Episodes and other media available on YouTube and Twitch

Episode 20: The Sting of Suspicion

Last time you began at the bridge over the river Seam(sp?), the lifeless body of Petra above you. A placard around her neck declaring her guilt. With Kelnys’ help, Dolly cut the rope that held the dead tiefling and discovered a poet’s scarf among her possessions (an indication that Petra had once intended to become a Poet of Grace). As I (TCNTM) threw the placard into the fast-flowing river below, you crossed the bridge and joined the Salt Road (the major trade route in this part of Reliquiae) heading north towards the sanctum.
As you made your way north, you discussed your options once you arrived at the dragonborn stronghold (Dolly pointing out, given that the Sanctum is situated on an island, you’d need to cross Fathom (the lake that separates the Sanctum from the mainland)). She assured the rest of you that she had a contact from her past who may be able to help once you reach the town of Seascale that sits on Fathom’s southern shore.
After some hours traveling the Salt Road, you came to the first of many clusters of shops, stalls, and taverns that line the route. Kelnys, Radian and I bought discount fish from an Endless Oceaner Orc called Mac, who insisted that Seren the Inland Sea could be sailed beyond the Alinites. Radian and Elowyn then overheard a pair of halflings discussing the Fortis Legion and (in the guise of a married couple) spoke with the pair regarding the movements of the paladin order. The halflings revealed that the legion were no longer allowing any but their own to enter the sanctum and also gave the name of a few taverns the party could stay at on their jouney north.
Having bought some exquisite toffee apples from their stall, and sampled some mild cider, Radian and Elowyn took their leave and you all hit the road again. That evening, with the sun beginning to set, you arrived at the first tavern mentioned by the halflings, the Salt Shed. In the rear of the tavern, a crowd sat and watched as mists played over the Inland Sea. Taking in the scene, your thoughts turned to fears (of the past, of the worlds beyond, and the dangers that may lie ahead) as I tucked into his third toffee apple.
Dolly secured a room speaking to the tavern keeper who shared her cynicism at the actions of the Fortis Legion. By now a sugar-saturated I was bothering various patrons with endless questions. Kelnys spoke about Seascale and the Sanctum (the dragonborn revealing his fears of the Legion and his lack of connection with dragonborn culture). He suspected answers to long-forgotten questions may lie in wait, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear them. The rest of the newly dead (minus their Kobold friend) reaffirmed to to him that whatever he faced, they would face it together.
As night fell and the mists cleared, Kelnys went outside, followed by Elowyn. They spoke of trees and how hard it could be to focus on things beyond yourself. Elowyn told him that, for the first time ever, she missed home.
Meanwhile, as Radian and Dolly gazed out at Sarin, he asked her about her contact in Seascale. The tiefling shared that she was always uncomfortable when reconnecting with figures from her past; that all her life she had presented whatever version of herself she thought people wanted to see. How did she know who she was? How did she know if she was a good person? Radian reminded her of all the times she had wanted to run and hadn’t. Then they made a pact to run into the lake at Fathom together once they arrived.
That night, Kelnys slept fitfully (his mind full of images from his past) until he was finally able to focus on a memory of sitting in the canopy of a tree of Lafee as it walked towards a sunset, a soft hand in his.
The next morning, you returned to the Salt Road. After a few hours, you heard noises at the crest of a hill overlooking Saren. As I, Kelnys, and Radian crept through snow-covered ferns, Elowyn and Dolly proceeded along the road finding two members of the Fortis Legion attaching a placard to a large stone. The dragonborn spotted Radian and began to question the three of you (checking your packs, and finding Radian’s spellbook/diary which revealed your identities). Before the dragonborn could act, Kelnys, I and Dolly were on the offensive. Dolly casting Suggestion to instruct the Legion members to let them be. I having already incapacitated one of them with Tasha's Hideous Laughter. Realizing that Suggestion would only delay the discovery of your journey north, you attacked again, slaying both dragonborn before they could deal you any damage.
As evening fell, you reached another tavern that had been recommended to you inside a dragonborn seemed to recognize Kelnys and gestured him over to his table. Kelnys approached, whereupon the dragonborn Dolas, called Kelnys by his name and spoke of a meeting decades ago, when the Web used Kelnys as an intermediary during negotiations with the Fortis Legion. Though Kelnys couldn’t remember Dolas specifically, he did have a memory of the meeting he spoke of. He revealed that the party were headed to the sanctum. Dolas going on to warn him that the Sanctum had changed, whilst also telling Kelnys that he had recently left the Fortis Legion. Intrigued to know more, Kelnys brought the rest of you over to meet his new acquaintance. Dolas told you that the Legion were no longer allowing any to enter the Sanctum unless they are a member and he had recently absconded from the Legion without informing them of his decision. Keen to secure his help, you asked what could convince him to accompany you north and he requested 500 gold which you promised to pay once he got you inside the Sanctum. Still, he wished to sleep on his decision, but did reveal that Carvilius had changed since she returned from Mount Atria.
Before he took his leave for the night, Dolas tried to impress upon Kelnys just how unusual it was to see a dragonborn like him. The flawless gold of Kelnys’ scales is indicative of great heritage within the Fortis Legion and of great adherence to the virtues of Alam by his ancestors.
Once Dolas departed, Kelnys spoke more about his past. He was raised by non-dragonborn parents, his only connection to his true identity the small triangular pendant he wears around his neck. He was abandoned while still in the shell and found by his father in Lafee.
That night as you all slept, Kelnys was again tortured by nightmares. This time in addition to those images, he saw before he now had shifting memories of the meeting with Dolas. Last he saw a face engulfed in flame and found himself running as fire erupted behind him. When morning arrived, you met Dolas downstairs (dressed in his Fortis Legion uniform). With him in your company, you set out north for Seascale and the Sanctum and that is where we are now. So it’s early morning and the mists that sit over the sea also sit over the road, rising up the promontory top above the cliffs, and coating the road itself in this fine mist (which as the light stars to break through, the sort of silver-gray of the sky, that mist) starts to clear, and you see a wide road beyond you. The same snow-covered ferns that lined your way before, the outlines of the first islands the Inland Sea to your west and the road north.

Previous Episode: Scales of Justice

YouTube VoD

Alternate Frontend VoD