[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Okay

 

[James, as Gary] From Ellsprig, probably day, maybe two, to Whitethrone. But, uh, as uh Kapa has said, once we get to Ellsprig, we will have better idea how to get into Whitethrone, which will.... Uh, Kapa, can- can I get new credentials? Can I get new credentials that say 'oh, here is Gary; he is not a traitor'?

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] 'He is definitely not traitor.' Hm?

 

[James, as Kapa] We will have to see. I have no idea, but we will- we will go up to Ellsprig and we will figure out next steps from there. But we know we will need you all to have credentials, so I do not see what the problem is, uh, getting Gary new credentials as well.

 

[David, as Valdeen] Yeah, that makes sense. I ha-

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Well, what can we do to help to get us ready to go?

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Well, I know I would like to spend some time trying perhaps to learn more of these scrolls. We also have at least one potion we did not identify back at the Tower...

 

[Zac gasps]

 

[James] There are-

 

[Zac] The robe and the- Oh, dude

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] And some other things

 

[James] There are items where we- that haven't been figured out, yet. You guys didn't pass the DC's for that.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] I think, perhaps, we try to take stock of what we have and what's spells we know-

 

[David, as Valdeen] Yeah, like go through our provisions

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] and gather things

 

[David, as Valdeen] Well, we have this, too. [describes] and Valdeen holds up a bag

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] The magic bag?

 

[David] The magic bag of holding. Which is a type 2

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] full of- I don't know. How much do we trust Gary? [whispers] Don't let him know

 

[David] It holds 500 pounds

 

[Amanda] Geez

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] I am going to speak in Taldane now, so Gary does not understand

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Okay

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Here's the thing: Gary's great, but let's not tell him about the very, very large amount of silver bars and things in the magic bag because it would be not very difficult to just grab a magic bag, run for it, suddenly have all the money he needs to do whatever he wants with his family

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, we should definitely hold on to it. Save it, ya know. Maybe give some to the-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Yes, what I'm saying- Let's keep it on the down low

 

[James, as Vrixx] So, how much are we talkin', here?

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, you speak Common

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Low down

 

[James, as Vrixx] I always have

 

[Amanda] you do [laughs]

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Yes, we've always been speaking with Vrixx

 

[James] And you see him licking his lips. He's like- [as Vrixx] How much?

 

[David, as Valdeen] Well-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Not as much as the pain you would feel if you tried to thieve me

 

[James] and he just reaches up and he feels his ear and he's like [as Vrixx] That's- uh, I'll go get more coffee

 

[Elizabeth laughs]

 

[Amanda, as Marge] You know, it might be good to save a lot of that for the Heralds. I think, you know, they seem to be on the right track-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] No, we-

 

[David, as Valdeen] I- I was-

 

[Amanda, as Marge] -trying to stop Irrisen altogether

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] We may need to help them, yes.

 

[David, as Valdeen] Well-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] I like the idea of the return of summer more than probably most people, but also, we might need it because, you know...

 

[David, as Valdeen] Any kind of mission in a group like this, you're going to need funding and this is- I mean, this is our funding at this point

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] It's not selfishness. Is self-preservation in order to save whole world, so

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Okay. Well, ya know, I just wanted to be sure that it-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] We'll give a little bit to the Heralds in a little bit to Gary. It's least Bolka could do--I mean, is Bolka's fault Gary is, you know, with the hand and stuff

 

[Amanda, as Marge] It's just good to not take more than what ya need

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] This is true, yes

 

[David, as Valdeen] I mean, I can find a reason to need it all. I'm just sayin'

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] I- I've always preferred the barter system more than the currency. I am not a fan of the capitalism, you know, so... Anyway, I'm going to take these scrolls and I'm going to decide which ones to learn first. You all can do whatever you'd like; I just need a few hours.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Well, Valdeen, will ya help me with the stick?

 

[David, as Valdeen] What- Sure.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] I'm sorry, did you say you need help with a stick, Marge?

