Session 294 - A Faerie Curse

GM’s Observations

- Sorry for the long delay in writing this up. Life has been very busy for both David and myself. This was an interesting session because Abigail was clearly not herself and the dilemma was how to resolve this situation without damaging the relationship between Ethan and Abbie.

Major Characters

- Ethan, Abigail

Adversaries

- A Faerie Curse

Adventure Hook

- Abigail asks Ethan to come with her on a journey which she thinks will be transformational for her.

Background

- The Abigail-Ethan-Isabelle dynamic has completely changed. Ethan is now spending 100% of his time with Abigail, and Isabelle has disappeared. Ethan is not concerned about Isabelle - his Divination would tell him if she were in trouble (or so he presumes).

- Abigail is in the service of Emperor Lofwyr (of the Draconian Empire) and is very much trying to expand Lofwyr’s (and her own personal) influence. She is actively looking for ways to achieve this with Ethan at her side. Ethan has already been drawn into multiple short expeditions onto the Stair. A meeting here. An acquisition there. But this time Abigail and Ethan are on a longer journey. Abigail is focused and excited about where this journey might lead her. 

Adventure Summary

- Ethan and Abigail travel through the mediaeval realm of Thornvale, once famous for its blackberries. The realm feels familiar to Ethan - he feels that he has been here before but can’t place when. They have been travelling together for 2 days and they are having a lovely time together. They reach the remains of a windmill that has the top blasted off. Abigail is sure that there is something here which will lead her to ‘Power’. It doesn’t look like this place has been used in a long time. The grain is growing wild.

- While Abigail searches the tower, Ethan asks about where she got this tip from. She explains that she got someone drunk in the Agora and they told her about this place. She’s looking for a diary. Ethan is sceptical but goes along with this plan.

- After some searching and repairs to the place, they piece together parts of what happened here. This was the residence of an alchemist. The alchemist himself was being pursued and stayed here a while. He fled the tower’s destruction but didn’t get far. His body still lies in one of the nearby fields - it looks like the thorny plants can not only move in this realm but the plants decided to eat him. It’s not clear what destroyed the tower but clearly someone wanted him dead. The alchemist himself used inks (and magical inks) to make exquisite maps. However, the map that they find in the tower itself has a section that has been scrubbed - there is a hidden section under the map.

- Abbie is completely hooked on this. They take the items with them and ride to a nearby town. They book a room in a comfortable inn and go over the various clues while enjoying a meal together. While Abbie sleeps, Ethan uses a scrying spell to look towards the hidden section of the map. He thinks over Abbie’s unusual passion for this project. She does not seem herself, but he is enjoying spending time with her. He observes that she is notably happier when they are clearly moving towards the goal and discovering what lies at the end of the journey. She seems to become agitated when they begin to linger, and even a little listless if the next step becomes unclear.

* Image on the left is of Ethan by Dashinvaine. Image on the right is also by Dashinvaine which I use for Abbie (Abigail)

- The next day they head towards what is hidden on the map. The journey will take a few weeks but Abbie seems determined and happy - as happy as Ethan has ever seen her. It reminds Ethan of other times where they were happy together and he doesn’t want to spoil things. Nevertheless, he delicately asks questions about who she met in the Agora. Abbie describes meeting a dark fey in a seedy part of the Agora by the riverbank. Ethan asks what she traded for this information but of course she can’t remember. She admits to making a trade but can’t remember what she gave up. Ethan continues questioning and realises that she has forgotten Grant. 

- They ride on and Ethan contacts Grant via Icon. He explains that Abbie has made a deal with a shadow fey creature in the Agora. He shares the details that he has and asks Grant to find the shadow fey and try to reverse the spell. Ethan assumes that there is a compulsion or geas on Abbie. (Note - Ethan does not know that Grant is the Shadow King)

- When the connection ends, Grant thinks over the situation and decides to prioritise it. He tells Tinkerbell that something has come and he heads for the Agora to track down the shadow fey. 

