Session 30: Bruno Report
General Summary
"My name is Tyvis, I have a dispatch for the new dragonslayers" Says a man as he approaches the groups table at the wrecked, just as Naomi was starting to get up. Tyvis is fairly nondescript, standing at 5'10, with a slim build, short, dark hair and hazel eyes. He is dressed simply, but his clothing reveals a more hidden wealth he doesn't carry. He hands the letter out over the table for whoever happens to grab it.
The letter itself is plain, but sealed with a wax in the form of a leaf upon the sail of a sailboat.
Naomi sits back down and sighs deeply. "Oh Gods. I suppose I can stay just a little longer if they sent a request." She says looking at the others. "I'd rather not explain why exactly I know who sent this here, but it is most definitely in our interest to at least read the letter." She reaches to the side and grabs the letter from Tyvis' hand, slipping him 5 gold. "Thank you Tyvis, please make sure none hear that we've received this letter."
He takes the gold, but stands by, waiting patiently for them as he motions to the letter.
Eleanor leans over and looks over the letter as well. "Someone you know I guess? Why just us dragonslayers? There's a good number of those here already..."
"We are clearly becoming well known!~" Ayame says haughtily.
Eleanor tisks and sqquints at Ayame. "That's not always a good thing."
"It's..Yes it's someone I know. Maybe not directly. It's a little...odd to see the seal of this family so fair inland, so far from home..." Naomi says, using her nail to peel up the wax seal and open the letter. "They must've requested us directly as soon as they got word of our heroinism."
Ayame nods after quickly skimming the letter. "Well... at the very least it wouldn't hurt to hear him out."
Eleanor takes a few moments to read the letter, giving a nod as well. "Well I read that all so I guess we have to now. Not the type of jobs I like gettin involved with but if the rest of yall're going then might as well."
Tyvis pulls out a pen. "I would be happy to give you instructions to the manor."
"That would be wonderful." Naomi says, looking to Eleanor. "They might not be your type of job, but we do need to start on the path of finding a stable income. And I owe this person at least my ear to listen to his ailments."
Tyvis picks up the letter while Naomi speaks, scribbling some instructions on navigating to and through the upper class district of Scalare. "Please do visit us post haste. Dinner starts at dusk." He says before walking away, back down the stairs and out of the tavern without delay.
Eleanor rubs her temples and sighs, "Time to sober up some and get goin then."
Ayame shrugs. "No real hurry yet... not that I have much to do..."
After some minor preparations, and Naomi communing with her goddess for strength, the party makes their way to the noble district. Entering the more upper class district of the city, the party stands before a three story mansion. It has a freshly cut, carefully tended lawn and a fresh coat of paint, what one might surmise as to remove the scorch marks from the dragon attack earlier in the day.
"This city certainly knows how to recover fast..." Naomi comments, looking about. "But this looks like the place."
"It could be enchanted to repair itself" Ayame remarks, sitting on sebastians shoulder as usual, kicking her feet back and forth idly. "Maybe a little expensive for a potentially failing noble house though."
"Folks have their priorities in this city." Says Eleanor.
"Folks in this city seem to have a screw loose." Naomi says, pausing to look at Eleanor. "Sorry." She says before making her way up to the door and knocking.
Tyvis answers the door and invites the party inside, ushering them from the front hallway into the dining room. The room is an opulently furnished room, dominated by a long, dark wooden table, decorated in the center with the seal of house autumnport, a sailing ship set inside a leaf on a shield, inlaid in gold upon the tabletop. A crystal chandelier hangs directly above the dinner table, casting a gentle light upon the room. Besides the door that the party entered through, two other doors lead out of the room, one to the kitchen, and another that says "Study" above the doorframe.
A man is already seated at the head of the table when the party enters, who stands up and heartilly welcomes the party. "Greetings friends, I am Bruno Autumnport! Please take a seat, make yourselves at home!" Bruno looks to be a dashing young man in his mid-twenties, with blue eyes that twinkle with mischief behind them, and short, well trimmed yet lightly tousled blond hair. He wears a brand new outfit very becoming of him, and fashionable.
Ayame looks about the room, giving an approving nod before hopping off of Sebastians shoulder to the ground. "Greetings, I am Ayame shiori, and thiis is my companion Sebastian." She says patting her armored skeleton.
"Ahh miss Shiori, the necromancis that wiped out an army of the dead with a wave of her hand, I heard about your exploit this morning, well done." Bruno says with an approving clap.
Ayame blushes slightly. "A-ah thank you! That's definately embelishing it, but I appreciate the recognition." Naomi stands her staff next to her, having it glow momentarily with holy power as the staff miraculously stands straight upwards on its own. She rests her hand on her chest and bows her head towards Bruno. "Greetings. Head-Cleric-In-Training from Seconvale's Church of Rhamnasia, Nahemah Dai'Gishkin, at your service."
Bruno gives a nod of acknowledgement when he looks to Naomi. "Ahh the beautiful Naomi of the powerful Dai'Gishkin house. I must admit that I had such a crush on you when your family attended court, back when I was ten."
"I-I... huh? A crush on me?!" Naomi says as her staff loses its power from her lack of focus while she blushes, quickly leans down and picks up her staff, hugging it close to her chest.
Eleanor gives a casual wave to Bruno. "Greetings, you can just call me Eleanor, pardon any... roughness on my part. This isn't entirely the sort of task or setup i'm as acquainted with.
"Nothing to be rough about from a woman who dropped a tower on top of a dragon to kill it! I'm surprised they didn't have you pay for damages, but dragonslayers are a rare breed." Bruno says with a chuckle.
"I suppose so," Eleanor says with a shrug. "Though Cinerosa has quite a number of them compared to other cities."
Still embarassed from her loss of composure, Naomi speaks back up again. "A-aaanyways... We are... reporting here in response to your letter. What is it that you need?"
"Ahh, it is but bad taste to discuss business on an empty stomach. I trust your family name, but I need to make sure i'm dealing with people able to keep some sense of discretion, you understand. All I have of you are rumors, and a childhood infatuation, nothing more... so forgive me for being harsh in my words... I need to trust you before I could hire you."
Naomi, grips her staff, feeling the flush of embarrassment, but gives a light bow to bruno. "Forgive this one, you are correct Sir Autumnport."
"All is forgiven Lady Dai'Gishkin." Bruno says with a small bow before sitting back down at the head of the table. "Now tell me, what brought you to the kingdom from acros the world?"
Naomi takes a seat at the table, two chairs away from Bruno. "I cannot speak for my companions, but as for me... Adventure. The sights of a world yet unseen to me."