 

[David, as Valdeen] Apparently, she does. Yes, I'll help you with the stick

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] What's going on with your stick?

 

[Amanda laughs]

 

[Amanda] Just the way you both are looking at me like 'what's going on with the stick?' [laughs]

 

[David] I mean, 'I need help in the kitchen, over here...'

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Well, ya know, I made this uh kind of like a flag, I suppose, uh, just with the two people that I love very, very dearly that we've lost

 

[David, as Valdeen] Okay

 

[Amanda, as Marge] but to remind us of our uh, our team

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Kapa isn't dead, Marge.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] That's a striking resemblance, but she is right there. I am pretty sure she did not die

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes, I thought that I looked like me; I thought you were just making a- a picture of all the ratfolk you have met.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Kapa, you are alive, right? You are real, Kapa?

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes. Hello!

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] No one died when I sl-

 

[James, as Kapa] I am Kapa

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, no, no, no; Kapa didn't die, no.

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes, I am right here. Is good.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Ya know, I knew another ratfolk. Her name was Sara, and she had the same white ear.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Oh

 

[James, as Kapa] Oh, that is...huh

 

[Amanda, as Marge] She was a very dear friend to me.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Is- Is that a common trait upon...

 

[James, as Kapa] No. I mean, I-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Do lots of-

 

[James, as Kapa] How many people have your freckles?

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Thank you for noticing

 

[James and Amanda laugh]

 

[Zac, as Bolka] In Irrisen, ratfolk are like snowflake, where there are no two that are exactly alike.

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes. I- I did not know you had a friend that looked like me. That is... That is spooky. That is like the gnome man you were all telling us about.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] The gnome man is literally the twin brother of a different- you know-

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes. It sounds like that, except for-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Do you have a secret twin?

 

[James, as Kapa] N- I mean, I've had a lot of siblings over the years because [laughs] when you give birth, they are-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] I've met Marge; I know- I could not tell you how many kiddos-

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes. I- I have not- I have not had identical twin, though. That is not something I have had.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Well, ya know, I grew up with Sara and I- and I would know if'n you were, ya know, a sibling of hers because I would have known you, too

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] I'm sorry. You grew up with Kapa s- with Sara?

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, no, no; with Sara.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] There's-

 

[James, as Kapa] No, I think I am-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] There's Kapa-Sara-

 

[James, as Kapa] I am Kapa

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] -and Sara-Sara

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, what- what do you mean, there's a Kapa-Sara?

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Oh, 'Kapa' is just Skald term for 'Sara.' Same thing, translate-

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, that's even stranger than I thought. I had no idea!

 

[James, as Kapa] Oh. Uh, yes. I thought you were just practicing, uh, using my name in your language because it was easier for you. I did not mind. It is okay, yes?

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Yes

 

[James, as Kapa] It is fine.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Is like, uh, it is okay if you all, my very close friends, call me Lisa.

 

[David, as Valdeen] Oh, now you tell us?

 

[James, as Hatch] Okay, Lisa. [laughs happily] We're friends.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Did I not tell you that?

 

[David, as Valdeen] No, I don't think you've ever mentioned we could call you...Lisa?

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Last week, maybe? I don't know-

 

[David, as Valdeen] Maybe I'm forgetting. I've been tired.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, I think we were all a little out of our minds last week

 

[Amanda laughs]

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] It's been a little bit of a day...week

 

[David, as Valdeen] That's fair.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] ...time. Two weeks, almost, I suppose.

 

[Zac, as Bolka] I like the way it sounds in Skald, though. I like 'Vasilisa.' Has a very-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] 'Vasilisa Morozova' makes me feel-

 

[Zac, as Bolka] Has a strong

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Rolls off the tongue

 

[Zac, as Bolka] Strong sound.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Yes.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Okay, so I- I- We've got to find a way to attach this- this tarp

 

[David, as Valdeen] Okay. Well

 

[Amanda, as Marge] to the stick, and then I'm- we need to find a way to uh really attach it to Ghost.

 

[David, as Valdeen] Where's Ghost?

