Session 5 – A Plan Takes Off

Written by KoshcheiBessmertnyi

General Summary

As the party approaches the gate in the pre-dawn darkness, the discussion of the vision quests continues. Miletus and Theobald relate troubling visions that suggest past or approaching wars involving goblins, local humans, and perhaps forces from across the sea. Enkidu, for his part, insists that his vision, while dark, centered on people and events related to his tribe and other local entities. Glitterstem offers that his vision was not a dark one, but seemed to suggest that something of importance lived in the Underdark tunnels, perhaps connected to the sweat lodge, and possibly involving Mrax, the captive goblin held in Claymore. He suggests learning more about the goblins’ plans from Mrax using magic, and perhaps using Mrax as a bargaining chip. He also recommends visiting his cousin Kasmyr, who also appeared in the vision, and who may offer useful aid and advice.
Upon reaching the gate, the party shows the sygil received from Bester, and is admitted inside the town by a guard who tells them that Petyr Elst would like to see them at dawn in the arsenal. After waiting for the sun to rise on the main square, the party proceeds to the arsenal. There, the foursome relates what happened at the goblin encampment to the Commander, mentioning having overheard the goblins discussing feeding the nails to “monsters”. The Commander appears to accept their tale at face value, and inquires as to whether they would be willing to return to the encampment while some of the goblins are away, ostensibly to collect nails at the chosen hand-off spot three nights hence, and use guile or force to investigate the sweat lodge more closely. He suggests additional payment in exchange for attempting to eliminate the “monster”, whatever it is, may be in order. His hands appear to be tied with respect to further prosecuting the investigation in Claymore itself. Everyone, especially Glitterstem and Enkidu express opposition to forcing entry into the sweat lodge, especially since the goblins, as the Commander agrees, seem to be eager to deal, and perhaps, even to be strung along for a while longer. While the commander is unwilling to release part of the nail shipment to the party for fear that suspicion will fall on him for breaking the law (he is willing to release the entire consignment and to wash his hands of it), but he is willing to release Mrax into the party’s custody as an ostensible token of goodwill toward the goblins, provided that his decision is approved by Bester. He sees little value in Mrax as a prisoner, given his uncertain veracity. In response to the party’s queries regarding other entry points into the Underdark, he says he knows nothing himself, and suggests interviewing goblins (including Mrax) or orcs. The party proceeds to make an appointment with Bester at noontime, and fills up the time by visiting Kasmyr.
Kasmyr is happy to see his cousin return safely, and engages in some family banter. He knows little about the Underdark either, being primarily focused on making money on the fur trade to prepare for the clan’s relocation to Gethen. He expresses his concern about what he regards as an approaching conflict that will likely kill the fur trade, and inquires as to whether the party’s actions are hastening this inauspicious outcome. Reassured, he bids the party good-bye, offering that Glitterstem and his associates are always welcome at his shop or attached domicile. The party continues hatching their plan as it strolls down a noisy and windy Furrier’s Row. Enkidu suggests actually bringing some nails along with Mrax back to the goblin camp in order to further quell Nugast’s lingering suspicions, while Glitterstem and Theobald discuss trying to charm the goblin into telling the party about the sweat lodge and possible entries into the Underdark. Enkidu also relates having (briefly) visiting the Underdark while living with the Black Flame tribe, and describes it as a sacred place, urging against any invasive tactics. On both counts, he wins the acclaim of the party. Theobald, for his part, wonders whether the town has a library containing any records of local adventurers finding entry into the Underdark. Glitterstem downplays the value of book-knowledge in this regard, and recommends against seeking to go on another vision quest due to the power of the psychoactive substances involved. Enkidu agrees, saying that Nugast should be able to explain the visions more clearly, as he has visited the places encountered in the vision quests. In response to Theobald’s contention that these places don’t really exist, he replies that shamans are like birds, able to exist in several realities at once. As he says that, a raven, which Enkidu suddenly realizes has been following them for a while, takes off toward the river. Convinced they are being watched, the party heads off to their noontime meeting with Bester.

Report Date

01 Apr 2015