"Adventure indeed. I always found Cinerosa to be filled with secrets and long lost legacies. Every grave tells a new story, and every tower a new secret."
Ayame takes a seat next to bruno on the other side of the table from Naomi, with Eleanor sitting between Naomi and Bruno, giving a nod to Naomi.
"To explore those areas lost to us, to see something that no other has seen in thousands of years... It's incredible isn't it?" Naomi says excitedly.
"Indeed, though my responsibilities to the house keep me in the city more often than not. An adventurer I am not." Bruno says with a chuckle. "And what of you Eleanor?" He says shuffling into his seat comfortably. "I heard that you had left the city in the past, did you come back to find adventure as well? Or miss your old stomping grounds?"
Eleanor chuckles, "I'm purely here on professional means, got a jub tht runs through here is all, a couple actually."
Bruno nods in thought for a few moments. "Interesting, it sounds like a secret so I won't pry." He says thinking to himself before looking to Ayame. "I also heard that your companion there was eaten by the dragon before he killed it. How did you manage to allow a simple skeleton to survive such a feat?"
Ayame lets out a tittering grin. "Well, he is no simple skeleton, he is my personal companion. He has been with me since I raised him as a child... He has intelligence, emotion, and a will of his own."
"Amazing..." Bruno says, scratching his chin in thought.
"Very!" Ayame says, beaming a smile. "Out of curiosity, where have you heard all of this about us?"
Its at this point that a knock on the door is heard, and Tyvis answers it, a frantic Ragia Raflesia quickly makes her way into the door and to the table. "Sorry! Sorry, I was cuddling." they say sitting next to Ayame.
Bruno gives a half wave to Ragia. "Oh! I appologize, I didn't realize that you had another in your group. I must admit I don't know who you are miss...?"
"Ragia, dragon in training, though as you can see, clearly metalic, so not a threat to this town, be not afraid!" She says chearfully before looking around the table for food.
Naomi giggles at the kobold. "That's my companion, ragia Raflesia."
Bruno nods. "A pleasure, I'm familiar with the politics between Drakenvald and Rynasen, but there are some non metalic dragons that are friendly between our people. I assume that is your home?"
"I'm from the burrows near Rynasen yes." Ragia nods to Bruno.
He nods back before looking to Ayame. "To answer your question, I hear the report of all new dragonslayers being a noble house, but when I heard Dai'Gishkin, I decided to investigate further. So everything was merely from word of mouth." He says when tyvis comes back in from the kitchen, carrying plates and silverware, setting up the table for the party gathered.
Bruno turns back to Naomi with a smile. "This is an acclectic group of companions you have." He says with a chuckle, while Tyvis goes back to the kitchen. "Without any sort of misunderstanding, it reminds me of your mother, and the pepople she gathered around her."
Naomi looks to her companions beside her with a soft sigh and smiles warmly before looking back to Bruno. "Why yes, and I believe I couldn't find a better group of friends than those gathered here today."
Eleanor raises a brow in confusion and shrugs. "I seem to be the one that knows the least about Rea's group, but I'll take that as a compliment."
Bruno chuckles, "I'm sure you will, absolutely sure." he says as Tyvis comes back out from the kitchen holding a huge platter of food and a pair of tongs. On the platter are 5 sets of quail, with delicately prepared roasted vegetables like carrots, cut to resemble flowers, served with some sort of fluffy pastry on the side that Naomi instantly recognizes as a very buttered puff pastry.
"Wow, such an extravagant meal and decor prepared for us common adventurers. Did you not mention financial troubles in your letter?" Naomi asks.
Bruno waves off the question. "This is standard fare for any noble family that house autumnport treats as guests. I know we never hosted the Dai'Gishkin family in our home, but we would expect the same should the Dai'Gishkins themselves host." he says picking up a fork and knife, cutting away at one of the quail legs.
"I see. Forgive my impudence Sir Autumnport. I'll have to treat you to my Mother Ariel's cooking. I assure you it is of the utmost quality." Naomi says while the rest of those gathered starts to eat. After a few bites, Naomi sets her cutlery down and looks back to Bruno. "Pray tell, what is Autumnport doing so far away from home? Doesn't your family specialize in marine based trade?"
"You are absolutely correct, according to my father, and your mother," Bruno says taking a bite of roasted vegetable. "The river beside seconvale used to be much smaller before the last consumption, and the consumption itself caused my family growing pains in that we couldnt' keep up with the demand for creating boats and shipping through the river, so competition came in and started building building and building, and we didn't have the resources to keep up. Because of that, we went into land based trading in creating wagons, but it was too late to get into that sort of business, and we had stiff competition. The house was already facing some growing pains so my father, Hallan, decided to give his children a stipend to go to different kingdoms to search new avenues of trade throughout the kingdoms. So far, there has been a bit of a lumber trade between here and the southern coast, but overall it has proven difficult given the raiders to the south."
"Why did you take such an easy stance on competitors? You could have prevented them from edging in on your families buisness in the first place." Ayame questions.
"Ah, so I take it you, as a promising Young Scion of the household, has found a profitable trade in this area?" Says Naomi.
He nods to Naomi before looking to Ayame. "Honestly, my father is too kind of a man, he recognized that we needed to push for extra labor and tried to get more, but they found they could make even more money without our resources, and got into business on their own. I think we could have forced their hand more, but he decided that we needed to evolve for the times, not grab onto our past. Vigilence Beyond Eternity." Ayame shrugs. "Fair enough I suppose." She says while the party continues to chatter about things before dinner seems to pass in mere moments. Bruno stands up from the table as Tyvis takes away his plate. "Your company has been plesent, and I would love to continue this discussion in the study if you wouldn't mind." He says, motioning towards the other door in the dining room for the party to follow him. The party does and Bruno opens the door to the study. Various books line the walls, with shelves made from a dark, luxurious wood. A desk sits at the back of the room made from a matching lumber and chair. Two leather couches line the walls for the party to sit at. Bruno himself moves to the table, and pours himself a glass of liqour from a glass chalace, with ten glasses set aside for guests. "Please, pour yourselves a drink and I'll get down to business." He says moving to the other side of the desk, looking at the crest of his family, hung just above the chair in the center of the room. "I believe there is a conspiracy within the government, that aims to keep nobility from other kingdoms from getting a real foothold in the country. As we arer a trade based family, it makes it nearly impossible to set up relations with other noble houses in order to bring our family back from the brink of collapse."
