| Session Date | December 21, 2019 |
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| Base XP Gained | Carry Over |
As the council meeting was on a break, the party spoke briefly and quietly with the priest of Maladominus, Homfrith, saying they wished to speak to him later. He said he would be late at the council, but that he would happily meet with them later. The party then left and returned to the quarters provided by the town for their use. There, they found the Dwarf soldiers and Floi at attention, waiting for orders. Iban told them they were released from their service but the Dwarves refused, instead setting up patrols and sentries for the house. The party acquiesced to this. There was still a small crowd gathered (that cheered every time someone appeared), so Iban noted someone watching without the usual applause and, when the person left, he followed him invisibly. The man led him across the town (with Iban bumping into one or two folks as he went, but without being discovered) until he finally went into a large, elaborate hall on the far side of the town. Iban became visible and spoke with a friendly local who informed him that the building was the guildhall of the traders. He soon returned to their residence.
Meanwhile, Cadwaldyr scried on the guard captain at the Lormyrr (i.e. main city) Gate, but he was merely standing around talking to a few soldiers or constables. He next tried watching Naklos, the guildmaster of the traders and the strongest voice against resisting the Giant King. He was in an ornate chamber, angrily shouting at a number of other folks. A little after this, a rather snooty footman in ornate red and gold livery appeared at the door of the residence. He bore an invitation to an "entertainment" from his master, Alcibard, a leading nobleman of the town the next night. The party accepted the offer and sent the response back with the footman.
After a failed attempt to scry Iban's lost sword, Cadwalidyr teleported to the Dwarf city in order to personally report in to Nali regarding the latest news from Manston. Upon hearing that the humans would fight, Nali was clearly excited but still could not say the same for the Dwarves. He reiterated that he wished the party to do what they could to help Manston and to learn what they could of the Giant King's intentions and plans. The wizard then teleported back to Manston not long after dark.
The party now decided to let off some steam by hitting a local tavern. Their house servants informed them that the largest, most popular by far was the Plentiful Tankard adjacent to the Lormyrr Gate; this sounded good to the party, though ZZ and the off-duty Dwarves chose to instead go to the Dwarven tavern nearby. They made their way there and found it both large and crowded, becoming even more so when word spread that the party was there. They heard a good deal while there from the locals, much of it concerning the belief (or hope) that the Dwarves would join the upcoming war, and disappointment in the utter implacability of the Elves (some even claimed they were manipulating the Giant King somehow). There were also rumors that the wicked new Queen of Wellington was in league with the Giant King and would be sailing a fleet up the BlLueflood to assail the city from the lake side. Many were more immediately concerned with the dire winter, however, as it was already past the normal planting time and the ground was still frozen and snow covered. But most folk were very much in favor of resisting the Giant King (at least for the moment).
While at the tavern, the party made the acquaintance of Bel, a Elf warrior that soon was deep in her cups with the party and by the end of the night had joined their number. Aside from Caldwalidyr trying to entrap a tail, the night passed uneventfully beyond this and the party made their way back to their residence late in the evening.
The next day, the weather turned decidedly warmer. The party took their breakfast in their residence and then made their way to the large temple of Maladominus and into the presence of Homfrith. They discussed with him the weird weather, though the priest told them the temple of Korus Stormking might be a better place for such a talk. The party then told him of the Ice Wizard and how they thought he might be behind the trouble. Homfrith did reveal to them that the city still had a large supply of grain in warehouses within the city, kept over from last year when it could not be exported in the fall down the river to Wellington. The grain would see the city through the year, if need be. After some minor pleasantries, the party departed.
ZZ went out with the Dwarves once again during the day for some carousing and gem toasts once again for their dozen fallen comrades. Meanwhile Iban tried scrying the Brigands out beyond Grilbie, seeing little new of note. After a quiet day, they now made their way to Alcibard's entertainment. The lordling was young and clearly charismatic, and they soon realized he was perhaps the most popular man in the city. His party was lavish and attended by many of the local luminaries, most of whom the party did not know. He was a good host and was most interested in learning what he could from the party, mainly about the prospects of Dwarven intervention. In turn, the party learned somewhat more of the various factions in Manston. Alcibard was one of the Old Order, the last remnants of the old Imperial Lormyrrian aristocracy. They were generally hostile (though not to the point of violence) towards the traders, who in turn were clearly the richest and most powerful faction in the town. The town's Constable General, Jannik, was of the Old Order, though he sided with the traders with regards to avoiding war (Alcibard clearly did not agree with him on this). Mayor Crinsdale, he told them, was weak and little more than a tool of the merchants. However, he was technically the head of the militia. Clearly, Alcibard thought a stronger leader was needed (i.e. himself). The party did talk to the Mayor, who was also present, and he acknowledged that he had the authority to appropriator goods for the town, if necessary (the stored grain being what the party was most concerned with). It was late when the party returned to their quarters.
The party decided the next morning to head out of town to do some scouting. Floi wished to accompany them, but they refused, much to the Dwarf captain's chagrin. Meanwhile, ZZ gave each of the Dwarves 10 gold coins for expenses. They now moved out, only to hear proclamations being made throughout the city that the militia was being called up at long last. On their way to the gate, they crossed a funeral procession for a nobleman, Fistarius, whom they'd just met the previous evening. The procession was making its way to the Temple of Maladominus. The party had a few discussions (which I failed to write down) but somehow learned a little bit about the wizard known only as Gold, who had attacked the city with an army nearly a generation ago. They parted and were now approaching the Lormyrr Gate of the city...