"Finally! We've escaped from the Chern cursed swamp, and are back in Lave for debriefing, rest and relaxation. Thank Tanil too, because between the rats and the hag things were not looking so good. That 2 week resupply mission turned out to be much more than we signed up for. In fact, it was just bad news from start to finish.""But now we're back in Lave. No Ratmen, no Hags, no evil plants, no warped creatures, just clean clothes, a warm fire and the Sleeping Dragon's excellent winter Ale."
"Of course, it's been hard to concentrate on the relaxing, what with the crazy election going on. Can't go 10 feet without hearing some speach or walking into some parade or rally. And the party been busy too: Telryn has gone all moon-eyed over that winsome bard, Damaon's been sneaking around with some new-found shady 'associates' (rug investigation, indeed!), and Paks has been more sanctimonious than usual. At least that silly elf is out in the woods somewhere."
"Maybe things will calm down after the Masquerade and people will start acting normal again. I don't know why we have to wear costumes, but at least Miriel is taking care of it. She seems to know what to do. I hope they serve good food!"
Geoff has just walked away after telling Chuck and Darmon about the rug. Stone wanders in for an early breakfast as the rest of the party heads down. Duke Solari has rented the Sleeping Dragon for a political meeting. Miriel's Mom is going crazy and Miriel has offered to help. A messenger aproaches. He hands us a package with 25 pp each for services rendered from the swamp. "Remember this is a secret mission". A messenger for the tailor comes in and says he's ready for us. A junior vigilant comes in for Chuck, he goes off with him.
A big burly Northerner shows up and challenges Stone to a duel. It's Fergus! "I challenged you to a duel and you ran off!". "Hedrad works in mysterious ways"
"?!?" Fergus sputters, "Why did you make the Duke pass those laws? I demand your honor!"
Stone picks him up off the ground after punching his lights out and puts him in his bed upstairs. He writes a note to him, "glad to see that our honor is satisfied. Let me know if you need any more punches"
Goldpetal shows up and negotiates with Darmon to give him a magical tattoo that will store his masterwork short sword. Miriel, Telryn and Stone head to the tailors. The city is swollen with activity as they head to Zachrazini and get measured.
Stone chooses a minatour costume, Telryn a brown owl. Darmon shows up and chooses to be a black fox. Miriel asks about doing a sea creature, or mermaid. She chooses a mermaid costume. The costumes cost 75 gold pieces each. Miriel orders peacock feathers for Paks, and a duck costume for Chuck for the younger. Please make sure that's a golden duck like the Daltese duck. That costs and extra 10gp for the golden duck thing. Miriel banters with him and slips him a good tip.
Chuck is at Charwood Hill speaking to Delion. Delion 'Eagle Eye' Rukwald is now the spymaster of the vigilants. He's in his office with papers spread out all over. He talks quick, clipped sentences: "I've been going over your report and a few things stick out here. What's up with the see-through ratmen? We've never heard of them before. Yeah, Strongbow had hinted at them in his reports, but we thought he was mad. He called them the White Wriaths. Ask you companions if they have any more information about them. The blood you found was Kadum's blood, btw, not ratmen blood. They were distilling the essence of the blood sea and using it to enhance their strength and rage, but it unfortunately seems to be addictive. I wouldn't try if I were you, but in a pinch it might be very effective. Please tell your companions that this stuff is dangerous, and have Telryn and Goldpetal come see me as soon as possible."
Chuck asks about the amphora. He says that they are still deciphering the book. They believe this book might reveal how to destroy the amphora. Delion asks for more information about the twilight warden. "Why are you involved in so many things Chuck?"
Chuck asks if there is anything he should look for at the Ball. "What about Juvnal? Do you know anything about him? We've kept our eyes on them and don't like the whole sacrificing a village to save a village thing."
Goldpetal goes out to the farms to gather more information and help out after doing Darmons tattoo.
