Therial Balhadur
A male golden Dragonborn sorcerer.
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Session Eighteen
The festival of the Moon begins, drunks and festivities abound. Lights and merriment. Therial spends time taking note of all the alcohols available and using it as an excuse to look around the place.
Day two, big dinner coming this evening. The barrels of special wine will be in The Wide at midday, under guard, but could they be explosives? We need to ask Ravenguard about checking those.
The night's speech is about those who were lost to the troubles, and hope for the betterment of the city. The priests of Gond start to tap the kegs and hives everyone a goblet! Many people drink, but the group worries about poison. And its confirmed by spell casing that its a poison to make everyone irritable and quick to anger.
And Torland Silvershield thanks us that he has caused Baahl to arise again. And he then transforms... he and the priests of Gond battle us.
We come out victorious, with Rose delivering the final blow. The festival is called off. The priests loyal to Torland are hunted down.
We are set as legends of the city, having twice saved it.
Session Seventeen
We rush to figure out what just blew up the High Hall! I kick the Flaming Fist leadership into action while he stood stunned.
All the windows on the while side of the city are broken; dazed and confused survivors and masses of people flooding into the area. Half of the High Hall is missing, the half where the parliament of peers meets.
2/3s of the peers are likely dead now. Only 1/3 remains to govern. A light lockdown of the remaining people are put under guard. A week into the aftermath a proclamation goes out stating that "all the factions need to come together and let the wounds heal". This earns Burnlund's freedom at least.
There will be a big Feast of the Moon in about a month and a half. To celebrate and come together for 3 days.
We meet to discuss the dead, who might have interest in this outcome, and the ongoing chaos. From a list later obtained, most kidnappings earlier here not related to the council, just wealthy and famous. In the explosion there was no main focus to the explosion, neither friend nor foes over represented.
Rilsa, of The Guild, has gone to ground and Keen has taken over general control now. Like the sanitation workers are now back to work under Keen's direction?
I fill in Ravenguard on all the knowledge and suspicions we have collected thus far. We wish each other luck in the coming events, and he will post guards to the sewers under the Wide for the event.
Session Sixteen
Burnlund's march ends with him in jail and many killed and wounded by the guards for no apparent reason?
Word of Fruward "The Nail" in relation to the goings on, related to "Nine-Fingers" Keene. Lots of thinking on what to do... Imbralind Skoond seems like the likely culprit of the kicking off of the massacre.
Moss, Rose and Mr Big look around The Guild and find some flaming fist weapons stashed in crates ready to move.
I follow Skoond home and then wait around the back to see if anyone uses the back entrance, pondering how to burn my way in! They go quiet and when I open the door, an ambush! I blow fire into the basement and that's the last thing he sees...... DEAD, but revived at a cost by Vogonia, 4 days of weakness. and owing a 500gp diamond to Corrin.
The team goes to see Ravenguard, while a riot in the port begins! Rose calms things down and the city makes it thru with minimal loses!
Favel Blandt, Guild insider at the Fist, now dealt with. I give info to the Fist about the Guild activities. They intercept...
And High Hall blows up!!
Session Fourteen
Moss checks out the temple district for the insight from the Lady of Luck regarding the unfortunate happenings in the docks. He gets a good background on the Bahlspawn, the actions of the Duke (all the new laws were his pushing).
Need to talk regarding Ravek Shielder about that kidnapping, We get a pretty cold shoulder initially, but got more details. Had to drop money in the sewers, and had to pay a guild member to guide him.
We head to the Elfsong Tavern at night to try to meet with Jarred for more information. He also mentions they were surprised he made it on time. 4-5 people, but none familiar. Definitely a rough sort, outer city types, smelt of animals? Cut Frederik loose and shoved him at him, then left via the other side of the hill.
Tinker's Guild needs a talking to on Berlund's behalf, me and Moss volunteer to do that while he is bust in a different meeting. Jemorn Ironspark is a well burnt gnome, Moss knows her! I do NOT do a good job of convincing her as to why we came in his place. However Moss does a pretty good job, and gives us a lead to talk to the Sanitation Guild (Thalamra Vanthampur [Drains and Underways] or Haxilion Trood [Purser]) to get them on our side as well to help win over Ironspark.
A crowd has gathered around Sorcerous Sundries, two names are being talked about: Harali Avir (body found) and Aurayuan (owner of Blade and Stars). The Flaming Fist is trying to cordon the area.