He takes a sip from his drink. "On top of this, I believe that those trying to sabotage our relations with those noble houses are trying to surpass us using illegitimate means. I have no obvious proof, but the carts we send southbound are hit on average four times more often than any other trade caravan. Which leads me to believe that the raiders to the south are getting paid to attack our caravans. I don't even want anyone from the government, at least not until I have solid proof of the conspiracy." He turns to the party and sits down in his chair. "I think you have the skills to help out my family's situation in the city, and the moral bearing to keep silent on the issue outside of this room."
Naomi is the first to pipe up. "So, what would you have us do? We have no connections in the government, but trade isn't our strong suit..."
Eleanor nods towards Naomi, "This one is the most experienced with that stuff but even then, thats just one out of four."
Ayame ponders the issue for a moment. "Well, if you know where the bandits are based, they could be delt with."
Bruno points a finger to Ayame. "That is actually the first task I want to set you all on. I'm sending Tyvis to contact someone willing to turn coat against the conspiracy. I would like your group to guard him on the off chance that Tyvis is walking into a trap. I'm willing to pay all of you two hundred gold a day until this matter is settled."
"Two hundred a day each or as a group?" Naomi questions.
"Each." Bruno says bruntly.
With a few grumbles of approval from the rest of the party Bruno nods to them. "If you accept this job, I can make sure you have more chances to strike at the evil that is slowly rotting away at the city's core." He says before downing the rest of his drink.
"I accept... but I have some questions." Ayame says.
"I will answer what I can." Bruno says with a wave to Ayame.
"There are rumors of someone hoarding magical items and knowledge here. Have you heard anything about it?"
Bruno thinks for a few moments. "There was talk of someone that was looking for magical items as well as armor to bring up to the north, but Im afraid I don't know anything more beyond that. I will look into it however, and I'll try to give you a better answer after your escort mission."
"Bruno," Says Naomi. "I'd like to forego a payment of 200 gold in return for a favor."
"What favor?" Bruno asks.
"I'd like to send a letter back home, detailing my journey thus far. I shall not disclose anything you've told me here today -- You may even read the letter beforehand if such a thing worries you -- but I'd like my family to know where I am, at the least."
"Done." Bruno agrees without question.
Eleanor raises a brow, "From the sounds of it your mom's already been trackin you, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them didn't already know. Is that really worth 200 gold Nao?"
"While 200 gold is quite the sum, I prefer to have the goodwill of House Autumnport." Naomi says with a smile.
"there is one issue for you all..." Bruno says solumnly. "I need you to escort Tyvis tonight."
Naomi's eyes immediately dart to their host as he says this. "Wait, tonight? We will need details, Sir Bruno. You mustn't withhold anything, anything at all. For the safety of both Tyvis, and ourselves, we would need to know everything about this operation."
"Ah....yes, while I am still willing to do so that creates some problems...that felling of the army with a single blast took all of my magical power...I am running on empty at the moment..." Ayame says.
Eleanor nods in agreement before looking back to Bruno. "We just finished getting attacked by dragons, we need to rest immediately if that's the case."
"Tonight is an intelligence gathering operation, I've agreed to pay a man, Terret, 300gp in exchange for information about the operation against my family. he frequents around some of the low scale bars in town, but he agreed to meet up with Tyvis in order to exchange the information. If we let him go, or he gets scared, he could blow that I know the opration is against my family, so we need to act fast. I firmly believe you can take him on if he gets violent." Bruno says, looking deadly serious.
"I'm not doing too hot myself... not much I could do on support missions." Ragia hums.
"I have the blessing of my Goddess back at full strength -- If anything happens I can restrain him with a spell of binding." Naomi says to her companions.
Eleanor rubs her head, "Gettin us to do somethin so potentially dangerous right after a battle is a good way to kill us if that were your goal." she sighs, "What do you think Nao?"
"I...Do agree it is on rather short notice. And risky. Sir Autumnport, surely there must be something you can compensate my compatriots with here, or some guarantee, for such tasks?" Naomi offers.
"I can guarantee to send Tyvis with some healing potions... I can also guarantee that Terret is always accompanied by four other brutes. Is two hundred gold not enough for such a task? I know its short notice, but im hoping you can handle a physical altercation. It would be no more difficult than the dragons you fought this morning." Bruno thinks about what he just said. "Would be way less difficult if I think about it."
Ayame shakes her head. "Its fine, two hundred is plenty for such a task but..." She says looking to Naomi with a smile. "Thanks for thinking of me~"
Eleanor sighs and nods. "I don't like doin jobs at the end of a rope, its risky and unprofessional, but assumin all goes moderately okay... yea sure." She looks between everyone, "Should we start gettin ready to go then?"
Naomi smiles back to Ayame before giving an approving nod to Bruno. "There you have it. We will get ready."
Bruno nods back to Naomi and stands. "Thank you for your help. I'm going to tell Tyvis what is going on and give him some potions for you all. Don't forget, discretion is advised above all, but I don't want people getting hurt, especially Tyvis." He sighs. "Tyvis is the only one I can trust with such matters."
Naomi rests a hand on her chest and bows her head to bruno. "You can trust in our skills."
After some prep, Tyvis meets up with the party in the dining room and ushers them out into the night. It is fairly dark, but he easilly leads the party to a tavern called Pickled Slosh, which could only be described as a shitty bar made from the remains of surrounding buildings that were burnt down long ago. Near the bar's entrence with four other people is a large man wearing leather armor, and a dagger at his side. The five of them seem to be laughing about something. Naomi places a small blessing of protection on Tyvis, to which he thanks her and approaches the man.
"Terret friend!" Tyvis calls out to them. How good to see you!" He says with a smile, keeping the party ten feet behind him while he makes introductions.
"Well well, look what the cat dragged in. Bruno couln' come himself aye?" Terret says, with a light chuckle from Tyvis.
"Being seen outside such a bar, he told me to take care of everything."
"Well good, I prefer not having to deal face to face with bluebloods myself."
A light chuckle from one of Terret's thugs escapes. Before he speaks again. "Doesn't explain the wierdos do it?" Terret says pointing to the party.
Tyvis motions to Terret's Thugs, "Explains it on both parts really." to which Terret nods. "Thas' fair."
"Anyway, its time to complete your end of the bargain Terret." Tyvis says, to which Terret raises his brow. "Whad'ya mean? Where's my gold?" "You get the gold once all debts are paid." Terret suddenly looks furious and cracks his knuckles. "Wrong answer..." His thugs also crack their knuckles, looks like they are preparing for a fist fight.
Ayame looks at Terret and his friends cracking their knuckles. "Are you completely sure this is what you want to do...?" She says before shrugging. "Well... Alright I guess." She sighs. "Sebastian, kill them all but that one." she says pointing at Terret, rolling off his shoulder and landing on her feet directly behind him.
