Story/Session 4

# Session 4 — «Nosedive»

## About

*\* To see all the campaign sessions and events check the list of sessions in the "Story" page's segment "Sessions".*

**Session 4** took place on 2023/10/28 in Guangzhou, Panyu in COMMUNE Bar. A total of three characters participated in the events of the session: Greg "Grog" Butkus (Sam), Dalerion Korr (Rebecca), and Tobias Slater (Sean).

### Connected sessions

This session is a part of series of events that are tied together due to the nature of their events.

## Journal

### Nosedive

Pimbin's baskets with spicesThe party bid farewell to Fiddler, who headed straight to the tavern to rest and boast about their exploits in the mines. Meanwhile, Tobias, Dalerion, and Greg sought the promised rewards. Or so they tried.

Their first stop was Master Thistle Coppercoil, the leader of Aetherforge, who had pledged substantial rewards for the successful recovery of the cogdogs. True to his word, Master Coppercoil rewarded the trio with a substantial bag containing a mix of gold and platinum coins, and another bag filled with pearls. Strangely, the second bag emitted a faint and barely audible hum. Coppercoil explained that it contained a power stone, making it a highly valuable item for the group. They bid farewell and ventured to the Trade House.

En route to the Harbor Trade House and the offices of the Tradestar Syndicate, their primary destination, the group paused briefly at the outdoor vendor Aida Kelphand. Aida, a dwarven brewer from Ronar Dominion, offered a diverse range of potions. Upon Dalerion's inquiry about remedies for burns, Greg and Dalerion purchased two bottles of "Weeder" brew, a recommendation from Aida. Tobias, on the other hand, acquired a potion named "Giant's Finger," notable for its intriguing contents—a colossal thumb submerged in the thick liquid within the bottle.

Upon entering the Harbor Trade House, the trio observed a significant exodus of people leaving both the Trade House and the Auction area, signaling the conclusion of the day's bids. The halls now echoed with emptiness, prompting the party to inquire at the info desk. The receptionists Chase Brooks and Jennifer Woods informed them that the Auction House had closed for the night and would resume the next morning, highlighting the much-anticipated item, "The Ruby Glove," up for bidding. However, they were invited to explore the current offerings in the Trade House, ranging from weapons, armor, clothing, and textiles to food, exotic drinks, luxury items, spices, books, scrolls, and even animals. The Harbor Trade House has always boasted a diverse array of goods. As the party explored the first floor of the Trade House, it became evident that the most valuable merchants for their current needs were situated on the second floor. The books and scrolls stall, as well as the vendor offering wild and exotic spices drew their attention.

Lawan Stilldream, the halfling books and scrolls trader, presented the group with a selection of his daily offerings. Dalerion's curiosity was piqued by a chained book secured with a lock, its contents shrouded in mystery due to the absence of a key. Intrigued yet willing to explore other stalls on the second floor, the group continued their investigation until they encountered Pimgin Cloudbranch, the spice vendor. Pimgin sat by a tall table showcasing a variety of spices arranged in small baskets, each offering a sample for curious buyers. On the table at the time of introduction, Pimgin Cloudbranch showcased various spices: "*Mountain Lotus*," a predominantly white spice known for its calming properties; "*Druidic Dream*," a green-colored coarse spice accelerating recovery akin to a dream; "*Redhive spice*," a red, fine coarse spice causing a boiling sensation in the blood; and "Blackroot," a black-colored, fine coarse spice enhancing auditory perception to the extent of hearing leaves fall from miles away.

Tobias and Greg delved deeper into Pimgin's goods and services, inquiring about any off-the-record or potent items. With Tobias's silver tongue and the incentive of two platinum coins, Pimgin agreed to sell two grams of Styxroot spice to the group, provided they pay an extra platinum coin for the urgency and meet his companion, Iraton Cherryfinger, by the fishermen docks on Saturday morning. Pimgin shared a code phrase for them to use with Iraton: "I hope it is as good on the way out as it was on the way in." With the deal sealed, Tobias inquired if he could sample some of the spices laid out on the table. Pimgin assured him that they were of the finest quality and encouraged Tobias to acquaint himself with the produce. And so, Tobias then proceeded to slam his head into the table, nosediving into the basket containing the Blackroot spice. Upon inhaling the spice, Tobias immediately felt its effects. His senses heightened to an extraordinary degree, picking up sounds from far away and even behind the walls. Overwhelmed by the flood of sensory input, he vomited on the table, regurgitating the spices along with his barely digested dinner. Greg and Dalerion hastily escorted him out of the Trade House before the trader could summon the guards to remove them.

