Session 3: Finding Frederick

Where’s Frederick?

 * Looking for Frederick von Soldorok; he’s apparently a gross rude dick. We find Kalti, a human drinking alone in a bar (Lucky Barrel), who tells us he lives in the wealthy districts of Fairhaven. However, it’s late, so Vikrit goes to fish and everyone else goes drinking.
 * They see a half-elf (Gerry) staring at them, sketching people in the bar. They harass him a bit; apparently he hates magic (and the university) because he was burned as a child.
 * Kalti brings up a gnome who wanted a cart that could make it up… Vik’s not there (IT WAS THAT DUDE THEY NEARLY KILLED IN THE FIRST SESSION).
 * The drunken PCs try to sneak into Frederick’s mansion, but Vik stops them and makes them go home.

Mansion Shenanigans

 * Next morning, Mogen tries to get equipment with the House Orien insignia, get a couple old theatre props (Centurion helmets, wooden swords). Then she starts getting materials to make sunglasses to the party.
 * The PCs head to the mansion. They knock, and a half-orc woman answers the door. She says Frederick is here and “feeling under the weather”.
 * Sarienne and Vikrit sneak around to the back. They can see through one of the bay windows to a huge sitting room, it looks lived-in. Vikrit gets up to the 2nd floor but can’t get up to the 3rd. Cornerio comes around. Sarienne tries throwing a grappling hook but it makes a bang noise. The three of them hide when someone comes by through the alleyway. Vikrit looks in a window (hallway), another (bedroom), both empty. Sarienne lockpicks the door and heads into the bedroom while Vik keeps watch on the hallway. They all head inside.
 * Vik strips and leaves his stuff outside. Sarienne also takes off her armor.
 * They hear someone coming so they hide in the bedroom. Someone with a deeper voice listens at the door then walks away when Mogen knocks on the door.
 * The other PCs stay in the street and… collect coins dancing. They see the orc woman looking out from the top and wave, she shuts the curtains angrily.
 * Mogen, with a mask and helmet, tells the woman she’s been visited “by the spirit of Kalti” and wants money. She slams the door.
 * The town guard shows up to shoo them away. They say they worship Kalti the messenger… the guards are weirded out and look for reinforcements.
 * C V &amp; S head down the hall. V&amp;C see armory.
 * They see Frederick in the house, and Cornerio calls out to him. He angrily tells Cornerio to head down the stairs. Vikrit tries to grab his cane but fucks up and trips him. Sarienne jumps on him and handcuffs him. Cornerio hides, Vik goes out to get his armor, Sarienne tries to march him out. Vik comes back, Vanesse knocks loudly on the door. They try to calm down Frederick unsuccessfully. The guards come back and follow the scattering Mogen, Vanesse and Vesun.
 * C, V, &amp; S show him their papers and tell him what the story is. He offers them 20% to say he went with them if they deal with the gryphon, they say no. He gets mad and tells them to get out, they leave.

Poor Kalti

 * The party reconvenes and sends a letter to Kwanti d’Orien with Frederick’s signed letter saying we talked to him and doesn’t want to come. They go to the bar and find Kalti. Vik introduces himself and he asks if he’s their pet, Vik suckerpunches him. They buy him a drink to soothe him.
 * Flyer: DANGEROUS CULTISTS, BEWARE (Mogen and Vesun)
 * They help him out with branding. He will make us a cart with his logo on it.
 * A few hours later, Cornerio steps outside and a gnome with a message from Yanger: come back to the university, he’s done research for us.
 * They go back in the evening to see him. The locations on the list are seals to the plane Xoriat. Wizards used these 7 seals in manifest zones to keep plane of madness dalkyr from coming through. All 3 types of dragonshards together could open the plane. Vik asks if it’s related to mythology–seems like is, sees if he can get a planar wizard.
 * Lord Darro is the queen’s brother in law, has been asking about us. We tell Yanger about Miriam and him, but he doesn’t believe it. He gives Mogen a cube he can send us a message if something happens to him.
 * OUTFITTING! Cold weather clothes = 1 gp. They give us tents, rations, etc. Starpeaks4 days away, narrow paths (burros), very cold. LEVEL 2!

Up Into The Mountains

 * Smooth for a few days, then it gets colder, harder to navigate.
 * They head to a massive tower they can see. (5 nonlethal damage to Vikrit)
 * They go inside, leave the cart inside. 3 doors. One of them has a scritching sound behind it. Vanesse opens it, tools on the ground, rocks, chairs. They find rocks piled up with a little tunnel behind, can’t see. 3 dire rats charge out at them, they are killed.
 * Door on the right is locked and Sarienne picks it. A dwarf with very frostbitten legs swings his sword at Vanesse. It’s the real Frederick! He was hired by some people with a gnome to go up with them. They had a black lizardfolk with them. Confirms the gnome was Burhan. Tall human female wizard, wizard robes - lizard &amp; others. Brought laborers, one was actually House Horani and gnome paid him to kill him, left for dead. He’s going to lose a leg. He says he will help them if they’re after those dudes.
 * Has a fancy bow
 * Mogen stays with him, the others go through the other door. Water is draining near a book, which has stuff about the positions of stars. They check out an arch that opens in to another hallway. They open a door, closet with a rope ladder. Vanesse goes up, Vikrit follows. They go up quite a ways and reach a stuck hatch. They find a circular room, a crystal ball, spiral staircase. Vikrit goes up the staircase, end up in a small room in top of tower. Cutout windows; no wind or cold! Telescope.
 * Mogen talks with Frederick. The faker was a dwarf who looked similar. The half-orc (Jana) who was with the faker was with the party w/Burhan. This is not the observatory.
 * Sarienne, Vesun, and Cornerio explore the hallway. They get jumped by a giant spider and kill it. They split 75 gold they find, S finds a pearl.
 * Party reconvenes. They bring back the crystal ball, astrological charts, book. The crystal ball is magic (duh) but Mogen couldn’t use it.
 * They sleep/take watch. Early in the morning, a bang comes out from Frederick’s room, and he comes out, enlarged and with icy legs, and lunges to attack Sarienne.