Pontia nods slowly at Daxius' question. "Possibly, but I think our anonymity is a good idea at this point. I suppose it also depends on what we're doing. Helping people fix their front yards is pretty innocuous, but hunting down street gangs is different. There are more potential enemies in this town than the Hellknights...not that I believe the rumors about the Council of Thieves, mind."
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
Daxius considers for a few long moments, finally making a decision. Very well. I will wear a scarf and hide my identity. But what actions shall we take that would justify this anonymity, as you call it? As has become his custom recently, Daxius looks to his spiritual leader, Arael, for guidance.
You understand the situation better than I, Arael. What mission would we undertake, should we wish to advance the cause of justice in this unjust city?
It's coming, just hadn't realised that this part of the AP tells the GM, basically: "Design some eoncounters with this theme and these kind of situations." So, yeah, more work than I expected from a published adventure.
{Hunter} Male Half-Orc Urban Ranger 3 {HP15/28 | AC 17 T12 FF14 CMD 18 | F/R/W 5/5/2}
I can't get the idea of a Spiderman 1 like Montage scene going through my head, only us instead of Peter. "Just your friendly neighborhood vigilantes!"
Daxius and Nicolai head to the stables with the group' horses, happy to be returning hale and healthy steeds.
Daxius and Nicolai:
When you arrive, a young man in fine clothes and an immaculate blonde quiff is bawling out the stable owner: You loathsome cur! I picked out those horses a week ago, and you let some idle riff-raff wander off with them! DOn't you know who I am!
Gorvio looks mortified as his uncle stutters out an apology, looking down at the floor: I'm sorry master Ulvaud, I really am: there's the horses now, just coming back after me boy ran them in the field.
The man rounds on Daxius and Nicolai :So who are you? And what have you creatures been doing with my horses!
[spoiler=knowledge local DC10]Thesing Umbero Ulvaud is a rising star in the Westcrown opera, famously emotive on-stage and self-important off it.
As you near the cathedral, Astra peels off from the group: I need to cllect a few things and see an old friend.
When Hyngrot and Pontia reach the cathedral, your conversation is interrupted by a burst of applause as the group show their appreciation:
That was a brilliant job! Arael, is safe! You were terribly brave! I can't believe we led off those armigers, I've never been so scared, not like you!
Tarvi, especially, fusses around Pontia: Your magic, that was amazing, what I saw.
Yakopulio, the colourful gnome calls out: Tell us what happened, all of it! Did you bosh them over the head?
And the group take up the call:
Yeah, what happened? I bet Hyngrot bashed a few heads, didn't you?
{Hunter} Male Half-Orc Urban Ranger 3 {HP15/28 | AC 17 T12 FF14 CMD 18 | F/R/W 5/5/2}
Hyngrot gives out a grin to the group, though the smile on his face is only a cover. "Be better if we didn't have to bash any heads at all."
"The important thing is we suceeded, and we're all safe. Bruised and battered, but still safe." Hyngrot will relay the story to the others as best able.
By Aroden! I can't believe Nicolai's bomb didn't go off! Daxius fought off two at once! I knew Pontia would outspell any signifier You jumped on the wagon? That's incredible!
The group are suitably impressed by your actions...
Now might be a good time to announce the name and disguises you're going for.
Arael quells the throng: This is the next step we need to take: along with the good works you have all been doing, we need to show the Wiscrani that they can take the fight to villains and criminals, that the city is their city and not Houe Thrune's.
He looks about the group: We'll gather here tonight but I want you to work as a network, speak to the streets, find out where people need help and the dottari can't or won't help them... I have heard a little about things outside the city, which might be a good start while the dottari forget all about us. Until this evening, I need to rest.
Most of the group move off, chattering excitedly, but Tarvi continues to hang around Pontia, asking small questions about magic and trying to make herself useful.
Morosino is also in the cathedral, practising sums on a piece of slate and flicking through a book on trees.
