Chapter 1 - Session 11

Bitter Truths, Pointed Ears, and Golden Goblets

Events and Actions

The party, gathered at the Crow's Nest after securing Lieutenant Barrows' release, debated the nature and purpose of the pouches of sticks (Bitterroot) given to Cosimo and Noddy by an old crone. Riu initially believed they were meant for Lieutenant Barrows to alleviate his pain, and proposed presenting himself and Noddy to the lieutenant directly: claiming a hand in his rescue, offering him the pouch, and asking for a commission as a ship's healer, reasoning that Barrows would need to replace crew he had lost — a boy and five men hanged, with others left behind on the island. The rest of the party judged this premature and preferred to experiment with the Bitterroot themselves first. The party learned from Mistress Clara's research in a book that the roots were likely Bitterroot, a plant used by pygmies for sustenance and its calming and pain-relieving properties. The old crone had cryptically stated the roots would help them "find the truth."

Following Noddy's suggestion, most of the party retired to their basement clubhouse to experiment with the Bitterroot, lighting the braziers and offering a prayer to the Mother and Father for guidance before diving in. Noddy chewed his stick first, sucking on it slowly like licorice, and found his thoughts sharpening and organizing with unusual clarity — he could recall past events, such as the party's first descent into the smugglers' cove, with vivid precision, down to the color of the sky and the pattern of the clouds that day. He offered a taste to his familiar, Pocket, who pecked at it and lost interest. Cosimo, Werner, Knick Nab, and Mani also partook, toasting to clarity and truth as they chewed. Cosimo reported similar effects of clarity and enhanced reasoning. Werner found it helped mitigate pain after he experimentally punched a charred door. Knick Nab felt "pumped" with organized thoughts. Riu abstained.

Under the influence of the Bitterroot, Cosimo and Noddy began to perceive the smuggler A'Wood in his true form: a tall, thin Elf with pointed ears, long flowing golden hair, and fine leather clothing quite unlike a sailor's rough garb. They also saw an unsettling, unhealthy "taint" or "aura" around most other people, including themselves and their companions and even Burlyman and his wife — an unwholesome, sickly impression rather than any visible glow. A'Wood alone appeared the opposite way — unnervingly, deliberately ordinary — a plainness that struck Cosimo and Noddy as strange even before they had chewed the root. Curious about the nature of the taint, Cosimo tried to draw some of it out of A'Wood and into himself, but the attempt came to nothing; drawing on his own arcane knowledge to study it, he sensed no trace of actual magic in the taint, unlike A'Wood's disguise, which plainly was magical. The others did not perceive any of these phenomena.

Outside, Cosimo and Noddy separately whispered their descriptions of A'Wood to Knick Nab and Mani — tall, gaunt, pointed ears, long flowing golden hair — and the two accounts matched exactly, convincing the rest of the party that something uncanny was really going on. Knick Nab impulsively rushed back into the Crow's Nest common room to confront A'Wood, with the rest of the party following. A'Wood, after some convincing by Knick Nab, agreed to a private conversation in the party's curtained-off room; Mani ducked in partway through with a tray of drinks so the huddle of boys around A'Wood wouldn't look out of place to the rest of the tavern. There, A'Wood revealed his Elven nature, explaining he had spent about a week in the Capitol — having come from a castle and then another town before that — using the smuggling run as a convenient way in, and spending his days simply listening to gossip in the tavern. He said he was in disguise to observe the Northern Kingdom's military buildup, watching whether its forces were bound east toward Elven lands, and reported that the buildup looked substantial on both land and sea — heavy naval preparation alongside a large mobilization of cavalry, with rumor in the tavern pointing toward a coming war against the South. He hinted that there were others like him nearby whom he refused to risk exposing — any further help, he said, would have to come from outside the city. Hearing that the roots had come from an old crone, A'Wood reacted with visible unease, explaining that in Elven tradition such crones are tied to fate, luck, and happenstance — as though he suspected something more than chance was behind his exposure.

Riu questioned A'Wood about "Gildenhome," a name he'd encountered. A'Wood recognized it as a fabled city from ancient Elven myth but could not translate the old Elven script Riu presented, noting its archaic and unusual forms. When Cosimo pressed him to explain how he achieved his disguise, A'Wood first demonstrated a bit of mundane sleight-of-hand — palming and vanishing a coin — before conceding that what he truly did was something more, and that Cosimo showed genuine aptitude worth teaching. Intrigued by Cosimo and Noddy's ability to see through his glamour (which they attributed to the Bitterroot), A'Wood offered to teach them how to access their own innate "power" (Mentalism/Illusionism), with lessons to begin the following morning.

