(24/01/2006)

Tuesday 2nd of September

Tiring of waiting and, unable to concentrate on playing his flute, Bran Lannister reseats himself in his quiet corner of the Coughing Hydra Inn and awaits any response to his call for adventurers. Not long after a hooded figure enters, shaking drops of rain from his dark cloak. A flip of the hood reveals a young man. He approaches the innkeeper, and speaks briefly to him, before striding over to Bran's table.

He stands nervously, toying with the hem of his cloak, before he drums up the courage to speak.

"Bran Lannister?", he queries.

"The very same," replies the Bard.

"I'm looking for adventure, excitement and great rewards," he pauses, "Well less of the adventure and excitement and more of the great rewards!" He gives a wry smile.

"Come, come, sit down, take of that wet cloak. Would you like a drink?"

"Certainly. An ale will warm me through nicely."

Bran motions to the serving girl and orders a mug for each of them. He then turns his attention to the young man. Though he has boyish good looks they are somewhat marred by an ugly scar on his cheek and a badly maimed left ear, half of which appears to be missing.

"Well then young lad, do you have a name?"

"Owyn sir, Owyn Taylor at your service." He bows his head slightly.

"And what do you have to offer a group of adventurers." Bran questions.

"I, err, well, have a knack for getting into places people don't want me to get into shall we say, whilst doing so quietly and safely no matter what precautions they have taken."

Bran laughs, "A worthy task indeed! There is investigatory work for you awaiting in Cauldron, would you like to join me?"

"Cauldron you say?"

"Yes indeed, do you know the remote outpost?"

"I was born there," Owyn replies, "though I've not been there for a couple of years or so."

"Have you heard news of these mysterious vanishings happening in Cauldron recently?"

"Yes, I had heard of a couple of people going missing. I worry about my mother."

"You have family in cauldron?

"Yes." Owyn replies after a short pause, as if he has no more to say on the subject.

At that point two more adventures approach Bran's table. A slender red-headed woman and a muscular yet attractive man.

"Hail. Would you be this Lannister chap?" he questions, holding up one of the hasty posters Bran had erected earlier in the day.

"Yes indeed. Please do sit, this is Owyn, and you are?"

"Kellen." he replies.

"And Cass." the woman adds.

"Just Kellen and Cass?", Bran asks.

"Just Cass." she replies.

"And just Kellen." Kellen adds.

Bran laughs, "So be it, just Kellen and Cass then." he pauses hoping for some explanation.

"We'd rather not talk about it." they reply in unison.

"Have a drink please," Bran offers, and calls over the serving girl.

As the group sit enjoying there drinks and making polite conversation, the usually warm beer of the Coughing Hyrda begins to bubble and boil.

Suddenly there is a great flash, a burst of sound, and a cloud of smoke clears to reveal a tall thin man dressed in flowing robes of black.

"Greetings one and all, I am Khandalar the Magnificent!"

Bran, unimpressed, mutters a sarcastic retort. Khandalar responds by creating the illusion that Bran's clothes are somewhat in need of a wash.

"I forsee that you will have need of my great talent." Khandalar proclaims.

Somewhat reluctantly, after lengthy discussion, Bran agrees it would be wise to have such a powerful wizard to assist with the current problem and cooly welcomes Khandalar to the group.

A little later that night, the newly formed band of adventurers slips quietly out of Sassarine and heads for the hills, and beyond the famed City of Cauldron. The trip is uneventful though there were a few unusual moments when all the animals went dead quiet and a troop of baboons just stared as the heroes passed them.

Tuesday 9th of September

For the past few days, the mountain that Cauldron stands upon has been visible in the distance, growing ever closer. Now, the band of adventurers stand outside the polished black walls ready to enter the city gates.

As the pair of city guards on duty at the gatehouse watch them pass through they stare intently at the fine features of the Sorceress Cass. The elder of the two whispers something to the other who then runs off towards the guard house.

"Welome to Cauldron travellers!" the old guard greets them kindly.

"Is there a problem?" Bran questions, tilting his head and motioning towards the younger guard.

"Ah no, no problem at all, not at all sir." he pauses. "You'd be an adventuring party if I ever saw one, yes?"

"That we are." replies Bran.

"Then you'll be having to be registered, can't be having no unregistered adventurers running around our fine city. You'll have to visit the Captain of the Guard, I've sent the young lad to let him know you'll be coming. He'll be back to fetch you in moments."

True to his word, moments later, the young guard reappears and strides towards the gatehouse.

"If you would like to come with me I shall take you to Captain Skellerang now if you please." he announces.

Minutes late the party are standing before the desk of Terseon Skellerang, waiting as he skims some official looking documents. At the door of the office stand two guards with halberds, looking a little nerveous about something.

Khandalar coughs impatiently.

"One moment please." responds Skellerang.

On the way to the Church Of St Cuthbert the heroes hear a shout from an alley. Investigation leads to the discovery of Ord Martell and Anari Lannister caught up in a fight with some thugs from the Last Laugh thieves guild.

Turns out they are off duty guards. One died the other two were taken away by Skylar Krewis, a young town guard.

The party escorted Ord back to the Church Of St Cuthbert where they met with Jenya Urikas the acting high priest. She told them of the missing children and gave them the divination clue that Star Of Justice had provided.

The party promised to return in the morning and pick up a list of all the missing people on their way to the orphanage.

Owyn went off in the direction of his mothers house while the rest of the party headed for the Drunken Morkoth. His mother was not in, she had apparently moved out and re-married. Owyn decided to sort it out in the morning and headed of the the Drunken Morkoth.

Wednesday 10th of September

The party rested for the night and in the morning went to the orphanage, via Vortimax Weer's place where they picked up a nice discount due to Owyn's mother being Weer's new wife.

Cass and Kellen met an old friend Patch at the orphanage.

Investigation of the orphanage led the party towards Ghelves Locks where they discovered a lone Skulk and the entrance to Jzadirune.

After shopping Keygan Ghelve to the guards they descended into the Gnomish enclave. Khandalar was unfortunate enough to pull upon a sconce and activate a trap on the stairs that threw everyone down a slope into the room below. Owyn set of a nasty trap and then scared off some Skulks from an adjoining room.

Until next time...

Session Two