FLINTLOCK FANTASY: Episode III Play Report!

The third session began with the early morning light streaming into an abandoned Tylluan eyrie over the Northern Slums of Malazar. The gang had fled to the eyrie after the events of the previous session (which you can read about here). The players and characters were:

- Gabby as Lucinda Martin, the gifted budding alchemist who ran the tavern
- Tom as Nym the Mog, the curious investigator cat who shared Lucinda's love of chemistry
- Kurt as Ramon Sánchez de Castille, a recovering veteran of the Siege of Lapramada
- Gus as Pedro the Bruxi, an aspiring and helpful naval gunner rat who'd befriended Ramon on his return journey (Gus was unfortunately still being eaten by his children and unable to attend).

After much discussion about what they should do, it was decided that they would make the journey through the slums to the Castigardo, the huge and ominous prison that squatted upon the banks of the river near the heart of the city. Their hope lay in bribing their way inside so they could speak with Nym's Mog mentor Viski Padipurr, who had been incarcerated after the Machetza Gang had sold him out to the Crown authorities. Viski the one who had given Nym the Stone Book for safekeeping, and perhaps he could tell them more about where he had acquired it. Lucinda and Nym were both in favour of studying the book further, but Ramon was firmly in favour of destroying it. Eventually they persuaded him from doing so, and they emerged from the eyrie into a blistering sun. It was going to be a swelteringly hot day.

Disguising themselves somewhat to avoid the searching eyes of Lady Regretta and the Machetzas, they descended into the stinking streets of the city and hailed a gondola to ferry them over to the Castigardo Slums. The picked up a few supplies from street vendors, cut through several bazaars then arrived the outer gates of the Castigardo, which sat at the end of a narrow peninsula jutting into the river.

Luck was on their side as they approached the gatehouse: a young bravo had left his jacket undone in the heat, and as the three past by him, they could see a large machette hanging on the inside of his jacket. He was a Machetza, and they quickly realised that the gang they had tangled with over the book during the eclipse on the previous day (see here) must have been staking out the prison in the hope that Nym would eventually try to make contact with his imprisoned master. Warily the three pressed on to the gatehouse; the prison might afford them their only protection.

Luck was also on their side when they spoke to the guard. He was friendly and willing to help them after they slipped him a generous bribe, and he led them in through the gates. There was a small plaza between the gatehouse and the prison itself, and to one side lay a wharf where prisoners were brought straight from the courthouse down river. But in front of them loomed the thick and oppressive walls of black granite. The dark entrance was open, and distant screams all wailing came from within.

A second guard, much larger and crueler than the guard at the gate, took more bribing before he was willing to fetch Viski for them. They were led to a small stone room, barren save for a wooden table and benches, where they were to meet with Viski; Ramon did not wish to be trapped inside, and waited in the hallway.

Eventually Viski was brought before Nym and Lucinda, and he was a sorry sight. His once lustrous white gold fur was dank with blood from savage cuts, his claws removed, even his fangs snapped. It was clear Viski had suffered greatly, and that he was barely hanging on. It seemed that anger and a thirst for revenge had kept him alive, and coherent.

Viski was able to tell them about where he had acquired the Stone Book. He had learned that an Agent of the Crown was bringing in an artefact recovered from the Stonelands far to the north, and purchased by the Crown from an auctioneer in The Citadel (a free city in the middle of the continent that was responsible for the Aurora Arcana that protected all the nations of Thaumatria). He had learned who the agent was and when the ship she was sailing on was to arrive in Malazar, ambushed her shortly after she arrived, and stole the book.

But he nearly failed: as he made his escape she transformed into something huge and monstrous that could have easily been the Hydiac — the monster that had been plaguing the city for the last two weeks. The agent's name was Zumi Juso, and if she was working for the Crown, then they too must be after the Stone Book, and that would explain the presence of the Leech-eyed Man and the Slavering Boxthing interrogating them at the Wandering Arms.

Viski begged them to do everything they could to free him, and Nym promised that he would, but their time was up. Nym slipped his mentor a bottle of wine just before the guards returned, and escorted him back to his cell. If they were to buy his freedom, it would cost them at least 500 crowns in bribes, money none of them had.

Yet they had more pressing problems: the Machetza waiting for them outside the gates of the Castigardo. But they were able to give them the slip by hailing a gondola to take them from the prison wharf, and were able to cross back into the network of canals and disappear before the four boatloads of machette-wielding thugs caught up with them.

The heat weighed heavy on the city, but the gang decided to press on with finding out more of the various plots afoot by heading to a friend of Ramon's — one Coravo la Brana, a fellow duelist he had met while at University, and had encountered shortly after Ramon had returned from the war.

