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theinsomniacsdnd · 6 years

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Session 9: Hornigold

As The Mule made its way back to Port Margo, the group stood on the deck pondering their next move after their encounter with The Black Wind, which had raised more questions than answers. Tris wondered if the kenku they had encountered was actually Hornigold. As they spun ideas, including that he might have been turned into a bird by forces unknown, Rolen suggested that the person Cheng had encountered might have always been a bird but wearing a flesh suit like some of sort of leathery faced guy. The others blinked at him in confusion, and Salome suggested they ask Cheng to help since she had no only known Hornigold before but definitely had more knowledge of the sea than they did.

After landing at the Port, they made their way straight to The Black Orchid. The same maitre d’ greeted them and directed them to the back, where Cheng was going over her business ledgers with her feet up on the table. No approached and asked why she had neglected to mention that Hornigold was a kenku, and she replied with a shocked expression that Benjamin Hornigold had definitely been a human, and he had never shown any aptitude for magic, and Salome muttered that if he had that much magic he could at least make himself taller. After being asked if she could recall anything that might help them, Cheng sat back in her chair and remembered that the last time she had seen Hornigold they had both been in Port Nyanzaru and she heard his voice calling to her from the deck of The Black Wind, but as she walked towards it he appeared behind her on the dock and laughed at her startled reaction. Ben had always loved pulling pranks so she thought nothing of it at the time, but now she wondered about that incident given what she had just learned.

Tris asked if she could help them track him down and put an end to his raiding and killing, since he was giving pirates a bad name, and she agreed, but said she would first have to check with Grainne to make sure she wasn’t violating the conditions of their deal. She couldn’t imagine why the Commander would refuse since it would be doing her a huge favor as well, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure everything was above board. She left to go fetch Grainne and the maitre d’ asked if he could get them anything as they waited, pointing to a large wall of bottles. Tris replied that they would take anything, and he returned with a few glasses of expensive bourbon. No downed his in one swig, to the horror of their host who explained that it had come from an incredibly rare bottle.

A few minutes later Cheng returned with Grainne in tow, having discussed the situation with her on the way over. Grainne agreed with Cheng that hunting down Hornigold would be mutually beneficial and gave her permission to proceed, and added to the rest of them that she wasn’t Eamon and was granting them the full authority to kill Hornigold. No promised that Hornigold wouldn’t make it back alive, and Grainne nodded in acknowledgement. Cheng said she would gather a crew for her personal vessel, The Red Flag, and prepare it to set sail on the morrow. She looked at Agus and said she hoped he didn’t mind if they used her boat instead, and Agus simply laughed, explaining that The Mule was not even his so he took no offense. Besides, Finn would be happy to get his boat back in one piece.

No offered to help with any heavy lifting and she thanked him, but explained she already had plenty of people who would be able to help. No then asked if she knew anything about Hornigold’s two lieutenants Annemarie and Sayyida, and Cheng replied that the two were known as a package deal among pirate crews who went everywhere together. Annemarie was a Rogue and Sayyida was a Bard, and Hornigold had apparently picked them up in Chult around the same time that The Black Wind had picked up many new crewmembers and the character of the entire vessel had shifted along with that of its Captain. Rolen commented that now they knew Hornigold had a change in species at the same time, and Cheng sighed and said that she had always thought Ben was a little too soft to be a Captain, since he could put boot to ass but had overall been pretty lenient with his crew, unlike how she kept her own crew on a tight leash with a strict code of conduct. As troubled as she had been by his shift from the man she knew into a vicious monster, now she wondered if something more nefarious had occurred. Wrapped up in her thoughts, she said she would meet them in the morning and departed for the docks, first asking them that they try to keep the news that she was going out again under wraps, since news that the notorious Madame Cheng was taking to the sea again would cause a stir.

With a plan in place for the next day, they headed back to The Red Cat Inn, but on the way Rolen tried to look for more flowers for his mistress without the rest of the party noticing. There wasn’t much to be found, but he managed to get a couple little thistles. As they walked into the Inn Aoife was surprised to see them again. As No informed her what they had found, she too was surprised to hear that Hornigold was a kenku like Holy Shitballs, a member of the Spyte of Darkness. She was equally surprised to hear that Madame Cheng had agreed to help them hunt him down, and Tris added that Cheng was just as interested in learning how Hornigold had become not just a bird, but a dick at the same time.

With their business for the day concluded, they decided to be wandering alcoholics and drink the remainder of night away. At a table in the back that they appropriated for their own use so they could divide up the loot from Hornigold’s stash. No drew out the Boots of Elvenkind that he taken and gave them to Salome, who smiled and called him a nice Warforged as she selected the Trident of Fish Command. Tris took the shield while Rolen took the magical Bag of Tricks, wondering what he might be able to do with its ability to conjure animals.

