Embers of the Wilds: Episode 18

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==Synopsis==
In the divided city of Ipsum, the party meet with Maven, the Arcmage and leader of one of the two factions vying for control of Ipsum. The party tell of the source of magic being in Trog Canyon, without telling Maven about Trog Canyon itself. Maven offers aid to protect this source of magic if the party assassinate the leader of the other faction, Opal. The party are reluctant to undertake such an unsavoury mission, and decide to research more into Opal first.
The party find that Opal's gang runs a protection racket and break the fingers of those who don't pay up. The party decide to have Tristelle perform at the tavern to lure Opal out, due to the rumours of her interest in bards. The plan works and Opal shows up to the performance. Pearl eavesdrops while invisible. Opal wants both Tristelle and Pearl captured. An underling tries to buy pearl from Tristelle. Tristelle lures the underling to her room and then knocks him unconscious. The party meet up and work out a plan on what to do next.
==Recap==
===9th October, 20 (Age of Iron) - Meeting Maven at Ipsum Keep===
The posse are in the town Ipsum inside Ipsum Keep in a meeting room. then arrives in the room. Pearl is sceptical it is the real Maven until he casts a spell. Maven prefers the rumours that he is dead. 
The party share what they know about the field of magic and the source is in their town, but do not tell the Arcmage the location of Trog Canyon. Maven only has theories of what this source of magic could be, but nothing definitive. He says since the end of the war all the great magics have left the land, so whatever is powerful enough to emanate this giant magical field could plunge the region into chaos again, and he would keep it out of the hands who would use the magic for ill. The party mention the dangers that are after the source of magic, including the Draconians and the Necromancer. Maven says he can send a squad of solders to help protect the source of magic, but is unable to do so until rival gang leader, , is slain. Maven asks the party to kill Opal, then he will send reinforcements with them to Trog Canyon.
The party are reluctant to become assassins, especially of someone who they have never met. Maven points out that Opal is a murderer, bandit, thief, and criminal, and her Tiger Gang steals from the town. The party decide to investigate Opal more before making a decision.
When the party is alone, Kyra expresses disinterest in getting involved in Maven's mess and advises the party should just head back to Trog Canyon as soon as possible to keep it safe. The others convince Kyra to let them spend some time to investigate the situation some more before leaving. The party leave the keep and return to their inn/tavern, the Long Haired Troll, in the outer city.
Returning to the tavern, the party see the barmaid appears tired but is unable to rest since 2 of the Tiger Gang patrons are still in the room. The party return to their innroom.
===10th October - Research into the Tiger Gang ===
The party have breakfast in the tavern. Outside the tavern there is a line of commoners getting ready to leave the city along with an armed escort. Kyra finds out this group is traveling to Fairport for trade.
Tristelle talks with the tired barmaid. The barmaid tells Tristelle that she didn't sleep last night. Tristelle promises to sing a Song of Rest for the Barmaid tonight. Since there are members of the Tiger Gang in the tavern, Tristelle doesn't ask openly about the gang.
The party head outside and search for a merchant to speak with. They find an elderly pottery merchant, Old Man Potter, who is eager to talk. He makes lamps & vaces. Tristelle purchases a large wine vase with depiction of the Akuban Warrior Rohana upon them. Old Man Potter then gives a history lesson on the fall of Ipsum and the rise of the gangs in the Outer City which lead to the Tiger Gang winning the last Gang War and them taking over the outer city. When Old Man Potter years ago refused to pay protection money, they snapped one of his fingers in three places. Pearl asks if he had considered moving to the inner city, and the Potter says that his wife is near death and he is looking for a cleric of Voraci to peacefully send her off, after that he might move into the inner city with his nephew. 
===10th October - Party Planning===
Tristelle suggests throwing a party to lure out Opal, since she has an interest in bards. Or at the very least lure out members of the Tiger Gang and get information from them. Tristelle and Kyra suggest that Pearl be invisible for the party so she can overhear things and follow the Tiger Gang to their hideout.
The Long Haired Troll is said to be smaller than the other tavern, so the party scout out the other tavern to see if it would be better for their plan.
The other tavern is the "Sit-On-It", which is indeed a larger & higher class establishment, with the second floor having a walk around balcony overlooking the larger common room. The staff don't look exhausted here.
The party start making specific plans. Pearl will be turned invisible when a person of interest arrives. They decide to set up the event as a Tristelle concert, and situate the VIP spot somewhere that Pearl can eavesdrop. The party estimate it will cost them 4 gold of drinks for this event, but the expenses could balloon.
===10th October - Tristelle's Concert ===
A crowd quickly gather to hear the music at the "Sit-On-It" Tavern. Soon 2 members of the Tiger Gang also arrive, one heads off to report in, the other stays to watch. Soon 4 more members of the gang arrive and takes seats from other patrons. Tristelle offers wine from her vase to the Tiger Gang, which they happily accept.
Eventually Opal herself shows up. The other members of her gang make room for their leader. She takes the best seat at the nearest table to Tristelle and starts throwing coins in her direction, while eating with one of her 2 magical swords.
Tristelle spills wine on her red dress to give herself an excuse to go to her room to change. She then casts on Pearl. Pearl makes sure to leave behind any lose equipment. Tristelle changes into her Aqua-Blue gown then returns downstairs to the Tavern to perform more.
Before Tristelle can begin to perform again she is approached by a member of the Tiger Gang, asking Tristelle to perform privately for Opal. Tristelle says she would prefer to finish her public performance instead.
Pearl eavesdrops on Opal from above. Opal says she wants both Tristelle and Pearl, her underling having met the party yesterday at the gate. The underling says that Tristelle as an outsider just doesn't know how things are done around here. Opal says that it is up to the underling to get both of them to her.
After 2 more songs, Tristelle is approached again by Opal's Underling, now drunk. The underling asks about Pearl, and Tristelle says that Pearl is just feeling unwell. The underling offers to purchase Pearl to use as a mascot. Tristelle gives a stunned refusal. Tristelle agrees to perform privately for Opal, but is unsure of the song, so invites the underling upstairs to her room to play the song for him first. The underling happy accepts this offer and heads upstairs with Tristelle. Pearl follows along invisible.
The room is too small for Pearl to get inside with the Underling and Tristelle within. Tristelle hits the Underling with her Bongos, knocking him unconscious. Tristelle then lets the invisible Pearl into the room.
Tristelle and Pearl are unsure what to do next. Tristelle casts to contact Kyra and tell to come up right now. Kyra gets out of her seat downstairs and heads upstairs and also heads into the room.
The party decide that the Tiger Gang are horrible people, and the assassination of Opal is no longer considered immoral. Kyra suggests taking out Opal and her drunken minions right now. The others want to do it somewhere else.
==Experience==
No experience given this episode.
Category:Embers of the Wilds Episodes