Bigby's Happy Ending - 6/10 session recap

After two full sessions of planning, we finally had... another session of planning, some roleplaying for a character whose player was absent, and a single die roll.

As the party stood on the snow-covered mountainside, a gleaming silver dragon descended near them. It was perhaps 100-150 feet long, nose to tail, and could not be viewed directly for long. Orvalion thanked her for answering his call, and he referred to her by name : Niathramyina (nye-ath-rah-mye-ee-na)

She asked if the party wanted her to provide a diversion. When Ander began to describe possible ways for her to distract the town she merely asked for how long she needed to distract them. Ander said for about ten minutes at twilight. He said that in such conditions it might be harder for the people of Shandrapur to determine her true color. She replied that it shouldn't be a problem, and in an instant of swirling snow appeared as a red dragon. She changed back to her true form a moment later and then gave her terms.

Niathramyina stated that each of the party would have to swear a binding oath to help Orvalion destroy the dragonstone. Everyone gave their assent, and as they did so they felt a tingling pass over them briefly. She said that they must all pledge a single service to her in the future as well. When asked, Orvalion said that he thought that it was a fair exchange, since she was risking her own safety. It was only fair that she ask the party to do the same for her in return. The party agreed.

She said that it would take her about a day and a half to fly there, and that she would linger in the vicinity for a week. If she had not received a sending before then, she would go about her business. And with that, she took to the air. She had gone only about a quarter of a mile when she suddenly disappeared from sight.

Thoric spent the next two days manufacturing a replica of the journal with the help of Orvalion's recollections about it. The party then teleported to Shandrapur and got a room at the inn. Thoric and Boreas went up to the keep to speak with Caelebhan, and were granted an audience. Matt roleplayed Thoric's diplomacy with a little coaching from Sean and Jen, and then he rolled a 17 on the die. Caelebhan seemed to accept their reasoning without any question, and he asked a little about what they found at the cursed mesa. He agreed to give them the painting back, and also paid them 10,000 gold (5,000 apiece) for bringing back hard information about Orvalion's whereabouts.

Thoric and Boreas left the keep toting a two hundred pound chest full of gold and a leather case with the painting in it.

Next week we'll see whether they can make it to the inn unmolested.