Desnova 6, 1423
Much time is spent bantering and bartering with Orglo, but few deals can be reached despite some rather generous offers and trades for some of the party's magic items. However, they agree to meet again once the objects have been further considered. They next head to the local tavern to dig up some more information on the Berg sisters, known to frequent it, and possibly the cult of antagonists that the party has been slowly dispatching over the last several days.
Soon after settling in a rooftop booth at the Cup & Quill, the PCs meet their server, a curious bloke named Turtle who has some information about the group's quarry, the former ex-scholars and Naturalists who met at the establishment to discuss their plans. Csunori, Borya, and Sadomator in the least were involved, and there was mention of a 'Quagmov' and 'Razakhel' though the server doesn't recall their presence. Upon learning that Turtle boasts of being a 'pit fighter', they wonder if he might be able to draw out the Berg sisters, one of which is also a renowned street fighter for cash. As the server is about to head off to get the PCs' orders, Bjork makes an off-hand comment about Rucia's tribe which results in a punch!
The bard's weapon (cursed, unknown to the rest of the party), forces him to retaliate, and a brutal brawl results right on the very roof! Patrons in neighboring stalls depart quickly, while the PCs attempt to break up the in-fighting! Nebol'shoy tries unsuccessfully to blind his party members, and the two are only finally broken up once a web spell is imposed between them and the server NPC, Turtle, showcases some of his grappling skills to keep forcing the minotaur to a distance, at which point his weapon's influence ceases. Meanwhile, the gnome and Mockleg have talked Rucia down out of his own rage. After Schlensky the White, the proprietor arrives and threatens them all with arrest, they quickly shelve their differences and decide to leave in two groupings. Nebol'shoy takes advantage of the chaos to follow Beryl Berg, who herself leaves from a downstairs booth at the commotion. The gnome notices that she appears to be carrying some sort of hairy, textured 'scroll' or document in her hand, which might be made of flesh!
After the altercation, the PCs make their way back to Orglo's Oddities, but the goblin is confused why they are bringing their problems in his direction and asks them to promptly leave if they have no further business. Nebol'shoy, in gaseous form, follows behind Beryl Berg but soon loses her as she leaves the Skolareum district to the West entrance. The gnome notices that other individuals appear to be smitten by her very presence, and not even the local Bluecoats ask her to remove her weapons as she moves towards and through the guardhouse! The party's new acquisition, Turtle departs to set up a pit fight at the Eskranade as the PCs have asked him.
While his companions return to the Blinking Kettle inn, Aldren decides to case the surrounding block for any note that he's being followed. He does indeed find the human 'scholar' Jezhe in a neighboring alley, but when he approaches to question her, notes that something is off, and she transforms into a humanoid rat thing! As our hero is about to engage, he notices that several other hidden figures leap out behind him...
PCs: Aldren, Bjork, Nebol'shoy, Rucia
Beryl Berg (dwarf female): Lithe and tall for a dwarf, of an almost human
stature, is this attractive woman with fiery-colored, knotted braids that run
half-down her back. Greased bangs cling to her cheeks in sharp patterns, and
she carries a quaint smile beneath wide hazel eyes. She wears a unique set of
leather armor which is strapped into strips above the waste and down her arms,
ending in cut-off leather gloves that clutch onto a pair of fine golden
scimitar hilts.
Schlensky the White (elf male): A tall elf of
indeterminate age, with skin the color of ash, offset by a head of long, pale
white hair, and a bright robe to match. He wears a golden-framed bifocal lens
over one of his pale green eyes, and his scholarly attire is trimmed with
strange silver runes. His right wrist has a twitch to it which he tries to
quell by clutching a pair of inscription tools: a raven-bone quill and a
cherry-tinted vial of ink.
Skretchid (??? male): This bipedal rat stands just under 5’ tall, with
an unsightly mix of brown and gray-patched fur, and covered in a thick gray
robe which looks as if it’s been gnawed and stained, but nevertheless covers
much of the creature. On occasion a roach will emerge from the cloak, or some
pouch or pocket on the figure and race about its fur, only to be snatched up
and devoured. The rat’s beady green eyes seem to glow with curiosity, and it
hobbles along on a half-broken sword-stick on which the concealed blade is
partly exposed.
Turtle (human male): A doughy man of 30 summers wearing a tunic, apron, breeches and clogs that befit a serving-man at the Cup & Quill, his hair is fashioned into a mullet of dirty blonde that looks more of a stylistic choice than sloppiness. Despite his apparent lack of physique and his dreary city drawl, he has proven quite a strong individual with both striking and grappling skills using his bulk and fists.
