The lockbox
Elijah and Fernie regrouped with the rest of the party at Warehouse 17 after their bedroom check.
Cisco called Lorien over to take out the box. The party went back and forth on what to do with the ledger and the chest. Cisco yelled into Lorien’s chest asking if Adrik knew what to do with it.
Lorien eyed the lockbox:
- Old — decades. Well worn and used.
- Signs of repairs upon repairs.
- No clear inscriptions — just a locking latch.
- Unusual for the small size.
- Currently unlocked — but it was locked originally…
- The humming appears to come from the bottom.
- Weighty — heavier than it probably should be.
Adrik pushed the party to leave with a copy of the ledger and bring the authorities in tomorrow. Looking at the ledger, mostly higher-quality goods being swapped with lower-quality goods.
- The party didn’t recognize any names other than Master Thrain.
- Not noted where the swapped goods went.
- Cisco investigated the ledger and rolled well — but everything appeared above board, nothing seeming wrong with the disappearing ink in the moment.
The party placed the lockbox back and the ledger where it was. The room “reset” when Lorien put the box away and left.
Adrik unlocked the door for the party to leave. They left, Adrik locked the door, went through the window, and rejoined them.
The party started back toward the guildhall. Deep night, but the city is full of life.
They arrived at the guildhall and went to their rooms — Thrain should never be woken while sleeping.
Long rest.
The morning debrief
In the morning, the party met up in Adrik’s room as he went to get Thrain.
Adrik noticed that maybe a name was missing or changed from the ledger overnight, but mostly all good. He showed it to Thrain and explained:
- The fraud.
- Potential external pressure on Drogon and his crew.
- A bit about the magical interference, in case Thrain wanted to bring in experts.
- No names yet — but with formal help, the party could interrogate.
Thrain asked if there was anything else; Adrik said far more info is in the ledger.
Thrain is a bit unconvinced — our word vs. theirs, with just a magically-changing document as evidence.
- Cisco mentioned the letters that arrive every day — and that the party could intercept the courier.
- Thrain thought about it. The back-stabbing skullduggery doesn’t sit well with him.
- Cisco mentioned the chest and the party’s hesitance to open it, given prior bad experiences with the arcane.
- The party decided to investigate the courier; Thrain cautioned them to be careful due to the guards.
Adrik switched gears and brought up the dragonborn, asking about allies and safety.
- Thrain asked what Elijah did. Elijah gave an abridged answer.
- Thrain is worried about violence in the city.
- Elijah wants new lodging, armaments, and a disguise.
- Disguise may be tough; there are no real weaponsmiths — need to be creative.
Adrik asked Thrain if he had any allies who could help with the arcane.
The Collegium!
Cisco asked Adrik about masks — there’s a boutique.
Splitting up
The party splits:
Lorien’s mission — the Painbearer’s preacher
“Find a magic man.”
Lorien walked toward the Collegium, mulling his mission. Walked past the fish market — and heard a preacher on an overturned crate.
- Wearing a Gilded Watch uniform modified into a shitty Ilmater symbol.
- Preaching about the Painbearer.
- He spied Lorien and exclaimed he is here to witness.
“Salutations, prophet of the Crying Lord!”
A confused but entertained crowd gathered. The preacher showed Lorien a pamphlet — Trials of the Painbearer. 17 pages long already — surprisingly thick, given the preacher hadn’t been out of the party’s sight that long.
(He’s one of the guards Lorien blessed at Warehouse 17 in Session 32.)
Lorien looked with disgust at the pamphlet and dropped it. Pulled out the Tome of Torment and said he is no prophet — follow the Tome, not the Painbearer.
“He is so humble!!”
Lorien stomped on the pamphlet and stormed away.
“He has spoken! We have angered the Lord!”
The crowd tore up the pamphlets and stomped on them themselves.
Lorien walked next to the Collegium, grumbling over his mission.
The boutique
Cisco and Elijah (with Fernie) head to The Boutique — one street back from the main merchant quarter.
- No text denoting the store — need-to-know, referrals only.
- Front room is the showroom with mirrors and displays.
- Far back is a workroom.
A petite woman (the proprietor) steps out — walking like she owns the street, and the party.
- Clothing in hand, needles in her mouth, a little perturbed.
- Cisco gave the rundown but was interrupted: “Just need measurements, smh.”
- She insulted Cisco on his “off the rack” clothes.
- Cisco activated his mustard shirt (from Lyle) and rolled a 31 on style.
- At first unimpressed; on hearing the roll, said she’s happy it works for him.
The party went through an extended back-and-forth about visage, style, purpose, rugged, etc.
- She is shocked when she sees Fernie but quickly recovers.
- Got intimate with the measurements.
- Steamrolled over to Fernie and the party ended up thinking about a warhorse-style / war-dog-style outfit — though Elijah is unconvinced.
The party left. Heading next to the seedy part of town for lodging.