As they made their way through the city they stopped tp refresh by a fountain nearest to the old walls, by the gate that separated the Northern Slums from the Old City. As they washed down Lucinda spotted a most unusual sight in the form a tall man in crimson robe and crimson wide-brim hat: an Inquisitor of Carcassara. Greatly feared, the crowd parted around him, before he headed further into the Northern Slums. Was he here for them?

They quickly made their way through the heart of the city to the university district where they called up the residence of Coravo La Brana. According to his Bruxi servant, Master La Brana would not return til nightfall, but had left instructions that should Ramon visit he should be welcomed into his home and all his needs catered for.

La Brana lived in a well appointed apartment near the University, and lived comfortably. They rested, away from the heat of the day in the cool rooms, but Lucinda asked the Bruxi servant to visit the nearby alchemist's shop and purchase some supplies. An hour later the servant returned with a hefty wooden box on a strapped frame: it was a portable alchemist's lab, which she would swiftly put to good use.

Her examination of the goods was cut short by the sound of a carriage arriving at speed down in the stables. It was La Brana, staggering up the stairs and clutching a bloodsoaked shirt, and pale from loss of blood. They quickly guided him to his bed, and Lucinda examined the wound: a deep cut on his flank that showed bone. But she had been well trained as a surgeon, and set about healing him. As she operated, she asked Ramon if her patient could be trusted. Ramon said yes: Coravo La Brana had hired both Ramon and his companion Pedro to watch over Lucinda and protect her from harm. Lucinda confronted him. Was La Brana responsible for the wanted posters of the woman named Valentina de Camondo — her true identity?

In his delirium La Brana was loose-tongued and revealed much that perhaps he should not. He was not responsible for them, but had been ordered by her father Lord Vincent de Camondo to watch over and protect her. Was her father responsible for the posters? Not at all, according to La Brana. Her father wanted nothing more than for his daughter to live the life she wanted, and if that meant living in hiding away from her family and its business, then all he wanted was her safety. So who was it that had ordered the wanted posters distributed around the city? La Brana did not know. He also, in his delirium, did not recognise Lucinda as the woman he was meant to protect.

The pain of the wound was beginning to take a hold, as was the alcohol he was using as a sedative, but La Brana was able to tell them where he had acquired the wound. In exchange for Ramon's protection of Lucinda, La Brana agreed that he would investigate the murder of Ramon's father, who had been killed the night Ramon had returned from the war while Ramon was visiting. Assassins had broken into the house, and attacked Ramon's father Lord Eduardo Perez de Castille believing he was alone: but Ramon witnessed the attack, and overheard the killers talking about a job for a "Señor Mendez" before making good his escape. La Brana had learned that someone was hoping to lay charges against Ramon for his father's death, and the two had agreed that Ramon should stay away from his father's home and that La Brana should investigate on his behalf. He was at the premises this very afternoon when he was attacked inside the house, but he was a gifted student of the dueling arts, and had managed to cut his way through the gang of bravos and return here. At that point La Brana pulled out a small book, sea-green in cover: it was a journal, and La Brana insisted that Ramon read it.

THE LAST JOURNAL OF LORD EDUARDO PEREZ DE CASTILLE
(written in second person cause it was originally for Ramon's player Kurt).

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/255236661/a5-journal-notebook-vintage-journal

Your father's private journal is quite new, it only goes back several months of events and thoughts.

The journal is a sea-green hardbound book of considerable quality. The first entry is three months old.

In amongst the details of day to day mundanity of appointments and gatherings, it details the observations of a old, broken man, who seems very sad, and full of regrets that he could not live up to the greatness of his father and grandfather in managing the shipyards.

You knew your father was quite artistic, and there are sketches throughout of various shipyard scenes, portraits of people he met with, and Malazari street scenes.

It also contains sketches throughout of dragonflies, birds, and seedpods, as well as what appears to be the vivisection of a Tylluan Owl Man. Particular detail is paid to the musculature and bone structure of the wing.

There are also pictures of the windmills that line the canals north of the city and this winery hillsides around the old estate.

On the few occasions he mentions the Church it is in disparaging terms.

There are a number of meetings listed, with several businessmen at various places, including — now this is interesting — he talks about a meeting with Lord Vincent de Camondo, Lucinda's father. He speaks of him in very familiar terms, very informal, and he recounts telling de Camondo that "the project could not proceed without the intervention of the gods. What Vincent asks for is simply impossible. A lifetime of work and failure is all I have to show for it." There is then a short memo: "maybe the gods could help? Voroshka?"

He also details a number of meetings with your eldest brother at the estate, the sickly Comte Santiago Sebastien de Castille, and has brief summaries of their meetings, the last of which was several days before he died.

