Session 47

General Summary

• The party understands that they have about 3 days (4 days max) to somehow clear up the Baxton / Sol issue, or else Sol is probably going to do something drastic.
• The party has discovered a relatively safe form of travel throughout the city: carriages.
• Baxton and Annu were having an argument, with Baxton appearing to claim that he, not Annu, should lead the House of Crystal.
• The party encountered Grittooth and some of her underlings at the meeting place, but were attacked on sight.
• After the party killed one gnoll, heavily injured Grittooth, and threatened to burn down the building, Grittooth surrendered.
• The party convinced Grittooth to join their cause by suggesting that "Dennis" is a being of immense power and unknowable strength, and that defeating him would create a power vacuum that Grittooth and her gnolls could fill.
• Grittooth gave the party one of her actual teeth as a gesture to show that she's "honest and willing to sit down with Lizardtamer".
• The idea is to try to get Grittooth and Lizardtamer to have their meeting at sunset the same day.

 

Full Recap

The session opens with the party in their house in The Pearl District, right after a full rest. All members of the party but Barry are present; Barry is downstairs.  

Home Sweet Home

Kesmet kicks things off saying that the only way to flush out "Dennis" is probably just to light the whole city on fire. Dwardazik counters by saying it might be wiser to figure out what he's doing. Kesmet is convinced that "Dennis" is just hunting him and selling drugs on the side, so he suggests looking into the drugs to figure out how to counter those effects, as he claims that it might be related to the Hound's Guild members turning into werewolves. He proposes looking for where their supply is.   Dazki counters that Sol has put them on something of a time limit: he'll be back in 3, maybe 4 days max, and that the party has suggested that they will clear up the situation with Baxton by then. Everyone else agrees, though Kesmet voices his confusion about how this might lead to finding "Dennis".   Grogery points out that the goal is to "either take Baxton out of the picture or otherwise render him unwilling to use Sol for things (or try to get at Aldrick in any way)". Then Kesmet recaps the story with Baxton so far, and just ends up confusing himself... not because it's unrelated to "Dennis", but because he doesn't quite get whether they're working with or against Baxton.  

Kesmet: He's creepy. I don't like him.

  Dwardazik reminds the rest of the party about the gnolls, so they should prepare for that.  

Kesmet: Why were we talking to the gnolls?   Dazki: To help the dragon. Surprise dragon on our side is better than not a surprise dragon on our side.   Grogery: He's more likely to take an active role in helping us if we take a more active role helping him.   Kesmet: Where and when?   Grogery: The Spire of Beasts at noonish... also, I have prepared spells for food and water.   Kesmet: So we need to make it to Grittooth before noon? Do we need to stop him so he stops leading this rebellion? It's about capitalism or something?   Grogery: The gnolls are being crowded out by the non-monstrous humanoids, and they're relying on the dragon for their bronze scales which are their money. Grittooth and followers don't like that they're dying a slow crowded-out death, so they've been doing guerilla-style attacks on Lizardtamer's followers.   Dazki: So our goal should be to get them to sit down at a table today?   Kesmet: And if that doesn't work, threaten with fireball, right?   Dwardazik: Physical persuasion...   Kesmet: It worked last time.   Dazki: So let's go downstairs, see if we can convince Barry to go get some decent supplies so we can stop eating this hardtack, and I'm getting tired of eating tasteless biscuits.

  Grogery points out that the food (and water) production may be good for helping the gnolls get on their side. Dwardazik insists on trying it before they leave, but Grogery reminds him that they'd have to carry it all over the place, so it might spill and get all over their supplies, so it would be best to do it on-site.   The party agree that it would probably be best if Barry stayed behind to watch the house while they go to the gnolls, so Dazki goes down to talk to Barry. On his way, he smells something burning, coming from the kitchen. Whatever fire there may or may not have been was put out with a series of towels and bags, which clearly did not fare well.  