As we leave the tailors a parade of Falcono supporters go by. Falcono is in the Parade waving to everyone. He's tossing out coppers to the crowd. Stone goes shopping for supplies after the tailor. Because of the crowds it takes him a long time. He goes back to the Inn to help out at the Inn. Miriel goes back to the inn to help out. Darmon decides to investigate the missing rug a bit.
Telryn visits Delmeron: he rings the bell and once again disorientingly teleported to Delmeron's chamber. D still wears the eye patch, but where his leg used to be (he lost it to the dragon), there is now a shadowy leg. He sits in his chair of shadows.
"Ah, you've returned. What can I do for you my friend."
"I see you're making out well with your injuries. I'm glad."
"My leg is now stronger than before."
"I'm actually curious whether you've examined the crystal I left with you. I am very curious."
"Crystal? What crystal?"
Telryn looks stunned. Delmeron laughs. "Just a joke. Its of curious alien manufacture. Slarician manufactor; you've heard of the right? I still haven't investigated the full extent of its powers, but its very powerful. Best you leave it here. Very dangerous for those who are not initiated into the arts of shadow, darkness, and mind control. I could initiate you, if you like."
"No. I prefer the light."
"As you wish. But I should warn you, the mere posession of this makes one uninitated vulnerable to those who know the arts."
"That makes sense. You should retain posession of it for a while yet. I have also come to you with another request. I was wondering if you are familiar with the message spell?"
"Yes, I am familiar with it. A simple spell, really."
"I would like to purcahse a scroll of it from you."
"Yes, I could make one. A courtesy between heroes such as ourselves."
"Thank you."
"Come back tomorrow: I can have it ready for you then."
"Excellent. And will I see you at the Ball tomorrow?"
"Ah no. That's not really my thing. And there are people who would much rather I stay in the shadows..."
"I was wondering who you prefer in the coming election"
"Thorn. He seems to be most easily manipulated. Or influenced, I should say. Well, we go back a ways. Yes, Thorn and I have ties. The rest of the field are such plebians. It is people like us who control the powers of this world. Ever since I sent you to the Freehold, you have grown powerful. My initial appraisment of your potential seems to have been justified. For now."
"Thank you." Telryn turns, tries to Dimension Door out. The spell fails. Demeron's crow laughs. Momentarily, D waves his hand, and Telryn reappears on the street. Telryn goes off to his cell to do some scribing.
As Darmoan walks to the Crown and Sceptre, he sees an old dwarf leading a pony. "Darmon? Darmon LaRoi? You're in Lave?" He goes to give you a big hug. "Don't you recognize me?" Darmon trys to see if he's trying to steal something. He catches him trying to get into his pocket. Darmon can then see through an illusion of the dwarf she is Sym Greenpants his old "friend!" They head to the Crown and Scepter and get a place where they can both sit against a wall. "So, what's your angle Leroy? I heard you were in town and wrangled yourself an invitation to the ball. What's it to you? And Don't forget the Zathikian incident. Who helped you then? You wouldn't want everyone to know about that would you?"
"I'm trying to scope out Laslo Juvnal"
"Why do you want to know?"
"It's just a job?"
"I know what your really in it for. Your in because Duchess Soltari is wearing the "Eye of the Green Dragon" to the ball.
"Alright, listen. Meet me tomorrow at the Five Pennies and I'll hook you up. You want to play some cards?"
"It just so happens that I have some cards with me."
"I'll shuffle" (he sees that they are marked. He picks two cards at random and hides them under his hands) "Pick the high card and you win."
"I saw that! I know all about your card tricks, LeRoi!" She scoops up her cards and walks off. Darmon goes back to the Inn to help out and prepare for the Dukes thing.
Paks wakes up and goes to see the mother superior. "Congrats on your success. I would like to know about your ordeal with the rat men. A new breed of ratmen is very disturbing to us."
"They seemed to be more like a construct or improvement to other ratmen or something."
"Wasn't one of them a arcanist?"
"Your right, so maybe they were a modification or something instead."
