Session 020

• The party are discussing the revelations of the dinner they just had.
• Uganda leaves the room in a fuss; still quite frustrated with what transpired.
• The party; having had a very long day, all make their way to bed.
• A breakfast feast is had in the mess hall where Will Ferrell talks with Randall alone, gifting him the painting of a fish that Loogan had made for him. Randall blushes.
• As their conversation comes to a close; Randall asks Fill to let him know if there’s work he can do - given he’s now out of a job with Halia dead.
• Uganda is not seen at breakfast either.
• Illsaiim Aasthmir returns to Phandalin after completing a 3 week long job for Halia Thornton and is now looking for payment.
• Phandalin’s layout has changed again, the buildings are larger, more well furnished, and made of higher quality materials.
• The party; minus Uganda who is still missing, alongside the rest of the people of Phandalin are escorted to the main exit port of Gala Tirion.
• At the same time; Illsaiim disguises himself as a normal Elven male wearing the Wyng Corps attire and deceives the guards to make his way up to the floating island city.
• Kellam Oladi is suspicious of Illsaiim and dispels the disguise and dashes forward to catch the Shadar-Kai male but trips as he begins his movement - causing him to barely miss the target.
• Illsaiim is given no other choice but to jump off the edge of the city and use Feather Fall to safely land on the ground - using his proficiency in stealth to hide just on the outskirts of town.
• Kellam follows the man down using the transport disc and realises that the guards at the front were deceived. He gives Fill a Wyng communicator to use for a singular travel request alongside with any information about the mysterious man.
• The entire populous of Phandalin are escorted down to the town below before Amylthas flies away.
• Illsaiim hides out as he sees an half-elf man; Ander Praze, and a dragonborn man; Leodel, head towards the Miner’s exchange he was just at. He overhears a conversation between the two before they enter the building and lock the door behind them.
• Ander is comforted by Leodel as he grieves the loss of Halia. During this, he warns Leodel of getting too involved with Halia’s associates - as she was connected to a dangerous organization called Zhentarim.
• Leodel notices a letter with the letters “ZT” embossed on the front lying on Halia’s desk addressed to Alberic. He stashed the letter for safe keeping before the two men heard a knock at the door.
• Refusing to answer their calls for identification; Illsaiim waits for the door to be opened, to which Leodel eventually caves and obliges.
• The conversation is brief and weapons are drawn before Ander calms the situation down and it is clarified that Illsaiim is just looking for his pay. Ander asks Leodel to escort him to see Randall who should be able to close up this part of Halia’s affairs before anyone nefarious or otherwise gets involved.
• Meanwhile; the rest of the party explore the town. Mike and Fill visit the new Stonehill Inn while Salvador and Alberic enter into a new, unmanned/unmarked shop on the eastern side of the town.
• The two human males are greeted by a dark skinned man with very orange eyes who calls himself The Gambler. After a fair bit of discussion and negotiation, Salvador and Alberic purchase a magical Longsword; The King’s Reach, and amulet; Medal of Opus, from the man respectively.
• With their purchases complete, the entire structure known as Devil’s Seven blurs and then fades from existence - leaving the two human men in the open field it was just located in.
• Both Alberic and Salvador feel a sharp pain in their side before a wave of exhaustion comes over them just after hearing the Gambler’s voice say “that’s my real payment…“. Both of them are brought with an inch of losing consciousness.
• Meanwhile outside the Inn, Adabra bumps into Fill and Mike and asks the two for their help in finding a new Townmaster’s Hand - given that Vok, Loogan, and Ander have all stepped out of the race and the other two candidates are now dead.
• Fill suggests Randall for the job and Adabra approves of the idea - asking him to be brought to Harbin personally before any decisions are made.
• Both Mike and Fill, and Illsaiim and Leodel head back to the Underground Fun House to find Randall. Alberic and Salvador make their way back to rest up after their energy had been drained by The Gambler.
• The party all run into each other and Fill speaks to Randall; who look to be trying to stay hidden in the newly created room in the Fun House Tavern. Fill first speaks about Illsaiim’s payment and then about the job of Townmaster’s Hand. Randall shows interest in the position but asks if Harbin might come to him; to avoid any unnecessary visibility while Halia’s associates clean up her affairs. He’s worried he might be a loose thread in their eyes.
• Randall agrees to help Illsaiim get the money he’s owed. Leodel and Randall head back to Halia’s study and through a convoluted contraption involving a 20 sided die, a bag of money is released from the underside of the main desk.
• Illsaiim is given the 75 gold he was owed and pays Leodel 5 gold for the assistance in finding Randall. The party then take a moment at the bar and are giving some Barollan Wine which reminds Illsaiim of home.
• Leodel finishes his drink, and heads into the back rooms of the Fun House to relieve himself of stress. Exiting shortly after to hand Alberic the letter he found before heading back in.
• Alberic recognises the seal on the letter and knows it can only be from Zomon. He orders another drinks and reads the letter out-loud:

I’m standing on the edge of a cliff. The waves are crashing, breaking, and water is spraying onto my face. The next moment I’m in a field of flowers and light green grass. I’m as peaceful as I’ve ever known the concept. The moment that I give into the peace - I hear a foreboding voice penetrate my mind and my soul.
”Beware… The Violet Horde arrives.” and suddenly all I see is destruction. A wave of monstrosities; far worse than an fiend or fae creature could dream of becoming, rolling towards me and consuming everything in their path.
The world - torn to shreds around me and I am helpless to do a thing.
The last thing I see before I myself am consumed is a pale man with purple fire in his eyes, wearing a white mask that covers his face barring his mouth. “We’ve taken too much time to get around to cleaning up this mess.” is all I hear and feel before I am forced awake. - Zomon Truthtaker in his letter to Alberic

• Alberic; unsure how to process the letter, heads outside to complete a short rest with meditation. Illsaiim follows behind after asking Mike Hawk for work - based on a respect for the lack of judgement felt from the elven man about his own race.
• Fill runs off to find Harbin and get his approval of Randall. A quick conversation is had at the front door of his estate; which has been decently improved by the magical renovations that have affected most of the town.
• Fill appeals to Harbin by explaining that not only is Randall probably their best and only option, but he was quite capable as Halia’s assistant. Fill picks up on the energy that Harbin has concerns about letting someone connected to Halia’s business close into his own personal circle.
• Harbin shows apprehension before relenting that Fill is likely correct and asks to meet the man. Mike and Fill return the Underground Fun House with Harbin.
• Harbin approves of Randall and asks that the party find Adabra and ask her to visit the Townmaster’s Hall to finalise the process.
• Salvador, Fill, and Mike leave the Tavern to visit the Lionshield Coster, the Stonehill Inn, and Barthern’s Provisions respectively.
• Meanwhile, Alberic and Illsaiim head towards the Miner’s Exchange to see if they can find any more information or clues about Zomon’s location. Upon arriving out front; the two men see the door left wide open.
• After careful investigation of the space with no indication of cause; the two men enter the building cautiously.
• The door is shut directly behind them and two men dressed in black cloaks and attire appear from the shadows. Illsaiim recognises these men as members of Zhentarim.
• Alberic inquires about Zomon and they state that they might have information if the right trade is proposed. The men offer The Bussy Knights work as a prerequisite for information trade about Zomon’s location. The two men are given time to discuss the offer with the other party members as they are gestured to leave the room.
• Upon leaving the room, both Alberic and Illsaiim forget the details of the conversation that was just had - just that they need to visit the Miner’s Exchange later today for further information if they want the work.
• Salvador runs into the proprietor of the Lionshield Coster who very bluntly states she doesn’t know where Adabra is and needs to see her herself. She offers Salvador 10 gold if he can get her to visit before the end of the day - he haggles her up to 20 gold and agrees to the deal.
• Fill enters the Stonehill Inn and runs into a half-elf woman she recognises as Lamoira. The two share an awkward moment of realisation before Lamoira breaks the silence explaining that she’s surprised to even be alive. According to her, Ander Praze vouched for her story that Dagult had been supernaturally persuasive with many of his bodyguards and associates. She apologizes to Fill for any trouble she caused the party under his influence and offers to make it right with them however they see fit. Fill asks if she has seen Adabra who confirms she was headed to Barthen’s Provisions to resolve any issue with stock-keeping due to the sudden renovation of the building.
• Mike sees Adabra about to enter Barthen’s Provisions as he waves her down and explains the situation with Harbin and Randall. She decides to head their straight away - leaving Elmar’s problem for Randall to resolve. She says she’ll meet the party back at the Tavern for their payment when it’s all done-and-dusted.
• The party all regroup at the Tavern for a short while before heading to the Miner’s Exchange; minus Leodel who is still in the Fun House, and notice the door is closed this time.
• Illsaiim again checks the side of the house with no extra information before picking the lock on the window, entering the building silently and hiding on the stairwell.
• Mike attempts to knock on the door as it is opened for them. He and Salvador pull out their swords; of which Inheritance glows a bright teal, as both of them and the rest of the party enter the building. The door is shut behind them promptly.
• Alberic recalls the conversation from early now that he is in eyesight of the two men from earlier. The two men explain that Zhentarim are interested in hiring The Bussy Knights to resolve an issue in Neverwinter caused by the power vacuum left behind by Dagult’s death.
• They detail a powerful figure called Oskar Kryme who is reported to be running the underworld in Dagult’s absence. There are even rumours he’s sought supernatural powers to ensure his takeover is as seamless as it can be.
• Zhentarim feel this needs to happen within 7-8 days or it will be too chaotic and risky to snuff him out without further insurrection from the underworld.
• The party are given 24 hours to decide if they accept the mission or not. They are gestured out of the room once again as they head towards the Fun House; being waved down by Adabra. She rewards them 300 gold for their part in the election process as well as thanks them for saving her from taking the position.
• The session closes the party splitting the money and discussing the next plan of action.