Dazki: Hey Barry, good morning!   Barry, quickly hiding something behind his back: Oh, hi there!   Dazki, pretending not to notice: So we were working on our plans for the day upstairs. Anything you think we need to get done? We're thinking about meeting with Grittooth and working from there.   Barry: We're still doing that?   Dazki: We were also concerned because we thought we should have somebody stay here in case some workers show up.   Barry: I wasn't told about workers!!   Dazki: They probably won't be here. Any finishing up might be done by us, but we wanted to make sure someone stayed here to hold down the fort. Do you think you could help us out?   Barry: I don't think I want to talk to any more dog people. The last set sounded mean, and these ones sound meaner.   Dazki: Fair enough. Would you be willing to stay here and keep an eye on the house for us?   Barry: You got it... I could do that... sure!   Dazki: OK, as long as there's nothing else you can think of that would be a good idea for you to be doing.   Barry: Well, we have to save the whole city from the bad guy.   Dazki: This is one step on the way, but it's important we can come back to a base where we're safe, can relax, and can make plans.   Barry: I'll stay here, but if you get eaten by dogs, there's nobody to save us from the bad guy.   Dazki: Well, you're here.   Barry: How am I to know?   Dazki: If we're not back in 3 days, we were probably eaten by dogs.   Barry: That seems about right.   Dazki: Thank you for being willing to take on this task, Barry.   Barry: You got it. The sentence has room for another word at the end, but one never comes.

  Back upstairs, the party spends about an hour:

• Dwardazik moves most of the boxes into the room with the big fire pit. The boxes have pieces for chairs, tables, and such: the plan must have been to build the furniture on-site. There's a variety of tapestries, none of which are "interesting" (according to sky-voice).
• Dazki goes through to figure out how the glowing ceiling orb-lights work. It's clearly not fire-based. It could be lightning-based, but it's slightly different from that too. It's connected by wiring attached to a small lever on the side of the wall.
• Grogery goes through the house and maps out where the functional rooms might go: kitchen, primary dining room, nicer dining room for guests, etc. The upstairs is great for bedrooms, since there's a balcony attached to each room. The kitchen is sorted, and there's lots of light going into a big mosaic area which could serve as either a ballroom or a dining area.
• Kesmet puts on his pure black juggler costume as a disguise, all but the head piece.

  When the time comes to leave, Dazki suggests hailing a carriage instead of walking out in the open. Dwardazik and Grogery approve, with Grogery remarking that carriage drivers might not be as informed about their appearance as the guards are.   They identify a specific location in The Cloud District that should be close enough to The Spire of Beasts for them to walk the rest of the way, so that they don't have to ask the carriage driver to actually go in there. They then hail a carriage to take them there. The ride will cost 2 copper; one or two party members get the impression that they should have probably been doing this the whole time.  

Layover at the Palace

On the way to their chosen location, the carriage stops in front of The Palace of Pride, where a crowd has gathered, forming a semi-circle around the gate's entrance. They're not quite angry or organized, but determined and inspired, intently observing something in the middle of the circle. On the other side of the gate is also a similar gathering of government officials and employees. In the center are Baxton and Annu, standing about 20 feet apart. It's almost metaphorical, with each man on his own side of the wall.   Dazki rises a little bit to try to hear what's going on (Grogery tries too, but is a bit too short to make it happen):

Baxton: Just the fact that you have maintained your station so long, despite your cruelty and ineffectiveness, is breach of trust to the people of this city and proof enough that the position should be relented to me.   Annu: Inciting a coup is an illegal action. This mob will disperse, or it will legally be dispersed on your behalf.

  As he says that last sentence, a familiar deep humming invades each party member's innards that they recognize as an unhappy Annu Adabra. The crowd appears to feel it too, which makes some uneasy and worried, but only seems to rile up others.   The party briefly wonders if they should intervene: Grogery observes that if it becomes more than just words, there are many innocent people around who would not have a good time. Kesmet wants to just keep moving. Before they can act, an authoritative voice cuts through the scene. Stepping forth on the palace side is an austere man in formal attire, complete with a turban-like hat and an ornate sheathed longsword. Some members of the party understand that this is probably Sorda'an Bhorrd, leader of the House of Steel.  

