Academy Anthology: Tales of Home

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====== The Gourd Life ======
**Session Date**: 11/1/2025 \\
**Game Master**: Rachel

===== Player Characters =====

  * **Lith**, Shadar-Kai Druid (Bridget)
  * **Slate**, Warforged Giant Barbarian (Andy H)
  * **Rotheon**, Aasimar Clockwork Sorcerer (Ace)
  * **Caiel**, Tiefling Sorcerer (Nat)
  * **Psithuris**, Circle of Strars Druid (Quinton)
  * **Klast**, Rock-man Cleric (Jim W)

===== Major Plot Points =====
  * The group took a liesurely cruise on the Celestial Compass, seeking to unwind after all the trouble and drama of the last week. Talk turns to recent events, and the possibility of recovering some evidence agains Gamma Co. from Xander. Since they don't know much about him, Lith uses the Lore-Axe, which tells everyone:
    * Xander is mercurial and focused on his research
    * anything he gets is immediately taken apart so he can figure out how it works, then reconstructed with his own...modifications
    * He doesn't keep notes. Everything is in his head. That goes for any notes he receives too. They held tightly until he's done with them and then destroyed.
    * Oh yeah, a week? There'll be nothing left of any new toys or notes after that long.
  * While pondering their next move, all the heroes hear a telepathic plea for help. Psithuris and Roe recognize the voice as that of Wambus Troubleslam the 26th ([[session_18|A Choice of Allies]])
  * Wambus has apparently been experimenting in growing larger plants for more food, as well as plants that can move around to help with the harvest. He was trying this with some gourds and now those gourds are swarming, rampaging, and destoying things.
  * Since the Fallow Fields, where Wambus lives, is on the way to Xander's, the heroes promise to stop in to help.

  * Wambus meets the heroes at the Fallow Fields. There is now a bridge across the polluted river. The gourds have taken over one of the four greenhouses. 
  * Lith casts speak with plants and enter the greenhouse, Lith calling out that they mean no harm and want to talk (Parlay!)
  * At the far end of the greenhouse, they meet the Pumpking and Pumpqueen. Huge orange gourds with triangle shaped eyes and jagged teeth. They speak common, and the smaller gourds nearby understand common, but can't speak it. 
  * They are pleased to be addressed as 'Your Gourdship', and some gourd discussions ensue. 
    * They want only to live and grow
    * Wambus harmed too many of them. The heroes negotiate them down from insisting on death, to being ok with him just leaving
    * The gourds do not want to leave their ancenstral home, and the druids realize they would become major invasive plants and destroy any ecosystem they are moved to. 
    * They are currently stuck inside the greenhouse, as the soil outside it burns them

  * The heroes leave the greenhouse to discuss terms with Wambus
  * Wambus is unwilling to leave, and that wouldn't work for producing the food Storm of Vengeance and others need either. He's willing to provide soil and support or some deal with the plants to keep them happy and get some help around the farm.
   * He provides a wheelbarrow full of the soil he's prepared, and the heroes return to the greenhouse with it
   * Talks go ok with the plants, they hadn't realized Wambus was the sole source of suitable soil. They are swayed by Slate's arguments, but notice Psithurius casting guidance to help and demand Psithurius's death in return for their agreement to other terms.
   * Slate asks Psithurius to play along, then attacks him. But the plants saw through the charade and attacked!
   * The gourds swarmed and the Pump-Queen's vines grabbed Slate and Psithurius!
   * As the gourds swarm, Slate gave an impassioned speech! Sieze the means of gourduction!Throw off the shackles of the Pumpking and Pumpqueen! He then slays the Pumpking as the gourds, heeding the call to insurrection, turn their attentions to their oppressors.
   * Caiel cast command, ordering the Pumpqueen to release Psithurius, then go stand in the corner and think about what she's done.
   * As the Pumpqueen comtemplates her actions, the gourd revolution swarms the queen, killing her. 

  * The Pumpqueen and Pumpking dead, the remaining gourds form their own Gourvement and broker the Gourding Accords. 
  * Our heroes leave satisfied that they only killed one sapient being this week, and only after great effort to avoid violence.