand before the high-pleat priestess of clove way who utters the sentence I Stopped looking for true resurrection a long time ago. It was never supposed to be this way So I don't you explained to us what the plan was going to be she's she turns to you a moment you can tell that she's still fairly apprehensive and She slowly stands up from her place on the floor using her bone staff to prop herself up I've had assassins sent to my way complete. Nobody's pretending to want to learn about necromancy But most of you already have a pre-existing reputation to risk. So I'd like to ask you questions first She's like on her arm See Kara is unconcerned with all of your wounds at the moment. Yeah, that makes sense. No, it's fine I just I don't we don't need our Barbie and super dehydrated. So just take eight healing points, please Yes, I would love to perhaps you can move your spell for me then Very well, mr. Witchtaker and she with a snap of her fingers. Yep. All your veins are gone and Was there any other spell on you it was just Bane But I was just feel more comfortable without it on that said as she takes it off I'll raise my hand fantastic and that will put one on all of us and I'll throw my hand into the air as Pink sparks shoot out and I cast zone of truth around all of us. Yep. You can see she she tilts her head. Really? We have run into so many people. This is more a precautionary measure than anything else. I raise my eyebrows Really I'm currently in the corner of the room kind of just putting Karo back together Just like oh we doing the zone of truth thing Yes, if you would kindly like to join us so that she knows that we're all on the same page. Oh Perfect. Well, it's not like I was gonna lie. Anyways. All right. I Get them up and working Okay, yeah, take my swords off while I'm thinking about it. She Crosses her arms So why are you here? We were told to stop the necromancy healing clover. Hmm. Yes, you are hunting the Black Vein Queen. Yes She's That kind of does the two hand gesture like oh well And it came just came to your surprise that she is not here. Oh Is she not you? No, but tell an entire country bent on Throwing necromancers into jail at the first sight so So why are you in specific behind the terrorist attacks going on in Belkis? Well, I can say perhaps a few may have taken up necromancy in my stead. I can deny my Responsibility all I want But I cannot Be certain that some of them may have looked to me as a sort of inspiration But no, I have nothing to do with a spine of death. I have a more specific question Why is it that Chandra wants you? You can see that her eyes dark to you That bitch Yes, we're coming closer that census. Yeah, I'm not I'm not entirely sure about her anymore So she was calling you the Black Vein Queen, but more specifically she wanted you Alive Explicitly so a lot for That's what we're trying to figure out. I think that the answer might lose be elucidated If we have the answer to how I came About and I'm going to pull out the journal once more though or not the journal but the notes once more We've been finding these all the way up the roads to you. I don't imagine that you've just been letting them loose Which means you can see that she looks furious at that at you holding the notes. Why should you find those? Everywhere there was one on it. There was one in a grave. There was one inside of a box They were everywhere almost like crumbs leading to you I don't think that you left them not anymore if you'd like you can have them back She holds up her hand. I don't need them anymore. Besides you're an investigator Maybe you could piece these together into something that I could not well I suppose the first question is how did you come about losing it? Well It's a long story and you hear the creak of the door and you can see Just at the front of the chapel kind of by the door you can see it's You hear Jacqueline's voice Cara is um everything all right I Look at I look at Cara and I say she is just a tall glass of sweet tea ain't she She she just scratches the back of her head a little bit an embarrassment. Yes dear all it's well It seems there was just a plain simple misunderstanding and Jacqueline slowly creaks open the door Creeks creaks open the door holding a wand kind of pointed at you all in a shaky hand This and hand waves at no Jacqueline dear I didn't say the code phrase we've been over this It's I seemed to have forgotten some of my tools You guys have a secret word safety word Enoch what Well when you're hunted by thousands of assassins and people trying to Take control of your wits and she looks to Nathaniel. You can't be too certain. We have a lot of safety measures around here here here Yep Nathaniel nods with Yeah, no the same being safer is better than me and sorry Jacqueline kind of steps into the chapel and starts inspecting the area and she just like rubs two fingers on the floor Did you put glyphs of warding in the chapel? I brush off the debris Actually quite not so I wasn't blown up by one only a skeleton. I gotta learn how to do I think we are getting off topic Yeah, no. Yeah, you're right. Perhaps we can take this conversation elsewhere Well, there's not so much destruction Well, I can clean this up a bit if you want me to I just wave my hand she holds up a hand. No Trust me It's safer that you don't Yeah, you're right. You're right Realizing oh, there's probably more clips that we have not seen May I ask a question before we leave? What is it? It's about the chapel Actually, the Raven Queen is a Interesting deity That's going to be another long story. I may have a longer story for you as well Well, you at least do it over drinks Yes, oh my god, I was just about to say you know, you have a very good mind. Let's go get links Please I would really like you more than your sister, you know So which will it be make no mistake this is for my own benefit Oh, no, no, just you didn't have us wake up in a rent in a room where we had no idea what the hell we were Or why we were there so we'd make make no mistake with that Nathaniel and to be quite honest You are a lot more forthcoming the most I pull out the bottle of whiskey Adventurers nowadays are very strange. Are they usually so chatty and complimentary? I wish they wouldn't be but You fall in with the lot So, which will it be better than murder hobos really? So she's she leads you she leads you out So she leads you out and you can see that there appears to be a Kind of small mob that has kind of surrounded the place, and I haven't placed everybody's Forgot if it isn't the consequences of my own actions Oh What's his actual name Lord fluffy kins? No, he's actual What is his actual name? Oh It's captain kitty Yes Yes, captain kitty is there as is Jacqueline Francil Francis and The majority of clove way is here as well. Oh looks like today's a bones day Make sure my swords are away, please just weapons are stowed and I don't want to get fucking spelled out Oh, yeah, no and everything's sheathed up probably It's coming to my mind that oh fuck. I need to fix the damn thing I'll do it privately So, yes, you guys had outwards and you can see that there's a lot There's a crowd and a lot of them get kind of in a a little startle that everyone coming out And car holds out her freehand and shouts out with some Thaumaturgy all is well everyone return to your business and She seems to say something in a low bellowing language that none of you can understand Not necessarily what I recognize it, but is it something that I have heard before not necessarily can I understand what you're saying? But um language that I've ever heard before have you ever heard a Bissell before I have I understand her yes Celestial common in Elvish. Yep. I understand exactly what she says. I know you understand exactly what okay, you you know a Bissell I know Three languages those are and I'm fine with saying this you can put it on the wiki I have common draconic for obvious reasons and a Bissell Wow An elective where I learned a Bissell I think it was from my sage background. I needed a college Yeah, all right Well, you you hear her and you you hear her say that the raven has brought its children to the shore in a Bissell and a lot of shoulders kind of slump down and relax and She turns to you code language. We have to take precautionary measures in the event someone pretends to me me or this decides to Deceive us. No, it's fine. It's you know, like I said rather safe than sorry secret secrets You can see the Leonin unless you tell me the Leonin continues to stand guard hands ready to cast Glowing as if a simple hand movement will let loose a spell. Hi priestess. I've seen these lot earlier this morning Are you sure the Sun will rise tomorrow and then Karo Karo interrupts him put your bloody hands down Kime It's me or should I share your little escapades with the flumps with the entirety of the town to prove it? Yes Yes Kime's face goes bright red and he puts his hands down and he salutes that won't be necessary my lady It's uh good to see you safe out into the perimeter. Oh You ever seen a kitten blush? And he starts to walk off a few of the other guards are chuckling and he she shuts them up And he tells them to go off in another direction. They start to patrol the area I make a mental note that someone that looks a lot like Renee just happens to be now. That's weird Yeah, he's there too. He's he's just uh goes and he sees you kind of like battered and bruised Renee And he jumps and leaps to give you a hug. Oh No, no, it's okay. It's okay It's primarily just like these side and she like just like just over at like the arm area It's like it's most of this side, but you know, I've been taken care of it. It's okay I've had I you know, I shouldn't say that because then I'll make I'll just jinx myself. I'm okay Okay, okay, how I was thinking about leaving but then you went into the chapel and I I wasn't sure Maybe maybe we can leave together. Yes. This is what happens when you have a group of people with you It means that you don't die like And Kara speaks of speaking of dying. I'm about to do so of thirst. He's a sweet and sour open All right She goes she goes and gives a little hug to Jacqueline. I'll be back soon she she waves over and She just like clutches one hand to her chest and just like as you pass by she just like whispers to you all I'm so glad that you're not trying to kill her And I'm just two thumbs up with like two thumbs up really wide smile with her Do I still have the hydrangea she gave me you do? Yes. Can I put it in my hair, please? Absolutely, you may I uh, I give her those wide eyes of someone who's like Of someone who is pretending to be really sincere. I Am glad to if all that's worth I did appreciate the flowers Did you like like I feel like that Renee's just like I can't wait to put you in a flower clown before we leave It would look so lovely. Oh Perhaps I could help out on this hat. Oh, I think you would look lovely in daisies We should put it around the hat so it has to stay on Linda's just gonna nudge you Renee. You are evil. You know that Absolutely How do you think I get it from she like looks gestures over to the like does the side eye over to the then you're like Like who do I work with Right, right? I'm kind of sticking close to Kara because I feel like I want to strike a conversation with her at some point here Okay, I think you I think you all do Everyone wants to talk to this woman. Yeah. Yeah Like I'm just like I'm constantly staring at the bone arm is where my mind's going Yeah, and you guys, you know head it's a short distance and on the way you can see the children that were chasing the Skeletal cat earlier is holding the Kind of limp body and like tossing it up at Kara Like like wanting her to conjure it again. She just goes no and heads back Continues on her way without a second thought like literally tossing Someone else can be in front of that are the kids still kind of cowering away from us or no Seeing that you're in so such close proximity with Kara They seem to have completely lowered their guard. Can I like reach down and cast a light on the cat skull? Yes, you may you may do that It's like what I did for for Eliza and Edmund. Yeah, but now it's just like a little cat head And now you see just a small like round skull of a cat glowing a bright white and the children are like And they start like fly at like play flying it around like an airplane And they leave you guys alone you head into the sweet and sour and you see Priscilla She waves and is taken up back a little bit at you guys kind of just like covered in filth and wounds um Don't worry about it. Just a regular little spat. Give me my my regulars Perhaps I Have gotten used to seeing some of those flowers a few of them are actually allergic allergenic Okay, I'll make a garland for you later Okay And She just immediately like Deadline towards one of the tables It seems to be a favorite of hers and she just flops down and Let's her staff down beside her and I'll just show her portrait just so you have something to look at while you chat Fucking beautiful artwork Between looking at her and that skeleton farmer. I love that guy I do love like the like angels whole style here. I really do it's it's nice and it's it's roughness really matches this this town yeah, she slumps down and you can see that Priscilla brings her a bottle of nondescript liquid and she just kind of pours it into a Mug and takes a few sips every now and then taking a few deep breaths closing her eyes taking in Kind of this smell of the tavern and then leans back. All right. Who's Fest? I'll take a jab. All right I'm sitting down next to her and I pull out my bottle and want some or No, no Take a swig you're a father of Eurythus. Are you not I am And more recently I began to question those followings