In the Ruins of Decay

Part 1
We witness the debut of Chad Gui with the Guard.

Having discovered the ruins of South Gresham and the aftermath of the massacre that had taken place there, the party head back to Inkbury.

As they reach the city of Inkbury they are initially turned away as the city is in lockdown from the news off the devastation of South Gresham. Luckily the High Priest authorises their entry and meets with them in the keep where they discuss the Earl’s demise and the destruction of South Gresham. They learn that a man had foretold the destruction of South Gresham but had been imprisoned in Brooktail on suspicion of planning the attack.

Receiving some payment for their discovery of the Earl’s fate and an official document to identify them as acting on orders from the High Priest, the party decide to make their way to Brooktail to question this man known as ‘Garnet.’

Though they search for a boat to make the journey the ports are on lockdown and they have no luck. Setting out in their carriage along the river, Damien, who is exhausted from taking the reins for days, gets some sleep as they travel. Malik and Blitz discuss the dwindling of magical energy in Malik’s homeland of Grynhaven and how Malik is concerned it is gradually happening in Everidge as well.

They come across a circus tent-like shop that wasn’t on this route before, known as ‘The Wandering/Travelling Crossroads’ that Alice recognises from her travels before meeting the party in Opaz. They meet the eccentric Firbolg Pirx V’Dan, who provides them with the use of a boat that they dub the SS Floating Kobold. He reassures them that the boat will find it’s way back to him.

Leaving their carriages with Pirx V’Dan the party head off on the small ship. Despite the crews general incompetence on the water, Blitz manages to sail down the river with Blomf only crashing them once. They encounter a blockade of small boats and a group of people in Night’s Guard armour and clothing step aboard their ship and introduce themselves.

Part 2
As Jacob mimes the events of last session, we pick up with a group of individuals in Night’s guard uniforms boarding the party’s ship on their way to Brooktail.

Despite their official documents, their leader Captain Emry, searches the ship and appears to find a bag of ‘Chrononodyl.’ A very illegal drug that carries a hangable offence for smuggling and that can supposedly knock out a hydra with only a small taste. As Captain Emry seems open to bribery the party wake Damien and discuss their options, be it fighting, paying or trickery. Through some detective work the party realise these people are acting on recent orders from the dead Earl who could not possibly have given the orders. Realising the group are likely pirates who planted the drugs, Blitz paralyses the Captain with a hold person spell and Piety threatens him, taking his drugs and dagger. Terrified, the pirates flee the SS Floating Kobold but Damien looses an arrow that strikes Captain Emry in the head, killing him instantly. Blitz retrieves the Captain’s nice sailor’s coat and Malik robs the pirates of the gold from their ship before the party sail onwards.

Damien heads back to the Captain’s quarter despite the party’s outrage at his actions. He is suddenly contacted by the spirit of KY through the ring he had taken from her body. After acclimatising to this new ability and revealing it to the party, Damien asks KY about the Order and his father and also learns that KY has a daughter in Richton and he offers to help KY say goodbye to her.

As the ship reaches the ocean they are surrounded by a storm and Blitz receives a vision from Valkur instructing him to continue on his path to find answers about South Gresham. He tells him that the attack was caused by a being ‘not native to this world’ and is the threat of which he and Mieliki warned. He fears they have got to ‘the hearts.’ A confused Blitz awakens from his vision and the storm begins to clear. Blitz asks Blomf to keep his vision between them for the time being so as to not worry the others.

Quotes
“The travelling Crossroads comes around precisely when you need us. If you need a boat, we have a boat.” - Pirx V’Dan

“This guy is either extremely powerful or super high.” - Jacob

“Power word hammock” - Alex on making a hammock

“Stop asking to play the clip, Sage is gonna kill us” - Katy