The party then discussed their next steps, agreeing to present themselves to the authorities as a group rather than risk their hard-won goodwill by sending only a couple of representatives. They decided to inquire about Lieutenant Barrows at the Admiralty Building. The guard on duty rebuffed them with open contempt, repeatedly dismissing Cosimo as "little boy," but Cosimo talked his way past the guard's dismissal and secured a promise that he'd check inside. After a twenty-minute wait, the guard returned to report that Barrows had already been sent to the infirmary in High Town — a place none of them could simply walk into.

Returning to the Crow's Nest, the party asked Burlyman whether there would be more smuggling work. He explained that increased vigilance at sea meant the next shipment would be delayed, and that resuming runs through the tunnel would require an inside arrangement with guards — building on the party's earlier dealings with Fursa and Evans — a matter he was still working on. He expressed continued interest in employing the party once conditions allowed. The party then had Burlyman appraise the valuable goblets they had acquired; after weighing and evaluating the items, he paid them 12 gold pieces. This wealth was distributed among the party members.

The next morning, A'Wood commenced his instruction with Cosimo and Noddy, remarking that most people were too weak-minded for this kind of training and that their aptitude — young and untrained as they were — genuinely surprised him. Cosimo selected the "Overlay" spell (Open Mentalism - Seemings list), while Noddy chose "Blur" (Open Mentalism). Riu sought out Mistress Clara for healing training; with no wounded patients to treat since her original offer, she instead had him practice on a regular patient's minor complaint and told him the man would be back weekly. Mani practiced his knife-throwing skills, and Werner also engaged in training.

Later, while the party was having lunch, Stick Stab entered the Crow's Nest, made eye contact, and quickly departed. Knick Nab and Mani immediately pursued him outside, onto the road that runs past the tavern toward the cliff edge and the crow-haunted tree that gives the Crow's Nest its name. They found Stick Stab with five other youths — older toughs rather than grown men, but armed with knives, swords, an axe, and a hook, and ready to fight regardless. Stick Stab demanded the return of the papers the party had previously recovered, warning that worse than him was coming for them if he didn't get them back. The ruffians drew their weapons, and Werner, watching from the doorway, held a knife ready to throw the instant anyone moved against Mani. Mani attempted to de-escalate by offering to sell the papers back, but Stick Stab was unyielding. Mani lit a sheet of paper on fire and threw it out the door to pressure him, then burned a second sheet soon after when the bluff didn't land, claiming the party would rather destroy the recovered documents than hand them over. As the situation intensified, three sharp whistles sounded from outside — a signal among Stick Stab's crew — and the ruffians drew pistols alongside their blades. Burlyman's wife slipped out of sight while Burlyman quietly armed himself with a blunderbuss inside the tavern. The session concluded as Stick Stab began to enter the Crow's Nest and Riu moved to close the door, only to find it blocked by one of Stick Stab's accomplices; Riu leveled his pistol at the man's foot and demanded he move it, but the door remained open as the confrontation reignited.

NPCs & Creatures

A'Wood: Revealed to be an Elf in disguise, observing the North's military buildup on behalf of his people in the East — reporting substantial land and naval preparations and tavern rumor of a coming war against the South. Spent about a week in the Capitol — having come from a castle and then another town before that — using the smuggling run as cover and spending his days simply listening to gossip in the tavern. Unsettled to learn the Bitterroot came from an old crone, tying the encounter to Elven notions of fate. Hinted that other Elves were nearby but refused to risk exposing them, saying further aid would have to come from outside the city. Demonstrated some mundane sleight-of-hand before agreeing to teach Cosimo and Noddy, remarking that most people are too weak-minded for such training and that their aptitude genuinely surprised him.
Stick Stab: Confronted the party, demanding the return of stolen papers.
Ruffians (5 youths): Accomplices of Stick Stab.
Burlyman: Proprietor of the Crow's Nest. Fenced the party's goblets for 12 gold. Armed himself during the confrontation with Stick Stab.
Mistress Clara: Provided information about Bitterroot. Began training Riu in healing.
Pocket: Noddy's familiar spirit, inhabiting a seagull. Offered a taste of the Bitterroot out of curiosity; pecked at it and showed no interest.
Randolph the Chronicler: Present in the Crow's Nest, observing and taking notes.
Vice Admiral Codemar: Mentioned.
Lieutenant Barrows: Mentioned; confirmed to be in the infirmary in High Town.
Old Woman: Mentioned as the source of the Bitterroot, given to the party as "an old crone."
Pygmies: Mentioned as the original cultivators of Bitterroot.
Dr. Wynken: Mentioned as a physician who researched Bitterroot.
Fursa and Evans: The dock guards from the party's earlier smuggling run, mentioned again by Burlyman as the inside contacts he needs to arrange before resuming shipments.

