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Session 48: Animaesus and Tarrasques: Elven Pillows; Movements and Reactions of Binderlords

General Summary

It is the next day, and Faurwiin and Birdman are at the tavern known as Thirds near the well-known magic shop, Seconds and Bits. They have come here, rather unexpectedly, for the Evening Swan, where they intended to meet has been overrun by Lupin of the First House, and some of their cousins from out of town. Thirds is a perfect place to meet, with strong connections to the Third house, as well as the neutral ground between the Sage's Row and the Tailstones, this tavern provides one of the few places where no one would care that two elves, two of the only elves really in the city, meet for some reasons only elves may understand. And, indeed that is what they have come to discuss, the lives of elves that Birdman has forgotten as well as the fate of the city. Faurwiin is also curious as to how Birdman's connections can lend aid to Faurwiin's goal by having foreknowledge of the movements of the other houses. The 13 Binder Lords may be at the end of the run, and the elves should prepare for the future as creatures that will be alive so much long after others have died. They share memories of their past, of wars and crimes, of Birdman's change to a kenku: a redflash and two elven figures stand, then nothing but darkness, and the figures are gone. 
As they leave from this early morning meeting, about 6 am, Faurwiin contacts Ferrum as the robotic, celestial being flies around the city looking for the coup leader, The Platutu. Ferrum is unable to locate the elusive leader, but he does get visual evidence of the 2nd House reinforcing the central seals of the tarrasque: their own, but also the 5th House Seal that they stole from Anton. There are Froghemoths about the seals, as well as their normal warriors, and Ferrum debates about extermination of these traitors to the City, but instead he continues to search for The Platutu. 
Next we find Killian at Mel's old apartment early in the morning, preparing Quinnay and the rest of the Ranas Lord's entourage for his departure for the day. Kindine, the drow protector of Quinnay stands guard, and Killian makes his way to the moot that his father Hybearn has established with Killian's cousins from the north, east, and south east, the original lupin, the 50 Pack Lords. As he approaches, he is greeted by the lords and guard of these 50 Lords, and he is also soon stopped by a group of Lupin Blood Hunters preparing to find Killian, not expecting to find him so close today of all days, after he angered his father and went against his House and Pack. They ask him to break away, go to a nearby alleyway, and there Killian's prowress and reputation precedes him, and the giantkin, lupin hybrid is able to convince this crew to let him pass, to let him talk with his father, The First House Binder Lord. They agree, and he passes through the next checkpoints because of their questioning allegiance to his father, Hybearn. 

Ssech spends his day setting up contacts taken from Pio and the 10th House, gaining distinct access to the Godbutchers trade that he 10th House controls, a dwarven trader; a human seeker of rare goods, who works for the 4th and 11th House, but is really how Pio pinches from the both upon their trades; lastly, a musceli Banker, a connection to the rodent lands southeast of the city. He also finds that Latisha will be is bet means to hurt Pio's money and trade, for her access to the information train of the city is unique and special. Additionally, his intense migraines increase, and he tries to follow their origin and intensity, and after many hours it leads him to the central keep of the city. There at the entrance of the Prime Gate, he sees the head of the tarrasque, and then its closest eye, the left opens, and he knows the voice's origin now, clean and simple; he knows what it wants. Destroy the ballistae to prepare for its freedom. And he does, he sneaks and finds a means into three of them, these armored ballistae, and he destroys them, sneakily, not them as a whole, but enough to make them take time to repair and reinforce, presumably months. 

Mel then takes this opportunity after the moot, with her newfound Binding recognized officially, and she announces a form of salva 
 "Good and hardworking people of our City of Salt, my name is Mealladh Apethanta. I am the Binderlord of the new 12th house, and I wish to serve you and this glorious city as best as I can. To all of you who feel like you are trapped, held down by the class system in this city, I offer a way out. To the sick and dying souls in the slums of our city, I offer you salvation. To the lost people, trying to find your way in our city, I offer you a place to belong, and a place to have a home. To the hungry, thirsty, and poor, I offer you what you need not only to survive, but to live. I welcome any and all who wish to willingly join my forces, to protect this city of ours, and to have a home and a family. I promise to serve you as loyally as you serve me, and to protect you with my life. I swear to uphold your honor for as long as you uphold mine. And I give you this not for my own gain, but so we may all rise together, as a force of strength and security for our city. Serve me and you will always have a place to belong, and you will never have to fear for your life, sickness, or death, you will never have to fear for your security, and you will never have to wonder where your next meal may come from. I swear this not to the aristocracy of this city, but to you, today, and forever."
She garners great loyalty and acceptance from the people of the City of Salt, and but mostly only because of previous notes and garners for thoughts of change. 
Finally, Garuvld takes himself to the lord of the 5th House, Anton, and gnomish artificier asks the dwarf warrior to bring Quinnay to him, to let him take the word of the 2nd House, to take his seal back and distract the other Houses on a trail. Yet, in order to do this, Anton will need great sums and even more pertinent rewards. Anton also gives him magical bands of iron to trap THe Platutu at his meeting later tonight. 
At that meeting, Garuvld first buys a tankard of ale, and then he goes to the table of the Ranas, of Platutu, lead there of course by the tavernmaster Rexaney. He is able to intimdate most into submission, but he uses the bands of iron nevertheless, and one of the compatriots attacks him. Fool, this caster, unprepared for the dwarf's strength. 
He then takes The Platutu to his lord Anton in hopes of luring Quinnay into a dire situation.

Cover image: by Seth Love

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