Day 10 (S7-8)

Rina - Day 5, Left Duskford, Arrived at Castle Frey & began blending

In the morning as he watched the sunrise, Kin noticed a Druse woman running from her home in panic along the west edge of the river. She ran from her home as there was a monster inside.
"No! Get out!" she yelled, "Let go of her!" She tried to shield herself from the sun a bit, but still tried to avoid whatever was inside the house.

Kin got on his horse and jumped over the water to get to land to help her. Rina and Aurelius noticed this, but didn't see why.
"Do we go after him?" asked Aurelius.
"Kin doesn't do anything rash without good reason, I think we should follow him" answered Rina.
Alice had not woken up yet, so the two of them ran to wake her.
"Alice!" Rina yelled, "Alice wake up!"
When Alice rose with her short, now very messy hair, she glared at Rina and Aurelius with a look that could kill.
"What... do you want..." said Alice.
"Kin just jumped off the boat and something seems wrong!" yelled Aurelius, come on we gotta go help!
Rina had already made it to the top of the ship, Aurelius close behind.
"I can get one other person over there with Dimension Door" said Rina.
"I have my broom" Alice said, still sleepy-eyed.

Kin approached the woman's home, "I'm here to help! What's happening?!"
"A snake!" the woman yelled, "A Giant Snake is in my house trying to take my daughter!"
The snake exited the house with a small Druce girl in its coils, it seemed to be slithering quickly away from the house and not lingering to fight.
"Oh no you dont!" yelled Kin, and Stormbreaker caught up with the snake and got in front of it.
Kin stabbed the snake in the side and it hissed in pain.
The snake continued to try and escape, but Kin noticed it was moving in a strange way for a snake - its slithering seemed rhythmic.

Aurelius and Rina arrive through her Dimension Door ready to fight. Aurelius hits the snake right where it was holding the girl, "Let go of her!" he yelled, but the snake didn't let go.
Rina hit the snake with her Icy Burning hands - made cold my Agronoch's magic. With her Beastspeach she asked it, "Why are you doing this?"
The snake tried to bite Kin with no success, but answered Rina,
"Snake so big and black, infirm!
Becoming like a mighty wyrm,
Take their kids and eat their livers
Take them, break them, ever slither
Put them in meat bakery
The latest, greatest prophecy!"

"It's chanting like the Goblins and the Ogre did in Riverbend!" Rina yelled.
Kin used detect thoughts on the snake, to try and get it to let it go. When he entered the mind of the snake, he could feel the presence of someone else who was now no longer able to hold onto its mind.
A loud, booming voice began laughing in surprise, "Oh? Heh Heh Heh Heh Heh! Isn't that something?"

As kin pulled out of the snake's mind, the snake dropped the child and began to run again.
"What should we do?" Aurelius asked.
"We can't let it just get more people" said Rina, "as much as I don't want to, we have to kill it."
Kin used banishment to banish it to a more firey plane, it appeared back on our plane a moment later on fire - then it died.
There was nothing left of the snake, and nothing to loot. By the time Alice got there on her broomstick the fight was over.
"What happened?" she asked.
"That snake was chanting about the prophesy like the goblins" Rina answered.
"I think it's the Jarl" said Kin, "I could hear him when I got into the mind of the snake. It knows who I am now."

The woman who owned the house ran out to embrace her daughter, "Thank you, thank you for saving us" the exclaimed, "That snake was just a small garter snake the other day! It was harmless! Then today it just... turned into that monster!"
"We're just glad we could help, ma'am" said Kin.
"We're from the Sprite Light coven in Vorovni," said Rina, "we just want to help people on our journey."

