Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

Sha looks up in the tree seeing Fitz he walks calmly up to assess the possibility of helping Fitz down.  “Stay calm friend, I’m coming up to help.”

The fire genasi opens her eyes and sits up to find the combat finished and that they are all still alive somehow. Their enemies weren't there and they definitely had not died so they had just gone away? She caughs a little and spits blood before speaking.

- What has...? Did they leave? - an affirmative nod from Hemlock gives her the answer - Gods, they're strong. You were right - she says, eyeing Eliza, and though Saoirse doesn't say it, she's glad the wizard has sided with them. 

She stands up with a little difficulty, and places a hand on Hemlock's forearm:

- Thank you for patching me up. I .. hells.. I hadn't fell this overpowered since I fought those knights that sent me to Coldwater. We've made tough enemies today. As if we hadn't enough already.

She then remembers Lam, that had been badly hurt too:

- Hey, how are you holding up? What a fine mess we are right now.

When Felix starts to step towards Lam, he gets into a fighting stance- but he stops and watches Felix give his final words before disappearing. His wide eyes follow each of his friends as they speak up, and he is silent, trying to convince his own racing heart that they aren’t in danger anymore. They’ve made some terrible enemies, but they’ve all survived.

He watches Eliza briefly, thankful that giving her spell-book back had turned out to be a good idea after all. He really hopes that they at least won’t have to fight her or Ali anymore- at the moment anyway, he can’t handle thinking about it. He watches Sha go to help Fitz- it just barely occurs to him how strange it is that the construct is in a tree, and he is thankful Sha has the presence of mind to deal with that right now. He watches Hemlock, sure that they’d all be lost now without his abilities, healing Saoirse and literally illuminating the choice Lam needed to make earlier. He finally looks to Saoirse and walks over when she starts speaking, so relieved to see life in her eyes. When Saoirse looks at Lam, she sees him shaken in a way he hasn’t been so far- the strongest fighter he knows was knocked out, and he had been powerless to help. He says, his voice faltering either from emotion or from roaring so much earlier, “You are ok.” He looks at her and says, “I am sorry.”

He looks at Hemlock, right by him and Saoirse, then at Eliza, over by Ali, and directs this next comment at both of them- “Thank you.” Then he looks at the ground. As adrenaline wears off and pain sets in, his breathing slows down but becomes more labored. He doesn’t seem inclined to say anything else right now.

After a bit of fumbling and help from Sha, who graciously took half of Fitzwhistle's weight on the way down while hiding his own exhaustion, the construct offers refuge.

"I can. Deactivate traps. In the tower. Will be. Good to. Open the doors.             To walk in. And. Back out.                You all should rest."

"Vince knows who you are. You'll never be safe. He'll get you. You shouldn't have saved me, sentimental fools. You shouldn't have saved me..." Eliza whimpers a little and leans against Ali, who does not visibly react, but bears the weight.

It seems likely that it would be safe to rest overnight in the tower. A journey back to village tree is also possible, though you would risk the shadowed woods, and arrive at a time when most are either in bed or on their way there. A raven has descended to the gnome corpse where it rests by a tree, and seems to be assessing whether the flesh is ready to tear into.

- No, Lam, you needn't be sorry. You did your best, they just happened to be stronger. They beat us all. But you know what? Next time we will be ready - as she says this, she looks at Eliza too - Next time she won't be tied to a tree. And we won't have spent a day journeying, and solving puzzles and fighting harpies. Next time we will be ready, and it will be them biting the dust. My teachers at the Order said I was stubborn. Well, they were right. I don't like loosing, and we won't loose next time. 

After saying this and hearing Fitz2 about deactivating the traps she adds:

- Yeah, let's call it a day. I'd like to return to the Tree as soon as possible, but I think it's best not to risk travelling by night. In any case, shouldn't we bury the body first? That raven there seems eager to feast on it.

If everyone is in agreement, Sha would like to commit Fitz’s body to the Goddess (using sacred flame).  Then rather than staying here make use of ‘night eyes’ and head for village tree.  Thats Sha’s recommendation.

"Is there. A way. For you to. Consecrate the body. To your. Goddess. And. Still. Bury it. Whole?" He asks Sha-Gravis. "I owe you. My second life.          All of you."

Eliza seems shocked by the expression of trust, blinking wide-eyed at Saoirse. "Thank you. I'll leave you all alone in the morning. I won't take anything this time, I swear it."

