Session Date: 01/13/2025
Summary of Missed Sessions
Disclaimer
Because this is two weeks of sessions, events may be slightly out of order or slightly inaccurate. This section may change as details are remembered more clearly, or may conflict with future events somewhat, or some things may be repeated.
The Summary
Visitors
After we made it out of The Wandering Vault and somewhere safe, we receive visits from a few people. The Agent had visited to reluctantly thank us and let us know that Zeth Seegmiller had the protection of the Misconduct Department (Ministry of Divination), which is keeping him in his position of power. Major Hieronymus Flint otherwise shows up to let us know that he doesn’t really like us, but he has no intention on fighting us at this time. Kincaid had sent us a skull messenger to propose a truce while we fight Seegmiller and he did his own stuff — Bosch had said no and smashed the skull.
During the day, the party split up and started to follow a few plot threads.
Contract Fall Out
Tabby and Mary followed up with the people who had been freed from the contracts that Seegmiller had, and Bosch spent some time chatting with Zada Nix an procuring items from underworld contracts.
One of the people freed from the contracts was a cleric of the Immortal of Commerce, who was all torn up that his immortal had allowed him to remain controlled the entire time. Tabby and Mary tried to reassure him, but also tried to convince him to break out of town. He did, much to the congregation’s disappointment.
Most of the others in a contract were already gone, but they did manage to catch the former editor-in-chief of The Metropolitan Observer before he left.
Bosch’s Infiltration
Bosch and Torchy had infiltrated The Metropolitan Observer in order to get Torchy’s article published. Torchy pretended to be an intimidating high-class journalist who won’t take no from anyone, and Bosch played her beleaguered intern.
They planted a copy of the story in Ricky’s office (in the “already approved” box), another copy in the “articles for tomorrow” room, and then managed to intimidate their way into the printing press room. One worker gave them some flack, saying journalists weren’t allowed in, so Bosch came up with, “she’s only here to glare at me; luckily she didn’t bring the whip today.” Basically, he had to work the press alone with no experience, but with a nat 20, he definitely got it to work.
The Map
Mary and Tabby discovered a weird map with three jewels embedded into it, built into the apartment wall. They showed it to Bosch the next morning and he immediately pressed one of the gems. The apartment shutters closed and it felt like they were being whisked away at high speed. When the shutters opened, they were somewhere else.
One of the points was near the Academy, which Bosch declined to go to on principle. The other location was a high-class neighborhood, which we don’t know the significance of. Wandering around there, Bosch and Mary felt really out of place, but they did run into Salaavethor.
Sal informed them that Faylen and Beitris hadn’t checked back in because they were running an errand for him to repay his earlier favor.
They discussed the issue of not knowing where Seegmiller might show, and Sal commented that he would almost certainly show up near the devil, and was surprised when everyone didn’t know what that was. He cheerfully provided a wand that contained a ritual to locate devils. Bosch mentioned he was worried that the devil would have divination magic that could ruin his performance, but Sal offered the Veil of Privacy spell to counter it (in exchange for a favor, which Bosch agreed “as long as it’s fun”).
The group headed to Seegmiller’s HQ first - an office building that looked incredibly expensive, but had zero personality.
Current Session Start: Faylen & Beitris
Faylen comes to mid-run and realizes that he’s currently running. He’s not sure why, but he is. Beitris is also coming to and just as confused, also still running. Behind us we hear people shouting, calling is infidels, that we stole the idol. In front of us is Sal’s hand - just his hand - beckoning us. The voices behind us say something about bringing the pain sticks and the agony sword as we run into a forest. Within a blink we find ourselves in a room with carpet beneath us. Faylen and Beitris catch on the carpet and tumble into the carpet.
Sal goes to Beitris and she absent-mindedly hands him the idol that we apparently stole. Sal is pleased. He explains that he borrowed us for a little while to help him with something. He drops the idol into a drawer and it falls for entirely too long before clattering at the bottom.
Sal comments that we likely don’t recall what happened, and Faylen admits that’s true. Sal explains that he had approached us to help him, and we had graciously agreed. He had to put some magic on us to help protect our minds on this little adventure, which is why we do not recall what happened, but he did promise to help, so he gives Faylen two silvered rapiers - this will help against the devils (plural).
