On Draven Barlow's Trail

**Story Arcs**

###### **ALPHA & OMEGA**

Ozai returns, following the path he took in reverse but in a hurry almost leaving the female servant behind. He barges through the door, and see's Ashes sitting patiently at the dining room table. Shortly after, the male servant comes through and lays out a simple meal of some mashed potatoes with fried peas, gravy and a medium sized leg of chicken; finished off with a mug of warm tea.

Ashes begins to dig in and enjoy his food, but Ozai taunts him with a jab. The two share words, and Ozai decides to sit down while Ashes finishes off his meal. Ashes eats gluttonously and makes a bit of a mess in the process, and finishes off his meal with another jab towards Ozai while eating and devouring the bone of the leg in a few crunchy bites.

Ozai is relatively disgusted, and ends up smashing both of his fists into the nice cedar dining room table, causing it splinter significantly on one corner, damaging it permanantly. The male servant has had enough with the two bickering and causing the damage was the final straw, he screams for the two to leave the premises and they both huff at each other and obey their wishes, leaving Stowen Manor; together.

###### **HUNTING DOWN DRAVEN BARLOW**

Ashes and Ozai get usherd out of Lawretta Stowen's Manor. Ashes talks with Ozai and the two exchange their goals, and objectives. Ashes lays out that he is seeking Draven Barlow, a mysterious cleric who's up to some no good; and Ozai tells him about his family situation and how he is seeking out the men responsible for tarnishing his clans reputation.

Ashes promises Ozai that he will help him find his target; on the condition that he helps him seek out Draven. Ozai promises to help and follows Ashes, who decides to head to the Flyin' Griffin to talk to the owner and see if he has any information.

###### **RUFFLIN' THE GRIFFIN**

Ashes and Ozai arrive at the Flyin' Griffin and knock on the heavy closed doors. Ashes is able to hear some dialogue and an order being barked before mere moments later the door being unlocked and the two allowed inside. They are greeted by two purple unseen servants and the owner of the store Sir Braford who is in the middle of a exchange between a porty looking human man adorned with a chefs outfit, with an apron, hat, white clothes; and a big black rooster sitting on his shoulder.

Ashes approaches the register while Ozai browses around the shop. He takes notice of the cleaver the chef buys and see's its intricate magical runes. The chef character thanks Sir Braford, and heads out of the store. Ashes and the chef have a moment and say good morning to each other; and he leaves.

Ashes approaches the cash and talks to Sir Braford, who asks him about his reason being here. Ashes replies by saying that he is seeking information on Draven Barlow, and needs to know if he knows any information. The shopkeep replies and says he does; but it wont be cheap, as he is running a business.

Ashes appeals to him with a rousing speech, and Sir Braford buckles and gives in revealing that he had purchased a large stock of antiques and magical items from him as he was trying to get as much coin as quick as possible, not worrying about maximizing profits. Ashes inquires about the stock that he bought, and he says that the majority of it had been sold off to a woman (who Ashes recalls to be the woman from Haven & Hearth who bouth the hourglass from Eul), and the rest off to various other customers.

###### **OGHMA ANTIQUITIES**

He shows the remaining stock from his haul from Draven; a red katana known as Muramasa, and a spear known as the Javelin of Lightning. Ashes asks about the spear and gets a price of 300 gold, and Ozai inqures about the katana; getting a price of 1000 gold coin.

Ozai attempts to barter with his noble status, showing his signet ring. The moment Sir Braford notices who he is, he asks for him to leave his store with his tarnished clans name, wanting to do no business with him. Ozai is led out by an unseen servant. Ashes attempts to dissuade the situation but is unsuccessful.

After Ozai is led out, and making note to mark this man as a enemy of the Teri-Ahk Clan, Ashes is told information about Draven Barlow.

###### **DRAVEN'S CURRENT WHEREABOUTS**

Sir Braford tells Ashes that Draven Barlow went towards the Lower Commons of Jaskir to use the bathhouse, and is probably living there. Ashes thanks him and heads out, catching up with Ozai the two make their way towards the Lower Commons with Ashes opting to take an alternative route as he is becoming more familiar with the layout of Jaskir.

