Episode 8: The Barren

"'Sylnan, Br'aad, and Mountain regroup with Velrisa and Taxi in Vexen. Mountain makes a new friend, Velrisa's uncle asks for the Fated's help.'"

Episode Events
Br'aad, Sylnan, and Mountain continue to travel in the stranger's wagon, finally reaching Vexen. The group approaches the front gate, debating upon cutting in the checkpoint line, but decide against it. They inform the checkpoint guard that they are here to meet with friends, and are told they are allowed to stay twenty days within the city. Chirp remained outside of the city, sitting in the nearby woods and interacting with the wildlife.

The group enter into the first sanction of Vexxen, noticing the state of this sanction to be comparable to the Great King's Wharf, though it is not nearly as bad of living conditions. They traverse through, noticing boarded up windows and guards investigating alleys, eventually approching the gate to the second sanction. The group run into Taxi, Velrisa, and Ander, who are all walking out of the checkpoint.

Excitedly reunited as a party once more, Taxi asks Mountain, Sylnan, and Br'aad how their heist went. Ander introduces himself to the remaining party members, who had heard stories about them from Velrisa. Mountain, noticing Ander's arm, asks about it. Ander explains that he was attacked on his travels, but a dwarf kindly made him the arm and patched him up after the fight. Sylnan has Ander look at his left arm, which Ander identifies as possession, and explains that the infernal creature possessing him is not actually in his arm, but is simply an echo of the creature. He continues to explain that the creature would reside in its own plane of existence. Ander invites the party to sit and drink with him at the local inn.

As the party walk to the inn, Taxi and Br'aad whisper to eachother about the occurences of the heist. Br'aad explains that, while they succeeded, they were discovered by Thardo and would most likely be wanted across the land. Br'aad asks about Taxi's travels, who tells him it went smoothly.

As the party, accompanied by Ander, walk to the second checkpoint, the guards allow them all passage through without question. Ander leads them over to an inn build near the cathedral. Entering in, it is peaceful and quiet as initates, monks, and various religious travelers all sit and enjoy food and drink. Taxi approaches the barkeep, asking for a nice alcohol. He recieves a bottle for free due to his association with Ander, which he presents to Mountain as a gesture of happiness for his safety. Ander leads them to a meeting room in the back of the inn. Br'aad draws himself fairly decently on the bamboo parchment on the wall in the meeting room before sitting down with the rest of the group.

Ander explains that he has come from Afterforge island to investigate the Barren. He suspects that there is a source causing and controlling the corruption and the undead within it. Ander informs the party that necromantic energy is causing death to the nature and animals in the Barren, and that he wants their assistance in addressing this growing concern. When the party hesitate, knowing there is no monitary reward, Ander insists that if they do not stop the Barren soon, all of Ingris would one day be overtaken by this Barren, causing a mass anihilation of wildlife and humans alike. Mountain is not convinced, knowing that the party is wanted in many places by many people, and demands more of a reasoning. Mountain's demands remind Br'aad of his promise to Atticus to find the survivor in Gayewick, which is one of the towns located in the expanding Barren. Taxi argues that nature was where he was birthed, and if he allows nature to die, he is not doing his job as a druid, and agrees to join Ander. Sylnan compromises with Ander, that if he assists Ander, Ander must assist him with the possession. Ander agrees to this, an Br'aad also agrees to join if Sylnan is joining. Mountain agrees to join on the grounds that he gets to kill things.

Br'aad asks Velrisa about the ring he gave her before she left, and asked if anything happened with the ring. Velrisa says that nothing did, so he takes back the ring. Taxi, confused, tries to understand, but is unable.

The party asks Ander for more information on the Barren, and learn from him that the Barren seems to be originating from broken down ruins in a forest in Viecta. The ruins aren't marked on any maps, and there is no knowledge on them.

Br'aad asks Ander about a location to sell the items that he obtained from the heist. Disgusted by Br'aad pulling a sword out of liveclock, he informs Br'aad to sell the items to a collector. Mountain, impressed by Liveclock, asks if he can put Taxi inside of Liveclock. When Br'aad refuses, he attempts to pick up Hilltree to try with him, but Hilltree runs away. Br'aad attempts to fistbump Ander, who does not understand, breaking Br'aad's arm. Mountain asks Ander about where to get a dog, who points him towards a breeder. The party agrees to give a day for restocking and selling items, and set out into the town together.

