Session 64 - The House on Cinder Row
An old flame walks back into Dristuul’s life and out again with the truth in her wake. Across the city, a silent forge hides a hardened soldier — and the soldier hides a secret that could hand Kailas a throne he never wanted.
An Old Flame at the Ambercup
- 8th of Undilar — a sunny morning. As customers arrived at the Ambercup, a red-skinned tiefling woman with gold rings on her horns approached the group.
- Without hesitation, she grabbed Dristuul’s flask, took a sip, and sat down.
- Dristuul’s eyes widened as he realised who she was — Silk, an old friend from his Black Senate days.
- She playfully greeted him; still shocked, he returned the greeting. The rest of the party was confused as to how Dristuul knew her.
- Silk had come to offer information about the request the group had posted. She first asked for gold, then settled instead for a simple walk with Dristuul.
- As they moved out, Dristuul grabbed the bottle of wine and linked with Nyxara through psychic whispers.
The Walk
- Once outside, Silk warned that word spreads quickly — Lesha already knew Dristuul was in the city.
- Robin had gone missing, which made Lesha even more wary and uncertain about Dristuul. (The party knows what the city does not: Dristuul killed Robin two nights prior.)
- Their conversation was rough around the edges — full of tension and unresolved feelings — yet a quiet romantic moment slipped through it all.
- They agreed to meet again tomorrow.
- Before leaving, Silk handed Dristuul a piece of paper with an address.
- Dristuul rejoined the group and shared the address with Korin, insisting it could be trusted.
Setting Off
- Sneid Arkmos and Korin questioned one another about their reasons for coming to Drar. Sneid opened up about his own purpose, and the two bonded over a shared thirst for vengeance — Sneid’s hunt for The Cradle, Korin’s for Laudna Briarwood.
- As the party made to leave, Marla stopped them to settle the bill for breakfast and the stolen wine bottle; Sneid pointed out that Dristuul had taken it.
- With more questions than answers, the party set off toward the address: Ashfall Quarter, Cinder Row, No. 17.
- They passed through the city’s center, where all districts converge, catching a glimpse of the mysterious Red Veil.
- Heading south into Ashfall, the air grew thick and heavy with smoke from forges and tanneries.
- They entered Cinder Row — a narrow street where even the homes have working forges in their yards.
House Number 17
- At house number 17, something felt wrong: no hammer strikes, no fire in the forge — just silence and neglect.
- Sneid Arkmos tried to peek inside, but thick curtains blocked his view.
- Korin found the door slightly open and carefully pushed it further.
- Using Mage Hand, Sneid pulled back the curtain, revealing an empty bedroom.
- Korin called out for Aldric Voss, but no answer came. The group sensed something recent — something off.
- The others urged Dristuul to take the lead, even trying to push him inside — and failing.
- Dristuul began searching for traps while Sneid mocked his efforts — then demonstrated “how it’s done.”
- Jaruul tried to push inside and, when Dristuul wouldn’t budge, asked Kailas to help shove him — to no effect.
- Sneid entered the bedroom and found… only a cat, then swept the corridor with Dristuul, who called Nyxara in via psychic whispers.
The Trap
- Suddenly everything went wrong: Dristuul triggered a trap — thick smoke flooded the corridor. A flying sword burst into motion, narrowly missing Sneid before lodging into a door.
- From the chaos, Aldric Voss charged forward, striking fast and hard, attacking Sneid relentlessly.
- Sneid fought back, shouting that they didn’t want to kill him. Aldric snapped back:
“That’s what everyone says.”
- Blinded by the smoke, Kailas groped forward, accidentally grabbed Korin, and channelled bolstering magic into him. Jaruul called from outside to check everyone was alright.
- Dristuul escaped through a window (cracking and shattering it, catching a whiff of piss and refuse outside), circling the house to re-enter from another side.
- Nyxara called out, insisting they came for answers, not blood.
- Finally, Korin shouted:
“Moe sent us.”
- The fight stopped. Aldric lowered his weapon.
Aldric Voss
- The man before them was older and hardened — broad-shouldered, with sharp features and greying hair, a slight limp hinting at past battles.
- Suspicious but calmer, he asked why they had come.
- The group spoke of fallen places and rising threats — of Shalorag and the Empire.
- At first he seemed unsure how he could help.
- Meanwhile, Dristuul re-entered through a window, unaware the fight had ended, and quietly unlocked a chest containing an Empire chest plate — warning Nyxara through the psychic whispers.
- Korin explained that the Empire is hunting one of their own.
Seraphine — She Lived After All
- Kailas revealed more than intended, shifting the mood entirely.
- Aldric froze, then spoke a name:
“Seraphine — she lived after all.”
- Emotion broke through his hardened exterior. Aldric revealed he once served under Corvin — not just as a soldier, but as a loyal friend.
- He saw something in Kailas: a lost legacy. He told him plainly that he has to reclaim his throne.
- Kailas, however, showed little desire for it.
- Aldric made his own loyalties clear: Corvin was nothing compared to the current emperor. He left the Empire because the current emperor had colluded with outside forces — and he wants nothing to do with it.
- Still, Aldric offered his help — to uncover the truth of Kailas’s bloodline.
The Price of Help: Rurik Drenn
- Before anything else, Aldric asked for help of his own.
- A man named Rurik Drenn — a former soldier and one-time ally — had been harassing him: loud, aggressive, and dangerous, threatening Aldric, even breaking into his house, to drive him out of Drar. Rurik lodges at an inn called The Vulnerable Swordsman.
- Aldric’s request was simple: scare Rurik. Make sure he doesn’t come back, by whatever means necessary.
- In return, Aldric promised to share his secrets with the party.