STATIC 13: Birthing Trees, Bees, & City Business
General Summary
Wherein a notebook contains clue & cipher
Since it was now 3 Void, the start of a new month, that meant another retaining fee for our detectives. So, it was decided to head to the Fickle Fortune Palace of Entertainments to check in with Messelum both about recent events and compensation.
On the way there, a goddamn building exploded. The Smoke and Thunder--a public house turned apothecary--detonated, bringing the entire building down and catching Hypatia in its blast. After ascertaining that Hypatia was, in fact, alive, Nero Rubicant and Corinna Himmelswander dug through the rubble looking for other survivors. One of those survivors turned out to be Jeldira Flickergift, the owner of the now ruined shop. She explained that all she was doing was minding her business, then she heard a sizzle, saw some strange light and her shop exploded. Our heroes were just parsing what, exactly, that could mean with the Freeholder of New Carydam himself, Rare Zoramar, showed up to the scene. He immediately sought out Flickergift to offer comfort, and then sought an audience with our detectives. Perhaps surprisingly. he remembered our heroes--with the exception of Sharkbait, whom he was very pleased to meet--and, seeing that he is the guy in charge, the Blinkies brought him up to speed on what they knew vis a vis The Displacement. Rare, through distressed, seem to listen intently, and concluded that maybe phenomenon--like magic fireballs--are also being Displaced. Not good!
He then asked our adventurers to take this unfortunate news to Messelum, which is great, because that's where they were headed anyway. So, they did that. After filling him in--and getting paid for their efforts--Messelum suggested that they talk to Kosi and see if she could recommend someone to look at the notebook. Sharkbait in particular was in vocal support of this plan, picking up a bouquet of flowers featuring a rare orchid for Hypatia's mom.
So our heroes made their way to Tronksburg and to Kosi. After introductions--and Sharkbait's flower delivery--Kosi told them that her former colleague, Quill Snap, might be able to help. He is an expert on cryptology and a bit of an eccentric. Sounds great, thanks Hypatia's mom!
On the way to The Axon School, where Quill Snap lectures, a goddamn dragon fell out of the sky, trapping Sharkbait and Nero under its body and doing a fair bit of damage to our adventurers. A quick investigation check revealed that this dragon died in some sort of dragon fight, but was Displaced here either before or after its death. Regardless, this city is getting downright dangerous with Displaced phenomena!
As it was evening, the Blinkertons agreed to disperse to tend to personal affairs before meeting back up for a light dinner at Grumble's Munch & Meow. Nero took this time to seek out Ineffable, of Ineffable Ink, and get the rad scorpion outlined that appeared on his "business arm" all inked in magic-like. He did just that--managing to both engage in some difficult flirting and not pass out at the immense pain of the tattooing process. When asked if he could see her again, Ineffable cryptically answered "I guess that depends on what else appears." Strange!
Meanwhile, Sharkbait--determined to get in good with Kosi--hit the library to research one of her seminal papers in the hopes that he could pick up enough jargon to impress her. Her treatise on the appropriate uses of Skeinshale yielded mixed results for Sharkbait. He left The Axon School fully intending to go the Grumbles, but something beyond his understanding--and beyond his resisting--drew him back to No Future. On his way there, he met both the fist and the foot of Vallen Durchdenwald and his goons. In seems that someone in New Carydam has been spreading an unflattering song about the Roach and claiming it was written by Sharkbait. This misunderstanding was cleared up when Sharkbait remembered that he--a 14 or 15 year old boy--had a grown-ass adult as a rival. Sharkbait told Vallen about Leffem Greensmock and the Roach was sufficiently impressed at Sharkbait's composure that he offered him his card and the invitation to drop by for a chat sometime.
Sharkbait then reached No Future and discovered the source of his enthrallment--Tridge's FUTURE SHOCK steamball machine. It beckoned to be played, so Sharkbait played it. He couldn't be sure, but he swore, amongst the bells and swirling lights--that he saw a kind of tiny, tiny ecosystem in the game. But that's impossible. Right?
