08/18/2024 -- Operation Kava Catch

Date: 28 Knewidi AR. Starring Andreas (commander), Thomas (marshall), Storm (quartermaster), Grimalkin (spymaster), Angel (lorekeeper), and Seth.
We pick up 7 days after the arrest – everyone has been released from their confinement. Andreas, Angel, Seth, and Thomas go to see Magion for their next mission. He’s already with Storm, flipping through documents. He tells us he’s been able to determine via some discussion with Lavatera that there’s a patch of herbs southwest that contains a rare type of kava herb bespeckled with white spots. Acquisition of it is required in order to finish the construction of the potion that will aid our Maiden.
He gives us a map, and tells us that all of us have a clean bill of health, and are not under Radovan Raze’s influence. He tells us if we have any grievances to air, do it now – the Brigade cannot be weakened at this moment. No one airs any grievances, but Angel’s concerned the potion will hurt more than help the Maiden, based on what Lavatera told them; Magion doesn’t want to hold off on action. He instructs us to get the herb, and if anyone still has reservations about the potion, we can talk about it then.
We assign rolls. The commander rolls for the random event, and gets a 7. Nothing bad happens. A couple people add Sharp III to their weapons. Storm stays with Magion as everyone else departs, and Magion tells him to make sure the mission goes well.
- “These woods are… strange. Deep magic twisting around them. You are a trained member of the Ard Magos and can parse through these situations. Others here are not. Keep a wary and discerning eye, and if things turn towards the worst, get the herb, make sure everyone returns in one piece. At the moment, we are in a strong position. We do not need to make a quick getaway. Make sure we stay hidden. I’m putting my trust in you.”
Magion tells Storm to prepare and meet with the party – he must go speak with Lavatera.
Andreas is startled by Grimalkin lurking around his feet. Grimalkin says Andreas’s scent reminds him of home, and asks if he can stick with Andreas today. Andreas agrees.
Antoinette is placed on propaganda, and spreads the word that we’re going to get some herbs and cure the Maiden. People get very, very excited. Mark gets +3 intel, and Bortis gets +2 supplies. The quartermaster finishes the blood-testing equipment (+1 morale). We spend -1 grey oil, and -1 scrap to create a box for the herbs.
The commander spends -1 intel to ask about the danger level, and is told 7. We are told the two approaches we can take are stealthy or loud. As we set out, we find out the emerald we’re taking is cracked… and we all get +2d6 on our rolls, thanks to Marcus.
The marshall rolls 2 6’s on the engagement roll. We move southwest, and eventually off to the side of the trail to try and patch up the emerald. Thomas spies a small farm with fields full of flowering crops and other plants. They have a well here, and a few pigs in a pen. Moving amongst the fields is a man harvesting corn, wearing a crown on his head.
We head over to speak with him, and he very loudly asks us who we are. Andreas tries to introduce himself, and the man introduces himself as Journeyman, and says he’s journeyed far and wide, near and far, here and there. He’s very pleased when Andreas says we’re on a journey ourselves, and tells us to have some corn. He throws some at us. He asks where we’re all from, and says not many journey out to the Omenweald.
When Angel speaks up, he tells them their eyes are ugly, and that there are contacts out there.
We tell him we’re looking for the kava plant and he says it’s near the willows… maybe not, though. He asks why we’re looking for it. He blinks one eye, then the other, and says all the others think he’s crazy, but there’s a shadow government that runs the world, and creatures beyond the stars are coming to get us. The rings are round.
Andreas says he does believe there’s a shadow government, and Journeyman says he loves him. He says to call him Journey – that’s what all his friends would call him, if he had them. He tells us corn is the best way to ward off against moose attacks. He sometimes sees bears in the corn, but that’s why he has his firebombs. He’s set many bears on fire with his firebombs. He stole them off a dead body. He says the guy was trying to use it to kill him, but he killed the guy with this ax (he shows us a hatchet here), by throwing it into his stomach.
Journeyman tells us the willows are what we’re looking for, there are many herbs growing there. The locals say it burned in a fire, and now there’s been lots of fighting over there. The Omen and the invaders are fighting – the Omen is an ancient power here within the weald, and legend says they’re the one who respun the dimension for the Omen Cycles. It’s the hangman omen right now, and he’s gonna kill you (here, he points at Storm). Storm says he knows, and Journeyman tells him not to let the shadow government know how smart he is.
