With ruthless ambition and guile, you approach the caravan of Francesco Phandros within mere hours of its departure from Westcrown heading west to Gheradessci County.
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As the sun approaches its zenith, the rear of the caravan comes into full view. The fifth wagon, a barred cage of 21 Halfling slaves is closest to you. A dozen servants and aides for House Phandros flank the wagon, bearing carts and packs and a couple of mules for carrying their belongings. Despite their lot in life as serfs, they all seem excited to be travelling across the empire, leaving Westcrown behind to serve in a new home. The Halfling slaves, on the other hand, are more subdued, ankle-chained together in their barred wagon.
The fourth wagon, a good 20 feet in front of the slave wagon, is obviously carrying a great many barrels of wine and brandy and other, more exotic liquors. Other than the two drivers, no one is near the wine wagon.
The third wagon, a mere 10 feet in front of the alcohol, is filled with caravan supplies such as water, tents & bedrolls, foodstuffs and the sort. A half dozen guards, sleeping, rest on the wagon’s roof as a dozen guards walk close by (half looking quite alerts, the other six looking as though they’re waiting to replace the resting half-dozen sleeping on the wagon sooner rather than later.
The second and first wagons are considerably nicer and contain private suites for Francesco Phandros and his top aides. A well-armed Cavalier, a ruthless-looking Wizard, an Expert of some manner, and the noble himself.
Three Rangers serve as advance guards, scouting 500 yards ahead, and a single roguish guard rides horse 25 feet behind the slave wagon. The closest to your group, the Rogue is the first to see you approach, about 100 yards away, and calls out:
“Road Warriors from Behind! ….What’s your business on the road?!”
Maginus rides up, his armor glinting in the afternoon sun. While not true Hellknight armor, it bears a striking resemblance to that infamous attire. "Afternoon good sir! We are hear to provide warning to the good noble Phandros of an imminent attack on his caravan by those foul agents of liberty, the Bellflower Network. While I am certain you and yours are quite capable of dealing with those pesky freedom fighters, my companions and I wish to lend our considerable talents to the defense of your liege"
Alfred approaches the caravan with the others. When they are addressed and Magnius answers he will remain silent.
Let Magnius handle this for now, better if I remain in the background until explanations are needed
Within a few moments Francesco Phandros and his personal cadre approach where you are meeting with the Rogue, now only a few yards from the fifth wagon, crammed as it is with Halflings.
After brief introductions are made between yourselves and the dilettante, Phandros looks you over--
"'Road Warriors' looks accurate, Joareln. Powerful and loyal to Thrune.
"Well met. ....And tell me of this news of Bellfower Agents trying to steal my property."
Francesco Phandros looks equally curious and suspicious, but open. His Cavalier seems more trusting, but his Wizard, Rogue and Expert all look considerably suspicious.
Magnius takes note of the various dispositions of Phandros and his retinue, as well as the fact that the expert seems to also be a minor priest. "For that, my friend Alfred here can fill you in. He's the one who discover the vile plot so I yield to him."
"In one of the markets I recently came across a number of halflings talking amongst themselves. As I walked by them I couldn't help but over hear them mentioning your name and that you'd be making a trip for your up coming wedding. Given that they seemed more focused than usual on your potential route it seemed suspicious." Alfred takes a drink of water from his water skin before continuing. "I hung around and listened in a bit more. After an hour I heard them begin discussing how to most efficiently free your slaves and get them to other Bellflower agents to get them out of Cheliax."
"Given the circumstances I dug around a bit more for a few days while talking with my companions. Once I was certain it was no idle threat we traveled here to warn you"
Manius rode to the left rear of Magnius, two horses lengths separating them.
The noble looked as if the rigors of travel had not touched him. Riding high in the saddle, standing he would count above average in height and build, though not excessively so. Eyes as blue as a calm northern sea starred out with piercing intensity. High cheekbones, shoulder length black hair loosely tied back with a ribbon, and full red lips gave him an almost feminine look that was ruined only by his patrician nose.
Manius's clothing was simple traveling garb that nonetheless revealed his nobility by its cut and quality, in black and slate grays with blue highlights. Over his clothing was a shirt of chain, seeming to draw away and absorb the light it was such a deep shade of blue, and a dark grey cloak of fine wool. A bow and a morningstar were his obvious weapons, though his left hand was clad in a wicked looking spiked gauntlet.
