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Bree and company make it down to the water's edge without incident. The air is cool, creating a mist that rolls off the water, making the beacon light you saw earlier nearly indistinguishable. There is no activity. No one approaches the group. Kaylen: From your vantage point, you watch the party advance, seeing no one else in the vicinity.
Bree is fairly certain there are no ambush points between the alley and the location at the water's edge. Bree:
The only unknown variable is St. Casperian's. The building is mostly dark, with a lot of potential hiding spots. Kaylen: There is a pattern to the light, as if a signal is being repeated.
Kaylen and Winter watch the light, and after a few minutes see that there is a pattern to the flashing light. Winter: It is a code used by boats at night to communicate with each other. Creesy kept good on his word, and his men are just off-shore in case you need any help.
The two elves head off to the north, leaving the party behind. The streets remain quiet for the rest of the night, allowing the group to rest. Kaylen: You see two elves walking along the road heading north. They appear to be in conversation, but from this distance, you can't make out what they are saying. The shorter of the two has a bow with an arrow ready to be fired.
Continuing on, they don't stop. If they've seen you, they make no motions towards you. Just before dawn, you see a light flashing out on the water.
Kaylen:
The church, and the grounds appear to be quiet since the church bells rang out. Even the vagrants have cleared out. The only sound is the nearby water splashing against the shore. Sebastian:
It looks like they both have a bow hidden under their cloaks. The cloaks are loose-fitting, allowing easy access to their weapons. In the dim moonlight, you can see that the speaker is palming a small weapon, some kind of jabbing spike. The speaker nods to Winter, "The city is stifling. We are staying in a small copse of trees to the north." Seeing Sweeney's crossbow, the elf in the shadows backs away, speaking elven... Elven:
"We'll find her tomorrow, let's go."
These are the same two elves from the Foxy Fiddler. They seem uneasy to say anything more, moving away from the party, glancing up and down the street. Whispering to each other, the speaker moves forward again. "We were separated earlier this week. She said she had business with the Cypherlodge, but wouldn't say what exactly."
Kaylen: Moving back to your original position, you see where the woman had collapsed is now vacant. A red streak of blood trails towards the door of the church.
For the moment, no one else accosts you, or shows any interest in you.
At the mention of poison, the two elves share a look. "It would seem that a poison barb comes from someone who is known for using poison." "If you have found her, I would ask for her location, so that we can take her back home." DM Rolls: Elf Bluff - 8
Peering into the darkness, Sable also sees the two elves. At Winter's request, they stop, then step forward into the moonlight--the blot having drifted out towards the harbor. Elf (in elven): "Stay your sword warrior of Riddleport. We have no qualm with you or your lot." He moves closer, exposing his bare hands. "We are guests of your city, and have lost our...companion. There is word she'll be at the water's edge, near a church."
Korax squawks to Sable. It almost sounds like the bird is talking. Sable:
The bird appears to shrug. "Sleep at gold nest." Winter sees the mob fighting over the rags, and watches them scatter as the church bell rings. The rings echo across the district, muffled by the fog drifting through the streets. Winter:
When the 3rd ring finishes, moments later you see a pair of men walking on the far side of the side, trying to keep to the shadows.
With your darkvision, you see them attempting to hide in the shadows. You recognize them immediately as the two that you saw at the Foxy Fiddler. DM Dice Rolls:
Two figures - Stealth 10
Winter - Perception 13 Winter - Perception x2 27 ------------------------------------------ Kaylen: Hiding behind the tree, you can hear shouts from inside the church. Most of the words are muffled, but you're sure you heard the name Beltias a few times.
After a few minutes, there is no follow-up shot from the rooftop, nor any pursuit out on the lawn.
Bree:
It's more a tug-of-war, with the odd punch thrown in here and there. Bree's attention turns from Sable, and she notes that when the church bells start ringing, they drop everything and scatter.
Kaylen: The rock strikes the window, and you hear it crack. As the rock hits, the blot has moved, allowing some moonlight to shine down. From the corner of your eye, you see a figure on the rooftop move. Moments later, a crossbow bolt is embedded in the tree trunk next to you.
Kaylen: Moving to a nearby tree, the ringing stops after three rings.
Dogs start barking, people lean out windows shouting at each other. In another upper window a torch ignites. Silhouetted by the light, a hooded figure comes to the window. You can feel eyes roving the grounds looking for you. After a few minutes the light is extinguished. With the blot blocking out the light from the moon, you can still sense someone standing there watching.
