First Time in the Free City of Greyhawk Report

General Summary

Patchwall 28, 595 CY

Session 2024-07-10

While wandering the marketplace, the Topknots went their separate ways. Crichton found a shop, Crowmar's Magnificent Lantern Emporium, that sold helms with fire beetle cages on top. He could close the cage when he didn't want light and open it in the dark, all he had to do was feed the small fire beetle to keep it alive. Delilah eventually found her way to Maldin and Elenderi's to purchase reagents for her crafting.
Tolman decided to try and snatch a beltpouch or two while wandering the marketplace, unfortunately for him, his first grab happened just as the merchant turned to look at him. The merchant yelled for the guard while Tolman returned the man's coin pouch. Luckily, Tolman got off with a swift reprimand, but he noticed the guards patrolling the marketplace seemed to keep an eye on him afterward.
So he decided to take a trip to the Old City, and went through the Black Gate to see to "dark side". He grabbed an ale at Millrose Brewery and watched the people come and go. Being mid-afternoon, he didn't see much of anything, city-folk running chores, merchants, closing up shop, things he could see on the Vein in Diamond Lake. He got a bit bored and went back to meet up with his friends.
As night began to fall, Argan and Kaszu returned from the guild meetings and the companions eventually found each other in the Petit Bazaar to figure out their next steps. Allustan suggested the Black Dragon Inn or the Crooked House, they decided that the Black Dragon Inn sounded like a better prospect. Following the Processional north, they saw the inn right off the road to the right. Entering the inn was like nothing they had seen before. The common area was as large as any building in Diamond Lake, the Feral Dog could fit inside this one room. A balcony area overlooked the main floor. Young men and women, students by the look of them, ran drinks and platters to and fro, while a bard and his musicians, also young, sang over the din in a corner.
They found their way to the main bar, behind which a large bear of a man with red hair took drink orders and bellowed out directions to the staff. Mentioning Allustan, they asked for rooms and got a suite for 5 gp. The innkeep, Miklos Dare, had the look of a former adventurer. Argan asked to sleep in the stables, or even on the roof, which seemed to amuse, or maybe annoy, Miklos. He noted that he had a similar adventuring buddy for a while, but asked them to not let Argan sleep on the roof. Malakai had this strange feeling, almost like he was not alone, soon after he entered the city. There was no "tug" or any other signs, but it was a strange feeling.
They asked Miklos about magical tattoos and about the library. The Great Library was easy, just take the road east, it was one of the last buildings on the right before the city walls. He recognized the tattoo artist the Topknots were seeking as the Painted Man, Jahran Hulris and gave directions to his shop.
They found their room and bedded down for the night.

Ready-Reat 1, 595 CY

At dawn the next morning, Argan made his way to the Leatherworkers' Guildhall, while Kaszu made his way back to the Metalsmiths' Hall. The others made their way to the Great Library. This large building was filled with university students and other academics with a few tutors addressing small groups of students in the wings. Six large wings branched off the central area, each containing a different collection of lore. They were greeted by one of the clerks, Deego Sprocket. Deego brought them to a central area with a large round desk surrounding a throne-like seat. An older man sat within, perusing a pile of books that appeared to be new. He introduced himself as Iquander. They gave Iquander Allustan's letter, which he opened and read. He told them that the three books would take some time to locate, they weren't commonly requested books. After they verified the letter, it would take a few days to locate the books. Iquander asked where they were staying and said that he would send word.
Meanwhile, Argan and Kaszu were having very different interactions at the guildhouses. Argan was brought into a workshop and asked to show his proficiency. He could use the materials to make anything he wished. He decided on Hide Armor, he could craft two suits of hide in a day's work. The two pieces he made were exceptional, clearing showing off his skills as a leatherworker. The craft was inspected by Harran Fanshen, the guildmaster before turning the terms back over to the clerk. The clerk overseeing the challenge explained that dues were 5 gp per month, if he were selling anything within the domain limits, he would have to contact the guild to get a seal of approval and the guild would take a copper on a gold for anything he sold, as well as occasionally checking on the quality of his works. Argan, unused to the concept of a guild, asked what he got for all that. To which the clerk replied, a guild certificate which gets you in and out of the city gates without a gate tax, and the ability to sell and set up shop anywhere in the domain as a guildmember. Argan looked at the small man and angrily wished him a "Good Day" before leaving to find a tree to sit under. The city was becoming annoying.
Kaszu, with his defender, entered the Metalsmiths' Hall for his apprentice trials. The Finesmiths' Guildmaster, a gnome named Basher Grundig, came out to explain the requirements. Guildmaster Basher took one look at the defender and began asking questions about its construction and operation. Seeing that Kaszu was well beyond apprentice ability, he skipped over the crafting trial. He did comment about the bad reviews that he received from Osgood and other mentors of Kaszu, but overlooked them. Kaszu was obviously bored apprenticing and was rebelling. The guild contract that Kaszu signed was remarkable similar to the one Argan was offered. Dues were 5 gp per month, back dues needed to be paid whenever Kaszu returned to the city. If he set up shop in the city or the domain, he would have to contact the guild and turn over a small portion of his earnings, a copper on a gold, to continue receiving guild membership. Kaszu rode his defender out of the guildhall a journeyman finesmith.
Gathering together, they decided to try and find the Painted Man. In the shop, Jharan walked around half-naked, showing off an impressive dragon tattoo among others. When they asked about magical tattoos, he went over the different types. The disguise self tattoo, which Allustan suggested, cost 60 gp each and took a day to ink. They left the shop and found a secluded area, watching the traffic of the River Quarter pass by while they debated the need for the tattoos. Some suggested a main assault on the Dourstone Mines, killing anything and everything that got in the way, but the miners would likely not be cultists, just hard-working Diamond Lakers. The mine overseers, all dwarves, were loyal to Ragnolin Dourstone, and may actually be cultists, but not necessarily. Gradually, a plan came together, approach the mines a night, then talk their way through or take out any night-guards. No tattoos needed. Malakai got a magical tattoo of message, just in case.
On the way back, Crichton noticed a fortuneteller, Onella's Palms, and ducked inside. Delilah broke away from her friends and made her way to her parent's house to say hello. The others either returned to the Black Dragon or explored the city more.
As night fell, the Topknots all found themselves a table in the common room near the bar. A man walked up to the bar and asked for a double-anything, "I swear Miklos, I just saw a walking mushroom behind the Dragon. Make it strong."
Malakai immediately told the others he had to see this, and nearly ran out the door to investigate. He found a young myconid, almost an adult, behind the inn. Upon seeing him, the myconid held its breath and puffed out a cloud of spores. Malakai and the myconid, who called himself Bhulb, entered a type of rapport. Bhulb was worried about someone and felt Malakai's presence, that same feeling Malakai also felt. Kaszu came out to see what was going on, and was amused that he wasn't the smallest person around. Bhulb wanted Malakai's help finding out what happened to his mentor.
Gathering up the rest of the Topknots, they followed Bhulb to the Garden Gate into Noble Heights, the Garden and the High Quarters. Approaching the gate, Bulb puffed another cloud of spores, and the gate guards became very mellow and compliant. They still did their duty and wrote down the descriptions of the party, and the fact that they were with Bhulb, but there was no questioning or suspicion.
Bhulb led them through the Garden Quarter to a two-story home with an extensive greenhouse, or multiple greenhouses, attached. He reached up with a key and unlocked the door.

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

21 Jul 2024