### Nauseous eavesdropping

Later, while standing on the small plaza in front of the Trade House, the trio tested Tobias's newfound ability of extraordinary hearing. Tobias overheard snippets of conversation mentioning a "fiery spectacle" set to occur during the tournament tomorrow. However, despite his acute senses, there was nobody nearby; the square had emptied due to the late hour. With the desire to speak with the guild mistress of the Adventurers' Guild but unwilling to navigate the crowded areas in the evening, the group decided to ask Master Coppercoil for one more favor.

> *"Sometimes the pursuit of knowledge can be difficult. So suck it up!" —* Dalerion Korr
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>

They sought permission to use a secret passage between the Crystal Workshop and the Crystal Arena. Tobias, constantly lagging behind, was apprehensive about hearing anything loud in his immediate surroundings, fearing it might make him faint or worse. Nearing an active workshop only heightened his discomfort. He kept a considerable distance at all times, and the group even requested Coppercoil not to use the cogdog. Tobias claimed he could hear every single cog turn individually, experiencing each one click by click, cog to cog. Master Thistle Coppercoil confirmed the feasibility and permitted the group to use a concealed tunnel behind the workshop. This tunnel led them directly to the arena, cleverly concealed within a stone brick wall. Exiting at the edge of the arena, the group found themselves just outside the Arcane Academia.

The group made it to the emptied Old Market, with Greg heading into the Guildhall. However, Tobias, unable to endure the loud crowd, stayed back, fearing he might faint or worse. Dalerion opted to stay with Tobias, concerned about his well-being. Greg ventured into the Guildhall, navigating through the bustling atmosphere, and found himself at a table where people were signing up for the upcoming tournament, possibly the same one everyone had been talking about earlier. And so, he registered the entire group, including Fiddler.

Having spotted Nanana - the bartender from The Old Quill tavern - who was apparently a servant of the Adventurers Guild, Greg persuaded her to take him upstairs to meet Guildmaster Lorna Swiftfoot. After a small bribe, Nanana skillfully guided him through the crowd. Greg reached Lorna but couldn't discuss business regarding the promised reward since Lorna insisted on seeing Dorle's necklace herself, which Greg did not have on him. Thanks to Tobias's heightened hearing, he sensed the issue and signaled Dalerion to join them. Dalerion, who had the necklace, rushed upstairs to hand it to his best friend. With the necklace in hand, they showed it to Lorna, who then agreed to discuss matters with them, leading them to her office behind the bustling reward table.

As Lorna detailed the reward for the group's deed, offering access to a network of information and quests through the provided necklace, Tobias detected the approach of something loud. A group of marching troubadours, a lively band of bards, was heading their way, their instruments creating a cacophony. Overwhelmed by the noise, he decided to retreat north toward the Grey Bridge, seeking refuge from the overwhelming soundscape. On the bridge, he spotted the red-haired woman, whom they suspected to be the High Inquisitor, walking down the paved way along the river bank. She was accompanied by two Akkalati soldiers from the Drowned Church. Tobias observed them in silence as they walked, their figures disappearing gradually behind the turns and corners of the makeshift houses constructed under the bridge and alongside the river.