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
At the stable:
Realizing that the last thing they need to do is draw attention to themselves, Daxius ignores the blonde man's taunts. He hands the reins of the horses to the stable owner, clapping him on the shoulder in thanks. He also nods to Gorvio in acknowledgement. I think you'll find that these fine steeds are in good form. He then turns to the blond man. There is no cause to berate this upstanding stable-man. The fault is entirely ours for retaining their services overlong. My apologies if our tardiness has caused you undue inconvenience. Daxius then attempts to extricate himself (and Nicolai, presuming he's amenable) from the situation with as little fuss as possible. He realizes he's the party responsible for this altercation and it would be the height of ingratitute to make the situation worse for Gorvio and his uncle, but if this blowhard speaks one more uncivil word to Daxius, he's not sure he can maintain his composure.
The wizard nods at Hyngrot's words. "Not only did we save Arael without dying in the process, but we did it without confirming any of the Hellknights' lies about us. And now ten more armigers know that we're not the monsters they were told of. That's a victory all its own."
As Arael finishes, Pontia adds, "We've discussed this among ourselves, and we're thinking to call ourselves The Lights of the Sword." She looks over at Daxius. "It was his idea. We're going to wear gold armbands and scarves, too, because there are times when it's best if no one knows who we are...or it's easy for people to at least pretend they don't. I also had an idea about taking code names from Aroden's Twelve Guises, but we'll see how that works in practice."
She'll answer Tarvi's questions as best she can. I wonder if I was like this when I was first learning wizardry? I don't remember acting this way, but my situation was very different from hers.
Don't forget that your base is a temple of Aroden, Westcrown is the city where Aroden was expected to return to earth and Iomedae is 'the inheritor'.
Don't want to tell you how to play Daxius, just saying that the church of Iomedae is typically pretty friendly to Aroden.
The man replies, irritably, Well, at least they're not damaged. then he turns back to Goevio's uncle: One hour, or we'll be clear with the audience who has ruined the spectacle! The pompous young man struts off in a huff, but mamanges to compose himself when he nears two well-dressed ladies at the end of the street, giving them his broadest smile and a sweeping bow.
Arael smiles, There is a strong folk memory here of the time before Aroden fell. If you can evoke that, people will take to you even more.
I can get you started whenever you like but I'd like to give you some time while 'lying low' to RP, do any crafting or shopping you might want to (maybe sell the hat and invest the cash). Just tell me what you'd like to do. Also, the non-military Lights of the Sword are eager to hang out with their new members. If you'd like to befriend/train/etc. any specific members then they're all visit the cathedral at almost every day.
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
at the stable:
Feeling awkward, Daxius clears his throat and says to Gorvio's uncle, "Thank you once again. The Lights of the Sword owe you a favor. I sincerely hope you suffer no repercussions from that rude gentleman. Is he a personage of some consequence?"
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
Returning from the stables, Daxius enters the old temple, sitting down with a contented grunt. He is uncomfortable with small talk, and even more uncomfortable with any sort of praise, so he spends the next few hours of comraderie deflecting attention away from himself, and retires early to clean his gear and pray for guidance.
One thing hanging from earlier, about the scrap of paper Daxius found in the sewers, copy and pasted for convenience:
Daxius asks around for Sclavo. Assuming he finds him, Daxius has a chat. I don't really know what I'm looking for. It's probably nothing anyway, but if The Inheritor saw fit to put this clue into my hands, I should explore every avenue before deciding it's a dead end. You are a man of letters. How might I find information on Castor Argentiomi? Is this information you might be able to learn at your place of employment? Perhaps there are official records somewhere? Maybe in the Parego Spera?
Daxius is clutching at straws, and he knows it, but Sclavo is a fellow Iomedaen, so it's worth a shot.
Sclavo arrives that evening with a few stubs of chalk for Morosino and a bag of mushrooms for the larder.
He takes Daxius' slip of paper and promises to see what he can do.
When he leaves, Arael tells you, Sclavo would never admit it, but he's probably the bravest one here: every day he does something for us, or the Wiscrani, right under the noses of hellknights, Thrune-employees and the whole Chelish bureaucracy.
After a day of lying low you venture out into the markets of Westcrown to sell the strange cap. It's soon picked up by a travelling trader: Maybe now the guards will actually hit something, damn bandits... I'm sure it'll fetch a good price up-river. and you pocket 500gp.
