Session 24: Return to Bards Gate and subsequent events - Part 1

General Summary

The adventurers appeared from the tomb, the sky cleared above the lake and the brooding, evil taint of Orcus was cleansed from the land.   Hundreds of years later, tales were told by centaur elders to eager children around the campfire of 'The Dwarf of the Crimson Blade', 'High Roller', the 'Silver Lady', 'Feathered Fearwing', and the 'small, funny, beaky one'. About how they slew a thousand zombies and fought Orcus himself to save the centaur tribe. Centaur mothers would warn their children that if they would not sleep, the 'beaked one' would appear and frighten them with his mimicry and lute playing!   The party, minus Malcer but with their dour new dwarven companion Ualraig, made their way back to Bard's Gate.   On arrival at the city everything seemed as normal, they were not stopped or questioned at the gate and no procession of cheering townsfolk greeted their return. In fact, other than a mangy tomcat who hissed at Grouch, none seemed to notice them at all. But their return was noted by suspicious eyes though they did not know it...
Their recent activities had brought them to the attention of some powerful people in Bard's Gate and their passage around Bard's Gate would be watched closely at all times from now on.   It was a short while before the companions realise that Malcer had not been since leaving them, they received information that he had been taken north towards the Stoneheart Mountains in the company of known slavers.   Tha party had various things to do now that they were back in the city and their new companion Ualraig wished to go straight to the Temple of Dwarfater to consult with the priests there.   After a day or two settling back in, the party received a message delivered by runner:  

Friends, Long have those of Note observed your heroism and displays of courage in the defense of your new found home. I, a humble member of the Fellowship, would beckon you to meet me at the Sign of the Hanging Rose to embark upon a venture whose import shall be revealed shortly, but is nonetheless earthshaking in nature. Understand that your heroism and your exploits on behalf of the city are known to us, and we feel that your skills are well-suited for success in this endeavor. The Fellowship

  The message was stamped with an intricate treble clef which some of the party recognized as the symbol of the Fellowship of Note. The 'Fellowship of Note' are a group of adventurers who were heroes to the people of Bard's Gate so a personal message from such an illustrious organisation was not to be ignored.     The party decided to meet the Fellowship's representative at the Hanging Rose Tavern, one 'Gilfoy Crane' and headed over there. Some had been to the Hanging Rose before and the landlord gave them a friendly wave. After a quiet word they headed up the backstairs to a private meeting room in which a figure sat alone at the end of a long wooden table, a white, embroidered mask over his face. He gestured in a friendly manner for the companions to join him, apologised for his disguise and whilst drinks were brought up, made small talk with the adventurers. Once the drinks had been delivered, his tone become more serious. He informed the party that there were certain 'documents' kept in a safe room at the Fortune's Fool Casion that were 'sensitive' and of great importance to the Fellowship. He required the party's aid in creating a diversion whilst one of the fellowship's operatives slipped in to 'recover' the documents. Gilfoy stressed the fact that the party would not only earn a small fortune in gold, but would also be aiding the heroes of Bard's Gate themselves and would no doubt earn themselves an even greater reputation through this heroic and selfless act. Agreement was made and the party left Gilfoy to make plans for the following nights diversionary endeavours. On returning to the main room of the tavern they were approached by a tall, slender elven woman dressed in somber garb. This was Esther, a priest of Jamboor, sent to find information on the whereabouts of Malcer. She explained what she knew of Malcer's disappearance and learning of the party's plan to find Malcer, offered to join them.   After various matters were attended to, such as an order for new armour for Ualraig and Cassandra, the adventurers visited the casino on a scouting mission. They observed the movement of the bouncers and managed to pocket a few gambling tokens. It transpired that the night after, the evening of the recovery operation, was a big night at the casino. A high-stakes, high-rollers 3-Dragon-Ante tournament was planned as well as a bare-knuckle fighting contest featuring none other than the reclusive Bloody menzie herself!   Plans were made for the Fortune's Fool casino heist. Various ideas where floated and dismissed, Ualraig wished to take part in the fighting contest and a plan was devised for Grouch to forge some coins and for these to be distributed amongst visitors to the casino as a possible way to cause a distraction. Even the use of hallucinogenic drugs was considered.   Costumes were donned and preparations made. Davros looked resplendent in his double-breasted crushed velvet suit, Cassandra looked very different out of her armour and was transformed into the true noble-woman that she was, turning Davros' head considerably. Dillard donned a heavy, fancily embroidered cloak to hide his wings and any other surreptitious acts that he planned.
  Ualraig spent the time preparing for the fight, some prayer, footwork training, shadow-boxing and occasional, mostly legible squawks of encouragement from Grouch helped his confidence. He would fight with Grouch as his 'corner' whilst Davros, Dillard and Cassandra would take part in or observe the high-rollers game. Esther decided to watch the fight. Some of the companions met up with the Fellowship of Note agent who then set off to wait for the distraction whilst Ualraig and Grouch were already ensconced within the casino preparing for the first fight.     A packed and buzzing Casino awaited them. Lords and Ladies chatted excitedly about the high-rollers game, tasteful music played and a colourful jester entertained rich merchants with fire-breathing and tomfoolery. Meanwhile from the back room, behind closed doors, a noisy and eager crowd awaited Ualraig's first fight against Booginz, Thayco Manslayer's man.   Dora Gloomstalker, a Luck domain cleric had also been waiting in the high-rollers queue, moved around the auditorium looking for an opportunity to test her luck until the noise of the crowd drew her attention away to the big fight.   Dillard and Davros devised a plan to allow Dillard to communicate telepathically with Davros and relay to him the cards other players in the game held. Great idea though this was, it backfired badly when Dillard realised that he had no idea how to play 3-Dragon-Ante. Davros lost money but eventually his innate skill came through as he settled into the game and he won a high pot before withdrawing from the game.   In the backroom, Ualraig was moving through the rounds of the fight tournament. After beating Booginz in a nervous and bad-tempered first bout he found himself in a much more dangerous melee against members of the shadow masks and a hostile, partisan crowd. The shadow masks, angry at the surprise defeat of Booginz, were hassling Thayco Manslayer for their money. When the disagreement turned violent Ualrig and Grouch joined in to defend Thayco aided by Booginz, Esther and Dora Gloomfeather who leapt to their defense amidst the riot that erupted during the attack. Guards arrived and once order had been restored Thayco had been extremely grateful to Ualraig and the others, even offering to manage Ualraig in a possible, future fighting career. Unbeknownst to the riot participants however, in the main auditorium there had been issues involving Dillard, Davros and Cassandra. The guards had removed several rioters but were also alerted by a hysterical woman who accused the party members of cheating, in the confusion Cassandra and Davros were arrested. Dillard attempted to escape through the smashed dome of the casino but as glass rained down, several accurate shots from the guards brought him down amidst the glass. He was manacled and carried out unconscious with the others.   Ualraig floored his next opponent, the Centaur Achak Thunderhoof, with a furious flurry of blows and went on to consolidate his winning streak by besting MacDougan Little AKA 'Mack', the diminuitive but deady Halfling Monk. By this point his prowess had attracted a far more supportive crowd, including a fair few dwarves and Ualraig prepared to take on Bloody Menzie herself.   Bloody Menzie towered over Ualraig as he cut a fierce, battle-hardened figure beneath her massive shadow. As Ualraig saw the enormous strides and speed with which she moved her large, muscled bulk he realised that his plan to avoid her blows and tire her out might not work here. he tried to dance away from her blows to keep her moving but even a glancing blow was like being struck by a charging bullette! During the next few rounds of fighting, in which time Menzie in her towering rage, seemed to slow but a little, Ualraig became more desperate. After several standing counts, as Ualraig's considerable strength and stamina began to ebb away, it became clear that only brute force and muscle would give him any chance to win this bout. Falling to one knee in a feigned stumble, Ualraig waited as Menzie charged in on him. As she drew back a meaty fist to land the killing blow Ualraig put all of his remaining strength into one mighty two-fisted punch. Menzie reeled as if Dwerfater himself had struck at her with his celestial hammer 'Noolhamr' and was knocked out cold in the centre of the ring. The crowd roared in shock and triumph, the swelling ranks of dwarves watching the fight fought to get closer to the stage and there was a chance of another riot breaking out. The referee just stood struck dumb until Ualraig, spitting out blood, roared at him;  

