Still in the Talenta Plains.

It has been a very long day. Our camp was attacked early this morning by a band of Halflings, and 6709 was almost killed in a salvo of slingshot bullets. Fortunately, Daven was able to get her out of harm's way. We dispatched them fairly quickly, although Sealamin's affinity for setting things on fire is more than a little bit worrying.

Later, as we were riding across the grassland, the party was attacked by a pride of lionesses. Fortunately, several of us spotted them before they could get close, so they were dispatched without a great deal of difficulty.

We had our final encounter at the end of the day, when we came across a strange, smiling man. It is hard for this one to tell, but this person seemed quite odd. Apparently several others had the same feeling (this one didn't realize it at the time, but they explained later). As the mystery man started to walk through the middle of our group, Ru surprised everyone by attacking him. Well, “he” turned out to be a small golden dragon! It was a dangerous ally, but we managed to eliminate it without taking any casualties. Apparently it was on some sort of reconnaissance mission for a Draconic cult. It seems that we have been making all sorts of enemies lately.

Somewhere in the Talenta Plains.

The last few days have been very interesting. This one enjoyed the airship ride- it was good to see Aundair again, even if it was only from the air. Reminiscence. Also, the sailors were happy to teach this one all manner of interesting things in exchange for a bit of moderate lifting. This one could be quite happy on an airship...

Upon landing, we set off for the Mournland border, where Jasson suggested Merrix's excavation is located. After a bit of riding, we came upon a couple of dinosaurs isolated from their herd. Fenris decided it would be a good idea to kill one, so that some sort of armor could be made from its hide. This one did not like to see such a gratuitous waste of life, but was prepared to step in and make use of its new weapons should the fight have turned against the Shifter.

Questions:
Does any of this relate to the disappearance of this one's former master?
How about the Emerald Claw and the Blood of Vol?
Who was really behind the theft of Evanwroat's party favors?

Skycab leaving the Cannith compound.

It seems that Jasson has quite a bit of influence in House Cannith. The armorer went our of her way to outfit this one and its companions with all manner of useful items. Perhaps it helped that Ru told her we would be working to sabotage Merrix. He is apparently quite unpopular, even among his own house.

From there, we went to see Tang at the Cannith compound, where we were even further equipped. This one's hands are now crackling with electricity. This one is excited, but it is likely that its foes will not be so appreciative of this new gift.

Skycab en route to the armory.

Apparently, the mystery party guest was in fact Jasson d'Cannith. He claims to have died at the bar in the Cogs, but was resurrected under mysterious circumstances. Jasson blames his uncle Merrix for the murder, but seems very confused about his transformation into a vampire. He woke up in his home several days ago. Upon finding the place deserted, he sneaked into Evanwroat's basement and has been living there ever since.

Jasson has hired this one and its companions to help him get revenge on his uncle. We are to travel to the border of the Talenta Plains and the Mournland, where Merrix's men are searching for a particular schema. Jasson has offered a substantial reward if we can retrieve the schema, with a large advance in the form of weaponry before we leave Sharn.

Question: Was Jasson responsible for hijacking the party favors? If he can hire us, he can hire others to do what he wants. But why that particular action, if he was behind it? There had to be hundreds of simpler ways to ensure that the sunlight rods wouldn't be used at the party...

cont.

The warforged Tang is full of interesting information. It seems that House Cannith (Tang's employer) has recently split into three factions, each vying for control of the organization. These factions are led by: Jorlana d'Cannith in Fairhaven, Zorlan d'Cannith in Korth, and Merrix d'Cannith right here in Sharn. This is probably the same Merrix who created Son, the illegal warforged we discovered (and destroyed) in the Cogs. Not good news.

Enjoyment: Dancing is difficult, but quite fun when done properly. This one partnered Tang, who seemed to enjoy itself as well.

Question: How did this practice originate? Dancing has no practical value, but every culture seems to have its own style, developed thousands of years ago. Organics are so strange... Tang seems to know quite a lot about them, and it invited this one to come to some sort of meeting to learn more. It sounds interesting. This one was telling her so, when a drunken orc vomited all over Tang. Apparently his name is Thog, and he is a friend of Fenris. [meta]Thog is the reason we cannot have nice things.[/meta]

Surprise: The costume contest was interrupted by someone who appears to be Jasson d'Cannith! If it is a disguise, Evanwroat was certainly fooled. This is a very interesting development.

Residence of Evenwroat d'Sivis, Sharn.

Enjoyment: So far the party has been educational, and not without entertainment value. However, the more this one sees of organics, the less sense they make. People are copulating everywhere, even here in the main hall! Organics must really love to procreate. Fortunately the other party members seem to be behaving themselves. Gimble, Kerowyn, Skeael, Urijah just seem to be conversing with the other partygoers. Of course, it goes without saying that 6709 is staying out of trouble. Dru is apparently taking a fencing lesson, and Ru has been wandering around with all manner of people. It is good to see that one staying away from all of the fornication, which can apparently lead to the spreading of several diseases.

There are several warforged in attendance, and they all seem to have interesting stories. The one named Tang is particularly talkative. It (although for some reason, it seems like a “she”) was explaining the process of warforged augmentation. It also went on at length about the dragonshard economy. Apparently, this one could finance some very impressive augmentation of its own if it ever came across a significant amount of Khyber dragonshards.

Coincidence: Apparently, the artificer who built this one's new eyes is in attendance tonight. Must make a note to thank it later.

Lyrander airship, en route to Sharn.

Acquisition: New magic eyes. Designation 6709 is proving extremely helpful.

Tragedy: Karkhanna (the dwarf) fell in combat today. The party was attacked by a pair of dire bears after our shifter companions had ridden ahead. Fortunately we dispatched them before there were further casualties. This one makes no claim to any real level of understanding of organics, but the timing of the shifters' reappearance, and there lack of concern for the dead seem extremely suspicious. Whether her death was accidental or not, Karkhanna will be missed.

Question: Kerowyn mentioned something about sending Karkhanna into “the afterlife” as her body was burning. What is the afterlife? Apparently it contains lots of alcohol.

Discovery: Airship found abandoned except for the captain, who was bound and unconscious in his cabin. Cargo is intact, except for several boxes of light-making devices. This raises several questions:
1.Why destroy the rods and leave everything else alone?
2.Why leave the captain unharmed?
Perhaps we were meant to find this ship, and return just enough of the favors to Evanwroat so that the party would continue. It may be that something with an aversion to light means to intrude upon the event.
3.Why bring the ship out to the Grayscale Mountains?
Continuing the previous line of thought, this may have been an attempt to delay us enough to prevent the delivery of another order of light rods.
4.Where is Ru? It just missed another stimulating discussion, this time on the existence and possible nature of the soul.