Recap
In Sallowshore, the party passed Highridge’s combat test and opened direct negotiations, then pursued parallel civic and rumor operations before regrouping for an underwater objective tied to Builders League-keystone claims.
Major Events
- Confirmed the person who greeted the party at Tobias Highridge’s location and called Sabong a chicken was Lixl.
- Defeated the statue and plant monsters sent by Tobias Highridge as a test.
- Met with Highridge after the test to discuss exchanged information and future alignment.
- During talks, Lixl was ordered to provide drinks (Sabong did not drink his).
- Highridge said his wife, Nepenthe, was betrayed by Sahni Bride-of-the-Sea, killed, and that Sahni still has Nepenthe’s remains.
- Highridge showed a portrait of Nepenthe.
- Highridge stated no other group had made it past his statue/monster tests.
- The party discussed Highridge helping fill a local power vacuum after Sahni is removed.
- The party (without Sabong) went to Builders League and met a male ghoul, Kol, who had old records in the main room.
- Learned Stana (in charge of Builders League operations in Sallowshore) has a son, Blavket, who is very sick from an agreement with Sahni; Stella identified the sickness as curse-based.
- Were told there is a keystone under the city with treasure that may help.
- Meanwhile, Sabong spread a rumor that someone in Highridge’s employ was distributing drugs tax-free throughout Sallowshore.
- The party regrouped, went underwater to pursue the discussed treasure, and was attacked by coral gargoyles.
NPCs and Factions Mentioned
- Tobias Highridge - Tax collector who set and adjudicated the party’s combat test.
- Lixl - Highridge-side greeter/attendant identified in the confrontation sequence.
- Nepenthe - Highridge’s wife, described as betrayed and killed.
- Sahni Bride-of-the-Sea - Named by Highridge as Nepenthe’s betrayer and holder of remains.
- Kol - Male ghoul contact at Builders League with access to old records.
- Stana - Builders League operations lead in Sallowshore.
- Blavket - Stana’s son, reported sick due to a curse-linked agreement.
Important Context
- Highridge shifted from hostile gatekeeping to conditional political cooperation after the party passed his tests.
- The party is now balancing overt political action (anti-Sahni planning) with covert influence efforts (rumor operations).
- Builders League leads redirected the investigation toward submerged infrastructure and potential recovery objectives.
Unresolved Threads
- Verify Highridge’s claim that Sahni still possesses Nepenthe’s remains.
- Determine terms, reliability, and limits of Highridge’s proposed cooperation.
- Identify what agreement caused Blavket’s curse and how it can be broken.
- Resolve the underwater coral-gargoyle engagement and confirm whether the keystone-tied treasure exists.