Session 2 Log - Finding Leif

Topic: Arc 0 - Beginnings
Session Date: 2022-09-03
In-Game Date: 07-16 -> 07-20
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Synopsis

Strix and Nilkas meet up again, this time hiking to a POI Nilkas knew of
Learned about Hiders, and even killed two
Met Gloom and learned about his business
Located Dave and spent some time there
Tracked down Leif to southern Kaledorei, and chased him across the rooftops
Lost Leif, but found a note leading them toward a coal mine

Detailed Notes

After their eventful night, Strix Nebulosa and Nilkas Lavigne talked and exchanged names, with Strix promising to meet Nilkas the next day to journey north to a grove Nilkas had heard about in his travels as thanks for helping her out. She returned to her farmhouse, leaving Nilkas to sleep in the local Organizations/Wayfarer's Inn.

True to her word, she met Nilkas in the morning, after Nilkas had enjoyed a morning drink and then sat on the street in front of the Inn for an hour. Without another means of travel, they purchased a horse, hitched up Strix's wagon, and set off.

Dave

After a day of travel, they broke from the main trade route, and within another day, entered the forest that Nilkas was looking for. Soon after, they were set upon by a chittering mass of shadow that seemed to leap between the tree trunks as fast as the eye could follow. Fortunately, Nilkas was fast on the draw, and managed to cleave the thing in half as soon as it dashed for them, the beast fizzling into shadow as soon as it was killed.

Cautiously, they continued northward until they came across a gloomy-looking town, entering the first storefront they encountered to ask about the creature they killed. The proprietor, a blunt gnome named Gloom who was cleaning out from under his thumbnail with a butcher knife when they entered, had some answers for them.

Gloom called the creatures Hiders, and mentioned they were common enough around here, but don't come anywhere near the Tuners. Tough bastards though, and it doesn't bring much comfort that they'll just fade out of sight when you kill one. As for the grove, Gloom mentioned that it could be found somewhere to the east, and to swing by on their way back.

After a little exploration, the PCs came across Dave, and one of Dave's patrons - a truly drunken man who demonstrated Dave's main service a few times before wandering off in a seemingly random direction. The group tried to figure out if Dave had any sort of secret, and had their fill of drink before settling on the fact that Dave was a magical tavern of some kind and heading back.

Upon their return, Gloom had a request of them. Since they were able to kill one of the Hiders earlier without knowing what it was, he figured they could help him clear out his basement, and the main aspect of his business. The PCs volunteered, and climbed down the ladder hidden under a rug behind Gloom's counter.

They struggled, but didn't go down, before Gloom decided to help them out by adding an item to "their tab" - a sunrod. The alchemical device seemed to hold the shadowy creatures at bay, and Strix and Nilkas were able to kill one of the creatures as it tried to jump toward them, scaring the other off down a long tunnel at the opposite end of the basement.

After the fight, Gloom followed them down and explained that he was mostly interested in tunneling from here to there, asking where they were from, and gesturing down one of the three tunnels when they answered Kaledorei. He also picked one of the many glowing mushrooms and handed it to Strix as thanks, calling it a Lume Shroom.

The Chase

Having seen all they wanted to see, the party headed back toward Kaledorei, running into much less trouble on the way, but getting a chance to talk some about Strix's vendetta, and Nilkas offered to help her look for the group that had gotten away from them the other day.

Once back in town, they quickly tracked Leif to the southern, run-down part of town thanks to a tip they got a few days prior from Krea. Nilkas (Whooremeister) entered the house first, with Strix hoping to provide overwatch from the building across the street. That didn't end up in her favor when Leif bolted from the second story window in the back of his place, leading them on a trapped rooftop chase before sliding down a rope and into the crowd, with Nilkas just behind him.

Back in the house, they searched his bedroom to try and find another clue, and found a crumpled-up note addressed to Leif signed Lucien, stained with coal soot, thanking Leif for the report of the vigilante that interrupted their most recent operation. Having no better leads, they decided to look in the nearby coal mine next.

But first, tavern!

Strix's Notes

Traveled to the Whispering Plains, fought some awful creatures. Never felt pain like that before. Met a magical pond named Dave. Met a gnome named Gloom who grows glowing mushrooms and has some sort of literal underground trade network. Still not sure what to make of all that. Decided I can trust Nilkas though.

Oh, got a horse named Charlie.

Followed up on lead for finding Leif. Turns out it was his home. Tried to give chase but we lost him. Looks like our next lead might be the nearby coal mine.

Red lock box?

Nilkas's Notes

Next day we left for the plains. Some kind of shadow creatures attacked us. Strix has a cool Owl named Artyom that helps her in combat. Nothing we couldn’t handle both got hurt but nothing a few casts of cure wounds couldn’t heal. Used my power in front of Strix, yet she didn’t freak out. Usually happens but she either doesn’t care or doesn’t know it’s sorcerous in origin. Not sure how to bring it up without the risk of danger. There are talks of sorcerers disappearing in some parts of these lands. As much as I’d like to think it’ll be funny, someone expecting a sorcerer to find me, some brute whose rage awakens the magic within, but that's an unnecessary risk. Besides risk of racism due to innate magic we found the secret. Its Dave, a magical Tavern in the forest. Should check that back out when we head back that way. Its a good resting spot. Had some good ale as well. Met a gnome named Gloom who sells some basic needs and Glowing mushrooms. He asked for some help clearing his basement. Got hurt but nothing too bad.

Strix asked for help with “the Scarlet Circle”. Seeing as they were my past employers and neglected to pay me, I now jobless and having nothing else to do, decide to help. Got a tip where a man involved named Leif is in a run down building and investigated. Seems like we found his girl, we soon saw him and gave chase. Easily cleared the second floor in a jump into a climb but he was already on the rooftops, I darted leaving my companion behind jumping across the gap but dastard was already 2 steps ahead. Got caught on some roof shrubs and by the time I saw him again he already was lost in the crowd. I was so angry. Just some damn shrubs stopped me from grabbing this prick. But Strix reassured me that we’ll find him again. Not that I had a score to settle.