Street of Fortune

The Clocksmith

Street of Fortune is the eighth session of Campaign 1. In the session, Arine of Riveryew, Lord Darcy Hall, and Orion Brightward make alternative plans to aid Sir Cygnus in his quest to speak with Lord Rosen.

The following contains spoilers for the Tale of Locksmith's Bane.

## Plot

Pray Day 16 Chauntoro 1021 TE

After the gates of Silverhall slam in the faces of Locksmith's Bane, the adventurers remove themselves from the guarded area and discuss ways in which they could speak with Lord Rosen directly. Darcy informs the others that he plans to visit the bank for now, Cygnus decides to check up on Goose in Upper Porea, and Orion and Arine plan to go to the Merchant's Guildhall to look into setting up a stall for Miriam and Stefan. The group split up, with the intent of meeting in The Windy Way (Inn) at noon.

Darcy remains in The Castle's Keep and heads to The Royal Bank of Thorn. Hiding beneath an oak tree in The Cathedral of Sune's cemetery, he disguises himself as his father, before strolling past the Bank guards and into the large, white marble and gold bank hall, asking a banker to open his father's account and withdraw his money, sliding over his account information. The banker notes that the account has not been withdrawn from in quite some time, with the majority of the money taken out roughly 12 years prior. There is currently only 1217gp in the account. Darcy asks to withdraw 1216gp. The Banker takes his signature for verification; with which he hesitates. Darcy offers to try it again, but the banker says it should be alright, however he does ask Darcy what he plans to do with the gold. Darcy replies that it is for his son's wedding. The money is given to Darcy in a sack, The banker warns him not to carry the money through the streets, as it is likely to be stolen. Darcy says he will be fine, but spills half of the gold pieces on the bank hall's floor attempting to pick up the sack. The bank clients all watch as Darcy shoves the coins back in the sack. One elderly gentleman turns and points at him in recognition. Leaving the bank, and dragging the sack behind him, one of the bank guards asks if the Lord needs any assistance, to which Darcy agrees to pay him for his aid.

Meanwhile, Orion and Arine return to Brannagh's Town Square, in awe of it's large market. Clambering through, Orion makes eye contact with the wool merchant from the previous evening, as she deals with a deaf old lady. On their way to the Merchant's Guild, Arine spots an orange stall, home to Stefan and his pumpkins. Stefan greets them, informing the pair that he and Miriam already went to ask for a stall, and have sold two pumpkins (to which Stefan maintains an optimistic facade...). Miriam is currently going around the market, advertising the stall. Arine decides to spend the rest of the morning in the book shop she spotted on the way to Brannagh's Port. Before heading out, Orion returns to the wool merchant to buy light and dark blue wool and some knitting needles. Flirting with her, he manages to get the needles for free. On the way to the bookshop, Arine and Orion bump into Helena and Céline who have just gone out for the day. Helena gets a moment alone with Orion and asks if he would like to maybe visit a diviner in Redforest tonight as a date. He happily agrees, as long as he doesn't have plans with the adventurers tonight.

In the bookshop, they are greeted by a wildly eccentric owner, who gives nonsensical prices for the books the group wish to buy. Arine, in search of a Knitting book for Orion, miraculously finds one on the disorganised shelves, as Céline discovers a book of Witchcraft in the children's section. Helena worries of the nature of dark magic, and whether or not Celine should read it. Orion and Arine reassure her however that it should be okay. She asks Orion to give it a look over before Céline reads, but he in turn asks Arine. The bookshop owner manages to convince Orion to buy three books, and Orion obliges to finish the conversation. By the end, Orion acquires Kath's Knitting for Beginners, Basic Witchcraft, and Pregnancy for the Pregnant, before they head back to the Windy Way.

