Welcome to the Playground

Prev: Stand Down | Next: The Sum of All Fears

Session 1 of Enemy, the 4th episode of the 2nd season of Story of a Lifetime (Overall session #45).

Took place on December 17th, 2025. PCs were level 13.

Synopsis

Session Summary

The party, including Selina, Tyburn, and Ariadne, attends a clandestine meeting in the neutral Hammer at Rest tavern between the Boromar Clan and Dusk Talons to address escalating Tarkanan activities amid the Mournland's sudden accessibility. Tensions rise as Thora Tarkanan boldly interrupts, revealing her intent to assassinate leaders of the great houses during the upcoming summit to sow chaos and dismantle entrenched powers. The group navigates political alliances and threats, forging a plan to infiltrate and gather intelligence on the Tarkanan network. Later, while traversing the subterranean depths, they encounter and battle a summoned demon, ultimately binding it as a vengeful ally against a mysterious wizard who unleashed it.

Quests

• Investigate Tarkanan Plot (New)

  • Gather inside information on Thora Tarkanan and her lieutenants' plans to disrupt the great houses summit in Sharn, potentially through assassination or chaos; allied with Dusk and Boromar clans to exploit Tarkanan disunity and ensure city safety amid Mournland land grab.

  Status: Accepted

Timeline / Key Moments

• Party arrives in the Undercity's Hammer at Rest, disguised in glamorous attire, and receives nods from locals.
• Enter VIP back room for summit between Boromar dwarves and Dusk syndicates, sharing stew and discussing Mournland land grab.
• Thora Tarkanan crashes the meeting with her lieutenants, taunting attendees and hinting at strikes against great houses.
• Thora departs after issuing veiled threats, prompting alliances to counter her anarchist agenda.
• Group exits via secret paths into subterranean shantytown, evading pickpockets under escort.
• Sudden demonic ambush in the streets; party counters psychic shriek with song and foresight.
• Selina uses necrotic tail to prone the demon, preventing initial life-drain attacks on civilians.
• Intense combat ensues: Tyburn grapples and elevates the beast, Ariadne blasts its mind, Selina drains soul and absorbs collar magic.
• Ariadne mind-controls the freed demon, redirecting its rage toward a withered wizard summoner.
• Party performs dark ritual in the factory, binding the demon into a soul gem as a hunter servant.

Key Decisions

• Agree to investigate Tarkanan lieutenants for intelligence to prevent summit assassinations.
• Choose to countersong the demon's fear aura immediately upon its arrival.
• Opt for non-lethal binding of the demon rather than banishment, redirecting it against the summoner wizard.
• Prioritize protecting civilians during the street fight, using shields and inspirations effectively.

Unresolved Threads

• Thora Tarkanan's exact plans for the great houses summit and her recruitment of aberrant-marked adventurers.
• Identity and location of the withered wizard who summoned the demon, now targeted by the bound entity.
• Potential Tarkanan footholds in Droaam and connections to the Forgemaster Mademisia's everdragonmark.
• Shifting alliances among syndicates and houses in response to Mournland opportunities.

Next Steps

• Infiltrate Tarkanan operations to extract info from lieutenants like Nox and the mind-manipulator.
• Prepare for the Sharn summit by greasing wheels between Ezra, Zorlin, and Merix d'Cannith.
• Monitor the bound demon's hunt for the wizard and reinforce the soul gem binding.
• Coordinate distractions and feigned weaknesses to lure Tarkanan agents.

Reminders for Next Session

• Track concentration on demon domination and ritual reagent costs for soul binding.
• Update character sheets for new abilities like drain soul enervation and psychic assault effects.
• Review house secrets and aberrant dragonmark rumors for infiltration strategies.
• Ensure escorts like Kaja remain invisible and protective in Undercity travels.