Kaylen:
As you move back to your post, you see a man standing at a second story window in the church. Suddenly, he moves across the room. You track him as he moves, losing sight of him when he goes through a door.
Moments later, the church bell starts ringing. -------------------------------
As the party settles in and gets comfortable, a nearby church bell starts ringing. Bree: The church bell is likely coming from St. Caspieran's
Kaylen:
You swing the hammer in a wide arc, hitting an old woman, and a teenage boy.
The woman crumples, and the crowd pauses for a moment. They rush over to her, pawing at her. Moments later, they start tearing everything off her body. Running off, they leave her bleeding, moaning, dressed only in a filthy shift. For now, there is no one else on the street. --------------------------------- A few minutes after the party stops in the alley, a small group of people stop near the entrance. They are picking through blood-spattered clothes, fighting over the rags, and a few small trinkets.
As the party proceeds north through the streets, the buildings become more ramshackle. Where you were walking on cobblestone, you're now lucky to find a single flagstone amid the muck and mud that passes for a street. Where there is dry land, homeless families huddle around a lone candle, the father of the pack reading from a book, or telling a tale. The children run up, asking the party for anything to help out. Bree leads the party to Splithog Alley, a run-down, poor neighborhood in the north of Riddleport. She quickly finds an alleyway a few blocks from St. Caspieran's. A halfling at the entrance to the alley shares a few hand gestures with Bree. He disappears into the shadows, and even with darkvision, moments later is nowhere to be seen. Bree:
You can give him a name. He'll watch over the alleyway, providing the party with a safe place to rest.
This area of Riddleport is the most crime-ridden of anywhere else. Hopefully you can find a way to stress that. :) ------------------------ Kaylen: Stopping for only a few minutes, you are beset by throngs of beggars. They appear to have come out of nowhere, their arms outstretched, pleading for help of any kind.
Within a minute, a dozen of the poor souls are clamoring at your clothes, attempting to loosen your purse-strings, and strip you of your weapons.
Kaylen:
The girl is quiet, shaking her head. "Be there at dawn. Angvar had us keep odd hours so that we would be ready for the early-hour rendezvous."
"Angvar suspected Zincher was behind this whole escapade. Word on the street is that Zincher wants Saul floating in the harbor." ----------------------------
The wind has died off once again, the clouds in the sky hang lifeless.
DC 15 Perception:
The blot appears to have moved, so that it is blocking the moon, making the street darker than when you arrived. A pair of gendarmes patrol the street, eying up the party as they pass, but making no move to intercept.
DC 20 Perception:
The gendarme on the right is noticeably shorter than his partner. His eyes keep darting around, and his cheek keeps twitching. The congregation at the temple starts trickling out, moving away from the church in packs of three or four. They are moving quickly, looking over their shoulders. Near the end of the street, in the dim glow of a street torch, you see a young girl trip and fall. Her father yells. He goes back to her and grabs her hand. He then drags her down the road, around the corner. Looking up at the temple, you see Latricia and the other priest scrambling to close the doors, dousing the torches around the door. Moments later, numerous locks are heard being set into place.
Kaylen: "I think it was dawn. There's an old ferry dock there. The stranger said the girl would split the coins with us there."
"We had a run-in with a Captain Creesy. It turned out we hit the wrong boat. All we could find were stores of food. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, we tried walking off with it." "The captain had other ideas. He drug Elvoy below-decks. A few minutes later we could hear him screaming. It lasted for a few minutes, and then everything was silent." "Creesy sent his men out after us, and we barely escaped with our lives." -------------------------
Overhearing Winter, Latricia speaks up. "Unfortunately, the temple doesn't operate on good will alone. I apologize if the idea of changing money offends you, but we all have to survive here." Her demeanor is calm, as if she's had to explain this numerous times before. "If you will all excuse me, the girl and I must rest," she finishes.
Thuvalia's eyes bulge when she sees the blood dripping. Kaylen:
"We...we're...we were...trying to keep food on the table."
She tries getting more comfortable, pulling at the bonds again. "A month ago, we heard about a boat bringing Thassilonian artifacts into port. Angvar was the one who was interested. He figured no one would miss one little artifact. "He said he knew someone who would buy it. Jeb Hartlin, the owner of J. Hartlin Trading House. He had fenced items for us before, and Angvar thought it would be an easy sell. "The night we went to relieve the boat of it's prize, a man with a deep hood intercepted us a couple of slips from the boat. "He told us that he wanted the winnings from the upcoming tournament here at the Gold Goblin. Offering us a 10% share if we were able to get the chest, Angvar readily agreed. "I was nervous about the job, with so many people attending, but Angvar said he had it all figured out. "After getting the chest, we were to meet his partner at the river's edge near St. Caspieran's. We were never told her name, only that she normally wears her hair in a single, long braid. ----------------------------
Latricia nods to Sebastian. "She'll need to rest here overnight. If you like, you can return in the morning to check on her. Addressing the entire group, Latricia continues. "I am willing to waive the exchange of money for helping the girl, if you would look into the source of the poison that afflicted her."
