In Which the Party Gets Pissed Off

Gathering / Conference

The party takes their time to explore Kurleigh Castle, having arrived a month ahead of schedule. During which they go to a birthday party for Aldren, Athis does some charity work, and Wilphose connects with the criminal underground of the city. At the end of the month, they prepare for the auction, and the selling of the Manoa Accords.

Upon arriving at Kurleigh Castle the party discovers that rooms have already been purchased for them in a very nice hotel. The decided to spend some time in the city roaming around and seeing what there is to do.

Wilphose, ever on the hunt for the pieces of his sword, contacts the criminal underground in Kurleigh whose leader is known as The Tunnel King, and pays a good sum of money to have them hunt down the location of the missing gems. While looking to have the blade reforged he learns that the sword will not function properly without all of the gems in their proper places.

Athis takes to the streets, in the poorer sections of town, and being handing out food. His charity work garners the attention of one Arazana Yarel, an elf woman heading a small charity organization within the city. The two sit down to talk, Arazana expressing her gratitude for Athis' work. Athis, hiding as the Orc Rakar, reveals his true self to Arazana who sends him off promising not to turn him in.

Kithu enjoys the downtime exploring the city. He finds a family of dwarves who go by the name Coalgrog and, after some bargaining, has them create for him an elegant suite of black metal armour custom tailored for his wings.

Lydia also takes advantage of the downtime to explore the city. She ends up finding herself at an aquarium and meets Rolmir Palesteel there. The two of them chat about the aquarium's recent acquiring of a Plesiosaur, an animal assumed to have been dead for millennia. The two of them hit it off and begin spending more time together on the days off.

Orpheus spends his time playing music at various venues. At one such party he is approached by Ulric Covenlash and hired to play at Ulric's son's birthday party. Orpheus accepts.

The birthday party is a fabulous affair, though when they arrive the party discovers that the party is for Aldren, the man who hunted them down outside the Shrine about a month ago. Walking on eggshells most of the party the tension comes to a climax when Aldren appears to recognize the group and challenges Kithu to a friendly duel. It is very close, but Aldren managed to come out on top. He makes it clear to the group that he has no intention of following up with his attack and most of the tension is broken.

The day of the auction arrives. It is a mostly quiet event, though there was a brief interception of a mindflayer who was disguising his aura as a fiend, the party dealt with it and returned to the auction just in time to watch the final bids. After it had finished, the Fence pulled Wilphose aside for a final conversation. She told him where to meet her after she had handed off the Accords and received the money. Wilphose handed her the Accords and they parted ways.

Upon arrival at the location they learned the terrible truth of what had happened. They had been betrayed. Aldren was waiting for them, tipped off by the Fence, with a large party of archers and two of his fathers bodyguards. A fight broke out in the street. Swords clashed, a wall of fire was summoned, Octopuses were conjured to tangle up the archers. During the fight a Briarborn by the name of Bramblegrowl approached the group and offered aid. The fight turned in the party's favour when Aldren was struck unconscious and his men were forced to surrender.

The party made their quick escape in to the bowls of the city with Aldren in tow. Complacent and dejected Aldren was open with them, explaining that he had little choice but the follow up on this lead when it was handed to him. He had wanted to drop the job altogether but it seems that family has a stronger grasp that he imagined. Aldren offered to help them find the Fence in exchange for his life. After brief discussion, a tentative alliance was made.

Aldren brought the party to his family home. Wilphose sneaked into Aldren's room to get the key for his Giant Eagles while Aldrena and Orpheus went to speak with Ulrich under the pretense of Orpheus going turncoat. During the discussion Ulrich offered Orpheus a good deal. If he would go back to the party and convince them to steal back the Manoa accords to be returned to their rightful owners, Ulrich would see to it that Athis' charges were cleared.

With lots to think about Aldren and Orpheus return to the party. Together they go and meet Aldren's eagles and take to the skies above the city looking for the Fence. It takes them nearly four hours to do so but, thanks to their jumping into action immediately, they manage to intercept her before she was able to leave the city. A few threats and a small maiming later and the party has collected the gold though it seems, not all of it. The fence (after more threats) reveals that the gold was taken by one of the Dragons from the North, who learned of the auction and (rightly) assumed there would be an incredibly large payout.

Faced with yet another frustrating turn of events the party retires to their beds to get some rest and figure things out when they wake up.