Session 2: The Choice Report

General Summary

We returned to the party mid-morning in Ploara Vil after they raided the shopping district and made off with numerous healing potions and other magical trinkets. They returned, momentarily, to the Western Winds Tavern - and Lynx reached out, and contacted his divine guides to divine a bit more about Nieve Harper. His visions showed him a sun tainted by dark light - an omen of Woe. But, although he beseeched the Sun God... he could tell this was in fact an omen from the Moon Mother. They would soon learn exactly what this cautious warning divined...    Elsewhere, Bemone and Luce started a dedicated sidequest to go Owlbear tipping.... but given the lack of Owlbears in the near region, they settled instead for the original and esteemed 'regular cow' tipping. Quite a humorous tale indeed, they returned successful and boastful, only to find Lynx and Darion enthralled in a game of Dragonchess. Lynx won (barely) and started challenging numerous members of the party.      This is when their quiet afternoon was interrupted by a scuffle on the main thoroughfare - Luce flew out the door to find a number of hooded figures running south, chased by the Guildwatch guards, maybe 50, 100 feet between them. She immediately gave chase, and the rest of the party also filed out onto the street to see the same commotion and follow Luce down the road. But these hooded figures were faster than the guards, and faster than most of the party - as they started flaking off into different streets, it was only Darion with the help of some magic, who could actually gain some ground on these nimble rogues, and caught up and tackled the main remaining character only to reveal Nieve herself, and quite pissed. He played off a brief squabble, acting as if he was hurt so that Nieve could flee and disappear. Picking up the rear, Lynx accidentally drew the ire of the guards with some magic, entirely intending to be helpful - but before anyone could ask questions or clarify intentions, each member of our heroically misunderstood band started fleeing to the rooftops to avoid the awkward conversation or putting themselves between the wrong opposing forces.    They eluded the guards, regrouped and waited for nightfall, and then moved towards the Rusty Boon to meet up with Nieve and accept her mission for them. It may not have been what they wanted at first, and definitely raised some flags for certain members to be working with criminal entities... but at the given moment, it offered them the short freedom they wanted without the contract work from Lord Edward Veere, and an engaging opportunity to see more about what the scene during the afternoon was all about.  Upon arrival, Luce rubs some performers the wrong way trying to take center stage, but makes up for it with a smashing tale about cowtipping. And the party joins Nieve in an underground network of tunnels, that seem to extend far beyond the city borders and under the grasslands.   They asked a LOT of questions, intent to understand exactly what was going to happen, and were forced to provide "insurance" in the form of a vial of blood from each of them. Concerning, to say the least, but in exchange, the crew learned of active disappearances occurring in the capital of Tharion, Elebor. What were previously just rumors seemed to ring true, and some of those going missing were under the employ of Nieve herself. Without knowing too much, but planning to work with the head of the guild in Elebor, Nieve was expecting aid from the party, and given the uncertain nature of the case (rescue mission, assault, recon, etc.) she wanted some outside help to bolster her forces and - well, keep anyone else she cared about from being lost in the process. Our group of ragtags bunked down at Bill's tavern again and went to reject the offer from Lord Veere the next morning - early. He was still appreciative, and left them a means of direct contact with his secretary Barbara via Sending Stone.    The group left for Elebor, and fought off some were-folk just after the first nightfall. Bemone did manage to get bit by a werewolf, but initial looks seemed optimistic he'd be ok, and they continued their path to the capital unsure of exactly what they'd be facing there... but curious still, at exactly what was behind these disappearances, as well as if and how Lord Veere and these rumors may be connected.