Session 7 into session 8
Welcome back everyone! – when last we met, the sessions opening scene was that of Morie awakening inside of her tent.
She looked around for a moment, realised she was alone, and found the note which Ophi had left for her, which had clear details covering where to head to catch up with the rest of the party.
Wasting no time, a well rested Morie closed up her camp – She dropped her tent, doused the barely alight campfire, and set off in search of the others.
Very soon she was able to find the path, which would lead her to the Dry Hills with very little travel time.
Upon arriving there, Morie spots the bodies of slain beasts scattered around, and follows them, she sticks to the road as best she can, which typically bends around the high rocky terrain, until eventually she spotted what she is looking for atop a stair way carved into the side a cliff face to her right, just off from the road.
She climbed the stairs and also found the entrance to the Halls of the Dead, and she feels a strong foreboding feeling as she gazes into the dark cavernous entrance from near to the waypoint.
Fearing it to be a bad idea to go it alone, she opted to take the way-point back to Lut Gholein instead, and caught up with the rest of her party members.
Morie immediately headed to Atma’s tavern, and met up with Ophi and Scarlett, who were at the time enjoying a nice tall glass of water each, whilst they awaited for Morie to join them.
Scarlett became a little too relaxed in her seat, and started to nod off in her chair, ever so slightly… when she hears a soft set of footsteps entering the tavern doorway, followed by a gentle youthful voice calling out her name.
A young boy had been sent by Fara to inform Scarlett her bow was ready for her to collect.
Scarlett paid the boy, and quickly excused herself from the table… She was now headed toward the blacksmith alone, and looked generally uncomfortable.
Entering the market area, nothing seemed out of place, and so Scarlett approached Fara, and recovered her bow… but as she grabbed hold of the bow stave, she started to hear the jingle of heavily armored soldiers coming from the other side of the market wall, and also noticed the tips of spears just poking above the edge of the wall, that were clearly decorated in a familiar royal design…. that of the palace guards.
Scarlett immediately fled after seeing her old acquaintance; Akeem Al’Zahir – who is known throughout the land as a reputable merchant of fine quality items.
The chase was on after Akeem orders the guards to capture Scarlett, to answer for her crimes, but she would not go easily.
Scarlett fled across the Market place, and found nowhere to run in the end, eventually being boxed in by several guards, she was taken into custody unconsciously.
Morie and Ophi exit the tavern, reacting quickly to the shouts coming from outside of the tavern walls by concerned and overly excited city folk.
They headed to speak to Cain, to ask what was going on, and he explained to them both that Scarlett had been taken by the palace guards, but for what reason he had no idea.
Ophi and Morie waste no time and head to the palace, and decided to use various techniques and tricks, like bribery and flattery, to try to persuade the guards to let them in, but it never worked, and try as they might, they failed to sway them.
After speaking at length with Kaelan, one of the many guard captains – Ophi and Morie were directed to a building along the road from the palace, which was used as a council building, where they keep records of all kinds, and was also used to settle up debts owed, to sort out agreements or repayments, or in this case – bail costs for Scarlett.
Fiola – the clerk who works there, very rudely greets them both soon after they entered, and after talking with her, and a few failed attempts at persuading Fiola to reduce some of the charges against Scarlett – Ophi and Morie both agreed to see the current fees, and paid 1,520 gold to release her.
A short time passed by, and eventually Scarlett was released back to freedom, into the care of Ophi and Morie once more.
Feeling a little embarrassed and humbled at that point, Scarlett asked to return to the Atma’s tavern, they all agreed and headed there for an in depth chat about Scarlett’s past.
Ophi orders in some food for them all, and Scarlett tells the other two everything about her past, how she was sworn into a marriage that her parents set up for her… much to Scarlett’s distaste.
She mentioned how the merchant who gave Scarlett’s parents lots of gold along with other gifts, such as her two infused crossbows (Lillith and Lillian), a few strong prize winning goats, and some rolls of the finest silks.
In the meantime, the rest of the party were totally oblivious to the recent goings on, and were continuing on with their chosen downtime tasks.
So… it’s here where we will pick up today’s session.