Session 88

Session 88
Session Number	88
Date	2026-07-13
Attendees	Kenzie, David, Brooke, Matt, Sam
Runtime (hrs)	4.5
Recording
Previous Session	Session 87
Next Session	Session 89

Description

Chosen Can't Be Beggars

David's Notes

Jojo awakes in his old room Fuligo is curled up there

new day in Fallevin

he heads down to the mess hall and grabs a bite to see whos around

He makes it there, its a tall ceiling room, high arched windows with open curtains

It can host the entire guild in its size

He notices it is feeling a bit cramped, remembers how many guild members from Gadena were sent this way

He grabs a tray of food and a cup of coffee and looks for his old chums

Looking around there are some familiar faces

He sees a young male half orc sitting at one of these tables He has a plate of food half eaten pushed to the side with a goblet of something. He also has a pamphlet of a bunch of papers hes looking through

Oh yeah, its the man, its Caukdim

He notices Jojo before he can get the drop on him He acknowledges Jojo with no embrace lol

He asks why Jojo is there

Jojo glances the papers on the table, he sees numbers and maps, hes going through the census of the Fellowship and seems to be "administering" troops in different places

He says the exodus from Gadena made them look into different points of expansion Sending members in different places to see if their presence would be liked or not by different places

Jojo talks about how hes going to lobby to move troops back to Gadena asap

Caukdim says he has a slot with the guild master today so he can join him for that

Lorson Ayred is the guild master of the Fellowship

Jojo knows Denna would probably be in the Del

Center of this rounded room is a person knelt, head tilted up, coppery hair pulled into a braid down her back Its Denna!

In the glass behind her is a depiction of Cord The Warmonger, a man without a helm but gauntleted hands, older graying hair and beard, white eyes that when the sun shines through are extra bright than the rest of the stained glass. Behind him is an amassing storm

Jojo thinks this is an unusual depiction of the Warmonger in the southern Wruitros ideology of him.

There are pews with a couple people in them and Jojo takes a seat to wait for her to finish He waits 40 minutes lol

Jojo thinks how he isnt really as connected spiritually with Cord The Warmonger, but seeing Denna in full armor for at least 40 minutes is moving for him. He thinks how over his travels now he has become more connected to his god. He says a prayer Thinks about what he and his father had said to him in his dream, Jojo is there as he wants him to be, he asks for the strength and the right words to help his cause and clan. He feels a sense of certainty in this moment that the people here want what he wants, on the same side as him, think that they will take him seriously He watches this devout woman until she is spurred to finish. Her eyes blink open and she is staring directly at Jojo

She smiles as she rises, her cloak fluttering around her

She says, "Jorun, for a second I thought I saw a ghost, you look more and more like your father each day"

They embrace, welcoming him home.

She checks him over to make sure he is well.

"I have received your missive, but I would like to hear the words from your mouth"

She leads him through some doors to an interior garden with an abundance of growing blue ivy and hanging plants. They settle on a small bench.

There is a matter we have to discuss, the completion of your training here

Ive been a bit neglectful of that, caught up in my journeys

You have many important things to be doing instead of being here, but you should get the chance like everyone else for the final duel.

Denna says she will prep for it at the colosseum tonight

Before we speak with the Guild Master, is there anything else you would like to discuss?

Jojo talks about the politics of Augustine and those mixed emotions, anger, fear, wishing to have known the truth earlier. We would be remiss to not do everything we could to stop Bane

He tells her of the dreams he has been having more recently and she hones in on that.

That is very intriguing to me, I see you have returned with your fathers armor that you did not leave with...

She explains his fathers armor is for his family and his family alone. It picks and chooses when you are ready for it.

Denna says he has never visited her dreams before. What ever he has done to pull his attention must be an important thing. She is very proud of him.

I wondered when you were going to accept and it seems you have

Jojo talks about when he was in his coma, the voice and will of Bane hammered home how important it is what they do and how important it is to stop him from returning

As a direct enemy to Cord The Warmonger I think it is our only duty to prevent his rise And I think that feeling will be enumerated through the keep. You wont be turned down from that here.

