Session 7
The Dinner Party
The Dinner Party
General Summary
As dawn spills across the dry ridgelines of Brimstone, the party awakens to silence within the Copperfield Estate—no sign of Cornelius or his droid, NESTOR. On the dining table, neatly folded parchment with the seal of the Copperfield family awaits, it reads: “My dear guests—NESTOR and I have gone on a brief excursion into the foothills. Please do not worry. Join us for dinner this evening; I trust you’ll enjoy the company. Yours in curiosity, Cornelius". Having already an obligation with Salda Mourn to meet at her Saloon later that night (after dinner) in order to courier her illicit goods to the Oasis as a means to gain entry, this is but one more thing on the agenda.
Deciding to explore the town before their plans later that evening, the party travel to the outskirts of Brimstone where a slouching chapel of cracked stone and faded glass stands watch over a neglected graveyard. Inside, a flickering censer swings from an iron chain while Father Gideon Thorne preaches to an empty pew. Entering the church, Thane decides to confront the father on his questionable morality, concerning the scene that they had witnessed the prior day involving Varlo Trask. The Father defends the actions of his enforcer, quoting the need for penitence among the sinners of our world, with the debate then turning to the principals of the Chantry. Just when Thane has felt like he has heard enough and turns to leave - the Father makes a sudden request. He is aware of their likelihood to leave town, and simply requests that they check on his sick brother Jebediah Thorne, who lives isolated just south west of Brimstone. He describes his brother as also a man of faith who took ill some time ago and has since lived in isolation. The Father must attend to his duties here and therefore cannot make the trip himself to ensure that his brother is taking his medicine, and suggests that the party aiding him could act as a form of spiritual penitence for their sins. The party reluctantly accepts, not entirely convinced of his motives.
Moving on, the party visit the Eastern and Western outskirts of the Brimstone. Western Brimstone includes a large ore forge and a modest brewery that supplies the town’s taverns. Beyond these buildings lies mostly barren land, a dusty stretch of road with a single notably massive iron bell, mounted atop a tower, looms over the area—its deafening ring used to alert the town of approaching threats from the Wildlands. Eastern Brimstone in comparison is a cluttered shantytown, makeshift homes among streets narrow and uneven, crowded with weary workers and hungry-eyed children. At its center is a single cheap restaurant, more known for warmth than flavor. While wandering the east side, the party encounters the young human couple from the train & Brimstone Hollow, now seen with a wooden cart packed with belongings, stating their intent to head to Magdamar in search of safer work. They thank the party for all of their help, and give Thane a silver pendant containing a pale blue stone.
As evening falls, the estate glows warmly beneath gaslight sconces and hanging lanterns. The scent of roast turkey, spiced yams, and herbal wine greets the party as they return. Cornelius stands on a stool behind the dining table, carving with silver-plated utensils, while NESTOR brings out side dishes with precision. The invited guests seated around the long table are Ol' Magda, Professor Ithicus Grumbleweed, and Dagny Flint; already acquainted with some of the party members, they introduce themselves and their connection to Cornelius. Conversation proceeds over the course of dinner, and Dagny agrees to forge Frostwarden a blade from his rail scrap, while Cornelius agrees to loan the party the use of the Copperfield's Autocarriage for their journey to the Oasis, which can be found under the care of Ol' Magda. Meanwhile, Boost wanders upstairs to the Herbarium under the instruction of Kell, where he procures a sample of Elysian Root Sap.
After some time talking and becoming comfortable with his company, Alucard reveals to the party and other dinner guests that he has been heavily augmented by the Empire in his past, as he shows them from under his cloak two additional magitech appendages. Each resemble claw like robotic arms stemming from his shoulder blades, seemingly in place of where his wings once were, they appear to currently be broken and causing pain and sickness for Alucard to endure. The party all express their concern to help Alucard, and Dagny suggests they may find someone more specialized to operate on him at the Oasis, despite its reputation.
As the dinner comes to an end, the party thanks Cornelius and promises to return to him when their business at the Oasis is finished. Fulfilling their obligation to meet Salda, they return to the Saloon where Thane and Boost speak to her in the private upstairs loft. Meanwhile Alucard, Frostwarden and Kell attempt to refine the Elysian Root Sap in private outside the Saloon, they are successful, but lack a device to consume it with currently.
In the private loft, Salda gives Thane three suspicious rectangular packages, tightly wrapped in twine and burlap - she makes no mention of their contents but they are clearly contraband goods that will yield serious Imperial prison time if caught on their possession. She instructs them to deliver it to a human man named Halbrand located at a bar called the Mirage, which is on top of the Casino at the Oasis. She suggests that they go now under the cover of nightfall to cover their exit from town, and warns them to respectful at the Oasis - after all, they are there under her reputation. The party obliges and make their way to the Autocarriage outside of Magda's Mercantile, to set off on their journey.