Thuvalia fights her tears, but one trickles down her cheek when Kaylen mentions Angvar. "If only he'd been faster with his scrolls," she says. Slumping into the bed, she stares between her feet at nothing. The only sounds are her breathing, when she asks a question. "If I tell you all that I know, will you let me go unharmed?" -----------------------
Sebastian notes that the priest has a way with his words. The congregation sits on the edge of their seats, nodding their heads when appropriate. -----------------------
Bree enters the room, and hears Winter talking, "...may be a matter for us to look into." The priestess looks over when Bree enters. Addressing Winter and Sable, "One of your companions?" Pic of Latricia--although she's not floating :P Found this picture today...do we want to know what Bree is doing?
"The blot...sounds like Drake is also working my followers up out there." She stops, listening to the sermon, smiling. "I'm sure we'll get a few more converts tonight," she says, arching her eyebrow inquisitively at the pair before her. Continuing, she goes back to talking about the poison. "Do you have time to investigate the poisoning? I've never seen it so effective. Usually it takes days to reach the point the girl was at, and I would like to know the source." -----------------------------------
Making it to the rear door, Bree hears Winter, Sable, and an unknown woman talking.
-----------------------------------
Glaring at Kaylen with her one good eye, she spits in her general direction. "Go to Hell!" Managing to loosen one of the ropes holding her wrists, she tries using her teeth to undo the knots holding her in place, crying when she can't gain her freedom. "Angvar," she moans, "why did you ever mix us up with that robed stranger?"
"The cyphergate...less than an hour ago two robed and hooded elves were here asking about a girl poisoned at the cyphergate. They were extremely angry when I couldn't help them. "They left before I could ask them any questions."
"I'm not surprised you haven't seen it in the mountains. The poison is extracted from mushrooms which grow in cold, dark caves." Latricia regards Winter and Sable for a few moments. "I would like to know more about the origins of this poison. Do you speak for your group?"
A young man stands before a congregation of twenty people. "The blot is a sign that Riddleport is doomed to destruction. The Seventh Act is a lesson for this city. I have not yet seen a ghoul walking the streets, but there are many whom Iomedae will bathe in blue fire as the city is purged of sin and vise." The priest continues in the same manner. There is no sign of Winter or Sable.
The dwarf you met earlier let's you in through the main doors. Cleaning the floors, the elf girl you met in Saul's office greets Kaylen with a smile and a wave. Thuvalia has been moved to one of the hourly rooms, tied to the bed.
Kaylen takes the inebriated Loy over to the waterfront, where she asks a teamster for direction. Finding the Barrelstorm, the crew grudgingly takes him on board, threatening him with a keel haul.
Bree leads Kaylen and Sweeney through the streets, where they encounter Sebastian sitting on the steps of the crumbling temple. ---------------------- The priestess stands up, holding her arm out to allow Korax to perch on it. "An amazing bird, it's as if he understood what I was doing." Korax flies off back to his perch in the rafters, watching from above. Turning to Winter and Sable, the priestess introduces her as Latricia Evanore. Once introductions are exchanged, she asks, "Who poisoned this girl? And why?"
Chort thinks for a moment, then snaps his fingers. "The Barrelstorm."
At the Foxy Fiddler, Sweeney catches the inebriated Loy. As he does so, the clattering of coins can be heard. Looking over, you see Sweeney's hands in Loy's pockets. ------------------------- The priestess leads Winter and Sable into a room lit with a dozen candles of various shapes. She takes the elf from Winter's arms, and lays her down on a stone slab. Laying her hands on the elf's neck, the priestess utters words of divine magic. "Novinus venah epurlahn." Korax swoops down from the rafters where he was perched, watching the spell take shape. A green light glows from underneath the cleric's hands, and Aetheri is washed in the same light. Moments later, the glow subsides, then vanishes, and the elf girl lays still, breathing normally.