The party travel down back into the first sanction, making their way to a tavern called The Whimpering Weasel. Unlike the second sanction's inn, this tavern is much rowdier and alive inside. Br'aad tells Mountain not to kill anyone, and they enter in. The bartender, making drinks with immense talent and hand coordination, noticebly looks similar to a weasel. Velrisa and Br'aad head over to a performance, while Mountain and Sylnan go to the bar. Mountain orders strong drinks for himself, while Sylnan asks for information. The barkeep tells him information is not free, making Sylnan pay him three gold to learn about a group called Chaos's Light who buy stolen goods. He offers to meet Sylnan after the bar closes to lead him to the location of this group. They also learn from the barkeep of a mastiff breeder near the castle grounds.

Taxi is sitting, scanning the room for anything suspicious. He sees shady indivduals, but none are causing trouble. The chaos of the tavern seems controlled and natural for this tavern. Taxi sparks conversation with the party, asking if from that point on they'd be doing things together as one, or if they'd need a reason to travel together. They all agree to stick together, and think that doing something good is most likely the best move for the party. Mountain assures Taxi that, regardless of if Mountain acts like he wants to kill him, he is Taxi's friend. The party decide to not discuss the events of Shaygrove, to Velrisa's confusion.

Sylnan, Mountain, Br'aad, and Taxi meet with the barkeep afterhours. He leads them down a street, to a hatchdoor on an abandon building. The barkeep returns to the tavern as the group decends the staircase into a hallway. They walk down into a large empty room when they are met with a voice. As Sylnan explains they are there to sell goods, the voice demands they place the items onto the floor. Obtaining the items from inside Liveclock, Br'aad awkwardly places them onto the ground in front of the group. A small raven flys down, landing next to the items, inspecting them. After a few moments, footsteps approach, and the raven flys onto someones arm.

The figure, a black haired elf, demands to know where they obtained such items. Sylnan tells the figure that they were stolen from a playhouse in Shaygrove, which the figure seems pleased with. He offers 345 gold, and Sylnan tries to barter him up to 450 gold. Grinning, the man says he can only offer 382 gold at a maximum. Mountain gets angry at this response, causing the man to jab at Mountain, but Sylnan accepts the offer anyways. The raven flys over three coin bags, which Sylnan picks up and proceeds walking out with Taxi and Br'aad. Mountain tells the man he isn't worth his time, to which the man reveals a small boy. The boy lays a parchment onto the floor, activating a spell and causing a large purple etherial monster to begin climbing from the paper. Taxi, Sylnan, and Br'aad begin dragging Mountain out. As they exit the hatch, the boy is standing outside, staring at the group. The boy begins to cast a large purple arm out of the wall once more as Mountain and Taxi argue, causing the group to run back to the tavern for the night.

Morning approaches, and the party travels to the section sanction checkpoint. When they mention Ander, they are permitted through, and the guard points them to the mastiff breeder. They step through the checkpoint, heading to the breeder. Mountain knocks on the door, the door opening to a Tabaxi. The Tabaxi says he is not supposed to sell mastiffs to non lisenced individuals, but Mountain suggests they work something out. The Tabaxi ushers Mountain inside, closing the door behind him and puts a bar across it.

Inside, the Tabaxi asks why Mountain really wants a mastiff. When Mountain explains that he wants a companion, the Tabaxi tells Mountain that he rescued an abused mastiff who has a scar over his left eye, same as Mountain. Mountain falls in love with the dog, which is not yet named. The breeder gives Mountain the dog for free after noticing his fondness for the mastiff, and gifts him a collar and leash as well. Mountain leads the dog out to the party, and introduces the dog as Jak. Taxi gets down to Jak's level, and casts Speak With Animals. Taxi tells Jak that he is named, and that the party is Jak's new friends and family. Jak rubs up to Mountain as the spell dispells.

The party head over to the shops to buy supplies and potions. Afterwards, they head back to the catherdral in search of Ander. They find Ander in the gardens giving advice to students casting various spells on the plantlife. Ander goes to grab his sword and shield, and the party begins to head out. Ander leads them to the back of the garden, where Oriana and Olgaurt are standing.