The session was alright, ran a little late but considering the players went totally off what I had plan I think I did alright. Lots of loose ends, teasers and interesting tidbits for them to think about and to have return later in spectacular foreshadowing fashion.
The players shopped around, many buying magical items, some decided that they are living in a different fantasy world with their own rules, and so on. They talked to the Castran nobles about several things:
Franz Castran, their leader, is a dick, a tyrant, working with Abshaloth to sell powerful undead blood to him. He is trying to set himself up as the next ruler of Polania
Milunka Castran, Franz's wife, seems abused and stuck in her relationship, unable to even think about escaping though she talked about the idea briefly with Ariange, whom she thought was enslaved
Kara Petrović and Draža Mihailović are both very anti-Castran and sought help in taking him down, but Khasari and the party ignored their pleas
Savoy Castran is the eldest of Franz's kids, an utter dick like his father and very proficient duelist (in a realistic world, people may be stronger than you, it may also be true that these people are assholes... idk what you want me to do about this)
Nikolai was a bit of an engima, a lightning and weather mage, yougnest son of Franz, who kept quiet and didnt interact with anyone besides talking magic with Raime
The players then met with Correspondence, the lady in the demon's sword pulled them aside to introduce herself as a high-ranking agent in the The Black Hand , she was polite and at least more honest than expected, but still a Black Hand agent. She sought to team up to stop Abshaloth from completing whatever his mission was and wanted to help the party as much as possible, but they only allowed her to supply them with a banishing dagger (this dagger did end up being crucial to banishing Abshaloth), she very much wanted to banish him instead of kill him for some unknown reason.
The players met with the Jadwiga house (some of them) and found out that Josephina is also making a play for the Polanian throne. She is a noble tiefling with a good claim and seems to have a great deal of experience and helpful backing from the tieflings... but is still racist against humans in such a way as she sees them as lesser, needing her saving and guidance. She treats them remarkably well at least, but she is also for the war against Astrsan
The players enacted their plan, sneaking up on Puck and Abshaloth, sending Puck screaming back to wherever he came from, and after a slight struggle, doing the same to Abshaloth with a helpful mind sliver/the banishing dagger given to them by Correspondence. If you want an inspiration for next session, you must hold up your phone and play "Thunderstruck" by ACDC at the exact moment where it goes "You've been... THUNDERSTRUCK".
Abshaloth very much wanted to be banished instead of slain as well, even going so far as to ask Ariange that if they intend to slay him, to dispel the silence so he could say something out loud, but didnt elaborate on what. Very sus.
The players uncovered a small vault in the cellar, almost triggering the trapped glyphs but managing instead to set up an elaborate escape that worked perfectly, they acquired 15 gold bars, worth 22,500... thats right, 22,500. This is a wealth that will not be able to be spent easily, the Castrans will come looking for it and it will cause problems with authorities and until it is returned, do not add any of it to your totals, this is a payoff that must be handled very carefully. In addition, they gathered quite a few other interesting items and scrolls:
A small figurine of a devlish soldier, fashioned like a pawn in a chest game, it can be activated by the command phrase inscribed in its base which, when said in infernal means "Who do you belong to?"
A Keoghtom's Ointment with 3 doses remaining
A spell scroll of Fireshield, and a spell scroll of Blink (like the other spellscrolls I gave you, someone should write these down or they will become lost)
Dimensional Shackles
And a +1 Mace
The players escaped, running out of the city and into the arms of the Templars who temporarily chased off anyone chasing them, the Templars then marched on and the session ended with them all on the road with a few people to talk to.
