Story/Session 1

# Session 1 — «A warm welcome»

## About

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

**Session 1** took place on 2023/09/09 in Guangzhou, Panyu in the ARBD shop. A total of five characters participated in the events of the session: Greg "Grog" Butkus (Sam), Dalerion Korr (Rebecca), Tobias Slater (Sean), Rush Moar (Paul), and Urifaen "Fiddler" Quoreak (Craig).

### Connected sessions

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

 Session 3 | «Trapped with cogdogs»

## Journal

### Gathering the rumors

The party gathered at the Old Quill Tavern in Fayers Cove. Comprised of Greg "Grog" Butkus, Dalerion Korr, Tobias Slater, Rush Moar, and Urifaen "Fiddler" Quoreak, they discussed the various rumors circulating in the town. These rumors included the discovery of a mysterious locked chest found by local fishermen; the arrival of two flagships from the Holy State of Akkalat, with sightings of a mysterious figure wearing a golden mask believed to be an Inquisitor or even the High Inquisitor herself; reports of missing cog dogs that needed to be located by Aetherforge artisans; news of a grand event by Harmony Troupe's Three Rings Circus; and anticipation of one-on-one and group tournaments scheduled for the evening at the Proving Grounds.

### Unlocking the drowned chest

Drowned Church chestSha'loren's golden ringHaving paid for their breakfast and drinks, the party's first collective decision led them to the Fishermen's docks, where they encountered a gathering of curious onlookers surrounding the mysterious chest. Using spells and illusions cast by Rush Moar and Fiddler, they managed to disperse the crowd and gain access to the chest. Greg attempted to force it open with his spear but was unsuccessful. Fiddler, with his thief's tools, attempted to pick the lock, and although he heard a satisfying click, the chest remained sealed. Dalerion, the party's priest, sensed no alignment within the chest or its vicinity but detected traces of Abjuration magic along the chest's edges, preventing it from being opened. Upon closer inspection, they also noticed that the chest had a mark of the Drowned Church on its side. Recognizing that it was held shut by some magical means, the party decided to transport the chest back to the Old Quill Tavern, taking turns to carry it.

Upon their return to the Old Quill Tavern, Nanana Flowersong - the tavern's waitress - refused to let the group in with the dirty and awfully smelling chest, and so Rush and Fiddler decided to hold a competition for the students of the nearby Arcane Academia. They offered a reward of five gold coins to anyone who could successfully open the chest. Outside the tavern. As the news spread, it didn't take long for two astute minds from the academy to propose a solution. They suggested that, given the chest bore the symbol of the Drowned Church, it might only be opened within the salt water of the sea. And the students got their promised five gold pieces in return.

To avoid the long trek back to the Fishermen's Docks, the party opted to take a more direct route down to the shallows, descending the nearby cliffs close to the Mystics Enclave and Ymaar's followers. Along the way, they encountered mysterious figures donning wooden masks adorned with feathers and blood petals, who were presumably Ymaar's followers. These silent, robed individuals observed the party's descent and continued to watch from the elevated vantage point as the party carried the chest to the water's edge. Once the chest was placed into the sea, a distinctive clicking sound echoed, and the previously sealed chest finally opened. Inside the chest, the party made an unsettling discovery: a severed and partially decomposed hand, bearing a single, gleaming golden ring. Dalerion, using his magical abilities, thoroughly examined both the hand and the chest but detected no traces of magic. Turning their attention to the ring, they noticed elvish inscriptions on its inner surface, which translated to "Sha'loren" in common. This revelation suggested a potential connection to the ruling family of Raeran, the Sha'loren lineage.

As they concluded their investigation of the chest and the mysterious ring, Greg's keen eye caught sight of two armed Akkalati soldiers approaching from the harbor. Wary of drawing unnecessary attention, the group quickly hid the chest and obscured any signs of their activities. Deciding it best to avoid any encounters with the guards, they retraced their steps, back up the cliffs and through the mystical enclaves, making their way quietly and discreetly back into town. As the party successfully eluded the approaching Akkalati soldiers and made their way back to town, they couldn't help but notice that the followers of Ymaar had continued to gather around the cliffs. The masked individuals, now numbering a dozen or more, stood in eerie silence, their eyes fixed upon the adventurers as they returned to Fayers Cove.

### Repelling the goblins' assault

Goblin red vialWith time to spare before the evening tournament, the group decided to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the cog dogs. Their path led them towards the bustling Artisans Row, located near the Harbour Market. As they made their way through the crowded streets of Fayers Cove, the group couldn't help but notice short hooded figures darting between the masses of people.