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, Ghost is just laying right over there

 

[James makes weasel sounds]

 

[David, as Valdeen] Let's look at the saddle here on the back of Ghost.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Okay

 

[David, as Valdeen] Is there- is there a place we could attach? Here, let's take a look here. Is there like a place we could attach this?

 

[James makes more weasel sounds]

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, I'm sure there is.

 

[David] So, I help you kind of fasten it to Ghost's saddle, and it stays mostly upright, maybe slightly to the left

 

[Amanda] Okay

 

[David, as Valdeen] Marge, yeah, I think this will- I think this will work. Is this- Is this what you were hoping for? Something looked kind of like-?

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, yeah! I think this will do it, for sure. I just want to make sure everybody can see it, and it's a good reminder of, ya know, why we're here and what we've lost and- and, um

 

[James, as Kapa] Did you lose this person?

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, I've lost both of these people.

 

[James, as Kapa] Oh. This a very sad flag.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] This is Norm; he's my- my husband.

 

[David, as Valdeen] Yeah. We- we only lost Norm just a few days ago.

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes, you had mentioned that

 

[David, as Valdeen] Yeah

 

[James, as Kapa] I did not know about-

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, and you lost your husband, too

 

[James, as Kapa] Yes. Also a few days ago. Excuse me.

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, I- I understand. [describes] and she pats Sara on the- Kapa on the back.

 

[Zac and Elizabeth chuckle]

 

[Zac] You can relate, right?

 

[David] Yeah

 

[Zac] You can totally relate!

 

[Amanda laughs]

 

[James] You are holding a d20 and you're staring at me.

 

[Zac] I'm always holding a d20.

 

[James] Do you want to start rolling some spellcraft checks?

 

[Zac] I want to cast guidance on myself.

 

[James] Fair

 

[Zac] Okay, so, there was something else besides the robe. Was there a ring?

 

[James] There's a ring that I know you guys haven't identified

 

[Zac] So, I'll do potion first

 

[James] Po-sh first

 

[Zac] and then the ring and the robe. And I'm gonna cast guidance on myself right before I do this, and I have detect magic prepared today.

 

[die rolls]

 

[James] Alright

 

[Zac] 21 on the po-sh

 

[James] You get it. This is an elixir of truth.

 

[Zac] Oh-ho-ho! [as Bolka] So charming!

 

[James] This elixir forces the drinker to say nothing but the truth for 10 minutes. DC 13 negates for will. They must answer any questions put to them in that time, but with each question they can make a separate will save. If one of these secondary saves is successful, they don't break free of the truth-compelling spell, but they also don't have to answer that particular question. If they do answer, they have to tell the truth. No more than one question can be asked each round. And it lasts for 10 minutes.

 

[Zac, as Bolka] This is interesting. I think this potion may be for like interrogation or something? It makes only, whoever drink, only can tell the truth.

 

[David, as Valdeen] Well, that could be useful.

 

[Zac] Um, now I want to check the ring.

 

[James] The ring.

 

[Zac] And I cast guidance on myself

 

[die rolls]

 

[James] Okay

 

[Zac] Wow.

 

[Amanda] That's the same roll

 

[Zac] Another 21.

 

[Elizabeth] Ooo

 

[James] Okay. Bolka, this is a ring of regeneration.

 

[Zac] Whew! That sounds amazing

 

[Amanda] Wow

 

[James] It's really good. Alright: this white gold ring is set with a large green sapphire. [Zac gasps; James continues] When worn, the ring continually allows a living wearer to heal one point of damage per round, and an equal amount of non-lethal damage.

 

[Amanda] Nice

 

[James] In addition, the wearer is also immune to bleed. While wearing a ring of regeneration, if the wearer loses a limb or organ or other body part, the ring regenerates it.

 

[Amanda and Zac] Wow!

 

[James] As per the spell regenerate. In either case, only damage taken while wearing the ring is regenerated.

 

[Elizabeth] Awww. I was looking at Gary and I was like 'oh!'

