Session 28: "Jailbreak!"

General Summary:

Rare Mavari had gone missing. The tiefling queen had spent the night out on the town and did not return, something completely uncharacteristic of the generally shy and safe warlock. Glittergem and Erisna decided to retrace their friend's steps in an attempt to find her. While casing the center of town, they came across the Demesne of Shape- an art house and enclave of House Phiarlan. There they learned from Viceroy Idal Tialaen d’Phiarlan the general location to search for their friend. Rappeling down a cliff, the party broke into a secret dungeon and rescued Rare (who had already tried to escape). Erisna, empowered by a strange tonic concocted by Glittergem, was bodily throwing Rare's jailers while the gnome helped release Ambrose Alarud and another prisoner before the group fled off the cliff and used Feather Fall to land safely into the Sound. Sneaking back into the crowd, the Sharn Dragons tried to return to their rooms at Tira's Rest before being set upon by a flame-wielding man who cornered them in an alleyway.

The Demesne of Shape:

The art gallery known as the Demesne of Shape serves as a front for House Phiarlan, a dragonmarked house of spies. Operated by Viceroy Idal Tialaen d’Phiarlan, it appears to be a high-end gallery that hosts many events on behalf of the city's more connected inhabitants. House Thuranni (assassin) operations have cut into House Phiarlan goals, and the two houses are on shaky ground following the Shadow Schism and the events of the Mourning.

On a low hill in the middle district you see a tall, square white building with thick columns. From this distance, it looks to be either a museum or a theater of some kind. Though not a massive establishment, you do see several people touring the grounds around the building, which seem immaculately maintained.

The party toured the grounds under the hunch that the cultural experience may have enticed their friend to linger. While perusing the statues, they discovered that they had all been scarred by something arcane, which Glittergem deduced was from The Mourning, making all of these statues items that had been returned from the former nation of Cyre. While walking the grounds they heard a flurry of music and spotted Aruvenor d'Phiarlan, the spy and assassin that killed the Church's spy outside Harken's Magical Wares the previous day.
Aruvenor offered to give the two remaining Dragons a quick tour of the Demesne of Shape with the promise to introduce them to his leader, someone who likely knew where to find Rare. There they learned that, for some reason, House Phiarlan was placing itself between the Church/ government of Thrane and the Scion Liberation Front, effectively preventing espionage from both sides. Over the past few months, however, a new spymaster had been organizing the collection of information for the Church, leading to several SLF deaths and kidnappings. Viceroy Idal Tialaen d’Phiarlan had been cracking down on these spies and had found the general location of their base of operations on the east side of town. He did not have a precise location, but recommended that the party start their search there.

Jail of the Whisperers

You can hear the sounds of water dripping constantly. Even before you can will yourself to open your eyes. Even between the ragged breaths and hoarse cries of the other prisoners.
An eternity later you can begin to feel your skin. First a numb tingling, then the cold dampness of your clothes. Next the stiffness of the rock beneath your face, pushing against your horns and teeth. You taste copper in your mouth, mild bleeding, and can smell the mold. Finally, your eyes flutter open and you can begin to make out your dismal surroundings.

This dark prison only maintains ten jail cells, and only half of those are full. It is administered by Jean Valjean a veteran of The Last War that served in the Knights of Thrane on an elite force that had established a base camp on the edge of the Demon Wastes to attack Aundair (and their former vassal state, the Eldeen Reaches) from the north. There he was attacked regularly by the native tieflings of that region and developed a hatred for the entire race. Rare was mildly beaten, but the jailer was intent on psychologically torturing his captive and had forced her to observe a fellow inmate, a werewolf named Faoladh Ossory being thrown into the Sound before leaving her alone in her cell.

Freeing the Prisoner:

Rare was able to both summon Glacias and help him escape the prison. The imp, using the door that opened over the Sound to escape, then went looking for Glittergem and Erisna to help guide them to the secret exit. As luck would have it, the two of them had just began to close in on the hideout. They lost sight of the agents as they turned invisible and began their descent on the cliff leading down to the door. Glittergem cast Enhance Ability on Erisna, turning her companion into a hulking behemoth. One of the agents identified the suspicious heroes and crept up to their tethered rope as they descended. The chemically enhanced Erisna was able to snatch the falling gnome out of the air and guide them both to the ledge with the doorway.
What happened next was chaotic. Erisna, with her artificer-crafted performance enhancing drugs, was able to rip the steel door from its hinges and use one guard as an improvised weapon to attack the remaining guards. Glittergem was able to pick the locks to release some of the prisoners. Rare was able to free herself, and get her revenge on Jean in the process. Risking re-capture, Rare bounded into the jail's storeroom to recover her equipment and the party (with Ambrose Alarud and Klaus Dormand in tow) jumped off the ledge and into the Sound, using Feather Fall to slow their descent.

Introducing... Bernard ir'Laisha:

Pulling themselves from the shallows of the Sound, the group parted ways and the Sharn Dragons started their slow walk toward Tira's Rest. Ducking into an alleyway to allow Rare an opportunity to disguise herself, the party felt the presence of a creature behind them. A wall of fire blocked their escape, and Glittergem wheeled around with Hand To God ready to blow a hole in someone before her entire body froze as Hold Person took effect. A man wearing heavy armor and the tabard of the Silver Flame stood in the light of the busy street, casting a long shadow over the unsuspecting party...

Party Level: 8 In-game Date: 22 Sypheros 998YK Party Members: Erisna, Glittergem Boondiggles, and Rare Loot: tabard, bag of supplies (unopened)

Plot Threads:

The Sharn Dragons have been introduced to House Phiarlan and their baron, Viceroy Idal Tialaen d’Phiarlan. It wasn't clear why the spymaster had taken a neutral stance in the clandestine fight for Thaliost, but the House had provided a service for the party when they needed it most. Glittergem was able to place a magical listening device in the jail while they were freeing Rare. Do you think that makes them even, or will the dragonmarked house of spies ask for the party's assistance later?

The jailers had the same design on their black tabards as the spies had on their hidden badges. The party was able to grab one of the tabards as evidence on their way out of the jail. Could someone else help them learn more about this secret group?

The plot to expose Archbishop Solgar Dariznu seems to be at risk after Rare exposed the substance of the plot to Christian Aubrek, the mole in the Scion Liberation Front. That being said, Jean Valjean (Rare's jailer) did not seem to know why Rare was being held prisoner. What is Christian playing at?

The party not only saved Rare, but was also able to rescue Abrose Alarud, the guardian to their new friend Anton!

Who was the other man that the party rescued from the jail? He seemed like he had been in there for years. The party lost sight of him in the crowd once they crawled out of the Sound. Hopefully he got home alright...