At dawn they got up and went to the docks, where a crowd was already forming. Despite Cheng’s efforts word had spread quickly that The Red Flag was going out again, and what seemed like the entire town had come out to see, including Grainne who stood by to reassure people that Cheng wasn’t returning to her pirating ways. As they approached the red-sailed vessel they spotted Cheng speaking to the elven maitre d’, who they now realized was actually her first mate. No took Salome up on his shoulders as they climbed aboard, and Cheng welcomed them to The Red Flag. No nervously set one foot on the deck and was surprised when it didn’t move under his weight, and Cheng reassured him that the ship had once transported an elephant, though it was a white one and really kind of a pain. When no one got her joke she sighed, and then was forced to explain what an elephant was to the curious party, except for Salome, who knew exactly what they were but decided to stay quiet because it was funny. They then asked what other strange animals she had transported, and she answered that they had once taken a peacock, describing it as being somewhat like a high class turkey. No and the girls started making predictable penis bird jokes, actually managing to stun the pirate queen, as Rolen stood by quietly and shook his head.

Regaining her composure, Cheng explained that she had called in some favors and had several ships out searching the area for The Black Wind, and they all had Sending Stones tied to hers and could alert them if the ship was spotted. Since they had actually encountered the ship she left the choice of where they would go up to them, and Rolen suggested heading west and circling around Gajah Island. Cheng agreed and called out orders to the crew, and they weighed anchor and set off from the harbor, passing the huge crowd still gathered including Aoife, who yelled to No that he needed to careful and better not get himself killed.

As they pulled out of the harbor No went to explore the deck as the crew watched him curiously. Seeing the six cannons, he asked excitedly if he could fire one, and Cheng promised that if they got into a fight she would allow it. Tris approached Cheng and asked how it felt to be back after so long, and replied said she had missed it because nothing in the world felt quite like cruising on the water with the wind at your back. No asked what she had seen in her years on the world’s oceans, and she listed water elementals, aquatic gnomes and merfolk as some of the interesting encounters she had experienced. In fact, their destination contained one of those, and she cautioned them as they moved into Nereid Cove that the locals might be hostile. Off to the side, Salome caught sight of something moving in the water and turned to look, but caught only a fleeting glimpse of a head as it retreated underwater. Cheng reached into a box on the deck and withdrew a herring, which she tossed tossed overboard. Before it struck the water a scaled hand darted up and grabbed it out of the air before pulling it underwater.

Curious, No and Rolen leaned over the side of the boat to see better, and a half dozen Merfolk poked their heads out of the water, watching them with their large and multi-lidded eyes. Cheng asked if anyone spoke Aquan, and Rolen said that using his powers he could understand it, but not speak it. A merfolk with a bright green crest on her head piped up in a very scratchy and high pitched voice that she understood Common and could pass on what he said to the others, and Rolen turned on his language comprehension so he could pass on what they said to his companions. The merfolk asked him why the lady with the big hat was back, and he explained they were looking for a bad pirate in a ship with black sails. After speaking amongst themselves for a moment in their own language, an alien sound that made No cover his ears, the merfolk relayed that a ship like that had been in the Cove a few weeks ago, but when they had tried to chase it away the water near the ship became churned up and choppy and they had lost it in the open ocean. They agreed to let them know if it turned up again, and then dove back underwater. Cheng said they were lucky these ones remembered her, since they were known to sometimes eat people who trespassed in their territory. Bribery also worked at winning them over, and as she said this she tossed another herring into the water where it too was snatched up by a scaly arm.

After departing Nereid Cove, they headed north to Gajah Island, so called because the island looked like a giant elephant made of rock. Rolen tried to remember what an elephant was based on their earlier conversation, but could only recall a drunk guy in a bar describing as a giant reptilian creature with huge wings. Hearing this, No asked if they could fly, and Cheng flatly answered they could not. She explained there was a local legend that the island was a titanic elephant who had wandered into the sea and died, her body turning to stone. She had no idea how true it might be, but there was no denying there was a resemblance.

Seeing no sign of The Black Wind, Rolen looked around and noticed a crate floating in the water. They managed to get it onboard and found inside some coins, spell scrolls and a few potions. The crate had probably been on a ship and fallen off into the water, and as they searched it No grabbed the spell scroll of Burning Hands, intending to use it against Hornigold as soon as he got close enough.

They continued out to the open ocean and towards the site of the attack on Agus’ ship. As they moved out of the sight of the land, Tris and Rolen were a little disturbed by the sight of endless sea all around then, but No took it much worse was completely terrified, crouched in the corner shaking. Salome meanwhile was completely unbothered and went over and hugged No, petting his head and comforting him. Rolen tried to reassure them that the sailors knew what they were doing, just as the lookout yelled “Holy shit what is that?!”

Beneath the boat, a huge shadow many times the size of the vessel appeared, and a long, barbed tail rose up out of the water. Agus gasped and said it was Ikan Pari, dropping to his knees. Rolen remembered hearing that the Baltra worshiped a giant stingray who was said to have rescued a boat full of stranded Baltra and towed them to the shores of Raetia centuries ago, and he along with the rest of the crew took a knee too. The giant beast curiously nudged the boat with his nose, making it rock back and forth and terrifying No even further as Agus spoke to it in his native language. Rolen switched on his comprehend languages and heard Agus thanking it for saving his people all those generations ago and praying to it for safe passage. For a moment the giant, stone grey head rose above the water and looked directly at him before it dove beneath the surface again. Stunned, Agus sat back and said he definitely had to get home now so he could tell his grandchildren that he had laid eyes on Ikan Pari in the flesh.

