New Recruits

*A new group of adventurers stumble across some shifty looking individuals, and sensing trouble they decide to follow them. The trouble they find is in the shape of a little black cat. Low and behold, Hardy's lost Piptrick again and needs help finding his best scout.*

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## New Recruits

###### ***Characters:***

Hector, Gamylla Heidan*,* Estella and Velvet

###### ***Notable Moments:***

Hardy's Ted Talk, Hector flicking mud everywhere, Dubai, Trampoline Park

###### ***Episode Synopsis:***

We find four new recruits in Alnwick, now heavily patrolled, as a Tree of Eternity was recently destroyed. Sketchy looking rogues seem to be making their way down one particular alley in a largish numbers. Hector notices this, and slides closer. There seems to be a light down the alleyway, even though she sees no torch or lantern. Each rogue seems to have a piece of paper clutched firmly in their hands, and she can hear one say to another, "Do they actually have that much gold?!" Hector meets Gamylla and sees if she heard the same thing...not so much. Velvet joins the more friendly looking group, introduces herself, and is drawn in on the possibility of gold. Estella hears the conversation, but keeps her eyes on another rogue going down the alley. The light brightens, and dims. Estrella asks if they know what is going on, no one does. But why don't they try to slide in and check out the excitement? As they approach, they see what appears to be a wooden fence, but they see a person reach down to the bottom, slide the entire fence panel up, where a bright light illuminates the alleyway. What should be grass, is actually the interior of a building. The fence is clearly a portal of some kind. Hector tries to raise the fence, and she can see inside an auditorium filling with people. Gamylla, Hector and Velvet walk through, while Estrella hangs back just in case.

Everyone in the room appears to be hiding something: their eyes with a mask, their heads with a hood...so Gamylla and Velvet do the same. All three of our adventurers hang back near the door that Estrella is holding open. The lights dim, a hush falls, and out on the stage comes a little black cat named Hardy. He explains he knows folks are looking for jobs, and setting up the new base of operations is taking some longer than he thought, so in the meantime they will continue to use these pocket rooms. For those that complete the mission today, they will be rewarded handsomely in Hardy Credits. Once again, Piptrick is missing and must be found. Hector tells the group this must be a cult! Gamylla thinks Hardy must be the weirdest cult leader ever, as he is still shedding glitter with every step. Hardy leaves, and lets Denis field all the questions about Pip. This time everyone but Gamylla heads down to question Denis. A small mouse, with a red feather hat, plus he's a ghost, so you can't pick him up. Maybe that's why Hardy keeps losing him. He was supposed to be checking out the tavern, but he keeps getting distracted by shiny things. The reward is 1000 Hardy Credits, so that is a lot. They formulate a plan to find something shiny, and they head back to the city. Everyone seems to be headed to the tavern, so there doesn't seem to be much value headed there. Much better to find something shiny first! As they head towards the armory, a glint catches Hector's eye. She uses her telekinesis to pull a dented, muddy goblet from the dirt. It will need some work if it will attract Pip. They enter the armory and are greeted by a male Elf, and the shop is definitely full of shiny things. Shiny expensive things. The cheapest dagger is 200 gold pieces, which would cost the group their entire gold amount. Hector asks if she can wash off her goblet, but the Elf says the bathroom is for customers only. Estrella asks if anything is on sale, but still the cheapest sharpening stones are 200 gold pieces. Hector decides to start chipping off the mud where she stands, making a mess. Gamylla tries asking the Elf if there anything that is shiny but not useful that they could just have...? The Elf points to the goblet that Hector is still working the mud off of, making a mess in the middle of the store. He is obviously trying to get rid of them, but the adventurers aren't taking the hint. Estrella gets down on her hands and knees to see if Pip may already be here, and she sees a trail of ink that trails under some of the shelves. Estrella tells the crew, and Velvet uses the distraction to float a dagger into her pocket. The trail of ink appears to head to the front door, and then it stops. Hector leaves one last, big glob of mud in the middle of the floor, and after arguing with the Elf, he turns and leaves in disgust. The crew take the advantage granted them to pocket daggers and a sharpening stone. Once outside, there is no more ink trail...but the grocery store across the way does have a shiny chandelier in it. Everyone heads over, hoping the chandelier attracted Pip.

Estrella is the first to see a tiny red hat with a feather floating through the it. Velvet tries to get Pip's attention by saying they are friends of Hardy...and Pip rematerializes. Velvet tries to encourage him to jump on her shoulder, but Pip is scared of heights and fears phasing through her upraised hands if he jumps.

Hector is trying to draw the shopkeeper away from the chandelier, asking for foodstuffs. He takes her to what appears to be disgusting stuff, and Hector say quite nicely, "I'm so happy you showed me this, it looks terrible but thank you so much your time and I hope you have an excellent day." The dwarf is taken aback; these buzzard gizzards are a family recipe! Hector says she would rather "lick the back of the refrigerator," but is happy to hug it out. The dwarf is disinclined to acquiesce to that request, and threatens to throw them all out. Hector backs off slowly, letting the group know she may have offended the shopkeep. Estrella tries using her backpack as a landing spot, but Pip is still too scared. Hector tries to scoop him into the muddy cup, and while her hand phases through him, Pip allows himself to "fall" into the cup.

Pip explains that his job isn't done yet, so he can't go see Hardy just yet. He needs to scout out the tavern in Alnwick, but he doesn't know where it is. No problem, the group can take him! Hector wants to make sure Pip is safe in the cup, and encourages him to pull his hat down so he can hide completely inside the cup. As they exit the grocery shop, they see more and more Rogues carefully scrutinizing everything around them...Gamylla tries to squeeze in the tavern, but comes out instantly and whispers to the group that the tavern is just too full. Hector convinces Pip that he's fulfilled his duty and can go back to Hardy again. At some point, they'll go to a trampoline park with Pip and they can have fun all day...but for now they need to get back to Hardy. Gamylla gives Pip the sharpening stone that she stole from the armory, and Pip is now entranced...he sits down in the cup and starts talking to himself. Everyone else pretends that they are giving up, complaining about everything. As they head back down the alley, they see an Elf rogue waiting at the end of the alley; presumably to waiting to take Pip from whoever returns. Smart move! He says hand over Pip. Pip? We don't have Pip. You wouldn't be coming back if you didn't have something or someone to turn in. No, says Velvet...we need more information because we heard Pip went off to Dubai! The Elf Rogue does not believe them. He says you can either hand over Pip and you can live; or I'll just take him from you. He lunges for Hector's goblet, and a tug of war ensues. Hector flings a fireball at him, which knocks him back. Velvet decides to throw ice shards at him, which releases his grip from the goblet; he staggers back. He draws his dagger and swipes at Hector, who isn't harmed at all. Being assisted by Estrella AND Gamylla, she throws three arcane projectiles at his face. They aren't huge, but his staggering on his feet now. Velvet throws another arcane projectile, which is just enough to knock out the rogue. The way back is now clear. They make it to the end of the alley, enter the pocket room, and yell for Hardy. While Hardy is happy to see Pip, he's a little mad that Pip keeps getting lost. See Denis for an IOU coupon for 1000 Hardy Credits, but you'll have to go to Eternity to spend them. He gestures with his paw to a door with "Rest Room" above it. Velvet has questions about being able to return, which of course Hardy answers by not answering. They ask if they can take Pip with them, and Hardy agrees that Pip should go home. Besides, Gamylla says, we apparently owe him a trampoline park visit...Hardy thinks it's a good idea, just let Rei know she needs to figure that out. Off they go through the door, through the green and gold portal, and arrive in Eternity.