Its seems that there is more than previously understood about Tridge’s steamball game. FUTURE SHOCK warrants further exploration.
A Deal with a Bee Devil
Faced with a difficult choice in Froggmorden--let murderous fey continue to burst forth from some sort of Birthing Tree behind a forcefield or make a deal with a devil to assist them in bringing down said forcefield--The Interdimensional Blinkerton Detective Agency decided to opt for the latter. Thus it came to be that Hommdar, the Herald of Honeybile, bound to Valvardrad, ruler of the 133rd tract of the Nether assisted our gumshoes in both dropping the forcefield and ridding the hamlet of redcaps bent on mayhem. The Bee Devil then departed for the Nether with all due haste, but not before offering to introduce the Blinkies to Valvadrad, positing that they "would get along great!" Froggmorden was saved, so it was time for our heroes to locate the notebook of Elaugzar Wyrdloom and get some answers. The thing about the notebook is that Limm actually had it all along and just wanted the Blinkerton's help delivering the hamlet from its current troubles. She handed it over sheepishly, declaring herself "a Servant, not a saint" in the process. Bloody and exhausted, the Blinkertons prepared to take advantage of the hospitality of the grateful Froggers and get a much needed night's sleep. Before that, however, two things happened: 1) Hypatia realized that Auggie's notebook was written in a complex cipher that would need considered expertise to crack and 2) The Blinkies gorged themselves on frogs and frog-related products. It was a veritable frog feast. Perhaps due to the cornucopia of frog delights sampled, or just the benefits of an overdue rest, our heroes woke the next morning both refreshed and feeling just a bit more ready to take on whatever dangers lay ahead. Nice!Back to New Carydam
The first thing to due was to get back to New Carydam and see about finding someone to crack Auggie's code. The Blinkertons did just that. Fortunately, the trip back to New Carydam was uneventful and they could get down to business.Since it was now 3 Void, the start of a new month, that meant another retaining fee for our detectives. So, it was decided to head to the Fickle Fortune Palace of Entertainments to check in with Messelum both about recent events and compensation.
On the way there, a goddamn building exploded. The Smoke and Thunder--a public house turned apothecary--detonated, bringing the entire building down and catching Hypatia in its blast. After ascertaining that Hypatia was, in fact, alive, Nero Rubicant and Corinna Himmelswander dug through the rubble looking for other survivors. One of those survivors turned out to be Jeldira Flickergift, the owner of the now ruined shop. She explained that all she was doing was minding her business, then she heard a sizzle, saw some strange light and her shop exploded. Our heroes were just parsing what, exactly, that could mean with the Freeholder of New Carydam himself, Rare Zoramar, showed up to the scene. He immediately sought out Flickergift to offer comfort, and then sought an audience with our detectives. Perhaps surprisingly. he remembered our heroes--with the exception of Sharkbait, whom he was very pleased to meet--and, seeing that he is the guy in charge, the Blinkies brought him up to speed on what they knew vis a vis The Displacement. Rare, through distressed, seem to listen intently, and concluded that maybe phenomenon--like magic fireballs--are also being Displaced. Not good!
He then asked our adventurers to take this unfortunate news to Messelum, which is great, because that's where they were headed anyway. So, they did that. After filling him in--and getting paid for their efforts--Messelum suggested that they talk to Kosi and see if she could recommend someone to look at the notebook. Sharkbait in particular was in vocal support of this plan, picking up a bouquet of flowers featuring a rare orchid for Hypatia's mom.
So our heroes made their way to Tronksburg and to Kosi. After introductions--and Sharkbait's flower delivery--Kosi told them that her former colleague, Quill Snap, might be able to help. He is an expert on cryptology and a bit of an eccentric. Sounds great, thanks Hypatia's mom!
On the way to The Axon School, where Quill Snap lectures, a goddamn dragon fell out of the sky, trapping Sharkbait and Nero under its body and doing a fair bit of damage to our adventurers. A quick investigation check revealed that this dragon died in some sort of dragon fight, but was Displaced here either before or after its death. Regardless, this city is getting downright dangerous with Displaced phenomena!
