Charles Plemons' Blog

Game summary for July 11, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Neko (Half-Orc Magus played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The group hurled dung grenades in at orcs and hobgoblins on the other side of the door but missed direct hits.  Fortunately, the splash radius still affected them.  The orcs fired arrows, and one of the hobgoblins cast flame strike.  Neko threw a fireball and hit most every enemy in the room and set the barricades on fire which began belching thick smoke.  Edonna cast haste, much to the team’s delight; however, they soon discovered the enemies had a similar effect on themselves.  The group began moving into the room, and the orc goons went down pretty quickly.  The hobgoblins, quite skilled rangers, proved quite formidable against humans (obviously a favored enemy).  Their sickles slashed through defenses and devastated the team. 

The group put pressure on the foes, and the battle priest cast righteous might.  Neko took a beating from a hobgoblin ranger, and Khesen was slain by one!  Helg was able to channel positive energy and heal his allies while Edonna blasted away with spells like voidmote.  Hekera moved into fight the hobgoblin battle priest and was throttled by the magically enhanced humanoid.  The ranger moved to flank and put even more pressure on.  However, the party had put enough damage on the foes that suddenly the began dropping as the team tried to press through.  Finally the priest was cut down by Hekera. 

The party investigated a cell and found it occupied by an unconscious dwarf.  Helg healed him, and they learned his name is Fescus Foamflagon.  He was a lost adventurer separated from his party and trying to make his way back to the Yawning Portal tavern.  He gifted them a magical axe allegedly from long-lost Gauntlgrym, a dwarven kingdom.  The dwarf then departed to find safety while Helg put out the burning barriers.  The smoke was thick but not dangerous, and the team decided to make camp and use magic to recover Khesen.

Game summary for June 27, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Neko (Half-Orc Magus played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Edonna did an amazing and calming draconic dance which soothed the savage dragon.  The two began to converse, and it found out they were seeking a clowder of tressym to take back to Bral.  The dragon understood the situation as to the tressym would be unwilling to go; the party argued they were rescuing the tressym, much to the dragon’s disappointment.  While talking, the door behind them opened.  An orc swung it open while a hobgoblin hurled a small object through.  The orc then slammed the door shut.  Immediately, a swarm of wasps filled the area and began stinging many of the team.  The dragon slipped around the party and flew down the hallway to escape.  Jiraiya and Helg were poisoned by the stings while the party tried to fend off the creatures.  Helg used create water to make them angry (but clean) while Hekera swung his sword through them several times.  Komorebi hoped to put them to sleep to no avail.  Edonna cast firebelly and began breathing upon the wasps while Khesen hurled a dung grenade among them.  Neko used detect magic to confirm the swarm was summoned, so Komorebi cast dispel magic but failed to overcome the magic.  Helg then tried his own dispel magic successfully! 

With the wasps dispelled, they focused on the door.  Peeping through the keyhole, they could see several humanoids in the darkness.  Edonna, Komorebi, and Jiraiya all bellied up to the lock and failed to pick it.  So, Neko cast sunder barrier which rattled and battered it, but it remained standing!  He blasted it with a second sunder barrier, and it blew in off its hinges while several of the team reared back to hurl dung grenades in the opening!

Game summary for June 13, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Neko (Half-Orc Magus played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

On the other side of the door the team found a pair of enraged hook horrors accompanied by a very young and feisty black dragon.  Neko cast shield and stepped back while Edonna cast haste on the party.  Helg hit both hook horrors with a blazing flame strike while Hekera and Khesen closed in.  The dragon breathed acid on Hekera but was unable to line up anyone else in the effect.  One of the hook horrors died under the assault, but the other shredded Hekera’s armor and peeled it off his body before biting a chunk out of his now-exposed hide!  Helg cast righteous wrath of the faithful to further augment the team.  Khesen used an unarmed strike to slap the dragon, and it was soon knocked out while the other hook horror took a hit from Neko’s rainbow blast.  Khesen then took out the last hook horror. 

