Mini 15: Sonnelind Report

General Summary

12th of Keltier 1524 Continued   The party had come across a group of orcs attacks and attempting to capture a group of Firbolgs. They ran to the defense of the Firbolgs and were deep in combat. Nobu takes down two orcs while Allag tramples another to death. Two orcs retaliate to Nobu and one strikes him with a heavily blow by throwing a javelin from afar but the other misses with a greataxe. Isabelle backs up a bit and lets loose a few arrows at the nearby orc which kills it while Kaida attacks the chief. Balthazar burns an orc to death with his magic while Galanith does the same on a slightly larger scale and kills three of them.   Enraged, the chief nearly makes Kaida disappear with a powerful hit and also badly hurts Allag. Brienda yells at the chief to leave them alone as she hits him with some of her magic with Nobu moves in and finishes off the chief which brings the fight to a close as he wipes the blade on the orc's body before sheathing the blade. The firbolgs continue to cower as Isabelle comes over to reassure them that they are now safe. They thank the party for their rescue.   Galanith and Isabelle help those who are injured. They're very brusied and battered as a group. The worst one is the child and the berry helps them come round but they are very badly concussed. Galanith applies the power of Avani to the child to heal them. Nobu introduces himself to the leader of the firbolgs and offers to travel with the group for a short time. The firbolgs happily accept. The group checks over the enemies for loot and find a large sack of coins, a ewer, set of bone dice, small gold bracelet, a copper chalice with silver filigree, 2 scrolls and 4 potions.   The group has a short rest which finishes at 3pm. During this time Allag adds to his ear collection by pulling one off each of the orcs which Isabelle hides with the other ears. Nobu is suspicious of Allag taking the ears and talks to Galanith about this strange behaviour. Meanwhile Balthazar ritually detects magic and identifies what he can while the others rest. The scrolls and potions are magical. Balthazar leaves out one of the scroll but identifies the rest. They are identified as:

• 1 Charm Person Scroll (Level 1),
• 1 Potion of Healing (2d4 + 2),
• 1 Potion of Climbing,
• 2 Potion of Greater Healing (4d4 + 4)

Balthazar gets permission from the group to keep the scroll and the health potions are given out. Balthazar is asked to hang onto the climbing potion for now. Isabelle tells the group about the Warrens as she collects some nearby blackberries. Small communities of farmers and families around the Capital but they aren't towns. They have no shops or inns, but they have been known to let travellers stay overnight and will trade with travellers. They escort the Firbolgs to the nearest Warren on their way to the Capital.   By the time they get to the Capital at 5:30pm, Isabelle had two hands of berries. She uses the berries to dye the front portion of her and uses a scarf from Brienda to cover the back of her hair. There are patrols around the outer layer of the city and on watch at the gates, but they're not stopping anyone. Just keeping an eye out. When they get into the inner city, Isabelle takes them via some backstreets to get to what she thinks would be the best inn for them given her situation and Brienda's. The party notices that the buildings and everything in the inner city is significantly better then the outer city. There is a big difference between living inside the wall and outside the wall.   They arrive at the Fire Staff Inn at 6pm. It's in a housing and shopping district with arcane shops and an alchemist's society nearby which delights Balthazar. Speaking to the owner, they secure the suit for the night and get their dinner delivered upstairs. They speak with the stable about how to best manage Allag. Up in the suit everyone gets a room except Nobu who volunteers to sleep in the common space. Kaida will stay with Brienda in case she has a midnight walk.   Balthazar asks about Isabelle's history in this town. She left four years ago. Her and her family served under a noble here and Isabelle ran away with the help of another in a position of power. Isabelle is worried that she is a fugitive. Balthazar is worried if Isabelle doesn't come with them to their audience, it will lead to more questions. However, Isabelle thinks it will be best to stay with Brienda as then she is taking care of the group's ward which is mentioned in the letters. Isabelle only gave her first name with the location in the Northern Mountains. It would mean she would have a good reason to not be present. They want access to the libraries and should not mention who Brienda is until they are surer of their position here.   With this agreed on, Isabelle instructs the group on how to request an audience and how little information to give to ensure they do not upset or offend anyone. To give more information then requested, it is often poorly received to be presumptive. Isabelle and Brienda suggest the group get some new clothing and a bath before requesting the audience with the Baroness.   Dinner arrives and everyone eats. Afterwards Balthazar copies the Arcanist's Magic Aura spell into his spellbook before identifying the last scroll from earlier that day. It is the Catapult spell (level 1). With that done, he offers to use the spell on Kaida to help disguise her from those who might detect her true nature. He would like to start tomorrow night if he can since it becomes permanent after a month.   13th of Keltier 1524   Galanith is up early and just patiently waits for everyone else to wake up. Nobu gets up at 6am to due his morning calisthenics and is done by the time Balthazar wakes up at 6:30. Isabelle sleeps in until 7. Food is ordered by a half dressed Balthazar and when he returns Nobu confuses Balthazar with gaslighting him into thinking he was spreading rumours of her being a man. This leads to Galanith develops a headache.   When Isabelle is up Nobu asks her about interesting landmarks around the city that he might be able to draw. She recommends the castle, the parks in the Western slums, and the Oaken Grove. Galanith asks about temples. Isabelle explains there isn't really a temple to Avani here for her, but there is one to Sera, Haelyn and Erik.   Isabelle wakes Brienda up to make sure she eats. Balthazar enquires about baths and finds out they have one and will need a turn around to refresh water between people's baths with the cost being 5 silver. Balthazar has his bath at 8am while the rest of the party starts to get ready for their day. When he is done he heads out to find himself some fine clothing. Nobu gets his bath at 9am before he too heads out to find his own clothes.  

