Ch 3, Part 3: House Arkonas

The Emporer's Palace

The heroes explore the rest of the emperor's 'palace'. Where they find the Salvatore Scream being kept prisoner. After a brief exchange of words (and some touching shows of affection from Laori) the heroes free him and promise to bring him to safety. Once free of the place, Salvatore promises to give them what information he knows, such as the whereabouts of Vencarlo.

On the way out, there heroes explore the remaining rooms and clear a next of chokers.

Salvatore's Story

Back at Vencarlo's; the Salvatore informs that a few weeks back, Neolandus Kalepopolis the seneschal of Castle Korovsa came to him poisoned and delirious  (He was a long time client and fan of his artwork). Salvatore nursed him back to health where eventually he told him that the queen murdered the king and that she had sent assassins to kill him. She was in league with an organisation called the Red Mantis. When neolandus was recovered, Salvatore took him to House Arkanos (another of Salvatore's clients) where he felt they could better protect him.

Later when he was visiting his friend Vencarlo, Vencarlo became enraged that he had done that. He said the Lord Arkonas was powerful underworld figure and that Neolandus might be in even more danger. Salvatore suspects that Vencarlo has tried to rescue him.

The heroes thank Salvatore and let Laori take him to safety, she is enaoured with him (in a disturbing way) but she convinces the heroes that no harm will come to him (harm by their definition not hers).

The House Arkonas

The heroes then head to House Arkanos where they meet Lord Glorio Arkonas lounging in a bath. He listens to the heroes story (and also thanks them for killing the emperor and rewards them with a ring of evasion). He confirms that both Neolandus and his Vencarlo are his guests but that things are 'complicated' and he cannot simply free them.

He his placed his guests in the Vivified Labyrinth for their own safe keeping. This is a perilous maze he has constructed filled with traps and guardians where he often places his 'guests'. The heroes are welcome to go down and retrieve him and he gives them instructions and some pointers on getting through the maze.

The heroes agree. The entrance to the maze is underneath a statue of an elephant (which is discovered to be a figurine of wonderous power). The descend into the maze where they arrive at a fungi garden. There they are attacked by Janni Skeletons, these skeletons are powerful and it is a difficult battle, where the fungi ridden skeletons prove to be highly poisonous. A number of the heroes are severely poisoned, though the heroes are victorious.

Encounter	Grit	Helious	Mandraiv	Sparrowhawk	Sol	Watson
Pre-Session	43,638	38,038	45,038	40,388	42,638	40,338
Level	7th	7th	7th	7th	7th	7th
Journals		2500	600			700
rp: freeing Salavator	800	800	800	800	800	800
chokers	800	800	800	800	800	800
Janni skeletons	1600	1600	1600	1600	1600	1600
rp: chief tea maker					350
Total	46,838	43,738	48,838	43,588	46,188	44,238