Session 55

As Dain and Summer move about the city to look for supplies, Eskall decides to take the opportunity of being in a large city to rob someone. He sits on top of a rooftop overlooking an alleyway and summons a mastiff which he orders to steal the food of some random nobleman who is passing by. The nobleman chases the mastiff into an alleyway where Eskall then drops down behind the man and orders him to hand over his money. The man refuses and launches a Firebolt at Eskall. There is a brief scuffle that ends with Eskall chopping the man's arm off and fleeing to the rooftops to hide after passersby on the street notice and call for the Enforcers.

Dain pays a visit to the blacksmith and after hearing the outrageous price of buying Mithral ore at resale value, decides to just purchase Mithral armor that the blacksmith had already created, which was much cheaper. Meanwhile, Summer visits the stable to purchase some horses for the journey ahead and then moves on to Bruno's Bodega, where she purchases some general goods before overhearing a random patron in the store speaking in what is very clearly Thieves' Cant to Bruno, the shop owner, and it appears the patron is attempting to ask about Bruno's "private inventory", but Bruno tells the man to wait until Summer leaves. There is then a commotion outside and Summer runs out to find Eskall attempting to steal a cart from in front of Bruno's shop. A man across the street who owns a neighboring business was shouting at Eskall calling him a thief, which caused the local Enforcers to come running. Summer tackled Eskall to try to keep him from getting away, but Eskall managed to free himself and dropped a Darkness spell to cover his escape. However, he was not fast enough to reach the alleyway he was running for before an Enforcer approaching from the opposite end of the street noticed him and gave chase. The Enforcer used some sort of spell to create fireworks in the sky, presumably to alert other nearby Enforcers. Eskall attempted to knock the man down, but it was like running into a brick wall, and the man threw him to the ground and put his sword to Eskall's throat. Eskall struggled to escape, but was unsuccessful. After some other Enforcers arrived, they arrested him.

Dain continues shopping, buying some healing potions for the party at Agatha's Draughts checks out the local magic shop, named Caladrel's Curiosities, ultimately trading in some magic items he did not need, the Ring of Force Resistance and the Rod of Energy Protection so that he could purchase the Wand of Fireballs as an upgrade to his staff. He also visits a jeweler shop named Oberhelm's Lapidary to purchase diamonds that Eskall could potentially use to cast Revivify should the occasion arise. While there, he notices the owner, Tavon Oberhelm using a curious tool to cut the gems that appears of Dwarven make. He questions Tavon about the item and is told that he purchased it years ago from a merchant passing through that had visited Greentide and that it was one of the best purchases he has ever made.

The party decides to spend the night at the Cowardly Prince Inn, where they enjoy a meal of a curious spicy gravy-like soup in a bread bowl before heading out the following morning to inquire about Eskall at the Enforcer's HQ. They speak to the receptionist and are told that Peren Galanodel, the Captain of the Enforcers, would be sentencing him tomorrow. They speak with Peren briefly who says that while him stealing a cart or even robbing the man would most likely just land him in jail for a couple weeks, the assaults on the Enforcers and chopping off the man's arm could lead to a death sentence if the man, Ethren Miritar, decides to press charges, as he is a noble of some minor importance. He says that they could speak with Ethren and try to persuade him not to press charges, but that due to the assaults and robbery, he would face fines and possibly other consequences. He tells Dain that they have already confiscated the gold taken from Ethren, but an additional 200 GP in damages would be sought, as well as anything that Ethren asks of them. They are given Ethren's address, and set out to the Moonside Terrace district.

The party arrives at the Moonside Terrace district, which is an elevated area of the city where wealthier folk live, and are greeted by a couple of Enforcers at the gates. After explaining their business, they are let through and after finding Ethren's home and knocking on the door, they are greeted by his wife, who says that Ethren is very tired and recovering from his attack. After explaining their business and their intentions, his wife is shocked and angry that they want to free the man responsible for her husband's attack, but she decides to let them speak to him at least. The party speaks to Ethren, who is just as outraged as his wife that they would want to free Eskall. The party explains that he was crucial in freeing Eldham from the undead and that he is not an ally, but a useful tool that could be used to save the city and bring the necromancer responsible to justice. Ethren is still unhappy, but after Dain offers to find a way to get Ethren his arm back, he seems at least open to the idea. Dain makes mention of their former compatriot Anlon having told him what clerics are capable of, and how he could speak with the high priest at the Temple of Astix in the city and make a donation to have the man restore Ethren's arm. Ethren agrees to drop charges if they accomplish this.

The party makes their way to the Temple of Astix and speaks with the high priest, an Elven man named Ilrune Holimion, who agrees to restore Ethren's arm, though it will require great effort on his part and he requests that the party make a donation to the temple in return. Dain agrees to make a donation of 500 GP to the temple, and Ilrune sets out to perform the ritual.

After leaving the temple, while the rest of the group heads out to explore the city, Dain visits the Ars Aurum Academy, a school for fledgling magic users run by the Sorcerer's Cabal, and speaks to the receptionist, and learns a bit about the school. She tells him about the schools of magic taught at the academy, mentioning that while there are 8 schools of magic, there are only 7 spires, as one school of magic is forbidden in Arak. She tells Dain about the services at the school, including access to their libraries and practice with their instructors (for a fee), as well as the ability to pay for classes ala carte. After speaking with her, Dain hears a familiar voice and turns to see Tabitha walking from the direction of one of the spires holding some books. They have a brief exchange where Dain fills her in on everything that has happened, which does not surprise Tabitha in the slightest given their past exploits. Dain questions why she is there and she tells him that she arrived in Mythwell without any kind of plan, but that she just knew she didn't want to run an inn for the rest of her life, so she used the money from the sale of the Dead Goose to pay to enroll at the academy, and that she has taken a particular shining to Transmutation magic, showing Dain a couple cantrips she has already learned. Dain then heads back to the Cowardly Prince Inn and the party relaxes for the night before heading to the jail to collect Eskall.

At the Enforcer's HQ, the party attends Eskall's sentencing, where a humiliated Ethren arrives with a stump of an arm beginning to regrow, and delivers his judgment. A representative of the magistrate, Tordynnar, arrives and passes judgment, sentencing Eskall to be remanded into the party's custody for rehabilitation, and Eskall is permanently banned from entering Mythwell, to which Eskall replies "Good! This place sucks!". The representative collects the fees from Eskall's pouch and the party tells Peren to keep him in custody until morning when they come to collect him. After another night at the Cowardly Prince Inn, they collect Eskall and set off on the road to Avanfiaran.