He says the invaders are in the willows, extracting resources out of the area. There’s a path he can take us along where we won’t be seen, else they’ll jump us, and take our legs, or worse, our pinky toes. He asks to eat corn together (we agree), and Seth pinky promises to try and move his house so that he can come with the Brigade. He tells us that anything he owns, we can use for our journey, and we get +2 supply. Seth’s name is taken to be Seth-man, and Journeyman Joe enjoys this.
Andreas says he likes this guy, and Angel complains that he called them ugly. Andreas reassures them that they’re not ugly.
We walk for five minutes, and hear the sounds of creatures and the chopping of wood. We see sunken valleys, hills and the like. Journeyman says he sometimes came down to the river to bathe, but he stopped doing that a few years ago – it was a waste of water, they’re in a drought. He says he’s environmentally conscious, and tells us to look, as he punches through a tree and pulls out a panicked squirrel.
- “I am conscious of the environment. Seth-man, do you want this as a snack?”
- “Sure, man!”
Seth transforms and eats the squirrel. Journeyman tells him he’ll be a great ally in destroying the bears in the area. He takes us to a bush, and tells us it’s the bush of seeing. We all hide in it together, and see rolling fields, with a small creek that runs through. There are large, metallic creatures pulling up herbs and putting them in large drums. Flames burn within the creatures. Angel somehow recognizes them as Ruvor. Behind them, we see Slaad collecting more herbs. They’re being directed by someone.
We make mental checks to identify the person… we see the Slaad carry certain symbology, and the wagon has similar runic carvings and symbols. Angel and Storm look to Andreas, and see a bit of resemblance with the woman. We look upon the Roving Hex, Yvonne.
They’re picking all the herbs, but Yvonne is taking special interest in some violet ones – some type of fungal connection along the roots of the tree, and they’re inspecting them almost pickily. Angel tries to recall information from the book in the greenhouse, and thinks they were probably in the book; some tumors in the rings store magical energy, as well as water, and these particular ones might store a specific blend so that they can survive. Given the omens and the strange magic, perhaps the particular type it’s storing is of value to the Impure.
Grimalkin wants to go see its mom – Andreas says that right now, their mom isn’t in good health, and reminds Grimalkin that it promised to stay by his side. Grimalkin makes a spirit save, and barely manages to hold on.
Storm is sent to set off a whistler, with the others planning to dart out and get the kava when they’re distracted. He throws it in one direction and books it in the other, and Yvonne turns in that direction. On the wind, Seth hears what she says, and as she speaks, it’s like the smell of black soot exiting her mouth.
- “Ah, the whistlers of the Brigade. Why, I believe that this day might be fortunate, after all.”
With a flick of the hand, she sends the enemies that way (though some stay behind), and she herself turns into a swarm of black crows and goes off in that direction. Seth (8 successes), Thomas (6 successes), and Andreas successfully sneak down to the edge of the kava patch. They get to make rummage checks – mixed in with the kava are also medicinal herbs, root vegetables, wild onions, etc. that can be taken.
Seth makes the first check (rummage – 5) as he grabs a handful of kava herbs and some medicinal herbs (+1 recovery), one of the Ruvor hears it and looks around. As Seth dives into a nearby bush, it speaks in deep, droning growls. Angel is able to translate it.
- “They might be attempting to trick us. Stay alert.”
They fan out even more now. Angel tries to signal to the others to get out, but they want enough kava herbs to have more than one attempt at the potion. Thomas makes the next check (6). As he’s securing the herbs (+3 recovery), he turns, and sees two Ruvor looking right at him. One cocks its head to the side.
- “Yvonne, they are with us.”
And they all begin to charge! The skill challenge is 3:1 – for every 3 successes, we get 1 pip.
Angel makes a phys check (7 successes – 2 pips) to take the group that’s still hiding back onto the path Journeyman took them down. Thomas makes a phys check (7 successes – 2 pips) to chuck some trees at the enemies as they run, to try to slow them down. Grimalkin makes a spirit check (3 successes – 1 pip) to dart between the groups, trying to stealthily get them back together.
Andreas and Seth are given a choice – for another pip, they could lead the enemies through Journeyman’s home to try to gain some distance. They decide against it. Seth uses his navigational systems and hearing (10 successes – 3 pips, B3) to navigate around the enemies attempting to encircle them from all sides. Andreas looks for a more heavily wooded area to finally lose them (3 successes – 1 pip), and leads his allies through a small opening. The Ruvor are left behind.
