City Dwarves: Episode 03

Logo by Velannal

## Cast

Neal Pass Erickson - Dungeon Master

Anna Prosser - Lazuli Cobblefeet

Geneviève 'livinpink' Forget - Pebble Cobblefeet

Rachel 'Seltzer' Quirico - Bouldara Coubblefeet

## Synopsis

The sisters visit their money-lender for a lead for Topaz, but find that the money-lender has purchased the local supply and claims they only can purchase them though him and his inflated prices. They however inspect the topaz and find a lead to who cut the gems. The sisters need to leave town to ask the guild of the cobblers to watch their shop while out of town.

The sisters head down the road to the town of Ignition to look for Topaz for a better price from the gnome Valence, Proton's half sister. On the road the sisters encounter a werewolf who they fight.

## Recap

### Visiting the Money Lender

The sisters earn 5 gold for their standard repair work overnight. Lazuli implements a tipping prompt that gives the sisters extra 5 silver.

The next day the sisters go visit their Money Lender. They go visit him in his underground office. The money lender is a large-overweight human male with a purple cloak. He is guarded by 2 half-orcs with clubs. The Money Lender keeps their name secret, but is suspected to be a noble who is lending money on the side.

Lazuli explains the situation where they recommended Guy come for a loan to purchase expensive shoes from the sisters, so will come to the money lender for a loan. Also that they require Topaz to make said shoes. The Money-Lender has already prepared the Topaz ahead of time. The Money Lender considers this 3 favours to the sisters. He increases the sister's debt by 700 gold to pay for the Topaz, to a total debt of 1250 gold 2% gold interest a week.

*(Note: It was Royboy buying the shoes in episode, but it has been retconned to being Guy buying the shoes.)*

Lazuli points out the market price for the Topaz is 500 gold, and they could go to the next town over to purchase one at that price. The Money Lender claims that he has cornered the Topaz market in the region in anticipation of the sisters future success. Plus there is a dangerous manticore on the loose on the roads between cities.

Bouldara inspects the gems, using her Stonecunning abilities and finds they are gnomish work. Bouldara doesn't know any local gnomes who are gemcutters, so it must have come from out of town. Pebble reveals that the size of the gnome would indicate that their parents would be a rock gnome and a forest gnome, a rare combination. Pebble however shows off her knowledge and reveals everything in front of the Moneylender.

The sisters say they'll be back once they hear back from Guy. The Moneylender isn't happy about this decision, but stays cordial. There was however an underlying tone of threat.

### Making Plans

The sisters return home and make their plans where to go next. They decide they should leave town to search out the topaz from out of town. They consider setting up one of their rivals to watch the store, just in case the Moneylender does make something unfortunate occur. Boundara considers setting up Francesca for the fall. But if they take the fall, they have to be reported to someone.

Lazuli thinks about convincing the town council, who have very limited powers to believe they are authority over the guild. The sisters are familiar with a older male dwarf, Duster, who is on the town council who was a client of their parents. He stopped coming after the passing of their parents.

### The Guild of the Cobblers

The sisters visit the guild of the cobblers to put their plan into effect. They make sure their appointment with Francesca comes at a time when the guild is crowded. Francesca first denies the request for the guild to watch their shop, saying that service is only for guild members, but relents and says they will offer the service for them, waiving the charge required for such a service. Francesca remains patronising towards the skills and shop of the sisters throughout. Lazuili brings up "Uncle" Duster, and Francesca says there is no need to involve the city council, that the guild already has agreed to watch their shop. Francesca gives the sisters an application form to join the guild. Francesca brings up Bethany, causing Bouldara to lose composure over her ex-girlfriend.

As the sisters leave, Boundara loudly blaming Francesca for making her cry, while Lazuli loud and calmly consoling Boundara that they the city won't let the Francesca get away from breaking the rules. Boundara then loudly worries about their shop being safe. This draws then attention of many members around them.

### Gnomish Family

The sisters visit Proton to find out more about the half rock/forest gnome who is a gemcutter. Proton is defensive about this gnome, but says they can be found in Ignition. Pebble and Proton connect over having no friends, but Proton admits she isn't even friends with her family. Proton admits the half rock/forest gnome, Valence, is their half-sister, the product of her father's unfaithful promiscuous ways. Proton doesn't want her family to know they moved to the city as they ran away from home. The sisters offers to adopt Proton into their family, which Proton is happy about.

