Party
Ace-human rouge
Ryai-Elf Spellblade
Konguq-human wizard
Vodren-Human Cleric
Bron-Dwarf Fighter
Vorlo-Hobgoblin Apothecary
We open with the party split up. Bron, Vodren, Konguq, and Ace meet with Marion Hartshield to enlist her help and tell her about Rosewood's death.
They find her sharing a seaside cabin with another Noblewoman. They talk with their Kender caretaker and are allowed to come in. They meet with Marion, and Vodren rips off the bandage and tells her that her daughter is dead.
Marion attempts to keep composure despite her grief and tells the story of how she recognized Ace at the party. When Ace and Magdalene were young, the Hartshield family met with Ace's father about business matters. While the business matters went south, Magdalene would go on and on about the friend she made.
She struggled to say Achius, so she called him Ace. She spoke of him often, and when she heard of his exploits with Tarth, she wanted a life of excitement herself, so she took off on her own to find it.
Marion asks specifically for Konguq to tell her how Magdalene died. Specifically, because she knows Ace has a penchant to lie and beat around the bush. Konguq gives her the details about how she volunteered to help the party take out the Jackdaws and how her last wish was to have the bastards killed. They also mention that Galera, who buried her, was now captured by the Jackdaws.
Marion takes time to ruminate on the situation and offers assistance in taking down the Jackdaws, provided that they rescue Galera tonight so that she may talk with her. Ace also promises to retrieve her Signet Ring She tells them she'll send a package to Blue Cloak Manor and sends them on their way.
Ryai requests Vorlo that they stop before talking to Rumblegut. With the events of last night, he wants to get some stuff off his chest. Vorlo and Ryai go to talk with Vanthanoris before setting out. They find him being kept in his room, completely tied up and blindfolded. The guards mention that the door is thick enough to block sound, which confuses Ryai. But Vorlo responds by cracking his knuckles.
Ryai thanks Vanthanoris for his actions. Not because he felt they made him stronger; he mentions specifically that what he did hurt Ryai in every way Vanthanoris meant to. But he showed him that he could rely on and trust those around him.
Vanthanoris admits that Ryai has somehow wormed his way into the affection of the people of Crossing, belittling them in the same breath. Ryai asks if they plan to send him back to Qualinost. Vanthanoris tells him they aren't sure what to do with him. That his death would anger too many families back home, but that they won't release him. But he reminds Ryai that Paladithel knows where to look now. And that he'll come. Ryai tells him he will have a hard time with his companions, to which Vanthanoris comments that he is better off alone. Vorlo responds by punching him. When asked what that was, Ryai honestly tells him it was a hobgoblin. Vanthanoris replies in disgust.
The duo head back to the camp, where Ryai info-dumps his plan to try and convince Rumblegut to become the mole for Crossing. Vorlo agrees the plan has merit and then shows off the haul of lavender he plans to process into oil. With the bounty collected, they travel to the stones. Noticing how bad the rain has become and then suddenly is met with a major lightning storm. Ryai, being sure that it can't be a spell, reasons it might have to do with Galera.
Being half right, a woman makes her presence known. In an angry rage, she makes her way to Ryai and Vorlo, forcing them to kneel. Ryai recognizes this as the sea witch herself Zebiom
She is pissed the party has pitted her two favorite worshipers against each other and that the cleric is meddling in those affairs. She mentions she doesn't strike Ryai down now because her hands are tied. Zeboim accepts, however, that she will lose one of her followers and wants the party to make the choice for her tonight. Ryai accepts the situation, watching her angrily return to the sea. After 10 minutes, the two can stand again and run to Rumblegut's.
They awaken the sleepy Kobold and explain what happened to them on the beach. Ryai assures Rumblegut that he didn't tell Zebiom about him, but unfortunately, Blue Cloak knows. Ryai tries to explain a possible compromise by allowing Rumblegut to become the mole, but he doesn't have any of it. Telling Ryai that he had betrayed him when he got better help and threatening to make him and Vorlo Lacedons. But he reasons that it would only bring him more trouble if he did.
