15 - Aftermath and After Saltspocket

It's been three days since the end of the assault.
The town is pretty fucked up from the giant Tiger spirit attack.
300k gold were present in the Collars' HQ.
We have Creep, Mama Wringer and 20 goons as prisoners.
After surveying the town, 600 citizens died because of the attack.
40 soldiers remains from merchants, builders and blacksmiths.
Foreman died during the siege.
Chef Cook was severely injured, as he's missing a leg and punctured wounds, which left him without some organs.

Upon reflecting on what to do with the leadership of the town, we agreed to turn the city into a Democracy.

We decide to go on the Town square to propose this idea, where we see many inhabitants, and mostly Pria along Chef Cook.
[Performance] Willum pitches the idea and the village seem enthusiastic.
Pria and a healer step on along Chef Cook to agree the idea, and Chef Cook proposes to be Mayor, even if he explains that the town needs to be repaired first. Pria proposes him to be the interim mayor, which seems to be an unanimous choice on that.

We decide to stay a bit in town to help around and prepare the next expedition, where each member prepare on their own way.

• Nesvalyn
  • [Investigation] Asking around about Paildreo - No information got
  • Chappell proposes to read fortune (which Nesvalyn accepts and gives 75 out of 50 due to help), and receive the following fortune:

    The one you seeks walks among the stars, but they haven't forgotten you, and soon you'll learn to fly along them.

  • Went to discuss with Chef Cook, and suggested to give money to the church (but bailed out about asking for a reward).
• Graath
  • Helping to rebuild town
• Persy
  • Identifying items:
    • Dragonfire bellow
      • Recharges at dawn
      • Can cast Burning hands (2nd level), will make elements catch fire (even worn)
    • Owlbear's Paintbrush
      • PB times per day
      • Can cast Dimension door
      • Can be recharged only by doing a full painting on a canvas.
  • Lockpicking the safe with Nesvalyn
    • Filled to the brim with gems, can be sold for 2k gold.
  • Setting up a workshop in the Portable Hole.
• Reylynn
  • Goes checking to the Grove of Summer alone to pay respects, and walk in the grove. She sees Raina's furniture and notices the body of the knight. From what she sees, it looks like the furniture is being eaten by the plants and starts to dissolve.
    • She places a plant at the entrance and pays her respect. She sees a ball of light from the Grove, which chimers and getting closer to Reylynn. She sees a tiny little rabbit and hops towards her. She feels a deep connection forming, or understanding. And then hops on her, fits, then disappears.
    • Reylynn finds the book of herbs (for the poisons), along her personal journal.
      • From the Journal, it seems that Raina was troubled, being the chosen one for the Giants, with a lot from issues with her Father.
• Willum
  • Goes to the Construction crew about the loss of Foreman and checks who's in charge now (and it's now Foreman).
  • Goes to check Chef Cook with Persy. (a few days after Nesvalyn)
    • Asks to give money to Father Thatch, and waves that Nesvalyn mentioned it.
    • Asks to give money to Pria, and mentions that Pria is the new treasury.
    • Asks to give money to the party.
      • [Persuasion - Pass ✔] Chef Cook is receptive and asks an amount.
      • Persy proposes a range of 10-20k.
      • Chef Cook proposes 10k.
      • Persy mentions 15k. But doesn't work and we get 10k.

(Graath, Nesvalyn and Persy)
(a few days after Reylynn)

The group notices a bunch of flowers at the entrance, but doesn't comment much. The group gets in and notices the knight on the floor, where Nesvalyn hopes it's not Reylynn who did that. (she wouldn't, right?)

Persy removes the helmet of the knight to see their face.
[Medicine - Pass ✔] The level of decay on the face suggests it has been dead for weeks, and it started before we saw him last time.
Persy throws the helmet behind him, and upon reacting, Nesvalyn is a bit relieved due to the decay that it's not Reylynn. There's a small discussion about the possibility of the existence of other Groves, but with different seasons.

