This week, our adventurers travelled to Thistletop Inn & Tavern, a cozy inn in Baldur's Gate owned by the family of Paela Thistletop, an old friend of each of our adventurers. While none of our adventurers knew one another, they all knew Paela, and Paela had requested they all meet her at her family's inn.
Meeting up at Thistletop Inn were Sagres (tiefling warlock), Kaely (lightfoot halfling ranger), Xandaros (human fighter), Enna (high elf cleric), and Fitz (human rogue), none of whom knew each other. The adventurers gathered at the back table of the inn and discussed their ties to Paela while they waited for their friend. As they were beginning to get to know one another, Paela arrived with a somber expression on her face and a sun elf named Remalia by her side.
Paela broke the terrible news to the adventurers that she, like so many others in the Forgotten Realms was suffering from something called the death curse, and she was dying. The death curse, as Paela explained to the adventurers, has stumped clerics and healers. No one can explain why it is happening or how to stop it. All anyone knows is that anyone and everyone who has ever been resurrected or brought back to life is slowly withering away and when this next death comes, there is no resurrection - it is an endless death.
Remalia relayed to the group that she was a member of a group called the Harpers, and Paela had sought her group out for help when she was struck by the curse. The Harpers have been studying the death curse and believe they may be on to something that could lead to a break through in stopping it. They believe the curse is similar to the magic a lich uses to feed souls to its phylactery. They've devised a plan to find out more by raiding the home of a well-known lich, Zaldara Cordress, known to most as the Duchess of Rot. They plan to steal her phylactery in an attempt to force the Duchess of Rot to cooperate in giving them information about the curse and the magic behind it.
Paela then tells the adventurers that's why she's asked them to come here - because she has faith that they can succeed in this mission and help save her life. The adventurers are, of course, happy to do whatever they can to save their dear friend and countless others from an endless death. The following morning the group will meet up with Callbrax, a member of the Harpers, who will sail the adventurers upon his ship, the Diviner to the Duchess of Rot's tower on an island off the coast.
Burdened with heavy news, worry for their dear friend, and a big mission ahead of them, the adventurers spend the rest of the day unwinding and exploring in Baldur's Gate, all while getting to know one another. Sagres tries relentlessly to win the affections of Paela, taking her on a date to The Cod Father, where they share a bowl of garlic clams. Xand is scammed by Harriet the fortune teller whose only fortune telling ability is to tell the past, and to do a dubious job of that. Kaely and Fitz both stock up on sweets from Arcanedy, but Fitz puts his candy to interesting use creating a feeding frenzy among the goblins of Goblins R Us. Enna and Kaely spend the evening bonding over beers and animated statues at the Shambling Statue, with Kaely partying all night once the rest of the group turned in. Fitz and Sagres quickly establish a bit of a rivalry, Sagres using his magic to make Fitz unpresentable while he talks to Paela and Fitz slipping some Tabaxi porn he bought at Filch's Pawn Shop in Sagres' bag while he hits on Paela.
Morning broke and the party was ready to set sail on their first big adventure.... which will take place when we meet again on February 11!
Oh that Fitz!
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