##### 🐱**LEOPOLD, THE ABSENT CHANNELER - CHAPTER 5**

###### **THE SMALL TOTEM**

Ozai follows Ashes who leads him through the Trade Hub of Jaskir where they bump into Leopold, the wandering catfolk druid who's been missing for a while. The duo catch him in the middle of making an exchange between a stall vendor, but he is actually recieving money in exchange for something.

The two look closer at the small totem and see that it depicts a small catfolk, holding up a cloud which is pouring rain and lighting overhead. He gets a small pouch of coin, and tags along the two; saying hello to Ozai. Ozai says he feels a strange sense of unknown familiarity for the catfolk, despite meeting him for the first time. Leopold tags along on the walk back to the Lower Commons.

##### 👥**MAIN GROUP - CHAPTER 14**

###### **APHRODITE'S INFORMATION**

Ashes and Ozai with Leopold tagging along make their wait to the Lower Commons of Jaskir. Once they arrive, Leopold splits up saying that he is heading to the Ramshackle Smith to have a word with Peepo. Ashes says farewell, and heads to the Bathhouse with Ozai to speak with the owner, Aphrodite.

They meet her and she bows. Ashes asks about Draven, and she gives her all the information she can, including pulling another bath attendant who cleaned his equipment. Ashes asks if he was carrying a book, and the attendant replies with a yes. Ashes asks Aphrodite where he went, and she points towards the west which leads to the community refuse pile.

###### **GARBAGE MEN**

Ashes and Ozai head through the double doors that lead towards the community refuse area of this lower class part of Jaskir. There, they immediately are hit with the smell of garbage and the sight of three men digging through refuse. One of them eats some of the garbage they find without a second thought.

Ashes asks the men what they are doing, and one of them replies by saying they are digging and looking for treasure. Ashes inquries what they mean by treasure, and the man gets scared and starts digging more feverishly.

The largest man, one of dark sun tanned skin, greets Ashes and says his name is Yohan. He forgives his friend Petir, and introduces the quieter one, a half elf, by the name of Pauls. Ashes pulls out two rations per person (x6 total) and hands them off. Ashes gives a small prayer, and Yohan thanks Ashes greatly and sits by the sunshine to eat his food.

Ashes asks the group if they know about Draven Barlow and describes his appearance to the lot. The skittish man, who says has "brain rot", tells Ashes that he saw a man of that description that left from a sewer in the West, and headed towards the Cemetery near the manor of Lawretta Stowen, in the Noble's District. Ashes asks if he could be led there, and skittish, brain rotted Petir says yes leading the duo there.

###### **JASKIR NOBLE'S CEMETERY**

Ashes and Ozai are led by the skittish man named Petir towards the front gates of the Noble's Cemetery of Jaskir, right in front of the mayors manor. Before Petir departs, he says that he does not like working here because he's had strange ghostly encounters, though that may just be he "brain rot" acting up.

Ashes asks where he saw Draven Barlow last, and he points towards the crypt with the large bear statue. The peasant then departs back to the Lower Commons.

The duo make their way in, and notice a dug up grave with tracks leading to a cold trail. They progress further towards the crypt with the bear, and see footprints leading up and down the stairs, matching the same ones from before.

The two attempt to make their way inside, but are blocked by a large set of stone slabs with the markings reading "Ashen Ossuary". They attempt to push, but are blocked. Eventually, they decide to pry it; and in doing so they destroy some mechanism keeping the doors locked. Ashes holds the door open while Ozai finds something to wedge inside to keep one of the doors from closing, and potentially locking.

Ozai finds a piece of a tombstone and it fits perfectly, blocking one of the doors from closing and letting Ashes free to move and allow the other to slowly slide closed, but still allowing them inside now that the door has been forced open. They descend down the crypt, and Ashes lights a torch.

**Story Arcs**