She quickly runs in front of Terret, who tries to strike her, but she opens her mouth, unnaturally wide as his arm dissapears into her mouth, before being slurped up like a snake in nearly an instant before she licks her lips, having swallowed the man.
Sebastian meanwhile takes a charge forward, his gauntleted fist slicing downwards with such ferocious speed and strength that it splits the man in two, the entire bar becoming a bloodied mess of viscera and bile. The splinters from his impact shattering into the nearby wall like it was instead struck by a canonball. He immediately looks up to the other three, who, understandably, immediately run away recognizing how outmatched they are.
Tyvis looks stunned at what just happened as Ayame sniffs and wipes her lips with the back of her hand. "Should I go after them?" She says pointing to the terrified fleeing men.
Eleanor barely had the time to pull Cassandra out of nowhere, but she huffs at the lack of a challenge. "They might be a danger to the operation, its your call, I do wanna blow off some steam."
Tyvis quickly shakes his head."Nono, its... its quite allright. If anything they would just be leading us into a trap anyway. They know we can find them easilly enough and... after a scare like..." He points to Sebastian. "That..."
Ayame grins, running up to Sebastian and hugging him. "You did great Sebastian! Made me proud!" She says as Sebastian picks up Ayame to be on his shoulder again.
"They give thugs a bad name." Eleanor says with a tisk, her weapon dissapearing away into nothingness.
"Well I have to ask..." Tyvis says pointing to Ayame. "Can the rest of you fight as good as her?"
After a few affirmative nods Ayame moves back to Tyvis. "Anyways... uhm... Did you wanna talk to terret now?"
He stares blankly at Ayame for a few moments. "Ill tell you what... spit him out and I'll talk to him, you obviously have him scared enough to let me gather some info. I do think we will have more work for you tomorrow... and if Terret has enough info that we think he does, we will need all of you again. I can handle Terret myself though."
After spitting him out, with a completely shocked and scarred Terret, he promises to pay the party the next morning and he brings Terret to the bar, to drink away his newfound fears.
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DATE: Vamendour 10/625
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It is nearly nightfall when Tyvis returns to the party, their spells refreshed and their payment delivered, he brings the party back to Brunos study, where they find him wearing chainmail armor, wielding a longsword and a longbow, all of meticulous craftsmanship.
"Is uh... Is there an event ser Bruno?" Naomi asks.
"In fact there is Lady Dai'Gishkin. It turns out that Terret is a smuggler for the Iron Rings, a sub guild that works with the thieves guild in the city, and he has confirmed the location of their hideout, as well as where to find a few of my missing employees."
"I hope Terret is doing ok... He seemed broken up last night." Ayame says, her fingers trailing in thought along her lips.
"So what you are saying..." Naomi says, "Is that we have our target?"
"We do indeed." Bruno says with a nod. "I intend to bring them down to take out the corrupt underbelly of this city."
"If its an enclosed space with civilians, I'm afraid my services will be limited, I'm better at area incineration." Ragia says with a hum.
Bruno gives a chuckle. "I'm sure even the threat of a powerful spellcaster would be more than enough to get some of them to stand down." He says with an approving nod to Ragia. "But, because of the importance of this mission, I want to go with you, confront them as well, and prove that the Autumport family is not to be trifled with."
Eleanor meanwhile, looks visibly tense. "So..." She saysy taking a deep breath. "What's our goal here? Taking them down is a lil vague, but I'm all for ruining the lives of slavers so I'm listenin."
"The iron rings are a global organization, and operate mostly in secret. We are taking down their profits here, and if im lucky, I could manage to find out even more information about their other operations, so we want to keep people alive in order to make that happen. In our case, mostly prisoners, but we need bigger firepower because unlike last night, this will definately involve conflict, im sure of it." Bruno says with confidence.
"Fair enough, I'm ready to go tonight." Ayame offers.
"Slavers are the enemy of all that is lawful. I am most definitely ready to put a stop to this." Naomi says with a nod.
Eleanor also nods. "Raising hell in the iron rings sounds like a good way to spend an evening."
Bruno nods and grabs a torch. "Well then, down into the sewers we go." He says as he leads the party out of his mansion.
Ayame scowls slightly as the party leaves the mansion, Eleanor looking to Ayame with a raised brow. "Whats wrong?"
"Oh just... you were both cheering at that fight during the party in Orzhov is all..."
"Thats different." Eleanor says. "We cleared up with Violet that they were both goin free regardless. Otherwise I would've caused a fuss. The Iron Rings though? Lets just say i'm looking forward to this."
"Thats true." Ayame says with a nod, hopping off of sebastians back as Bruno makes his way to a sewer grate not too far from his home. He lights the torch and descends into the sewers with the rest of the party.
The tunnels of the sewer are built with dull gray bricks, with a three foot wide ledge on each side, and a four foot deep channel of sewer water, smelling of waste and garbage that chokes the air with the sheer potential of disease. He leads the party to aside passage in the tunnel. "Here." He says pointing inside. "The entire guild should be just down this passage, only a little farther to go." He says holding out his longsword and holding out his torch into the tunnel.
The party follows Bruno into the tunnel, the air starting to feel strange. No longer the foul smelling air of the sewers before them, but instead a slow, methodic breeze of hot, wet air comes down the passageway. Almost as if the tunnel itself was breathing. The party feels on edge as they come up to the first bend in the tunnel.
"Get ready..." Eelanor says, her weapon already in hand. "coming up on something... different." She says harshly.
Coming around to the first bend, the walls have shifted from brick and mortar, to a moist bruised gray flesh colored stone that is warm to the touch. Ayame and eleanor look ready to flee at a moment, but even as they look back towards the entrence, they see the passageway seal up beside them with a sickening squelch, and rappidly approaches the characters as the tunnel collapses in on itself, like a sickening wall of grey esophagus trying to swallow them whole. Eleanor nearly whispers to herself. "Oh no... its happening again."
The letter itself is plain, but sealed with a wax in the form of a leaf upon the sail of a sailboat.
Naomi sits back down and sighs deeply. "Oh Gods. I suppose I can stay just a little longer if they sent a request." She says looking at the others. "I'd rather not explain why exactly I know who sent this here, but it is most definitely in our interest to at least read the letter." She reaches to the side and grabs the letter from Tyvis' hand, slipping him 5 gold. "Thank you Tyvis, please make sure none hear that we've received this letter."
He takes the gold, but stands by, waiting patiently for them as he motions to the letter.
Eleanor leans over and looks over the letter as well. "Someone you know I guess? Why just us dragonslayers? There's a good number of those here already..."