Yeah, it's a stubborn lot when they first came into the country. I'll tell you that I Can imagine I was stubborn too So recently no How nice you still are. What are you talking about stubborn in I'm stubborn in some ways. I've definitely evolved come on I will say that but you know Me and you are both still stubborn. I hasn't changed. Oh, yes. No, I get that But I'll go back to what you said earlier You said that they were seven before do you know followers of Eurythus? A few common. Okay. Most of them did not last long either moved out or play split was Completely consumed by that church of the Eternals Mm-hmm Not exactly a pretty sight for anyone No particular interest So I asked a question go on she takes a few sips out of her mug. I'm ultimately curious about two things and This is mainly because I I'm searching for answers more for myself just as much as for everyone else here Of course, no one ever comes to just say hi anymore. Well, what is it? well, hi and My first question is Shondro why Not only why is she a bitch, but also ultimately why does she want you? Ultimately, like is it your power? Is it something that you? Have or is it something that she thinks you have she takes a big swig of her mug I thought you would be the ones to have more information on that she hired you after all I haven't talked with her in decades Last thing I said to her I'm that's not repeated here, but let's say we're not on good terms She was the one who shut down my research and necromancy She was leading something like that. She was also the one who believed in you and no one else. What she doesn't say anything to that What changed? the war Left a lot of us hurt Traumatized scared making rash stupid decisions like implementing laws She just kind of like while sipping the mug like the other hand is pointing to you and not Well, I thought that it was going to restrict me in what I was trying to do She was learn more about it and maybe perhaps invent a few ways to help the lost and How does Shondro feel about your practices? Obviously publicly she disavowed them personally. I don't I don't rightly know it's been so long What I do remember of the chat was She was very Saving face. She didn't want to show any emotion being all the Generals favorite trying to appear as such a strong stoic leader that she is She was incredibly cold towards the end of the war. Yes, I can see Hmm no, I Think I've pretty much covered major part of why Thank you Appreciate your insight Pretty sure my friends here will have a lot more questions, but the second Kara, could you Give me some guidance on this measure. I have a personal friend. I Want to ask about and well spit it out it's difficult because it's not normal for me to Discuss feelings like this. I have a friend named mirth who came here Shortly after I had met them they were going to be my princess, but I Foolishly at the time did not realize that the mistakes that I had made drove them away harder and And I want to apologize and I know how I want to apologize, but How how do you make it right? She puts down her mug on the table and seriously considers this question and She stares off into the distance It's a sad reality that sometimes you can't Sometimes your mistakes will stick with you forever And you have to live with it. You may try to reconvene and fix the problem But you must accept That even with the greatest tools you may not rebuild that bridge and At least a single tear just kind of makes its way out and I Thank you Thank you. All right. Who's next? Witch taker. I'm sure you've got a million things to overanalyze And take an investigator that has to ask questions and Chastise them for asking questions. I'm sure that we could have a pleasant drink together, but for now work What happened to your research when you left did you take it with you or did Chanterelle have it? I did take it with me. I sought to teach and train in a new Generation of necromancers to my known ends Seeing as you have a majority of my notes, you may see that I've done some questionable things No, yes Questionable is not what I would use but regardless and in that does the name Pierce bloodstride mean anything to you? She like chokes on her her drink a little bit Yeah, no, please go into that is that what he calls himself now But that's all me name Pierce I'm just gonna give her a napkin. Yes, she takes it from you without like Just like without hesitation or losing stride at all and just like dabbing her mouth Pierce was his middle name And he was one of my finest students. He wanted to he came long after I stopped researching True resurrection and insisted on continuing the siphoning project. He was very upset and naive that boy I Know that he is one of the main people behind the spine of death But I've decided to stay out of that and whatever goes on in that bloody country Well, the thing about that bloody country is that it's going to kind of try and fuck up this bloody country And this one's already fucked up. He's just trying to like reinstate the chaos that kind of came with the world Yes, he just nearly tricked a group of people into setting the loose a warforged army upon clove way He also tried to convince a group of people to try and join him In the comments yet, he's trying to build himself a group of people who believe the violence is the only answer No, and he's also kidnapping children. That's also happening. He really is the worst. What was his name? Well, his original name was las low dung bite Oh Fucking camp las low Immediately just art of the entire party laughing as cars just sitting there with their drink I see why he changed his name now my face betrays no emotion Laszlo of all night. That's worse than Pierce worse than bloodstripe. What the fuck never I feel like Thing here. Yeah, I have a focusing back to the topic. All right. Well laszlo This seems to be using your name to wreak all of this havoc I imagine that that is publicly why we're on this mission. Well the mission isn't public, but I Imagine that's why chandrel felt no lead need to elaborate Did she know him No, I've not spoken to her in many decades As far as we are aware pierce is using a portal Pocket dimension that he hides all of his necromancers and including our friend mirth Apparently only a very powerful necromancer is capable of opening this portal She just like rubs her she's just like pierce pinches her nose a little bit. Oh He was a good student. Yes. I developed some very special dimensional magics in my time learning about siphoning. It was a Recreation of something that I made for the war, but try to expand upon it It seems that he may have learned a little bit too quickly Not unless I've been there myself now unfortunately Perhaps but I don't know if you've got any friends in the spine of death And No, well then we may have a chance to stop them yet. I still have a couple of questions, of course Chandra had tasked us with finding you and in lieu of actually defeating you We were to use one of these and I take one of the poker balls. She slams her mug on the table I made those oh Those are mine. She wanted to use my own mute crystals against me Not quite effective Of course, they're effective. I invented them. Well, you did a fantastic job Which leads me into my next question We've only ever managed to use one of these and it was on a creature. I believe you will have a lot of History with the rampaging monster known as thorn. Yes, and I'm sure it worked swimmingly She takes another slip of her mug. It held him long enough for us to get away But I mean long enough for the mute crystals keep them in there indefinitely. Yes, did not for them That's impossible. Nothing alive could break out of those things. I'm not That what it is is alive What what this creature is? I'm not sure you can call it alive or it's an experiment But it come it descends from the sky like like a meteor Cuts everything down in its path and takes off again Wait, you truly do not know what this creature is She for once has surprised on her face and turns No, I thought it was simply some angry adventurer or mercenary hired to kill necromancers someone strong someone powerful You've never encountered them before I've avoided them at every chance. They're extremely efficient at their job I want to sketch out the armor like if if Kara's doing everything to avoid it is never actually seen Thorn, but I've seen I've seen them before Okay, okay, I've made battle with them there, but they are far too strong My only goal when encountering anyone is to protect my people protect the necromancers Did it fight similarly to something you've seen before? No, I'd simply assume that it was someone from the east or another kingdom And you are absolutely sure that it has nothing to do with anything you've researched She looks down a moment siphoning in pursuing true resurrection. I've learned a few things In attempts to cast them on someone It brings them back, but briefly before turning them into a monstrous abomination But usually they are deformed not Retaining their original shape. Whatever this thing is. It's humanoid and Webber brought them back Must be someone incredibly strong That only leaves two possibilities Well, no one And what's that Nathaniel? I had two theories the first Was that perhaps chandrel had something to do with the creation of thorn But given that chandrel needs you car I imagine that she doesn't have the necrotic capabilities to create a monster such as this Leaving only bloodstride then it appears My little bloodstride has surpassed me So it would seem Does the shop FT? Yes, it does Priscilla and Priscilla comes back. Yes Nathaniel Wonderful. I switch immediately to like the very comforting voice It's wonderful to see you. Um, would you be a dear and Any tea that you can find I would love here and I'm gonna reach into my pocket and I'll flick a gold her way Well, I won't like flick it like go get it. Right. I'll make sure she can get it Yeah, yeah, and she'll she'll bring back some various different bruise for you to choose from I'm going to more the software Luna actually when you flick when you flip her the gold. She simply hands it back to you and Kara just speaks up. Oh, we don't use gold here There's no payment necessary because this is such a small community everything is run Community We can't afford to try and make profits off each other. We're barely keeping ourselves alive. I see well, thank you And I'm gonna nod at Priscilla and then I will say as I was saying right I'm going to more this over Luna. You had questions and also I think your little friend over there Wait, actually Renee. Did you take the notebook in the chest or you just took the locket? I mean, I took the locket out. I would assume that Renee grabbed the Notebook afterward. Okay, like after all the things have started to calm down, right? You know like It seems your little friend over there was so busy snooping through my thing And perhaps you could find a few more clues in those notes But like shit Renee kind of shrugs like I mean it. Well journal in hand Yes The Sun beams down upon it All right, of course, but I will take it and as I lean back and allow Luna to speak I'm flippin Which taker those are very private and don't look too far into them as far as psychoanalysis. Oh Of course not. I wouldn't want Psycho anything and tell me are there any more pictures of Ninja Abbey? She just Yes, I especially enjoyed the way that she managed to find your journal every time So we've got we've got a washed up follower of erythus not washed up. I'm very alive Strange investigative man who uses enchantments like it's a like his people are play things and you She just points at Renee. Well, I don't know who you are, but you're barred. So you've probably done something stupid Hahaha multiple times. That's fine And you you stink of a raven Queen. I Yeah, that's a long story Kind of like I still bottle of wine. I'm gonna crack that open as you're opening that it's like I guess it is stoutly time so Well, I suppose a Story for a story then you said that it was a long one for how You ended up in a church of the raven Queen the high priest of one no no less That is a far cry from what does she not a bore necromancy and on death Well, she does it doesn't take a high bishop to know that tampering with the bodies of those who have passed may upset a certain figure whose job it is to ferry the souls to the afterlife and So I spent many years after Stuttering after finishing my studies for true resurrection trying to repent for my sins against death By paying tribute to the raven Queen making rituals offerings shrines the usual day of extort Because when I leave this world, I'd rather my soul not be shattered into a million pieces because I pissed off the grim reaper And not for the purpose that I initially and thought she was It's a very long story, but the easiest way to say it is that my father was a soldier in the war and his platoon was on the verge of dying and She appeared to him and made him a deal. I was the result of that deal hmm That is very strange raven Raven Queen model champions. I know now. She doesn't even have followers or at least she didn't not until now and that's Think why I was so confused seeing a church of us here most I've ever been able to see really has been a sad neglected altar in Chester City with one follower who Also followed necromancy hmm Well that tracks as the rise of Tension against the necromancers has risen so too has followers of the raven Queen What do you mean? well If any of us religious lot would be put to some sort of Reputation as being sinners all the time I would assume that normally most of us would probably trying to absolve those sins. Yes Yes, I suppose so You knock stairs down at his drink viciously Well, it sounds like it's a little bit of People