“I would be honored to do this for you.” Sha takes up a shovel and begins to dig.  While he does so he can’t help but think of Saffron mixed up in this racket and how close things were here and now, he digs deep and continues to work…

"It was nothing, I was happy to patch you up, as you say", Hemlock replies to Saoirse. "They were indeed strong, and Eliza is right, the smaller one appears to be a monster", he adds turning to Eliza.

"Be assured, that they were bad people and it was right to oppose them, but the fact you know too much was also a consideration. We couldn't let them take you and have you talk", he elaborates, but it is obvious he is conflicted and quite rattled after coming face to face with the trio. "That being said, if those people are after Saffron, I fear for her. We need to find a way to keep her out of their clutches".

When discussion turns to whether to stay or leave, he adds his own opinion.

"I am sorry Sha-Gravis, but I agree with Saoirse. I do not think now is a good time to take risks. Perhaps we could head out at first light though?".

Lam watches Saoirse as she speaks. Her words almost inspire him to want to have a rematch with the trio right now- if he wasn’t still shaken and very hurt, he’d be amped up to fight again. Instead, any movement he makes is slow and careful, but his eyes are filled with just a bit of life again. He watches Eliza and finally grunts, “Next time… we fight together.” He doesn’t know where he and his friends stand in Eliza’s estimation anymore, but he knows he’s gained a respect for her abilities and her willingness to break free from her past, and that he doesn’t want to fight her anymore if he doesn’t have to.

When the question of whether to rest in the tower or make for the tree comes up, Lam gives his opinion: “I am tired. I cannot help much before we rest.” He looks like the pain he’s in is hitting him more and more with each calm moment, and anyone who really looks at Lam can see that the repeated blows of the swordsman and Vince’s poisoned dagger took a toll on him, and that he’s resisting the urge to sit down right where he is. He would much prefer to rest here so that he can be useful when they travel.

Saoirse smiles and nods, and passes one of Lam's arms over her to help him move towards Sha, as the cleric digs a hole to bury Fitz's body.

When the hole is deep and the work is done, Sha comes up, he asks Fitz for any cloth with in the tower to wrap his former body.  As the preparations are completed and having had a chance to brush the dirt away, Sha asks everyone to gather.  "Life is eternal our bodies are not, it is normal that we continue from this life to the next, but in rare situations such as this which we have partaken in, it is possible to continue on the struggle is real and our place in this life can be demanding.  I am so happy to see Fitz given this opportunity to experience life no longer trapped with in this tower.  From this earthen vessel to this vessel of Fitz's design I now commit this body as a thank you to the Maiden.  It was her in this exchange that granted me grace to do not just what I did but to channel her divine spark.  Thank you my Goddess!  If anyone has any words at this time please perhaps Fitz do you have any eulogy at this time?"

Whilst Sha is preparing everything, Hemlock goes looking for some flowers that he can transplant to the site of the grave. He then stands and looks from the hole with the body in to the automaton that is now Fitz.

"May the body of Fitzwhistle Cobblepot be absorbed into the earth and help feed new growth", he says simply.

Once the burial is complete, he will plant the flowers he found on the mound, and make them blossom.

"We bury a life. One of. adventure. and hope. and dreams.                        But also one. of. lonliness. selfishness. and loss.               Make no. mistake.            Fitzwhistle Cobblepot. is dead. His life. culminated. in. two dacades. of suffering.                     But also. in the. greatest. engineering. and research. breakthrough. in a. generation.                    Do not mourn. his biological death.                I am Fitzwhistle Cobblepot. reborn. and I. will make. this second chance. at life. worthy. of. his. sacrifice.                    and worthy. of your help. in creating. me.                                  By my. invention. no life. needs to. truly. end. in death.                From now. and into. the future. We will. be able to. grasp a spirit. from death. and return. it. to true and. lasting. free. life. after the first. death.                   One day. none will. mourn."

Ali does not attend this small ceremony, and generally avoids looking at Fitz2. He helps to dig the grave, but when it is deep enough, he walks back inside the tower.

Eliza does stand among you, but her gaze is far far away, and she does not seem to pay attention to any of the ceremony. She shivers more than the cool dusk air calls for.

Everybody take a long rest - and certainly chat with each other or the NPCs as you like.

