Played from 01/22/2021 to 02/26/2021My fifth day here, Lyssa thought to herself.
It was the next morning after their first encounter, and they were both feeling better than the night before. Lotlyn talked over the possible plans with Lyssa, since their journey was already proving perilous.
Should they keep heading towards the mountains? Or should they find a route around them? Or should they just head back to Lathtarl’s Lantern? Lotlyn didn’t know a lot about magic, but what she did know for sure was that those hawks couldn’t have been naturally occurring, and must have been enchanted somehow. There was some sort of magic user around, but there was no way to know if they were friend or foe. Someone with that much magical prowess could help Lyssa out, if they didn’t choose to kill them where they stood.
Lyssa’s priorities straightened out too. Sure, she was afraid of her lie being found out, but the danger of this world was finally sinking in. She felt really safe with Lotlyn, but looking at how badly injured she was after fighting those fire birds, she started having second thoughts… then third thoughts. If Lotlyn was right and there was a wizard nearby, it couldn’t be that bad right? If he spoke English- er, Common- what did they have to lose? Diplomacy was her specialty! (Or so she thought. This is her Common Flaw: being Rational to a fault. Personally, I blame Undertale for that.)
Ultimately, the two realized that together they could actually stand some sort of chance, and it had to be worth it to try. They would continue further into the mountains to check for anyone nearby, but return to the main trade road if nothing came up.
Gab: Now the question is, is there actually a way to get closer into the mountains with their carriage?
Kreios: Yes actually.
It was actually a fairly easy drive, even if both ladies were uneasily keeping an eye out the entire time. There was no specific road, but enough of a pathway through the mountainside that they could get further in. Some time had passed before they reached a higher peak, getting to enjoy the view of the sea and the rest of the valley…that is, until they actually saw what was in the valley.
Gab: I can assume it’s not empty?
Kreios: Right.
Gab: Any structures with people? Campsites?
Kreios: No and no.
Gab: Oh come on, give me something to work with?
Kreios: Here, try these words: “behold” and “quarrel”.
Gab: Oh… So there was a big fight here, huh? Is it still going on?
Kreios: No, it’s not.
Gab: Okay, any injured people around?
Kreios: No, not injured.
Gab: …corpses?
Kreios: Bingo.
Gab: Eugh… I don’t like the direction this is going…
Kreios: It’s not as bad as you think, anyways.
Gab: Hmm… is there something off about these bodies? Can you give me a hint?
Kreios: Yes, and here are some helpful words: “visitor” and “oppress”.
Gab: Oh… These are Bad Guys, huh.?
Kreios: Right again.
Gab: Hmm… Given how many evil organizations are out there (aside from just the odd bandit or two), what group are these guys from?
Kreios: The Arcane Brotherhood.
Gab: …OH.
In the valley below where three figures, each wearing a dark robe. Lotlyn spotted them first, and it filled her with dread. Before Lyssa noticed, though, Lotlyn began to guide Buckwheat and the carriage down to the valley. She stopped at the bottom, wordlessly getting off to check the motionless figures.
She carefully stepped to them, seeing no response. She got close to one and turned them over, only to see no life in their eyes. Their robe had an insignia she actually did recognize (thank you DM): the Arcane Brotherhood. She knew of them; almost all of the adventuring parties that came to Lathtarl’s Lantern would warn the town about these magic users, and how they might one day go after the Warlock's Crypt in the mountains. Lotlyn felt foolish that she let them both get this close to the crypt, but at least she knew they wouldn’t be going into it.
Lyssa took a moment before peeking out of the carriage, watching Lotlyn and the horrid scene. She knew better now than to just run into a battlefield, even a long-since peaceful one. But after it seemed like there was no danger, Lyssa left the carriage too to check out the scene.
Lyssa was about to ask Lotlyn what she had found, until she herself noticed it—a fourth robe, discarded on the ground, along with some other supplies from an emptied out bag. There was a fourth person from this group. Then suddenly, a soft noise. Lyssa heard what sounded like small rocks tumbling over behind a larger boulder. She tapped Lotlyn to get her attention, pointing out the area. Lotlyn wasn't about to put Lyssa in any more danger though, so when she motioned back to the carriage, Lyssa begrudgingly complied, stepping silently back.
