Episode 29: Gnax's Auction House Arc

Our heroes journeyed to Fairview, a quaint town to the southwest of Glynndarryl, to fulfill Bjorn and Gallogk's promise to Illyath that they would procure the Bag of Monsters at Gnax's Auction House. 

Shortly after arriving in town, Lucky met an unfortunate halfling, Ricktor Harfoot, who was currently in the stockade for "dropping eaves" on Town Hall business-- or at least that was the story Ricktor told. Lucky recruited Ricktor to Lucky's Network of Friends Who Know Things, Find Things, and Know Where to Find Things (LNFWKTFTAKWTFT)  and found out more information about Gnax and his auction house. It turns out that Gnax was taken in by the elderly gentlemen who once owned the auction house. The elderly gentleman later fell deathly ill shortly after Gnax's arrival. 

Bjorn used his day to meet with the mayor of Fairview, Mayor McGreggin. He used his time with the mayor to bring him up to speed on the happenings in Eternum and encourage him to utilize whatever resources he had at his disposal to bolster the town's defenses for what is to come. Upon learning that the party was going to Gnax's, the mayor provided Bjorn with a map of the estate as a souvenir for those interested in Fairview's history and the auction house. 

Gallogk successfully proselytized for Tyr in the town square, gaining more followers. 

Sankara, Gal, and Fearne scouted ahead further west to locate the wild automaton, Baahamoot-- a creature of the late Otiosum's making and the party's next Trial. 

The remainder of the party settled in at the Blind Basilisk for the night and prepared for the auction the following evening. 

That night, Gallogk, Lucky, Bjorn and Chip made their way to Gnax's Auction House about an hour's walk outside town. 

Ricktor Harfoot

Mayor McGreggin

Drubal

Brumir

Gnax's Auction House was filled to capacity with patrons ready to bid on prized items. The party was joined by:

The party was also joined by two twin strangers (Ignatius and Ariessa) in red cloaks which they immediately recognized as members of Ileana's cult, The Remnant of Orcus. It seemed they were there for one item-- the Bag of Monsters. 

During the intermission, Bjorn met Tirithiel, the medusa who guarded the vault where Gnax kept his auction items and the gold the patrons kept in escrow. It was later revealed to Bjorn that Tirithiel was kept in servitude against her will by Gnax under a geas spell. She was taken in by Gnax after her adventuring party was killed. She was to work and serve as a guard for one night a month ago until Gnax's pocketwatch struck midnight. However, Gnax kept winding it back. The party also took time to trick the Guardian Ogres into imbibing. Lucky looted the establishment for the low cost of poison damage from a surprise trap in Gnax's office. 

The party ultimately won the bidding war for the Bag of Monsters, much to the dismay of Ignatius and Ariessa. They left the auction upset and were tracked, in part, by Gallogk. After the auction, Lucky feigned drunkenness and successfully wound Gnax's pocketwatch past midnight. Tirithiel was freed. Enraged, Gnax blighted Lucky and a fight ensued. The party successfully subdued Gnax, locking him in his vault. Tirithiel crushed his throat with her maul. The party convinced Tirithiel to join them for the freedom of adventure as well as two of the four Guardian Ogres as crew members on The Devourer. (Tirithiel, although not an official ally, is now playable and the stat block is under the Ally section.) Tirithiel and the ogres headed back to town ahead of the party to join them the following day at the Blind Basilisk. 

On their way back to town, the party was ambushed by Ignatius and Ariessa. With Ignatius close to death, the twins surrendered. They were taken into custody by the party. 

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After the party arrives back in Fairview, they are met by Mayor McGreggin at the Blind Basilisk. Impressed by his conversation with Bjorn, he asks the party to help him with a problem that has plagued the town for years. Goblins have been raiding the graves of the town and pillaging bones. Fairview hasn't had the resources to resist or pursue the goblins, but the party of heroes might be able to help. 

The party tracks to goblins to an abandoned fort just south of Fairview. There, they discover a Goblin Necromancer, Gnix, who is nearing the completion of a ritual to summon a skeletal dragon. The party defeats her undead horde, the skeletal dragon she summons, and her. They discover through a note that she is the sister of Gnax (the owner of Gnax's Auction House). The note also mentions, before trailing off, that "The Remnant sends th---"...

Sankara was recruited by Gabriella to return to Glynndarryl where his rare druidic abilities might be of use in a reconnaissance mission to the region of Quaymire. Rumors of an aboleth and the Remenant's presence there require a clandestine approach to avoid drawing unwanted attention. Sankara will return to the party after the mission. 

Concerned about their preparedness for the fight with the Trial of Sloth, Baahaamoot, the party chose to better equip themselves for the fight to come. Perhaps some magic items might be of use! They went to the only local source they knew of on the recommendation of Riktor-- Gnax, the throat-crushed. Terrified and filled with hatred with the party, Gnax was still driven more by his greed for all things magical. He and his sister (whom he does not know the party killed) have been searching for a Mirror that shows a magic item of desire where it might be found. It can also generate a magic item "every so often". 

Luizhanna

Tirithiel

Ignatius & Ariessa