Cosmic Refugees #1

Narmak Rinrath had two jobs on the Godetia Minaru.  First he took care of refugees about the enormous astral vessel.  These were desperate people whose lives had been destroyed by the Githyanki invasion of their worlds.  He saw to it that they had shelter and food during their stay on the ship as it transported them to Ares Outpost.

His other job was more secretive.  His cousin, Darad Rinrath, as a captain in the city guard at Ares Outpost.  And he liked to have a posse of “newcomers” to the city that he could assign to clandestine operations.  Newcomers made great spies, as no one suspected them of working for the Githzerai.  So as a favor to his cousin, Narmak would pick out refugees who seemed trustworthy, and capable of dangerous work.  He’d offer them a chance to live in the city, instead of in the neighboring shanty town.  Darad would pay for their transport, and for housing in one of the city’s finest districts.  In exchange for them working for him for a period of time on jobs that required secrecy and anonymity.

On this journey, Narmak chose five.

·         Garwick Greenhill was a halfling.  He was a nimble swordsman (Paladin), sworn in service to the Halfling god Arvoreen.  But he was also a musician and poet (Bard).  He travelled with his aging mother, who had also survived the Githyanki invasion.

·         Plythu was a lizardman, from a swampy world.  He was devoted to the spirits of nature (druid), and skilled in unarmed combat (monk).  He traveled with his nephew, who though too young to fight, managed to find a way to hide them both from the Githyanki.

·         Chase was a Dragonborn warrior.  Narmak chose him to be the muscle for this group.

·         Albrighct Schmidtmiester was a rock gnome.  As many gnomes are, he was skilled at crafting things.  In particular, he had learned to create simple magical items (Artificer) that could be useful to Darad’s missions.  Schmidtmiester traveled with a young lizardman who he had help rescue from the Githyanki invasion.  His companion met Plythu at a religious ceremony aboard the ship. 

·         Schmidtmiester connected with another gnome while aboard the ship.  His name was Galhani, and he was a bard, travelling with a pixie companion.

Narmak make his offer to this group, and they accepted.

When the ship arrived at Ares, all the refugees were given small scrolls, with instructions for there magical transport to the surface.  Most received scrolls with green seals.  But Narmak’s group had red seals.  While waiting in line for the teleport sigil, the group was accosted by a roguish group, led by a half-orc rogue called Honibar.  Honibar tried to persuade Garwick’s mother to trade him scrolls, and asked why this small group was privileged to have different travel orders than the rest.  Schmidtmiester told the rogues that they were sick and headed to quarantine.  Honibar was skeptical of the ruse.  But scared enough by the idea that he left them alone.

The party was transported into a city on the desert world of Ares.  The city was built on 4 enormous dirt mounds.  It had been built an insect race called the Thri-kreen.  It was now ruled by a Githzerai anarch.  A Thri-kreen servant called Poc was there to greet the group, as they teleported into a neighborhood called Silverton.  While in Silverton, they party fought off a group of three ice mephits, who were accidentally summoned into the city by a gnome wizard called Ewix.

Poc and Darad took the party through the city to the home and studio of a gnomish artist.  His named was Warryn Waggletop, and his made his living creating artwork for the well-heeled aristocracy of Ares Outpost.

Along the way, the party passed through several of the city’s neighborhoods. 

Sienna Tavern and Inn district Home of 3 taverns "The Kraken's Back" "The Wolf and Pixie" "The Brass Candle"

Antabury A dense residential district populated by 1000 Thri-kreen and 200 Githzerai

Ensbury The city's "fine shops" district. This is where Waggletop’s home is

Plenmont The city's Guildhall district.

The West Rim Residential are, populated by about 250 people, mostly humans.

The Upper Rim A dense residential district populated by 1000 Thri-kreen and 200 Githzerai

Redwood Park A redwood forest growing within the city thanks to the Anarch's magic. Tended by elves, and populated with wildlife appropriate to its artificial ecosystem.

Silverton Silverton is the Magic district of the city. Only about 100 people make their residence here. But many come to work or shop. Items and services of an arcane nature are made, bought and sold here. Spell components are available. All manner of caster-for-hire. Magic schools. Temples to arcane deities. Large homes for wealthy wizards.

They also learned of two other neighborhoods of interest.

Delmirev Dragonborn Residence. 385 Dragonborn live here.

Durdokra Lizardfolk Residence. Nearly 500 lizardfolk live here in an environment created by the anarch’s magic.

The group had little time to settle in before Rinrath sent them on their first mission.  He had learned that some stolen artifacts were to be sold in the neighborhood of Sienna.  These were 3 small Thri-kreen totems, harvested from a ruined city.  They had been taken from the Treasure Hunters guild hall.  A secret buyer was to meet the thieves in an abandoned building at midnight.

The party tracked down the thieves at a gambling house called “The Kraken’s Back”.  And they have located the building where the sale is to take place.   As midnight approaches, the party is deciding what to do next…..