Hardly Heroes: Episode 17

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==Synopsis==
Steal Team Six returns to their lair to find their traps sprung, leading to a deadly confrontation with Rat Boy, who is ultimately killed by Pigeon. After discovering an important amulet on Rat Boy's body, the group debates whether to relocate or expand their lair. Deciding to stay and enlarge their base, they seek out a lair builder named Spade, who offers his services in exchange for a powerful memory stone the party discovered inside a statue. Wizard Malkis explains the dangers of the memory stone and negotiates with Spade on behalf of the party, securing the deal under the condition that they are included in any future adventure related to the stone.
==Recap==
=== Exterminating Rat Boy ===
October 22, 1519. Steal Team Six returns to their lair after a night of celebration, only to find that their traps have been triggered. As they approach the pit trap, Rat Boy exclaims, "This is for Mickey!" and hurls a Molotov cocktail at the group, missing them. Pigeon, observing the situation, requests Rat Boy to throw him his dagger and surrender. In response, Rat Boy throws his dagger at Pigeon striking him with a critical hit, causing him to fall into the pit. Despite the fall, Pigeon quickly kills Rat Boy. Upon inspecting the body, the party discovers an amulet featuring a crystal encircled by a copper ring, which Eraser identifies as an orbit. He explains that within the Copperhead gang, orbits are awarded to respected insiders, serving as a symbol of status.
The team resets their traps and debates whether to relocate or expand their lair for better defense. After some discussion, they decide to remain in their current location and enlarge the lair. A couple weeks later, With plans in hand, the party heads to Rusty’s Hook to see if Gromme can connect them with a lair builder. Gromme agrees to take them to the Pittmen’s VIP tavern, the Grimy Gremlin, later that night.
=== The Grimy Gremlin ===
November 9, 1519. In the evening, Gromme guides the party to an alleyway guarded by two butchers. He gestures toward the party, indicating potential new members, and the butchers allow them to pass through a cellar door into the Grimy Gremlin. Inside, the tavern has only a few patrons, including a female bartender clad in leather armor with a magical shortsword at her waist, two spellcasters, one warrior in chainmail, and two other individuals seated at the bar.
The party takes a seat at a table while Gromme converses with the bartender. After a brief exchange, Gromme returns to the table and explains how the establishment operates. He cautions them that the bartender, Fiona, is highly skilled and could easily overpower the all of Steal Team Six if provoked. He further advises that some of the patrons are members of the Pittmen, while others are associates, but warns against making trivial requests or inciting violence, as any aggression would result in immediate lethal retaliation from everyone present.
After providing these instructions, Gromme briefly leaves the tavern and returns with a Dwarf named Spade. Spade introduces himself as a lair builder and offers a quote of 15,000 gold for their lair design, adding that his crew will also provide protection during construction. Eraser tells Spade that they will consider the offer, and Spade departs.
=== Magic Discoveries ===
With the Dwarf gone, the party deliberates on selling their magical items to help finance the construction of their lair. However, they realize that to do so, they first need to identify the properties of their items. Pigeon approaches one of the wizards sitting alone in the tavern and inquires if he can perform the identification. The wizard, who introduces himself as Malkis, confirms his ability to identify the properties of up to eight magical items for a fee of 1,000 gold or simply detect if the items are magical for 100 gold. The party opts for the latter and agrees to pay 100 gold to determine the magical nature of their items. They then proceed to a back room for the inspection.
In the back room, the party presents three poisons, the fancy shortsword, the two fancy daggers, the fancy longsword, and the statue of Martha to Malkis. The wizard casts a spell and informs them that the three poisons, one of the daggers, and the longsword are indeed magical. Additionally, he detects magic emanating from the Martha statue and reveals that something magical is concealed within it. Upon opening the statue, the party discovers a clear, twelve-sided gem. When Malkis touches the gem, his eyes roll back momentarily before he regains his composure. He explains that the gem is a memory stone and inquires how they came to possess such a powerful artifact. Luther recounts how they retrieved it from the Red Coats' hideout in Harrow Way. 
Malkis further explains that a memory stone is sealed with a passphrase, and while anyone holding it might catch glimpses of its contents, attempting to access it without proper attunement risks madness. Such stones are used to store only the most critical secrets and have not been seen for over 3,000 years.
Malkis then summons Spade into the room and speaks with him in Dwarven. After a brief argument, Spade informs the party that he is willing to build their lair free of charge in exchange for the memory stone. He explains that Malkis believes the stone could unlock a new circle of spells for him. The party agrees on the condition that if an adventure arises from this, they will be included. Malkis consents, and the party also pays him 1,000 gold to identify their remaining magical items.
==Loot==
* Copperhead orbit from Rat Boy
==Experience==
====Luther====
*Gains 5,000 exp for a total of 25,195
*Levels up to level 6
*Gains 6 HP
====Pigeon====
*Gains 5,500 exp for a total of 28,320
*Levels up to level 6
*Gains 8 HP
=====Eraser=====
*Gains 5,000 exp for a total of ??
=====Sierra=====
*Gains 5000 exp for a total of 10,999
*Lvl to 4
*Gains 1 HP
=====Helmet=====
*Gains 5,000 exp for a total of 10,999
*Lvl to 4
*Gains 8 HP
=====Percival=====
*Gains 5,000 exp for a total of 10,999
*Lvl to 4
*Gains 4 HP
Category:Save Or Die: Hardly Heroes Episodes
Category:Save Or Die Episodes
Category:Save Or Die: Hardly Heroes