Darcy ditches the guard, paying him before transforming back into his normal self as he makes his way through the dense Pontoporean crowd. Before reaching Brannagh's Town Square, Darcy makes a stop at Tyler's Tailors. In the tailors, Darcy speaks with Sandra Tyler, a friendly and attractive woman, in her late 20's, who takes his measurements for a long, dark blue coat, and accepts his offer for a date this evening, telling him that she closes at 6pm. After making a deposit of 100gp and agreeing to pick up the coat after 3 O'Clock on 19 Chauntoro, Darcy leaves, dragging his money sack behind him. Arriving at the Windy Way before the others, Darcy secures a large table from Wolandar, and orders 10 pieces of cod on a large silver platter of chips from Esrafin. As the others arrive, Darcy shows off the feast before them. They all tuck in, and begin to discuss The Tournament of the Silver Knight. Cygnus arrives and they question him as to the nature of the tournament. In response he declares that what he knows of the games is that it consists of three rounds for three days and a final round, in which one member of the successful team duels with the current Silver Knight for the title. Due to his lack of knowledge of last year's games, Darcy gets up and asks Wolandar of the fatality last year. She informs him that the death was of a 16 year old barbarian from Tyr's Pass, West of Pontoporea. He was too vicious and, in self-defense, his opponent impaled him on a sword. Conceding the fatality as an accident, the trio and Cygnus agree to sign up for the tournament. Asking Orion of their planned date, Helena ponders what to do with Céline. Orion suggests leaving her with Arine, but Arine wishes to go to the diviner also. In the end, everyone but Cygnus plans to join the date. Helena takes Céline to Redforest Park for the afternoon.

Locksmith's Bane are joined by Cygnus on the way to the adventurer's guildhall. There, they meet Arto, the receptionist and sign up for the Tournament, paying extra to make sure they make the cut. Arto informs them that they have the 11 am slot tomorrow, but will need to arrive at 9am to ensure that they do not witness other groups attempting the first round. The group then hire a training room within the guild, and train for the afternoon. Cygnus trains Arine in using her bow as a melee weapon, as Orion and Darcy box, pulling their punches. As Arine moves on to practicing spells, Cygnus does an elegant sword display. As the afternoon drifts to evening, Darcy asks Arto about bathing facilities, to which Arto directs them. As it is standard practice to be naked in the baths, Arine remains outside, reading Céline's witchcraft book. Inside, the boys are joined by a sleeping gentleman with a mohawk and goatee. Revealing their respective muscles and black mark, Orion and Darcy watch as Cygnus unveals his wounded body. Instead of healing his wounds fully, Cygnus prefers to keep his marks, in remembrance. He says nothing of them, but looks down at his right foot, missing three of his toes.

As it gets to 5:45, they rush out of the baths and head to Redforest. Darcy leaves the group to Tyler's Tailors, as Cygnus calls it a night, resting before the tournament tomorrow. Darcy spots Sandra extinguishing lights, and she joins him. On the curved highstreet in Redforest, Orion and Arine find themselves amongst expensive merchant shops. A clockwork shop catches his eye, and Arine follows him inside. There, they see a gnome with thick, bulging goggles tinkering with some gears. The owner greets Orion, who informs him that Sharon, the Great Diviner is northward. Orion leaves, stating his interest in returning. As they exit, Arine hears Darcy's voice in her head, guiding her to Darcy's whereabouts. The trio and Sandra walk ahead, with Arine spotting Helena and Céline just outside the Diviner's. Entering, they meet a halfing entertainer, who takes their payment to see "The Great Diviner of Redforest". In groups, they enter the divination room, past the curtains.

First, Orion, Helena, and Céline enter. The Great Diviner guides them to their seats and calls forth each to decide on their favoured reading. Orion begins with a tarot reading. The Diviner explains that two cards will be displayed, the first a card of the past, the second a corresponding future. Orion's first card is shown: a smiling baby upon a red heart. The Diviner explains that it is a loved baby, much loved, and cherished. Orion seems sceptical. The second card is of the Sea, the future; he will return once again to Moropont in his journey. Helena joins Orion in a tarot reading. Her first card shows a hoe upon a black field; her past has been rough, she has seen poverty and labour. Her second shows a flame; this one is harder to understand, the flame is a card of passion. Céline goes next, afraid of the cards, the Diviner takes her hand.

The room grows dark, and the Diviner stares into the child's eyes; she has seen a vision, from a tree root, a vision of the future. She saw that the next time Céline spoke, she would be surrounded by the dead.

Céline lets go and runs out of the room, into Darcy's arms. He conforts her, confused. As Helena exists she decides to take Céline outside to get some fresh air. Orion explains the situation to the others. Darcy and Sandra continue into the divination room. Sandra, like Orion, seems sceptical of the practice. She decides on the tarot cards, as Darcy tries the palm-reading. Sandra's first card is a coin; she has come from some wealth, not only that, but money has defined her life until today. Her second card is of a sword and shield; she will face some battles in the future. Sandra is unimpressed, stating that she's always facing battles, and that this is not specific enough. Darcy's palm-reading on the otherhand grants him a question, he asks about his brother once again. The Diviner tells him that the quest he is currently on will aid his brother.