following goddess of death to go against that magic people who are using death magic and then trying to observe themselves Probably goddess of death. It is like just a whole intertwined web of just glare here Well, you can't far off. I don't know what I can help you with but I have talked with her once briefly Decades ago in a musty old tomb that was not marked on any map What did she say to you? She told me what she wanted She wanted shrines. She wanted all these things that all the other gods got that she never did I assume she wanted to see what it was like and as payment for all my discrepancies against her and so I founded the town of clove way That others may do the same I've I've been hearing her in my head for the past few days It's never anything It's not anything that That well obvious. She's not telling me any Direct cause of action. She's just saying to keep going. I'm doing well to keep going And I thought that She was telling me to go to clove way because necromancers But I'm not sure that was her intention for sending me here anymore You can see her looking at her mug just like tapping it with like her bony finger a little bit and it takes her a long while to respond Well, I don't know what any of that means I don't either Insight all right. Give me an insight Yeah, I think Luna's too dumb to insight this so uh, I found with that. Oh, we only roll 20s in this house For all of last session, she's absolutely hiding something She's got she's trying her best poker face, but you can tell that there are some very slight subtleties She has ideas As if She yeah, she knows something basically She's not letting it all out in that case Once she says that I am going to repeat back to her in a Bissell the thing that she said to everybody else as we exited I can't remember the exact wording, but oh, yes The Raven Raven Queen the Raven has its children at the shore No, the Raven has its children at the shore Oh, you know a Bissell congratulations, and you know the Raven Queen more than you're letting on congratulations Luna Hearing that she'll just look at her Listen up. I know this is a lot to ask I Know and in the normal circumstances. I wouldn't but you want to be a priestess if the Raven Queen yes Well, I am one of the children and I'm lost and I don't know where to go Please She looks down at her mug listen even if I wanted to Do you have any idea what channeling requires how much power it needs and time and preparation? It seems like you do which means perhaps you can do it for us And why would I ever do that because we need time to recover from you kicking our eyes is Well on a much more And what favor could you offer me seems like your guard needs more protection I don't hold myself to whatever balcony the standards are as I go where I can define work That just happens to be in balconies Confident sword on your guard. Give me a persuasion check You can do it no get that 20 get that 20. Oh you got in the wrong spot Almost almost an 18 18. I don't know why you can see her darting her eyes back between you and the mug That her her one's poker face is waning a bit You know seeing as that she is not so easily able to keep it up in the presence of somebody who can see right through it I'll think about it and while you're thinking on that perhaps think on this for a moment You're a very smart person Which means that we're going to come to the same conclusion that you need our help Your town is struggling as you have admitted and the more that bloodstride Reeks havoc across these lands the more people are going to dislike necromancers and are going to perhaps March here Already the people that guard this place are so wary of outsiders I don't know if in your current condition you would be able to save them all But perhaps that's not necessary All you have to do is get us to bloodstride She puts both her hands on the table very well, I will go to balconies with you. I Might be able to actually help with something about that, but I'll wait I'll have to get some things and you will have to get some things for me like Confidential things Okay fun After kind of sitting and nodding Then it seems like there's a lot to discuss Yes All right Well, then we should make preparations to leave I'll be saying my goodbyes getting things in order And we can talk about the final details of our plan When we leave Yeah, and she just hands out and a piece of parchment That she kind of you see a little conjuring from her fingers from her bony fingers that lead into the parchment and form various different symbols On the piece of parchment and hands it to whoever it will take it. I take everything This is the paper man Nathaniel's the bookkeeper and how paper works There's a the smith in town. He'll be able to provide me with those materials and Don't look at them Give Nathaniel a look Of course not His name is Grammel. He'll be able to provide what you need Grammel just to clarify this paper is folded up and I'm not supposed to look at the ingredients that are on it They have it's not folded up It's a normal simple piece of parchment with symbols various symbols that look like indescribable nonsense shapes I See understood Okay, her instructions to not look into it is More referring to the items that you are going to get Specific look at the death books. That makes sense. Yeah Okay Is there anything you lot need before you leave town? I'm going to be a couple of hours. So you have plenty of time So we're leaving right now. Yes right now. Oh, would you rather wait for bloodstride? To take a bit more time in his conniving Rather wait, it's that two of us look nearly dead. You know, we should leave it. Yeah, I'm okay now Yes, rest. Hmm. I think that we should leave immediately I'm gonna have to agree on this. Well, can can you two at least sit down for an hour and just manage your wounds? Well, you just have to take a certain path back to the city proper if only because I will be having a traveler join us who Just You can see Francis is at another table just like kind of trying to not look conspicuous, but just like Leaning in to try and eavesdrop Yeah, she's like considering that we aren't apparently going to die immediately right now This is my like she just gestures over to Francis to bring him over. Yeah, he leans in. Hello. I am Francis. It's very nice to meet you all Have you been listening in on this conversation this whole time? You don't need to be mad at him. He is my brother. Okay Okay, yes, I'll beat but I only heard muffles here and there my hand twitches And let me show the picture of him The Renee I promise I will be as a mouse out of your way and small and quiet. This is your Yes, mm-hmm. Well And make no mistake. I am good in a fight too. I can defend myself Haha, and it goes to like reach for an empty dagger She's just like I let's not do too much just yet. We're not planning to fight anything immediately I'm not planning to fight anything immediately I'm always ready to fight some. No, we are not fighting anything immediately and right now We are going to try our best to stay out of trouble May I ask one more question and it's more about your research than anything go on I'm sure there are going to be plenty more on the trip. It was about a specific line About resurrecting war heroes. Yes, that they are more potent. They usually last a little bit longer However, there's strength usually means they're harder to control and what happens when one gets out of control Oh, they usually transform into an abomination as with most of our subjects the fact that this one whatever it is This thorn is able to maintain its shape as a humanoid is a miracle Stand up and walk out of the tavern for a second. He needs a minute All right, so that bodes well Yeah Anybody else have any Further things to ask Kara. I will say there are more chances here There are more chances to ask her things on the way as she said I I I would ask about the arm Okay Yeah, you're gonna ask her about her arm. Yeah, I'm almost I'm curious as to That with what happened to you. Oh seeing as you've got a prosthetic of your own. I thought you'd Figure things out. Um, you see siphoning has its own drawbacks and side effects and Doing so much can oftentimes lead to certain things not going right. We'll say Well, I ain't never done no siphoning, but uh, but you've done experiments, haven't you? No, I lost my arm from a pirate that tried to sell me into slavery Oh, please. I know you've done a few inventing and you've got some scars from gears that have gone haywire No one's to know and that careful be surprised Gotta have steady hands if you're gonna put these on other people really very well but yes I've been a little bit malformed since my siphoning it, but it has afforded me more powers and Helped me make the town what it is now. Oh, you did something good. I Wouldn't say it was good cost many lives many innocent lives Well it's going to end I don't know But it is a stout I'm gonna slide out of my seat stand up and I'm going to say I'm going to get off the materials that you need. I am Very happy to have met you car, and I'm sure that we're going to have plenty to talk about on the road. I gave a bow and I turn and walk away Alright For the record Luna is just standing outside the tavern door. She's not far. All right, and with that Cara gets up as well. I'm going to go tend to some things before our trip All right, you all can find me outside the chapel when you're ready and she starts to walk out, but stops her a bit. Oh and for the damages and she waves her fingers around a bit and every single one of you Because you are still within a close enough range With uh with your next short rest you will now double whatever your hit-die rolls are I was so wrong. That's mean. I mean, that's great. That's really really good You guys can do any preparatory things now No tail is in the town if there are if you would like to buy any of his items off of him I'm I love this man. You need to go into no tail. No The stock is still the same stock as last time since you guys did not buy anything of note off of him last time Aside from the usual common stuff. So while People are considering what they're gonna buy. Can I talk to Luna? I Was gonna do that. You know what? I'll go. Yeah, I'll go get stuff. I'll go get stuff Yeah, fine. You can have the fun Luna conversation No, only two people at a time that's how feelings Like you can have one after if you want what I'm gonna go on for the things I Enjoy your character Let's roll initiative to see you who does it first since we've done yeah, we're doing some slight parties Yep, okay, so actually Renee and Luna since you guys are both talking To each other I'm gonna count both your initiative. So once it goes to Enoch, so it's just gonna go like this instead Okay, so yeah, Renee you see Luna right outside as She's like sitting with her back against the tavern with like a head Her head and one of her heads and she's just staring out at the town Glad to see you're not swinging this order into process now is this progress or is this Not this is good. Why are you just not swinging it around for the sake of the people don't exactly want to show much Think make them think I'm a threat No, no, very much so that would Sides probably be detrimental so it's the last time Last time weird things happened. I'm not sure. I'm going to be sparring with the echo for a while Why not because I keep hearing that damn God in my head Ah Yeah, no the bird lady. I've heard that's kind of What's been going on? How long has that been happening the voice in my head? Yes Since the first time it was when we were in the Temple of the Eternals I've never heard a voice Maybe I've never felt pulled by anything until all this happened Is it Scary I mean of course it is scary but I mean Feels like everything I've been fighting for Every decision I made in my life has been taken away Oh Count the point If I could play the advocate for a moment Go for it Every decision that you have made Has been to this moment It has not been taken away from you. You still had your Authority to do that to whatever you were doing. Maybe it was just that You were Preparing yourself for what was ever coming up next Not really sure how fighting monsters fighting animals Was preparing me to I don't even know anymore I would say it's the baby steps You never start learning magic by trying to do the most powerful spell do you? No, you start off with the the little things Projecting your voice you start Looking at spells you collect your components. You start with small you start with the little things And you build up one by one So how you started? Yes, in a way um As as soon as I was able to start learning Uh in magic I I went off and Studied Can I practice by myself and learn to be better learn to Be able to become that person who could make that influence on people Can I ask you something? Yes? Why didn't you follow your father? What happened? What time? I need to know you to be a little bit more specific. Are you talking about uh when you you Put he said you put him in jail, didn't you? Now we're getting good. I've been I don't lie. I've been curious, but that's not exactly something I've wanted to pry about especially with how uncomfortable Seemed to get every time necromancy is brought up. It's not something I want to keep shoving in your face It's a little bit late for that. Don't you think I mean just gestures at this huge town full of necromancy Yes, but I can at least try not to be part of it As much as I appreciate that I've been learning a lot about you Enoch Things like that on this trip and Once it is nice to actually just talk about what has happened it's been a while And now with all this crazy shit of putting everything into perspective and makes it a little bit harder not to want to That makes sense. It's