The Fireball Gazette

A Plea for Help
Inside the cathedral, the party witnessed a heartfelt conversation between Elio and a distraught red-haired woman named Marina. She was pleading for a séance to contact her deceased sister, but Elio explained he couldn’t spare resources for non-emergencies. However, sensing her desperation, the party offered to assist Elio, who confided his worry about recent terrorist attacks in Port Elgin, allegedly led by Moon Church separatists. Mad Matt agreed to help in finding out information, though he emphasised that the party definitely wasn’t in Port Elgin when the attacks happened. Before they could continue, the Paladin entered, whispering to Elio about a mysterious barrel delivery.

Explosive Discovery
Curious, the party inspected the barrels outside, noting they were tightly sealed with liquid inside. Selah and Matt already feared the worst, believing these barrels to be the same as in Port Elgin. With the help of a bird, Deva tracked down a nervous monk managing a cart nearby. As the party began interrogating him, he muttered a spell, and moments later, an explosion rocked the cathedral. Assassins in dark robes suddenly attacked, casting off their disguises and striking down unprepared monks and paladins.

Vines and Greataxes
Deva summoned vines to ensnare the assassin, transforming into a horse to tackle him from above. Meanwhile, Marina, startled from hiding, charged out with her greataxe and went after the assassin. Despite an initial miss, she landed a second blow, wounding him badly. She pursued him relentlessly, eventually ending his flight down a staircase in a final strike.

Defending Elio
Ace took a strategic position near the cathedral, but an assassin managed to slash him before he could find cover. Off by the entrance, Mad Matt rushed to protect Elio from a crossbow attack, which was quickly thwarted by Ace’s expert shot. Horse-Deva corralled an assassin into a corner, securing Elio and the Paladin’s retreat back inside.

The Assassin’s Leader Emerges
Rachel Boon, leader of the assassins, stepped into view, declaring her intent to destroy the cathedral. With a grim flourish, she ignited barrels placed around the area, sending waves of pinkish-blue flames across the cathedral grounds. Selah, using her ki, climbed atop a tree and enveloped the courtyard in magical darkness, adding a new layer of chaos to the battlefield.

Battle in the Darkness
The party fought blindly in the darkness. Matt, positioning himself to intercept Rachel, managed to wound her with his black tendrils just as she advanced. Ace fired a well-timed crossbow bolt, striking her in the abdomen. Nearby, Deva, still in horse form, stalked her remaining target, delivering powerful kicks until he succumbed. With Rachel down and darkness dissipated, Deva transformed into a bear, finishing off the last assassin in a fierce final blow.

Inside the Cathedral
The party captured a chi-blocked assassin and Rachel herself, rushing them as well as a critically wounded civilian inside. They feared the worst, as they suspected the Paladin to be a double agent, but it became clear he had been defending Elio. Grateful for their help, Elio healed the wounded and attempted to interrogate Rachel, who refused to answer. He ordered her and the assassin to be held until judgment.

Revelations and Rewards
Thankful for the heroes' intervention, Elio agreed to conduct a séance for Marina. However, even with twenty candles and deep meditation, he couldn’t contact her sister, Luna, from beyond the grave. There could only be one explanation for this – Luna was still alive!
When Ace tried to offer Elio a vial of liquid gold to aid repairs, he kindly refused the gift, insisting on paying 200 gold for it. Knowing Selah’s interest in relics, he invited the party to visit the Northern Cathedral’s treasury, promising a guided tour of the church’s most treasured artefacts the next day…

– TO BE CONTINUED –