Session Eight Recap 11SEP2016

Last time, the party jumped back in time to about the same time that they left town to venture into the swamp the first time. Having returned to town, the clock is ticking towards a future where a massive wave of flyers approach Bellstone Keep from the desert.

Having established a plan with Sir Richard to gather archers surreptitiously, everyone returned to the Inner Market to meet their Masters. In the early morning, they find Baron Xenith, with a coterie of nobles and important personages, touring the market. The nobles were talking eagerly, offering their opinions about the crafts on display, but the Baron seemed uninterested in the conversation.

• Yward Brightscale: dragonborn captain of the City Guard
• Lady Holly: human First Scribe of the Learned Vassals
• Grover Horntuner: gnome High Foreman of the Miner's Guild
• Harvey Gamblegain: gnome Magnate of the Coiner's Guild
• Reverend Zatapiony: dwarf Skipper of the Sailor's League
• Rosazco Quill: weapons merchant and patron of the arts
• Dame Grace: Knight of the Golden Blade, visiting from Cliffside

While still watching the dragon and his retinue, a familiar voice calls over to the party. The goblin An'stuff is dressed as a toreador, keeping a sluggish bull at bay. With a flourish of his crimson cape, An'stuff explains he is helping a crafter display costumes that let one act with unfamiliar skills or talents. In this case, the diminutive goblin is toying with a bull easily three times his size, magically endowed with the abilities of a toreador. The tailor Eskestash explains that the costumes can imitate and bestow activities which engender some passion: dancing, juggling, bull fighting, and similarly passionate pursuits. Finer skills like crafting remain beyond Eskestash's ability to mimic through his costumes yet.

Suddenly, An'stuff gives a terrified but muffled scream. The luckless goblin has somehow become entangled in the cape. More worrying, though, is that the listless bull has been replaced by a monstrous bull of intimidating size. The beast swings its sharp horns at anyone near, but it also breathes a strange green dust across the market, although none in the crowd seem affected by the noxious plume.

The party deftly works to get the crowd out of the way, release An'stuff and face the terrifying creature. Kaden also spots a city guard slinking away that bears an uncanny resemblance to the illusion of a guardsman created by the recovered magic cap. A few quick shots bring the "guard" to a stop, while the party members fighting the gorgon are joined by Rosazco. The nobleman seems to handle his blade well enough, although his reddish face indicates that combat might be a level of exertion to which he is unaccustomed.

The party successfully smote the foul beast while saving An'stuff. The "guard" turns out to be a goblin wearing another of those illusion-generating caps. The uncooperative troublemaker is bundled off to the custody of the city guard. Glad that his model and his merchandise remained unharmed, Esketash gave the party 500gp in gratitude.

Flush with either exertion or ecstasy, Rosazco invites the party to a Shiennarm celebration at his Inner Ring mansion. Arriving at the appointed time, the party arrives at Quillmere, an opulent dwelling filled with art objects, rare weapons and unusual creations crafted by previous Shiennarm victors.

One guest in particular does not seem to enjoy the festivities. Nimblethorn encounters the glowering human, who curtly asks where the host can be found. Not suspecting any ill intent, Nimblethorn eagerly points out Rosazco among the throng. The human storms up, announces himself as Ulric McMahon and challenges the noble to a duel.

At this point of the evening, hoswever, the large-nosed reveler is in no condition to fight. Before passing out, Rosazco gets Beckley to serve as his second, who then finds himself dueling an angry Ulric. Despite a lucky early blow from Ulric, the knight dispatches the unruly guest and the party resumes.

While Xenith is not at the party, the retinue of significant personages is present, along with Lt. Aden Foxhaven, second-in-command of the City Guard. In particular, the party talks with the two gnomes about their journey to the desert. Instead of a long trek over the mountain range, the gnomes reveal that the dwarves have an extensive network of mines under the mountain, including one path where a railcart can bring them to the edge of the desert. The gnomes warn the party that this route has falen into disuse, so there might be unwelcome guests on the trip.

The next day, the party heads out to the mines. The miners, having been forewarned, escort the party to the railroad in question. Although the trip passes uneventfully, the cavern where the group arrives is dark and a nest of gricks have settled in comfortable. After fighting off the resilient foes, they can venture out and look south onto the desert.

~ Tidwin
10/07/16