Session 399 - Exiles
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 397 - Fugitives.
28th to 30th Peonu (Spring) 728TR
After a botched mission, the heroes become outlaws, wanted for mass murder, robbery, and blasphemy. They have fled the Kingdom of Rethem on a secret mission for the Agrikan Primate of Harn. They need to find out the fate of the family of the Mamekan, the holy Weaponsmith, in the distant Hepekeria desert continent.
The heroes board the merchant ship the Whelp on the first stage of their lengthy voyage.
Location - City of Aleath in the Kingdom of Kanday.
Part 1 – Dragonfire
The Whelp arrives at the City of Aleath and spends a week organizing cargo and supplies. Captain Harcros tells Ryobi that as he is a member of the Order of the Warriors of Mameka and a worshiper of Agrik, it would be most unwise for him to leave the ship. The worship of Agrik is banned in Kanday. He would not likely be arrested as a transitory visitor, provided he does not actively promote his evil god, but it is better not to take any chances.
However, Ash, a skilled alchemist, takes this opportunity to visit Aleath's Guild of Arcane Lore, a renowned center for Alchemy. He consults several experts, stocks up on rare chemicals, and purchases a few new formulas.
Part 2 – The Missing Bard
A few days later, Captain Harcros informs the Ryobi and Ash that the Whelp will be sailing on the following day's tide, and Vinzent has not returned from a trip to the city's Halean temple on the previous day. If he is not back, the Whelp will be sailing without him. The heroes decide to find him.
The duo visits the Temple of Halea but are immediately stopped from entering by two strong but handsome-looking guards. It requires some negotiating, as Ryobi refuses to give up his holy sword. The Kilina (the Mistress of Discipline) Kaleria, responsible for temple security, allows Ryobi in after he gives his solemn word that he will behave himself.
Merchants, soldiers, mercenaries, and bureaucrats patronize the Fox. Vinzent is nowhere to be found. However, Otis the Begger, lying in the gutter outside the Inn, remembers him. Otis says Vinzent left the Inn with a couple of foreign men. They seemed to be somewhat drunk and getting on well. One of the men, a tall man with white hair, produced a frog; strangely, Vinzent licked it. Vinzent looked like he was going to collapse, and the men helped him away toward the city's northwestern district. Otis, who appears remarkably intelligent, speculates the frog licking was part of some bet gone wrong. He also explains that the men have strange accents, which he replicates for the characters' amusement. He is a talented imitator, and the accent is Thardic, specifically, one spoken by someone from the City of Coranan. After paying Otis well for his help, the characters continue their search.
Part 3 - Murky Warehouse
Aleath's Kendis district is a warren of tall buildings, mostly tenements filled with the city's poorer residents, intermingled with warehouses and small businesses. Asking the locals for anyone with a Thardic accent, the heroes are directed to a warehouse that stores imports from the Republic. The duo spots a white-haired man inside when they walk past and discreetly peer through a window. That must have been the man who gave Vinzent the poisoned frog. The warehouse has a set of double doors and a smaller door leading to an office. Knocking on the main door, a man refuses to open it and directs the heroes to the office.
The white-haired man lets them into the office and politely listens to Ash's obvious lies about a fake business opportunity. The man inconspicuously moves towards the door, which enters into the warehouse. Ryobi spots this and moves to block him. Suddenly, the man gestures, and Ryobi receives a blast of chilling poison. Fortunately, he dodges, and the man shouts, "Help, his friends are here." The man is fast, creating balls of water that deflect Ashes and Ryobi attacks. Soon, four thugs arrive and join their master. Then, the heroes hear struggling in a warehouse. Someone is making muffled screams. Is that a restrained Vinzent trying to escape?
The Thugs and the Magician prove difficult foes. Ash kills one, but the remaining attempts to surround the beleaguered heroes. Using the magic contained in an enchanted gem he found some time ago, Ryobi creates a patch of Grease on the floor, and one thug slips, creating an opening that he exploits with deadly efficiency. The heroes are still outnumbered and badly injured. The door opens, and Vinzent stumbles in. The depressing bard is covered with abrasions, looks ill, and has rope marks on his wrists. He encourages the heroes with an inspirational poem and provides some magical healing. This turns the tide, and the reunited trio kills the enemy, leaving one alive for interrogation.
Part 4 - Vinzent Is Saved
The relieved Vinzent tells Ash and Ryobi that the Thardic men were rogues, part of a foreign thieves guild called the Spiders. They have identified the heroes as wanted fugitives with a high bounty in the Kingdom of Rethem. The apologetic bard won well at gambling, stupidly got drunk, lost a bet, and was incapacitated by the poisoned frog. He remembers the Thardics said that they had contacted bounty hunters, who were negotiating with the local law for permission to deliver him to justice in Rethem.
Interrogating the captive proves pointless; the heroes learn nothing of value, so Ryobi executes the poor wretch. The heroes recover the silver the rogues stole from him and any portable treasures they can get their hands on. Then, after ensuring that there are no bodies in obvious view, they return to the Whelp, which departs on the morning tides, leaving the locals to discover and deal with the slaughter.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Master Tanin of Aldasen - Alchemist.
Ralithina Godelina - Mistress of Silk and Gold at the Temple of Halea.
Kilina Kaleria - the Mistress of Discipline.
Otis is the Begger and remarkably skilled imitator.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
The Order of the Warriors of Mameka.
Aleath Guild of Arcane Lore - Updated.
Player Characters
Ryobi - Human - L8 Monk
Background - Temple Guard.
Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.
Ash - Human - L8 Thaumaturge
Background - Weaponcrafter.
Archetypes - Alchemist.
NPC Companion
Vinzent - Human - L8 Bard
Background - Cursed.
Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.
Next Session
NPC Companion
Vinzent
He is a skilled minstrel who is infamous for his depressing performances and bad luck.
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