really strange Linda's gonna like scoot over and pat the ground beside her and kind of like shake the bottle of wine Oh, yes. No, we're just taking that bottle. Oh, yeah, not even not even like Second guessing it taking the bottle taking a swig and that's it Um, yes, tell me anything you don't want to but yes, my father was in jail for necromancy what age was I? it was Some time ago. I was maybe just over the cusp of Maybe 13 or 13 somewhere in there. It's not something that well done They did faster He had also fought in The wall And lost someone precious to him and as much as he tried to I guess Move on from it. He couldn't it sat and it festered and it lingered until One night I wandered into I believe it was the kitchen. It was late at night It's the moon was full I think because the moon was the room was very bright even though it was so late He had been studying on his own, but he had tried to do magic that was far beyond his capability at that time and he had tried to Return the person he had lost to him He didn't work obviously someone like Carol me early and who's been training for Centuries has not been able to crack it him in a couple of decades. Yeah, probably not But um That was that was a safe to see I'm I'm so sorry Yeah, he Like she was gonna try and start brushing it off. I'm like, ah, don't worry about it. But now she's like, yeah Lin is just gonna like put her art her hand on your shoulder Gentle pat like oh on her hand As a small thanks like yeah You guys have a pleasant time opening up Yeah, finishing off the bottle That's exactly what we're doing. I'll say it was like a third of the way full. So I say that's uh, that's Good to move to inock So inock, you're gonna go to no tail and you're gonna buy some things Uh, if if you're just going to buy things, I think I'll let you Do that in the background, but uh, is there anything with no tail specifically that you mean to do? besides buying or selling Nope, that is just pretty much it sell and buy. All right. Well, you have the list um You can I I specifically want one thing and that's it. Okay Out of curiosity. What are you buying? Uh, the ring of haste, but first I gotta sell these boots and also this green gem that uh The one that like I thought I could put into curl, but It's not gonna work. Right. Okay. All right. Well, you can uh put those and I'll calculate the cost that uh The the money that you'll receive during break because we're coming up on break time soon Yep, that's all I want and all I want is the ring of haste. Okay. Awesome. Awesome. So Uh Davi you're up. Yeah, Davi, uh, we can go to you then so you head on over the smith's hut Is very easy to find as it is a very small town and you walk inside And you hear a grunt from uh kind of like What seems like it's trying to be a greeting uh from you can see a goliath in the back that is just banging away on some materials and let me find his portrait is There he is You see there's a large goliath man kind of in the back Uh behind the counter just banging away Uh, yes, I'm here on a Well quest from Kara here Short quest He hands he he puts out his hand expectantly order I take or I hand him the note He looks at it and he kind of turns it various different ways as if he's reading it in like a circle Priestess is going on a trip I say nothing He drops his hammer on the anvil you hear a loud king He heads into the back room you hear a little bit of rummaging and he brings out kind of a small Uh backpack looking kind of leather backpack with magical runes enchanted like on The buckles kind of very briefly as he's moving his hand around to put them there You can see that uh his offhand has black veins all the way going up his arm Okay, and he puts it on the table for you FD trip wonder what it entails Yes, oh, it's going to be quite extensive you have everything here, right? Yes Right good I turn abundance of caution could you just detail the things that are in here just that I'm aware no damn uh Why are you interested? This is priestess's order Is it not? Simply curious I'm gonna take the bag Are you are you gonna try and are you actually going to try and figure out what's in the bag though? Uh, I will like shift it around but she said not to look in it. So I'm gonna like shift it around Like obviously I'm not gonna do it in front of this guy right around you leave you shift around And it feels as though there is a little bit of clacking like of something kind of heavy in there not Extremely heavy of course, but it's something heavy for its size The size of it is like about the half the size of your torso. It's a fairly small backpack very easy like carry on um But yeah inside you can hear like like kind of shuffling about you can hear some clacking of some kind Do I hear the trostling of bones? Uh, no you don't you can Actually your passive investigation would probably give you a good idea of what this clacking sounds like it sounds like jewels Oh, oh, okay That makes sense. I'm not gonna look in because I don't know what eldritch horrors will befall me if I do Uh Never know this might be from the same domain as the stick of stickiness Yeah, I'm gonna leave that alone, but I have the bag and so with nothing left to do I am going to go to cara immediately make a beeline over there. Hmm. You're not gonna talk with luna first Uh, luke renais got luna. Okay. We can talk later. All right. All right. Yep. You make a beeline to Cara you can see that she is saying some goodbyes and giving instructions to fair to the various guards including Uh kai mei who eyes you coming forward and immediately narrows his eyes and gives a sour frown which uh Cara notices and she turns to you. Ah, you have my things I do Yeah, you are. Yeah, thank Thank you and you can see her taken and like an immediately Pulls like her hand down like a few inches at the heft. She slings it around her back You all will be all right. You should be fine. The enchantment over this place should keep out any wandering eyes That's good to know I didn't see anyone as they I was walking. I don't think I'm being followed Yes, if any spine of death comes within a few miles of this place, we'll know And kai mei while I'm gone. You are in charge And jacklyn and she looks over at jacklyn who looks a little bit teary-eyed I would be back safe You can see jacklyn is just sniffing and they go in for a hug with each other I think it happened to cara now because we can't make jacklyn cry Yeah, we can't make which means something has to happen to jacklyn. No No, absolutely not. Anyway campaign right here as a player worst case rebound, but She heads back to you nathaniel. Where are your friends? They should be here shortly It seems one of them was cut up quite a bit Okay, well if everybody else is done with what they're doing Um, I guess you guys can meet up at the chapel then, yeah I want to say one small thing Before everyone else is here. Oh, I never calculated the gold. God fucking. I'm I didn't give you any fucking gold yet You have to ask no, no, no, no. I mean for uh for enok. I am an idiot I spent all you sold things. It's fine. That goal is not going to be relevant anytime soon anyway I will do it though. Okay. I will do it Sorry. Well, well when we do also ring of haste Right, uh Well, let's see the ring of haste. Let me just make sure I remember what it does I imagine it just gives you haste for like For what it does It is uh, that's that's the reason why I want it. No. Yes. The ring of haste does give you haste. Yes Yes, I need that. Yes. Okay Uh Yeah, I think uh, if you just look up the haste spell, that's basically what the ring allows you to do Anyway, yes, I will give you all of that Uh sometime towards, you know, once the session is over. I promise it's not going to be relevant in this session So you don't have to worry about that But yes, um, you guys make it to the chapel when you're all done with your things and right before them Yeah, there was a small thing that I wanted to mention. What was the thing you wanted to mention? I'm getting ahead of myself Yeah, uh, sorry. So as Cara is is moving with me, uh, I can look back at uh, god, I can never remember her name Jacqueline Yes, Jacqueline, uh, and I will say as we walk And you two look well together How did you two meet? She turns to you What? What is it that you want to know for which taker? That is private business between me and my spouse And not relevant to the mission at hand now, is it? Is it too much to believe that I'm simply making conversation? She squints her eyes. Yes Knowing your methods It might be information that you might see beneficial for whatever it is that you have planned Even if it might benefit me. I'm not willing to take that chance Well, then I suppose that I shouldn't expect a letter when you invite people to the baby shower if you choose to have one She just gives you a strange look of disgust and confusion I'm gonna leave She has no idea what you are talking about and actually like stops for a second. What the People of balcony stuff so strange nowadays Have been gone far too long No, just this one. Is this what the children are like nowadays? Jesus Oh gosh All right. Yes. So you guys meet up If everyone is ready with their things I have my brother like Francis Francis is there with you He still has his bus fare that you have given him That he is ready that he he promises that as soon as you guys make it to chester city He's going to take the first carriage to rugged wood And you'll not be using that gold on anything else. No, I'm not going to use that gold for anything else good just Wishes his face Um, can I do a sword check real quick? You can you can do a sword check. It is still icy cold Even the entire time you are at Cloveway it is not stopped and the the very slight jitters still happen, you know in various random directions And it's very easy to confirm that it jitters in any direction that necromancy happens as you can see like A skeleton being conjured and a strong jitter in the direction like simultaneously as it's happening Okay and then there's just being for like more quiet than usual as she's trying to Pay attention to it. Make sure it's not going to come flying out of a sheath and impaling a poor citizen And you guys leave out of cloveway and Do you leave leave on your horses? I know there's three horses And there are let's see Five and there's six of you now That's well, I was the only one riding solo. Yeah. Yep. I was the only one ride No, no, you weren't no you weren't. Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. Wait, so that means I'm forgetting about francis. That means, uh Hmm eye walls as we get to the horses. Oh, run. Hey, would you mind riding with luna? uh Okay Or perhaps luna could ride with Enoch Um, absolutely not. I drive my own horse. Thank you Then I'll ride with Enoch and then francis you'll ride with luna. I'll keep him safe I know I will so um Where does that leave cara with me? Where do you think? Fine And you can see that she actually like is struggling to get on the horse She like grassy with one hand and it's like trying to finesse herself and I'm I am absolutely going to like Take like reach my hand out to give her something stable She she bets as a weight. No, I've got it. I've got this. I just need good footing And she falls on her butt blast as she tries to get up quickly And brushes off her her robes. Maybe she should ride with the actual cowboy. I could help you up. How often do you? I've not done any mounts in a long time. You know, it's okay to ask for help cara She reaches up and kind of like Goes past your hand and Nathaniel and like grabs on your shoulder as leverage and just pulls you as she pulls herself up Really sopily kind of throwing her Chest and torso over the back of the horse and Like fumbling herself into a seat behind you See that wasn't very hard Shut up and ride You don't have to tell me twice Come on horse. Yeah Yeah, you guys ride out As night begins to fall further away segment of clove way and you can see that Cara is looking back and she seems to as though she's got her eyes locked on the town as you head Back towards balconies So What is What route are we taking and what is the plan here? Yes, I assume most in there will not be happy to see me Well, we can try to avoid the the big cities and what we can do is just walk our way around It won't be great for sleep, but at the very least it will prevent us from Running into anyone who would not like you Do you have a meaningful way of disguising yourself? I've not done many of those in a long time. I've seemed to be out of practice How about a cloak over your head would that work? It might But it also might draw different eyes someone hiding their face clearly has something suspicious about them Oh damn. He's just reminded me. Yeah, I'm gonna rotate the horse Yeah, I'm gonna rotate the horse back to the where I hid my clothes No, it's on the way. You you've not passed it up. It's it's continue on the way Don't worry. But uh, you are a I was about to say that you are able to Find back the little rock that you hid it and as you stop and get off a horse you can see Kara is just a little confused. What what is this? I left something here Push the rock Ah, all right left it fantastic and I pull out my coat dust it off flip it back and unpeel What is that garish bright outfit? I have been trying to tell him not to wear it, but you know, it's it's it's it's look Look at this thing. This is the reason why we can't hide during the night. This is why we call him the banana man of belgium Wait We do Why would you call me that me and my mother do Why Look at you You yeah, you can see frances. Are you serious? Francis is losing it. It's a banana man of belganus Okay, so we're actually allowed to talk about it now. Oh fantastic. I don't understand this