Session 11: Main Game Recap "Introduction to Guilds Town. It Ain't Good."

Pregame (Ailekk) Talks to Breschka, she’s very busy. He tries to get her attention but she just doesn’t have time. He talks to Ma Thornberry but she’s only willing to help him if he’s willing to help her get her “Chambers” up and running. She identifies the Javelin and divines the command word. Ailekk asks other questions and she is willing to do some research but it will take time. When he shows her the magically sealed scroll she is quite infatuated with that one. As far as questions about Will-O-Wisps, Kenku, and the Raven Queen she will ask what he wants to know? They are supernatural creatures. She will give them information about them as far as known sightings and mythological history, but she will know little more than that. Anna shows back up without Ailekk having to look for her. She seems troubled and upset. She is distraught by what she sees in the streets and the death she has seen. Plus, she isn’t happy with what is happening among the nobles. They, obviously, don’t want to just secede control to Oron and Breschka, they want to take control. Specifically, the Arch Duke. They don’t seem to care about the people, just solidifying their power. She seems pretty nauseated by the idea. She gets upset with Ailekk for working on his lab while people are dying in the streets. However, it’s at that point Newt shows up from amidst the alchemy equipment. Seeing him, she asks what he’s doing here. He proudly proclaims he lives with Ailekk now. She gives Ailekk a look that is both proud but disapproving at the same time. Ailekk gets an herbalism kit from Ma, and is able to buy crossbow bolts from the castle armory. Where exactly would he go to buy Dust of Disappearance? There are no magic shops in Dravens’ Port that he is aware of, same for Hill Giant Fingernails (also, don’t forget I haven’t completely signed off on that Alchemy Chart, I have some alterations that will be forthcoming to it). Last, Ailekk sets off to rejoin the party. Session Recap [Reminder, Urd & Swell still have their Ravens.] [Swell got rid of the 3rd amulet.] [Anna asked Ailekk, during some pregame roleplaying, if the PCs searched the sarcophagi on the island.] The entire party, including Lindal and Eldon Greenbottle, as well as Apprentice Froonsnyr, approached the city of guilds town. Captain Reis, using his spyglass, could see from a distance that the people on the ramparts of the city are indeed people, and quite a few are archers with longbows. They could also see a stone “landing” area in front of the south gate. Swell concentrated and could sense multiple undead presences in the city, but off on the other side (not near the gate). He could sense quite a few as being somewhere underground. Some of the creatures he sensed, in addition to zombies and skeletons, were ghosts, ghasts, wights, vampire spawn, and will-o-wisps. He communicated that to the party and Lindal Greenbottle went dashing towards the town. The party, wisely deciding the excitable halfling shouldn’t be their spokesmen, quickly caught up with him. To the left of the gate they saw two smaller inns (The Nard’s Lament and the Fetching Fox), as well as an encampment of humanoids. They noticed all of the guards had splint mail, shields, longswords, and light crossbows (an expensive upgrade for the city). All the gaurds have splint mail, shields, longswords, crossbows. They were approached by Captain Sidrive “Sid”, a lanky, tall human with splint mail, a shield, a spear, and javelins on his back. He informed them that they would have to have 1 guard escort for every two non-humans in their group, and it would cost them 2 gp per day. Code of Conduct Posted by authority of the Guilds Town Council of Elders No shenanigans of any kind are allowed by visitors including, but not limited to: spellcasting, shapeshifting, flying, levitating, glowing, ghosting, sneaking, raging, vandalizing, poisoning, charming, fireballing, speed walking, double talking, crowd surfing, bamboozling, or excessive chafing. Visitors breaking the code of conduct can be subject to penalties including, but not limited to: required apologies, community service, fines, light jail-time, heavy jail-time, soul-crushing jail-time, indentured servitude, or being beheaded atop the tallest tower in the city and having their head thrown in the river below. Non-human visitors breaking the code will be subject to twice the normal punishment (and yes this includes being beheaded twice). Sincerely, Elder Elissa Bunce, Elder Gremmus Ironfury, Elder Kegan Smythe, Elder Sydni Clare, Elder Ifflesbit Trunsfud, Elder Chaz Ashville, and Elder Ebin Ostaross In conversations with Sid, they uncover that the rules are all enacted by the city’s Council of Elders, that he doesn’t necessarily agree with the rules, and he believes them