Session 8

After camping overnight outside the Troll Cave, the party wakes up and continues on their journey towards Derda. A little bit later that morning, they reach the city of Arborn. This is the first city on their journey from Cliffront to Derda that has its own chapter of the Beasthunter's Guild, and the party has been told they may be able to pick up horses here in order to speed their onward progress.

## The Beasthunter's Guild

Once at the local guild chapter, the party meets its two members: Isabel Serpin and Arwel Rhuvial. Grus is particularly starstruck by Isabel, who has not only witnessed and taken part in some of the most formative moments of the Guild and Olvara's history across her centuries-long-life, but also created hugely influential inventions like the airship engine.

While the party talks amongst themselves at the Guild, Isabel catches sight of Grus's sketchbook and the drawings of an orb called "The Moon" inside. She is shocked, as most knowledge of the Moon was lost after Aurora destroyed it in the Great War. At the mention of Aurora, the party asks if there has been any more news of Boko and Eclipse's whereabouts. Isabel says that there have been no sightings since the party left Cliffront, but she has some ideas of where they could be hiding out. When pressed to elaborate, she explains that she knows of certain hideouts and bases of operation frequented by Aurora's minions in the past for two reasons: first, she was instrumental in fighting them and taking them down; and second, because she once worked for Aurora, before an incident inspired her to change sides and fight her old mentor.

The party is surprised by this, but they ultimately judge Isabel to be a person of wisdom and integrity and continue to seek her counsel. Kwarc asks her what she knows about the Vadei Meacum Library in Vrigalla. She more or less confirms the story the party has heard once before. Alyn asks her if library might contain information on advanced healing, and Isabel tells her that the Yuan-Ti scholars of Vrigalla were once known as great healers. The party explains that they would like to go there, and Isabel says she will start gathering information on its whereabouts, as she too would like to visit and investigate someday. She expects the Library would be very well guarded, and that we would either have to be extremely persuasive or offer the Yuan-Ti a trade of some powerful magical knowledge they do not yet posses in order to make it in and out of their lands alive.

Separately, Morven asks Isabel whether she has ever heard of a place called The Brewing Temple, but unfortunately she hasn't. She also hasn't to her recollection ever crossed paths with a harengon called Morvaren who resembles Morven. She explains that it would have been a memorable occurrence, as after the Great War ended and planar travel was banned, many of Morven's race decided to return to their homelands in the Feywilds before the last portals were destroyed. The remaining harengons in Olvara are very rare.

The party decides to head out into the city to do some shopping and selling, but first, they ask for Isabel and Arwel's recommendations for where to stay the night. They tell us about Arborn's three taverns:

The Lush Flame is known to be frequented by bandits and other lawless folks, and is thus not the safest place for your person or your pockets. However, the ale is great and the opportunities to overhear useful rumors are plentiful. The bartender, at least, is trustworthy.

The Quack Kumquat is run by a friend of Isabel's, a man called Cassius. It's affordable and the food is great, but it's very busy around dinnertime.

The Prancing Panther generally caters to magic users and wealthy patrons. The owner and employees are relatively nice, even if the rest of the clientele is a bit uppity.

Thanking them and promising to return later for the horses and other equipment, the party leaves the Guild.

## Shopping in Arborn

### The Silent Hammer

The party's first stop in town is a blacksmiths' called The Silent Hammer. Its owner, a kenku called Clang, sells Morven and Grus the materials to fashion a special weapon for Morven.

### The Blackened Pearl

Next, they visit a jewelers' called The Blackened Pearl, owned by a small forest gnome called Orros Oruben Toryn Saljin. He buys the gems the party found in the Troll's Cave, plus some rings Alyn found in the pre-campaign.

Orros is friendly and seems to take a particular shine to the group after Kwarc shows him Petrok. He sells a violet garnet to Grus for upgrading Kettle and gives Kwarc a special case and polishing cloth for Petrok for free. He also gifts each of the party with a tiny, smooth river pebble.

### Leather n' Work

When the party enters the leatherworker's shop - Leather n' Work - Morven is surprised to recognize the shopkeeper - a human man called Kelvin Rowntree. Earlier in Morven's travels, he had met Kelvin at a tavern. The keeper there was known for helping people down on their luck, and he helped Kelvin escape slavery, travel to Arborn, and start his business.

After catching up, Morven buys a pair of leather bracers from Kelvin and hands over the materials for his new weapon. Kelvin promises to fashion a long and tough cord from leather and chain. It should be ready for pickup the following day.

### The General Shop

After Leather n' Work, the party heads to The General Shop, where Kwarc buys rope for various party members who lost theirs in the Royal Palace in Cliffront and Alyn buys a pen, parchment, and ink.

The shopkeeper, Susanna Morningfall, seems eager to sell anything, and offers the party a clockwork amulet. When they ask where she acquired it, she claims that she found it in an old, abandoned house. Some in the party find the circumstances and the low price of the amulet quite fishy, but Zuruk decides to buy it anyway and places it around his owl's neck.

### Misty Artifacts & More

At Misty Artifacts & More, the party meet Gavin Mistsplitter, its crotchety old human proprietor. After perusing his inventory, they purchase two healing potions and get out of there as quickly as possible.

## Looking for Work

With much of the afternoon still ahead of them, the party decides to see if there are any jobs they can do to earn some cash before they leave the town. They go to the jobs board and find several advertisements, including one for The Office of Justice and one for Orros of The Blackened Pearl.