Session 16: Sharn Honors the Crew

General Summary

Sharn Thanks the Crew

• Philip revealed his newest origami creation - the emblem of the Church of the Silver Flame, giving it to Verin. He said that he knew Verin said he didn't worship a particular deity, but Philip wanted to emphasize that the Silver Flame is not an anthropomorphic deity, but rather, the power that is between us all. "The Silver Flame will always burn while man is around to keep it ablaze."
  • Verin graciously accepted the gift, and talked about his brazier for a bit. He said it did not seem like any sort of god, but rather, an echo of his ancestors. Maleakos felt as if Verin's recount sounded vaguely familiar to something in his studies, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
• The Crypt Crew eventually made their way to the ceremony in the Highest Towers district of Upper Central Plateau. There were rows upon rows of benches facing a main platform, where the sitting Sharn Council resided: Gavanithyx Kharisa, the female green dragonborn, represents Central Plateau. Thurik Davandi, the male gnome in a chunky overcoat, represents Menthis Plateau. Shassa Tarr, the female shifter, represents Northedge. Hruitt, the owl, represents Dura. Bianca Valentino, the female halfling, represents Tavick's Landing. Nolan Toranak, the male dwarf, represents the Cogs. Evix ir'Marasha, the female human, represents Skyway.
• Also present on the front podium was Zanog, the Harbinger orc that fought alongside them in the Tragedy of Lower Northedge.
• After Hruitt and N'nchyk exchanged terse words, Shassa gave the Crew the rundown of the event's logistics. She also pried a little bit into the heroes' motivations as much as she could without seeming nosy - saying it's been centuries since heroes like themselves have been so prevalent.
• Eventually, Gavanythix approached the podium and began the ceremony. It began with a long speech about the Tragedy, and the lives that were lost at the hands of Droaam. There was a moment of silence for those lost, a memorial for the Sharn Watchers lost, and a group blessing.
• The speech then turned to focus fully on the Crypt Crew. Their bravery and sacrifice was honored, not only in the recent Tragedy, but in their past actions as well: their toppling of Shiksu, rescue of the warforged, and liberation of the House Orien lightning rail was brought to attention. Their care and generosity towards the Phoenix Orphan Home was also recognized.
• Because of all of this, the city of Sharn deemed it fit to reward these heroes with the Golden Cog, an award given only to the bravest and most heroic of the city. As each Crewmate was introduced and granted their Cog, a ripple of silver light intertwined with a different light rippled from their chest. Gavanythix, who was distributing the Cogs, seemed confused, and the crowd began to notice with each successive hero receiving their medal. Finally, once all six heroes had received their Cog, the silver light from each of them combine into a whirlpool of energy, coalescing into a dragon's head that spoke in a booming voice, "The Silver Flame calls upon a chosen six."
• The crowd was held in a silent reverence after this, but Gavanythix, clearly in an attempt to keep the ceremony running according to plan, continued with the speech. She said as an additional token of the city's thanks, the Crypt Crew would receive 100 acres of land north of the city, along the edge of the Dagger River. A special House Orien station will be constructed to connect the land to the lightning rail. "We hope our heroes will make use of this gift and remain close to this glorious city — whether physically or spiritually."
• Some of the Crypt Crew seized the opportunity to speak publicly on behalf of their group to the city.
  • N'nchyk said he would not have made it this far had it not been for his friend, Ymot'Zeg. He also said that death is not the end, which actually seemed to comfort some among the crowd.
  • Ashpin chose to highlight the people instead of themselves, saying it was the people of the crowd that ought to be recognized. It is the good in them that keeps the City of Towers great. "You guys are the real heroes!"
  • Verin spoke about the Sharn Watch, saying the city needs to remember and support them. He also encouraged the crowd to be generous towards defense efforts, and to prepare themselves for whatever may happen.
  • Viribus encouraged strength in this dark time, saying it was a time for action. The people that did this are still out there, so we must not let the lives lost be in vain.
• The ceremony seemed about ready to come to a honorable and peaceful conclusion, until a scrawny, disheveled man stood up and, with a shaking hand, shot a crossbow bolt at N'nchyk. He cursed out the Crypt Crew, saying they weren't saviors, they're why the city needs to be saved.
• Maleakos levitated the man above the rest of the crowd while N'nchyk paralyzed him, and several Sharn Watch guards hurried to apprehend him. N'nchyk strolled off the platform to speak to him, to the reluctance of the guards. The man blamed the Crew for the things that have happened, since they only started happening when the Crypt Crew came to Sharn.
• After the man was dragged away, dozens of fans and old faces wanted to speak to the Crypt Crew as the Council departed.
  • Clink, one of the warforged that they had saved from the beast in The Cogs, thanked them profusely for saving him and giving him a new chance at life. He said he had started afresh, Clink's Carpentry, in Lower Central Plateau, and that anything they wanted done would be free of charge.
  • Hadrian, along with other members of the Sharn Watch, personally congratulated and thanked Verin.
  • Zanog spoke with the Crew, congratulating them on their reward. N'nchyk was characteristically hostile to Zanog, but he seemed confused by N'nchyk's attitude. Zanog offered to try and defuse whatever tension there was between them, but N'nchyk did not seem interested. After N'nchyk claimed that Zanog killed cloaked, gaunt individuals, Zanog truthfully stated that he had never seen such a person, much less killed them.