They seem to be working very hard towards ensuring that the family shipyards remain the the de Castille family, but as it was being run by your sister Condesa Mariana Sofia de la Sablonnière up til the day she died, there is an attempt being made to claim control of the shipyards by her husband Conde Louis Pierre Ancillon de la Sablonnière, who your father now holds in very low regard.

He also details his attempts to bring his remaining family back to Malazar to lay a counterclaims to the company, his frustrations in your youngest sister who has refused to co-operate, and his vexations in finding both you and your other brothers. He specifically mentions pulling strings with various friends in the military to have you and your brothers recalled from the Siege of Lapramada, several times over the last six months, and his puzzlement on why these requests have all failed. Your brothers had died prior to the first entry in this journal, but his grief over their deaths looms over everything, and it's clear he was desperately hoping that you would return to solve all the inheritance issues.

His last entry is one full of joy and honesty: he has learned that you are to be transferred back from Lapramada arriving the day after tomorrow, and his journal entry reads like he was taking notes for a speech that he was preparing for you, but never gave due to his murder. In summary:

"My son, I know that the weight of familial expectations has been heavy on the shoulders of all my children, and that the day to day cut and thrust of our business is far from romantic. It is no wonder that you and most of your siblings have fled to the far corners of the world. But I know of the unique burden that you have carried, that drove you away, and the shame dark wounds my own cowardice inflicted upon you. You had the strength and courage to show the greatest of mercies when I did not, and you spared your mother the greatest of pains where I could not. Be not ashamed of what you have done, for you have shown your true qualities and kindness. You are to be lauded for your deeds, not held to account for them. If I seem a drunken fool, it is because I am. But you did not put me on that path. Do not follow my path, and seek for treasures in the bottom of the bottle. Do not follow my path, and seek for wisdom at the bottom of the sea."

The last two sentences have been struck through.


REWARDS:

Loot:
Ramon acquired his father's Journal

Experience:
Visiting Viski and the Castigardo: 150XP/3 = 50 each
Evading the Machetza Gang: 150XP/3 = 50 each
Rendevouz with Coravo La Blana: 150XP/3 = 50 each
Additional RP awards: 100 each

TOTAL XP = 250XP each

FLINTLOCK FANTASY: Episode II Play Report!

The second session kicked off with the aftermath of the Machetza showdown and monstrous attack at the Welcome Arms (which you can read about HERE). The players and characters were:

- Gabby as Lucinda Martin, the gifted budding alchemist who ran the tavern
- Tom as Nym the Mog, the curious investigator cat who shared Lucinda's love of chemistry
- Kurt as Ramon Sánchez de Castille, a recovering veteran of the Siege of Lapramada
- Gus as Pedro the Bruxi, an aspiring and helpful naval gunner rat who'd befriended Ramon on his return journey (Gus was unfortunately eaten by his children and unable attend).

Members of the Malazar City Guard finally arrived at the Welcome Arms to begin their investigations, and as Lucinda hurried out to meet them, she suggested that Nym leave the Stone Book somewhere safe and secure. She did not see him place it in the vault and lock it; she truly did not know what happened to it when the guards spoke at length with her. They asked many questions about the Machetzas, the woman who vanished before Lucinda's eyes, and the location of the book that the gang wanted. Gabby proved surprisingly wily and cunning and palyed Lucinda very well, evading the questions and steering their inquiries as best she could. She handed them the tavern's books so they could see who else was staying there: Ramon had not given his last name, and Pedro the Bruxi wasn't even on the books. Which was for the best, for he was no where to be seen.

The three guards clearly weren't that interested in the case, asking routine questions and failing to notice Ramon's lies. Likewise with Nym, who suggested that the book was actually gambling ring, not some arcane tome. (Nice time to roll a 1 there, sergeant). But they were advised to remain in the tavern overnight, in case there were further inquiries.

And there were, but not in any official capacity: Lucinda caught a fresh faced young man by the name of Jonas, asking too many questions in the post-eclipse revelries. She escorted him to the guards upstairs, who instantly recognised him: he was an inquirer from one of the new boletins that had begun printing the news for mass consumption, and he was eager to learn what had happened.

Meanwhile Nym ducked out into the afternoon to see if he could find a safehouse for them to stay. Ramon was certain that the Machetzas would return, and it would be best not to be at the Welcome Arms when they did. Nym uncovered two possible locations to lay low: an old store room above an obscurio shop, and the eyrie of a Tylluan family that had been missing at sea for some time. Both showed signs of possible occupation by others (orphan beggars above the store, and hints of a heretical church gathering at the eyrie) but both could be dealt with. With a claw Nym carved a message for the heretics "leave this place or you will be reported to the authorities", hoping that threat was enough to scare them off.

