The Pirates of Panormo, Session Two: The Villa Salamandre
The crew of the Brazen Nudibranch fled the city of Staglia as quickly as they could. They decided to head inland to Trion, the home of the quicksilver dragons. They hoped that they could learn more about the ritual that had brought the marble and gold dragon to life. It was slow going, however, because very quickly they found themselves pursued by soldiers hunting for them. People said that spies from Staglia, with the help of a traitor (Scelto), had infiltrated the city and attacked a gathering of dragons with black magic. The group posed as itinerant monks to avoid being discovered.
Soon they reached the shining Fulgente River, in whose silvery waters an angel was said to have once died. Evangelia grew nostagic as they beheld the glimmering water, for her home city, Medilano, was located downstream on the same river, and the Fulgente was sacred to the silver dragons. Avoiding a boat, because of the soldiers checking passengers, they made their way along its banks until they reached the city of Trion. They decided not to enter the city, because they did not wish to be questioned by the soldiers at its gate.
The Villa Salamandre was located outside of town, on the slopes of Mount Vicinio, overlooking the Fulgente River. The group camped out that night in a small copse nearby. Suddenly they were approached by a strange woman who seemed to glow in the firelight. She brandished a sword at them, but when she recognised Scelto she relaxed and introduced herself. She was Automa, a living statue of bronze. She needed Scelto's help to enter the Villa Salamandre and retrieve an alchemical potion therein, which would help her become human. Scelto knew that she had helped create the living dragon statue, and Automa promised to tell them what she knew in exchange for their assistance.
The next day, the group reached the Villa. It was a strange, mismatched, lopsided mansion. Each of the dragons who had dwelt within had their own wing arranged around a central garden and had built on extensions as they saw fit. There was no one living inside - instead of servants, the Salamandre had bound elementals to their service. The shared laboratory was accessible from the garden, but it required four keys to open - one belonging to each of the quicksilver dragons.
The group decided to search for the keys, starting in the astrology tower of Zoroastro Salamandre, Scelto's former master. They made their way into a huge atrium full of flying contraptions - wings, ornithopters, whirligigs, kites and more. Zoroastro's personal obsession was with flight and its mechanics, which caused him to be a laughingstock among the other quicksilver dragons, since dragons can already fly. As they moved through the gallery, the group were attacked by a flying machine. Air elementals picked one up and flung it at them, then assumed the forms of miniature charging knights. A battle ensued, and the crew were victorious against the insubstantial enemy. One of them, an air elemental called Signore Bobovente, surrendered to them and agreed to help them reach Maestrale, the lord of the air elementals who are freed from the control of the quicksilver dragons.
Continuing to the base of the astrology tower, the group found that the stairs had been destroyed. With Bobovente's help, and by using some of the gliders and contraptions in the atrium, they were able to ascend to the top of the tower. Eva had a moment of euphoria when she flew for the first time, thanks to primal draconic instincts. At the top of the tower, the group confronted Maestrale. He told them that the elementals of Villa Salamandre were beginning to free themselves and were warring amongst themselves. Bobovente suggested Zeph mediate between the elementals, recognising Zeph's angel-touched nature. Maestrale agreed after Eva agreed to throw herself from the roof into his hands. She wore her wings again, and although the landing was a lot rougher this time, she survived the experience. Maestrale surrendered the key that he possessed, and the group made their way back inside the castle to explore the other wings.
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