One Cup at a Time: A Starbucks DnD Campaign

Session 0 - A Business Proposal

Roll Call: Arlen, Dolion, Eliodoro, Kai, Kinez'j, Uldin,

   The sun rises over the urban landscape of the 10th district of Ravnica. Everything from the minimalist apartment of Eliodoro, the neighborhood beat cop, to the lush and expensive housing of Kinez'j, the banker in training. Kai the Simic is stashed away in his tiny little broom closet which is being used as the sleeping quarters it's designed to be. Dolion on the other hand has decided to leave the space completely empty, finding the rooftops much more appealing. Uldin in his quarters at the Laboratory of Plasma Dermatology with the constant sound of experimentation occurring all around him, and Arlen in the undercity with their very own pest extermination services all find letters from Estelle, inviting them to a meeting at Plaza Concordia.

   The six arrive at their destination, Arlen traveling with their trusty termite Auntie Sam who drags a cart full of Arlen's valuable insecticides. Though Arlen's home in the Golgari Swarm doesn't mind the crawlers roaming through the mud and filth, they find good business being outsourced to other guilds. Auntie Sam leads in front with Arlen behind spraying insecticide just behind her feet, in an effort to keep her moving. Azarwyn the drunken monk is the last to arrive at the scene, bringing the group to seven.

   All within the group are closely connected through a series of past instances:

Dolion and Eliodoro: Eliodoro caught Dolion in an instance of petty theft, that actually had no real ramifications (perhaps it was a balloon stolen on free balloon day?)
Dolion and Arlen: While walking down the street, Arlen mistook Dolion's lizard-like appearance as something in need of exterminating. After an initial attack and quick apology, Arlen showed Dolion where to find the tastiest grubs.
Dolion and Kai: Dolion and Kai are both in the Simic Combine. Kai was assigned to show Dolion around the guild and the two quickly became sparring buddies.
Arlen and Uldin: Arlen was hired by the Izzet to clean up the aftermath of a bio experiment of fire breathing spiders. While scouring the place, Arlen noticed Uldin tinkering with his mechanical mending spider, Ping, and believing it to be real, went into a frenzy of spraying it with every chemical on their person. The concoction finally overwhelmed the spider and it started to short out. Arlen realized the pest was mechanical and apologized profusely, but Uldin thanked Arlen for the learning experience. Uldin now knew he would need to make his spider friend air tight to avoid this in the future. Arlen decided to make it up to Uldin by showing him how to make a pipe-bomb out of a toilet paper tube and a stick of dynamite
Uldin and Eliodoro: Uldin, upon finding a new blueprint for a pipe bomb made from dynamite and a toilet paper roll, decided to try out his new toy, but was stopped by Eliodoro, who promptly attempted to arrest him. Uldin argued that the Izzet built the roads and thus could do as they pleased with them. Eliodoro disagreed, but they discussed the topic over beers at the bar. The two still meet every week to debate on the bounds of the laws that bind Ravnican citizens. Uldin is almost certain Eliodoro just humors him at this point.

   And of course, everyone has history with the lady of the hour, Estelle.

(There are more connections but I have not been provided with all of them.)

   The party looks around and notices a blue humoncolli with one giant eye and large bulky limbs. He has his hands resting on the handles of a wheelchair and it appears as if he is waiting for someone. Eliodoro notices a fountain directly behind the humoncolli with a mysterious shape hidden just inside a stream of water, slightly obstructing the flow. Suddenly, the figure leaps from the water and flops directly into the wheelchair. It's Estelle. She reaches over and plops a large wooden chest into her lap.

   Estelle offers them all a cup of her exceptional coffee. In Ravnica, coffee is seen as bean water, simply a way of consuming caffeine, never as anything with an immense bold flavor and texture. Everyone feels suddenly much healthier, and gains 5 temporary health.

   Uldin has a eureka moment from the new experience and a large zap runs throughout his entire body, injuring him for most of the health provided by the coffee. Uldin has half an idea for an espresso machine.

   Estelle tells the group of a new dream she is seeking after. She has left the council of the guild pact in hopes of opening up a store she calls a "café". Dolion asks what exactly she hopes to accomplish through this "coffee shop", and she says she hopes to make it a very successful business that will make a decent profit and corner the market in an area no one else has before.

   Estelle takes everyone through Tinstreet, the market street of the district. The roads are packed with people roaming from stall to stall making transactions. The group notices a unicorn hanging out in an alley nearby by that quickly trots away from their eyesight. It reminds them that Ravnica is a magical place full of wonders they have not yet experienced.

   The party arrives at a run down old building that Estelle introduces as the future venue of her coffee shop, the Peregrine Pearl. While the building itself is clearly an eye sore, the group has to admit it is in a fantastic location. Several side streets seem to congregate to this area.

   The party walks through the doorway, and Uldin noticed a large hole in a nearby wall. He pulls out a mechanical spider and places it on the wall. It goes to work repairing. 

   Arlen notices mice, owls, and other small creatures around the shop. They realize why they've been summoned: to eradicate the infestation. Arlen motions to begin spraying the place, but is stopped by Estelle.

   The animals are not a nuisance, she insists, but rather her helpers. Estelle pulls out a lyre and the animals begin to do her bidding and start cleaning up the shop.

   Estelle expresses her appreciation to Uldin and Arlen, but stresses that cleaning up is the easy part, what she really needs help with is the chest. In order to purchase this building, she had to take out a large loan with the Orzhov. Now she has accumulated the money to pay everything off, but she needs help moving the large sum of money all the way to the Orzhov bank.

   The party agrees to help through promises of future riches and a recommendation letter from her to their respective guilds. Kinez'j decides to call for transportation to the bank where she will give word ahead that the group will be delivering a payment.

End Session Zero