[UVG] Session 1 – Into the Grasslands?

Dramatis Personae

• Limon Field. Lime nomad Steppelander climate migrant. Unflappably nonchalant 15-year-old now bound in service to a demigod Bonsai Turtle named Glum.
• Gelato "O.G." Kush. Mutant Quarter-Ling Hexad Enforcer Militant. Turns into a cyclopic were-swan under the light of the full moon. Canonically still only wearing a labcoat with the front unbuttoned.
• Astia Rudeni. Dwarf Decapolitan Ambassador Biomancer. Learned Flesh-crafting at the Cobalt Ziggu-Rot. Arms and legs growing thinner by the day ever since he swallowed an unlabeled jar of pills.
• Marceline Chaiya Grove. Grapefruit nomad Steppelander Coffee-maker. Teenage girl formerly impersonating her father.
• Finn Skyshambler. Greenlander Phytomancer. Spreads the good word of The Great and Powerful Physics as a preacher from the Emerald City.

Payday at Purp U

Having escaped returned safely from the Gardens, the party plotted methods of hiding their Ynnian contraband from the University only to recall that they had been given express permission to keep anything they found as bonus payment for services rendered. They breathed easier as Prof. Leifbrauer arrived to conduct exit interviews regarding their experiences in the anomaly. Marcy told him about the ladybug procession, and Finn shared his suspicion that the gardens were much older than they initially appeared. Limon said, more or less accurately, that a turtle gave him a potted plant to look after. Gelato and Astia mostly made stuff up, though Gelato did eventually surrender his orchid and request it be planted in the greenhouse. Leifbrauer's responses to these false accounts, however, piqued the interest of some party members. After a brief line of questioning he revealed that he had been less than forthright upon meeting everyone: they were the first group to actually return from the anomaly in the 6 weeks since the experiments had begun.

Everyone collected their pay and got the hell out of Purp U, never to return.

3 Short Stories About the Violet City

Limon and Marcy Meet the Green Mage

Limon and Marcy, before leaving the university, had the football-sized pulsating ruby golem heart analyzed only to discover that the technology powering Ynnian Gardener Golems functioned as a primitive facsimile of the power sources of modern-day vechs and autogolems. If they could find someone with the know-how and/or equipment to refine the golem heart, they'd have a valuable power source on their hands. But where to find such a magimechanic? They figured a wizard might know. But where to find such a wizard? They did what any good fantasy adventurers do: asked around town until someone pointed them in the right direction. Lo and behold, they were sent to a tower on the southern end of the city limits. A tower belonging to one Galavar di Verde.

An eternal devotee of decorum and hospitality, Galavar invited Limon and Marcy in for tea the evening they rapt upon his door. Explaining their situation and asking if he had any assistance to provide, Galavar did what any good wizard would do: told them of a Cat Lord in the Last Serai named Pooki who could help, and gave Limon a wide-brimmed wizard hat he was no longer using. It was the cusp of Yellowmonth after all, and we all know how hot it can get traveling the steps in Yellowmonth.

Astia Sells a Spade

Astia scanned the booths at the midtown bazaar, hoping to spot someone who might be in the market for a giant-sized garden spade with its sides sharpened for use as a battle-axe. It wasn't long before he spotted an old crone selling snake oil to people her pet cat (not a Cat Lord, just a normal cat) magically ensorcelled (regular cat). They lost track of time sharing stories of graverobbing and a mutual appreciation of the usefulness of cadavers, but Natega bought Astia's shovel before closing up shop at sundown.

Finn and Gelato Liaise

Gelato led Finn through the streets of the Violet City down to its seedy slums. He was on his way to Pér Slaji, an old haunt of his, and Finn decided to tag along. The bouncer immediately recognized the degenerate Gelato and welcomed him back with open arms, only briefly pretending to "card" Finn before encouraging them to have a good time. Inside, Gelato bumped into three buddies of his from his days in the Hexad Militia, callsigns Noble, Orphan, and Lancer. Gelato showed them his flower with Gary Busey's head, but the Ynnian magic had faded over the past few hours and now it was just a regular rose that only vaguely resembled Gary Busey. Lancer agreed to find a fence for Gelato to make some cash off this Gary Busey flower, but all were distracted as Astia, Marcy, and Limon arrived.

The group shared stories of their adventures around town, and then smoked some drugs laced with Ynnian golem dust. And drank.

And smoked some more.

And drank some more!

And some more.

...And then things got hazy.