Session 1

Hana Longwhisper, a former resident of the orphanage and a current "patron" of ours, has another job for us. She says we were specifically requested by her patron, and while I don't know if I believe that, I do believe that Hana thinks we're the best people for the job.

Details of this time-sensitive job are few, but she directs us to the Grey Eagle (one of the local taverns), where our contact will find us. She also mentions that, in the course of resolving this contact's problem, if we come across a black book, we'll be handsomely rewarded if we return it to her. Wonder what that's all about.

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At the Grey Eagle
Harbek's entrance: heads to bar & asks for "finest Dwarven ale", gets water or, today, cheap beer (Pilsner-equivalent)
Krivn's entrance: refuses additional business (rickshaw taxi) in favor of entering bar; heals a few people on his way over to join Harbek at a corner table
Farlin's entrance: nods at elf patrons as he makes his way to our table
Kiaral's entrance: Silent, almost with Farlin, settle in the shadowiest corner of the table

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A nervous man joins us, surmising we've been sent by Hana. The Spyglass guild just got done interrogating him, and he's worried about his girlfriend Ilyana. He tells us his name is Grigori. He's a thief by trade; his girlfriend is always in trouble, and wearing stolen goods doesn't help any. And after this last job, he's afraid for her life.

Ilyana is the illegitimate daughter of Lord Greymark, master of coin, and is desperately seeking her father's acknowledgment. Grigori tells us she works at the Silk Scabbard, in Lower Zobek, and her friends Filipa and Iskra also work there. He gives us some pins that will get us out of the Kobold Ghetto (the district where we live), which will make this much easier. I know ways in and out of the district, but I'm not sure Kriv'n and Harbek can use them without getting caught.

On our way out of the tavern, a couple men follow us; we lead them into the alley for a bit of privacy in case things go sour. They're representatives of the Blue House, and promise to reward us well for turning Ilyana over to them. Once the secret police have left - without us making a commitment one way or the other - the boys discuss the matter, agreeing that we're already under contract to Grigori to keep Ilyana safe. Turning her over to the Blue House would be contrary to that goal. I suspect they're really after the black book Grigori says she has, and that if we can make Ilyana disappear while handing over the book we'll be able to do take care of both objectives at the same time.

At the Silk Scabbard, the crowd is almost overwhelming and finding Filipa and Iskra is going to be difficult if not impossible. Harbek goes in search of the gaming tables, with Farlin and Kriv'n in tow, while I wait downstairs, trying to locate Ilyana's friends. The boys return. Farlin points out Filipa and asks me to go ask her about getting a job like hers...not something I'm inclined to do, but I do it anyway, because I don't have any better ideas.

Filipa is just beginning a conversation with a prospective client, and I'm reluctant to interrupt. Farlin, however, is more than happy to distract the gentleman so I can talk to Filipa. I take advantage of the distraction, complimenting Filipa on her earrings and mentioning Grigori. I also mention Ilyana, which elicits an interesting reaction - annoyance. Filipa leads me to one of the back rooms.

As I'm trying to explain the situation to Filipa, Harbek signals that they're waiting outside, and I quickly let them into the small room. Filipa knows of a Radu Underhill, an information broker who operates within the Black Market, which can be found in the old cartways. A client of hers, Jasue Gravebright, may know something about the cartways from before the cataclysm that could help us navigate the passages, but that seems like a long shot to me.

As we leave the tiny room, several men are waiting for us. They warn us off, threatening both us and Ilyana. Kriv'n tries to blow them off, but they're determined to see us back off (they're Cloven Nine). Kriv'n tries to intimidate them into leaving, but only one is scared enough to leave. Farlin scares them by causing the sound of the City Watch's signal whistle, which also has the effect of summoning the Watch. The sergeant tells the thugs to leave; Farlin claims that the thugs took 2 silver from us. The sergeant takes the guy's purse but refuses to give us the "stolen" silver.

It seems we've had the misfortune to have summoned Sergeant Hendryk, notorious as a dirty cop who knows how to not get caught. He seems to know our business, though, and for some reason to decides to aid us. He gives us a map to the Black Market, suggesting we tell Radu Underhill that Hendryk sent us, and we should do as Underhill asks. He says he'll "help us out", but I'm not sure we want his kind of help. It probably comes with invisible strings attached, strings we won't be happy to have pulled.

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Cast of Characters
Farlin Liamaris (Arborhawk)
druid 18 yrs old
half-elf
Harbeck Firesalt (Brokenarrow)
arrived age 14, now 22
former blacksmith's apprentice
Cleric of Volund
dwarf
Kriv'n Ister (Lon Del)
paladin of ?
dragonborn, ~17-20
rickshaw driver

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Notes
Orphanage is run by gnomes, led by Fizzen Glassbuckle
Kids disappearing - sometimes looks like kidnapping; sometimes looks like runaways
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Cloven Nine, gang Ilyana was mixed up in
"gang" = "organized crime group" including many movers & shakers politically speaking
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Radu Underhill, information broker in the cartways
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Sergeant Hendryk of the city watch, notorious as a dirty cop - not bad enough or blatant enough for any serious repercussions, but you don't want him around
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cartways - Servants' passages networking the city from before the Cataclysm. Now used for illicit purposes, black market and dark web style
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pins granting passage between city districts What are they called, and should we add them to our inventories?
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Ilyana stole the Lord Commander's black book of Secrets. (Lord Commander, leader of the Blue House.) black book of confessions, log of some egregious sins. Grigori insinuated some things,& now the Cloven Nine think Ilyana's betrayed them. Possession of the book would give significant leverage over Lady Marack, head of The Blue House (secret police).
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Hana Longwhisper
big break - requested specifically; gain favor with her patron
trouble in Kobold Ghetto
Grey Eagle - wait for contact
looking for a black book of important info
time-sensitive