DA2 TTRPG Campaign Diary - Session 2 - Enter the City of Chains

 The goal for session 2 was to bring the PCs together to form a party (we didn't quite hit that yet). I had discussed with Fisher's player beforehand since he was the one already living in Kirkwall, and it was he who suggested needing a crew for his boat.

The Road to Kirkwall

We open with Deorum and his elven companion and bodyguard Lulia walking the road from Minrathous to Kirkwall after the assassination of Deorum’s parents. It is a long and somewhat miserable trek, especially when it comes to sleeping outdoors, as the two don't have a tent. They are also both ignoring the pain of the trauma they have just experienced.

Fenlin is making the same trek, but sticking to the forest to stay out of sight. She does however make point of keeping the road in view as she does not know the area, and she needs the road to make sure she is going in the right direction.

A farmer driving a cart of cabbages stops along the road and offers Deorum and Lulia a ride. They accept. Fenlin notices the cart, but sticks to the trees. Her road has been slightly easier going as she was able to plan ahead and brought a tent.

Going through the Vimmark Mountains, the cart stops when the farmer notices a dwarf off in the distance. He is staggering and muttering nonsense. "Blood for blood. He will walk in the sun once more!"

The farmer, Lou, thinks the dwarf is delirious and in need of help. But Deorum and Lulia notice the black veins in his skin. He has the Blight, and Deorum orders Lou onward.

Fenlin recognizes the sudden stop and rapid restart of the cart, but is too far away to hear any conversation other than indiscernible yelling. She encounters the dwarf, who pulls out a dagger to attack her. She activates the lyrium in her veins to Fade Step through him and hurries on her way.

((The encounter with the Dwarf was meant to hint at Corypheus. Despite 4 out of the 5 players at the table knowing the plot of DA2, none of them picked up on it, which I thought was funny. Had they fought and killed the Dwarf, they would have found an emblem linking him to the Carta.))

At the North Gate to Kirkwall, the passengers of the cabbage cart find the city is closed. Guards stand outside the lowered portcullis and refuse to let anyone through. Everyone is being directed down to the shoreline to be vetted at the Gallows.

Lining Up at the Shore

At the shoreline, a group of mercenaries is in charge of keeping the crowd in check. One particularly grumpy swordsman with a gash on his forehead explains that no refugees are being allowed in the city. Any who think they are an exception to this rule end up like the poor fellow on the ground whose body has been covered with a sheet.

Any merchants are allowed in the city, but they must take the ferry to the Gallows to get paperwork that proves they have the right to conduct business. Once they have this paperwork, they will be allowed in and out of the city gates as usual. Paperwork is not something merchants had to worry about before the influx of refugees to the city which is why Lou doesn't already have it.

Deorum offers to heal the mercenary's wound. He wraps the man's head and says a prayer to Andraste as a cover for his magic. The mercenary is no longer in pain and allows Lou and his passengers to be first in line.

Merrill presents the mercenary with a bag of coins she stole from the clan, claiming that she has come to trade in the city. Dardin'an tries to claim that he is with Merrill but she rejects him, telling him the clan needs him. Dardin'an tells the mercenary that Merrill is lying because she is upset with him. (After a persuasion roll) the man throws up his hands and lets the elf through.

Fenlin stealths her way into a merchant cart.

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One Miserable Boat Ride

On the passenger ship headed to Kirkwall, Revas awakes. An elven woman, Helani, and her two brothers have been tending to his wounds. They have even gone so far as to tear up their own clothing to use for bandages.

Helani explains that Revas is safe and the boat is taking them to Kirkwall. She apologizes to Revas for taking him along without his consent, but says she didn't know what else to do. She also apologizes that they couldn't save Revas' Commander.

Revas thanks Helani and asks about his armor. One of Helani's brothers pats a bundle of blankets where they have wrapped his armor and weapons.

The journey to Kirkwall is unpleasant. A storm rocks the ship, making everyone seasick. But eventually, the boat makes it to the city.

Upon disembarking on the main dock, Revas can see that the guards are not letting anyone into the Gallows courtyard. They are telling people to get back on their ships.

((I made a point of mentioning there was also a merchant ship in dock unloading cargo. If PCs couldn't persuade their way through, they might try to get smuggled in as cargo. That didn't happen though.))

