Session 45

General Summary

• The party wants to head towards Lizardtamer to try to convince her to leave the dragon alone, switching currencies to something that will be accepted by more people.
• Heading towards the center of The Spire of Beasts on the gnoll side, it's like a labyrinth of buildings, with dead ends and booby traps all throughout.
• Near the middle of the maze, the party got jumped by a small group of gnolls.
• During the combat, some gnolls are knocked out, one is killed by Barry, and the rest are convinced to take the party to their leader. Barry has been acting oddly ever since that fight, sort-of in a daze, very contemplative.
• Local leader's name is Tinpaw, a devoted follower of Lizardtamer. She is very hesitant to bring the party to Lizardtamer, or to try to bring Lizardtamer to the party, claiming that she would get herself killed if she tried.
• When the party confronted Tinpaw with their plan, she revealed that there is a rival faction led by a gnoll named Grittooth who, Tinpaw says, seeks to overthrow Lizardtamer.
• This rival faction seems to use guerrilla tactics against Lizardtamer's group, attacking from every direction. They "know just where to strike".
• Tinpaw agreed to "do what [she] can" to help the party get an audience with Lizardtamer, if the party can come back with evidence that they are helping in the conflict against Grittooth or that they have "taken Bright Futures, Inc. down a peg".
• There's another gnoll, Hushpuppy, who's absolutely insane. He sells magic beans and claims to know where Grittooth will be.
• Dwardazik bought two "magic" beans using some of his ale. Dazki gave a couple of dragon scales to learn where Hushpuppy thinks that Grittooth will be tomorrow at noon. The party now has a map with a location marked on it.

 

Full Recap

The session opens with the party in The Spire of Beasts.  

Journey to the Center

It's empty here, but there are yips and howls of gnolls in the distance. The party wants to commit to moving more towards the center to try to convince Lizardtamer to leave the dragon alone.  

Grogery: Before we head in there, let's plan out our actions.   Dazki: We could have most of us be obvious, find our way to Lizardtamer, and then don't take no for an answer.   Grogery: Yeah, but... then what?   Dazki: Lead with, "let's improve this situation" and then try to convince them to switch currencies in order to improve their standing with the rest of the city.   Barry: The ogre didn't seem to take well to economics.   Dazki: Well, Lizardtamer is going to be smarter than an ogre. To control a group of gnolls like this, you kinda have to be.   Kesmet: Or she's three times bigger.

  The group decides to all travel together towards the center. As Dwardazik put it, "Make enough noise, and you'll find the boss".  

Slum Within A Slum

Closer to the center, the Spire of Beasts starts to look more like a labyrinth than a slum, with buildings packed and stacked very closely together. Combined with the steam from The Cloud District and the moat to make it more humid, the whole place feels like a jungle.   Kesmet hears yipping all about -- there are definitely lots of gnolls here. Grogery looks around to find that, while there's no single "main road" (or tunnel) that leads right to the middle, it will get denser with gnolls as the team gets there.   Dazki, being out in front, triggers a trap and is covered in hot tar. Pausing to listen, he pinpoints the location of a group of gnolls, and directs the party in that direction. Meanwhile, Dwardazik is using his tunnel navigation skills to map out the path that the party takes, to be prepared in case they need to make a quick escape, and Kesmet fills a spent potion bottle with some of the tar from the trap, just in case.   Further along the path, another trap is sprung, a ballista this time, which Dazki dodges so cleanly that he notices that the ballista bolt struck into a wall that was very run-down and particularly shoddily built, even for this area.  

Dwardazik: How do people live here?   Dazki: You probably just learn which doors not to hit and where to avoid diagonals.

  Pondering this, Dazki looks around... there's some writing in Thieves' cant, but it doesn't really say where to go to avoid the traps.   Meanwhile, Grogery is trying to listen through the wall at what the gnolls are trying to say. It sounds like there's some sort of territorial dispute, battle / strategy planning, discussing tactics. These are clearly not all beta gnolls.   The party decides to go around, rather than tear through the wall. Before they can get very far, some of the gnolls jump over the wall and initiate combat.  

Key Combat Moments

• The gnolls closest to Dwardazik went into a blood rage that would not go back down. These guys really hate dwarves.
• Though Dwardazik and Grogery were being very careful to merely knock out one of the gnolls, Barry did manage to kill it with his bow and arrow.
• Dwardazik did manage to knock the other one out without killing it, saying "you're a good fight, but you're no pack leader" as he feinted with his pickaxe coming down only to bash it with his shield instead.
• Another pair of gnolls encroached on the party from the other direction partway through, blocking the exit and ultimately dragging Dazki away to the leader. The rest of the party followed.