Peaking out from beneath his collar and cloak was an odd birthmark, shaped like two circles bisected by a bar of some sort. On his unarmored hand he bore a signet ring, the blood drop and scepter of the House Battori easily identifiable with a quick glance. The scent of lavender hung in the air around him.
"With your blessing, lord, we would like to accompany you and assist in dealing with these anarchists." Manius almost spit the last word.
The last member of the group, Yaos, clad in red and black and astride a huge pale horse capable of bearing a large Hellknight in full armour and with Red Wing, a crimson bird of obviously supernatural origin, on her shoulder alertly takes in her surroundings but says nothing for the moment.
"The Red Widow, so I am known. My name is Yaos Battori. Greetings sirs."
Yaos looks over Phandros's caravan calmly, her gaze resting for a moment on Vaelin and a wary eye on the battle ready Rangers.
Arrogant, this Phandros. And his secretary believes himself to be frightening. I am beginning to enjoy this.
Magnius eyes the priest looking over Alfred. Gazing down from his horse, twisting so the symbol of the Godclaw is in plain view he intones "Something amiss, sir priest?" The inflection on that last word is evident.
Yaos, who does know who holds rank within House Battori, looks to Manius, ready to follow his lead. Sill on horseback, Yaos guides her steed so she can see most or all of Phandros's group.
Manius nods to his companions to join him as he follows young Phandros, "Before we continue, I should make proper introduction. I am Paraduke Manius II Battori, in vassalage to my brother, Duke Pavel II Battori. Yaos, as you may be aware, is my niece. Lord Magnius Arvanxi is the rather large fellow there. And, of course, Alfred." After indicating his companions he waited a moment for Phandros to process the relative ranks of the party.
"I suppose I am earning a debt from the House of Phandros, though that is not my primary intent. I have in my mind to catch some of these Bellflowers and interrogate them."[b] Manius took a deep breath, [b]"You may be aware that my bastard, Callum, was set upon by agents of the network not long ago."
The pactborn's blue eyes remained outwardly calm but two fine points of red began to shine from his pupils, "Now, I didn't like the boy much, too much arrogance for a whore's son, but the insult to the House and my stewardship of my desmesne sticks in my craw." The pinpricks of light began to dim and Manius's appearance became human once more, "So, I find out some assassins intend to set upon you and they may know or be the one's that killed my boy, seems the Iron Duke is blessing me." The inquisitor finished with a icy smile that did not touch his eyes.
Arrogant, even more so than I'd imagined
Alfred dislikes the looks given him by Vaelin, but doesn't let it show. While being formally introduced he makes sure he looks attentive.
Best let Manius and Yaos deal with this, I'm happy to be in the background anyway
Alfred doesn't indicate any desire to talk or draw attention to himself, content to let the Battori's lead for now.
Yaos mingles with Phandros and his caravan, friendly and almost impossibly beautiful.
At night:
Yaos on first watch?
Marius and Alfred on second?
Magnus and Pale Wing on third?
Sounds fine to me.
I am good with that
Sure.
Also during the next couple of days, though Aman the Phandros Lion is accepting of your group, it is ever more clear that the Wizard, Camabah, and through his insistence Vaelin, Francesco's clerk with the Holy Symbol of Barbatos, are more suspicious and distrusting of you. By the dawn of the second day, apparently, they have convinced Joareln the Rogue. Meanwhile, the three advance scouts and the eighteen soldiers (who rotate their shifts, twelve awake at a time) follow the Cavalier's orders enough not to be approached by the Wizard and Expert/Adept.
Yaos will display friendliness towards Aman. I will see what he says, but am not going to pump him for information.
Yaos will also take the opportunity to see if she can observe more closely the dynamics between Camabah, Vaelin and Joareln. Camabah is leading the other two it seems, I will see if I can observe anything more.
If the opportunity arises, I will have Pale Wing observe those three when they are alone from well above. I am not going to have Pale Wing approach too closely so a perception roll may be needed.
Over the course of travel, Magnius will attempt to sway, quietly and without attracting too much attention from the others, several of the guards to our side.
He will also try and talk to Vaelin, and see if he can learn why the priest dislikes our group so much.
After spending parts of her day quietly observing the dynamics of Francesco Phandros' cadre, it is clear that they seem to defer to Vaelin. It was Vaelin that Camabah first approached with his misgivings about the interlopers, and only when he convinced the Expert/Adept did the two approach Joareln. And Vaelin took the lead in that conversation, though Camabah, when it was his turn to argue the case to the Rogue, was more vehement and insistent than the Expert.
