Session #33
Here's what happened in Monday night's session in which we introduced a new PC, Saethus, an eladrin wizard from the Summer Kingdom and member of the Estoteric Order of the Blue Lotus:
4th Iunius
Krivinn talks to Watch patrol leader, Innocentius, giving him his unasked-for views on law enforcement in Parsantium. Meanwhile, an eladrin wizard named Saethus has been watching the party from across the street – he recognises Brave Ella from the Birch Queen’s Fair. Ella goes over to talk to him. Then, a messenger snake arrives – Dulicitus wants to see the PCs that evening at the White Palm for a progress report. As the party discuss what to do, Brave Ella offends Krivinn by calling him a tiefling. In response to this “racial abuse”, the paladin snaps the ranger’s arrows and stomps off to the headquarters of the Most Excellent Order of Stonecutters and Masons. Ella, Bolval and Saethus go there separately and find the dragonborn waiting in the lobby. Krivinn and Bolval are shown in to see Master Agapetus who tells the PCs that the Masons have had backing from some muscle from the Poor Ward in their dispute with the Potters. When the paladin tries to make a citizen’s arrest, the guildsman has them all thrown out of the Masonic Hall.
To make it up with Krivinn, Brave Ella buys the dragonborn a fragrant candle and sends him a messenger snake to say sorry. She buys some beer for Bolval who she also insulted. Next, she heads over to the Guild of Potters and Tile-Makers where Master Plutinus explains that the Potters used to be backed by a gang called the Lamplighters but these guys have now vanished from the scene, giving the Masons and the Golden Scimitars the upper hand. Back at their apartment, Ella and Krivinn make up after their row – the paladin has bought the elf some new arrows and a quiver.
In the evening, the PCs go to the White Palm and meet with Dulicitus. They give their report to the grumpy playwright, telling him that they haven’t yet been able to pin anything serious on Iancu Petronas. Dulicitus pays them their first three days’ money – 450 gp. After the meeting, the party are invited to sample some beers in the White Palm’s yakhchal (cellar) by the landlord, Kaham. The tavern-owner explains that the Golden Scimitars are trying to take over the Makers Ward and have forced him to place two spies on his staff – a half orc and a fire genasi, both useless waiters. Promising to help Kaham, the PCs go to catch the second half of the play. They meet Iancu and friends afterwards and go with them to the Tankard and Gull in the Poor Ward’s red light district, and then on to the Fallen Angel, a kinky brothel. Here, the PCs recognise Firmina, the red leather-clad brothel-keeper from Orloch’s slave auction. Meanwhile, Ella has returned to the White Palm to find out the names of the two Golden Scimitars spies; while she’s there she spots the same man she’s seen before at both the slave auction and Fahil’s Floating Palace. This mysterious guy has just had an argument with Bahram Peroz, Speaker of the Guild of Weavers and Dyers. She rejoins the others afterwards and the party agree to escort Francio home. As they walk through the narrow streets, they are attacked from two sides by Ikar the half-orc, Sufyan the fire genasi and three knife fighters. Saethus fey steps to the roof of a buiding and attacks with Bigby’s Icy Grasp and Ella uses evasive strike to lead the Sufyan and one of the knife fighters away from the others. However, this means Krivinn and Bolval are being attacked from both sides as Francio ducks into the nearest house. Bolval’s healing powers are enough to keep the dragonborn alive and the Golden Scimitars withdraw after the Saethus’ icy hand kills Ikar. On his body, the PCs find a note reading “Hippocampus Bathhouse, 2nd hour after midday”.
Next session, we should get to play through the events at the baths where the Golden Scimitars attempt to assassinate Bahram Peroz. From there, clues will lead the PCs back to the Winking Vixen and the entrance to the Hidden Quarter where Zeno Meverel's underground lair awaits!
My plans for the Golden Scimitars base is an old crumbling building dating back to the founding of Parsantium when it was known as Dhak Janjua which has been built over in the intervening centuries. Sahasran in origin, there will be lots of Indian-style features to the building. Encounters will be with the thieves and thugs of the criminal gang and maybe some underground dwelling humanoid allies. Troglodytes perhaps?
I am planning on a ghoul encounter on the way there. This ghoul pack, led by Rotten Mursel, an Abyssal ghoul, has a non-aggression pack with the Golden Scimitars. The gangsters pass unmolested past the ghoul lair but the PCs won't be so lucky.
Cheers
Richard