We are summoned to Ravensguard's office for a mission. He wishes us to look into The Guild looking into Baldur's Mouth to send out coded messages! We put him onto Ironspark's family for protection, he mentioned that refuse is covering the bodies when they find them.
I pay a lamp-lad to dig up who may have old editions of the Mouth for me to peruse. But, Moss figure it out before me, and there is a meeting "above the sows foot" (Ham's Hock Butcher). Another fold of the paper gives us a potential passcode?
We head to the location. Waiting for Rose who goes in on the inside to get info. She shares the info on the Relsa's kidnapping plans they have, but that they may not be fully involved as a group in the murder/kidnappings.
Session Thirteen
Burnlund begins talking to the guilds to get support in his run for the seat. Moss the monk (m) helps at a local clinic to do medical stuff, recently made contact with Burnlund around supporting his campaign. Moss joins up to help a bit, cooks pretty good too!
More kidnappings, an Laura Alreven, like the a glassblower Alraner we met at a previous party. Like the Shadder kid, from the lower city (found strangled near harbor master's).
Laura Alreven's (wife) body found by the Elfsong Tavern later in the day. We head to talk to Korrin to get more information as he may know more about these people.
Random notes for high amounts were presented, but obscure methods of payment. Far too high and complex to be successfully made. Some managed to pull it off and those individual kidnapping victims were returned: Devlin Stodge (tailor, lower), Federick Croftner (silversmith, upper), Ravek Shielder (gallery, upper). We could possibly follow up on them.
Parliament of peers members, potentially could be targets?
Stodge: 900 GP, to be delivered to stranger in Brampton with more instructions, 30 minutes to get all the way over to Norchapel to an abandoned shop where the brutes took the money and gave back the kid.
Croftner: 120 PP, to be delivered to Tumbledown at a specific time but they used a retainer (Jarred, at the Elfsong at night) who directed them up Dusthawk hill to an encampment where the men were happy to get the money and shoved the kid back them them.
Burnlund keep campaigning.
Session Twelve
It appears that we were used once again, as kidnappings happened during the fire spree overnight. Burnlund is looking for way to get himself installed as a man of the people.
The alchemist says there is not way to trace the smoke powder materials per-se, they would need a secure spot, maybe underground, to stop the noise when things explode. Maybe the undercellars could be a good location to look into. In related thoughts, the lord's minion, Scoond was also in that area.
We set up some watches for Scoond to follow him to wherever he goes in the city after his shift. Ends up at the 3 Old Kegs Pub. He obviously caught on, and later he makes way for the Gate to the Steeps to head home.
We spend a week researching, working and Bernlund meeting people.
Session Eleven
A man pounds on the door yelling for Mr. Big. A fat redhaired chef angrily glares. Its a duel and Mr. Big wins easily. We begin a search for Horace Cope.
The fist forms the Court of the Fist ("a kangaroo court" in opinion) to combat the growing spread of the guild. We go see the guild about possibly getting some more info on the names we have to look up. The agree, but we need to do some property damage first, research and clear out the businesses so firebugs can torch them: The Guild Hall of the Order of the Brass Owl (artisan guild restricted to city folk), Ailemane Family Perfumery in Bloomridge. This is punish the partiar class, according to the guild.
We search the two places and they appear clear of people and we greenlight burnings. The night gets hot.
Session Ten
Looks like the curfew has been dissolved due to some of our prodding with the patriar class, but also dueling has been re-established?
A dock hand named Margaret knows of the shipments, she notes a few warehouses took the deliveries. All by a Horace Cope. I should go talk to the warehouse keepers. Ravek, remembers them as odd orders. Paid in cash, ruffian types. No way to directly track.
We head up to the High Hall to look into records on Seskergates. A year ago Imbralym Skoond from Athcatla bought up the property. It's next door to the Mandorcai's Mansion, with rumors of around 3 years ago it appeared suddenly overnight, owned by a wizard tiefling rumored to get his spells from devils and partook in rituals in the house, driving down values.
Corin tells us Silvershield is kinda on the outs due to Wyllck Caldwell (blackmailed) and Ariax Rillyn (framed), and there is now a kinda war between the watch and the Flaming Fist. The guards are headed to pick up Norold Dlusker (wool merchant), Ellyn Harbreeze (baker), Stepan Groat (fist member). We fan out to tell people that are at risk, and I find the baker already embroiled in being dragged off by the guard. I make a distraction, to say WAY too little of it, and am now being chased!