"How are we going to get back to the boat?" Aurelius asked.
"I have one more Dimension Door," answered Rina, "but that only takes one other person. Alice isn't going to be able to catch up with the boat on her broom."
"Oh, I don't need a broom" Alice replied. She then wildshaped into a grizzly bear, and said to Rina who still has beastspeach "Get on!"
Rina and Aurelius get onto Alice's back, and Kin rides Stormbreaker - they all get back to the boat.
"What in the hell do you all think you're doing?" yelled Bradley, "You have scared the crew and could have damaged my ship!"
"We're very sorry, sir" said Kin, "Here, we hope this helps with all your trouble." Kin handed him 3 gold pieces, and Bradley nodded.
"I uh... I saw what you did for that woman there" Bradley started, "how about the four of you ride farther south than just Castle Frey? I would give you a free ride for protection."
"We have a lot to do in Castle Frey" said Rina, "How long with you be docked there."
"We will only be there one day" Bradley answered, "Just let me know your plans - we would love to have you."
"Let's make a list of everything we want to do there," said Rina, "That way we can be efficient with our time."
"You may want to wait on that list" said Bradley, "You're about to miss the best part." Bradley gestured forward ahead of the boat.
The Castle of Frey began to come into view. A tower of ancient, sun bleached stone stood in the center - the original castle. But from it, as if it was the middle of a spider's web, more stone buildings of varying ages spread out from the center. The older buildings hugged close to the original tower, while newer buildings were constantly being added around the outside - over and over for centuries. The outside of the castle - the newest buildings - were made of jet black stone. This was the color of the original castle when it was built. The buildings faded from jet black, to dark grey, to light grey, then to white as you approached the center of the city. Each ring reminding the party of Kin's floppy hat - newer on the outside with vibrant color, and older the closer you got to the inside becoming a faded white. All of the buildings were covered from the sun, and no widows could be seen from the outside. Every building seemed connected by small, stone paths in every direction.
This was the capital of Pennislovica, the great Castle Frey.

