Session 7-8: Cloudspire Manor

6,440 XP


    Upon returning to the Clockwork Citadel after their successful mission to the Candle Keep, the Feinting GOATs found the priests in an unexpected state of agitation. The normally orderly halls were filled with hurried whispers and concerned glances, with particular attention focused on a heavily guarded room that the party was explicitly forbidden from entering. Never ones to accept such limitations, the team devised a plan to investigate. Using their considerable stealth skills, they managed to slip past the guards and into the mysterious chamber. Inside, they discovered a fragment of parchment - the corner of a diabolic sigil manuscript - suspended beneath a shimmering magical force field. Recognizing the significance of this discovery, they used the enchanted mirror acquired during their adventure in the minotaur maze to capture a perfect reflection of the fragment before departing undetected.

    Only later would they learn the true significance of what they had found, when Marahaba Asante summoned them to discuss their next mission: infiltrating an auction at Cloudspire Manor to recover the remainder of the very manuscript whose corner they had secretly observed. The implications were clear: the Pantheon had withheld information about already possessing a piece of this mysterious document, raising questions about how much they could trust their employers.

    The Feinting GOATs received their most politically sensitive assignment yet: infiltrate a high-stakes black market auction at Cloudspire Manor, a floating estate positioned over open ocean and leased from Djinn Lord Azhar al-Zahir. Their mission, handed down from Marahaba Asante of the Pantheon, was to recover a mysterious manuscript containing diabolic sigils and potentially capture escaped prisoner Soren Vale, the auction's organizer.

    The party's infiltration began with the commandeering of a ship belonging to "The Tarnished Crown," a criminal organization whose identities they would assume. Upon boarding and defeating the crew, they discovered a coded message on a drow member of the crew. Donning elaborate disguises and assuming noble titles, they set sail for Cloudspire Manor, where they secured modest accommodations – a small bedroom befitting their cover as minor players in the criminal underworld.

    The first auction proceeded without incident, but during the second auction featuring the "Scrolls of the Last Emperor," chaos erupted when the Jade Serpents, a Mupalan yakuza group, attempted to steal the item after losing the bidding war to the Shadow Market. The yakuza activated their recently purchased Resonance Engine to disable the manor's hydromech guards. The Feinting GOATs intervened swiftly, defeating the yakuza forces and saving both the auction and the scrolls. For her heroism, Cut-Cut requested and was granted 24 hours to study the ancient scrolls.

    The manor's djinn lord appeared shortly thereafter, visibly disturbed by the disturbance, and personally destroyed the Resonance Engine. While searching the fallen yakuza leader, the party discovered a decoder ring, which Akemi used to decipher the message from the ship. The decoded text mentioned a secretive midnight auction in the Moonlight Chamber – precisely where the diabolic manuscript would be sold.

    As a reward for their intervention, the auction house granted the party access to the yakuza's former quarters. Within, they discovered a safe secured by an intricate puzzle lock. After solving the mechanism, they found a substantial cache of gold and the blueprints for Mecha Armor from the auction manifest.

    As the next regular auction approached, the party was approached by Brother Cadmus, the bald representative of the Alchemist's Covenant, who cryptically requested to speak privately with "whichever one of you is bald." After some confusion, the party realized he was referring to a hidden tattoo marking bearers of special sigils that granted access to the midnight auction.

    Cut-Cut and Lenti initially attempted to meet with Cadmus, but he insisted on seeing their "bald spot." Understanding the need for the sigil tattoo, Korloth employed traditional tribal techniques to create a tattoo for Akemi. Brother Cadmus then provided Akemi with a bottle of hair loss tonic, instructing her to read the label carefully. Removing the label revealed another coded message, which they deciphered using the yakuza's decoder ring, revealing the strict protocols for the midnight auction.

    The party devised an ingenious plan: position themselves in the unoccupied engine section beneath the Moonlight Chamber, while Akemi would attend the auction with Elyndra (transformed into a cat) hidden in her bag. The strategy proceeded smoothly until the auctioning of the Mask of True Sight, which the auctioneer casually used, immediately revealing Akemi's disguise.

    In that moment of exposure, the party burst through the floor in a dramatic assault. A fierce battle ensued, but the Feinting GOATs emerged victorious, securing the diabolic manuscript. Though they failed to capture Soren Vale, they had achieved their primary objective. The team then leapt from the manor, using their provided snapleaf items for a controlled descent.