They talk about his mother

Your father is not a god Jojo, but it sounds as if he may be a gods chosen champion.

That's part of the story I never heard.

Not necessarily before death. I don't know if who you speak of is as I knew him or some entity that is using his spirit from beyond the grave or a visage of Cord The Warmonger to make you feel safe. It seems it was some sort of deal perhaps to come to you beyond death.

I see no harm in seeking out this champion and following their advice.

They were hard to say no to.

They confer how to frame this to Lorson Ayred

Jojo talks about the Tenet Stone that was dropped in Woburn and how it changed Felrick. He explains part of the reason the fighting happened at Wrelmouth is because there is a disk that.

Jojo tells Denna about Lyra and she says to not tell that to anyone else ever lol

In the coming days you should consider the difference between wont, cant, and should not.

They realize they need to go their meeting

---

They meet up with Caukdim

6 months ago it seemed like he didn't speak much and just beat stuff up, but now hes outside the Guild Masters office with papers in hand.

They enter the office

They all file in, standing at a window Elf with dark skin, short silver hair and gray eyes, been the guild master as long as Jojo has been here He upholds the keep and maintains the budget basically. Lorson Ayred doesnt really invade the spiritual aspect of the keep, thats more left for Denna

Lorson Ayred acknowledges Jojo and is excited to see him

He notes about the influx of members from Gadena and the concern of religious freedom

Jojo says its more concerning than it sounds. He explains how Augustine is the Chalice of Bane

I assume we are talking about the bringing of a god back to this plane?

And not just one.... he explains Bhaal and Myrkul

He says to his understanding they dont all fully exist without one another

And worse they are in league with the Gemcourt

He explains our sightings of dragons

Despite the fact that the Gemcourt wasn't killed like we thought, the Green Dragon died in the War of the Last Dragons, so that can't be the same dragon

He talks about the meeting with the dragon in the Underdark

Lorson Ayred has conferred with some other leaders about possibly starting a religious council of sorts to deal with these things This could be a massive religious uprising

Jojo explains how he has been with the Fortune Bringers for a couple months now He then explains the events of Woburn and the Tenet Stones

Tenet Stone of Bane: Fear is the one found in Woburn

Talking about this, Lorson Ayred dismissed Caukdim from the room.

The Guild Master says I do not know where it is, but the last time I saw a Tenet Stone it was in the hands of Jojo's father It wasn't affecting him like it would be affecting your friend, he was interested in hiding it so that it could never be found.

Denna seems to have been aware of this information, and seems unhappy that he has told Jojo this

He doesnt know where he hid it, or if he told anyone.

Denna says she doesn't know where it is

They both knew he had it, the last thing he asked them before he left was to not say anything about this to anyone else.

They have no proof that it was the cause of his death.... but at the same time not that it wasnt

Bonds between members of the Fellowship do not end after death Lorson Ayred They seem to be having a sort of spat here over this situation

Jojo says, dont you think that is information I should be privy to given our conversation earlier?

Seeing as neither Lorson Ayred or I have no idea where it is, I dont see how it can help us or a memory of a friend's last wish, to keep you safe. Setting you off on a wild goose chase for some artifact with unknown properties doesnt seem helpful for any of our goals.

So we let Augustine find it first?

She says, No, we kill him first

So what do you propose?

Lorson Ayred says - Well, the short answer is what does one do, we aren't an army, we are a guild. Some will fight, but the others..... I disagree with Denna I think we should go find this Tenet Stone

Denna says - you know now, the choice is yours.

The gears turn inside Jojo's mind He looks to Denna, you have led me all the way and your judgement has only ever been sound. I think I have to side with Denna.

So we leave it where it is?

