Dive
The party heads back to the village. Nim and Toulouse retreat to the Yurtle for a LONG REST. After some deliberation, the rest of the party splits up to investigate:
Grig and Dango want to return to the harbor and see if there is any method of getting their ship off Hanu, and Kor and Brin want to use an invisibility spell to sneak passed the guards and visit the Guardian’s hut, with Ikki providing aerial surveillance.
At the harbor, Grig and Dango discover that there is no way to safely lower the ship while Hanu is walking; the wind shear is too dangerous. They do learn that some of the youth of the island climb down Hanu’s back leg and bungee jump for fun, so that might be an option in a pinch. Dango takes a moment to look over the edge of Hanu’s shell, which is swaying in a vaguely-ship-like fashion, and sees they are about 26 stories above the surface of the ocean.
Brin and Kor make themselves invisible and go to the Guardian’s hut. There are no guards on duty, leading them to think the Guardian is not there, but they investigate anyway. They find a unlocked door at the rear of the hut, and enter to look around. It appears fairly normal, with no magical protections or traps, and it is indeed empty. They open a chest and find some jewelry, but nothing that stands out.
Back outside, they see a path leading from the rear door into the jungle and follow it. While walking, Brin touches a strange purple island flower, and gets a rash.
The path ends at the base of Hanu’s neck. Tethys is standing guard, and they can make out a figure farther ahead, sitting on Hanu’s head. Brin waits in the jungle as Kor, still invisible, makes his way passed Tethys and sneaks up to where the Guardian sits. He takes a moment to examine the necklace she wears, which is made up of interlocked rings of metal, and is like no other jewelry on the island. There is no obvious clasp to release it.
Kor eventually speaks, and The Guardian doesn’t seem too surprised. She asks him to reveal himself, which he does. Kor asks the Guardian questions about Hanu, and learns:
- Nova isn’t necessary to speak to Hanu; one must simply approach with no fear, and with love
- Nova is a necessary evil, used for trade with outsiders
- The party is free to leave, but it’s essentially impossible while Hanu’s moving
- Hanu was not surprised by our arrival
Kor offers to barter something in trade for her necklace, and offers the party’s services for a “favor”. The Guardian says she will consider it. She seems to want to help us leave.
Kor leaves Hanu’s head (giving Tethys quite a start) and rejoins Brin. They move back towards the village, but Brin decides to seek out Nadine. Kor sketches the necklace worn by the Guardian and shows that to Nim; they determine the necklace can only be removed by twisting the pieces in a particular way.
Nadine is no longer at the harbor, but Brin is able to trade his Striding Boots for an island sheath dress and sandals. Eventually, he finds her and proposes that she help create a distraction that evening during the harvest feast.
The village has been preparing for the feast, and everyone is gathered now. The Guardian gives a speech, congratulating them on the most successful harvest in a generation, and honoring those farmers who lost their lives. Their names are recorded in a big book, and their surviving family members get a gift of seed from the Servants of the Unseen Circle.
Brin and Nadine skipped the feast, going instead to make trouble at the Nova mill. They investigate the outside of the building, and Brin sends an Unseen Servant inside to collect a small amount of the processed Nova powder. They hear a scream, and discover Meridian’s body with a knife in her back. Several aggressive folks approach them, and Nadine bolts, leaving Brin alone.
[ My notes are kinda spotty w/r/t the order of events here? - slod]
ENCOUNTER: Brin casts Darkness, and then uses Unseen Servant to create an audible decoy. A man with a sword follows the sound and Brin manages to get away, and hide near the warehouse.
Back at the feast, The Guardian senses the attack on Hanu, and announces to everyone that he is going to dive underwater. Everyone springs into action to prepare for this unexpected dive. The soldiers head immediately for the mill, where screams can now be heard, but Tethys and the Guardian run for Hanu’s head. Nim, Kor, and Dango follow the Guardian (and the necklace), but Toulouse splits off towards the obelisk.
The Guardian, disheveled but still calm, stumbles and falls in a clearing, and Tethys stops to help her up. Two men, apparently pirates, emerge from the trees and move threateningly towards them until Nim, Kor, and Dango stop them.
ENCOUNTER: The party joins Tethys to fight and protect the Guardian. Tethys is killed. Nim opens a magical lava pit, and both pirates are eventually defeated.
Back at the obelisk, Toulouse sees a group of harried Servants of the Unseen Circle surround it and start chanting. They are clearly trying to raise the protective circle around the village, and hopefully trap the pirates outside it when Hanu is submerged. He fights off and kills two pirates who show up to attack the Servants. Nim, Kor, Dango, Grig, and Toulouse all reunite as they run towards the mill. Brin runs into Kalika, and they, too, move towards the mill. The pirates, who are wearing patches from Valon’dai, may have a different method of escape from the island, different to those of regular pirates. From her vantage point above, Ikki spots something cool: AIRSHIPS!
~ end of session ~
random notes
- I… have no context for any of this: “Our band name: TURTLE TITS.”
