Session 6 - Assault On Saile

As the party wakes, they discuss what to do. They aim to keep an eye out for militia, seeming to decide to inform them of the oncoming Maius attack. Onika decides to stay back to research the metal bracelet, giving the party a moment to themselves. The group discusses among them what they know: the Whitebloom Seekers are somewhat new but established in Saile, they are allegedly planning a fake attack to build their profile, they are interested in Vordia as a potential ally or member, and there are some people called Crawlers.

Arraz had also told the party that the Seekers would be able to find them should they be interested in partnering up. Thus, the group decides to visit the central market of Saile, hoping to either run into some militia or the Whitebloom Seekers and perhaps do some shopping too.

Heading south to the center of town, the group spots some of the Redtails back where they first met barely over a week ago. They pop into a few shops, Vordia especially looking for some armor before realizing that, despite their payment from Onika, they are still fairly poor as adventurers. As they walk through the city streets, a booming voice catches the party's ear, shouting out "Vordia!". Much to her dismay, Vordia turns to see Filtar, the massive albino Leonin and fellow high servant of the Raven Queen. The two of them exchange pleasantries with an undertone of rivalry. Filtar explains that he already found a lead on Blue Peony, the religious upstart the two of them were tasked with investigating. He motions behind him to a person he was eating with. Saying that this person was apparently a devout member of Blue Peony in search of their "Harmonious Prophet". Patch takes initiative and goes and steals Filtar's seat to talk to this individual. Filtar follows and grabs a seat from another table that people were at. They grab a seat from another table and it becomes chaos in the background. Vordia tries to take Patch's seat which was Filtar's before but ends up just sitting on Patch's lap. Patch gets up and Vordia nearly falls to the ground. Now they can get to talking.

They discuss and ask each other questions, learning the apparent name of this acolyte to be "Datyl Harrace". He appears to be a Halfling, donning a nice leather cap and a traveler's vest coat. He explains that Blue Peony is still getting its footing in Alietus, but that scripture is being written and discovered as they learn more about their illustrious prophet. Datyl had made the pilgrimage all the way from Alietus to Saile to find the Prophet and learn from him directly. During this discussion, the Halfling keeps looking over to Gab, who gets a bit nervous and gives a false name. Vordia and Filtar talk under the guise of potential Blue Peony recruits.

Datyl offers to take a walk with Gab but the whole gang comes along. They continue their discussion as they walk and eventually come to a small park clearing in a quieter area of East Markethome District. Upon the arrival. Datyl points at Gab and casts Hold Person and seemingly Darkness simultaneously, whispering maliciously in Gab's ear about being more careful. Gab's hands are bound with some sort of arcane manacles, as well as with a collar around his neck tethered via an arcane leash to a handle. The figure, now with the changed form to a pale humanoid with no pupils and long, white hair donning a cloak and black leather armor, begins to drag Gab back the way they came. After some struggle, Gab manages to break free of the Hold Person spell, but he is still bound and the darkness remains.

The rest of the party gets involved as Vordia rushes into the darkness and commands the figure to grovel through blindsight. Toni rushes in blind and tries to swing but misses. Gab then stands up and barely manages to whack the figure despite his hands still being bound. Darkness drops from that hit, and now all of the party can see the transformed figure. Clad in black leather armor and with a crimson cloak, he still grovels on the ground before Vordia. Patch moves in and scores a punch with speed. The figure then bellows out a hissing screech, striking fear into both Vordia and Gab's hearts. He then whips around his cloak as hundreds of flies start swarming around him, stinging multiple party members. Not long after, Toni pushes through the swarm and brings her maul down in a thunderous crack, sending the figure down to his knees, coughing blood. Grunting in pain, mist surrounds the figure and he suddenly vanishes.

The party then moves to Gab and tries to figure out how to get him out of his binds. Filtar says with distaste that the assailant was a Changeling. Patch informs the party that they may have a way to disable the arcane binds, but it would take them out for a bit. They ultimately decide to save it, and instead think about returning to Onika.