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.