When he returned to the Welcome Arms the mood had soured. Lady Margarié Regretta, the owner of the tavern and inn, had arrived and was grilling Lucinda about the tragic events, giving her a very loud dressing down in the backroom behind the bar. She was deeply upset by the death of Largo the bouncer, but also by the sudden attention the Welcome Arms was now receiving, when it had until now maintained a reputation as a quiet discrete location to gather. As the manager of the tavern Lady Regretta held Lucinda to be personally responsible, and believed that her new friends Nym, Ramon and Pedro had brought the tavern low. Lucinda offered to resign, but she did not find out if Lady Regretta accept it it for a number of city guards entered unannounced.

The guards were followed by two golden-caped cazadors. One was the tall Tylluan owl-man bearing a single scimitar: Nym had encountered him on the rooftops during the Machetza attack. The other a scarred and weary man laden with pistols and blades. The Tylluan stepped forward and in a croaky voice apologised for the intrusion, then directed all present to sit at the bar table before him. Ramon made a point of limping over in pain. Nym, Lucinda and Lady Regretta joined him, as well as the few other patrons present. Pedro was nowhere to be seen.

Then eight heavy cowled monks entered, wearing only the indigo robes of the Malazari royalty, and between them they carried a tall but narrow sedan box on two rods. Black lacquered, gold trimmed, adorned with the symbol of the lamprey, and completely enclosed with carved wooden screens it was clearly carrying a highborn noble. But the hideous ragged breathing that gurgled slowly within, and the strange stink that washed over them marked the passenger as something other.

Besides the sedan walked another monk, indistinguishable from the rest, save for when he pulled back his cowl and raised his head to address those gathered before him, who recoiled when they saw that instead of eyes, two leeches squirmed beneath his brow, growing from under his eyelids, searching and seeking for something. When he spoke, his voice was kind but distant, but the breathing within the box quickened its pace.

"Tell me... of the Hydiac."

Each person present who had encountered the creature had a sudden flash of memory. The creature had escape the tavern not hours before, and the recollections where still fresh. For Ramon it was the sight of the mass of tooth and tentacle, eye and maw, where but a moment before the mysterious woman slumped over, pinned to the wall by Ramon's blade. For Nym it was the bulging wall of bestial flesh filling the doorway to his room, flexing its horrendous musculature and ripping the side of the tavern apart as it fled.

The Tylluan cazador tilted his head, shuddered, then spoke next, in complete unison with the leech-eyed man as the gurgling behind them bubbled and frothed.

"Tell me of the woman."

Lucinda's mind flooded with memory from the bar fight. She was grabbing the volatile liquors from the end bar, glanced over at the woman: plainly dressed, a fishmonger perhaps, but her hair in an unfashionable bob haircut. But she was muttering something quietly to herself, and her hands... shimmered. And then she vanished. Ramon saw her up close again, in the last moment before the woman... changed. Her weathered face slackening as she slipped from consciousness. Every detail of her face revealed for an instant. Nym recalled how she stood at the doorway to his room, demanding the book he had in his arms, her own arms shimmering with the speed of their shaking.

The weapon-laden cazador now joined the chorus. The thing in the sedan, clearly controlling them, panting under the effort.

"Tell me of the Book."

Lucinda's and Ramon's recollections were indistinct, flashes of the conversation two hours prior in the secret backroom of the Welcome Arms, Lucinda suggesting to Nym that he store it someplace safe. But Nym's recollections were crystal clear: he had studied if for several days since it came into his paws, and his last memory was of placing the book in the storage vault and shutting the door. He could hear the latches lock with a click as he shut it.

The Tylluan cazador shook his head then asked to be taken to the vault. Lady Regretta rose and under protest led him downstairs to where the book was stored. The rest waited uncomfortably; the book had already drawn far too much trouble from powerful members of Malazari society and they were eager to be parted from it (though Nym was keen to learn the rest of its contents first).

A scream came from downstairs. Lady Regretta rushed back up. "The book! It's been stolen!"

The laboured breath within the sedan was almost ecstatic.

"Tell me who stole the Book."

But no-one had any inkling who could have done it. They were almost relieved instead, for whoever had taken it would now become the focus of this interrogation, not them. Whoever the thief was, they were not present.

The gurgling slowed, relinquishing its grip on the cazadors' voices. The Tylluan bowed curtly, apologised once more for the intrusion, and then the leech-eyed man escorted his horrid master off the premises and out into the streets of Malazar, followed by the retinue of guards and the cazadors.

Everyone in the Welcome Arms was greatly relieved by their departure. Ramon was especially unsettled by the leech-eyed man. What the hell was that thing? But it was Lady Regretta who was first to act.