"Please bring Telryn, Miriel and yourself down tomorrow morning so we can talk more about these issues."
Paks is exhausted and stumbles by the tailors.
"You must be Paks."
"Yes indeed, I'm here to get fitted."
"Is that shield glowing?"
"Yes, yes it is. I seem to have been blessed by Madriel. Here's what I want.....
"This is very nice platemail. I know this work."
"Yes, he's done fine work."
"Could you leave it here for me to fit the costume to? Apprentice..." Paks strips down to her mireworm armor. "What is that material!! It's so supple yet strong. I've never seen stiching like this. Wow, who stitched this? I don't know who created this armor, but it's really nice." He brings his assistance over and they discuss the stitching in detail.
Paks is trying to ease her way out and succeeds by promising to let them examine it again later. She heads back to the Inn. While walking through the park, Laslo Juvnal is giving a speach. He's saying that we need to bring the war to the Ratmen. Attack them in the swamp. We must send more money towards the Order of the Morningstar to clean up that mess. And we need to bring more resources to the steppes to clear out the Orc menace.
As Chuck walks out of the vigilant HQ he sees what's her name giving a speech. Her arguments are that they need new blood, going against the faceless beauracrats. This rings true with a lot of the Vigilants. Chuck says that we need to protect ourselves from the ratmen. She responds that they need to focus against Calastia and such. One of the captains ask about her administration experience. I've been captain of the pelplanoy vigilant for years now. My outsider status will help cut through the red tape to get things done.
Chuck went by the tailor also. He finds out that he has a golden duck costume. He brings out a gorgous golden lamay duck costume. Chuck is standing besides himself.
It's now an hour after dark. A guy walks up to Darmon.. Chuck man, do you know anything about the rug man. Actually if you go to the Black Eagle and ask for Don the mon you might find something. Allright man.. uh.. thanks dude.
Chuck gets back to the Inn. Thanks soo much for the costume guys.
Stone asks, "did it fit?"
"Why yes. Yes it did. You guys suck." He walks away.
Geoff walks back up to Darmon. "Chuck, have you made any progress on the rug."
Paks finally acknowledged this guys exsistence and asks what's going on. Geoff explains about the rug and such. He says that they guys were saying that he owed money to the Fat Man. He doesn't know any fat man and he doesn't have any money. Stone says, "alright lets go." "You're going to help me?"
"Well, yes."
"Dude, you Orcs rock."
"No, Stone."
"um, rock."
"No Stone, my name is Stone."
"Oh, mine is Geoff."
Stone gives him 2 platinum pieces and says lets go. They head the the 5 pennies. Geoff points him towards the 5 pennies and walks part of the way. They go by his place. They see a wagon in front of his place. The wagon has stuff that looks like someone is moving. The door for that building is propped open. Stone goes in and knocks on the door. A little guy goes down (Heff). Stone asks if he's heard about the fat man. He freaks out. How much do you owe him? I'm in for like a half o grand of gold. Stone explains the situation to him. Do you have any rugs. You can have that one over there. Where are you headed. I'm going North, yeah right North. Tell me where the fat man is. Uh, sometimes I meet him down at the Blue Parrot. Tell me how to get there. He tells him how to get into contact with the fat man. Why do you owe him money. Well, there was this shipment that I was supposed to get to him and well it went into the river.
They go to Telryn to find out where Rudolphs exotic book store. He happens to know where they are, down by thew warf. It gets a lot of traffic but they don't have very many books. It's not that great of a selection.
They head down to the book store while the policial speach thing is going on. The book store is still open. Stone and Chuck go in. Blane? Yes, how can I help you. I'd like to see the exotic book room. Oh, you want the exotic reading room. He points to the curatin behind him and whispers "the password is Enkili" They go down the hallway and say Enkili to the guy at the slit in the massive doorway. A big guy stares stone up and down. You don't look to Tubby, uh, uh. We are looking for the fat man. I don't know what your talking about, or when he's available. Uh, go ask drake about it and points further down the hallway.