With the dragon unconscious they searched the room and used a rope to tie up the dragon which Khensen then picked up and carried around.  They found a sack filled with gems and coinage.  Meanwhile, Jiraiya searched the only other door for traps and found none.  He tested the door, found it unlocked… and also trapped.  A poisoned arrow slammed into him, but he shook off the poison.  On the other side they found a hallway illuminated by sputtering torches.  He and Hekera moved down the hallway and triggered a spiked pit trap.  Both slammed into the pit bottom, and Hekera was also hit by a spike.  Jiraiya had two potions of fly and gave one to Hekera, and both flew out of the pit.  They then paired up and flew the rest of the team across the open pit. 

On the far side of the pit, the team decided they needed healing before moving on.  Helg channeled positive energy but forgot to exclude the unconscious dragon.  It came awake like a scalded dog and began trying to breathe acid through the rope holding its mouth shut.  The rope dissolved as the dragon thrashed and shook, spraying acid all over everyone in the very tight quarters.  The group is now in a very confined space with a 50′ spiked pit blocking one direction, a closed door into an unknown area in the other, and a furious dragon in their midst. 

Game summary for June 6, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Neko (Half-Orc Magus played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The party got up and decided to scout Shou-Town a bit before meeting with Councilman Ozamata at the Red Lark tearoom.  They found a nearby tattoo parlor, and Helg and Edonna purchased elaborate tattoos and used magic to recover more quickly and get the entire work done in the day. 

The team met with Ozamata, and he told them he needed to raise some capital and could go through the effort of liquidating some assets but he could perhaps help them in exchange for coin.  He would allow them to buy into shares of Ozamata Trading and earn regular annual returns.  He would also go about proclaiming the party’s affiliation with his house, which would earn them some protection from the very angry Boris “the Butcher” Steelbeard because Ozamata knows Boris lacks the means to openly war with him.  Ozamata would not require any service of them or have any claim to their time; it is simply an arrangement wherein he raises some quick cash, and they party garners a bit of reputation and affiliation on Bral to fend off the riffraff.  The party agreed and invested 5,000 gp.  They also asked Ozamata to keep them in mind for short term employment.  He told them he may be in touch and that with their reputation with the arson incident and their affiliation with him, others will soon coming looking with job opportunities as well.

After the meeting, Neko and Edonna got Ozamata crane tattoos to further “prove” their affiliation. 

The group returned to the Laughing Beholder and were approached by an armed man calling himself Lodan representing House Eirenfezt.  They wanted to hire the party to travel to Undermountain on Toril and meet up with merchant Ludavic Snerd and bring back a clowder of tressym.  They offered to pay 500 gp per tressym, provide transport, rights to all treasure discovered while on the payroll, 20 gp per party member in advance, and 30 gp per surviving member when they return.  With Toril only an hour away by Spelljammer vessel, they agreed.  The group flew to Waterdeep, the City of Splendors, went to the Yawning Portal inn and paid to go down to Undermountain.

Within the dungeon, they found their map was mildly pretty inaccurate.  It was probably mostly somewhat right at some point in the past.  They came to an area where the map said go straight but there was now a heavy stone door surrounded by symbols and three stone buttons overhead.  They pressed a button and were hit by magical flames.  They debated a bit and hit another button.  Again, they burned.  More debate and another button, and they were thrice flamed.  Helg channeled positive energy and healed the party.  They pressed a combination of buttons and again were burned.  Neko stared at the symbols and figured out the pattern and riddle.  He strode up and entered a combination which successfully opened the door!

Game summary for May 30, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Neko (Half-Orc Magus played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The party arrived at the courthouse and discovered people were standing in the streets and temporary vendors were set up selling food and beverages.  There was an overall excitement to the crowd.  From snatches of conversation, they overheard lots of people were gathering around the docks by the jettison to “get a good seat.” 