 

The Map Room

Entering through a secret entrance through a dresser tucked away in a nondescript building, the party is brought before the group of gnolls that Dazki detected earlier. The leader has a lot more armor than the other gnolls around. She addresses the party (editor's note: her name will eventually be revealed to be Tinpaw, so I'm just going to use that name throughout):  

Tinpaw: well, well! Look who we have here!   Grogery: you know who we are?   Dwardazik: the name's Dwardazik Stoneturner Boulderhearth. I'm looking for one of your lads, not here to cause trouble.   Tinpaw: You're so well fed and equipped!   Dwardazik: Would you want to walk around unequipped? That sounds stupid...   Tinpaw: You sound stupid!   Grogery: Hey, let's keep this civil. We're here for our mutual benefit.   Dwardazik: We gotta do some talkin'. Where's Lizardtamer?   Tinpaw: What makes you think I'm bringing you that far?   Dwardazik: You know where they are?   Tinpaw: Of course! I know where everything is, all the time!   Dwardazik: Does that mean you're Lizardtamer?   Tinpaw: No.   Everybody insight checks this. She's not, but she wishes she were. That bitch is hot!   Dazki: We have propositions for Lizardtamer. If you take us to see her, and she happens to like what we have to say, that will raise you considerably in her esteem.   Tinpaw: Anything you have for Lizardtamer, you can surely give to me.   Dazki: We could, but we have no guarantee that the information would get to Lizardtamer, for one. For two, we were just attacked, so not huge into the whole, y'know, trust thing at the moment.   Tinpaw: You want to talk about trust? Let's talk about how you are trespassing on practically holy ground here.   Dazki: ?   Tinpaw: This is the territory of Lizardtamer!!   Dazki: What about that makes it holy?   Tinpaw: She is the savior of this gnoll clan. We dedicate our whole existence merely because of her cleverness and strength!   Grogery: we have different definitions of the word "holy"...   Kesmet: This is pointless!! This isn't getting us any closer to Dennis. Take us to Lizardtamer, you crazy bitch! He begins to bristle with fire around him.   Tinpaw: I don't even know who this Dennis fella is...   Kesmet: Consider yourself lucky. I don't know why any of this matters, but I'll light this whole place on fire if you don't take us there.   Tinpaw: Wait, there's no need! Here's the thing, though... uh... if I take a bunch of traitors to Lizardtamer, we all get murdered. How am I supposed to know you're not going to take away our livelihood? Your kind has done so, so many times in the past.   Kesmet: We're not traders! We're not selling or bartering anything!   Grogery: Who, specifically? There seem to be a lot of different types of people under "your kind"...   Dwardazik: For a gnoll, I've been awfully respectable to "your kind". The least you could do is respect us back.   Tinpaw: You call slavery respect? There's one thing down here that's keeping the gnolls alive. Women gnolls, children gnolls, all of it. You understand why we have to protect all of that.   Dazki: We understand why you have to protect your dragon.   Tinpaw doesn't seem that phased by what Dazki clearly meant as a big reveal.   Tinpaw: How do I know you're not here to take the last remaining thing that the gnolls have in existence?   Dazki: Why don't you bring Lizardtamer to us so that we're not near your thing?   Tinpaw: Here's the thing though, that's a... great way... if you were in my position... to definitely be killed, or worse, exiled.   Dwardazik: What do we have to do to earn your trust? He rolls his eyes, heavily.   Grogery: Hmm, you don't want to bring us to your valuables, and attempting to persuade Lizardtamer to come here would get you left out or worse?   Kesmet: OK, so the only option is to fireball.   Grogery: NO!   Dazki, repeating after Dwardazik: What would it take to earn your trust?   Tinpaw: Is there some way you can convince me that you will not be a detriment to the clan, and also Lizardtamer will not eat me for wasting her time? What do you have?   Dazki: A proposal and a plan to help you gain acceptance by others in the city to be able to more easily gain food and resources and better your people.   Tinpaw: Snarls that's some rebel talk!   Dazki: Why is that?   Grogery: Isn't that a good thing? We're all rebels here.   Tinpaw: The gnolls were a great race once. We did the enslaving.   Kesmet: With money, you can buy more slaves and come back on top!   Tinpaw: It does not work that way here.   Kesmet: What do you need to help us stop Dennis?   Tinpaw: The only way for gnolls to get money is to go into slavery. Lizardtamer will not allow our clan to fall so low.   Grogery: If you used to be dominant, what happened? Others crowded you out?   Tinpaw: We used to roam the plains, taking what we needed and wanted for survival. The world changes rapidly now, but we gnolls are adaptable! And so we adapt to the urban jungle instead of the rural one.   Kesmet: And how's that working out for you?   Tinpaw: It's been a tough transition.   Kesmet: Is there something that could make it a bit more ... ... ... chewy?   Kesmet: What if we burn down Bright Futures, Inc.? They're the ones that enslave gnolls, right?   Grogery: Don't just burn down random stuff, we need to understand what's going on here!   Kesmet: It's not random, it's very specific!   Tinpaw: Excellent idea! It would certainly prove that you are not rebel spies!   Kesmet: Time out... rebelling against what, spies for whom? We're an independent party, sorta even independent from each other too.   Tinpaw: Not all gnolls have the honor and foresight that we have.   