13 Kythorn
Relfiel finishes teaching Falco how to enhance holy Water. He leaves us on the way back to Lord Ashlay. Along the way, we stop to collect Willard from the ship (which is now painted black)
We see soldiers (13) training recruits (55) in combat drills and more approaching. They seem hostile to us. Roland notices a redhead in charge. He has a red badge with black claws. He is Zark, commander of the Red Talons. Zark spits at us but we pass without further incident.
Falco and Kohrt stay outside. Ashlay looked bedraggled. We detail the gnoll situation but don’t mention the zombies. Ashlay knows about them and asks.
Skeletor wants Falco to take him inside to Ashlay. The mercenaries (8) have stopped drills and are gathering near Falco and Kohrt. Kohrt insults Zark. 5 more are nearby.
Kerryk persuades Ashlay that we thought eliminating the zombies was of public interest.
Ashlay explains he’s assembling a force to attack Gargan of Little Faith. The Black Talons are hired by him. He says we can take the place of his raw conscripts he recruited after the zombies were destroyed. He says we should give him Gargan’s head.
Ashlay’s plan was originally to send the Talons and the zombies. He will pay us for gnoll matters. He wants our guarantee that we can replace the mercenaries on the Little Faith mission. We leave Velor with Ashlay as collateral. We get 400 gold. Ashlay dismisses the Black Talons. Az insults Zark.
Skeletor says Ashlay looks familiar and wants to speak to him. Skeletor insults Ashlay.
We depart for Little Faith, leaving Velor behind.
We ask Wilard about Little Faith and Gargan. Wilard says Ashlay contracted Mountain Sickness from the mountains of Little Faith. Wilard is a Toddist.
When we arrive at the docks, we’re asked if we’re working the feast. Az says we are. We are directed to the manor for the Little Faith Healing ceremony. Az sings Toddist hymns on the way. Wilard doesn’t know about these ceremonies.
Guards surround the garden where the pre-feast festivities happen. Various unwell folks are gathered in front of a stage where Gargan and Toddist priests are gathered. Somebody starts singing but guards silence the singer. Gargan makes a speech about a Chosen. People are coming up on stage and “healing” people in the name of Todd.
Zash overhears a Toddist named Yie talk to Wilard. Asks if Wilard is hear to see his mom. Yie says he’s available to talk because a lot has happened since Wilard left. No malicious intent from Yie but he was testing Wilard, digging for more info.
Az sees the healers as bad actors and repeat penitents. Zash can tell some magic is actually happening for some folks. The magic (Abjuration) is happening when Gargan is reading from magical scrolls.
We go into the manor for the feast. Kohrt is not impressed by the food available. Joan Osborne does not seem happy. The head priest doesn’t look happy to be there.
Kerryk loans Zash his dagger. Kerryk casts prestidigitation on a guard making him taste vomit. Joan tells Kerryk she hates Gargan’s ceremony and rulership. He strong-armed the priesthood within the last two years. She doesn’t know other folks with similar feelings. One of the servants talking to Gargan is a blonde woman with a blue ribbon in her hair.
We think the feat is a dead end, so we go to Wilard’s family farm. Wilard asks Az to wear a hood on the way.
On the way, everyone forgets Joan except Az, Kerryk and Wilard. We arrive at the farm shortly before sunset. Halfling farmhands are working the fields. Wilard suggests Kerryk conceal his appearance before meeting his parents too.
We meet Wilard’s father. He isn’t Ken on the idea of visitors. Wilard goes off to find his mom, but can’t find her. Wilard directs everyone to their rooms for the night. Wilard seems confused and not sure what is happening. Az finds out that Wilard’s dad does not remember his wife/Wilard’s mom.
Falco tries to talk to the farmhands, but they don’t say anything.
As the party settles in for the night, Kohrt, on watch, hears a noise and heads outside to investigate. He sees a figure on horseback leaving the barn. They are heading toward town. Kohrt checks on Wilard and finds him missing. He alerts Kerryk. They rouse the party and we head into town riding horses from the barn.
We catch up to Wilard and ask him what’s going on. He’s upset that his dad doesn’t remember his mom. He says he saw a servant wearing his mom’s ribbon.
(Did Gargan make everyone forget the brother?)