Teleportation is Measured with Your Heart

Year, Season, Month, Days: 5990 F.Y. Frinle, Yria 3-4

After paying taxes and ascending to the next tax bracket, the party decided to enter a nearby bar to gather some more information and found the barkeep, a Kasatha who could create a blended margarita by hand. While enjoying her drink, Felicity examined the job board and found a script she did not recognize emblazoned on the wall. After asking Tektun to make a copy, Felicity gave the paper to the barkeep and asked if he could translate it.

The barkeep explained it was a notice of the death of Avak, the tribal leader, who was struck dead by a meteor. He further explained that an individual in a green cloak from a neighboring country was involved, called down the meteor, freed them from the tyranny of Avak, and asked for the construction of the port at the delta of The River of Death. The tribe was split on their opinions of Avak, and some followed the teachings of this mysterious figure while others devoted themselves to the destruction of the port.

After grilling the barkeep about the local economy, Molly offered him a sample of her Brain Wine with a flavor profile of ‘better-than-slow-death sauerkraut undertones with a smoky fluoride essence’. The party continued to learn that the Kasatha were now embroiled in a civil war regarding the port.

Proceeding to speak with the Portmaster, Felicity confronted her most difficult endeavor yet: waiting in line. They attempted to comfort a crying gnome leaving the Portmaster‘s office, who couldn’t reveal details, a fact that annoyed Molly as she attempted to learn anything from them.

Finally progressing through the line, the Portmaster called for the next persons in line. They encountered a calico Catfolk in readers in an emerald-green robe working with a stack of notes. Felicity, frustrated at the logistics of the inability to purchase supplies, gathered that all of the imports of the port were shipped over to Nerveno, a poor country on the furthest southeast point of the continent.

The Portmaster offered a job to the party and was given one letter to open and another to not open. The party asked about the jobs, but the Portmaster was merely a middle man and had no knowledge of the jobs; they even wore the green robe to garner respect, although they weren’t the meteor-caller. When the party asked his name, he just stated he was known as The Ears. When leaving, Felicity was given a small bottle of piscan Catfolk blood wine.

The coterie left the office and opened their letter, sealed with a stamp of the censored book, and found a letter written in silver ink directing them to The Second Cataclysm where a Duke Overn Adsin would be found leading an expedition. The party fought temptation on a second margarita and gathered information on travel time and using teleportation magic to speed up the month-and-a-half travel time.

Entering the nearby wizard hut, the party encountered a variety of wizards in different robes, most likely the most powerful collection of magic the party had ever encountered. Felicity’s commanding entrance caught the attention of two wizards who listened to the party’s request for aid. The party decided to splurge on greater teleportation and avoid potential mishaps.

Realizing Marionia, the capital of the anti-arcane, pro-divine Lavea, would be dangerous, the party considered their approach and decided to travel to the border of Lavea and travel in for supplies. An old Drow wizard agreed to a 10,000gp price tag, picked up his dropped marble off the floor, and proceeded to follow the party at an excruciatingly slow pace. Molly and Felicity walked ahead, leaving Tektun to escort the wizard, whose name they neglected to ask for earlier. The wizard placed Tektun on a floating disk that crawled at the same speed as himself as the two discussed divine and arcane magics.

Arriving at the ship, the party found LaMer, the wizard, and Tektun having a conversation on deck, with LaMer already frustrated at the wizard’s line of questioning. Telling LaMer the wizard would be assisting with off-ship duties, Felicity and Molly finally asked his name, which was Olman.

The party, planning ahead, discussed any costs of docking and collecting supplies and left Irving in charge with funds for both supplies and ship improvement. Molly gave Heddy a “promotion” to Director of Operations.

Grabbing a few weeks of rations, the party clasped hands with Olman and were teleported into the Deep Forest outside Mariona. From their view, the party could see the large castle and temples scattered across the city to every god, regardless of alignment. Preparing to head into town to purchase necessary supplies, Olman advised the party to remove any magic items that couldn’t be proven to be created by divine magic.

Feeling quite naked, the party left the entirety of their gear and money with Olman, a shocking demonstration of trust, which Olman happily gave to Ruth. The party took Han at his request, placed him on a large walking stick, creating The Staff of Han, and walked to the city.

