When you return to Sandpoint Sheriff Hemlock listens as you lay out the grim tale of Aldern Foxglove. He provides each of ye with a reward of fifty gold pieces and hopes that this alongside the valuables found are enough of a reward, his discretionary fund is almost empty now. He's concerned about this group helping Aldern and encourages ye to consider once you have had a chance to rest to go to his townhouse in Magnimar in hopes of getting more evidence.
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Ferocia scowls. "Magnimar?" she lets out a shiver. "Ugh. I'd rather not."
Looking at her companions she asks, "When do we leave?"
Tomorrow. Let's use today to rest up, stock up, and get a few good meals in first.
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Once the deed had been done and the loot liquidation complete, Drazh went over to Miron. He was holding a bag of gold with a grim smile on his face.
”Lad, ye’ve done me right. In the grip of madness, I risked not only my life, but my honor, to make this artwork that I wear. Ye were there to help me, and ye did it without question or holding it over me. I return the gold now to ye. Know that just as a dwarf will never forget a grudge, so too do we never forget a debt. The gold is repaid but the friendship is not. Thank ye.”
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Magnimar? Arika signs to Anneka, being certain to keep their conversation secret from Alma in the next room. Mama will kill you, and me too if she knows you told me. But Anneka is firm on this point. Alma Avertin had lost one child already, and it had left her over-protective of the rest. There's no way she would give her blessing for Anneka to travel all the way to big city.
But Anneka's a woman grown, old enough to decide things for herself. And now, more than anything, she wants answers. The Late Unpleasantness, Casp's death, her deafness, Nualia, and Aldern, everything was connected somehow, and in the center of all of it is that seven pointed star. It can't be a coincidence that they'd all find themselves together, like this. There's something...special about all of them, and Anneka's now convinced they're destined to be working together. They've got to get to the bottom of this, and all signs now point to the City of Monuments.
Miron takes the offered gold and replies to the Sheriff:
"My thanks, Sheriff. We would see Sandpoint safe, and that will allow prosperity. We will go to Magnimar and root out this corruption."
He turns to his companions and listens to their comments.
"As Azalia says, tomorrow makes sense. We rest, restore, and re-equip."
***********
When Drazh hands over the bag of gold, Miron reflexively and subconsciously estimates that it is extremely likely to be the correct figure. Not that he expected otherwise, but a merchant family does teach one to watch out for errors and subterfuge.
He looks Drazh in the eye and says:
"I am glad that I could help. Not that I am sorry to have this gold repaid. You are a stalwart ally, Drazh Anviltamer, and I am happy to have you by my side and well-armoured.", he adds with a slight smile.
*********
Miron tries on the headband before the elderly wizard. The Inquisitor did have some minor concerns that his loan to Drazh would have delayed his acquisition but thankfully it did not.
Miron places the simple bronze headband on his brow, a intricate pattern of fine green etchings visible on it.
And he nods.
"I can feel the difference already. It was worth every piece of gold. I go now to Magnimar. Are there any messages or items that I can bring for you? The protection of an inquisitor is worth your while, and your gold."
A fair offer, and no insult if it is rejected.
Magnimar is known as the city of Monuments and it certainly lives up to it. Ancient monuments lie scattered about it. A colossal bridge stretches over the city called the Irespan leaving an entire district beneath it as it is pointed towards the sea where it crumbles into ruin but supports for it impressive in an of themselves dot the sea beyond.
Does your group want to head to Aldern Foxgloves home or are you headed elsewhere?
About the city there hangs an air of excitement and mystery that leaves Anneka breathless. She asks Ferocia to describe the sounds in words, even though it's clear the dwarf is not impressed at all by the urban sprawl. For a short while she nearly forgets the dark purpose behind their mission.
Miron gazes upon the familiar sight of Magnimar.
It feels like an age since I was here, but that is not the case.
"At the least, I can offer some guidance in navigating the streets. This should be the swiftest way to Foxglove's home.", he says pointing at a particular street.
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Drazh breathed in the smell of Magnimar. It smelled just like he remembered it. Awful. But still, it was a major city, with all of the comforts and provisions that came with such a large population center. Much better than trudging through the wilderness.
