The Champion's Belt - Let the games begin in 4th Edition !!!

Episode 1: Sept 14, 2009

Back in the saddle again, after a lengthy hiatus, our heroes find themselves emerging from the depths of the warf , the mindflayer Zxyrog's lair. Armed with more information of the depths of the corruption in FreeCity, they immediatly seek out the adice of their learned patroit Eligos. Unfortunately they dont find him at home, so they proceed to the city guardsą house inorder to explain what they have seen and done.

Upon entering the guard house, Steve is once again arrested as the guards belive he has escaped from the jail. Unbeknowst to them, are the transpirings of the party vis-a-vis the mindflayer and his guard house visits. The unfortunate misunderstanding is explained by Morgan the paladin and quickly resloved. Chief Ransom believes that the best person to translate the documents and ledger, found inthe mindflayer's library is Eligos and urges the party to visit him ASAP !!

The party leave the guard house and move on towards the Crooked House. They find out that word of their apparent success at the 1st part of the games, has given them enough points to move unto the 2nd and final parts of hte Champions Games. Wanting more information about their competitors and the games themselves, they go about sleuthing out some information. Unfortunaltely there is not one person who can describe in detail what has gone on the previous years. Kevin the mage deduces that their is some form of minor enchantment at work. Not mailicously but used in order to not give away earlier games and their key attributes for future teams. Elements of surprise must be kept up and in order.

The Crooked House and its owner immedialtly start celebrating the arrival and advancement of the party in the games as soon as they walk in the door. Other teams are there drinking and being merry and a party atmosphere soon erupts tenfold. The owner of the Crooked House, Tarquin, gives them a letter from Eligos that invites the party to his manor for supper. He also reiterates the fact that the next part of the games begin at 8am sharp in 1 days time. All teams must pronounce themselves, their manager and the entry fee at that time or face disqulification !!

The party make their way to Eligos's manor and are greeted by his manservant Pollard, then taken into the parlous where they are greeted by their host. Dining and dancing later, Eligos proceeds to tell them about their prior findings as well any new items the party gives him. He is most astonished about the ledger and the details of corruption that the mindflayer cult has been able to invest FreeCity with. Alrming to him also is the dealings that Lord Rakanian has had witht he cult and the Ebon Triad. Dealing s that seemed to have culminated with the aqusistion of the Apostolic Scrolls. They detail the creation of a horrific creature of Kyuss that swallows the living and regurgitates them as undead minions.. With this evidence, the references to the Age of Worms , and everuthing else the party has found, he is certain that dire times are ahead. They should use their guise as gladiators, ti search and infiltrate Lord Rakanian's establishement. Concrete evidence will go along way to showing Rakanians disinterest and dangerous behavious towards FreeCity and its inhabitants. Only then can Eligos appraoch those trusted in the city council to do something to stop Lord Rakanian. He wishes the party to meet his ally Celeste at the Crooked House tomorrow morning as she has something to approach them about. Her interests might coincide with theirs.