Eric Stone Campaign
June 6th
A New Leader:
Eric hires a student that his brother recommended, Rudolph, a Shifter archeologist. With Rudolph hired into the group, Bjorn and Monet look to the new guy with the fancy diploma to provide intelligent leadership. Bjorn and Monet explain what has happened over the last few days. Armed with knowledge that they will have to oppose Kobolds, Rudolph heads out to the Morgrave University to meet with professor Fossin, a plan is brewing. Master Fossin has published several texts on ‘lesser races’ and should know about the habits and nature of kobolds. The meeting goes well, the prof is surprised that the kobolds have moved out of the sewers. This is not normal behavior for the species. ‘Something must have disturbed them.’. Master Fossin mentions that one of his graduate students, Tovin Young, can speak the kobold language fluently, and promises to send information on how to contact the young (40 year old) man. Armed with some additional information on the kobolds the group leader heads down to Vendry’s to meet his companions for lunch.
Vendry’s :
While Rudolf is at the university, Bjorn and Monet head down to Vendry’s. When they arrive Tad explains that Bosin wants to talk. Bossin explains that the trouble the group has caused down below is beginning to be noticed. He explains that a ½ elf, named Shell, is in the tavern and has been asking for them. Bossin does not think the gentleman is working for any of the local gangs so he has allowed him to stay. Bossin also explains that he has kicked out, a human, Reni, a probable agent for the Tyrants.
A Man in Need of Help:
Monet and Bjron decide to chat with Shell about current events. It turns out Shell is looking for people who want to oppose the Tyrants. Monet and Bjorn are un-intersted. Shell says if the group wants to change their mind they can contact fellow opponents of the Tyrants at the Oaken Tap in lower Menthis, just ask for Freddie.
Birth of the Razor Fist Gang:
After chatting with Shell, Monet and Bjorn notice a small gnome busy taking notes. They advance on the the gnome, Hesshian, and question him to learn what he is doing. Hesshian explains that he is a reporter for the Sharn Chronicle and that he is trying to write a story about the local gang war in Lower Callistin. When Bjorn and Monet learn that they can become famous, they tell Hesshian that they are the ones who have been fighting the Tyrants. With Hesshians encouragement the group names themselves the RazorFists.
Story logged and set for publication on notification. Triggered June 9th
“Citizens of Sharn, on the streets below a war is being fought, a war for the dark streets of the city below. As this story is being printed the Razor Fist gang is openly fighting the Tyrants, battling for control of multiple sections of lower Calistin. Elite members of the Razor Fists include ‘The Painter’, a man whose brush is a sword and who paints with the blood of his enemy. ‘The Smith’ stronger then a bull, he works the Tyrants like molten steel, shaping them to his dark desire. The two heavies of the Razor Fists are accomponied by the mysterious Maestro, the head of the organization, a man who conducts violence like a fine symphony. But are the Razor Fists alone? rumors of a powerful patron are not denied. A Mysterious friend is pay master for this new gang… Read about the rise of the Razor Fists in the Sharn Chronical. By Hesshian, jr. field reporter, Callistin.” Below follows a blow by blow account of the battle between 4 Tyrants the Painter and the Smith....
In the hope of breaking an even bigger story Hesshain agrees to hold on the initial story of the gang war. The Painter and the Smith agree to let Hesshain tag along until the next big fight.
With a story that can lead the headlines Hesshain agrees to work from inside the new Razor Fist gang. The three go to find Roni the agent of the tyrants that has been watching for them. The group meets up with Reni at Grovers in Lower Calistin. There they inform Roni that they may be interested in a meeting of bosses to discuss a truce, and agree to return with the Maestro.
The Seed of a Plan :
That evening Bjorn and Monet inform Rudolf that they have arranged for a meeting with the Tyrants. They also have a way of contacting another group that opposes the Tyrants, if the need should arise. Rudolf is impressed. (They decide to keep the surprise story on the on Razor Fists a secret from the Maestro and the Mysterious pay master)
Planning on talking with Kobolds Rudolf asks Mr. Stone to brew a potion of tongues. It will take two days, and should be ready by the 9th of June
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June 7th
A Meeting at the Tap:
In the damp morning Rudolf goes to find the Oaken Tap and Freddy. Arriving early in the day Rudolf heads into a ‘nicer then most’ tavern/brothel in lower Menthis. He is informed that Freddy does not show up until around 2:00 in the afternoon. Rudolf decides to take a long lunch and a browse of the local bookshops.
At 2:00, when Freddy shows up, the conversation about opposing the Tyrants begins. Freddies’ patron is paying protection money to both the Boromir and Tyrant gangs. They are interested in just having to pay one gang, not two. If Rudolf can help, Freddies patron can pay.
Toys for Tots:
In the meantime Bjorn and Monet with Hesshian in tow head to the top of the stairs to the section of lower Calistin with the shops Mr Stone needs access to. The stairs are a little better guarded then in the past, four goblins and a bugbear demand 10GP payment to cover the costs of the earlier visits. Bjorn and Monet decide not to pay and scamper back up the stairs while arrows and stones thunk into Bjorns legs and back. Wounded they return to Vendry’s to chat with the Maestro.
