Session 21: Six Threads

Scene: Sarienne

 * Some dudes from Daask (gang - 2 humans and a gnoll) try to hit them up for protection money, but Mogen &amp; Sarienne fuck one up and scare them off. They say they’ll be back. Ivan is terrified.
 * S tries to sell the music box we got. It’s worth a lot, but it’s too hot to handle because it’s pre-war.
 * Mogen decides to meet up with her brother, Glomi. He lives in a nicer part of town.
 * He doesn’t look too happy to see her but chats with them. He doesn’t want to get in trouble but when Mogen says she just wants more info he looks at it closely. He looks at the bottom of it and his eyes go wide - it was made for the last king of Galifar so it’s a freaking royal artifact.
 * He suggests bringing it to the city guard and freaks out. Mogen rolls a 1 on her diplomacy roll to calm him down and he goes on a rant about how she sucks. “I’ll see you at our parents’ house on Sunday!” angrily and storms out.
 * A couple days later, Sarienne has found a lead in a shitty part of town (Lower Dura).
 * They go to a small warehouse: a rotund gnome named Castar. He appraises it and seems to know what it is. But he won’t trust them before they do an errand for him–Kata Ser (goblin) has his necklace and he wants it back. They argue with him for a while and he brings in 2 ogres to indicate he’s serious. He finally says 9100 gold for what he’ll give them.
 * They go to Kata’s warehouse - it’s not really a storefront. She doesn’t know anything about a necklace but with intimidation they get her to open her trapdoor and see some Clan Boromar boxes that the Daask goons from earlier made her buy. They give her 350 fake gold and she’s overjoyed.
 * Note: They told her they’re a new gang in town, The Ghost Sharks.
 * When they check the crates, there’s fabric and lots of white baggies in there - some kind of drug: dreamlily (opium). They take the crates home.
 * Side note: apparently Cornerio has been carving Mavatorop’s symbol everywhere in his room.

Scene: Vanesse

 * Before the rest of the party arrived in Sharn. Vanesse has been staying at Lady Edna’s with Yanger.
 * She’s made friends with 2 other half-orcs: the gardener (male - Kaer) and seneschal (female - Grell). They’re both worshipers of the Dark 6 - The Shadow.
 * K has been encouraging V re: religion, and tonight they’re bringing Vanesse to service at sunset. Kaer seems like he has a crush on Vanesse and is very much a Nice Guy.
 * It’s a long walk. Grelle lags behind. They head down to the undercity, with Kaer stopping to show Vanesse a beautiful view. He wants to introduce her to a spiritual guide.
 * In the undercity, they walk past rivers of lava - industrial area. They make it to Khyber’s Gate. It’s smoky and loud and smells like garbage. There are a large amount of monster folk around.
 * They make it to the temple of the 6 - huge and carved into stone. It’s controlled by a gang, Daask. They want to introduce V to a priestess: Ash, bald human woman, standing in front of an altar of black dragon made of ebony.
 * She goes up to Vanesse very close and scrutinizes her. She is disdainful and says Vanesse isn’t ready. Vanesse is offended and reacts badly, then gets kicked out.
 * About a week later, they come back. K tries to spin it as: “This time, I want you to be PROUD of all the things you DON’T know.”
 * Ash isn’t pleased. “Are you ready to learn?” “……I know NOTHING. YES.”
 * However, Vanesse isn’t sure about the commitment, and they’re kicked out again.
 * Another week later… K suggests V just say “yes” to everything.
 * “Are you ready to submit to the shadow?” “YES.” “Are you ready to die in the light so that you may be reborn in the darkness?” YES “Are you just saying yes bc I’m asking you questions?” “YE… I DON’T KNOW!”
 * She gives Vanesse a goblet of something smelling like rotten blood to drink. Vanesse faints.
 * When Vanesse comes to, K and G are gone. Ash is there and gives Vanesse a piece of paper and SHE CAN READ!