"We are clearly becoming well known!~" Ayame says haughtily.
Eleanor tisks and sqquints at Ayame. "That's not always a good thing."
"It's..Yes it's someone I know. Maybe not directly. It's a little...odd to see the seal of this family so fair inland, so far from home..." Naomi says, using her nail to peel up the wax seal and open the letter. "They must've requested us directly as soon as they got word of our heroinism."
Honored Heroes,Naomi sighs as she rubs the bridge of her nose. "I see... This is... definately problematic." She says passing the note to the other members of the party to read. "My...Mother...let's say...Knows this mans family. It is a request I am inclined to help with."
It is in desperation that I turn to you, knowing full well the tales of your past exploits and your trustworthiness. I am Bruno Autumnport of House Autumnport. For generations my family has plied the trade routes of the world, yet recently a series of disasters have left us on the brink of ruin. The information I am about to impart to you in this letter, and the mission for which I would like to employ you, are both of a highly sensitive nature. Should you have any misgivings about holding secrets -- secrets which may put you in grave peril -- I bid you to read no further.
Recently, information has fallen into my hands that points to a corrupting presence within the local government which conspires to bring down the power of House Autumport. I fear that this is but the first step in a long-ranging plan to bring chaos and ruin to the city and regions beyond. I dare not contact any within the government for fear of alerting my family's enemies, yet I cannot stand by and ignore this threat. I beg you to meet me tonight for dinner at my residence within the city.
Tyvis will be more than happy to provide you with directions. I urge you to proceed with utmost caution, as my enemies may be on the alert for an attempt to elicit aid such as this.
B.A.
Ayame nods after quickly skimming the letter. "Well... at the very least it wouldn't hurt to hear him out."
Eleanor takes a few moments to read the letter, giving a nod as well. "Well I read that all so I guess we have to now. Not the type of jobs I like gettin involved with but if the rest of yall're going then might as well."
Tyvis pulls out a pen. "I would be happy to give you instructions to the manor."
"That would be wonderful." Naomi says, looking to Eleanor. "They might not be your type of job, but we do need to start on the path of finding a stable income. And I owe this person at least my ear to listen to his ailments."
Tyvis picks up the letter while Naomi speaks, scribbling some instructions on navigating to and through the upper class district of Scalare. "Please do visit us post haste. Dinner starts at dusk." He says before walking away, back down the stairs and out of the tavern without delay.
Eleanor rubs her temples and sighs, "Time to sober up some and get goin then."
Ayame shrugs. "No real hurry yet... not that I have much to do..."
After some minor preparations, and Naomi communing with her goddess for strength, the party makes their way to the noble district. Entering the more upper class district of the city, the party stands before a three story mansion. It has a freshly cut, carefully tended lawn and a fresh coat of paint, what one might surmise as to remove the scorch marks from the dragon attack earlier in the day.
"This city certainly knows how to recover fast..." Naomi comments, looking about. "But this looks like the place."
"It could be enchanted to repair itself" Ayame remarks, sitting on sebastians shoulder as usual, kicking her feet back and forth idly. "Maybe a little expensive for a potentially failing noble house though."
"Folks have their priorities in this city." Says Eleanor.
"Folks in this city seem to have a screw loose." Naomi says, pausing to look at Eleanor. "Sorry." She says before making her way up to the door and knocking.
Tyvis answers the door and invites the party inside, ushering them from the front hallway into the dining room. The room is an opulently furnished room, dominated by a long, dark wooden table, decorated in the center with the seal of house autumnport, a sailing ship set inside a leaf on a shield, inlaid in gold upon the tabletop. A crystal chandelier hangs directly above the dinner table, casting a gentle light upon the room. Besides the door that the party entered through, two other doors lead out of the room, one to the kitchen, and another that says "Study" above the doorframe.
A man is already seated at the head of the table when the party enters, who stands up and heartilly welcomes the party. "Greetings friends, I am Bruno Autumnport! Please take a seat, make yourselves at home!" Bruno looks to be a dashing young man in his mid-twenties, with blue eyes that twinkle with mischief behind them, and short, well trimmed yet lightly tousled blond hair. He wears a brand new outfit very becoming of him, and fashionable.
Ayame looks about the room, giving an approving nod before hopping off of Sebastians shoulder to the ground. "Greetings, I am Ayame shiori, and thiis is my companion Sebastian." She says patting her armored skeleton.
"Ahh miss Shiori, the necromancis that wiped out an army of the dead with a wave of her hand, I heard about your exploit this morning, well done." Bruno says with an approving clap.
Ayame blushes slightly. "A-ah thank you! That's definately embelishing it, but I appreciate the recognition." Naomi stands her staff next to her, having it glow momentarily with holy power as the staff miraculously stands straight upwards on its own. She rests her hand on her chest and bows her head towards Bruno. "Greetings. Head-Cleric-In-Training from Seconvale's Church of Rhamnasia, Nahemah Dai'Gishkin, at your service."
Bruno gives a nod of acknowledgement when he looks to Naomi. "Ahh the beautiful Naomi of the powerful Dai'Gishkin house. I must admit that I had such a crush on you when your family attended court, back when I was ten."
"I-I... huh? A crush on me?!" Naomi says as her staff loses its power from her lack of focus while she blushes, quickly leans down and picks up her staff, hugging it close to her chest.
Eleanor gives a casual wave to Bruno. "Greetings, you can just call me Eleanor, pardon any... roughness on my part. This isn't entirely the sort of task or setup i'm as acquainted with.
"Nothing to be rough about from a woman who dropped a tower on top of a dragon to kill it! I'm surprised they didn't have you pay for damages, but dragonslayers are a rare breed." Bruno says with a chuckle.
"I suppose so," Eleanor says with a shrug. "Though Cinerosa has quite a number of them compared to other cities."
Still embarassed from her loss of composure, Naomi speaks back up again. "A-aaanyways... We are... reporting here in response to your letter. What is it that you need?"
"Ahh, it is but bad taste to discuss business on an empty stomach. I trust your family name, but I need to make sure i'm dealing with people able to keep some sense of discretion, you understand. All I have of you are rumors, and a childhood infatuation, nothing more... so forgive me for being harsh in my words... I need to trust you before I could hire you."
Naomi, grips her staff, feeling the flush of embarrassment, but gives a light bow to bruno. "Forgive this one, you are correct Sir Autumnport."
"All is forgiven Lady Dai'Gishkin." Bruno says with a small bow before sitting back down at the head of the table. "Now tell me, what brought you to the kingdom from acros the world?"
Naomi takes a seat at the table, two chairs away from Bruno. "I cannot speak for my companions, but as for me... Adventure. The sights of a world yet unseen to me."
