"Torch?
That man is....an unusual acquaintance of the society.
He is resourceful, to be sure, pure business too. If you have made a deal for the names, he will most certainly call for a favor in return."
She has her hands folded under her nose, contemplating this news.
"It is unfortunate we can't question the smuggler, but at least the statues are returned. Torch's request will have to be a matter for another time."
She stands up, and looks out of a window.
"Those matters aside, you have done well, to recover the statues.
We'll make sure to secure them firmly and carefully. Thank you for your work."
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Two weeks have passed, since your last endeavor in Qadira, yet the latest assignment has you traveling to another, to you yet, unvisited country. Infamous Ustalav, where you are assigned seats at an opera ...(ominous flashbacks on your 1st adventure).....
And so....
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Already seated within the private booth, a lean Ustalavic noblewoman waits, watching the show with detached enthusiasm. She turns slowly, the crimson of her elegant gown a contrasting starkly with her dark hair, pale skin, and sharp features. She motions to nearby seats and dismisses the
attending usher.
"Thank you for coming. I am Venture-Captain Basia Kalistoff, currently without a home lodge. The Decemvirate requested that I speak with you here, in private, to discuss a problem that needs sorted out. I trust you’ve heard of Skeldon Miregrold?"
VC Kalistoff looks surprised that none of you do.
"Miregrold is a disreputable and duplicitous rogue of my own, noble, Ustalavic blood—my second cousin, in fact, though I’m loathe to admit it.
He’s also quite renowned in our little Society, though again, few would boast of associating with him. When his father passed, Skeldon invested most of his sizable inheritance in illicit trade operations with the dark denizens that dwell below this city.
Though he is valuable as a font of knowledge about the subterranean passages below—and the Darklands in general—he’d sell out his dying mother if he thought he could profit from it."
"Despite my personal warnings, the Decemvirate granted him permission to open a lodge in Karcau, though this grant came with several stipulations.
As I’d suspected, none of these conditions have been met. The Society requested Skeldon send them his research notes along with some samples of a rare mineral he’s being experimenting with called aureolyte.
Neither the notes nor the samples ever arrived. Furthermore, it’s been a month since Skeldon contacted the Decemvirate, who are increasingly concerned about the additional finances they granted him to conduct his research.
Other sources have led us to believe he has squandered this money for his own purposes and owes significant sums to one of Karcau’s most influential crime families."
"That’s what we need you for. Make your way to the Karcau Lodge and present Skeldon with these transfer orders."
She slides a stack of sealed envelopes across the table. "Once inside, try to collect whatever information you can about Skeldon, his side deals, and the kind of trouble he’s in.
It would be even better if you could procure copies of his research and a sample of aureolyte. The Manor sits on a sizable hillside property just south of town. Any questions?"
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'Skeldon Miregold, Is that who I think it is?' Ting cocks his head pondering, but keeps his mouth shut. As the Venture Captain continues talking, he opens his beak to speak, but deciding otherwise, just looks from Kalistoff to Carr. After she slides the sealed envelope to the pathfinders ting asks, "So's what's 'is Aureolyte suppose' ta do?"
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"A lodge in Karcau? Well that's something. So this is a combination snatch-and-grab and a demotion or reassignment for a venture captain? Oh that simply drips irony. I love it!" Carr seems a little indifferent about the specifics of the job. Someone else, probably J/J would concern themselves with that angle, he was much more worried about the fact he would get to dress down a venture captain gone rogue, and possibly find out about some mineral that could have special properties. Ting's question does interest him especially.
Skeldon Miregrold is known throughout the Society for his many discoveries in the dangerous Darklands when he was an active pathfnder. He now operates the Karcau Lodge out of his ancestral manor house.
The Lodge contains a network of subterranean chambers that house most of the Society’s assets at the location and provide access to even larger caverns that stretch out below Karcau.
Within the Society, Miregrold has a reputation for sending more pathfnders to their deaths than any other venture-captain. Some rumors speak of him abusing his privileges and embezzling the Society’s wealth.
Miregrold is an accomplished inventor and alchemist and uses many of the resources at his disposal to experiment on personal pet projects. Pathfnders who recently returned from the Karcau Lodge speak of a strange device he is currently constructing in his secret laboratory.
