Session XX: Facing Fear

General Summary

Slowly but surely, the party wore down the lone wizard's defences and evaded his summons, finally crippling him and knocking him unconscious.   Before he went down, however, he threw proverbial oil on the fire of distrust and suspicion already blazing between the party members when he taunted Zenora, saying, "What lies did you tell them to get them to fight for you, Zenora? From what I can see, most are Chalcedonian defectors -- ones with a price on their heads, if I'm not mistaken -- but I see you've also recruited a Prehnite savage. Impressive. What did you tell them? Surely they don't know what you've done."   Zaki and Horxim worked together to stabilize Vance while Wiinken and Calico rifled through his belongings and trussed him up, making sure he could neither use his hands nor speak to cast spells. Wiinken discovered a "Wanted" poster featuring garish caricatures of herself and Calico Jack promising a reward for Wiinken's safe return to Chalcedon and the arrest of her "kidnapper," the infamous pirate and smuggler, Captain Calico Jack.   A distraught Zenora, meanwhile, ran headlong into the still-burning tent in a desperate bid to find anything of use Vance may have left behind and was engulfed in smoke and flame. Luckily, Wiinken and Horxim noticed her absence and heard her coughing. They successfully dragged her from the tent; she is a sooty, signed, nearly hairless halfling with a lot of questions to answer.       It is the late afternoon/early evening of the 23rd of First Seed.

Rewards Granted

Vance's Spellbook: Contains many spells; notably, Misty Step, Summon Fey, Minor and Major Illusion, Shield, Mage Armor, Counterspell, Magic Missile, Hypnotic Pattern, and a spell that is coded. Vance's Staff: Allows the attuned user to summon one additional creature. Mysterious Key: The party finds a large, ornate key with no information as to what it unlocks. Potion of Greater Healing: +4d4 hit points Wanted Poster: Offers a reward for the return of Wiinken Fizzlefern and the arrest of her alleged kidnapper, the infamous smuggler and pirate, Captain Calico Jack.

Missions/Quests Completed

Pin the Shadow: The party successfully tracked down Zenora's mysterious assailant, identified him as Vance Pickerin, known lackey of the headmaster of the Deroleux's Select Conservatory of the Arcane, and neutralized him. He is currently unconscious but stable, bound and gagged.