Sorda'an: If it is a matter of security, then I will handle it.   Baxton puts his hands up halfheartedly, settling his walking cane on a holder on his belt. He doesn't look scared and indeed has a slight, sarcastic smirk as if he is still in control of the situation even in surrender.   Baxton: Now now, there's no reason to escalate things. I am fine to surrender to questioning if that is what is required. I do wish to do whatever I need to in order to convince the firelord that I am the only reasonable choice over this feral monstrosity.

  The party goes back to discussing what to do about this. Dwardazik is conflicted about which side to support, if any. Kesmet is indifferent: he just wants to get to the dragon. Dazki is delighted that Baxton and Annu are working against one another, since that has been one of their goals.  

Dwardazik: What are some pros and cons of helping here?   Grogery: Pros are that we can we can save a bunch of lives if Annu starts going berserk, and we could instigate the conflict between these two. Cons, we might get seen or caught, or we might tip the balance too far and end up with a decisive victory for one.   Dwardazik: Not seeing many reasons to intervene. If we do intervene, they might end up hitting civilians.   Dazki: Plus, if we intervene, we'll have to publicly declare a side.   Dwardazik: What would the stealthy boys care about?   Dazki: They want Baxton in charge. He's easier to deal with than Annu. Baxton can be bribed / negotiated with, but Annu is the law: he can't do anything illegal or immoral. Annu is predictable, stagnant, and inflexible.   Kesmet: That sounds like a guy who does not work for Dennis.

  Sorda'an taps a nearby guard captain on the shoulder and makes a quick gesture with his hand. The guard captain and some other guards move to intercept between Baxton and the observing crowd. Two guards stop near Baxton. They have a quick exchange of words that are hard to make out, then they follow Baxton as he walks through the palace gate, taking time to throw another arrogant glance at Annu as he walks right past him.   Dwardazik and Dazki suspect some conspiracy is going on, but there's no time to dwell: the guards have dispersed the crowd, and the carriage is moving again.  

Spireward Bound

The driver initiates:  

Driver: This has been such a crazy series of events recently.   Kesmet: What series?   Driver: I mean... all of it! The library's blown up, and then they arrested the high priest of the church, and then this guy goes through all the trouble of getting him out of jail, and... you know what, this Annu guy's got to go.   Dazki: Just to play Devil's Advocate, hasn't he worked to protect the city for hundreds of years?   Driver: Shoot, I don't know. This other guy seems way better.   Kesmet: The creepy guy?   Driver: Floating guy goes around arresting people, but the rules aren't even his job. I don't see why he got to arrest the church guy.   Kesmet: The church guy broke the rules. I don't trust the dude with one evil eye.   Dazki: The story I heard was the high priest assaulted Annu.   Driver: Annu probably started it.   Dazki: No doubt.   Dwardazik: I'm sure Annu had some rules written that the priest couldn't help but to break.   Grogery: Wherever Annu lies for you, anyone gunning that hard for power wants to use it. People rarely use it for anything good.   Dwardazik: I'd be wary. Baxton seems like he's up to no good to me.   Driver: He seems to just save people, and he spends all his free time giving out advice to people in need. He practically owned that library; who better to do do magic and knowledge and stuff than the guy who literally owned the library?   Dwardazik: Why'd it blow up anyway?   Driver: I don't know for sure. He explains a rumor: the gist of this rumor is that there's a big rift between Annu and Baxton, so Annu blew up the library and then made it look like the government had a reason to do it. This way, Baxton has to start all over again.

  Dwardazik and Dazki aren't buying it; they sense some kind of misdirection going on.   The carriage arrives at its destination, and the party bids the driver farewell, thanking him for the ride and the information. They forgot to ask his name. On foot again, the party does need to be sneaky to make it the rest of the way, but Dwardazik can hardly keep it together, with all the moving parts and pieces all about. Fortunately, Dazki is able to hold him up so that they can make it to the location that Hushpuppy gave them, without incident.  

Grogery: But doesn't dwarven stuff have a lot of moving stuff around in the mines? Carts, and all?   Dwardazik: Yeah, but all that makes sense... none of this gnome stuff makes sense! It's just moving around for no reason, no purpose!   Grogery: It seems like an awful lot of resources to spend on something that has no purpose...   Dwardazik: Exactly!

