[Day 21 and 22 – Dinner with Abra, continued tour, and first foray to the Spire]
[This game uses the Pathfinder 1E roleplaying game. Game sessions happen once a week. This session happened October 3, 2022.]
[SPOILERS! If you are likely to adventure through the Shattered Star Adventure Path from Paizo, this campaign will be spoilers all the way down.]
Player Characters
Marativy – female ratfolk 8th level Ninja
Zitch Grimreaper – male ratfolk 8th level Witch with a donkey rat (capybara) familiar
Roscuro – male ratfolk 8th level Monk
Swamprover – female grippli 7th level Wizard
Via Roll20
Templeton von Trapp – male ratfolk 8th level Summoner (Synthesist)
Hrefna – female changeling 7th level Omdura
NPCs
Gridik Stormstride – male blue kobold 6th level Wizard (Invoker)
Ariphi – female tiefling 7th level Rogue
Autumn
Day 21 (conclusion)
Dinner Time
The Ratpack met with Abra from the Duskwardens at a restaurant across the street from the Grange for dinner. The Ratpack sought permission to explore the Undercity [the Duskwardens domain underneath Kaer Maga] and Abra sought assurances that the Ratpack would not cause problems nor require rescue.
Roscuro shared information about the group touring the outer districts of Kaer Maga as dinner conversation. Once everyone finished eating, Abra requested that while discussing possible access that both he and Roscuro wear Rings of Truth, that would compel both sides to speak only truths. Roscuro was skeptical, but agreed.
The following conversation clearly did not go as Abra expected. The Ratpack was knowledgeable about potential dangers, especially those related to Runelord areas, despite knowing nothing of the Undercity. Also, the Ratpack was very confident about being able to handle the threats as this was not the first Runelord-related dungeon they had cleaned out.
Abra agreed to go forward with getting the Ratpack permission to explore the Undercity, but also suggested the group speak with the Council of Truth, a set wizards and sages operating out of the Therassic Spire in Cavalcade. They specialized in the city’s history and had a significant library, if one could gain access to it. He suggested that potential sponsors for access might be the Augurs, the Ardoc family, or the Bloat Mages.
During the meeting, Marativy slipped away to perform a mission of her own. She took to the rooftops and ran a block or so north. She then looked for a place to set the severed hand she had been charged with delivering as a message from the Magnimar thieves' guild. She found a small courtyard that was mostly empty then [it was evening and street traffic was dwindling], but would have foot traffic in the morning. She turned invisible [Ninja powers] and dropped to the ground, placing the severed hand in a doorway that would get good sun in the morning. She then moved away as stealthily as only she could and returned to the Grange.
After dinner [and after Abra left], the Ratpack discussed their options. None of the group felt it wise to make contact with the Ardoc family as they had a potential job to steal one of the Ardoc’s constructs. They all agreed that the Bloat Mages were very likely to notice the shards the group already had in their possession. Given that the Bloat Mages sought increased magical power, it seemed likely they would attempt to steal the shards, making them undesirable/unreliable as allies. This left the Augurs and the Council of Truth.
Hrefna cast Commune. After several questions on where the shard might be, Hrefna asked if the Council of Truth would recognize the shard from Roscuro’s usual physical description of it and whether or not Gridik could gain access to the Spire without being sponsored. Both questions were answered with a “Yes”. This suggested that being more vague about what the group sought might be a better option with the Council – if they recognized what the shard was, their interests might be aroused.
Day 22
Zitch started work on upgrading Marativy’s Belt of Dexterity. This would occupy him for 8 hours.
Gridik and Swamprover headed over to the Therassic Spire to see about getting access. Zitch put his Ward on Gridik and Marativy shadowed the kobold and grippli to keep them safe. [Their adventures will be written up in the Session 9 notes.]
Hrefna headed over to the Tarheel Promenade to seek a scroll of Lay of the Land. After making inquiries, Hrefna was told that the Duskwardens were the only ones with that spell in Kaer Maga and she should inquire at the Duskwarden HQ in Bis for it.
Meanwhile, Roscuro and Templeton picked up Gav as a tour guide and explored the inner districts of the city. In northern Downmarket, they wandered around the Amphitheater by the town lake. Their information [from the Commune spells] was that an entrance to the part of the Undercity they wanted was in the amphitheater, but it was hidden and guarded by the Duskwardens. After a casual look around, Templeton felt certain that the entrance was probably in the lake, just behind and below the amphitheater. Roscuro was dubious about this idea, but neither wanted to tip off/aggravate the Duskwardens right then, so they moved on.
The next district east of Downmarket was Hospice. Hospice provided relaxation and companionship, i.e., it was full of taverns, brothels, and secluded parks. Gav gave his opinion on several taverns, but stated his favorite was The Sorry Excuse. The trio also passed a temple to Calistria, Goddess of Lust and Revenge.
Following the general path of the roads counter-clockwise [I almost said widdershins here], the last district of the city was Widdershins. Widdershins was the area on the north side of the lake and was where “the average and boring people live”. [Think 1950’s Small Town America but fantasy and you’ll have it.] There were many city guard about, none of the businesses were interesting to adventurers [especially after just walking through Hospice] and the district was home to the Guard House, the HQ of the City Guard. Templeton and Roscuro were polite and walked through the district without stopping.
End of Session
Rat Whispers
[More information gathering this session. Expect more next session as the group explores the city further and continues to search for entrances to the Undercity.]
[With Christmas, the Day Job being busy just before the closure of the work site until January 3, and now weather issues (temperatures in the teens is ridiculous in the Houston area), I’m behind in posting. This post was delayed due to power outage in my neighborhood taking out the Internet connection. My goal for this week of vacation/holiday is to get at least another two sessions typed up and posted and to finish editing Book III of my retro-clone of Original D&D. If I have to choose one over the other, it will be to finish the edits so I can post my rules as PWYW on DrivethruRPG. Sorry.]
Ratpack
Book 1: Shards of Sin Landing Page – Links to all Book 1 sessions
Book 2: Curse of the Lady’s Light Landing Page – Links to all Book 2 sessions
Book 3: The Asylum Stone Landing Page – Links to all Book 3 sessions
Last Session: Session 7
Next Session: Session 9
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