Monday Night Recap: Essembra 20221003

Characters: Askelad, Cythor, Fil, Flint, Nymree

Current XP from Kills, quests, and character bonus:

Previous:

Total XP
Askelad	4970.00
Fil	5110.00
Nymree	5170.00
Cythor	5310.00
Flint	4980.00

Current:

Askelad	6290.00
Fil	6360.00
Nymree	6395.00
Cythor	6560.00
Flint	6280.00

 Recap Oct 4th 2022:

The characters have heard vague rumors of an attack (though have different details that actually come from multiple incidents) on a recent merchant caravan. Now there is a reward posted for information or a resolution.

(Gather info) The local barmaid has learned that there have been at least 3 attacks north of town (DC:10), "sounds like somewhere between Hickory Bend and RiverView Terrace" (DC:13), DC:16 will get the names of the Companies hit, DC:20 will get the guild associations.

11-yo girl didn't know much

Merchant Companies and affiliations in Essembra

• Northern Free Caravaners (Unaffiliated) -North Road trade, attacked once, losses ~500gp (Arriving). Brunnick (Drunk Dwarf) offered 250gp for proof of the solution -somethings that were shadowy came out of the woods and attacked
• NorthWind Traders (Zhent) - North Road Trade, not attacked
• Merchants of the Inner Sea (MotIS) - South-East roads, Not attacked
• Torbin Outfitters (MotIS) - North Road Trade, attacked once, losses ~1200gp (leaving). Sermat said quadruped beasts attacked
• Essembrian Merchantile (Unaffiliated) - both North and South-East roads, attacked on northern roads once, losses ~800gp (leaving) Morjan said something came out of the middle of the road and knocked over their cart, shattered his arm, all fled. Losses were the wagon and horses.
• MarketDay Parcel Service (Zhent) - South Road trade, not attacked.

Chadren Herbal and Rare Things - Shandee Chadren, arcane caster, shop owner.

1st encounter = Earth Elemental, no treasure

2nd encounter = Infernal Hyena's, no treasure (fits Torbin Outfitters attack)

Left off late morning talking to Shandee, the herbalist. Still needed to investigate the 3rd attack.

Feel free to reply to this post with your own notes from last night.

~J~

Recap Jan 23rd 2023

After Dealing with yet another foe matching witness descriptions you all discuss your experience with Shandee again. Fil realized that all the monsters faced thus far were of the same types that could be summoned and that you may potentially be dealing with a caster with some experience. The last foe fought was a type of infernal, or devil. 

You recalled that the Magistrate's wife was a divine caster and decided to head to the temple to follow that lead. The lowly acolyte you encountered knew of her but stated she was not part of their congregation or clergy, that she was a priest of Tymora.

After leaving the temple you were discussing your next move when Fil was struck by a crossbow bolt shot from an unknown elevated position, a second bolt struck Flint and he felt unwell. Nymree was already on the move to follow the young girl (Barrath) from the tavern that seemed to be watching you'all, and spotted the shooter.

After a brief pursuit the attacker appears to have escaped into a sewer or tunnel hatch at the base of a building... and you are all there...

Recap Jan 30th 2023

You all followed the attacker down into a torchlit tunnel and quickly encountered a Gelatinous Cube.

The Cube attacked Askelad, who reacted by taking a large slice out of it, but was engulfed by it and took some acid damage. An enraged Cythor stepped up striking with his battle axe, taking another sizeable slice out of the Cube, but the cube did not relent. As the rest of the party engaged, Flint hit the cube with a Ray of Frost and then Fil shot that spot with an arrow, exploding frozen cube everywhere. After another blow the Cube was finally destroyed.

The Cube had some loot in its alcove:

1. 500sp (Nymree/Fil?)
2. 4 flasks of alchemist fire (Cythor)
3. MW bastard sword (Askelad +1 to attack rolls)
4. Potion Belt, 6 slots (potion belts allow you to retrieve potions and similar vials as a free action) (Cythor)

The party then pursued the attacker down the corridor and around the corner was a door after about 30ft when some of the characters heard their attacker curse. Askelad and Cythor kicked the door down. The attacker was about 15ft beyond the door barely visible in the torchlight, whom cast a spell and then fled with expeditious speed. The party pursued, including Fil throwing Nymree through the door and beyond (whom nimbly landed in a roll and on her feet). The pursuit ended at another ladder 60ft beyond the now smashed door. The party ascended into a warehouse, 30ft x 40ft in size. Flint detected magic in an office at the far corner, Askelad went to investigate there, Fil and Flint went to the freight door to check for the fleeing attacker, Nymree, Cythor went to the stairs and up to check the loft for the attacker. Nymree heard the attacker up there and Cythor descended the stairs in hopes the bastard would come out while Nymree waited in silence to ambush him. The plan worked, a fight ensued and the bastard fell. Attempts were made by Fil to stabilize him but he was unsuccessful.

Assassin's gear:

1. +1 Rapier  (Fil)
2. +1 Crossbow, hand, Bolts, crossbow (Nymree)
3. Studded leather, Masterwork (Could fit Fil, Flint-not proficient)
4. (235 gp); 
5. Black Adder Venom (Nymree)
6. Magic: Scroll: Change Self (1), Detect Secret Doors (1) (This should go to Flint)
7. Potion: Cure Light Wounds (1) ; Potion: Cure Light Wounds (1) (Split)

Askelad found a secret door in the office and behind that door he discovered armaments rivaling the city guard for 12 medium-sized persons, the chest piece had the Zhentarim logo:

• 12 Shortswords
• 12 Small wooden shields
• 12 leather armor for medium-sized (human)
• 12 daggers
• 12 leather helmets

There was also a locked Chest, in it:

1. 350gp (spilt)
2. 5 cure light wounds potions (spilt)
3. MW Comp ShortBow of STR+2(Cythor)
4. MW Chain Shirt Med 
5. MW Mace, Heavy
6. MW Large Steel Shield (Askelad)
7. MW Spiked Gauntlets (Askelad)
8. MW Dagger (Nymree)
9. Fine Black Cloak (100gp value), note in an inside pocket 
10. "To my friend Senthil, -Manirk" (Flint)

Again, add updates, discuss the unclaimed loot, who gets it, or are you going to sell it and split the coin. Post the decisions here for record.

Update as of 4/21/23

Last couple of sessions, ya'll talked to the magistrate after finding the military-style uniforms/gear in the merchant warehouse, detailed above. Dick asked for ya'll to get some smoking-gun evidence, and was mum on how... leaving you to decide on whether burglary would be an option.

You went to another Zhent-affiliated merchant warehouse and found similar shit. An underground complex existed. In there you found, fought, and killed a Carrion Crawler

The session before, I recall Cythor and Nymree facing off against a dude that wore the armor of the Zhent merchant guilds. Can't recall anything else about that, I need you all to chime in if I missed anything.

No clue on any gear. Chime in there too. Sorry, will take better notes nex time... or... just... NOTES! :) 

The last important bit is that you found a note, saying something about the Company releasing the Carrion Crawler in town somewhere and then having their guards take it out, to gain favor with the Essembra Leadership. The relation to the attacks on the road, the justification for the Caravan to hire/employ well-armed guards... again, Zhent-Merchants are trying to get locals to go along with employing heavy guard.

Someone was summoning monsters on the roads to attack non-Zhent Caravans...