at all You don't have to I What I don't even look like a banana. It's the yellow. It's it's the yellow. It's the brown You look like a banana You are a fluorescent yellow man. I look like something but I wouldn't say a banana I was explaining to my mother a few things and well, it was the only thing I could think of to describe you. I'm sorry I don't understand how I look nothing like. I mean you bruise like one and you're bright yellow. What do you want for me? A lemon Luna is probably struggling to stay on her horse because she's laughing so much. This is knee slapping enog. It's just loose in it I didn't want to be rude but They kind of have a point you can see that in in this discussion in this uh, little shenanigans you can see that When no one's looking you can see that kara just has a little bit of a hand over her mouth Nathaniel fails to understand that he looks like a banana and so thinks that all of you are idiots and it's back on the horse I mean, did you think anything else with me? I mean It's not about what you think He thought of everyone else does Clearly he looks like a lemon That's my words that will be one of your new titles. This is a new thing to worry about All right, so yes, Nathaniel you have your coat and hat back Well and truly yellow as ever and about now Since you've it's starting to get dark as you have spent the majority of the day in clove way and you know figuring out this misunderstanding and prepping And let me show the map actually of where We can plan actually where you guys plan to be so I'd say you guys are about here What route do you wish to take from here forth go over this way direction to rug of wood Uh like I I know probably a good idea. We probably need to go just straight down and then send My boy on his way, but I don't like that because I don't want my my question is is there anybody in chester? We're trying to pick up or Because I I remember dabbing something about one in kettrigan this made this madness Oh, that was that was dabby or that was that was me just being nonsensical Ignore that entirely that was memes. Okay. Okay. Well, let's say it's hard to tell with how how hard Nathaniel fell for kettrig. Okay. I think I think that we'll probably need to head south Um, yeah, that would pay me directly. We just don't want to go through the jagged peaks again. I don't think Yeah, no, I will take more time. It would take more time But it'd be it'd be off the beaten path. There's not a lot of people that trek up there Yes, but you would run into more towns if we go that way. Yes, that's true. Unless you see the back roads Do we have the resources To avoid cities all together If we are careful, how much water do we have? I just my water scan About third of If we need water then by all means we need to go down to where the water is Well, that is two days travel. Actually, uh one day by horse Yeah, we got a horse. Well, well to be honest if we just need Water, I believe I might have something if I wake up tomorrow. I could probably purify water and food Yeah, well then I can certainly hunt us food. It's not hard. Yep purify food and drink No We don't have to worry about water if we can get to a body of it quick enough Renae How capable of you are you of delivering messages? Uh at the moment I can send uh I can send three Could you maybe let scopery, you know, I made it back into balconies. He's going to worry Uh, right. Okay. So that would be one Anyone else want to have messages? Nathaniel Fuck We did not send the other message you wanted to send to Nathan That routine checkup will be good enough for now Okay I need to ensure that I need to ensure that the former protectors have made it to him All right. So that is two I I might want to inform Samuel About my impending return Okay, and that is three Uh, I'll turn behind me And do you have someone that you would like us to send a message to? No, I said my goodbyes earlier Renae if it's too if it's too much today, it's all right No, I didn't like I I can send them It'll be okay. I just I won't be able to send one particular message so that we can get some help with the portal thing Then disregard mine You sure? Yes, my mind is purely spousal worries You can see a slight flinch from uh Cara at that comment Uh-huh All right Then If you don't mind, I would say that for tomorrow if I have any leftover One more day should be okay Mm-hmm And so then I just don't want the idiot trekking out past the border by himself, so Right, so Samuel Have I met Samuel? You have yes, you have a very beginning of the campaign. Yeah, I met him all of one time So I should be able to send a message since I've seen him. Okay so Samuel uh lancel and then Uh correspondents in this vein. Okay, and are you doing that? So are you guys resting tonight? Are you gonna try and trek the night? I think resting is probably an important thing because exhaustion levels are no joke, but that's Yeah, I mean yeah, that is just you because I'm a spellcaster so the first one won't matter too much, uh, but It will all matter to me. Please don't do that to me But how many more days until we're supposed to be at belkin is proper? Let's see Uh, I gotta count. Let's see session one was one night. Yeah, I think I think you 10 or something I think you guys are day day nine or 10 Something along those lines. I really gotta I really gotta think back on like each session And what rests you guys took you have five more and then the next morning you'll have four. Yep Right In that case we can afford a rest But not within chester. Well, I don't want us going right into chester I mean we can read realistically if I I I could probably manage to get us in without Many eyes on us if I talk to senior. This is not a good idea I don't have to tell her why But one mistake and everything is a ruined Well, basically then we don't Then we don't I'm just offering options here. We should sleep in the forest fine I don't mind that Besides we need to actually plan out our scale of how we're going to be dealing with this once we get to belganist Yes, so what exactly is the plan when we get to belganist? That's Well, let us let us decide that while we are making camp for the night So Very well I guess if we're breaking down little go try to catch dinner for everybody. Yeah, all right Uh Yeah, are you actually going to try and hunt something? Probably, yeah, if we don't have all the all of our enough resources to to go around some bark inspiration on you Before you go hunting. I have the means. I have the means. It's appreciated. All right. Yes Please catch us something big. I don't think this I don't think that we'll be able to do Very much with like a rabbit All right, we'll do my best. You'd be surprised that what you can do with rabbit with some rabbits and vegetables and some water Okay, so yeah, you may roll me a survival check while uh, everybody else is setting up camp and stuff That's where we're just going to be very disappointed in my survival skill At a at a certain point. I want to sit down across from uh bar to car. Yep. Yep. You may use bar to inspiration Everyone Want to hangs out with the new cool npc Okay 16 Sorry, I didn't mean to put Francis there. I meant to put him on I'm trying to drag him on the map. Here we go No, but I love him So the map and let me just put the new Tokens actually I have a new token for Cara since you guys made peace with her thanks to uh, kate Is it just her with the bow? Here here I'm gonna show it I don't get her Really This is an anime trope um where sometimes when characters are drawn far away in the background they look kind of derpy Uh, yeah, and it's it's called me me guka Named after madoka become a guka madoka magica. Yeah, so maguka and uh, kate decided You know what since you guys are friends might as well draw derpy funny like Kremlin cara for this way. I love and appreciate you so much for this. Thank you for putting this in my life she Put put the pictures together. You've got uh the boss when you beat them and the boss when you can play at them Yeah Carmiharran there we go. Yeah, there it is The boss when you fight them versus the boss when you have them in your party So tired of everyone. Shit. I love this so much. I love it here And francis's token needs to be on the board as well. Yeah, where's francis beautiful boy Where's francis? Uh, is it across from you that is right next to her Here, let me also sit across from her Oh my god Jesus You can see she's not a fucking attraction give us a chance to breathe You can see that uh, she at at getting close to her. She just kind of like shuffles All right She's clearly uncomfortable. Come on See i'm giving her the space she needs With a 16 luna you are able to find you know some stray rabbits and stuff around When you bring it back you can see that cara is conjuring a few things and she actually Summons a few skeletons up to set up a little tent What in what in the world are you doing? I'm setting up my sleeping place. What do you think I'm doing? If someone were to walk through these woods and see that they would not be happy, please Cross the border as the land of necromancy. No one travels this area willingly We are near an incredibly large city. We can't take those chances here You knock you can set this up she just like Put a kind of like does a pushing gesture and both the skeletons Go back and bury themselves into the ground Do I come I come back to this? Yes, you do you do Like I I give the like strange instructions like okay, so where's the tent sticks? Where's the tent sticks? Just just hammering it into the ground as I I walk past Renee I'm gonna like kind of give your shoulder a pat because Yeah, no like that like Renee is a little bit tense. It's just like Renee do you want to help me cook this? Uh Something to get your mind off of other things Sure I said you didn't want rabbits, but got a couple of them As long as there's a couple of them, I didn't just didn't want you to bring up back one rabbit You can see kara end up doing like the samwise games you see here kara takes note of your discomfort Oh, I'm sorry. Did my skeletons make you uncomfortable? You know if we're going to go on this journey together I can't have someone telling me not to use this and that when it's my most efficient spells I'm not telling you not to use it. I am just Well the same thing with methanial in the sense of we are right next to the city that's forward There's not a big fan of necromancy. I personally am not a big fan, but they and I know what to use so Oh dear You have been so terribly alone All the while kurro's just staring at the bone arm Wanting it desiring it Do the skeletons start out in the ground or do you evoke them when they return out? I feel that you know that the very deep sometimes they are in very difficult places But with a strong enough conjuration, I'm gonna have that dig them dig their way out And that's where we start tensing up Very interesting. I've been many this this realm has been around a long time There are plenty of dead bodies lying around I finished setting up the tent. All right, so oh, yes, that's right. You all have a moral problem with necromancy, don't you? It's not a moral problem. Oh, absolutely not Well, mine was sort of religious based but and also driven by an unbelievably strong and terrifying spirit But uh since that was exercised not as much no How's my brother looking? Uh, you could see he's he is very uncomfortable with the energy that is at this campsite right now She's he's just like twiddling his thumbs and holding his tongue. He doesn't know what to say He's like uh, he's like that kid whenever who when he's at your The kid at the friend's place and the parents are arguing and he doesn't know what to say I'm gonna I'm gonna walk over to him and I'll say Uh, Francis was it? Uh, uh, yes Come we should go for a walk. Um, he looks to turn at turns to look at Renee It's all right You are mrs. Nathaniel. Yes. Yes, you can call me Nathaniel or mr. Gainesby or whatever you would like As soon as Francis has turned around like Renee gives Nathaniel a look of like what should do in there buddy I give like I put my hand behind my back and give like a thumbs up where Francis can't see Okay, just just you know, I'm just trying to well, you'll see you'll see very easily Yeah, okay, and then we're gonna we're gonna walk off into it for no, we're not going too far, you know Walk, I mean like when I say not too far I mean we're gonna you know go on a little walk away from earshot and we're just gonna have a nice Conversation somewhere else, but that doesn't have to happen right. Yeah, this will be a little abstraction of that. All right. Yep. Sounds good At Kara saying, you know You're being uncomfortable Luna who I imagine is probably soaking the fire to get hot enough to start cooking It's not necromancy specifically At least not your kind while you may have good intentions other necromancy stone and some of us may have just seen their callousness Hmm you would condemn the bad necromancers, huh? I'm not condemning you, but I think Considering two weeks ago my father's remains were used as a tool I think I have a right to be a little uncomfortable seeing bodies appearing after the ground Oh, yes, and I'm sure the cows that you now wear and as harnesses from your weapons Are definitely very upset about their slaughtering and being used as tools. Yes. It's not the same thing Hmm Of course not because they didn't consent to that like the people in clove way too Exactly Those cows were used as tools just as as many bodies are used as tools And that doesn't make it right So I can't help what materials are usually used to make the tools I work with. I'm sorry, but I'm also trying to show you what most of us are working with here. You've been out of belgias for a long time Yes, and you give so