We gather at Chris' (Tonk Sangaree) per the plan. Chris, Chuck (Darg Sangaree), Billy (Mebble) and Paul show up. Remarks are made about Bruce (Longfellow Yost) and the mystery of how dancing is somehow more important than gaming. The group is still confused on this notion but joyfully head off to lunch at Johnny Carino's anyway. The only highlight of the meal is when the waiter asks Paul, "Do you have your food yet?"
We start the session off with some administrative tasks. Darg Sangaree trains Friday to be a fighter. After some bumps and bruises, the young gnoll learns to parry and that a battle axe is better than biting. Mebble trains his boar to be an effective war boar. Tonk Sangaree attempts the same with his peak's ram.
The group also decides that they need a place to live and decide the best option is to build their own place. The first realization is that they don't have enough money. Darg suggests that the group should find something rich and easy to kill. Tonk suggests that the group should subcontract some dwarves to build the place. He points out, "They're excellent craftsmen. And they'll work for beer."
The group decides that the most valuable asset they have is the book they acquired from Lord Rosh. Wisdom prevails and they decided to find a "locksmith" without morals who will work cheap. Darg insists that the group get one that has thumbs. They decide that their only local contact is the former Black Rain member Lydia. The group spreads out through the city to find her. Tonk uses his street savvy and hunts down a woman named Lydia only to discover that she's the wrong one. He remarks, "That's the first lady I've ever met with an Adam's apple and a five o'clock shadow." Darg has more success and leads the group to a seedy tavern.
The tavern interior is dark and smoky. Obvious nicks and cuts from various types of weapons add character to the tables. And an occasional blood stain brings color to the otherwise drab room. The group decides that this is their kind of place.
All of the corner tables are taken and the local patrons stare at the party who grin back imagining the prospect of bloody brawl. None of the patrons are dumb enough to even approach the party. Tonk remarks that this is the sort of place that a guy could get beat up in if he ordered a drink without alcohol. He decides to order a bucket of beer. Darg orders a pint of stout, remarking, "You can live on this stuff. It's the food of the gods." Mebble goes for the local rotgut in a dirty glass decorated with human hair. Halflings. Go figure.
Eventually, the real Lydia shows up and hooks the party up to someone who can help them. They head off to run down shack on the outskirts of town. The seedy little man agrees to open the lock of 10 GP on one condition: that the characters open the book elsewhere. The characters heartily agree. Money changes hands and the book is unlocked. A brief debate ensues on where to open the book. Suggestions of a crowded market place and an orphanage are disregarded and the party heads for the edge of town.
Mebble volunteers to open the book. There is a little discussion and Tonk and Darg let the halfling have his way. There is a flash of light and an unholy magical rune glistens in the air. Tonk looks around and sees Mebble, Darg and Friday twitching on the ground like dying cock roaches. Mebble, Darg and Friday successfully finish the imitation. Tonk feels alone. So very alone. And really lucky.
Tonk convinces a passing peasant to buy him 10 GP worth of pigeons. Confused and not wanting to ask questions the peasant (whose name turns out to be Flutey) returns with a cart full of pigeons. Tonk starts releasing them towards the book. The first twenty-three drop dead. The twenty-fourth flies free only to be eaten by Longfellow. Tonk gives the peasant the remaining pigeons. The peasant skips off into the sunset to become the greatest pigeon rancher in Highthrone.
Tonk does a wonderful impression of John Edwards and speaks with dead to learn the fallen characters' final wishes. All agree to the adventure of Reincarnation. Mebble returns first, flapping in as a majestic hawk. Tonk grumbles "Another bird. How am I going to explain THIS to the family?" The hawk flies off to guard the party's future homestead. Friday returns a little less healthy (losing a point of CON) in the form a black bear. Tonk grumbles some more, "Birds and bears. What is it with you people?" Darg returns shrunk to miniscule size with hairy feet. Darg looks at his feet and whispers a quick prayer to Kord, "Hey Chaos domain. Can I get another second chance?" Darg's form flickers. He wakes up taller and rather less stocky. He doesn't feel as healthy (-2 Con), but quite a bit quicker (+2 Dex). And his senses are ever so much better. He exclaims, "Hey! I can see in the dark!" He looks in a mirror to see that he is now the buffest Elf in the world. And also the ugliest. Darg wanders off to find a tailor and pick up copy of Elvish for Dummies.
The group goes shopping. The book turns out to be a mighty magic artifact. The group decides to sell it to the Kobolds in exchange for 100,000 GP store credit. Tonk and Darg get some cool weapons and armor. They decide to leave some for Longfellow and the approaching family member they sense.
Tonk gets a visit from the Giant Head and is asked what the group is doing to help the Sangaree Family develop trade in Highthrone. Tonk explains that was Cousin Jebediah's job and the group really doesn't know much about things like commerce and merchanting. But they were ready to go off hunt down some goblins attacking caravans. The Giant Head tells Tonk that group needs to go the Arcane College's Cotillion and make some connections there. They can get an invitation from their distant cousin Apirnor, a recent graduate of the College. Tonk and Darg buy noble clothes. Tonk hires the pigeon rancher peasant to act as the group's servant.
Nobody gets any experience points, but the entire group ends up quite a bit wiser. And a bit sadder. And a whole lot more like circus folk.