As they rest Hemlock can't help but bring up his worries about their future plans.

"We have been called back to the Tree, we need to go and figure out where Fitzwhistle lost his memory and we have to make sure Saffi doesn't fall into the hands of the Rogues' Guild folk", he summarises. "Are we still thinking we go back to the Tree first?".

- May the earth be kind to you, friend - are Saoirse's words as Sha finishes the ritual and the automaton Fitzwhistle finishes reciting his eulogy. Though she was about to say "Fitzwhistle Cobblepot" at the end of her sentence, she refrains from doing so, following the automaton's words. He is Fitwzwhistle, after all.

Still helping Lam, they return to the tower, and when they are all siting comfortably and finishing mending their wounds, she answers Hemlock.

- Hmmm. Saffron is in Coldwater, and for all the Thieves Guild strength, they would have to go through Captain Jonah and his people to reach her. So I believe she's safe for now. Imprisoned, but safe.

Scratching her forehead for a moment, she continues:

- Regarding Fitz's memories...well...shouldn't he be able to tell us everything now? I think that helping Village Tree should be our first priority. But we can judge that after Fitz tells us what he remembers now.

Some time later, the genasi approaches Eliza:

- That Vince is ... well, I have no words to describe him after witnessing what he did to you and Saffron. That brand... I can understand if you don't want to talk about it, but knowing that they will come after us it's best if we know about it. So, what's that brand? How did you manage to break free of it? Is everyone in service of the guild branded? Felix and Ignacio too?

Sha stays rather quiet even after his much needed rest, Fitz's words about cheating death with these mechanical bodies.  Sha knows in his heart that the Maiden was involved in the exchange of Fitz's soul but apparently Fitz believes otherwise... Sha cradles the harpy egg examining it closely wondering for a sign of life.  Saffron drifts into his mind also seeing the treatment of Eliza and hearing the statements regarding his ?friend, its unusual to think this but he feels more fond of Saffron than just a friend though the feeling may not be mutual.  Sha-Gravis waits to hear where their next destination may be.  The upcoming ceremony with the moon passing its dark phase may be a challenge if the group finds themselves dodging the thieves guild and keeping certain individuals safe.

"Geht es dir gut, mein Freund Lam?" in goblin.  Sha touches Lam's shoulder with a Vigilant Blessing.

Lam accepts Saoirse’s support gratefully and watches the ritual. He struggles with knowing what to say at such a strange funeral as this. He ultimately follows Saoirse’s words up with, “…Rest. Be free.” He hopes that this new Fitz can really appreciate the freedom that the old Fitzwhistle had wanted so badly.

Lam goes with Saoirse back into the tower, doing his best not to lean on her too much since she’s injured too, but grateful for the help. He does his best to tend to his wounds and help his friends with theirs, and then he finds somewhere to lie down near Hemlock and Saoirse as he listens to them discuss where to go next. After Saoirse says that the Village Tree should be their first priority, Lam sits up with an involuntary groan. He says, “Village Tree has problem with… HMC?” He looks to Saoirse for confirmation that he remembered what Tesfaye said correctly. “Maybe Saffron is there. That is two of three. Tree seems most important for now.”

He lies back down, wanting to be engaged in the conversation- but he doesn’t hear much else as his eyes drift closed and he begins to sleep right there. He misses any further conversation that night.

Throughout the night, he tosses and turns a bit, perhaps having an intense dream involving fiery glows, dimmed- and himself, weightless as a balloon and too weak to fight. His tossing and turning is still more subdued than most nights just because his body needs the rest so badly.

When he wakes up, he is still sore in the areas where he had been struck- but the edge is mostly gone from the pain. Aside from his rumbling stomach, he feels much more ready to take on the day. He turns to Sha when he is touched and says, “Mir ist jetzt besser. Danke, freund. Es ist… gut, dass alles OK sein. Deine Worte letzte Nacht war beredt. Wie geht’s deinem Ei?”

"That is optimistic Lam, that Saffi will be at the Tree, but it is possible. I think the leader of the Rogue's Guild said he was looking to deal with Strixwell for her, so he won't have to break her out", Hemlock replies to Lam and Saoirse a little unsure.

He then looks to Fitz, "So, do we still have need of your tool, or are you remembering everything?".

He is also interested in Eliza's answer to Saoirse if he overhears.