She gave orders for the Welcome Arms to be shut for the night, and then made it quite plain that Lucinda, Nym and Ramon were to return to her townhouse and join her for the evening to discuss what had happened. Sensing this to was an order and not an offer, the three gathered their possessions then climbed up into the waiting carriage outside.

The carriage cut across the city, leaving the Northern Slums, crossed several canals, reached the old walls that guarded the heart of the metropolis where it drove past arenas and auditoriums and entered a salubrious neighbourhood down towards the main docks. Here the tall streets were clean and patrolled by private guards. The carriage pulled into a narrow gate beside a beautiful terrace; Nym drank in the details, his heart filling with envy, but Ramon was suspicious of such wealth and wondered where it came from.

Servants greeted them at the door, and they were ushered into a resplendent lounge. And there, getting to his feet, was their friend Pedro. In his arms was the book.

"I did as your Ladyship asked of me and emptied the vault," he explained. "Everything is here." He pointed to the files of paperwork and locked boxes on the lounge table before him.

Lady Regretta smiled and thanked him, then made it clear to the four of them that whatever was in that book she wanted to know. If the Hydiac wanted it, if the Machetzas wanted it, and now if the Malazari Crown wanted it, then whatever it was it was extremely valuable. She wanted to know how it came into their possession: Nym explained that his long time mentor Viski Padipurr had given it to him for safe keeping after a deal of some sort between him and the Machetzas went bad. "The Master Thief?" she asked, seeming to know the famous Mog. Nym nodded.

In the end a deal was struck whereby Nym and Lucinda would use their alchemical extracts to help them comprehend the contents of the book, and Ramon and Pedro would be responsible for their safety. She would pay them handsomely for their efforts, and they were welcome to stay at her terrace for now.

It had been a long day, and a tiring night, and the four were shown to their rooms; the book was returned to Nym. But they met one last time before sleep, eager to discuss the situation in private. They were unsure of what they were being dragged into, or of Lady Regretta's intentions. She was a war profiteer and arms dealer of some sort, and they did not believe they could trust her. But the bargain had been struck, the accommodation much to Nym's liking, and the pay was very, very good.

In the morning they set to work translating. Nym and Lucinda were able to brew four strange concoctions that enabled the eyes to make sense of strange languages, and they were able to comprehend the contents of ten pages or so with each brew. Gingerly they turned the petrified pages, handling with great care so as not to snap them off at the spine. And over the next few days this is what they learned:

The book was titled "THEORETICA ON THE DESIGN OF THE DEMONLOCK FIREARM & THE MEANS TO ACQUIRE ITS BASE MATERIALS" by Doctor Palso Anduriac, and was written in the Luzori language in the city of Kvantio. Everyone new that name: it was the cursed city where the Stoneland Wastes were born, where everything within one hundred miles was completely turned to stone. Brave adventurers would enter the Stoneland Wastes, and bring out relics and remnants of that lost city. This book was clearly an artefact from one such expedition.

(The book is fully detailed HERE.)

In summary, the illuminated manuscript was a treatise examining the current state of firearm technology in Thaumatria, and suggested a dangerous by highly effective means to improve it and gain an edge in the arms race that gripped the nations of the continent.

It contained blueprints and instructions on how to construct what it called a Demonlock Pistol, that was capable of using Demonstone Powder to greatly increase the firepower of current weapons. The pistol itself was an impressive but mundane design, but the methods of obtaining Demonstone Powder were outright heretical. First one must summon a demon of the Jugger Behem. Then one must have it petrified by the gaze of a gorgon from the southern continent. Grinding down the petrified demon into a fine powder produced the desired compound. It was a wild and outlandish proposition, but according to the account given in the final chapter of the book, four Demonstone Pistols were made and a batch of Demonstone Powder successfully acquired.

Part of the book was definitely arcane in nature. The chapter on summoning Jugger Behem — a tract that was so dangerous mere possession of it would warrant execution — was the source of the emanations, written with another's hand, and it was Lucinda who noticed that in the monstrous marginalia was a completely blank circle, whereas the circles on various other pages were filled with strange sigils. She was unsure what this meant.

While this research was being conducted, Ramon was becoming increasingly frustrated. His suspicions of Lady Regretta were growing in spite of her increasing generosities. He had seen things during the Siege of Lapramada that had deeply troubled him, and he could not shake his fears. But his ruminations were interrupted when a Bruxi messenger, who had been sent to the Welcome Arms and escorted here by one of Lady Regretta's servants, arrived with a communique from a friend in the city, warning him of impending threats.