"START COUNTING YA' BASTARD!!"

  Hurriedly the stunned ref began the count and almost immediately Menzie, roaring her rage and embarrassment, began to rise on wobbly, tree trunk-like legs. She fell back again and the crowd roared, she hammered the wooden floor of the arena and even through the screams of the crowd the sound of wooden planks splintering could be heard as she rage and attempted to haul herself up. As the count went on, Ualraig held his breath until finally as the ref completed his slow count to 10, Menzie collapsed back onto the wooden floor with a crash and Ualraig had won. Within seconds he was aloft the shoulders of his dwarven brethren, other sections of the crowd sat in silence or argued with their neighburs about the money they had lost. Esther and Dora cheered with the rest, suprised but pleased as they collected their winnings from the shaking, sweaty hands of the dumbstruck, open-mouthed gambler who had taken their seemingly foolish bet on Ualraig to win!  

Rewards Granted

Bonebreaker Mace +1
Weapon [any bludgeoning], rare (requires attunement)
You gain a +1 bonus on attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. The bonus increases to +3 when you use it to attack an undead creature. Often given to the grim enforcers of great necropolises, these weapons can reduce the walking dead to splinters with a single strike. When you hit an undead creature with this magic weapon, treat that creature as if it is vulnerable to bludgeoning damage. If it is already vulnerable to bludgeoning damage, your attack deals an additional 1d6 radiant damage.

  Death’s Mirror ring
Ring, uncommon
Made from woven lead and silver, this ring fits only on the hand’s smallest finger. As the moon is a dull reflection of the sun’s glory, so too is the power within this ring merely an imitation of the healing energies that can bestow true life. It has 3 charges. As a bonus action, you can expend a charge to gain 1d4+9 temporary hit points, as the spell false life.

Missions/Quests Completed

A Matter of Faith
Tomb of Brokun
The Over and Under

Character(s) interacted with

Yarnak - Leader of centaur camp
Mirith - Elven ghost and lovesick resident of the tomb
Ghost of Lord Brokun (former Dwarven Lord Brokun) - Owner of the Tomb of Brokun
Gilfoy Crane - Alledged agent of the The Fellowship of Note. Met the party at the Hanging Rose Tavern
Thayco Manslayer - Retired dwarven adventurer and proprieter of the The Keen Edge armourers. Also, fight organiser and manager of Booginz, fighter at the Fortune's Fool Casino fight night.
Booginz - Human, barbarian. Works for Thayco and is a bare-knuckle fighter much favoured by the ladies of Bard's Gate.
Achak Thunderhoof - Centaur and bare-knuckle fighter.
McDougall - Halfling Monk and veteran bare-knuckle fighter.
Bloody Menzie - Half-Ogress, veteran bare-knuckle fighter, current champion of Bard's Gate and winner of 83 fights.
Esther - Elven cleric, met the party at the Hanging Rose Tavern and is now a party member
Dora Gloomfeather - halfling cleric, met the party at the Fortune's Fool Casino. Aided Grouch and Ualraig during the Shadowmask attack on Thayco and now a party member

Created Content

Dwerfater
The Fellowship of Note