Session 15: Shopping Trips

Upon recovering from their strange dream, the partymembers reconvened for their morning meal and after some discussion realized that they had all shared the same dream. They puzzled over its meaning. Was it a memory from the past? From the time of the Elder War, perhaps? If it was a memory, why was it in their heads? Why was a goddess attacking the planet of Oerth? More than anything, the message in unreadable characters burned in all of their memories. What did it all mean? Yet, without further knowledge, there wasn’t much to be done about it at the moment.

The rest of the voyage to the Rock of Bral passed in peace. Upon arrival, Lt. Ndidi dropped the party and their spidership in the drydock area, which he said was the only area he would be allowed to bring a lifejammer. As they approached the drydock, Niloverin was released from his shackles. He instantly used his arcane abilities to transform his appearance into that of a young high elven male and joined the partymembers as they exited the ship.

As the party entered the floor of the drydock, an Arcane instantly appeared close at hand. It made no movement toward them and did not address them, but was clearly watching them closely. Meanwhile, an older dwarvish woman who looked like she meant business was approaching the party rapidly. As she got within earshot, she started shouting, asking exactly whose idea it was to drop a lifejammer in her drydock and potentially bring down the wrath of the Arcane. The party realized that this must be the boss of the drydock, Irdana, whom Lt. Ndidi had warned them about.

After some tense conversation, Irdana relaxed a little bit. So long as the party was willing to pay her 2000gp, she could remove the lifejammer from the ship. To install a new starjammer helm into the ship, the party would have to go to the Arcane embassy on the Rock and request to purchase one. If the party did not agree to the fee for removal, then the spidership would be taken out into space and destroyed immediately, per the orders of the Arcane. Once the party had agreed to pay her the 2000gp plus 100gp for the weekly moorage fee in the drydock, the Arcane vanished without a word. The party headed into the city, where Niloverin said his goodbyes and vanished into the crowd.

Luckily, the Laughing Beholder Inn was only a brief walk up from the drydocks. As the party entered, they found Luigi in a mostly empty inn, cleaning out cups and mugs with his telekinesis. He expressed surprise that they had returned so soon. After filling a brandy for PPP, he headed in back to find Imhotep. While he was gone, the party ordered a round of brontoburgers and brew from Nyx who had taken over at the bar.

When he returned, Luigi asked the party to follow them. He led them through the back of the inn, down a flight of stairs, and into a small room. At the other end of this room, a portal was glowing with blue energy. Luigi invited them to step through to see Imhotep.

As soon as they stepped through, the adventurers were hit by the change in temperature which was balmy and humid. They were in a bright and airy chamber, which showed a variety of Zwambian touches in its architecture. Luigi followed them through the portal and then led them through several chambers and out onto a veranda where they found Imhotep dining on a breakfast of mangoes and pineapple.

From the edge of the veranda, the party could see that they were in a dwelling carved into the side of a cliff. The cliff looked out over a lush jungle valley. Below them they could see giant lumbering beasts with long necks grazing in the marshes near the river. Suddenly, a giant reptilian looking creature flew past with leathery wings and an odd-shaped head with a long beak on one end and a horn on the other.

Pteranodon

Imhotep welcomed them to his home on Saurus. Apparently, he maintained more than one dwelling. He was also surprised by their swift return and asked them for an update on the job. Terlis took the lead in explaining the entire affair, holding nothing back except for the survival of the arachnomancer. Imhotep took intense interest in the existence of a tomb within the ice asteroid. He examined the strange orb that the party had recovered but was not able to divine its purpose. Imhotep was also skeptical that the party had indeed found and destroyed Acererak. Acererak was a legendary lich, possibly from before the Twin Cataclysms and was rumored to be immensely powerful. When the party described how the creature in the tomb had attacked, Imhotep noted that “liches do not punch.” He suggested that the use of Acererak’s name may have been designed to scare away would-be tomb raiders.

After discussion of the job, conversation segued into the strange shared dream that the party had experienced. Imhotep agreed that the period of the dream seemed to be from a time before the Twin Cataclysms, possibly the Elder War, although he expressed puzzlement at the involvement of a supposed goddess. He also noted that some scholars believe that all life forms are recombined from the same “star dust” and that this can sometimes lead to the recovery of memories from past lives. This was followed by a brief digression into the meaning of free will which was unresolved.