Kesmet: OMG, there are actual factions between you people?   Grogery: Yes, not every group is a monolith.   Kesmet: Makes a bunch of weird sounds NEVER MIND.   Tinpaw: There is a rival seeking to remove Lizardtamer, a move that we followers of Lizardtamer believe would be the end of the gnolls' culture as we know it.   Kesmet: Go on... it sounds like an appealing target to get you on our side of the fight against Dennis.   Dwardazik: Can we just hear her out?   Tinpaw: Well, she takes a deep breath, it pains me even to speak the name of such a foe, for fear that I may be heard whispering it and cast as a rebel myself. In Common, she goes by the name Grittooth.   Grogery: What is her angle?   Tinpaw: I don't fully understand it, only that she believes that she would be a better leader. She thinks that we are withering here, or something. "Stuck to an unstable resource in an unstable state", or some bullcrap like that, I don't understand it.   Dazki: She's not wrong...   Grogery: Violence and competition is not the best way to deal with that.   Dazki: Agreed, absolutely not.   Tinpaw: Honestly, I'm having difficulties tracking this splinter group. They're wily, which they would have to be, since they're so outnumbered. But let's go back to burning that place down!   Grogery: I'm not entirely sure why you have such hatred for it. They've got that dominance, but if they're paying for your work, then surely that doesn't count as slavery?   Kesmet: See why you need that money?   Tinpaw: Rebel talk! Are you sure you're not rebels?!   Grogery: If we were, we wouldn't be talking.   Dwardazik: I'd be hitting you with my fist!   Kesmet: And this whole place would be burned down!   Tinpaw: You'd have us sell our identity and culture for mere scraps?   Dwardazik: I just want you to be able to go out, hit a tavern, and buy yourself a drink. Is that really so bad?   Tinpaw: That would be really good, but we are stuck here, discriminated from the guards for not selling our souls to the corporation.   Grogery: Does Grittooth support BFI or is she just trying to be a leader?   Tinpaw: She thinks things have grown stagnant. I feel like she wouldn't care if we died or if we became slaves. She just wants something different.   Grogery: Rather to go out fighting than fizzle, I suppose.   Dazki: And what do you think is the better option?   Tinpaw: We survive. We will keep what remnants of culture and identity we have from the past and do what we have always done: we will survive.   Dazki: Survival takes all kind of different forms. Adapting to the changing world is a method of survival.   Tinpaw: Little goblin, you wear so much silver and gold.   Grogery: I think it's orichalcum, but go on...   Tinpaw: Have you ever starved? Have you ever watched others wither and die?   Grogery: I've been in the spire of beasts quite a few times.   Tinpaw: Have you been in that state?   Grogery: I've gone hungry a few nights in my day, but never worried about survival.   Tinpaw: Then you do not know what I am talking about.   Grogery: Do not presume that because I have never personally lived through your hardships that I cannot empathize with them. That's what language is for, what community is for, so we can share pain.   Tinpaw: You're doing a poor job.   Dwardazik: We've had hunger on adventuring trails.   Tinpaw: I scoff at what you think hunger is.   Dwardazik: We can end that if you work with us.   Grogery: If we bring proof that we are helping you in the struggle against Grittooth or that we have taken BFI down a peg, would we get audience with Lizardtamer?   Tinpaw: Probably...   Dazki: Not good enough. No wiggling out. Yes or no? Be honorable.   Grogery: Provide us with some of the stability that you wish to see in the world.   Tinpaw: I will do what I can... but I do not make all the decisions here.   Grogery: Can we at least be guaranteed safe passage in this area? If we were to come back with our proof, it would not do good to get attacked again.   Tinpaw: I can spread word after proof has been delivered.   Grogery: Can I get your name, so I can contact you again? When we have our proof, of course...   Tinpaw: Ahh, my name! How rude of me not to give my name to trespassers! You can call me Tinpaw.   Kesmet: Coppertooth, got it.   Dazki: it's a pleasure to meet you, Tinpaw.   Tinpaw: Sure. I'm feeling generous today.   Grogery: Thank you, your generosity does not go unappreciated. He shoots a glance at Kesmet.   Dwardazik, grabbing a ration from his bag and putting it in front of her: For you. He gives her a toothy grin.   Tinpaw looks at him skeptically, untrustingly.   Kesmet: Don't worry, it won't explode and burn everything down!   Everyone else, to Kesmet: ...why do you say these things?   Tinpaw: I would be satisfied if you are to leave this territory, lest I get found out for working with rebels.   Dazki: Where could we find Grittooth or her minions?   Tinpaw: That's what I'm trying to find out. These guerrilla tactics... they're typically on the outskirts, but they come from so many different directions. They know just where to strike. I think there's a mole...   Dwardazik: Aren't you guys gnolls, not moles? Tinpaw shoots him a side glance. Sorry, trying to make light of the situation.   Tinpaw: So. You're leaving now?   Dwardazik: To go find Grittooth... to get trust from you... where you're not extending trust to us, ...   Tinpaw: Life's a bitch.   Dwardazik: I'm just saying...   Tinpaw: You want an escort, princess?   Dwardazik: ...just saying not to pick a fight with a dwarf with a pick.   Tinpaw: I think it's time you leave.   Dazki turns and walks out.   Dwardazik whispers, "The dried berries are the best part", and leaves as well.

