Session 6: What's occurring in this here Norcastle then? Report

General Summary

Our heroes started after a lovely sleep in the eerie ruined west Norcastle. After discussion and some action, they manage to build a raft from debris and the cart. Everyone chips in and the raft floats. Hooray! 
They set off on their aquatic adventure on the SS Yes, James and Joe paddling, Maku-Maku keeping an eye on the prisoner, Hank keeping an eye on Celeste, and Reginald steering with the sail. Part way across the river, almost the entire party is stunned as a weird open-face creature attacks! It attempts to rock the raft and pull them in the water. Most of them fall in. A fight happens and the creature disappears. Besides sailing past the castle in the centre of the river, the rest of the float passes without a hitch.
They arrive at Norcastle some time early afternoon and pay a young boy, Broff, with a Team Avensis comic to keep their raft there for a week. Three guards from The Legion of Ash question them and they hand over their prisoner, Farrell. Hazar, one of the guards, and Farrell seem to know each other - the guards ask the PCs to come by the barracks later so they can question them. They're directed to Castle Ardinham.
At The Ward at the castle, they're welcomed by a huge statue of Lord Phillius Ardinham, before being greeted by Egoron Lantaththar. He guides them into the castle and briefly shows them around, answering questions. Thalia is out of town at the moment, but he can welcome them as official members of the Guardians of Greyacre! With a signature and a weird finger thing, they're in.
Their first stop is to meet Othokent, the black dragonborn that issues contracts. The quest board is ripe for the taking, and they take two: 1) to help a sick son of a baker, and 2) to stop someone committing murder from another civilian pissing on their door step. With contracts in hand, it's time to shop. Joe heads to The Vault and checks in all their party money with some miserable elves, and gives them the idea of renting out magic items to other parties. Hank and Maku-Maku head to the general store, The Fair Kraken, and meet Atheena Lunadream,; Hank tops up on some components and rents a brass brazier for the day for 3gp. James and Reginald go to the smithy to meet Ebon - James asks if he knows about the symbol on his armour, and he asks him to head to Grayridge, push back the false wall at the back of the workshop there (his old smith), and bring back the blade they find. there he will get his answers.
Shopping done, it's time to head out, but not before a discussion with Gadfort, the centaur. What a cheerful chap. The party ask if they want to share some drinks this evening - Gadfort will pass his opinion on to his companions and see if they agree. He also suggests they change their name to some death-related straw names. Farwell Gadfort. They drop Celeste off with Gonk and pay for grooming too.
On their way through the city, a man sells Maku-Maku a ladle that doesn't spill for 5sp. Hah, chump. Guards raid a store and some old women natter about some corruption. Regi gets his face touched by some old woman that asks for some alms (by name), then she calls him a good boy and leaves. At the home of the baker, they meet the boy - his eyes are bleeding and everything hurts. Maku-Maku discovers their family heirloom is magical of some sorts. He'd rather keep it for now though. The boy tells them he kicked a ball into a garden of a gated house with a gargoyle in it. They head in...
Obviously the gargoyle comes alive and they fight! Into the decrepit house, a voice warns them to leave. They don't. Some steps on the stairs reveal themselves as mimics. Regie and James get stuck and they fight. Some pain happens, and Reginald's ankle turns into mush! It chomps on his foot and the bone is destroyed and the foot hangs on by cartilage and skin. Eww. With the mimics defeated, they charge upstairs and fight a... MEDUSA! At this level!? Are you crazy?? After an absolute wicked hit on Joe and the fight looks a bit hairy, Maku-Mkau throws in a sneaky fog cloud and evens the fight out. Hank has the killing blow as 2 or 3 of them go down and keep getting revived. Good job gang.
They stay in this old house and rest.

Rewards Granted

Each of our heroes received 10gp for completing their first contract and returning with the heads of the demons.
Later in the session, Reginald found 4pp on the body of the Medusa.

Missions/Quests Completed

The party handed in the two heads of the 4-armed demons and claimed their reward, as they started their progression in the ranks of the Guardians of Greyacre. 
The Emerald Straws also took on their first two contracts! The first is to help a baker with his sick son, and the other to stop someone from pissing on a doorstep.

Character(s) interacted with

The PCs met a lot of new characters this week:

• Broff, the boy at the docks that idolises Kragg and Team Avensis
• Hazar, one of the city guards (The Legion of Ash)
• Egoron Lantaththar, the party's guide at Castle Ardinham
• Ebon Bladerock, proprietor of Clink n' Clank
• Gadfort, The Dazzling Gang's resident Centaur druid
• Gonk Bloodbasher, owner of The End of the Road, stable and travel store
• Kelpy, the baker, and his sick son, Jonathan

Created Content

The Castle Ardinham article has been published, which includes details on all the locations and the people that run them. The Thalia Oloren article is also now public.

Campaign

Guardians of the Last Age

Protagonists

James Grom Jr.

Joe Smith

Reginald Jones

Maku Maku

Hank Strongsoul

Report Date

20 Feb 2020

Primary Location

Norcastle

Secondary Location

The Lonely Forest