Game-Summaries:7/15/2017 Recollections

Recollections by Jorg

Shander asked the Magistery to get rid of thugs occupying her inn because they’re driving paying customers away. I inform my out-of-town colleagues that running a racket in this district is not only odd, but unprofitable, given the risks. Ruffians guarding door are all clad in black and do not bear weapons.

Acting on Zanna’s plan to sneak in from the side entrance, everyone but I bumble in. Shander is rude and presumptuous, unaware that we were never provided details of her situation or the severity it poses. She tells us that the gang is holed up in the basement and calls itself the “Black Ice Gang”. Their apparent leader is Daka, who is not out front. During our talk, the thugs from the front door enter and Zanna tries to reason with them. Failing to see their retreat as the strategic move it was, we are berated by Shander as she informs us that the basement entrance is outside! Acting quickly, I followed the ruffians out the front door. I stopped one and captured another for interrogation, but the others made it to the basement before I could catch them. Thankfully, my companions flanked them and stopped another one from warning Daka.

Upon interrogation, we learned that the Black Ice gang is run differently than other gangs. This group of the Black Ice is run by Daka. The child was terrified of his situation, me, and his choices. Having promised mercy if he divulged all he knew, I released him and I doubt we will see him in the Black Ice gang again. I told Franklin to allow the child a position with House Dal’s guard training, but alas, I am uncertain where the child’s fear drove him.

Rezik, the macabre elf, wanted the severed head to scout the basement, but Zanna had already slipped in to scout dangers. I am becoming more impressed by Zanna’s resourcefulness, but Regex’s flair for the theatrical is very entertaining. Zanna and Sarya hear an ominous “Dakasuta hungry!” from behind a slightly ajar shelf-door. Two massive lackeys crash out of the hidden room.

I have trouble remembering how the fight occurred, but I remember narrowly dodging a BALLISTA BOLT and hiding behind my shield. My many injuries seemed to allow my companions to fell Dakasuta and her cronies. Afterward, I claimed Daka’s Light Ballista for my own and have Franklin carrying a Black Iron Greatclub wielded by one of the massive attackers. I figure I’ll keep this snowflake patterned patch of the Black Ice Gang as a memento, the others will probably submit it for evidence.

Recollections by Rezik

The day started in the library where I met up with Sarya, Jorg un'dal, Franklin, and Zanna. (Note to self - Jorgundal is an interesting man – if you can call him that).

Melvin, the clerk, informed us of our latest task. It seems a local innkeeper, Shander, needed help removing some thugs from her inn – this should be easy.

We started to the inn, and thankfully Jorgundal knew his way. When we arrived, we noticed a group of men outside. There were 5 or 6 of them, dressed in all black, but definitely weak and malnourished.

It wasn’t worth our energy to dispatch the men, instead we attempted to be civilized first. We tried to convince them to leave and let us in the inn, but when they refused, I began to lose my temper (Note to self – learn to control your emotions). Even my anger wasn’t enough to get them to budge, someone must have held their yoke tightly.

Since we were getting no where, Zanna decided to search the inn for another way into it. We found a back entrance. We attempted to sneak into the inn, but some of our group were not successful. Before the thugs from outside entered, we were able to meet Shander. who informed us that that head of the group was in the storm basement out back.

Once the thugs entered from outside, they recognized us and left to inform their superiors. We quickly attempted to follow, with the hope of holding them off and ruining our element of surprise.

It was at this point that the task became truly interesting. Two of the thugs made it into the basement before we could stop them. However, Zanna killed one before he could. Jorgundal, after chasing them from the front entrance, had decapitated another thug and incapacitated another.

We interrogated the incapacitated thug and learned that a woman named Daka was leading the group. We decided to enter the basement and take care of Daka.

It’s at this point I decided that an interesting distracting would be worthwhile. The head of the decapitated thug was the first of our party to head down the stairs into the storm basement.

When we got to the bottom, we noticed a secret door, slightly ajar, with light streaming out and voices. It turns out that the woman we assume to be Daka wasn’t alone. She had two others with her, along with the two thugs.

This is when the task got really interesting. Daka’s two bodyguards quickly attacked us through the door, as well as the two thugs. We defended ourselves and were able to quickly dispatch the bodyguards and one of the thugs. (Note to self – Severed heads are effective missiles).

At this point Daka (or the woman we think is Daka) joined the fight. She was a magic user and quickly pelted the group with magic missiles and then a firestorm that engulfed the basement. Nonetheless, our group prevailed and we were able to clear the inn of the thugs.

