Session 37, VP1

Our heroes woke to the sounds of people talking in happy voices outside of the inn. Knowing that the festival events weren’t scheduled to start until noon, each trainer spent the morning in their own way.

 Naivara & Peach found some delicious breakfast pies in the food market, & while away the time in pleasant relaxation. Bergie spent some time speaking with some of Seeder Grove’s herbalists & healers, to learn what he could from their expertise. Gunnar & Mary took a jog in the crisp morning air.

Upon returning to the town square, Gunnar could see that Saffa had been busking by the Pokemon Center. Compared to Stygian Falls, she seemed to have done quite a bit better. Her basket for tips was positively overflowing!

With husks of corn.

Saffa seemed rather frustrated by this as Gunnar spoke with her. In an attempt to turn her view around, Gunnar explained that some places don’t really use money: instead, they tend to rely on the barter system. People there would be more likely to give things they considered important as currency, rather than actual coin.

A twinkle entered Saffa’s eye as she suddenly packed up her instrument. She told Gunnar she would seem him later, running off in the direction of the inn. Bergie & Naivara decided to spend some time re-stocking on various travel supplies. As they did so, they saw Gunnar moving from booth to booth in the market, clearly searching for something in particular.

The pair caught up to him as he spoke with a local farmer. Offering up several rather expensive items, Gunnar placed an order for a large shipment of food- for Drillsberg. The farmer asked a few questions as he took down the order, seeming curious when Gunnar didn’t list the delivery as going to a specific address or person. It seemed that news of what had transpired in Drillsberg had not spread to everyone in such a rural area as of yet.

Moved, the farmer gave Gunnar back some of what he had traded, & promised he would ensure that everyone chip in to increase the size of the order. Seeing that the sun was approaching its apex, the trio made their way back to the orchard.

Though the crowd would be small compared to a city like Ohmslo, there were more people gathered for the festival’s events than our heroes had yet seen in Seeder Grove. Bergie & Naivara both signed up for the eating competition alongside Stompy & Blade. The pair also signed up for the Pokemon catching contest.

After taking their entry tickets, the group walked up the trail to the Temple to Idunn. Vern stood at the center of the clearing, as people cheerfully prepared things around him. Every time he moved to assist with something, he smiled to see it was already being taken care of. He wished the group luck on their contests before moving off to other parts of the orchard.

In the eating competition, a husky man named Uffe competed alongside his Munchlax. Amazingly, Naivara managed to outlast Bergie in the feast. The very next round was just too much: everyone save Uffe ended up tapping out. Naivara was rewarded for scoring in second place, while Bergie took third.

During this time, Gunnar found some privacy to call a friend for advice. Thor should have taken care of Tanngrisnir himself. This, combined with the various things he had seen since starting his travels, had Gunnar feeling distraught & worried.

Perthro could not offer much in the way of concrete answers, but explained that the movements of the gods are beyond the ken of most. The bandaged man had a momentary lapse in his typical odd speech pattern, referring to himself by the first person in a serious tone. There was a hint of sadness to his voice as he entreated Gunnar to enjoy peace when & where he can find it…times looming ahead would leave such moments in short supply.

Bergie & Naivara moved on to the Pokemon catching contest. Each contestant was given 10 Safari balls to catch as many of the prepared Pokemon as they could. In the end, Bergie managed to take first place, while Naivara took second. When the first-place prize was revealed to be a choice of Evolution Stone, Bergie’s eyes lit up as he took an Ice Stone for Froza.

Gunnar gave Saffa a call, realizing he hadn’t seen her since their conversation this morning. She couldn’t talk long, as she seemed to be involved in “an important business deal”. Still feeling cloudy, Gunnar paid a visit to the Temple to Idunn. He could see that Vern had left out several vases worth of dandelions for supplicants to use with their prayers.

The emptiness of the vases spoke to how may had paid their respects. The Martial Artist wandered the orchard to find some more dandelions of his own. It was growing dark when Vern found Gunnar standing outside the temple, periodically blowing dandelions into the breeze in a haze. Clearly exhausted from the day’s work, Vern sat on a bench nearby to speak with Gunnar some.

In response to Gunnar’s fears about Vanachrom’s future, Vern offered what little advice his own life had taught him. Though he lacked the broad view Perthro carried, his words held more comfort in their own way. The future was yet to be written, and that didn’t need to be a bad thing.

As the festivities wound down, small campfires sprang up around the orchard. Both townsfolk & travelers gathered around them to share spooky tales. Naivara decided to join in, sharing an absolutely horrifying tale of a woman who ran out of crystals in a moment of dire need. Perhaps it was too scary, as it seemed to go over everyone else’ heads.

Bergie enjoyed a starlit walk back to the town square with Stompy. As he set himself down on a bench, Stompy kneeled beside him to lay his head across his lap. The Breeder released Froza from her Pokeball. The Vulpix immediately hopped onto Stompy’s broad head to cuddle up. The trio spent some time just relaxing in the moonlight, before Bergie brought out the Ice Stone.

He explained what it could do for Froza, & asked if she would like to evolve. The fox eagerly booped her nose against the stone in response. After a dazzling display of gleaming light, the Vulpix had morphed into an Alolan Ninetales!

Gunnar wearily returned to the inn. There was a light on in Saffa’s room, so he decided to see if she was awake- he still had no idea what she’d been up to all day. His knock must have woken her just as she was falling asleep. She took a few minutes to stumble over & open the door. When the Martial Artist explained why he was stopping by, she invited him inside.

In a conspiratorial tone, the Juggler recounted what Gunnar had taught her that morning. The people of Seeder Grove seemed likely not to use much coin, or know its worth…so wouldn’t it be convenient if she were able to buy things for a much cheaper value from people who didn’t know better? She held both of her hands behind her back, & asked Gunnar to pick one.

After he did, she revealed her first purchase: a satchel of “magic seeds”! Inside it, Gunnar could see various seeds & nuts that appeared to have been painted various colors. According to the seller, if the group were hungry on their travels, they could plant one of these seeds to grow whatever food they wanted most. Practically a steal at only $1000!

In her other hand, she held an envelope. As Gunnar opened it, Saffa continued. The seller of the seeds had been able to tell she was a discerning customer with a shrewd eye. For a go-getter like her, he would be willing to sell a deed to the farmland he grew the magic seeds on. At the low price of only $6000, how could she say no?

The “deed” appeared hastily put together, even to Gunnar’s illiterate eyes. A sloppy hand had scrawled across what appeared to be a napkin. Saffa waxed on about how large & fertile the patch of land was meant to be, & how she’d get rich by selling the seeds across the country. Unsure, Gunnar congratulated her on her “winnings” & bid her goodnight.

“Oh, wait!”, she called out as he stepped out the door. Refusing- or unable- to make eye contact, she explained that she had asked the seller to put Gunnar’s name on the deed as well. This way, he could use some of the land to build the massive obstacle course of his dreams.

Gunnar was momentarily at a loss for words, but thanked her for the gift. He offered her some of the cost of the deed in return, but she insisted it wasn’t needed. The Martial Artist suggested they ask Vern to accompany them to the land when they leave, to offer Idunn’s blessing upon it. Blushing, she agreed & said goodnight before closing the door.

And so, our heroes each retired to bed. Each of them was leaving Seeder Grove enriched in some way. Perhaps their time here had vitalized them, like the crops grown amongst the loam. The autumn winds promised to carry them onwards, like all the seeds now drifting across the aether.