Session 2: Plots and Pyrotechnics

General Summary

After an explosive welcome to Hupperdook, the party continues their investigation on the prison break of Skenn Zabris, now beginning to uncover ties to a more sinister figure behind the events.
The night's cast included:
Fenn , the fisherman-come-Warlock who has been exiled from his village for dealings with devils, and the lack of a soul.
Lord Justice, a driven seeker of Justice with a keen mind for technological creation.
Morgwyn Mossridge, an outcast ranger travelling far and wide in search of knowledge to protect the forests of her home.
Tiny the Giant Dwarf, a far-from-home Duergar who dabbled too deep in magic beyond his knowledge, searching for someone who knows better.

Absent members included:
Aranck, a fungus-coated Tortle on a mission to protect nature in a foreign land, last seen wandering into the wilderness.
Joshua Till, an academic wizard ridiculed and unjustly rejected by the Soltryce Academy on a mission to prove his theories. He was caught up a town back with a bad case of hives, after investigating a local mushroom species slightly too closely...

Key points from the session:

The party headed to the Firemark Facility, in the aims to meet Blast Gaffer Sleese Firemark and ask questions regarding the blasting powder found at the scene of the escape from the Gearhole Prison.

En route, they encountered a familiarly confident elvish figure, Yinra Emberwind, who chided the party for their tardiness in this investigation, boasting that she had already 'been there, done that' and was now off.

After persuading the door guard Fonkin, and learning somewhat of the integrity and rigor of the facility, the party gained entry to discuss matters with Sleese Firemark, a hot-headed gnome who begrudgingly accepted the distraction from his work.

Sleese Firemark confirmed with the party that the facility's blasting powder stock was in high demand by The Dwendalian Empire's war effort, and as such could not be misplaced else there be dire consequence. The extensive ledgers and quality control checks on display to the party corroborated this perspective, along with Tiny's experience with similar ledgers from his smuggling experience in the past.

The party was informed that Nima Cinnarid, the key staff of the facility responsible for procurement of raw materials and creation of blasting powder, had been off sick for weeks due to supposedly dire and infectious illness. The party, wanting to check in on her due to obvious links to the investigation, was informed that she was a keen fan of stewed carrots.

The party next travelled up Hupperdook's winch lifts to the Lay of the Land herbalist; a druid named Zendasa. Zendasa asked pointed and peculiar questions of the party's wellbeing (including hygiene and dietary requirements) and showed off her druid-craft and associated natural materials. When asked about the red mud found on the kobold's feet, she was quick to point the party to the higher reaches of the Siberquel Range- but could offer no specifics. Morgwyn Mossridge sold an exotic pelt from the Pearlbow Wilderness she had kept from her recent travels in exchange for some adventuring supplies for their likely journey, and noted that there was further work for her type available should she seek it after this investigation. She asked the party to procure 2 wolf pelts in their trip up the Siberquels, if they happened by the opportunity.

The party next entered the empire-renowned Inn, The Blushing Tankard, headed by the promiscuous dwarven woman Ireena Clawmop (with a swooping neckline and finely trimmed beard). After a round of ale, some stewed carrots, and a flirtatious encounter with Tiny the Giant Dwarf, Ireena invited the party to come join the Hour of Honor while they were still in town, should they have the guts.

Stewed carrots in hand, the party approached Nima's house. Met with a croaky voice warning of illness, the party noticed a quick change in tone when the prison break was mentioned, after which they were promptly invited in. The house was dark, furniture scattered, and filled with surprise kobolds!

Ambushed, Tiny the Giant Dwarf held the door while the party hailed the critters with ranged attacks overhead. The kobolds fell in quick fashion (including a severe wound with a bowl of hot stewed carrots), until the Big Boss of this household, a larger kobold self-titled 'The Inventor' stepped into the fray. Their latest batch of inventions included a Basket of Centipedes and Bag of Wasps, which caused some havoc amongst the party before dispersing. Lord Justice with a mighty blow with the blunt of his sword knocked the creature unconscious, then placed it in his rucksack. The party then exited the premises in quick fashion as the remaining kobolds exploded.

'The Inventor', after Lord Justice removed and disarmed his neck-bomb, came forth with information regarding his beloved 'Master', offered to guide the party to the secret lair (drawing the party an almost illegible map in the process), but insisted that the bomb is returned to its rightful place in his neck before doing so.

Before leaving the city, the party reported their findings to-date to Watchmaster Bram Guttleswatch. Tiny the Giant Dwarf asked about the crimes of the Drow prisoner named Aunrae they had met while investigating Skenn's cell (attempted murder) and those of Skenn (war crimes).

As dusk approached, the party set off to camp further up the Siberquel Range. Morgwyn Mossridge prepared great campsite, while Fenn, with a great display of his fishing skills, feeds the whole party with great fresh fish and many happy bellies.

As the party came to prepare to sleep, Tiny the Giant Dwarf set off to let off some steam and in a wild surge of magic, exploded into a flaming inferno. The howl of some kind of hunting animal was heard in the distance.

Rewards Granted

• Potion of Healing
• Rope
• Climbing Pitons
• Weird Fungi
• 10 gp
• Note of the Secret Cave

Missions/Quests Completed

The party, after following up on all found leads, ascertained the location of the secret lair of 'The Master', assumed to be Huron Stahlmast, located in a secret cave behind the waterfall at the peaks of the Siberquel Range. This is the assumed location of Skenn Zabriss, and the missing Nima Cinnarid.
Zendasa, the Herbalist, has requested 2 wolf pelts, if the party manages upon any in their journey.

Character(s) interacted with

NPCs Met:

• Fonkin, Firemark Facility Guard
• Yinra Emberwind, the Bounty Hunter
• Blast Gaffer Sleese Firemark
• Watchmaster Bram Gultchswattle
• 'The Inventor', the Kobold

NPCs Known:

• Nima Cinnarid, Natural Scientist & Blasting Powder Specialist

Campaign

Wildemount Wanderers

Protagonists

Tiny the Giant Dwarf

Lord Justice

Morgwyn Mossridge

Fenn

Joshua Till

Level 1 Human Lawful Good Wizard

/ 8 HP

Report Date

23 Jun 2020

Primary Location

Hupperdook

Secondary Location

The Marrow Valley