Session 3: Arrival at Rivermark

General Summary

Summary:
The party arrives at Rivermark with Elira’s request in mind: to find hard evidence linking the Merchants’ Guild to the attacks on the King’s Highway. The bustling river town is alive with trade, politics, and tension. The Guild’s presence is palpable, and open confrontation could be dangerous.

Nikfon splits off, using his familiarity with the city to investigate discreetly. He visits old contacts in the shadows but receives only veiled warnings: “Keep your head down, or you’ll lose it.” The streets know more than they say, but fear keeps lips sealed.

Ash and Azahel head to the Temple District. Azahel visits the temple dedicated to the goddess of trade and fortune. Ash instead feels drawn to the grove beside it, where he meets a strange, elderly druid. The old man speaks cryptically, suggesting that Ash is now “awakened”.

Meanwhile, Gorun tries to discover any leeds about the refugees.

Later, the party regroups and turns its attention to the Guild Trading Post, where they attempt a quiet infiltration. They manage to search the records office and uncover critical evidence:

• Shipment manifests showing unusual reroutes to the Comfortable Wolf area.
• A sealed letter referencing Elias and a payment from the Skarm chapter.

While rummaging, they draw the attention of a Guild Enforcer. A mid-ranking official, he confronts them and offers a deal: forget what they saw in exchange for 200 gold. The party refuses.

A tense fight breaks out. The guards are tough but untrained. The enforcer proves a more competent foe. During the scuffle, Nikfon escapes through the chimney and flees over the rooftops, vanishing into the alleys of his home city. The rest of the group barely escapes, regrouping at a safehouse Nikfon once used as a child.

Key Events:

• Arrival in Rivermark and split of the party for independent investigations.
• Ash’s cryptic meeting with a druid in the temple grove.
• Nikfon’s failed attempt to extract information from his old street contacts.
• Gathering of damning documents from the Guild’s record room.
• Battle in the Guild compound.
• Nikfon’s daring rooftop escape.
• The party regroups in hiding, smuggled out of the city by Nikfon's contact.

Notable NPCs:

• Guild Enforcer – Offers a bribe to silence the players. Fights to protect Guild interests.
• Street Contacts – Warn Nikfon to back off or risk his life.
• Temple Druid – Gives Ash a vague but powerful vision.

Loot & Clues:

• Shipment manifests showing redirection of cargo to the bandits.
• Secret letter mentioning Skarm's involvement and payment to Elias.
• 200 gp bribe offered and rejected.

Next Steps:

• Decide whether to return to Elira with the evidence or use it as leverage.
• Plan how to confront the Guild or expose its actions.
• Determine what role the druids and refugee network may play in the greater plot.