He gives instructions on how to get back to Jewel and once Beitris is a little more together, the pair leaves via the instructions from Sal and they are left in the city near where Axamonar’s apartment currently is. They see Bosch carrying some supplies (fabric and other costume-related things) and they catch up with him and he asks if he looks evil, showing off a little suit he’s wearing that is rather villainous.
The Party
Bosch explains we’re still fighting Seegmiller and Bosch wants to have a chat with him first, and he wants to look the part. Seegmiller will likely throw him out of the window, but it’s absolutely worth a shot.
Once they arrive to the apartment, Faylen recalls how difficult it is to teleport places between two different locations, much less three. It really is just a testament to how much skill Axamonar really does have.
The party gets Faylen and Beitris up to speed with what all is going on. Mary finds some herbs to help against infernal influence and mixes it together while Tabby and Faylen admire their new silver rapiers.
Bosch
Bosch wakes up the next day after a good night’s rest and puts on his disguise. Bosch sneaks into Zeth’s office and hears doors opening and closing. Bosch applies a paint to make himself look pale, dresses very sharply, and makes his teeth look far sharper than usual.
With Zeth shows himself, Bosch begins a monologue: the third player shows himself. He comments that Zeth ran from Kincaid’s lackeys, and that some heroes stepped in to save the day. Zeth grimaces at the word hero, and Bosch explains that he is not a hero anymore - the lord was rather displeased. Bosch pulls the skull messenger and strokes it, commenting that he didn’t agree with the undeath at first, but life on “the other side” is good, actually, and the lady of war offered plenty of riches.
Bosch asks what Zeth can offer, if anything. Zeth says he has money, and Bosch doesn’t accept that offer, saying money can’t get him what he wants. Zeth says that Bosch is just an animated corpse: Zeth can buy a new life, he can put his brain into another body - that’s the legacy he wishes to leave. Bosch comments that Zeth has big plans. Ultimately, Bosch demands that Zeth try to do one thing interesting, do something that is not totally lifeless.
The door opens and a secretary comes in, walking like a queen. She brings contracts in to Zeth and comments that these are the latest, and they need to be signed. Bosch grumbles contracts. He looks at the secretary and reminds her not to negotiate with other beings, and Bosch spies the security guard that had kicked him seeming to guard either her or Zeth. She leaves.
Bosch comments he’s not supposed to be here either, and Bosch chides Zeth for not being interesting. Zeth asks what interesting even means, and Bosch calls him a pathetic man. Zeth asks Scab to remove him, and Bosch just leans into it: Zeth couldn’t come up with one interesting thing. Zeth says he doesn’t need to be interesting, he just needs to have control. Bosch laughs bitterly and comments that his control is slipping.
Bosch is trying to goad Zeth into shooting a fireball at him, but it doesn’t seem to be quite working. Time slows and Kaymanth’s voice enters Bosch’s mind and asks if he would like to continue this deal, and Bosch says yes. Kymanth comments that this can be arranged: Scab has just enough anger to play with. Kaymanth hopes that Bosch knows what he’s doing, though if Bosch does die, he can maybe convince the others to let Kaymanth bring him back.
Time resumes and Scab’s eyes go dark. He roars in anger and a big fireball is launched toward Bosch. Bosch manages to dodge/deflect/what have you and the explosion of the fireball is enough to destroy the ceiling of the room so that sunlight filters in. Scab chases Bosch out of the room and as Bosch falls, Kymanth gives him some shadowy wings so that he can glide down to safety.
Before disappearing, Kymanth comments: Perhaps you two could be a double act…
Bosch scrambles up and slinks into the shadows, hearing fireballs being fired off.
The Party
Faylen absolutely notices the shadow wings on Bosch. The party rushes to him and Mary tries to heal him, but we don’t have enough time. She hits him with a heal spell and we go into the office building and Bosch picks up a plastic potted plant. We pile into the elevator and ride it up to the top. On the ride up Faylen gets on Bosch about the shadow wings and dealing with Kaymanth, and Bosch explains that he just needed a little help and Kaymanth was actually really helpful.
When the doors open, Seegmiller is chewing out some staff about the damage to the building. We walk in and combat begins as Bosch goads him.
Combat begins, and we end session at the end of round 2 ready to start round 3 next session.