Session 16

Date Played: April 21, 2001




1st to 7th of Thaumont, 1,000 A.C.

TRAINING PERIOD: Chow-Lin trained at the Magicians’ Guild, Markus trained with a master through the Veiled Society, and Eric trained with Druid Woodrue Hengemaster near Rifllian.

Lunadain, 8th of Thaumont, 1,000 A.C.

Eric must remain with the druid Woodrue Hengemaster for the remainder of the month in order to defer payment for his training. He sent word via messenger back to Specularum to let the others know he will meet them then. Chow-Lin went to the alchemist and discovered that potion #4 was a potion of extra-healing. The alchemist was willing to buy it from her but she declined. Instead, the party sold off the potion of zombie control so that Markus could pay off the Veiled Society. The gems were sold for guild prices in the Merchant’s District and the shares were split amongst the party.

Gromdain, 9th of Thaumont, 1,000 A.C.

Chow-Lin paid a visit to the Magicians’ Guild to cancel her debts. Markus headed off to the waterfront where he paid Vittorio his promised fee for training. Not much else occurred, although the party learned from Portio that the Lord Vorloi’s eldest son, Pietro, is organizing an expedition to the Alasiyan Desert. They also learned from Portio that Ambassador Flintfoot, having heard of Gimble’s plight, is paying for his passage back to the Shires.

Tserdain, 10th of Thaumont, 1,000 A.C.

Markus, Chow-Lin, and Hamlin took Gimble to a scribe so that a thank you letter could be drafted and sent off to the Ambassador. They paid 5 sp for a short letter to be inked and sealed. Portio took the letter to deliver it. The party then headed off to the markets. Chow-Lin found a perfumery and purchased a small flask of jasmine perfume (worth 20 gp) and a tiny jar of indigo powder (for 10 gp). Markus and Hamlin looked at some armor and weapons, but eventually made their way to the food shoppes. They ate sausage and cheese biscuits (for a total of 2 cp apiece). On their way back, all the party members spotted unusual people in the city. Apparently the trade season was in full swing. By dinnertime, the party met back at the Lion’s Den Inn, looking for any word from Eric but no message was found. They had a meal with Portio who continued to provide them with gossip regarding the Vorloi's son's expedition. He also informed them that the halfling ship should be coming into port on the morrow.

Moldain, 11th of Thaumont 1,000 A.C.

The halfling ship from the Shires had come into port early this morning. The party saw to it that Gimble made it on board the ship safely. The halfling captain told the party that they would be leaving with the morning tide tomorrow. Several other ships had apparently arrived in the city as well. Markus and Hamlin spied some crewmen loading a ship with crates. One of the crates was dropped and made a noise as if someone was inside of it. The party suspected slavers but decided not to make a scene at the time. They hit the markets to buy some wares from the gnomes, but the party learned from street gossip that the Gnome Caravan had not yet arrived.

The party then went to see Portio, but he was not at the Vorloi guesthouse and had not been there since the day before. Chow-Lin decided to do some more shopping. She stopped by a bakery and bought 3 cheese and honey pastries and 3 dinner rolls for 3 cp. With nothing more to do that day, the party headed back to the Lion’s Den where they discussed the events at the marketplace and the docks. Chow-Lin thought it would be a good idea for Markus to snoop around the suspected slaver ship to see what he could find out. Markus agreed and headed out after dark to sneak on board.

After Markus left, three men arrived at the inn looking rather suspicious to Hamlin. One of the men was dressed all in black, with black lacquered leather armor and unbonded weapons. The other two men looked like hired thugs. The dark man spoke at length with the innkeeper and paid him at least 2 gold coins for some information before leaving. Hamlin got a look at their cloaked faces on their way out the door. He then watched as they continued down the street to the next inn.

Markus, meanwhile, was trying to knock out a homeless man in an alley by the docks. Once he was finally able to subdue the man he stripped off his rags and used them to disguise himself as a drunken bum. Staggering down the street, he waited until the coast was clear and then stumbled onto the “slave” ship. No one was about so he looked in the aft cabin and then down the open hold. He pretended to trip down the stairs and found that the ship was still guarded by four burly seamen playing dice games in the hold. He didn’t get a good look around before he was forcefully ejected from the ship by two of the men.

Satisfied with what little information he was able to learn, Markus headed back to the alley to give the drunk his clothes back, frightening the poor man to the point of sobriety. Smelling of sweat, wine, and fish, Markus headed back to the inn for a much needed bath. He told the others what he had learned and Hamlin in turn let him know about the men in black. Plans were made to further investigate the ship at night.

Cast of Characters

Gimble Stormweather – halfling refugee

Hamlin Hoefurrow – halfling warrior of the Shires who has recently joined the party

Portio Vorloi – contact in Specularum and relation of Lord Vorloi, the party's patron

Teldon – Headmaster Wizard of the Magicians’ Guild in Specularum (trained Chow-Lin)

Vittorio – Assassin in the employ of the Veiled Society (trained Markus)

Veiled Society – mafia-like organization of thieves and assassins operating in Specularum

Druid Woodrue Hengemaster – Druid of the Grove near Rifllian in Radlebb woods (trained Eric)

Pietro Vorloi – eldest son of Lord Vorloi; organizing an expedition to the Alasiyan desert.

Ambassador Flintfoot – Halfling ambassador from the Five Shires in the City of Specularum.

(DM NOTE: All the action in this session happened in the city of Specularum. The players then suffered a 3 month hiatus in gaming.)