Session 44: Slowpass' Underbelly Report

General Summary

Introduction to the Devil's Den

The party made their way from the High Curator's Manse around the edge of the Market to the Demon's Den, a Brimstone smelling establishment on the Eastern side of the Market of Souls.   After negotiating their way past two strange looking, heavy set individuals outside, wearing thick leather jackets bearing demonic symbolism on the back.   After some discussion, during which she revealed her admiration of (bordering on obsession with) Jekaa, the city's leader. She agreed to show them into the Burning Halls, where the much mentioned Night Market resided.   She also told them about Noon, a Gnome, who had taken up residence in the Halls and seemed to be trying to reignite the slave trade (for which the city had been known about 100 years ago), but which Jekaa had clamped down upon.   The party took the remainder of the day to explore the market and get more of a feeling for the city.

Exploring The Market of Souls

For the remainder of the rest of the day the party spent time exploring various parts of the market of souls. Some of the highlights were:

• Gortan and Hallaster had a Tarot reading (which cost nothing) in the Crone's Reading Room.
• Blaize took out a subscription to Fusesmith Monthly, a magazine of all things explosive made by Bryttin Fusebreath.
• Tarvy found a tome detailing the 3 varieties of Fiend, Demons, Devils and Yugoloths, as well as mentioning that they each have their own leaders.

  Once the day came towards an end they all made their way back over to the Demon's Den, flirted with Ros some more before being escorted down the halls, which kept going and going and going, minutes past as they walked through this seemingly endless structure.   Eventually they saw a black portal before them, a rippling in the air which Ros told them was the entry they were looking for. They therefore made their way through, emerging shortly after into a huge interior, baking hot without any obviously visible fires, before them was a huge marketplace, a flurry of activity with all sorts of species of creatures the group did not recognise.

Descent into the Burning Halls

They were greeted by a tall, greyish creature and his big evil looking hound. They informed them that they were welcome to visit the market, although, as "squishies" they might find more interest in them than they'd typically expect.   He also pointed them to a red, seemingly blazing tent off to one side of the market, with a stage on which 4 unconscious individuals had been strapped to be sold as slaves, or whatever people chose to buy them for.   Making their way down (attracting attention as they did), the found the stage guarded by several bug like creatures, with 4 arms, armed with tridents.   Upon the stage, the four individuals were identified as missing people the party had been told about when they were in the Underrock:

• Pebble, a female Water Genasi
• Belyassa Thyldrec, a female Mercury Dragonborn
• Rhorog Iron Tusk, a male Orc
• Reed Avery, a male Bugbear

None of them looked in particularly poor condition, just unconscious and dressed in basic peasant garb.   Asking where the boss, Noon was, they were directed to his open tent. He saw them approach and greeted them warmly, though perhaps a little aloof and rude. He asked if they were buying, and told them some of the greatest "facts" about the slaves on offer (including that the water emitted by a Water Genasi granted wishes - leading to Tarvy licking Pebble).   Tensions seemed to be mounting throughout the conversation, and the six guards were increasingly on edge, as Noon made his way to one side of his tent, while talking to the party. They begun to talk amongst themselves and, after a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, Blaize pulled out his gun, in front of the crowd of curious creatures (which Tarvy had explained were Yugoloths), aimed it directly at Noon, and pulled the trigger.     Next Session Start: The party are standing before the slaver's stage in the Burning Halls, six guards flanking them as Blaize's gun goes off. ROLL INITIATIVE.