Jazeryk was still in a little bit of shock. He nodded slowly. His brain and mouth weren't quite on good terms for a second, so it took him a moment to catch up even as his mouth sort of slowly said, "Research. Sure. That good, I mean, sounds like a good start."

He cleared his throat. "If a vestige can be Identified with the spell, then yes, that would be good too."

He shook his head and looked at the Elder, "Did you have something else in mind with gathering us, or just...this?"

Elder Ushru looked over Jazeryk Icozerin his eyes full of mirth and then began. "Yes, yes, it was just..."



Elder Ushru mouthed the words in common to break the ice and tension from the proceedings. "I had a vision that was quite disturbing, but it all makes sense now, in hindsight, with the information about the Emerald Grotto that you have shared. I've sent another group to research those red ropey things that the kobold showed via his illusion magicks, so hopefully, we will learn more about that soon. So what are you all going to do now?"

Elder Ushru sipped on his drink and looked over the group.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:02, Wed 07 June 2023.

Alyxian is trapped.  And he needs help.  And maybe helping him would be a positive contribution."

Romeroz took up a drink and finished half of it with a thoughtful swallow.  His mind was so distracted that he could not honestly tell you what it tasted like.

"He said the... it... would help us.  So we should find out what it does, and then use it for help?"

Romeroz shrugged.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 20:44, Wed 07 June 2023.

Lyania sat by and looked at the group, a neutral expression on her face. She smiled a half Smil and shrugged. "I've seen some weird things - bad things, but a message that included an artifact is a first even for me." She looked almost excited by the thought.

"Free a hero from some evil unknown, linked to the goddess's. Let a artifact gifted from teh gods themselves show us how." She shook her head. "I'm not one for gods, but i do know monsters and evil. This path may be long, and i think my skills as a tracker may help. Either way, the first clue leads to Bazzoxan."

"I think so far we are all for helping Alyxian then, including myself." Lesstry said generally.

"Chitterkit agrees," the Kobold replies, "but want time to prepare. Not know Bazzoxan, and want see maps or books before set off."

Jazeryk looked thoughtful as the others spoke. Almost to himself, looking at no one, he said, "Bazzoxan." His lips twitched, whether towards a smile or frown could not be seen. "Interesting. Probably dangerous."

He then seemed to come back to himself. He gave a small nod. "Very well. When do we leave?"

Romeroz frowned.  "How far away is Bazzoxan?  It it a few days?  I've never really left Jigow."

Romeroz fidgeted.  They would have to carry food.  He had slept out of doors before, but mostly due to poverty and being kicked out of the house.  He shrugged.

"Animals will want to eat our food.  We will need to keep watches when we travel."

Lyania couldn't help but smile at Romeroz's estimation of the trip and shook her head. "I've never been there myself, but from all i have heard It will take more than a few days. Even at a fast pace without issues it would be more than a week."

She shruged. "We go a slow, normal pace and with caution, your looking at two, maybe three weeks at most." She looked at him. "...and trust me - animals eating the food will be the least of our worries."4

Romeroz eyed Lyania with a cocked eyebrow.  "I tend to get hungry.  I do not want to lose my food."

Romeroz paused, processed the rest of what Lyania said, and then added.  "You mean you expect beasts or bandits.  They will not expect us.  I know it is important to be a positive contribution to society, but there should be little mercy for beasts and bandits.  Once they know what to expect, we should have an easier time when we travel."

A few weeks to get there, he hoped they were making the right decision about where to go. No telling what state this Alyxian character was in.

"We can also hunt for food along the way Romeroz, that will help with not having to carry food. I am partial to fishing"

The woman drew a dagger and looked at it. "Oh, there will be more than beasts out there - monsters, bandits, more. I usually go on the saying 'hope for the best, but expect the worst'."

She sheathed her dagger and looked at them. "As for getting food, i am a fair hunter. I'm no seasoned ranger, but i know how to scrounge some berries or hunt down some meat." She shrugged. "...but i'd take some rations along anyway"

"Joy...beasts and bandits, what more could a girl hope for?" Zaelys said with a smirk. Her fingers absently traced along her left horn as she spoke, "So, you know the way then? Good!"

Zaelys asked while pointing suddenly at Lyania.

"What other concerns should we have? Besides our concerns about beasts and bandits?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Tue 13 June 2023.

Lesstry liked this Zaelys, he hoped her seemingly high spirits would help to keep the group afloat if they had more ill luck like they had with Gar.

"I once heard a drunk old orc at a tavern say, 'When one embarked upon a journey, a thousand discomforts awaited the weary traveler at every turn.'. He was probably just upset that his coin purse had been stolen and he was unable to afford his drinks though... he was well spoken though."

Jazeryk frowned slightly as he thought and muttered, "Weeks? hmm. I'll need to buy more rations and waterskins. At least I have a way to carry them all."

He then glanced at the others, "I suppose if we shall be traveling together, facing potential dangers, knowing what each other is capable of will be...wise, though perhaps more when we are alone or on the road already. But for a short informative bit, I am a Cleric of the Luxon. Where there is light, there is shadow." It almost sounded like a rehearsed routine thing to say.