much respect for the dead yet I was so content to allow a man To puppet the free will of the living and she just kind of like points in the direction where Nathaniel walked off to I would kindly ask you Oh, oh, you think you want to know what you think it's wrong that I believe that's a problem All right, you want to know what I think these are gonna in a little too tense No, let's have this conversation. Shall we the witch taker is a man who use enchantments akin to mind control Is that not right? He uses enchantments only when it's absolutely necessary Of course to the mission Not far from a necromancer who is cornered and can only use the resources necessary around them Yes I understand That the reaction that I have to necromancy isn't something necessarily It is now I have been having quite a week With necromancy lately and let me just say I totally understand it now My body still reacts to it a certain way. I cannot control it It's similar to when someone yells at you when you're a child and you are not You don't know how to react to it yet You don't know how to comprehend how it's happened yet And so then you when you get older and so it happens again You just have that instinctual reaction It's similar to when an animal sees a hunter in the forest and has seen it happen before they know to run away from it That is just a reaction I have Hmm Very well, but you better not turn your noses at every little Enchantments and incantation that brings up a skeleton I'm working on it And that goes for the rest of you Especially with that man walking around it seems you have no problem with At least the dead have no means of complaining You want to know what and I really loud stick break And I immediately just like you want to know what do you want to go for a walk? It's a lovely little night and I would actually enjoy some Interesting company about talking about the moralities of necromancy and laws and all that stuff Would you like to just you know come with me just you know what I think I will take a walk by myself. Thank you Damn it She heads off into the woods Into the woods come on No, I I'm not There's only one person I really would with that in that context, but no I'm just There's a million questions in my mind and I feel like she has answers That's fine and we are Starting Strangely enough usually I'm the one that's always starting this kind of shit, but starting to see the flaws of Me I'm glad it's him. I'm glad you're finally seeing it And I just go to throw the rabbit in the the pipe All right, and now Nathaniel you walk off with Rene's brother Francis What are you? What are you talking about? Uh, all right once we're sort of far enough away It's a cold night Ah, yeah, I uh usually don't travel in this part of the country, uh without the cold Yes, you're very far from home. I assume what brought you to the necromancer city Oh, I um Wanted to travel kind of like Rene and I got a little lost kind of not like Rene And then I found myself in an albert cave and then I got mauled and then Some necromancers found me The people in hallway. They saved me and brought me back nurse me back to health Including that mean lady Cara ah So you do not have the same predications about necromancers that most of our country has Well, I I do have a beats. I was not there when uh Luke did what he did. He did something awful And um, Rene was the first one to see it I was not there, but I was still very angry with him, but Being with the necromancers seeing them live their life I'm starting to question everything what we have been taught in school and What we've been taught by the people of Belknas You call him Luke You and Rene are four blooded siblings Yes I've never heard. I have no love for that man knowing what he did. It was wrong And learning what I did from Coveway I can't help but be even more upset They they do not use necromancy to bring people back. Yes, they use them as tools but Simple as tools to bring them back is sacrilege and that would go against the raven queen Or at least how they put it the raven queen very good well I am very happy to know that there Aren't worries in your mind about necromancy as such, but I'm sure after seeing Rene all this time or after all this time In seeing the situation that we are now in You may have worries for her A bit But she's always taken good care of herself. She's mostly taking care of me That's good And you feel she will be safe when you are off in Just a city and then beyond Oh, yes, Rene is an inspiration to me. She's my hero. I I wanted to be like her I tried singing like her, but I couldn't so I tried playing instruments instead I still couldn't so I'm trying to find that spark that she has that I just Cannot find yet But I will find it one day my calling my spark I am going to stop Turn to him. I'll put my hand on his shoulder This has been a very good conversation And I'm certain that one day you will find that spark Oh, oh, is that all I thought there was going to be more Ah, I did as well, but after what you've told me I no longer think that it's necessary Oh Okay, I do want to tell me anything about you mr. Nathaniel I What could I have to tell you? Well, is these any gestures up and down at your outfit? I love it. Oh this um Well, um when I first became the witch taker it became necessary for me to be uh noticeable both as a means of I suppose publicity If you know that the witch taker is in a big yellow outfit, then when you go searching for them, they're easy to find Makes finding jobs easy. That is smart And of course If you know the witch taker is in a big yellow outfit and you're on the run from the witch taker The color yellow becomes a bit more Worrisome Oh intimidation tactics It has its advantages, of course I am a little Confused by the banana calm and solia. Do I look like a banana to you? No, I don't know what they're talking about You'll clearly look more like a lemon Exactly Perhaps the first time Nathaniel like Seems like someone connects Like yes the lemon thing. Oh my god. It all makes sense. Exactly. No I just I just didn't want to say anything because everyone was ganging up and It sounded funny at first but looking at you you're clearly more a lemon Thank you I am certainly a lemon You can see he has a big satisfied smile on his face Well, I just wanted to make sure that uh your thoughts were at ease. You seemed a bit uncomfortable Perhaps moving you away from the situation would be best. Oh Thank you, mr. Nathaniel. Yeah, it's uh, just car she's uh She likes to do that a lot. Um Yeah No boundaries I'm sure that she hasn't had many people to talk to on an intellectual level for a very long time Given that she surrounds herself with skeletons regardless I'm very happy with this conversation. We should head back. We can all talk together and mull things over Oh, uh smooth things over Yes Okay This was a cool talk. All right, and yeah, you guys head back to the camp I I had a whole speech prepared and this guy He said yeah, I was worried that he was like really weird about everything everything. Oh, this is Much more pleasant than what I had I imagine as you're coming back. We're starting to divvy out bowls of the food. Yeah All of I'll go let her know get her from where She went on a walk just a short walk My teeth clench a bit Don't I think that woman can handle herself It's not about handling herself I'd blast I just turn coat and I start walking towards Cara. All right. Yeah She is a short little distance away. You can see her silhouette Uh pretty easily and she seems to be squatting down on the ground just like playing with a little Skeletal bird just like kind of hopping about as she's kind of Twisting her finger around puppeteering it and she doesn't Turn to you. She's kind of looking away from the camp squatting and here's your approach. What is it? food's almost done I just I want to let you know that That From my perspective My entire world in how I perceived morality was kind of shattered not too long ago Why I began to question You know the voice in my head that told me that Necromancy was bad That It was amoral it had Consequences And then kind of looking at his arm I found out a lot of lies had a lot of consequences Hmm. Welcome to the club And then I got asked on to this mission and then I thought I had a focus On who to blame for so much damage Then I was Told everything was different Then I realized Maybe somehow That you're not Bad, you're just different You can see she doesn't comment at that but she You see her shoulder slump a little bit as her playing with the skeletal bird stops and she just kind of lets her Hand go limp as the bones just kind of clatter to the grass and she stands up and uh kind of Does another conjuring as the bones sink into the ground She turns kind of in in a way so that she doesn't have to look at you I'll go have that food now Starts head back to the camp Hey What? I have a plan and it might be important that I want to let you know about it that it's gonna Ask a lot of your cooperation And honesty Oh trust goes both ways follower of erithus And you could always trust in my words because I'd never told a lie And I haven't I haven't started and I won't stop Now so I will hold you to that In the morning. I'm starving She heads back to the camp I could use a bowl of grove Let's turn around Luna will start uh divvying it out. It's not much but My dad taught me how to make do with what I could find out here and uh Everyone grabs a bowl You can see that uh francis is digging in he's getting in there and he's like, hmm. We're so good Um, can I make a stupid roll? Sure. I don't want to insight this No, no, no, no, no. Um, this is I want to make a sleight of hand of like maybe handing the bowl like rene pours a little bit More of her bowl into uh francises. Oh Oh, oh Are you trying to hide this or no? Yes, i'm trying to hide it so francis doesn't see That's so pleasant Can I she just slips it can I I never I usually would never ask to do this Because it's kind of meta, but could I roll a perception to see if I notice because new luna would do something I don't give a shit. So luna would do something cute for you. That's my only Reason i'm asking probably got to be in no canny do consent. Yeah, I consent Like I'm probably fine with it, but it doesn't matter because you didn't see I didn't even notice it. I was during the soup. It's fine. Oh, where's the spare bones? What? The bones from the rabbits. Oh They're in the they were used to make the stock and discarded, you know as you do when you're cooking Where's the discarded bones? Why do you want the bones? Coral wants it Coral is can he I mean she'll like point off like because she would have uh, she would have dumped the Entriles and like the stuff that's like, you know, you don't eat out of the rabbit. Um, it's not sanitary She would have dumped it a bit further away from camp to keep predators from coming in So she just like gestured wildly off the map Somewhere out there A dog he's an actual dog just Not, you know made a flesh and bone. He's just made of metal and magic. Well, um, some actual flesh and bone creatures I'll probably making a meal of that right now and I think it probably needs to return to the earth where it belongs Well, I might want to get him a bone soon because he's been staring at cara weirdly recently Well, that seems like it's your job since he's your dog If that if that mutt tries anything, I cannot guarantee its safety You can you can break them. I could put them back together. You should be fine. Okay. No, that's how Okay, okay. No first. No We're not going to let the dog bite her That's fucked up Unless I tell him to he won't do it Well, then why are you acting like never mind Listen, it's just perception, you know dogs desire things and if you want to give it a bone you give it a bone Very strange. You are a very strange man to have constructed A Harmonculus that has its own desires. It is under your control. You understand Oh, I'm relatively sure but in my mind, I've constantly perceived him as a dog Wait, does that mean that you want their bone? Again, and I point back on that direction bones that way if you want them You are all so very strange. It's not much left of him though. Rabbit bones break down quickly. Yeah Welcome to the club of strange You could just see the little the little legs just go into the forest come back with the mouth full of bones Just drop that floor. You can see she she takes a few Sips of the the stew and just like you can see her chuckle a little bit. I guess we're all a bit strange Oh, yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna take one little normal person if I'm honest with you I'm just gonna take a little bit of the Of the like a spoonful ignoring all of this conversation about bones and homunculi And that very worrying thing of I'm pretty sure that I can control this dog I didn't miss it but I will sit cross-legged very calm as I Sip on the on the soup I'm gonna open up the journal because I still haven't seen what's inside of it Yes, you find three more pages and opening it up You can see that Cara is just like turning her face and she doesn't want to look at you You can see there's visible cringe on her As you find three more notes of Cara miharian's journal There are not abbey deals on this. I would be very sad. Fantastic. There need to be also as I take a sip Oh good soup You can see that uh Francis as well is kind of like leaning in like by your shoulder to try and read like beside you I'm just gonna turn my head directly at him. Oh, you need something Say again, Nathaniel Oh, do you need something? Oh No, he just kind of like Slinks back a little bit. Oh, I just was curious Oh, um, he just goes back to eating a soup Oh You know Francis In the in ancient times You on to you were known to eat The