S8
As the ship entered Castle Frey on the river, it went underneath the stone covering of the giant castle to dock inside. Looking up inside the covered web that was Castle Frey, the party could see the hustling and bustling of thousands of people - all moving around the intricate, not-so-well-thought-out paths of the castle like ants in an ant hill.
Though the entire city of Castle Frey was covered by stone, it was not dark. The stone streets were lined with lights that were powered by windmills in the area. Castle Frey was known for being the height of technology in Kay'Lend.
There were no trees or grass to be seen within the castle city, but along the walls and edges grew moss and small mushrooms everywhere they went.
"I don't like it here" said Kin, "I can't see the sun and there's no trees."
"Oh lighten up!" said Rina, "This has to be one of the most interesting cities you've ever seen, right? I've been to thousands of cities in my lifetime and I think this is one of my favorites!"
"How have you been to thousands of cities?" asked Alice, "There's only like 50 in all of Kay'Lend."
"I'm almost 300 years old, Alice" replied Rina, "I'm and Elf, remember?"
"Three HUNDRED?" Aurelius exclaimed, "I thought you were just a few decades older than me..."
"Nope, try a few centuries" Rina replied, "and it's still creepy when you hit on me regardless."
"You mean you wouldn't want a strapping young man like me?" Aurelius teased.
"You are not strapping anyone to anything" Rina said, "And you are way too young for me. You're less than half the age of my kid."
"You have a kid whose over 40?" Asked Alice, "I'm only like 35."
Rina smiled, "Yes. He's 72 now actually. He's the reason I'm in Kay'Lend."
After walking and talking for a bit, they finally found a book store, "I have to go in here" said Rina, "I want to try to find a map of this place!"
"Good afternoon" said the shop owner, "What can I help you with today?"
"I am looking for 3 main things" started Rina, "I would like to know if you have any ritual spell scrolls, any books on The Kingdom of Bolgroth, and possibly a map of Castle Frey."
The shop owner laughed, "Ha! A map of Castle Frey... that's funny."
"Why is that funny?" asked Alice.
"Castle Frey is constantly under construction" he said, "We DO have maps, but they're out of date as soon as we finish them! Here, we have one from 3 months ago I'll sell for 1 gold."
Rina also got a couple of ritual scrolls there, Tiny Hut and Comprehend Languages.
"There is also a book here on the general history of Kay'Lend" The shopkeep said to Rina, "It has some information on Bolgroth, but if you want more details than this you will have to visit the library."
As Kin was guiding them through the city while holding the map, Rina looked through her new book.
"There's next to nothing in here that I don't already know by looking at the Kay'Lend map" she said, "I am definitely going to have to get to the library."
"First I want to find that Blacksmith" said Kin, "I've been needing a good blacksmith since before I got to Vorovni."
They finally made their way to the ShapeSmithing school, which also had a shop.
"How may I help you?" a young Druse woman asked as they entered the school.
"Hi, yes, we are looking for some weapons and armor, just wanting to see your inventory" said Kin.
"I'd also like to know if you know of an Adventuring Party known as the Fearsome 5" said Rina, "they came through here about a week ago and have since gone missing. We are trying to find them."
"Ah, I do remember an... odd... group of people coming through here." she said. "One was a small bird person who bought some daggers. I think his name was CheepCheep."
"They were from Basta'Thrope', so it wouldn't surprise me if there were bird-type Therianthropes in the group." said Rina, "One of them we know was a man with lion feet, a scorpion tail, and wings."
"Hmm... I do not remember anyone like him" the woman replied, "but I do remember CheepCheep coming in with a human-looking woman. She was looking for arrows and a better bow. They seemed to believe they were going to fight something big."
"That sounds like them..." Rina quietly.
Kin changed the subject, "Now that that's out of the way, since you seem to run this place can you please tell me if you have any good shields here?"
"Oh me?" the woman asked, "Oh no, I do not run the place. I am just a student. Drake!" she yelled to the back room.
The man who runs the ShapeSmithing college stepped out from the back office.
He was tall and pale like the other Druse, but much more muscular from working the hammer day after day. His eyes were dark and you can see the old age through them, and his hands are rough from the constant work. He had very short, black hair - almost buzzed to his head - and a short black beard on his scar-speckled face. But the first thing Rina noticed were his pointed ears.
She became fixated for a moment or two and stared. Other than Rivo from the Salt Slayers, she had not seen anyone else with pointed ears since her half-elf husband who passed two years prior. Before him, it had been almost a century since she saw another elf like herself. 
He was not an Elf, though. As he spoke she could see small, sharp, pointed fangs where his top canine teeth would be - Drake was a vampire. The first she had ever seen. 
He noticed her staring, and turned to face her. “An elf?” he said out loud to himself. “A vampire?” she replied with a touch of sarcasm. 
“What can I do for you all?” he asked. 
"I need a new shield" said Kin, "Some Tiefling asshole conned me into buying this wooden one for 10 gold."
Drake gestured over to the wall of shields, all had been made by students he taught over the years.
"The ones on the top are from my A students, the ones on the bottom are from my C students."
"What about your D and F students?" Aurelius asked.
"Their work I do not sell" he said, "I wouldn't subject anyone to that."
"I don't want to keep lugging this thing around" Aurelius said as he showed Drake the shield he got from his days training for Luminus.
"For that I would trade - at the very least it could be melted down" Drake answered.
"What about mine?" asked Kin as he pulled out the wooden happy-sad shield from Alejandro.
Drake raised an eyebrow, "That I would not trade for. Not even the gem is worth the work of a C student. Keep that."
Kin and Aurelius then looked over the shields.
“I’m looking for either a ring or a cloak of protection” Rina said.
“We do have a cloak of protection” Drake responded with his low voice and thick accent, “here…” he said as he passed it to her, draped over his hand. 
She went to grab it, accidentally brushing his hand. Both flinched a little awkwardly.
She handed him the money for it, making sure to place her hand in his this time before dropping the coins - she smiled. He seemed unamused. 
Aurelius and Kin came back with shields they wanted and paid for them.
"By the way," Alice started, "Do you know anything about the weird stuff that happened in Riverbend? It's just across the border so I wondered if you heard about it."
"Yes," Drake answered, "we also heard of a town down in Drusk going through the same thing - Mepul."
"We were the ones who solved the problem in Riverbend" Rina mentioned.
Drake's ears perked up. "You should speak to the king consort Francis about this" he said, "he and king Sullivan Frey will want to know."
"Do you think King Frey will have information we may want?" asked Kin.
Drake paused for a moment, "I think it will be mutually beneficial for you to speak. You will have to go to the royal court and get an appointment - tell them I sent you."
"Ok, we will" said Kin.
"Thanks Drake" Rina said as they left.
He nodded once, unamused but keeping one eye on them.

The party left toward the center of the castle. Upon entering, the stone inside was still black as soot like the day that it was built.
A middle-aged Druce man greeted them at the entrance to the center castle. "Good afternoon, how may I help you?"
"We were recommended by Drake to speak with Francis" said Kin.
"Drake recommended it?" asked the man as he put his hand under his chin.
"We are the ones who put a stop to the disappearances in Riverbend" replied Rina.
"Oh, I see..." the man paused a moment as he looked through an appointment book on his desk. "It looks like there is an opening in three days at noon to see Kin Consort, Francis."
"We will take that appointment" Kin said immediately.
The man grabbed a pen, "Whose name do I put into the appointment?"
"The Sprite's Lights!" answered Alice.
"We will see you in 3 days at noon, then" he said.