As the crew stood around awestruck at the appearance of the giant beast one of Cheng’s Sending Stones activated. She pulled it out and relayed that one of their allied ships, the Chen Po, had spotted The Black Wind in Pigeon Cove and were now in pursuit. She ordered all hands to turn the ship towards the Cove and draw the sail, and the winds were on their side as they quickly headed back towards land. As they approached the shore they spotted the Chen Po in hot pursuit of the black-sailed ship. Rolen suggested trying to pull ahead of The Black Wind to cut them off since they were faster, and Cheng agreed with his strategy. Bearing hard to their port side, The Red Flag aimed three of its cannons at The Black Wind and prepared to fire. No ran up to one, giddy as he helped load the cannonball and aim. All three fired at once on Cheng’s command, and No’s went straight down the barrel of the enemy cannon and exploded it as the second also hit and splintered some boards on the side.

Now turning towards them, one of The Black Wind’s cannons fired back, taking out some wood on the side of The Red Flag and making Rolen duck to avoid the shrapnel. Cheng called out that her ship could take more than that as the Chen Po turned broadside and fired three of their cannons, but only one shot hit. The Red Flag fired again, but only one cannonball stuck home and they decided to stay where they were until The Black Wind tried to move and give them a better shot. As they spoke the winds picked up and The Black Wind moved forward quickly, propelled by the magic winds, and as it passed it fired all its remaining cannons at both ships, with one hitting The Red Flag’s sail and blowing a hole in it.

The party asked Cheng what to do, and she suggested just trying to get close so they could board, and distributed grappling hooks for them to throw. The Black Wind fired a second volley at the Chen Po, but a misfire caused the cannon to explode and sent deadly shrapnel across the deck. Taking advantage of the confusion caused by the explosion, The Red Flag pulled up beside The Black Wind and Cheng yelled for them to throw their hooks. They all found purchase on The Black Wind’s hull and Tris, Salome, Rolen, No and Agus all swung over. No screamed as his line sagged under his weight, but he not only made it to the other side but managed to land on kick on a pirate, knocking him down.

At the wheel of The Black Wind, Hornigold turned to face them with Sayyida and Annemarie flanking him. He called out that they clearly hadn’t learned their lesson since they were back for more, but they taunted back that he had run away from them. Unperturbed, Hornigold saved his hand and a sphere of swirling wind formed over them, buffeting them as he hit No with a lightning bolt that coursed down his body, but also hit the prone pirate beneath him. Tris ran forward to the edge of the sphere and cast Thunderwave towards two the pirates closest to her. One held his ground but the other was knocked back as Rolen moved out of the sphere and towards her, trying to turn her against her own crew by casting Crown of Madness, but she managed to shake it off. Pissed off at the failure, Rolen then raged and pulled out his greataxe, deciding to just hit her instead.

The pirate No had knocked down struggled to his feet, and upon seeing an enraged, 7 foot tall Warforged looming over him with lightning coursing down his body he scuttled away and out of the sphere. Two more pirates tried to flank Rolen, but found the mast was in their way and both of their attacks missed. The female pirate in the hood stood up and fired her crossbow at Rolen, managing to hit him in the shoulder, but his rage made it only a minor annoyance. No ran up behind a black clad pirate and raged, swinging his axe and hitting him hard twice. Salome dashed out of the sphere and fired at a half-orc pirate, striking him in the foot and making him yelp as she aimed again and pinned his other foot too. Agus jumped out of the sphere into the water, disappearing beneath the surface.

Across the deck, Sayyida looked at Salome and chanted something, and Salome felt her body start moving against her will towards Rolen. Helpless against the enchantment, she swung her short sword at him, but she missed and Rolen in his rage didn’t even notice. Annemarie dashed up behind No and drew her sword and dagger as Hornigold dropped the sphere and held out. his hands, and two more versions of him sprang up beside him. Tris turned to the black clad pirate and swung twice with her sword, the second strike cutting off his arm. As he fell to the ground screaming she pointed her sword at the pirate who had run from No and promised he was next, and the pirate whimpered and retreated further into the corner. Rolen swung at the half-orc and took a chunk out of his shoulder as Sayyida commanded Salome to attack Tris, apologizing as the attack hit. Tris remembered that if she did damage to Salome she could try to break out of the spell, but before she could the half-orc hit her hard in the side and made her cry out.

The hooded pirate fired a crossbow bolt at No and hit, but he was too focused on Annemarie in front of him to care. He picked up the severed arm of her comrade from the deck to try and intimidate her, but she was thoroughly unimpressed until he smacked her the arm. Shocked, she stumbled backwards and No tossed it away, his point made. She snarled at him and hit with her dagger and short sword as Hornigold summoned a flurry of snowballs that hit Tris, Salome and Rolen. Salome tried to break out the charm but wasn’t able, so Tris tried to slap her out of it but missed the first time and failed to break the enchantment when she did, to the confusion of one of the pirates who wondered why they were suddenly attacking one another. Rolen hit the half-orc and cleaved him clean through the neck and then backhanded Salome to try and slap her out of it. Salome blinked, the enchantment broken, and Sayyida cursed.

