Sleepwalker
Winter 40, 6840 CA
As the group sleeps, Valia slips into a strange dream. She finds herself drifting through the stars, following a mysterious figure. After this long and strange route through a cold forest, the mysterious figure meets another such figure. Valia shifts her position to see who it is that are speaking, but discovers that both figures are identical to her. She watches these mysterious figures converse silently, before eventually parting. Valia follows back into the stars and into a dreamless sleep.
In the waking world, Zed is roused from her sleep when she sees Valia walking down the hallway. She follows Valia outside and through the streets of Thules as they head eastward. In a clear mirror to the dream that Valia is having, the paladin comes to a stop upon meeting a hooded figure. In the dark of the night, Zed is unable to get a good look at this strange figure. At best she can surmise this person is human and male. Neither Valia or the stranger speak any words, but they do spend several minutes silently observing each other. Eventually they part ways and Zed follows Valia home.
News of the Day
Winter 41, 6840 CA
The next morning, Percy drops in on the group to tell them the awful news - the Wanderlust burned down! He then stays for his morning meal as has become tradition.
The next morning is a somber affair as everyone is lost in their own heads. Wally slips off with the Bag of Holding to get their new loot appraised. They had acquired two Dispelling Stones, a Lock of Trickery, a Medal of Wit, a single Gauntlet of Ogre Power, and a Blue Sapphire Elemental Gem. The potions are not easily identifiable, but the one potion presented to the worker appears to be a Potion of Fire Breathing. Yuri is encouraged to take both the Gauntlet of Ogre Power and the Railslammer. Ursa claims the Spellguard Shield and at the same time, Valia and Zed front a 1000 gold so that Ursa can go purchase Plate Mail. Ursa is reluctant to take the money, but admits that she doesn't always want to be the one hiding in the bathroom.
The group is at a loss at where to proceed and know that they'll need to make some investigations. They consider splitting up, but the recent ambush is still fresh on their mind and they decide its better to move as a unit. Before they leave, Valia raises up a point of discussion: is everyone fine with working with the Brass Whispers? After the events of the previous night, their alignment with a criminal syndicate is looking like a bad proposition. The general consensus leans towards cutting ties with the Whispers going forward. But for now, there are mothers to find. Their first stop: The Watch.
Zed enters the Watch Hall alone and is immediately confronted with a flurry of activity. As she listens in, it becomes obvious that the Wanderlust wasn't the only location that was hit. It seems there's been a huge uptick in damages and crime committed the night before. Among the places targeted, she hears of Mince the Mark, Wyverstone Outfitters, and the Gilded Thorn. What stands out as peculiar is that not one word has been uttered about the Lightbottle factory. She manages to catch Lt. Booth and asks him if any details have surfaced about the Wanderlust. Lt. Booth doesn't have anything the party doesn't already know, but he makes it plain that he knows it has to do with the party.
A Family Sundered
Upon reuniting with the group and sharing what has been learned, Ursa's expression goes pale and she immediately races towards the bakery with the party trailing behind. Upon arriving, she finds that the front window has been broken (again!), but is relieved that her father is home and cleaning up the mess. After a tight and painful hug, Roph reveals that there were burglars in the bakery last night that moved upstairs and started tearing through their belongings. Roph used his spellbook to go invisible and avoid detection until they had left.
Roph learns what happened to Ezekiel and is concerned that the amulets no longer work. He asks about Nazsnag, but Ursa is able to bluff her way out of revealing anything. She's not quite ready for that conversation yet.
They move on to Wyverstone Outfitters next to check in on Mirabelle. It seems that she also had a robbery, but that she took a more active role and sent the intruders packing with some well-placed arrows (but not without taking something of a beating herself). Valia heals up Mirabelle's wounds. She describes that an orc and human tried to enter the shop, but didn't stick around long enough to find out what they were after. Mirabelle is told that the amulets don't work but isn't too perturbed about that, but she is curious if Nazsnag was also targeted. Ursa manages to bluff her way out of a full confession, but she does admit that Naznag is currently MIA. Mirabelle resolves to go check in on Roph so that the two of them can make some inquiries at the Watch.