After paying the party for their services, Imhotep bid them farewell and Luigi took them back through the gate to the Rock of Bral. They bid farewell to Luigi and headed out into the city.

The adventurers then took care of a number of different errands, most of which involved shopping to spend the gold pieces that were burning a hole in their moneypouches. The whole party checked in on Liao and Ju and found that their business was thriving, and their dumplings were delicious. Clancy, Terlis and PPP checked in with Alston Fapplestamp, who was doing well. He had finished their goodberry familiar delivery systems which worked like a charm when tested out on PPP. They also found out Alston was going to the the theatre that evening and highly recommended the performance. Later that week, Clancy and PPP bought tickets and enjoyed the performance in the main open air theatre in the city.

Clancy also inquired about selling prices for a drow spidership as well as the cost of certain information about the Elder War, Kali, and the Mi-Go from the Puyg Great Library.

Clancy, PPP, and Kiki also visited the Arcane embassy where the Arcane questioned them about their intent and used mind probing to judge their truthfulness. Kiki was forced to remove her ring of mind shielding to allow the probe. After their interview, the Arcane approved their use of a starjammer at a cost of 10,000gp for installation. Clancy was able to talk them down to 8000gp by pointing out their service in removing a lifejammer from circulation.

After a wearying first day back on the Rock, the party returned to the Red House where they found a messenger from the Puyg House of Communications and Intelligence. The message was from Ramas, who had heard of their exploits and would be returning to the Rock in a week with a proposition. He proposed to meet them in The Edge, one of the fanciest restaurants in town.

While they waited for Ramas, the party members explored most of the interesting shops in town and made several purchases. The full display of what was available is provided below.

Kuko’s Curios

  • Boots of False Tracking (100gp)
  • Clockwork Amulet (100gp)
  • Enduring Spellbook (100gp)
  • Rope of Mending (100gp)
  • Wand of Smiles (100gp)
  • Cloak of Elvenkind (5000p)
  • Dust of Disappearance x3 (300gp each)
  • Yellow Diamond Elemental Gem (960gp)
  • Necklace of Adaptation (1500gp)
  • Robe of Useful Items (200gp)
  • Wand of Web (8000gp)
  • Bead of Force x5 (960gp each)

  • Bracers of Defense (6000gp)

  • Spell Scroll of Witch Bolt (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Absorb Elements (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Dissonant Whispers (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Grease (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Charm Person (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Spider Climb (120gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Alter Self (120gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Gust of Wind (120gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Shatter (120gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Mirror Image (120gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Remove Curse (200gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Slow (200gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Flame Arrow (200gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Major Image (200gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Conjure Minor Elementals (320gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Arcane Eye (320gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Dominate Person (640gp)

Jade’s Emporium

  • Beads of Nourishment x10 (20gp each)
  • Charlatan’s Die (800gp)
  • Ersatz Eye (100gp)
  • Handy Spice Pouch (100gp)
  • Mystery Key (50gp)
  • Perfume of Bewitching (100gp)
  • Gem of Brightness (5000gp)
  • Deck of Illusions (6000gp)
  • Keoghtom’s Ointment - 4 doses (480gp)

  • Ioun Stone of Absorbtion (2400gp)

  • Spell Scroll of Identify (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Comprehend Languages (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Ray of Sickness (60gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Continual Flame (120gp)
  • Spell Scroll of Elemental Bane (320gp)

Mother Greda’s

  • Potion of Healing x8 (50gp each)
  • Potion of Greater Healing x3 (150gp each)
  • Philter of Love (90gp)
  • Potion of Fire Resistance (300gp)
  • Potion of Vitality (960gp)

Dredar’s Mail and Arms

  • Breastplate of Thunder Resistance (4400gp)
  • Plate Armor of Psychic Resistance (6500gp)
  • Glamoured Studded Leather (8000gp)

  • Smouldering Studded Leather (200gp)