Dlusker was warned successfully ahead of his arrest. The Flaming Fist leadership are informed of Groat's potential arrest, and he is rescued, with SOME issue back to the Fist. It's noted another crackdown on the Guild's activities is imminent. Rillyn has likely already been released on the murder charge.
Two regulars have not been seen in weeks after taking the job moving cargo: Allyck Vintner and Sigur Maed. We go to sleep...
Woken up by yells of: "Mr Big you son of a bitch"
Session Nine
Guards try to stop us, but with some snobbery and tense bluffing we make it past their gaze. We enter the Korin estate. Korin is singing up front, Lady Veconia waiting nearby.
We learn that "The Slayer" was the strange beast, an avatar of Baal, during the fight in The Wide. The Baalspawn seem to be killing each other. Abdel was one of them, the thing to kill him (Viekang) was one too. Korin suggests that we go talk to Harbormaster Namorran about the harbor manifest, figure out how is getting the ingredients for the smoke powder. Also The Watch are exceeding their write by kicking in doors in the lower city, out of their jurisdiction.
Lady Keene shows up at the party; Korin's eye go wide. She was let got, as the patriars know what is best for them. I overheard patriars are annoyed at the luxury taxes. Dueling laws will be rolled back to founding times, with mixed reactions. The lockout affects local businesses, loss of workforce, lack of shoppers.
We make our way thru the sewers to get out of the upper city. Rose breaks into the Harbormaster's office to get a look at the manifest. Mr Big notes that normal shipments of dragon dung, salt of yolk, and charcoal. Some larger shipments were logged to be delivered to H. Cope, care of Felogyr's Fireworks. Afery Sonshal may know more than he says? We need to follow up.
On our way home we see Imbralym Skoond trying to be lowkey and Rose follows after him. He stinks and is caked in mud. May have been in the sewer. He enters a manor in Bloomridge. "Seskergates" merchant family's house, up for sale in the last 2 years due to the death of the last Seskergates family member. We try to track his origin in parallel. He did in fact come from the sewers; but we lose the trail under the upper city somewhere.
We hit up a bathhouse to clean the sewer off of us. We then talk to Afery Sonshal, who seems to have no actual info on the shipments. He says we should check to see where the shipments went from a dockhand.
Session Eight
We return to Alder Ravenguard to report our completed task, which events are already unfolding (he was arrested and implicated 9 Fingers [Estelle Keen] as an accomplice in the sacrifice, which is a lie?). We are presented a bundle of items: long sword, mace, rapier all enchanted as +1 and the wand (wand of the war mage) similar to magic. The council has decided that the upper city will be closed at 3 bells and any poors will be fined/arrested.
We move to investigate the rat problem we heard of. We head to Tumbledown to meet a contact of Mr Big's to get some info. They point us toward the Blushing Mermaid in Heapside where there are an increased number of sightings/concentration. We enter the sewer ahead of dusk to do some info gathering on the spot. As we wander a voice commands the rats to kill us.
A shapeshifter loses his life to us, maybe the commander of all the rats? We bring the body back to Alder Ravenguard, he pays us 15 gold apiece and a free trip through the bathhouse to clean up. We head home to rest, and pass a lamp-lad who calls out Ms Rose. Presents a letter. An invite for tomorrow night to a big party with Korin in the upper city. So we will need to sort out access with the current laws.
Session Seven
We awake to some commotion in the new morning. The suspects have been found (after our leaving them to The Guild) at the foot of the Beloved Ranger statue. They were discovered and dragged, beaten, and had their hands cut off! The Flaming Fist leadership, Alder wants us to meet and prevent a Willik Caldwell (alchemist from the Manorborn district) from becoming the replacement Duke. We need to find some evidence, or fabricate it. Yeesra may be able to swear a statement against him. We claim some Flaming Fist pins to allow us to revisit him in Wyrms Rock.
We eat a bit and plot our action... maybe see Yeesra first; bet she still loves us for sure. We smooth that over with food of all things. We make a document stating the treated lumber is dangerous, she signs. We confront Caldwell and manage to convince him to stay out of politics. Someone is following us, and we will try to lose them with the help of a few locals.
We find another pottery bowl or two that have been discarded, similar to the previous. No one knows hearing any booms that would have made this wreckage. We report back to Alder and get paid in a choice of magical items (boots of false tracks, tankard of plenty, dread helm, cloak of many fashions). He wishes to hire us on again.