Once we had a moment to recoup our energy, we began to explore what was left of the basement. It turns out the each of the bodyguards and Daka had charcoal colored skin and were wearing snowflake medallions. I kept the one Daka was wearing as it could be a potential clue for the future.

Shander informed us that the snowflake symbol is the symbol of the Black Ice Gang. We’re not sure why they might be operating in this area (Jorgundal informed us that there’s not much to be gained from owning this area). Regardless, I think it’s worth further investigating – it seems they perform some sort of ritual on their members to change their appearance and make them stronger. It could be an interesting, powerful, magic.

Recollections by Zanna

In the aftermath of me barely getting out of the training dungeons alive I thought I would take a break and attempt an investigation mission that was posted on the board. (Maybe my role within the Magistery isn’t through fighting, but rather using my wit.) I meet up with my fellow initiates; Jorg, Rezik, and Sarya in the library to get a briefing of what the Magistery would like us to investigate at Shander's Inn. We go up to the Melvin the clerk (I remembered to ask his name and he gave me an answer!! Also, how many clerks are there? I have spent some time in the library and have not seen the same person twice) Melvin tells us that Shander has asked the Magistery to help take care of people that are disturbing her business.

After our debriefing we make our way to the tavern/inn district. On the way Jorg gives us a bit of a tour and tells us more about the city (I really tried to follow along and pay attention but there is something about Jorg that bores and irritates me and I can’t figure out why. He seems nice enough.) We find ourselves outside of Shander’s where we see 6 guys trying to look tough dressed all in black. We approach them and ask them if we can go inside, they tell us to move along. After all the talking I become impatient and go off to see if there is another way into the inn. I see a door on the side of the building and tell the group (there is always at least two ways to get into a building ;) ).

We get into the building to find Shander at the bar cleaning it. She does not seem happy to see us. (Apparently we were supposed to use discretion to get rid of her problem. Well, if she wanted it professionally done she should have paid the price to get better people, not initiates). Shander tells us that the boss of the goons out front is down stairs. She tells us that it is a slender woman with blonde hair but why the woman is here she does not know. We must have caused a bit of noise trying to get more information from her when the goons from outside come into the inn. They tell us to leave and treated us. They tell us that we do not want to have to deal with their boss. (It gets super tense and I can feel a fight is about to happen) I let the goons know that from the way they talk about their boss it sounds like it would be in their best interest that she not find out they let people into the inn. They agree and run out the door. (YAY diplomacy!!!! Kind of). As soon as the goons leave Jorg quickly follows them saying something about how they are getting more people or they are getting the lady. (so….. no diplomacy?? I really don’t understand how humans work sometimes)

Seeing Jorg leave Rezik, Sarya and I run out the side door we came in. Around the back of the building we see a storm door that looks like it leads to the basement. We see Jorg come around the other side holding a goon and the head of another goon. (Seriously? What is with this guy?) I decide to go and scope out the situation down stairs (this is what I do!) Getting downstairs I find two large rooms, one is for food storage for the inn and the other is closed off but I hear people talking. I let my team know. I see the head that Jorg was holding come floating down the stairs quickly followed by Rezik and the rest. (So it looks like Rezik can make thing float? That is pretty neat and I think it could have some really awesome applications when used correctly. I really understand what he plans on doing with the head, but I take note of the spell to look into later) Once again we are heard talking and we see two bodies fly into the room from the other room. They looked knocked out. I peer through the doorway that the bodies came from and see 2 guys and a lady that fits the description of the boss, who we find out is named Daka. They are wearing all black with a white snowflake on the chest. (I learn later that these guys were huge. In my defense almost everyone in Solace is huge.) The guys spot me and I quickly dash out of the doorway. They come out, fighting happens. Jorg is in the middle of both “giant” guys (Shocker!). Finally the boss emerges holding what looks like a ballista (What?!!! How?! :o! ) she fires it off and it misses Jorg. I see that she is going to be a real problem so I use one of the “giant” guys as a springboard and leap towards her (it was SOOOO AWESOME!!!!!) attacking her with my sword. Jorg and team take care of the other two. She is NOT happy and shoots clear bolts from her hands and the three of us. (Wowie!! I need to know what that was! I need that in my life! If it wasn’t coming at me that would have been one of the coolest things EVER!). Next thing I know the room is on fire. There was not much time to waste and I jump into action, stabbing at the wound I made earlier. She falls to the ground. We inspect the room and find ledgers (this might give us more information if we can research it) but not much else.

(I definitely need to learn some spells, because they looks awesome!!)