AD&D Session 18 - Unrest and Divisions: Navigating Prejudices and Goals

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A group of elves listening to a person humansplaining

26th Brussendar 835 PD

The day unfolds with Whisper's use of magical darkness drawing the ire of locals, inadvertently exposing the party to Rexxentrum's stringent laws that reserve magic for the nobility and upper class. This incident highlights the group's naivety regarding the city's legal and social order. In search of a place for a candid discussion and overnight accommodation, they retreat to a tavern that accommodates their budgetary constraints.

A significant conversation emerges, driven by Koro's observation that the party has always been divided into two camps: those who seek adventure and exploration, specifically mentioned by Koro rather than the individuals themselves, and those aligned with Koro's mission to assist her people from the Dynasty. This distinction has frequently put them at odds with local laws, a predicament often exacerbated by Koro's actions and staunch viewpoints. Serra, in an effort to broaden Koro's understanding of prejudice, points out that some of Koro's perceptions might inadvertently reflect the biases she opposes. Further, Serra emphasizes the difficulty in fully embracing Koro's descriptions of the Dynasty over the Empire, given their collective experiences have been rooted within the Empire's boundaries.

The group also deliberates on their approach to combat, contemplating the benefits of strategic retreats and avoidance over head-on confrontations. As Serra contemplates the evening's discussions and the group's fundamental divisions, she returns to her guild quarters, her thoughts clouded by the realization of their fragmented unity.

27th Brussendar 835 PD

Serra embarks on a solitary errand to replenish her supplies, while Bibi and Whisper wander the local streets. The group's reunion at the tavern brings a momentary alliance as Koro cures Serra and herself of lycanthropy. Their attempt to further investigate the sewers is thwarted by guards acting under a ministry order, marking the quest as completed. Confrontations with the guards yield no further information and underscore the group's precarious standing in the city. The guards almost drew weapons on the party while forcing them out of the guard post, while spouting one prejudice after another.

Opting for caution over confrontation, they steer clear of the sewers to avoid potential surveillance. Their attention shifts towards the quest board near the Tower of Writ, the one they originally got the sewer quest from, where a scene of public distress unfolds—a woman's outcry over abandonment of her children by the law, presumebly the very same the party was looking for, leads to her swift arrest by an official. The incident dissolves the crowd and prompts the group to withdraw. Koro's vigilance detects they are being followed, leading to a cautious retreat and a decision to remain inconspicuous within the safety of a tavern.