Session 12

The group heads back to town from the Manor. Gimli has interest in the child who had signs of the disease.

The journey back is uneventful, and the group makes it back to West Haven safely. During the downtime, Athtar reads through Labelle's book, but is unable to decipher any more of the pages without further research.

Gimli tries to talk to Pete alone, but Pete is evasive and not open to conversation.

Pete wishes to learn more about the next criminals the Black Swords have in their sights. He makes his way to their tower in the southern part of town. He's met by a lady at the front desk sorting and stamping paperwork. She seems annoyed.

"Do you have an appointment?" She asks. Pete says he'd like to make one. She sighs, annoyed as she hands him a paper, asking if he can read. He says yes.

She tells him to read the paper she hands him and fill it out. He attempts to read it multiple times, but he cannot begin to make sense of the document at all. He's so confused, he's not sure it's written in common.

He writes his name as "Mark" instead of Pete and hands it back. She looks at the paper and back at Pete, "You wrote your name where date is."

He says forms aren't his thing, but he'd like to try again. This new form is much easier to read, and he fills it in. She asks where they can contact him, and he says the Saloon. She says that if they don't contact him in 3-5 business days to come back in two weeks.

Pete goes to the general store, but finds that it's completely cleared out.

Theodore attempts to craft the Gate Attuner with the Abyssium chunk he got from the Dreshkan. Its cost is reduced as a result of having the chunk, but it will take him several weeks to make it.

The group agrees to spend two weeks in downtime to work on their own things or make a profit.

Athtar spends more time deciphering Labelle's book, learning the War Blood Mutagen.

Pete is approached at the tavern by a tall, pale skinned man with a necklace that has a shard of metal carved into the shape of a sword. The man asks if Pete is Mark and notes that he was looking for bounties.

The man hands Pete a poster for a man named "Billy." Noting that there was an attack by Billy's gang on some merchants. They mention that they're pretty sure a camp is around Salt Creek. The man wishes him good luck.

Gimli is still trying to talk to Pete. He approaches Pete at the tavern. He mentions to Pete that he knows he's more than he appears, and that he's of the undead variety. Gimli wants to know why Pete's here and what his goals are, as he doesn't trust undead. He considers undead a scourge.

Pete calls out that Gimli's take is prejudice. He also calls Gimli a preachy asshole. Gimli mentions how many undead he's had to kill because they attacked him first. He says it's not about prejudice, but knowing where his allegiances lie. He reiterates, he needs to know why he's here.

Pete mentions he's after Billy's gang. Gimli mentions that revenge is what drives him. He follows by asking what's next. Pete notes that it's not revenge. He doesn't know what he'll do after, but he'll do what he needs to do. He also clarifies that Gimli will not dispose him, and that if he tries, he will die. Pete heads out to hunt.

Theo pokes Pete, handing him 3 gold. Theo asks if he could buy him some studded leather armour.

Gimli buys himself a Gate Attuner of his own.

Theo wants to have a group meeting to plan out what they do next. Pete gathers everyone around the table. Theo starts by transforming his arm into a knife and stabbing himself. Athtar asks if he messed up the knife game. Theo confirms he does not, as he raises his arm, letting the blood drip. It is black, like the dustwalkers the group has seen before.

Gimli is shaken by the revelation, but is willing to give Theo a second chance so long as he remains himself.

Theo mentions that if he goes astray, Gimli is welcome to kill him. He also lets some details loose regarding his arm as he notes that it has a will of its own. When Pete saved him from the dust storm he was caught in, it transformed his prosthetic into an elemental. One that was not keen on him dying. So much so it gave him an offer to come back to life.

He also mentions the arm has an interest in the Church of the Becoming God.

Theo tells the group more about the discussion when he was given the offer. The elemental demanded perfection. That was the term of the deal. When he agreed, it only said "All will be one." He also mentioned that when he was conversing with the elemental, he suspects he was in the plane of metal, as he was surrounded by a pool of black liquid.

Athtar asks if he feels there's a hivemind. Theo feels like the answer is yes. He also mentions that since the void potions consume dustwalker blood, he is willing to provide. Athtar is thankful. Athtar says he's willing to give a chance, though he's not thrilled about the resource allocation between both Theo and Pete.

Pete also mentions the bounty he has acquired and mentions he wishes to tackle it. Theo needs to stop by Ridgewater to learn more about the church. The group agrees they can stop by Ridgewater on the way to Salt Creek to tackle both.

There is a traveling carnival that will be arriving in the town of West Haven in two weeks. Before leaving town, Athtar purchases a shortsword