He tells us the judges are in the pocket of The Guild, there is need of some evidence to be placed in their possession. A bloody dagger, smoking pipe (engraved Ariax Rillyn), and a broken walking stick (bear-tree-triangle). Plant them in the Szarr family crypts in Tumbledown at night. Place near the stone sarcophagus in the middle.
We end up stepping into a pack of ghouls feasting on a fresh kill in the tombs. We make it thru and plant the evidence. Word spreads in town that the rats are fleeing the sewers and are attacking randomly.
Session Six
Bernlund finds a dagger (Oberon family) and a broach (Ravenshade family) near the statue. Oberon: drydock owners, Ravenshade: Jewels and jewelry. Imbralym gets our report and wants us to see Silvershield immediately. He quizzes us on what we found.
Offers 300 GP for us to bring Zurin Ravenshade (M) and Orlaith Oberon (F) in quietly. We are given a signet ring to prove our purpose in bringing them in. The Guild summons us as well on our way out to the Elfsong Tavern for a meet. They also want to expose the youths that did this. Marin Durinbold (M) is also involved, but was smart enough to not leave evidence. Bring them to her shop in Little Calimshan, back door.
Mr. Big questions a low member of the Oberon family and she did not come home last night. We leave word for her to meet us at the gate near The Wide. We rile up some urchins to go find us some rich kids while most of the group also searches.
An urchin says that he took 3 youths to the docks in Brampton in the early hours. We head to the docks and look around. Ferryman named Windel took the kids across at dawn to Twin Songs towards Wyrms Crossing. They had packs with them and a haversack. We follow the trail all the way to Wyrm's Crossing into Rivington (with a stop in at Horgold Hadru Pottery).
He swears they were never there. After beating answer outta them we find the kids in the back and bring them, under cover to The Guild. They disappear into the building and now... we face the Duke.
We lie, and say they escaped us, and from what we can tell he bought it. I attempt to graciously bow out of our service to him. We part ways, for now, but with what's coming we worry.
Session Five
"Lady Keen" has been paying for Norold Dlusker's stall for ~43 Months per the bailiff. We get two other locations of his to go look into if we want, his mill in Brampton and home in The Wide. Still will not give up who Lady Keen is, but swears she is his accountant.
A cracked smoking bowl of sulfur sits in the trash. Suspicious, used for mixing something? Letters on the bowl bottom spell: "F E L O G Y R / B G" - Felogyr's Fireworks may be related?
We stop by and give Afery Sonshal the bowl. He ways its identical but not one of his?! Claims to have not been there. A potter in Rivington, Tacy Sands, makes these for him. A month ago a man asked him for info on potters and went on his way. Tall, fair skinned, red hair, short nose. Human or similar. The smell in the bowl is "smoke powder" (aka gunpowder). Anyone else making it would be illegal.
We go to report our findings. Asked to dig into the potter and give the description of the one asking about the bowls to be disseminated to the guard. A break in to Tacy's shop and a number of those bowls were stolen. Identifies the unknown person as "Horace Cope" (horoscope -_-). We are warned off digging into Lady Keen for the sake of our lives by The Guild.
The guard posts a notice that only partiars and above can be fancy, wear jewelry etc. Burnland takes offence when the guards command me to get rid of my nice clothing. The Duke reimburses me for them shredding my clothes. It looks like Yssra was swept up by the Guard and The Flaming Fist as promised by the Duke.
Overnight the hands of 5 statues were stolen: Sea Serpent, Fury of the Fist, Balduron, 6 Wise Machinists and Faithful Shopkeeper. Also, Boo in the hands of The Beloved Ranger (Minsc) is gone!
Session Four
We sleep the night then go back to Silvershield to accept his job. We receive a writ that allows us to search for crimes of one wool trader, Norold Dlusker; sorceress, Yssra Brackrel; and the Low Lantern's owner, Laraelra Thundreth. If they are guilty, arrest them and turn over to the watch. We, however, need to use this power to dig into the REAL culprits.
Dlusker lets up in on some rumors on the Duke Abdel, bad parentage, dark priests or similar? Some kind of harpers, but over 100 years ago. His brother was the one threatening the city at that time?
In the Low Lantern we try to get an audience with the owner and instead are attacked, a lot. She runs for it. The Flaming Fist make entry and tell everyone to get the hell off the ship. We have to show the writ to keep them from arresting some of us. Due to some big mouths and less smarts.
