Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

Hemlock meets Ali's gaze, "You have earned an explanation by fighting alongside us, but there is only so much I can tell you beyond that which I already have. Perhaps I could show you something that might help".

With that he wanders around the room looking for a piece of paper and something to write with. Assuming he finds it he goes back to Ali and draws on the paper, then briefly shows it to the lizardfolk before burning it.

 "Perhaps that might be familiar to you", he enquires.

"I do not know the significance of this symbol, though I have seen it once before. An organization? If so, then my family's patron was also a member. Tell me if that much is true? Or where can I seek the counsel of the sapphire dragon?"

"The symbol is for a guild, and if your patron was a member that bodes well. Are you able to reach out to your patron to learn more about it? For my part, I cannot reveal the location or identify of the dragon to anyone, but I will mention you to them next time I am able", Hemlock replies.

"She no longer lives. I serve her memory." He nods at Hemlock's promise, accepting it as enough for now.

"My condolences, was your patron also a dragon? Perhaps I can pass on her name as well?", Hemlock suggests.

 Hemlock listens carefully to Fitz explaining what he remembers. "So this halfling wears the crown, and that is the power behind what happened to you? Do you have any means of showing us what this halfling looked like? And what the crown looked like? If you remember it being simple, does that sound like the original crown? I am not really familiar with what it looked like". The last question is asked to everyone, but his eyes land on Saoirse.

(OOC: Apologies for having multiple conversations in one post, but I think these happened at different points in time during the long rest)

Saoirse listens to Fitz, trying to make sense of what he's rememberd and find any kind of lead. But though she takes mental note of everything, she doesn't seem to be able to connect it with everything they've gathered so far. She does ask him one question though:

- Fitz, do you remember meeting Tux Strixwell? In his journal he mentioned that your condition was caused by the Crown of Divine Right, which I imagine was the crown that halfiling wore. In his journal he also metioned that the Archdruid Rhys had also met the crown bearer, though he didn't remember. So he must have been subjected to a spell similar as yours. Regarding the Grave Fort, can you tell us what we can expect to find? Tux mentioned that place was horrible, too.

When the genasi hears Eliza's story, she's brought back to the conversation she and Saffron had in their hammocks in Village Tree. And once again, she remembers how different their childhood were. Saoirse's, loved and protected, while Eliza's and Saffi's had been totally opposite. She exhales before answering.

- Saffron scowled at me when I told her I was sorry for what she had gone through. And I know it won't help you, nor bring Clark back. But that doesn't dimish the fact that I mean it. And that we will bring Vince down. Somehow. Someday. 

She realizes that Eliza doesn't know what happened to Saffi the night she went to get that big score. 

- Saffron took a contract to murder Tux Strixwell. But she was cheated somehow, Tux got killed by someone else and the guilt was placed on her. Then she ended up in Coldwater, were we all met. We escaped together and ended up in Village Tree, but then she went her own way, even though we tried to make her see that she would be better of with us. No use trying to persuade that one - Saoirse shrugs. 

Upong receiving Tesfaye's message she answers back:

"Met trouble. Almost didn't make it. Experiment worked! How bad things there? Might need to help Saffron out of Coldwater first. Is she with HMC?"

She then tells everyone:

- I'm worried. Tesfaye expected us last night and says some kids have gone fight the HMC. I'm not sure this can wait....

Ali bin Ansar takes Hemlock's condolences in stoic stride. A slight nod indicates that he appreciates the gesture. "The Ansar family served the drakewood and its patron, the dragon Rayan of glittering gold. Together, we protected eggs of great wyrms, one egg every few generations of my family. All of that is ended."

All stories of the True King include him wearing a simple crown of silver or iron, unadorned by gemstones or the like. This does match Fitz's brief description of the one he saw. He does his best to answer all of your questions:

"When I try to remember. the one who. wore the crown, sometimes I see. a towering monster. of light.                            Sometimes I see just. a blur.                       The face. that seems the most real. also seems impossible.                      A halfling boy, not more than. twenty years. of age. except for his. eyes, fair skin, light brown hair. some pimples, though not. excessive.               A face that. one would not. pay special attention. to, except for the. eyes.             Those eyes were. cruel and callous. and saw me. as nothing. more. than a. worm.                       I cannot. say which. of these. is the true. face."

