Stories of my brain

The party settles for the night and the next morning agree to go to Polotel. They walk to the cartographers guild where Amara has some connections from her days as a Mayor of the Orodon army. Amara starts speaking to the clerk in a language that Adaly knows is orcish, but she doesn’t understand.

After a hot second the clerk leaves and Amara says “They don’t have information about the tribe, but a historian Amos does. They just gave me directions to his house. But first they are getting the map towards the truth unquestioned.” Adaly nods “Good… What do we want to do first, truth unquestioned or the green fire tribe”

At that moment the clerk gets back and shows a map. In common he says “Now there is a pass through the Orodon wilds to the monastery right here. It would not be traversable this time of the year though… Also what do you want to do at the monastery? It got destroyed.” Adaly looks at the map before she asks “What destroyed it?” “Orcs raided the place, we understood that it was completely destroyed…” Amara still says “Thank you, we will find Amos, but this is good information” The clerk gives Amara a salute before the party walks out, through the city of Polotel.

They walk through a charming neighborhood with cute small houses. They reach the home they are looking for and an elder half orc man is sitting in a chair in front of the house, sleeping. Amara approaches the man to check if he is not death and he suddenly startles awake.

“What… who…” the old man clearly still have asleep, as Adaly just kindly says “Goodmorning, sorry to startle you. We just got send here from the cartographers guild, hoping to get some information about the greenfire tribe. But let me start by introducing myself, I am Adaly.”

Amara stands next to Adaly showing her rank, so that the old man knows that this is not information going to the enemy. The old man needs a second ”I am Amos, nice to meet you… who are the rest of you?” and they go around everybody introducing themselves.

“We are a bit on a clock, so what could you tell us old-timer” Amara asks. Amos rubs his head “The green fire tribe has split up when the Orodon Kingdom was formed. There are multiple small tribes, but the biggest one, the Sapsqueezers, not their actual name, are still around, somewhere near Nakovi.”

Adaly chuckles slightly “Why are they called the Sapsqueezers?” Amos laughs back at her “Well I call them that… my notes are at the cartographers guild, we can go back there for details. But this specific tribe uses some kind of alchemical magic, based on the sap they get from the trees. That will help them with getting in tune with their souls.” Amos gets up and starts walking back to the cartographers guild, slowly.

They enter the cartographer’s guild once more, and the same clerk is there. Amara and Amos starts a conversation in orcish again, so Adaly cannot follow but she can see the frustration on Amara’s face. Amos goes into the back and Amara turns to them “They are refusing to give detailed maps…” “That is fine, we try again in the cartographers at Nakovi” Adaly replies in celestial, a language she know that Amara also understands but is very uncommon. Livia and Sam look back at her in surprise, but don’t comment on it.

Amara nods in agreement and Amos comes back and says in common “Found the name, they are called the Amberhearts, even though I think Sapsqueezers is more accurate, I think they will appreciate Amberhearts more.” They thank Amos and go to an inn.

While walking to the rooms she sends a message to Jeremy ‘Hey Jeremy, how is it with Heskeni, going crazy already? Anything interesting to share, or updates about our plans?’ and quickly gets back ‘Heskeni is fine. Mostly organizing things at the moment. No updates yet, will send out messages in the morning. Good luck, Jeremy.’

Adaly looks at Sam, “Have you used yours already? Otherwise you should use it. You only get one a day, they are precious” Sam rolls his eyes and takes his sending and says out loud into the stone “Hey Jeremy, Adaly insisted that I send you a message as well. Good luck and see you soon.” Adaly smiles at him “So what did he say back?” “Just thanks” Sam rolls his eyes and they go into one room. Still discussing some private things.

Adaly sits on the bed, looks at Sam “So… I still wanted to apologize for prying a bit too much. I have good reasons for it, but I will stay out of your personal business. I would love too hear your story Livia, but I will no longer ask about it. Once you feel comfortable please do share” Livia looks gratefully at Adaly, and Sam nods in thanks before replying “I also want to apologize for snapping in Loutiers… I was wrong on insisting that our side mission was not relevant for your mission…”

Adaly smiles, and Amara gives a nod of approval. “Great now everything is forgiven… I promise not to ask about you, but what do you know about us… you must have gotten some information” Livia and Sam look to each other. Sam finally replies “To be honest not that much more than we have revealed already. We know Ilhoketh is your biological father, and a bit about your travels. That is how we know about Amara, but we basically don’t know anything about you. I do apologize about our first meeting not being amicable.” Adaly and Amara nod in understanding, before Livia says “Now it has been a long day, let us continue in the morning.” And the paladins leave the room.

Adaly starts casting devil’s eyes seeing Yigadel working on a crossbow, and Jeremy setting up camp. For the others the spell doesn’t find its target.

Adaly looks at her friend “So… what do you want to do with the hellmark?” Amara chuckles “No manipulation tricks, slowly getting to it, immediately to the point. Who are you and what have you done with Adaly?” Adaly rolls her eyes and smiles at her friend “Those are for people I don’t trust. I trust you Amara and would like to make sure you are okay.”

She lays a hand on her friends shoulder who just considers it “We are going to the Citadel anyway, killing Es-Grenalieth there… We might even pull her into the fight, killing 2 birds with one stone” Amara says and Adaly doubts “I don’t like it…. But it the end this is your choice, whatever you think is the best, I will support you” Amara nods “I want to do it”

Adaly grabs the candle and the instruction book from her bag, helping Amara setup. Amara casts the ritual and thin red gashes appear on her shoulder “Is it painful?” Adaly asks and Amara shakes her head. “I do need to cover it up” Amara replies and shifts her shirt a bit and puts an extra piece to her shoulder piece to cover it up. Once it is not visible Adaly nods in approval and the two friends retire for the night.

The next morning they are at breakfast, Livia notices the improvements on Amara’s armor “Smart, more coverage. Now what is the plan?” Adaly swallows trying to not draw more attention to Amara “I think we first should go to the truth unquestioned, so I suggest we teleport to Calton and fly.” The rest of the party nods in agreement and they set off to Calton.