The party spends a while exploring the town of Sylophore. Valdirim decides to visit the Explorer’s Guild branch in the town, and meets up with the Explorer’s Guild Contingent: Jake, Alice, Bernhard and Todd. Jake is a white Robin hood type figure with a gem studded archer’s hat. Alice has an archer-style bridal dress, also white. The guests are also clad in white explorer gear.
Jake and Alice are actually taking part in a wedding ceremnoy at the Explorer’s Guild branch in Sylophore. Valdirim crashes the party, buys a beer and talks with the couple, who are drinking fizzy wines. He then gifts 10 crystals to the bride and groom. Later on, Jake offers him to rent a Belovian Longsword for something special. The sword slices through marble pillars like butter. Valdirim can drop it off at Toth at the end of the loan. Bernhard is in front of the door, and a bald man is serving Valdirim there. Valdirim convinces the Explorers that Straddle is still on the loose, and that they can find great treasures if they venture out to defeat him.
Kyra and Hugo create a fake Belovian Sword contract and convince Jake that the sword needs to be returned. Valdirim is tasked with bringing the sword personally to Tarik, on his Explorer’s Guild Oath. Meanwhile, Jake and Alice set out to defeat Straddle.
Tarik of the Ridge
Dorothy, an elderly resident of Sylophore, offers Kyra a sherry or two, and spills some secrets about Kyra’s parents, who apparently have gone missing for a while. She also mentions Tarik, who is now the face of the Marbledem Swordworks, and accuses him of having gotten rid of Kyra’s parents. She also claims Tarik got an excellent deal with the Swordworks, simply because Kyra didn’t want to become its owner.
After a stay in Sylophore, the party decides to head to Marbledem on foot. They take the route near the Red River, but already hours into the trip they encounter an Iromeg. The Iromeg clearly overpowers the party, and knocks out Kyra in an instant while shattering the leg of Hugo Antillez. Fortunately, Miv was aware of Kyra’s rash behavior in particular, and decided to trail them. He finds himself able to drag the wounded combatants out of the fray, and uses a very rare salve and his grower skills to undo most of the damage caused to Kyra and Hugo. The party, soundly defeated and slightly demoralized, returns to Sylophore, where they then take a rest followed by a paid carriage ride to Marbledem. The carriage is a low-profile wooden carriage pulled by two rams and provides a trip at a modest cost of 8 crystal coins.
Upon arrival in Marbledem, the Party spots new Kazamer barracks outside of the wooden palisade and very heavy manufacturing activity in the Swordworks. They choose to visit an Arcanist tavern called the Miracle, where they hear Channelers complaining about their dwindling numbers, because they keep getting fielded in one sided arena matches against beasts and gladiators with Belovian weapons.
Later on they meet up with May, who is a frost channeler and a personal friend of Kyra May is an over-the-top dressed frost channeler, who like to use her powers with bravado and has an extensive wardrobe. She mentions that Kazamer troops have been amassing in Marbledem over the last three months and that local Channelers and non-workers get heavily disadvantaged, Indeed, many of them have either left Marbledem over the months, or got killed in labour or arena matches. May mentions that Kyra’s parents house is abandoned, and that Tarik built a palace inside the factory, to live opulently there.
Frost Channeler May
