Session One Hundred and Seven (Graveyard of Empires Summary)

Session #107

Journal entry for the 14th of Jourelden

My last entry yesterday had us waiting for Thorel’s men to confirm that the guild master was indeed still alive. Interestingly it looked that they thought our arrival was in fact a ruse in order to distract them or otherwise make an attempt on their employer. It wasn’t – there are easier ways to create a diversion than having someone ask for confirmation that their target is still alive – but I digress.

After receiving the confirmation that Thorel was still alive and after declining an invitation to stay the remainder of the night, Thorfus explained that we had other business to attend to, he promptly wrote a note to Thorel outlining the shadow abilities of the assassin that we missed, their affiliation with the pirate Grel and obvious imperial connections.

Personally – I’m glad, getting involved in city “politics” is the reason I left home to begin with and would rather not get involved. Besides, Aunt Fel would flay me alive if she knew I was getting involved without her – she’d love this situation.

After a few more attempts to get us to stay by Thorel’s man (Xander, I believe) we finally managed to get away and try to catch up to our prisoners and Cannis. T’Suna helped us along much to its delight – though we did not find them. Instead we find the 3d longboat from the Bitter Horse that followed us and head back to the Bitter Horse only to find that the Cannis and the others were not there.

Rather than try to scour the harbour for the ship, Chuck recommended that we ask the devilfish Gronsk to locate the missing long boat.

Reluctantly I agreed to have T’Suna summon the creatures. After some banter they give direction to our missing friend to T’Suna who whisks us all there.

We find the boat just outside the harbour. Cannis and many of the sailors were unconscious and still alive, but a few sailors are missing their heads and the prisoners too.

It’s at this point that Gronsk tells us that they kept the boat safe and tell us that the dervishes went back into town to finish their job. He also knows where Grell’s base is and will give it to us if we steal a manuscript describing a sonic weapon that was designed to be used against the devilfish.

NOTE: I must ask Kalgunn about this weapon.

We don’t dwaddle and shift some personel around so that the wounded and missing boat can be rowed back to the Bitter Horse while we rush back to Thorell’s hideout to deal with the assassins- against my better judgement I tag along.

Oddly, Chuck asked one of the men to think of those sailors who lost their heads. Could he be trying to record them to his memory? I’ll ask him discreetly later – that helm of his is intriguing.

Anyways – to make a long story short – we made it back in time to help thwart the assassination attempt and dispatching him. Oddly – there was only one. The other may have had another mission or decided to wait.

I received an arrow in shoulder for my trouble and although she had a terrible shot she did have manners enough to apologize. Too bad I didn’t have a chance to speak to her more intimately – she was rather attractive.

The body of the dervish self-combusted rather spectacularly shortly after death, for reasons unclear to me. Why self-immolate lake that – makes it rather easy to know who you’re up against

Ever grateful, the guild master met with us morbidly next to his wife’s grave only to explain a rather tedious story about local politics, the Harbour Traid assassinating his wife, their drug trafficking of “dogfroth” and affiliation with the Imperials. He finally gets to the point and asks us to assassinate the other guild masters in exchange for some magical items from a dragon hoard.

Like I said – Aunt Fel would be loving this.

Thankfully – Thorfus declines and we returned to the Bitter Horse and have our things loaded. I think this Grel character weighs on him and Chuck. It seems we’re heading to Midmark with the Bitter Horse.

This morning we headed out to visit the Temple of the Ark and that of the World Forge in order to get some information about what’s been happening since the company has been in Vargen.

From what I understand, the situation has been getting worse, there’s much unrest in Vargen and Midmark and there are stories of monsters attacking towns and villages all around.

Now we’re on our way to Midmark with a mission – to steal that manuscript for those devilfishand get the location of Grel’s hideout.

I hope to get a chance to read it before we do surrender it though – I’m sure I can use it.

Evening.

We’ve crossed without issue and have docked in Midmark. Unloading nearly done and we’ll be on our way. Hopefully I can find a decent library in this town.