Story/Session 6

# Session 6 — «This is suspicious»

## About

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

**Session 6** took place on 2023/12/16 in Foshan, Nanhai in Rebecca's apartment (Dalerion Korr). A total of three characters are expected to participate in the events of the session: Greg "Grog" Butkus (Sam), Dalerion Korr (Rebecca), Tobias Slater (Sean).

## Journal

### Tomato beer

The group exited the temple only to discover Fiddler was nowhere to be found. Tobias, who had been the focus of questioning in the temple, found it suspicious that Fiddler not only avoided entering but also disappeared entirely. Concerned for their missing comrade, Greg, Dalerion, and Tobias decided to return to the Old Quill Tavern. Their motives included checking on Fiddler's potential return, allowing Greg to claim the promised drink, and inquiring with Nanana Flowersong and the students about the Umbral Fangs and their whereabouts.

Upon returning to the tavern, they noticed a less crowded atmosphere, mainly due to the early hour and focused students preparing for exams. After toasting to Justin Tomato's memory with some tomato beer, Tobias and Greg spoke with Nanana about the upcoming tournament. The absence of Fiddler raised concerns about finding a replacement for the impending fights. Nanana provided insights into the tournament schedule, revealing that it would commence after the grudge match between the Golden Swords and Grey Cloaks. Desiring to participate, yet ensure that their team is registered properly, Greg and Tobias asked Nanana to register their team of "SSlayers" as: Grog, Messiah, Dale and Fiddler, as well as putting new names like Bucket, Barrel, and Steve as reserves. Although... Nanana remained a tad confused with the name choice. Offering five gold coins immediately and promising five more to match their team with someone weaker, they also persuaded Nanana to modify the team application.

> *"Are children allowed to participate?"* — Tobias Slater.
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The group engaged in conversation with students who were practicing minor spells at one of the tables. The students shared insights that other guilds and organizations were all represented by a team in the tournament in various capacities. Dalerion decided to call his pet duck "Egg", and Greg called his pup "Shnack".

### Breadcrumbs

Both the students and Nanana indicated that rumors suggested the Umbral Fangs' tavern could be found in the Silent Lane, situated to the East of the Temple district. Following this lead, the party proceeded to explore that area. After some investigation, they observed a peculiar magical aura or interference that significantly dampened the sounds in their vicinity, creating an almost complete silence. Within this quiet zone, their voices turned to whispers, and the surroundings seemed undisturbed as they entered a space associated with healing and tranquility.

After exploring the Silent Lane, Greg, Tobias, and Dalerion opted to separate in search of an alley marked by a grey cat sitting on a barrel. Greg reached a dead end, Tobias discovered a concealed alley linking the Silent Lane, Island School, and the Old Quill Tavern, while Dalerion found another alley intersection with a grey cat perched on a barrel. Despite splitting up, they agreed to reunite at the plaza near the Old Chapel, now known as the Sanctuary. To ensure he could retrace his steps, Tobias cleverly left a trail of copper coins, akin to breadcrumbs, as he moved through the alleyways. The group reunited at the Plaza and proceeded through the alley Dalerion had discovered. They encountered the grey cat again, and Greg, fond of the feline, decided to bring it along. Turning left at a crossroads, the alley gradually widened, leading them to encounter a cloaked figure. The stranger, named Crow, revealed himself as the tavern keeper and invited the party to the Cloak and Dagger tavern. Before entering, Crow requested that they disarm, placing their weapons on the tables near the entrance where numerous other weapons were already laid out.

> *"This is very suspicious..."* — Greg Butkus.
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The group acquiesced, surrendering their weapons before sitting down with Crow at the Cloak and Dagger tavern. Observing the diverse clientele, they noted members from various guilds, including both Grey Cloaks and Golden Swords drinking together. In a distant corner, a substantial group dressed similarly to Crow caught their attention—identified as the Umbral Fangs. After purchasing drinks for the Umbral Fangs, the group requested Crow to arrange a meeting with their leader. Feather, the representative, joined them.

