Session 16 - Rowboat Diplomacy

10/05/5-10

The party awoke to a sunny morning. Valeyo discussed what everyone was going to do next, Otto mentioned his vision and Valeyo suggested it could have been a metaphor for danger. Milivoj however, pointed out that there is a shark spawning ground near Akulavod, where shark congregate there during breeding season. Valeyo agreed that that it is most likely pointing Otto towards Akulavod, but that it was something for the future. Shiek took a stroll outside to look for the man which had been following us, but saw nothing.

After breakfast, Cassini requested Valeyo's help with something, related to his research yesterday. He brought out the book he had taken from the library and showed it to the group. He was chastised for stealing it, but explained that someone had damaged it on purpose, so it must have been important. The title remained and Valeyo pointed out that the name "Arvandor", had been shouted out by the ghosts, which had attacked Cassini. Valeyo suggested returning the book and asking around the university, in case someone had already read it.

Others in the group expressed interest in looking for a magic item store and so that party was split - Cassini and Otto went to the university, while the others went to look for a magic store. At the university a half-orc man was manning the desk. He immediately locked eyes with Cassini, somewhat aggressively, asking what he wanted. Cassini asked for access to the library, but the orc denied him, pointing out that he was not a student. Cassini explained that he was a visiting student from up north and was let in yesterday. The man turned to Otto asking who he was, but started ignoring him immediately after the explanation. Cassini noted the topic of his search, being information on lunar cycles and constellations. The half-orc was uninterested asking why he would spend time on studying things too far to matter. Cassini explained his fascination with the objects so far, yet so present in their lives and wondered if the half-orc didn't fined it interesting. The half-orc said he didn't, but Cassini clearly did and that is what he was checking. He asked Cassini's name and tutor and Cassini said to check with Master Ivellios.

The others crossed the bridge, on the way to the Grand Pazar. Walking towards the Pazar they saw the imposing figure of a huge humanoid shape with pale blue skin and a huge bow, slung over his shoulder - a Frost Giant. Milivoj pointed out that his presence in this part of the country was very unusual. The giant soon stopped and was seemingly stood observing the market. Shiek looked around the market and while the stalls were mostly ordinary goods, the buildings surrounding it looked like they could carry specialty items. One stood out, outwardly looking like a knick-knack store, but a couple of potions could be seen behind the window. It was called Himmel's knick-knacks. An elderly human in his 70s stood behind the counter, relatively slim, but a tad jittery and wearing a large pair of glasses. Shiek asked after a magical scroll, but the man explained that he mostly collects random bits and it would be the Conclaive Library, where he should find magical scrolls, for a price. While Himmel was checking the back, Sheik looked around the rest of the store. There he spotted a small box, in which were a pair of sending stones. Shiek asked how much Himmel wanted for them, but his reaction prompted the old man to ask why he wanted them. After a fumbled explanation ,the man said he would need to get them appraised first in case they were magical.

Meanwhile, Sapphira approached the Frost Giant. She pointed out his bow and asked if he was a hunter. From up close, she could see that he was adorned in wyvern skulls and down the road was a smaller giant walking back. He turned to her, saying he hunted dragons, finding them to be the best foes. Sapphira asked for any equipment she needs to transition to monster hunting, but when he asked what exactly she was hunting she couldn't reply. The giant wondered, why one so small, would hunt large creatures. He pointed out that she already has a bow, which is great for dragons and asked if she had seen any. The giant seemed happy to meet a hunter and introducing himself as Scholt. He explained that there is a dragon in this area, one that has been spreading propaganda. As for his weapons, he pointed out his Iceheart arrows as his favourites, but even normal arrows could slay monsters, especially if infused with runic magic. He three small pieces from one of his large arrows and told Sapphira that she could use to make arrowheads. He gave her more tips in regards to general hunting, emphasizing stealth. At this point the smaller giant reached them, and Sapphira noticed that it was a Cyclops, called Hund.

In the library, Cassini looked for books about astronomy, to have plausible deniability, for his presence and used the time to return the book. While doing so, he was spotted by a middle aged man walking through the aisles. Cassini went to explain what he had done, but the man saw through his story and pointed out him returning a stolen book. The man reached for the book, opening it and asking what is going on. Cassini began explaining himself and the man told him to follow, escorting him to the central part of the library, where a female half-orc was behind the desk. She greeted the man as Professor Berkinsail, and he replied to the half-orc naming her as the Dean. The Dean asked who Cassini was and the Professor explained the situation. After looking through a ledger, she asked why Cassini was returning the book and whether he knows what was in it. The Dean said it is a rare book and asked if Cassini destroyed it. He denied it and she said that he would be reported to his university. He asked her not to and she offered a solution, with this being destroyed, they would request a copy to replace it. The transcription would take a few weeks and Cassini could go collect it. She gave him a note to collect it, from the Grand Library keeper in Skalenvru.