captives that snooped around in places. They shouldn't Rene just rolls around He just looks around darts his eyes back and forth at and looks at Rene Is that true? Why do you think I never get into any trouble while he's around? Listen, I've seen it that but it's very scary. He just quickly he just quick quickly like butt shuffles over to Rene Like Rene just gives sort of like a knowing look at like a smile to Nathaniel of like And you can just see nothing but like five frames of him like moving and like spider crawling. Yeah And here let me show you the first note. Yes Oh My god, no, I don't want to read this This is year 132 spring Okay, well, I will read aloud Attempts at true resurrection have resulted in catastrophic failure Though the subject seemed to maintain sentience for half a minute The raised half human half elf corpse quickly became unstable Transforming into a grotesque decayed abomination with enhanced capabilities Albeit less durable than the average living being of their physiology The subject was also Unable to be commanded resulting in the deaths of three mages and two civilians Before the subject was exterminated Viacounter Orion has established more strict policies as a result Which will most likely slow down our progress I can only pray this will not happen again in the future This This is strange You can see that uh, Cara is just kind of like playing with her ball a little bit. There are a lot of problems and a lot of Unfortunate circumstances as a result of us trying to get ahead in the war With that said though, I'm actually going to turn the page like not like flip to the next page But show it to Cara, and I'm going to point at the doodle underneath Who drew this? Who do you think? Then You were not trying to create true resurrection Not any more sister. I well I did After the war and after my funding got shut down. I was obsessed with my work I I was close to a breakthrough. I thought I could do something. I thought I could Finally unlock the secrets But I couldn't I with all the siphoning that I did with all the people I've sacrificed with all the magical secrets True resurrection is not achievable I do not blame you for the loss of life accidents happen during scientific research What I'm getting at is this entire time we've been under the impression That you have been studying true resurrection as a means of reviving well But if this drawing is from her Then it was simply a war effort or was there something more Someone else what exactly were you seeking to revive? I thought you couldn't bring back strong wields I couldn't But all that was just abby trying to lighten the mood She was ever the cheerful one even when things were so bleak. She would try and make sure people Remembered what we were fighting for Who was it Who was it that you were making the spell for It was abbegale, but I never came him even close Her body is kept Buried with all the others who died in the war in belcon's proper Even if I had figured out true resurrection, there was no way I would be able to get that close to the city So out of game. I'm having a hard time With one with with one timeline. Yeah, so I think so she's writing about true resurrection She's obviously trying to make it, but there is a drawing That abbegale presumably created here. Yes implying that she was working on true resurrection Before abbegale died because how else would abbegale have drawn this? I think I I think I I know what the what the timeline was because she said she threw herself into work after The war to bring abbegale back. Maybe she had like the notes and that's just when abbegale died That's when she really got intensive. So I feel I feel bad about making clarifications on things that I am I don't know. I I don't know if I should say Or you don't have to I have a feeling that I have a way to fix that Okay, uh, and anyway, uh, you don't have to feel that this page was used twice. That's the reason why Actually, you know what? I'm gonna clear it up because if I don't it's just gonna cause more confusion She was doing general research on how to use necromancy effectively in the war during the wartime before abbegale's death All of this is just her unlocking more secrets about necromancy that may be adjacent to true resurrection But not actively pursuing it Yes, all that makes sense not as a priority until after her death That's why I asked the question a little bit earlier, uh Like was this for someone or were you was this just a war effort? Were you just doing this? Okay? Why I misinterpreted the question because um, she answered it in reference to her Bearing herself into her work was after abbegale died. Got it. Understood. We're good here. Sorry about that No, no, no, it's good. It's good. And I'm glad I would got to clarify No, right Well, I should read the next page then And here we have the next page Year 133 provide me with the next page Oh the next page. I'm sorry. I said I said god provide me with the next page Please god here you go the next page The war has slowed my ability to do research on necromancy My account orion has intelligence that the enemies have also been tapping into necromancy And a few sex have mobilized their own undead armies Once the war is over. I will see what the other kingdoms have learned from the school of magic I suggested we summon undead soldiers of our own to reduce new casualties But orion insists we use living units Citing the undead soldiers frail nature and being incapable of acting on their own Must investigate more on the remains of the true resurrection subject Must also investigate how to enhance the abilities of lesser undead units until then No summoning And because you're not going to read it out loud. I will read it out loud That there is a drawing of a winking elf that's missing an ear Accompanying the entry along with a different handwriting presumably the handwriting of abbey It says you be safe in the battle tomorrow or else. I won't have a sketchbook to share anymore That's very funny You can see that kara is looking down at the grass where she sits all right I will read a blaster general I propose at our unit to prepare a similar strategy And I was refused for what morality being the bigger person fear Yes, this Orion character seems like a fool even if they're frail It's better than sending in living people. It's better than sending in living people, but they were scared of the undead Yes, well, they should be the undead had knives And where did that fear get us? We were overwhelmed Exactly this seems fairly foolish In any case flip All right, and the final page only has A single sentence year 135 fall Oh Oh my god. Yeah No, we knew it was gonna happen I will look at this and I will not read it. I will instead I'll look at this And then I'm gonna like flip the next page Which will presumably be blank and I'll flip the next page And then I'll close the book I'll look up you can see the rest of the book has torn pages presumably some of the page is missing that you guys have found Right. I'll close the book They all know my entries Heed this adventurous Be picky the hells are so picky For the hells don't take good people You can see that she's clutching at the grass underneath her and she mutters under her breath I could have saved so many if everyone had just put a moment to listen to what I had to say And I found myself with a mess and only twigs and rocks as tools to clean it up Well, now there's a chance to actually fix it To what end who who will listen if not then why now? Maybe I will Because I think maybe there are more people that are willing to see the gray area If you just show it to them Yes, I'm sure a simple public statement will clear things up. I can't believe I've never tried it before Do you have people of belconess? You can see there's tears running down her eyes kind of black as night I'm not the black vain queen and I've been trying my best to help the necromancers and everyone else in belconess All your loved ones were merely killed and kidnapped by a bunch of madluna techs. You may all go home now. I'm sorry I want to reach over and touch her shoulder if she'll let me she does That's not what I meant It's going to be a long road. I'm not going to say it's going to be easy But someone needs to take the first step and belconess clearly isn't willing My thoughts are that right if you want there to be a change then somebody needs to reach out first And you would be willing to take that step with this stranger Look at look at the people I'm traveling with. Do you think I've done anything more sane? She just has a smile and wipes her face You are truly a strange folk It's again. I don't think I've ever met anybody who's normal Am I having an idea? Then a favor for a favor then Especially since this favor will help me because like I say use the stink of the raven queen even now Oh, they're just kind of Steps a bit Yep, and she reaches into her pack and you she pulls out something You can see that she's kind of like does a little clicking with her fingers And you can see the runes on her backpack disappear. She lifts The the flap and pulls out a diamond She holds it in her hand and It starts to dissipate as she starts chanting something low and whispers under her breath And Just queue up something Her form starts to change and morph Until you see Come on Just make sure I'm on the right page of notes You see her start to Change and morph as black Foggy clouds engulf her And in her place stands a tall humanoid Hold on let me I'm concerned Let's do this. Don't maybe fight You see a tall humanoid woman with silky black hair and a nightly gown to match She has various bracelets all around her arms and jewels of black ink And dark feathers littered all around her but most notably around her neck Holding her robes together is a small skull of a bird that you are all too familiar with And she starts to channel The raven queen My god And i'm gonna be honest it's seeing this I think newt luna's gonna drop to her knees because how the fuck do you Stay up when this is happening I immediately start speaking in prayers I immediately stand and point my hand Like getting ready to attack. Yeah, like rena is also kind of like moving in front of francis. Just like yeah francis's jaw Drops all of the soup in his mouth just spills out and he drops his bowl on the floor on the ground The rena is very much in like full on protect mode. I'm like, uh I'm like just pushing pushing him almost back and step I don't know if this will help any of your fears, but luna does not look like she's getting ready to fight She isn't all Yeah, rena just doesn't trust anything at the moment. Yeah. No. No. No. I'm just I'm just Totally understand, but just like in case I just feel that celestial feeling. It's just like oh, I am to bow I I oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit My head is to the ground and you hear an ethereal voice speak out Be calm children of the people of the realm There is not to fear. I am the one Which blessed your father vajran ice wind So many years ago Luna just is an absolute shock I don't even know if she can say anything. She's just staring and like looking back at her sword and like back up like I know you have many questions But this priestess cara miharian She acts as medium Betwixt me in the mortal realm And our time is short Okay I Oh gods I don't even know where to begin Why did you want to lead her to clove way? That's that start Yeah, they they'll listen like she looks over. Thank you for me outside of like. Yeah. No, listen I got you if you want me to ask the questions. Like you seem a little perplexed You see you see she she puts one hand to her cheek a little bit and turns to the side a little embarrassed My apologies The nuance of common language of mortals is confusing at times I have only ever observed mortals My purpose only ever to ferry them to the beyond But millennia after millennia I took an interest in the lives of mortals What drives them? Why act as they do knowing what comes in the end? Towards your father who fought and lived with such fervor A man whose life by all rights should have ended Yet was determined to stave it off despite its inevitability I that I saw a chance Had an answer And and so I promised to delay his fate Though all it took was a single mundane unspectacular sword I hope not to disappoint my child But absolution is no more than a simple weapon Bone of the forge like any other I find it quite amusing that your father and you consider it otherwise It's I don't know a normal blade that Pulse that levitates off the ground And throws itself at necromancy goes cold at the touch Is that not the blade? That I'm afraid I cannot answer For mortal magics are beyond my understanding Mortal magics? What mortal magics? I am sorry my child I know as much as you Why did you? So that's why you Yes, I wanted his child in exchange. I asked him to promise me his first born That I may be a passenger and experience the life of a mortal The reasons to live and fight on for another day Knowing their time is fleeting And you have shown me so much my child Fred nod Your thoughts your actions Your dreams are yours to have and to keep I am merely here with you Through every step of the way I think Luna's kind of crying You can you she goes Gently to go caress your cheek and it's a familiar feeling the same one you felt from echo dad long ago when you were training in Ruggerwood Phaedron ice wind has long passed my child Rest easy Never has his soul been disturbed The Raven Queen slowly turns to the other party members as well Enoch Solomon as have your mothers They rest peacefully I assure you That's good I'm glad she's good You know, it's funny I thought I'd be relieved I thought I'd be relieved hearing that I guess that's a double-edged blade, isn't