The boys were busy after our run in with the Shadow Assassins. Raelin, Nine, and Friz went to the Nerull church in the Craftsman Quarter…the god of murder…the church is not very welcoming but may be our only lead to Obscura. They checked out the Tea Shoppe at night and saw a dark showdown leaving and there were lights in the upper floors.  They also went passed Snargras’ house and noticed that while no more watch dogs – there are other guards around.  Samus found out that the Dead Gull is for sale.  And Friz finished Hugh Homunculus.  I feel that for my part…I cooked and fretted, but we all have our strengths I guess.

We ate our hot turkey sandwiches and fried potatoes and decided we should go see Meera Ryng at the Tea Shoppe before heading to the church.  On our way we meet up with Sam in an alleyway.  He has many new items but we only are able to procure the Scroll of Fireball and Ear of Eavesdropping  before we were recognized by a bounty hunter Krot and his crony Marple.  Samus easily dispatches Krot, who seems to be the leader, and Marple tells us there is another one Forkle who has been told to shoot us with arrows when he sees us.  Nine hits him a little too hard and we stash the two bodies as we hear a commotion coming from the streets.

We go to the entrance of the alleyway, and there in all his glory is Drax and his entourage of his demon guards, Cedric Tunney, Cromwell and bringing up the rear, the sniveling Snargras.  Drax never comes to the University District – why is he here?  Did we do something that has caused him to focus on our district, putting everyone in danger?  People kneel as he passes, heads down. I hiss to the boys to follow suit and Drax stops in front of Samus and tells him to kiss his boots.  I feel Samus tense and for a heartbeat I think he will refuse, but he doesn’t and kisses his dirt and dung laden boot.  He has the good sense not to wipe his mouth until they are far down the road from us.  We do catch Drax and Cromwell talking about the protests and the students…what did those students say to me?  They were protesting the regime…I was so distracted that night over Obscura that the conversation was a blur.  Drax going after the students…here in the University Center.  My mind was whirling, but I pushed it back, focusing on the task at hand and finding Obscura, the students would hold…hopefully.

Samus said nothing and I touched his arm knowing it cost him only pride and that we can afford if we defeat Drax and his regime in the end.

We head to the Fanciful Tea Shop on Clover Street and as we walk in we see the one horn Tiefling that Obscura had describe to us.  I go up and ask if she is Meera Ryng.  She mouths “RUN” and then her back arches and she cries out as a blade comes through her chest and there behind her is half snake lady with lots of arms.  Meera drops to the ground, her sightless eyes staring up at her murderer. The snake lady attacks and before we can defeat her she disappears, but not before she tells us that Obscura never arrived at the church – they are still looking for her.  So if they are still looking for her – who the hell has Obscura – Drax or could it be Notty’s kin who didn’t take kindly to us killing her. 

There are two other rooms on either side of the main tea shop. We try one and there is a large toad demon in the process of eating a halfling. At his feet are 3 humans all bound and gagged.  We dispatch the demon and find that the three living are Nancy, Meera’s cleaning lady, Nils and Filminster, customers and apparently lovers.  Nils is of the noble quarter and is well connected.  We send the three on the way.  Nancy tells us the dead halfling is Randy Small Pig and herbs dealer.

In the other room is another toad demon filling a sack full of goodies.  We dispatch him back to the hells he came from.  We look around for clues and sweet Nine brings me a tea set with blue bonnet flowers.  I could hug him for trying to cheer me up.  We also find golden candle holder, several other tea serving sets, lamp oil and lamps, Friz takes horns, ocre, teeth, claws and tongues of the toad demons. 

There are herbs for everything and Friz and I are giddy with the possibilities.  We cover Meera and go up the back stairs to the door that is locked.  Nine breaks down the door and Friz and I use mending and prestidigitation to get it back to looking like no one has broken in.

The second floor was Meera’s small home.  We find:

Pouch – 1 med gem/4 small gems/62 gold/7 sp

Chest – 125 gp/1 sp

Gold/Silver Jar – 56 gp

Haversack (Magic) (F)

Set of lock picks (R)

3 potions (magic)  - Heroism (S), Speed (N), Water Breathing (BH)

Ink/Quills, parchment and 3 blank books (A)

2 great rapiers (+1) (BH)

1 great shield (+1)  (N)

Small jar of Silver and Gold  - 56 gp

Silver tea set (Kitty)

Deck of cards (A)

Wine Goblet(A)

Honey (A)

Silver Tray (A)

2 bottles of Sweet resting (one is ½ full) – 1 tempoary HP per level long rest (take before long rest) S/N)

Keg of good wine (A)

BOOKS (A)

·        How to win Friends

·        Dragon with a Girl Tattoo

·        To Kill a Manticore

·        Eat, ?? and love

·        Chronic Soup for the Soul

·        Bah?? Shrugs

·        Seven habits of Highly ??

·        Legend of Atlas

·        Merfolk Companion

·        Forever and Always

·        Prince of Reality

·        Common Women of ??

Recipe for Potion of Speed (F)

Scrolls of (A)

·        Confusion

·        Charm Person

·        Hunger of Hatar

·        Armor of Agathys

TEAS: - NOTE all teas can be brewed and are good up to 24 hours AFTER brewing. We take one unit of each and the rest stays at the tea shop (F)

·        3 Jasmine – calms

o   Advantage to Saving Throws against being Frightened (last 1 hour)

·        4 Spearmint

o   Advantage on Constitution ST (24 hours)

·        6 chamomile

o   Immune to poison – 1 hour

·        2 Frost Lily

o   Immune to extreme cold/resistance to cold damage – 24 hours

·        2 magmire

o   Immune to extreme heat/resistance to fire damage – 24 hours

·        1 ember

o   Spits the fire bolt cantrip (we didn’t take this one)

·        12 Bitter Black

o   3d6+4 HP and resist from being charmed

·        5 Aundra

o   True sight

·        1 Silver needed

o   3 key points or 3 spell slots  - 24 hours

·        2 – Hearth Cherry

o   3d6 HP

·        1 Rock Root

o   Cure petrified condition

·        2 Windblend

o   ½ damage when falling

·        3 Maple seed ?? 15’ bonus movement

·        2 KaKow –

o   Cure blind/deaf

·        2 Canlear

o   Cure Charm/immune to intoxication

·        6 Moonblossom

o   Proficient in Persuasion and Performance

·        1 Oakbark

o   Resistance to non-magical weapons

·        3 gibbery

o   Understand all language written or spoken (72 hours)

Some notes about the Tea House – we should give it to ARTS as a front in the noble quarter and run it- gathering information. Can also be a safe house of us and other ARTS operatives. Can split the profits. Say that Merra has left for and extended visit to cousins after her ordeal and left the Shoppe in the hands of her good friends (whoever ARTS puts in the shoppe).

Things left at the tea shop:

·        Wax and Seal for ARTS to create orders

·        3 goblets

·        3 mugs/plates/silverware

·        Cooking pot/ladle

·        Tea Set

Notes heist to steal payroll from Raux:  Raux is the Capitol City of the Great Kingdome – home of Ivid the Insane. Ivid made Drax one of the undead Generals of the Great War.  We should try and get Iron Wolf uniforms.

Next session –

·        Going to Lifton Wales – guy who put the bounty on our heads

·        Church

·        Snargras

o   Need disguises.

May need to think about some disguises and laying low as we are bringing too much attention to ourselves with the bounty.