Return to Sharn

Sar 14th Nymm, 998 Y.K.

The Crimson Fist finally return to Sharn aboard the “Skystar”. Lorric is cautious as they arrive, keeping an eye for unusual law enforcement activity. There appears to be none however, and the group safely disembark. It is at this point that they say farewell to both Katerina and Anvil.

The others head for home. Lorric, cautious again, approaches the building stealthily and observes. He sees two elves keeping a surreptitious watch on it, one on either end of the bridge. Kapek, doing a brief flypast on Hurricane, spots one of them but enters the building regardless. He is followed in by Ajax and the other dinosaurs.

On seeing the arrivals, the two watchers have a brief discussion, the result of which is that one leaves and the other returns to his post. Lorric follows the first one, losing him however when he takes to a soarsled. Ajax is informed about the surveillance and goes out to talk with the hidden observer. Other than having his suspicions confirmed that it is indeed agents of Martel watching, this is largely fruitless.

Lorric continues to watch, and is concerned by the arrival of no less than six soarsleds. Elves step from these and take up defensive positions around the bridge. Overhearing that “Cannith is on his way” does nothing to allay his fears.

*Lorric comments
Lorric, having overhead that Cannith is on the way, urges the others to leave (albeit fruitlessley) before his arrival. Lorric continues to be cautious, and hides to watch how events unfold.

Then he sees a large black skycoach without markings approach. When it lands, he sees Martel d’Cannith emerge and head to the house. He is welcomed in by Kapek. For once, the Cannith nobleman has good news, and rewards the Crimson Fist for their efforts with bags of platinum. He is concerned at the news that Palamino is at war with eldritch forces and at the fact that the child had not been immediately taken into Thelanis, but resigned perhaps to the fate that the child’s fate is now out of his hands.

Outside, two cowled and hooded figures are making their way to the house also. Intrigued by this, Lorric decides to return to the house also, but makes his way back by a circuitous route in order to remain undetected. When the figures enter the building they are revealed to those inside to be Katerina and Velseth. The discussion moves on to the group’s next plans. When they mention their intention to travel to Xen’Drik, Martel mentions that he already has people there, looking into a cure for Helmsbane, and he would appreciate it if the Crimson Fist would keep an eye out for them.

*Ajax comments
Ajax is not surprised at all to discover the cunning plan to get them away from Martell, all this Prophecy stuff leads them right into another strand of Prophecy.

The conversation is drawing to an end, and Martel is preparing to leave, when Lorric makes his presence know from the stairs. Everyone seems startled by it, including the normally unflappable Velseth who gets a stern glare from his employer. The conversation resumes then, with Lorric stressing the end of the Crimson Fist’s debt to House Cannith. Eventually Martel agrees, but hopes that they can continue to work together. The Fist agree.

Prophetic Revelations

Martel has several things to say about the Prophecy. The Bleak General is from the Abyss, a demon lord currently slumbering with his heart missing. It is said that if he regains his heart, the fate of the world will change, and the dead will not rest easy in their graves.

The Crimson Fist also have questions about anything related to the “hand dipped in blood”, since it is possible that this is a reference to them. It is associated with an item known as the Nox Noctis Tellum, or Night Spear, which is also linked with somewhere called Kirx’Katech. This place is mythical, dating back to the Age of Legends, and is possibly in Xen’Drik. The “hand dipped in blood” will apparently travel to its heart, and return with the Oboxian Tablets, upon which are inscribed writings that will aid in the final battle. Both Kirx’Katech and the Spear itself are controlled by demonic forces.

The “hand dipped in blood” is also prophesied to be responsible for choosing the final combatants, waking some and destroying others. With these heavy words, Martel leaves the group once again, taking Velseth and Katerina with him.

New Employment

The next task for the Fist is to arrange a trip to Xen’Drik. While Ajax is keen to assist with the problems ongoing in Sharn, Lorric still wishes to leave but will compromise to the extent that it will certainly be some time before an expedition is leaving and the group can use that time to help. At the Deathsgate Guild, they find three notices pertaining to expeditions to Xen’Drik.

The first directs them to make contact with a Farambor Tenolas at the Black Jest tavern. This turns out to be at the end of a jetty, floating in a rough area of the docks, inhabited by the worst collection of lowlives that the group has seen since Shamukaar. When they enter the tavern and purchase drinks, the barman entreats Kapek not to start any trouble. Ajax’s shifter pride is offended by this, as he clearly feels that he should be regarded as the group troublemaker. but the reason becomes quickly clear.

The prospective employer, sitting alone at the table and clearly regarding his surroundings with distaste, is a Valenar elf. Kapek manages to control his fury and simply storms out of the bar. The others, not sharing his attitude, chat amiably with the elf and learn that his expedition is sponsored by the Wayfarer’s Foundation with the aim of collecting rare herbs. He suggests that, should they be able to ditch the Halfling, he would welcome their presence on the journey.

The group re-unites elsewhere and travels on to Morgrave University to enquire about the second expedition. Here they meet Professor Zophik, a brisk elderly lady. She explains that the University expedition is of an archaeological character. It will meet up with a Professor Dresdarn in Stormreach, and then proceed to a site in the Jungle believed to once belong to the extinct Thri-Kreen empire. If this does not turn out to be as fruitful as hoped, the expedition may well be searching for other ruins in the area. The group will be hired for a period of time between a month and two months, and paid 7,500 gold each. The Fist say that they will consider the offer.

The final expedition is hiring on behalf of the Acquisitions Directorate of the Twelve, representatives of the Great Houses. The Fist travel to House Sivis, there to talk with Lodlac d’Sivis who is the agent for this expedition. The gnome explains that this expedition is being funded by the Brelish Crown, in order to find something which can alleviate the problems currently being suffered by Sharn. The terms are very similar to those offered by Professor Zophik, free passage there and back (which will take another 32 days in total), free pick of any items not already claimed by the expedition leader. The expedition leader in this case is a Professor Mellurit. The nature of the expedition, to help Sharn, salves Ajax’s conscience and this is undoubtedly the factor that prompts the Fist to accept Lodlac’s offer. Although the payment for this is slightly less, 7,000 apiece for about the same duration, Lorric manages to haggle up to 8,000. 

The "Southern Sun" is docked and will be ready to sail on the morning tide, once the job is accepted the boat is stocked and checked ready to depart shortly after sunrise.

The group then returns to the Deathsgate guild in order to consult their hireling roster.

*Ajax comments
Ajax hires a member of House Sivis for a Sending to Clian. He's relieved that she is still alive but is shocked to discover she is still running and hiding from the forces that had been unleashed from the Beholder's keep. He had been sure her Druidic talents would have enabled her to win free by now.
Ajax is torn, he accepts he has agreed to go to Xendrik and has a duty to his comrades and to try to fix the problems he's created in Sharn and he doesn't even know where in the woods Clian is but he feels terrible that he is not rushing to her aid.