telerib | Didn't we just do this adventure?

August Bisset du Verre, the Montaigne fellow that Thierry had an uncomfortable past with, took the artifact to the Freiburg Explorer's Guild Chapterhouse and, apparently, left it there. The Chapterhouse was run, Thierry recalled, by another member of the Bisset du Verre family; some cousin of August's.

[I should mention that the GM expected the PCs to promptly go in, grab the gizmo, and then enjoy a protracted chase scene for the rest of the adventure. I was worried I didn't have enough chase scene encounters, in fact. Not to worry...]

The heroes adjourned to a coffeehouse to hash plans. After much, much debate, they tried the front and back doors. Which were locked. The windows were barred. After a brief consult, the three shady-looking guys retreated to a wineseller and the two respectable party members knocked on the front door and knocked.

Madeline du Bisset, always short of temper and not pleased with people rattling her doors, answered. Esperanza spun a story of a poor Castillian village that was beset by "ghosts" that might be Syrneth-inspired troubles, as she had heard were plaguing Freiburg. Could the Explorer's Guild be of assistance?

Not entirely insensible to the plight of Castillian villagers tormented by malfunctioning artifacts (and perhaps smelling a possible new dig site), she let Marcus and Esperanza in. Marcus, who'd introduced himself as "rich and foolish", got an almost endless series of sharp reprimands if he drifted too close to any of the items on the shelves in the Chapterhouse's front room. Marcus gave the place a once-over while Esperanza asked some questions, then made an appointment to pick up some diagrams that might help the mythical village, if an artifact were to be found there.

They rejoined the other three. Apparently, in his head, Marcus had decided that the plan was that he and Esperanza were getting Madeline du Bisset to open the door, and the other three were supposed to come in and get the artifact. He complained that they did not follow through on this part of the plan. Leon replied, "Yes, this is because we have something you did not." Marcus frowned, and Leon finished triumphantly, "Wine!"

How to get past the barred windows and locked doors? (They seemed too sturdy for Leon to use Marcus as a battering ram this time). The boys pondered this while Esperanza went shopping, eventually picking up a silver-plated jewelry box. This, which could easily be locked shut, might be a more secure way to carry the artifact than the covered platter it was (as far as they knew) still on.

The details were worked out. At sundown, Esperanza used her talents in makeup and costuming to transform herself and Magnus, so that if they were seen again by Madeline du Bisset, they might not be recognized. Waiting until deeper night, the five crept over to the Chapterhouse. Colin muttered some nonesense Avalon nursey rhyme at the barred windows, turning each bar to cheese! They were considering how best to jimmy the window out of its casing when two of the Kirk Irregulars spotted Magnus, who was rather less stealthy than the rest of the group.

This was the Vendel Quarter, and these were Vendel guards. Unfortunately, Magnus the Vendel was expertly disguised as a Castillian gentleman! He feigned Castillian-accented Vendel, and explained that he was lost, looking for a fancy-dress party. The guards seemed to accept that, and offered to show him the way.

They departed, and the others got back to the window. Thierry carefully applied his knife to the moulding, and succeeded in knocking the entire pane of glass out - it fell to the ground with a crash! He hoisted himself up through the window as the two Kirk Irregulars with Magnus, a block away, whirled around. "Did you hear that?" one asked.

"Over there, on the rooftop!" Magnus exclaimed and pointed to a nearby store. The two guards cautioned him to remain there and stay alert, and dashed off after the supposed burglar. Ditching his Castillian duds, Magnus hurried back to the Chapterhouse.

The artifact was found, one trap avoided, and another one triggered - but that was just alarm bells, as they were leaving. So they left most expeditiously! Not even bothering to return to their inn for their supplies, they headed for the docks.

Which were closed, due to an infestation of tentacular river monsters. A sign warned that travel was not safe, the rivers were choked with the things. Eisen monster hunters were cleaning things up and trade would resume presently.

To horse! They found a slightly slimy horse-trader who seemed happy to offer the desperate a ride out of town - at a steep price. At Colin's suggestion, the silver-plated jewelry box was put forward with the implication that it was solid silver. The horse-trader knew good workmanship, but didn't know precious metals. Fooled entirely, he thought he was making at least 100 Guilders over and above his usual profit, and was obviously pleased with his own cunning...

So the group set off, riding through Eisen. At night.

Of course, kobolds attacked. It's the Eisen forest, at night. At least kobolds attack.

The kobolds were dispatched pretty handily, and the group found a gated village a little further down the road. With some trouble, the villagers were convinced to let them in, and they were offered some hay in a barn to sleep in for the rest of the night...