Welp, with a bit of salt collection, the party and the dwarves head back to hearts hollow. Nadir just made it back while we were gone, as found out by teh fargrab, and we meet up with him at the entrance. Pike is reunited with his family, and gives Mallori the package of pearl trinkets for free due to the favor she's done him. The group splits off to do a few different things, Kay wants to reforge Levin's chestplate to fit, Erei wants some time alone, and Nimako and Mallori do a bit more mental dives into eachother.
On the surface, Nimako's thoughts are just hopes of this helping out, and anxiety about if she's actually ready to let Mallori in...
Diving deeper, the first thing is Mallori gets a glimpse of the way Nimako is seeing- how flat and drawn everything is, indistinct. what's detailed is only Mallori and herself, and even then, that is simple and lacking. It's just a glimpse, but it shows even Mallori's perspective holds more depth then hers.
In that glimpse though, Nimako's thoughts can be heard, though they almost sound scripted, despite being current.
"I can't stop thinking about how that void the first time reminded me of my meetings with Inkling… even if her disconnect seems different then my own. That's not something they- you did, is it?wait- shoot- sorry Mallori, Obvious not asking you! It's just been on my mind, ahaha… Uh, I guess this counts as a success?"
Soon after, as they discuss the differences, Mallori examining Nimako's hands since she was an Egg icon that had no arms or hands in the moment Mallori saw through her eyes. moments before the magic ends though, Mallori gets the sense of unease as Nimako says "I think I may have just made a mistake..." as the dice shaped amulet under her shirt exudes the disgruntlement of a 'god' scorned...
Immediately after, Mallori has a gift for Nimako! A hair clip, and a ring. Nimako is... caught off guard, flustered pink, before thinking. She's been in Mallori's mind before. Upon asking that this Ring probably doesn't mean what it could... She laughs under her breath, and puts it on her pointer finger, not her ring finger. However, she's still tickled a bit pink, heading off to jsut examine her new gifts while Mallori goes on a delivery mission.
Nadir sees her sitting with her legs dangling off the edge, looking happy, and Nimako carefully shows him ONLY the hair clip, saying simply she was touched that Mallori thought of her and gave her this. even if she figured there was a gift for everyone in that parcel, Nimako was touched! Then, indulging a bit of nadir lead espionage to see what everyone else got reminds her to... check on her journal.
After all, she may have just messed up. best try and find out how, right?
Later, they set off to feed teh dragonels, and Sentinel is there! Erei is eager to talk with with them. Sentinel is cautious, and had joined the random dragonels. He didn't want to fight his rider, so even ostracized, the wild dragonels are nicer then the army ones. as Erei gives sentinel scritches, most fly off suspicious, but a few are curious of this display.
Mallori and Nimako successfully give one scritches! It ends up pinning Mallori who had to stand under it to reach the chin. Glisterin is gushing over our success, and Nimako says it's likely only due to their trust in him first that let us reach that point.
Kay tries to make Soup! Drifter Does not Approve!
during the night, Deepcurrent decides to have a silenced conversation with her book? the book is baffled at the new 'friends' made, asking what happened... but the answer is war. the war that caught her, which explains many things to the book. it wants to know the plans, aside from aiding this ragtag group. (hoping someone else was able to keep up with the dialogue here better.)
Seeing the insane encampment at the city... Well, best we can do is try and get infor or insider knowledge. Nimako after a bit of discussion, sends "Jenny" a message.
"Do you know anything or are you at the City of Lost Names campsight? We're looking to get through..."
Response "Not there, but one leader is Belephaion. If you get in, the soldiers there may know more."
Well, from there, Nimako, Mallori, and Kay do a perimeter check, just examinign the scene. Nimako disguised as a soldier, her ring still visible, Kay cloak up, mallori hair changed.
they over hear along the perimeter some gossip:
The canyon leads to the City of Lost Names.,
There, the army's leaders—the mage Lohezet and the priest Belephaion—seek an ancient weapon.,
They are accompanied by the terrifying knight Lord Soth and hundreds of other troops.,
The canyon to the city is blocked by a simple stone fortification—a remnant of a long-vanished people.,
The walls surrounding the ruined city are riddled with passages. One leads from the city to Wind's End, a landing point for Dragon Army dragonnels.
once regrouped, Nimako asks Erei to translate a message to Sentinel: he may be able to help. That quickly turns into finding out teh dragonel can understand common, so she jsut asks for permission to use erei's name so as to not. make it a lie of sorts.
"Calling for Erei, can you meet us near the big army camp up north? the city of lost names if that means anything to you."
"they don't like me any more."
Nadir asks if we can use the army for a distraction, and has Nimako reach out to Cudgel.
"Found headquarters, need big distraction, location at giant spine, can you arrange something?"
"Can Arrange.
and while waiting, time to check in on Caradoc.
"Have you gained anything to help or pass on? Any ideas or Plans for when we get close to a meet up?"
"soth is here, dont fight him. there's a weapon, could be useful. good luck getting here, there's troops everywhere. probably hide. find me for more."
