Chapter 12: New Adventure

June 10

The group has heard rumors that some dark mass has been seen above Riddleport, and after that, they have received a message from the adventurers’ guild:

“It has come to our attention that there is some strange magical event in Riddleport apparently there is a shadow in the air above it.

The shadow has also attracted many people of many different types to study it.

The guild wishes to know more of both the shadow and people studying it.

Your mission is to go to Riddleport seemingly for some other reason and then find a way to stay there while not obviously being there to study things.

A job at some business that has a lot of people coming and going and spending time would likely be best way to do it.

Suitable for that are thus things like tavern that are open only on evenings or gambling halls where people come to have fun and where you are not stuck for whole day.

Reginar Master of the adventurer guild.”

The group has made it to Magnimar to talk with Reginar. They hear that some old gambling den is reopening, and in four days they will have a grand opening tournament, so work could likely be found there. Reginar has reserved ship tickets for the group for a ship leaving in three hours.

The group boards the ship and heads toward Riddleport.

June 14

The group arrives in Riddleport at about 4 PM. They rent quarters for themselves and take their belongings there, after which they head to the gambling den called The Gold Goblin, where they arrive at about 6 PM, just as it’s opening. The entrance fee is one bronze, and it’s also the tournament entry fee. The tournament is called “Cheat the Devil and Take His Silver.” The prize is 1000 silver coins. The group pays their way in. Inside, in the middle of the room, there’s a devil in a cage, which Jaysek recognizes as an Imp.

The tournament is declared opened, and people start gambling.

The group wanders around and listens and hears talk about Plakey’s shadow. Plakey was the first to spot it. It has changed shape and sometimes even disappeared for a while, but after that, it has come back quite soon. Riddleport’s leader has promised a 5 gold reward for whoever finds out what it is and whether it’s a threat to the city. They also hear that flying magic disappears in its vicinity.

After a couple of hours of play, a powerful shout is heard. A woman more beautiful than average has climbed onto the stage. The woman shouts, “Alright folks, drop to the ground, don’t do anything stupid, and you might live.” Kieron and Jaysek notice that on the side, some guy is casting magic, and Jaysek recognizes the spell as a flash, so he warns Kieron. Ra has taken advantage of the fact that others are looking toward the center and tries to open the door next to him.

At the same moment, there’s a flash in the middle of the room, and most of the players are completely confused, either blind or otherwise just completely lost. The woman draws her rapier and shouts, “Attack them, boys, I’ll defend you” and points at Kieron. Kieron draws her baton and sword and waits for the enemies to come closer, intending to disarm them.

Jaysek draws his sword and steps aside, while Neiia harasses the woman standing in the center. The enemies step toward Kieron, and Kieron strikes at their weapon so that it flies really far. Another comes to Kieron but doesn’t hit her. The woman on the platform tries to take the chest.