A Morning at Home

Morning came, waking the travel-weary team. Odds, rubbing his sore joints, tracked down Echo and asked a favor of them. He asked if they would be willing to give Petalfoot “the talk.” Petalfoot would probably find Echo much less embarrassing to listen to than Odds.

Jay, meanwhile, encountered Jasper who was making barrels for home brew. They chatted about booze, and ended up forming a brewing and steeping partnership. Jay would get the supplies and make base alcohol, and Jasper would create the premium stuff under his name.

Over breakfast, They learned many things. The top gossip was that there’s now a (rickety) clubhouse on top of the hill that the young adults were using, and the hoglets had changed the rules of stones.

Also, plans were made.

One group was determined to go to town to shop, sus out the current political situation, and to keep an eye out for groups who might be willing to resettle the abandoned farms nearby.

The second group was going to a nearby abandoned herb farm to collect supplies.

Odds realized Maggie hadn’t joined them for breakfast and felt bad for the bear. He took a large bowl of porridge and headed to find her. Ahead of him was Naol and Fivian. Fivian spotted Maggie and was startled. Naol grabbed Fivian’s hand and said in his own molish way that she wasn’t a danger just go say hi to her. Then Naol introduced himself. Maggie seemed very relieved to have someone gentle and kind talking to her

After breakfast Echo sent to their mom. She received the following reply, “I love you. You’re becoming yourself. There’s honor and beauty in that my heart goes out to the day we…”

Petalfoot was excited to go to town with Echo, but first she wanted a chance to play stones with Odds. She pulled him aside and the rabbit tried his best to toss the stone accurately, but his hands shook and his aim went far. Petalfoot, with a mischievous gleam in her eye, pulled out a small stone different than the ones Jay had bought. She tossed it, landing far forms its mark, but then the stone shook stretched grew two legs and waddled to the target. Petalfoot, it seems, had found herself a baby earth elemental. With Bean’s help translating, they discovered the Earth Elemental considered Petalfoot it’s mom. Odds told Petalfoot that he was proud of her–that she was doing things much in the way of her parents, creating strength through friends.

Back at Nottinghill

Around noon, Jay, Bean, Echo, and Petalfoot set off to Notting Hill. Echo chatted with Petalfoot on the way and learned that Petalfoot was no longer interested in learning to fight. As they approached the town they saw that the refugees outside were now spread out as far as the old fishing hut that they had first met Cherla in. Bean chose to disguise himself as a ferret so to not be recognized. Jay’s renowned got everyone past the gate guards.

Their first stop was the armory. Echo bought themselves a fancy scimitar. Jay and Bean ended up with an iffy Fireball wand, blacksmith tools, and they started a new commission for a metal staff for Bean. The next step was the market, where Echo made a killing busking. They heard grumbles from the guards about Bean. Echo told the guards that they saw being up north in the battle at the great pyre. Echo then went on to promote an upcoming raffle of the spell “Send”.

As Echo busked and Petalfoot hung out, Ferret Bean and Jay went to Runny Springs. Bean wanted a fire opal and Jay bought building supplies and stone to carve.

To the Herb Farm

Meanwhile Shorestalker, Bonnie and Odds headed out to the abandoned Farm. Bonnie found a quiet moment to admit to all that she recognized Petalfoot and she asked who else knew Petalfoot’s identity. Odds mentioned that only Echo knows and that secrecy is the path forward. Bonnie nodded, thoughtful. 

They reached the farm wandered around. Shoestrider soon realized that he was potentially the third wheel. Odds helped Bonnie, asking her questions about this plant and that. Bonnie found a large flowering Vine that the bees would love. Together, they gathered up the vine to plant at the top of the hill. Shorestalker, meanwhile, found tools, clothes, and books to bring home to the Bastion.

Ewws and Ewes

Back at town, the crew were now at Roland’s to shop for clothes. Echo and Petalfoot had a blast trying on outfits. Bean shifted back to his racoon self and commissioned a fireproof cloak.Jay bought bulk fabric and a killing selling the bag of folding–which Roland and never seen like of. Echo found a quiet moment with Petalfoot and started off the talk by diving straight into buying contraceptives for the young mouse teen. Petalfoot was horrified, but did endure the conversation. Echo wrapped up with an invitation to chat whenever about what dating feels like or to ask if there were any questions. Petalfoot was still a little off put but did take the opportunity to conspire with Echo to get Odds and Bonnie together. They bought Odds a new outfit as he hadn’t had a chance to get new clothes for well over a year. 

