Team Gnarl answer the Call of the Netherdeep – session 14 – New Horizons

The characters:

• Badger – Ginger, a male halfling Gunslinger
• Hinesh – Gnarl, a male kobold Way of Mercy monk physician
• Lyam – Tezmin, a male harengon warlock of the Genie (dao) (Unavailable this session)
• Sarah – Hildegarde, a female tempest cleric of the Wildmother (Melora)
• Grey – Bek, a Shadar Kai bladesinger wizard

As may be apparent, we are utilising some non-WotC sources for this campaign. In addition to the usual 5e books, characters could draw upon the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, Tal Dorei Reborn, and Gunslinger.

Da’leysen, 27th Fessuran, 836 PD

Arriving at the former temple of Avandra the heroes found Fogholme, the firbolg cleric of the Wildmother in conversation with a pair of tieflings. One they recognised as Question, the young member of the Cobalt Soul that they had explored the Hythenos house for. The other was a chubby-faced sandy-skinned man with a selection of archaeologist’s tools. As they approached Fogholme saw them and the body they carried.

The tiefling pair stood aside, realising the heroes need to be more important, and the firbolg helped them settle Hildagarde’s body as they prepared to perform a resurrection ritual. As he had done with Gnarl previously, Fogholme called upon the other heroes to assist. Ginger knelt beside the body, removed his hat (with the wig still attached) and said:

O Melora the Wild please hear our plea; Resurrect our friend and not just for me. Take pity on us and hear our appeal, For this friend of ours does more than heal. As Hilda’s blood starts to congeal; Through that cleric I was shown some zeal. Will your power shine through a big reveal, Or have they had their last meal? When we set out, we were five; Dropped one, gained one & now they’ve died. Help me make sense and make this jive; How can this death be justified. Help us know how to seek your grace; Alive & kicking! That’s Hilda’s place. So if found at all amongst the dead; listen to all they’ve done and said; We’re seeking that boon to restore us full, Because we’re like a ship with a broken hull. But if this plea falls on deaf ears, At least send someone to help face our fears.

Gnarl also beseeched the Wildmother in his own way, “Send her back, or don’t, whatever” as he sewed closed the many wounds on her body, adding a few extra stitches on the back of her neck to sign his handiwork. Bek just stood aside and watched silently.

Hildegarde was strolling through a lush, overgrown garden. Not neglected, the plants had just been allowed to grow to their full potential. As she walked along the path trailing her hand in the flowers blooming beside her she heard the screech of a rusty iron gate opening that seemed oddly out of place amongst the serenity of the garden. She headed towards the gate and as she did she heard the voices of her companions. Hildegarde glanced back into the garden as a warm comforting breeze blew her closer to the gate and she took that as a sign, turning and stepping through into the blinding white light beyond.

With a dramatic intake of breath, the formerly dead cleric sat up, surrounded by her allies and the familiar face of Fogholme. The sandy-skinned tiefling was ecstatic at having witnessed the reviving of the cleric and eagerly introduced himself as Prolix, an archaeologist of the Allegiance of Allsight. The name meant nothing to the heroes and he explained that he was from Ank’Harel and the Allegiance were seekers of history and knowledge there. He had come to Bazzoxan to learn more about Alyxian as his story was linked to the city. When the heroes recounted how Hildegarde had died and mentioned the red-robed elf mage he spat “That bitch!” and explained that she was named Aloysia and a member of a rival group known as the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream who sought out ancient magical secrets.

The heroes showed the tieflings the stone tablet that Aloysia had dropped and Prolix explained that it was a teleportation tablet and that he had one also which he was planning on using the next day to return home. Prolix offered to take the heroes with him and they accepted, rather than using Aloysia’s and teleporting into possible danger. They agreed to meet up the next day and the heroes retired to the Ready Room.

Miresen, 28th Fessuran, 836 PD

The next day they met up with Prolix and Question as arranged and the archeologist used his tablet to transport them all to Ank’Harel. The chilly air and gloomy clouds of Bazzoxan were replaced by dry heat and a brilliant blue sky visible through the arched window of a magnificent building with walls of white marble. Beneath their feet was a teleportation circle, from which the glow of magic slowly subsided.

