And the Winner is…

As the bidding closed, the rogue that had been watching left the Gryphon. Forsythe then left with Evangeline still invisible behind him, ducked into an ally, changed into a dwarf, then moved onward toward the Trentson estate. Fix and Kadath left the tavern, followed by the fighter that had been watching, and after a few turns, confronted him. The fighter divulged that he had been hired by Jinik Reprut to confirm if Fix was involved in the auction. Fix told him he had no knowledge of any auction and sent the fighter on his way. Forsythe, who had begun to head toward Fix and Kadath, switched into an eagle and followed the fighter. He saw that he met up with the rogue figure from earlier and decided to switch targets and continued to follow the rogue until he went into the lower level of Qi.  


Forsythe switched back into a dwarf and continued his pursuit of the rogue until he lost him in a warehouse and could not find the hidden door in the abandoned office. Kadath joined him and, through some inquiry, they met up with Gavyn who showed them the “back door” into the underbelly of the city. They traveled to a large meeting room and found the rogue sitting at a table with a drink in his hand. Gavyn confirmed, based on his own experience, the two were most likely hired to see who was behind the auction. The rogue probably tried to follow the lady taking the bids, and the fighter to follow Kofic to see if the Trentsons were involved. With this information, Kadath and Forsythe decided to leave this alone and went back to meet up with Fix and Evangeline. 


The group then headed to the Trentson home and reviewed the bids. After a bit of discussion, they decided that Strulduk would be the winner of the auction and that they would deliver the painting in person. Following this, they burned all other bids. Not wanting the Order of Truth to know their business, Fix asked Gavyn for an alternate means of teleportation. He gave directions to Finnel, an elderly man and the brother of Giselle, who teleported the group to Charmonde where they arrived on a bridge above the Jerribost River. 


They quickly gathered their bearings and headed to Stulduk’s estate. The guards recognized Fix, Kadath, and Evangeline and welcomed them inside despite the late hour, and saw them to the sitting room. Some time later, Strulduk came and welcomed them and, after learning of his win, he placed the painting in his main hall where he promised to tease Gaera about it. He then offered the group lodging for the evening, which they accepted, and then went to bed. The group dispersed into their rooms. Once in their rooms Evangeline portioned out the payment and discussed Gavyn’s cut. Fix worked his forge to make a Jagged Dream pendant out of obtainium. The rest then went to sleep in the eerily quiet house. 


The next morning, Stulduk was already eating breakfast when the rest came into the room. They discussed their need to return to Qi and Strulduk let the group know he could do so, but to keep this knowledge to themselves. When they passed through the library to reach the circle to be teleported, several of the group found books that they were interested in. Stulduk allowed them to borrow the books, knowing that, in time, they would return them. He then sent them to Qi, just outside of the upper district.

Watch episode 37