Finishing Up in the Free City Report

General Summary

Ready-reat 1st, 595 CY

2024-08-07 and 2024-08-21

Bhulb them into a two-story wooden home with attached greenhouses encircling a central courtyard. He again puffed a cloud of rapport spores and they saw in their minds and older man taking two crates into the greenhouse to the north. There was a commotion and crashes, sounds of violence, and then things got silent.
The greenhouse attached to the north of the home had shades on its windows. Though it was nighttime, the Topknots, especially the herbalists Delilah and Malakai, quickly realized that this greenhouse would be for shade-loving plants. It was filled with giant ferns and other plants. As they made their way through the greenhouse, a few of the plants began to move. Each was almost as tall as a human and were topped with three fronds, one yellow, orange, and red. They soon discovered that the tendrils of the orange flower rendered a person unconscious. The yellow flower then fired corrosive sap that slowly ate away at the unconscious target, while the red tendrils extracted bodily fluids from its target.
Delilah acted quickly with an eldritch blast while Argan charged in with his battleaxe. Malakai extended his halo of spores to damage nearby enemies. Kaszu and Malakai were each hit by an orange blossom, but managed to shrug off the effects at first, but Malakai was damaged by the yellow and red blossoms of these dangerous plants and entangled by the red blossom. Kaszu's firebolt missed the tri-fronds, but his defender struck true. Crichton charged in and managed to avoid a red tendril right before an orange blossom hit Delilah and knocked her out. Argan was struck by a yellow tendril while Delilah was attacked by a red tendril. Tolman stayed in the back firing arrows and taking advantage of his companions attacks. One of the tri-frond flowers was destroyed just before another orange blossom hit Kaszu and rendered him unconscious. The pant focused on Kaszu, attacking him with both the yellow and red tendrils while the last one attacked Malakai. Argan was able to slice one down to its stalk. One last arrow fired by Tolman took out the last of these dangerous plants.
After reviving their unconscious companions and patching up some wounds, Delilah gathered some of the parts of the tr-fronds before the party entered the next greenhouse to the east. North of the courtyard, this greenhouse was kept at a sub-tropical climate. A large tree covered with vines stood in the middle to the north of the walkway. When Crichton reached the area, the vines animated and attacked. Malakai had heard of a plant-creature known as assassin vines and quickly bathed it in a moonbeam. Crichton used his fire breath. The assassin vine soon had many of the Topknots entangled and restrained. The vines were incredibly difficult to strike as they flailed around, but Argan managed to get a good shot with his longbow, and Kaszu struck it with his fire bolt. The moonbeam continued to damage the creature while the spellcasters did some damage with their magical attacks. Finally the damage done by Malakai and Delilah's chill touches destroyed the creature.
The eastern room was the tropical greenhouse. As they made their way through to the southern door, a powerful fragrance wafted up from three large plants. Kaszu was the first to succumb and started moving to the plant, which whipped up its leaves and began to try and consume. Malakai also succumbed to the fragrance of a second plant. Crichton's glaive was shredding one of the mantraps while Argan cleaved through another with his axe. Kaszu managed to resist the pollen, stabbing it with his dagger as he escaped. Tolman wisely fired his shortbow from the safety of the subtropical greenhouse. Soon, Argan finally finished one off with his axe as Crichton finished another off with his glaive. The casters made short work of the last while keeping their distance with their spells.
The next room was an enclosed room, not a greenhouse, which housed all sorts of fungi. Malakai, the fungi expert detected no threatening plants.
As they opened the door to the last greenhouse, to the south of the courtyard, they saw six plant creatures burying a crate. Five of the creatures looked like small humanoids covered in mold, one was slightly larger than the others and seemed to be in command. The fifth was a four-legged creature of some type also covered in mold which was covered in thorns.
Crichton took a defensive posture in the doorway and became the companion's shield. The small mold creatures charged the door, but were unable to damage the paladin. Delilah attacked with her ray of frost while Malakai used chill touch. Crichton got hit by one of the vegepygmies, but focused his glaive attack on the thorny creature, sensing it was a larger threat. Malakai saw that the vegepygmies not defending the room were continuing to bury the crate, which he assumed held the botanist and bathed that area in a moonbeam. The thorny soon fell, and the Topknots turned their attacks on the chief vegepygmy. The small creatures weren't really a threat to the companions and started dropping fairly quickly. Soon the threat was gone.
Opening up the crate, they party untied the botanist who, despite almost being buried alive, seemed ecstatic. "Marvelous, absolutely fascinating. I would never have credited them with such powers of logical reasoning. Unable to directly attack me, they tried to bury me alive instead. Brilliant!"
After the botanist's somewhat strange reaction to almost being buried alive and killed, introductions were made. He was Adarian Herbifrage, one of the foremost experts on herbology, botany, and dangerous plants in the Free City. He was a frequent guest lecturer at all of the universities in the Free City and even an honorary member of the Guild of Wizardry, which he admitted gave him the means of protection against dangerous plant creatures.
He was very happy to meet the Topknots and somewhat fascinated with Malakai's cloud of spores. He was very proud of Bhulb, saying he would mix his favorite "meal" later. He thanked the companions again, promising to put together a reward for them.
Well after mid-night, they Topknots made their way back to the Black Dragon .