"Aye. To the manor. We've got a task to do, so let's get it done."
As you approach the Foxglove town house you notice that it's windows are boarded up.
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At the sight of Magnimar Ferocia looks practically ill. Everything she ever hated about Sandpoint is magnified a hundred fold in this horrid place! The crowds, the smells, the sprawl. Ugh. She'd rather sleep in the dirt than enter the teeming metropolis
In the dirt while it was raining.
In the dirt, while it was raining, outside a haunted house.
Hell, she'd rather sleep in a haunted house.
She'd rather be anywhere but here.
But, when did what she want ever factor into anything?
So Ferocia stalked into the city alongside her companions with a disgusted look on her face. Any good mood she had worked up on the journey faded in an instant, replaced with a grumpy disdain.
Ferocia shakes her head at the sight of those party members who look happy to be here, and scoffs when Anneka asks her to describe the city sounds. But, that doesn't stop her from indulging the young baker. The girl made a damned good pastry. Besides, it would help her practise her signing.
So Ferocia spent the walk to the townhouse describing the sounds of the city in the most dour way possible while clumsily signing along for Anneka.
At the sight of the townhouse she raises an eyebrow.
"Whose got the key?" she asks as she approaches the door. "Let's get this over with."
When the key is recovered from your bags and the door is opened you find candles lit inside the building.
A woman sitting in a chair turns her head towards your group "Aldern my dear we have guests!" She gives you a warm welcoming smile, the Varissian beauty is no other than Iesha Foxglove.
Before anything can be said a hale and hearty Aldern Foxglove comes down the stairs. "Really, sorry we weren't expecting anyone. Where the devil did you find that old key?"
Azalia drops the key and backs out of the door.
Ferocia walks into the house and cocks her head at Aldern and Iesha.
She had seen a lot of fairy tricks in her life. Little surprised her. But even she had to admit this was unexpected...
"Are you a ghost, haunt, illusion or trick?" she asks curiously.
Outside, Azalia tries to get ahold of herself. She thought that burning the other place had been the end of this particular nightmare and that they could easily loot this place, but apparently the horror continued.
She leans over with her hands on her legs, trying to breathe and not hyperventilate.
Eventually she is able to compose herself, but she isn't sure if she can face going back in.
Iesha and Aldern look at each other confused. "I'm Aldern Foxglove and this is my lovely wife Iesha. Perhaps we could discuss this over dinner, you seem quite addled for some reason."
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Seeing Azalia’s reaction, Drazh’s face darkened. He KNEW something was up. Boarded windows, unnatural welcoming, the fact that both were known to be dead. And they were tormenting a friend. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Aldern, imagining how he’d kill the man...again. So, with his hammer raised:
"What?" is all Anneka can manage, flustered by the sight of the dead woman whose scarf is still folded in her pack. She remembers the feeling of it tightening around her neck, and the ghostly hands that wielded it.
As Drazh attacks Aldern with his hammer, Ferocia shrugs. "How doesn't matter, I guess. What does matter is Xanesha. You're the minions Aldern was supposed to contact. Tell us how to find Xanesha."
When the party first entered the manor, Marten is oblivious to how the Foxgloves' presence affects the others . He is lost in his own alarm and curiosity as he casts detect magic on the two figures.
Seeing Azalia’s reaction, Drazh’s face darkened. He KNEW something was up. Boarded windows, unnatural welcoming, the fact that both were known to be dead. And they were tormenting a friend. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Aldern, imagining how he’d kill the man...again. So, with his hammer raised he brings it down on Aldern!
As Drazh attacks Aldern with his hammer, Ferocia shrugs. "How doesn't matter, I guess. What does matter is Xanesha. You're the minions Aldern was supposed to contact. Tell us how to find Xanesha."
Aldern's only response is to scream in pain but he does not go down. His lovely wife however screams for help at the top of her lungs. "Help they are trying to kill us! Guards!"
Marten has detect magic cast and is picking up magical auras but with Drazh right beside them it will take longer discern if they have any or if it is Drazh's magical gear.