Prolix asked if the heroes would be willing to meet with one of his superiors and they agreed. Question thanked him for helping her get home but had to go and report to her own superiors at the Library of the Cobalt Soul, but before she left she gave them a tourist map of Ank’Harel and a sending stone, explaining that one of her order would contact them soon.

Prolix led the heroes across what he explained was the Sigil District, passing its manicured lawns lined with fig trees between the white marble structures that resembled a massive university campus. They came to a smaller building, the sign outside read “Headmaster Alakritos” and the tiefling led them inside and to an office on the upper floor. He knocked on the door and a voice called out “Enter”.

Inside sat a male goblin in brown robes, tiny spectacles perched on the tip of his long nose. Rather than the expected desk, he was sitting on a plump cushion and sipping tea from a delicate cup. He invited the group to join him and began pouring them each a cup of tea.

The heroes recounted their run-in with Aloysia for the Headmaster, though they omitted any mention of the Jewel of Three Prayers and kept it hidden. In return, the Headmaster explained that the Allegiance had by royal decree, permission to explore and catalogue the ruins of the city that had been discovered below Ank’Harel which they believed dated back to the time of Alyxian and the Calamity. He told them that the Consortium of the Vermillion Dream had been trying to gain access to the ruins for their own reasons but the guards of the Allegiance kept anyone that wasn’t a member out. They showed him Aloysia’s teleportation tablet and upon examining it he announced that it appeared to be linked to somewhere in the Suncut Bazaar, an area the Consortium were known to frequent.

Prolix offered to take the heroes to quarters but they declined, asking about lodgings within the city instead. The Headmaster told them about various establishments throughout the city and they decided to head for the Suncut Bazaar before finding lodgings of their own and bid the Headmaster and Prolix a good day.

Using the map that Question had given them, and stopping a few times to ask locals for directions, they found themselves at the Suncut Bazaar at late afternoon. Hildegarde bought some lighter clothing from one of the market stalls while Gnarl explored the food stalls of the Courtyard.

T1 – Welcome Arch, T2 – Patrolled Battlements, T3 – Central Street, T4 – Market Stalls, T5 – Luck’s Run casino, T6 – The Bone Garden pawn shop, T7 – Mystic Pursuits arcane supplies, T8 – First Eclipse tavern, T9 – Food Stall Courtyard

The heroes entered Mystic Pursuits, as Gnarl wanted to see what magical artefacts they might have. The kobold was a little disappointed to find that the shop merely traded in spell components and a soothsayer offered to read customer’s futures in her prophetic deck of cards. The soothsayer told them that the sale of magical items was pretty much monopolised by Gilmore of Gilmore’s Glorious Goods, an overpriced establishment in the Sand Herald District.

Next, the heroes visited the Bone Garden, the sign outside signifying that it was a pawn shop. The proprietress was a young woman with a colourful parrot seated upon her shoulder. When they tried to talk to her they discovered that she communicated by a combination of hand signals and verbal comments from the parrot. The heroes perused her wares and enquired if she had any magic items but she didn’t, and when Ginger began enquiring about smoke powder and firearms the parrot became extremely agitated and they were quickly ushered out of the shop.

With the evening drawing in they decided to make their way through the sprawl of the Bazaar to the River District and seek out one of the taverns the Headmaster had marked on their map, the Harried Mongoose. By the time they reached it, the sky had already darkened and they rented a pair of adjoining rooms to rest in.

Grissen, 29th Fessuran, 836 PD

It took a little time to adjust to trying to sleep in the different climate but sleep eventually found them and their rest was undisturbed. When they awoke the next morning a note had been pushed under one of their doors, sealed with the symbol of the Allegiance of Allsight.

Allegiance hopefuls,

We need you to pick up and deliver a marble figurine of an elephant that was stolen from us. We have located it at a curio shop called the Bone Garden in the Suncut Bazaar and arranged for the proprietor, Rerosha, to hand over the merchandise without a fuss. Simply bring the figurine to Gatekeeper Raashid at the Crystal Chateau, and your task is complete.

Welcome in advance to the team!
—Professor Lymmle Wist, Allegiance of Allsight

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