Welcom Maestro We are the Razor Fists:
That evening when everyone meets up again, Bjorn and Monet inform Rudolf of the planned meeting with the Tyrants, and that he should go alone without any extra muscle. As the group is chatting Rudolf notices that a gnome is happily taking notes on all their plans. “Who is this?” Bjorn explains that Hesshian is a reporter and that he is creating a story on the gang war. “We’re da Razor Fists” Rudolf is disturbed about this relationship and asks that we keep everything ‘secret’. Hesshian agrees, “Gnomes Honor”. Rudolf decides to meet up with Roni and see if they can make peace with the Tyrants.
Ambush:
When Rudolf meets up with Roni, he agrees to head down to lower Caliston and chat with Vern, the new street leader of the Tyrants in the area. As he is headed down the stairs Rudolf hears movement behind him, he informs Roni that they are being followed and turns, before Rudolf can act Haven slays the Tyrant thug and backs up to the rail, and professes that he just saved Rudolf from an ambush…. Haven explains the reason for his hatred of the Tyrants and offers to help the group if they will be killing Tyrants. Maestro agrees to the help from Haven, He is a bit unhappy that plans are not going so well, but one more sword can’t hurt. They return to Vendry’s and introduce Haven as Greg. When the Maestro begins to explain that they had to kill Roni and that no meeting took place the Gnome asks if this means an open war. Greg advises Maestro that they get a private room, and keep the Gnome out. When inside a quiet meeting hall a detect magic cast by Monet determines that magic is not being used to listen to any conversations. Greg advises killing the Gnome. Maestro declines the offer of help. The group plots what to do next.
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June 8th
An Urchin Dispatched:
Maestro is worried about Greg’s sister and sends an urchin to bring a message to Freddie. Greg goes to search for additional ways down and past the Dask. The Painter and the Smith buy toys and hand them out to upper Calistin street children. They are accompanied by the gnome for the start, but once Hesshian realizes this is not some plot he heads off to write about the great gangland wars of Callistan….. The Gnome is busy crafting a tale of adventure and street warfare.
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June 9th
The Paymaster Agrees:
The Maestro heads up to meet with the Paymaster, sensing he is being trailed the Maestro takes his time to loose the tail and reaches the Paymaster after a few hours of circuitous travel. Rudolf collects the potion of tongues and informs Mr. Stone that the best they can do is get Mr. Stone into the shops with enough supplies to last a few weeks. While Mr. Stone is in the shops the group will perform hit and run attacks on the Tyrants to distract them from checking the shop area. Mr. Stone advances Rudolf an extra 75 GP, and agrees that if this is the best they can do that will be acceptable. Rudolf asks Mr. Stone to prepare for the trip and advises him to move to a hotel instead of his current shop. Surprised and a bit worried looking Stone agrees. As Rudolf exists he can hear Stone muttering. “By the Sovereign what am I doing….”
That afternoon everyone meets up at Vendry’s and prepares to move down. Several plans are discussed but in the end the group agrees to pay the Dask for safe passage and then to secure the shops, where the Maestro will negotiate a deal with the kobolds. George adds that he has seen more then just bugbears down in lower Calistin. They have sent one of their sub-commanders down there a Gnoll named Keshta. He also saw some very nasty looking hob-goblins. They are down there in the center of the tower and now control both main stairs and the one small stair that Greg knew about. Greg also gives the Maestro 25 GP taken from last evenings Tyrant hunt in a nearby tower.
Tyrant Hunting We Go:
They head down, pay the Dask and move into Tyrant territory. On the way down the stairs Greg informs the Maestro that Hesshian activated a magic ring. They reach the shops without encountering any Tyrants, The Maestro and Greg stay at the shops to chat with kobalds while Hesshian, the Painter and the Smith press forward. The group goes a few blocks down all the way to a bridge that connects to another tower. At the bridge the group sees a group of 4 or 5 men hanging about. Convinced the Tyrants have pulled back far enough from the shops to not present a real threat. On the way back to the Maestro they come up from behind two men watching the street. The watchers are convinced that the party has silently over-run the bridge and that they are now trapped between the RazorFist gang and the Dask, they scream and attempt to flee. The noise attracts the attention of the bridge guard who rush in to see what is happening. Additional Tyrant watchers missed on their way to the shops come running to assist in the street fight.
A Bargin Struck:
While all this is going on the Maestro is negotiating a deal with the Kobalds. The party will bring plenty of food and two large cooking pots. In return he Kobalds will allow the party to stay in the nest for a while. With the deal agreed to the Maestro and Greg hear the fight going on and rush to aid the Painter and Smith.
Victory and Fame:
The battle rages, Tyrants are being viciously slain as the party pushes them back to the far side of the bridge. With nearly a dozen tyrants down the group finally pulls back from the score of re-enforcements approaching the bridge. As they retreat the find a fallen Hesshian with a bolt in the back. Rudolf rips the magic ring form the fallen reporter and drops the assumed dead gnome. The group heals and heads up the stairs. When they inform the Dask that they left the un-looted bodies of the Tyrants on the street they let the RazorFist past and move to loot the corpses. Rudolf heads up to meet with Mr. Stone, Everyone else piles into Vendrys to recount the battle. As Rudolf nears the central hotel that Mr. Stone is staying at he hear a Sharn Chronicle crier hawking a story about the gang wars in Callistin.
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June 10th