The Freelancers put on a demonstration of prowess for the entertainment of others, in an arena set up by the Academy of Magic.
The first battle was a Free For All. It included Dryali, Fine Branch, Hikawera, Meurig, Tahu, and Tuala. Tahu took first place, with Meurig second, and Tuala third.
All participants received a prize of 100 eagles, with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd awarded additional prizes of 300 eagles, 200 eagles, and 100 eagles.
The second battle was a team fight. Arnari Rilynn’sithek and Tomtom Evans faced off against Cathance, Dryali, Fine Branch, Kaelani, Osric, Tahu, Tuala, and Torinn.
Unfortunately Arnari and Tomtom were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of Freelancer opponents, who each received 300 eagles for their victory.
Dryali Tezbeth, Hikawera, Kaelani, and Meurig accepted the mission from the wizard Gwydion to clean up any aberrations on Pirates Dream river stemming from his alchemical polluting ways.
The Freelancers journeyed to Lakeview without incident, and confirmed with Mayor Popoki that no further aberrations had appeared in Mossey Lake. They checked the north shore on their way to Pirates Dream river, and found nothing.
Upon reaching Pirates Dream river, Hikawera and Meurig spotted some froggoths, and Hikawera killed them with shatter. Three chiminimerae rose up from the reeds and attacked them, and were slain after a brief but nasty fight. Hikawera kept the corpse of one for later, since the Freelancers did not recognize the creature.
Hikawera burned the corpses of the slain aberrations, but failed to stay upwind, forcing the Freelancers to make camp early. In the predawn hour during Hikawera's watch, an owlbear attacked their camp and was slain.
The Freelancers checked the rest of the length of Pirates Dream river, on both banks, and found no more aberrations.
The Freelancers journeyed back to Cliffshadow cross-country, and on the first day were attacked by two giant elk, which almost killed Dryali and Hikawera. The elk were slain and butchered as much as practical.
Returned to Freelancers in Cliffshadow Petraag, 3rd prime post-Calm.
Arnari Rilynn’sithek paid 45 eagles each and disbursed the potion rewards: oil of slipperiness (Hikawera and Dryali), potion of growth (Kaelani), and potion of water breathing (Meurig).
Arnari had never seen a chiminimera and I was called in to identify it for the puzzled Freelancers.
Loot
Mission pay: 50 eagles each (10% to Freelancers), 2 oil of slipperiness (Hikawera and Dryali), potion of growth (Kaelani), and potion of water breathing (Meurig).
Thomas "Tomtom" Evans, Duquesne Freelancers Guild deputy, departed Freelancers in Cliffshadow for a goodwill visit to Three Rivers.
Tomtom, flying on his manticore Oskar, took two days to get there, and stayed at The Mule's Rest.
The first day there, Tomtom met with Mayor Ethan, reminding him while the Freelancers were mercenary, they did not take kindly to having their members entrapped for gladiator slavery. He noted their ongoing work currently was including removing hazards weakening the Mossey Lake dam.
Tomtom also visited the constabulary and assured himself the four hunters were awaiting trial.
The following day Tomtom visited the Bardic Conservatory, and picked up messages for Arnari Rilynn’sithek and Julian at Freelancers Tavern in Cliffshadow.
Tomtom departed on the third day, flying back to Cliffshadow.
Returned to Freelancers in Cliffshadow Chaostag, 3rd prime post-Calm.
New Freelancer Block Lamtand joined Fine Branch, Cathance, and Terrance in a mission to investigate the flooding in the basement of Finneasal's warehouse, in the southwest portion of the Trade District.
The Freelancers' investigation failed to yield any useful clues to the mystery flooding, until Block stumbled into a small water elemental, who spit at him.
One large and 4 small water elementals attacked the Freelancers, who slew them after confirming with Finneasal there were no other options to clear them out.
While Finneasal checked the warehouse for damage or further action, Terrance discovered the water elementals had been hoarding items.
Acquired: a carved bone pendant, a pair of engraved bone dice, a silver ewer, a small gold bracelet
Finneasal paid the Freelancers 75 eagles each for their services.
Returned to Freelancers the same day.
Loot
4 items each worth 25 eagles: a carved bone pendant, a pair of engraved bone dice, a silver ewer, a small gold bracelet
Osric, Kaikoa, Tuala, Hikawera, and Dryali accepted the mission to track down Mansel for Church of Storms and Church of Ua.
The Freelancers checked out a warehouse known to have a foreman involved with the blasphemous Daystar cult, and ended up capturing an entirely other Daystar cultist, who informed them where and when to find Mansel.
Kaikoa delivered the captured Daystar cultist off to the Church of Storms.
The Freelancers cased the park in Guildstrom District where Mansel would be found. They devised a plan for capturing him and then withdrew til the next day.
The following day, the Freelancers destroyed the lotion shop in the park, and knocked Mansel and another cultist out. Upon investigation, they found identifying medallions and prepared to bring the captives to Church of Storms.
The knocked-out Mansel transformed into a… Daystar elemental?! ...whereupon the Freelancers slew the elemental and were left with one captured Daystar cultist.
Acquired: 150 eagles.
On further investigation, the Freelancers' tentative conclusion was the Daystar elemental was a patron boon, the likes of which have not been seen in Skyway for centuries, when Pteroti could transform into elementals on demise.
The Freelancers brought Mansel's desiccated corpse, the captured cultist, and their medallions to the Church of Storms, and collected their fee of 150 eagles each.
Returned to Freelancers in Cliffshadow Okeanostag, 2nd prime post-Calm.
Cathance, Osric, and Fine Branch agreed to find Tian, a missing hunter, for his brother Justin, who had been recruiting in the front of the tavern, for 200 eagles up front and 200 eagles on his return to Three Rivers.
The three informed Arnari Rilynn’sithek before their departure, and paid the Freelancers cut of 20 eagles.
The Freelancers, flying on hippogryphs, took two days to get to Three Rivers, and commenced their search the following day. Using locate spells, in the late afternoon they found Tian, his mastiff, and 7 of his compatriots.
Tian and his cohort jumped the Freelancers and almost killed Fine Branch, and a battle ensued. In the end 4 of them were slain, 2 surrendered, and Tian was knocked unconscious.
The Freelancers interrogated the 2 captured hunters, Thel and Shan, to learn they were hunting for people to sell to Hindmarsh gladiator pits. They also looted the camp.
Acquired: 70 eagles, 1000 cats, 2000 pebbles, 1 chrysoprase, 1 citrine, 2 zircon, a potion of climbing, 3 potions of healing, and a bag of holding.
The Freelancers turned Tian, Shan, and Thel over to the Mayor of Three Rivers, Ethan. Guards apprehended Justin at his disappointed parents' house.
Returned to Freelancers in Cliffshadow Fysitag, 2nd prime post-Calm.