 

Outside the urban jungle

 

Grogery: That was smart, Dwardazik.   Dwardazik: Honestly, these guys are easier to deal with than what we're used to.   Grogery: They just want their culture preserved, but it's like, culture always adapts, y'know?   Dwardazik: ...not really.   Dazki: OK, we have to find a place to rest for a while. People probably need a good night's sleep.

  The group remembers that Sol wanted to meet them in that location in The Pearl District, so they start heading that way. As they do, they are heralded by a shadow in the alleyway (editor's note: again, we later learn that his name is Hushpuppy, so I'll use that name right away):  

Hushpuppy: Hey, travelers! He giggles. Come here!!   Dazki: No, how about you come out into the open?   Hushpuppy: That's no way to do business... business happens in the shadows.   Dazki: If you don't want to come out, then you don't want to do business.   Hushpuppy: Then you don't want my treasures or information then, eh?   Dwardazik: What information you got? He takes out piece of silver and approaches the shadows, where he sees a figure wearing a dark blue cloak, full dark green leather armor. It's a gnoll.   Hushpuppy: I saw where you were. I know all kind of information! But I'm also a business man.   Dwardazik: if you're so smart, He tosses a piece of silver tell us something!   Hushpuppy: Silver's not very useful to me, no, I don't think I'll take it. He flicks it back.   Dazki takes out 2 smaller dragon scales.   Hushpuppy: Ooh, see! He speaks the language of the gnoll!!!   Dazki, tossing one scale to the gnoll: Down payment. You tell us the information we want to know, and you'll get the rest.   Hushpuppy: Info or goods? I have magical item.   Dazki: Info is better...   Dwardazik: Now wait a second, I'm curious about that item.   Hushpuppy: Curiosity never did anything to anyone! I only have one thing, but I promise it's truly magical!!!!!!!!!!!!   Grogery: So... it's "good", not "goods"...   Hushpuppy, pulling out a small red velvet satchel: These from far off magic lands... very tasty!! VERY MAGIC!!!   Dwardazik, to Kesmet: Is this really magical?   Kesmet: no clue...   Hushpuppy, opening the satchel to reveal that they are beans: You see them? They may look rather benign, but they are fabulous!   Dazki: What do they do?   Hushpuppy: Each time, something different!

  Dwardazik takes a moment to look around. He notices that it's incredibly odd how nobody seems to be in this alleyway except the gnoll and the party. This guy has picked the perfect spot not to be bothered by any other gnolls, and gnolls always come in pairs, at least.  

