Session 04: Acquaintances Inc. Report

General Summary

Varitan leads the party to his employer, one Tannyll Westbrook. Seemingly a Caterer and Importer of fine foods, Varitan reveals his employer's true holdings - a series of small offices in the rear of the building. A surprised Tannyl greets them, asking how long Varitan has been in town for. Seemingly code for something. As the crew shows the case to Tannyll, the stewards around him pack their bags and ready themselves to dispose of any incriminating evidence. it seems as though they're scared of something. Tanyll explains his direct employer, as well as a handful of fixers, have gone dark suddenly, which has put him on alert. He thinks it has something to do with the last set of contracts he set up, Sel's included.   Some investigation of the case reveals it's locked and trapped. Tannyll gives the crew the location of a locksmith in the Trade District, who frequents a tavern called the Staggering Giant Inn. Along the way, Sel takes the crew by his safehouse in the slums, a surprisingly well maintained suite in an otherwise crumbling tenement building. It's here they rest, and through some downtime practice, Amelia recalls a trick to open magical locks - although she's out of practice. On the rooftop, from a safe distance, she attempts to dispel, and fails, causing the safeguard to detonated in a blast of force energy in a sphere 15 ft across, pulverizing the already crumbling structure below, and causing the case to fall four stories deeper into the tenement. Sel and Amelia dropped in immediately yo locate the case, finding it buried aid chunks of debris and swirling dust. From the 5th floor of the building, and old man who had been squatting (and narrowly survived the explosion) peered over the edge to catch a glimpse of the destruction. Payne cast Suggestion, suggesting he should lie to the person who asks him about what happened here. The old man appeared to agree, and continued peering down into the hole left by the explosion.   Sel and Amelia dug for the case, finding it and jumping to safety before the next floor collapsed into the lower level. Payne made a leap to the floor with the old man on it, pushing him into the open air and casting featherfall on him to keep him safe on his descent.   During this time, with the case dispelled, Sel opened it, revealing the contents to be 6 wands, an amulet, a wicked looking dagger, and a full suit of studded leather armor.   When the old man reached his destination on the third floor, he reached out for an edge to grab, and was instead met with the end of Sel's rapier - the changeling determined to leave no witnesses behind. As the late night rain pounded through the hole left in the roof, the crew left the old man in the dirt, not all on board with such a merciless killing, but too worried about their own skin to argue. the five rushed throughout the open court yard at the base of the tenement, out the south gate, and hooked east into Old Jotuun to lose the tail Kharis was convinced was following from the clock tower - a figure of red and black. Through the old parts of the city nigh abandoned they trudged, keeping the case close and scanning the rooftops nervously. Only once did they see an sign of another - the wispy, ethereal entity of a wraith or ghost from a rooftop. Outside of this watcher from afar, it appeared they were unfollowed - their tail seemingly to slow - or superstitious - to follow through the old city.   One cold, wet walk across town later, the crew was in front of the Stagggering Giant Inn - a tall building leaning against its neighbor for support. The door opened with a gust of warm, welcoming air, and the sounds of laughter and civilization greeted them. Warm and safe, for the moment.