If we have no leads on how to find it, then we should tackle the more obvious problem, Augustine If we kill him we kill the use for the stones

Well I hope we can find him fast

Denna says Lorson Ayred send word there will be a final duel in the colosseum tonight

Send Caukdim back in please

They all split acknowledging they will be meeting again tonight

---

On the other side of town, Eofos is soaking in the bathhouse

Dheffi is the name of the rat folk who runs the night/morning shift here She bumps into Eofos

This city is fairly similar to Gadena, mostly humans, but there are more half elves, dwarves, half orcs than.

We follow street signs that lead to a lift up the cliff wall

The lift costs 2 copper for the ride up for the entire group lol

We get a higher view of the city from here

We make it to the top, we can see the walled in courtyard that is the keep

Walking up to this space without Fellowship regalia we are brought to a stop by some guards

I tell them we are meeting with our friend Jojo and the guard Mica is stunned that we are friends with him

I tell him we are going to him now and we can introduce him.

He loves this idea and he comes with us.

He leads us across the keep to an armory where Jojo is polishing his armor Says he has a fight his last duel.

Mica is star struck with seeing Jojo lol is excited about his last duel

I eventually guide him out

We start talking together

Jojo tells us about the Tenet Stone his father had

---

We hear some muttering start as we leave his room

Some people down the hallway leaning on the wall have yelled down to us The white knight of Avelier Half elf, black hair in a pony tail, she is wearing a black and gold armor with a blue cloak

There is derision thrown her way

She has a stoic face

she walks off

We ask the people what they are talking about

They say she defected from Cord The Warmonger

---

Eofos and Eadith go to the Del temple and talk about religion

Neither of them are very religious

They talk briefly about their siblings, before Eadith has a bit of an existential crisis if her parents had another kid and if she has her childhood room at home. It freaks her out and she storms out of the temple but not before giving a quick prayer to Cord The Warmonger to help Jojo

---

There's a knock on Jojo's door

Its a woman with a white cape on

She says - So we are no longer rivals Jojo

What rival could I be to the White Knight of Avelier

He asks what happened

A friend of your arrived, it was Amollia

She was fleeing, when she ran she went somewhere she thought she would have friends.

She was welcomed in as a refugee of sorts

She had this thing with her and seeing that it worked for me as well I decided to jump ship

Jojo is surprised, but you werent a follower of the Sunkeeper, how did this happen? So are you also chosen by the Sunkeeper?

Don't be alarmed - she puts her hand on her chest and her eyes flash from a light gold to a dark brown

"Hi Jojo" she says in Amollia's voice

I came here and Ezryn touched it and there was this intense bright light and some kind of merging of our bodies happened and now..... Im in here I dont know what happened to my body...

Who knows about this? Do you communicate with the Sunkeeper?

Sort of indirectly... its been really confusing and a lot of devout worship time hasn't occurred.

She passes back over to Ezryn

Ezryn says that Denna said she should keep this matter private We've been trying to make it work.

If you're chosen, how can you refuse?

Maybe it was pure coincidence...

For the first time since hes known her, he realized that all she wanted was to be worthy like Jojo's name brings him

There was space when we were both touching the relic, I don't think we were here, but I don't know where we went. We were out of time and when we came to, I was all that was left. I was afraid I would be turned away from the temple of the Sunkeeper

Denna could have turned her away when she asked or her last duel, but she didn't.

Maybe the time will come that other people can know this secret

When you go against her this evening, shes going to have him on your side so maybe you should get him on yours too

Obviously I have no place to speak

---

Eofos goes to Jojo's room and talks about his role

---

About 15 minutes before the duel, a bell rings

Outside is an open carriage meant to take him to the colosseum

He is helped in

Another cart is pulled into precession, its one for Denna

the city is cheering and celebrating, people waving as they pass

The sun is just starting to set behind the colesseum, leaving a wide swatch lit with the sun in the arena

The horses take him into the carriage entrance, Denna is taken to the opposite side

The place is packed, people are all cheering JOLUNDEL

The carriages circle before coming to a stop

The carriages are taken away.