A pirate with a bandana moved behind No and hit him with a mace twice, while the hooded pirate hood fired at Salome and hit with a crossbow, but her second whizzed harmlessly by Rolen’s ear. No swung at the pirate with a bandana and hit while drinking a potion in his offhand. Enraged that she had been controlled, Salome hit Sayyida with a Scorching Ray and made her scream out in pain, just as Agus popped up out the water behind her and declared that he was back for round 2. He swung his two swords, one hitting her in the shoulder as the other bent on impact. He cursed and surged forward anyway, managing to hit her again despite his bent blade. Sayyida tried to hit him with a Thunderwave but he stood his ground and snarled, asking if that was really the best she could do. Across the deck, Annemarie swung at No and hit him twice as No yelled for someone to come help him with her.

Hornigold again cast the snowballs at Salome and Tris, and Tris managed to dodge but Salome took a snowball directly to the eyes that blinded her. Hearing No’s cry, Tris ran towards Annemarie and swung at her, telling her to leave No alone and that they could still surrender. Annemarie seemed to consider it for a moment, but shook her head said she had come too far already and resumed her attack. Rolen moved up beside Hornigold and threw a javelin, dissipating one of his duplicates. Seeing that they were outnumbered, Rolen decided to even the numbers a little and reached into his Bag of Tricks, pulling out a fuzzy object that he threw onto the deck. It quivered for a moment before growing into a full sized tiger who roared and set his sites on Hornigold, who turned to stare at it with his mouth agape. The hooded pirate saw the tiger too and ran as far away as she could, trying to hit Tris but missing twice as she couldn’t keep her eyes off the massive predator.

The thug flanking No hit him hard with his mace twice, but that just made No angrier as he swung back and drank another potion. Salome tried to clear the ice out of her eyes but cursed as her vision was still blurry, and Agus continued to swing at Sayyida but only managed to hit with his unbent sword. Desperate, he leaned over and bit her wrist, and Sayyida screamed and projected an image of his worst fears into his mind, and he stumbled back, crying out that he didn’t want to see everyone die again. Though Rolen was in range of the spell as well it had no effect on him because he not only literally looked death in the face, but thought about kissing her too.

Annemarie swung at Tris and hit hard with the dagger but missed with the sword. Hornigold, now face to face with a tiger, floated up 10 feet into the air and looked at the chaos on the deck, unsure what to do. No asked if he was going to fly away like a little bitch again as Tris tried to hit Annemarie with a Chromatic Orb, but she missed. Rolen commanded the tiger to move under Hornigold and jump at him, and the tiger leapt and clawed down his leg, but Hornigold managed to stay airborne. Rolen then moved up to Sayyida and hit with his axe, and she stumbled, barely on her feet. The hooded pirate, seeing that the tide was against her, decided to take her chances on the sharp rocks and jumped overboard. No kept swinging at the man with the bandana and bludgeoned him to death with the handle of his greataxe as Salome continued to try and get the snow out of her eyes.

Across the deck, Agus had run behind a cannon and sat sobbing at the memory of his dead shipmates, but he summoned the willpower to break the spell and ran forward, snarling at Sayyida. Before he could reach her Sayyida summoned a Dimension Door and stepped through it next to Annemarie, reaching out to grasp her hand as the two stood back to back, determined to go down together. No saw this and was suddenly reminded of himself and Kolero, and implored them to surrender. Moved by his words, Annemarie and Sayyida looked at each other for a moment, then dropped their weapons and sat down, their hands in the air.

Up in the air, Hornigold floated towards Rolen and Salome to attack, but the tiger leapt into the air again, swiping at him but failing to grasp him. Hornigold unleashed a lightning bolt and hit Rolen, but Salome was able to dodge. He summoned up the power of the storm and unleashed a second bolt that knocked Rolen out and left Salome barely on her feet. Tris fired a Magic Missile at Hornigold as Rolen barely clung to life, and the tiger jumped up again and slashed at Hornigold, hitting and dragging him down to the deck. No ran towards the prone Hornigold and swung wildly, hitting on the first swing but missing on the second because he was so angry. Salome managed to get the snow out of her eyes and observed the scene with the tiger and the pinned Hornigold, and walked up and unleashed a point blank Scorching Ray on him as she drank a potion with her other hand. Agus ran over to Rolen and poured a healing potion down his throat and slapped him awake, blinking in confusion as Rolen coughed and said “soon, my lady.”

Across the deck there was a thud as Cheng jumped from The Red Flag and strode towards them, her eyes locked on Hornigold as he lay pinned under the tiger’s paw. He turned to look at her and coughed, saying that he was glad to finally meet her. Enraged, she demanded to know what he had done to Benjamin Hornigold, and with a laugh he said that he hadn’t “done” anything to him. The man had died in his sleep.

