That which lingered

Participants

• Damek Lestus
• Tingle
• Kaladan of Norixius
• Arden Rook
• Zeek the Zapper

Recap

As Damek contemplated what he has been experiencing, Tingle spent the morning training his protege, Chris. The guild slowly woke, and Zeek and Kal were only just finishing the tasting of the new batches of ZZR's taproom. It was an overall bittersweet moment, two thirds of the brew being up to snuff wasn't bad, but fouling Nabomai's Special Brew was a tough blow for the budding brewery.

Arden looks up from his breakfast to see the eager face of Lief staring at him from a few feet away. He's ready to give the intelligence report, first requesting to speak to Zeek privately, but before he can deliver the bulk of the news, the senior enforcers talk privately about Kal. Lief heard something about a curse, Kal's new axe, and being able to "control him if something goes wrong". Bewildered, he waited patiently for their conversation to end.

Not long after the conversation broke, Lief is bringing Zeek down to the side entrance of Squadquarters, yammering on about "no one broke watch" and making very reassuring remarks as to the security of the building. It was then he revealed the vandalized entrance to their home and business-entrance to ZZR's taproom. "Devil lovers", "You reek of Grehl" and "Murderers" were all scrawled across the walls in a sloppy, haphazard-like manner.

The graffiti had some resistance against Arden's magic in removing it from the walls. The bard grew so bored of the tedium that he managed to study the handwriting enough to replicate it's style.

Breaking the monotony, Lief launched into his intel report, which began with whispers of a large disturbance in the Underhive that the Grehl were dealing with. Guards pulled from normal postings, and some services have been interrupted. Shifting through his parchments, all with series of hastily-scrawled notes, the Tiefling mentions some protests near Escher's Pits, he acts rather dismissive.

His eye widen, "Oh yeah, Those Goliath raids have gotten worse. One of our simics spotted a huge juicer, something was wrong with its skin, like gangrene or something. Other than that, the tribes seem to be hitting Nellulon shops more so than anything else.

The senior enforcers give their junior recruit 300 gold to continue his efforts, and Damek asks Lief to research the projector-cube he has been holding onto.

Damek suggests consulting Normaad regarding how the group would cure Kal of the bezerking curse he seemed to be unaware he was afflicted with. Tingle had figured it out earlier in his study of the item, and then saw Kal happily claim the axe, letting the curse take hold. The gnome's hand met his forehead, and that's when the planning had begun.

Arden voices opposition to seeing Normaad, but since no other ideas were present, the group headed off to The Embrace.

Midway through the journey, JKS encounters a few green-skinned warriors, paused near the wall of the alley both parties occupied. When Tingle's paranoia leads him to cast mage armor, the situation becomes more tense.

An offer of ale from Zeek and the calm voice of Damek and Arden do little to take the edge of the small group in front of them. As the unknown Ravers speak to each other in a language none of the enforcers could decipher, Damek notices they seem to be positioning themselves between JKS and something on the wall behind them, a marking that resembles the graffiti JKS found on Squadquarters.

As suspicions on boths sides grow, JKS continues to slowly pass down the alley as the strangers hold their position, watching the enforcers intently. Damek asks what these folk do for work, and they indicate their current task is a self-employed venture. Zeek casually reads the feeling behind their thoughts, detecting determination and purpose in their words.

The cleric tries to hide a spell behind a swing from his wineskin, but the strangers see, and given the fragile situation, this was enough to take action.

The two groups exchanged some initial blows, but JKS soon got the upper-hand. The three warriors begin to retreat, using short-range teleporting to escape even the swift feet of Damek.

Not long after the enforcers gave up the pursuit, Autorus guardsmen inquire about the commotion. JKS explains and at the mention of their guild, one of the guards reaches into his satchel and retrieves a notice. It contains a summons to the precinct for charge-less questioning within 24 hours.

Arden, Tingle, and Kal hang back while Zeek and Damek seek audience with Normaad. After a short wait, the guild-boss grants them a quick meeting. The charismatic wight calls in a favor from his contact in the Section 6 Hospital in order to help out. The group leaves, and heads straight to the hospital, on the lookout for a woman named Hedelka.