Fitz's focus on his confusing memories is clearly working his artificial brain quite hard. If he were still organic, he might get the sort of headache that you get from working on really challenging math problems, or trying to learn a counterintuitive fact of physics. As is, he does not experience pain. But he does stop for a minute and breathe very deeply. Warm air vents out of the indents on the sides of his head that serve as ears. He continues: "Sorry. this is difficult. I have not processed. all of my memories.               Let me go on.                Tux. believed that. Rhys. had also seen. the crown?              That would. surprise me.          Rhys. seems free and. fully in control. of himself.            I'm sure. Tux. had his reasons, it is. worth investigating.                 But if Rhys is. under the crown's. control, you should be. careful with. trusting him.                       The crown. of divine right. is almost certainly. what I saw.               That I can. still feel an urge. to say that the crown. of divine right. does not exist. almost proves. the theory.                    The Grave Fort. is under. a constant. fog, and populated. by an. undead army.                  The necromancer. who cursed them all. to that fate. is still in. the fort, and still. a prisoner to. the crown of divine right.                     I warned you. that some. of my memories. of this time. don't make sense. to me.                 I think. I remember. the necromancer. being a nice guy.             But I also. think I remember. him trying to. kill me.        I'm not sure which. is true.                      He may. be working. on a. way to escape. the crown's influence. less intense. than the option. I discovered."

Eliza keeps her head tucked between her knees and does not respond to Saoirse's condolences, except for a slight lurch of the shoulders, a stifled cry. When Saoirse tells more of what happened to Saffron though, Eliza seems to open up a little. She almost laughs at the last, and agrees. "No, you can't talk her into anything she doesn't want to. We have that in common."

Hemlock waves Saoirse, Lam and Sha-Gravis over to speak privately.

"I am thinking this is all information we should feed back to you know who. What do you all think?", he asks tapping the sapphire gem.

"I fully agree with you Hemlock we have many paths and a lot of new information, perhaps they can set forces into motion which will help us prioritize our choices.  I can't stop thinking about those younglings getting into a fight with the HMC, I hope we can get where we need to in time to help."  Sha-gravis seems very on edge.  Is there a basket and blanket around that could be used to transport the harpy egg securely.  Investigation 1

- Yes, Hemlock, go ahead and inform her - Saoirse says, with an affirmative nod. And then turns to Sha - I'm worried about that, too. I think we need to go to the Tree as soon as we are ready to depart and then figure out how to free Saffi. What do you say?

When Saoirse and Hemlock call everyone over to share their news, Lam listens with concern. He nods when Hemlock suggests telling Hamza what he had learned in his conversation with Fitz. When the others express their concerns about the teenagers going to fight the HMC, Lam seems unable to stay fully still. He says, “I am ready. We should go to Tree quickly.”

“It seems like we have a plan, to the Tree first!”, Hemlock agrees.

Saoirse contacts Tesfaye again: "Heading for Village Tree briefly. Where did kids go? Should we go there first? How much HMC personnel should we expect? See you soon, friend"

Hemlock stays out the way as for the first time he attempts to communicate with Hamza, concentrating on the gem and trying to activate it.

"I am not sure how this works. Hamza, are you there?", he says in his mind.

"Best to come here first. Kids headed to southern bridge. They're calling it "active resistance." Destroying equipment but not people. Doubt HMC will see difference."

Hemlock feels a bridge open suddenly in his mind to a vastly powerful creature, ages old; and realizes that Hamza has centuries of experience with telepathy and they are using his magic to communicate. "HELLO, STARGAZER. YOU ARE QUICK TO REACH OUT TO ME. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?" Either open your mind up and allow Hamza free access, or if you want to balance the scales a little, make a wisdom saving throw. 

The walk to Village Tree is peaceful and calm. The air is cool, and the world is damp from dew and a light rain in the hours before sunrise. A light fog has descended into the valley. Not enough to obscure vision, just enough to tint the world in grey. Eliza, Ali, and Fitz2 join you. Ali makes occasional, disapproving looks both at Fitzwhistle's new form and at the egg Sha-Gravis is carefully carrying in a blanket-wrapped sling. Eliza mostly looks at her feet or far off into the distance, and avoids eye-contact. Eliza and Ali walk in silence, Fitzwhistle keeps talking in his strange monotone, mostly making observations about his new body's senses, and how it affects his experiences of walking through the woods. Some of whatvhe says is indecipherable technical jargon, and none of it really mutters. As you get close to the tree, Ali says "Too many people. I will rest and take watch here on the ground, and find you when you descend."

