This is my take on what took place this week ... and if you think that because we went back twenty-four hours, things will repeat themselves, then you are in for a big surprise!
So, the group resumed their place in the queue to board Thinkertop’s ship.
This time, everyone ignored Elandra, even though she was immediately in front of the group and was bubbling with enthusiasm to get aboard. As we reached the shoreside end of the gangway, Mankare (the Shadowmancer) noticed a man in a hood at the top of it. He immediately put his hand into Elantra’s shadow, pulled out one of his spirit entities to pursue the man as he disappeared inside. Unfortunately, it lost him.
Bumble (the Stormshifter) attempted to fly aboard in the guise of a bird, but as he approached the side of the ship, an invisible force field stopped him and a giant hand appeared above him and indicated that he was a magic user!
Our party eventually reached the top of the gangway, and after being greeted by Thinkertop’s assistant, Nordian (the head of the ship's security team) – who did not acknowledge Ragnar (the Berserker) on this occasion – made everyone hand over their weapons and the magic users to put on the magic-cancelling bracelets.
As this was happening, a commotion broke out when someone just ahead of us refused to hand over their weapons and were thrown overboard by two of the guards. Whilst this was happening, Munch (the Songweaver) noticed a small man dip his hand into the chest everyone was having to put their weapons and other possessions into … and then disappear into the gloom. Munch identified him as Umber, the halfling hustler who claims to be able to get hold of anything that you want.
Once aboard, Vale (the Shepherd) asked a servant to provide him with a live chicken. This was done, and the bird was immediately named Tofu. Munch then asked a servant for assistance in helping Umber … but this request was politely declined although they did agree to pass on a message that Munch wanted to meet with Umber.
Mankare asked the portal to take us all to where the Silamane twins were, and we were transported to the ship’s Great Hall. The twins were surrounded by people and – with the exception on Munch and Bumble – we joined the group.
Munch had seen a Umber in the corner of the hall and he and Bumble approached him. He was very evasive, but did eventually allude to his possession of a potion that could enable the user to override the bracelets for fifteen minutes … but the price as huge and he refused to indulge in a wager with Munch for it. He did – however – intimate that he would swop the potion for the recipe for Cockatrice in mushroom sauce ... and he also sold Bumble a 50’ rope!
Munch and Bumble 'negotiate' with Umber.
Whilst this was happening, Mankare began speaking to the twins about a life-changing situation they were about to find themselves in. They followed him to one side of the room, and protected by Ragnar, Vale, and Callistra (the Hunter), he disclosed that we had knowledge of the future … and that one of them was going to die during a robbery that was intended to steal one of the amulets that one of them wore.
The twins were stupefied by this information and did not believe what they had been told until Vale showed them the amulet he had taken from Thinkertop’s body. Callistra also intervened and tried to convince the twins that everything that they had been told was true.
Mankare explained that the twins’ amulet was a necessary part of a ritual that was going to be used to summon a titanic demon, and in support of this, Vale described how he had been possessed by the cult’s magic and that he had seen a priestess summon the titanic demon using a book and a dagger. Mankare then asked to touch the amulet, which – true to its function – told the twins that they had been told the truth. Callistra then asked the amulet to tell the group if Thinkertop would help us to stop what might happen … but its answer was undefinable.
Mankare explains what will happen if the group cannot stop it.
She then invited the twins to accompany the group to meet Thinkertop, and they agreed. Callistra then told them about the Hooded Men, and warned them to be alert. The twins became somewhat agitated by this, but when they were told about singing in the garden to the wisps, they began to calm down.
By his time, Bumble had decided to go to Elandra’s room. Once there, he told her that she was in danger and that she needed to collect all her things and to come with him to his room. She began to panic, and in the hope that he can calm her, he told her that he is from the future and what had happened. Elandra protested, and wanted to call the guards to protect her, but Bumble told her that they were useless. Eventually he persuaded he returned to the ship’s Great Hall.
Munch planned to go to the kitchen to get hold of the recipe for the forthcoming special meal that Thinkertop had planned, but before he did so, he told everyone about the potion that will disable the bracelets and that he had used an ability he has to enter Nordian’s mind to ‘see’ an important event from his life … and disclosed that Nordian once led a mission to kill an enemy force and was the only survivor, and that he had feelings of guilt that he led his men to their deaths.
Nordian remembers.
The group decided that:
- Munch and Johnny-Baptiste (the Cheat) should visit Nordian to tell him about what was going to happen so that everyone could get their weapons back and the bracelets removed.
- Callistra, Mankare, and Vale should accompany the twins to see Thinkertop.
- Ragnar would help Bumble to protect Elandra.
- Everyone would meet up in Bumble’s room in an hour’s time.
Munch and Johnny-Baptiste went to see Nordian, and after passing through the guarded door into the barracks, they told him that there was a group of hooded cultists aboard who were going to try to animate a dormant titanic demon. When they were asked how they knew this, they explained what had happened previously, but Nordian did not believe them and kept them in one of the cells. He did – however – ask to see Ragnar, who he knew would be truthful.
Callistra, Mankare, Vale, and the twins waited in the ship’s Great Hall for Thinkertop, and when he appeared to announce the special dinner he had planned, they managed to speak to him … and after Thinkertop spotted the amulet Vale had, he agreed to see them in his room in fifteen minutes.
Ragnar was accompanying Bumble to Elandra’s room when a guard asked him to go to see Nordian at the barracks. He reluctantly agreed, and when he got there, Nordian asked him what he knew … and upon hearing Ragnar’s version of events, Nordian seized one of the guards and commanded him to open his tunic and show his chest. Another guard attempted to avoid being asked to do the same, but Ragnar grabbed him and restrained him.
Ragnar tells Nordian that Vale and Johnny-Baptiste are telling the truth about what is going to happen if the group don't stop it.
On his own, Bumble arrived outside Elandra’s room, only to find four Hooded Men outside, attempting to get in. Hearing screams from inside, Bumble summoned servants to help him …
Bumble confronts four Hooded Men outside Elandra's room.
Unfortunately, I am going to miss next week's session ... but I look forward to finding out what happens!
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