Session 02

Session Overview

The party’s journey brought them to the peaceful, festive village of Hush in the Sablewood forest. After a brief rest, they sought the whereabouts of the Whitefire Arcanist to deliver a package from the king. Their inquiries led them from a playful child to a boisterous tavern, where a dwarf named Lausa directed them to the Arcanist’s secluded treehouse. Following a short walk and a precarious climb, the party finally met the Arcanist ending the session just as they presented her with the royal delivery.

Attendees & Status

• Present:
  • Jinks (Game Master)
  • Marlowe (Erik)
  • Khari (Sidney)
  • Varian (Justin)
• Significant Character State Changes:
  • Varian marked one stress after a disorienting encounter with the Arcanist’s magical tree defenses.

Discovered/Known Locations

• The Village of Hush: A friendly and comforting village located within the Sablewood. The party arrived during preparations for the “Firstmoss Festival,” celebrating the growth of a special moss on local crops.
• The Clover Tavern: A massive six-story tavern built around the trunk of an ancient tree, serving as the community’s heart. It has a unique tradition where newcomers must hang their shoes on a line upon entry, which are then shined and filled with trinkets.
• The Farmlands of Hush: Located south of the village, these farms cultivate crops covered in a thin layer of softly pulsing, glowing blue moss.
• the Arcanist’s Treehouse: The home of the Whitefire Arcanist, located past the farmlands. The house hangs like an “overripe fruit” from a tall tree, supported by a thick rope and a cabin-sized boulder as a counterweight. The surrounding trees are carved with hundreds of unique faces.

Key Events

• Arrival in Hush: The party’s carriage rolled into the village, passing a dwarven pillar and feeling a sensation like a bubble popping as they entered the town’s safe domain.
• Information Gathering: Khari’s loud inquiries attracted the attention of a playful child named Fidget, who, after a game and a coin from Marlowe, directed them to a knowledgeable dwarf named Lausa at the Clover Tavern.
• Tavern Activities: Inside the bustling Clover Tavern, Varian won two handfuls of gold playing a card game called “Acorn Run” against Halython, a Clank. The party then spoke with Lausa.
• Finding the Arcanist: Lausa confirmed the Arcanist had recently been at the tavern but had returned to her treehouse, a 20-minute walk south through the farmlands.
• The Treehouse Encounter: Varian attempted to climb the tree to the house, triggering a magical defense where a carved face whistled and a branch animated to grab him. The Arcanist revealed herself, and the party was brought into her home after a display of magic (and Khari’s perceived super-strength) lowered the house to the ground.
• The Delivery: The session concluded as Marlowe formally presented the package from king Emeris to the Arcanist.

Character History & Reveals

• Khari: Showed a playful side by engaging in a peek-a-boo game with the child, Fidget. She was later chided by the dwarf Lausa for not having named her axe, which seemed to genuinely upset her. She also believed she was single-handedly lifting the giant boulder that served as the treehouse’s counterweight.
• Varian: Demonstrated his ranger skills (theatrically) by tasting dirt to “find” the clearly visible tavern. He showed a love for treehouses and an impulsive, cat-like nature by immediately trying to climb to the Arcanist’s home. He has a history of being tricked by children.
• Marlowe: Acted as a parental figure, showing pride in the others’ efforts and taking the lead on ordering drinks and paying the tab. He attempted to smooth over Khari’s cultural faux pas with Lausa regarding the unnamed axe.

Important NPC Interactions

• Fidget: A human child who playfully interacted with Khari. After being given a coin by Marlowe, he told the party to seek out Lausa in the tavern for information about the Arcanist. He consistently mixed up “Arcanist” and “Artificer.”
• Lausa Standworth: An old, bearded dwarf woman found drinking at the Clover Tavern. She was initially gruff about Khari’s unnamed axe but warmed up after a few drinks. She gave the party directions to the Arcanist’s treehouse and revealed the Arcanist’s name.
• Halython Fives: A clank that Varian played cards with. He was trying to teach his pet fox bat to play the game and was perplexed by Varian winning through pure luck rather than strategy.
• The Whitefire Arcanist: A seven-foot-tall fairy resembling a mix of a humanoid and a firefly. She is old but spry. She was annoyed by Varian’s attempt to climb her tree but confirmed she was expecting the party, noting they were late.

Loot Acquired

• Party Treasure:
  • Varian won two handfuls of gold playing cards, giving one to Marlowe to cover their tab.
• Personal Items:
  • The party’s shoes were left at the tavern to be shined and filled with small trinkets.
  • Khari received a large, salad-bowl-sized container for her ale.

Notable Quotes

Khari: “Has anybody seen the white fire?” (Whispering loudly in the town square after being told not to shout, attempting to be discreet.)

Marlowe: “I’m starting to feel like a proud mother of underachieving children.” (After Varian theatrically “tracked” the location of the tavern they could all see.)

Varian: “The tavern’s this way.” (After an elaborate show of putting his ear to the ground, tasting dirt, and dropping it, pointing directly at the massive, obvious tavern.)

Next Time

• The party will witness the Arcanist’s reaction to the king’s package.
• The purpose of the delivery and the nature of the “Firstmoss Festival” may be revealed.
• The party needs to return to the Clover Tavern to retrieve their shoes and the trinkets within.