Session 23: The Moors

NPC's
Tia, Mara, Metis

Location
Lighthouse 21, Palevaulten

Summary
The party flies to a shore town called Lighthouse 21. The walled, guarded city sits above a rocky shore and has a spire carved out of stone in the center, which emits ethereal light. The guards allow the population to enter, but they must go through a screening process and an interview. The party finds interest in the screening wand, a metal ring with a soapy film. The party is immediately not allowed into the city due to them having some form of magic. Thankfully, most of the others are allowed in. This is because the lighthouse contains a Vani, and it does not allow magic. The guards say that people not allowed in can move into another city across a moor. However, some people have visions when crossing the moor, which gives them hints of the future or leads them to their deaths. Only a few are not allowed in the city so far. Alastor tries to go into the city, but he gets bounced back by a barrier. Cryllos sees Tia and makes small talk. Tia talks about being disgraced by her family for being part of the Rebellion, in code, which Oliver is very oblivious to. She leaves the party with a box of peach muffins.

The party goes to the moors, a quiet, healthier field. As the party crosses, Oliver suddenly hears faint piano music above him. It is a high-pitched, fast-paced, and chaotic song, which he feels nostalgic about, despite not remembering where he heard it before. Alastor punches him, stopping the music. Everyone suddenly hears a high pitched keening noise and see the clouds flash gold. A comet burst through clouds towards them. The party scatters, as the comet chases Cryllos, it explodes in golden light.

Cryllos, Alastor, and Oliver see each other and a tall golden horse, with a rider wearing a glowing, gold cloak and straw hat, where the comet landed. It summons a golden bow and shoots. The arrow misses, but the ground it hits disappears. It then materializes a halberd, and a fight ensues.

Meanwhile, Annora finds herself alone, surrounded by blue flowers that trail to a hill. Following the flowers, she finds a young woman with blond, short wavy hair, a beautiful white dress, and crutches, struggling to dig the ground. Beside her are two bodies wrapped in cloth. Annora asks her to tell her anything about herself. She doesn't know who or where she is but knows what she has to do. She must bury the bodies of her sister and friend(?), who are wrapped with their most regarded treasure. The woman asks for Annora's help, which Annora accepts, but demands payment. After the two finishes digging two holes, she shows a metal locket, which holds a picture with a younger woman and man, whose face is scratched and blotted out. She doesn't realize this and describes the obscured person as having red hair. Annora takes a sword out of her trunk, and the woman recognizes it, but it's supposed to be one of the treasures to be buried. Annora opens one of the bundles and finds a copy of her, who smiles and sits up, among blue flowers. It says, "you should have more respect for the dead, y'know?" in an unknown voice. The bodies disappear. Annora sees a wreath without flowers and takes it. She hears the same voice, saying, "you shouldn't fight here, run." However, she joins the fight.

Meanwhile, Nonamé finds herself alone, and she hears a child's voice, saying, "wow, you look stupid." She sees a young, short girl who has brown hair and wears a dress. They silently stare at each other. The girl introduces herself, although she is unsure of her name or existence. Nonamé asks for directions, to which the girl directs, but forces her to stay. The girl says that she is "the vision of future or something," and the two are destined to meet in the future, somewhere cold, dark, and alone. The girl disappears, and Nonamé hears the sounds of the others and joins the fight.

As the fight pushes on, the golden rider pulls out a giant hunting horn and blows on it, causing the sky to flash gold. Oliver hears more piano music as more comets cascade from the sky, creating more golden riders. The party runs, passing a barrier that feels like still water.

They find themselves in a rather large town, Palvaultn, and a smiling person approaches and says that they're just in time for the Festival of New Beginnings. The person, a guide, is genuinely but weirdly happy and avoids talking about the golden riders. The festival celebrates the return of their lord and savior, the True King. No one knows who he is, but they await his return. The party walks through the white, cobblestone streets, passing food tasting stalls, live performances, ribbons strung up on lamp posts, and a fountain. When asked about how people become king, the guide answers, "You do not become the king, you are the king."

The party finds a library, where Cryllos and Nonamé read up on Palvaultish history. Annora and Alastor read smut, and Alastor laughs at the straight smut. Oliver pretends to read a smart-looking book; however, it's in a foreign language.

They return to the festive square, where many meat products, bread, and hot chocolate are sold. Without local currency or anything to exchange, the party only gets a free cinnamon-apple cake sample before going to the ceremony. The party hears whispers that this year is unusual because a prophet showed up and said that the king will be there. A cloaked figure shows up and starts the ceremony, saying, "The king is here with us. One of us in this room is him." They raise their hands, summoning a cloud streaming blue light. The light drifts through the crowd, nearing the party, before landing on Cryllos. He is pushed towards the stage, where the cloaked figure reveals themself to be Blue Moon. They raise his hand, announcing, "Our true king!"

Misc.

 * The scanning wand reveals magic auras.
 * Alastor: concentrated blueish white
 * Oliver: His piano glows rainbow
 * Annora: bright red
 * Cryllos: he simply doesn't appear
 * Nonamé/Shade: vague rainbow
 * Cryllos and Nonamé find two books and read about Palvaultn.
 * The economy is based on crops and textiles.
 * It is a fairly old town and a way-station for travelers.
 * The town holds no god/Vani.
 * A picture book describes the True King's story: The True King is the god of dreams, but he is sad from being unable to interact with the world and disappears. If anything goes wrong, the true king will fix the world. This festival celebrates the True King.
 * The first True King is described as a blond man glowing in white light, having a silver sword and crown.
 * The True King historically came in many forms.