Tuesday session #3 17-29/7/2213 Beyond the Shadow of a Dream (PC level 2-4)

Randall of the Bazaar Quarter, 7 Knives Underboss

PCs
1. (Matt) Finnris, Dhari h-m lvl 4 Barbarian-3>4
2. (Judith) Aeshma, Kalayan h-f lvl 3 Rogue-2/Fighter-1
3. (Bill) Vorstag Iceslider, goliath-m lvl 3 Ice Reaver Rogue-2>3
4. (Jack) Zérda “The Defier” of House Saväschu, Atlantean Noble of Katagia (h-m) lvl 2 Fighter-2

17/7 Finnris with Meg. Lyanarus 2nd performance at the Seal Inn, stirring.
18/7 Lyanarus 3rd performance, melancholy. PCs rescue him/her from Kyan's thugs.
19/7 Lyanarus kidnapped, party meets fortune teller, Lyana rescued from Kyan's cellar, majestic performance.
29/7 Randall tells Vorstag about Oola, a wanted fugitive - 1000gp to bring her back alive. Finnris has crafted a potion of healing, while Zerda gets friendly with Lady Valeria of Clouds, attended a ball at the Karoth Estate, and dances with Metira Sedarnel.

'Mysterious Men and Maidens' - by Aeshma (Judith)

After our fight with the sewer monster we relax for a couple of days. Vorstag buys himself some better armour; Finnris gets himself patched up while Zerda’s leg injury necessitates a visit to the Temple of Asura where it is cured.

The elusive bard Lyanarus returns to the tavern to do another performance and is again followed by Vorstag to see where he goes. Once again he loses the tail by ducking into an alley. Vorstag goes to speak with the Seven Knives patron, Randall, to share his conclusion that Lyanarus must be an Arcane Trickster, surely the only way he can disappear so completely. Lyanarus is apparently a suspect in a number of burglaries carried out against merchants who have paid protection dues to the Seven Knives and want something for their money.

Randall warns that a thuggish rival of his named Kayan will be sending some of his men after Lyanarus and asks Vorstag to intercept them, but not kill them. The following evening we watch Lyanarus again, then all of us follow him: Aeshma and Vorstag first, followed a little way back by the noisier Zerda and Finnris. Not far from the tavern he is intercepted by three rogues wearing Seven Knives colours.

We knock out two of the rogues and Aeshma kills the third as he attempts to escape. She tries to hide the body down the sewer but the grating in jammed so she has to content herself with hiding it under some debris in an alley. Meanwhile Vorstag is just in time to stop Finnris from probably killing one of the unconscious rogues.

We speak with the rogues who confirm they were sent by Kayan to grab Lyanarus who, it transpires, was on his way to Clouds, a high-end brothel. Eventually we end up escorting him there and meet the Madam, Lady Valeria, who Zerda charms with his nobility and urbanity.

Zerda finds out that Lyanarus had been a regular visitor spending time with one of her newer girls called Fern. After some thought she notes that although Lyanarus always claimed that Fern was his favourite, she had never seen them together. We soon realise that Fern and Lyanrus are the same – Fern visits her wealthy merchant clients at home and uses the opportunity to case the houses.

Fern returns to the brothel and after some initial conversation where Finnris believes there is something oddly eldritch about her, Zerda arranges to spend time with her. He reveals that he knows she’s living a double life and tries to recruit her as an informant. She tells him that the spice merchant Ahreb Gluor (whose daughter was rescued by Lady Aeridnis and Finnris from the Tower of Black Flame) has recently recovered as unknown arcane item from the Amur barbarians.

The following afternoon we’re invited to speak with Randall as Fern/Lyanarus has been kidnapped. On the way Zerda, Finnris and Vorstag get their fortunes told by a gypsy in the bazaar. We hear both good and bad news but a recurring theme is danger during the Long Night and the encroaching power of the Old Ones. Finnris’ mysterious tarot card bearing his image is apparently a warning about Hastur, the King in Yellow, while Zerda is told that Quodeth’s Vizier is connected with Great Cthulhu.

Randall gives us the address of the house where Kayan is holding Lyanarus and offers us 20 gold peacocks each to rescue him/her. We follow Randall’s associate to the house and decide to con our way in: Zerda pretends to be a terrified rich merchant being pursued by Finnris’ mad berserker. It works and we manage to knock out the door keeper. We find no-one else and nothing of value on the ground floor so decide to check the cellar.

Finnris discovers a rigged wine-rack hides a hidden trapdoor in the floor. We descend to an apparently uninhabited room, but Zerda gets the feeling we are not alone. Guessing someone might be hiding under the bed – the only piece of furniture – Vorstag leaps on the bed and an invisible Lyanarus tries to escape only to be talked into reappearing by Vorstag who says that Randall wishes to offer her a job.

Somewhat unwillingly Lyanarus accepts Randall’s job offer. A week passes and Randall contacts us again saying he has another job he would like us to undertake…

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Postscript - Finnris

Finnris is practically living in Urgak of   Katagia's training camp or Ludgia in the Katagian tongue.  Training with the fighters, drinking with Megara and Urgak.  Finnris works on his arena performance skills as much as his stamina and reflexes.  His shorn hair (part of the exile ritual along with the near death beating and being cast naked into the wilderness) has growing out now, and he styles it Mohawk fashion, closely shaving beard and head around the Mohawk.  His stage presence developing, he experiments with war paint and discusses with his comrades and tutors a suitable fighting name for the arena, he also enquires of Urgak about getting a pit fight... Finris also asks around about tatoo artists of repute or even mystical reputation.

Urgak is happy to arrange a fight for Finnris, as Finnris is unknown in the pit suggests starting him off easy with a match vs a lone slave fighter of moderate experience. Rival pit trainer Bronak the Bald has recently arrived in Quodeth with his entourage and should be happy to supply an opponent for a match at Uttikal's pit. Urgak will look to negotiate a ca 50gp purse for Finnris.
A couple days later Urgak has two offers for Finnris - Valesh the Myrmidon (heavy armour fighter) for 50 gold, or Korth the Nimothan (barbarian warrior) for 20 gold.
Urgak reckons Finnris can - probably - handle either of them, though Valesh's scale coat & shield give good defence.

The old fortune teller in Quodeth Bazaar knows a good tattooist, she says - it's around 5gp per tattoo depending on size.

Excellent, Gypsie Woman! I will seek out the tattooist you recommend. I will commission representation of the challenges faced starting with the tentacled sewer monster (leg) and the former master of the Tower of the Black Flame (arm).

Urgak, you have my thanks, I would be honoured if you would arrange competition with the Myrmidon. I have heard tales of these warriors and I am intrigued and excitied to test myself against one.

Urgak agrees ...Finnris can invite his companions to the House of the Fallen Star.

The bald, moustachio'd & very tattooed tattooist inspects Fnnris's hide & considers... Full 4-colour/full arm/leg tattoos will be 5gp each, so 10gp total.

Urgak gives some advice: "Now, Valesh is skilled with the longsword. He likes to hold back his full fury until he sees his opening - draw him in, but do not go reckless until *after* he has attacked with his full strength... If wounded, he will try to take a moment to gain his second wind... If you can take him down then, your victory will be easier."