For Storm, the enemies all of a sudden stopped chasing him. He turns and sees his friends coming, seeming very tired and a bit shaken.
- “Oh, hey. Which one of you stepped on a branch?” – Storm
- “That would be me.” – Thomas
Andreas tells him we got two attempts at the potion, and Thomas adds that they got a bunch of recovery. We successfully return to base with the herbs, and head to Magion in his office. He looks up and smiles, with just the slightest raise of an eyebrow as Journeyman approaches.
- “Hello! I am Journeyman. I have been recruited. Would you like some corn?”
Magion asks if we brought him here, and we explain. Journeyman goes off about his conspiracy theories.
- “I would like some corn, and yes, the rings are spherical. Why do you ask?”
Journeyman says there are deep hidden secrets below, and there are gates under attack. Magic is broken into multiple parts we cannot understand, and also, he has a theory that every single restaurant that serves baclava on the spheres of Meropis is a front for a banking group that holds interest in every single woodworking company. Magion just smiles.
- “I love him.”
Storm asks if we’re sure Balek wasn’t shattered again, and Magion says he’s greater than Balek could ever be. Magion tells Journeyman Joe he’d like to take him on as an assistant, and really just wants him close to Magion at all times. Journeyman says he has a job tending to his farm, and Magion says that if Journeyman agrees to bring his wisdom to the group, he supposes he could lend his efforts to the goal of moving his farm. Magion says he can have one of his associates bring Journeyman to temporary quarters in a nearby building where these fine people live.
- “Bunkmates, a barracks, very well. I haven’t been in a barracks in some time.”
- “Yes, of course, right. Well, thank you, it’s been a pleasure, Journeyman… Joe…”
- “Journeyman Caerwyn Joe, that’s me!”
Magion tells us to escort him to a nice, open room. He’ll take the kava to the lab, and… we’ll see. He makes his way to the alchemist’s burrows, and rolls a 3 (DC 2) – it’s a difficult brew, a tight mixing of ingredients. He ends up holding a red, bubbling, boiling cauldron. He says it seems to be operating correctly, and now all that’s left is to give the dosage to the Maiden.
- “It is… I will say, not a dose of the strongest kind, unlikely to be permanent, but I would leave it up to all of you.”
Everyone besides Angel votes to give the Maiden the potion.
Magion sees the cat, and asks what the fuck that is. We say it’s been around, but that we’d honestly thought it’d died. Grimalkin asks to stay in Magion’s office, because he doesn’t like the outdoors much. After affirming Grimalkin’s an indoor cat, Magion says he has a room just for him that he could stay in. Grimalkin would love a bed, food, drinks, beds, spare boxes… Magion says he could supply it with over 30 spare boxes, ranging from flimsy to solid. He asks how many litterboxes Grimalkin requires, and it says six, so it can have options.
- “Very well. A particular type of sand?”
- “I don’t know what my mom always used, but it was very soft.”
- “Black volcanic sand it is, then… grey oil-infused.”
Magion asks if Grimalkin would like to get in this box as he carries him to this destination. There’s a faint buzzing around the box, but it has a more pleasant sound. Maybe it’s a massage feature… Magion occasionally glances down at the box, doing more calculus in his mind. Andreas addresses the group.
- “Alright, no matter what happens, it’s important we don’t put any more mental stress on the Maiden. We don’t know how bad or good the situation will be, we need to be careful, calm, and try and make her feel comfortable. Other than that, from now on, we should avoid venting to her. I’m working on a way to circumvent that that some of you saw in prison, we can’t keep pushing her further.”
As we’re all making our way up to the Maiden’s chambers, we see Charon waiting outside, guarding the Maiden as always. She greets the others, though it’s not happy Storm is here. Andreas tells it about the potion, and Charon is viscerally displeased. Andreas says he really wants her to live through this, and Magion reappears with a box, a cat, and a bottle, saying that not taking action might lead to her death. He tells Charon it was decided by popular vote that this was our course of action.
- “Seriously? Y– Look, I am sure, at this point we all know why she’s like this. Right? And if this is supposed to, I don’t know, alter her mind, in a way, you seriously want to take who she was, who she loved – I would assume, if that’s supposed to cure this – would you risk taking that from her?”
Magion says her death would shatter the Brigade. She does no good for us here. He says she would want to be of use to us, at this moment.
- “Well, I see the kind of people you employ.”
