Narrative

Day 11, 26th Dec, began with morning announcements. Pentra city mages were on high alert because of an attack on the barrier, and Justicars were reporting to major settlements. The Shields of the Accord reported an army moving airwise, led by a Baron. Loggers at Pine Springs were missing. Heavy blizzards had made travel to Rimesatch impossible, trapping scholars. Goliaths from the firewise deserts were seeking refuge in Dunenseed and Sawtooth. Creatures of Air, led by a six-armed monstrosity, had pierced the barrier, though the colleges denied this was possible. Bonstock reported gnoll activity. Riversmeet had suffered a break-in at its menagerie, with black market confiscations and a 50 gp fine. Everchard’s villainous Earl had been ousted by the sheriff and brave deputies, with his nefarious activities thwarted and restoration under way. Hartswell and Goldenswell armies were clashing with a giant roaming firewise of Hiylden.

The party headed to Seaward. The city was laid out in perfect circles of houses, with a colosseum-like building in the middle used for horse and dog races. An airwise path entered the city, with wagons going back and forth full of the marble-like material used for the buildings and roads. A shield pylon stood outside the main city walls. The population was noted as elves, dwarves, and gnomes. The marble-like material had a dark blue vein effect.

At about 21:00, the party parked the cart at Paynes horsebreeder and went to the colosseum, where a forge charger race was scheduled for midday tomorrow. Seaward was run by the Stonemasons Guild and an elf. The party found the Rotund Rooster Rooster inn, where Tiffany was associated with the inn. Roads were closed due to winter, so there was no ice. The inn did not have fresh water and had to order it in.

The party also learned about another inn option: the Night Candle, on road 7, ring 3, described in the notes as “Water by Earth, Water, wine or Night candle.” Rumours in Seaward said water elementals could walk through the barrier. There had been altercations with the council. A collective was working on the water problem, which had been present for about the last [event?] 20 years.

Racing names and sponsors were noted. Chunky Chicken Cooker was sponsored by the Rotund Rooster Rooster and had been redesigned; it used to be a griffin and was a favourite. Payneful Gamble had a bad pit start time. Thunder [belch/belch?] was another name. The inn had apparently been attacked by water elementals, or there was uncertainty around that, and someone who worked at the cliffs said no one else had been attracted or attacked [uncertain phrasing].

One mysterious charger was owned by someone outside the usual circles, maybe an outside duke or Earl. A halfling asked Invar whether the party had any skulls, specifically green-skin goblin skulls, for his master. The halfling was not allowed to say who the master was, only that he was from around here. The name Chalky was associated with this skull-buyer. The master paid well for clever people’s skulls.

The party went to the Night Candle. It was candle-lit, with plush furnishings. The notes again record that the reason for the barrier was to keep the elementals out, but rumour said they could walk through it. At 3 am, a goblin peered into Dirk’s room.

People, Factions, and Places Mentioned

Pentra city mages, Justicars, the Shields of the Accord, a Baron, Pine Springs loggers, Rimesatch scholars, firewise desert goliaths, Dunenseed, Sawtooth, Creatures of Air, the six-armed monstrosity, the colleges, Bonstock, gnolls, Riversmeet menagerie, Everchard, the Everchard sheriff and deputies, Hartswell, Goldenswell, Hiylden, Seaward, the Stonemasons Guild, Paynes horsebreeder, the Rotund Rooster Rooster, Tiffany, the Night Candle, water elementals, Seaward council, Invar, Chalky, Dirk, and an unidentified goblin were all mentioned.

Items, Rewards, and Resources

The morning announcements mentioned black market confiscations and a 50 gp fine after the Riversmeet menagerie break-in. Seaward used a marble-like building material with dark blue veining. The party parked the cart at Paynes horsebreeder. Racing names included Chunky Chicken Cooker, Payneful Gamble, Thunder [belch/belch?], and a mysterious charger. Fresh water in Seaward was scarce enough that the Rotund Rooster Rooster had to order it in. Chalky or his master paid well for clever people’s skulls, including green-skin goblin skulls.

Clues, Mysteries, and Open Threads

The barrier attack, Pentra mages’ high alert, Justicars reporting to major settlements, and creatures breaching the barrier all point to wider instability. Seaward’s water problem, rumours that water elementals can walk through the barrier, and the pylon outside the walls are major unresolved threads. The water problem may have lasted about [event?] 20 years. The skull-buying halfling, Chalky, the unnamed master, and the request for clever people’s skulls remain suspicious. The goblin peering into Dirk’s room at 3 am is unresolved. The mysterious charger owned by an outside duke or Earl may also be relevant.