The party scoffed at this explanation, assuming it to be a lie, but from across the deck a voice called out it was true as the pirate who had sat cowering in the corner rose to his feet. Giving his name as Geralt, he said it had all started as joke. Captain Hornigold had found an egg one day and taken it aboard, and then when it hatched into a kenku who could imitate his voice he decided to make it into a pet, even buying it a coat and a hat identical to his and having it follow him everywhere. He had always been a jokester, and it had all just been for a laugh. Until the Captain went to sleep one night and never woke up. The crew had been devastated and unsure what their future held until someone suggested that the rest of the world didn’t have to know the Captain was gone, not when they had someone who could imitate his voice perfectly. So that’s what they had done, and though it meant keeping the bird out of sight no one was the wiser that the real Benjamin Hornigold had died. That’s how it had gone until they had sailed into a storm off of Chult and something vaguely humanoid and primal had come out of the clouds and touched the bird, changing him. After that the bird started demanding that they treat him as the real Captain, and when they laughed at this he started killing them, throwing them overboard with the wind or electrocuting them until the ones that remained agreed and he became their official Captain.

Stunned, Madame Cheng looked at Hornigold and demanded to know why he had tarnished the legacy of her dear friend with his violence. Chuckling, Hornigold said that he knew nothing else except to take and take and take. No walked closer, fuming, and Tris knelt down next to him and said she was sorry for the way he was treated, but that didn’t excuse all of the people he had killed since then. Reaching them, No loomed over Hornigold and said that he had taken everything from him. Cheng stepped back and said that she would allow him to do the honors as he pulled out the scroll of Burning Hands and lifted Hornigold by the neck, lighthing him on fire and holding him up until he crumbled to ash. With the deed done, No stumbled away, feeling oddly empty.

The battle over, Rolen walked up to Geralt and congratulated him on joining the winning side, and Geralt muttered that he should just cut his losses and become a baker. No walked up to Sayyida and Annemarie and warned them to get out of pirating while they could, and the two nodded, saying that they knew they would have to face consequences for their crimes but as long as they had each other they could endure it.

Down below, Cheng entered the Captain’s quarters with Rolen and found the original Ben Hornigold’s hat and coat laid out respectfully on a bed. Cheng choked back tears as she admitted that she had once held a notion that she could secure a deal for him like the one she had gotten and the two of them could spend the rest of their lives running an inn somewhere, but that had been a silly dream since people like them didn’t get to die in their beds surrounded by family at a ripe old age.

Back up on the deck, Tris asked Sayyida and Annemarie if they had been close to Hornigold, and they explained that he had always kept them at arm’s length and they hadn’t even known there was a human Hornigold, since they had come onto the crew after the original died. No sat in a corner, extremely tried, as Agus walked up to Sayyida and said that he was still angry, but surprisingly he found himself forgiving her. No turned towards Agus and asked him to teach him how to forgive, and Agus sighed and said it took a long time but he was simply too old to hold the hatred in his heart forever.

Tris said she hoped Cheng had found some comfort in finally knowing the fate of her friend, and she replied that she had since at least he had died as the man she knew. No walked up to his friends and hugged all three of them, thanking them for helping him as The Red Flag returned to port.

#session summary

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thephoenixfields · 7 years

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Session 16: Exit, Stage Left

« SESSION 15 RECAP

Furious and disappointed by what just happened, Nemo, Fen, and Sariel leave the throne room immediately. Nemo tells them to say nothing till they get back to their rooms as he doesn't want anyone in the palace overhearing them. Sariel tells a guard near their wing that no one is to disturb them unless the palace is on fire. The three debate if they should tell the others now while they're still drunk or if they should wait till morning. They decide they shouldn't wait and there's no good way to tell this news at all. Back in Julian's room, they find that Rowan has fallen asleep in her drunken state. Julian and Aeleyn are still awake and can tell immediately looking at their faces that something is wrong. Sariel tells them what happened without trying to sugar coat anything.

