Myriad: City of Tiers Campaign Report - Session #3

What: Myriad: City of Tiers, an adventure for 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons

Premise: Originally created for magical research, Myriad disappeared and has been lost to civilization for centuries. Its recent reappearance has spurred interest in creating trade relations and exchanging information to learn more about its absence and possible hidden powers, dangers, and struggles.

Notes: I’m writing this in the 1st person, from my character’s perspective. This will not be a bird’s eye view of all information in the campaign.

Characters

• Talullah Rynn Bahk (Rynn) (Me) – Orc Monk 6 (Warrior of
  the Elements), Barbarian 2
• Palamandrix (Pal) – Gnomish Fighter/Ranger
• Louise – Tiefling Druid
• Lady Jackie Sintara – Halfling Bard
• Greer – Goliath Rogue

Read Session #2

Character Description & Backstory:

See session #1 for backstory and character details.

Previously: 

My name is Talullah Rynn Bahk, of Clan Bahk. I have been assigned as an emissary of Baldur’s Gate to the city of Myriad, a magical city lost to time that has recently reappeared. We are to create trade relations with them, and my role is also to protect the group from threats that it may encounter in the city.

Previously, we were approached by a representative of the Bard school in the city. They invite us to compete in an underground fight club they run. Lady Jackie declines and prefers to watch us fight, mingling with the crowd. As her appointed bodyguard, I approve, since her presence might compromise my ability to inflict damage on my opponents. The rest of us accept and prepare for the fight.

Session #3 – We Talk About Fight Club

After a brief rules explanation for the fight club – we cannot use magic in our contest and can forfeit by lying down at any time – we are ushered into the arena, to the cheers and jeers of the crowd that surrounds us.

Four combatants parade out to face us. The crowd cheers them. I look forward to our combat.

One of them, named Celine, rushes up to me and attacks three times. They all miss. Her skills are adequate, but I am unconcerned about being able to show my superiority in the fight. After I deflect one of her blows and twirl her spear around in my hand before handing it back to her, she speaks to me. “Oh, you’re good. But what they really want to see is a show. Bleed a little, yeah?”

I take her words to heart. We are here as diplomatic envoys. Normally I would be against showboating in an arena designed to test the sombre discipline of martial prowess, but I must endear myself to the crowd.

I begin letting Celine hit me in order to produce blood. Wounds open, but it is only pain.

The arena affords me the opportunity to run along walls, flip onto pillars and “show off,” so to speak. I do not particularly care for the cheers, and normally I would not be so inefficient in my movements in such an encounter, but the fight itself is lots of fun. Celine is a competent warrior, but no true test for me. I knock her out once I believe we have put on enough of a show.

There are no deaths in the fight; we subdue them non-lethally. One surrenders after taking a beating. It is a smart decision.

While the others wrap up the fight – Louise turned into a bear, which apparently is permissible despite the “no magic” rule – I voluntarily disqualify myself, running up the arena’s side wall and leaping into the crowd after standing and receiving their adulation. I believe they are overly sensationalizing a solemn discipline, but I also recognize the need to win their favor. I bow, and sit next to Lady Jackie, who abstained from the fight.

In the crowd, during the fight, Lady Jackie has been talking with someone who looks important. I learn that it is the leader of the Bards and their representative on the city’s council. Her name is Fendra.

She is intrigued with us, willing to exchange information and favors, and we learn at a meeting with Fendra following the fight (we all receive gold, which I once again give to Greer) that the city is in some peril. The wizards of the city have dwindled in number, yet they’re the only ones capable of controlling the numerous elementals that power the city. Deep within the city is a portal that is the source of this elemental power, and the elementals themselves are beginning to behave erratically. Eventually this could threaten the entire city.

Fendra has lost members of her Bard college to outbursts from the elementals, and asks us to investigate a particular area.

Her connections within the city, her information and goods, suggests she would be a good ally for us and for Baldur’s Gate. We agree, hoping to strengthen ties with her organization. This is particularly true since I do not believe we made a good impression on either the Sorcerers or the Wizards. Beyond the merchants, we will need to create stronger diplomatic ties to the city if we hope to succeed in our mission.

On a personal level, I am concerned for the safety of the city. If the arena is any indication, their warriors may not be up to the challenges that face them. I feel compelled to protect these weak beings from the elemental forces that may threaten them.

She offers us rewards for our assistance. I am intrigued with one she mentions, a ring that permits free action to the user. I accept it, but then immediately wonder if my thirst for additional power has compromised my equilibrium.

What is the good of material goods if it sacrifices my inner peace? Or will this item aid me in my journey in ways that will justify my taking it? I plan to meditate on this.

The fight was very fun. I wish to fight again, though I would request stronger foes to face us. Perhaps I could face multiple foes. That would be a better test of my skills and discipline. For now, though, we must investigate the source of the elemental disturbance, and we have a meeting with another city merchant tomorrow.

Post-Session Player Notes

This arena fight was tailor-made for a Monk, particularly one with a Barbarian level dip. No magic, which meant that I could halve all damage, deflect much of it with my reactions, and was not impeded at all in dealing out damage, whereas any caster class would be nerfed into oblivion.

Rynn was basically in a playground, literally and figuratively running circles around her opponents, and holding back to put on a better show. When I finally got serious and connected with about four straight attacks (I was deliberately only attacking 1-2 times in other rounds), a fellow player exclaimed “holy crap, you’ve been holding back.”

It was fun. I will never be as effective in combat in this campaign as I was in this fight. But it was a nice chance to flex my character’s muscles, so to speak.

Read Session #4