The third group conists of Locksmith's Bane, eager to understand their future as a team. As Sandra waits outside, the trio enter, choosing palm-readings over tarot cards. The Great Diviner grants them three questions, one each. Pooling their questions together, the group ask the first question: what there is to see of the next few days, of the tournament. The Diviner tells them of the pain she sees, the puzzles, but a victory of some kind, potentially of the tournament. Their second question is of the war. At first, the Diviner sees the trio fighting side by side in a battle, death surrounding them, but then they disappear. She sees two futures of the war, one with them, one without, both dire: "not all is set in stone".

The final question is of their quest. Here, the Diviner kindly allows for each member to extend their arm indiviudally. She pulls them in one at a time. Returning to Darcy, the safety of his brother may lie at the end of his quest, but others may not be so lucky. Nothing is as it seems, there are those he mustn't trust. Orion goes next; Moropont will again be in his future journey, she sees great heroism. Arine is left for the end. She feels a strong force coming from her. First, she declares that Arine is not entirely elf, to Arine's surprise and disbelief. Second, she correctly sees her within the wizarding The School of Divination. Third, she senses a connection with the wizard, Sorveen, and asks Arine if she has an interest in chaos. She has heard of the name 'Sorveen', but knows nothing of chaos. The readings end.

Leaving the Great Diviner, the group do not find Helena or Céline outside and conclude they have returned to the Windy Way. Generally disappointed by their divination date, the group split up for the night with Darcy and Sandra continuing to a fancy restaurant, Orion returning to the clockwork shop, and Arine stopping by the museum in Brannagh's Town Square, before it closes. On their date, Sandra and Darcy have crab and salmon. Sandra seems disappointed by the evening, and so Darcy asks what is wrong. She figures that Darcy is just like the other men in her life, only after one thing. Darcy, enthusiastically and caringly, disagrees. He wishes to actually get to know Sandra, learn about her interests. She's delighted to hear him speak, looks at him with intense eyes, and asks if he wishes to have dessert or leave now. He chooses dessert, but realises in his second bite that she meant to go back to hers, and so he quickly scoffs down his chocolate. They head back to her place, although she enjoys her night, Darcy doesn't feel much connection in the night. His session ends with a dream from Lillith, stating that at least Sandra had more fun than Donna...

In the clockwork shop, Orion speaks with the tinkering owner about buying a wind-up toy: a ball with for legs. He describes a wild-walking toy and moves his fingers to show a walking gesture, which confuses the owner. He states that he walks like that too, to which Orion corrects his description to four-legged. The owner informs him that sometimes he gets wild and walks on four legs also. They discuss "getting wild" sometime, to Orion's uncomfort. He finds the toy (an orb with four legs), purchases it, and leaves the establishment. His session ends as he returns to the Windy Way.

In the museum, Arine is greeted by an arty host, who guides her to the main hall. In the hall, she sees an exhibition on the History of Brannagh's Town. The exhibition tells her of the town's history: the first Typhrenian town in Partitia; a rivalry with the neighbouring Wolbeth; and the founding of Pontoporea with the building of Brannagh's Bridge. Around the hall are three more exhibitions. The first is "Great Figures of Thorn": here, Arine learns of the Kings, from King Tinneus to King Holias, seeing a plaque to Tzermir. The plaque recounts his establishment of Northolde and Darkstone, but goes further to state his founding of The School of Chaos and his final journey to the west, from which he never returned. The second is "Great Figures of Pontoporea": here, Arine learns of the house of Rosen, the current Lord's lack of heirs and the debate over the ownership of the city after his demise. The third is "Paintings of Randalla": here, Arine learns of the painter, Randalla, who had an interest in romantic landscapes and wizard's portraits. Among the wall of stereotypical wizards, three paintings catch Arine's eye, all beneath "The School of Chaos": one of Tzermir himself, reading from the tome she is currently ahold of; another of the wizard Icaron; the final of the wizard Sorveen. Her session ends with a final sweeps around the museum and a return to the Windy Way.