They walk down further and enter a smokey room. It's obviously a snake-weed den. Theres a blind guy selling stuff behind a counter. A very large albadian woman is standing gaurd next to a door.
"Are you drake?"
"Yes, who wants to know."
"I'm stone, I've come to see the fat man."
"The fat man doesn't see people."
"Heff owes him money, I've come to see him about that." He speaks into the grate behind him "Tell the fat man Heffs representatives are here to see him" Chuck stands next to the gaurd.
"What are you looking at."
"I'm just looking at your artwork."
"Go somewhere else. Go take some snakeweed." She taps three times on the door behind her with her elbow.
Stone banters with drake. Is summarlarly dismissed.
Stone looks at the guard, she looks back. It takes 10 minuts before the door opens up. A guy comes out, he's an elf. His eyes look like a forsaken elf. "I hear you want to speak to the fatman."
"Yeah."
"Why."
"I've come to speak with him about Heffs debt."
"To see the fatman, your going to have to be blindfolded and taken back here." Stone agrees. They are blindfolded and led somewhere down the hall. They hear the door shut and bolted. The are led down some staircases and down halls, through doors, etc.
"You can remove your blindfolds now." They are in a 35ft diameter circular room. There are disturbing pictures on the wall. Many bird cages. In the center there is a circular recessed csouch. A woman sits there with a glass of wine.
"Can I help you", she says "Do you have Heffs money?"
"Some of your men made a mistake."
"Yes, we've heard of this mistake."
"We want the rug back."
"I've seen that rug. We try to keep civilians out of the our business. But I like this rug. It makes the room."
"I'm sorry."
"Why."
"Because you've grown fond of something you can't have."
"Are you a betting man?"
"No."
"We have a game called liars dice, wanna play?"
"Well, if it's the only way to make you do the right thing."
"what's your name?" - pointing to Chuck.
"Uh, Darmon."
"Darmon! the one from the Zelsinki incident!"
"no, that's not me. Other guy. not me."
"That's unfortunate for me, but not for you! Hahah! If you know of him, please let us know, we'll make it worth your while."
Stone gets back to the point, "That rug is worth 500 gp to you."
"Yes, it is. It really.... ties the room together." And everyone agrees that it does really makes the room.
She's winning easily. Finally, Stone insists on looking at her dice: "You're cheating! There's a five on every side of that die!" [the players noticed the DM was using 'cheater' dice -- ed.]
"You're accusing me of cheating in my own den?"
"I just did!"
She smiles, "Enkili favors those who help themselves."
"But..."
"You still want that rug?"
"Yeah."
"500 gold."
"No. We'll keep playing."
Amazingly, Stone takes her, despite the loaded dice. Finally she's down to one die, while Stone still has four. She starts her comeback, but finally Stone finishes her off. He starts rolling up the rug.
"Um.. how do you think you're getting that rug out of here?"
"I'm going to carry it."
"No you're not."
Stone looks at her five henchmen. "Oh, you're going to help?"
She laughs.
"Okay, look, you're saying that, over a debt that hasn't been paid, we're going to come to blows over a rug?"
"6 vs. 2. And you're unarmed, and you don't know how many guards I have at my call. And you don't know the way out. Not good odds, my friend. And well, the rug really ties the room together."
"But you gave us your word."
"The word of the Fat Man? Who's neither fat nor a man!? Haha!"
"Do you want it out on the street that the word of the Fat Man is worth nothing?"
"Fine," she sighs heavily and languorously waves one of her arms at him. "Take the rug."
"Thanks."
"Shantar, blindfold them." Chuck drops his hand to allow them. Stone finishes rolling up the rug as Shantar brings up the blindfolds. Chuck and Stone submit to being blindfolded. Shantar starts leading them out. Though both spend the entire trip on pins and needles, expecting a heavy blow from behind at any moment, they do lead the pair to the drug den, where Shantar takes off the blindfold.
"Thanks," Stone says.
