Session 3

The session starts along with a busy day in Spinnersfield as all those who had traveled to the town are now beginning to make their way home. Fulmin and Pent are both up and about on the town, watching as it comes alive with a heavy blanket of tensing and sorrow. Fulmin swings by the market to try and beat the upcoming rush, buying provisions for the journey ahead.

Back at the stagecoach, the party make small talk while they go about their morning routine.

Finally, Elric Hexgraft awakes and a long and heart-breaking talk begins. Elric explains that he started working for the Penderghasts before he knew who they or their intentions were. He was commissioned by an anonymous party who wanted him to develop a new way of storing volatile arcane energy. It was a standard contract, giving the commissioners exclusive first trading rights to the finished product. A few years would pass before Elric realized the nature of his employer and the usage of what he was making for them.

When he tried to end the contract, the Penderghasts revealed themselves and started blackmailing him to continue the work. They revealed that they knew he had stolen something from Averdon, a wizard of The Halls of Deep Knowledge in Kepjes. Elric later revealed that what he had stolen was Bright, whom Averdon had enlisted his help in trying to repair. He justified his actions by the fact that he considers Averdon a malicious man who would trap and study sentient objects.

As Elrics research proceeded, he was able to grant himself a modicum of safety by becoming a closer acquaintance of Tara Griffinroost. He couldn't explain his situation to her, but having her close by deterred the Penderghasts ever so slightly. Upon her death, they moved against him, resulting in his kidnapping. To keep himself safe, he suggests that he turn himself in to the authorities. In return for giving them information about the Penderghasts, he hopes the guardcaptain will help him travel to his contacts in Sor'Thige.

After his story, Bright conveys her intention to start traveling with the group. Elric is very hesitant to let her go but, as his heart breaks, he realizes he must let her choose her own path.

And so father and daughter part, hoping to find each other along their own travels.

Then the party all head out to make some preparations for their journey.

Pent goes to the market to purchase some platinum strands to turn into rings.
Hruila also visits the market, taking Hch'Krella with her, they purchase some feed for the camels and some much needed proper ale to share with visitors.
Fulmin visits the Divine Halls to make a general offering to the gods, specifically Veranas, the deity of beginning. He has a enormously awkward interaction with the Divine Custodion within.
Bright tries to look through the massive stagecoach, looking for tents or anything else that might aid them in their travels. She finds little other than a name carved into the underside of the wagons carriage "TARA".
Maaria decides to see if the lawyer that read them the will might be interested in helping them on their journey and so heads over to Griffinroost Hall. As he has removed any memory of their former interaction, he has no real help to offer.

Finally, the party meets up at the northern gates and decides to set off toward a spot on their map resembling a tattered banner.

Bright takes a moment to step past the border of Spinnersfield for the first time in her life, now ready to take on the world ahead.

And so begins the tale of The Secrets of the Crystal Bell.