  • Star Blade (3000gp)
  • Moon-touched Shortsword (100gp)
  • Longsword of Wounding (2000gp)

  • Vicious Rapier (400gp)

  • Flame bolts x10 (30gp each)

Yarnak’s Dwarven Arms

all weapons and armor non-magical

  • Battleaxe+1 (810gp)
  • Morningstar+1 (815gp)
  • Longsword+1 (815gp)
  • Warhammer+1 (815gp)
  • Glaive+1 (820gp)

  • Heavy Crossbow+1 (850gp)

  • Plate+1 (3000gp)
  • Chainmail+1 (1575gp)
  • Breastplate+1x2 (1900gp)

Balic’s Blades

all weapons non-magical

  • Longsword+1x2 (815gp)
  • Shortsword+1 (810gp)
  • Rapier+1 (825gp)
  • Scimitar+1 (825gp)
  • Greatsword+1 (850gp)
  • Dagger+1x2 (802gp)

After a week of shopping, the party was ready for their dinner date with Ramas. One by one, Clancy brought party members into his room, where he used mending and prestidigitation to tidy up their clothes and clean up their look. They then headed to the high city. The Edge restaurant overlooked the lake from which the Rock of Bral drew its water. Inside a fancy quartet was playing soft music. Many of the diners turned to look at the unusual visitors. Quickly a host arrived and asked about the party’s purpose. After informing the host that they were here to see Ramas, he nodded knowingly, and escorted them to a private dining room where Ramas awaited in shiny and clean armor.

Ramas was pleased to see the companions. After initial pleasantries and a discussion of the events on the ice asteroid, he let them know his real purpose. He was proposing that the party become Guardians of the Veil. The Guardians of the Veil operated in mostly self-sufficient and independent squads of 4-8 members. Membership granted the party one of the best ships in the galaxy, a home base on the Hive, a puyg assigned for their communication needs, access to Oerth, and an annual stipend. Guardians were responsible for conducting assignments to maintain the veil, but also had a great deal of independence to pursue their own tasks.

In order to join, the party would need to demonstrate their ability by completing an urgent mission. Ramas stepped out to let the party discuss his proposal. After some discussion, the party decided to accept Ramas’s proposal. He was invited back in and was pleased with their discussion. He immediately briefed the adventurers on the mission.

A band of Guardians named the Grevious Wound had apparently gone rogue. A week ago, the Guardians had received a message from this band’s puyg. It had said the band had acquired some source of dresium and was planning on smuggling it off Oerth and selling it to the highest bidder. Unfortunately, the puyg was cut off before it could give details, likely killed by the rogue band.

If the Grevious Wound was going to sell the dresium, their most likely destination was Tortuga. Tortuga is a shady asteroid slum town full of cutthroats and pirates. It survived because it was located deep in the heart of the Night Queen’s territory. The Night Queen was a ruler of a vast undead army that haunted a large domain in the asteroid belt devoid of life. The only living settlement was Tortuga. It is believed that the Night Queen allows Tortuga to exist so she has access to dresium and ships for her own armies.

The Guardians of the Veil were unwelcome on Tortuga. However, because the party was relatively unknown, they might be able to infiltrate Tortuga and find the Grevious Wound. If they succeeded Ramas gave the party a magical item that could be attached to their ship and used to track them. The goal was to track them back to their source of dresium and put an end to it.

Ramas asked the party to take their spidership and immediately head to Tortuga. He offered to pay the fee to install a starjammer in their helm. The only catch was that to reach Tortuga quickly, the party would not be able to get to Tortuga by use of the wells that led in and out of the asteroid belt vertically. They would need to move through the belt itself and thus into the Night Queen’s territory. The party quieted as they considered the implications. Ramas assured them that they could handle anything she threw at them.

Ramas noted that the party must be careful on Tortuga as many powerful people would surely be in the market for dresium. The unofficial power in Tortuga was a shady crimelord named Famax, but Ramas was unsure of details on this individual. Ramas also provided the party with a sheet that described the members of the Grevious Wound, along with a picture for visual identification. With that, he bid them farewell.

The party busily made preparations for their imminent departure…