Entering the bustling care-center, the front desk directs them to Hedelka and they explain the favor from Normaad, the woman seems a bit exasperated, but more than willing to help, she leads the as the group heads over to what looks like an exam room.

As Tingle distracts Kal, the others discuss options for treatment of the curse with Hedelka. She indicates there is a non-harmful option that requires us to clear the room.

Under the guise of a gnome losing a drinking contest to a 300lbs dragonborn warrior, JKS manages to exit the room and leave Kal alone long enough to seal the door between them.

Gas begins to fill the room, and Kal quickly enters a panicked rage, attacking the door with such fury, he damaged the frame, allowing the gas to slowly escape. Tingle's quick thinking of using a charm bought them enough time to keep Kal in place for the sedative to take hold.

The victory was short-lived as it was apparent Hedelka's efforts would not be effective. Defeated, she suggested they consult the Nellulon at a shop called "The Tin Gemeni", but remarks you usually have to be invited to see the shop's owner.

Before they leave, Tingle asks if Hedelka knows anything of the disease sweeping through the goliath camps. She confesses they have not had a sample to study yet, but based on what she knows, it seems the degenerative nature of its appearance, it's likely to have a high rate of mortality.

With a heartfelt thanks, the group continues on their journey, back towards the southern end of the section to the shop where Hedelka indicated.

At the door of the quaint-looking storefront, a slit opens with a pixie demanding how they were referred there. Thinking quickly, they present the business card they found in an old coat left at Squadquarters.

The door opens, and the pixie introduces herself as "Yiyu". When JKS explain why they are there, Yiyu replies that Sindri may help them, but he doesn't accept gold, just exchanges ideas and knowledge. The enforcers say that their request would present him with a unique challenge.

Twin mechanical voices respond in unison from opposite ends of the room "We are Sindri, show us this challenge." Two robotic gnomes emerge from hiding motionlessly in plain sight, among the various flotsam in the shop. They engage the group in a emotionless dialogue to bargain for his service.

Eventually, both "left" and "right" Sindri to agree to assist if Tingle will allow them to run tests on him, revealing they are aware of his extraplanar status due to his presence triggering one of their instruments.

Agreeing, the Sindris then provide five vials of treatment that will suppress the effects of the curse for 24 hours each. There is a reagent, a rare element ground up, that could provide a more permanent solution, once he locates a source.

Agreeing to come back when called for Tingle's scan, JKS leaves the store, stepping onto the streets which immediately reverberate with the sounds of alarms.

"Goliath raid in progress, please take shelter. Goliath raid in progress, please take shelter"

Live Notes

The next morning, after a well-earned crash

• Tingle is up early, making spiders and inspiring the youth
• Damek is unsettled by his dream
• Zeek and Kal had finished off the pending batch. ZZA and Section 6 Brown came out ok, but the NSB went south. Should be enough for rent, though.
• Lief approaches Arden, with an updated report
• Lief says there's a lot we can do the more we devote to the effort
• He suggests talking privately with Zeek before the rest of the group
• Tingle raises with the group that Kal's Berserker Axe is bad news and we need to get rid of it
• Zeek recalls the clerics that cured his stupid a while back, we can maybe find them via Erodus
• Arden takes Zeek aside and they go talk to Lief, who leads us through a back exit
• Before he shows us, he assures us no-one broke watch
• The makeshift entrance to ZZR has been vandalized "Devil lovers" and "You reek of Grehl" and "Murderers"
• The material seems to be physical not magical, but is very hardy and tough to remove, even to Arden's prestidigitation
• Arden practices replicating the style of the writing before cleaning the rest off

Lief intel report

• Big issue in the underhive, large areas cordoned off, some services interrupted
• Protesting of Ahtos
• Simic saw a goliath raid, saw a juicer - looked like the skin was rotting
• Goliath raids seem to be focused on Nellulon shops

• The group decides to pitch in to give Lief 300gp for tips and information (42.86 from each PC)
• Damek hands Lief the projector and 100gp extra to specifically research it
• Zeek inquires if Lief knows how to contact Erodus. He doesn't
• Damek suggests seeing if Normaad can recommend someone
• Arden scoffs, but neither he or anyone else has any better idea
• The enforcers heads out towards the Embrace
• On the way, they run into some folks in an alley
• Tingle gets spooked and casts mage armor

Initiative!

