“See that they are well-treated.”
This key phrase was missed by the scribe in the last blog post (and obviously in her notes as well). Supposedly, the Princess NATIMA (not Nadima, but honestly, when do we ever get names right around here?) had said this just after she instructed her guards to purchase our brave heroes after her rescue.
As will be obvious shortly, it would seem that we all have a different definition of what “well-treated” means.
But first.
DM: Brent
Draeya: Half-Elf Ranger CG (Heather)
Brenna Badger: Forest Gnome Druid NG (Maddy)
Dallian Lorgo aka “Dealio”: Rock Gnome Rogue CN (Kurt)
Eldewyn: High Elf Fighter CN (Anderson)
Kit Kat: Half-Elf Bard NG (Jenny)
Chsaud: Wood Elf Paladin LG (Elliot)
Now that they’ve been purchased and come with explicit instructions to be treated well, our enslaved heroes are escorted to a heavily guarded room where two other guard-looking dudes wait. Najini and Glowag are their names, and they hold up some gaudy, motley-colored clothing for the group to change into. Dressing like a ridiculous jester is part of the “Welcome to the House of Estercari” package, it seems.
But, here’s the more startling thing: Glowag is holding a red-hot branding iron. Whaaaaaaaat? He informs the characters that they are to be branded, NAY, BURNED with the brand of the House Estercari – common practice to keep tabs on slaves from all the different enclaves in Zenicce.
Uh, no. Nobody in this scenario is okay with that. Branding hurts. Resisting the brand, however, is also going to hurt as the party notices they are far outnumbered by armed guards in the room. There appears to be no other way around it.
Not that Dallian Lorgo isn’t going to try. He wishes to somehow persuade the guards that this is likely what the princess DID NOT mean by “well-treated”. It’s a solid argument, until he FUMBLES on the Persuasion attempt, and suddenly it looks like the rock gnome has volunteered to be first in line. Kit Kat attempts to Persuade/Intimidate as well, to no discernible effect.
It’s worth saying here that it seems the guards are trying their best to be hospitable. These House Estercari employees do a great deal of standing around, listening to the party’s excessive chitchat amongst themselves, when they could be, in fact, pinning the rogue and bard down on the ground and branding them first for their insolence.
In the end, Chsaud, Draeya, and Brenna steel their nerves, knowing the odds are stacked against them (considerably) and resign themselves to the painful ordeal. Nobody *wants* to be branded a slave, but ultimately, it’s time to move on. Brenna does inquire about a prettier brand design while Dallian gives one last futile attempt at resistance by means of evasion. However, there’s only so much sliding through legs and tumbling under tables the gnome can do…
Interestingly enough, Glowag the BrandWielder quietly tells everyone in the party: Do not despair. The day will come. Eldewyn and Dallian have no interest in this cryptic message as they are like, no doubt, man, the day will come that we’ll brand you on the forehead, fool. See how you like it.
Because the guards provided no salve or bandaging for the burns, Draeya secretively lays hands on herself as they are transported to the throne room post-haste. Princess Natima “desires their company.” Through a maze of guard-patrolled corridors, the newly-branded Questers are escorted in to a vaulted-ceilinged, lavishly decorated chamber.
But not before Draeya and Chsaud have a brief conversation about prudent decision-making and taking others’ well-being into consideration when making future rescue choices. Chsaud agrees not to rush off into the hasty unknown, but he does remind the ranger that he cannot sit idly by when he knows others are in danger. Draeya acknowledges this courteously but internally rolls her eyes and thinks: Ugh, flippin’ paladins!
The DM then launches into this awkward and pukey description of how beautiful the princess is. Like, seriously, all about her lips and lush blonde hair. Yuk. Upon their arrival, she asks the party if they saved her because they think she’s so beautiful. Great, she’s vain, vapid, and “beautiful”. Amazing combination. Gross.
Chsaud seems to be the best person to field this question, and he barely gets the words, “Yes, your beauty is beyond compare” out before the doors to the great room burst open. Dozens of slaves rush in with various weapons in their hands, ready to abduct the princess (again?! What is it with this chick?). A larger-than-life bodyguard rushes out from the gauzy draperies behind the princess’s chaise, intent on protecting the princess from this new swarm of revolters. Our mighty questers watch all this unfold, and while “Gigantor” is a valiant fighter, it does not take long before the throng of indignant slaves overtake him and he falls.
This group of princess-abducting slaves thankfully know nothing about the treasonous actions of our crew (you know, the killing/injuring of other slaves a few hours ago?), because they call out to the party: “We don’t want to fight you. Let us take her. Join us in the revolt!”