Larko manages to find the end of a bolt of gold cloth 5sp, which he hopes to have re-imbursed and Fiosa sets to work sewing them into scarves and armbands, involving Morosino when he looks bored.
If Daxius asks anyone in the party about the name on the slip of paper, see Pontia's response above.
"The other things we got from the goblins were 12 gp, this handaxe that's seen better days, and this iron ring. Let's pay Larko for the cloth from that, then split the rest five ways and hold out a share for Astra when she returns. I don't know how much we can get for the ring or the weapon. Neither are magic, by the way."
{Hunter} Male Half-Orc Urban Ranger 3 {HP15/28 | AC 17 T12 FF14 CMD 18 | F/R/W 5/5/2}
"Sounds reasonable enough. Think that skull on the ring means somethin', though? Hate to try sellin' the thing, only to find out it's someone's seal or somesuch."
Hyngrot will also polish the axe up to sell it, just to make it look better.
Nico walks in after Daxius from the stables, rubbing his eyes and looking a bit weary, as though he has a headache.
As the talk comes up of selling item, Nico would add, I can craft some potions, healing poultices, if I have the time and some gold for certain components.
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
I suggest that we split the proceeds six ways: one share for each of us, one share for Astra (though she seems the flighty sort and may not return), and one share for the rest of the team, The Lights of the Sword that have supported us so bravely. They can use the funds for the cause as they see fit."
So that's approximately 100 gp each split 5 ways, or 83 gp and change 6 ways. Warning - Daxius is not cool if we stiff the NPCs.
Pontia will take some time during the day spent laying low to talk magic with Tarvi. "How did you come to be interested in wizardry? If you like, I can help you with any questions you have--my master thought it was important to know something of how to teach, although as a conjurations specialist there are some things I know better than others."
Pontia will take some time during the day spent laying low to talk magic with Tarvi. "How did you come to be interested in wizardry? If you like, I can help you with any questions you have--my master thought it was important to know something of how to teach, although as a conjurations specialist there are some things I know better than others."
Oh, a suitor taught me once, to do this. Tarvi takes out a silver earing with a small jewel and lays it on the table. After almost a minute of arcane mumbling and intense concentration, the jewel begins to glow with a small flickering light, like a fire.
She grins at her achievement before turning to you: I know it's not much but my parents won't let me apprentice to a real wizard. I know I can do it though, I just need the chance. She reaches into her bag and produces a slim volume of magical theory, it's in good condition and a fairly decent primer: I've been reading this, maybe if you could explain some things?
You could easly clean up that bit of prestidigitation so that it takes a few seconds, the suitor filled it with mumbo-jumbo, who knows how much more she can learn? It all depends on how much time and effort you want to spend on Tarvi.
Pontia quickly pages through Tarvi's book, looking for marginalia, before nodding at the jeweler. "I'd be happy to. I also know quite a lot about other possibly-useful topics, if you want to learn more than just wizardry. There's one minor condition, though: my teacher came from a long line of tutors to nobility. I don't know what Westcrown will look like when we're done with it, so I can't say whether there will be nobles to teach, but when you've become more accomplished I would ask you to teach others as you've been taught. Will you do that? For me and for my master's line?"
A few days after your ambush and dramatic rescue, Arael calls you together just after you finish a breakfast of mackerel and toast with Janniven and a few of the lights.
I thought you should lie low for a while, but a chance has come up that I think we need to take... For the last month or so there have been ambushes hitting the road north, between here and the hinterland. The bandits have been taking goods, sometimes whole wagons, and disappearing into the woods. The dottari can't seem to lay a hand on them and the Hellknights aren't about to scour the entire woodland so all the wagons can do is hire on more guards and cross their fingers.
Arael takes a slow breathe, Until now. The thieves took a wagon with some ex-dotarri guards riding alongside. Word is that they tried to disappear in the woods, as usual, but they killed someone in the woods and that marked the rough location of their camp! I know it's not much to go on, but Vitti knows where you can find the body and if the trail is fresh you might find their hideout. This all happened last night and it doesn't look like the dotarri are going to do much about it, this is the low-level, local trade the mayor doesn't care much for. This is about supporting local people and stepping in where the dotarri won't!