Scene: Vikrit

 * He’s been setting up a building. He’s hired a stableboy - hobgoblin kid named Jusk. Supplies for the mounts are low. There is a dude with pterodactyl on bridge…
 * They go! Halfling is named Corvo. He looks like from Talenta Plains. They chat and Tork gives him a fork. He has lots of stories about his family that may or may not be lies. His cousin Halek is renting the Glidewing to him. He tells them where to find cousin, and say Corvo sent us. He keeps flirting with Tork (showing off his ‘many glutes’) and suggests they come to him to ride Glidewings.
 * He says his cousin’s a dick who has a huge warehouse of supplies but charges too much (8 vs 1 gold for glidewing ride) and takes advantage of other dinokeepers. He suggests they get a good reputation and “teach Halek a lesson” and steal shit. Get 2 bags of glidewing feed. Corgo suggests going at closing time.
 * They go a few hours later in the afternoon. Halek is there at his desk. He’s associated with Clan Boromar.
 * He tries to upcharge Vikrit. Vikrit eventually convinces him to do one gold per bag of clawfoot feed and 2 per glidewing feed.
 * They go elsewhere to pick it up later.

Scene: Mogen

 * Mogen and Ivan are hanging out. She’s trying to get him back into making things.
 * Ivan used to be in House Cannith. He has a scarred dragonmark on his arm. He’s one of the few elves in House Cannith who have ever manifested the mark and was surprisingly high up not being a member of the d’Cannith family. During the war they were making lots of Warforged, then the Day of Mourning took out their HQ.
 * He thought something was up after the war - still making Warforged? The closer he got the closer they were to getting rid of him. He’d been keeping track of stuff… then he was kidnapped. There was a bugbear with black fur torturing him - his dragonmark doesn’t work anymore. He’s upset. They talk more.
 * About a week later: in a nicer part of Sharn, in a dwarven neighborhood… her parents’ house.
 * Mogen’s mom comes to the door: Dogen Dower. She gives Mogen a hug and brings her in. - Chamith: “Being a dwarven mom, she immediately starts making you Dwarven Tea.” James: “What’s in Dwarven Tea?” C: “Rocks.” - She asks if she’s still with Edna–and is relieved that the answer is no. They chat more about what Mogen’s been doing a bit, and her brother, until her dad (Hurik) comes home.
 * It’s a little awkward. She wants to talk business with him about Kalti’s Karts. He thinks it’s “a bit pedestrian”–looking for some “seed funding”. She wants about 5K. He agrees reluctantly and wants assurance that she won’t run off again.
 * A few days later, she’s chatting with Ivan about the old times. She asks about Drek the half-orc–says he has a gig in Torchfire. Says he’s lost track of the others.
 * Mogen, Vesun, and Vikrit go to the theater there. Mogen asks about him, and one of the people smoking outside talks derisively about Drek.
 * NPC: I’m an actress. M: Coulda fooled me. NPC: Yeah, ’cause I’m an actress.
 * They go to a grody shitty looking flophouse. A guy makes them pay money to go in–Vesun gives him counterfeit gold.
 * They find him upstairs. He hugs Mogen and excitedly shows her his viola. Then he shows her a harmonica… to sell her.
 * After Drek is a little weird to Vikrit: “You must’ve seen lizardfolk before here.” Drek: “Oh I’ve seen ALL SORTS of stuff.”
 * They go get drinks with him, and he runs off to ‘go to the bathroom’ (DRUGS).
 * When he comes back, the 3 of them convince him to come back to the co-op to talk to Ivan.
 * A few days later, he tells Mogen, Dax is in Gate of Goldura, Shuenn is in the floating houseboat area, Ships Towers.
 * To Ships Towers: a shitty houseboat is there, the door swings open when M knocks. Shuenn is inside (male human in hooded robe). He has a bunch of map cases. He’s not very friendly to Mogen. There’s a half-finished map on the desk. She asks him about mapping the undercity and says they need it.
 * M: “We need your help.” S: “You want me to draw you a map…outta here?”
 * He perks up at the mention of Drek but he won’t come to the co-op.
 * Vikrit “Well if you’re not ready, the door’s always open. Uh, not this one. The co-op.”
 * An even shittier neighborhood (where there are a bunch of lizardfolk): Dax is a beefy gnome.
 * Dax refuses to shake Vesun’s hand, which he thinks is funny.
 * He’s been crafting and working for Daask. Mogen cuts to the chase and talks about seeing Warforged. He’s immediately interested. But he’s worried because he owes Daask his life… but they decide to fake his death???
 * THE REEF is our new base’s name.