The Flaming Fist is preparing for a raid near a place called The Oasis, a den of vice. It is also connected to The Guild in the city. We stop by Little Calimshan for food and to tip off the Guild to the misunderstanding.
Onward to try and find Brackrel at Danthelon's Dancing Axe, a general store of sorts. She may be on the 2nd floor, doing hair styling?! Under questioning, she does not seem to be involved in any way to the goings on in the city.
The next day we attend the Abdel funeral first thing in the morning. All the dukes, officials, etc are in attendance. A sad drow also there, she takes note of us. Viconia DeVir, wife of Abdel, speaks of how he treated her well while the Flaming Fist tried to kill her for being.
Session Three
We drop the trap on the caravan of guards, but I drop it too early and crush one or two of them. Rose tries to threaten them, but a fight ensues. I get the two box bearers out of combat and get the box out in the open for the team.
Success as we make off with the money and no one (likely) has died in the attempt! We flee, we get paid, now what?
Session Two
A gust of wind blows through and the wounded moan in pain. Everyone tries to pick up the pieces. We get some congratulations for stopping the mayhem.
I'm tasked to meet Imbralym Skoond as the 3 Old Kegs before 4 bells to get to the bottom of this. The Flaming Fist Mercs representative, Ulder Ravengard, wants to talk to us as Wyrms Rock (South East bridge of Wyrm's Crossing). Rose splits off for a few to talk to someone while we continue on to the 3 Old Kegs. Imbralym seems to have a distaste in the lower city, but gives us the rundown of the politics at hand. The council of 4 (currently 3 due to the death) control the Guard and do not allow the The Flaming Fist to have any "work" in the upper city. Duke Abdel's death will cause some instability as he was liked by both the upper and lower cities.
Moves for power will be happening. The thieves guild needs a cleaning out etc... Duke Torland Silvershield (who owns this guy) is the force behind this man. Duke Silvershield, the High Priest of the Temple of Dawn, would like to get our aid. We can meet the Duke now if we are interested. Imbralym leads us onward. We go to the High Hall government building. Silvershield has a gear holy symbol, welcomes us. He is kinda an over pious dick, zealot, but is really really against the thieves guild. He thinks they are inside The Flaming Fist, and all sorts of religious groups. Wants us to figure out who is in the guild and how to get in there.
Possible agents: Wool Trader, Norold Dlusker; Sorceress, Yssra Brackrel; Low Lantern's Owner, Laraelra Thundreth. He wants proof of their activities.
Rose needs to stop by Little Calimshan and we will get some food there. Then we will all continue onward to Wyrm's Crossing. On our way out the gates through Stonyeyes, there is some inspection for a missing shield? The Flaming Fist guard is points out an arrogant prick to the guy acting like a customs agent named Nant Thangol. We must talk to him first, but apparently we get a free pass! Rose makes her meeting while we eat.
We are officially introduced to Rilsa Rael, Jewel Emporium owner (Rose's contact here), who wants to stick it to Nantt and help the lower folk by stealing a toll box from him. Stays on post till midnight then gets escorted to his manor near the Blushing Mermaid in Heapside. There is an ambush point on the way and we should be well disguised. Do NOT kill anyone.
We plan...
Session One
Today is Returning's Day.
The upper city is toll free, and the action is happening here. Run into another folk hero, Burnlund and the cleric who healed me, who I now learn is named Mr. Big, ironically. He also brings over Rose the dragonborn seamstress of 'Thistleweave'. However she is a bit more than the talk on the surface; her and Mr. Big playing coy with some discussion?
We get some food and await the high house to start the festival! A ruffian tries to pressure me into "pay" for damages to his cloak. Some thieves are called out and go running from the crowd during the distraction caused by this.
A speech goes on and on a bit about the history of the city and the old man (Abdel) up front get a strange look on his face, looking almost through us. A call goes out to look up at 'the window', and then boom a blaze of crossbows fire. The crowd take a number of hits, including Rose. Both building north and south have crossbowmen firing into the crowd, and the guard it trying to organize itself.
Two more thugs appear in the crowd and begin stabbing their way around. We engage them and try to save as many people as we can. As well as a dark cloaked ruffian and two henchmen hop up on stage to "finish" something, assuming the previous events, not good things. As Abdel drops the cloaked man transforms into a monstrosity! But we manage to kill it.
The Guard help to pick up the pieces.
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