    Before they could reach the water below, the djinn lord teleported them to his throne room. Rather than punishment for damaging his property, he offered them an opportunity: rescue a fellow djinn, trapped in a genie prison held by the merfolk in the underwater city of Corallys. The djinn cast powerful magic upon the party, enabling them to breathe underwater while remaining dry.

    At the outskirts of Corallys, they encountered hostile merfolk guards, but the confrontation was interrupted when a massive dragon turtle suddenly devoured one of the guards. In the ensuing battle, Lenti fell to the creature's devastating attacks, but the party ultimately prevailed. The surviving merfolk, grateful for the party's assistance, granted them access to the city.

    The team returned to their ship to seek aid from priests, who successfully raised Lenti from the dead, though she remained in a weakened state. Returning to Corallys, they located a shop specializing in "dry-lander" magic items, where they discovered and traded for the genie's lamp.

    Outside the city, they carefully rubbed the lamp, releasing a female genie who offered them three wishes. With their first wish, they selflessly requested the genie's freedom, allowing her to reunite with her lover, the djinn lord of Cloudspire Manor. Moved by their compassion, she restored Lenti to full health and strength before departing, marking the successful conclusion of their mission.

 Note: The following writings are from the character's perspective and are often private to the character. They are not considered "in-game" knowledge to the other characters, and any in-character reference to this information would be considered meta-gaming.


Letter to Master Kagemitsu

(by Caylen Redden)

Dear Master,

 The Feinting GOATs have just completed a particularly exciting mission! Unfortunately, I cannot provide many details in this letter, but I have learned some very interesting things that I am eager to share with you. I can tell you now that part of our mission took us beneath the ocean, to the aquatic city of Coralys, which was certainly unexpected. While there, I was able to barter for some enchanted brass knuckles, which will enhance my fighting ability. Do not worry, however, that I may become too reliant upon magic items. I am still working to improve every day, and when we meet again, I hope you will find my progress satisfactory. Of course I have not done this alone; the Feinting GOATs are becoming quite an effective team. I look forward to introducing them to you.

 Best,

Cut-Cut

Adventure Log

                                                                     (by Syd McVay)

Wow, these past few weeks have been nothing short of chaos! I’ve been dealing with this bizarre, out-of-body urge that almost made me turn against my own teammates. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced—a hunger so overpowering that I could’ve devoured anyone in my path. Turns out, I had been bitten by a werespider. Little by little, I realized I was transforming into a monster far worse than I ever imagined.

As much as I wanted to share the nightmare I was living, I couldn’t bring myself to burden my team with it. My father’s favorite saying kept running through my mind: “A day’s work is never done.” Staying true to his wisdom, I pushed forward and stayed focused on the mission.

One of our adventures took us deep into the labyrinth of a Minotaur’s palace. I managed to morph into a Minotaur guard and snag what you could call a “souvenir.” As intimidating as their size was, I quickly realized that their brains might not match their brawn—though maybe it was just the one I mimicked. Thankfully, I didn’t have to hold that form for too long.

Nobody tells you how draining it is to shift forms over and over again. I had to act like everything was fine, even though I was completely wiped out. But things took a turn when I finally figured out what was happening to me. After some brainstorming with the group, we realized that my condition could either be cured, or I could embrace it by submerging myself in a specific magical pool. We decided that keeping the ability to transform into creatures we’d encountered could be a huge advantage. So, that’s what we did.

The trial wasn’t easy, though. To complete the process, I had to take on the form of the strongest enemy we’d faced so far: a Chimera. With three heads and a terrifying presence, it was unlike anything I’d ever imagined. Surprisingly, though, I felt strangely at ease in that monstrous form. It was freeing, in a way—like I didn’t have to stay in control. Thankfully, I didn’t hurt anyone, and this ragtag group I’ve come to care about is still intact.

Later, I took on other forms to help with our missions. In one instance, I disguised myself as a rather unimpressive lord to infiltrate a secret trading society. That one wasn’t my favorite—being looked down on isn’t exactly fun. But my most enjoyable transformation so far? Becoming an orange tabby cat. I’d always been curious about what it’d feel like to be such an agile, adorable creature. I loved the sense of freedom and the sharp little claws at my disposal.

Oh, and there was that time I had to morph into a guy we’d previously met named Dero during a chaotic fight. As usual, things with this group went sideways, but somehow, we made it through.

And that’s where this mission log ends—for now. Who knows what kind of trouble we’ll get into next?