Session 393 - The Moth
General Summary
The Story So Far
Ash - An expert in the occult and a skilled monster hunter. Ash uses his talents and budding alchemical expertise to battle what people fear most for a price.
Ryobi - A monk of the embattled Order of the Warriors of Mameka. Ryobi is given an important mission: retrieve the holy blades containing the souls of his brother knights, which were lost in the recent Rethemi civil war.
They are joined by Vinzent, a bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.
This is the continuation of Session 391 - A Mysterious Note.
1st Peonu (Spring) 728TR
Ryobi has received a mysterious message from someone called the Moth. The Moth has information on where one of the lost Mamekan Blades can be found and asks to meet Ryobi at the old watchtower in Ebery Manor, near Quiso. This tower was where the Mamakan knights very nearly pulled off a stunning victory, nearly killing the rebel Earl of Tormau in the recent civil war. However, they were narrowly defeated (refer to Session 153 - The Battle of Rylosin Forest and The Battle of Rylosin Forest).
Location - Ebery Manor in the Kingdom of Rethem.
Part 1 – The Moth
The tower has been converted into a library, and bookcases and scrolls are haphazardly scattered over benches. A young woman is reading a book at a small table. She is wearing a gold necklace with a stylized moth. With a beaming smile, she welcomes Ryobi. The Moth is friendly, and Ryobi can’t help but notice the books are an eclectic collection of various esoterica, myths, religion, and magic.
She explained that she has learned where the sword of warrior monk Dobrzyn is, who has it, and where that person is. She also knows where another weapon may be. All she wants is a little favor for this information. “And you probably won’t have to kill anyone to complete this small task,” she says. "I need you to sabotage a birthday gift. “
Sir Gaheris Suvaent, Lord of Nessa, Balden, and Ebery Manors, is commissioning a birthday gift for Baron Bothal Yonan, and the Moth wants the gift to be so offensive it discredits him. Ryobi demands to know why. The young woman hesitates but says she is betrothed to Sir Gaheris, but if he were to fall from favor, she would be free to marry his younger brother, Sir Vigato Suvaent. Ryobi suspects there is more to the plot but does not press the amiable young woman.The gift, she explains, is being manufactured by the renowned artist and brass worker Maxith of Calak, who has his workshop in Shostim. Baron Bothal, a fanatical worshiper of the evil god Morgath, is renowned for his love of decant, somewhat macabre, and occasionally nauseating artworks. However, Ryobi notes she does not seem put off when describing examples. He spends a fortune, nearly impoverishing his barony, purchasing these items. She asks Ryobi to sabotage the artwork being crafted by Maxith. If it offends the Baron, they will meet again at the tower, and she will happily divulge everything she knows about the missing swords.
Part 2 – Fire Drakes
The party makes its way to Shostim Castle. Traveling through the Rylosin forest, they find half a dozen human corpses, Kubora barbarians; most have severe burns, and all show sights that some large animal has fed on them. Much of the vegetation has scorch marks.
Two Fire Drakes are stalking the party, and before they can act, the wingless miniature dragon’s breathe onto the heroes. A ball of flame envelopes them, but they quickly dodge and avoid the worst. However, the drakes are very dangerous; both Ryobi and Ash narrowly avoid being incinerated. Vinzent conjures illusionary replicates of himself, but to his frustration, he gets whacked by the beasts’ sturdy tails as if they see through his Mirror Image. Eventually, the Fire Drakes are killed, but the hero's clothing and skin are severely singed.
Unfortunately, the party fails to find the monster's lair, but the dead Kurbora has several gems.
Location - Shostim Castle in the Kingdom of Rethem.
Part 3 – An Artist in Brass
Part 4 – Sabotage
Ash, assisted by Vinzent, rents out some space at the local metal workers' workshop and prepares the sabotage that afternoon. He creates a small plate, and Vinzent paints the symbols of the good goddess of war, Larani. He paints a checkered shield symbol with a few verses of a simple Larani prayer. Ash brews glue from boiled pigs’ feet, which should form a strong initial bond but weaken over a few days. Lastly, he thins out another plate of brass that can be easily molded by hand.
Ash sneaks into the artist’s workshop a few days later at night while Maxith and his apprentice sleep. He finds the locked cabinet with the gift and easily picks the lock. The gift is in a decorative box, and when he removes it, the brass skull swivels, looking at him. Very creepy. As quietly as possible, he attaches the sacrilegious plate with the Larani-themed iconography. Then, he carefully glues a molded brass plate over this. For an initial inspection, it should not be noticeable. He sneaks away undetected.
A week later, the gift is delivered to Lord Gaheris Suvaent and given to Baron Bothal during the feast to celebrate the day of his birth. Ryobi and Ash later learn that things went splendidly. It could not have gone more perfectly, when the gift was presented, the skull swivelled looking at the Baron and the covering plate fell off revealing the Larani iconology. It caused quite a scandal. With the knowledge of the successful conclusion of their mission, the party returns to the watch tower to talk again with the mysterious Moth.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
The Moth.
Maxith of Calak - Artist and Brassworker.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
Player Characters
Ryobi - Human - L7 Monk
Background - Temple Guard.
Archetypes - Barbarian.
Ash - Human - L7 Thaumaturge
Background - Weaponcrafter.
Archetypes - Alchemist.
NPC Companion
Vinzent - Human - L7 Bard
Background - Cursed.
Archetypes - Blessed.
Next Session
Session 393 Ebery Manor
NPC Companion
Vinzent
He is a skilled minstrel who is infamous for his depressing performances and bad luck.
Clan Nessa
Clanhead: Sir Gaheris Suvaent.
Holdings: Nessa, Balden, Ebery Manors and Shespin Hamlet.
Liege: Baron of Quiso.
Comments