The Super Tortoise

General Summary

Axelrod Gunnarsson had just become a landowner, at least by deed. After finally finishing a long journey to open the vault door at the Mistglide Ruins, the Party decided it was time to return to Mystryl to do some business and let interested parties know about what they'd discovered.
Rather than taking the route north to the Highway, which would pass through known orc country, the group decided to take a branching road west into the grassland. Along the way, they were ambushed by a warband of plains gnolls. Though Greg took a painful attack, they defeated the shaman and the warriors. The archers fled; to whom would they report their failure?
Moving along the road, the Party saw a settlement in the distance. They had come upon Rybury, a large town in the southeast of Mystryl's territory. Many citizens and vendors were set up outside the wooden town wall, and Bartimus was finally able to buy some clean clothes. The group checked out several places in town, and they chose to stay at the Super Tortoise instead of the Mighty Sheep Inn, enjoying some of the fine eternal osso buco.
The Party learned from the townsfolk that Rybury is mostly known for its textile production, which supports the extensive tailoring industry in Mystryl. The town was very successful, and the citizens were affluent compared to most settlements in Winderia. The Party took note before moving on to Mystryl the next morning.
Everyone first got rooms at the Misty Bell — East in the Mystryl Slums and enjoyed a night's rest, save for Emmalyn Rainsoar, who returned to the Church of Mysteries. The next morning, Axelrod and Lyza headed to the Merchant District in search of a good contractor to begin work on a new keep at the site of the Mistglide Ruins. Using drink and coin to grease the wheels, they found Dazmeat, a dwarf contractor who gave them a fair deal. The two then headed to Brighthall Castle to debrief Arth Evencrusher and Melna Madz on everything they'd witnessed, what they should do now, and anything else needed to claim the Mistglide lands. They told him the people at Rybury and Esterport may have feelings about their claim. The government of Mystryl would abide by the deed, but they might not help enforce it.
Barty headed to Story & Scroll, a bookshop in the Mystryl Craft District specializing in magic. He scored a couple of magic scrolls and a textbook on the use of golemancy tools, but he also found a small book covered in the strange alphabet symbols from the lair below the Ancient Morten Prison. That seems odd...
Hobart decided to check in with his Guild contacts, wondering what had happened in the city and if there was any word on Lola. To his dismay, they told him that Lola and her friends had disappeared after a period of disruptive activity, which included breaking into Story & Scroll and stealing from a number of wealthy residents. Before leaving, Hobart noticed the senior Guild contact eyeballing his new rapier. He eventually asked Hobart where he got it and if he understood its significance. Hobart was shifty in his reply.
Hobart and Barty returned to Story & Scroll to ask about the break-in attempt. The shop's assistant, distracted by her duties picking up after the shopkeeper, told them that nothing was stolen. She said the shop has a number of protective spells and wards around the building that are unknown to anyone but her and the shopkeeper. Disappointed, Hobart decided to return to the inn. Barty tagged along, his nose buried in his new golemancy book.
After settling in for another night's sleep, Barty and Lyza were awoken by the sound of someone in their room rifling through their things. Lyza quickly cast hold person on the thief, and they saw he had taken the book with the strange symbols on it. Barty tied up the intruder's legs, and Axelrod came into the room with his hammer and caltrops, trying to run the "enhanced interrogation" ruse once again. He refrained, instead opting for the manacles in his pack. As the spell wore off, Axelrod pounced on the thief, and Lyza manacled him. Hobart finally entered the room; he put his rapier through the thief's calf, demanding to know what was going on with Lola.
It seems like the Party isn't quite done with this. Will they discover what happened to Lola? Who wants this book now that it's out in the open? Find out next time...

Report Date

06 Mar 2021

Primary Location

Mystryl

Secondary Location

Rybury