Bandaluthia Session 45

Bandaluthia Session 45

A week of rest saw the animals back together at the Rising Sun. Shaniqua had spent the week with her head in a book, which was a little disconcerting for the rest of the animals, it is so unlike Shaniqua. However, at the end of it she came out stronger, well more resistant. Ratsel spent two days reading his book, giving him a more enhanced resistance too. His goal appears to be to increase his constitution enough that he can specialise just as Elle and Negri have done. He then spent the rest of the week being “in charge”. He would spend 3-4 hours each day researching on the Seven Keys of Shar-Shakiran always keeping Quin-Taal up to date, hoping to be in a position to send a group out at the end of the week to look for them. Rubins was more than happy to share his knowledge with them. However, he did not know where they are, but agrees that Sinn, a Red Dragon Wyrm, probably has one.

In one of his reports to Genara, Ratsel also took the time to sort out the chain of command, after sending the whole group off to the other side of the world. He explained that Coolio, Elle, Shaniqua or Jacob can make decisions, at any time, on his behalf as leader of Monteray and he will bear the consequences. He also took the extreme measures of naming his succession if he should be killed he proposed succession is in that order too.

He also sorts out the rental of 22 Acacia Avenue, D’Jarra-Leon’s old tower and a workshop for Dreizack. He bribed the councillor to cherry pick the best properties and offer them to the animals. It cost 100gp just to get him to agree to deal with them and a further 10gp a month to keep him on side. He then he made sure that they got the properties. 22 Acacia Avenue is 100 a month for rent. Nice area, nice large garden, needs work. The tower, 100 a month for rent. Excellent location, empowering property, well sought after. The small workshop is 10 a month to rent. This will be 20 ft square.

And of course, give him access to 20000gp worth of scroll writing and 10000 of them are used within a week!

There was much discussion about what to do with the newly acquired premises, especially 22, and where everyone would stay from now on. Ratsel suggested it be a brothel again, Carly saw that as in bad taste. Elle suggested she should stay at the Rising Sun 22. Elodee would not be seen at either, however she reminded the Animals that Elizabeth, Pete and Titch (he affectionate name for Ti-Ying) Cherrystone need to reside at the Rising Sun, as landlord and lady. However, Elyssa would need a different abode to go home to after closing up the tattoo shop. She saw 22 as an excellent hotel, with long term residents (their legitimate aliases) and more day to day business from Palanthians visiting the city. Coolio however, pointed out the interests of the Guild injured and disabled. He suggested 22 is very much a place that could serve this purpose. The animal now have access to a guild cleric who can help, so they can use it as a sort of respite home for guild members who have to step back from productivity for a period. They have some known guild semi-retirees who would be able to help support each other is a kind of Wayward Warden supported accommodation. He agreed that it will be available to Animals needing accommodation too and these will serve as guards. He echoed that they should learn from past experience and that disbursing our living places may be a good idea. Despite the Tower being closer to the temple, Coolio and Ti Ying opted to live at 22, not at the tower. Any guild member requiring healing can use 22 as a drop in centre, and the other cleric can use it as a base to work from also.

Elle also suggested looking at a way for Elyssa to take the wizarding tests, so that she can register as a tattooist, staking her claim to that type of business in Bandaluthia. Then if any upstarts wish to try and have a go, the guild can protect her, so that they remain the only business providing such a service. Overall Elle spent most of her time refining the process of creating inks, as this is the costly part of the procedure. But expressed a wish to try and redevelop the espionage branch of the guild, by contacting her brothers, while their newest member rids them of what is threatening them. She took Ti Ying aside, “I have little gold which is not in this business, but I will repay you in any manner I can for the bounties you are placing on the Clan. You are truly welcome as part of our family.”

On talk of legitimate business ventures. The animals have set up self defence classes run by Ti Ying. The classes are simple martial arts classes to teach "refined ladies and gentlemen" how to deal with attack by thieves and vagabonds. Meanwhile, a few young ruffians, on "minimum wage", are used to employ the very tactics that the "refined ladies and gentlemen" have taught. These will in reality be simultaneously assessing the property value of the newly skilled and confident customers whose confidence will be boosted by managing to overcome their assailants. Other classes, not open to the public, teach other "thieves and vagabonds" how to counter the newly developing skills of the "refined ladies and gentlemen" and recover the property identified by their junior assistants mentioned above. This of course leads to more expensive "advanced classes" to counter the escalating counter-measures employed by thieves and vagabonds. These advanced customers will of course become known to the guild members who have been able to observe those attending the advanced classes. Jacob set up a private detective service with the main area of business will be tracking people down who don't want to be found. More seriously, Dreizack has his workshop and so spent his week working there 10.00am-4.00pm every day Monday to Saturday. He has one of the runners to come and work for him as an apprentice. He spent the week starting to make a masterwork morning star. The sign above the door will read as follows:

Barry spent much of the week doing the rounds of his regular venues and updating his billing to INTERNATIONAL performing artiste. Of course there was a commensurate increase in his fee. Occasionally his mind turned to thoughts of Charleen and her unfortunate 'deep' sleep. Then he remembered his philosophy on life: 'easy come, easy go', and he will refocus on his pursuit of fame, fortune and groupies. Barry is a great performer and can quite easily get a paid gig every night. His fees were from 1-10 gp per show. So with 5 nights and a 5.5 average, Barry earns 25gp less drinks and condoms, and a growing reputation for his singing and backstage antics.

Coolio went with Ti Ying to make sure all the places that are on the protection list were visited and are kept happy that the regime is working. He spent a god deal of time especially asking if there have been any transgressions. If any of the "big houses" have suffered break-ins, shops plundered, markets pilfered that kind of thing he investigated, and found the culprit, or got one of the urban rangers to do so. Anyone not adhering to the rules was, of course, made to suffer the already agreed penalties. He also renewed his dedication to the temple, and helped Father Irmão in any way he can. He visited the Lows section head and renewed the friendly relationship between the sections. Stressing to the apparently slightly bigoted head that there are two Halflings in the inner circle of the Animals. Hinting, but never stating, that we are also halflings first and animals second. Conversation was always general with no specific aim other than future cooperation.

Ti Ying visited The Sensei at the temple for additional training and spiritual advice. He also went with Coolio on the joint missions to visit the various protected premises. The pair also took with them some big looking muscle, one each for when they visit different premises. This was often "Orc" but when he wasn’t around it was just a big, impressive looking, but not necessarily excellent fighter. All the big guy had to do was stand there and look like he could crush the person being spoken to "Like a Bug!". No threats, no intimidation, just effect.

Orc likes his new job. He is being fed. He has somewhere to sleep. Mostly he just has to stand holding his axe. Easy. And no one has made him mad...........yet.

Tyler addressed the animals, making sure to address Ratsel as the leader. “Guys, I need to return to the guard for a little bit. They are expecting returned equipment and an update. Ratsel, as our boss what do you want me to feed back? I feel this is careful line to tread, I cannot play down your threat or they may see me as no longer needed, and I quite like this mission. On the other hand if you seem to be too powerful they may see fit to "deal" with you. I wonder whether expressing a desire for more guided espionage, so they let me know exactly what they want info on, then maybe that will allow us to see their game plan at the same time. Also would you allow me to be the point of contact for any other guard looking to join us. After all visiting The Titans Maul as me, and chatting with colleagues is not really suspicious at all! I will do what is required.” She doesn't return, but instead sends a message. It reads: I'm going to stay in barracks for a few days, catch up with some old faces, catch my breath if you like. If you need me before the week is out send a messenger to the guard house.

Thelonius came to see the Animals and suggested to Negri that there may be a book of new necromantic spells, but it would cost if he wanted it, as he will have to have it stolen from the library within the wizards college. It is beyond his skill to access that particular wing. He knows that Negri is a sorcerer and therefore doesn't rely on books, but this book will open his "mana flow" to these spells, and then he can know of there existence.

Quin-Taal spent the down time getting a taxi to and from the city. He wanted to watch the sunrise and sunset. As the days progressed, he looked like a normal 30 year old human, but incredibly handsome and charismatic. After about 4-5 days, he started to wander the city and was constantly amazed. He would tell the Animlas of the time before his incarceration. The largest cities boasted about 100,000. (Bandaluthia is 1.3 million) He dined with them after dark, but toward the end of the week he began to press them for a decision on whether they would help him find the keys.

