Session 003 - Monsters in the Market

General Summary

Date 20 Nuzyael 720TR (Spring)

The heroes have arrived in the City of Coranan.

Making their way through the streets, they observe Priests of the Order of Rydequelyn performing a satire. Three priests of Save K'Nor, made up as Jesters, were mocking Senator Baloth Nemirina, who had just returned from a three year trip to the far Azeryani Empire to determine the validity of his claims to the Imperial throne. He is mercilessly ridiculed as he discovered that he was the distant cousin of a distant cousin with several bastards in between.

However the crowds attention is drawn to wagons on the way to the Pamesani Arena. Two wagons with cages filled with captured Ivashu, 8 of the tiny eye eating Vlasters and a crocodile-like Miuruca. The crowd excitement turns to fear as 4 "terrorists" burst forth from the crowd with axes attacking the cages shouting “Freedom for the Children.” Before anyone can respond, the doors of the cages are broken open, and the Ivashu freed.

Several guards are soon overwhelmed, and the crowd panics. Athena and Yureb deal with the "terrorists" and then the Vlasters. As the Miuruca turns toward the terrified crowd, Athena moves to intercept. Yureb leaps from one of the nearby buildings and, with an acrobatic flourish, expertly stabs the Miuruca from behind. Athena summons Balefire, and her two-handed sword is engulfed with intense orange and yellow flames as she drove it into the heart of the creature.

The PC's heroics were observed by many in the crowd.

One of the surviving wagon guards offers a personal thanks to Athena. He is Keric, a sergeant of Order of the Demon Pameshlu. He said he would be willing to return the flavor any time, and he can be contacted at the Glaive and Sickle Inn. He gives each of the characters a token for entry to the next Pamesani Games.

Jehan Chusselrin, a local wine merchant, also offers thanks. He asks the PCs to come to his shop this evening, where he will reward them for saving his life. The PCs get accommodation at the Stake Inn, partake in some gambling, and that evening, meet with Jehan.

Jehan rewards them with 50 silver each and an expensive bottle of Golden wine. He then shows the PCs into his cellar and makes an offer of employment.

Showing the characters a Inheritance Letter he received from his grandfathers estate. He inherited the Heart of Tondran, a magical artifact in the shape of a large crystal heart set in a complex web of metallic spikes. Jehan believes that he has a magical connection to this artifact, and it was responsible for his family's great wealth well over a century ago. His family owned a highly profitable vineyard near Telen, but this was lost in 665TR during the Great Flood of the Thard River.

He hires the heroes to find out how to use the artifact, with a reward of 2,000sp and the promise of assistance in their future endeavors. They take up his offer, and Athena recalls in her studies an obscure mention of a possible historical reference, the Cult of Tondran, a sect which was destroyed about 15 years before the Jehan's family was founded and shortly after made its fortune producing wine. The PCs decide to investigate the records in the Save K'nor archives the next day.

That night they return to their room at the Inn to find their beds filled with Snakes, the feared Harnic Asps. They find escape options are limited. Their door is has jammed shut from the outside. Quickly dispatching the snakes, they discovered a would-be assassin fleeing out a window. After a brief chase through the streets at night, they catch up and kill her. She was wearing the Snakes in Blood amulet, the same as the terrorists in the marketplace, the symbol of the Children of Ilvir.

Character(s) interacted with

Keric a sergeant of Order of the Demon Pameshlu. He will offer assistance at some time in the future.

Three Rydelequyn "Jesters." It should be of note that they used some discrete verbal magic to assist the heroes.

Jehan Chusselrin, wine merchant. PC's may have saved his life, and he offers them a well-paid contract to discover how to use the Heart of Tondran.