Campaign Journal: Recon and Arena

Hidey ho, neighbors!

The whole gang is here:

Frederick - thief
Slick - thief
Rondel - elf
Orzu - gnome
Fulvus - halfling
Jax - barbarian

Everyone was up bright and early. The crew had things to do. The halflings were sharpening weapons, polishing armor and doing whatever halfings do before death matches. The thieves were judging their odds versus whatever security Beladon the jeweler had at his shop. Time to get to work.

The crew checked in at the arena - the halflings were third on the bill, with a local gladiator vs a "wild man of the North" and a Dwarven wrestling exhibition match as teh opening acts.

Time to make some bets. Henry the cleric was entrusted with the halflings' coin to bet on them, of course. Rondel bet on them as well, aong with several conditional bets (first blood, etc.). Orzu bet on both the local gladiator and the halflings to win. Henry, on second thought, threw a few coin on the "northman" to win. The party attempted to ascertain as to the opponent(s), but could only determine that it was probably more Chaos mutant.

The thieves asked around at the Guild regarding Beladon's shop. They got some indeterminate rumors and an idea of the layout (shop, upstairs quarters, cellar vaults). Time to reconnoiter. Fred and Slick did the unimaginable and walked in the front door with the objective of buying something...

A couple of blobs with no necks looked them up and down and granted admittance. A third guard let them in through the inner foyer and followed them into a waiting area. He called for Beladon and a few minutes later, an elf appeared from behind a curtain and greeted them through a barred teller's window. What were they in the market for? Emeralds, please. The jeweler disappeared and Slick made small talk with the guard, Gerald. Does the boss pay well? Ok, but the missus just gave birth to our fifth. Things could be better... I hear ya.

Beladon came back with a lockbox of emeralds of various sizes. Sorry, the largest was sold recently for a gift for a lady. The thieves picked a large specimen to evaluate. Slick pulled out his new loupe and pretended to know what he was doing. Some negotiation and back and forth ("You wouldn't disparage my reputation!?") and the gem was purchased for a "reasonable" 400gp. Frederick asked after the local ruby market, but Beladon hadn't seen much, lately. Oh, and give Gerald a raise. I know, they're fecund, those humans. No offence. None taken.

Back out into the street. Hmm. Not much could be seen. Gang signs, and a street urchin was summoned. Do you know anything about the jeweler? No sir, but I can find a friend who might know. Do you have anything for me to buy lunch? Slick gave the young man enough to buy several months worth of lunches. Some time later, he returned. Go to the The Lazy Harper, he'll find you. 

Some time later, in a dingy tavern consisting primarily of dark corners... A fellow acquisitions specialist named Balto found them. Fred and Slick queried him regarding the security and rumors. Slick was particularly interested if the elf might have any defenses against invisibility. Word was, he did. Dammit. Balto confirmed that the multiple vaults were in the cellar, but most security (locking and otherwise) was upstairs. The elf locked up everything from the inside and never went out at night. Who knows what he's got going on, he's an elf. Any other routes in? I couldn't say. I know a guy in the sewer patrol. They're always finding passages from the old days. I'll make inquiries.

Scared off by the prospect of something that may be able to overcome their invisibility tricks, the two pilferers headed back to rejoin the gang.

Everyone joined up to support their two diminutive warriors in the arena. Betting chits in hand, of course. Wene quaffed a dose of performance enhancing substance (potion of heroism) and they were off. 

The initial match was local gladiator Angus vs. the "Wild man of the north." Striding from the opponent's gate was a stocky fellow. He looked at the crowd, and at his opponent, stripped off his armor, beat his blade on his chest, and closed. In the dust and turmoil, Angus fell. Addressing the crowd, the "wild man" shouted "I am Dukan Dildran, of the Dekan Khanate! You think us savages, but you will hear more of the north!" before being escorted by several nervous guards back to his quarters.

The second match was an exhibition of "Omarlos Kampul" or dwarven wrestling. 

Not this.

Two dwarves in breechcloths and a dwarven referee stomped into the middle of the arena to show off their kumite. The competitors were introduced as Gimnolir Thunderfeet and Yornick Hardblade. The match was announced to be best of three, but the two opponents were very evenly matched, with two falls going to a tie, extending the match to five bouts. Clearly an exciting match, leaving the crowd clambering for more, to Akreos' satisfaction. The crew recalled the name Yornick as a possible contact in town, mentioned by exiled sea-dwarf Urin Duskborn. 

Time for the main event.

Fulvus and Wene strode out, confident for whatever may come. Several Duchy soldiers rolled out a large covered cage. A hush over the crowd as Akreos announced another Abomination, collected from the foothills at great risk and cost! 

The cover was pulled back and the soldiers released, this:

source

It appeared to not be a rider and horse, but two beings fused together. Slick's Damned Horse PTSD went off... The creature stared down the two halflings, and screamed. They both shook off its fear-inducing scream, and Fulvus absorbed a charge. The Creature struck out with elastic limbs, but wasn't able to connect with the tumbling and leaping halflings. Although it was able to connect with both, it wasn't able to cause enough damage to worry either of them, as they wore the thing down. Another scream was for naught, and it was finally hewn down. The soldiers collected it, dragged it into the cage-cart, and disappeared.

Frederick overheard an officer and his companion discussing the bout, and that it would be taken back to the tower to be dissected with "the others." 

The PCs collected their winnings, although not all were successful in their bets...

Time to clean up and head to the Silver Flagon, a well-appointed inn in the merchant quarter. The band entered, looking to meet with Umar Aym, the guard captain they had befriended (bribed) at the city gate. Slick opted for invisibility and swiping stuff in the coat-check. 

The party feasted well with him, and shared some information on their exploits. Aym agreed to forward their intelligence on the mutants, and put in a good word with military leadership regarding the party's knowledge. The usually busy leadership would be very interested in learning more on the mutants' provenance and abilities.

Aym was also mourning the loss of a comrade-in-arms while on the patrol. The party recognized the individual as the leader of the doomed patrol they had discovered ad reported to the garrison in Sokniholm. Aym asked if his colleague's sword had been recovered. The party, of course played dumb on this (Slick has it). Aym sighed, assuming that it had been looted or otherwise lost in battle. He did reveal that the blade had abilities, but that they came with a cost, and he worried about his friend's welfare to wield it.

Nothing for Slick to worry about, I'm sure...

DM Notes:

Well, the thieves didn't fall for assaulting the jeweler using their expected methods. Observing its stout construction and worrying about whatever magic the elven proprietor might have available sent them packing to find a Plan B. Chickens... At least the party may encounter members of a group inspired by Jim Garrison's "Sewer Militia." We shall see.

As to the arena fight. I have a tough time building out challenges for the PCs. It doesn't help when the combatants are two OP halflings with stacked abilities. Ha. We ended up doubling the hp of the monster in the middle of battle to create a bit more drama for the crowd...

Oh, the monster. Folklore fans may recognize it as a nuckelavee, but in our world it's not demonic, but a twisted mutant. Because of course it is. The actual critter was inspired by this battle from the animated series "RWBY."

Unfortunately, the fight didn't come out quite as dramatic. I need to study more and think about the PCs abilties when crafting challenges. It's an evolving process. 

Oh yeah, I need to figure out the 'cost' of Slick's level-draining scimitar. I'm sure it will be something minor. Acne, maybe pattern baldness...