"Adventure indeed. I always found Cinerosa to be filled with secrets and long lost legacies. Every grave tells a new story, and every tower a new secret."
Ayame takes a seat next to bruno on the other side of the table from Naomi, with Eleanor sitting between Naomi and Bruno, giving a nod to Naomi.
"To explore those areas lost to us, to see something that no other has seen in thousands of years... It's incredible isn't it?" Naomi says excitedly.
"Indeed, though my responsibilities to the house keep me in the city more often than not. An adventurer I am not." Bruno says with a chuckle. "And what of you Eleanor?" He says shuffling into his seat comfortably. "I heard that you had left the city in the past, did you come back to find adventure as well? Or miss your old stomping grounds?"
Eleanor chuckles, "I'm purely here on professional means, got a jub tht runs through here is all, a couple actually."
Bruno nods in thought for a few moments. "Interesting, it sounds like a secret so I won't pry." He says thinking to himself before looking to Ayame. "I also heard that your companion there was eaten by the dragon before he killed it. How did you manage to allow a simple skeleton to survive such a feat?"
Ayame lets out a tittering grin. "Well, he is no simple skeleton, he is my personal companion. He has been with me since I raised him as a child... He has intelligence, emotion, and a will of his own."
"Amazing..." Bruno says, scratching his chin in thought.
"Very!" Ayame says, beaming a smile. "Out of curiosity, where have you heard all of this about us?"
Its at this point that a knock on the door is heard, and Tyvis answers it, a frantic Ragia Raflesia quickly makes her way into the door and to the table. "Sorry! Sorry, I was cuddling." they say sitting next to Ayame.
Bruno gives a half wave to Ragia. "Oh! I appologize, I didn't realize that you had another in your group. I must admit I don't know who you are miss...?"
"Ragia, dragon in training, though as you can see, clearly metalic, so not a threat to this town, be not afraid!" She says chearfully before looking around the table for food.
Naomi giggles at the kobold. "That's my companion, ragia Raflesia."
Bruno nods. "A pleasure, I'm familiar with the politics between Drakenvald and Rynasen, but there are some non metalic dragons that are friendly between our people. I assume that is your home?"
"I'm from the burrows near Rynasen yes." Ragia nods to Bruno.
He nods back before looking to Ayame. "To answer your question, I hear the report of all new dragonslayers being a noble house, but when I heard Dai'Gishkin, I decided to investigate further. So everything was merely from word of mouth." He says when tyvis comes back in from the kitchen, carrying plates and silverware, setting up the table for the party gathered.
Bruno turns back to Naomi with a smile. "This is an acclectic group of companions you have." He says with a chuckle, while Tyvis goes back to the kitchen. "Without any sort of misunderstanding, it reminds me of your mother, and the pepople she gathered around her."
Naomi looks to her companions beside her with a soft sigh and smiles warmly before looking back to Bruno. "Why yes, and I believe I couldn't find a better group of friends than those gathered here today."
Eleanor raises a brow in confusion and shrugs. "I seem to be the one that knows the least about Rea's group, but I'll take that as a compliment."
Bruno chuckles, "I'm sure you will, absolutely sure." he says as Tyvis comes back out from the kitchen holding a huge platter of food and a pair of tongs. On the platter are 5 sets of quail, with delicately prepared roasted vegetables like carrots, cut to resemble flowers, served with some sort of fluffy pastry on the side that Naomi instantly recognizes as a very buttered puff pastry.
"Wow, such an extravagant meal and decor prepared for us common adventurers. Did you not mention financial troubles in your letter?" Naomi asks.
Bruno waves off the question. "This is standard fare for any noble family that house autumnport treats as guests. I know we never hosted the Dai'Gishkin family in our home, but we would expect the same should the Dai'Gishkins themselves host." he says picking up a fork and knife, cutting away at one of the quail legs.
"I see. Forgive my impudence Sir Autumnport. I'll have to treat you to my Mother Ariel's cooking. I assure you it is of the utmost quality." Naomi says while the rest of those gathered starts to eat. After a few bites, Naomi sets her cutlery down and looks back to Bruno. "Pray tell, what is Autumnport doing so far away from home? Doesn't your family specialize in marine based trade?"
"You are absolutely correct, according to my father, and your mother," Bruno says taking a bite of roasted vegetable. "The river beside seconvale used to be much smaller before the last consumption, and the consumption itself caused my family growing pains in that we couldnt' keep up with the demand for creating boats and shipping through the river, so competition came in and started building building and building, and we didn't have the resources to keep up. Because of that, we went into land based trading in creating wagons, but it was too late to get into that sort of business, and we had stiff competition. The house was already facing some growing pains so my father, Hallan, decided to give his children a stipend to go to different kingdoms to search new avenues of trade throughout the kingdoms. So far, there has been a bit of a lumber trade between here and the southern coast, but overall it has proven difficult given the raiders to the south."
"Why did you take such an easy stance on competitors? You could have prevented them from edging in on your families buisness in the first place." Ayame questions.
"Ah, so I take it you, as a promising Young Scion of the household, has found a profitable trade in this area?" Says Naomi.
He nods to Naomi before looking to Ayame. "Honestly, my father is too kind of a man, he recognized that we needed to push for extra labor and tried to get more, but they found they could make even more money without our resources, and got into business on their own. I think we could have forced their hand more, but he decided that we needed to evolve for the times, not grab onto our past. Vigilence Beyond Eternity." Ayame shrugs. "Fair enough I suppose." She says while the party continues to chatter about things before dinner seems to pass in mere moments. Bruno stands up from the table as Tyvis takes away his plate. "Your company has been plesent, and I would love to continue this discussion in the study if you wouldn't mind." He says, motioning towards the other door in the dining room for the party to follow him. The party does and Bruno opens the door to the study. Various books line the walls, with shelves made from a dark, luxurious wood. A desk sits at the back of the room made from a matching lumber and chair. Two leather couches line the walls for the party to sit at. Bruno himself moves to the table, and pours himself a glass of liqour from a glass chalace, with ten glasses set aside for guests. "Please, pour yourselves a drink and I'll get down to business." He says moving to the other side of the desk, looking at the crest of his family, hung just above the chair in the center of the room. "I believe there is a conspiracy within the government, that aims to keep nobility from other kingdoms from getting a real foothold in the country. As we arer a trade based family, it makes it nearly impossible to set up relations with other noble houses in order to bring our family back from the brink of collapse."
