4/8/23

Q1: Do you remember the birthdays and pet names and such of people? A1: Birthdays are pretty big for celebrating in Cogswallow, and pet names are pretty easy because goblins only have like 5 that they use commonly. Q2: What do you do to feel better when you're sad? A2: Work in the shop, preferably to bardic black metal (performed by the goblin band that has a practice space next to my old shop.)
 
BEGIN SESSION - Gained INSP for questions.
 
We have to plan how to get Mikey on the train. Marda and Melfine can use the Sanctum as a cover, saying that they are transporting this creature, a "gorgon" (metal bull monster that turns things to stone and eats them). The guards are largely used to the group shenanigans and are pretty easy to deal with. The train is as long as we need it to be. There is one locomotive, then 2 fuel cars, then as many personnel cars as we need, then the cargo cars (also as many as needed), then the first-class sleeper cars (2 executive suits that are a whole car to one person/group, and regular first-class 5-room cars), then the first-class lounge (bar/food/lounging), then the dining car/kitchen car, then the second-class sleeper cars (8 cabins), then sitting passenger cars, then crew quarters, and stables and livestock at the back.
 
The all-access passes are on A schedule dining, business class are B schedule, standard tickets are on C, and crew are on D (total block runs 11am-1pm, so 30 minute windows?) Yun and I are in the second-class sleeper cars, but Druss makes it into the first-class sleeper car, as do Marda, Melfine, and Spike. Henry is in the same car as Druss and Co. Henry clocks Druss immediately. There are two large suits of armor on either side of the kitchen car. They don't all match. The style is very old, but they are well cared for. They are from before the Caster Wars (ARC - 21; I can feel a hint of the arcane juju emanating from the armor). We also clock at least 2 guards per shift per train car. Once we're settled in, I want to go check on Mikey and run into as he comes out of the kitchen car, presumably to check on the Magical Mystical Murder Machine. As we head back, the train lurches forward and I eat a metric ton of shit in the middle of the walkway. We get the Egg out of Mikey so that Druss can take it up to hang with Max and Leona. Melfine catches some hint of Illusion magic coming from Henry's cabin. Using Clairvoyance she sees nothing, but hears the sounds of an anxious man, pacing and fidgeting.
 
After establishing Mikey and the Egg, I want to go check out the locomotive engine. I notice that ~every other car there is a ladder that goes to the top of the car. At the engine car, the guards tell me that there is a sign-up sheet for scheduled tours, which I quickly sign, both in the first spot, and about 15 spots down, so I can come back after time to review my initial findings. I get back to the lounge car in time to see Spike get shocked and piss itself. Druss goes looking for the Captain of the Guards to check on the defensive capabilities of the train. The Captain knows Druss and does not like him, because this Captain is an opponent for the Sheriff position and Vlad is sweet on the crew. Dinner Time! A Group (Me, Druss, and Marda since she has Yun's pass right now) is served a 3 course meal; a mushroom soup and oyster crackers, then lamb with mint chutney and a smashed potato side, finished with a banana pudding, made bougie by adding lemon-infused whipped cream and a sprinkle of nutmeg. The rest of them eat in B Group. Dining ends, and the lounge fills up again. Druss peels off to rest and bond with Egg. The rest of us lounge a bit, then head to Druss's room to talk it up. It's about midnight, and there is a noise above. Melfine uses Clairvoyance and sees 5 shadowed figures heading rearward on the train, where there are a few more figures. Roll for Initiative!
 
There is a ladder in their car, in the forward section. Yun casts Dimension Door taking me with them, and we come out on top of the car. I ask the group what they're doing up there, to no response, but 4 of 5 are quickly dead. I head to the back group, killing 3 and Melfine gets another. Helen kills the left from the first group, and Marda pops up from below, charging toward the rearward group. One of the suits of armor appears topside and kills the person furthest rearward, but then Yun casts Banishment on the suit. Melfine and I kill off the remaining two, leaving us alone up here. Down with Druss, the doors burst open on both sides of the car. He sees hulking black forms approach, and Druss, Max, and Leona preemptively defend themselves. With every enemy dead topside, we aim to head back into the car. Yun stumbles and falls from the train, but saves themself by using a Dimension Door to make their way to the interior of the train. Druss searches a body, seeing it is a young fighter from some clan, and is B-Team in that clan. Once I'm back in the car, I can see Yun running from something. I prepare to meet whatever it is. They are caught by one of the suits of armor and picked up by the lapels, but upon showing the all-access pass, they are released and cited with a paper showing that the lounge car is closed 12am-6am. Yun and I are trapped on this side and borrow a cabin to bunk up for the night.
 
END SESSION
 
INSP Inventory: +d6