Cats in the Rat Race Darkember 29th Valens

Party: Ship Dandies

Konguq-Human Wizard Captain

Ace-Human Rouge Quartermaster

Calix- Minotaur Marshal Night Watch and Battle Master

Oliver- Half-elf Bard and Navigation

The party leaves the ship with Lindvai to hit up a local tavern to get information on potential buyers for their sword blades and chainmail. She leads the group the the Golden Salamander . As they walk,they notice that the town is more lively than normal, and in turn more dangerous.

As they enter they get a few looks but nothing more and meet the bartender Largo. Him and Lindvai recognize each other and they start talking. He tells the group that with the King announcing them joining the dragon armies a position has opened up to be the one in charge of the supplies. Now everyone is out trying to prove their mettle. The group is uneasy selling their goods to the enemy and instead decide to see if they can find any dissenters.

Calix makes sure Lindvai returns safely to the Dandy Rose. The two share soft thanks before Calix goes to find the others.

Oliver and Konguq go to talk to the local merchants for information while Ace sticks behind at the Golden Salamander and talks up the locals for information.

Ace spends a few hours talking and buying a few drinks for folks until he gets a lead from a goblin pirate who mentions their captain might be interested.

Konguq meets her merchant friends who are all happy to see her again and are proud of her success in being captain. From them she learns that when the king announced that Valens was joining the war it was a clan of Ogres, lead by a woman named Kris, that actually voiced their displeasure with the decision. Also while talking she mentions that she plans to return to Ice Reach using a secret path beneath the glaciers. With that the merchants are extremely excited, hoping that she's able to create a stable trade route that way.

The three return to the Golden Salamander and begin to swap information with Ace. They talk trying to plan out their next course of action and decide to talk to the ogres. They mention being diplomatic but Oliver reminds them that Ogres best respond to might and that they need to be able to flex a little. Konguq in her eagerness flashes the Blade of the Aurora which draws unwanted attention. Shortly after the group leaves and Calix notices behind them that people are watching. Before leaving Calix turns to the people and threatens that if he catches them he's going to pommel them. The onlookers return to the tavern, allowing Oliver to guide them through the city unmolested.

They reach the neighborhood where the Ogre clan has made their home and the group tries to hail one down to see if they can talk to Kris. Unfortunately, they don't speak common and they become wary very quickly, with them drawing their club. Oliver a little panicked starts rapid fire trying to talk to them in any language he knows until he gets a reaction from speaking Kharolian. The ogre stops and he tries talking with them, at first trying to persuade them that they are both allies against the dragon armies and want their help. The ogre is unimpressed by them however and turns to leave. With no other choice, Oliver tells them that the group already has a dragon orb and whips out a ball-bearing, casting minor illusion on it to make it look like one. The ogre is a little more intrigued, especially after learning that it controls dragons. They take them to Kris so they can negotiate.

They meet her in her home and begin to discuss. Oliver explains the dragon orb to her and spins that Ace managed to steal it from Palanthas. When she asks to confirm with Ace he attempts to beat around the bush. Kris pulls out an Ogre skull from her bag and places it on the table. She tells him that was what happened to the last person who wasted her time and to tell her straight if he stole it or not. He agrees that he stole it.

She's asked if they've seen a real dragon and Konguq confirms that they have in Solace and was there when the city burnt to the ground. She also admits that they didn't have the Orb by then and therefore couldn't do anything about it.

Kris tells them that her clan was displaced by the dragon armies and thus why the clan hates them. She does offer her assistance if they can help her become the people to run things in Valens, though they currently sit dead last. If they get the position however when the time comes they'll turn against the dragon armies and join their cause. The party accepts the terms and Kris tells them the names of their targets.

• Evio
• Spike - a goblin pirate captain
• Hayner- the beggar king
• Chrysalis

Kris wants to take out Evio herself. If one of the others give the group trouble she'll step in, but if they can take out all three she'll give them a magic horn. The group agrees to the terms and offer her the sword blades and chain-mail to which she takes interest in. Once the group leaves Kris makes a point to shake their hands In-front of the rest of the clan to show their good will.

