Session 1

Not long after the Tripartite Coalition begins its occupation of Kilkorin, the cleric Barrax Harstone [Jon] and rogue Odysseus [Rob] arrive in the city-state in search of knowledge and fortune. Relic mines are a prime source of both and are known to be scattered throughout every district. Based on some helpful input from the warlock Brother Simon [Kevin], they decide to see if they can get in on a smaller one—a "starter site," if you will. The two of you head into the Bend District, where Barrax is met with a cold shoulder, then outright hostility as you face a scrapper gang.

You defeat the ruffians, who flee the scene but for one called Heron who Barrax had knocked unconscious. Upon questioning, Heron claims that you're on scrapper turf—the Water Birds, to be specific—and the gang's leader, Bill Hook, doesn't look kindly on interlopers. You don't get anything else useful out of the kid, other than nervous threats and muttered curses.

Letting him go, you head on to a nearby corner pub, Oktan's Hole. The proprietor, Oktan, is more welcoming (especially after Barrax pays well for food and drink). He agrees that scrappers are a menace and that punk Bill Hook does run the one in this neighborhood. Oktan doesn't know where to find him; if you want to smooth things over with the scrappers, you might check with a former member who now goes by the name Cecil. He runs a fishing repair shop up the riverbank a bit. After some consideration, you decide to table this approach for now and head back to your rooms in Old Korin. You could use some rest and maybe more information on the city to figure out next steps.

Simultaneous with all this, the artificer Keech [James] is hired by a laborer to find his son, Padraig, who's run off to the Bend to join a scrapper gang. (Padraig Senior is not sure why his son left the Low End to join a scrapper way up the riverbank way—joining scrapper gangs is common, but most kids join up in their immediate neighborhood.) After reaching the Bend District, Keech gets a good lead (and some fresh veggies) from Joh, a vegetable merchant. Heading into the Water Birds' territory, Keech soon hears the sounds of conflict. Rounding the corner, you spot scrappers threatening a dwarf (Barrax). One of the scrappers matches the description of the kid that you're looking for. The kid is so surprised when you call out his name ("Padraig!") that you can peel him off from the fight for a quick chat. You get Padraig to agree to at least check in with his dad and let him know he's all right. You then hustle back to the scene of the fight, but foreign dwarf and scrappers alike are gone. Still, your curiosity piqued, you decide to follow the dwarf's tracks….