August 28, 2025 session recap playing Wages of Vice: Highsummer in Zadash Part I
On a dark and stormy summer night, a tavern brawl spilled out into the streets of Zadash. Four unlikely adventurers met, standing back to back in defense of one another: Warryn the genasi wizard; Luxara the fighter; Blythe the half-orc barbarian; and Merrick the half-elf druid.
Two days later, they find themselves meeting the Head of Security for the Lords of Zadash, Madame Samira Arah. Samira provides background on recent attacks and an assassination of one of the lord’s children. Jacopo, eldest son of Massimo Ain Wayrmall, was found dead in an alley last night. Accepting a healthy 200 gp each to take on the investigation, the four adventurers make their way to the Lodge of the Eclipse to question Lady Drita Xhaferi about the night she was attacked.
They travel through the market and festival grounds, but are sidetracked by two children. One telling the other of a ghost story his mother told him. About spooky bizas in the dark forest near the city. Luxara tells them in the famed story of the Chroma Conclave. She bids the children to be wary of the many threats in this world.
Before the four can make it to the tavern, there is shouting in the street. A commotion at a herbalist’s stall reveals the merchant is aggressively beating a young man within inches of his life. Blythe out-muscles the attacker. She forces whatever he’s choking on out of his system, as he comes down from his aggressive stupor. Merrick utilizes a potion of healing from Luxara, and brings the young man back to consciousness.
Drained and sickly looking, the merchant aggressor breathes heavily from his seat on the ground. Warryn finds a canteen at the merchant’s station and sniffs the contents. He is suddenly overtaken by a haze. Warryn’s eyes glaze over and he randomly swings his quarterstaff towards Merrick. Luxara aptly stops him, and the two struggle for a minute, before Warryn’s eyes go back to normal. The poison passing through his system.
Merrick clocks a figure suspiciously running away, her green flowy pants and yellow top quickly disappearing into the crowd. Warryn sends his familiar Raven, with Blythe and Luxara, after her. But they are unable to catch up to this mystery woman.
The canteen safely put away as evidence, they discover the young man in fine clothes is none other than Yiver Lhethiner. Son and heir to the Messer Solenn Avim, a Lord of Zadash, and head of the Weaver’s Trade. The little lordling thanks Merrick and promises to speak well of him to his father. Then, a Crownsguard Captain escorts him out of the market.
Gathering themselves, the party arrives at the Lodge of the Eclipse. They are greeted warmly by the barkeep and head of the Xhaferi family themself, Myx Nargis Ruba. Drinks are poured and food is gathered, as Nargis introduces them to their daughter the Lady Drita. She sits reclined on a lounge chair in one of the semi-private rooms in the tavern…
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