He takes a sip from his drink. "On top of this, I believe that those trying to sabotage our relations with those noble houses are trying to surpass us using illegitimate means. I have no obvious proof, but the carts we send southbound are hit on average four times more often than any other trade caravan. Which leads me to believe that the raiders to the south are getting paid to attack our caravans. I don't even want anyone from the government, at least not until I have solid proof of the conspiracy." He turns to the party and sits down in his chair. "I think you have the skills to help out my family's situation in the city, and the moral bearing to keep silent on the issue outside of this room."
Naomi is the first to pipe up. "So, what would you have us do? We have no connections in the government, but trade isn't our strong suit..."
Eleanor nods towards Naomi, "This one is the most experienced with that stuff but even then, thats just one out of four."
Ayame ponders the issue for a moment. "Well, if you know where the bandits are based, they could be delt with."
Bruno points a finger to Ayame. "That is actually the first task I want to set you all on. I'm sending Tyvis to contact someone willing to turn coat against the conspiracy. I would like your group to guard him on the off chance that Tyvis is walking into a trap. I'm willing to pay all of you two hundred gold a day until this matter is settled."
"Two hundred a day each or as a group?" Naomi questions.
"Each." Bruno says bruntly.
With a few grumbles of approval from the rest of the party Bruno nods to them. "If you accept this job, I can make sure you have more chances to strike at the evil that is slowly rotting away at the city's core." He says before downing the rest of his drink.
"I accept... but I have some questions." Ayame says.
"I will answer what I can." Bruno says with a wave to Ayame.
"There are rumors of someone hoarding magical items and knowledge here. Have you heard anything about it?"
Bruno thinks for a few moments. "There was talk of someone that was looking for magical items as well as armor to bring up to the north, but Im afraid I don't know anything more beyond that. I will look into it however, and I'll try to give you a better answer after your escort mission."
"Bruno," Says Naomi. "I'd like to forego a payment of 200 gold in return for a favor."
"What favor?" Bruno asks.
"I'd like to send a letter back home, detailing my journey thus far. I shall not disclose anything you've told me here today -- You may even read the letter beforehand if such a thing worries you -- but I'd like my family to know where I am, at the least."
"Done." Bruno agrees without question.
Eleanor raises a brow, "From the sounds of it your mom's already been trackin you, I wouldn't be surprised if one of them didn't already know. Is that really worth 200 gold Nao?"
"While 200 gold is quite the sum, I prefer to have the goodwill of House Autumnport." Naomi says with a smile.
"there is one issue for you all..." Bruno says solumnly. "I need you to escort Tyvis tonight."
Naomi's eyes immediately dart to their host as he says this. "Wait, tonight? We will need details, Sir Bruno. You mustn't withhold anything, anything at all. For the safety of both Tyvis, and ourselves, we would need to know everything about this operation."
"Ah....yes, while I am still willing to do so that creates some problems...that felling of the army with a single blast took all of my magical power...I am running on empty at the moment..." Ayame says.
Eleanor nods in agreement before looking back to Bruno. "We just finished getting attacked by dragons, we need to rest immediately if that's the case."
"Tonight is an intelligence gathering operation, I've agreed to pay a man, Terret, 300gp in exchange for information about the operation against my family. he frequents around some of the low scale bars in town, but he agreed to meet up with Tyvis in order to exchange the information. If we let him go, or he gets scared, he could blow that I know the opration is against my family, so we need to act fast. I firmly believe you can take him on if he gets violent." Bruno says, looking deadly serious.
"I'm not doing too hot myself... not much I could do on support missions." Ragia hums.
"I have the blessing of my Goddess back at full strength -- If anything happens I can restrain him with a spell of binding." Naomi says to her companions.
Eleanor rubs her head, "Gettin us to do somethin so potentially dangerous right after a battle is a good way to kill us if that were your goal." she sighs, "What do you think Nao?"
"I...Do agree it is on rather short notice. And risky. Sir Autumnport, surely there must be something you can compensate my compatriots with here, or some guarantee, for such tasks?" Naomi offers.
"I can guarantee to send Tyvis with some healing potions... I can also guarantee that Terret is always accompanied by four other brutes. Is two hundred gold not enough for such a task? I know its short notice, but im hoping you can handle a physical altercation. It would be no more difficult than the dragons you fought this morning." Bruno thinks about what he just said. "Would be way less difficult if I think about it."
Ayame shakes her head. "Its fine, two hundred is plenty for such a task but..." She says looking to Naomi with a smile. "Thanks for thinking of me~"
Eleanor sighs and nods. "I don't like doin jobs at the end of a rope, its risky and unprofessional, but assumin all goes moderately okay... yea sure." She looks between everyone, "Should we start gettin ready to go then?"
Naomi smiles back to Ayame before giving an approving nod to Bruno. "There you have it. We will get ready."
Bruno nods back to Naomi and stands. "Thank you for your help. I'm going to tell Tyvis what is going on and give him some potions for you all. Don't forget, discretion is advised above all, but I don't want people getting hurt, especially Tyvis." He sighs. "Tyvis is the only one I can trust with such matters."
Naomi rests a hand on her chest and bows her head to bruno. "You can trust in our skills."
After some prep, Tyvis meets up with the party in the dining room and ushers them out into the night. It is fairly dark, but he easilly leads the party to a tavern called Pickled Slosh, which could only be described as a shitty bar made from the remains of surrounding buildings that were burnt down long ago. Near the bar's entrence with four other people is a large man wearing leather armor, and a dagger at his side. The five of them seem to be laughing about something. Naomi places a small blessing of protection on Tyvis, to which he thanks her and approaches the man.
"Terret friend!" Tyvis calls out to them. How good to see you!" He says with a smile, keeping the party ten feet behind him while he makes introductions.
"Well well, look what the cat dragged in. Bruno couln' come himself aye?" Terret says, with a light chuckle from Tyvis.
"Being seen outside such a bar, he told me to take care of everything."
"Well good, I prefer not having to deal face to face with bluebloods myself."
A light chuckle from one of Terret's thugs escapes. Before he speaks again. "Doesn't explain the wierdos do it?" Terret says pointing to the party.
Tyvis motions to Terret's Thugs, "Explains it on both parts really." to which Terret nods. "Thas' fair."
"Anyway, its time to complete your end of the bargain Terret." Tyvis says, to which Terret raises his brow. "Whad'ya mean? Where's my gold?" "You get the gold once all debts are paid." Terret suddenly looks furious and cracks his knuckles. "Wrong answer..." His thugs also crack their knuckles, looks like they are preparing for a fist fight.
Ayame looks at Terret and his friends cracking their knuckles. "Are you completely sure this is what you want to do...?" She says before shrugging. "Well... Alright I guess." She sighs. "Sebastian, kill them all but that one." she says pointing at Terret, rolling off his shoulder and landing on her feet directly behind him.