### Naked

Quest that Nanana Flowersong delivered to the groupGuildmistress Lorna Swiftfoot, recognizing the group's significant service to Fayers Cove and their role in averting immediate danger from the goblin assault, assured them that she would make arrangements to introduce them to a higher tier of quests and tasks within the guild. Greg further pursued this idea with Nanana, requesting her assistance in securing a quest that would elevate them to a higher tier if possible. Nanana agreed to help, though not without a small fee, once again demonstrating the persuasive power of a well-placed coin.
After conversing with the guild mistress and opting not to claim the reward immediately, Dalerion and Greg exited the guild hall. They crossed Maraad Plaza to reach the Grey Cloaks barracks and meet Aiden Bell for the promised reward tied to their actions in saving Artisan's Row from the goblin assault earlier that day. Upon arriving, they learned from the on-duty private that an upcoming tournament would feature a "grudge match" between the Golden Swords and the Grey Cloaks, with Sergeant Hudson Pearson participating in a potentially lethal encounter. Aiden Bell, appearing soon after, led them into the officers' quarters, expressing concerns about Hudson's participation and the potential danger to his life. In response to Greg's curious inquiry, Aiden shared that Hudson's wife's name was Katie.

> *"We were at the Trade House, and then he nosedived something..." -* Dalerion Korr
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>

Aiden fulfilled his promise of a reward by presenting Greg with a sword named "The Grey Sword," revealing its historical significance as one of the first crafted during the war for independence by the resistance forces in Unyd's forge. To their surprise, the sword was well-preserved and maintained. Thanking Aiden Bell, the duo left the barracks to return to the Old Market in search of Tobias but found no trace of him. The two grew increasingly concerned about their missing spice trader and decided to venture north in search of him. They speculated that he might have sought solace away from the evening noises by heading toward the bridge and the Northern Gates, leading to the farmlands and smaller Cove villages beyond the walls.

Upon reaching the bridge, they found no trace of him. However, a gathering of people by the Northern wall drew their attention. When they approached, they discovered Tobias Slater, completely naked, seated against the wall with his bare back in the mud. It appeared that whatever had happened had stripped him of all his belongings—clothes, coins, spices, tomes, and even his cherished funny pointy hat. Greg resorted to a firm slap to rouse the naked sleeping beauty, revealing that while on the bridge, he faced with limited options as a marching band approached, chose to endure the loud noise until he fell unconscious. And failed.

They assisted Tobias to his feet, surveyed the immediate vicinity for any missing belongings (only recovering Tobias's spice book), and Dalerion generously offered his cloak to cover Tobias's nakedness. Despite inquiring with a guard who was gazing outside the city walls, they gained no helpful information. Deciding that they had endured enough for one day, the trio opted to head back to the tavern.

Upon their return to the Old Quill Tavern, they found the crowd diminished, the patrons thinning out as the establishment shifted towards being a study spot for students. Nanana, however, remained at the bar and welcomed them. She fulfilled her promise to Greg, sharing a quest that by all that it seemed had not yet been stamped and published to the masses, making it exclusive to the group:

>
> *"Seeker Sabel Nobo is looking for adventurers who would retrieve her family's heirloom, a bronze necklace with their household sigil - a feather and arrow crossed. It was lost in the cave East of Fayers Cove Township, often referred to as «Deadman's Jaw». The necklace amongst other supplies was lost during the Seekers' expedition aimed to map the swampy area to the East. For the reward of four hundred gold hammers. Beware of the dead."*
>
>

After enjoying a few glasses of grog, Tobias and Greg successfully deceived a student named Sam Lemon into relinquishing his first-level library pass. Satisfied with their evening exploits, the party decided it was time to call it a day and retreated to their beds, eagerly anticipating a well-deserved long rest.

## Notable non-player characters

A list of notable NPCs the group has either met for the first time or interacted with throughout the session.

## Statistics

*\* For campaign combat and roll statistics, see Characters' page segments "Combat statistics" and "Roll statistics".*

Greg "Grog" Butkus (Sam) was voted MVP of the session and was awarded an Inspiration Coin.

### Roll statistics

Roll statistics include average dice roll result (natural only), the natural twenty, and natural one dice roll counts.

 Sean

### Combat statistics

Actions that drop the enemy's health points to zero - account to kills; actions that assist other party members in any sensible way, including healing party members that are fighting a certain enemy, - account to assists. Damage calculated includes friendly fire, and measurable environmental damage during a given combat event; healing calculated includes self-healing and the use of items like healing potions, etc.

There was no combat in this session.

## Images and media sources

List of images and other media contributions and sources:

* The image of Pimgin's baskets with spices was generated using mage.space web application.
* The image of Sabel's quest note parchment was created with NoteCrafter.