Proton offers to watch the store while the sisters are out of town. The sisters are worried about the danger. Proton then casts a minor illusion and disguises herself as a barrel to show she can hide. Proton says her half-sister, Valence, biggest weakness is her covetous nature, the desire for things if someone else has it. Proton advises the 3 dwarven sisters to just take the gems they want and not pay for them. The sisters offers to adopt Proton into their family.

### Nature and the Beach

The sisters head to the beach to gather sea shells to trade with Valence since she is 50 miles inland. While on the beach they see a set of ruins where a giant crab is with a dozen of little crabs. All the little crabs have pretty green shells. Lazuli casts Speak with Animals to speak with the crabs. The crabs are not interested in traveling with the party, but agree to give the sisters the former large shell of the giant crab.

A meteorite hits the ground in front of the sisters, making a 15 foot crater. Setting out of the crater is a female dwarf in robes that radiates awe. The stranger calls Pebble by her name, surprising Pebble that anyone knows who she is. Lazuli recognises the medallion around her neck as that of Nadinis, and curtseys and greets the goddess.

Nadinis thanks the sisters for not attack the crabs and finding a peaceful solution. She offers the sisters a boon. Lazuli asks for advice and knowledge on how to best make her deceased parents proud. Nadinis hands Bouldara her earing, which expands into many objects. Precious undersea jewellery to be used to adorn shoes they make. The goddess then leaves, walking out on the ocean.

### Journey to Ignition

The sisters prepare for their journey. Guy gives the sisters the advance of 600 gold for the shoes.

No caravans are heading to Ignition in the next few days. The sisters then go on foot on their own to Ignition.

The first 2 days are uneventful, but on the third day they encounter a middle-aged elven woman. She is carving a wooden stick. The sisters decide to keep walking. The elf asks if they can talk to the sisters about The City. Lazuli says yes. Bouldara decides to make it into a game, and saying each dwarf sister can only answer one question each, and she used up a question asking Lazuli. The elf is intrigued.

The second question is if the party is carrying any silver weapons to Bouldara. She admits they don't have such weapons.

The third questions is if the party has any strong offensive magical spells to Pebble. Pebble gets philosophical about the nature of what is strong and powerful, instead of directly answering.

The sisters ask the elf what is up ahead on the path. The elf says trees, but they are different than the trees nearby.

The sisters keep walking. Bouldara notice that there are no longer any bird noises in this section of forest. Lazuli creates a minor illusion of herself walking ahead by 30 feet.

10 minutes down the trail the sisters notice a black bear tracking them. Bouldara throws some foot towards the bear. The bear sits down next to the food. The sisters keep traveling.

Half an hour later they spot the black bear again following them. The sisters decide to keep traveling. Bouldara throws more food towards the bear, but it is uninterested in the cheese but sits down.

### Werewolf

Some more distance down the trail, a werewolf in hybrid ambushes the party, but it attacks the illusion of Lazuli. The real Lazuli hides while Bouldara and Pebble go in to attack.

**Combat: The Sisters vs Werewolf**
* Round 1: Pebble attacks with flurry of blows, but there werewolf appears not to take damage from the hits. Lazuli casts vicious mockery. Bouldara imposes herself between Pebble and the werewolf. There werewolf replies that it wants all the gold the party has. The werewolf then bits and claws Bouldara.
* Round 2: Pebble attacks the werewolf with unarmed strikes while holding silver coins, but misses. Lazuli casts vicious mockery again but this time it works. Bouldara grapples the werewolf. The werewolf claws Bouldara.
* Round 3: Pebble shoves a coin down the wolf mouth and tries to hold the mouth shut, but the werewolf forces their mouth open and spits out the coin. Lazuli casts Prestidigitation of sparks in front of the werewolf's eyes. Bouldara restrains the the werewolf and says this can end if the werewolf just agrees to leave. The werewolf refuses. The werewolf fails to break free.

**Combat Paused**