The entire party is gutted at Esther's choice. Nothing can be done tonight though. Nemo helps Aeleyn to her room. With a good perception check, Sariel can tell that something about what has happened to Selene has triggered Julian in a way beyond just normal. She makes an attempt to ask him if he's alright but Julian isn't in the mood to discuss it all. He snaps at her to go away and she does. Before she leaves though, she tells him thank you for offering to come with her to Alanar, as she can guess that he had an offer to go elsewhere and chose instead this. In her room, Sariel takes time to identify the ring she found in Salome's lab. It's a Ring of the Ram and she decides it would be better suited for Nemo in combat. She decides to give it to him in the morning. Nemo, meanwhile, is furious at someone's absence in the throne room when all this just went down. He doesn't go to sleep and instead stealths his way through the castle back to Viktor Graeme's rooms. He confronts the warlock and other Grand Vizier to Esther's Small Council, demanding to know why he wasn't there for Selene's sentencing. Graeme didn't know and says that he had counseled for her to be banished. Graeme has a very telling interest in Nemo, offering to teach him if he so wishes, and also if he'd like to stay for the night. Nemo is too angry still though and leaves. In the morning, Julian is left to explain to Rowan what happened the night before. In her drunken slumber, she'd simply slept curled up in his room. Rowan is shaken and upset, unable to understand this type of justice that Esther has dealt out. The party takes breakfast in the Royal Gardens. Sariel spends her time ripping up the flowers and twisting them into flower crowns as a way to soothe her anger and frustration before she does something drastic. Fen gives her a hairpin that she'd asked for the night before. The small druid has enchanted it with a healing spell so that if Sariel ever falls out of the air again in battle and drops to unconsciousness, the pin will heal her. Sariel also gives Nemo the ring she found in Salome's lab. The party debates over tea and toast just what they should do. They've saved Soraya from one tyrant only to find that Esther already has eroded their trust. They feel that Saskia has too much power and possibly they'd do well to add others to the Small Council to counter her. Sariel wants to put Lord Rothmore forward. Rowan wants to put Dania or Raphael to speak for the small people in Soraya. Nemo says they should ask Lysander. All three suggestions are good. Julian wants out of this city immediately. He's done talking with Esther or doing anything for her. The party debates staying together and ultimately realizes that whatever they've all gotten themselves into isn't over. Rowan is confused as to why anyone would want to stay with her, and it soon comes to everyone else's realization that Rowan might not have had friends before. Neither has Aeleyn. Ultimately, the party all decides they will leave together for Alanar and go with Sariel and Julian both. However, they cannot leave without doing something about the Esther situation. Mindful of Julian's growing ire, the party states they will split up to take care of what needs to be done and they will leave tonight. Sariel will go to Lord Rothmore. Fen, Aeleyn, and Julian will go check in on Salome in the Royal Prison. Rowan and Nemo will go tell Esther. Convincing Lord Rothmore is not that hard. He's reluctant but Sariel persuades him that leaving Saskia unchecked would do more harm to this city. And that Sariel does not wish to come back and have to gut this city again in just a few short months. She also learns that Lord Rothmore knows Sariel's mother from many years ago when her mother must have visited Soraya in her position as Ambassador.

“You look and walk so much like her. It would have been hard for me not to identify you even wearing a mask.”

Rowan and Nemo find a distraught Esther. It would seem that Sariel's warning to her that she wouldn't feel better has proven true. Rowan, ever kind, offers to cast a spell to calm her emotions. Rowan discusses with Esther about adding to her Small Council. She speaks highly of the Kasabian siblings and that either one would be a great help to Esther. Esther agrees and tells them that if they wish it, then she extends an offer for one to come to the city and meet with her. Meanwhile, in the Ravenwing Prison, Julian, Fen, and Aeleyn meet with Dimitry and Salome. They ask if Dimitry is okay with guarding her. Dimitry is uncomfortable but understands how important and imperative this is. They tell him that maybe he should get his second in command, Alondra to help him too. He says that's a good idea. They tell him that they're going to get help and will be back in two days at most. Fen feels a connection to Salome that she's not sure she understands or can explain. Stepping forward, with Julian and Aeleyn intensely watching and flanking her, she tries to communicate with Salome. However, her questions don't quite register. Salome looks confused. Gagged with a rag, she cannot talk. It would seem that while her revenant status has brought her back to the undead living, it has not restored all of her memories yet. Julian, uncomfortable with the way Salome merely smiles at Fen, eventually ends the conversation. He also, on their way out, tells Dimitry what Esther did to Selene. Dimitry is shaken and distraught. Selene was like a second daughter to him, someone he trained personally. Aeleyn also asks him a bit about the mercenary armies she heard about in the lower Sorayan tavern. Dimitry doesn't have a ton of information, but he does tell her she should seek out Ostax. It would seem her answers to her questions about her father lies there. Sariel has finished before any of the other two groups and already made her way into the Royal Stables. She procures horses for the entire party through telling the stablemaster that Esther has gifted them with fast mounts to deal with official business. The party picks out horses each. Sariel ends up with Karver's warhorse, Shiver. Julian is hesitant and it becomes clear that horses are not his favorite creature. The party leaves without saying goodbye to Esther. They do however stop to tell Lysander farewell. While Nemo and he talk, the others find that Ailis has been reunited with her mother; Rowan's sending has worked from the day before. It is a joyful sight to them all, a spot of good that they've managed to do. The party also finds Gaer whole and okay. Nemo gives Gaer quite a handful of gold. They all tell him to live in the keep with Lysander while they're gone. Lysander promises to take care of Gaer and even will try to teach him some to help his unrefined arcane skills. He is less pleased about being co-opted to join the Small Council. He agrees only to serve for one year. After that, he will leave Soraya. He also agrees that the Raven Queen would enjoy taking over the Royal Temple. Nemo and Lysander have a meaningful goodbye while some party members try to look on. In fact, Nemo leaves his eyeballs with Lysander who tries to return them. "Maybe they'll miss you," Lysander says in the most awkward of flirting techniques. Goodbyes to those they care about taken care of, the party exits Soraya out of the front gates. It is the first time the city gates have been opened in months. Along their way to the Northern Wilds, the party makes a stop in the Thief's Pocket that Sariel is none too pleased about, as it puts her back into these woods she hates. Here Sariel tells them a bit about Alanar. While Julian already has heard why she left, the others have not. She recounts the same story she told him. They arrive in the Thief's Pocket close to nightfall. Not without having to battle a pack of unnatural spiders that phase in and out of their sightline. While Dania and Raphael are pleased to see them and hear that Soraya has been freed, they're reluctant at serving on any Small Council. Sariel is not much help at all in convincing and doesn't try that much; distracted by the fear of returning home. Rowan does a better job, impressing upon Dania that the small people, the poor, the regular citizens need someone to help speak for them. Dania agrees to meet with Esther. “I will go. But know this, if I judge her and find her lacking or anything else amiss, I will not be staying.” Julian warns Dania and Pilar both of what Esther has done, still upset over what happened. They take the warning to heart. The party agrees to spend the night and rest in the Thief's Pocket before carrying on to Alanar first thing in the morning.