Lorson Ayred walks into the center of the ring with a megaphone saying - Members of the fellowship and citizen of Fallevin..... we welcome you to the last duel of Jorun Jolendel

And everyone uproars

Up against our storm warden and his mentor Denna!!

She walks in with adamantine half plate, very well fit suit of silver underneath, her billowing cape tied across her shoulders Across the breastplate is the joined sword and lightning bolt of Cord The Warmonger

She pulls an ornate blue tinted long sword as she is introduced

Lorson Ayred continues - as you know the last duel is to commemorate the finished mentorship between a guild master and their charge. This is not a fight to the death but a show of talent and power and we cheer for them both as they are here to represent the Warmonger himself in the arena of battle!

Another roar from the crowd and in the background a slight rumble of thunder.

He takes the amulet of Cord around his neck and gives it a little kiss and asks him to lend him his strength.

Denna pulls a decorated shield out

The one thing about the final duel is the mentee always goes first Jojo approaches , gives Denna a nod and feigns one way and slashes at her

The symbol on her chest flashes, pulses, a blue electrical energy flashes across her eyes A storm is being called above the colosseum

The lightning flashes bright and Jojo is blinded

He stumbles around trying to shake it

Her suit of armor pulses again and her long sword is ablaze crackling with lightning energy

Jojo takes a deep breath and takes a swing at Denna, landing one hit

She says - "By will or by storm Jorun" She crits him lol with a 3rd level divine smite

Jojo just cant seem to shake the blindness

Denna backs up from Jojo and he lashes out with an attack, the radiant damage blaring out

Eofos yells from the sidelines to Jojo giving him bardic inspiration

She repeats, more intently now - "By will or by storm Jorun"

From the storm clouds streaking lightning back and forth she reaches up, grabbing a lightning bolt and pulling it down onto Jojo

He finally pulls himself out of the blindness

Denna puts her hand over her symbol putting 70 hp from her lay on hands healing herself

Jojo runs after her and takes 2 more swings, making contact with one

She takes her attacks with her long sword, connecting with one hitting him with radiant damage and lightning damage

Jojo seems to hit his stride, connecting with two more attacks and 2 more smites

Denna clutches her necklace of prayer beads to cast cure wounds on herself She takes 2 swings and catches Jojo with one

Jojo touches to himself and heals himself up with his lay on hands

His attack before broke her concentration and the storm dissipates and the sun streaks back in

Jojo's grieves flash gold and he instantly sprints past her, but she whips her shield out to glance the blow, only taking half damage as he blinks past

Denna returns with a branding smite, the lightning on her sword is joined with an astral radiance running up her sword. She slashes at him, blasting him with lightning and radiance.

Jojo slashes at her again, catching her with 2 more solid hits and downing another healing potion

Denna attacks, catching Jojo off guard with a crit, bringing him down to a couple mere hit points She seems proud that he is still standing

Jojo musters the strength, catching her with another slash and downs another potion

Denna seeing the condition Jojo is in doesnt attack with a spell but swings at him, catching with a single strike, bringing him close to down.

Jojo is gassed, he swings twice missing both.

Denna flips the longsword up to her shoulder, looks at Jojo and says - By will and storm Jorun - and she whips him in the head with the pommel of her sword

The crowd goes absolutely wild with joy and celebration and congratulations

Denna puts her sword away and casts cure wounds on Jojo to wake him up

She leans in close and says the gods are not one thing, their domains on mortal and closed, do not be surprised if they dont greet you the way you expect She puts her hand to his head and... A cool sensation spreads up and over Jojo's skull as a helmet appears onto his head, gold and studded with blue gems

He takes his hand and pumps it to the air where his name is still being chanted

She says to him "It is hard to compare your skills to mine, but if I had to say so Jorun, we were pretty evenly matched"

"Its good to know theres still more to learn"

Ep title - Chosen Can't be Beggars (aka Four Girlfriends)