Behind said boulder, a male wizard was cursing slightly under his breath. He’d only come back to gather what was left of his supplies, and now with one false move, he may have screwed up his chance for freedom. He’d be the first person they’d suspect when it came to three murdered individuals near his belongings… not that they’d be wrong- he did kill them. At least he could get a good look at the two new people before hiding- two women it looked like, a triton and a human. They even had a horse and carriage, but what were they even doing here? The nearest town was a few days away, and his team had avoided it on purpose to avoid suspicion. But now, trouble had found him.
Lyssa could only watch from the side of the carriage as Lotlyn slowly made her way towards the boulder. Lyssa wanted to help, but after the hawks… she knew Lotlyn would need her help, but what could she do here? Maybe defuse the situation?
Gab: Okay, now’s the time to ask about our new friend. Did he attack these other mages first?
Kreios: No, he didn’t.
Gab: Okay, so the other three attacked first. Was it jealousy?
Kreios: Not jealousy, but something else about him.
Gab: Ahh. They knew he was up to something in the Brotherhood. Did they have any proof?
Kreios: Yes.
Gab: Oh. No wonder he had to kill them. Did he get that proof back?
Kreios: Yes, and let’s have an Intervention and advance some of the plot now.
Gab: Oh boy. This is about his friend, huh.
Kreios: Yes, but no need to be so cryptic.
Gab: Look, I gotta make this blog exciting somehow. Does he know where his friend is?
Kreios: Yes, and it’s somewhat nearby. All things considered.
Gab: Wait really? Can you give me a hint as to where?
Kreios: Let these words jog your imagination: “ferry” and “boundary”.
Gab: So he’s coming by some form of boat to the coast… wow, this is actually falling into place really well!
The man hiding behind the boulder was so close to his goal now. He’d gotten an “in” with the Arcane Brotherhood and found information on his old friend. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to know where he’d been for these many years. He could finally track him down. His friend should be on a ship sailing north from the Utter South Sea Zakhara. This meant his ship would have to dock on the Sword Coast, exactly where he was exploring now. The Arcane Brotherhood had kept tabs on his friend; he was apparently one of two “heroes” who freed a chain of islands from an evil Sha’ir. Their notes described one of the heroes being an elven man using a “strange magic cannon”, and he knew it had to be the man he was searching for. So he joined the mission to the Warlock’s Crypt, only to be discovered by his “teammates” for being a traitor. Because truthfully, this man who called himself Wither believed all magic should be free.
It was suddenly that he remembered Lathtarl’s Lantern was home to many tritons- perhaps he could actually talk his way out of this one. He rose from his spot.
Wither: Ah, pardon me. Please don’t act rashly…
His voice was smooth, yet concerned. And Lotlyn picked up on it, not attacking outright considering how close she was and how this man just seemingly popped up out of nowhere. He was a tall man, with blue-green hair and red eyes. He had an elaborate outfit that befit a mage, and it reminded Lyssa of a moth.
Lotlyn: Okay, no rash actions here. Mind telling us what you’re doing out here?
Wither: Merely passing by, hoping to make my way to the nearest port town.
Lotlyn: Huh. I mean, I guess that makes sense, since we’re near the coast and all. Do you know anything about these three?
Wither: Not a thing, as it happens.
Lyssa furrowed her brow. Yeah, right. He’s got a staff, book, AND a sword? He’s full to the brim of his wizardy hat with evil potential!
Lotyln: Hmm, I see. Wait a minute- you didn’t hide behind that rock cause you thought we did this, right?
Wither simply smiled in response.
Lotlyn: Oh gosh, that’s a funny misunderstanding! No, we didn’t do this either; we just came across them ourselves, believe it or not!
Wither: No worries at all, I do believe you.
Lotlyn: In fact, we should probably head back to my hometown and report this! You need a lift?
Lyssa: H-HOLD IT!
After a moment of shock, Lyssa stepped forward from the carriage to face the wizard.
Lyssa: What I mean is- Lotlyn we can’t go back now. We can’t lose sight of why we’re out here right? We’re here to find a wizard to help us, and to explore the world! We can hardly do the latter if we just give up and go home.
Lotlyn took in Lyssa’s words- she had a point. For as much as Lotlyn wanted to protect her new friend, they were on this journey together, and she shouldn’t just give up. Wither caught onto what Lyssa was saying, and tried to hide a smile, until she pointed directly at him, startling him.
Lyssa: And look! We found a wizard! And you’d better start explaining yourself right now, or we’re not taking you anywhere! Got it?