 

[Zac] Yeah, he had to have been wearing-

 

[Elizabeth] -and then I was like 'oh...no. Damn it.'

 

[James] Yeah, he had to have been wearing it. But, you have this ring, now. This super fucking dope ring

 

[Zac] That's badass

 

[Amanda] Yeah, it is

 

[Elizabeth] Super badass

 

[James] Badass as hell

 

[David] So good

 

[Amanda] Sounds like a frontline fighter item

 

[Elizabeth] Mhm

 

[Amanda laughs]

 

[Zac, as Bolka] Yes, I do not want to be selfish, but it matches my, uh, my- my color motif very close

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] It does indeed. It is a white gold. It has an emerald...

 

[Zac, as Bolka] The white gold with the green is beautiful. [describes] and then there's the robe.

 

[James] Then there's the robe

 

[Zac] I really want this check.

 

[Amanda] You should have done that one first

 

[Zac] Ah. No, I'm saving it for last to build up the hmm of it all.

 

[Amanda] Alright

 

[David] You got this!

 

[Zac] Alright. Cast guidance on myself. [die rolls] Oh, that's even better!

 

[Amanda] Nice!

 

[Zac] Sixteen plus eight: twenty-four!

 

[James] You just hit it.

 

[Amanda] Woo!

 

[Zac, David, and Elizabeth] Oh!

 

[Zac] Goddamn, that's a good

 

[James] It was a DC 24

 

[Zac] That means it's caster level nine?

 

[James] Caster level nine; you are correct.

 

[Elizabeth gasps]

 

[David] Oh, wow

 

[Elizabeth, whispering] What is it?

 

[James] Bolka

 

[Zac] Please tell me something

 

[Amanda laughs]

 

[James] This is-

 

[Amanda] I'm telling you nothing!

 

[David laughs]

 

[Elizabeth] Is it a witch robe? [whispers] Be a witch robe

 

[Zac laughs]

 

[James] This is a brand new Robe of Useful Items

 

[Zac] Oh, fun!

 

[James] With extra patches for: a bag of 100 gold pieces, three flasks of alchemist fire, a ladder, an open pit, a potion of cure serious wounds, a rowboat, a pair of war dogs, and a window.

 

[Elizabeth gasps]

 

[Amanda] Wow. Elizabeth knows the window thing, it looks like.

 

[Elizabeth] No, it's just so fucking exciting, guys! You can just be like-

 

[David] It's so cool, yeah

 

[Elizabeth] 'I would really like a window to be here' and you pull your patch off and you like woop, pull it to size and you slap it on the wall, and there's a window!

 

[Amanda] Wow

 

[James] So, in addition to all of those things, this robe has all of the standard things, which include two of each of these: dagger; bullseye lantern; mirror, which is highly polished two feet by four feet steel;-

 

[Amanda] Wow

 

[David] Mhm

 

[James] -uh, ten foot pole; hempen rope; and sack.

 

[Elizabeth] That's amazing.

 

[David] The robe appears, to those that see it, to be an unremarkable, normal robe. When you put it on, you notice all the functionality it has, but no one else can perceive that it has all this functionality.

 

[Elizabeth, whispering] So cool

 

[David] It's another one of the features of the robe, which is really neat.

 

[Zac] I'm glad we finally figured these last items out

 

[Amanda] Yeah!

 

[Zac] That's- That's really fun loot.

 

[David] That's a really neat one. I like that.

 

[Zac] 'War dogs'? What are war dogs?

 

[Amanda, laughing] Yeah, I was-

 

[David] Right?

 

[Amanda] Yeah, my eyebrows rose with that one

 

[Elizabeth] While Bolka is busy identifying stuff--and for quite some time afterwards, I'm sure--I would like to spend an hour trying to teach my Harrow deck how to cast the spell youthful aspect. [die rolls; Elizabeth continues] I did it. I passed the lowest possible DC. I would like to do my- draw my Harrowed card for the day, in case it's wisdom and it helps me learn more things from scrolls. The Tangled Briar: suit of shields; it's a constitution check. The Briar is growing berries, which will remind Vasilisa that it might be a good idea to make more magical berries, so she'll then finish preparing spells for the day, and I'm just going to prepare all sorts of goodberry castings and some climbing beanstalk castings, so we can stock up on fresh foods, magical and not-so-magical.