Locations

The Crow's Nest: The primary location, including the common room, the party's private curtained room, and their basement clubhouse. Outside, the road running past the tavern leads to a high cliff edge and a tree favored by a murder of crows — the tavern's namesake.
The Admiralty Building: The party visited the exterior to inquire about Lieutenant Barrows.
High Town: Mentioned as the location of the infirmary where Lieutenant Barrows is.
The East: Mentioned by A'Wood as the location of Elven lands.
Gildenhome: Mentioned by A'Wood as a fabled ancient Elven city/myth.
Bitterroot Isle: Mentioned as the origin of the Bitterroot plant.

Conflicts

A brief, quickly resolved disagreement between Riu and Cosimo/Noddy regarding the Bitterroot pouches.
A tense, non-violent confrontation with A'Wood, leading to the revelation of his Elven identity and his mission.
A major confrontation with Stick Stab and his five ruffian associates outside the Crow's Nest. This escalated to drawn weapons (knives, swords, an axe, a hook, pistols) and threats of death from Stick Stab if the papers were not returned. The conflict was ongoing at the session's end.

Learnings and Discussions

Bitterroot Effects: Chewing Bitterroot can induce heightened focus, mental clarity, and provide some pain relief. For Cosimo and Noddy, it uniquely allowed them to perceive A'Wood's true Elven form and a strange "taint" or unhealthy aura around most other individuals.
A'Wood's Identity and Mission: A'Wood is an Elf from the East, using a magical disguise (glamour) to spy on the Northern Kingdom's military buildup, ensuring it poses no threat to Elven territories. He indicated there are others of his kind operating nearby but refused to risk exposing them, saying any further help would have to come from outside the city.
The Northern Kingdom's Military Buildup: A'Wood reported that the North's preparations are substantial on both land and sea — a large naval mobilization alongside a significant buildup of cavalry — with tavern rumor pointing toward a coming war against the South.
Elven Relations: Elves are generally isolationist and wary of the North due to negative historical interactions.
Elven Views on Crones: A'Wood reacted with unease on learning the Bitterroot was a gift from an old crone, explaining that in Elven tradition, crones are associated with fate, luck, and happenstance.
Elven Magic/Abilities: A'Wood offered to teach Cosimo and Noddy how to access their own innate powers, suggesting a connection to Mentalism or Illusionism.
The Old Women and the Amulets: Turning over their unsolved mysteries, the party speculated again about the old women who periodically appear to them and the medallions that let them see one another, debating whether the crones are tied to the Mother and Father, why the number of old women encountered has varied between one and three — Werner recalled encountering more than one crone in a wagon while stowing away to escape the upper city — and whether the party might have been drawn from different points in time into the same moment. No firm conclusions were reached.
Abominations and the Two: Confronted with a possible non-human in their midst, the party briefly weighed whether A'Wood's Elven nature made him a target under the Two's teachings against the unblessed, but agreed that being an Elf was not the same as being born of an unblessed union.
Gildenhome: The name refers to a legendary city from ancient Elven lore. The script Riu found related to it is archaic Elven, difficult for A'Wood to translate.
Lieutenant Barrows' Status: He has been moved from the Admiralty Building to an infirmary in High Town.
Fencing Goods: Burlyman is a viable contact for selling (fencing) valuable items.
Future Smuggling Work: Burlyman indicated the next shipment is delayed due to heightened vigilance at sea, and that resuming the tunnel operation will require an inside arrangement with the dock guards, Fursa and Evans. He remains interested in employing the party once this is settled.
Stick Stab's Threat: Stick Stab is determined to retrieve the papers the party recovered and is backed by a gang and apparently more powerful, unseen figures.
Character Advancement: With the session's action concluded, the party discussed finishing the transition from their adolescent-era characters to full first-level characters, but ran out of time to complete it and agreed to handle it as bookkeeping before the next session.

Items Gained

12 Gold Pieces: From Burlyman for fencing the party's valuable goblets. This was distributed as 1.5 gold (15 silver) each to Knick Nab, Werner De Rendal, Riu, Noddy, Cosimo Cellini Scivio, and Manuel de Barret, with the remaining 3 gold pieces added to the common party fund.
Training Initiated:
- Cosimo Cellini Scivio and Noddy began training with A'Wood to develop their mental/illusionary abilities.
- Riu (Infurious Montesigna) began receiving healing instruction from Mistress Clara.

Items Lost

Bitterroot Sticks (5): One stick each consumed by Noddy, Cosimo Cellini Scivio, Werner De Rendal, Knick Nab, and Manuel de Barret during their experimental tasting.
Paper (2 sheets): Two sheets from Riu's notebook were burned by Mani and thrown outside as a bluff, meant to convince Stick Stab and his crew that the recovered documents were being destroyed.