While at the shop, Ursa takes the opportunity to purchase her new plate mail. Mirabelle had actually made some for Ursa some awhile back, but had given up hope she'd ever actually need it. She gives Ursa a sizable discount on the armor and takes her old armor off her hands. Ursa eagerly strips and changes into her new armor. Fancy!
Where's The Boss?
Wally is concerned about Havmos in all of this and also want to learn about whatever Horatio has been working on. They don't knew where Horatio resides, but they do know where Havmos lives. They knock on his door, but receive no answer - so Zed picks the lock. They enter inside and find the place has been trashed. Wally finds sufficient evidence that shows Havmos was home when the robbery occurred and must have been abducted as well.
Their next stop is the Gilded Thorn since it was also targeted and it's the only place they know to find Horatio. The tavern doesn't look too messed up, since whatever happened would have occurred while the tavern was still open. The always friendly bartender describes that some ruffians came in looking for Havmos and Horatio. The bartender doesn't have much in the way of details to offer, but he does summon Robbo for the party to talk to.
They learn from Robbo that the Swordrunners use the Fish Hook as a front and that it likely leads to the Swordrunner's primary base of operations. He warns them of how dangerous it would be to go looking for trouble there. If Grumm is taking hostages, it's because he wants something from the party. But Robbo warns the group that if they give Grumm what was already promised to the Whispers, then there will be problems. Moreover, the Whispers aren't prepared to go into open war with the Swordrunners. If the party is going into Boss Grumm's lair, they'll be doing so alone. Finally, they learn that there's been no word on the streets about the Lightbottle robbery and that it's likely that Bilmin or one of his subordinates is covering it up. He provides them Thok's address to learn more.
Spare A Thok
The group finds themselves on the opposite side of town again as they go look up Thok, who is currently sleeping off a long and stressful night shift. He opens the door in nothing but his boxers and is alarmed to see the very same thieves from last night. The party learn from Thok that Nazsnag wouldn't offer any answers up. Thok was dismissed from the room after he suggested calling in the Watch. Later on, two mages descended into the basement. Sometime later, Saria Pillwinter emerged with the two mages and an oddly cooperative Nazsnag in tow. Valia surmises that this is probably a charm spell. Unfortunately they have no real leads, since Nazsnag could be anywhere. Moreover, Bilmin may very well know everything that Nazsnag knew.
What Home Security?
The group head back to the Manor to regroup. Upon entering, they find Horatio Dartlip waiting for them there. The dogs are happily pacified with some bones and the group laments that their home security system is sorely lacking. Horatio has already seen that Havmos has been abducted and confers the translated notes to the party in the hopes they might free their mutual employer and ensure Horatio gets paid. He declines any offer to join them in the Swordrunner base claiming that he's better suited for investigation. Wally prods Horatio to see if he knows anything about the Below so they could recruit him for finding the Baron, but it appears Horatio has no special knowledge of that part of the city.
Once Horatio is gone, the group consider their future plans. They have no real leads on Nazsnag, but they think that she's probably safe for the time being. Instead, they will have to prioritize recovering Havmos and Limaera from the Swordrunners. They're feeling like they are short on allies since the Whispers aren't interested in a full assault. Wally suggests talking to Eve to see if she might know any connection with the Swordrunners and the Below. Zed recalls that she asked Ava about Arturo and considers that he might be willing to help. They even consider the option of bringing the dogs along! Ultimately Valia broaches the nuclear option: going directly to the Commander of the Watch to help. The group hesitantly agrees to this plan.
Zed talks to Ava and learns that Arturo was also looking for her and was planning to meet her at the docks. The group decides that it's time they get Ava somewhere safe. Ava is reluctant to head north with all those Aridisian dwarves ("ew, hill dwarves") but does mention she was saving up for a vacation. Yuri is bullied into giving up his savings so that they can buy Ava a train ticket out of Thules and to somewhere nice where she can vacation for as long as 200 gold pieces will allow her.