 

True Grit

When the party arrives at the designated location, they notice that it's very close to the pet shop. A large building stands here built from bits of sheet metal and discarded planks of wood. Similar to a large stable or barn, it looks long abandoned, but almost every building does around this part of town. It certainly isn't abandoned currently, as torchlight flickers between the uneven flats of wood. A rousing speech seems to be in progress, though the party can only really hear the enthusiasm through the walls, none of the words.  

Dazki: Let's just knock politely and go in.

  The entrance to the building consists of two big barn doors, scavenged from two different barns. He knocks, and the speech stops as soon as he does. The party looks through some of the splintering wood, and canine eyes peek back out to see who has interrupted. Grogery gives a polite wave, and the eyes disappear with some unfamiliar yips, but the door does not open.  

Dazki: Hail! Apologies... I heard that Grittooth was to be here! We were given information by Hushpuppy. We've come to speak. Apologies for interrupting the ongoing seminar!

  Dwardazik waits for a few seconds, then bangs on it, yelling, "You're being awfully rude!". They go in.   Inside, it's fairly dark. There was a faint torch light before, but it's gone out. A gnoll stands atop a crane above, and she is clearly "absolutely jacked", even under a large expanse of fur. This must be Grittooth.  

Grittooth: Who is it that interrupts the great Grittooth and her band?   Grogery: Forgive our manners! My name is Grogery. I'm a goblin that has interest in seeing this area succeed.   Kesmet: Maybe we're early. We can wait outside.   Grogery: It sounded like there were more people here.   Dwardazik: We're here to talk.   Grittooth: Wise with the words, here to sugarcoat the truth? You're going to tame me with your silver tongues?   Dwardazik: Uh... no.   Kesmet: That sounds dirty.   Grogery: That sounds disrespectful.   Grittooth: You'd better convince me quickly why I shouldn't tear you apart for pieces.   Dazki: Based on the look of you, I don't think you're a necromancer, so our pieces would probably not be very useful.   Dwardazik: I think I could beat you with my fists.   Dazki: Isn't it better to have more friends than enemies?   Dwardazik: I challenge you to an arm wrestling competition! Winner gets to make one demand of the other!

  A very heavy-sounding crossbow-like situation comes from the top floor, attached to the shoulders of another burly gnoll. A harpoon hurdles towards Dwardazik, hitting him square in the chest. Dwardazik grips the rope with a smile.  

Key Combat Moments

Notably, in contrast with Lizardtamer's underlings, these gnolls did not enter into a blood rage upon seeing the dwarf.

• Grogery was able to disable Grittooth for the majority of the combat.
• Dwardazik pulled the first harpooner down to the ground level. He got harpooned again, but Dazki one-shot the second harpooner before he had the chance to do anything and looked to a third gnoll.
• Kesmet demanded a surrender when it was clear that the party had a massive advantage. All other gnolls looked to Grittooth for what to do... except for the pyromaniac gnoll, who threw a Molotov cocktail on the ground because of course he did.
• Grittooth agreed to surrender, and everybody nearby (from both sides) tackled the pyromaniac to restrain him until he could cool down.

 

