Last time…
We picked up with our adventurers the morning after the celebratory drinking. Pretty much the entire group overdid themselves, resulting in a few severe hangovers. Kal and Malic, both having tried to one up the other with Skullsplitter, were suffering the most. Luckily for them, Saren knows of a healing house in the city that specializes in curing hangovers, and it was close by. So the group makes their way there and, for a little bit of gold, cured their hangovers. They weren’t 100%, but they weren’t suffering from any mechanical penalties.
Journey to the Kings Citadel
Malic left early for the Citadel shortly after the party finished up at the healing house, deciding to make his way to the Ambassador Towers district of the Middle Central Plateau. His path of choice involved climbing aboard the various sky cars and gondolas that travel through the city of Sharn. Typically, travel to the Middle Central or higher of the city via vehicle cost more than the party would be willing to part with. Instead of taking the long way of climbing the stairs and dealing with various public transport, climbed on the back of a vendors sky cart and made his way upward.
There were a couple of times where Malic nearly lost his grip, or nearly didn’t make the landing jumping from one sky car to another. But, with enough successful skill checks, he was able to make it without much hassle. He made his way to the Ambassadors Towers district, rounding the corner only to see the rest of the party step out from one of the gondolas. A nice one from the looks of it, too. How did they get the gold to take the easy way up?
Had he been a little more patient, he would have seen Saren walk up to one of the gondolas and show the summons he received the other day. Malic wasn’t aware that an official summons would count as a free pass on the gondolas, saving roughly 100 gold per person. While Malic literally clinging for his life to the underside of a sky car, the rest of the party was sipping lemon water and sitting on some of the most comfortable cushions they’ve ever seem.
Within the Kings Citadel
The inside of the Kings Citadel is quite impressive, especially to the average citizen. The party makes their way into a semi-circular room. A single desk is flanked by two doors on the far side of the room, sitting behind it is a Gnome that introduces himself as Corporal Bronal Tuck. After a brief introduction, he speaks into a crystal ball on his desk and asks that the party please wait in the seating area for Captain Kalaes.
After a short time, the door to the left of the desk opens and Captain Kalaes steps in, asks that the party follow him, and then disappears down the hall from which he came. He brings the party into a conference room and asks them to take a seat. He begins to explain why the party was summoned and what was to be asked of them.
He starts by saying that they know of the Dhakaani artifact the party recovered in the Depths, and throughout the conversation it becomes clear that he’s asking the party to help in a clandestine mission. He wants them to travel to Droaam and assist the Kech Volaar with recovering the remaining missing pieces of the Ashen Crown. He says that the party will be provided with some mundane equipment and supplies to help them on their journey, should they accept the mission. He leaves the room and gives the party time to discuss amongst themselves.
The party deliberates and comes to a decision. They’ll accept the Captains mission, on the condition that they would get to keep any treasure or equipment they should find along the way, save or the remaining pieces of the Ashen Crown. Captain Kalaes returns, and the party accepts the mission. The Captain has the party recite an oath, searing to complete the mission to the best of their abilities.
With that, the party leaves the Kings Citadel and makes their way back to the tavern they’re staying at. Over drinks, they discuss the meeting, the mission ahead of them, and most importantly, what kind of equipment and supplies they should ask for. After all, it’s not every day that you get a high ranking captain in the Brelish army offering to supply your little party at no cost.