 

[Amanda] So, is Vasilisa gonna do a reading?

 

[Elizabeth] I would like to. I did prepare the spell Harrowing today. I could only prepare it once because I needed to remove a curse from my good friend Marge, but I would like to do Harrowing on one of us, whether it's me or Bolka.

 

[Amanda] I actually like this top card. Can we just say this is one of our cards? Because this is not horrifying. It's cute. It's a theater.

 

[Zac] Aw

 

[Amanda] It's like a pretend monster and a-

 

[Elizabeth] It's a neutral good card, too.

 

[Zac] Okay, that'll be- That'll be Marge's

 

[Elizabeth] All the world's a stage, and we're just players in it.

 

[Amanda] Right

 

[James] So, for the group reading that we're gonna do, how do you approach people, Vasilisa?

 

[Elizabeth] I- I imagine that we at some point have a meal together. We have some of the rabbit

 

[David] Breakfast?

 

[Elizabeth] the- yeah. Like, it's- it's finally solidly breakfast time--it's probably like mid maybe more like brunch time, like, 10 a.m. rolls around. I look around and we're- we're settling down to eat. We've put most of our treasure back away. And Vasilisa just looks around and thinks 'what helps me make big decisions? Oh, wait!'

 

[Zac chuckles]

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Everyone. Uh, while we have a moment to breathe today and we are resting and preparing, I would like to do a Harrow reading for us, much like we did back in Heldren, Valdeen and Marge.

 

[David, as Valdeen] Hm

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Oh, I remember

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] But with Bolka here with us, now. Last time, we were going to go into the Border Wood and did not know what we would face. This time, we are about to go on a new journey to Whitethrone and do not know what to face, necessarily. So, I would like to- I would like to consult the cards, if that is okay with all of you?

 

[Amanda, as Marge] Well, that- that sounds good to me. What do you guys think? [describes] and she looks at Valdeen and Bolka

 

[David, as Valdeen] Yeah. I've been- I've been hesitant about these cards and all this magic, but Vasilisa has proved herself to me as far as being on a- a force for good and trying to make things right. I- I trust her judgment, if she thinks we should do this.

 

[Zac, as Bolka] Yes, I am familiar with, uh, certain types of- of divination like this, like, uh, oracle spells and things like that. I- I see no harm in- It's only to learn. It's not like curse or anything, like we-

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] Indeed, yes.

 

[Zac, as Bolka] This is much more mild than what we have all already agreed to.

 

[David, as Valdeen] That's a fair point

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] True. Very true.

 

[Zac laughs]

 

[David, as Valdeen] Yeah

 

[Zac, as Bolka] In for one penny, in for several geldings or whatever, I do not know.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] In for a copper, in for a platinum.

 

[Zac] Yes. One PP.

 

[Amanda and Elizabeth laugh]

 

[Elizabeth] So, Vasilisa is going to take her Harrow deck and say [as Vasilisa] Alright. I think this reading is going to speak to our mutual goal of traveling to Whitethrone, but even more immediately traveling to Ellsprig [Ellsprin]. So, if you would focus upon that. This seems to be a question- I am torn because it is a very cold terrible dangerous place, so our constitutions--the shields--might come into play, but also we may need some element of charisma to talk our way into Whitethrone, to deceive people into allowing us into the city; I think that one feels most correct--the- the suit of crowns. What do you all-? I know you don't know the cards like I do, but do you think this is more- getting into Whitethrone feels more like a- a feat of the mind or a feat of the body?

 

[James, as Kapa] Crowns would make sense. We are going to the crown of the nation, after all.

 

[Elizabeth, as Vasilisa] This is very true. We are going to Whitethrone and we are dealing with Elvanna; the suit of crowns feels fitting.

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