Session 6 Notes

I thought we were going to get through the last session without any controversy. Then SQUASH, nothing brings out the strong feelings like PC death. I was prepared to deal with Hokusai leaving party, either by death or because Aeolric gets rid of him. But not ILK. Why, Why, Why did it have to be Ilk?

Session 6

The party continues to Oskerlin. Hokusai can tell the others are a little concerned with his behavior. And when the party passes another column of Centura with a group of prisoners all eyes turn to Hokusai. But Hokusai does not have a problem with every group of Centura. He does wonder who the prisoners are but it would be wrong to interfere with their duty without personal knowledge of the situation.

Some of the others ask Hokusai about his penance. Since he did not eat a few meals some thought that hunger was part of his penance. He tells them that he will eat, he cannot allow the chance that his service would be hampered by malnutrition. But his Vow of Poverty does not allow him to carry more then a days rations. If he is to survive a long journey like this he must trust that Ilmater will provide for him. He is pleased later when the Cleric Astria will announce that Ilmater will work through her. She even purchases some clothing for Hokusai to replace that which has been ruined in battle. She is truly a wondrous being to serve both an Elven God and Ilmater as well.

Hokusai will tell the party that his penance will last six days or more. It is hard to know what circumstances could determine when a penance will end. And in this case, his penance is simple - to be bound as Kira is for at least the length of time it will take the Centura to bring Kira to Thyric. If Hokusai did not trust that the Centura would feed Kira and her family, he might have included starvation as part of his penance. But he knows the Centura are not monsters and is willing to believe that Kira and her family are being well cared for.

Another topic of conversation is the idea of who is a commoner and who is not. Hokusai will say he is a commoner. Magnus wonders how that can be the case – his abilities clearly are not common. This thought makes Hokusai smile. Another difference between Magnus and Hokusai is even though they both may come from humble origins, they are very different, Hokusai does not believe that there is anything special about him. Anyone of any race, class, ability could do what Hokusai can do. Any gift he has comes from personal sacrifice/dedication. The idea that he is as “common” as someone who can talk to god makes him smile.

Training as a monk does not change a commoner to be a member of the upper class the same way a quality education and devout religious training can (as it may have done with Aeolric and Magnus). In fact training as a monk either removes class standings all together or would make a royal common.

In Oskerlin, the party goes first to the Lorekeeper Guild where they are offered a place to stay for the night and Aeolric will learn more of their mission. The various members set out on different tasks as Aeolric is in conference.

Magnus and Hokusai go to report in at the local Temple of Ilmater. While Hokusai and Magnus are being questioned by a high priest, they are given a task to perform – cleaning the temple. Hokusai feels good doing service and getting a chance to find out more of his mission. They are given a box that has a bird in it. They are instructed that if they learn anything that is important to let the bird loose with a message.

The party returns to the Lorekeeper Guild to meet for dinner. The head of the guild tries to bring out story after story from the Party. Hokusai wonders if these Lorekeepers ever talk to each other and if they do, do they both write down the conversation? Well in this case, someone else writes down the conversation since this particular Lorekeeper has someone who stands in the background doing his writing for him. Some may be impressed by this, but Hokusai feels a stronger connection to the Lorekeeper scribe in the corner doing all the writing. Hokusai imagines the possibilities of such a service – pains in the joints, papercuts, blisters on the fingers… This scribes suffering brings him closer to the Broken God – praise be to Ilmater.

After dinner Aeolric fills the group in on their mission.

Artifacts with a possible connection to Ilmater, other Lorekeeper group missing, gnomes at Three Corners, The Drow and the Underdark.

Hokusai is pleased there seems to be something there to explain every member of the group’s participation. For Magnus and Hokusai, there is the artifact and the chance to stop evil, for Aeolric there is the other Lorekeeper group and the opportunity to write more in his book, for Jade and Astria there is the involvement of their dark cousins, and for Ilk there is… there is??? OK maybe there is nothing specifically for Ilk - that is not really a bad omen, is it?

After dinner, the party decides to go to the Hogs Den to gather some information. Hokusai is uneasy in this place. He has little patience for the waste of time and expense the activities at a place like this cause. At first he is concerned and stays close to Ilk as he gambles with some Half Orcs. His attention is turned elsewhere when Aeolric moves over to talk with some Half Drow. He gives Aeolric his space but stays close enough to jump in when needed. The Half Drow seem nice enough and one even offers to help us for a price.

The Half Orcs start a fight amongst themselves, as a group of Dwarves and Ilk take bets on the action. The Gnome bartender moves in and starts hitting one of the Half Orcs with a bottle. Hokusai decides to move over to protect the Gnome if needed.

