They emerge in the mountains across the bay and clamber down into the foothills. Using flying abilities to bypass the worst of the terrain, they realize they are in the neighborhood of the undead baddy that recruited them to slaughter villages and seed undead spawns, culminating in the wholesale slaughter of the garrison guarding the northern approach to the old capital.
They recall their last meeting, where they were offered positions in the army – and death – by the sword swinging maniac himself. There is some lingering resentment and a touch of fear expressed by different folks.
Well, they decide to get on over there to see what has been happening in the interim. They spy from afar, notice there are undead strolling around, find the location of a tower that is either invisible, or highly mobile.
The desire for revenge and loot is strong…but being trapped underground for three months and already having a bunch of loot convinces them to kick this particular can waaaaay on down the road. That is a problem for future party.
Out of the hills, back to Paelinth for some elvish hobnobbery and the gossip about the huge warehouse fires on the docks of Ptolus. The flames could be seen from miles away, so clearly something was afoot. Hm. Southward to Phinothae and they look to book passage on a boat – but boats don’t want to go to the town with no docks, so they just charter one instead. It is good to be filthy rich! The trip is uneventful and the destruction is apparent as they near their destination. Deciding to bypass the ground, the crew sprouts wings and take to the skies. The city is peaceful at altitude, but their house is not looking great.
The roof is caved in and there are signs of fire damage. As they land on their ruined lawn, alarm spells ring out and troops swarm out of nearby buildings. The Inverted Pyramid has been trying to smoke out the assassins that keep coming after the party and they’ve had the house under surveillance. Sniffles wants to rebuild, Bayga wants to go to the brothels, and Fingers wants all the stuff that is buried under the rubble.
There is a search for the major-domo, but it seems he has a new gig where folks aren’t trying to murder the house owners. Still, there is a bit of information given about reputable builders and the like. While Sniffles gets quotes and timelines, KegDrain looks to the music school and researches a book he has collected. Fingers and company go to liquidate items and acquire new ones. Zaal goes on a quick jerky making spree and the group uses the brawn of Digin to digout the basement.
The group does a quick rundown of the current social climate. Still the “Saviors of Ptolus”, still revered by the common folk (who sadly have no money or power), viewed as a threat by the mysterious Surgeon and the whacky cultists he seems to attract, viewed with suspicion by the Church of Lothian, viewed as a liability by the Inverted Pyramid. The neighbors aren’t keen on them either, given the propensity for enemies to drop rocks and firebombs onto the neighborhood. The crime families – at least the one that seems to have been run by a vampire – aren’t pleased with them either. The good thing about that is that there is no shortage of people to fight and loot. Wait, maybe that is a problem.
Well…no one wants to go back underground. No one wants to go deal with the undead general. Bayga wants to talk to the Surgeon, but that doesn’t seem likely unless extra limbs are involved. So it is that the group looks longingly at the lands beyond the city walls. They parley their status and the crazy maps they delivered to the Guild to uncover a rumor about a certain Mr. The Shiv who might have information about a certain mountain that may or may not house a dragon.
Tally-Ho!
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