Malta Session 10: 10/18/2017 Carlo Generates Enease and a Night of Romance for Everyone Else.

We begin this week’s session about 4 in the afternoon on day 10 by planning a celebration of our completed and profitable quest of retrieving the GemCutter with an evening at the Opera house. Towards this end, Marco sets out to spend some funds including wearing his newly purchased formal attire and a horse drawn carriage to do it up right; even Evagara, is stunningly beautiful in her new formal gown and accessories. Jabari decides to stay behind however and wait for word from his sponsor Loshe. 

As the remaining characters set out to the Bard College Lete observes various city folk around the docks noting our passage eliciting whispers regarding our group. Marco however notices Country Strong Alex associating with an exotic tiefling or half elf and a human, a Carthaginian, as our characters walk by. Lex breaks from the group to watch Alex as the rest of the characters continue to the Bard’s College to obtain a suitable carriage.

Once at the College our characters learn to out delight there’s a preview of the show as well as delicacies and drink prepared by bards from the college. Various forms of expression home brews, pastries, art and song are rendered for the attendees. As Marco and Evagara are shown a variety of services, Lete takes on the role of body guard of the couple; Carlo attends as a simple observer. After some time, a regal looking couple approach Marco and Evagara…

Back near the Bonded Mind, Lex is following Country Strong Alex but with the Bonded Mind technically outside Paola so following him would be difficult due to the openness of the area. Lex changes his clothes and happens into a group of sailors; after stealing a few of their articles, Lex moves out to the docks to where Lex believed CSA could be hiding out; Lex acting like a show caller as not to be identified. Eventually Lex finds CSA and others watching the Bonded Mind at three different sentry posts.

Jabari, in the Bonded Mind is spending time examining his new book and organizing the ship making his presence known on the ship appearing quite busy- oblivious of the subterfuge. As this occurs a blue bird delivers a message to Jabari. “You and your friends should come to Zebbug.” the only signature was a symbol found in Jabari's spellbook, a presumed message from Loshe.

Outside, Lex finds an opening and boards the Bonded Mind to reunite with Jabari. The two exchange information and Lex takes over watch on our characters ship and treasure while Jabari plans his next move.

Dom Mintoff

Back at the Opera a regal couple approaches Marco, Evagara, Carlo and Lete…Lord Commander of Paola Dom Mintoff introduces himself to our group; as manservant Lete formally introduces Marco and Evagara. Lord Commander Mintoff states they are in need of another couple for the intermission dance, this news overjoys Evagara.  Carlo generates unease at the social gathering while Lete is recognized as a gladiator. Mintoff asks some questions of Lete’s involvement in the fights and learns the Lord Commander actually manages two fighters, one a half orc; our characters eventually hit it off with Mintoff and he invites our characters to an after party. A short time later our characters are introduced to other friends and nobles before the show. At the opera we are seated in a balcony near the Lord Commander.

Prior to the opera Mintoff announces the intermission dance which is well received by all attendees. The first half of the opera was enjoyed but soon it was time for the dance where the Lord Commander and his wife steal the show- like the bards they are. The show ends in entertaining fashion featuring a sonic trickster around 9 pm.

Back at the Bonded Mind Lex is dawns his armor staying unseen below, while Jabari continues his very observable activity while changing the name of the ship. An exchange between a couple of individuals on the docks prompts Jabari to call up for Lex just in time for Lex to see a dwarf walking away from one of the men seen by Lex watching the Bonded Mind.

Eventually Lex and Jabari hails Country Strong Alex and his companions calling them out and to ask them their business. Jabari invites them aboard and while the pair do approach: the Carthaginian and CSAlex- they decline the offer. They claim they were in fact watching for the Dwarf, that he is trouble and that’s why they sent the Dwarf away. Jabari and Lex are skeptical as CSAlex explains at length we are ‘parked’ in the dwarf’s spot before they leave in hasty fashion. 

Meanwhile there is an hour break between after the opera and ascending to the Lord Commander’s after party. Carlo eventually meets Tal Borg the sonic trickster and are left with the impression the man is a Kineticist, from the Madagascar area, the two speak for a time and at the end of their conversation Carlo is given Tal’s address after Carlo went to great lengths to speak Tal’s language. Lete and Carlo follow up on the address coordinates while Marco and Evagara advance to the Lord Commander’s after party.

After about 10-15 minutes Carlo and Lete find a two story structure converted to a house. Carlo uses an ability to knock the door of ‘Borg House’. Tal answers and invites us in and we find there are three other ‘Borgs’; Elsar (F) a mesmerist, Maas (M) a spiritualist, and Cral (M) fire kineticist. They seem to share a fear of being hunted by draconic agents and Egyptians in general; they confirm Carlo is being hunted.

A short time later Lete and Carlo arrives at the Lord Commander’s abode for a truly fantastic party into the night. Eventually Minton takes Lete to his den and begins to speak about the coming carnival, and a fighting warehouse sporting an impromptu fighting pit in its square center over looked by each level (and fighter) of the warehouse. Qualifying begins three days before the carnival. He offers to manage Lete at 20%/10% for fights outside Paola and gives the address of the Warehouse and “X” who will train Lete.

Lete leaves directly after the meeting with Lord Commander Minton and heads to the Borg to speak to Maas about the truth of reincarnation, fantastic archaeological digs, and seeing dead people- into the early morning hours.

A Grey Warrior Slave

The rest of the characters return the carriage after the party and soon after find themselves near the docks where the characters are soon alerted to the presence of others following them. The characters quickly set up around the Bonded Mind as two grey warriors along with a beardless dwarf ley siege to the ship. The characters soon kill the two warriors and eventually retreat below when the dwarf reveals he can fly around while invisible. 2 masterwork longswords, masterwork full plate, and masterwork composite longbows (+3 STR) with 20 arrows; each marked with Egyptian emblems and slave torcs are recovered from the two grey warriors.

The characters immediately throw the bodies and slave torcs overboard. After an uncomfortable hour passes it will be 4 in the morning and the characters begin to take sleeping shifts. After about a half hour Lex spots a half dozen more grey warriors heading to the Bonded Mind. Conflict renews and after some brilliant telekinesis from Carlo the grey warriors were knocked off their feet and disposed of into the waters. The characters take one prisoner and take the Bonded Mind out to open waters.

Under questioning the prisoner states the ‘Hunter’ owns him; he does not know how many Grey Warriors there are. Where does he stay? “On a Selmunett Rock nearby here.” Tonight he was ordered to take down the spellcasters in this conflict but not to kill us. After the characters are satisfied, the slave along with much of his gear was sent overboard the Grey Warrior’s heavy armor weighing him to the bottom of the ocean.