Our protagonists begin their story responding to a call to guide a caravan from Alpinlight to Nightdeep. The man we are escorting is called “Eddward”. We are to deliver him to a contact in Nightdeep. The High Pontiff of Alpinlight who is currently in Nightdeep, to be exact. “Edward” appears to be of religious significance.
We are to ensure the caravan travels safely to Nightdeep. We have a cart, and the cart contains Edward – the seating has enough for four, including Edward.
We have been on the road for a day or so at the point where we begin. Fester Rat is a rat-folk, Anatole is a tengu, I – Kudu – am a Sweetbreath Gnoll and Kon is a kitsune.
Anatole Poe is driving us; Fester is chatting to Edward. I am trying to sus out if I have a horse. I probably don’t. Fester is making small talk. Anatole is very focused on the road, I am scouting the area ahead of us, but I have not seen anything, nor has Anatole. Kon, on the other hand, wakes up from his nap and tells us there are bandits to our right.
Kon opts to drowsily sit up, look out the window and immediately yeet out of the caravan and summon Foxfire to target an unknown assailant. Then we launch into a combat event.
“This is a muggin’! Give us your money and we’ll let you go!” The bandit yells as it now retaliates against Kon.
Unfortunately, the bandits miss a few attacks and both Kon and Anatole critically maim them. On Fester and my side, our bandits are beginning to flee.
Another man dissolves and I fire some Rays of Frost, but ultimately decide as they have dropped their weapons and have been injured, they are unlikely to survive or cause us further harm. I let them go and call Buzzwip back to me.
Anatole and Kon search the corpses, Anatole finds a note and some money, Kon finds some silver and returns to the caravan, I direct him to the other bandit’s fallen gear.
Anatole reads the note and hands it to Edward, “Does this mean anything to you?”
Edward responds with a sigh. “I don’t know who this Lord H is, I don’t know why they would want to take me. But at any rate I thank you profusely for the services rendered.”
“Mmm.” Anatole responds.
“I do not know who would want to harm me… I don’t know who Lord H would be. But evidently, he seeks to capture me.”
Anatole checks his motive, Edward seems to be genuinely confused, but he is masking his fear. He definitely seems genuine about not knowing who Lord H is, but he is also genuinely scared of what the note could mean.
I say, “I assume it’s The Inquisition.”
Kon says “Oh Lord H must be Lord High Chaplin Arctis of the Inquisition.”
“I fucken knew it.” I say.
Anatole, “Oh is this someone you know personally?”
“Fuck no, I just know the Inquisition if full of fucks.” I shrug.
Kon asks why The Inquisition would want to kidnap Eddward.
“I do not know, for ransom, or perhaps they think I am a witch.”
“Because they think you’re a witch.” I say at the same time.
Kon senses his motive on this, he notices that Eddward has moved his robe in such a way that he has uncovered a component pouch.
We have a discussion about being an Oathbreaker – to only use divine magic as he enters the priesthood. His component pouch clearly notes that he is a caster of arcane magics.
We talk about the Inquisition and I ask Fester about his bell – is it magic.
“It both is and is not magic. For the sake of simplicity, let’s say yes.”
“Ah the wonders of the world.”
I changed the form of Buzzwip to a tattoo blended with my flesh, I keep Speech and I change to have an extra cantrip – today it is Read Aura on the cusp of our new day.
We arrive in town and Eddward walks us into a building that we know is a Church of the Host. At the altar stands what can only be the Lord High Pontifex.
Abyssal items – that is, items from the Pit, carted back to our humble towns – are of a different make. They do not decompose, they do not fall apart; knives, tea-pots, rugs all never dull and never break down. That is where most trips to the abyss will net us some worth. Through the mundane items that never break.
Eddward approaches the Lord High, “My Lord, I have come at your behest, these guardians have done well, protecting me from 4 bandits, and Fester is a fine courier of note – I have his card.” He hands it to the High Pontifex.
“You have all served your role, agreeably. Perhaps even beyond our wildest dreams, at least, for you. You will be rewarded 20g pieces each for your services rendered, and an additional 5g each in defeating potential kidnappers.”
I briefly ask Drew if there is a standard church response for us to say in return of being praised. “What once was his, shall be again.” Or “When the cage crumbles.” Or “Grasp the chain.”
The Host are everyone but Atreia, Desna. Rovagug is “When the cage crumbles.” Their battle cry “Nothing holds me.” Rovagug’s whole thing is he was caged by the positive aspect deities and his followers are trying to get him out. In defiance of the cage and in
In terms of Kudu – if he wants to avoid the Mosquito Witch or not, Rovagug is a good choice. And perhaps even a symbolic choice.
