Session Date: 03/31/2025
Session Start
Widald is still trying his hardest to copy Tabby, including trying to borrow some clothes or trying to dye his (black) clothes to match Tabby’s (and failing).
Orvel Onyons is actually doing pretty well - he’s actually relatively happy, and he has picked up drawing! Oryeon Onyons tries to bully him a bit, but none of the party lets him. He tries to make some argument about us encroaching on his family dynamics - or whatever - and we are unimpressed by that. He whines that we aren’t responding to his memos and Faylen feigns ignorance, pretending to be surprised that we were supposed to respond. Oryeon says we’re all like Axamonar, and we all say thank you at what we consider the compliment.
Oreyon the “Diplomat”
The Underground
People continue to go to Mary for healing if they need actual healing, and she otherwise helps with wayfinding through this area, and keeps an eye open in case any more of the displaced creatures are found. She continues to help Indracht Krell keep track that they do not cause any undue ecological harm.
As we continue, Mary notices a lava geyser area that has fire elementals. This is definitely not on any maps, and Indracht explains that this was an area that they were supposed to send an envoy to speak with them to ensure that they are okay with us going through this area.
Indracht explains that Oreyon was supposed to take care of the relations with the Munsahir. Oryeon was rather excited about this because he wishes to be an ambassador at some point in the future. We all scoff at the idea, but Indracht would like for us to let him think he accomplished this, if possible.
Mary looks around above to see if any birds are around so they can scout, but all of the birds have left, which is to be expected.
Setting Out: A Lesson in Diplomacy
We head out, and Oryeon has totally taken Orvel and is using him as his pack mule. Orvel isn’t happy with this, but he’ll deal with it. We head out while Oryeon is insufferable about how he’s cool and prepared for this entire thing. He taps on the door to enter the underground and it opens, letting us in. We approach the elevator and Oryeon tries to use it, because he doesn’t want to walk. Bosch offers to carry him, and when Oryeon says yes, Bosch offers to get his hands if someone will get his feat. Oryeon is not amused.
We continue on, and Mary notices that someone is following us - nobody else notices. She asks Talitha to go check it out, and she says that there are some dark-skinned gnomes? Following us? Definitely not fire dwarves. Mary leans over to Tabby and asks what he knows about that kind of gnome, and Tabby explains there’s a type of gnome that generally lives underground (not always) - it’s a cousin species of the gnome called the spriggan. They have an ability to become larger in size, and they live in this area up to the north - there are cities of spriggans. The spriggans are definitely following us, and are definitely capable of violence.
Mary tells everyone but Oryeon about them and Orvel asks what the plan is. Mary says right now she just wants to wait and see: if they’re just trying to scout things out to make sure we aren’t going to attack them then there’s no reason to interact. Oryeon asks what we’re talking about, and Mary says we’re just discussing how much further this is.
Bosch skips up to the front and asks Oryeon to teach him how to be more diplomatic. Oryeon calls Bosch trash, and Bosch asks if that’s how you are diplomatic. Oryeon explains that you’re only diplomatic to important people, and Bosch says he understands, but how does he do it. Oryeon says Bosch does it by being silent because it requires tact, knowledge, and being able to read books - he doesn’t think Bosch can do it.
Faylen speaks up to say that Bosch has actually brokered numerous relationships for them and is actually pretty good at it, and Oryeon comments that we need far more help than he expected. There’s some back and forth about how Oryeon follows Izoraxx because he knows that Izoraxx will help him further himself, and Faylen points out Izoraxx is just using him. Oryeon says that’s normal, he’s using izoraxx in the same way, it’s very normal, and Faylen says it definitely is not. Oryeon finally says he’s being rude, and Bosch pipes up to say you can’t be rude to people who are important!
Bosch asks for next steps and Oryeon explains that the next thing you need to do is make someone think your idea is theirs, and Bosch says that trickery is actually utilized in deception. Oryeon agrees and continues to say that you need to use trickery to get what you want out of the deal. Bosch asks what the goal is, and Oryeon explains we want safe passage through the land and, eventually, for them to become our subjects. Diplomacy is how to get there without killing as many people.
So, Bosch continues, when Oryeon goes to them and says that they will be free and we just need passage, and Bosch’s job is to make them believe it. Oryeon agrees.
The Spriggan
We make it to a bridge over lava and it’s the first time we’ve seen an actual fire theme around here. Mary comments that this is an active volcano, which isn’t so much fun.
Oryeon says that the point is that we talk to people, we make them think what we want them to think, then we reap the rewards. That’s how everything works - it’s just life.
