Session 1 (The Word of _____)

Sharn. Zol the 3rd of Nymm, 998 YK.

The scorching sun of the mid-afternoon kept the temperature hovering at the upper reaches of tolerable.
There was the distinct acrid smell of ozone and an audible crackling in the air. The cause was evident; tamed lightning blazing in a hemi-spherical ring around the front of a shining carriage, itself streaked with grime from long travel.
Shouts and crashes rang out up and down the platform as the throng of people tried to embark or disembark or sell things or steal things all around.
Standing around in abject confusion was a minor oddity, even to this cosmopolitan crowd. Warforged. By the dozen. A new race, they were less common even than the bestial shifters in these parts. Warforged, to the eyes of the population here, seemed to come in two varieties: large and very large.

Standing apart a little from the crowd of living wood and metal was a larger than usual specimen of the warforged race. He, like the others, bore the Brelish sigil on his brow. Unlike most of the others, this one was clad in massive plates of dark metal. Furthermore, he also carried an unusual assortment of toolkits and books. Seperated by profession and rank from most others, he was alone even so close to his comrades.

In the crowd below, waiting their turns to reach the front of the line and have their papers checked for entry into Sharn by road were two other people, alone also amidst the host.
One was as human as the next, it seemed, and wore travel worn clothing. He also bore with him a bulging pack and many pouches about his person. Sweating heavily, he frowned as he dabbed at his face with a cloth.
The other was one of the afore-mentioned bestial shifters; thickly muscled and also scowling in the afternoon heat.
---
Words were exchanged as the human tried to suborn a 'forged into serving him as a porter, then introductions were made and the three ended up in line nearby heading into Sharn's lower levels. After deciding to head up to the Morgrave University to seek gainful employment they made their way upwards through a maze of stairs, passages, and elevators. With hours of climbing behind them, the trio found themselves caught in a rainstorm and dashing from cover to cover and light to light in the evening darkness.
---
A shadowed and rainswept bridge between towers lay in limpid pools of pale light. A figure quickly threw itself over the edge and lay in wait unseen.
Andrew, Dha'ron, and Artificer Corporal: 9th Brelish Company, 3rd Warforged Regiment move across to the bridge and encounter a prone figure, pale and seeming smaller than life... Bonal Geldem, a Provost of the very institution they seek. Dead. They search through his papers, thus discovering his identity and uncovering a journal marked with a strange emblem. As they started to move out of the rain, the figure from under the bridge leapt into action, attacking with hisses of spite and hatred directed at the "flesh-loving scum" of the other 'forged. Upon her death, Cutter's Final Messenger flitted off into the night, carrying with it a message to persons only guessed at.
---
Before long the Watch arrived and, assured that the odd trio had not instigated the murder, allowed them to be on their way. Later, however, they received a message from a cloaked man - "go to the Broken Anvil and present this token if you wish to know more about the death of Provost Geldem."
Curiosity waged and won its secret war against prudence and they once more set off through the towers and bridges of Sharn.
---
Having entered the Broken Anvil, the trio were led into a private room in the back. Inside was a cloaked female figure who drew back her hood when they arrived. She was a young woman, dark haired and fair of feature. She introduced herself as Lady Elaydren d'Vown of House Cannith and asked them if they had recovered the journal of Bonal Geldem. The journal was produced and Elaydren confirmed that the sigil was an ancient version of House Cannith's own crest. Lady d'Vown asked them if they would be willing to undertake a retrieval of something on her behalf. Assured that they would be well recompensed for their efforts, they were told that the item in question was a seven-pointed star of hard metal etched with symbols.
---
Finally they reached the towers of Morgrave University, an enormous building separated from one of the higher levels of Sharn by a huge floating bridge. Moving through the University District of Upper Menthis they find themselves eventually in the archaeology department; one of the few places bustling even at the late hour of their arrival. Inside they find a large number of hustling, nervous students being ordered around by an aristocratic voice. The source of the voice is a three foot tall halfling in fine clothes with a proud stance. He declares himself to be the Provost of Archaeology "Praxxas Magister". Charmed by the knowledgeable yet deferential attitude of Andrew, Praxxas informs them that there would be an expedition to Xen'drik in two weeks and they would be welcome aboard. Also that if they "make it back alive, by the gods you'll be members!" - alluding to gaining research and lecture privileges at Morgrave.
---
Praxxas was told of their current errand, and with a whip-like crack of his voice he summoned over an anxious looking student who was then swiftly press-ganged into tagging along with the trio to offer assistance. Morgan Baker, a somewhat timid young human, promised to do all that he could to help while he was with them.
---
Having already been given a crude map to assist their search, the four explorers set off into the depths of Sharn this time. Winding down through the levels of the great city, they knew that they needed to find the E-213 valve cluster in the sewers; the last place that Bonal Geldem had been investigating.
Before they could find it though, they reached an arrangement with a goblin marketeer called Shakan. He would give them directions in exchange for some money and lamp oil for trade.
---
The stairs down to the valve cluster were steep and damp and led directly into peril. They were assaulted on the stairs by a hidden warforged and then almost immediately by two shifter thugs. They dispatched them and made their way through the treacherous waters and gushing valves before descending again into the depths. This time they came out in an ancient set of underground structures and were assaulted by a swarm of hungry beasts and then a pair of mutated rats. They found respite in the form of a consecrated shrine that allowed them safety and a small font of curative waters. Unknown to the group of urban spelunkers, they were being watched!
---
After a few hours of rest, they stalked into the darkness. The finding of an old workshop was a clear sign that they were on the right track; a sign further confirmed by the short battle with the last guardians of the forge. Dha'ron took the worst of the battle and had to be revived to consciousness by a trickle of the curative water in their waterskin. They did make off with some old coins and find the schema they had been sent to retrieve though! An event which forced the hand of the waiting warforged - Saber!
The battle was intense, once again leading to Dha'ron's savage rage leaving him drained and unconscious!
---
Returning to the surface was a pleasure for all concerned, and Elaydren rewarded them all as promised. Another reward came in the form of the value of the antiquated coins they had gathered from the forge. They were worth ten times their weight due to their age! They also dealt with Thangon d'Kundarak and exchanged some ingots for cash at the House.
---
All in all, it was a successful first foray into the world of House intrigue and adventure! Andrew, Dha'ron, and Artificer Corporal: 9th Brelish Company, 3rd Warforged Regiment would be in the company of Praxxas Magister and Morgan Baker: Intern again soon enough as they made preparations to sail for Xen'drik!