The party returns to the ship and discuss their next move. As they do, Darvis speaks up being uncomfortable with the fact they're aiding someone who will be joining the dragon armies. Konguq tries to explain that they needed to sell their goods and they will have an ally when the time comes. Darvis pushes back that they are still going to kill people and then asks how much his own life is worth to her. Oliver steps in, telling him that unfortunately, they're in a war. And that no matter what they do people are going to die, so it's better to have someone in their pocket rather than a future enemy down the line. Darvis accepts the answer from him, easing his stance.

The group decides with the current in they have with Ace, to go after Spike first and see if they can't at least scare him off. Before they go, Vorlo slips Ace a vial of alchemist fire to go into the encounter with. Zim joins the group as well to provide muscle.

They approach the Bone Ship and ask to speak with the captain about their offer of blades and chain-mail. Spike comes out completely armored in shark jawbones and a sword. Conversation starts out friendly enough, talking about offerings to Zeboim and Spike pointing out the drum on the ship to them. They make an offer on the blades and throw in an agreement to not attack the Dandies on the sea. Konguq however begins to make a show of strength bragging about killing Oleander Bloodblade. Spike then shows his hand, revealing a mark of Zeboim under his headband and has the group swarmed by his crew. Ace starts the encounter throwing his vial of alchemist fire at the mast to begin destruction and flanks Spike.

Calix joins Ace and the two double team the captain, striking him hard.

Konguq fills the lower levels with rain water making it a struggle for the rest of the crew to come to the surface, then begins to disintegrate Spike's armor. Zim grapples the captain, holding him in place as he struggles to bite through the bones.

The other goblins begin their assault, one trying to attack Konguq. Ace however stops them in their tracks vaporizing him. Another however lands a critical on Calix's jaw, breaking it.

Oliver begins his song, the rhythm throwing off their attackers. He sets to insult Spike with vicious mockery, but the insult lands so critically the captain becomes petrified, turning to fish bone. An effect Oliver didn't see coming.

The first mate speaks up, realizing that they are outmatched and asking how to get out alive from the scenario. Konguq tells them to leave and they won't bother them. The first mate agrees, but the other ships won't leave unless they sound the drum. Unfortunately unless the captain does it, the person playing it explodes. The group grows frantic trying to figure out what to do, but their efforts seem to be in vain. Calix eventually steps up to try and is struck down barely with an inch of his life.

With no other options, Oliver goes up. Ace tries to dissuade him but Oliver knows he's the only one with experience with performance and steps up. He can feel something trying to strike back at him as he does, but manages to push through. The other ships raise anchor and they take off.

With a severely injured Calix and an exhausted Konguq carried by Ace, they return to the ship, one mark taken off their list.

They regroup and rest at the ship planning their next move. Hug asks that Calix goes shopping for him and Lindvai agrees to come along. As the two leave Oliver plays a little soft tune watching the two flirt as they walk. Lindvai mentions her transition and Calix doesn't mind either way.

Konguq, Ace, and Oliver decide to hit the streets to learn about Hayner. As they step off a young girl in tattered clothes approaches them asking why they chased off Spike. Oliver engages conversation with her asking why she wants to know and she tells them Hayner wanted to know. Oliver lies and tells the girl it was just a dispute between two pirate captains and she takes off with the information. With a nod, Ace follows after the girl with Konguq and Oliver keeping a safe distance.

Ace follows her to another building. Once she goes in, a kender man leaves quickly taking off into the crowd. Ace follows behind still unseen until he sees the kender duck into a barred window underneath the castle. Konguq and Oliver catch up and they send Agratok in to scout ahead. The little penguin slips into the hallway but however isn't discreet, and is quickly captured and brought into a room. Konguq ends the spell and resummons Agratok and has him tell the group what he saw. He was grabbed and asked to tell what he knows, then threatened to be stabbed by the man named Hayner. With their target confirmed, Ace slips between the bars himself and comes face to face with the beggar king.