There’s a column of stone in the middle of the bridge. We hear behind us, from the spriggan, “Okay, I think we’ve heard enough.” All of them have crossbows, and they’re all aimed at Oryeon. They comment that we all sound like a bunch of nasty mercenaries, and Oryeon stammers saying he’s a diplomat.
The spriggan ask what we’re doing here - Oryeon should not answer - and Mary explains that we are here to counteract whatever it is Oryeon does with regards to talks with the Munsahir. The spriggan comment that Mary must be a saint to counteract Oryeon, and Orvel covers Oryeon’s mouth before he can speak again. Tabby and Mary explain that we wish to move through here in peace.
The spriggan explain that within the past few days, the munsahir have pooled a lot of lava around the spriggan’s village. The mushroom fields were scorched and Mary offers any healing - the spriggan confirm nobody’s been hurt, but that the munsahir and spriggan were friendly for quite some time and this group is an envoy to see what is going on. They’re also a detachment to assassinate any problems in the munsahir if needed.
The spriggan declare they will join us to the munsahir and they comment they are just going to ignore Oryeon. Oryeon starts to pout about that and calls it unfair, and we all just head out toward the munsahir.
Orvel comments that Oryeon likely is like this because their sister is truly awful, and he likely is grasping to try to have control. Orvel continues that he changed because he was made half undead and then healed by nice people, so he has friends, and he knows that this has changed him. He hopes that we never run into his sister, and we reassure that he won’t have to deal with her alone. Oryeon overhears and admits that their sister is genuinely awful, yes - it’s actually why he became a wizard.
The Munsahir & Breakwater
We make it to the city and the architecture is beautiful: carved basalt with the traditional dwarven design. As we enter, we see a Breakwater Company flag, with a sign that says “Under New Management” beneath the flag. Faylen comments that this explains quite a bit, and the spriggan ask if this is bad - they don’t know what Breakwater Company is. Tabby and Mary confirm that this is very bad, and Oryeon explains that Breakwater Company must be doing something correct to have so much money.
Mary explains that they do not do things correctly, they hurt an awful lot of people. Oryeon continues trying to argue it and Tabby eventually tells him to shut up. Oryeon does shut his mouth and the spriggan ask what the plan is.
Faylen recommends that we try to find the leadership that was ousted and perhaps get enough people together to oust Breakwater Company, and the leader of the spriggan comments he didn’t sign up to start a revolution. He opts to send some people back to his home to explain what is going on, and Faylen writes out an explanation of what is going on so that the leader of their town knows what’s going on. Faylen doesn’t assume that the spriggan know anything about this and gives a full accounting. The leader of the spriggan detachment says that he will stay here and if we need someone assassinated, he’ll help in that regard.
We approach the gate, which is closed. Oryeon goes to start shouting at the gate. There is one munsahir here - he asks for 5-10 minutes to turn everything around. This process requires three people and he’s the only one here. Oryeon rudely tells him to get going, and the dwarf gets started with the whole mechanism. The moment that the gate has a crack so that Bosch can grab the gate and helps open it, speeding up the entire process.
Oryeon asks for an escort, and the gentleman explains he cannot leave his post, so we should make our way inside and go to the big building in the center. We go ahead down and we see people as we walk through - munsahir, certainly, and some other dwarves wearing Breakwater uniforms. All the people here are workers, and the families seem to have left this area.
The large building is akin to a castle - this is where the lord or mayor of the city would be. The government building, per se. The guards let us in and there is an actual throne that is clearly not part of the original build of the city - it’s clearly a new addition.
Ciril Minechest is sitting in the throne, clearly waiting for us. Ciril explains he bought this city fair and square, and he comments that when it comes to mining? Breakwater will always be involved, so they’re turning this into a company town.
Ciril comments that his caravan will be here in a couple of weeks, and we may as well just give up and help. They’ve also blocked up the lava flow so that his people will be able to easily get here when they do arrive, and that’s why the lava’s pooled up by the spriggan. Bosch decides to look for the vent/pump for the lava.
Oryeon tries to diplomacy like a wet paper bag, but he is at least trying!
We stand outside and try to figure out next steps. Mary feels another pair of eyes on us and she notices The Agent is here, having followed us. Mary is ready to fight but Tabby restrains her and The Agent explains she is here as close to peacefully as possible. She asks us not to kill or harm Ciril, and she promises that she will make sure that Ciril leaves once he realizes he’s lost. We agree for the sake of the economy.
Also, we learn that The Agent’s real name is Odette, and she’s the sister of Oryeon and Orvel.
Bosch comes down and comments that the back part of the city looks far more mechanized, and we should look around to see if we can find the lava flow controls. He did notice a building with many levers and mechanics. Oryeon comments that he did read the instructions on this and if we follow the pipes we should find where the mechanism is. We do decide to follow the pipes out of town.