Session 19: The Heart of the Empire

General Summary

After several over two weeks of flying, the party finally reached the capital of the empire. The city of Zimmerheim. Heiwa and Nacklenook, who both grew up in the capital, warned them that flying over the capital was not permitted and that the skies were patrolled by imperial wardens mounted on gryphons. Instead, they landed a few miles south and rolled in through the southern gate. Heiwa fearing that she might be recognised transformed into a cat upon arrival. Nacklenook, not being able to change his form, put on an elaborate disguise to pose as a nobleman. They successfully made it past the heavily armoured guards, and were now exploring the city. Nacklenook led them past the giant Hammerkrach Cathedral and to one of the fanciest establishments he knew, now that they had the gold to live a little more luxuriously. This place was the Gilded Griphon Inn, and there they managed to score a parking spot for their wagon, stable for their hippogriphs and three rooms for them to share. All except Fritz who had to stay in the wagon and tend to the kobold eggs. Nacklenook managed to pick up a few rumours about a curse on the black market and a vampire that was killed by the local Monster Hunter Guild.
When they had gotten themselves settled they began to explore the city. Himmler and Ushrir left the others behind and went towards a shop called Curious Conundrums. Although the others managed to catch up thanks to Heiwa the cat tracking them with her keen nose. Heiwa then left to go deal with her own business. Meanwhile, Himmler and Ushrir had managed to purchase a dagger, a magical shield, and a bag full of wargear for their kobolds once they were born. All from the curious and a little shady gnome called Quintorious Quickwit.
Together they made their way up to the northern parts of the city to find the giant library and bookstore located in conjunction with the imperial kollege.At this point Himmler, Ushrir and Heiwa had noticed a strange and irregular feeling of security and community. This was particularly strange for Ushrir and Himmler who had never been to the capital before. Inside the library found the seemingly small building was merely the front for a massive underground hall with a single entrance where the librarian helped them find the locations of what they sought. Along the winding bookshelves they managed to find more than what they could have hoped for and all together bought 16 books listed below:

• Tactical Warfare: Strategies for the Intermediate Commander
• Advanced Tactics and Maneuvers: A Guide for Military Leaders
• Beyond Basic Tactics: Intermediate Military Leadership in Action
• Advanced Special Operations: Tactical Maneuvers for Covert Missions
• Spec Ops Tactics: Advanced Techniques for Elite Units
• Draconic Primer: A Beginner's Guide to Learning the Language of Dragons
• Mastering Draconic: Advanced Techniques for Fluent Communication with Dragons
• Common Tongue Tales: Fun Stories and Activities to Learn
• The Amazing Alphabet: A Journey from A to Z
• ABCs of the Enchanted Forest: A Magical Alphabet Adventure
• The Dwarven Runic Alphabet Adventure
• Runes of the Mountain Kingdom: A Children's Language Book
• Secrets of the Sneaky: A Children's Guide to the Thieves' Code
• Reimar the Great: Architect of an Empire
• From the Ashes: The Birth of the Empire of Zimea
• Chronicles of Conquest: The Formation of the Empire of Zimea

Whilst skimming through these for anything useful regarding the shards they are after. It was a short passage about the stone that was placed upon Reimar the Great’s chest as he was buried. It too closely resembled the shards that they had seen thus far and so had to be connected, he thought. Sadly, Nacklenook told them how the imperial tomb was an extremely restricted area underneath the royal palace itself. The only known way inside was through the palace, and the only way inside the palace was through and invitation by someone from the imperial council. A choice now presented itself. To leave this shard as it was, or to try and get to the tomb of the first emperor.

Campaign

Shards of Power

Protagonists

Mikum Himmler Naysayer

Boddynock Nackle

Ùshrir Akrul

Lawful Neutral Mountain Dwarf (Soldier)
Paladin 6

54 / 54 HP

STR
20

DEX
12

CON
18

INT
12

WIS
13

CHA
15

Heiwa

Thomas Gaston

Report Date

25 Feb 2024

Primary Location

Zimmerheim