SESSION 17 RECAP »

#summaries #session 16 #jordan is crushing these recaps ahhh

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organiclifestylemagazine · 7 years

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Migraines and Magnesium

Few things conjure up bigger grimaces and more dread than migraines. For sufferers, the effects are debilitating, the prevention is expensive and ineffectual, and causality is very challenging to pinpoint.

What Is a Migraine?

Migraines are still being studied and aren’t fully understood. Originally thought to be a vascular condition, neuroscientists are now learning that it’s not quite that simple. Migraines seem to be more nervous system related than they originally thought.

What scientists do know is that during the onset of a migraine, there are some electrical changes that take place across brain tissue.

First, there is an initial wave of excitation, which basically means that there’s an electrical wave that passes over the brain before the vessels begin to contract and then subsequently become inflamed. This rapid change in pressure is what causes unbearable pain.

This rapid contraction and inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain has been observed primarily in migraine patients who present with an aura and is believed to be strongly linked to those effects.

Migraines can last anywhere from 2 to 72 hours and typically present as an intense, pulsating pain on one side of the head. Symptoms vary wildly between patients, with sufferers experiencing intense symptoms often associated with strokes and seizures.

Migraines typically occur in stages. Long before the pain starts, many sufferers experience neck pain, tension, mood swings, and a general lack of focus. Without intervention, the migraine may progress to the aura stage, and then on to the pain stage, which can last for days.

What is a Migraine with Aura?

Migraines can either be a simple combination of nausea and intense pain, or they can include a series of symptoms characterized as “aura”. Migraines with aura include a series of highly unusual (and often alarming) symptoms, including, but not limited to:

Partial temporary loss of vision (blind spots, fuzziness)

Visual anomalies, like zigzag lines, white spots, and in some cases, colorful lines and spots

Numbness and tingling in the extremities

Dizziness and disorientation

Difficulty with speech and comprehension

Intense nausea and vomiting

Extreme sensitivity to light and sound

Migraines with aura present with a series of interesting neurological electrical patterns that scientists use to study them. Without an MRI they can sometimes be confused with strokes or seizures. The symptoms are intense and often very alarming for the patient. Experiencing a migraine with aura can be terrifying. It can feel like being in a body that isn’t your own.

The Difference Between a Migraine and a Headache

This is where things get a little grey. There is a simple distinction between migraines and headaches, and knowing the difference can help reduce their frequency.

Though tension and sinus headaches can concentrate in a certain part of the body, like the neck, forehead, or sinuses, the pain of a migraine is almost always focused on one side of the head.

The Causes of Migraines

Common migraine triggers:

MSG

Carrageenan

Gluten

Energy drinks, caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants

Artificial dyes, flavors, and sweeteners

Stress

Lack of sleep

Hormonal imbalances

Alcohol

Poor kidney function

Hypertension

Dehydration

Sluggish endocrine system

Leaky gut

Chronic constipation

Hypothyroidism

Conventional migraine treatment and prevention don’t consistently work. Prevention involves expensive daily medication, and the efficacy of these drugs vary wildly. The side effects of these drugs are often intense, and patients are faced with deciding whether the tradeoff is worth it.

Side effects from drugs prescribed to prevent migraines can run the gamut from mild to pervasive and include everything from nausea to memory problems. Some report weight loss, weight gain, nausea, eyesight disturbances, and even numbness and a disturbing loss of motor function. In short, migraine prevention drugs are expensive, and generally not worth the side effects.

Magnesium – The Miracle Mineral

For many people, magnesium is the simple, cheap, and effective home remedy they’ve been looking for.

Magnesium is astounding in its importance in the human body. This mineral is used in more than 300 enzyme systems in the body that regulate everything from protein synthesis to blood pressure. Magnesium is required for bone development and structure and DNA and RNA synthesis. It even plays a crucial role in heart rhythm and muscle contraction.

Magnesium is arguably one of the most crucial minerals to our bodies’ health and well-being, and yet it’s estimated that 80% of Americans suffer from magnesium deficiency. The vast majority doesn’t even know it.

Magnesium deficiency is very common due to the increasingly processed diet so many people in the developed world consume. There’s plenty of magnesium found in nuts and greens but none found in potato chips and bread.