- Ethan and Abigail continue on their pleasant journey. They stop at another inn ‘The Bull and Bear’ to relax. That evening they make love and Ethan asks her what she will do when she acquires whatever ‘it’ is at the end of the journey. Abbie practically sparkles. She says that she will be powerful when she acquires ‘it’. She says that Lofwyr will respect her again and she’ll be more than just some reliable lackey. As she continues, Abbie voices her frustration and desires. She wants to take control of her future and be ‘great’. She wants Ethan to be part of that future. Ethan really wants to believe in this bright future that she is looking forward to but it feels like a false hope.

- The next morning Abigail’s spirits are lower but she quickly brightens when Ethan reminds her that they should be on their way. They chat happily as they talk about their journey ahead together. Ethan knows that he’s falling in love with Abbie all over again. He also knows it’s going to be hard when the geas is removed (he assumes it can be).

- Grant contacts Ethan later in the day to say that he’s found the creature in a seedy cantina called the ‘Water Rat’. The shadow fey is willing to reverse the bargain made and free Abbie from the magical compulsion. (Note - The shadow fey recognised Grant as the Shadow King and practically shat its pants.) Ethan thanks Grant and says that he’ll be in touch.

- Ethan suggests that they stop to rest the horses and he explains to Abbie that Grant has found the creature that made the bargain with her. He wants to return to the Agora to see what more the fey can tell them about the prize that they are seeking. He also gently raises the risk that she may have been deceived, and the importance of knowing the truth. 

- Abbie listens, and to Ethan’s pleasant surprise, she agrees. She says that she also has moments of doubt about whether ‘it’ exists, but she wants to believe. She’s willing to listen to what the shadow fey has to say. Ethan reassures her that if she still wants to continue with the quest, they’ll return to the same spot, collect the horses and continue on. With this, Ethan uses Sorcery to mark the spot where the horses have been left, and he uses a Sorcerous Teleport to bring them back to an existing marker close to the Agora.

- They make their way to the ‘Water Rat’. Abbie is quiet and subdued. When they reach the dilapidated shack that passes for a river tavern, Grant meets them and introduces them to the slaugh that made a deal with Abbie. The slaugh quickly confesses everything, apologising profusely for making such a deal, offering to undo the trade. The slaugh explains that Abbie was seeking a ‘Tale of Power’ and he provided one, one that many have sought after. The slaugh knows that there is a prize at the end of the journey, but it is a terribly cursed object. It attracts mortals seeking power and destroys them. He doesn’t know who created it but it only brings death and destruction to those who seek it. 

- Abbie listens and asks no questions while the slough explains the truth of the quest. She does not object when the shadow fey begs to undo the trade. The bargain is quickly undone. Abigail blinks and thinks for a moment, then thanks Grant for his assistance. She excuses herself, offers a little bow to recognise the Shadow King’s assistance (Note - something that she now remembers but which Ethan does not know), and pauses at the threshold to make sure that Ethan leaves with her.

- They walk for a time in silence. Eventually Abbie admits that she’s a little embarrassed and more than a little tired. Ethan suggests stopping for some tea and cake, and Abbie agrees to this. Abbie admits that she really wanted ‘it’ to be real. She’s been seeking power for a long time and will continue to do so. Ethan offers to help if this is really what she wants. Abbie sips at her tea and then says that she’s happy to receive some assistance but she needs to take power, not have it given to her.

- They take their time over tea. Both agree that the journey was fun and they should do it again. Ethan remarks that they should recover the horses. He suggests that they head to Marindar for a bit - surely a nexus realm like that would be worth exploring. Perhaps there is something there of interest to Abbie. She thinks on this and agrees to the idea.

Other Impacts

- No immediate impact, but Ethan’s suggestion to expand her influence into Marindar does not end well. Marindar is under Grant’s control and Lofwyr does not take kindly to Abigail interfering in a realm that might affect his relationship with Grant. It’s not Abigail’s fault but she walks right into a mess of Ethan’s making.