The low magistrate watch was out in force to keep the peace as best as possible.  Humans, dwarves, hadozee, giff, rastipedes, dragonborn, litorians, lizard men, tortles, and even stranger creatures roamed about in a throng of energy and eagerness.  Off to one side people marched about waving signs and yelling “Out with arson!  Out with arson!”  Entertainers moved through the crowd playing instruments, performing acrobatic stunts, and juggling various colorful items.  They noticed one motley man on stilts doing tricks and attracting a crowd.  A nondescript woman flitted among the onlookers, and they noticed deft fingers slipping coins from pockets before she disappeared into the chaos.  A number of muscular men and women wearing the belts of various animals and covered in tattoos and battle scars chugged tankards of beer.  They began drinking long before these pulls, and they chanted “Jettison!  Jettison!” 

Pushing their way into the courthouse, they could see there was little difference inside.  They had seen saner madhouses.  The courtroom itself was somewhat calmer.  At least the watch prevented people from coming in armed.  The gallery was packed, though, and people chanted “Jettison! Jettison!”  They realized the gallery was allowed to bring in their tankards and flasks.  The opposing barrister, an older human woman named Jenni Train, talked with the crowd while awaiting the magistrate.  “Oh yes, 32 arsonists flung over the walls on my watch.  Jenni Train delivers!  Remember, when you want someone dead, Jenni Train!”

The far doors opened, and a shackled and gagged Neko was marched in wearing a bright yellow tunic.  He was met with boos and jeers.  “How many gulps do think the scavvers will take, Pa?” they heard a young girl ask her father from the gallery.  The answer was drowned out by the general commotion and circus-like chaos. 

“All rise!” declared the bailiff, a muscular half-orc in studded leather armor.  The low magistrate, Lady Wallaby, appeared and hopped to the bench, her wig and open black robes bouncing with every jump.  Her thick tail gave her balance as her large feet and powerful legs propelled her to the seat behind the bench.  Her pointed fuzzy ears stuck out of her wig, and her long snout ended in a furry, and quite honestly adorable, nose.  Her black eyes took in the court and she scanned the room.  Her nose twitched.  She took one of her short arms and rummaged around in a pouch, a fleshy fur-covered pouch on her abdomen, and pulled out a gavel.  She banged it on the desk and declared, “This court is now in session!”  Somehow, someway, Neko had found himself in a kangaroo’s court!

Seeing the party’s obvious confusion, Jenni Train smiled and said, “Awakening magic, cast several years ago by a mischievous druid.”

Lady Wallaby read the charge of arson against Neko and allowed Jenni Train to make her arguments.  Jenni talked and wrung her hands for a while, much to the delight of the crowd, but her overall argument was summarized, “Neko, an impulsive and dangerous spellslinger, nearly burned down our city.  He says he didn’t mean to.  That it was self-defense.  But he is intelligent enough to learn magic and yet he wants us to believe he didn’t know wood would burn.  Neko cannot go free.  He is smart enough to know what his actions would cause and yet blatantly did not care.  We are only safe from Neko when he is flung from the Rock.  Jenni Train!”

Komorebi stood and made his arguments in the defense of Neko.  Things started out going well, but after a short recess things started to slip away from him.  Both sides presented strong arguments, and ultimately Lady Wallaby fined Neko 20,000 gp but released him upon receipt of payment.  The crowd was not happy with the outcome, but Helg gathered the vendors and bought a round of drinks for everyone!  This acquired a lot of good will! 

The group returned to the Laughing Beholder and filled in everyone on the updates and bought drinks for everyone there as well.  The next day they went to their meeting with the elven Admiral, Marianon Silmara.  She read the letter and provided them with the sealed envelope to deliver to Cap’n Gyudd to authorize the “topping out” of the Perry. 

They then met with the old dwarven veteran, Cap’n Gyudd, and delivered the letter.  He told them he could start on the ship renovations in the morning, The team then went to the Perry and told the gnomes what was going on. 

