Session 4: Music, Missing Persons and a Madame
General Summary
Session 4: 24/4/25
Retcon alert
We wind back time to the day the party defeated the Assassin Vine in the abandoned Oakfathers camp. On their 1 day journey to Tsukashi, Volko wanted to set the newly acquired bear trap to catch a beast... this time the deer they trap is not immediately eliminated by Burra, and they successfully harvest the components they wanted.
Arriving in town, they briefly chat to Osamu, owner of the Stunted Tower Tavern, who sets up Burra's gig. Volko tries to get free access to the forge of a blacksmith he has never met before, with unsurprising lack of success, though he does discover that the pendants they "acquired" from the camp are from the Oakfathers, a ranger group that protected the forest in recent years. They haven't been seen in town for over a year.
They decide to go looking for the stash mentioned in the journal. Using magical and mundane tracking, they eventually track down the stash and find several useful harvested components, including some dragon components and their first robust essence, and a small treasure hoard, along with some enhanced harvesting gear.
Burra's Boogey Bachanalia
Making it back to town just in time, the show starts, with Burra dancing, his Lute of illusions providing a backdrop and music, and Tadashi on percussion. The show is a huge success, and the crowd went wild! Burra is the talk of the town.
Chatting to the locals in the after-party reveals some muted responses, unveiling a sadness in the town, perhaps linked to the disappearances.
Missing person's investigations
Meeting Councillor Takemoto, the party get the feel that he is only paying them to solve this case to get influential townsfolk off his back. He is a businessman, and sounds like he just wants stability to return. The offer of gold and a reward from a shop in town are enough to convince the party to solve the mystery.
They follow up leads at the victim's homes and places of work, including a trip to the Palace of Heavenly Delights, where Pin got very excited at the prospect of exploring all the services they offer.... time allowing. All signs pointing to Satoshi, they go to question him at the Stunted Tower Tavern, interrupting a card game he was clearly winning. Satoshi, it turns out, is a worm, and spilled the beans immediately... leading the party to Finklestein's workshop on the north side of town. Turns out the same inventor Burra cam to town to find, is implicated in this missing persons case. The party decide to waste no time, ignoring Volko's "I told You So" attitude, and went to confront Finklestein in his workshop/lair.
Satoshi was incapacitated, and.... sequestered for safekeeping by a giant spider that seems to follow Pin around....just in case he was lying about Finklestein.
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