The group found a guard in glowing plate mail, a spear topped with glowing holy flame, bearing a shield with the symbol of Scythian, the Goddess of Lies. The party was encircled in a Zone of Truth and half-lied their way in. Molly took the opportunity to find the Temple of Novulu, a dark tall, imposing building adorned with chains and torture implements, including a rack, with a graveyard. The graveyard keeper appeared to be burying loose bones.

Molly approached the man with a black cat at the podium and made a joke about needing a bigger cat while gesturing at Felicity. Felicity decided now would be a good time to get lunch and walked away with Tektun, leaving Han with Molly. Molly paid tithe by burning Novulu’s symbol into the greeter’s forehead with her wrist torture implements. Through gritted teeth, the greeter thanked them and welcomed them into the temple. Upon entering the threshold, screams, crying, and pain were evident, although unseen.

Molly made her way to the altar, which had body parts atop it, and prepared to pray, but was interrupted by a goblin appearing from underneath the altar, asking if they required guidance. The goblin disappeared and a scream was heard and they were found chewing on a loose finger as they awaited Molly’s answer. Asserting they were the chosen of Novulu, the goblin asked for proof. Molly asked for them to eat the bloody liver in their hand, which they did, and then used a thumb screw wrist implement to remove the thumb with a knife. The goblin regrew their thumb with a spell, smiled, and told Molly they could keep the thumb before retreating into the altar.

Completing her ritual, Molly felt a new sense of approval and appreciation from Novulu. A new sense of the goodness of being her chosen was conveyed, and Molly convened with Han, deciding they would like to talk outside the temple.

Meanwhile, Felicity found a sit-down restaurant and found all the sandwiches, much to her displeasure, were named after the gods. After reluctant ordering, she and Tektun spoke about the book for Raven Rock. While enjoying their food, Molly appeared and joined the group, having just had Han shoot his blowgun into the hand of the tortured man at the Novulu temple podium in defense of an attack of revenge.

Molly partook in the Novulu sandwich, comprised of seared chopped offal with a spicy red wine sauce on rye, which she enjoyed as well as she could. After finishing their meal, Molly and Felicity chose to charter a large carriage and two drivers, choosing the least religiously affiliated, intending to protect Olman from prosecution. After buying the driver’s cooperation for 20 gold, the party set up camp and relaxed for the rest of the late afternoon and evening.

Making small talk with Ruth, Olman spoke of an old relationship he had with a Samsaran woman in his youth, but it fizzled out when he couldn’t keep track of her lives. Ruth offered to attempt to reconnect him, but he wanted her to live her life, even if it didn’t include himself. He asked Felicity and Molly why they were at this location and stared as they stated “delivering a letter”, Molly gave further information about wishing to enact revenge on the recipient as well as their history and own mutilation due to previous behavior and employment and the loss of their friends.

Olman offered to help, but revealed he would be dying in 47 days. He made a deal with a witch that he would die upon turning 417. When asked about breaking the curse, he said he wasn’t sure if it extended his life or cut it short. By breaking the curse, he may die suddenly. Felicity asked what he got out of the deal, which was stopping a plague in the city where his family lived.

Felicity further asked if Olman had any knowledge of what happened in The Last Free Lands of Avak, but he did not, but that the magic truly felt divine. He didn’t know of any magic that could do such a thing but found it odd that a god would meddle in such a way. He didn’t believe it was right. Only five countries on Talia didn’t lose their leadership that night: Diane’s Court, Shallow Ridge, Exile’s Rest, the Wenian Federation, and West Front. Although West Front‘s leader died the next day. It appeared that the leaders that did die didn’t all die from meteor strikes, but from a variety of causes

When asked if he saw the event, he stated he did not, but was able to peer through the eyes and memories of someone who did. He heard claims they came from Nerveno, an incredibly poor country of humans and Catfolk with scant resources. Its only saving grace is its lack of war due to location. When told about the Ruby Renegade’s transition to the Astral Plane, Olman advised her of needing a good caster, and potentially allying with a leader from that side, specifically Frieda, who would have a heavy price. The final advice he had was the passage of time did not occur on that side, so coming back would cause the time passed to hit all at once, including hunger, thirst, aging, and injuries.

The party prepared for bed and drifted to sleep.