The group returned to the Laughing Beholder and found it lively that evening.  Komorebi joined Daiyu on stage.  He provided her his hurdy-gurdy and magically summoned a lute to play himself.  Their performance was amazing, and it inspired Edonna to join in with a dance.  This got the crowd into the performance, and beer and money flowed steadily, much to Large Luigi’s delight.  Meanwhile, the group surveyed the room.  A trio of dwarves were working steadily to find the bottom of every tankard in the place.  Meanwhile, Helg went to speak with a young human man drinking alone at the bar.  Helg learned the man’s betrothed and cheated on him and left him, and he had signed on as crew aboard the Blue Whimsy, and tradesman heading for Krynnspace.  Helg bought him a top shelf whiskey and wished him well. 

Three well-dressed Shou men with topknots and intricate arm tattoos entered the tavern.  They noticed the party and came over to talk.  One of them, Yuan Zhang, sat with them and invited them to meet with their employer, Councilman Ozamata, at the Red Lark tea room at noon in Shou-Town.  The Councilman wished to discuss with them a common enemy, Boris “the Butcher” Steelbeard.  Yuan also presented them a gift of Shou figs, the fruit of longevity.  The team agreed to meet with the Councilman, and the trio bowed and left.   

Komo came back to the group, and they made a big show of sampling Thayan wine to get the attention of a nearby woman they believed to be a Red Wizard.  The act worked, and she called Komo over, invited him to sit, and complimented his performance on stage.  Her bodyguard, a dour hulking scarred man named Nethriss, did not seem nearly as impressed.  Komo learned there is a Thayan Enclave on Bral.  This woman, Halava Trent, is a merchant seeking exotic magic items to import to Thay.  Jiraiya came over and displayed his flayer flail (made from the severed head and braided tentacles of a mind flayer).  Halava seemed quite interested but warned them not to let Ishathrandra, head of the illithid embassy, see it.  The party was a bit surprised to learn nearly 100 mind flayers call Bral home. 

Alcohol continued to flow, and the group settled into the end of a productive day with a new lead on adventure for the morrow. 

Game summary for May 23, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The team decided to try and meet with archmage Gamalon Idogyr but were unsure how to go about it.  They returned to the Laughing Beholder, and Large Luigi was able to tell them he runs a magic shop, Gamalon’s Curios, near the Great Market.  They headed that direction and ran into a beggar the locals call Ren the Wretched.  The man seemed kind but had an aura of odor.  That did help part the crowd a bit.  Once they got to the store, Jiraiya shared his roasted crickets he had purchased earlier, and the slipped the man several copper coins. 

Inside, they met with Gamalon.  The man was polite and did not seem hostile to them after the events of the night before.  They talked for a while, and he agreed if questioned at the trial he did feel they were trying to help in the fire situation and were working to mitigate the damages.  They then discussed some potential purchases, and he showed them some sails of maneuverability for sale for 11,000 gp.  The team told him they were considering the purchase after The Perry gets topped out.  They asked where they might purchase magical items of a divine nature, and he recommended some of the pantheon churches.

The group sought out the Valhallan temple and discovered with the proximity to Toril, this branch had a heavy Tempus influence.  They talked briefly with the priest and then purchased a scroll of raise dead to replace the one they had to use to revive Helg earlier. 

The team discussed a bit and decided they did not need to end up in some kind of situation that would cause them to miss the trial and they have done all they can think to do to improve Neko’s odds.  So, they opted to return to the Laughing Beholder and try to stay out of trouble for a couple days until the trial. 

Game summary for May 16, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

The group had breakfast at the Laughing Beholder and asked Luigi if any of the magistrate clerks ever frequent the establishment.  He told them a woman named Theda comes in about once a week and that Daiyu knows her pretty well.  Daiyu’s shift wasn’t set to start for another hour or so, so Komorebi began performing some local songs to get the crowd ready for Daiyu to arrive.  She came in, recognized the songs and joined in.  Afterward, they talked about Neko’s plight and Theda.  Daiyu knows Theda and was able to tell them about her and how her husband, Branon, died recently, leaving her widowed with a 5-year-old son.  The group went and met her on her way to work at the courthouse, talked a while, and convinced her to make sure the trial occurred with Magistrate Wallaby in exchange for some financial support for her son. 