He looks at you expectantly, over his shoulder you can see Vitti talking excitedly to Janniven.
{Hunter} Male Half-Orc Urban Ranger 3 {HP15/28 | AC 17 T12 FF14 CMD 18 | F/R/W 5/5/2}
"Sounds suspicious to me, rather amateurish to leave the body out. We'll have to be careful when we go out. Probably keep those masks up when we do." Hyngrot ponders some more. "Horses would be a good idea, but not needed. Better not to push our luck on that route, in case it's needed later on."
Odd that the Hellknights were so keen to chase us, but not hunt down bandits. Ah well - if we can handle some 'knights, some bandits should be easy enough. Thinking a bit he asks Arael, Is there anything you could tell us about the bandits - are they really organized, or are they just one of many bands?
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
Daxius calls across the room in a booming voice. Vitti! Might you lead us to this body, or describe the location where you found it?" When he realizes that he's interrupted the man's conversation with Janniven, he can't help but ask, "And why are you so animated? Is there more to this story?"
Arael shrugs: I don't know too much about bandits in the woods... the woods sprawl for miles before backing into the dhaenfens: it must be a hard place to live but a good place to hide.
Vitti comes over to the knot of adventurers: These folk are a sore festering in the woods they live on the woods, not within them. I would be glad to help. His eyes sparkle with the do-gooding enthusiasm shared by most of the Lights of the Sword.
Janniven adds, I'll see Vitti back to Westcrown after he locates the site: I'm sure you can look after yourselves. A few coins and your strong arms should hitch us a ride with a wagon going north.
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
"I suppose it's time, then, to find ourselves an appropriate wagon."
Daxius has spent his life in service to the Priests of Asmodeus, and didn't have a lot of spare time for exploring the city. If anyone knows where we might go to join a merchant expedition heading north, speak up now.
{Hunter} Male Half-Orc Urban Ranger 3 {HP15/28 | AC 17 T12 FF14 CMD 18 | F/R/W 5/5/2}
Daxius Veronius wrote:
Daxius has spent his life in service to the Priests of Asmodeus, and didn't have a lot of spare time for exploring the city. If anyone knows where we might go to join a merchant expedition heading north, speak up now.
"I can't think of any right now, but I can go see what I can find."
Hmm, methinks Hyngrot spent too much time hunting people and not merchants with that roll. If it's not successful on the knowledge, I'll try to gather information, though if someone else wants to help, it'd be apprecaited.
Talking to friends and the Lights, Hyngrot quickly gathers that the Piazza Andacora in Rego Pena is the largest and busiest merchant hub in Westcrown.
As you arrive in the piazza you can see the deep drainage channels and large caravan turning areas are not yet clogged, it is still early and only the merchants planning long journeys are setting off at this hour.
Still, a few men and women can be seen haggling over last minute deals and there are four or five caravans which look ready to leave.
"Why don't you do the talking, Daxius? We'll just hang back and look competent."Something a little easier for me now, what with having survived a couple of fights.
Male Human Inquisitor of Iomedae 3 [HP 27/27, AC 19/12/17, F +4 R +3 W +5]
Daxius is clearly touched by the vote of confidence. He puffs his chest out a bit self-consciously, nods, and points himself in the direction of the hagglers. Solemnly he promises, "I would be honored to represent our interests in this matter." He smiles awkwardly and adds, "And you all look very competent."
Daxius walks toward the merchants, realizing that he's not sure how much he really wants to admit about their intentions. He settles on revealing as little as possible, but being entirely truthful in what he does say.
"A very good morning to you all, ladies and gentlemen." Daxius calls out to the assembled group, but to no single person in particular. "Would any of your fine caravans be heading North, perchance? My associates and I seek passage."
Whenever you need a Diplomacy check 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6Daxius has something green between his front teeth.
A pair of men, broad-shouldered and hard-eyed, cease their conversation and turn to look you up and down: We've no room for passengers. If you're handy we might have space on the runnin' board. You look like a bowman, we can always do with a few more. What about your pals?
GeraintElberion