"You've made an enemy for life," he warns them. "Leave here now, and never return."
The political meeting thing. Darmon is the waitor and Goldpetal is melded into the stone wall next to where the Duke is seated. He hears about a rumor campaign against Solari. It's easy to get the sense that he hates Juvnal. Saying he's brash, young and controlled by his uncle. Darmon gets a good look at the Duchess. He also overhears a rumer that Solari has a half orc son by his Orc mistress. Solari starts his speech:
"I come from and old family. For 10 generations we've been yada, yada, yada. Very experiences as diplomat for 3 different Home Commanders. Many exploits as leader of calvery. Exploits during druids war. and on and on." Everyone is bored. Speaks against Thorns stab at tradition. "I couldn't handle 5 years of this guy" is heard somewhere. What is your stance on taxes and mercantile and trade with Calastia. He doesn't give a straight forwards answer that anybody is impressed with. He's not addressing their concerns. (He's addressing a trade organization. -- ed.)
It seems to be winding down, when there is a scream from outside. Goldpetal pops outside. He can hear her, but not see where she is from. Darmon runs outside. Telryn gets up and puts his back against the wall. Miriel runs out from the kitchen. Paks is partially guarding the Duke. His guards are doing the same.
Goldpetal goes 60 feet down the street. There is a woman standing there screeming where there are 3 town watch hacked to pieces. They are just like the hacked up bodies. Stepping from the shadows is an forsaken elf. Goldpetal lunges at him but his blow is easily parried aside. "Goldpetal, please don't we're on the same side. Quick search the street before the guard get here and mess the scene up."
Goldpetal searches for tracks ands such. Together they find a footprint edges in some chalky substance. " Do you know what this is?"
Goldpetal reveals that it's limestone. The elf mumbles to himself about limestone and dashes off into the shadows. Goldpetal can't find anymore prints and it's drizzling slightly. The watch shows up. One of the merchants exclaims. "The huntsman from out west must have come to Lave!".
Goldpetal addresses the guardsmen and discusses reincarnating one of the victims. The decline enthusiastically.
Darmon goes back to the Inn. Paks goes back and describes the incident to everyone there so that the guards nows whats going on. The group goes to sleep.
Stone and Chuck return the rug to Geoff and then go back to the Inn. They find out about the murder. There are a number of quarrys in the area. Miriel heads down to the temple. The guards question Goldpetal carefully and he avoids everything and they don't get any information.
Stone and Chuck track down Darmon and ask him about the zaminski incident. It gets no where.
Goldpetal goes to his grove. He meditates for a couple of hours. He tries to re-incarnate one of the guardsmen. Stone goes to the Crown and Scepter and Darmon goes with him. Chuck heads out to Charwood Hill to report this incident. He gives him more information about the twilight warden and Yakkel the priest king.
Stone and Darmon skulk around the Crown and scepter. There are a lot of guards, then inn is closed for evening. They plan their assault on the inn. Darmon climbs up a building next to the inn. Stone wanders down the street with a keg in his hands and fails to try to punch at him. The guard doesn't fall for it and goes toe to toe with Stone. Stone smacks him, hard. He is stunned. The guard next to him swings and misses. Both guards at the top shoot at him and hit him with crossbows. Darmon draws his bow and waits for an opening.
Stone clocks the guy in front of him and knocks him down. Stone misses the next guard and the guard misses him. Three more guards come out of the building and all swing at him. He gets hit three times. The two crossbowman also stick him. Stone is hurting. Darmon ties the rope to the grappling hook.
Stone runs, yellinw, ow, ow, ow all the way. Darmon decides to break into the building he's on. He breaks in, drinks a potion of darkvision and moves silently downstairs. He continues downstairs and enters a small shop. It's an expensive rug shop with rugs from all over Ghelspad. He searchs the back door for traps. He doesn't find any. He picks the lock and leaves. Stone heals himself and then gets Miriel to heal themselves.