They left Theda and went to Ferguson’s Bank to setup a fund for the widow.  They met with banker Sigmund Ripanu who was happy to meet with their money.  The party setup a 2,000 gp 13-year annuity for the family as a payment for a “business arrangement” with Branon paid out posthumously.  They also ended up adopting not one, but two, kittens from Sigmund, in part for his discretion. 

Next they went to visit Neko in jail.  They had to bribe their way back and learned the rumors of Bral’s prison system is as terrible as advertised.  There they healed some of his wounds and let him know they are working on his defense. 

Then the party went to see the old couple whose home was damaged by the fire.  They used mending to restore some of their items and then met with a dwarven contractor and paid him 1,000 gp to immediately start repairs on the home.  They got the couple to agree to testify to their efforts to restore what was lost.  The team also setup housing at the Laughing Beholder for the couple until the repairs are completed.

Finally, they visited the low Magistrate’s office and met with a halfling investigator named Jocelyn Boyer.  She was incredibly bored and disinterested until they mentioned maybe being able to bring in the gnoll from the high-profile arson case.  She was instantly intrigued and eager to get the gnoll in custody.  The team left and got the gnoll and brought her in.  Detective Jocelyn arrested her and began telling everyone how she made such an impressive arrest!  In talking the team somehow then agreed to teach her to play cards at the Laughing Beholder. 

Game summary for May 9, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Komorebi used his mnemonic vestment to utilize this scroll of cure serious wounds and recover from many of his wounds.  His adversary decided he’d had enough and tried to flee but was run down by Hekera.  Khesen laid out the other ogre in an impressive flurry of face punches.  Stanley unleashed a barrage of shocking spark spells to zap the gnoll and take out the freelance thief.  Khesen was able to knock out the gnoll, and the team restrained her. 

The team dragged the outside bodies into the building and searched the corpses and area.  They found a series of drafts of ransom notes and learned a shocking couple of facts:  1) Joey is really Josephine, and 2) she is the illegitimate daughter of Prince Andru! They located the girl in a storeroom below the building and began questioning her.  In the discussion, they informed the young child of her father’s identity and quickly realized she had no idea.  They dumped all the bodies in the storeroom and fled with Joey back to The Laughing Beholder. 

Talking with Large Luigi, they learned Joey really is the Prince’s daughter but that Luigi is hiding her for her safety.  There is concern her life may be in danger due to the Prince’s reputation.  With others knowing about this, such as Boris, she is no longer safe on Bral.  The team offered to call in their favor with the Wa embassy and get the girl into exile with Needle on Toril.  In exchange, Luigi offered to owe them a favor.  He also went to the tent peg shop and disintegrated the bodies within to avoid legal entanglements. 

The group then went to their rooms to rest a bit before going to talk to the Wa embassy. 

Game summary for May 2, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Stanley (Tieflng Sorcerer played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Sturion returned after arranging a meeting with the party and one of Bral’s Underbarons, the Juggler.  They went to an old warehouse to talk with her.  They agreed to do her a favor “soon” (she indicated she would call in whatever it is soon before they depart from Bral) in exchange for information.  The Juggler gave them information about how the court system works on Bral and some advice on ways to improve Neko’s chances for a more positive outcome.  She also hinted about bringing in the gnoll that attacked them so the public has someone else to blame for some of the guilt of the fire.  Finally, she let them know the gnoll and her press gang were working for a pirate named Boris “the Butcher” Steelbeard, a relatively new criminal player on Bral.  He “recruits” pirate crews by kidnapping travelers.  Although he is currently away from Bral, his team is operating out of a place called Torvey’s Tent Pegs. 

The group returned to the Laughing Beholder to inform Luigi and then went to investigate Torvey’s hoping to find either the gnoll or Joey, or both.  Edonna crept up close and cast detect thoughts and learned of several people inside playing cards, including an ogre!  The group devised a fairly solid plan and cloaked everyone except Helg with invisibility.  Helg then beat on the door.  A man inside called out asking what he wanted.  Helg then began spewing some nonsense, which at first the man believed.  Confused, he began discussing with the other occupants and caused some squabbling.  The man opened a port hole in the door and talked to Helg more, but as he provided more details, the man began realizing things were not adding up at all.  The man slammed the porthole (and slid the bolt to unlock the door so the party could come meet the resistance).  Inside, the foes started spelling up and preparing to slip out a secret back door and ambush the party. 

