We wake up, come up from the basement.

Lux/Carcesius tells them a bit of his past.

We discuss ideas. Lux/Carcesius keeps Fikus stashed.

We have breakfast – kex, lux, cooks in one place. Jartha chattin up Gullwiig but nothing happens. He said Bug disappeared.

Lux puts on a beard disguise with a dreadbeard college style.

We have breakfast. English breakfast.

We hear the front door open and slam shut and the bar goes dead quiet and everyone looks at the front door. In walks two armed men. Green headbands affixed with a white anchor symbol. We hear who could they be looking for.

We are looking for information. Who knocked down the bar last night. They mull about. Everyone is frozen.  Pella looks at us like I’ll try. Fritz comes to us and is like ah visitors. Lux puts on the royalty submissive bit as does Jartha. They are like you are from the South. Kex is like what are you searching for. What do you mean knock down the bar. He says a magical event happened. Such a time of trouble.

Fritz is like we are looking for the source of the magic. We say we were at Old Civvy’s 4, return of new civvy’s.

Pella says well thank you for coming in and what can I get you. We get a beer and some salt water.

Kex is like what kind of garb are you wearing. We are the Winchendon Green Shirts – we work for Cleo Pipe. Leader of the army. Fritz doesn’t like Lux and thinks he needs re-education. Kex is like I will handle it. Talk of the unconventional Jester. Jartha chugs a beer and Kex plays the lute.

Jartha dances on the table. Fritz is like ah the heavy-set one – very nimble.

Fritz is like we don’t see anything here. Gives Kex his card. Fritz F. Friedrick, Guard. Printed on Papyrus.

The guards head towards the door when a third figure appears. A dwarf. He waves a wood and iron contraption that we’ve never seen. Jartha has heard of a weapon that men carry in this fashion but doesn’t remember much maybe explosions.

We finish up breakfast. Pella is like hey time to go. Says they will stop searching this place in a few hours.

We cook up a plan to visit Winchendon Papyrus.

We begin parading up the river with Jartha leading the way as a Jester. The first bridge – people are paying a lot of attention. We tone it down a little bit. Getting some side-eyes from guards as we march ahead.

We come up around a bend – there is a guard patrol. Another dude with that thing. We show papers and introduce ourselves. They are looking for more papers for all of us, not just Carcesius. We talk of knowing Friedrick. Says will need papers printed for all of us. Levels a metal tube. Calls it Old Sweetness. We will accompany you then and see if your story is true.

The guards agree to walk with us.  One dude is all into Kex and his ways of living. Kex tells him tales of giant crabs and is super regaled.  Jartha wiggles his eyebrows at Kex.

We make it to the next bridge. A big guard goes to a guard in blue and says halt – where are you taking these prisoners. We are taking this Royal Frog to the Winchendon – to the Papyrus District.

He allows us to carry on. This is unusual, this frog.

We make it to the Winchendon Papyrus place. We see a dwarf – he says well welcome, how may we help you today.

Kex is like we need pure Winchendon Papyrus. Lux introduces Kexyl and Kexyl claps for himself. Talk of papers. Kex talks about supplying his own kingdom of Winchendon papyrus. We meet Cragar VanWood. Cragar is like my dad is on the farm – he’s older now. I can negotiate. We seek a private audience. Kex is like this is a private manner – not for all commoners to hear.

Crager is like let’s talk in the storage room and motions for other guys to leave. The guard is like hey where are you going. Kex gives him Fredrick’s card and Jartha offers to play dice with others.

Lux/Carcesius tell Crager about the fading and our need for papers. And to see his dad. We get him to agree to new papers for Carcesius, Jartha, Kexyl, and Cooky.

Jartha and Klaus play dice. Jartha’s luck changes when he goes with wood color. Jartha fleeces him for 10 gold.

We pop out with our papers/id’s. We show our id’s. Klaus is like perhaps we see you at Old Civy’s tonight, eh? Perhaps Fritz will attend.

The guards bail.

We huddle around the Papyracy and discuss plans.

We make plans to the outdoor market. We come across a checkpoint. We show our papers. He says our papers are not in order. Just not sorted properly, all is fine.

We roll up on Winchendon Market. We walk through the crowd and make our way to the blacksmith.

Hello, welcome to the Alley Anvil. Kexyl is like where is like where is Tanner McSmithingsby. It’s north by the dancing half orc, Benny the Scythe. Jartha asks about basilisk hide. He’s like I just make weapons and such. Smithingsby might help you.

We roll up to Smithingsby. He keys in on Jartha right away. I see you’re a portly man but you clearly like guantlets. I can tell by your costume you were normally wear plate mail. Long line of Winchendon smiths. Jartha introduces Kexyl. Kexyl talks about procuring goods. Asks about Carcecius. Is he here? Not for many seasons. Kex asks if he’s dead. I hope not, he was a good friend. Things fadings are stories, don’t happen here. The army keeps us safe. Kex is like have you considered it hasn’t happened here because the army is here and they cause it. Interesting theory my hopping friend. Do you know where we could find Carcesius? I heard he followed a summons to Alabeth some three years ago now. He skipped town before getting caught in a sting. He was a trusted friend.

