SWA Game-a-thon, Studio of Bridge & Games, Schenectady, NY.
Across from Price Chopper
There is a $4.00 event fee for this game assessed by SWA. $2.00 of this fee will be rebated for Paid Members of the League (max $2.00/day). Paid members should pay initially and see the GM onsite for reimbursement.

The Merchant’s Guild has contacted you about undertaking some business on their behalf. But did you hear Kevin correctly? You’re invited to a party and you will be representing the Merchant’s Guild? So put on your best clothes, shine your shoes, be on your best behavior, and most of all, keep your eyes and ears open. This is a new world and you do not know the rules of the game.

7 teams answered the call for a diplomatic mission to Ter’ket, the newly discovered planet which the Merchant’s Guild was hoping to open for trade. Arriving on-planet through the portals, the Champions were met at the portal by the Merchant Guild’s representative. They were immediately attacked by large air and earth elementals and hurriedly rushed to a teleportation circle. They were barely able to get all of the team members through in time since the group was so large. The large size of Ghost Wind took several rounds to get through the teleportation circle. They brought their entire complement of 24 and ended with 2 of their team members downed. Nothing was determined about the reasons for the attacks or who was behind it. The mission started off with a mystery still unsolved.

Ghost Wind left the majority of their team outside the city walls in order to care for the 2 downed comrades while 4 of the team proceeded into Artnerton to attend a reception for the new Ambassador to the League of Merchant Princes from the Storm Isles. They were given outstanding accommodations and taken on a tour of the city during which they were able to uncover valuable trading information and gain a few clues in an unfolding plot.

At the reception, they spotted a few odd circumstances that lead them to uncover the plot to assassinate the Ambassador and blame his death on the League. The plan was conceived by the King of the Storm Isles to create a reason to escalate hostilities against the League. It entailed controlling a lesser noble who was known to hate the Storm Isles due to their apparent abduction of his son, dominating him and using him to carry out the assassination. The Champions were able to foil the plot by quick thought and action on the part of Ghost Wind with the assistance of a waiter named Arturi, while the other teams delayed some of the co-conspirators by engaging them. Unfortunately, even though they were able to identify several of the conspirators, including the creature controlling Duke Harwell, they were unable to capture any of them.

The conspirators identified included:

Inion

A high-level monk who had infiltrated the Mercantile Council’s security force.

Isabeau

Another high-level monk who attended as a courtesan. She had been spotted at the Mercantile Library under suspicious circumstances.

Unnamed

This individual was responsible for dominating and telepathically controlling Duke Harwell. As it turned out, he was flawlessly impersonating the Head of the Mercantile Library, one Ephrain Do’Amon, an elderly gentleman. The real Ephrain was later found, gagged and bound in one of the Library storage rooms. His testimony indicated that he saw his attacker turn into his very image right before his eyes.

The only mystery remaining was that while the wound of the ambassador clearly was poisoned, there was no poison to be found on the dagger Duke Harwell wielded in the assassination attempt.

The Mercantile Council of the League of Merchant Princes was very grateful to the Champions for resolving the matter without loss of life and preventing a most dire political situation. They were also grateful to the Champions for uncovering spies of the Storm Isles within their ranks. The Ambassador from the Storm Isles has abdicated his position and sought asylum with the League.

In addition, based on the gratitude of the League and the trade information gathered by the Champions, the Merchants Guild was able to negotiate a very favorable contract with the Mercantile Council on Ter’ket and rewarded the Champions appropriately.

One mystery solved, but others remain. What was behind the attack by the elementals? Why is there so much enmity between the League and the Storm Isles? What is found on the eastern half of the continent and why is it no one ever goes there? Where did the poison come from? These questions remain unanswered for the time being.

1. Ghost Wind (Master)
   Player: Christopher J. Ford
   

   Illiri (Human Female Sorcerer 17) and her team (all 24 of them) fought off the elementals and allowed the others to make it through the teleportation circle aided by Death from Afar’s Tharivol Liadon. Later Illiri was able to teleport the Ambassador away from the reception and save his life.

   Ghost Wind survives to adventure again.

2. Swarm (Novice)
   Player: Mark Jerard
   

   Kristoliana (Aranean Master of Flies 9 ECL 16) was key in gathering information and picking up clues to the events about to unfold.

   Swarm survives to adventure again.

3. Death from Afar (Epic)
   Player: Jonathan Sternfeld
   

   Tharivol Liaden (Elf Fighter 6 / Wizard 2 / Arcane Archer 11 / Deepwoods Sniper 2), Archer Extraordinaire, and his sidekick, Sargen (Male Human Rogue 10) worked the party to figure out which rulers were allied and which were hostile toward each other. He stayed back to help cover the escape of lower level Champions during the elemental’s attack. He also aided Illiri in several instances in the investigation. Andrinor Agriaba (Human Male Cleric 10) discovered that the religions on the world were pretty much the same as others.

   Death from Afar survives to adventure again.

4. Unnamed (Novice)
   Player: Matthew Wiersma
   

   Torg #1 (Human Fighter 15) explored the city and made note of several trade opportunities that aided the team in accomplishing their mission for the Merchant’s Guild.

   Unnamed survives to adventure again.

5. Unnamed (Novice)
   Player: Brian Wiersma
   

   Torg #2 (Human Fighter 15) regretted having to leave his weapons at the door of the party. Fortunately, they were not needed. He did make some contacts in the Mercantile Council’s Security force that may prove useful later.

   Unnamed survives to adventure again.

6. Fatal Fury (Novice)
   Player: Nick Caldwell
   

   Ash Blackwind (Human Fighter 15) explored the city but decided to return home prematurely.

   Fatal Fury survives to adventure again.

7. Unnamed (Novice)
   Player: Unknown (did not sign session sheet)
   

   Torg #3 (Human Fighter 15) explored the city and made note of several trade opportunities that aided the team in accomplishing their mission for the Merchant’s Guild. He also found the local gym, had a good workout and a massage before rejoining the party to attend the reception and foil the plans of the King of the Storm Isles.

   Unnamed survives to adventure again.