Genesis Gauntlet Session 2 Recap

Eventually, the kobold returns to the stage, and places his almost comically large instrument on his lap once more. He looks about, and the crowd has grown - there was always draw for stories of the Genesis Gauntlet in this town, it was the whole town's purpose to serve them.

"So, these adventurers had defeated the bears, those who had moved into the lair of what was undoubtedly Vireem. Yes, what was once Vireem's very home. But they reached a dead end, There were no other routes for them to explore, it seemed lost." The music slows to build dramatic tension, "Fortunately, the wise and brave Horace of Pelor made a key observation - there was a secret door near the entrance, and symmetry was sought after in constructions. It only took him a moment to do what none before him had done - locate a hidden passage deeper into Vireem's lair." Another dramatic pause. Billing this story as true, the other travellers in the tavern quickly began speaking excitedly to one another - someone had found a clue!

But Valaquiqui continued to talk, "inside, they found the remains of Vireem's loyal servants, some few undead minions still remaining after all these years. They rise to defend the lair from these intruders. They do not last, though, they were old and faded. The warriors Chint and Chint struck them down as Horace repelled them with the might of his god. Righteous work, of course. They found this area was flooded, and moving forward the rest of the structure was further and further underwater. It would seem, they soon found out, that a river had eaten away at the far corner's foundation, and creatures of the sea had moved into Vireem's library. Chint found himself at the mercy of a giant octopus, only saved by the intervention of the others. But there was nothing there, and they scowled. There was only one door left unopened, and without knowing what untold horrors were within, the group decided to reprepare. They were bloodied from the claws of many rats, the teeth of feirce bears, the tentacles of sea monsters, and even the claws of death itself come for them. They returned to town, seeking refuge for the night, to rest and recover."

He played a quick interlude, interrupting it even as he does. "Now, there is something you should know. There was a man who visited this town, a merchant Lauciman. He was rude, but rich, and had demanded a place on the merchant's council that had run the town for some time. Of course, Ivelillo, the owner of this very fine establishment, is strong of morals, and refused to let the corrupt man into power, lest he run the city into the ground. It was wise of him. When the adventurers, Marresisio, Horace, Chint and Chint returned to town, hoping to trade in what they had uncovered inside Vireem's lair they ran afoul of the foul Lauciman's plot to dethrone Ivelillo."

The music returned to it's normal pace, and the kobold continued, "The heroes had found many things locked within the tomb, gems, gold, lost armor from long dead soldiers. They bartered for them inside town, with the many merchants who would not know for some time what they had bought. They crossed paths with Lauciman, and he attempted to hire them for what he claimed was 'justice'. He had apparently been stolen from lately, casks of fine wine waylaid - a crime especially henious in this town."



"They were sent to locate the missing wine, and the only lead they knew of was our noble Ivelillo, owner of this selfsame establishment. They were agressive, as seekers of justice are right to be, and confronted Ivelillo about the wine. He stated firmly that he was in the right, and wouldn't trust a word Lauciman said. The group returned to the elf - that's Lauciman, by the way - and asked him for proof, which he presented to them. Receipts for purchasing the wine. Not being merchants, the group couldn't tell quite what was wrong with them, though they smelled a rat, and Lauciman knew it. He played them again, telling them to seek out Ivelillo's receipts, if they thought his were forged, and the group did - though they regret it, I am sure. They confronted Ivelillo again, and discovered that his papers were clearly forged - a surprise to everyone involved. Without saying another word, the group went to the law, in this town that means constable Thorgunna, though with the little evidence they had, they were unsure whom they were looking at as the theif. They returned to look for Lauciman, only to find that he had fled the city, an act of a guilty consience no doubt. The group chased after him only to find he had escaped, though he lost everything he had worked so hard to obtain, including Ivelillo's legitimate receipt, prooving Lauciman's guilt. In justice, his things were divided amongst the honest merchants of the town, as well as the heroes. And this was only while they were looking for a bed for the night! Imagine what they can accomplish when they put their minds to it!"

He chuckles, and continues, "But eventully the heroes did lay down and rest, recovering their stamina and putting salve on their wounds. Before long, they were prepared to head out again, and they reuturned to Vireem's lair. They pushed open the last door, and found Vireem's labratory - a tremendous victory for them and all who would come after. But before they could so much as glance at it, what had appeared to be the swollen corpse of a sea monster laying on the wet floor rose to attack them, animated by the lingering magics guarding Vireem's tomb. Or perhaps by the powers the heroes were soon to uncover. Great tentacles rose, each as long as a man is tall, and thick as a blacksmith's arms. The tentacles driped with the smell of death and rot, but the heroes were valliant, and they fought the inhuman beast." Now, the music picks up pace, and Valaquiqi continues, "Back and forth they fought, the brothers chint protecting Horace and Marresisio, each of them absorbing blows enough to kill a half-dozen lesser men, and still they fought. The beast was impossible, it's rubbery flesh immune to all but the most feirce of blows, and it fell to a battle of endurance. Horace and Marresisio collapsed from exhausion during the fight, and the brothers chint staggered, barely alive. The beast had them on the ropes. But ultimately, the heroes prevailed. Just as the borthers were ready to succumb to the cold fingers of death, they succeeded. The magic faltered, and the beast sloughed to the floor once more. Beaten near to death, by the mere lingering magic of Vireem, the heroes had prevailed and survived."

A final chord plays, and a collective sigh of releif comes from the audience - though still there is excited chatter about what this story means for them. Valaquiqui says in closing, without the aid of an instrument, "Zook, visionary of the future has told me these four are destined for great things, and that they uncovered there in Vieem's long-lost lair another clue to the greatest of treasures, the Genesis Gauntlet. But, for Weal or Woe, they are on their way to parts unknown. Have any of you the courage to uncover what they unlocked?"