Recap
Returning from Crooked Coffin operations, the party delivered updates and captives to Berline, gathered high-level strategic intelligence during a mayoral dinner, and launched field movement toward the Axan Woods.
Major Events
- Escorted Namerton from the bar back to the manor.
- Met Berline Haldoli and reported Crooked Coffin findings, bringing Altinmered as a witness/source.
- Received invitation to a dinner with the mayor, Taf Gekhtas (“Seven Stomachs”).
- The Celebrant from the bar, Se-Maut-Get, was also invited.
- Party observed interpersonal tension, including Berline being notably rude to Snak.
- Noted that the Graydirge Bank statue had been smashed; the party took the hand-with-bag fragment while leaving.
- Dinner with the mayor was interrupted by Vaskish Quicktongue.
- Berline identified the Graveclaw Coven as the network behind poison entering Graydirge.
- Learned the coven is led by Iron Taviah, a renowned hag and necromantic scholar.
- Berline relayed background on Taviah:
- Origin ties to Mwangi Expanse.
- Longstanding injury tied to conflict with Magaambyans.
- Later settlement in Axan Wood.
- Raised Kepgeda and trained her in necromancy/ritual magic.
- Party was warned for Axan Woods operations:
- Stay on marked paths.
- Avoid angering fairy folk.
- Keep cold iron ready.
- Berline departed for Yled and downplayed concern over Geb’s return and mayor-level plotting.
- Berline instructed Sabong to meet her later and bring trusted Quick allies.
- Hobgrim underwent a ritual to allow negative healing.
- Se-Maut-Get stated intent to take over The Crooked Coffin after his brother’s death.
- Party won a cockfight against the mayor (with Hobgrim assisting through cheating).
- Entered Axan Wood and was attacked by redcaps.
NPCs and Factions Mentioned
- Berline Haldoli - Received debrief, provided strategic direction, and issued follow-up instructions.
- Taf Gekhtas - Mayor host of dinner where key political intelligence surfaced.
- Vaskish Quicktongue - Dinner interruption point.
- Iron Taviah - Named leader of Graveclaw Coven.
- Graveclaw Coven - Confirmed as poison-production source affecting Graydirge.
- Se-Maut-Get - Celebrant attendee and claimant to Crooked Coffin succession.
- Axan Wood - Immediate field destination where redcaps engaged the party.
Important Context
- This session marks a strategic shift from urban evidence collection to direct confrontation with Graveclaw-linked wilderness operations.
- Berline’s posture suggests selective political engagement and controlled delegation rather than broad institutional alignment.
- The poison campaign now appears centrally coordinated under Graveclaw leadership.
Unresolved Threads
- Confirm operational structure and membership hierarchy of the Graveclaw Coven under Iron Taviah.
- Assess whether Se-Maut-Get’s Crooked Coffin succession stabilizes or escalates local faction conflict.
- Determine who Vaskish Quicktongue serves and why the dinner interruption occurred.
- Survive and map initial redcap-controlled routes in Axan Woods.