Oshuamp - Episode 13: Pursuit of Knowledge

Recap
Utilizing the silver blade of the chakram, Ritora frees herself from the vine, and watches in horror as it hooks downward, parting the black earth and recoiling below. They spend a few moments discussing their options and where they should meet again, knowing that safety in numbers is their best bet for survival.

Yahlumlo heads towards the Toasted Lady, and plans to return to Logger’s Hall and check in with his companions and friends. Ethir and the others return to the Quiet Night. Yahlumlo, inside the tavern, meets with Alice, who says that she kept his room, but is surprised to see him, as rumors had begun to spread of his death out in the woods. She has learned that the Logging Guild has discussed dissolution because of the catastrophe, and says that she will find a new way for their deal to continue. Yahlumlo thanks her, ascends the stairs, and rests for the night.

Ethir and the others find the small boy, Timothy Poster, who sells the Daily Oshuamp. They purchase the news from today and the previous, and are terrified by the contents. At the Quiet Night, they pay Eliza for a trio of rooms and begin their rest. While he sleeps, Nesgrim is plagued by a horrific nightmare. A guttural language, the cracking of a whip, a warmth and a chill, a sensation within his chest that feels like his blood is boiling, preparing to break through his flesh. He looks down, seeing a transparent floor, and recoils at the sight of dozens of ethereal, pale faces, thin strands of hair captured motionless in a vacuum of space. Their faces caught in a state of agony, hands pressing against the threshold at Nesgrim’s feet. His gaze wanders upward to a luminous, almost blinding ray of space, pouring down to him, bathing him in a warmth. As his eyes return to his front, he is met by the face of his father, parted a black surface that clings to his cheeks and neck, and tells him to beware “The White Bone.”

In the morning, Yahlumlo has his breakfast and comes back to meet the rest of the crew at the Quiet Night. While weighing their options, they engage in a tense conversation with Benjamin as he is entranced by Ritora’s flowers changing as she offers one from her floral crown. Ethir uses his Helm of Telepathy to Detect Thoughts on him when he is hesitant to answer questions, and he discerns that Benjamin is traumatized by the death of his father, as he recoils in horror when Ethir offers him a skeletal fragment, and Benjamin calls it the “White Bone.” Eliza becomes upset when they continue to press Benjamin, and the party apologizes and leaves.

As they make their way to Beggar’s Market, they briefly encounter a young couple, operating the only stand in the snow, and purchase some toys for Benjamin as a way of making amends. They press onward towards Logger’s Hall so Yahlumlo can check in with his companions, but are interrupted by a wealthy looking man, dressed in purple silks. He concludes his conversation with the guards and hurries over to them, inquiring if they require homes in the city as they look like some unfamiliar faces to him.

He questions them about their business in the city, and connects the faces to the rumors of Ethir and Yahlumlo, and gains the names of Ritora and Nesgrim. He introduces himself as Arthur, the man who owns many of the vacant homes in Slums West. Beyond land ownership, he offers workers or laborers who would be supplied to them for a fee made to him. Claiming that they are busy with personal issues, they excuse themselves for now, and when asking how they can find him afterwards should they need him eventually; he tells them to ask for the “Architect.” He points towards the northwest corner of Slums West, at a tall standing cobblestone building, and says the guards will permit them by should they use that moniker.

They arrive at Logger’s Hall, and are dismayed that it is dark inside, and the doors barred. Yahlumlo heads onward towards his friend’s home up the street, and is permitted inside after knocking. Seamus is hurriedly packing, claiming that the Logging Guild is dissolving out of fear for what happened in the woods, and is shocked to see Yahlumlo alive. He reveals a harrowing tale of a creeping creature that descended from the trees over the body of Yahlumlo after he was pulled by a sudden gust of bone chilling wind. Trees fell, and the other loggers began to flee, but the world grew dark around them, and Seamus turned back to help his friend, but watched paralyzed with fear, as the creature, pale as ice, descended the trunk of a tree, with long creeping fingers approaching his friend’s body. He fled amidst the screams of his companions, and apologizes to Yahlumlo for abandoning him. Yahlumlo accepts it and understands the fear of the situation. He instructs Seamus to head to Clark, and use his name, to attempt to gain salvation in being hidden, similar to Madeleine. Seamus embraces his friend and hurries outside towards Slums North.

The others, waiting outside, watch as a different man leaves the home, and enter to find Yahlumlo pouring through Seamus’ abandoned belongings, and question what happened. He informs them that the guards have threatened the Loggers with imprisonment or labor if they refuse their work. As Yahlumlo investigates the bags, he finds a burlap pouch that contains a small, 18” wooden figurine, with twisted, coiled twigs holding it together. In place of a face, a small flat piece of bark is strewn over, covering it, akin to a mask, and it is stained with a white pigment, smeared over it. Nesgrim cannot place exactly what this is, but is mortified by the visual, as he is reminded once more of the physical appearance of his father as he died back in Hrayek.