Grogery: So, are these different flavor beans?   Hushpuppy: It's a mystery! The beans know what power you desire!   Dwardazik: Are they actually magical or are they just beans?   Hushpuppy: Would I lie to you? They're truly magic!   Grogery: So, you eat the beans and then... you can fly? You can see 4 different colors?   Dazki: Yeah... the info would be much more valuable.   Hushpuppy: It's so bold of you to venture into Lizardtamer's territory. Surely, you have some interests?   Dwardazik: Maybe we want to get Lizardtamer to notice us.   Hushpuppy: Unlike most gnolls around here, I'm perfectly happy playing the underdog... and every side!   Dwardazik: Dazki, it's your scale. Perhaps you should ask?   Dazki: How does one find Grittooth?   Hushpuppy: You're looking for a little obfuscation? A coup, perhaps?   Dazki: Well, you said it yourself, you play both sides. Nothing wrong with that.   Hushpuppy: Yes, nobody worries about the underdog. Easy to get in and out.   Dazki: Now, that information?   Hushpuppy: What is it, exactly worded, you are looking for?   Dazki: How would one go about finding and communicating with Grittooth?   Hushpuppy: Well, you could always ask Hushpuppy! Hushpuppy probably knows where he is! Reminder: Hushpuppy hasn't told the party his name yet. I'm just labeling it for convenience.   Dwardazik: Well... that's a name, ain't it?   Dazki: Not a great answer.   Hushpuppy: Not a great question!   Kesmet threatens, lighting his hand: Tell us what we need to know, tell us what payment you want, or leave.   Hushpuppy: I'm perfectly happy to sell you more information... or beans!   Kesmet throws a firebolt at his face, but misses.   Grogery: Come on... violence???   Dwardazik: Come on, be respectable. They won't talk to us if you burn everyone you see.   Kesmet: I won't burn their mouths.   Dwardazik: Is that really the best way? I mean, honestly?   Kesmet: This isn't getting us any closer to Dennis!   Dwardazik: We're trying to find Grittooth.   Kesmet: But Dennis is the ultimate goal!   Dazki: What's your name?   Hushpuppy: Another question! Got more money?   Dazki: If you're going to be pointless, we can leave. There's some back-and-forth. Well, here's the other scale I promised, but you kinda suck.   Dwardazik: Hey, mr. gnoll, can you point us in the right direction at least?   Hushpuppy: You have found what you seek! I am Hushpuppy! Outwitted again!   Dazki: No shit. You're not as clever as you think.   Hushpuppy: I'm as clever as I need to be. I know where she's going to be. Where do you think she gets her information from, that dirty dog? PLAY BOTH SIDES, I DO!   Dwardazik: That actually sounds reasonable. We're one step closer.   Grogery: If he plays both sides, how does Grittooth think she can trust him?   Hushpuppy: Tell me then, when and where do you need to know this information? Depending, it might be a little pricier. Could be busy. Prime time rates, you understand.   Dwardazik: So what, we can't just find this gnoll?   Hushpuppy: She's necessarily very mobile, but I know where she's going to be, depending on the time.   Dazki: Tomorrow, noon.   Hushpuppy: TOMORROW NOON! Let me look through the log books. He vaguely looks at the side of a building, while it looks like he's mouthing numbers to himself. Ahh, she will be... available! Would you like to meet with her? I must ask... FRIEND OR FOE?   Dazki: Friend for the moment. Depending on the conversation that happens.   Dwardazik: Friend, until someone tries to attack me, in which case they will get a fist full of chain mail!   Hushpuppy: I will draw a map, lest someone will hear... that would be CRAZY!!! He takes something from under his cloak. It looks like rabbit's hide. He draws a crude map on the tanned side. I can't promise you'll be welcome. I'm not setting up a meeting time or anything... what do I look like, a secretary? HAHA THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET MURDERED! I like you guys...   Dwardazik, whispering to the party: Well, everyone better prepare for an ambush.   Hushpuppy: Now, what about the BEANS?! I HAVE SO MANY. They're very magical!   Dazki: Thank you, but no, they might be too magical for us. You can probably get a better price from someone else.   Hushpuppy: Not as adventurous as I thought, perhaps. No worries, there are always beans.   Dwardazik: Eh. You don't take my silver, I don't take your beans.   Hushpuppy: You can try trading... other things?   Dwardazik: Hmm... let's see... He pulls out a torch.   Hushpuppy: Ew, no.   Dwardazik, pulling out a tankard and pouring a glass: You get to have the drink, I keep the tankard, I get a bean. Finest dwarven ale from Amber Falls.

  Hushpuppy grabs it, his nose going too far deep. He takes a big sniff, a bit goes up his nose. "Oh, that is dwarven ale!", he says, and he drinks the entire thing. He gives Dwardazik two magic beans, which Dwardazik is very excited about, and the party takes their leave.   The party has noticed that Barry has been very quiet and reserved... contemplative, even... ever since the combat with the gnolls. This is an odd look for him; the plan is to tackle that next session.

Rewards Granted

• The party has a map that, Hushpuppy says, points to where Grittooth will be tomorrow at noon.
• Dwardazik now has two magical beans.
• Barry earned an inspiration point for killing his first target.
• Kesmet earned an inspiration point for intimidating Tinpaw.