Dwardazik: Ahh, next time we have a tavern brawl, let's not use those harpoons again. Let's just use fists, eh?   Grogery, after checking on the gnoll that Dazki one-shot: Is there a customary way you deal with your dead?   Grittooth: What is your deal?   Dwardazik: Let's get these details sorted out and we can leave. No more of those stupid bolts.   Grittooth: Did you just come in here without a plan?   Dazki: We came in here to talk. We didn't expect to be ambushed.   Grittooth: Who wouldn't expect to be ambushed? Who are you people?   Dazki: We're here to negotiate to help free the dragon that has scales taken from it.   Dwardazik: Why are you all angry with Lizardtamer?   Gritooth: A gnoll's spirit is one of a predator. Lizardtamer would have them live like prey. So I am predator to their prey.   Dwardazik: Can ya spell it out like I'm a dwarf?   Grittooth: Big dogs eat little dogs. Little dogs scatter, hide in corner. Big dogs still eat little dogs.   Grogery: So you're tired of biding your time, and you're taking what you want?   Dwardazik: That just creates a bunch of enemies.   Kesmet: When the big dogs eat the little dogs and all the little dogs are gone, then the smaller big dogs become the little dogs, and so on, until there are no dogs left. Work together. This whole lifestyle is unsustainable.   Dwardazik: What he's sayin' is true. Yer just gonna make a whole bunch of enemies. Trust me. I'm down for a brawl here and there, but y'all are trying to mess with a whole bunch of established types, and you're starting trouble with people. They'll try to take your gang down a peg. We're here to figure out what to do with Tinpaw, and one way or another, we need to resolve this conflict that you have with them. So either we can work together, and try to solve whatever issues you're having, or we can pick up where we left off and that would solve the issue.   Grittooth: You're looking to fix my problems?   Dwardazik: We're not going to let you just attack any gnolls you want, and frankly I'm not about to be the police around here.   Kesmet: We have our agenda, and it happens to line up with getting the gnolls peace right now... as long as our side goals line up, why not take advantage of our kindness and generosity?   Grittooth: We got into this position because of kinds like you who feel that you are better, you know better, you know what we are going through, and we are lesser people.   Dwardazik: My arm wrestle challenge is open.   Kesmet: I've been on the run for the last 5 years. We just got here last month!   Dwardazik: You're the best people we've seen in this gods-damned town. At least you have some kind of values!   Dazki: We're not trying to tell you what you should do. We simply want to help you and Lizardtamer make peace in a way that assists one of our friends, the dragon that they're stealing scales from.   Grittooth: Lizardtamer is beyond help. Her followers fear her. She is predator to other gnolls, and yet she lets the culture stagnate. Gnolls are predators, and she turned them into prey.   Dazki: And how would you change that?   Grittooth: I will not sit here and wait for decisions to be made for me. I will move, and I will succeed or I will fail.   Dazki: But what's your plan?   Dwardazik: What happens when you win?   Grittooth: Then I control the territory. The gnolls will have dignity once again, instead of being rats eating trash.   Dwardazik: Will you attack the city or something? Conquer the whole place?   Grittooth: That depends on how strong we can get under my new leadership.   Kesmet: All you've got is the dignity. Dignity in an empty sack is just the sack.   Grogery: Hello! My name is Grogery. My introduction got interrupted earlier.   Grittooth: You seem... domesticated.   Grogery: Do you see any of these here being my master? I have no master, therefore I am not domesticated. The thing about elves, dwarves, humans... they're interested in viewing themselves as not predator or prey, but as parts of packs. Larger packs with more diverse members tend to conquer other packs and absorb their people.   Grittooth: I know how power is distributed.   Grogery: What I see here is, if we can change Lizardtamer's mind, or do something about her, then perhaps the gnolls could be united to be better able to adapt.   Grittooth: This would be better under my rule, one of strength and dignity.   Dwardazik: I have an offer. Work with us as partners, and once we get in touch with Lizardtamer, I will personally guarantee you a one-on-one conversation with her.   Grittooth: This is the same bullshit you dwarves have been spewing since day 1.   Dwardazik: Oh, please. Did you see what just happened?   Grittooth: You'll help me defeat Lizardtamer then?   Dwardazik: I'll help you get an audience if you help us. Just don't rock the boat. Bide your time and get ready. I'll tell 'em you've been pacified and domesticated.   Grittooth: These are lies.   Dazki: Come with us right now, we march in there and demand a one-on-one with us acting as your bodyguards.   Grittooth: Then I eat her throat!   Dazki: You'll have a conversation. If there's a nonlethal way to do it, then do that. No eating throats.   Grogery: She's more useful alive than dead. She has a position that you don't.   Grittooth: I disagree. I will take it. I'm sick of waiting around waiting to be hunted by the other races, I wish to either pride or die. None of this middle ground.   Dwardazik: We're talkin' to a rabid dog here.   Grogery: Thinking in absolutes might be how you got to where you are today.   Dwardazik: Are we here to do a pep talk? They clearly don't want to negotiate.   Grittooth: You can get us to Lizardtamer?   Dwardazik: I can, if you don't rock the boat and get us what we want.   Grittooth: You will lie and defame me. I am not domesticated.   Kesmet: Or we could go with option 2. He produces flame in his palm.   Grittooth: Thrive or die.   Kesmet: You seemed against dying a few moments ago.   Dwardazik: What do you guys think? He addresses the other beta gnolls, who all avoid eye contact with him.   Grittooth: Just like dwarves, to enslave.   Dwardazik: Did I ever say enslave?   Grittooth: You meant it with your silver tongue.

