A week has passed since our band have gathered together and between them they have spent some time honing their skills, earning some coin through odd jobs or simply laying low and minding their own business whilst the heat from their previous "test" from Remmi dies down.
Lotty invites the group to gather at her father's shop - McFini's Fine Emporium of Magics - here the group is introduced to Frug, Lotty's father. Frug obviously dotes on his daughter and it is equally obvious she relishes his admiration and loves to make him proud.
After making a few purchases, and Rhone commissioning Frug to silver his newly infused Glaive, a mysterious stranger approaches the group. He introduces himself as Dolosius; a tall tiefling clad in black with a clean shaven, well dressed appearance. Dolosius presents the group with a letter he says is from Remmi:
Asking around Lotty's family of artificers and local contacts the group managed to gather a few leads to gather each item. Knowing an idea of where they may be able to hunt each of the creatures and where they may be able to purchase or obtain the items by other means they split up to cover more ground.
Whilst Elric set out to carry out some research on Spectators the rest of the group followed up a lead to a local auction house that was offering a Manticore heart for sale. Getting out-bid at 300gold by a fine-looking elven gentleman (and his muscle) the group stealthily trailed the winning group around the town for some time seeking an opportunity for a second chance at securing the heart by more nefarious means. Alas, after following them to several stops and the group heading in to the finer part of town the group decided to give up chase and go Manticore hunting.
That evening the group pulled together what they knew so far about the objects they sought:
Manticore heart: At the auction the auctioneer, notable for his multi-coloured mohawk, mentioned that the one for sale was recovered from the female of a mating pair nesting North West of the city. The group decide that when the go back to McFini's Emporium to collect Rhone's glaive they would purchase a net to trap the creature.
Basilisk gland: A monstrosity that hunts in swamps and ruins.
Spectator eye: From Elrich's research the group discovered these aberrations are floating spheres, like a giant eye with multiple eyes protruding from it; with each eye possibly holding a different ability. Those abilities including being able to cause paralysis to their enemies and reflect spells that are cast against them. Elrich also discovered these creatures are immune to being knocked down.
The following day the group collected the new and improved glaive, purchase a net and decide to hunt the manticore, knowing there's a risk it may flee it's nest having lost it's mate. Re-stocked and supplied the group head North West out of town towards the last known location of the manticore nest.
Not long in to their journey the group encounter a group of goblins, lead by a hobgoblin demanding a toll to pass further. Getting a little fed up of paying tolls at this point the group decide to use force rather than part with their hard-earned gold. Whilst Lotty loses her cool, make a reckless attack and nearly gets herself killed the prowess of the group prevails. With some hearty swings from Rhone's glaive; crafty shots from Elrich's bow; mighty Eldritch blasts from Dolosius and the power of Geschut's flames the goblin group was wiped out, not before Rhone persuaded a remaining goblin to point the group in the right direction.
As the group nears the nesting site they're not as stealthy as they hoped and were caught off-guard by the manticore, suffering a volley of hits from the terrifying spikes flung from it's tail. Deciding to come back with a better plan, and under the cover of night, the group retreat a little ways to reform. They take the rest of the day to do their best to weigh down the net with some rocks and hunt a deer to lure the manticore in to fight on their own terms. With renewed confidence the group set their trap and lure in the beast, with the net cast the group work well as a team, it seems they are starting to get a measure of one another's abilities and play this to their advantage. Whilst the net is quickly shredded by the sharp claws of the manticore it gives our heroes the edge they need to deal heavy damage to the beast. As the beast began to flee the group managed to take advantage of their long ranged weapons and magical blasts to bring it down once and for all.
After doing their best to butcher the valuable heart and spikes from the manticore the group make camp for the night for some well earned rest. Returning to town early the next morning the group settle to an Inn for some breakfast beers to plan their next adventure with five days left to secure two more highly dangerous, highly valuable items.