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Orðkar Session 23 - Play

17 April 2023

Players

Part 1 - Warehouse, Tunnel and Shop

The store has been closed, but Nox through his agents has discovered other armed people in the store so the party decides to investigate.

Brival, Mothy and Mauxracle try to go back through the tunnel into the store. Attempts to pick the lock fail, but beating down the door works, it no longer being barred from the inside. The warehouse appears to have been abandoned, but they do not that the animate suits of armour have disappeared.

Entering the tunnel another octopus has taken up residence in the second room, so they beat a retreat.

Meanwhile Nox and Malachar investigate the store directly, with Grisnak remaining out of the fray. After trying to fool their way into the store (and failing), they break their way in and end up killing a Devout of The Nameless God and the several guards. They discover in the storage room going into the tunnels the hanging and viciously tortured body of the missing shopkeeper. They also discover a stick (a common identification method for rented quarters) for the Salty Crow, a bar on the Bridge over the Chelfar river.

orðkar session 23 - play

Nox -

He wishes to quickly get the party engaged in determining the next path of action to be followed, and such to be done quickly as his Mistress will brook no delay. He proceeds to canvass the party and determine what is the consensus of the members. There is some discussion on three courses of action to be followed: 1) head immediately to the island; 2) inquire about the Dark Night Raider or 3) do both. Before a final decision can be agreed upon, Nox also spends some small amount of time frequenting a number of the local establishments where sailors or dock workers may spend there after hours and hard earned coins. Through these discussions with the dregs of the docks he learns that the island is located some distance to the south and the east. It is learned from these discussions in addition to information provided by the church that the land to the southeast of the river is mainly unpopulated and potentially fraught with danger. The information is fruitful as the party are able to quickly draw up a rough map of the direction in which they should travel.

Nox’s street agents advise that there is some activity at the closed shop which is of great interest to Nox as this is where, if anywhere he will find information on the followers of the Unnamed God who are to be destroyed immediately. It is determined that the party will split as some members wish to further investigate the warehouse and the tunnels below, whilst Nox desires to watch the store and invites his companion Malchar to accompany him, to which Malachar agrees.

As midnight approaches and the majority of the night revelers have found their favorite establishments, Nox and Malachar dip into the shadows of a nearby alley while Grisnak proceeds the acting of a drunken sailor at a nearby corner. After a short time Nox’s impatience overcomes his concern for safety. Himself and Malachar cross the street as stealthily as possible near the docks and listen intently at the door. Murmurs are heard but the conversation is indeterminable. A ruse is quickly agreed upon and Nox sprays Malachar with a foul smelling wine from his wineskin and whispers to him to knock on the door and proceed to act the drunk. Malchar puts on a heroic effort but the voices inside warn us away. The growing intensity within Now cannot be dampened and he knocks on the door loudly and calls “ We are with Ulrin you fool, the city watch is not far away, open the doors or we shall be found”.

The door is unlocked and pushed open upon which Malachar abruptly moves forward the facade of drunkenness thrown away. As Gut Digger appears in his hand he strides forward only to move his head to the side and escape a crossbow bolt to the neck as his gorget does its job and the bolt rings off into the darkness. He is only partially lucky as he feels the impact of two bolts against his chest and the stinging pain and the flow of blood. To our view three men at arm stand in front trying to frantically reload while a robed figure, immediately recognized as a Devotee of the worthless Unnamed God barks orders.With no regard for his safety Nox stands forth and sends righteous and holy flame spewing from his fingertips engulfing the three scrambling guards who scream in pain and fall lifeless to the floor. Ignoring all regard for the remaining danger that may lurk within, Malachar lunges forward and with two mighty strikes forces the Devote to fall back against the wall,life blood gushing from his ripped guts. With the eyes of the Devote already beginning to glaze Nox leaps forward and with the a knowing look of gratitude to Malachar sends a searing ray of energy into the body of the Devote, as he slides to the floor.

With a “quickly shut the door”from Now Malachar shuts and locks the door. Nox claps Malachar on the back with a look of genuine thanks for slaying the infidel. As the bodies are searched a discussion ensues as to should the corpses be hidden or left as they have fallen. The trapdoor is opened only to discover the mutilated body of the storekeeper hanging from a rope into the darkness. Malachar’s mighty thews do the work of tossing the corpses of the guards into the darkness but as Malachar reaches for the body of the Devote, Nox glaces at him and waves his head in disagreement. This once pustule of life will be dealt with by Nox. With strength lent to him by his Patron, Nox sends the cadaver into the darkness with a spit of figurative and literal venom. The possessions on the four are examined and the only item of interest is a stick emblazoned with the name of the inn, Salty Crow.

Part 2 - The Salty Crow

The party goes to The Salty Crow and attempts to use subterfuge to enter the upstairs, where the Devout has apparently rented rooms.

Grisnak decides to take off his armour and attempts to pick a bar fight with, well, everyone. Doing his best “They Call Me Trinity” impression, he starts slapping down patrons and staff.

Brival attempts to use the stick to go upstairs; the bouncer is having none of it. The two of them get into a fight, starting with fists but escalating to weapons. As the action gets out of hand Mauxracle casts Silence and they flee before the city watch comes.

Meanwhile Nox goes invisible as fighters come down from upstairs, sneaks past them and ends up on the second floor. He sees a Devout (similar to the one in the store) getting ready to head downstairs, so Nox blasts the Devout with a Scorching Ray doing massive damage. The Devout jumps through the window, grabs a rope, and rappels down into a boat that is secreted there. He heads down river.

Brival uses his climbing ability to get up to the second floor, only to see Nox diving out the window for some reason. Nox attempts to catch up with the Devout, but he is long gone - he sends Impy to chase him, and climbs back to the Salt Crow with the assistance of a rope dropped by Brival.

The search the rooms - they are all basically empty of all but the most basic of personal needs.

orðkar session 23 - play-1

Grisnak -

The Salty Crow - arriving at the Salty Crow Grishnak decided Malachar’s plan was boring and made one of his own which sounded much more fun. Stripping down to his skivvies he burst into the bar insulting the parentage and practices of intimate congress of the staff and patrons to incite a fight in the hope of making new friends. Unfortunately this failed and he was attacked by the bouncers, two of whom he quickly knocked out with his meaty half orc fists. Unfortunately by this time armed guards had arrived from upstairs and seeing an unarmed naked half orc they of course attacked him. Which was very dishonourable in Grishnak’s opinion. Fortunately, Mothy leapt to Grishnak’s side and they battled the dastards together. Grishnak punched and stabbed one, using a dagger Mothy gave him. One of the misbegotten louts managed to hit Grishnak but at the saying goes “It was only a flesh wound”. He then quickly dispatched another while Cinnabar killed the third with his pokey blade. Surveying the carnage afterwards, a sprawling mass of bloodied and bruised bodies, Grishnak reflected on other bar fights saying “This place used to be fun”.