c02s04e10 - Pirates and Politics Day 157 Planeshifting back to Khorvaire; the team arrives on The Pickle, which has been cleared of quarantine since the team's departure to Mechanus. There's an outstanding warrant for the heroes to complete their quarantine process, so they settle at Cape Far; the seat of union power in the Lhazaar Principalities. 3 days it'll take for the tests to be completed verifying the team's clearance to interact with the Lhazaar population-- meanwhile the Union is becoming aggressive in talks with Prince Maracan's staff, and the Lhazaar Arbitrators that negotiate with the union over workers' rights. Stuart, the union steward of The Pickle, introduces the team to Luis the Union Boss that maintains the Maracan contract for the pirate union. He agrees the curse of undeath is outside of contract parameters, but the Maracan arbiters hold that the curse is strictly voluntary. This dispute is escalating towards a General Greivance against Prince Maracan as a Claim of Weakness that the Union Elders are encouraging. Day 160 The heroes clear contamination hours after a Sending reports that the Cragwar faciity has beenraided by demonic influence.. then the comunications went silent. Tug triggers the Cragwar Teleportation Circle to clear the thrat.. finding imps,. melting soldiers, and possessed warforged opposing their effort to reclaim the facility.. they eventually thwart the invaders; traping the remaining demon foot soldier in a magic circle with zone of truth interrogation reveal that yes, this is Kazarak's orders, and they've been sneaking aboard shipsin Cragwar and Bartertown to harrass the desert patrols while they are isolated... and there's no sense of the harassment letting up until the team no longer pose a thrat to Kazarak and Cyre. .. This would mean abandoning all cyre facilities (Cragwood Fort as well as CragWar Temple) Naturally, this is a no-deal for the heroes and the snuff the demons. Teleporting back to Cape Far; Maracan Arbitrators meet with the heroes.. THX identifies them as cursed by Draegoth immediately and Frank cures one at random while THX blasts the other with divine magic.. destroying the undaad (on accident) This has mixed results: the cured Arbitrator realizes how unsettlign the curse is and the destroyed arbitrator is revivified by Frank... The intimidated Arbitrator retreats for some spiritual rest while the remaining arbitrator speaks off-record that the Draegoth curse is spreading through Maracan's ranks. The team concludes the only way to set this right is to eliminate Maracan-- take his seat and purge Draegoth Templars from their ranks. Next step: get enough of Maracan subordinates to support the team's effort to prevent internal sabotage when the team eliminates Maracan. <end of session> Day 160 (late spring) 2/3 to level 15