Seeking a Scholar
As luck would have it, our heroes arrived at Quill Snap's lecture in time to hear the whole thing. They learned so much about the 3rd Law of Math in those fifty minutes, to be sure. Chatting with Quill Snap--an kenku, and thus, limited to mimicking the speech of others--revealed that he could probably crack Auggie's cipher, but it would take time. It would take less time--about 2 tendays--as he could move them up in his "to-do" queue, and all they've got to do to make that happen in retrieve some of his pages of the Chronicle] that he misplaced in the lair of the ogre Trimtrub the Goucher. Not having many more options, they agreed.As it was evening, the Blinkertons agreed to disperse to tend to personal affairs before meeting back up for a light dinner at Grumble's Munch & Meow. Nero took this time to seek out Ineffable, of Ineffable Ink, and get the rad scorpion outlined that appeared on his "business arm" all inked in magic-like. He did just that--managing to both engage in some difficult flirting and not pass out at the immense pain of the tattooing process. When asked if he could see her again, Ineffable cryptically answered "I guess that depends on what else appears." Strange!
Meanwhile, Sharkbait--determined to get in good with Kosi--hit the library to research one of her seminal papers in the hopes that he could pick up enough jargon to impress her. Her treatise on the appropriate uses of Skeinshale yielded mixed results for Sharkbait. He left The Axon School fully intending to go the Grumbles, but something beyond his understanding--and beyond his resisting--drew him back to No Future. On his way there, he met both the fist and the foot of Vallen Durchdenwald and his goons. In seems that someone in New Carydam has been spreading an unflattering song about the Roach and claiming it was written by Sharkbait. This misunderstanding was cleared up when Sharkbait remembered that he--a 14 or 15 year old boy--had a grown-ass adult as a rival. Sharkbait told Vallen about Leffem Greensmock and the Roach was sufficiently impressed at Sharkbait's composure that he offered him his card and the invitation to drop by for a chat sometime.
Sharkbait then reached No Future and discovered the source of his enthrallment--Tridge's FUTURE SHOCK steamball machine. It beckoned to be played, so Sharkbait played it. He couldn't be sure, but he swore, amongst the bells and swirling lights--that he saw a kind of tiny, tiny ecosystem in the game. But that's impossible. Right?
Its seems that there is more than previously understood about Tridge’s steamball game. FUTURE SHOCK warrants further exploration.
And That's Where We Left It
We'll see what else New Carydam has in store for the Blinkertons during our next session.Varied & Sundry Details
- Every family in Froggmorden has a petrified frog tongue passed down as a family heirloom. This is important information.
- Along with a bit of their family history, Limm informed the Blinkertons that Auggie's favorite food is Zlotfish, especially bountiful in Port Bellows in the Free Cities.
- That same dying individual--the one that always seeks Hypatia out--did so again, exclaiming "HE SKY. THE SKY, HYPATIA. THE MOON…" before expiring
- Our heroes witnessed two "Science-Gangs" of The Reactor in a scrap: the Metal Heads and the Silver Teeth. The winner of the fight was inconclusive.
- There is a janitor that cleans up all the goddamn messes the Displacement leaves around New Carydam. His name is Geez'Us.
Rewards Granted
Level 5!
Character(s) interacted with
- Hommdar, the Herald of Honeybile--a devil bound to Valvardrad, ruler of the 133rd tract of the Nether
- Svonalimm, called Limm--a Servants of the Sad Star, sister of Elaugzar Wyrdloom
- Jeldira Flickergift--apothocary, formerly operating The Smoke & Thunder
- Rare Zoramar--freeholder of New Carydam
- Messelum-Fickle Fortune Factotum
- Kosi--mother of Hypatia
- Quill Snap--foremost expert in cryptology
- Ineffable--of Ineffable Ink
- Vallen Durchdenwald--businessman
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