Feather revealed knowledge about the group, emphasizing the Umbral Fangs' focus on information. Tobias shared a revelation from his earlier spice-induced trance regarding an impending fiery event during the tournament. Surprised by this revelation, Feather rewarded Tobias with a platinum coin and offered the group a choice of rewards—weapons, armor, or other exotic goods useful in combat or missions. Greg proposed joining the Umbral Fangs, and Feather agreed under specific conditions: absolute secrecy about the guild, no discussion of its members, and the restriction to trade and acquire information exclusively within the tavern's walls. Feather inquired about the group's discovery of the tavern, to which Greg revealed Nanana's mention of the cat and the ominous fate that befell those who touched it and claimed to have found the tavern. In response, Feather whispered something to Crow, prompting him to listen attentively before hastily rushing toward the doors. Concerned for Nanana's safety, the group hurried after Crow. In the midst of the commotion, Feather instructed them to return "Scratchy" - the cat they had taken with them - to its original place on the barrel in the alleyway.

### Mystics Enclave

Neglecting their weapons left at the tavern, Greg, Tobias, and Dalerion retraced their steps through the alleyways toward the Silent Lane, where they returned the cat to its original spot. Prioritizing a visit to the Old Quill tavern to inquire about Nanana, they were met with the unsettling news that she had vanished after going to the kitchen for an order. Greg sought assistance from the orc-chefs, who, despite language barriers, helped unlock the backdoor to the garden. Nanana was not found outside, prompting the group to recall her warning about those who disappeared often ending up drowned. Concerned for her safety, they decided to revisit the cliffside they had explored the day before.

Guided by Greg Butkus, the party reached the cliffs, expecting to find the shore. Instead, they encountered a group of men and women adorned in green and red robes with wooden masks, resembling followers of Ymaar's Veil. These masked individuals, maintaining silence, blocked the party's path until one of them revealed that Ymaar awaited their presence. With no alternative, Greg, Tobias, and Dalerion followed the cultists to the Mystics Enclave—a cave-like theater within the cliffside. There, they met Ymaar on a throne crafted from bones and scavenged metal. Ymaar, a young man draped in green and blood-red robes with a veil covering his face, introduced an elderly elf named Obo Blacktongue as his voice and invited the party to communicate through him.

> *"You guys seem poor, here is a gold coin for you,"* — Greg Butkus.
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Expressing gratitude for saving Fayers Cove, Ymaar, despite the cult's ominous message of impending doom and Calamity, offered to answer a question from each of the three. Greg inquired about saving Nanana within the next hour, and Obo responded with a smile, stating that the Sumari elf required no immediate rescue. Ymaar also identified himself as Ioun, suggesting various possibilities such as being her reincarnation or her true self. He explained that with the Calamity, gods perished and were reborn in this realm, with Ymaar emerging as the true deity. Responding to Dalerion's skepticism, Ymaar, speaking through Obo, clarified that the veil Dalerion had seen in his dreams was the same one Ymaar had always worn to conceal his face. The three bid their farewells and returned to the Old Quill Tavern.

### Doors down

The party, seeking Nanana's residence, approached the Old Quill Tavern's keeper for directions. Pointed to Flower Street in the Island School area, they located a sky-blue, two-story house. Greg, Tobias, and Dalerion promptly proceeded to the specified address.

Arriving swiftly at the place, the group verified Nanana's residence by checking the mailboxes, confirming it belonged to "Namelia Naosz Nade Flowersong" as Tobias counted three "na" and put them together. When Greg knocked on the door, a stern male voice responded. Concerned for Nanana's safety, Greg kicked the door down, revealing two individuals in black cloaks. Nanana eventually emerged, and upon entering the kitchen, Tobias noticed four cups but only three occupants. Urgently, he guided the elf out of the house. Remaining within earshot of the door, Nanana attempted to reassure Greg and Dalerion, claiming it was a family meeting or reunion. However, skeptical of her explanation, the two persisted in seeking more information. As Nanana continued her whispered reassurances, an abrupt explosion shattered the tranquility, reducing her house to a heap of rubble, bricks, and stones.

## 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.

This is the first session of the campaign to not have a single Natural 1 roll. Greg "Grog" Butkus (Sam) used one of his Inspiration Coins to reroll.

### Combat statistics

There was no combat in this session. No damage and no healing (including self-healing) was done.

## Images and media sources

List of images and other media contributions and sources:

* The images on this page are AI-generated using mage.space and/or leonardo.ai web applications.