Strange Marks, Stranger Company

A week ago, just after leaving her mother's clan behind to search for answers about her father, a strange mark appeared on Kyllikki's wrist. No matter how she scratched at it, the mark remained. She vaguely remembered seeing the mark before on a sign her father had carved for a woman in Naphio. Determined to be rid of the mark and get some answers, she set a course for the cliffside city.
 
On arrival at Floros' Flickerings, Kyllikki found herself in the company of six others bearing similar marks: a secretive elf named Erendial and his young half-sister Elitheris, a hooded Tlaslo Tonrar man named Sah-Ghan, an anxious woman from Racine named Pella, a grumpy older Racinite man named Chiron, and a blue-skinned half-elf named Mollye'aleera.
 
Hecate, the daughter of the woman who had requested the stone sign, summoned her mother Nyx via crystal ball to explain. Each mark signified a role in the Court of Eight. Kyllikki's mark was that of the Prince of Swords. Those who are marked with these symbols are expected to restore order to the world, which has fallen out of balance. To get rid of the mark, the minor arcana of the matching suite must be overcome. The power can either be released back into the world, or kept for one's own use. The final member of the Court of Eight is still out there in the world.
 
Tired, frustrated, and overwhelmed by the revelation of their new roles, the party left Floros' Flickerings to find lodging by the harbor. Before anyone could get to know each other, Eli was pulled away from her lute performance and kidnapped. The party split in their attempt to catch up with her captors. Kyllikki followed Chiron and Sah-Gahn, while Eren, Mollye, and Pella chose another route. The former group quickly found themselves face-to-face with several mounted city guards. In the ensuing scuffle, Kyllikki killed a guard and his horse, too focused on her goal to really process what she had done.
 
Ultimately, the group made their way to the residence of Lord Dacey. Chiron was able to gain access to the kitchens, but not before the three were stripped of their weapons. Within the mansion, Kylli and Chiron were reunited with Pella and Eren, while Sah-Gahn when in search of Mollye. The group were led by a servant to the room where the harem of girls was being kept. Kyllikki was moved by the fear of a young dwarven girl, and promised her that she would see her clan again. She took it upon herself to lead the younger girls back to the kitchens, as the pull of a dwarf separated from her clan was stronger than her fears for Eli's safety.
 
Shortly after finding Eli, the party encountered a gnome called Togrim. He seemed to know Eren, but no further information was given. Togrim led the group to Lord Dacey's workshop through a secret passage. While his collection of strange creatures was simple to defeat, Dacey himself was too powerful without the full-strength of the party, and they were forced to retreat and rejoin Togrim.
 
With the estate on high alert, Togrim led the party to the front gardens to help them escape. Kyllikki awoke to a strange new power and made the word "Run" appear in the stone wall to distract the guards. Rattled by this newfound ability, Kylli retrieved her hammer and followed the party into the sewers to make their escape. Despite an encounter with some fish men, everyone emerged safely by the harbor. The party was chased from the inn upon retrieving their belongings, and all retreated to Floros' Flickerings to reunite with Mollye and Sah-Gahn.