At first light Goldpetal goes to look for Thorn. Miriel, Paks and Telryn heads for the temple to attend the morning rights. Telryn gives Miriel his findings of a new prayer (Revivify). The temples expert on titanspawn is there for us to talk to her. Her name is Abigail, long brown hair in a ponytail with spectacles. The group shares all to their findings with her as far as the invisible skin ratmen. The titans, Lethean Golthaga are two titans that are unaccounted for.
Goldpetal has to wait to talk to Thorn but eventually gets to talk to him. "You heard about last night. I may be able to find out who was responsible. One of the powers I have access to, I can re-incarnate them into different bodies and we can talk to them and find out what happen."
"What!? That's disgusting! Um, I mean, we appreciate your offer, but that sort of thing just won't work for us. I'm going to have to refuse your offer. But, again if you have any other clues, or can track this down, please help out. It would greatly help out my cause." Goldpetal leaves to go see Delion.
Chuck, Darmon and Stone check out the crime scene again. Then go back to the Inn. Paks goes out after the temple visit looking for more information about the Huntsman. He's been all over Vesh. From the order of morning sky guys he gets that they've been chasing this guy for 10 years. He's been getting more and more brazen. He chooses Veshian uniformed men. What he really learns is that people are really thinking that it's Thorns fault and it's a push for Juvnal. Darmon is spreading a rumor that Juvnal has masterminded the murder to frame Thorn. Paks asks Thorn about security precautions. Arranges for weapons to be stored at the Hall of Command and gets clearance for protective spells.
Delion asks Goldpetal for more information about the fleshless ratmen. Goldpetal imparts as much info as he has and returns to the Inn. Saraya stops by Inn looking for Telryn. Darmon says he thinks he left town. Stone tells her he's still in town and he'll be by sometime soon. Saraya pulls out her flute and entertains the crowd. She plays the heros of Kratis Freehold.
Telryn has identified:
Amulet of Undead Control
Dagger +1 of wounding
thick green potion - potions of poison
pink - might be a potion of charisma, might have other properties.
milky white - crazy mix potion of glibness
colorless - crazy mix, gaseous form
silver - potions of haste
hazy grey - potions of blur.
Goldpetal fesses up to seeing a footprint with limestone residue. The huntsmen in the past never left prints. Just the old abandoned quarry in the back. Falcono has a concrete factory. Telryn heads back to the Inn, talked to Saraya then they head to the tailors, pick up Paks armor, then head out to the cement manufacturing plant. The Pescatori concrete company. There is a gate surrounding the plant.
Telryn casts invisibility on Darmon and he tries to pick the lock on the front door and fails. He goes to the gate and picks it. He goes on. There is a yard full of limestone blocks. There's a large garage door. He listens at the door and doesn't hear anything. He tries to pick that lock and succeeds. Trying to open it quietly. It's a big wharehouse there's some rollers one the floor for big rocks. There some offices in the corner. It's empty so far. He goes back and reports to the group.
Goldpetal checks for tracks and doesn't find any. We inspect the place. Darmon jumps down into the recess next to the pit. Darmon goes down another pit that looks like the grinder pit. We don't find anything and decide to wait to see if someone is using it as a staging area.
Darmon went to the 5 pieces inn and met his halfling friend. The halfling says that the company messed with our wolf racing scam. He says he's interested in making a move on the Eye of the Dragon. He asks for an improved invisibility and spider climb. He bargains down to 50% of the take and 250 up front for everthing. They'll meet at the black eagle tomorrow.
Darmon lets us know about the halfing illusionist. We tell him about the wolf racing thing. Stone stays at the cement factory for the night but doesn't catch anything. Darmon meets up again with the illusionist and picks up the potions making a deal to meet up again.
Delmeron drops off the scroll. Telryn visits Delion and talks with him. Then finds Thorn and gets ushered on stage and introduced. He then goes to the Temple to memorize Message.
Paks stashes some weapons at the hall of commmand.
Winner of VIP award : Stone