Seeking Allies
Valia is able to meet with Commander Dasan Briggs, who is also currently buried in work as the Watch responds to the events that have recently occurred. Valia lays it all out for Commander Briggs about their encounters with the Swordrunners and how they are now in over their heads. Briggs knows that he can't muster the force together to completely clean out the Swordrunner hideout, but he's willing to loan out Lt. Booth for an 'unsanctioned' off the books mission with a special task force. He knows Lt. Booth will be especially motivated since Sgt. Angelica was abducted off the streets and is likely being held by the Swordrunners as well.
They discuss what Boss Grumm is and Valia reveals that Grumm was able to speak with her telepathically and seemed to be aware of what she is. They both suspect that he's actually a troll of some kind, but Briggs is surprised by the revelation that Grumm might be bonded to a spirit. This prompts him to lead Valia to the cells. He tells her about the true properties of Pixie Dust. It's a hallucinogenic drug that slowly mutates a person. Inside one of the cells is one such mutant, who is halfway into the process of becoming a troll. Things begin to click. Was Grumm a Kalashtar that mutated into a troll? Is that why he's so much smarter than a normal troll?
Afterwards, Wally slips away to the Below to go talk to Eve. He finds her in one of the small shanty towns tending to the sick and wounded. They discuss the Swordrunners and Eve says that she has heard that some Forgotten have started working with the Swordrunners, since the syndicate seems to be 'aware' of their existence and the Forgotten otherwise have few opportunities on the surface. Wally asks if Grumm is a Forgotten, but there is no conclusive answer to that. Fey creatures or those of Fey origin are able to 'break the rules' much easier than the Forgotten can, which might explain why Grumm is known to the world above but was able to rob the Lightbottle Vault without being remembered.
Zed goes to the docks to check in with Arturo. He seems pleased to see her and commends her for her recent work. This leaves Zed perplexed when Arturo suddenly offers her payment of 3000 gold. Arturo explains that he's a member of the Brass Whispers and he was the one who recommended them as potential recruits to the organization. He is aware of Limaera's abduction and laments that he feels some partial blame since he got the group involved with the Swordrunners from the very first mission they got from him. He agrees to join the group in invading the Swordrunner base since he always had a soft spot for Limaera.
Night Watch
The group reunite and make plans to assault the Swordrunner hideout tomorrow. With things so heated, they decide it best to take shifts. Valia and Zed take the first shift so that they can talk. Valia presses Zed about her feelings about the events of the last two days, but Zed is reluctant to talk. Zed does feel some sense of conflict about rescuing a mother that used to be distant and uncaring, but has been very different after Yuri was erased from her memory. The two both share a sense of guilt about everything that has happened and have to reassure one another that neither are to blame. Zed also reveals that she followed Valia when she went sleepwalking and met a stranger in the middle of the night. That's certainly concerning.
Wally and Yuri share a watch. Wally asks Yuri how he's handling being alive and forgotten. Although Yuri is a little sad about being forgotten, he's mostly just happy to be alive and among friends. Wally empathizes with Yuri's situation and shares what it was like when he became a Forgotten when he was still just a young child and had to lose his entire family all at once. Yuri does his best to offer his sympathies for Wally's experiences and the two resolve to smoke some joints to pass the rest of the time.
Ursa takes her shift and is forced to deal with the first floor smelling of pot and the dogs being high from second-hand smoking. She spends her entire shift cleaning up dog piss until the others wake up and all accuse Ursa of doing drugs. Valia considers doing a drug, which instantly makes her seem cooler to everyone. But it will need to wait. They can't be high while saving Zed's mother!
Roll Out!
Winter 42, 6840 CA
The next morning, Wally uses his funds to buy the Aetherstone at the local general goods shop and uses it to infuse a pendant into a Mind Sharpener. The others gather Lt. Booth and Arturo as they prepare to make their way to the Noodle Hook. It's time to be Big Damn Heroes!
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