@ Ting: "What it is to do? That is for you to find out, beaked one.
He was to send us notes on its research, and hasn't."
@ Carr: "Yes, and his removal from such a position would not be a stain on the society, in my humble opinion."
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Awww, could that "aerolith" do nothing at all, and be an invention of your cousin to get more money for his "groundbreaking research"? Would it fit his character?
Never been in Ustalav before. What can we expect in this country? I heard rumors it was easy to die in Ustalav, and it was even sometimes easir not to die totally, cause it's an haunted country. Is it true?
Basia Kalistoff smiles slightly.
"Yes my dear, there are plenty of dangers, just like any other part of the world. The dangers can vary per region. I would recommend staying away from bogs and places that look haunted. Gods have mercy, should you encounter bloodsuckers."
She shakes her heads slightly. "But i don't know what you will find there. All i can say is good luck, and please try to keep the manor as little damaged as you can, since that fool uses it as the lodge's place of operations, it might yet be restored and used for that purpose."
With that, the meeting is closed, and you get going.
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At the location:
The Karcau Lodge is located in the manor of a modest hillside estate just south of the city that overlooks Karcau’s opulent spires and vaulted roofs.
A lone cobbled path traverses the property, weaving through copses of dully-colored, gangly trees and overgrown grass. Eventually, the path makes its way toward a small two-story manor house built in the classic Ustalavic style.
Its steep roof is shingled with dark slate, and elaborately carved bargeboard highlights its high cross gables. Its lead framed windows rise in slender, cathedral-like arches.
A pair of pointed turrets flanks the manor’s thick, iron-shod front doors.
The doors appear to be locked, and all the drapes have been drawn
closed.
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'Cute place, just the sort of place a rook would need.'Ting, momentarily distracted by the lovely architecture, eventually turns to the pathfinders, "Oy we's may as well try's tha front door, wroight? Give me bloody tick,yeah." Ting cautiously approaches the front door looking for traps, eventually checking the front door for any clues or traps he picks the lock.
Which turn out as no traps....how nice.
Then this happens, and you're all taken prisoner.
Mission over, sorry.
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Carr approaches the house cautiously, with hand on the hilt of his sword, which is still emblazoned with the glyph of the open road, but presents a calm demeanor and no outward hostility. "Oh you are welcome to stay near me, little one," he jokes to Brallenera. Though honestly he'd like to have her nearby as she is good at smashing things.
As i had little time to make a proper post earlier today, the situation above is just a jest.
Though i'm a bit disappointed others didn't fall for it as much. ;)
Upon opening the door, and not finding your nemesis waiting, Ting notices the lock has recently been tampered with.
Mounted on the wall opposite the main entrance, a stuffed elk’s head glares above a coat of arms.
A compass rose inlay fills most of the floor. On either side of the mantle, two separate halls exit south. At the northeast and northwest corners, wide arches open into two turrets.
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Looking carefully at the door, "Some feller 'as been messin' wit 'at air lock, wroight" Looking from Brallenera and then to Carr then back to Brallenera, he shrugs his shoulders. "Oy What ever you's two do's on yer own time is fine by me's, but wroight now we needs you's two's ta be focused, wroight."
Ting toddles into the house carefully rifling through everything, looking for anything worthy of noting. Headed counter clockwise he ends up the dining room.
Contrary to his intent, Ting doesn't get the opportunity for the take 20 on every room, as....
"I heard something, come on, we may have burglars."
A group of 4 comes down a stairs ahead.
Short guy: "Mitch, strangers have entered the manor!"
Mitch: "Strangers, who are you, and why do you break into our residence?"
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Hearing the voices coming from the stairs, Ting stops admiring the fine Cheliaxian vase on the mantle and turns seeing the four men.
'Mitch?' Ting cocks his head, standing on one foot, resting one claw on the pommel of his sword and the other on the opening of his chakram pouch, he lulls his tongue in a tengu smile.
"Well's Mitch we's was about ta ask you's tha same questionair. We's is pathyfin'ers in tha employee o' Miregrold's associates. He's is tha owner o' 'is 'ear Pathyfin'er lodge, 'at you's is wanderin' about. So's why don't you's explain yer self. a'fore t'ings get's outa hand. It'd be a bloody shame ta make's a mess in 'is 'ear fancy 'ouse, wroight."
