13th Harvest Carlotta’s Isle

The festivities lasted until a late hour. Stephen and Raven played music while many Halflings danced. There was an assortment of fish, fowl, and fruit, and everyone had their fill.

The night passed quietly, and now we find ourselves eager to move on. Our initial thoughts were to stay and help the Halflings become established, but we decide retrieving supplies from Bliss would be of more benefit, so we ready a plan and with a Reduced Blackhawk, Jaden Teleports us to the Crystal Chapel.

Here our plan begins to take form. Stephen and Raven head on into town while Jaden, Blackhawk and myself Teleport once again to Turlough. The fire and smoke are gone, all that remains are ash heaps, slag and ruins. Some supplies managed to survive in the Mayor’s basement but little else. Not equipped to transport the assortment of barrels and boxes, we leave them in place. We then move to the cave dwelling where we stored our large items gained from the Dragon’s horde: a breastplate, a shield, and two tapestries. They were still secure and we settled in for the night. It is eerie how quiet the island is, as no life is left on the island. The occasional snores from my companions, the only sound apart from the distant sea.

14th Harvest New Turlough

We plan on having most of the day to pass before expecting Stephen and Raven back at the Chapel. This morning we set out to examine the remains of the Wizard Tower on the tip of the island. As we surmised from the sound it gave off several nights ago, the lower reaches of the tower are completely filled with rubble. Two nights ago we discussed means of determining if the side room we had visited earlier was still intact. We discussed the Scry spell. Raven if given time might be able to use a small pool to gain a distant vision. Jaden also possesses the knowledge, but at the cost of using eagles’ eyes for such limited gain, I would not allow such an action. Stephen then had reached into his pack, that very deep pack of his, and pulled forth a potion. It was a potion of Clairvoyance. With which we should be able to determine the status of the lower chamber. I swigged from the container, not a terrible flavor but metallic aftertaste. Soon I felt the effects, quite similar to my short time in the High Seat. My vision began to tunnel toward a distant goal, but this time it did not have far to go. I sensed soil and rock pass by before I attempted to focus my eyes, when suddenly I felt my mind recoil. I had struck a magical barrier still intact although the tower was a ruin. With such protection in place it was not likely that either Jaden or I could pass through the barrier with the means at our disposal, so we decided to pass on making an attempt. Instead we headed back down to our stash and Teleported back to the Chapel.

We were finishing our late lunch when a two horse wagon approached at a quick pace. Raven had used her influence on the horses to coax extra speed from the animals. The wagon was loaded with gear and supplies. They mentioned speed was necessary because General Liam was looking for us. Roderick saw them arrive and greeted them, but thankfully decided to cover for them as they snuck back out to spend the night in Rosewater park, explaining to Roderick that the task to help the Halflings was still in full swing and the rest of the party was awaiting their return.

The morning found them a little chilled as they prepared for the sunrise. As they gathered their belongings to set out, they noticed a swordsman shadow fencing on a lower tier of the park. Blonde hair and beard wearing green and yellow leather trimmed with velvet. He was apparently quite good with the sword if a bit overly flashy. Stephen desired to talk to him, but did not want to be distracted from his mission. They retrieved the wagon stored at the stables and set out to meet us.

Blackhawk and I minded the horses as Jaden Teleported a shrunken wagon, a vaporous Stephen, and Raven the mouse back to Carlotta’s Isle. Luckily DeVal was not present to witness that as the overly-stuffed feline had elected to remain on the Isle until Raven’s return. The wagon’s supplies were quickly unloaded by willing hands. They made their farewells with the Mayor hoping that they would return in a season to see how things progressed.

Using Jaden’s specially prepared third Teleport, he reunited the group outside the Chapel. The team was quickly rehitched and we set out. It seems quite like a long time since we last saw Bliss. Little more that a week in normal time, but our travels have taken us far and we bear new scars. The wagon bounces along as I write this, bringing me closer to my current home, but I find my eyes always returning to the diminishing peak behind us. The Shrine, the Seat, the Song, the Stars. Am I truly heading home?

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