5 April 2019

Our adventurers awaken in Grakellsteeg after a long night's rest at the inn. The terrible smoke and smog is beginning to affect some of them. Especially Caius and Ezri who upon waking discover they're suffering from a bad case of Grakkel Lung and not feeling well at all. Autun soothes them through the laying on of hands and they feel better. The three keepers of the Inn see this and fail to hide their growing interest in Autun and his abilities. A giant who can carry beer kegs and cure disease, might be worth something...

The party eats breakfast, a hearty meal of oatmeal and beer with some kind of sweet sorgum like material mixed into the oatmeal. Over breakfast they plan their day. They know a trip to Neverlake Hold to talk with Captain of the Guard Erdie Blackskull is necessary, and a top priority. But the gang also has an appointment to meet with the merchant ($INSERT_NAME) and pick up the magic rubies to be transported to the city of the deep gnomes. The party agrees to visit Neverlake Hold first, and then meet the ruby merchant second.

After breakfast Kais asks the barkeepers why there was a fight at the bar last night. The barkeepers respond that fights are not unusual, but then after a bit more pushing admit there have been some strange occurrences lately. There has been trouble with trade. Refugees have been coming to the city and trade routes have been getting attacked by strange beasts more often than regular. There has been a egneral uptick in violent activity affecting trade routes and this has placed pressure on merchants within the city. At this the party tells the barkeep of their recent adventures and concerns with the abyss leaking into the underworld. The innkeeper then tells of the darrow, the former slaves of the grey dwarves. Drokie, the darrow in the tentacled hat is mentioned. The barkeep knows little of Drokie, but warns the adventurers from venturing into the part of the city controlled by the darrow. They may be free of slavery, but not poverty, and there are many desperate darrow who would see the adventurers as easy prey.

Half-way to Neverlake Hold the party notices they're being followed. At this, and using hand signals, Autun drops to the back of the party with Bree and Jimjar immediately in front, hidden from view. Once hidden Bree casts invisibility on herself and Jimjar. They then break off from the party, wait, and begin following from a distance. Remaining stealthy they hear footsteps immediately in front of them while a staged argument creating a bit of ruckus carries on between Caius, Ezri and Autun over something insignificant. Jimjar sneaks closer to the footsteps and, after determining the best she can where the footsteps are, Bree casts Faerie Fire at the location. Both Jimjar the maker of the footsteps successfully dodge the Fire of Faeries, remaining unilluminated. A hanging lamp post glows bright purple.

But then a grey dwark materializes wearing the sigil of the city guard. He is clearly annoyed at someone trying to cast Faerie Fire on him and demands that the invisible caster materialize. Bree materializes herself, but Jimjar remains hidden. The guard knows there were two and again demands the 2nd materialize, thus Jimjar then also appears. Gruff conversation ensues and the party agrees to be escorted to Neverlake Hold, not sure if they are under arrest.

Upon reaching Neverlake Hold the party is put through a series of bureaucratic exercises, bookkeeping, registering, dirty looks, uncomfortable seats in waiting areas, etc. One such exercise requires the party to give the name of their group, and after much deliberation the party decides to be called Stool's Irregulars in honor of their fallen mychonid comrade. They finally gain an audience with Erdie Blackskull and have an attempt to explain their past and the threat that the city is in. Surprisingly, the meeting goes better than expected and Erdie not only believes them, but agrees to work with them.

They sign a contract with the city guard that lays out their arrangement. The party will provide proof of corruption within the city or the ranks of the city guard. For each such instance of proof Stool's Irregulars will recieve 150GP, but it must be real proof and they are only interested in activities occurring within the city walls. In addition when the contract ends the party will be granted safe passage out of the city and on their way. The contract can be terminated at any time by either party. Bree casts Comprehend Languages, and reads the contract before everyone makes their mark of agreement on it. All members of Stool's Irregulars then recieve official city guard badges, they have been deputized.

The newly named Stool's Irregulars then decide to make their way to the docks to meet ($INSERT_NAME) and pick up the rubies. Nothing happens on the way there, but once they arrive they notice the merchant standing at the end of a pier above the water. Autun notices something moving below the merchant and warns the party. They decide to stay on the shore and call out to the merchant. At that, two grey dwarves emerge from the water underneath the dock where the merchant is standing and, jumping up to his height, stab him in the gut twice with knives that cannot be seen.

Seeing this, Autun immediately heals him from afar and Bree bolts to his aid. After some confusion ($INSERT_NAME) is helped to the shore and saved from death. He doesn't know who might have hired the assassins, but he recognizes them as members of the Empty Scabbards, assassins for hire. He tells of a recent feud he has had with Gorglak, a corrupt member of the city guard who unlike most dwarves, lusts for magic and not money. But he can't imagine that Gorglak would do such a thing. Bree, perhaps foolishly, shows her badge to him and the party then explains that they are working with the city guards to find corruption within their ranks. ($INSERT_NAME) seems winded and somewhat confused from someone trying to kill him, but decides to stay hidden at his sister's house until this blows over a bit. His life is clearly in danger. If the party needs to contact him they can leave a message at the Shattered Spire. Before leaving the party takes possession of the rubies.

Bree believes that the real goal of the assassins was to frame the Irregulars in the murder of ($INSERT_NAME). Other members are not quite sure what the goal of the assassins was.

The party heads to the Shattered Spire and buys 7 beers for 3cp each. Caius then gets a booking for the night with a 10% cut of the bar profits above normal. Kais buys a lute for 35GP. Caius plays his heart out supported by Kais and Bree, again telling his lesson of, "Resist the Abyss". Drokie is spotted again in the crowd but Autun, Ezri, Jimjar and Shooshar otherwise nothing out of the ordinary.

Caius earns 25GP for his efforts.

The sessions ends before the Stool's Irregulars head off to their second gig of the night.

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Prior: 29 March 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 12 April 2019