She quickly runs in front of Terret, who tries to strike her, but she opens her mouth, unnaturally wide as his arm dissapears into her mouth, before being slurped up like a snake in nearly an instant before she licks her lips, having swallowed the man.
Sebastian meanwhile takes a charge forward, his gauntleted fist slicing downwards with such ferocious speed and strength that it splits the man in two, the entire bar becoming a bloodied mess of viscera and bile. The splinters from his impact shattering into the nearby wall like it was instead struck by a canonball. He immediately looks up to the other three, who, understandably, immediately run away recognizing how outmatched they are.
Tyvis looks stunned at what just happened as Ayame sniffs and wipes her lips with the back of her hand. "Should I go after them?" She says pointing to the terrified fleeing men.
Eleanor barely had the time to pull Cassandra out of nowhere, but she huffs at the lack of a challenge. "They might be a danger to the operation, its your call, I do wanna blow off some steam."
Tyvis quickly shakes his head."Nono, its... its quite allright. If anything they would just be leading us into a trap anyway. They know we can find them easilly enough and... after a scare like..." He points to Sebastian. "That..."
Ayame grins, running up to Sebastian and hugging him. "You did great Sebastian! Made me proud!" She says as Sebastian picks up Ayame to be on his shoulder again.
"They give thugs a bad name." Eleanor says with a tisk, her weapon dissapearing away into nothingness.
"Well I have to ask..." Tyvis says pointing to Ayame. "Can the rest of you fight as good as her?"
After a few affirmative nods Ayame moves back to Tyvis. "Anyways... uhm... Did you wanna talk to terret now?"
He stares blankly at Ayame for a few moments. "Ill tell you what... spit him out and I'll talk to him, you obviously have him scared enough to let me gather some info. I do think we will have more work for you tomorrow... and if Terret has enough info that we think he does, we will need all of you again. I can handle Terret myself though."
After spitting him out, with a completely shocked and scarred Terret, he promises to pay the party the next morning and he brings Terret to the bar, to drink away his newfound fears.
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DATE: Vamendour 10/625
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It is nearly nightfall when Tyvis returns to the party, their spells refreshed and their payment delivered, he brings the party back to Brunos study, where they find him wearing chainmail armor, wielding a longsword and a longbow, all of meticulous craftsmanship.
"Is uh... Is there an event ser Bruno?" Naomi asks.
"In fact there is Lady Dai'Gishkin. It turns out that Terret is a smuggler for the Iron Rings, a sub guild that works with the thieves guild in the city, and he has confirmed the location of their hideout, as well as where to find a few of my missing employees."
"I hope Terret is doing ok... He seemed broken up last night." Ayame says, her fingers trailing in thought along her lips.
"So what you are saying..." Naomi says, "Is that we have our target?"
"We do indeed." Bruno says with a nod. "I intend to bring them down to take out the corrupt underbelly of this city."
"If its an enclosed space with civilians, I'm afraid my services will be limited, I'm better at area incineration." Ragia says with a hum.
Bruno gives a chuckle. "I'm sure even the threat of a powerful spellcaster would be more than enough to get some of them to stand down." He says with an approving nod to Ragia. "But, because of the importance of this mission, I want to go with you, confront them as well, and prove that the Autumport family is not to be trifled with."
Eleanor meanwhile, looks visibly tense. "So..." She saysy taking a deep breath. "What's our goal here? Taking them down is a lil vague, but I'm all for ruining the lives of slavers so I'm listenin."
"The iron rings are a global organization, and operate mostly in secret. We are taking down their profits here, and if im lucky, I could manage to find out even more information about their other operations, so we want to keep people alive in order to make that happen. In our case, mostly prisoners, but we need bigger firepower because unlike last night, this will definately involve conflict, im sure of it." Bruno says with confidence.
"Fair enough, I'm ready to go tonight." Ayame offers.
"Slavers are the enemy of all that is lawful. I am most definitely ready to put a stop to this." Naomi says with a nod.
Eleanor also nods. "Raising hell in the iron rings sounds like a good way to spend an evening."
Bruno nods and grabs a torch. "Well then, down into the sewers we go." He says as he leads the party out of his mansion.
Ayame scowls slightly as the party leaves the mansion, Eleanor looking to Ayame with a raised brow. "Whats wrong?"
"Oh just... you were both cheering at that fight during the party in Orzhov is all..."
"Thats different." Eleanor says. "We cleared up with Violet that they were both goin free regardless. Otherwise I would've caused a fuss. The Iron Rings though? Lets just say i'm looking forward to this."
"Thats true." Ayame says with a nod, hopping off of sebastians back as Bruno makes his way to a sewer grate not too far from his home. He lights the torch and descends into the sewers with the rest of the party.
The tunnels of the sewer are built with dull gray bricks, with a three foot wide ledge on each side, and a four foot deep channel of sewer water, smelling of waste and garbage that chokes the air with the sheer potential of disease. He leads the party to aside passage in the tunnel. "Here." He says pointing inside. "The entire guild should be just down this passage, only a little farther to go." He says holding out his longsword and holding out his torch into the tunnel.
The party follows Bruno into the tunnel, the air starting to feel strange. No longer the foul smelling air of the sewers before them, but instead a slow, methodic breeze of hot, wet air comes down the passageway. Almost as if the tunnel itself was breathing. The party feels on edge as they come up to the first bend in the tunnel.
"Get ready..." Eelanor says, her weapon already in hand. "coming up on something... different." She says harshly.
Coming around to the first bend, the walls have shifted from brick and mortar, to a moist bruised gray flesh colored stone that is warm to the touch. Ayame and eleanor look ready to flee at a moment, but even as they look back towards the entrence, they see the passageway seal up beside them with a sickening squelch, and rappidly approaches the characters as the tunnel collapses in on itself, like a sickening wall of grey esophagus trying to swallow them whole. Eleanor nearly whispers to herself. "Oh no... its happening again."
Rewards Granted
Each member of the party gained 200gp for their actions to help Tyvis.
Character(s) interacted with
Ragia Raflesia
Ayame Shiori
Tiamani
3-Level Wizard 3-Level Incanter 4-Level Wraith
3-Level Wizard 3-Level Incanter 4-Level Wraith
Nahemah Dai'Gishkin
Eleanor Primrose
Silawae/Munavri
2:Psychic Warrior-Level Fighter 2-Level Barbarian
2:Psychic Warrior-Level Fighter 2-Level Barbarian
Report Date
19 Mar 2022
Primary Location
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