Sounds like a plan, and away the party goes down this new little twisty path of fate. Through the maze of the Estercari mansion (where are all the armed guards now?), the small group of slaves finally burst forth into the bright Zeniccian sunshine with the subdued Princess Natima. As they all make their way into the more unsavory parts of the city, our party learns a few key things:
1. Although the city is broken up into a series of islands and enclaves ruled by various Houses, Zenicce is loosely governed by a ruler called a Codifex (think: governor). At present, the present Codifex is of the House Estercari…and the Princess Natima is the Codifex’s daughter.
Well, how about that? Eldewyn calls that leverage, thought others might use the phrase death wish.
2. Most of the residents and inhabitants of the city DO NOT wear any kind of armor, as that is mostly reserved for the nobility of the city.
3. Weapons usage in the city is relatively simple, primarily daggers and swords. The fighting style of the day is called Florentine style, which relies heavily on simultaneous use of these two weapons.
The party has now traversed deep into the heart of Zenicce, and they are met by a big burly dude in a powder-blue uniform. The man introduces himself as Botok (you all read this as Botox, right?) and claims he is of the House of Campbell. Botok appears to be looking for a few good men (and women) to follow along with him as he is to escort the princess to other, more important people within the House Campbell.
After questions from Brenna and Dallian, respectively, Botok explains that he thinks animals are “nice” and that yes, there will be access to “weapons”. But the most important piece of information, at least, that should matter to the group the most, is that Botok (by means of Botox, maybe?) has the means to remove their new brands.
For Draeya, at least, that is the selling point. Lead on, Macduff (technically ‘Lay on, Macduff’. Anyway.) Further on down the rabbit hole we go.
Our adventurers pile into the last gondola in a line of four that will lead them to their destination. They can see the princess, as well as Botok, on a vessel near the front of the line. Incidentally, there has not been a single tiny peep from the princess during this whole interlude, and the silence is nice. No doubt Natima is internally fuming that nobody is inclining to her and telling her how stunningly beautiful she is.
The line of watercraft moves swiftly through the canal, and it is obvious this waterway is in a less-than-ideal part of the city. The water is murky, trash is visible on both banks, and there’s just a general neglected feel about the place. Nothing meets the players’ ears but the quiet swoosh of oars against water until a great splash, followed by shouts, shatter the stillness. Up ahead, it looks as if Natima’s barge has been upended. Some of the slaves jump in to try to retrieve the princess, who has fallen in as well, and the party watches all the excitement from some yards away.
Then, Brenna decides to go all Wild Shape and turn into a crocodile. A perfect way to slip into the water and see what exactly is going on. CrocBrenna does not see the princess, and she is about to swim on back to the gondola when she is ATTACKED by two people – not RAPPA – in the water. She takes 8 points of slash damage and tries to retaliate with a bite attack of her own. When she fails, she retreats back to swim alongside the party’s gondola.
Natima is never found, by the way. Weird, weird, weird. That seems important, for sure, but nobody else seems too concerned about it. Especially the slaves who abducted her in the first place. Maybe it’s commonplace, maybe losing kidnapped noblewomen happens to these guys on the regular.
The line of watercraft eventually comes to dock at another island-type enclave, and a man wearing burgundy-colored chain mail stands, waiting for them. Being at the back of the line, the players see this man conversing with the other slaves, who are likely breaking the bad news to him: We, uh, lost the princess, sir. Soon enough, the party stands in front of the man and he introduces himself as Baron Campbell, and he’s also looking for a few good men/women.
He’s looking to hire a group of ambitious, skilled folk to recover some stolen property of his: a woman. However, he explains, when Dallian asks, the woman is NOT the Princess Natima. It’s a different stolen/kidnapped woman. Huh. Baron C is willing to pay the party, remove their Estercari brands, and equip them with whatever weapons they need. Dallian then inquires about the number of men needed and why doesn’t the Baron just use some of those men for the task? Baron C explains that he’s relying on a small party, one of stealth, to see this mission accomplished.
It’s almost like Baron C has heard all about the brave party’s adventurers back in Phandalin…on a whole other plane of existence, but that of course is not possible. Right?
The baron escorts the party to the armory and everyone loads up on whatever weapon he or she likes best: longbows and daggers and short swords – oh my! Kit Kat also gets herself a flute and Eldewyn does some kind of ritualistic thing to his new short sword that imbues it with all kinds of magical coolness. The group then gets the spa treatment, read: tattoos that cover the Estercari brands. Complete with lavender salve and appropriately sterilized bandages.
And Draeya achieves her #1 objective of the day: get some mistletoe and spruce.
A short gaming session, to be sure, but the DM stresses it’s important for the party to rest right now. After all, tomorrow promises to be exceedingly exciting!! Even more so than today!
Ever your faithful scribe,
Heather