"We live here. I'm Mitch, and these are Thomas, Gary and William."
Now that you have a proper look at them, they are wearing proper clothes and Mitch and William visibly carry wayfinders.
Thomas (short guy): "Err, should i get them something to eat? I'm prety hungry myself."
Gary:"As long as you don't hog everything, i'm down for that."
Thomas: "You guys want some?"
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"Point of fact I do have a beard, and being an angel I can literally be anything you want me to be." He considers using his innate shapeshifting, but decides this is not the time, he may need bulk later.
"I thank you for the hospitality, but we actually need to speak to Venture... is he a captain? I didn't catch that bit, but either way, Venture Officer Miregrold. We have urgent matters to transact and would appreciate if you could direct us to him and not try any funny business." He looks carefully at Gary. "Especially you. You're not funny."
Gary: "Hey man, what gives? What did i do to you?"
Mitch: "It's currently just us living here. I'm no captain, sorry to disappoint you?"
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Carr believes these gentlemen, for some reason. "You aren't funny, that's all you've done so far. I would like to know why the lock was messed with, and where the venture captain has gone... this is his house, after all." He doesn't quite grip his sword hilt any more tightly, but this confuses him a little.
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"There were roaming thieves as of late, according to the townsfolk.
One night we the lock was destroyed, and we had to fix it as best we could. There was little of value to be had, some trinkets on display, but no items of worth were taken.
We've not seen the venture captain recently, he vanished overnight."
Though the majority of his response sounds truthful, he's not sounding too accustomed to the words 'Venture Captain'.
Either he's a total rookie, or he's not too honest here.
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Ting opens his beak to say something, then closes it, still lulling his tongue, he shifts from one foot to the other. "So's you's boys is pathyfin'ers too, wroight. Most of us pathyfin'ers immediatelies fix a door's when's tha local riffraff breaks in, an' 'at door didn't looked repaired ta me's, an' I knows a ting er three about's locks, wroight." Ting opens his beak making his tengu smile wider, drawing his sword as he cocks his head the other direction. "But not's ta worries ya, I's got 'is sword up in Kaer Maga, in tha temple o'Pharasma. Beautiful place 'at, But more's ta tha point, since you's boys are pathyfin'ers you's would know who's tha adventury cap'n up in Kaer Maga would be's, wroight?"
Mitch: "If you do indeed choose to wait, we can get you a meal and a bed to sleep in. Though someone will have to use the sofa, they've but one bed each."
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'They did say there was food' Ting scabbards his sword smiling "I's'l sleep on tha sofa!" turning to Thomas, "So's where's tha kitchen? We's can eat's whiles we's plan our next strategistics, wroight?" Turning back to Mitch "Laters, after we's is done eatin', you's guys won't mind's if'n we's eye-balls about fer clues ta figur' where's Miregrold went, do's ya?"
Thomas takes Ting to the kitchen, and asks him to help prepare a soup and bread meal, with sausages on the side.
Mitch shrugs. "You're free to look around, of course. Maybe you'll spot some clues we didn't connect or notice."
Gary shows you the bedrooms, William is drawing random stuff.
His picture of a bird on a lamppost, overlooking a street, is pretty well done too.
G3: A long mantle displays a collection of antique blades and more stuffed animals. Fine upholstered chairs and sofas line the corners, accented with small tables.
An alcove opposite the display houses a well-stocked wine bar.
G4: A long, oval dining room table serves as this room’s centerpiece. High-backed wooden chairs surround the table, while two china cabinets flank the entrance.
G5: An assortment of comfortable-looking furniture fills this small sun porch.
Currently, its high windows are blocked with thick wool blankets.
Nothing of note is within the three areas...save maybe those exquisite bottles of wine. :P
The kitchen is what one would expect. An oven and stove, accompanied by a table for cutting ingredients and shelves of spices and pots.
A couple of water barrels stand against one of the walls.
Pardon for the pantry.
It contains some small empty pots, which smell of herbs and one has dried jerky.