Byron breaths a sigh of relief. "Well I'm sure your goddess will understand if we don't wait for you while we hunt down these bastards."
He smiled and looked back at the group. "Well, where do we start? In Galt or-"
The golem stood alert. Not moving an inch until Byron said bastards
As Byron turned around to address the group, the golems head spun up. Red lights twirled and then came beeping.
"-WARNING!- FoulMouth detected! -punishment initiated-"
The golem grabbed Byron by the arm and cleanly lifted him off his feat with incredible force. The golems other arm swung around. Revealing a hand that looked like it was made of many tools and sharp objects. The objects shifted around in a blur.
Byron's face turned pale. Given enough time he might have also produced a scream.
Blades and edges shift until finally what the golem produced was a simple rounded edge facsimile of a hand. Which swiftly slapped across Byrons own hand.
"-Finalizing Punishment- Did you learn your lesson? -Lie- That hurt me more then it hurt you."
Sixth looks at his Undead Eidolon, Seventh.
"And I thought we were weird..."
"So then wise one, I also need to ask this, my sisters soul was placed in a doll ofer her untimely death. I wish her whole once more in body and mind. It is a challenge my mother, has set me. You know AI mean mother in the none metaphorical seance. Do you have such skills and if not who dos"
She asks to the old priest.
The tavern is bustling and busy. The food is decent but to those affected by the spore tastes lacking. The group is able to pare down their choices to either Innsmouth or Galt.
Clian looks at the others.
"I suggest Galt as it has a much less stable environment."
"Now that the Avoral stopped taking the tea Alex gave them, he probably be ok in the long run. It's better than go after and killing him. After all, we saw the chain that Alex was holding drop, right? That leverage is no more! So I'm with you Cilian, to Galt!"
"Alright. I have little say in the matter, as I didn't see the vision. But running around with you tiresome lot is at least interesting!"
I Agee Galt sounds lots more intaresting.
Finnigin firmly agrees with the rest, as he enjoys his night of rest and relaxation.
The night passes smoothly. As you travel out of Andoran the cocky assuredness that had been so prevalent before is now all but gone. If anything it appears that the people have been striving towards their ideals at a more measured and serious pace.
The way to Galt is uncomfortably close to the Taldor border but no trouble comes the parties way.
Entering Galt on can always expect revolutionaries in every town, although it is rare that they all wear the same uniform. The same story can be heard over and over again, "The last revolution, the execution of execution!"
makes herself look as common as she can, all the finery hidden away, she looks human.
"We should keep a low profile here, this place is full of informers and spy's so watch what you say in public, just work on the assumption your being over heard at all times. We need to change the names of things. We have a "Problem" and are looking for the "Strings" the ones we ended where "wings" that kind of thing. hide what you say and how you say it."
Her sister is no where to be seen and she seems to have no weapons on, just a poor plain looking human woman, mid 30s.
"Got it. Do we know where to start from? Maybe we should investigate who's in power right now? If it's been for a long time maybe there's some dark power behind it!" He suddenly recalls something. "Oh wait, are we late to act like the crow?"
Finnigin will nod at Kyomi's instructions, but he will most likely not heed the words. Never one to keep secrets, any piece of knowledge he has is something that is to be shared.
That is a great question Sixth, where to start indeed?
He thinks for a moment to try and come up with a plan of attack.
Byron is uneasy. He knows that Galt has never been that open to outsiders, let alone people outside the human race. His fingers tighten around the power core. Byron thought it best to keep the golem locked away lest it become something to draw too much attention.
The capital of Galt would be a likely point to gather information. It lies a few days north west of where the party entered Galt
Comes back from talking to a merchant on the road
"He says the capital of Galt lies a few days north west from here, just along this road. But says be careful, some bandits like to go for the caravans coming into the border heading that way. Says the local militia and army troops from a number of factions are are here to keep the road 'safe' but hinted the 'bandits' and the militia may be one in the same so its fun time all round. Think it may be best to look poor pickings and hope they go for fatter ones. I think if we head to the capital it will be a much better place to gather information. But is a group call on this."