A Night Apart

• After the eventful ceremony, the Crew chose to go their separate ways to spend the evening.
• Dooturr chose to go with Philip back to his house and spend the evening playing cards and discussing the nature of Dooturr. Philip said that his faith, the Church of the Silver Flame, was diametrically opposed to the undead. However, Philip believed this historical perspective was worth modifying, as Dooturr and his compatriots were clearly not typical undead. Besides, Philip believes the Silver Flame is the power that lies within the unity and peace amongst humanoids.
  • Dooturr also recounted his first waking moments after The Mourning. It was terrifying - a battlefield - and several others like himself has to flee to safety.
  • One of the last things the two discussed was a settlement of skeletons. The elves of Valenar did something similar - seceded during the war, and founded a nation of their own people. Perhaps the Mournland skeletons could do the same.
• Maleakos and N'nchyk retired to ALP 567, and came back the next day with a chunky bulldog, Rusty.
• Ashpin and Verin returned to their orphanage roots, visiting with Katrina of the Phoenix Orphan Home. She already seemed to be doing much better, saying grants were being given to the orphanage, all thanks to the work and help of the Crew. She happily gave them another tour of the Home, and was particularly delighted that each of the kids had a brand-new bed, instead of the musty old cots the Crew had previously seen.
• The two then went to the Wings of Refuge, where Verin was raised. Kerith, the old caretaker, was as happy as the tired old man could be to see Verin. They caught up a bit, and discussed how serious the Droaam issue was getting. Lastly, Kerith asked what happened during the ceremony - what with the lights, and dragon, and whatnot. Verin assured his old caretaker that it was just an effort on behalf of the city to make the ceremony that much more memorable.
• Viribus went back to his mansion for the first time, and enjoyed the luxury for a good night's rest after a few hours of rigorous training.
• Dooturr went and recollected his bow from Clink, who had set up his makeshift workshop as best he could with the little resources he had mustered. Even in the ramshackle shop, with some homemade tools, Clink had managed to carefully engrave several elegant patterns into Dooturr's shortbow, including an elegant skull at the bow's crest. Clink insisted that it was free of charge, but Dooturr generously gave him 3 galifars anyway.
• Eventually, the group united at Viribus' mansion, ready to set off to find the Boromar's smuggling hideout in the Cogs while they could. Verin disguised Philip according to his wishes. There was a pit stop made at Philip's house to have Alice watch the Bromance's new dog, as he had continued to follow them them - particularly Maleakos - throughout the day.
• The Crew made their way to the lift that they knew led to The Cogs, which Maleakos was able to hotwire with relative ease. Once they made it, they walked through the vaguely familiar landscape for some time, before they encountered a familiar face. Frankie, of the Boromar Clan. He did not seem necessarily displeased to see them, especially Maleakos, but inquired as to what they were doing in this part of the city.

Date begun:
23 Zarantyr, 998 YK
Date ended:
24 Zarantyr, 998 YK
Party level:
6

Report Date

11 Apr 2021