The group threw open the door to come in.  A ja noi oni priest cast spiritual weapon while an ogre mancatcher, and a freebooter slipped out the secret door.  Jiraiya saw them and began waiving frantically in warning while Khesen charged through powered by Komo’s inspire courage and Edonna’s haste.  Stanley (still invisible) slid up behind Jiraiya and caressed him with a spell, whispering “you’ll be rock hard, baby all night.” Yeah, he cast stoneskin.  Helg went in to put pressure on the gnoll spellcaster, and she was only able to fire off an obscuring mist. 

Jiraiya then charged into the fray through the fog!  One of the ogres hacked a gaping wound into Helg and then whipped him to the ground.  Out the back, Khesen took out the ja noi oni while a freebooter and another ogre came rushing around the building only to run into Hekera, Komo, and Edonna.  The other freebooter flanked Helg while Komo hit the outdoor foes with blistering invective which demoralized them and caught the ogre on fire!  The horrific sight of a towering burning ogre became even worse when the nearly panicked creature used its hook to snatch Komo, fling him to the ground, and stomp him nearly unconscious.  The freebooter took a hit from Komo in exchange for better positioning where he then used sneak attack and inflicted a nasty bleeding wound. 

Stanley, still invisible, sneaked into the building and tried to protect Helg by casting shield.  However, shield is a personal-only spell, so he just protected himself.  Helg then stood up and discovered the sad fact the ogre has Combat Reflexes.  Between the ogre and the freebooter, Helg didn’t have a chance and was murdered by their assault!

Outside, Hekera killed the burning ogre mancatcher.  Will Komo survive his severed arteries?  Will the team be able to resurrect Helg?  Can they take the gnoll spellcaster alive?  Is Joey somewhere in the building?

Game summary for April 25, 2023, Chronoshift: Spelljammer campaign, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, for Phoenix Gaming Club. Session included: Edonna Match Wushu Lu Klighke (Dragonborn Oracle played by Casey Scruggs), Hekera Nephera Mawhesk Vyk’sebekenka (Sebek-ka Fighter played by Preston Harmon), Helg Ingvar (Aasimar Cleric played by Chris Harmon), Jiraiya (Hurwaeti Freebooter played by Andrew Renfrow), Khesen Pavel (Human Brawler played by Parker Harmon), Komorebi (Kitsune Bard played by Josh Jenkins), and Neko (Half-Orc Magus played by Peyton Harmon). Game Master for this session was Charles Plemons.

Neko ran across the flagstones and hurled himself into a pond, which reacted to the alchemical reagents dousing his body and burned even brighter!  The rest of the team began organizing the citizens into a bucket brigade.  Helg healed several people and then went into the flames to begin dousing with create water.  Komorebi inspired the old man to greatness and hauled him through the flames to safety.  Finally, Neko’s flames went out.  Meanwhile, Gamalon Idogyr appeared via a teleport and cast a summoning to bring in a huge water elemental to fight the flames.

The City Watch also arrived and began questioning people.  They separated the party and interrogated them one-on-one while clerics came in and used speak with dead on the corpses.  After gathering all the information they could, they arrested Neko with the charge of arson!  He was taken into custody and taken to jail to await trial in three days.  The rest of the team tried to do a bit of damage control, and Edonna even gave a divination reading to a pregnant citizen regarding her child. 

Back at the Laughing Beholder, they recounted their woes to Large Luigi.  They all realized Joey was missing, and Sturion went off to find some people who could have information.  In the meantime, Edonna cast a scrying and was able to see Joey, huddled and crying, in a dim storage area.  After debating, Edonna and the party came to the conclusion that it is unlikely a moving ship, but it is possible it is a docked ship. 

The group now needs to find and rescue Joey and also come up with a plan for a legal defense, or perhaps some kind of bribe, to get Neko out of his troubles!