Session+Eight

After some much needed rest, the PCs and Dunin are led by a messenger back to the Bright tree, and into a large meeting room where cookies and tea await them. After a short time, Kaiden joins the group, followed by a tall, winged, elven woman. She is introduced as Kaileena, Kaiden’s sister. She hands Arion a scroll, which he reads aloud to the group. (The actual contents can be found in things/ riddles/ riddle one.) The group debates for a bit about the actual meaning of the riddle. Kaileena informs them that the answer to the riddle is the location of the Gift. Believing the location to be somewhere in Ivycrest, the group prepares for yet another lengthy journey. Kaiden, while unable to join the group, helps to supply them with food, horses, and other traveling necessities. Kirin made a new acquaintance before departing that day. Kaiden and Kaileena’s youngest brother, Gaverith had managed to run into him (literally) in the hallway, and the two became fast friends as a result. Terrannion is the first small town between Ivycrest and Illrya. Here, the weary crew decides to take a short break from their travels. They remain in the town for two nights, recovering some of the lost sleep and body heat that they have been sorely missing. During their stay, the group hears rumor of a ‘creature’ that is loose in the woods. (See ‘infernal’s woods’ in the myths and legends section) Kirin wishes to find the monster and ‘beat it up’, but the rest of the party is simply hoping to avoid any contact! The next stop in the road is a town known as Oakview. (We didn't actually play out being in this town... we forgot it was there, so of course nothing of real note happened here. The group arived in this town on Novrem 29th, having left Terrannion on the 22nd.) Near noon on Decem, the 6th, the group finally arrives in Ivycrest. The town is bustling with activity as the locals purchase gifts for the upcoming winter festivals. After a brief snowball fight, (ending with Dunin hucking a rock-filled snowball at Kirin, bruising the kid rather badly) the crew locates an inn. The name of the place is called Three Tops, in reference to the majestic mountains that can be seen from nearly any place in the city. Included in the price of the three rooms that Arion requested is a meal for everyone in the party. Not being ones to pass up a ‘free’ dinner, the group quickly unpacks and reconvenes in the dining area of the in for a late lunch. Choosing a table near the fire place, all except for Kirin take a seat. Kirin, instead walks over to a group of strangers that the PCs had noticed upon entering. The group consists of two elven men (identical twins) and a horned, red-headed man wrapped tightly in blankets, sipping a warm drink. Kirin strikes up a conversation with the three, and is having a grand old time. Arion and Jen however, don’t think that these three are the safest people for Kirin to be getting involved with. (The red-head looks as though he would be capable of eating small children for breakfast with out a second thought.) Arion joins Kirin and tempts him into returning to the table with lunch. Kirin returns with Arion, and the group finishes their meal. When Kirin is done wolfing down his food, he returns to the other table and continues his conversation. Long story short, the red-head eventually is introduced to the group as Keraph. Sasha is none too pleased with this person, and she proceeds to growl and bark at him. Dunin and he share scathing looks as well. In spite of that though, Keraph informs the group that he is in need of Kirin’s help. Kirin strikes up a deal, offering to help Keraph if he, in return will give them a tour of the town. Keraph looks to Kirin’s companions (or parents, as he continually refers to them as) to receive a final consent. Arion agrees that Kirin can go with him and help out, if they agree to allow Arion to join them. The remaining party members strike up a chorus of ‘me too’, and the entire crew, including Keraph and his two elven friends (whom we learn are named Gerard and Gideon Saeryel, though Keraph admits he doesn’t know which one is which) head out to The Cresting Falls. The ‘help’ that Keraph needs involves tying a rope to Kirin, and then having the boy climb down the cliff face and into a cave behind the waterfall itself to retrieve an item inside. As it would turn out, Keraph had attempted this before, and managed to end up in the pool below. He figures that Kirin is lighter though, and there are more people helping to haul him back up! Kirin sets to work, Jen worrying all the while. He eventually locates the item in question (an onyx box) and is hauled back up the side of the cliff. Things can’t go that well, though… about half way up, the rope rubs against a sharp rock and snaps, sending Kirin tumbling down into the pool below. As Jen and Arion impatiently watch for Kirin to emerge from below the water’s surface, Keraph takes a running jump off of the cliff and into the freezing water. Arion looks back at the twins, who are looking at the rope he is now holding by himself, and in a rather cartoonish moment of realization Arion notices that the other end of the rope is now tied around a plummeting Keraph. He is nearly pulled off of the cliff himself before the elves manage to assist him. Jen joins in as well and shortly after Keraph took his leap there is a definite tugging signal on the rope. The four start hauling the rope while Arion asks Lia and Dunin for their assistance. Lia eventually joins in as well, but Dunin refuses. Eventually, Keraph is hauled up, clinging tightly to Kirin. Both are drenched and frozen. Arion and Jen immediately shrug off their coats and cloaks to wrap up the two, and they all head back to the Inn to warm up. Keraph shows Arion, Kirin, and Jen to his room, which is extremely warm…, the fire in the hearth is huge and dangerously hot. Eventually the crew thaws out, and the discussion turns to the object that Kirin managed to retrieve from the cave. Keraph mentions that it is “a gift. Something for a lovely lady.” Kirin wishes to see it, and Keraph agrees to show it to him before they go on their tour later on. Kirin seems to be ok with this, and he, Arion, and Jen leave Keraph to get some rest. Kirin returns to his room to get some sleep as well and Arion and Jen head down stairs for a short while.

Now that this little adventure is finished, the group needs to figure out the exact answer to the riddle and find the Gift. Where will they start looking? Tune in next time. (hehe)

Session Nine