Wither knew her proposition was sound, but there was more to it than that. He could tell she saw through his initial lie about the bodies. He really did need to get to the nearest port town, and sure he could try to walk to one, but with little to no supplies left after his battle… he decided he did need their help after all.
Wither: Alright. I support it is only fair. Please, allow me to explain myself. I go by “Wither”. I am, indeed, a wizard. And, well, former member of the Arcane Brotherhood.
Please do not mistake me, though; I joined purely to discover their secrets. I believe all magic should be free, not hoarded by the elite. So I will confess, those three other members were out to kill me. You may not believe that, but I am telling the truth. Their names were Elsarka, Faril, and Repennic. I joined them on this trip to the Warlock’s Crypt to get closer to the Sword Coast, but they…well, there’s already enough infighting in the Brotherhood without talk of being a “traitor” too.
What I can say is that this was all self-defense. I’ve since shed my costume too; I have no true affiliation with these people. And now my focus is back to my search, trying to find someone- a dear old friend. All that I know now is that he should be coming by ship to the Sword Coast from the Sea of the Utter South. I have a few ideas where, most likely more north of here. And I need to get back to searching as quickly as I can.
Lotlyn: And that’s why you’re here… to search all the port towns.
Wither: Precisely.
Lotlyn: Then, maybe those hawks were yours?
Wither: Oh, you saw them? Do you know where they went?
Lyssa: See them?! We had to fight them!
Wither: Oh-! I-I apologize, I didn’t realize that sending them away would put anyone in danger…
Lyssa could see genuine worry on Wither’s face now; he was actually being truthful from what she could tell, and she let the anger go. He explained that Faril experimented on animals with magic, creating those “guards” for their mission, and seeing an opportunity, Wither had scared them off during his fight with the other wizards. He also saw the scars left on Lotlyn, and tried to apologize. But Lotlyn tried to play it off, assuring him it wasn’t that bad! Considering they held their own, she still called it a win.
Finally, he asked them why they needed a wizard. Lyssa was about to explain it herself before Lotlyn spoke-
Lotlyn: Oh it’s actually for her! My name is Lotlyn, by the way, and this is Lyssa. She’s been cursed somehow, and we need to get help removing it. She’s lost a lot of her memory and was kidnapped from her home, so we’re hoping a wizard can unlock those memories and figure out how to get her home!
Lyssa wasn’t prepared for her lie to be brought to light so fast. How did they manage to find a wizard this quick? She was doomed!
Wither looked at the girl. She was young, pretty, and not local at all. Most of all, she looked so genuinely terrified to be here. If this truly was some sort of kidnapping, he could see why. Perhaps it was then that his own protective instincts kicked in…
Wither: I may not be the type of wizard you’re looking for… but I can still try to help you as best I can.
Lyssa breathed a sigh of relief. She watched him take out the spell book from its harness, and quickly flip through pages. He walked with Lyssa and Lotlyn towards the carriage, and allowed him to sit down on a rock nearby. Finally, he stopped on a page.
Wither: This will take about 10 minutes to cast, so please don’t go far.
He softly chanted to himself, casting a Detect Magic spell, using both his spell book and staff to cast it. It may have been overkill, but then again, his entire aesthetic was based on this; he wasn’t going to just not use the staff. After 10 minutes, his staff began to glow a greenish light, illuminating everything around them. The two ladies looked at him wide-eyed, but before either could react, they were enveloped in the light as well.
Gab: Million dollar question- Does Detect Magic find any magic on Lyssa herself?
Kreios: Nope.
Gab: Hmm, any of her belongings?
Kreios: Yes, although…
Gab: Not something on her… WAIT. HER PHONE.
Kreios: We have a winner.
Lyssa shut her eyes in preparation for something to happen to her… but nothing did. The glow around Lyssa herself faded, and she opened her eyes. She noticed the other two staring at her- no, past her... to the carriage. Wither stepped forward wordlessly, only motioning for Lotlyn and Lyssa to follow.
He reached into the carriage, grabbing Lyssa’s backpack. Oh no.
Reaching into the back, he pulled out a glowing green object- it was Lyssa’s smart phone. She gasped to herself. She could put two and two together. The other two could only stare at the object, puzzled. Wither furrowed his brow as he tried to make sense of what he was getting from the spell.
Wither: …what is this?
To be continued
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