By: Justin "J'ortsa" Thibeault
Ashen Bounty has always been one of the events that Khajiit looks forward to, after all it is the first time he met Lord Elric, and it was an Ashen Bounty that he was asked to join him in Rathkeale. But that is not important, seeing as Lord Elric missed the feast! And what a feast it was! Everything that was advertised, "gator wrasslin," the labyrinth, tournaments, gambling, and food were all in plentiful amounts. While J'ortsa did not get to participate in any of the tournaments he did witness everyone else enjoying them. Including when ANTON learned he could hold a magic missile in one hand!
There was also a dog. And the dog was pointed at Khajiit. It was targeted. He was unamused.
(Note: Justin thought it was funny. There are no hard feelings)
The questing that went on into Zimeya and the obsidian necropolis was very interesting. While J'ortsa only went on one expedition. He did meet great success on the one he went on. Onyx indentified one of the crystal cores that we found, and attempted to use it to ward the fire elementals. To a very unfortunate failure. But it was then discovered that it worked against the crystal golem. Who was promptly executed by the fire elementals, tragic really. But the prospecting of the geodes made us quickly forget the death of the golem. We returned to Dr. Professor Boa and made quick work of the moon dial which allowed us to grow vines for the formation of a portal, alas this one does not know if it was completed. But he trusts that it was not abandoned.
The return to Ashenmark in the morning was met with much excitement, as the tournaments and labyrinth runs were happening semi-concurrently. There were a handful of new adventurers which were quickly assimilated into groups for labyrinth runs and socializing. This year the labyrinth was much more challenging and while this one sadly only got to venture in once, he enjoyed it and wished he could do more. Food was continually served throughout the day and much of it was appetizing. This one was sure he saw Grarr eat many a meat on a stick, so it clearly was very enjoyable. J'ortsa hand delivered a helmet for ANTON's snail, which was then shown off to all.
Court was very short, quite possibly one of the shortest courts to happen. But that does not mean it was lacking in importance. Highlord Temorse congratulated the Aces from Team Cressida for their tenacity and skill (and what can only be described as "hopeful" math skills about their age, which was quickly dashed when realization set in) and there was much applause! Nos was granted a fireball for his growth and skill in combat and court was adjourned. Onyx and J'ortsa left shortly after, so this one did not hear about the rest of the main course, but he knows that it was served and enjoyed by all.
The next morning after the appletini hangovers were hammering people's heads, a very boisterous and odd miner (NOT minor, there was some confusion) arrived to inform us that we were needed to go mining. He was also spouting something about purple worms, not wyrms, but he had also never seen one, so it was hard to trust his judgement. Onyx and some others worked on a dowsing ritual while others defended them from birds, wasps, and bears underground. And Pilpus, as brave as ever, carted wood around so we could repair the supports and stop the aggravating cave ins, which almost
killed Khajiit, thankfully he could brush death aside. As we delved deeper still into the mines there were still ground wasps, oil birds, and cave bears, and A LOT of lighting. Our guide had been very dutiful in his torch placement, he was very proud of this fact. Finally we found where the miners had stopped working before the collapses. And as this one was working alongside Evie and Cimone to repair the supports in the area the tunnels started to quake. A PURPLE WORM ATE OUR GUIDE!!! It was horrific, had the children in the party been watching they would have been traumatized for life. Unfortunately the only thing that can kill a purple worm is another purple worm, at least that was what our now deceased guide told us. The worm ate and ate members of our party, striking them down with the force of boulders. Until finally, the worms hubris got the better of it and it got too long and thus ate itself once it wrapped around a stone column. The party members it ate exploded violently out of the corpse and we destroyed the worm. And thankfully we retrieved the corpse of our barely digested guide, whose title escapes this one, and brought him back to us.
May your path lead you to warm sands,
J'ortsa
Watcher of the Skyless Sea
OOC: As always Ashen Bounty is a delight and Ashenmark hit it out of the park yet again. I cannot wait for Ashen Adventures in the spring and next years Ashen Bounty. The mocktails were a delight and I loved drinking out of a little coupe. Stemware aint so bad yall. But Ive already written so much. So I will end it here. Thank you Ashenmark, and thank you players for coming along for the ride!
