Rescued

August 11, 2016

Bellytimber gets the group on the trail of the lost dragon.  The group is quite surprised at how focused he is and remains on it.  The clues lead to the sewer and Hali brought a piece of Misty's scales, so Zendryl was able to find out where.  It turns out to be under a tavern in Ordellia ward, called The Blade and the Head.  Bellytimber doesn't go into that, though, and instead finds a grate leading to the sewer.  

The rest of the group watching this are amazed by Bellytimber's focus.  He's not usually this good about staying on task especially in this timeframe.  As they head to the Blade and the Head, though, the group realizes that Bellytimber hasn't noticed they are being followed.  Indeed, he jumps into the sewer, along with Hali, rather than confront these pursuers.  It's four Variasians, two male and two female.  Before they come forward, one of the males leaves.  The others call to Bellytimber and aren't happy when he jumps into the sewer.  The group is not prepared for their attacks, though.  I mean, sure, they are being targeted but it's not with blade or flame, but illusions and enchantment.  One of the women tries to beguile Kull but he is able to shrug it off.  He just pushes her out of the way.  Another throws a vial that explodes with webs, entangling Fei-Hung for a few rounds while he struggles out of it.  The male still around starts singing as well, trying to distract them with duplicates of all of them, rather than just him.  It takes a while before they are driven way.  Fei is able to take one captive, thinking they will need her with the captured dragon.  She proves to be quite unwilling, screaming, spitting, and even biting until Kull knocks her out.  

Going into the sewers, they find an open secret door.  Expecting a trap, they instead find a corridor that could be set up for an ambush but instead is just a checkpoint.  Fei tries to get the Varisian to say the password but she doesn't say anything.  Frustrated at the effort to get her there, Fei finally leaves her tied in the hall way as the group goes forward.  

Very quickly, they find a large room where Misty is tied down.  Groups of people are taking big chunks out of her flesh.  There are many alchemical tables setup for brewing and distilling.  The smell of dragon blood and flesh lingers in the air.  Bellytimber and Hali lose it.  A breath weapon from Bellytimber breaks up the guards, allowing Hali access to one group cutting at Misty.  Fei, Kull, and Zendryl aren't far behind, taking out groups of guards or other.  Soon Misty is freed.  Hali and Bellytimber take her out of the sewers.  The rest linger behind to look around.  Zendryl realizes that the equipment here is quite valuable but also that it would take a while to pack it up and get it home.  A passageway beckons to them and they investigate.  

At the first door of many down the hallway, while looking around, Kull, Zendryl, and Fei find themselves in darkness.  They can't see anything.  Movement in the hallway has Zendryl firing a fireball down the hallway but while they hear the rush of the ball and the explosion, they see nothing.  Fei picks the door's lock but it's still dark inside.  Moving inside slowly, he avoids what he thinks are bear traps!  Thinking they can figure it out inside, the others moved toward the door.  When Kull hears the snakes in the room, though, he refuses to go inside.  

Go to the stairs and you will see again.

The voice enters Fei's head and he says they should go to the stairs.  The trip is slow, feeling their way, but slowly they can see again.  Their vision returns at the base of the stairs.  Zendryl takes a step back and finds himself back in complete darkness.  The others lead him out and it isn't until they are at the top of the stairs Zendryl's vision returns.  Deciding to mark it for later, they head back home.  

Meanwhile, Bellytimber and Hali take Misty back home.  She's incoherent and mumbling, so they give her some healing and then get her to start the healing trance.  Once she is settled they can only wait.  

When the others return, they wonder at what happened but go back to their room.  Slowly, they all realize that there is extra stuff.  It was tough to tell with Bellytimber, as he has collected so much, and it falling out of the wagon was no big deal.  Bellytimber soon realizes that there is more than he can carry in the wagon and doesn't know why he would have some pieces of pre-Chelaxan influence on the Shoanti, when he's not that interested in that period.  Zendryl finds nothing in his room but everyone else had something extra in their rooms.  

5 points

GM Notes

• We are getting the hang of Fate, with a few missteps here and there.  
• I really liked the darkness they were in down in the sewers.  It was annoying and potentially bad but more for drama.  It allowed me to have something happen that was mysterious without it being anything fatal.  
• I also like how we can define things as it comes up.  I do think the players have a good idea of their characters, so when I asked if they were orderly in their rooms or not, to have something extra happen, they could decide then.  And what they decided fit for their characters.  
• It's really teaching me about knowing what's important and letting the group fill in the details when we get to them and working well. 
• I will say that we aren't really following Alaznist's (my) plan for the group.  This is fine!  It does throw me off a little as they keep wanting to go back to her.  It makes sense from their perspective but I think I may need to redefine a few things from that angle.
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