Loy stands up and leads Sweeney over to the bar where Chort pours out two fresh mugs of ale. Downing most of his in one swallow, Loy nearly topples over, forcing Sweeney to hold onto, and stabilize the man. ---------------------- Heading away from the docks, you find that there are more lanterns set out to light the roads. After a few minutes of dead end streets, and a street urchin with bad information, you come across a crumbling stone building. The door is askew, hanging limply in it's frame. From within, a dull light is swallowed by the encroaching fog. Climbing the steps, you see that there is a small congregation of worshipers gathered inside. A young woman stands before them, reading from a book. After finishing the passage she's reading, she looks up and sees you at the door. She beckons you inside, and another priest takes over the pulpit. Meeting you at the door, she asks turns her attention to the girl. Without waiting for an invitation, she kneels down and examines the girl, looking carefully at her neck. She stands, and starts toward the back of the building. "Bring her," she instructs.
Sweeney: "Ah, you know...the girls 'ere are like everywhere. They play hard to get, but Loy gets 'em." He laughs, and takes a swallow of his drink. "Cept that one...Lora." Smashing his mug onto the table, it explodes, sending glass shards everywhere. "Smashed a cup on me head for wanting some time out back." He rubs his head, scowling. Looking for another drink, he starts to stand up.
Meanwhile, over at the bar... Chort shakes his head. "It's a sad state that boy is in. Never did hear his tale when he first showed up." Digging out a bottle of wine, he pours Kaylen a glass. "I guess he does well enough in a fight. Likes to use his fists on my girls. Had to throw him out earlier tonight." Sipping at his wine, he thinks for a moment. "Nice girl, Lora is. Maybe too generous, bringing that elf girl in here..."
Bree: There's the back door into the alley, or the front door out to the street. ----------------- The sailor with the red cap looks up at Sweeney and shrugs his shoulders. "Free coun'ry." Sitting down, Sweeney can smell sweat and vomit on the sailor. His eyes bloodshot, red cap tries focusing on Sweeney. Wagging a finger at Sweeney, the drunk sailor continues. "Din' we sail on Black Birdge together? O'er in some Sand Dune city.." He pauses, reliving some moment in his head. "Yea...we 'ad us some fun that trip." He raises his drink, and seeing Sweeney doesn't have one, hands over a mug with a couple of swallows left in it. "For old times." ----------------- Over at the bar, the barkeep brings Kaylen a drink. He seems a little happier seeing the elf being taken out. Kaylen's hand having brushed against some sticky stain on the bar, you're surprised to see your drink come in a clean mug. "Loy?" he looks over at the red cap. "Sure. Been coming in here since the day his feet touched the docks. A good four years or so." He sighs. "Good at spending money, but not holding onto any jobs. Served on three different ships since Pharast." "Always getting into fights with his shipmates, or thrown into the local stocks. Surprised he hasn't been keel-hauled yet."
You would definitely be aware of the temple.
She swoons under Sebastian's touch. Gazing deep into his eyes. She leans forward, closing her eyes. The girls rush over, giggling, admonishing Lora for acting like a schoolgirl, and take her back into the depths of the room before she can get a kiss from Sebastian. Unwillingly dragged away, she looks shocked and hurt. One of the girls escorts Sebastian to the door, telling him to bring news of Aetheri. Blocking the doorway, she gives him a quick description of the attacker. "Aetheri was spending a lot of time at the cyphergate. She's convinced it's related to the Blot. You might want to try asking at the Lodge for answers." As the door closes, Sebastian catches sight of Lora, who has enough time to blow him a kiss before the door latches shut. --------- Winter and Kaylen work together hoisting the elf girl up the chute. After a minute of struggling, she is in the store room, a ragged wound in her neck now clearly visible. A closer look reveals a thin piece of metal, like the tip of a dart embedded beneath the skin. Her eyes flutter open once again, and she opens her mouth to speak. The only word you can make out is "Blot". Her eyes do not close, instead, staring off into nothing.
Lora stares at the ground for a few moments before raising her eyes to Sebastian's. As if suddenly realizing that she's almost nude, she distracts herself and grabs a nearby sheet, covering her chest. "Your kindness knows no end," she starts. "One of the regulars, he's leaving in the morning and wanted some company. I told him no, and he got a little too touchy for my liking." She seems reluctant to go on, but continues as she sidles in closer to Sebastian. "I broke a mug over his head, and he threw me against one of the tables. I was barely able to get away before the bouncers could drag him outside." Biting her lower lip, she cocks her head to one side, her eyes flickering, as if debating something in her thoughts. "He should be in for his last drink. His ship won't be setting sail until noon. If you could...teach him some manners...?" she asks, her hand gripping Sebastian's shoulder.