"If we are leaving tomorrow, then wonderful. If sooner, I need a little time to make some purchases."

Lyania looked at the tiefling with a neutral expression. The roads around here should have the standard dangers - beasts, some risk of bandits, but with such a large group, they'd think twice of such." She absently tapped the table. "With the distance, weather may be an issue, so we will need to plan camps - you don't want night to fall and your in the open with nothing but rocks."

She sighed. I've never been as far as Bazzoxan myself - most of my travel has been within a few days of here lately. But i have heard that Bazzoxan is home of drow and goblins...a rough place." She looked around. "....tends to attract people of the less than morale disposition."

At the question of her skills, she shrugged. "Like i said, i can track and fight. Not as good in the wild as a hunter, but have some skills. Prefer fighting up front with my sword or...." She trailed off, but then continued. "Lets just say i can handle myself."

"Some of my best friends are Drow and Goblin" Lesstry said with a toothy smile.

"I have this..." he upholstered his pistol and set it on the table with a loud clunk. "...It's really loud though so when we need to be a bit quieter I also carry a sword which I am handy with as well."

Elder Ushsu clapped his hands before him and stood, excusing himself from the table.

"I wish you luck; I get the feeling that you will need it." The elder said while he stood with a groan and the popping of several of his vertebrae. "If you are looking to get supplies before you leave town, toss the shopkeeper my name, and they might be able to work with you on pricing."

He paused and turned back to the table.

"Not sure if that will help you with any magical goods that you might need..." He thought pensively for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders, allowing his temporary worries to float away.

"Enjoy your breakfast Sagacious Seagulls." Elder Ushru says over his shoulder as he moves to exit the Broken Tusk.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:51, Thu 15 June 2023.

Romeroz was considering all the information.  "So, we need to buy food.  And hunt.  And guard.  And travel.  I do not think it is good to wait too long to do these things."

Romeroz patted his short swords at his sides.  "I was told everyone saw the fight with the shark through magic.  If you were there, I do not have many secrets to hide from you.  If you need to borrow one of these weapons, just let me know.  I am always armed."

Romeroz tapped his forehead as well.  "And I can use the trick we used in the water again.  Someday it will work for more people.  With training and practice."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:38, Thu 15 June 2023.

Jazeryk smiled at Lesstry and echoed his sentiment, "Mine as well." He put on a straight face. "Now if she had said it was full of Kobolds, Lizardfolk and Bugbears..." He then smiled again, clearly teasing. "It wouldn't lessen my intention to go there one bit."

He then turned serious once more with a nod. "I have a bag capable of carrying more than it appears to hold. I have a couple week's worth of rations already, but it doesn't hurt to be a little over-prepared. And I'm happy to carry extra if we need."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Mon 19 June 2023.

"Chitterkit and Kukoku thank Elder Ushru for kindness," Chitterkit said, bowing to the wizened Goblin as he left. The Kobold then turned his attention back to the issue at hand.

"Chitterkit have special bag, too," he added, showing the bag of holding strapped to his back. "Can help carry heavy things. Will buy more food and water before leave, too. Also want check library, maybe buy map. Need some time to study, especially if writings in different tongues.

Chitterkit not warrior" he continued, "but scholar. Know some magic, but most spells meant for sneaky sneaks or tricksy tricks." As he spoke, the large owl on his shoulder ruffled its feathers and gave a few short hoots.

"Kukoku say Kukoku can help, too," Chitterkit translated for his owl familiar. "Can fly high, spot sneaks, keep watch."

"Looks like we all have the same tailor" Lesstry said patting his own bag of holding. "By the way are we sold on the Sagacious Seagulls? Not that I don't like birds..." Lesstry gave a gentle nod to Kukoku, "But Seagulls don't exactly sound like a majestic animal for the history books"

"There is a story told around Jigow about the seagull.  I... I am not a very good story teller.  Perhaps there is an Elder or bard who would tell it better.  But it is not an insult.  The seagull is a hunter, but it also takes the scraps.  It groups together to claim territory, but in the end every gull can fly alone.  Perhaps tonight, if we travel, I will see if I can remember all the words.  But I am no minstrel.  I cannot promise a good story.  Just the one I remember."

Romeroz scratched his cheek for a moment in thought.  "It has magic in it, but no gods," he added.

Lyania listened to the explanation and had a wry smile. "Don't underestimate the simplest of animals in the world. The albatross is said to be both good and bad luck to sailors, even though a simple bird."

She shrugged, then looked at them. "in the end, a name is a name. Would gold still be as valued if it was called dirt?" She crossed her arms. "Often legends are named for what happens on their path, not what has been labeled them."

Jazeryk smiled lightly as he looked from the kobold to the lizardfolk. "I see. I suppose that carrying things won't be a problem for us then at least." He reached up with one hand to rub the back of his head lightly. "It's better to have too much room and strength then not enough."

He looked at the owl and gave a small nod. Then his eyebrows rose upwards. "What? Seagulls?" He gave a shrug. It didn't really matter to him, he supposed. And a name could be changed later if needs be.