Last Call in the South City

## **Synopsis:**

In Chapter 11: Last Call in the South City – Orba and Beezaura formulated a plot to gain entry into the home of Finbarr Otto, whose mining contract we hoped to pilfer before it was too late.  Posing as city officials, we claimed to be inspecting homes in the Rose District for suspicious items that could be triggering the fires that have popped up around the city.  Mr. Otto heard our concerns and allowed us into his study, where he handed over documents that he had recently acquired for Orba to "inspect" – but no contract.  However while making conversation during this process, Finbarr alluded to his upcoming trip out of Urin-Chupa – and with a little nudging in the right direction, we persuaded him to unlock a private stash of papers.  With Iris's prize acquired and empty promises to Mr. Otto abound, Beezaura and Orba headed in the direction of the courier service to expedite the contract to the Mollefaire Estate.

Out on the city streets, Safira played the waiting game.   Camped out near Fable's Repose, she looked for any sign of the author Samuel Preekis – but no one she recognized wandered by until Atoc Massif arrived to pay for permission to post something on a nearby notice board.  There was just enough time for a quick peek at the poster before it was snatched away, and though she did a quick scan for the culprit – Safira thought it best to keep her head down given her wanted status.

Across town at Touch and Go, Graven spoke to the healer about what he wanted in exchange for his prized chess piece.  In an effort to further his medicinal studies, Michael needed a test subject to try out a specialized healing gel that he believed was of particular benefit to individuals with magically sustained injuries.  Graven agreed, and they set to work immediately – though the procedure had only just begun when the Graven suddenly passed out on the operating table.

He came to on a mountainside obscured in heavy fog, and emerging from the mist came a goliath woman that Graven believed to be his mother.  As the weather worsened, she led him to a cabin and instructed him to enter.  Grasping the door handle and pulling as a heavy snowfall began, the world around Graven warped until voices became unfamiliar and with a bright flash he regained consciousness at the healer's hut – where his hands were firmly enclosed around Michael's neck.  With some kind of outside force working against him, Graven managed to pry himself away and tend to Michael's injuries.  Fearing additional complications, Michael refused to continue the experiment – but gifted Graven the necessary materials if he wished to try it again later on his own, along with the chess piece he had promised.  Graven made ready for his departure, but not before asking Michael to deliver a letter to Pullnik that detailed their activities since arriving in Urin-Chupa in the hopes that it might allay his suspicions.

Erland received Graven in the thoroughfare and they headed to the city gates, where on the way an anonymous man solicited Erland's help – having heard that his relations with Robert Bastille had soured.  Erland feigned interest and agreed to meet the man later in the day, and with less than a half hour to spare we hastened to reunite with the party.

Though he kept himself publicly distanced from us, Robert upheld his end of the bargain and a horse-drawn carriage was ready and waiting at the stables.  Climbing aboard, we had only just traversed the main bridge when Robert and a pack of his men appeared to warn us never to return.  With the city fading into the distance, we came upon a familiar sight: a Fleet of the Broken Crown checkpoint – but moments earlier Graven had explained that due to Michael Ainsley's experimentation he needed to be kept unconscious, lest the magic seep into his bloodstream.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: one natural one was rolled in this Chapter, by Jordan.