Anneka thinks the man is upset but not surprised that he was attacked. Though there is some concern for her husband the woman seems to be quite content to drag you further into their ploy by getting the guards involved... you are a group from outside the city seemingly attacking a noble and his wife in their own home...
Marten
Ferocia
Miron
Anneka
Drazh
The Foxgloves Aldern -15HP
Azalia
Marten continues concentrating to try and determine the Foxgloves' magical auras.
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With Aldern down Drazh stomped over to the woman and sought to put his fist in her gut. ”Stabilize the creep, while I shut this one up. Then we find out whether these be ghosts, illusions, or shapeshifters.” He didn’t even add the possibility that he had just hammered and innocent man into the ground. It wasn’t something he wanted to think about.
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Anneka watches Iesha calling for help, reading the woman's lips. Instinctively, she raises a finger to her own, silencing all those around her in a wave of magic.
When Miron hears the voice and sees the face, his fingers loosen.
How? How is he here? It must be an illusion.
He reasserts control in a moment, seizing the longbow before it can fall from his grasp.
In a commanding tone, he shouts:
"Take them alive! I will make this 'Aldern' confess! Who are you!?"
He frees one hand to begin casting, and finishes - just before a pall of silence falls.
Ferocia shrugs. She steps forward, slips out her claws and swipes Aldern in the face.
Marten continues concentrating to try and determine the Foxgloves' magical auras, in the area he doesn't detect any more auras than he expected and the strongest is on Drazh.
Ferocia shrugs. She steps forward, slips out her claws and swipes Aldern in the face.
When Miron hears the voice and sees the face, his fingers loosen. How? How is he here? It must be an illusion. He reasserts control in a moment, seizing the longbow before it can fall from his grasp. In a commanding tone, he shouts "Take them alive! I will make this 'Aldern' confess! Who are you!?" He frees one hand to begin casting, and finishes - just before a pall of silence falls.
Anneka watches Iesha calling for help, reading the woman's lips. Instinctively, she raises a finger to her own, silencing all those around her in a wave of magic.
With Aldern down Drazh stomped over to the woman and sought to put his fist in her gut. ”Stabilize the creep, while I shut this one up. Then we find out whether these be ghosts, illusions, or shapeshifters.” He didn’t even add the possibility that he had just hammered and innocent man into the ground. It wasn’t something he wanted to think about.
Aldern draws his sword and swings and Drazh. Between the silence spell and the flurry of combat though he speaks in reply to Miron's compulsion what he says can not be discerned.
Iesha pulls a sword from beside a book case and moves to flank Ferocia but her screams for the guards are cut short.
Azalia
Marten
Ferocia
Miron
Anneka
Drazh
The Foxgloves Aldern -26HP
Anneka waves a hand. The shadows in the room drip down the walls, coalescing in a pool at the feet of Ferocia. A silhouette, bearing a striking resemblance to Anneka, springs up to stand between Ferocia and her attackers. Anneka steps forward, maintaining her circle of silence.
Marten does nothing.
Azalia, hearing the sounds of battle from outside the house, steels herself and reenters.
She sees that her party is attacking Aldern and his wife. She isn't sure why, but she is very glad, and she joins in, shooting at Aldern.
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Miron throws down his longbow and draws his sickle.
He advances to a flanking position with Drazh and tries to trip their joint target.
Ferocia lets out an unheard snarl of surprise and tears into Iesha with her claws .
Both the Foxgloves lie dead on the floor, Marten can see there are no magical aura about them.
Masterwork Longsword x2
Anneka immediately revokes her silence spell, allowing noise to flood back into the room. At least, for everyone else.
"You don't know that this man has ever hurt anyone before. Explain yourself! All of you!"
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”Met him in Sandpoint after the gobbo attacks. He became the ghoul you saw us kill in his manor. This lass, I saw her ghost back there. Thus, this can’t be them, in this boarded up home...which we entered using a key we found in the other manor near this fooker’s actual body. Don’t know what these things are, but it’s good they be dead. Not let’s search this place.”
Drazh *really* hoped he was right.