Session 45

After speaking in Rubins the Animals decide that they need to go and see Sinn. A great read Wyrm. Ratsel if the first to volunteer, it is, after all an essentially magic trip. Lupa volunteers, as does Tyler, Negri, Orc and Ti-Ying. The rest stay in Bandaluthia while the party is gone. The group get teleported out to a cliff on the side of what can only be described as a gargantuan crater. As they look around them they notice a bird in the sky, as it descends the party’s will begins to falter as fear sweeps through them one by one, the bird is in fact a 200,000yr old red dragon and it’s presence was indeed frightful, as the party lose control of their digestive systems and freezes in fear as the dragon get closer and closer. Sure it would devour them, it swoops below the Cliffside and a small male dwarf with flame red hair and armour walks out from behind a rock.

As the party regain composure and control they realise they are no longer soiled and the dragon is asking them into his lair. He doesn’t really seem impressed with this group. Afterall it is a devil, the spawn of a black dragon, two mere humans, a halfing (well sort of), and a human tainted by wolves. He explains that they were luck that no young elves were with them, as he is rather partial to their taste. Thank god they left Shaniqua and Barry!

Sinn is interested to hear that the party are after the seven keys and explains that he has one of them in his horde. He informs the party that Quinn-Taal is not being a 100% honest about his past with them and that they could always gather the keys for him instead. Not wanting to betray the person who got them home the party decline. But not before trading some items with Sinn, and having Ratsel invite him back to the Rising Sun!

Sinn arrives at the Rising Sun and seems amused by yet more unlikely characters. He eats Kato’s bow gladly and listens in on a conversation between Ratsel and Tyler. Ratsel decided it was time to learn where Tyler’s allegiances really lay. He questions her about her loyalties but also casts detect thoughts on her. While he detects no lies, he gets the overwhelming feeling that she in panicked by this conversation and that there are secrets she is choosing not to divulge. However, assured that her loyalties are with Palanthia and not really the guild or the guard he asks her what she would do if the animals did something she did not agree with. She stated she would voice her concern and do everything in her power to stop them. Satisfied that she would not betray them Ratsel seemed satisfied with her answers and invites her into the animals. She suddenly feels an overwhelming guilty for bearing a secret which they really should know, if they trust her, should she not trust them.

Tyler requests a meeting with the members of the animals Ratsel most trusts. This was Coolio, Elle, Shaniqua, Jacob, and Dreizack. Tyler divulges all the information she gained from her boss about the true nature of Palanthia. The guild, guard, army, horde government, royalty all actually working for the same side. While they didn’t seem as shocked or confused by this, she still feels uneasy.

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The group now turn their attentions to rescuing Antoine and Davarious from the intelligence gathered by Jacob. They take Elle, Dreizack, Coolio, Shaniqua, Jacob and Orc and Sinn decides this might be quite fun too. As they approach the entrance to the first pub Elle wanders up ahead as a male dwarf who has had a bit too much. She staggers to the wall by the door and propping it up casts on the doorman, asking him to fetch Dave for them. She then charms the other doorman to ask Antoine to come out to them. While he was more than willing Antoine was not and so the party all enter the pub together. After convincing the charmed doorman to allow the party in armed Elle transforms into a female dwarf. Once in the part split up. Shaniqua spots Antoine, Coolio spots other peoples stomachs, Orc gets taken outside to smoke after he refused to take his axe off and Elle loses herself in the crowd for a moment before reappearing as a busty human female.
Elle approaches Antoine as a giggly, drunken girl who is very much enamoured with him. She spots that the female he is with is not at all bothered by her presence, but is disguised somehow. Shaniqua spots Antoine lusting over Elle, but not realising that is who she is goes to find the rest of the party to try and kill this new woman in Antoine’s life. Luckily for Elle the rest of the group were paying attention to how to tell it is her! Unfortunately for Elle, Sinn approaches her and uses her name which raises suspicion to Antoine and...hang on...that’s Anastasia!

A battle ensues which sees Elle cast many of the guards into such a deep slumber they never awake. Antoine is down but despite Shaniqua’s attempts at revival is not out and with some healing form Coolio is kept for questioning later. Dreizack uses some very quick thinking and offers Sinn 10,000GP to kill Anastasia. He appears in the midst of the battle and with one word she is dead infront of the party. At the offer of a further 5,000GP he destroys the body too.

Once all the foes have been slain, the group investigate the rest of the pub to find Dave. We leave them about to set up interrogation. Were they charmed? Are the traitors? Will Shaniqua cope with Anotione’s betrayal? Will Sinn stay in Bandaluthia? Will the party gather they keys for him or Quinn-taal? We’ll find out next time!

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