When you walk back into the top floor, Fitzwhistle walks into the room, turns and walks back out of the open door, then back into the room and out again. A repetitive, breathy noise comes from his mouth as he does so. Eliza stops him after a few repititions - "Hey are you already malfunctioning?" 

"No. Sorry. I suppose my. laughter. does not sound. quite natural.               But look!          I can. come and go. as I please!"      Fitz2 will let the door stand wide open overnight if you let him.

Ali finds an opportunity in the evening to pull Hemlock aside, looks pointedly at the sapphire embedded in the star map, and then waits expectantly for an explanation.

Eliza answers Saoirse slowly. She isn't trying to hide the truth anymore, but it is hard for her to talk about, and she's not used to open communication. "No, not everyone in the Rogue's Guild has the brand. Most members join as adults, of their own volition, and they aren't branded. It's just us... the ones who Vince finds while we're kids living on the street. He offers 'protection' and training, and it's hard training but it's real, and... and you don't realize that he owns you until you're a teenager and you owe him everything you have and he has power over everyone you care about. When he branded me, I was only 10, and he told me it meant that he would always be able to find me if something happened to me, that he was looking out for me. Saffron got hers even earlier, but she was also being sent out on missions and cons from when she was 8 years old. Often, when she found books or scrolls, she'd bring them back to me so I could build up my spellbook with things Vince didn't know I could do. A few months ago, she found an old book that described this sigil. She taps her fingers on the tattoo around the brand. It blocks divination magic going in and out. It's meant to be carved into a floor or something to prevent spying, but we thought it might work on the brand, too. Vince can see on any map, where all of his branded people are. So we couldn't try it out until we were ready to run away. I did hers, she did mine, and I spoke the words of power...

I went to ready our safehouse and getaway, she went to get one big score so that we would have enough to get by on without the guild... but then she never came.  I saw her picture in the newspaper, and found out that she had been sent up here. So I came. And then Clark... he came too. He wanted to be help me, and help Saffron. I... he hadn't been part of our escape plan. He's not sneaky enough. I didn't have time to tattoo him, I didn't have the tools. He just wanted to... and then you killed him, and Vince still found us. She looks at Saoirse, rage and anger competing with grief to take hold of her face. After a few moments, she just puts her head between her knees and hides from the world, suddenly looking very young, and very small. "I don't know whether Felix and Ignacío are branded. They've been with him longer than any of us."

Sha can hear a humming from within the egg, the same tune that he has hummed to it himself, overladen with a vague, unearhtly beauty. He feels a very strong urge to protect the soon-to-hatchling, and it is hard to say whether that urge comes fully from himself.

Fitzwhistle's mind whirrs audibly as he tries to answer Hemlock's question. "I find it. very difficult. to understand memories. of the expedition. that ended. in my. mental. imprisonment.       I have spent. So many years. forced to deny. the memories. that. they became. jumbled. and mixed. with fantasy. and fabricated. lies.                The corruption. of those memories. has not. been purged in. the transfer.               I cannot. confidently. relate. the story. of the. expedition.                However: I do remember. The *******. who did that. to me.                   He appeared to be. a halfling.       Very young face.           He had many. servants. and. Was surprised. I found him.               He did not. curse. me in. anger. or with. any magic. I could see. He simply. told me. to go back. to my workshop, lock. the doors, not talk. to anyone. outside, and. stay there. till I rot.                  Then he said. 'you will. remember. nothing. of how. you. came. to find. me.'                    I did. not realize. at first. that it was. an order. that. I would. follow.                             He wore. a simple. crown, but. he said. that the crown. did not. exist. Then I. could not. see it. anymore.                                            Your best. bet. is. to follow. in my. footsteps.            I know. that I visited. Weretown. and the. Grave Fort.                 Weretown. is nice, the other. is not.                               I also. believe. that I. met someone. deep in the. greatwood, but that. memory. still feels. like a dream. If real, the person. there. is beautiful. and cursed. much the same. way that. I was.                     I would. like to. try to. free her. if she. is real.                       And another thing. which I am. almost certain. I remember. correctly: to cross. the bridges. you must say. the passphrase: 'Jeremy was here.'"

A friendly, but slightly worried voice appears in Saoirse's ears: "Hey friends! You OK? I hoped you would make it back here last night. Some kids are going to fight the HMC. Couldn't stop them."