Session 18: Country Boys in the Concrete Jungle

Grombrin heads to the stonework district and speaks to Father Stenneth, the beardless thumbless dwarf who runs the district. He allows Grombrin to use his forge, and points him to his contact Zeymah for materials. Grombrin tries to establish a trade route with him, but it proves very difficult due to Stenneth’s hostile relations with several other factions. Grombrin tries to seek out Zeymah at the docks, but hears that he is busy with an important meeting, so he returns to the forge to work on his jewelled hammer.

In the meantime, Vojta heads to the Crimson Archive in search of Arran, who he of course finds there. Arran has been doing some research on the remaining acolytes. He relates that Theras, the acolyte at the Spike, used to be a cleric of the monolith, but that he went mad when he attempted a profane ritual, and supposedly turned into a horrible creature. The cleric order tried to execute him, but he was unable to be killed.

Grombrin is still smithing, so Arran and Vojta decide to scout out the palace district, where they expect the king to be. The guards at the gate tell them that only the lords and their servants can enter, and that the king is not currently in the palace district. Arran suggests going back to the tower district and using his status as a member of the Verdant Archive to get in contact with Thaddeus, and seek an audience with the king that way. On the way there, however, they notice that some kenku are following them. They head into an alley and hide, then Vojta traps one of the kenku in spiderweb when they approach, causing the others to run away. They interrogate the kenku but he gives no meaningful responses. Vojta then asks him where the king is, while Arran uses a drop of the mind-reading potion to read his surface thoughts, gaining a glimpse of a small sandstone building in the patchwork district. They then let the kenku go. Before he runs off, the kenku tells them that Ahrm Stroong is a threat to their group.

Grombrin finishes smithing and regroups with Arran and Vojta. They head to the patchwork district and find the sandstone building, alongside an acrobatic performance. They peek inside the innocuous house, but are caught by a middle-aged half-elf woman, who they soon realise is Sarla. Arran tries to bluff about their reason for being there with vagueries and half-truths, but this only confuses the situation. Vojta eventually explains that they must speak to Saleekh for their divine quest. Sarla already believes that Saleekh is blessed, so she lets them pass into the underground rooms beneath the building. They briefly discuss Ahrm, who Sarla says is not welcome in Glyckheart anymore. Vojta admits that Ahrm was a companion of theirs, but that they are no longer aware of his location.

Underground is a tavern, where the group waits until Saleekh’s current business is done. Eventually Zeymah, Stenneth’s dragonborn dockmaster, emerges from Saleekh’s quarters yelling draconic curses. After he leaves, the groups heads in to meet Saleekh, who has a wooden arm and a divine aura. Vojta explains the situation of Cerebarieth and the four acolytes, which Saleekh is partially aware of, since he is familiar with Tusk and has been opposing the Last Light Gang for some time. Saleekh says that he must stay in Glyckheart to protect his city, but that he will cooperate with them, and help them create sending stones to stay in contact. He mentions that Lokreth arrived in Glyckheart three days ago, and had his injuries treated by Sarla. He also brings up that he heard about the group entering alongside Ahrm, and warns them not to associate with him anymore, because he would have no choice but to kill Ahrm if he presents himself. Uneasy with the choice, Vojta tells him that their mission to stop Cerebarieth is more important than their allegiance to Ahrm.

Arran eventually returns to his accommodations in the tower district, while Vojta and Grombrin spend the night in Saleekh’s hideout, intending to seek out Lokreth the next day. During the evening, Grombrin sends a telepathic message to Ahrm, warning him that Saleekh wants him dead and that it would be dangerous for him to seek them out.