Kex asks who is in charge of this city. Herr Hoffman is commander of the Winchendon green shirts. Jartha is trying on gauntlets. Hoffman is over by the college – large estate – but often found in City administration building. Who ran town before occupation.

The mayor of course runs it. The mayor was my grandfather – mayor mcsmithingsby. Then the occupying force came.

Jartha asks about magic gauntlets. No master swordsman in Winchendon – he was conscripted into the army. Kex looks to see if Jartha’s ring is on. It’s missing! Jartha looks but doesn’t find it. He starts shaking the gauntlets. Third gauntlet ring falls out. Kex is like we might be back – we have a giant crab problem. McSmithingsby is like we make custom gauntlets. McSmithingsby gives him a card.

Kex has an idea. Let’s have Kex play lute and Jartha rap ( Open Market, Open Grave) in orc and see if Benny comes by.

Jartha’s rap doesn’t go well. Kex lays down a great groove. Jartha recovers – open market open grave. ( Me Got Axe, Me Got Ale)

We’re gathering a lot of attention. We see a half orc in the distance dancing.

Lux goes throughout the audience throwing his voice “Benny aint got shit on that” “Benny and the open grave”

Jartha says “where my orcs at”? Keeps rapping. Benny notices the frog dude and heads over there. Carcecius looks through Benny’s shit and roles a 1 and gets caught. A bard is like what are you doing im like I lost a ring.

Meanwhile benny comes by jartha and kexyl.  He daps up jartha – benny asks him where he learned to rap.

Benny is like im half orc. So I’m like half orc. You my orc man. Kex is trying to gather money from people.

Jartha is like we’re new in town, just buscquing. Scythe oil company – come by my stall. I’m all about the commerce. Jartha’s like im about the extra virgin. Jartha is like I’ll be there.

We all huddle around benny’s tent and he’s like we need to make sure things happen the way theyre supposed to happen. Kex is like you got a lute player im gonna bow out. Jartha offers to smoke out benny for some olive oil. Benny is like you got a lot of questions for a rotund rapper. Benny is like no pipe in the market dude. Not here man, come on. Don’t you know that. Jartha is like I got that dog in me. Benny is like Im starting to think you’re not as cool as I thought you were.

Benny is like I know that dude, elbows his bard dude – I know that dude.

We leave the market. Lux quips that Jartha is stacking papyrus. Jartha is like every orc gambles.

We head down to Bofforts castle to check it out. It’s pretty deserted. Kex checks out the door – he can tell the front of the door is muddy but had been dried recently. It’s unusual. We don’t see mud anywhere around us.

Lux knocks on the door. A long pause, then a slow heavy thud (footprints) making its way towards the door. Suddenly water starts running under the door. We all back away. Jartha pounds a beer. It continues to advance, we back. The door begins to open. Kexyl readies thunderclap. Lux readies crossbow. Jartha readies oath boy.

Boffert is not here. I am the keeper – he is away. Boffert has gone to treat with Cleo Piipe in an attempt to save the city. It is several leagues east of here amidst the throngs of the army. We discuss world vs the city.

Bullywog – my grandfather is from that area. I’m 1/8^th marsh. Kex is like we’re brothers. Lux introduces him and Jartha/Lux bows.

Says it may be many days before he returns.  We offer to tell the water element info – he says Boffert said he was unlikely to be back as treating with Cleo Pipe is dangerous business. We tell him the scheme. None are permitted inside while my master is away.

We head to old civy’s. Pirate Zeppelin is on the stage. We give Cooks the paperwork. We head to the private room with Cooks. Squidghetti and robster clows, cod balls. Cooky was like those guys came back again. Fritz came back about an hour ago. We may not want to stay here much longer. The guy at the bar is talkative.

We finish dinner and head out. Pella is like let me come with you and Jartha is like not tonight baby.

We make our way to the boat. It’s evening time. We go to the Starwake. We go to the VanWood farm.

Kex calls for Lothar at the gate. Lothar says welcome, what brings you here.

Carcesius hugs Lothar and we chat. And then McSmithsby appears.

Carc/Lux explains the situation. Lothar says we are aware, and the triumphervate of promise. Things are different now. Underneed or over the trade center was a third controlling party. There are five of them – known as the Penta Privateers. They are the reason you have been so hunted for the mayorship – they want you off the list. You have been absence of the cancer that has grown throughout Winchendon. Help us, Carcesius.

The power is two miles east of Winchendon, where cleo pipe makes his lair. We know of your resistance down south, but doesn’t help.

Carcesius introduces them all.

The key is the elimination of the Penta Privateers. Eliminating them will help wrest controls. We ask about Privateer – led by a drough elf – calls himself Jonny Snooze. More like drowsy elf. The other names are unknown to us. Secret society unknown to us for decades. They are literally underground, but some hiding in plain daylight. Shady Lemmewinkles may have something to with this. Jonny Snooze have not seen in ages. You’ll find him in the back address neighborhoods. Sleepytown. We could find out from Jonny about the identification of the other pentas – all regular citizen.

The old civy’s place isn’t safe. Carcesius = you’re wanted dead. Says Benny and Shady could help – be careful.

They say to Jartha – youre not wrong about something – he’s the only half-orc in town. Might want to butter up to you. Jartha’s like – I know war, have the orc on your side.