Session 9: First Step Report

General Summary

Dragavo 24th, 998

After being rescued by Ingrannus and Ulthis, the party is confronted by the ship captain who demands that they pay for the lost ship and cargo; 130,000gp. Qrione quietly suggests that they try to run from the situation, to which most of the party agrees, with the exception of Sylrieth, who would not risk ruining their relationship with the old knight and Mageborn. Fireheart then suggests that she ask her mother to pay for it which is agreed upon by the rest of the party. She asks Ingrannus if there's a way to contact her from his end, but he has no way to do so, though looks to Ulthis for assistance. He is hesitant at first, but eventually begrudgingly accepts and opens up a portal to Naalnore.

They all step into the palace and are met with guards who stop them from getting closer to the queen, who stands near the Elven throne. She notices the group and is delighted to see Ingrannus and Ulthis, but not her own daughter, Fireheart, who tells her about their situation. Rightfully, the Queen is upset by the news, but agrees to pay the captain what he is owed, even giving him a new ship with cargo he can sell. She then tells the party that there is nothing they can do for her as she has no need of an amateur group of adventurers, but does ask Ingrannus and Ulthis to speak with her about something.

After discussing terms, the group returns and inform the party that they have come to an arrangement: they will all be working for Ulthis until the dept is paid; they are all forced to accept as they have no other way to pay back the massive fortune. The Mageborn, needing to see their combat capabilities, enters them into the Ulgrad Vant (Blood Fall) Tournament. While preparing for battle, Sparhawk notices another Dragonborn and approaches him. His tells Sparhawk that his name is Kolkosh and that the reason for him participating in the tournament is because he believes that he is a weak warrior and would like to die a warriors death to make his parents proud of him. He also tells Sparhawk that, since he is the only other Dragonborn, that he hopes that he is the one to do it. The party also meets an Air Genasi Wizard who introduces himself as Poomansteve before telling them that, as he is a wizard, he is too weak to fight by himself and asks that they allow him to fight with them, to which they graciously accept.

The gladiators are all called to the main arena to begin the final fight in the tournament. After a long and grouling battle, the party falls one by one until only Sparhawk remains. He eventually comes across Kolkosh who, despite giving it his all, is felled by the Dragon born. As he lay dying, he gives Sparhawk a letter addressed to his parents and asks him to deliver it to them in the Draken Summits. Shortly after taking the letter, he too is killed by the other participants.

He then wakes up in an endless field of flowers alongside his fellow party members. They are greeted by a man who tells them that they are dead, but not lost. He tells them that they can request anything from him so long as they agree to do something for him in return. They all make requests, some of which are good natured, such as the safety of a village in Vor Thurum that is being terrorized by monsters, or the happiness of the party, but some are selfish and made without thought, though Poomansteve asks a thoughtful, but risky question about whether or not his god, Mr. Hankee, exists. Unfortunately, the diety tells the poor wizard that his god, who he had been worshipping for some time, is a fiction; shattering his identity with one fell swoop. After they make their requests, he requests that they save the world from what is coming, as that is his self-imposed duty, to which they accept. He then sends them back into the arena, which was just announcing their new champion. Seeing them rise from death, they are immediately disqualified and forced to leave.

While in the arena barracks, Ulthis goes down to them and demands to know how they were brought back to life. They tell him about the man, to which he becomes more upset, asking if they made a deal with him. He then proceeds to tell them that they should not be so eager to make deals with gods and to be careful.