1. Ostensibly a Stealth Mission

General Summary

Background

After spending a few weeks at Grover's family farm, Abi and Grover convinced his family that they needed to pack up the farm and seek shelter in the nearby city of Stolvari to wait out the storm.   The whole family (and many of the other nearby families in the Domain) have been in the city Stolvari throughout the worst winter storm anyone can remember. Abi and Grover made themselves useful as survivalists and fisher folk, becoming honorary members of the Unbreakable Lines Fishermen's Hall. Our story picks up as the storm has broken and the first signs of spring are starting to show.  

Day 1

We find ourselves relaxing in a bar this evening drinking unusually magical drinks. The bar is a favourite haunt for local wizards, all of whom are engaged in a complicated game involving illusion and motion magic to remove wooden blocks from a tower without sending the rest of them toppling. Unfortunately for the barkeep it seems that none of them are interested in dulling their wits and so the drinks are heavily discounted for anyone willing to drink. Grover enjoys a beer that sends his voice up an octave while Abi suffers through hiccups with bursting bubbles of glitter.   The evening is interrupted by Waldorf, a Junior Master in the Unbreakable Lines Hall. He has come seeking help as his thirteenth sister, Medera, has caught the frost tip sickness and the healing halls won't treat her until it has worsened. She might lose her hands and feet in the meantime and so the family turned to the Twilight Miracle Hall, a healing hall known for being unscrupulous about how they choose who to heal. They healed her but then kidnapped both Medera and his eight sister and agreed to release them in exchange for the keys to the Unbreakable Lines salt hall.   Waldorf hopes that we will be able to free his sisters, who are being held in the Twilight Miracle Hall outside the city.  

Day 2

We set off to walk over the ice to leave the city and avoid being spotted by anyone who might report on their whereabouts to the Twilight Miracle Hall members. As we attempt to steal a rowboat we run into Sink, a seemingly friendly troll who helps us steal the rowboat and guides us towards the Hall.  

Use only words you mean.

  Over dinner that day Sink begins to teach Abi the art of alchemy, showing her how to form an alchemist's flame. While Sink's flame is green and well-controlled, Abi's is crimson and extremely hot. They produce several nightcreeper pills which will allow the consumer to sneak around undetected.   Before bed the plan is formed: Grover will try to get a disguise from one of the other dwarves around while Sink and Abi use the pills to accompany him inside.  

Day 3

The plan is put into motion with Grover wandering out, nude, calling that he had been attacked and his clothes had been stolen. He is greeted by Senior Apprentice Sister Neri, who guides him into the Hall as three other dwarves spot Abi and Sink and attack them and kill them.   Inside the Hall Grover finds himself completely unable to resist telling Neri the complete truth about why he's here. Clad in robes, he follows her back outside to deal with his friends. Fortunately Abi and Sink take the pills and cut down Neri before she is able to turn Grover against them completely. We then sneak in through a side tunnel.   Within the tunnel we encounter a few more guards, kill one as an example, and then gain the co-operation of the other. He directs us deeper into the cellar where we find store rooms full of booze, fish, robes, combustibles, and the two shivering sisters.