that their city might have undead in it. Inside the city the party found themselves in the South Gate District, directly next to the Diplomat’s Guild and Diplomat’s Guild District. Signs at each road gave comprehensive directions to find every other district in the city, of which there are several. Swell went to the stables and came back dressed as a human noble woman. While he was busy doing that, Eldon had the bright idea to take his brother Lindal and Froonsnyr for a drink, forcing two of the guards to go with them, leaving the party with only two guard babysitters. After Swell re emerged, one of the guards called him on his faulty disguise but he talked himself out of the situation. Countess Lithra, Swell’s alternate identity, approached the party and took control, leading them to the Diplomat’s Guild. Inside they noticed a slightly pale man, richly dressed, with a goblin servant at the north end of the room. A young assistant approached the party and they introduced themselves as an envoy from Davens’ Port, here to check on things since the attack. The woman was very concerned and led them to a conference room. The inside of the three story Diplomat’s Guild was stone, with stone archways leading into various rooms, few of which had closing doors. In the conference room Rurrick poured himself a drink while the rest made themselves comfortable. Three women entered the room, Melina and Katerina from a door to the north, and Captain Josephine from the open archway. Captain Josephine introduced herself to the party, firmly clasping Captain Reis’ hand. The party asked questions to the three city representatives, and Mistress Milena (woman with long blond hair and a turtleneck, dressed exquisitely) seemed to be the spokeperson of the group. She said that the Council of Elders had decided not to intervene in the situation at Dravens’ Port, and that was that. The party noticed Mistress Katerina got quite pale when the undead were mentioned. After pressing the three about undead in the city, Milena asked to speak to the party alone. Captain Josephine left back through the archway, where the 2 guards were stationed outside, meanwhile Katerina slipped back to the north. Mistress Milena told the party that two cults were vying for control of Guilds’ Town, and had been openly fighting each other for the past week (since the invasion of the undead). The party sensed she stumbled over the “2” guilds when talking. From there on out Cassius began to pester her about the issue. The party began trying to figure out how to move about town more freely, Milena saying the only way for non citizens to do so was to obtain permission from the Council of Elders, who non citizens are not allowed to meet (a fine catch 22). After some persistence, and her using magic to make Cassius stop pestering her about the additional cult(s), she agreed to send word to the council on the party’s behalf. She would send word to the nearby inn, the Green Chain. During the exchange Cassius identified her as definitely being evil. She left, and the party went to go find Mistress Katerina who ended up being in the library in a small study room off to the side. On their way they noticed Captain Josephine to the south sharing some wine with their guards. Rurrick launched into parly with Katerina, introducing them as the “Party who murdered Prince Raffolk”, or at least that’s what Katerina heard. She threatened to scream and Reis retook control of parlay, all the while Ailekk reminisced over being chided by Behyla for not being a very good spy on his own. After calming her down, she admitted there were multiple cults, she was sure Melina was a cultist, and could not be trusted. To the south of the library was a door the party was pretty sure ran through the insides of the Diplomats Guild, from room to room. They realized that with the stone walls, open archways, and everything else, the Diplomat’s Guild was probably one giant information-gathering center. Katerina agreed to meet them at the Inn later. Swell and Cassius repeatedly reminded her that “She was outed now, and there was no turning back”, or at least that’s what she heard (I would like to point out that confidential informants can be threatened, but usually that happens a bit further on in the relationship”). As they left, she was quickly packing up papers, scrolls, etc. In the hallway, the party was discussing events before remembering their location and deciding to whisper. They noticed their guards were now back at their station, standing on either side of the conference room archway. They moved past the guards to talk to Captain Josephine. She was wearing captain’s cloths, with a rapier, hat and the whole nine yards. During the a discussion with her they discovered she was a traveling diplomat and city representative. It was her job to travel around and parlay