• Damek tries to talk things down, Arden concurs
• Zeek offers a peaceful skin of ale
• One of the guys' edge comes off a bit, though he holds his ground
• A couple of them speak to each other in an unrecognizable language
• Damek notices behind them what appears to resemble the material that defaced our entrance
• Damek suggests we pass on opposite sides of the street
• They politely refuse Zeek's drink and indicate we may pass
• The group starts to move past. Damek inquires about their present employ on the way by
• They say "we work for ourselves, we're not for hire. I'm sure you can find someone in the market. good luck". Zeek's medallion indicates sincere determination and purpose behind their words.
• Zeek pretends to drink while readying a diversion. The performance isn't quite up to snuff and this sets off the group, who promptly and viciously attacks
• The quiet one zips over and swipes hard at Tingle. With some quick action by Tingle and Arden, the devastating punch barely misses
• The foes begin to withdraw
• Tingle tries to cast a swarm of bugs on one, Kal tries to grapple another, attempting to restrain one for interrogation. Neither are successful and they continue to flee, shouting in the unrecognizable language
• Damek gives chase and Zeek tries to damage at range, but its no use and all the foes escape
• As they leave, Ahtorus shows up demanding to know what's happening
• Zeek explains we were attacked when asking about the graffiti, and agrees to make a report
• When the officers hear we are JKS, they present us with a parchment and go about their business
• The parchment is a charge-less summon for questioning within 24 hours from Lt Freida

• The gang proceeds to the Embrace
• Arden, Tingle, and Kal hang back while Zeek and Damek seek audience with Normaad
• Normaad is amenable to the plight and writes a reference for us to Hedelka of the mages at the hospital
• The gang heads to the hospital
• We meet with Hedelka who leads us to a room
• Tingle distracts Kal while Zeek and Arden chat about what to do. Hedelka indicates she has a non-harmful option that requires us to clear the room.
• Tingle uses a chugging contest distraction to create an excuse to leave, and Hedelka hits the button filling the room with gas
• Kal freaks and crit hits the door, cracking it and making gas escape
• Tingle charms Kal and calms him down, letting the sedative work
• Once effective, we enter the room and Hedelka casts a green light over Kal
• She says the curse is beyond her, but suggests there is a place in section 6 called Tin Gemini
• Shop of the leader of the Nellulon, usually you have to be invited or summoned
• Tingle asks more questions about the Goliath plague
• Hedelka says its degenerative and a high mortality rate, but they don't know much about it as they haven't had a chance to study any actual infected
• We thank Hedelka for her aid and depart

• The gang heads to the Tin Gemini
• Knock on the door with the speak-easy style window
• A pixie answers demanding references
• Tingle presents business card which checks out and the door opens
• Tingle hits it off with the pixie. It's shrill and odd.
• Her name is Eu, she says we have to speak with Cindry
• She says he doesn't take gold, he is a thinker
• Zeek states we have brought a challenge
• A mechanical voice suddenly emanates from mechanical gnomes: "Prove to me you are worthy of a challenge"
• We are Cindry, show challenge to us
• We may be able to help you, but we would like to bargain for the service
• Small one, we would like to scan you. You have proved interesting
• Tingle (in Gnomish): Why?
• In unison, and Gnomish: You have triggered one of our instruments, one we weren't sure even worked. However we will need time to calibrate
• Tingle: Yes, but be sure to fix the issue. "That is the arrangement" in response
• To group: Please present problem to fix
• Cindry provides us 5 doses of 1-day fixes that remove the berzerker part of the curse for the day when taken early in the morning
• We can purchase more for 200gp per 5 doses
• There is a reagent, a rare element ground up, that could provide a more permanent solution
• Tingle submits to scan. Cindry says they need time to calibrate and they will send a message when ready
• Zeek procures us a few new Nellulon business cards
• Damek contracts an inspection of the projector
• JKS takes leave of the Tin Gemini
• As we leave, we hear the siren and announcement "Goliath raid in progress. Please take shelter."

We call it for tonight

Loot