Session 1: Salvaging the Soul

The session began at 07:30 with the party assembling at the Bounty Office to review the bounty board. They decided to accept a commission from High Chairman Winfrith to recover artwork and artifacts from the Albany Institute of History and Art.

Before departing, the group stopped for breakfast at the Flying Pig, a local tavern, then piled into Christine, Liam's armored truck. Liam initially set off toward where he thought the museum was located, but he became disoriented and accidentally looped back to Camp Hope. This detour proved fortunate, as they were able to pick up Jaxon, who successfully guided them to the museum.

Upon arrival, the party began by scouting the exterior. While circling the building, Giddeon spotted a terminal through a breach in the wall and called out to the others, drawing the attention of Art, an android who had been guarding the site for the past decade.

ART confronted the group and questioned their presence. The party explained their mission to collect and preserve the art, which initially upset ART. However, when Liam requested a tour of the facility, ART agreed and guided them through each exhibit, describing the artists and their work. After some dialogue, ART was convinced of their good intentions and asked the party to also preserve the institute’s digital archive.

Valiteen managed to restore power to the terminal, allowing the group to access and download the database. ART and Forseti Rom uploaded the contents directly into their minds, while Liam downloaded a copy to his tablet. This provided the party with a +10 circumstance bonus to History checks related to art and culture.

In the museum’s library, they found two salvageable books to later deliver to The Scribes for reward. Moving deeper into the museum, they found a stairwell and evidence that someone had recently been living there. Magical runes carved into the walls formed a protective circle, which Liam successfully interpreted.

Upstairs, the group discovered a ritual altar surrounded by a large pile of books and a mysterious font. The books revealed the mental decline of their previous owner, and the group chose not to disturb the ritual components. ART explained the font was created by Fenix in an attempt to comprehend the universe. When he touched its waters, he claimed to have instantly understood how to make explosives.

Other party members then interacted with the font:

• Liam gained +1 to his Commune skill, though this was not the outcome he’d hoped for. He passed his Sanity check.
• Forseti Rom received +1 to Nature and also passed his check.
• Valiteen, however, failed his Sanity check and gained an indefinite insanity effect.

The party continued the tour and were led to a final room where they encountered Fenix, who had succumbed to the virus (becoming a Zombie) and attacked them. After defeating him, ART buried Fenix under a tree near the museum.

They looted the site, recovering 10 intact paintings and 67 credits’ worth of engineering scrap. ART chose to accompany the party back to Camp Hope, becoming Forseti Rom’s sidekick.

Back in Camp Hope:

• The party delivered the paintings and database to High Chairman Winfrith, receiving 600 credits and 1 Renown each with the Town Watch.
• They sold the two recovered books to Meike Emidio Kendal at The Musty Pages for 100 credits.
• Each party member received 93 experience points.

The session concluded in the afternoon of 11/5/113 SE. The group now has six weeks of downtime before their next adventure.