She is still in poor farm Human woman form wile saying this.
I concur with our course. We should start their to get an idea where the next group may be. But if there are bandits in these parts, it would not be a terrible thing to rid Galt of them. We could be the Heroes of Galt! Our names scribed across the sky, and met with excitement at every town and village from here to the capital!
She looks up at the heavens then back at Finnigin.
"I should remind you we have a natty habit of offing those others think are nice and good. We know them as bad, but others don't. With the that in mind we may end up killing the current and on pain of death, beloved despot that has grabbed by dagger and vote the rains of power here about's. Best not to get into a fight unless we really have to and then lets not this time let any one get away after shall we. Ruthlessness has an upside you know.'
She smiles sweetly wile saying this.
"You know that gives me an idea how to make some coin, I would wager for hire death quads make a nice living here."
Oh, you're right. Given our luck thus far I agree that it would be wise to keep the heroics to a minimum.
Finnigin slumps down and covers up his regal looking equipment with a makeshift poncho. Then he casts a spell and is covered with soot almost immediately.
That's better, your getting the idea, heads down from here on in"
She walks ahead of the cart, looking plane wile keeping an eye on the goings on on the read their walking down.
"At least we won't have problem with the good folk in Galt, since there are none. The capital sounds fine, and we may learn some gossip about the last vision Balik had. Otherwise I'm clueless. But I don't think anyone would mess with us." He looks at Seventh, with his leathery wings. "Scout for us, willya?"
The Eidolon takes flight, reaching enough height to have a decent look on the road ahead.
Canim already looks worse for wear, the road having not been kind to his clothes and him not really having taken time to wash them. Between sweat, food stains, and grime, even washing his clothes probably wouldn't make him look too regal to pass as an adept rather than a mage of middling power.
Cilian stays near the cart always wearing a different disguise than he did the day before. He does make sure to always keep his blades ready in case they do find any trouble on the road ahead.
The road to Galt's capitol is supposed to be crawling with bandits. Instead it is crawling with irritatingly happy and friendly pilgrims.
Listening to the chatter, the details of the vision become more clear. The infamous Blades of the Executioner are to be destroyed by the current regime. These blades are known to trap the soul of the executed to prevent resurrection. This also prevents an afterlife. The current regime is apparently trying to rid itself of the blood and brutality of previous revolutions.
Supposedly they have enchanted a new blade to break the enchantment of the others and free all the trapped souls.
Oh, there must be some sort of parade. This is a welcome change!
Finnigin says excitedly.
Cilian glances at the others.
"Well if they are going to break the old blades why don't we just appropriate those blades for ourselves?"
Sixth frowns at the lack of dangersense from Finnigin, and it gets even worst when the rogue adds to it. Seeing the group is lost and lacking direction, Sixth and his badass winged eidolon take over the lead of the group, deliberately acting with authority. First he addresses Cilian's comment:
"Appropriate ourselves of guillotine blades with several thousands of souls inside?" Sixth gives Cilian a harsh look of disbelief, but he shakes his head as if drawn his conclusion already, further ignoring the mentioned idea. "Anyway, we're here to disrupt whatever Rovaghug's agents have planned for him. Judging by Balik's vision about the blades and the last rumors we heard, it is pretty clear there's someone trying to steal a blade or blades. If one, it's the one which is meant to destroy the guillotine blades. If it's more than one, and that's the worst case scenario, they are trying to steal the guillotine blades, and along with them come several thousand souls trapped inside. I don't even want to imagine how much trouble that can cause in the wrong hands. Whether to free known criminals or just to use them as fuel for something, we cannot let this happen."
