Session 22.1 Wizards Gone Wild Report

General Summary

Faelyn and Aaura moved through the streets of Damarask, manacles and anti-magic anklets fastened tightly around their extremities. As the aarakocra pushed them onwards the noise of a crowd and the sound of drumming began to swell. Soon they stood within a mix of people gathered at the street’s edge as the Harvest Parade moved past. The heroes watched as a drum and fife retinue moved past, as well as a number of other, more exotic attractions. Floating on a large magical platform, a purple robed mage tossed out sweets to the children as an entourage of servants in matching purple uniforms moved past the crowd’s edge, handing out loaves of bread and bottles of wine. A griffon swooped low over the onlookers, who whooped and squealed with delight and surprise. A brightly painted scarlet wagon bearing the initials RRR wheeled past, flanked by firebreathers, jugglers, and acrobats. From atop the wagon a thin elven performer conjured a firework that streaked over the crowd, rocketed into the air and exploded. As its embers flashed in the afternoon air it transformed into the shape of a phoenix, spinning through the air before exploding once more and releasing a quick shower of rain water from on high. As the heroes tried to take in the spectacle the guardsmen used a quick break in the parade line to push them across the street and beyond the crowd on the opposite side.   Aaura and Faelyn soon found themselves in the Golden Garrison, an ancient Ymmari hall that had been repurposed over the centuries and now stood as a constabulary. Moving past a series of gates, a gnome bearing a golden crest of Damarask processed them. He wrote down descriptions of their characters, remanded their personal effects into custody, and wrote their names down in a ledger: AAURA BRIGHTKISS, FAELYN DUNDRATHORN. They were passed into a small cell where they waited for hours before an Aarakocra lieutenant stepped in front of the bars to address them.   With the head, features, and plumage of an osprey; Lt. Shammatam questioned them about their involvement in a mass homicide in the Sideways Warren. When the heroes disclosed that the bodies had belonged to a group of wererats that had attacked them, Lt. Shammatam ordered one of his officers to inspect the bodies for signs of lycanthropy. As the interrogation continued, Faelyn asked the Lieutenant to question General Locke of the Jasper Covenant, as surely he could provide testimony to their character and good intentions. Aaura also revealed that they knew of the Blightstone Orbs and the danger they possessed, and had first-hand experience dealing with them. They also mentioned that they had helped the commander at Fort Godwit who had secured an Armsedge medallion and a room at the Ambassadors Commorancy.   Shammatam took all of this in, leaving them to cool their heels while he verified their story. A couple of hours later he returned with General Locke.   “It seems everything you’ve said checks out, our priest found evidence of lycanthropy on the corpses, and a missive from Commander Trammell at Ft. Godwit confirmed it. In addition, we spoke at length to General Locke here, who praised your abilities and integrity. We may have additional questions in the coming days, but you’re free to go about the City. We only ask that you stay close to the Ambassadors Commorancy so we can contact you if we need to.”   He nodded to a guardsman to open the cell doors and released the heroes into General Locke’s company.   As the heroes returned to the main hall, they stopped at the desk to retrieve their impounded equipment. Taking their personals back, they glanced up to the balcony and saw a black robed mage glaring down at them. His eyes stayed fixed on the group as they left the Garrison.   “The Matrix Arcanum still won’t allow us to get close to the orb inside – even with last night’s events,” the General grumbled. “It’s obvious we have the tools to help, yet they hoard the thing to themselves. I don’t understand it. Frankly, it makes me suspicious and my patience is running thin.”   When they arrived back at the Commorancy, Locke took his leave. “I do hope we’ll see each other again soon. Let me know if I can be of any more help. For the moment, I need to head upstairs for some rack time. It’s been a long night. Day. You know what I mean.”   Faelyn and Aaura sat in the plush chairs of the Ambassadors’ Foyer and plotted. They knew that the wizards of the Matrix Arcanum were staying the Commorancy, if they could get inside their room, perhaps they could find the orb, or some clue about the mages’ intentions. But which rooms were they in? Faelyn looked toward the front desk, where a comely tiefling concierge stood, attending to some papers.   Faelyn sauntered over.   The dutiful concierge wouldn’t reveal the mages’ room numbers but as he chatted with her he noticed a ledger on the desk. If they could steal a glance at the ledger he surmised, they could find out the room numbers on their own. Faelyn pushed the charm into a higher gear, drawing the concierge from the desk by asking about the fanciful charcuterie she had set up on the sideboard, while Aaura sent over an unseen servant to open the ledger. With Flit perched high above on the railing, Aaura was able to look into the book and perceive the room number – 21, at the end of the hall on the second floor. Having what they needed, they stole upstairs to prepare.   They decided that the best way to break in was via the balcony, so Aaura bamfed out her wings and flew from her room’s balcony to the mage’s suite. Outside their balcony she used mage hand to flip the latch on the inside, sneaking into the room while Faelyn waited in the hallway as a lookout.   Inside the room she found a pair of books, Dark Mirrors: Nexus of the Shadowfell, and Kalkatoth’s Ultimate Folly. She picked them up for a quick glance, confirming that they were the missing library books, before setting them down again and moving into the suite’s bedchamber. The quarters contained a pair of beds, a large vanity and chest. As she was inspecting the chest Aaura became aware of a strange whooshing sound from the other room. Moving back into the main chamber she was surprised to see a pair of black robed wizards glaring back at her. Before she had time to react she felt her muscles seize and lock into place. She stood paralyzed as one of the wizards, a tall half elf with bright red hair regarded her.   “Did you think us some common hedge wizards, uncapable of securing our domicile with alarms?” He arched an eyebrow and looked her up and down. “Really. I expected more.”