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Balthazar has some issues finding fine clothing. However, he ends up bumping into Nobu who ends up buying fine clothing at the same establishment as himself. Meanwhile they head back to the inn.  

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At 9:50am Galanith goes for her bath and just afterwards Balthazar and Nobu returns. Meanwhile Isabelle is counting the coins they got from the bandits and splits them up for everyone to have 41 gold, 9 silver and 1 copper. When Galanith finishes her bath she head out to get her own fine clothing and returns at 11am. At this stage the trio all have their nice clothes and head out to go and line up in their nice clothing, leaving Isabelle and Brienda at the inn. When it is her turn, Brienda enjoys a nice long bath.  

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At noon the trio reaches the front of the line. The notery that is seeing to people in the line takes their letters as a part of their audience request. The letter will be returned with their denial message if that is the case and if they are successful in gaining an audience then they will be returned then. They leave the inn as their place of current residence.   Afterwards, Nobu wanders off to the Castle area and climbs the merchant guild house across the square from the castle to start drawing the castle. Balthazar heads back to the inn area with Galanith. She goes inside while he goes book shopping.  

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As Galanith returns, Brienda is just getting out her bath in a very pruny state. Galanith fills Isabelle in on their time with the notary before Isabelle and Brienda head out to get their own clothing.  

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Balthazar find two books that interest him. The Collected Records of the Rogue: Now Edited and Enlarged, and Magic Aethyr. He pays for the pair and heads back to the inn to arrive at 1pm. When Balthazar turns only Galanith is there, he starts to read the book on the Rogue while Galanith patiently waits for others to return.  

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Isabelle easily finds some clothing for herself and Brienda. She gets Brienda a middle of the range outfit that undermines her station but could easily be accessorised to be of her station later down the track. Afterwards she gets a disguise kit before heading to the Oaken Grove to see Archdruid Günther Brandt.   The temple is doing better then when Isabelle was last here. They had settled into their new building since it wasn't long since they had moved in last Isabelle was here. Isabelle makes a small donation before speaking with Günther. He realises something is different about Kaida. Isabelle fills Günther in vaguely on Kaida and Brienda.   Realising Isabelle and her party will need political support in order to help Brienda and avoid the wrath of her old employer, he volunteers to try and influence the council into seeing the group as valuable. He suggests that during their audience they make themselves out to be investigators that would be happy to help the council on matters that need outside help. This should help them get access to the library and gain favour with the other council members.   Günther has something he needs help in. He can't leave the city without risking his temple not being here when he returns. So he will put this forward to the representing trio, but there is a chance other council members will put forward their own test of sorts. He warns Isabelle that Mheallie's friend and fellow council member Larra is currently in town as well and will be present at the council meeting instead of her temple's usual representative.   Isabelle asks about her parents and learns they are okay. Things were hard for them a year after she left but overall they're doing okay. Günther reassures Isabelle she is not in trouble legally for leaving. Nobles do not own their servants even if they seem to think otherwise. Isabelle did hurt Mheallie's pride and so there is a chance of repercussions especially with the resources the Lady spent trying to find Isabelle. Günther hopes that if they can get a positive reputation for the group this will be enough to protect Isabelle.  

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At 2pm Isabelle and Brienda return to the inn, while Nobu returns at 4pm. When everyone is back Isabelle fills the group in about Günther as an ally. The council consists of 10 people and the Baroness herself. They will trade their services as investigators for library access. Though the party should beware and stay away from the temple of Sera and their High Priestess.   Afterwards Nobu helps Isabelle with her disguise as the party relaxes for the rest of the day and stays in the suit until they head to bed.