with other cities, provinces, realms, etc on behalf of Guilds Town. She was at Trymmond city during the undead attack, and trapped in the sea/bay because of the blockade. Since then she had been traveling around, checking on things, including visiting Kytt and taking several Dragonborn and Kobolds to North Dravens’ Port where her ship is now getting some repairs done. In that time, she did see the ravens and storm in the sky a couple days ago. She informed them the guilds have the day to day power in the city, although the Council of Elders have executive control. She also let them know she hadn’t been in town for over 3 months. Once they asked her about the cults, she became increasingly worried. It appears that there are about 12 city representatives, but typically only 3 in the Diplomat’s Guild at any given time. After she tried to excuse herself from the conversation, the party pressured her for more information about the area. She told them that worshipping Tiamat, in and of itself, is not a crime as Tiamat is a recognized god in the Dragon Pantheon and forbidding her worship would probably not be okay with Lord Shrave. However, followers of Tiamat were still subject to city laws and justice when caught. After some discussion, she did finally successfully excuse herself from the conversation. They party stood around and discussed events before again remembering to exit the building. Before leaving, they stopped and sent a message to Oron and Breschka, the Messengers Guild conveniently being located in the same building as the Diplomat's guild. They paid 5gp to make sure the message was sent immediately. The message was: On their way to the Inn, Urd came out of his catatonic stupor in time to see (along with Rurrick) Mistress Katerina exiting the back of the Diplomat’s Guild and fleeing quickly to the north. After Reis repeatedly insisting the party not sleep in the Green Chain, or any city Inn, tonight, the party decided to take a detour to Nardstown on the north side of the city. They decided, wisely, to but a map and headed for the Merchant’s Row district. After purchasing the map, now in Roll20’s handout section, they found a Potions and Herbs store, where they bought some potions of healing, potions of climbing, herbs for Rurrick to smoke, etc. Urd tried to pry information about where to buy poison from the shopkeeper who referred him to Snakestown. The gnomish shopkeeper offered to buy some of Ailekk’s feathers or Cassius’ horns, but his only reward for this effort was Urd and Cassius asking about taking his “Gnomish giblets.” After which they were politely asked to leave. Then the shopkeeper insistently asked them to leave. Making their way to the Misern District, on the way to the city bridge and then Nardstown, they stopped by the Misern river to look over the lake/docks, and the tiered town below them. They could see 75 foot towers both standalone, but also built into the sides of the cliffs. Descending to Snaketown, as much to torture their escorting guards as anything else, they could see normal citizens on the second tier going in and out of a guard tower. Rurrick decided to approach a family of four, with the woman warning her children about the approaching Nard. Reis noticed the archers in the tower were interested in them approaching the family. Rurrick asked them where they’d come from, and they replied the city. They seemed a bit confused by the question. They then replied the undercity and then kept moving. The guard escorts let them know that only citizens were allowed in the undercity. After an exchange, the escorts finally responded with “Money talks and bullshit runs a marathon” (probably due to the wine). Swell and Cassius attempted to bribe them with 15 gold a piece. Being successful, they let the party know there are two ways to become citizens, either live in Guilds Town for a long length of time or own property. They seemed to think that it should be pretty easy for the party to acquire property in Snaketown for as little as 50 gold. Swell mentioned something about forging titles. The guard admitted they were not lawyers, and weren’t sure if all 6 of their names could go on one title but they could try. After going through Snaketown and looking about, they could see the low docks and smell the sewerish water coming out of lake Misern, and hear the occasional scream in the distance. They spotted, towards the edge of Snaketown, a cleric of Torm with a maul on his back, handing out food to any who approached. They talked to him for a minute, before they heard a scream just behind the church. He said, “Oh, I need to go” and charged back behind the building, with the party following. In the streets behind, they could see a woman and a child being assaulted by a dozen robed figures. The priest roared “For TORM” and charged into battle, Urd hot on his heels.