Session 14: Heads of Trouble

General Summary

The party had arrived in Ponvarus in the late afternoon and as they docked in the trade district they noticed a retinue of Republic Guard waiting for them. When they inquired about the nature of this welcome, the sergeant told them that they were sent to fetch the queen of Aeryon and the prince of Kang. Knowing that they only wanted the royalties aboard, Frances decided that this was the time for her and her company to take their leave. She said goodbye to her travelling companion Dormaruk, before she left. Soon thereafter a well-dressed frankonian man joined the guards. When Nakor and Salofra stepped down onto the wharf he introduced himself as Monsieur Fareldeux Dimonelle of the Chancellery of Frankonia. He told them that he had been sent to fetch the queen so that the chancellery could take care of her, whilst Nakor was to be taken into custody, to the amusement of the crew of the Swift Mermaid.   Luckily Nakor had actually been foresightful and had prepared a falsified document claiming that he was on a diplomatic mission and thus could claim diplomatic immunity. This was sufficient for the representative. He asked them both to come with him. On Nakor's behest so did Dormaruk and Kazagal. Dormaruk left the ship in Merturroks hands as they unloaded Ary's cargo. They then headed towards the Chancellery. On the way, they met another representative, namely Marquise Jeanne de la Brouhaha. She joined the convoy as they were headed to her department anyways. When they arrived they were forced to sign customary documents before they were taken to the consular vicaria-general Vicountess Joruba de Ponvarus. To her, they had to recount the night when they were forced to leave the capital of Areyon in haste. They also answered a bunch of questions on the subject to the best of their abilities and will.   Before long they were dismissed, with the queen deciding to stay with the chancellery as they dealt with the diplomatic fallout of that fateful night. The party was soon led out by Jeanne, who had decided to come with them on the chancellery's behalf, to better fulfil her purpose of gathering information for the chancellery. After acquainting themselves with the spy on their way to the Gilded Mermaid they welcomed her to the crew. They entered the inn when Dormaruk was confronted by the innkeeper Hakon, who was still angry with the minotaur for destroying a table and starting a barfight on his way out. After some discussion, they came to the understanding that he would pay a sum and promise that his crew would only drink at his inn. The innkeeper then recognized Kazagal as Timmy's father and told him that the boy and his friends had been missing for days.   The worried Kazagal immediately left for the Constitutional State Academy along with the rest of the group. When they arrived Kazagal and Nakor went to Timmy's dorm room, they realized that he and his friends had taken on a mission to kill a Hydra nesting half a day away from the city. Hurrying out they met up with Dormaruk and Jeanne. After some quick discussions, they all decided to follow Kazagal in the hunt to save his son. After a quick stop at the Swift Mermaid to fetch some willing volunteers, they left reinforced by Jack, Joric, Garthrur, Misto, Juskt, and Dinyos. After a few hours walk, they arrived at the designated cave. Due to the fact that it was now in the middle of the night they had to approach carefully in the darkness. After realizing that the cave was most likely empty and hearing some strange, voice-like sounds from inside, Kazagal, Nakor, and Jack entered the cave. Inside they found not only the Hydra's layer they found Timmy andhis three friends, planning to kill the hydra by burning it. As they were about to make the young ones leave, a hiss could be heard behind them. The Hydra had returned.   A fight broke out. Dormaruk and Jeanne had seen the hydra enter and set up some torches to get light at the cave's entrance. They then made sounds to lure it back out. Meanwhile, Jack and Kazagal put themselves in between the Hydra and the students. Dormaruk was successful in luring it out though, as the hydra turned around and slithered out of the cave once more to bite at Dormaruk. With all five heads, the attack would have downed most of the party, but the raging minotaur managed to stay standing. Angered and frightened by the situation, Nakors instincts took over. He once again grew in height and spread his glowing wings, filling the cave with light. He then flew to the cave's opening before filling the opening with a massive fireball, which also made him float without the use of his wings.   This managed to take off one of the hydra's heads. Dormaruk used this moment to chop off another, as Jeanne shot an incredibly well-placed arrow which also managed to relieve the hydra from one of its heads. Then as the hydra tried to bite the crewmembers attacking it, Dormaruk chopped off the fourth head. Then as Kazagal placed himself between the hydra and Nakor, the sorcerer shot a full-powered fire-orb infused with radiant celestial energy at the last head, deleting it and the rest of the hydra's body from existence. Leaving only a magical belt, that was lying in the hydra's stomach. As the battle subsided, Dormaruk noticed the shape of Gorrick the Devil on top of the cliff. Just then the angered angelic form of Nakor grabbed three of the young students threw them into the ocean after scolding them. Dormaruk then went up and, still covered in blood, told Timmy off. The shaken students then followed the party as they all took the four heads that were left and the belt, and headed back to the Swift Mermaid to rest for the night.

Rewards Granted

• Belt of Dwarvenkind