He begins to pack up and leave, telling him that he will personally request to be there for Konguq's test of High Sorcery. Before going, Ryai thanked him for the encouragement to go after the Dragon Orbs. Rumblegut tells Ryai not to lose his passion but to start thinking further about the consequences of his actions. Before leaving the beach entirely, Vorlo goes back and digs up where Zebiom's lightning struck. He finds a large glass chunk with Zebiom's insignia carved inside it. With the new loot and life experience, the duo returns back to the mansion.
Before Vodren, Ace, Konguq, and Bron return to the manor, they look for Vajra to try to contact Brutus. They go to her home and find that no one is answering. Ace gently opens the door and finds a crossbow trap. Bron enters the doorway to block the trap and is met by four bolts, one striking him. With the traps disarmed, they hear someone run upstairs. The party sneaks up the stairs to find the draconian hiding. Bron uses a spell to disguise himself as Vajra, and Ace disguises his voice to sound like Vajra. They lure the Draconian out, with Ace's dagger meeting Saang's chest.
Saang is quickly dealt with, leaving a pile of acid behind instead of turning to stone. With a new hole in the floor, the party begins to explore her house, looking for evidence of where Vajra might have gone.
- Konguq looks through Saang's bag. The most important items of note are a black dragon scale and a smudged letter in a language she can't read
- Vodren looks through the kitchen, trying to figure out when Vajra was here last. Evidence points to last night after the attack on the mansion. He sees the tracks lead to outside the home, but due to the severe rain, he can't follow further
- Ace finds a letter with the Dragon Armies symbol on it.
- Bron finds that Vajra attempted to melt something down in the fire. But no one can make out anything other than metal.
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After failing to find a solution, they return to the mansion. Once both groups arrive, they reconvene with Blue Cloak and catch each other up on their new situation.
- Ace tells them that Marion can help with the plan to poison the Jackdaws, provided they strike tonight. He also tells them that they couldn't find Vajra but found Saang instead. They also say when they killed him, he turned to acid.
- Ryai says it's a good thing that Marion wants them to strike tonight because Zeboim said they are. After telling them, he came face to face with Zeboim, Ace, and Alaban to day drink. Ryai asks Vodren what might have caused the god's hands to be tied, to which Vodren explains that this is probably the first time in centuries that a physical god has directly intervened in mortal affairs. Ryai also explains that Rumblegut is no longer on their side and is leaving the stones.
- Ryai asks why Cyrus is the one serving drinks to Ace and Alaban. Alaban explains that Tellum has been let go. He will get his 1000 steel in increments over the year so Alaban can keep an eye on him.
The group begins to plan their assault on the Jackdaws for that night.
Current plan
- Vodren, using the ethereal oil, will map out the ship.
- Brutus is to clear the docks.
- Vodren, Bron, and Vorlo will negotiate Galera's release with the Zeboim's Baouble (which they learn is worth probably about 20,000 steel)
- Ryai and Ace will sneak on the ship, either preparing for a sneak attack or finding an advantage.
- Konguq and Cyrus join the assault from behind with presumably the Dragon's Lance.
However, they still need to find Brutus and are trying to find more muscle for the attack.
- Vodren, Bron, and Konguq set out to find the additional backup
- Ryai, Ace, and Vorlo head out to find Brutus.
Alaban briefly considers making a deal with Vanthanoris to help with the raid. He quickly puts the thought down, but Ryai considers it an option, seeing that his fiance will know where he is either way. But Ace reasons that the man might join the pirates just to spite them. Alaban assures Ryai that what happens now with Vanthanoris is politics and that he'll handle it.
Before leaving, Ryai reads the letters the others found. One is assigning Saang to a group of Baaz Draconians to accost the town.
The official one is sent to Vajra, telling her to house any Draconians and that they will attack the town. They also give her and Rumblegut a stipend. Ryai only mentions that the town must be aware of increased draconian attacks.
Ryai, Ace, and Vorlo set off to find Brutus. Ace is in his element, so they find his hideout under the dock. Brutus welcomes them in the hideout, showing off his loot from the night before. Ryai asks if he has any of Vanthanoris' things, and Brutus said after he heard what happened, he went back and wiped him clean. Ryai takes the chest of his things, letting Brutus keep the steel. They inform Brutus of the plans change and the divine intervention that pushed their hand. He agrees, understanding their situation. The group leaves to return to the mansion after.
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