After leaving the center castle Rina suggested they go to the Library, "There's apparently much more helpful books there" she said, "this one from the book store didn't really have much information."
The library was attached to the ShapeSmithing school as a tall, 5 story tower of one of the rings of the castle. Each story twisted around the tower with books inlaid into the walls.
"May I help you?" asked a Druce woman.
"Hi, I'm looking for any ritual scrolls I may check out" said Rina, "as well as any books on the history of The Kingdom of Bolgroth."
The woman paused for a moment, then looked Rina up and down. "We have spell scrolls you may borrow," she said, "but why would an Elf want a book on Bolgroth?"
"I have research I need to do for a friend" Rina answered, "I am Rina, by the way. We are an Adventuring Party called the Sprite's Lights."
"I am Ida" the woman answered, "come this way, I will show you to the spell scrolls."

Aurelius found his way to the basement of the library, where there were a handful of students studying around a table.
"Hey guys!" he said as he waved to them, "Can I join you?"
The guys all looked at each other with shifty eyes, "You aren't like a nark or anything are you?" one of them asked.
"I'm not even from here" Aurelius answered, "who would I even nark to?"
The guys then smiled as they pulled a tray of food out from under the table, "Good, we're not supposed to have food in the library" another guy said.
"We're also not supposed to have this" a 3rd guy then pulled out a pipe with some dried pipeweed in it.
"Now you're speaking my language..." said Aurelius as he pulled out his firestarter.

In the upper level of the library, Rina found Alarm and decided to rent it. Passing through, she spotted a large book in a blocked off section of the library titled "The complete history of Bolgroth the Conqueror in Kay'Lend."
"Excuse me," Rina said to Ida, "I believe that's the book I'm really looking for."
"Ahh, well, that's too bad" said Ida, "Only citizens can borrow books from that section."
"Why?" Rina asked.
"Some information is... not for outsiders." Ida answered.
"Well, then how do I become a citizen?" Rina asked.
"You wish to become a citizen of Pennislovica?" asked Ida, "Just for a book?"
"Well, it seems doing so would open up all of those books" answered Rina, "I love reading and researching cultures - if becoming a citizen is what it takes, then I'm happy to start the process."
"The first step to citizenship is the blending" Ida said, "It's how our people become connected to each other - we are the mushroom people, after all."
"I'll do it," said Rina, "what do I have to do?"
"There are a few different places to do it, but the Tunnel inn is the most popular place" Ida replied.
"So what is entailed in the blending?" Rina asked.
"It is a ritual where one partakes of the mushrooms of this land and resides within the caves from where our people originate" Ida explained, "the Druce people once resided underground, living on the mushrooms of the caves and the water dripping from the walls. The blending works best when you do it with others, blending with those you love makes the ritual stronger."
At this point, Ida and Rina had reached the lobby of the library once again.
Ida sniffs the air, "Gods damnit" she exclaimed as she went to the bottom floor and pulled back a curtain that was hiding a small side room, "I knew I smelled pipeweed!" she yelled as she saw the group of students, along with Aurelius, smoking and eating food. "Get out of my library you miscreants!" she yelled, the boys scattered.
"Aurelius!" Rina yelled, "What is wrong with you?!"
"Heh... nothin now!" he said as he saunters out of the library.
"I'm so sorry about him" Rina said to Ida, "he's one of my party members and... frankly, I could do without him most days."
"Is there anything else I can do for you before you leave?" asked Ida.
"Actually, I was wondering if you've seen another adventuring party come through here about a week ago. They're called the Fearsome 5, they're from Basta'Thrope' so at least some of them would have been Therianthropes."
"Oh yes," Ida answered, "I saw two of them - Marie and CheepCheep were both here. Marie was a human, and CheepCheep was a smaller bird person. They, too, had done the blending. They also checked out a book called Niktalia Eternal, but I'm afraid it is also in the restricted section."
"Do you know where they were going?" asked Rina, "They're missing and we are afraid they are in danger."
"I know nothing else" Ida answered, "only that they were two very kind and genuine individuals."
"Thank you, Ida" said Rina, "I will see you again soon, I'm sure."
They both waved goodbye.
Alice and Kin had been looking around for food, "I brought us some candied mushrooms!" said Alice.
"And I got us coffees" said Kin.
"You two are amazing" said Rina. "Listen, there's something I need to do here to get the information I need. It's called the Blending, and it's apparently better if you do it with other people."
"What do we have to do?" asked Alice.
"Apparently we have to go into a cave and eat mushrooms." Rina answered.
"Mushrooms!" exclaimed the already high Aurelius, "Count me in!"
"Great" Rina replied sarcastically, "Kin? Alice?"
"Yeah sure, sounds fun" Alice replied.
"No way" replied Kin.
"Why not, Kin?" Alice asked.
"I won't be doing some weird mushroom vampire stuff, we don't know anything about it" he replied.
"They say it's better the more people do it with you, though" Rina mentioned.
"I will not be doing that" Kin said, "I will figure out other stuff for us while you're busy with that. But I will not be doing that."
"Ok," Rina said, "We will go start the Blending, you... go do whatever it is you want to do."