Caught off guard by the sudden encounter, Greg found himself face to face with a goblin, one of the very figures they had noticed earlier, shadowing their steps. The goblin, cursing in its native tongue, soon switched to a broken version of the common language, expressing a deep resentment towards the dwarves and their role in crafting what it referred to as "engines and tools of war." It was clear that this goblin had a grievance and believed that the dwarves should pay a price for it. The goblin then suggested that they could secure their freedom with a coin. With curiosity piqued, Rush requested the goblin to reveal the supposed coin, expecting to see some form of valuable currency. To their surprise, the goblin produced a small vial containing a mysterious red liquid. When questioned about its nature, the goblin cryptically hinted that it was far more valuable than mere coinage. However, rather than handing over the vial, the goblin released his grip on it, causing the vial to plummet toward the ground. Greg's fast reflexes allowed him to snatch the vial from the air, securing it in his grasp. Yet, just as he did so, a cacophony of deafening explosions erupted across the bustling market plaza, jolting the entire group and sending shockwaves through the surrounding area.

Amidst the chaos of the exploding vials and fleeing townsfolk, Dalerion made a swift decision. He subdued the goblin with a precise chokehold, rendering the creature unconscious to deal with later. Meanwhile, Greg, with a sense of duty, approached one of the remaining hooded figures responsible for the disturbances. As he attempted to restrain the figure, an unexpected skirmish erupted. The group found themselves facing not just one troublemaker but a total of five goblins, each contributing to the pandemonium that had overtaken the market plaza. The party braced for a challenging confrontation.

In the midst of the intense brawl, Fiddler, the bard of the group, with his lute and the power of the enchanting music, cast a lulling spell that sent two of the goblins into a deep slumber. As these two fell to the ground, the explosive vials they held shattered, reducing them to nothing more than charred remains and ashes. Meanwhile, Tobias, swiftly located a vial concealed within the captured goblin's cloak. With a precise throw, he hurled it at another of their assailants, causing a devastating explosion against one of the nearby building walls. The assailant was instantly obliterated by the fiery blast, reducing their numbers further. However, amidst the chaos, one of the goblins managed to lob a vial directly at Dalerion, the party's priest. The vial burst into flames upon impact, igniting Dalerion's robes. Acting quickly to save himself from the fiery peril, Dalerion made a desperate leap into the nearby well, plunging into the cool, dark waters below. It would take some time and the assistance of Rush Moar to retrieve Dalerion from the depths of the well.

With only two remaining assailants, the party swiftly moved to neutralize the threats. Greg, the stalwart fighter of the group, managed to incapacitate one of the fleeing goblins with a well-aimed strike. The goblin crumpled to the ground, unable to continue its rampage. In the final moments of the confrontation, Fiddler expertly dispatched the last assailant. Taking advantage of the goblin's already vulnerable state, having been previously subdued by Greg, - he plunged his scabbard directly into the creature's heart. With a gasp, the goblin's movements ceased, and the immediate threat was eradicated.

### The rescue and the looting

Amidst the chaos of the burning plaza, the group was faced with a moral dilemma: whether to prioritize saving innocent lives or seize the opportunity to secure valuable documents and riches. Each member had their own response to the situation.

Rush, driven by a sense of compassion and heroism, rushed to the aid of a distraught dwarven woman who had just lost her husband in the attack. Greg and Dalerion, valuing the sanctity of life above all else, took action to rescue a halfling family trapped in a burning building. Tobias, with an eye for preserving knowledge and valuable information, scoured the chaos for documents and records that could be salvaged from the fires. His focus remained on rescuing vital data amidst the turmoil. He also retrieved a key to open the door on the second floor of the burning building which led the priest to locating the halfling family. In contrast, Fiddler, ever the opportunist, seized the chance to enrich himself. He deftly looted nearby cash holders and vaults, amassing a significant sum of gold amidst the chaos.

The party's actions during this tumultuous event would undoubtedly shape their reputation in Fayers Cove, with some regarding them as heroes and others as cunning scavengers, should one ever discover the riches they have pocketed. As the group handed over the incapacitated goblins to the arriving Grey Cloak soldiers, they were met by Sergeant Hudson Pearson, who took charge of the situation. Sergeant Pearson expressed gratitude for the party's assistance in subduing the attackers and ensuring their capture. He introduced himself and promised a reward to Greg, contingent on him visiting the Grey Cloak barracks later in the day to speak with Lieutenant Aiden Bell.

The promise of a reward and the prospect of further involvement with the Grey Cloaks hung in the air, leaving the party with a choice to make regarding their next steps in this bustling city.

## Notable non-player characters

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

 Hudson Pearson

## Statistics

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

Rush Moar (Paul) 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.

### 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.

*Note: Papi's murder does not account to Fiddler's kills count. But shame on you, Craig, shame on you.*

## Images and media sources

List of images and other media contributions and sources:

* The images of Drowned Church chest and Sha'loren's golden ring present on this and other pages of Fayers Cove Wiki were rendered and donated to the campaign and wiki by Alexandr Bogdanov.
* Other images on this page are AI-generated using mage.space and/or leonardo.ai web applications.