Session 7: City of Sand
General Summary
51st of Varmalev 21 2E
Trying to process the disappearance of Octavia , Malcolm searched near the camp with Meara for more clues. They discovered multiple sets of footprints over the cart tracks leading to the camp, and then to the site of the ominous message and burn mark on the ground. No sign of tracks leading away. Malcolm concludes that the abductors came on foot but left by magical means.
Zuko meanwhile goes hunting to see if an animal's blood will work to activate the goblet that was taken off of Emmet (Jesper Forsyth) . He found an adult male deer and managed to subdue it, bringing it back to camp unconscious. The insignia illuminated with the addition of the deer blood and a phrase in Infernal appeared over it. Zuko was able to read the script but the language was foreign to him. Only the word "name" was translatable. They tried saying Jesper's name but nothing happened.
Malcolm butchered the deer and the crew continued on towards Anexa . As they neared the city they spotted a portion of the gigantic sandstone quarry the city was famous for. Shortly after as they were coming through the shanty town outside the city they were stopped by a charismatic gnome bardwho called himself Baron Clambock Levut . For a small fee he agreed to escort them into the city and direct them to the best places to business there. Along the way he revealed that he was a former adventurer himself, a member of the "crazy eight," and became the richest man in Anexa when he retired, only to have his assets seized by Lord Mayor Abram Auer . He admitted he is actively working towards earning his wealth and title back, then take the Lord Mayor's job as well. He believes the forthcoming death of Emperor Jarle Nordheim . This comes as a surprise to the party, and when asked about is, Clambock explained that the Emperor's undisclosed illness was announced a few weeks before, and his daughter Alexandra Nordheim was already running things.
When approaching the northern river bridge of the city, Clambock decided to amuse the party as well as demonstrate his knowledge of the city by calling out a member of the Cerulean Guard by name and asking about his wife before diving into the cart. The guard's reaction was one of hostility, and he openly threatened to kill Clambock if he caught him alone. The party brought Clambock to the inn Between Two Streams and purchased rooms.
Malcolm proceeded towards the Anexa Spire to inquire about the cost of transporting themselves, their cart and horses to Palhas City. The prices were quite steep for a commercial flight and there wouldn't be a departure for several days. Remembering that Clambock recommended trying an independent ship and decided to hold off on purchasing tickets. He then proceeded to the local smithy and drew up designs for a wood splitting wedge he planned to use to split wood for the tavern owner at Between Two streams. He then went to the Earrenian Imperial Vanguard Garrison to see if there was someone there he could exchange knowledge on firearms with. They were skeptical at first, but after the quartermaster Anton Vignes examined Malcolm's pistol he was thoroughly impressed and convinced the captain of the garrison to allow a mutual exchange of knowledge. Malcolm helped him construct a replica of his own pistol (meanwhile creating a second one for himself, and Anton gave him a copy of his work in progress plans for a gun he calls the pepper-box.
Meanwhile, Zuko and Meara searched the city for a rat to activate the goblet again and copy the phrase. They found evidence of an infestation at a meadery in the lower shallow district. Earning some coin for taking care of the infestation as well as the rat they needed, they activated the goblet and copied the infernal script before going to the Anexa Temple of Udal . A priest there translated the phrase as "speak the name," and sold Zuko a book that would allow him to learn Infernal. They also taught Zuko more about the Cormanthor Gisiae when shown the symbol on the bow. When he revealed the same symbol tattooed on his forearm, the priest admitted for a moment that he thought it meant he was a member of the organization, but theirs are said to be arcane, while Zuko's seems innate.
Back at Between Two Streams Malcolm and Zuko split would for the tavern owner, Malcolm using his new device to great success, and selling it to Duluk as well. The crew took dinner and shared a drink with Clambock on them. Malcolm also donated his plans for the wood splitting device to Clambock in hopes that it would help bankroll his plans.
52nd of Varmalev 21 2E
The following morning the crew headed to The Winged Stag to seek out an independent airship. They were directed to Marcus Sheppard , captain of The Solia. He identified them immediately as outlaw types just by the look of them, but he assured them he passed no judgment. He added he could transport them for significantly less than the commercial but was currently unable to leave port. Explaining that his navigator was caught up in a lopsided love triangle between herself, a local farm girl, and Lord that owns her parents' land. When the Lord found out that she was spoken for, he hired an up and coming group of local assassins to eliminate the navigator, so she is currently barricaded in the farm house for safety. Marcus added that the leader of the group was the most dangerous, and also had political connections that made eliminating them virtually a crime, so he couldn't send his own crew to deal with the threat.
The Crew of the Vestige agreed that dealing with this problem was well within their means and interests, so Marcus told them that the assassins hideout is in the old Fort Anexa and gave them a clue to opening a secret entrance within the fort walls, which would allow them to eliminate the lower ranks before dealing with their more dangerous leader.
The crew stopped by Al-Hai's Bazaar(Anexa) where they picked up potions, a ring of invisibility for Zuko, darkvision goggles for Malcolm, and a book on making health potions, before returning to the inn for the rest of the day. Spending most of the day studying their various projects, they left the south gate of the city a couple hours after dark, and proceeded towards Fort Anexa.
@sessi
Character(s) interacted with
Meara
Zuko
Malcolm
Report Date
05 Jul 2019
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Comments