Azalia walks over to the body that looks like Aldern, though of course it can't be... can it? She prods it with a foot, making sure it is dead. Then, if it doesn't move, she works up her courage and checks to see if it has a locket, anything else the other Aldern owned, or any loot while she is at it.
She ignores Marten's questions.
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Azalia finds he doesn't have the locket but the clothes do seem to be like the style Aldern wore.
As ye move about the house and discuss the matter Drazh spots something on the third floor. The fireplace mantel is decorated with two roaring lion heads at either end. Drazh spots a tiny keyhole deep in the back of the left lion’s throat, one of the keys ye found back at the misgivings fits it.
Bag of 200 pp
Shallow wooden case containing a number of legal papers pertaining to the townhouse, as well as
Know all men and women present and future that we, the members of the Brothers of the Seven, upon this day the 6th. Abadius in the year of 4624, Absalom Reckoning, hereby concede and by this deed confrm upon Vorel Foxglove provisional ownership of the holding to be known here and henceforth as Foxglove Manor, located north of Magnimar on the Lost Coast Road due west of Bleaklow Moor upon the promontory, for so long as he, Vorel Foxglove, shall live, or so long as his direct descendants shall live, to a period not to exceed one hundred years.
Construction of Foxglove Manor, having been fnanced partially on the holdings and coin of Vorel Foxglove to the amount of six and sixty percent, and partially upon the coffers of the Brothers of the Seven to the amount of the remainder, four and thirty percent, backed by collateral in the form of the Seven’s Sawmill, located itself upon Kyver’s Islet of Magnimar, shall ensure only the physical and initial construction of the aforementioned manor, with any subsequent repair and maintenance to be the sole responsibility of Vorel Foxglove or his descendants for the aforementioned period of one hundred years. Upon the passing of this time, on the date of 6th Abadius of 4724, Absalom Reckoning, ownership of Foxglove Manor, to include all lands within a mile around and below, immediately and forevermore reverts to the Brothers of the Seven, with the employment of the manor, its grounds, and all improvements placed upon it by any prior inhabitants to be subject to the Brotherhood’s discretion. And so that our gift, concession, warranty, acquittance, and defense have the best perpetual strength and security, we have affixed Magnimar’s seal to the present charter, which shall serve in lieu of signatures, the names of the Brotherhood to remain apart from this or any other document.
Under the case is a thin ledger—the majority of the entries are mundane, but several near the end should catch your attention. These are nearly a dozen entries from over the past three months labeled as “Iesha’s Trip to Absalom,” each indicating Foxglove was paying someone
referred to as “B–7” two hundred gold a week for her “trip,” dropping off the payment every Oathday at midnight at a place called “the Seven’s Sawmill.”
You know of a sawmill called the Seven's Sawmill in Magnimar on the shores of Kyver's Islet.
Miron swiftly stows away his longbow then urgently speaks and signs:
"Did anyone make out what 'Aldern' said when I wrung a confession out of him? Anneka?"
Miron does look around at the others, finishing with Anneka, expectation in his eyes.
He turns his eyes to the bodies.
He wants to know if they are human, let alone Aldern and Iesha Foxglove.
When Drazh finds the case and the legal papers, he immediately is attentive to that.
"There is certainly a sawmill called "The Seven's Sawmill" on the shores of Kyver's Islet. That is a fine candidate for our next point of search once we have thoroughly examined this building."
He has not yet thought to reveal what he saw on the bodies. if anything.
Miron finds that the clothes all seem authentic and accurate to both.
Although both seem be Aldern and Iesha the blows from the hammer haven't hit home quite as well as he'd expect, like they were somehow resistant to the blunt force trauma though clearly not immune. Perhaps some kind of spell, magic item or twist of their ancestry.
Miron adds:
"Their clothing is appropriate and what one would expect. However, their bodies are not nearly as badly damaged as those impacts should have left them. Magic or an ancestry including non-human elements."
Miron begins to study the room for magical auras.
Miron finds none bar what ye brought yourselves.
"There are no magical auras that I can find. Unless anyone has other ideas here, let us search the remainder of this building. Which I might add, seems a strange place for actual nobles to live in, given that it is boarded up."