Catch and Release Report

General Summary

While Badalona Ailendogs sleeps of his frenzy from the night before and Mehmen Ashid spends his time sequestered with his brother Andro Ashid, Alok Ravaralei, Marble and Thomas Marchant have the day to themselves.   They begin by visiting the World’s Rest Healing Centre library to try and find details about Thomas’s deal with Nanny Irongums. They find a book called Thrinan’s Scripture. This book gives a little information about fey bonds and deals but also serves to open Marble’s eyes to the existence of the School of Arcane Devices.    During the day they also learn that all the art about World’s Rest is the way patients repay the tabaxi for their aid. So the 3 available heroes take the opportunity to create an art piece. With Alok revealing hidden artistic talents the 3 create a unique kinetic sculpture they call “Catch and Release” because it first draws the viewer in with a relaxing image before disturbing them with some eerie shadows. The sculpture is unveiled at dinner which also features a performance by Aldous Ranklespear, the one-armed animal trainer from Alexander Face’s Travelling Circus & Menagerie. Before Thomas’s voice deserts him he is able to reacquaint himself with Aldous who reveals he returns every year to the Centre to repay the tabaxi for patching him up when he lost his arm and eye.   At the conclusion of the performance Alok, Marble and Thomas go for a nighttime swim and experiment with ways around Thomas’s curse. This has mixed success so they decide to adjourn for the night. As they head to bed an arrow with a message inviting them to a meeting flies over the wall. It appears to match the arrows used by the gnolls in their attack on Marsahurst several days earlier. The decision is made to follow up on the note and go to the meeting that the note invites the heroes to.   In the morning Badalona and Mehmen are still busy so the other 3 head off into the Ashen Hills. They soon meet a strange Gnoll in tatty robes who calls himself the Mangeheart. He brings thanks from his master, Oduk, for driving away the vampire and allowing him to control his pack again. In return Oduk offers the heroes a deal - he will spare either World’s Rest or Marsahurst from their raids. Thomas, Alok and Marble have other ideas - Andro spoke of a document which contains the secrets for unlocking the Staff of the Woodlands - the heroes want this instead. The Mangeheart agrees to take this deal to his master and tells the heroes to meet him the next day….