The next town stop was Ewe’s Ewws. There, the proprietor bought the dream shade plus the heat rock for 450 gold. Bean got alchemy supplies and purchased the cure poison recipe. They bought soaps for Odds and for the bastion, also cannabis pipes and cannabis seeds.

The Bees Knees

Back on the herb farm, Bonnie asked about the bees that were all over Odds and suggested that perhaps they were from his hive back at Rivervale. She also asked if they should take cannabis back. Odds thought of Bean and said “yes, I suppose”.

They returned home and started planting their living bounty and processing the rest. Odds took a moment to slip his armor on and use Mold Earth to create a rough adobe building for Maggie.

A star is born

Evening was falling, and in town the team had gone to The Real Macaw. There was a warm welcome for Jay. He brought up a potential new alcohol source with the Damnbreaker, the owner, really selling up Jasper and Jasper’s brews.

Dambreaker told Jay to watch his back. He talked about Sire Ishmall, Sir Hiss’s cousin who had now taken over for the missing Sheriff. Ishmall was not someone to mess with.

Echo started the performance and there was standing room only. Many of the townsfolk had come for the chance to win a Sending. With much hoorah and great fanfare, Echo pulled a name and brought the winner into the back room for a quiet spell. Afterwards, Echo and Jay did shots while Petalfoot and Bean napped in a room above.

Akward

 It was now well after dark at the bastion and Petalfoot was not home yet. Odds found himself at the top of the hill, searching the distance for a sign of her return. He realized he was not alone. Fivian was waiting in the clubhouse. Odds took a deep breath and approached Fivian for a talk. In typical Odds fashion, he started by explaining that he was not attempting to intimidate but rather to connect that he trusted Petalfoot’s judgment and he wanted to get to know this young mouse man. They talked about construction, about Odds possibly helping upgrade the shack or at leat providing some carpentry tips. It was an uncomfortable but useful chat for both of them. But still, it was a great relief when they spotted lights coming closer in the distance. Together, Odds and Fivian walked down to greet Petalfoot, Echo, and Jay.

Bean had stayed the night in town and was planning to meet with Father Tucker in the morning.

That night, Jay carved a new statue for the Golem. He planned to investigate the hidden ruins soon. Odds slept in the new adobe building near Maggie.

Dawn breaks

The next morning, Ben disguised himself as a dog and went to Father Tucker.

They sat and watched the sun together.

Back at base Echo full of them and vigor start a campaign to try to get a stage built at the bastion. Odds got Jay’s help to rework Maggie’s adobe house, and Jasper agreed to make the thatch roof  in exchange for his house being next to be built.The team prepared to delve into the depths of the ruins, but Maggie spotted a young stag approaching.

The Stag turned out to be “Root” Rutabaga Reed. Root explained the referee situation had gotten worse and there’s a lot of thievery going on. He showed that he had to Reed Family Longbow and then explained he would be hanging out the bastion to assist them with whatever their next move at the town was. His arrival sparked a big discussion. Echo wanted to focus on Sheerwood or on Rivervale, but Odds argued that the priority was the cause at their backdoor. Together they brainstormed next steps:

• Roots to vet out farming families for the nearby farms. The bastion could then support and help organize these farms under the Reed family name.
• Jay and Echo to strengthen the whisper war, using songs and rumors to undermine the Rivervale guards
• Bean could perhaps be used to lure Ishmal out
• Team ot keep suss out the combat skills of Sir Ishmal. The snake is obsessed with appearing strong, perhaps a one on one dual would pry him loose. 

The team was frustrated but Echo remember to promise that they had made. They found Petalfoot an Odds and took them to a quiet location. Echo sent to Petalfoot’s mother, but there was no response. Echo sent to Petalfoot’s father and they was still no response. Petalfoot quietly leaned into Odds, fighting back tears. Side by side they looked out over the bastion, knowing the Petalfoot’s parents were dead.