Ready-reat 2nd, 595 CY

The next day, the Topknots found themselves with a few days to waste in the city without any clear objectives. They spent part of the day wandering around buying and selling items while Argan, getting very annoyed being in the city spent most of the day on the Black Dragon's roof. Miklos, the innkeep pretended to be annoyed, but more often just chuckled about Argan's behavior, saying at one point that he had a companion much like Argan during his adventuring career.
Crichton remembered the warrior he had spared with at the gates and asked Miklos about him. Miklos knew the man, "Yr" and told Argan the Yr didn't like being disturbed while in the city. Miklos then suggested if he wanted to spar, sign up at "The Pit". The Pit hosts several types of combat sessions each week. Most nights are scheduled for non-lethal combat with blunt and practice weapons. Duels happen a few times a month, two combatants with a true dispute most get a magistrate to sign off on a lethal combat. These are the biggest moneymakers, but not common. They Pit has a few monstrosities, such as Oswald, a manticore whose tail spikes were removed and wings clipped along with Oscar, the albino owlbear to fight in man versus monster bouts. The fourth is unarmed, non-lethal fights between wrestlers and martial artists, which is gaining in popularity among the students of Clerkburg. Crichton made his way to the Pit and paid his 5 gp entrance fee to sign up for a bout the following night.
Delilah wandered about, finding her way to the magic shop, Maldin and Elenderi's again, but decided not to sell the plant-creature parts she salvaged at Herbifrage's.
Malakai, meanwhile, made his way back to Herbifrage's where he had an interesting discussion with the botanist. Adarian had put together a small coffer with his reward to the party, including a vial of silversheen he had gotten in payment from a client. They talked about Malakai's concern that his spores may be somehow related to his suffering under Zuggtmoy, but Adarian had another idea. He asked Malakai if he had heard of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Malaki listened as he described Yggdrasil's lore of the world tree which stretched its branches into every world. Find a branch of the World Tree and you can climb it to reach any world, an plane, even the planes of the gods. Some beings worship Yggdrasil as its own entity, though it doesn't show any consciousness that mortals can understand.
A counterpart of Yggdrasil is Psilofyr, the "World Fungus", His mycelia reaching down through the planes and touching every world, as does Yggdrasil. Yet Psiolfyr is conscious, and is worshiped as the god of the myconids, like Bhulb, who Adaraian believes gains his developing druidic powers through Psilofyr. The myconids believe that Psilofyr is a god of community and rapport, as well as a teacher and mediator. Where Yggdrasil is said to have Nidhogg, a serpent-wyrm, gnawing on its roots, Psilofyr has Zuggtmoy, its own source of corruption, who seeks to eventually replaced Psilofyr with her own dark dreams.
Tolman spent the day wandering around, first spending some time in the River Quarter. He was beginning to enjoy the quarter, sailors and dockhands wandered the streets, sometimes in packs, rough looking press gangs and less savory people looked to avoid the infrequent patrols of city watchmen. He attempted to pick a pocket, but was discovered almost as soon as he had lifted the pouch, throwing the pouch back and quickly getting lost in the alleys.
As he was wandering, he came on a shop on a side street called Books, Bells, and Candles. Interested in finding a book about the gods, he entered the shop and found that it was run by a red-skinned tielfling who introduced himself as Calibar. Asking what Tolman was looking for, Calibar sidled up to the young tielfling and began personally showing him around the small store. The shopkeep had short, black horns, a strong physique, muscled build, and smelled strongly on brimstone. Tolman began to get uncomfortable as Calibar's tail seemed to have a mind of its own, wrapping around Tolman's leg at one point, and even delivering a playful slap on the ass, which Calibar apologized for after seeing Tolman's discomfort. He eventually found a book, Of Gods and Men, that Tolman was interested in, and the shopkeep even let Tolman talk him into discounting the price. As Tolman left with his books, Calibar said, "Remember, when dealing with the powers or planes, nothing can be proven or confirmed, take it all with a shaker of salt."
A few hundred yards down the street, Tolman remembered that was the exact phrase was used by the old many who would visit him at night when he was chained in the barn, who brought him books about the nine hells and devils. Immediately turning around, Tolman entered the shop again to find it was in incense shop, Aggie's Incense. Checking the next few shops in either direction, he was sure Aggie's Incense was where Books, Bells, and Candles stood just a minute ago.
After checking back a few times, Tolman eventually wandered into the Old City, the Thieves' Quarter and found his way to Halfhock's Pawnshop, run by a rageborn. Looking around and making small-talk, Halfhock eventually asked the young tiefling if he was "looking to be a friend". Thinking it wasn't another proposition, Tolman said yes. Halfhock didn't then assault him, but asked where he lived in the city and a few more questions, said something about traveling friends, and suggested he come back next time he was city-bound.
The Old City was different in many ways from the mid-city, the buildings were taller and closer together, creating more shadows and alleyways. While normal folk went about their business and children played on the side-streets, people watched from the shadows. This was the home of the Merchants' and Traders' Guildhall, and the main streets were thick with carts and the sounds of commerce. Yet the people of the Old City seemed a bit more attentive of their surroundings, many traveled in groups, and always, shadows slipped in and out of the alleyways.
Delilah and Malakai eventually met up. Malakai showed Delilah the herbal recipe book which was part of Adarian's reward. The two decided to work together and create a tanglevine bag. Spending much of the day in Adarian's lab, they botched the day's work.
By nightfall, the companions all found themselves back at the Black Dragon, some had never left. Delilah spent more time dancing and drinking with her new circle of friends, all students from the nearby universities. There was Kyra, who worked at the Great Library, Bedwyr, from Bardschool, who liked to show off and even sang a song or two on stage, Lothan studying Cartography at the Grey College, Zereni, studying at the School of Clerkship and Thokk, studying engineering at the Grey College, but usually carrying around a book of poetry or literature.