Ramon voiced his concerns with his friends during a break in their research, and Lucinda decided it was time to reveal something disturbing that was likely to be connected to this dark trade in arcane weapons. She had been tracking the machinations of the de Camondo family for some time. They were prestigious arms dealers that manufactured artillery for the Malazari Crown — Ramon and Pedro recognised the name from the stamp on the side of many a fine cannon. It was possible that the book detailing the construction of Demonlock weapons was destined for them. She knew the de Camondos were working towards a major weapons delivery due a month from now, and that they had been buying up large quantities of condemned criminals from the Malazari slave markets. She was yet to see how all the pieces connected, but she was sure there was one.

At that moment a servant interrupted: there was someone to see Lucinda at the front door. Warily Lucinda opened it, only to find the Bruxi messenger who had delivered Ramon's letter earlier that day. The Bruxi held up a rolled piece of parchment, unfurled it, and compared the illustration of the woman upon it with Lucinda. Someone had posted a bounty on her, and the keen-eyed Bruxi had spotted her before. With a quick bow and a word of thanks he darted off into the darkness.

Lucinda rushed back in, warning her friends that they had to leave immediately. They gathered up their possessions, taking the book with them, but left incomplete notes behind for Lady Regretta. They also left a message explaining that they would return is several days, and would complete the translation then, for they suspected that Regretta would be a fine ally and terrible enemy.

As they scarpered back across the city to the safety of the more familiar Northern Slums, Lucinda grabbed one of the numerous wanted posters that had been plastered on the side of a wall: 500 crowns were offered for the capture and safe return of one Valentina de Camondo. "That's me," she said.

Nym led the four of them up into the rooftops of the slums, and into the abandoned Tylluan eyrie he had discovered before. For the moment they were safe. But clearly not for long...

REWARDS:

Loot:
Everyone receives 50 crowns each as payment from Lady Regretta
Ramon and Pedro also receive an additional 50 crowns for other services
The Stone Book remains in your possession
Nym stole a cushion
(the coins taken from the Machetzas was given to Lady Regretta to pay for Largo's funeral)


Experience:
Encounter with the Leech-eyed Man and his Master: 300XP/4 = 75 each
Translating the Stone Book: 600XP/4 = 150 each

TOTAL XP = 225XP each

FLINTLOCK FANTASY: Episode I Play Report!

First session of the Malazaria Campaign! Finally!

(The Malazaria, or The Malazariad, or The Carcassaria or The Carcassariad, (all so very pompous!) or maybe just Flintlock Fantasy, still struggling with a name for this game....)

We kicked of with a solar eclipse over Malazar City, calculated and forewarned by the Royal Astromancers. Eclipses on Arkha are bad. When they happen, the Jugger Behem slide down the moonshadows to maraud and molest. Malazar City, like most urban centres, has standard procedures in such times: shut up the shops, shut down the city, slap a curfew on everyone and send the city guard out in force. Specially trained monster hunters known as cazadors prowl among them, eager to capture any monstrosities.

Watching these events unfold from the rooftop of the Welcome Arms — a discreet establishment on the waterfront favored by arms dealers — were four friends, recently brought together by happenstance and otherwise:

- Gabby played Lucinda Martin, the gifted budding alchemist who ran the tavern
- Tom played Nym the Mog, the curious investigator who shared Lucinda's love of chemistry
- Kurt played Ramon Sánchez de Castille, a recovering veteran of the Siege of Lapramada
- Gus played Pedro the Bruxi, an aspiring and helpful naval gunner who'd befriended Ramon on his return journey

(I'd already received four fantastically rich background ideas, and written a recent history for each of the characters, so they're all weighed heavy with secrets and subplots mwahahahahaaaa.... everyone introduced their characters just so the players were up with who was who.)

Across the city the bells tolled until the moon swallowed the sun and all was plunged into night. The city guard called for all to head in, and one by one they headed down to the tavern to wait out the eclipse. Nym lingered, and as he was about to head down another Mog landed on the rooftops. "Where is your pride?" he asked then sprang down into the gloom.

Inside, the three gathered for drinks (not Lucinda, there were several other customers to serve waiting out the eclipse in the Arms) and they talked over scuttlebutt of the city including the war against the Emulatine Renegados and the monstrous Hydiac that was prowling the city slums (each session I'll supply the players with a onesheet of local events and gossip from the city's papers, you can read the first one here: CURRENT EVENTS). Pedro, ever helpful, was checking the shutters were indeed shut when he heard slow footsteps on the wharf alongside the Welcome Arms. He looked out to see four ill-favoured men sneaking towards him.

He darted back inside to warn the others, then dashed to the bar where his musket was stowed. One of the other customers — a local ragwoman — ventured to the door and looked out; the four men burst in, each wielding a pair of cruel looking machetes. It was the Machetza Gang!

