10 - The Lower City

When last we left our heroes... the group had reconvened after their various side-quests for information to find out that Mary and Ammethi had secured a "small escort job" from the Adventurers' Guild into the lower city. The two had been hired on for a sum of 500gp each, escorting a wagon filled with foodstuffs into the lower city. Hearing about the job, the rest of the group decided to tag along. Meanwhile, Taryn approached Hollis and informed him that after giving it some thought, she felt like it was time for her to head back to the temple; she also hinted that she had been harboring fears of bringing great harm to the rest of the group. Hollis spectacularly failed to comfort her, describing a horrific scene involving cows and milk, attempting to describe "ice cream". Ailonora was able to speak with Taryn, and after a brief conversation, the group headed to the visa office en route to Temple Row and to the Dragon's Spire. The group received their Merchant's Guild-sponsored visas; however, Ailonora decided it was in her best interest to pay for her own, without the influence of the guild. Afterward, Taryn is left with Sister Anat, a Dragonborn priestess of Crel. Before leaving, Mary slipped Hollis' bible to Taryn, and the group said goodbye. Just down the street, the group arrived at the Dragon's Spire, a large stone multi-story tower with a steeply-pitched slate roof with the first floor housing a magical enchantment shop, just as the cargo was being finalized into the wagon. A stout, talkative Dwarf named "Gim Redstone" drove the wagon through the city to the Lower Gate. A small contingent of city guards met the party at the closed gate; Guard Captain Velkan quickly questioned the group as to why they were heading into the lower city, gave a grave warning about not being able to protect them, and allowed them to pass. As the gates swung open, a frighteningly retched sight met the group.

Serenity Point

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The Lower City

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Session Plot Points
The Lower City:

• A small group of 5-6 city guards has created a cordon zone around the gate, mercilessly pushing back the quickly growing crowd as they see the wagon come through the gate
• Absolute squalor and poverty; the stench of rotting food, dying flesh, and decomposition; sickly and starved humans, dwarves, elves, and others reach out deathly thin hands asking for food
• There is a small (~200m) zone of ramshackle houses, lean-tos, and hovels before the cliff dips down and the road meanders its way down into the lower city.
• The guards push open a small space for the wagon, and the group begins heading down into the lower city

Local Quests, Rumors, and Tasks

• Susie and Amir are in town, and have set up shop to town in 1 day (the day before the Coronation Games)
• In 2 days, the Coronation Games will begin - both martial and arcane games
• Inquisitions and anti-immigrants in the lower city.
• Steel Predator will have been hauled in by a fishing vessel, seemingly unconscious (rumor overheard in a tavern by a very drunk sailor).
• Guilds

Overall Plot Points:

• When Taryn had her episode, she spoke in Celestial "Get me to the Cut, I need the fire and flame. Trust no one, use yourself, the power is within me."
• Taryn is not the reincarnation of Crel, as her guardians had her believe.
• There is a chance that Taryn will have an episode of trauma in a few days, will kill a lot of people at the Temple in Serenity Point, and go into hiding trying to escape the city.
• Taryn will head to either the lower city or toward the docks to book passage to Deros.
• The displacer beast has also been slowly following the trail of the party.
• The steel predator (Session 1) escaped the ship and will be coming to shore around the same time as the party gets to Serenity Point. The predator has been hauled ashore (unconscious) into the lower city by a local fisherman, fishing far out west near the eastern edge of the Bay of Moons.
• William will survive his beating and will hold a massive resentment against the party for the way they treated him when they arrived to Serenity Point; he will find a following in Serine for rebelling against the monarchy. He and his followers will call themselves "The Fancymen of Serine" and will be hodge-podgely clad in armor and weapons.

Lore Given to the PCs:
Ailonora:

• Papa (G-orge) was relieved and happy to hear that she was alive, doing well, and safe in the city.
• Papa sent her notice that a sum of 6000 GP for visas will be released at the royal bank.
• Papa wants her to choose a champion for the games and gain influence with the queen.
• Papa wants her to place a wager with the Thieves Guild for 500 GP.
• (Not seeded) Upon wagering on her champion, she will be given the letter instructing her to begin relations with the queen; a diplomatic mission of sorts.
• Papa warned her to steer clear of the Merchants and Free Merchants guilds, as they have been causing trouble at home.
• Papa will be sending one of her brothers [NAME] to Deros/Ember to handle the rest of the family business.
• Papa wants Ailonora to stay on task in Serenity Point.
• (Not seeded) Papa has been working with the surviving Illithid and told them that he suspected that the steel predator was on the Cloud Dancer, which was headed to Deros.
• (Not seeded) The Illithid have been guiding Papa through the technological boom in airship travel (essentially spelljamming), and require the matrix of the predator to power their ship in an attempt to escape the astral barrier.
• (Not seeded) Papa did not know the hunters had a functional ship and would strike the ship from the Cloud Dancer, putting Ailonora's life in danger.
• (Not seeded) Papa will ask Ailonora to begin laying the foundations of relations between the family and the queen.
• (Not seeded) Papa has inclinations that the predator might be in Harreach and wants the queen's assistance to return it back to Vitall. Papa will have already dispatched a cargo ship to Serenity Point; it will arrive in 2 weeks.

Jordan:

• Jordan met with Trade Master Gerak Amushar the Golden in person.
• Gerak brought Jordan into the fold regarding the business with the cargo.
• While unknown to Gerak, the details of the cargo box fascinate him.
• Gerak told him that it was an experimental box that the company had been working on.
• The final destination of the cargo was going to be in Ember, wherein agents of the guild would transport the box from Deros to Ember for further processing.
• (Not seeded) Unknown to Gerak, the guild has a working partnership with the Hunters, who have been hiding their ship in the caldera in Ember.
• Gerak told Jordan that he fears that the Ferinor Family Patriarch, G-orge Ferrinor (Ailonora's father), has been dealing with devices, technologies, and people not of this world (Corsitihia - outside the astral barrier).
• Gerak warned Jordan of the dangers of these astral creatures.
• Gerak hypothesized that the Ferinors may be working with the Hunters (not seeded, but this information will ultimately prove to be false)
• Gerak approves guild authorization for Jordan to procure visas for the group while they investigate the cargo; Gerak asks for half a season (20 days).
• Jordan's room and board will be covered until the completion of his mission.
• Jordan received a payment of 3,500 GP for his troubles and continued service.
• Gerak warns that the new queen is seen as bad for business and her enforcement of the separation of the walled and lower cities may lead to a boil-over.
• (Not seeded) News of the predator will spread quickly, and the Guild Master will arrive in Serenity Point 10 days after its discovery.