Ready-reat 3rd, 595 CY

Waking the next day, the Topknots managed to just hang around and enjoy the day. Malakai and Delilah went back to Herbifrage's to work on their tanglevine bag. The finished it today, but had spent as much in reagents as it would have cost to just purchase one. They'd need to either get better at herbalism or help each other avoid mistakes instead of trying to work in tandem.
Tolman went back to Aggie's Incense a few times, just to double check, while Kaszu just hung around and enjoyed the city. Argan, on the other hand, was ornery and just wanted to get out of the city.
Crichton spent much of the day in their suite, practicing his maneuvers and strikes. As darkness fell, the companions made their way to The Pit. Tolman made a comment that this was going to be nasty.
Crichton entered the Pit ready for a fight. Argan and Malakai bet on Crichton, while Tolman bet against him. The Topknots all bought drinks, Delilah stayed alcohol-free, while they watched the match Crichton's opponent was Ardak the Unbeatable, and in the first minute Ardak definitely had the upper hand, Crichton came back strong and after balancing the scales, seemed to gain momentum, but Ardak came back with a few great srikes with his practice battleaxe. With a final thump, Ardak stood victorious and Crichton hit the ground. The whole fight may have taken five minutes.
Paying and collecting their winnings and loses, the companions watched a few more matches. Ardak defeated his second opponent, but was out in the third round. Another set of combatants were they trotted out for a second round of combat (and drinks) before the Topknots decided they had enough of the night and headed back to the inn.

Ready-reat 4th-7th, 595 CY

The next day, the Topknots were summoned to the Great Library, Allustan's order was set and crated. They were given a chest and the key to the chest for Allustan. Iquander explained that Allustan ordered three books, Pesh: Allegory or Reality?, The Chronicle of Chan, and The Rod of Seven Parts. He had been contacted to let him know the books were on their way.
Picking up their stuff from the Black Dragon, the party made their way back to the Druid's Gate and departed the Free City, for now. They spent the 4th traveling to the Halfway Inn, each spending 8 sp for private rooms on the second floor. The next day (Ready'reat 5th) was spent on the road to Steaming Spring where private rooms were only 5 sp a the Mistview Inn. Ready'reat 6th saw them arriving in Blackstone. The Quarrystone Inn had private rooms for 8 sp, or a suite they could all fit into for 3 gp. Finally on the 7th, they arrived back in Diamond Lake.
Looking around at the sad town, they made their way to Allustan's to drop off the chest and the key before making an appointment with the town clerk to find out about property rights for the mine office. Before heading back to the mine office to settle down for the night.

Ready'reat 8th, 595 CY

The next day, they met with the clerk and learned that the mine office was on a small piece of land. Because the mine was played out, the property deed for the office would be valued at 100 gp. If they wished the deed to the played-out mine as well, that would be an extra 200 gp. Someone chimed up and asked about the old observatory, now vacant after their defeat of Filge.
The clerk stammered and stuttered a bit, once it was known that a necromancer was given access to the property, the deed mysteriously disappeared and no one has any evidence to who purchased the deed or which official signed the deed. Due to the fact that it is a blot on the town, they would be willing to draft a new deed for 500 gp.
After spending some time in town, the party went back to the mine office (they'd have to rename it) to figure out their next steps, unwilling to be squatters anymore.

Campaign

It Started in Diamond Lake

Protagonists

Tolman K’hurzz

Malakai Steelbuckle

Delilah Raincloud

Crichton Eogen

Argan Agu-Ulakanu

Chaotic Good Goliath (Outlander)
Ranger 4

36 / 36 HP

STR
18

DEX
14

CON
14

INT
10

WIS
12

CHA
8

Kaszu Billowcase

Chaotic Good Rock Gnome (Guild Artisan / Guild Merchant)
Artificer 3

24 / 24 HP

STR
8

DEX
12

CON
14

INT
17

WIS
14

CHA
10

Report Date

01 Sep 2024