“The town guard is coming” is a cry that can be heard and the tavern begins to empty. Hokusai looks over to Aeolric and sees he is on his way out, so Hokusai follows him. Once outside Hokusai realizes that Ilk is still inside. Hokusai goes to the doorway of the tavern so he can keep an eye on Ilk and still be close enough to Aeolric if needed.

After a good fight, the Half Orcs are all down and Ilk comes out saying he knows the way to Three Corners. He even has a map. Hokusai has always been impressed by Ilk’s survival skills and it seems he is also pretty good at gathering information. Aeolric could learn a thing or two from Ilk.

Magnus and I spend the night at the temple and the others head over to the Lorekeepers. It is decided to meet first thing in the morning to make plans. More shopping is done. Aeolric gets permission to have the Half Drow join us and Hokusai spends most of the day doing service at the temple.

Magnus and Hokusai decide to spend the next night at the Lorekeepers Guild to make it easier to get an early start. Their Half Drow guide will be waiting for them at dawn and they will be leaving immediately. Just before they are to turn in for the night, Aeolric gives Hokusai the task of loading the horses for their travels. FINALLY Aeolric has given Hokusai some good work to do. Hokusai was starting to wonder if the Lorekeeper had understood that Hokusai was there to perform service not to be pampered with dinner, fine clothes, and other material possessions.

After a short rest period, Hokusai goes down to inventory and pack the supplies. He divides the goods between the three horse packs so if one pack is lost the party would not lose all of any one item. He also packs the things that will not be needed till the party reaches the Underdark lower in the packs and puts things that will need to be used on a daily basis on top.

When the party wakens, they gather together and join Rarael, the Half Drow outside. Leaving the city, Hokusai feels truly blessed to finally have the real mission started. He spends some time trying to get to know Rarael as they travel and even asks Rarael to join Aeolric and Hokusai on their watch that night. All the times Aeolric and Hokusai have been on watch together, they have never spoken. But this night the three spend some time getting to know each other. It is interesting to note that it took a Half Drow to bring Hokusai and Aeolric onto common ground.

But their conversation is cut short as Rarael hears something in the darkness. He tells Hokusai to extinguish the fire and Rarael moves out into the darkness towards the trees. When he returns, he tells Hokusai that there are four of them coming this way. Aeolric has woken the others and they all prepare for battle.

Four ogres come at them from the trees. Rarael and Hokusai go forward to meet two of the ogres in hand to hand combat. Hokusai sees that Astria has already hit one on the far end with a perfect shot.

While Hokusai fights one of the ogres, he can hear the cries of battle around him. He hears a female scream and fears Jade or Astria may be lost. He notices that others are trying to help him but is too involved to look behind to see who it is. Hokusai hears another gasp and fears he has lost a second friend. Finally, he sees that Rarael is fighting by his side and it is not much longer before the ogre falls. Hokusai turns to see the last Ogre fall in the distance and notices that Ilk is on the ground in a pool of blood. He runs over to his fallen comrade to see if there is anything that could be done. But Ilk is dead – Hokusai feels a tremendous loss, and even though he fears magic, there must be something that could be done. Ilk’s death was too quick, surely Ilmater wanted him to have a long life of service and suffering before he met his end. Something must be done, but what?

In his calm, “caring” voice, Aeolric has the answer. “Search the bodies of the ogres – it is what Ilk would have done.” Aeolric is right - that is what Ilk would do. Hokusai helps search the bodies. He takes a single gold piece from one of the ogres and places it in Ilk’s hand and closes his dead fingers around it. Rest in peace my friend.

Praise be to Ilmater.

As we ended our last session, we all tried to quickly suggest what we would do. Emotionally, we all want Ilk back. Logically we know there are only a few ways this can be done, if at all, on Selune.

Reincarnation 1,000 gp
Raise Dead 5,000 gp
Resurrection 10,000 gp

Reincarnation is the only one I think the party can really afford. But finding a Druid is not an easy task – maybe Rarael or Aeolric will coincidently know where one is. The Cleric of Ilmater in Oskerlin should be able to Raise Dead but the Church of Ilmater is NOT a wealth one so the party would need to provide most of the material costs – something I do not believe we are prepared to do at this time.

All of the options have Ilk losing a level setting him back to 2nd level. This is a tough one and I hope Matt and Nate can work something out that they will both be happy with. I will try not to incite a riot this week by forcing my beliefs into the mix any more than I have already done.