System Agnostic/Episode Two: Inns and Outrys

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The story opens once again on the librarian Celeste, poring over remnants of evidence from the small group of adventurers who lived long ago. Books litter the table, pertaining to deities presumed to have existed in post-Giving prehistoric times. Scouring the shelves Celeste uncovers another film, and a yellowed parchment bearing Puud Een’s signature. It’s a warning to her friend Vulpin Winterbreeze about a “massive power” blocking her arcane vision, trying to obscure the truth.

As Celeste turns on the second film, the camera zooms back in on Aranwe, Indomitus, Citizen Doctor Eloise Merhermbler, Puud Een, and Sae Kelven. Picking up from the rescue mission in the previous chapter, they return to the town Outrys and successfully deliver the Rakshasa Youngling back to his father Syth. Overcome with emotion, Syth hugs his son as they reunite, calming the child’s fears that his father would “tan his hide” upon his return. Syth offers the group free lodging at his inn to rest and heal, with the promise of payment for a job well done when they convene for breakfast. They each retire to their respective rooms, the constant litany of Citizen Merhermbler’s “HALALALALALA” echoing down the hallway for several hours.

Upon waking later, Indomitus begins his usual training. Aranwe and Puud Een head outside to take in the surroundings. A slow, rhythmic pulsing of the lichen throughout the cavern catches their attention, and their breathing syncs up with each other, Indomitus, and the lichen in perfect harmony. Aranwe notices the lichen’s colors briefly shift into something much harsher and unnatural before snapping back to its usual softer glow. He admits to Puud Een he had witnessed the medusa from their previous encounter briefly shift and display almost Elven features, but with rounded ears. They commiserate about life underground before the lichen stops pulsating and the Rakshasa briefly forgets to continue breathing on her own.

The group gathers for breakfast and their payment, after which a overly cheerful Wood Elf with bright red hair arrives. Known as Ainok, he’s worked with the party before and led them into dangerous territory enough times (although he swears he didn’t know the flesh-eating mushroom was alive at the time) that his arrival immediately puts them on guard. This time, he bears yet another job for them: escort him to a mysterious temple, find a way to bypass the temple door, and protect him once they’re within. No one is interested until he mentions an important fact—the temple is above ground.

Several members of the party negotiate the fee for the mission, then dismiss Ainok to discuss whether or not to take it. Puud Een scries via a water-filled bucket, where she’s struck with a startling vision: the fiery destruction of the entire world, both above and below its crust, followed by utter oblivion. The temple then appears in her vision, a possible hint that it may be the key to preventing this future. She shares the ill tidings with the party before curling up beside the fireplace for a nap.

While the others contemplate this, Indomitus becomes convinced the bucket is magic and pays the surprised Syth five gold for it. They step outside to go shopping, but are met by Ainok who was “innocently” leaning against a nearby wall as he eavesdropped on the group’s post-bucket conversation. He rolls out a contract written on a scroll, to the shock and suspicion of the group; they had never needed a contract working with him before, so why now? Sae notices Ainok is far too adamant about how the temple “has always been there” for that to be true, and for the briefest moment something about his ears seems strange.  She gets him to admit the temple did seemingly appear out of thin air one day.

After much arguing over the terms and payment (Puud Een and Indomitus adding a couple of clauses to the contract themselves) the group reluctantly each sign the scroll. Sae connects to her god for some advice beforehand, and Rian tells her it’s true the temple hasn’t always been where it stands now, yet the temple itself is “older than even he is.”

Once the contract is signed, Ainok seals it with wax, and magic shimmers across it. He then reminds everyone it’s binding before listing the four “simple” things needed to actually open the temple door: the heart of an active and angry volcano, unfiltered magic, the blessing of a god, and the moon. (The bright one, not the normal one.)

Trying to ignore the enormity of the task they just embarked upon, the group separates to prepare for the trip to the temple. Puud Een and Sae visit the Halfling potion seller Josephina and purchase  a number of healing potions and poultices, while Indomitus and Aranwe head to Vilya and Squawk’s for weaponry. The fighter purchases an otherworldly glaive from the goblin Squawk—and saves the proprietor from his own bag of holding before purchasing that as well.

Aranwe is taken to the back room, which leads to a very large cave holding a tree, an unusual sight underground. The dryad Vilya steps forward to greet him, and asks if he’s seeking a temple. She reveals a “beautiful creature” akin to a goddess had promised they would help keep her tree alive, but told her when an Elf seeking a temple arrived, it meant her time was near. When he confirms he’s seeking a temple, she sells him arrows crafted from her tree to prepare for the journey. Aranwe asks how he can help preserve the tree, concerned about causing the end of things—even indirectly. Vilya assures him she’s not trying to escape her fate, she merely wants to be remembered. She weaves a flower into his hair, and asks him to plant it elsewhere when his journey is complete.

The film comes to an end on the library projector, and Celeste contemplates what she’s witnessed. She collects her notes on each party member, secretly hoping they succeeded in their mission, as she heads off to find the next chapter within the annals of the library.