Hemlock winces at the sheer power of the consciousness connected to his mind, and tries to push back to retain some semblance of self.

"We found the artificer who was under the influence of the Crown of Divine Right and could not leave his tower. He has transferred his mind into an automaton, and has now relayed that he came across someone wearing the crown. His memory is clouded, and it could be a monster or a simple halfling he saw, but the evil emanating from it was clear. This may have happened at the Grave Fort, where there is an undead army controlled by a necromancer who is also under the influence of the crown. It is also possible that the leader of Village Tree has been in contact with the crown. Lastly, we have come across one called Ali bin Ansar, formerly aligned to Rayan of glittering gold. They wish knwoledge of you having seen the gem you gifted. They recognise the Chainbreakers sigil as one their former patron was aligned with, but do not know its meaning. Do you have any insight or advice?".

Wisdom Save: 10+6=16

Hemlock can feel Hamza's suppressed amusement as he tries to hold onto some control of the telepathic link - there is no doubt the Dragon can read all your thoughts and memories. Although... the fact that you can feel her emotions means that there is some back-and-forth, and that you are more able to attune yourself to this than expected. You also feel Hamza realizing this, and approving of your skill. Her memories, and the thoughts she does not wish to communicate with you, remain shrouded to you; but you can feel her emotional reaction as she hears your thoughts and peruses your memory. Hamza does not approve of Fitzwhistle's cheating death, but admires the innovation and the determination of the artificer, and is glad that he is now free. Details of the crown-bearer are met with hungry curiosity, and immediately followed by careful analysis - though your description matches no-one that Hamza knows of. The dragon is shockingly unsurprised by your insinuation that Rhys might be exposed. Neither is she surprised that the Grave Fort is linked to the crown - though she seems to doubt that the crown-bearer themself is still there. As for the story of Ali bin Ansar, Hamza is surprised, and you feel relief mixed with grief.

"YOU DO WELL, STARGAZER, AND YOU HONOUR ME. YOU AND YOUR COMPANIONS ARE BRAVE AND TRUE. THE ARTIFICER'S GOALS MAY NOT NECESSARILY LINE UP WITH OUR OWN. I FEAR HE MAY SELL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CROWN FOR SAFETY, AND HE WILL CERTAINLY TELL THE SOCIETY OF BRILLIANCE OF ITS LOCATION AS SOON AS HE IS ABLE, IF I KNOW THEM RIGHTLY. I HAVE HAD SOME DEALINGS WITH THE SOCIETY, AND THEY ARE WELL-INTENTIONED BUT I WOULD NOT TRUST THEM WITH THIS. KEEP FITZWHISTLE CLOSE AT HAND OR SEND HIM TO ME. IF HE ATTEMPTS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CROWN, OR TO ESCAPE TO THE SOCIETY, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE BETTER TO END HIS NEW LIFE THAN TO RISK THAT. YOU MUST, HOWEVER, TRUST YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT. ELIZA AND SAFFRON  WILL, I BELIEVE, HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN ALL THIS. I CAN NOT PREDICT EXACTLY WHAT. DO NOT LET YOUR QUEST TO AID SAFFRON DISTRACT FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL. PERHAPS ELIZA CAN RECOVER PSYCHOLOGICALLY AMONG THE PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE TREE FOR A TIME? SHE IS IN NO FIT STATE AT THE MOMENT FOR ME TO PIN THE WORLD'S HOPES ON HER.

AS FOR ALI BIN ANSAR, SEND HIM TO ME AT ONCE. IT WAS A TERRIBLE LOSS, TO HEAR OF RAYANS DEATH, THOUGH WE DID NOT ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE. A GREAT JOY, TO HEAR THAT ONE OF THE ANSAR FAMILY SURVIVES TO CARRY THEIR LEGACY. I WISH TO SPEAK WITH HIM.