it? She just turns you with a with a nice gentle smile. My father's echo came out Right off not long after he died And you know You were there I guess I was so angry I regret everything for taking someone away like that so young He had so much more life in him I thought She simply just uh Bows bows her head ever so slightly. I am sorry my child Does it take that form because that's what I wanted to Do you know that I'm afraid That is beyond me She she she nods again And What's now? That is for you to decide Kara's channel grows weak I must go now. It is pleasant to have finally met you Luna Icewind However, it is you choose to live your life You have done So well Keep Yeah, Luna's gonna break down And the cloud dissipates as Kara's form comes back and she collapses to the floor gasping Oh, I hate doing that How how often when she coughs is there a bit of the black cloud coming up to a little bit. Yeah Thank you, Kara It's a fair trade I think Just Excuse me for a minute, please Um, she's not like walking off-screen. She's just gonna sit there for a sec. She was supposed to compose herself Poor woman didn't expect that I'm currently like do to doing two thumbs up towards Kara That took a lot out of me You can tell me your plans for the future in the morning whatever it is that we Want to do with going into this place that will probably have me killed Well, I have a contingency for that but yeah, we should probably sleep She just gets into her sleeping bag And turns over Uh Before heading to bed Like seeing that there was just kind of Luna always has to like take a minute to herself and it's like, okay I understand that I'm gonna check on you once you're out But uh, she is gonna kind of go over to Nathaniel really fast and just kind of be like I'll I'll take those letters back now As a as you walk over like I Take that breath and finally relax from like the frozen attack position I was in You you okay? Yes. That was definitely a fuck ton. Yeah, that was I that was a literal God Yeah Yeah, it was And we're not dead So that's a plus The sooner that this mission is completed the sooner I can retire But yes the notes and I'm gonna reach into my bag not my bag my coat I hope you're joking about the retirement Oh, are you What? Oh Of course Inside chat motherfucker It's a check motherfucker Yeah, Davy do you consent to this? Oh I got a critical fail I'm a master a crit fail 16. Excuse me Oh, that's so it's not actually a crit. It's not actually a crit fail. Oh, no one of the d4 role was a one Yeah, the guidance was a one. Oh god. I we got but it's still a failure each shit My face betrays no emotion All right, luka Sorry, not luka francis francis just like re cooperating after that is just like, okay I'm going to go to sleep now and uh, try not to think about that. I'll do a first watch then Renee's gonna tuck her letters away and just get a nathan. You're like a pad of like you're good Thank you. And then immediately go over to francis like, okay, um Yeah, do you do you want to do the back-to-back because fuck Uh, if we can yeah Okay, good. Oh, finally. I am on watch on a camp. I always wanted to do this First watch we are making sure you get your sleep. Oh, oh, okay You can take okay. You can take a watch with me later. Yes I'll take the last one if you don't mind Yeah, if you want to Yeah Besides I gotta still stay up and fix something. Oh my messages In that case, I'll take the third to last Okay, um DM someone my messages Oh I gotta send my my my messages. Yes the message spells. Yay your messages So first one to samuel because it's pretty much generic Because I don't think unless inok you have anything specific you would like to send to say uh, let's see in 25 words, right? Yeah, 25 words at the moment have a samuel update up from inok. We are moving back to belkanis proper So that's one two three four five six seven eight nine 10. You have 15 words Also, tell him expect a guest Prepare the deposition room deposition And that is all he'd like to say Hope you're having a good night. It probably cuts off at some point. Yeah You get a message back good to hear hope he's doing all right Church in chester can be a bit much Especially with eternals Ha She will let inok know all the shade. Yeah. Yeah Um, she doesn't know Second message second sending Lancel We are moving back to belkanis proper Wait, I got it I got this one unless unless you want to say it Uh, I feel like she starts saying it like out loud Um, because she usually likes to send her messages out loud so that people can like correct her if she needs it So she probably starts saying it and imagine the things like wait And she's like pauses mid sending Where are you Have they arrived? We are near chester moving south Valley and bolton package any emboldened updates You get a response back an angry angry goblin arrived So word A just gives a nod of like uh-huh. Yes, perfect Town is well tap water trying to send new letter I think I know who what the letter is trying to say and I feel bad, but it's okay It'll get found out later. Um At least I have a theory on it. But yeah, any important updates? Otherwise Protectors oddly silent Hmm Now this one I'm not saying it loud But we know who I'm sending it to tell me your secrets No You know who I'm sending this to tell me Can uh No, no, go ahead. Go ahead surprise Not dead. We are moving back to back and is proper So We might have a plan for changing people's minds Can you meet to talk tomorrow And you're trying to hide this yeah? Yeah from everyone including your brother It especially my brother. I'm gonna need you to roll stealth. Oh, fuck So question with sending do you have to speak it out louder? Can it be in your mind? Click the spell Yeah, what's the spell say? Actually, yeah, this will this will determine whether or not you have to roll stealth check Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think it's just like I like the habit of it. Then I need to check sending. Where are you? I'm used to a very hungry version of sending. So there we go. It does not it does not specify All right, your choice then. Um, I'm going to yeah. No, she's not saying this out loud Okay Francis I can reread the message if you need me to uh Yes, if you could. Okay Surprise not dead We're moving back to balconies proper south We have we might have a plan for changing people's minds Can you meet me to talk tomorrow? You get a message back Good I have found perhaps a way to bring you to help your friend A plan would be appreciated We have all the tools Well, it sounds like we might have a way in So that's what's in it Wonderful That we're going to have to figure that out Yeah, while you are sitting up watch and sending these messages Francis is just kind of gently elbow you as you are sitting back to back Uh, René Yes Have you um Have you thought about Luke? recently after being in Kovway I just been thinking about him more and How Angry I am every time I do but I can't stop thinking about him I don't know why all these things with the necromancers and He's so confusing But it's not it's not specifically about He is how you use it, yeah Yeah Well, then I am still mad at him. Oh, yes, I'm fucking pissed at him. She's just like ruffles hair. I'm like, yes good But don't Let that Be the sort thing that lights you especially after everything we've got to figure that Oh He considers this for a moment and scratches his chin. I think I understand Lucky good. Uh, he just like leads back Good night René Good night. How dare you both be adorable Ha ha ha So who's the watch order? Uh, I think I'm first And I think uh Dabby said he wanted to be third I mean, I can do second or third Yeah, doesn't matter what I do. I've just claimed the last shift All right, we can be quick about this Enoch. Give me your perception trick Where's that be? 22 you notice something over the horizon A figure a small speck in the sky That is slightly lit up by the lights of chester city just hovering there. Can't quite make out what it is Fuck Well, in the meantime, it's not I'm not gonna I'm not gonna break eye contact with it. Yeah, you stare at it and it stays valiantly just Hovering there for a couple of hours throughout your entire watch pretty much I am While I am well and aware of that figure I am spending time Fixing the gavel Yes Yeah So do those do those require rolls or is this it's just a thing that you can do It is it does require a roll So There you go. It's fixed. There you go. So uh that is fixed and I I rack it. I see the symbols of magic as it runs along it and I Don't break. I like I keep looking at that figure. Yep. Just like staring at it while you're working on your gun just like I Whistled to crow and I want him to start flying that direction Okay Yep So yeah, he easily can he starts to fly. What's the What's the max? Is there a maximum height that he can fly? Nope, he could just keep moving 30 feet. Okay, he flies out for about a few minutes And before he reaches kind of like where the border of belkanis would be And instantly you see like a dim flash of light and then you just see Kuro like in smoke just on the grass like way down far Far that he fell and quick question. Can he make a dexterity saving throw? sure because He's pretty small and he does have he does have evasion He does have an evasion You may Okay That's a 20 So this still happens. However, you re you try to Recall him back and he comes back limping just like broken in pieces sparks flying out and like smoke coming out of him Oh and First off mending him. Yeah You meant him back and you can see that the smoke coming out of him Is not smoke of elect, you know, not electrical smoke. It is black necrotic smoke. Oh Do I after repairing him that does go away? I am Oh god, you look you look back And the figure is gone I'm going to I'm gonna step over to Nathaniel And I'm gonna kick him awake Oh, yep It's not your watch, but we have a problem What is it? There's something out there and it knows that we're here And I point towards crow who's currently a little dinged Damn Like Put out the fire. Keep the fire. I'm gonna it's already up. It's already up Keep the fire. Don't let them know that we're where wake everyone else up very quietly. Yeah All right You take care of it now. I'll get I'll get to Luna. I'm relatively sure I could Dodger swipe maybe we'll see And I Politefully approach and just start say you better not take me away I start shaking her Uh by the shoulder We got a problem. We got a problem, but don't keep it down There's something out there and it's Obviously knows that we're here and It's bad And pointing towards I point towards curl. I had him do a recon check Whatever it is. It's not you need to be more careful with your dark e-knock She's like rubbing the the sleep out of her eyes. It's time to be criticizing. I wouldn't want to get attacked anyways All right. No. Okay. Do you think we're about to get attacked just yes? I do Give me a second. You can see that kara is actually awake eyes open Looking staring up at the stars We'll be fine. Oh I have a special enchantment around clove way that extends for miles Make sure I know every single necromancer that goes in and out of that place How do you know that other necromancer? Does that extend to your location? It does. I'll be at a smaller scale What if it isn't a necromancer? Well, then I guess we're fucked Okay, let me just of course you would all right. I'm gonna shake Renee awake I'm put I put my finger into my mouth Midnight's calling She just gives us she does sighs and then gives like a little nod and then we'll just kind of like roll over to wake up Francis. Yep. I put my hand on this boy's mouth As he wakes up It's okay. It's okay, but we need to be awake and in the whale shit. Shit's going down. Okay. Just Stay calm. Okay. He nods his head very slightly. Okay, and she just gives a nod to Nathan and you'll look like It's gonna be all right. He's not gonna look out I want to give Nathan your look and whisper I have a way to take a look around the camp without leaving now You'd like me to I'll need someone to keep an eye to watch my back. So to speak I can go can go a fairly far distance out nine 900 feet a thousand feet. Do it Gonna summon my echo I don't know what it's gonna. It's gonna be but I'm gonna get a little closer to the horse. I'm gonna have myself kind of stand by on one side kind of just taking a A defensive like position ready to make a shot and then Kuro will stand in front of luna All right as a just to make sure if anybody's trying to cross that barrier So you all take a defensive stance getting ready for whatever it is out there and luna you start you summon your echo and It at first takes the form of vagrant ice wind But it seems to shift and fade like a cloud of black fog Its face is no longer his But instead blank and featureless With a raven queen appearing before you you realize that all along that your father was not still with you At least not in the way that you thought Though his being has passed on and his soul laid to rest His spirit and all that he has taught you lives on in a new form your echoes features And smog start to change and morph as it forms into something new One with long messy hair and scars across her toned arms And a tunic that gives just enough protection without sacrificing mobility An echo befitting of one who wields absolution The sword with a mark of the raven queen luna ice wind While you guys are taking the watch, I think we're gonna end the session there That's so fucking cool, dude the sky Everything glows Oh You gotta warn a girl. Oh my god. Oh, but if I warn you, then you won't be there for the surprise Yeah, no, that's very you wouldn't be getting this Oh my god, that's a kind of prize. It's a surprise Oh my god, thanks joe. You've made me cry through this session. Holy shit