Weapons were drawn: Ramon rising to his feet and unsheathing his rapier, Nym coolly placing his blade on the table before him, Lucinda reaching for a knife, and Pedro quietly priming his musket from behind the bar.

One of the Machetzas pushed the unfortunate woman against the wall, as their leader stepped forward, weapon pointed... at Nym!

"We're here for the Book. Hand it over, or you'll die."

Nym politely refused as Largo the Bouncer positioned himself between the Machetzas and the rest of the patrons. By some curious design the centre of the tavern was open to the water below (great for a pint and a fish, we decided) and more Machetzas were crawling up over the railing around the fishing pit. Ramon saw their plan: stall with words until enough Machetzas arrived to make negotiation unnecessary. He hobbled over and kicked the first one back into the water below, the pain of his injury coursing through his leg.

The Machetzas responded with violence. The first blow didn't kill Largo, but the second one definitely did.

(Lady and Gentlemen, please roll Initiative!)

Ramon squared up against the two murderous Machetzas while a third charged at Nym as he quaffed one last dreg from his mug (actually an alchemical extract he had handy). The fourth let the woman go and moved towards Lucinda at the bar (who also skolled an extract she had on her). Pedro popped up from behind the bar and fired at the leader, grazing him, while two more Machetzas scrambled up over the railing in the centre of the room. Lucinda's knife went wide, and she darted for the flammable liquors at the end of the bar, while Ramon duelled two, and then three Machetzas by himself.

Nym was cut bad by his attacker, who watched in amazement as the Mog sprang away and darted for the stairs that led up to his room where the book the Machetzas were after lay upon his table. Ramon fought desperately, parrying and riposting against the six blades he faced (this Swashbuckler class is cool!) but failed to fell them. Pedro saw one of the Machetzas rounding the end of the bar to get at him, raised his musket once more— FZZZZTzzzzzzz... a Misfire! His assailant was almost upon him, when a bottle smashed over the Machetza's head. The other patrons had joined the fray, coming to the defence of their favourite watering hole!

Ramon knew he was outnumbered, and saw only a desperate chance of escape. He feinted, then went to make a wild jump for the chandelanchor hanging over the fishpit. (attacks of opportunity all round!) but the leader left himself wide open (fumble!) as Ramon swung his blade in a wild retreat (fumbles in my game grant an attack of opportunity). Ramon's blade swung round... and found its mark as he leapt away, grabbed the chandelanchor, arced around behind the leader, and landed right behind the leader just in time for his head to topple off his shoulders!!!!! (CRIT. OF. THE. NIGHT.)


Of the two Machetzas still standing to face Ramon, one threw down his blades in the face of such skill and bolted for the door, but the second pressed on! Meanwhile Pedro fell back from the Machetza behind the bar. It could have been the broken bottle in the patron's hands, or the knife that Lucinda jammed in his gut that felled him, but that Machetza was slain as well. Lucinda glanced up to see the dark haired woman by the door unrattled by the attack, unfaxed, mumble under her breath and then vanish! Was she in league with the Machetzas? She had opened the door that let them in... where had she gone? Lucinda threw a bottle at where she last saw the vanisher, but it failed to find its mark.

As Ramon and the patrons finished off the last of the attackers (another fleeing for his life), Nym reached his room in a flash, powered by the curious extract he had prepared that made him exceedingly fleet of foot. Inside, he grabbed the bundle of tightly bound cloth that was wrapped around the book, grabbed his crossbow and a few other items, and was about to make for his window and bolt... when the woman from below was at his door.

"Don't make me do this," she warned as she held her hand out for the book Nym was holding. He got a good look at her: dark hair cut short in a bob, a pleasant but worn face, haggard eyes and attire that marked her as a fishmonger, perhaps... but her odor was terrifying. Unnatural. And her hand... her hand was shaking so violently that it shimmered and danced in the strange eclipselight through the window. "Give. Me. The. Book."

Mogs are exceedingly fast and nimble, and Nym even moreso: he was out the window in the blink of an eye, and scrambled up onto the roof of the Welcome Arms. But whoever this strange woman was... she did not follow. Instead, from his vantage point he could see the eclipse in the heart of of its transition. All around was dark as night, dark enough to see the stars, to see the Aurora Arcana dancing across the sky... and yet on the horizon, the glow as of dawn in every direction. The city lay in silence, not a single bell tolled in alarm— and then he noticed that the few city guard he could see in the streets and alleys below all were standing with their backs turned to the Welcome Arms. Surely they'd heard the musket fire, the screams? Or had they been bought off by the Machetzas? And where was the woman?