Why Magnesium Can Stop a Migraine in Its Tracks

So what makes magnesium one of the most effective ways to prevent and treat migraines? Though the evidence of users is still largely anecdotal, the consensus seems to be that it’s magnesium’s effect on the nervous system and the role it plays in muscle function that makes it such an effective migraine prevention and treatment.s

Magnesium gets the body’s systems moving. It is frequently used as an anti-inflammatory treatment by athletes and is frequently recommended by physicians for conditions like restless leg syndrome.

Over the decades, only a few studies have been conducted to determine the efficacy of magnesium. Results have varied. Researchers have discovered low levels of magnesium in test subjects as they experience a migraine.

Salome Range, a certified holistic health coach says,

After looking into information about magnesium supplementation for my own health, I also read about how low magnesium levels can be linked to numerous ailments, including migraines and morning sickness. I happen to know many people affected by both and started offering a topical magnesium body butter which was received with high praise.”

Her custom butters take advantage of magnesium’s easy absorption into the skin.

The more and more people who come back to me and tell me it’s been a lifesaver convinces me of the efficiency and importance of magnesium. I have also experienced major relief from chronic pain with regular magnesium supplementation.”

Though more studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and effects of magnesium on sufferers of migraine attacks, regular use and application during a migraine headache have been reported to reduce and even completely stop migraines in their tracks. It’s definitely worth a try.

Using Magnesium for Migraine Prevention

Magnesium is available in several different mineral compositions and forms. As with most vitamins and minerals, the best way to get it into the body is through a healthy, balanced diet. Minerals in foods are usually accompanied by what the body needs to adequately absorb them. If not, other needed nutrients will be available through a wholesome, unprocessed diet.

Ditching the sweets and chips and reaching for salads and sprouted raw mixed nuts are good ways to increase magnesium intake. Greens, legumes, nuts, and seeds are good dietary sources of magnesium. A spinach salad with some garbanzo beans and walnuts makes a nutritious, magnesium-rich lunch.

Chlorophyll, which enables plants to capture solar energy and convert it into metabolic energy, has a magnesium atom at its center. Without magnesium, in fact, plants could not utilize the sun’s light energy. ” – The Need For Balance by Michael Spencer

Some Foods High in Magnesium:

Seaweed, agar, dried (770 mg)

Coriander (dried) (694 mg)

Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened (499 mg)

Flaxseed (392 mg)

Almonds (247mg)

Though choosing the “right” formulation of magnesium can certainly impact how well the body actually absorbs this mineral, studies have shown the greatest factor in mineral absorption varies with individual organ and body chemistry. Kidney function, for example, plays a tremendous role in how well the body stores and distributes magnesium.The body stores and redistributes magnesium as needed via the kidneys, so it makes since for some to supplement when dietary intake cannot provide and maintain adequate magnesium. Most people take magnesium calcite as a supplement for bone health. For migraine prevention, it’s best to just balance the diet and take a plain and simple tablet of magnesium. The amount depends on diet, weight, and lifestyle.

In addition to oral supplementation, topical application of magnesium oil is a fast way to get magnesium into the body. Since magnesium is stored primarily in muscle tissue and bones, the best bet for immediate migraine relief is to rub magnesium directly into the closest available muscle tissue.

Using magnesium oil or a butter on the neck is the most effective way to use magnesium to treat a migraine headache. It can also be rubbed into the scalp and forehead.

Magnesium injections are another alternative that some physicians offer. As regular readers know, OLM does not recommend this method.

Magnesium Supplementation

As a migraine sufferer, my M.O. with magnesium is to kick migraines in the teeth with it long before they become an issue. If you suffer from migraines and you know you’re not a salad munchin’, nut crunchin’ kinda person, start supplementing daily.

Plain old magnesium is the way to go in my opinion. Take it in conjunction with a multivitamin or with an otherwise fairly balanced diet and a nice helping of calcium and vitamin D. If my diet is particularly crappy one week, I double up on my dose, but if I’m doing a good job of eating my vegetables, I may even be bold enough to skip a dose. To each their own.

When it comes to symptoms of an oncoming storm, immediate intervention is needed. I keep magnesium butter on hand that my good friend, Salome, concocted and massage it into the left side of my neck where the trouble usually starts. This always (knock on wood) stops migraines in their tracks.

Magnesium oil is a good way to get magnesium into the body fast. If you’re in a particularly tight spot and feel a migraine coming on fast, start working it into your scalp and even try for your forehead. Though these spots will be less effective, as long as you have adequate circulation, it should still help. Maximize the effect with a plunge into an icy shower to get your blood flow up. On that note, check out Hot and Cold Hydrotherapy.

A hot bath with bath salts detoxifies the body, and it’s a great way to destress. It’s also a great way to absorb lots of magnesium in your body. All natural bath salts contain magnesium and many other minerals, coupled with the benefit of your pores opening in the hot water for maximum absorption into the blood stream. This is not the most bioavailable way to absorb the mineral, but it is a good supplement to a broader supplementation routine, and an enjoyable way to escape a migraine. It also makes since to use oils and baths for those with impaired digestion, which is the case with most who suffer from migraines.