Shady Business

Pre-session Bullshit

• Ended up at the bottom of a lava pit because Biri failed a dex save.
• Victory figured out that she has a crush on Biri’s evil cousin.
• Victory got her file elemental in a poke ball handed to her by Ranmur while he was running away (before he gets caught).
• Ranmur was super dead when we went to see him in the morgue.

The Letter

Before Victory sat down to write her letter, Biri sent a Sending to Ozak:

“Gem retrieved. Forming alliance with Khro Ardol. Please send 15 mages to Gathernotch to secure gem and formalise goodwill. Letter coming. Victory”.

After a long pause, a reply was received:

“Understood, tell Victory part of the alliance requires an embassy for the Hallowdawn in Gathernotch”.

Most guilds would have an outpost in Velour of varying sizes and scopes. Usually a physical representation of guild in a location. Sometimes there would be arrangements for immunity (for example not to be bound by the laws of the place). Often those agreements fall apart easily if the people who use their immunity abuse power too much.

Victory approached Kathselle and Thoryl about setting up an Embassy. After a bit of hesitation, they agreed, under the conditions that all mages get registered when they arrive, and when they leave, so that the Khro Adol can make sure they know who is where.

The letter sent read:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Dear Ozak,

I hope you are well.

I write to you with some great news. The Gem of Mechanus has been retrieved and we have restored peace in Gathernotch.

We have also started to build an alliance with the Khro Ardol. As a part of that, we have agreed that the Hallowdawn will bring 15 mages over to Gathernotch on semi-permanent basis to help them recover the city from the damages that have been caused by the gem and help them to develop new technology for the good of the Seam. This is a requirement in order for us to retrieve the gem.

We will then potentially go up to 30 depending on the success of the mission. The Hallowdawn Mages will have their accommodation provided and will be treated as allies in Gathernotch.

This is a great opportunity for us as Hallowdawn to restore peace in the Seam further, and to build alliances for the future.

We await 15 mages to arrive at Gathernotch at your earliest convenience and then we can retrieve the gem and bring it back to Velour.

Victory the Swift of the Hallowdawn

P.S. Kathselle says hi.

Failed attempts

Biri hung around the temple, trying to find the best way to bring up the idea of setting up a shrine to Bahamut. She spent some time at the temple asking questions about their religions and found that most dwarfs follow the Pantheon but there are also some people in Gathernotch who are not dwarves.

Biri finally spoke with an elder, who, after considering her appeal, told her that Dwarven gods are the gods who are followed in Gathernotch and it is not her place to be putting the shrine of Bahamut where there is already a Pantheon. However, he recommended her to go to a bar in the Tongs called “The Broken Wheel“, and ask for a man there called Matius (human), and tell him Theon sent him.

As a thank you, Biri left an offering in the temple for the Goddess of fertility, romantic love and healing, Sharindlar.

Biri went to The Broken Wheel, which had a small symbol of Bahamut. Biri creates a little shine with a platinum looking statue of Bahamut. and a writing of “Blessed Bahamut the Platinum Dragon. Justice and Good Above All.” written on a blue background.

Political Interests

While the party took a break in Gathernotch, Victory decided to learn a bit more about the Seam politics. She approached the Triumvirate, who were planning the election, to learn more about the structure of their politics.

There were things that couldn’t be shown, but the elections are a good time to see how things go. They had to get all the dwarves back to vote, planning to do the elections within a month or so. Victory learned about how they interact with people they work with, and the history of the Guild Wars, which shaped the current political balance of the Seam.

Victory pulled Kathselle aside, to learn more about the history of the gems. She said that the gems were always a myth, and no one really put much faith in them, but most people did not know about them. There were some strange things that happened during the Guild Wars. There was even a fight down in the Firmament, very few lived to tell the tale because of the strange magic. The Firmament is at the bottom of the seam, and is an unpredictable and wildly magical space.

Kathselle asked Victory a question:

“Victory, you are an enigma, you have something in there, deep down, that makes the world a better place, why would you be a part of the Hallowdawn? I hope that Hallowdawn shares your viewpoint.”

For Victory, it was the first place where she was accepted, first home that she had, and she sees a way to get through the ranks.

Trading resumes

Caely went back to see Hannah and Al to develop a good relationship with them and maybe establish some trade links as well. She met them for a drink at the pub. Hannah is still the head of distribution.

While Biri went outside for deniability, Caely discusses all kinds of trading with them, as long as it is not cannibalism. Hannah tells her about an occasional shipment of moon dust that she has coming through. She also had a few more specialised requests, some people who want to avoid the chalk routes who need a cabin and some time. But no one at that time. However there was a shipment of mood dust for a few days time.

When Biri came back, she questioned Hannah about different parts of the trade, such as fabrics, potions, and other things that go in and out of Gathernotch. The day before the Mishaps leave, Biri checked with Caely about any artisanal things that sell well in Velour. Something that has been selling well is intricately crafted seals and have a pointy dagger point on them. They are about 10g each and probably sell for 12g. Biri purchased 5 of them.

The Arrival of the Mages

The Mages arrived in Gathernotch. The Mishaps introduced the mages to the Triumvirate in person. There were guards placed outside their residence for protection, but the mages dismissed them. There are 3 Novates and 11 Juniors, led by a single Senior. The Mishaps see that it is going to be a long process of cultural misunderstanding but spent some time educating the new arrivals.

The Party spent three days helping them settle in. They started to smooth over some of the gaps between the History and get them settled in. They explained the situation and their roles here. They started to kick off some conversations about what magical means they have in Gathernotch.

The head of this group was Faynore Venfina, she is an elf, with golden white hair and pale skin. She seemed a bit pissed off because she was not expecting to be sent so far away. Victory tried to work around that to help her see some opportunity in this posting.

At the pub, Victory told Faynore not to stir any troubles and call on the Mishaps at any chance. Faynore let Victory know that the reason she was sent to Gathernotch was because of Lester. He had something on her and made her steal some poisons, so she was now in Ozak’s bad books. Faynore has only spoken to Lester a couple of times. When they were younger, she made senior before him. Lester was jealous when Faynore got a promotion before him. From what she knows, Lester specialises in illusion.

Before they finished at the pub, Victory gave Faynore the address of Claudia’s apartment in case she needs to get away from the mages.

Shady business

It is the 19th May by the time the Mishaps leave Gathernotch. Before leaving, Caely wanted to complete some business. They sailed down below the city 30 miles and waited. In the distance there was a weird shimmering, which turned out to be a ship painted completely black. A few people on deck were heavily armed. Caely completed the trade for 2kg of moon dust for 4000 gold, eventually managing to get the goods for 3,800 gold.