IT SEEMS THAT YOUR JOURNEY MUST LEAD YOU TO THE GRAVE FORT, TO LEARN WHAT THE NECROMANCER KNOWS.  IT WILL BE DANGEROUS, BUT IT HAS BEEN STAGNANT FOR A CENTURY. YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO PREPARE. I CAN FEEL YOUR DESIRE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF VILLAGE TREE, AND THAT MAY BE THE RIGHT THING FOR NOW. HOWEVER, PRESSURE ON THE LOCALS WILL ONLY WORSEN UNTIL THE THREAT OF THE CROWN IS DEALT WITH, AND STRIXWELL SEES NO MORE NEED TO INVADE THIS VALLEY."

Hemlock tries to maintain some part of his mind as private, but when Hamza speaks in his mind of things he hadn't said he knows he hasn't been successful. He takes some small measure of satisfaction that he can read the dragons emotions though.

"You are wise and we will heed your counsel, although I am not sure we can control this new Fitzwhistle, nor am I comfortable with ending their new life. We will need to think on this", he replies. "If Rhys has been exposed, is Village Tree safe for any of us?".

Hamza enjoys your satisfaction at reading her emotions - much the way a chess grandmaster enjoys watching a novice player making a surprisingly good move as they learn the game.

"FROM WHAT I KNOW OF THE CROWN, AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OF IT, RHYS IS THE MAN HE APPEARS TO BE, EVEN IF HE HAS ORDERS HE CAN NOT DISOBEY. ORDERS WOULD NOT MAKE A NEW PERSON OUT OF NOTHING, AND THERE IS NO WAY I KNOW OF FOR A HUMANOID TO OTHERWISE MIMIC AN ARCHDRUID'S POWER IN THE WAYS YOU HAVE SEEN. WHAT ORDERS MAY LIE BURIED IN HIS MIND IS OF DEEP CONCERN, BUT I WOULD NOT DOUBT HIS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE HE CLAIMS TO SERVE. I ADVISE THAT YOU ARE CAREFUL WITH WHAT KNOWLEDGE YOU SHARE WITH HIM, AND EVEN MORE CAREFUL AS YOU ATTEMPT TO LEARN WHAT THE CROWN-BEARER MAY HAVE DEMANDED OF HIM."

"Noted. May the stars guide you", Hemlock replies to Hamza happy that their communion has completed.

Whilst they are walking towards Village Tree, he calls Lam, Sha-Gravis and Saoirse over to discuss his conversation with Hamza in private, being careful to ensure the others are not able to over hear.

"That was an interesting experience. I was hoping to control the information I shared but it seems my mind is an open book. I will have to try and control it more next time. They are wary of Fitzwhistle, expecting that he will want to go back and detail his accomplishments to the Society of Brilliance. That account would likely include the reason he did what he did, which is information that we really don't want to become public knowledge. They had some notions on the subject that I found extreme, so to avoid that we need to keep him close at hand. Although I didn't mention Eliza and Saffi, they knew about them. They think Eliza is too fragile to accompany us and might benefit from a a stay at Village Tree. Where Saffi is concerned they advise against becoming distracted by thoughts of rescue. Although they do admit that both Eliza and Saffi likely have a part to play. With regards Ali, they want to meet as soon as possible. I will let him know when we get to Village Tree safely. As for our current goal, they think we have time to help the people of Village Tree, but seeking out the Necromancer has to be our main focus soon, because until the crown is dealt with Strixwell will not leave the valley alone. They warn it will be dangerous but we need to know what the necromancer knows to achieve that aim. Lastly, they are not surprised Rhys might have come into contact with the crown, and urge caution in dealings with him. He likely has some order given by the owner of the crown that he may not even know about, but other than that he is himself and so likely has the best interests of the Village Tree in mind. Finding out those orders will be difficult and must be done carefully if we do approach it".

When they reach the Tree and Ali expresses his desire to wait for them outside, Hemlock calls him to one side.

"I have communed with our...ally, and told them about you. They know of your patron and of your family line and are keen to meet with you at once. They were pleased to know you had survived". He goes on to detail where Ali should go, but offering no more information about who he is to meet, beyond the fact that he will be met by kobolds and to ask for one named Hássan.