Around the market, Valeyo heard some talk about the giant. People referred to him as a bounty hunter, him being here means someone is in for a rough time. Everyone talked about what they had found and Valeyo suggested getting their magic items identified while Sapphira and Shiek went to the Conclaive Library. Milivoj meanwhile, looked for Solar Steel weapons.

The Conclaive Library was a grand building standing tall over the cityscape, second only to the palace. Behind the counter at the reception area was a Fire Genasi woman with flaming hair. She greeted them, as they approached and asked how to help. Sapphira lead with the items she needed identified. The service would cost 1gp per item. Shiek asked after his scrolls and they had the Comprehend Languages in stock for 30gp each, of which he got 2. She explained that when an item is identified it is logged, if it is important, a note will be made of it and if it is Cataclysmic it will be taken from them. The items were a Red Chromatic Rose, Soul Coins and The Hungry Twin.

The Hungry Twin is a very rare item, part of a pair created from two mimics. The Twin can be used to transport its contents from one to the other. When the box is closed, all items within it are passed onto the other. It was however, unable to transport creatures.

The party gathered at the barn and soon after Valeyo and Milivoj went to the university to meet with professor Krissa. The same young man was at the reception and he checked them in. Entering the office, the professor turned around and greeted them. She said that the ICM is willing to speak with them, as they were somewhat intrigued by the group. They seemed to have caught one of Valeyo's speeches last night and requested to meet tonight at the riverside of Ioun's Garden. That is where people set off with boats down the river. As for the leg, she revealed three leg prosthetics she had constructed. The first was just a leg. The second had a button on the ankle and out of the toe came claws, useful for climbing. The third and most expensive, she demonstrated by having Milivoj hold a book. She kicked the book with the leg and a spring released knocking the book back. Valeyo bought the Mark 1 leg and the pair headed back to the group.

In the barn, Sapphira was wondering what to do with the Soul Coins. Shiek suggested selling them, but Sapphira was apprehensive, as there is an actual soul inside. Sapphira mentioned that there is a way of freeing them using a Hellfire weapon. Soon Valeyo and Milivoj returned and let the others know if the rendezvous they had to attend. After some discussion on what to do they ended up with a plan. Valeyo, Milivoj and Shiek would meet the ICM at the garden. Cassini would turn into a frog and follow the boat in the river. Otto and Sapphira were going to inconspicuously keep an eye.

The lead group went towards the river, where on the bank were 8-10 small rowing boats that can fit up to 3 people. Some lanterns hung near the river and a dwarf gentleman was manning a ticket booth. All boats were empty, but one, where a half-elf man in his late 30s. He wore dark clothes and a hood half-way up. He had dark hair and looked relatively mundane, taking more after his human parent. He asked if he was Valeyo and when Valeyo confirmed he asked if his friends are coming with. Shiek would take a separate boat and Milivoj came with Valeyo in the stranger's boat. He was unwilling to give his name, but took them to the middle of the lake. He pulled out a jar of lightning, saying this would detonate if we attack him.

Valeyo asked if they knew them and they said no, as he is isolated here in Dragomir. Valeyo asked if blowing up people was their MO an the man began explaining how 10 years of no progress makes people become more extreme. Valeyo said that there were better ways, but the man argued back, that they had tried and it was time for action. He said that they didn't want any civilians to get injured, they just wanted to hurt the Crown. Valeyo asked if blowing up the trains was the way to do it and the man posed that it would be the destruction of something the King had spend vast sums of gold on. Valeyo cited it as shortsighted, as her personally had seen how a railway could improve a region and the lives of those who live there. An explanation was given by the man, of how the train would concentrate wealth in Dragomir and make other cities poorer, but Valeyo refuted it, saying that they are cutting off their nose to spite their face and that their goal should be for the railways to connect everyone, rather than noone. Valeyo then pushed asking the man, if he believed that a democratic town can be created under present conditions and the man said he didn't, not under this king. Valeyo then responded saying that he knew for a fact it was possible and that the ICM had simply given up on finding the right solution, opting for the easy one - destruction. He finished by saying that they couldn't work together after all, revealing his hopes to join and change the organization's approach. He did tell the man that if he ever wanted to find a better way, they could contact him and asked to return.

As the man rowed the boat, the frog-shaped Cassini got a good look at his face, recognizing him as the man who had caught him returning the book to the library - professor Berkinsail.