Scene: Vesun

 * Non-human run cabaret near our place is where subversives like to gather– Cracked Mirror.
 * Vesun has been making an impression on Zaard (orc dude is into ‘fighting the good fight’) and Noelle (rich human young woman) there. Mostly monsters and a DANCING OWLBEAR!
 * Vesun, Mogen, Vanesse, Sarienne go. They seem a bit hostile to Vesun because he’s human.
 * Zaard wants to introduce Vesun to Albert the Owlbear (actually a changeling).
 * Albert comes up on stage. He sings and dances to cheers.
 * Zaard wants ‘some changes’ to take place in Lower Dura. He asks Vesun’s goal: to topple the great houses. He thinks they’re aligned - the current order needs to be replaced.
 * It’s the last act: people are dancing on tables and going wild. Owlbear goes into Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens.
 * Vesun goes backstage with Zaard and Noelle. They pass by guards and go see Albert. He turns into a large grey-bodied creature with grey eyes (Doppelganger). He kisses Noelle on the cheek and asks about Vesun - is he one of us? Zaard says “I want him to be.” Noelle says he seems trustworthy and ‘has ideas’.
 * The plan: Lagann Bridge (connects Lower Dura to upper areas). There’s a House Orien carrier that goes through (with corrupt gang stuff going through) - an explosion while it’s crossing the bridge? Vesun points out there will be bystanders and suggests an alternate plan for an accident when it’s in a different place.

Scene: Tork

 * Has been building up his library, working with Kalti. Going to library with Vesun and Kalti. He’s looking for info about cults, including Stargazers and the one his family grew up in.
 * The books he’s looking for have been ‘removed for record-keeping’. Kalti leaves.
 * Tork goes to the librarian, who is a stressed out elf named Fola Rin. She’s a student at the university and the books were stolen while she was on watch. She’s mad at Tork for eating in the library but warms up when he mentions Yanger. She thinks there’s been a cover-up and someone from Library of Korranberg has stolen them, and thinks there’s a warehouse where they might be held. She won’t go herself but wants Tork to check it out.
 * Tork and Vesun sneak into the warehouse and start looking through boxes. Someone with a flashlight finds them and calls for them to come out. They recognize Mezzo the goblin detective (with a shrunken left arm) and a bugbear in a similar outfit. He recognizes Tork.
 * They try to get the other two’s papers. Tork says something about rival gangs and they ask how he knows about it - ‘we have a source who would like to remain anonymous’.
 * House Lyrander has records of the books being moved elsewhere (illegally) to Zilargo. Looks like Mezzo is also looking into this. He offers a business card - Mezzo and Forte - House Tharashk license #, address. ‘No case too big, no case too small.’
 * He asks if Sarienne can drop by soon - asking about Davide d’Orien.

Scene: Rio

 * Rio has been working on temple to the Traveler. They go down to the Cracked Mirror.
 * Rio’s normal appearance is androgynous - lets it go there.
 * Staff there becoming friends: 2 doppelgangers - Zaz is a good pal. She’s very interested re: knowing a cleric to the Traveler. She says she’s heard some stuff about her friends, esp. Vesun. They go downstairs: “What do you know about the Tyrants?” They’re her friends and they’ve noticed us making enemies in both Boromar and Daask - and it’s gonna be big trouble.
 * They know who’s been following the party, etc. She’s been impersonating the party to pay attention to it.
 * She wants blackmail in return. Info Rio gives: Vanesse is a Shadow-worshiper. Mogen is addicted to dragonsblood (lie). Sarienne is sleeping with Noelle Irlanan (lie). Tork is the mastermind of the group? (lie detected) Vesun is not who he appears to be - he’s actually a lord? (She hasn’t seen Vikrit)
 * She takes Rio to HQ. The Tyrants are a gang trading mainly as info brokers… and Rio becomes a Tyrant.
 * We all get together when Rio tells us about the gang.
 * It’s been clear that the place is being watched. Rio tells us about the stuff they reported to Zaz.
 * Tork mentions he saw Mezzo and the thing with Sarienne.
 * Yanger shows up. The ir’Tain gala is in a week. It’s a very popular event in the city, important people in the city invited.
 * Ivan comes in and says there’s a problem in the boiler room. The stairs go down for quite a while… and there’s constant shrieking… Gonna have to deal with that.