There's nothing much remaining which isn't decaying.
[Insight check - Pass ✔] We have the feeling that energy is being rejuvenated, it's cleansing itself.

Upon investigating, the trio raise suspicions about Chef Cook, which gets the idea to cast [Identify] on Chef Cook, and check with his motives. As there's nothing much to do at the grove, the party regroups, and the worry about Chef Cook, and we go to his place to learn a bit more.

[Divine Sense] Willum senses nothing.
Persy sends an invisible Ozzy to cast [Identify] Chef.
[Stealth check - Pass ✔] Ozzy remains undetected.
The only spell active on him is some healing spell. Graath mentions that power often corrupts, and we hope it's not the case with Chef Cook and we're overthinking. We decide to take the night to reflect a bit.

As now Saltspocket is freed, we wonder what each of us want to do next, and talk a bit about ourselves.

• Willum is looking for his son.
• Nesvalyn is looking for his fiancé, and mentioned coming from the South continent. He also shared about the potential fight on Paildreo's' 20th birthday as he woke up at his parents' place, and how Persy reminded Paildreo as they share a similar vibe.
• Graath is looking for secrets "under the snow", as he's here for duty. He mentioned coming from the West continent.
• Reylynn is looking to make a name for herself, as she's banned from her home until she did something. She mentioned coming from the South continent.
• Persy is looking for work and explore the continent, and fleeing until he can get back home. He mentioned coming from the South continent.

After this discussion, the group agrees to go into the mountains.
We need to gather supplies, and we decide to go see Father Thatch first, to gather healing supplies first.

Before leaving, Nesvalyn talks to Reylynn on the side:

• So I have a question, as we went to the Grove of Summer and we noticed flowers on the entrance, are there yours?
• ...eh, maybe, maybe not?
• So it's you then. It's very nice of you to pay respects to Raina, and it was Raina who was nice to you, and not Anria. Nesvalyn put his hand on her shoulder. It's going to be ok Reylynn.
• ...we'll see.

When we arrive, we notice many patrons in the temple. Father Thatch notices us, and asks us to speak in private.
He wants to talk about Hosta, as she's been really unwell. Since the siege she's been ranting, seizing, and it's persistent, compared to the rest of people who had a seizure, mentioning the return of the The Undying.
Father Thatch shares the story of the The Undying, which was a myth about a wonder who refused to die and a group was supposed to kill her, but seems untrue with what we witnessed.
Nesvalyn mentions that it could be the portable hole of that group and we could find some useful elements or some history pieces, but proposes to check that later.
We decide to see Hosta, where she's been sweating and tied. A bandage is on one of her eye and forehand, hiding a deformity. We're removing the bandage where we see her skull trying to pull out of her head.
[Medicine] No poison.
[Religion - Pass ✔] (along Nesvalyn's search in his notes): She's turning into a Valkyrie and her spirit is trying to get out (as a Dusk Sister, she will turn as a Valkyrie after her death).
Graath has a solution: A soul bound to keep the Valkyrie into the material plane (but doesn't share that information to the party).
Graath mentions to the party that he will try a ritual (aka trying to bound his own soul - but doesn't share the intent) and asks the party to give some space, which we agree, at the condition we'll be back if we hear him screaming.
[Religion] They both scream and it's painful for both.
Graath sees Hosta in her Valkyrie form. She plunges her spear in his chest. The ritual was successful, and Graath is barely standing (aka 1 HP left).
The party barged in as we heard screams from Graath, Hosta looks good, both Hosta and Graath have a burning mark (where was her necklace and on the chest respectfully).
Willum heals Graath.
Graath decides to share what he just, and says he's going to stay behind to avoid risking Hosta's life as if one of them dies, the other dies too.
Nesvalyn slaps Graath then hugs him and asks him to hold the fort and take care.

Next session: 16 - Farewell Saltspocket...