It was Ramon and Pedro who found her. Lucinda was tending to Largo's fallen body, and gave orders to the rest of the staff to clean up quick before the guard arrived. Limping up the stairs (his war wound bleeding heavily now) Ramon reached the top and looked down the corridor to see the woman closing the door to Nym's room. Nym's stolen notes were in her shaking hand, and she did not see Ramon, nor Pedro as he scrambled up behind him. Pedro wasted no time and fired his musket once more as Ramon hobbled down the corridor towards her, rapier drawn. The shot hit her, but did not fell her— yet the pain have distracted her for Ramon attacked before she could act, thrusting his blade through her shoulder and pinned her to the wooden panels behind her.

Nym heard the gun fire below, the ruckus of combat— and a sudden movement in the air caught his eye. Descending from a great height to land beside was a royal cazador, one of the brave souls trained to hunt down the Jugger Behem. He was a Tylluan, an owl man from the far north, white feathered, golden cloaked, and armed with a long and curved scimitar. "Return to your quarters immediately!" he croaked. Nym quickly explained what was happening, without giving everything away.

The woman was defeated, unconscious, notes slipping from her fingers... but she did not stop shimmering. In fact it was getting worse, vibrant in vibration. Ramon new sorcery when he saw it, and fell back down the corridor to a safer position as Pedro bravely rushed forward to cover his friends retreat. Pedro looked at her slumped form, blinked...

... and the corridor was filled with tooth and tentacle, eye and maw, groaning under the sudden weight of the horrendous creature unfolding into the world before the rat man. 

Pedro turned and fled, squealing in terror (Save vs Fear: failed!). Nym and the Cazador caught his cry, and leapt back down into Nym's room. The door to the hallway creaked and groaned. "Open the door," order the Cazador as Nym readied his crossbow, then flipped the latch. The door burst in, a wall of bestial meat pressed upon it. The bolt flew, struck the monstrosity; the scimitar dug deep into the flesh. Whatever it was, it pushed hard against the constraints of the hall, wood cracking, and with a horrendous shriek the side of the building burst open. The creature spilled out and down into the street below; Nym grabbed hold of the shattered doorway as his room toppled forward. The last Nym saw of the Cazador was a flick of golden cloak and scimitar as the hunter gave chase— and they were gone, leaving Nym's notes slowly floating down in the vacant air.

(Crap this has turned into a story writing exercise, sorry).

When the group came together again in the tavern below, Lucinda led them to a private room beneath the building. Nym had questions to answer, and quickly, before the city guard arrived.


Placing the heavy bundle on the table, he explained that he was given the book by his friend and mentor, after a deal with the Machetzas went sour and his friend incarcerated. He unwrapped the cloth and revealed what the Machetzas were after: a book made entirely of stone. It must have come from the Stoneland Wastes, they reasoned, where a decade ago a terrible accident occured in the city of Kvantio, and everything within a hundred mile radius was completely turned to stone. People, creatures, forests, possessions, water, clouds... everything. FOr several years explorers had been salvaging what they could from the Wastes. It was highly likely that the book had come from there.

Each page was paper thing but hard as granite, and Nym gingerly turned each one. The ink had turned to obsidian. The book was written by Doctor Palso Anduriac in Luzori, the language of the region. None of the four could readit, but it was clear from the illustrations that it was notes and experiments with a new kind of firearm, that appeared to be more powerful and deadly than anything they had seen; the book also contained depictions of strange and monstrous magical rituals. Hideous creatures cavorted in the margins, while arcane diagrams filled each page.

Pedro had been most efficient in looting the bodies of the Machetzas, and he shared the spoils with the others: 

- roughly 30 silver crowns

- 5 machetes

- a scroll, clearly stolen, containing title deeds of some sort

- a pouch containing a number of strange clear cubes

The all agreed that the money should go to the repair of the Welcome Arms, as well as to Largo's family, and then decided how much they would tell the authorities about what they knew; but the four had so many questions themselves!

- Who was the strange woman? 

- Was that the Hydiac?

- What was her relationship with the Machetzas?

- Why do they want that book so much?

- Who bribed the City Guard to avert their attention during the attack?

- Who was the Mog that approached Nym on the rooftops?

- What happened to the creature after it fled?

- Did the Cazador Tylluan survive?

- Should they find a safehouse to wait out the inevitable revenge attack by the Machetzas?

- Who was coming to question them, bribed City Guards, or the Royal Cazadors?

- How fast can they translate the book? Both Nym and Lucinda can prepare concoctions that will aid them in comprehension... but should they?

- and perhaps most importantly... when's the next game??!?!?!?!?!?!?

REWARDS:

Loot: 

As listed above

Experience:

Defeating the Machetza Gang: 1200XP/4 = 300 each

Defeating the Mysterious Woman: 600XP/4 = 150 each

TOTAL XP = 450XP each