Session Date: 01/19/2025
Session Start: The Undermarket
The Undermarket is bustling with all kinds of people - humans, drow, dwarves (still in diving bells as it’s still sunny). As we take it in, Iskra can smell there’s a lycanthrope somewhere, but Iskra can’t tell what kind. Iskra also notices Ace Freeman is playing guitar and singing country, busking for money. Iskra steps before Dia and warns her that Ace is here. We discuss a little about this — he’s not particularly good at playing, and we wonder if he’s so desperate to this, but we decide against antagonizing him and staying on topic.
Inky approaches Ace and steals some of the coins from him (without his notice). Inky comments that we don’t have to be enemies, and Ace says that that’s true: we could join his gang, and Inky suggests perhaps he stops trying to hurt his friends instead. Ace says that he has other jobs, and he’s busking as a disguise. Inky turns to Dia and yells at her, saying that Ace isn’t going to bother us today, and he’s going after some other job here.
Iskra goes up to Ace and takes a deep sniff to identify his scent, then asks about his gang. Ace is incredibly uncomfortable about all of this, and Iskra asks if Ace knows about an item he’d found on the train. Ace clearly remembers the time on the train, but is otherwise generally denying involvement in anything. Dia approaches and drags Arythas over as well. Arythas just huffs on him and doesn’t say anything while the other speak to Ace.
While the others speak to Ace, Inky rummages around in his pockets and finds a wanted poster for Dinadan, some manacles, another one of those wax coins, and some other miscellaneous items. The wanted poster is last, and when Ace notices that Inky is digging around in his pockets.
Inky manages to get the wax token over to Iskra, which Ace notices. Ace asks for it back, and the group presses for what it is. Ace says it was a gift from a friend and he appreciates his friend’s artistry. We press for a name of that friend, and Ace refuses to give it up. Iskra gets it back to Inky and he analyzes it and realizes that there’s magic on it. If the coin were broken it’d teleport Ace to somewhere safe in the city. There’s a bee on it - which Inky doesn’t quite understand the context of.
Rohan continues to be his made up character - most generic NPC ever - and speaks up to say that he’s our escort and he advises that we do not harm any of his possessions or it may cause problems. Inky grumbles and hands it back, pressing it into Ace’s hand hard enough to break the coin and cause him to teleport away. Rohan warns the group that the people running this place are far scarier than real law, and a phantom-like thing comments to say that yes, they are scarier.
She greets us and says that what we did was a nasty trick. She lands on the ground and takes her hood off and we see that she’s a young drowish woman. She explains she’s part of the Wraiths, security for the undermarket, and she is willing to let us off this time because he is a bit of a dick. She comments to say that everyone knows that we are tourists. We have some nice little smalltalk, and Dia segues into asking this young woman where a shipment might come through.
(There is an aside at some point that The Wraiths cannot be bribed. Specifically, if a Wraith attempts to take on something like a bribe, then the cloak will actually eat her and then automatically return back to HQ to be cleaned and distributed to someone new.)
The young woman explains that there isn’t much of an actual person exchange, but the best place to look would be the Flesh Exchange. The logistics of transporting people is difficult because storage is a big ask, and there isn’t much room in The Undermarket to actually store people before shipment or sale. She comments that there is a freezer, but not much else.
Rohan has the terrible idea of trying to impersonate the Wraith, and (after Dia waves her back and asks what happens if someone tries to impersonate Wraiths) she explains that anyone who impersonates a Wraith then they are hunted. The punishment isn’t immediate but there is something of a game about it. Otherwise, you can technically impersonate others, but the best way to get someone’s attention or to loosen their tongue is to bribe them or make it worth their while in some way.
Dia is absolutely interested in this woman and asks for a sending stone. The lady doesn’t have a sending stone per se, but she creates a half translucent crystal made out of smoke and hands it to Dia. It’s something that Dia can use to contact her later.
Rohan tries to go through with a slightly alternate plan: dress similarly to it, but never claim to be a Wraith. He tries to make a case for it, but Dia puts her foot down after explaining lying by omission and how it would still implicate him for the attempt regardless.
Flesh Market
We make it to the flesh market and it’s rather dark inside as we enter. The place is dim and the people inside are rather nasty characters. The gentleman who greets us is a toadfolk and asks how he can help us. Iskra describes the shipment and the gentleman explains that those are here, but we do not match the description for the person that is to pick them up.
Dia steps forward and acts the insufferable rich woman, explaining that we are not Her, but we are Her people. The man seems to accept it and asks for payment.
We manage to convince him to show us the shipment to verify its quality and the toadman ultimately agrees. Rohan goes back with him and notices where all of the traps are. As they get to he end, he’s given a coat as they go into the freezer. He gets the impression that the magics to keep this place cold is done weekly.
Dia, meanwhile, tries to hop the desk and look over the ledger to find out how much the transaction for the Thuuls will be. She doesn’t find the information she was looking for.
Iskra notices a tall, wiry man come in without our notice. Iskra does eventually notice him and immediately places him as a lycanthrope, though likely not a werewolf. The man - Dinadan - clearly doesn’t take very good care of himself as he gives Iskra a crooked grin. He leans forward and comments that he remembers Iskra.