Kin, tired of the absence of trees in this stone city, walked out of the city to a hill just across the river. On the top of the hill was a few small trees, and one large tree. "This is the place..." Kin said to himself. He climbed the tree and watched the sun begin to set. With commune with nature, he spoke to his goddess, "Oara... I wish to connect with you this night. I need guidance."

Rina, Aurelius, and Alice go to the Tunnel Inn to begin their Blending.
The man at the front desk of the inn greeted them, "Good evening, do you desire a normal room or a Blending room?"
"A blending room, please" said Rina, "there's three of us."
"Wonderful," he said, "so you have made sure you have no plans for a while?"
"Why?" asked Alice, "Does this take a long time or something?"
The man laughed gently, "It all just depends. My first one took 2 weeks!"
"Two weeks?!" Rina exclaimed, "I cannot be in here for two weeks."
"Well, I hope you are sound of mind, then" he said, "the more tumult within your mind, the longer this can take."
Rina and Alice looked at each other, then back at Aurelius who was still very high.
"I guess we just gotta jump in" said Alice.
The man displayed a tray with three bunches of mushrooms, "One bunch for each of you, if you get hungry you will need to eat whatever grows in the caves. Remember that there's always water dripping from the stalactites if you get thirsty."
The three of them grabbed their bunch of mushrooms and walked into the room.
The room was barely what one would consider a room. It was fully a cave, with barely smoothed floors - only smoothed from thousands of years of use. It was wet and mushrooms grew along the edges.
Rina and Alice hesitated, but then raised their mushrooms as if they were drinks, and ate them at once.
Aurelius had already eaten all of his, and began eating the other mushrooms in the cave due to munchies.

Once the sun set, Kin began to pray deeply to Oara. "Please, Oara, connect with me. Tell me what you need, tell me if I'm on the right path."
Oara sent Kin a vision.
He appeared in an opulent room, covered in gold and piles of pearls and jewels on the floor. There was a fireplace in the corner, with a gold chair with silk cushions facing the fireplace away from him.
Kin looked around, "What is this? Where am I?"
A deep voice from the direction of the chair answered, "You are exactly where I want you to be, little human."
"Who are you?" Kin yelled, getting nervous - this was definitely not Oara speaking to him.
The figure in the chair stood up and faced him, it was an Incubus, draped in white and gold robes, and holding a small bottle. "I'm the one who holds your precious goddess" he said.

Back at the Blending, Alice began her vision first. Someone with such a small body got hit by the mushrooms much faster than the others.
She awoke in a desert. A sandstorm was thick and blinding. "Hello!?" she yelled, "Is anyone here?" There was no answer. She walked in what she thought was the direction of the wind, but whenever she walked in any direction the wind would move against her.
With sand in her eyes, she happened to see a small shimmer in the sand.

Aurelius' vision began next. He was already high, then ate more mushrooms than anyone else. He saw himself on the edge of a small village. This village looked like Mistbrook, but it was a bit larger with slightly better wooden homes. He could see a line of Therianthrope people, many different kinds of beast people - cat people, sheep people, bird people, and more. He looked to see what they were all lined up for, but could see this was no ordinary line. All of these Therianthropes were sad, seemingly forced to be in this line. Some were crying, some had their hands tied.

Rina's vision began last. She appeared in a void-like space, the sky was red and smoke filled the skies.
She looked down to see she was standing on what looked like red leather, the ground went on as far as the eye could see.
She then saw a shadow on the ground, something blocking what little light there was in this space. As he she looked up to see what was casting the shadows, she saw souls in the sky. Thousands of them. All of them were Therianthrope Souls. She could hear their voices, all screaming and groaning in agony. One voice stood out among the rest - Sebastian, her late husband, floated in this hell with thousands of others of his kind.