"The political scenario have apparently changed, so we might have a little more liberty, and we need to find out which one of the hypothesis is the most accurate. Let's split up and gather info, then reunite here in about four hours. We need to know when will be the "execution of the execution", how it will be performed and who's gonna do it. Whatever else you learn is welcome, and I'm sure you all have your preferred paths, so state what you will be doing or just do it. Please be careful, and try not to draw attention, as if we could. He draws his Scythe and and lays it over his shoulder. "Understood?"
Canim stands about uneasily, waiting for the exchange to be over.
sounds like an awful lot of talking with people will be necessary. not really my forte...
Byron was not without reservations but this man was teaching him and putting up with Byron's oft mood swings. So he could afford to give leniency and follow along.
"The theory is solid. Though we are trusting the perception of those we talk to. Trapped souls are valuable as we have seen. Trapped souls may be part of whatever plan there is to free Rovagug. I doubt even that sort of sacrifice could do much to free him but it may be part of it...
Byron came to an uneasy thought.
"or it may have something to do with the property of breaking seals. If it is possible that this blade can break souls sealing enchantment then the same process on a large scale may be what Rovagug's agents are after. If I were an agent of Rovagug I would position myself to be in charge of such a project using the cities desire to be rid of such terrible punishments in order to get the resources to make the research happen."
Finnigin takes the orders and tries to follow them. He will attempt to learn what he can from the locals about what is going on so that he can help the group make the right decision.
Finnigin's sleuthing reveals several rumors and facts.
Firstly that the ceremony to break the blades is in two days. Secondly the creator of the breaking enchantment Rigel Nicklebottom was found drowned on the shores of a river near his home. The authorities have ruled it a tragic accident.
The name of the current regime is, the unimaginatively named Final Revolution Party. They took control by gaining the support of the weapon smiths and magical engineers to deny weapons to the various regimes and warlords. They have turned the Capital Palace into a working office for the government and refuse to have any of their leaders live there.
Finnigin will relay the information he finds to the others.
"Well at least we won't have to worry about more of those weapons being made. I wonder who made the decision about Nicklebottom's death being an accident?"
"Would be wise to find that out. We need to find this enchanted blade and examine it. Assuming the worst, why would someone kill the man?"
You realize that's a rhetorical question, but he doesn't answer it.
Byron spent the time Finnigin was out to summon his golem whom he had gotten a degree more control over. At first Bryon had simply attempted to impart useful information to the creature but soon began to realize that it capacity to store knowledge was even greater then his, to a disturbing degree. Some days it would even step in to correct him with a cheerful
-Placation- Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it eventually
"we could pose as a research group who have come to see if we can fill the position left behind by the late Nicklebottom. My... golem has become rather good as crafting and spellcraft. The more knowledgeable of us could pose as a team while the rest wait for the inevitable ambush and assassination attempts."
-Query- Are you sure you are ready for such a project baby? -Dismay- I don't know if this is quite the right fit for you -Project Failure 70% likely-
"Perhaps we should just infiltrate this new government and find the blade?"
Nicklebottom's home was in small town a few hours outside of the capital.
That sounds like a plan. Maybe we can try to uncover a plot, carefully and quietly though.
Byron steps foot into the small town.
Byron makes his way to the closest group shop or bar.
"It's been far too long since I last visited! Would you happen to know where my partner Mr. Nicklebottom is at this hour? Have I made it in time for our works completion?"
Byron prepared his face, to react to the news of his 'partners' demise. Digging information often involved less coercion and more buying into peoples hidden desires. They don't want to be fooled by a stranger but perhaps they would like to do one last nice thing for a friend that has passed. The more they cared the less the paid attention to the holes in the story.
Cilian goes around town in a disguise looking to see if he can find out where the blades are being kept.
Canim will stick near the others unless he both sees that he is not needed and sees a library or university. If he sees a particularly fine eating establishment he will direct the group to it, if possible.
There are several in town who console Byron for his loss and ask him how they can help.
Cilian goes out in the disguise of a rugged half-orc and tries to make anyone he comes across tell him what he wants to know.