• Balerion tells the PCsRandall & Ben to investigate the sickness affecting the Dragon’s subjects.
• Vivienne Ashbane challenges Ben to a duel, to avenge her brother Tristan Ashbane.
• Ben defeats Vivienne in a near perfect duel, and takes the Ashbane rapier.
• Ashbane allies attempt to convince the guards of Soleme that Ben attacked Vivienne first, but a lawyer named Gerwin Maxwell helps defend the PCs.
• Gerwin offers to serve as lawyer and advisor to the PCs. They accept, and give him an office in Elwin Oldgreave’s residence.
• Odran Newgreave starts to build a case against the PCs for the murder of Nathan Goldman, with A.B.S. Kenley as a key witness.
• “My Beautiful Baby Benny.”

Lesser Pantheon

The PCsRandall & Ben set off towards Aswen’s inn, Dusk. Hal says he expects the elves to make meeting with the Laran difficult, so the PCs shouldn’t rely on the High Priest Kerym Luralei.

Balerion asks the PCs about the mad dragon on Tarr. She says more of the Dragon’s are similarly corrupted, and she tells the PCs to uncover the nature and origin of this sickness.

Vivienne

Between the Spire and Reiner’s Square, Ben is challenged to a duel by a young woman named Vivienne Ashbane, intent on avenging her brother, Tristan Ashbane, who Ben killed in a duel 5 years ago. A crowd gathers, and Randall starts taking bets. He opens with 10 to 1 odds for Vivienne winning (and eventually gets to 200 to 1).

Between attacks, Vivienne accuses Ben of killing her brother after he surrendered. However, Ben remembers killing Tristan only when he continued to attack after being disarmed. Ben says he fought in such duels for Odran Newgreave, who he now hates. But this changes nothing for Vivienne, and she fights on.

During the fight, Randall and Hal notice that Ben is strangely preoccupied with his rapier. Despite this distraction, Ben fights flawlessly, countering or matching every one of Vivienne’s maneuvers and avoiding all injury. With Vivienne all but defeated, Ben lunges to deliver a knockout (nonlethal) blow, but his rapier stops a millimeter before reaching her. With his weapon seemingly unwilling to harm Vivienne any further, Ben backs off, and collects the Ashbane rapier.

Gerwin

A pair of Soleme guards appear to diffuse the situation. Randall tucks away his 182gp of gambling earnings, and identifies Vivienne as the aggressor. But the guards are soon convinced otherwise as most of the crowd blames Ben for attacking first. Ben asks Vivienne to explain what really happened, and she absently says, “He attacked me.” The guards then say they must take the PCs to the guardhouse, although Ben assures them he isn’t going anywhere.

A young man steps forward from the crowd, identified by the guards as Gerwin Maxwell. Gerwin points out an apparent conspiracy: most members of the crowd, and especially those speaking against Ben, are either Ashbanes themselves or close allies of the Ashbanes. With the situation becoming increasingly complicated, Gerwin convinces the guards to let everyone walk away.

Before leaving, Vivienne demands her rapier back, but Ben flatly refuses. She leaves as bitter and as angry as she arrived.

The pitch

The PCs thank Gerwin and invite him to lunch. He explains he’s a lawyer - as highly skilled as any other - but in need of a big break. He says he wants to defend Ben when Odran inevitably drags him to court, and that he can also serve as advisor and assistant outside the courts. The PCs say that working for them is dangerous, and absolute loyalty is required. Gerwin accepts these terms, and so Ben offers him an office in Elwin Oldgreave’s residence (an upgrade over his current Harbour office).

Gerwin says he’ll check if Odran had any involvement with Vivienne’s attack. He then says he knows Odran is currently building a case against the PCs for the murder of Nathan Goldman, and there’s already a key witness: A.B.S. Kenley. The PCs admit to killing Nathan, and authorise Gerwin to build a counter-case. They point him towards the Troublemaker’s Crew, and also tell of Kenley’s derangement.

Finally, Gerwin gives the PCs access cards to John’s Private Pigeon Network. He mentions two network points in Soleme: The Candle Shop (at the Harbour) and Quill & Stone (in the City). Having reached Dusk, the PCs unapologetically uninvite Gerwin from lunch, and then they enter the inn.

Aswen

Aswen rushes towards Ben, greeting him with “My Beautiful Baby Benny” and a shower of kisses. Randall and Hal observe in amusement, and they agree this is an important moment in their journey with Ben.