Revas puts on his Grey Warden armor and approaches the guards, stating that he has just come from Fereldan and is investigating the possible reach of the Blight into the Free Marches. (After some fantastic rolls) the guards panic, and immediately grant him and Helani's family entry.

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The Gallows Courtyard

Everyone from the shoreline arrives at a dock for smaller boats that connects directly with the Gallows courtyard. Once inside, Lou joins a long line of merchants awaiting their turn to receive paperwork. It looks like things could take a while. He and Deorum thank each other and go their separate ways.

Merrill approaches a strange man wearing blue robes and sporting a long brown beard and mustache (unbeknownst to the players, this is Danzig). She presents him with the money pouch as payment to enter the city. Dardin'an tries to join her, but Merrill has paid in gold, which he does not have. The strange man tells Dardin'an that Merrill's money is only enough for one person. He leads Merrill away with Merrill telling Dardin'an again to return to the clan. Dardin'an tries to track them but has to give up when the man and Merrill get into a boat. ((From conception of this scene, I wanted to give the players an emotional hook to get involved in the Slaver plot. That said, I was completely open to the possibility of Merrill staying safe. The PC could have made a Perception Empathy check to pick up on something shady with this guy. And they could have tried to persuade Merrill not to go with him. But that didn't happen. I checked in with the player afterward to ask if there was anything else they would have wanted to do in regards to that scene because I had picked up on some frustration from them. I was concerned they thought I was railroading the scene and there was nothing they could have done to prevent Merrill from going. They said the scene had happened, and they were happy to let it lie. They also said their character was frustrated with Merrill at that point and felt that it was hopeless.))

Fisher, having arrived at the Gallows and docking his fishing vessel at the same small-boat dock, searches the Gallow's courtyard for able bodies. The Grey Warden stands out, and Fisher immediately offers him paid work on his ship and safe passage for Helani and her family into Kirkwall.

Deorum approaches the guard who is not allowing entry in the main Gallows area (where the Templars and Mages reside, and afterwards is the bridge leading into the city). Deorum states that he has family in Kirkwall and gives the name of the Noble house, Dalmasso. The guard sends a runner to give word to the noble house and retrieve their statement that Deorum is indeed family and that they agree to take responsibility for him. Deorum will have to wait until the message comes back.

Some men, hearing that Deorum will likely be making it into the city, attack the guards. They have been waiting five days for entry and don't intend to wait any longer. Lulia, Fisher, Fenlin, Dardin'an, and Revas defend the guards (Deorum stays out of the fight to avoid telegraphing his magic). Once three of the four men lay dead and one surrenders, the guards thank the group for their help but tell them they still can not allow them entrance into the city.

Fisher approaches the rest of the able fighters and also offers them work and passage on his boat. Fenlin declines, stating that she cannot swim. Deorum states that he is waiting for word from his family. Lulia insists on staying with Deorum.

Fisher takes the rest of the group on his boat, but promises to return the next day for the others if they still haven't found entry. He also tells them that fishing has been poor recently with all the boat traffic, so he may have other work for them.

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The Nobles Quarter

The next day, Deorum, Lulia, and Fenlin finally gain entrance to the city, with Deorum claiming Fenlin is with him. He is quick to tell anyone that the elves are not servants, but no one believes him.

The House of Dalmasso, takes Deorum in. He is given a permanent room in the house, and Fenlin and Lulia are given elite servant accommodations. The three are also welcome to partake of the meals provided in the house. However, any money for spending or paying his "servants," Deorum must acquire for himself.

((Fenlin's player asks if she can search the Noble's Quarter for any potentially vacant vacation homes she might claim for herself. I ask that put a hold on it until next session as I need to consider the options she might find.)) Fenlin accepts the accommodations for now but lets Deorum know her future plans.

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Wrapping Up

Revas, Halani and her family, and Dardin'an travel to the Kirkwall alienage. There they are greeted by the Elder, Emryn, who grants them accommodations. Emryn tells Dardin'an that they have not had any other visitors today (meaning that Merrill has not been seen).

Fisher turns in his previous catch to the Fishmonger, who sighs at the meager offerings. He tells Fisher that this has been typical lately and times have fallen so hard people have taken up the adventuring life. When Fisher asks how one can do that within the city, the Fishmonger reports the poor state of Errant Square (the hopeful adventurer's headquarters) and says that people can always find help wanted ads tacked to the local Chantry board there.

Fisher heads to the square to look for work.