Magion says lashing out at those under his command is unnecessary. Storm did as he was ordered. Charon asks if he’s talking about 7 days ago, or when Storm… lashed out. Magion says he puts the utmost trust into Ard Magos members to make judgment calls in the field.
Charon asks to have a moment with the Maiden, and goes inside, but Magion attempts to follow – he doesn’t trust Charon alone with her. After some arguing, they settle on Storm and Andreas following her in. Charon tells Storm to make himself useful and go make tea, or something. Storm agrees. Charon goes over to the Maiden, and brushes the hair out of her face.
- “The… others wish to give you medicine. To help. I don’t know if you have an opinion on that, but I figured I would give you the chance to say something. They aren’t entirely sure what might happen as a result of it. But… I am outvoted. And for your sake, I wouldn’t do anything rash.”
Charon walks over to where her things are set up, and she sits down and takes the long rod of her unopened scythe. She talks quietly to it.
- “I don’t know who you were or who you are, um, I suppose, but you reached out to me when I needed it [she grips her hands tighter] you offered me a hand, and I’m kind of hoping those come in twos. Um, my lady the Maiden is… sick. I know I’m destruction, but if there’s anything you could do to help me help her, I don’t want her to lose herself. Please.”
Charon makes a spirit check – 2 successes. The scythe is heavy and still. There’s a slight vibration, but nothing more. Magion knocks at the door, and asks if she’s finished. Charon says yes, and helps the Maiden into a sitting position, padding her with pillows. Once it’s done, Andreas opens the door.
Magion thanks Andreas and strides forward, producing a bottle of bubbling red liquid with little cut-up pieces of the kava in it. Magion swirls it and pops the cork, and begins to have the Maiden drink it. It’s slow work, but eventually, the bottle is finished. Magion takes a step back, and there are a few very tense moments. The Maiden blinks, just once, and sits up a little more.
Andreas asks, “Maiden?” and the head slowly turns to him. But there’s definitely something wrong. Charon asks if she knows where we are, and she says Widowstone Keep. When we ask if she remembers why we’re here, she says we’re here because we’re running from Zolona and the Impure. And Ishin.
Ink streams down Charon’s face. Andreas is also crying. Charon asks Magion why he’d do this.
- “She was in pain. The best that I could have Lavatera explain to me, this induced a very specific type of ego death, preserving as many mental faculties as we could while… stripping away the rest.”
- “And you kept that from us. You deliberately didn’t say anything.”
- “I believe she’s already beginning to regenerate and return to a somewhat livable state. We will still of course have to watch her, but at the moment, she can operate on autopilot, maybe even take simple commands.”
Magion asks the Maiden to stand, at the same moment Charon says not to – the Maiden starts to stand, then lowers at Charon’s request. Magion wants to show her off to everyone, to restore hope to the people.
- “I think it was easier for me to look upon Nicholas than it is for me to look at you.”
- “Charon, I frankly do not care. You can think whatever you wish of me. We will defeat the Titans. We must stop Ishin. That is the goal. We must try and do it in the most humane way possible, but to have her sitting here languishing, dying, as you preside over her? No. That’s not a fate that I would have for her, either. Ideally, this situation is temporary, and if you can find a better one, I do hope you bring it to all of our attention, and we can pursue it. No one is above the mission of the Brigade, the mission of the Ard Magos, the mission of us all. Not even the Maiden.”
Magion tells Charon to tend to her as she likes, and he’ll be back shortly. He gives Charon a nod and leaves, and Charon doesn’t look at him. Andreas moves closer to Charon, and she asks why he’d do this. He says he wouldn’t know what to do if she died. Charon says they all just wanna use her and parade her around, and Andreas says not to tell him how he feels.
- “You can hate me if you want. But my job isn’t done. Our job isn’t done. If you’ll help me, or I help you, find a permanent way to bring her back. Hate me all you want. You wouldn’t be the first. And… I will bear it. For her. For you. For everyone. This isn’t the end.”
Charon doesn’t attend Magion’s presentation of the Maiden the following day. She hears the cheers, though. Maybe that’s worse. She takes a piece of wood and starts pulling it apart. Destroying it. The session ends here, with everyone under level 30 taking a level-up.
Thomas fully completes the 3rd mountain.
We gain +2 detection from this mission, one being the normal cost and the other being due to the Ruvor. The omen changes. Ryan rolls 1d6, and gets a 6. As the Maiden is being presented, a rainbow appears in the sky. It’s the rainbow omen.