2025 Campaign Adventure 19
Plot:
Tithes of Thanks
The party woke up to a fresh morning with a few things to organise before their next mission. Gathering up their things and saying hello to Marie after a brief breakfast they head towards the Temple of Ilmater to have a chat with the clerics there. Brother Steve, the man who had welcomed Kai into the brotherhood greeted them and after Kai explained what had happened to his arm, in a non-detailed and flattering way, brother Steve managed to restore some of its functionality.
While Kai regained the ability to move his arm the strength and dexterity he once had was yet to return. A longer period of time was required to heal this affliction. As they offered a large sum of money to pay for the healing they also organised to get several healing potions created by brother Simon. As they were enquiring about where to get better weapons and adventuring gear Brother Steve warned them to steer clear of Tsar who runs a Bazaar and deals nearly exclusively in stolen items, including the church’s holy symbol that once adorned their central altar.
Finding a way to fell two orcs with one arrow they head off in search of Tsar and his Bazaar in the market.
Tsar’s Bazaar.
The party eventually found the place they were looking for. Flashy, gawdy and overly expensive the place oozed the arrogance behind the man who owned the shop. Entering they were greeted with a typical pawn shop. Shelves of people’s junk or treasured items lined next to each other. On the wall there was dozens of weapons that, with his trained eye, Tater could tell were all fake or made to look more impressive than what they were.
As they were looking a man that was more moustache than charm waddled up to them and introduced himself as Tsar. He was entirely too focused on himself and his business but made a great deal of effort in trying to sell the weapons that were on the wall to the party. Claiming that one of the axes, which was evident to Tater was intended for carpentry not battle, had felled a dragon and once belonged to a dwarven king.
After Kai enquired about holy relics of churches he used their drift globe as a tool to try and sell the appearance that he too was into the same type of ‘business’ as Tsar. After some clever deceptions the disturbing man produced a small chest filled with iconography of the gods, all of them liberated from churches. Making a great show of leaving and being somewhat uninterested as they had to sell ‘dragons teeth’ they barely left the counter before Tsar stopped them. Retrieving a single tooth that they retrieved from the Snowtown Quarry cave Tsar became transfixed . With some clever thinking Tater and Kai made the man believe that the tooth came from the same dragon that his axe allegedly slew.
Spotting a good bit of business the man ran off, advising them to search through the ‘ugly blade’ bucket as he quickly retrieved an expert in teeth.
Familiar Faces
While the man left the shop open Kai retrieved Ilmaters symbol from the box, which he had spotted earlier and stashed it in their pouch of holding. Noting a wicked looking repeating crossbow armed and ready behind the counter in case Tsar needed to deal with ‘business interference’. As they searched through the blades in the ‘ugly bucket’ they realised that all of these had been taken from graves. Some still had grave dirt on them but they were well made and were suited for combat unlike the ones on the wall.
Tater noticed that two stood out, the blades themselves showing no sign of decay, damage or wear and tear. A rapier that’s blade was razor sharp and nick-free and a long sword which had its blade glow like molten silver. Grabbing those blades and following Tsars advice, as he excitedly left, ‘Take any blade from the bucket. I can’t have my business partners going around unarmed.’ they stood their and waited for the man to return.
Using a trick that Kai had learnt early in his days of travelling with the wizard that had ‘adopted him’ he had an unseen servant rotate the supposed dragons tooth above the counter, holding it a foot above the wood. Tsar returned with a familiar face. Tobias, the mage that they had interviewed briefly to accompany them.
Recognising the party Tobi made a silent pact to not reveal each other to the man, or their employers as he inspected the tooth. Not a dragon. Something more. A bashe, a large serpent that used to hunt dragons and had a strange kindship with purple worms. After hearing about how rare they were and how valuable these teeth were Tobi helped the party convince Tsar that it was worth more than his shop was worth. Tobi agreed to sell his shop on the condition that he would receive the tooth – greed taking over his eyes. Agreeing to meet the party at Ms Trotters Tavern, where the party had no intention of visiting, he would bring what gold he could to purchase the tooth from them.
As the man hurried them out the door, the tooth still in possession with the party, he ran off to begin making as much coin as possible in a short amount of time to pay for the tooth and to truly become rich. Tobi confirmed it was a Bashe tooth, that part was not deceptive, but also advised they are valuable to certain people – he being one of them.
As they left the party discussed with Tobi the potential of him joining them on their next journey to Faerstead. Considering the offer he agreed to meet the party at the Five Fat Ravens Inn later to discuss the tooth, the mission and more. The party head back to the Tavern, spoke to Tobi about where they found the tooth so the guild could go and retrieve more teeth for study and, profit.
As they rested they prepared themselves for their next mission.
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 