Session 20, VP2

Having healed as much as they were able and done what they could to help Drillsberg in the aftermath, our heroes were ready to move on. After making their way through their morning routines, the group met up in the center of town. A brief discussion solidified their loosely drawn plans: they would make their way to Ohmslo. With the wind at their back, they entered the familiar Varfjell Fields. 

In a few hours, they detected cries of distress coming from somewhere nearby in the tall grass. Lauren snuck their way forward, relying on their field research training to move silently. A short way ahead, a Happiny was being bullied by a few other wilds. Jumping into action, Lauren led the charge as the trainers jumped into the fray. Attacks & Pokéballs alike flew through the air. 

In moments, the four bullying Pokémon were either captured or defeated, and the Happiny had been safely caught. As thanks, the Happiny gave Lauren a Lucky Egg. The group continued on their way, discussing the events they had recently survived. 

After two days of light travel, the distant, yellow glow of Ohmslo could be seen on the horizon. Feeling somehow warmed by the soft light suffusing the night, the party enjoyed a night of deep, uninterrupted sleep. 

In the morning, they continued the last few miles to their destination. Just as Lauren had described, Ohmslo sprawled across the landscape, with buildings stretching taller than most of our heroes had ever seen. Stunned for a moment, they took in the sight, before looking to Lauren to lead the way. Both comfortable & anxious to be returning home, Lauren- 

Hello there! You: yes, you, the one reading this! Have you ever wished life could be the slightest bit more exciting? Looking to introduce an element of risk & danger into such mundane activities as recovering health, catching Pokémon, & being alive? Well, look no further than the end of your nose: you’ve found Rusty’s Emporium! Whether you’re looking to offload some freshly earned gold after raiding a kobold’s den or hope to sell some gems stolen from the lich’s dungeon, Rusty has all your purchasing needs covered! I’ve got living things, I’ve got dead things, I’ve got things no one knows how to kill! Do you know how many rogues have tried to pickpocket me? Try the same, and you can see where they all went! 

From Waterdeep to Streamsford, you won’t find any other wares quite like mine, & that’s Rusty’s Guarantee. Please note that Rusty’s Guarantee merely pertains to the availability of my stock, not your safety should you choose to claim them. So come on over: stand a spell, set your waggle to haggle, & give Ol’ Rusty some bits of your attention & soul! I promise, you won’t even miss it! 

-began to navigate the streets by muscle memory. Each pathway & alley seemed rife with ghosts of the past, but they kept their eyes trained on their destination. 

In a short while, the group stood outside of Lauren’s childhood home. Knowing that both of their parents were likely at work, Lauren checked to see if any lights were on. Finding none, they redirected the group to the PokéMart where their mother worked. Leana was working at the cash wrap as the trainers entered the store. A mischievous grin made its way across Lauren’s face. Ducking to hide behind the aisles, they began to slowly sneak their way to the counter. 

Meanwhile, Ariela decided to purchase a candy bar, and Bronze offered to share her own discount card. Just as Leana was taking the card from Bronze, Lauren popped up behind her and cleared their throat. The card fell to the counter with a clack, as Leana’s face quickly cycled through a sequence of emotions. Even before she seemed to land on how to feel, Lauren had been swept up into a tight hug. The hesitancy Lauren could feel in Leana’s arms as she slowly unwound her embrace let him know just how much he had been missed. 

After Lauren introduced Ariela and Bronze, Leana insisted they take the candy bar for free, and got a coworker to cover for her momentarily. Taking Lauren by the hand, she led them to a bench outside the PokéMart. 

Lauren mustered bravely to Leana’s onslaught of questions, doing their best to downplay her fears when the topic of Drillsberg came up. When the discussion turned towards Lauren’s reasons for returning home, Leana ducked back inside of the Pokémon Center briefly. The group could see where Lauren’s cheeky grin had come from as Leana said she had “suddenly become to sick to work the rest of the day”. 

Eyeing the state of Lauren's clothing, not to mention the "lived-in" look of their friends, Leana took the group out to lunch at the Cook Cook Diner, an old favorite of Lauren's. Though there was a small bit of confusion regarding what a menu was for a few of our intrepid heroes, they successfully navigated their way through the social encounter. Next, Leana led her flock to stop by her house momentarily, dropping off their backpacks and the like. And then? Then it was time to shop. 

First, they paid a visit to Torkohl's, aiming to pick up the basic clothing necessities at reasonable prices. While his friends were making their way through the clothing sections of the store, Donner found himself fascinated by the "home goods and technology" department. Leana stepped in to help where she could, recognizing that this was a new experience for many of Lauren's new friends. 

Next, the party stopped by some smaller, privately-owned shops lining the river that ran through Ohmslo. Bronze picked up some more traditional Vanic clothing, while the others grabbed a few more choice items. Ariela spent most of this time perusing a used book store, hoping to find books on a specific topic. 

Once all the purchases here were complete, the last stop was at another PokéMart, on the way towards the Halvorsson household. Here, Leana helped Donner find a leg brace and some painkillers. With this last errand finished, and the sun having set some time ago, our heroes looked forward to getting dinner and some rest. 

Erik, Lauren's father was in the middle of beginning to cook dinner when the small troop arrived. Bemused, he put the pots and pans away before crushing Lauren into a tight hug. He questioned Lauren some, but nothing to the extent Leana had earlier in the day. It was obvious his spirits were lifted at seeing Lauren surrounded by friends. Given the large number of mouths to feed, the Halvorsson's suggested the mythical "pizza".  

As Leana attempted to explain what pizza was to the more "rustic" party members, Erik left to fetch a few pies. During this time, Ariela took the chance to speak to Lauren in private, much as she had with Bronze prior. Sylvie and Donner were marveling over the kitchen appliances, while Bronze and Reinhold got some well-deserved rest. 

Once Erik had returned, the pizza proved to be popular amongst the ragtag group. As dinner began to wind down, Leana inquired as to where Lauren and their friends were planning on staying. When she heard they intended to stay at the Pokémon Center, she tutted and began preparing a few blankets and pillows. 

Lauren's parents each gave them one last hug, before turning in for the night. Even ignoring what their psychic senses could discern, Lauren was keenly aware of how much this visit had brightened their spirits. Reinhold laid on the living room couch, and fell asleep dreaming of more pizza, as Lauren paid a visit to their bedroom. 

Sylvie, Bronze, and Ariela began to discuss what exactly occurred at a slumber party. This, naturally, led to the topic of discussing boys. Donner sat quietly at the corner of the table, doing his best to blend into the wall. When Ariela roped him into the conversation, he blushed mightily as he stammered himself into a mess. Lauren arrived back just in time to save the soldier from further social embarrassment. 

Ariela asked Lauren if the beaches nearby might be a good spot to try and search for shells, and other relics. A few of the trainers agreed to wake up early to go for a nice stroll along the coast. With this decided, those who were still awake began to feel their weariness catching up to them. Lauren cast a smiling gaze over the sight of their friends piled haphazardly around their living room and kitchen. Certainly, this wasn't a sight they had ever expected to see, but it was a welcome one nonetheless. Setting Oli down on his usual nighttime perch, Lauren wrapped themselves up in their own bed for the first time in months. 

The day had been a much-needed mix of excitement and comfort. The trials in Drillsberg seemed to already be the stuff of myth or dream, compared against this pleasant slice of life. Giving Oli's feathers a tender brush, Lauren felt themselves drifting to sleep, their smile glowing still.