  Grittooth finally takes Dwardazik up on his arm wrestling challenge. Though she gains some ground early on, Dwardazik comes back and has a decisive victory... but Grittooth just kicks him in the knee and starts wrestling with him in the corner of the room. Dazki comes in and dumps water on the two of them.  

Dazki: Get up and stop making fools of yourselves, both of you.   Dwardazik: Oh, way to go Dazki. Just like an elf to ruin a good ol' dwarven scrap.   Dazki: Please! He won, you lost. Deal with it.   Grittooth: You will take me to LT, but you will not call me weak and inferior in doing so.   Dwardazik: That was one of the best scraps I've had.   Grogery: There are only two ways you can be an audience: one is if we bring you there as a prisoner, the other is that we gather evidence that we've "dealt with you".   Grittooth: These are both incorrect. You will not slander my strength and good name.   Dazki: We walk in there with us surrounding as bodyguards?   Grogery: That won't work.   Grittooth: Then your idea is bullshit. Figure it out.   Dwardazik: Do you have a token we can bring that proves we've met you?   Dazki: Give us a memento we can use to set up a meeting.   Kesmet: We have our own agenda. We need you to cooperate. Our ultimate goal is to take down someone named Dennis. He is more powerful than you, Lizardtamer, and all the gnolls combined. If he were here right now, we would all be dead. Everyone in the Spire of Beasts would be dead. We are trying to prevent this. You are not going to hunt anyone. You will be a carcass on the ground. You would have died without ever seeing the face of your killer. Is that what you want, a guaranteed death? So much for the mighty predator?   Grittooth: Hmm, such tragedies don't look kindly upon our kind... and you can defeat this all-powerful entity?   Kesmet: With a cheap shot, maybe. We're trying to get as much resources as possible. Our party's plan is confusing, but I trust them with my life.   Grogery: We're trying to get up the status quo among the "domesticated races".   Grittooth: Ahh! And once we find Dennis defeated, there will be a power vacuum! The gnolls will rise to power once again! My clan is with you wholeheartedly. We will defeat this "Dennis". OK. My clan will do what we can to prepare for the uprising of "Dennis", an entity of immense power and unknowable strength.   Dwardazik: Hey Grogery, did you want to do your thingamajig so they can regain their strength?   Grogery: Yeah! As a gesture of goodwill, and since you seem so intent on being able to thrive in this environment, I can produce some food for about 15 people for the next day or so.   Dwardazik: Let's celebrate on a new alliance!   Grittooth: It's an odd alliance, one nobody will be expecting!   Dwardazik: Let's get out of this warehouse and get some gnolls, some gnoll tables, gnoll chairs and eat some gnoll food.   Grittooth: Yes, we will recharge our strength, raid Lizardtamer's supplies, and then coordinate against Dennis.   Dazki: We need something from you to show that you're honest and willing to sit down with Lizardtamer.   Grittooth: I don't carry much on me normally... oh! I have an idea. She takes her fucking axe and pries out one of her molars.   Dazki: OK, I'll go arrange this meeting.   Dwardazik: And tell your pack to preferably not ambush us or we'll have to beat 'em. With our fists.

  Grogery produces food for the gnolls. Berries and entire loaves of bread grow from the ground. Nobody's thrilled about this food, but it's nourishing and free.   As the party and gnolls eat, Grogery sees some other gnolls processing the body of their slain comrade. He doesn't immediately know of this specific practice, but figures that it's got something to do with the fact that a gnoll believes more in the body than in the soul: perhaps by continuing to hold onto parts of the body of the deceased, it's like they're always with them. They believe that they draw power from the dead members of the pack. Grogery says a quick prayer for the soul.  

Dazki: The plan is to head to Lizardtamer's territory with the molar and arrange a meeting for sunset.