Session 7

Renovations, Baby!
At Trollskull Manor, the party quickly claim their rooms, with Visk claiming the attic, Yelmaer the third floor master bedroom, and Avanna the bedroom with an adjoining turret. As they are in the midst of repairs, they hear a knock at the door. They open it to find Victoro Cassalanter, Avanna's future father-in-law, who has stopped by to offer a loan: 1000gp at 0.1 percent interest per month. Despite the generosity of the offer, Visk finds it suspicious, and so they decline.

Visk is resting in her new quarters when she receives a paper bird with "beware the crows" scribbled on it. Quickly informing the party members, Avanna sends Egg to chase after the scent, and he quickly flies off and lands on the roof of a nearby building. Ominously, the orb in Visk's satchel thrums.

This is a paper bird that should've been a meeting
The party head to the roof of Corellon's Crown and meet Krebbyg, Soluun, and Fel'rekt, who is very excited to see Visk. He explains he was trying to help them, and that he was referring to actual crows, who he says were behaving suspiciously. He also requests to meet with Visk privately. Krebbyg and Soluun apologize on behalf of Fel'rekt's rash actions, and the party apologizes for Egg pinning him down, and they part on amicable terms. Visk and Fel'rekt both head to Trollskull Manor to talk. There, he reveals J.B. Nevercott, who offers Visk a position in the Bregan D'aerthe, an underground organization, which she declines. Much to her shock, he reveals he knows her identity as Maggie Rivers, and departs. The orb hums again.

Immediately after, Emmek Frewn stops by to offer purchasing the tavern for the insultingly low sum of 100 gp, but Visk scoffs and departs.

Not Homophobia, Just a Dead Wife
After buying a Kara-Tur Money Plant from Fala, the owner of Corellon's Crown, Yelmaer and Avanna meet Embric and Avi, owners of Steam and Steel. As the genasi couple speak with the party, Avi eventually leads the conversation to Talisolvanar 'Tally' Fellbranch, the half-elf owner of the Bent Nail. Embric interjects, saying "He doesn't like that we're together. Fine. We've faced ignorance before. It's nothing new - I won't waste any more of my time speaking of it!" With that, he storms off. After he's left, Avi explains that the couple invited Tally over for dinner a few weeks ago to discuss a joint business proposition. The dinner started well, but as the night progressed Tally seemed increasingly uncomfortable at their displays of affection, and in the end, flatly rejected the offer. Avi reveals, however, that he isn't quite sure Tally is actually homophobic, and asks the party if they could investigate.

As they leave, Squiddly, Sam, and Jenks show up, with Squiddly in particular having taken a shine to Yelmaer, and says he wants to be an adventurer just like his fellow tiefling. Having no interest in the complex emotional matter of Tally and the genasi, he goes off with the urchins to play.

Avanna visits Tally with Visk, and he explains that the couple remind him of the loving relationship he shared with his deceased wife Isolla, who he outlived since she was human. He wasn't sure how to explain that to the couple, and understood it wasn't fair to them, but it has been awkward ever since. Avanna returns to Avi and says Tally will come by to visit, and Avi gratefully offers them a discount on future purchases.

Jaes, Jayce Hope, and Nigel
Visk stays at the Bent Nail to ask Tally where he got his pet cat. He reveals that there's a shelter nearby run by a locathah called Karebar. Visk thanks him then gathers the party, and they buy pet supplies and adopt three cats: a munchkin kitten called Jaes, a longhair cat called Jayce Hope, and an absolutely portly cat called Nigel.

All is well til nightfall, when Visk hears scratches on the roof. The spined devils have returned, and the party quickly incapacitates them, though not before they hiss at Visk: "My Lord..... return him to us!"