Unexpected Revelations and Raucous Confrontations

After their victory over the reanimated zombie rats in the Inn’s Basement, the party summoned Charlie, the barhand, to witness their triumph. Charlie presented them with a cask of his Special Reserve Holiday Ale, which OsbourneOsbourneOsbourne left his forest home after a vision told him the sky needed tending. He is quiet, unhurried, and usually right about the weather —… found exceptional. OsbourneOsbourneOsbourne left his forest home after a vision told him the sky needed tending. He is quiet, unhurried, and usually right about the weather —… tipped Charlie an unusually large sum. Following this, OsbourneOsbourneOsbourne left his forest home after a vision told him the sky needed tending. He is quiet, unhurried, and usually right about the weather —… used his druidic magic to heal YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an…, who remained feverish from the rats' infection. The party continued their investigation of the basement, uncovering mysterious chests marked with crescent moon symbols.

DeicidaDeicidaDeicida is a protector because protection is the only shape his penance can still take. Once the consecrated Sentinel of the Argent Temple,… approached Thea Margos at the bar, seeking guidance. Thea performed a bone reading, her markers revealing a golden sun, a crescent moon shrouded in darkness, a sleeping wolf pup, and a pulsing black eye that visibly unsettled her. Despite the unsettling final symbol, she extended an invitation to DeicidaDeicidaDeicida is a protector because protection is the only shape his penance can still take. Once the consecrated Sentinel of the Argent Temple,…, offering him a place among her group and promising an introduction to someone who could provide the answers he sought.

As the party returned upstairs, they were greeted by the lively sounds of a newly-arrived band filling Inn’s Basement with music. Cynthia, with a warm smile, expressed her gratitude to the group, offering them gold, hot food, drinks, and a night’s stay. The atmosphere shifted when Magistrate Blaise FournivalMagistrate Blaise FournivalThe arrogant, cowardly Imperial magistrate of Vos who presided over Ronan Thatchroot's execution under the Purity of Light Act and remains… entered, flanked by two guards and a suit of enchanted armor. He threatened Cynthia, seized a guest room, and commanded his construct to assault the protesting occupant, casting a shadow over the evening's festivities.

After the commotion in Inn’s Basement, Thea Margos urged YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… to drink a Mysterious Purple Potion that she produced from her chest, handing him a Crescent Moon-Marked Key to open it. They retreated upstairs, where they found their room ransacked, the sock on the door handle removed. Inside, they discovered the Bugbear From The Bar unconscious, wrapped in Thea’s Enchanted Rug. They exited through the window into the snowy backyard, following three sets of footprints leading to the Stables.

After the encounter with Magistrate Blaise FournivalMagistrate Blaise FournivalThe arrogant, cowardly Imperial magistrate of Vos who presided over Ronan Thatchroot's execution under the Purity of Light Act and remains…, the party slipped out of their ransacked room through the window, landing in the snowy backyard of Inn’s Basement. They followed three sets of footprints leading toward the Stables, their breath visible in the cold air. As they approached the source of the tracks, the footprints suggested a hurried escape. The party prepared for whatever lay ahead in the shadows of the Stables.

Inside the Stables, the party found Brother Maynard dead, his lifeless body surrounded by GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…, the piper bard, and a Mysterious Woman. YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an…, feigning drunkenness, attempted to distract GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra…, but the bard quickly saw through the ruse, igniting a fierce battle. Cas called upon the horses for aid, successfully convincing them to attack, but only the frail riding horse named Mo managed to inflict any damage. As the fight escalated, GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra… vanished with an invisibility spell, while the Mysterious Woman struck DeicidaDeicidaDeicida is a protector because protection is the only shape his penance can still take. Once the consecrated Sentinel of the Argent Temple,… and gravely wounded Cas before Mo knocked her unconscious. YukonYukonYukon has ranged the cloud-skies longer than most crew members have been alive. He is self-reliant, quietly amused by nearly everything, an… delivered a fatal blow to her, but GandalarGandalarA piper bard who posed as a kindly elder wizard at The Eagle and Child, then murdered Brother Maynard and robbed the party before being tra… escaped on the party's horse, Tubber, riding off toward Monte-de-Amour, while Cas and HessHessHess has spent most of his very long life in libraries. The Zephyr's Oath is the first interesting thing to happen to him in decades, and h… gave chase.

After a confrontation in the Stables, the party looted the unconscious woman's body, uncovering gold, weapons, and various other items. They retraced their steps back to Inn’s Basement's rear, careful to avoid drawing attention. Climbing back into their room, Thea and Cynthia urged them to keep the robbery and murder a secret for the time being. Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the world in silence.