Knowledge (local--temple) DC 15: There is a small temple to Iomedae a short walk north. The head priestess is a woman named Latricia Evanore.
After spending more than a brief moment peeking through a cracked doorway, the room appears to not be the "pen" that Winter described. A magical light illuminates the area, revealing this room as a common area, with doorways leading off to smaller rooms. The serving girl, Lora looks at Sebastian, then starts giggling. "Why would we go anywhere?" Turning around and spreading her arms outward, "this is our home...cramped as it might be." She walks over to Sebastian, first watching to make sure that Aetheri is being taken care of, then turning her attention to the bard. "Why would you want to help a scholarly elf?" she asks. "She has no money, few belongings, and I doubt she could repay the services rendered at the temple." Nodding to Winter, but not leaving Sebastian's side, "There shouldn't be any problems taking her out...Chort never wanted us to bring her down."
Inside the room, four girls dressed in night clothes hover over an elf woman. Her neck is blistered, small bumps oozing black pus. Sebastian's spell eases the elf's moaning for a few moments. Her eyes flutter open, and she raises her head up off the pillow. She rasps out a few incoherent words, and collapses back onto the bed. The bumps slowly start oozing once more, and the elf starts shivering in her sleep. Heal Check - DC 17: She appears to have been infected by a poison made from poison mushrooms. It creates a feeling of drunkenness, and sends it's target into a deep slumber. While sleeping, the poison works it's way through the body, creating a fever. When the fever breaks, the poison starts affecting the brain, turning the person into a slobbering, rage-filled maniac.
Sebastian:
The girl steps outside the door, and grabs your arm as you start to climb the ladder. "Aetheri is hurt..." she says, her eyes watering. "She stumbled in earlier, we brought her down, and her neck is all red and swollen." Entering the back room, the party sees a trap door open. Peering down into the hole, you see Sebastian talking to the serving girl who was just working. She's holding his arm, standing half-naked.
The two barflies are sloshing ales around, singing sea shanties. They stop for a moment, then go back to their song. Sebastian: You hear whispered voices from inside, then a lock unbolting. The door opens a crack, and the serving girl is standing there topless, an arm folded across her chest, with a wet sponge in her hand. "Please, it's been a long night, and I want to get cleaned up. If you're looking for company, the quickwives have closed shop for the night."
She stands silently, waiting on your response. From within, a baby cries, and a voice hushes it back to sleep.
Sebastian:
You descend the ladder, one of the wooden rungs gives way under your weight. A small splinter embeds itself in your leg (no hp damage). Knocking at the door, a small voice, like a child's comes from the other side. "Please, leave us be. We've done our work." Rest of party, Perception check Perception - DC 10:
The creaking of rusty hinges comes from the room where Sebastian just disappeared into. Perception - DC 15: In addition to the creaking, you also hear the cracking of wood from the same room.
Sebastian: Underneath the store room you see a ladder. At the bottom, a door. There are no light sources inside the 'room'.
Sebastian: It turns out your experience in the theater has paid off. A loose floorboard reveals that there is a hatch. You now see the hinges, and outline of the trapdoor. A quick test, and you determine it shouldn't be too hard to open.
Sebastian only...for now :) :
Walking into the back room, you find crates of foodstuffs, barrels of ale, and a pile of dishes in a basin.
There is no sign of the girl, and no other exits from the room. Bree:
The trading post is in the north end of the city, only a block from your rendezvous point. The barkeep shrugs at Bree, and pours a new round of drinks. "Doesn't make much difference. After that scorcher yesterday, this is all warm piss-swallow." He hands Bree the mugs. "Enjoy."
Finishing her cleaning, the serving girl, hair hanging in her eyes, shirt-sleeves torn, and a bruise forming on her upper arm, takes the party's last order before disappearing into a back room. The barkeep sends a tall, drunken man to deliver the drinks, who manages to deliver half of them...the other half soaking into the wooden floor. Bree: J. Hartlin Trading House
The Foxy Fiddler is mostly empty at this late hour. A few bar flies are nursing their ales, flirting with the scantily clad serving girl who is working at cleaning the floors. The barkeep, a small, gaunt man peers up over his glasses, looking up from a book he's reading. "Kitchen's closed, and rooms are full up. Taps still open, a copper a draft." After your eyes adjust, you see two men standing at the back of the common room, dressed in robes and hoods. Swathed in shadows, you can see the light of the fireplace flickering off their eyes. They quickly turn away, and make their way to a nearby door, disappearing into the alleyway behind the building. Darkvision PCs:
Anyone with darkvision would see that they are elves.
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