Yaos made friendly contact with the Cavalier, and the 'Lion of Phandros' seemed open to it. Well trained and loyal as befits an Order of the Lion Cavalier, Aman is clearly professional enough not to get too close to anyone other than his charge, Francesco Phandros.
.
Magnius, spending parts of his day among the dozen guards on duty at any given time (half beginning their shift / half ending their shift), quickly becomes popular. It is enough to bring their commander, Aman, around to make sure they drill and stay on their guard. But no frustration or ill-will comes from the Lion of Phandros toward the Arvanxi Lord at all. He knows it's just friendly chit-chat and Aman just wants to make sure his guards are doing their jobs.
Vaelin, meanwhile, listens to all that Magnius says and responds in kind, in appeasement. But there is an oily smirk to the man's appeasement and Magnius is unconvinced that his attempt at diplomacy has succeeded.
After halting the caravan at dusk on the second day, preparing for camping the night, Pale Wing observes something interesting, high in the sky as the Familiar is, eyeing Vaelin and Camabah.
The caravan itself maneuvers in her typical defense-for-the-night formation. The three Rangers as advance scouts come in-- two bed down immediately; one takes first watch. The six sleeping guards awake and join the more fresh six guards on duty; the six more tired guards quickly fall asleep.
The peasants and artisans and workers dutifully fulfill their obligations of making camp, building a fire, serving food and digging small poop-ditches just outside of camp. The Halfings in the chattel-wagon are given their allotment of food and water.
Francesco Phandros finishes sharing his opinions and a beautiful anecdote regarding his favorite Chelaxian poet to Alfred Ensbridge and Lord Manius as they finish a brandy and are invited to leave his personal wagon after a pleasant evening.
.
And Pale Wing sees Vaelin casting a spell, well hidden from prying eyes, next to Camabah and Joareln.
Yaos and Red Wing on first watch
Marius and Alfred on second
Magnus and Pale Wing on third
And Pale Wing sees Vaelin casting a spell, well hidden from prying eyes, next to Camabah and Joareln.
I take it there is no visible effect from Vaelin's spell? I figure you would have mentioned it if there was.
Pale Wing will alert Yaos to what is happening. If Yaos is within sixty feet of Vaelin and can cast it without being spotted by any of Phandros's minions, Yaos will cast detect magic in Vaelin's direction. My guess is they are too far away or obscured by too many things for this to work, but it is worth mentioning. Second Pale Wing will observe how long the spell takes to cast and anything that happens afterwards. Pale wing is not going to move any closer.
At some convenient moment, likely as the other three are about to bed down in our semi-separate camp before I take first watch, I will tell the other PCs about what I have found out.
This man is actually pleasant to be with
"... Yes I have quite thought that about it as well", Alfred comments on Phandros' anecdote. "Have a good night then sir, I shall leave as to be prepared for my watch later".
Leaving Phandros' wagon, Alfred walks back to between the third and fourth wagons and sets up his tent for the night and follows after the tired guardsmen to bed.
It took Vaelin several minutes to cast the spell and there was no visible effect, at least, according to Pale Wing. Afterwords, the three members of the cadre speak to each other quietly and then make their own wagon secure for sleeping. Joareln takes first watch among the cadre.
Yaos and Red Wing on first watch
Marius and Alfred on second
Magnus and Pale Wing on third
.
Magnius will stay awake through the first watch, talking with any of the guards that are also on duty, doing his best to convince them he is 'one of the boys'.
It is a truism of Cheliax that those who blindly trust are often betrayed. It is a truism of Cheliax that those who are suspicius by nature are often betrayed.
Camabah of Macini was a distrustful child, intrinsically suspicious of the mother who bore him. And in true Chelaxian fashion, she betrayed him. For a tremendous amount a gold he was sold to a wizard with an eye for prodigial talent. And Camabah learned much as an apprentice. Most importantly, he learned how and when to betray his master, who had foolishly trusted his apprentice. Now Camabah the Transmuter serves House Phandros, wise not to trust them too far, and ready to betray them as he knows they would betray him. And when four strangers approach the caravan of Francesco Phandros talking of trust and friendship and alliance, Camabah refuses to welcome them. And so he turns to Vaelin, the epitome of betrayal and dishonesty.
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Vaelin of Barbatos, more than a mere clerk and secretary for House Phandros, and hungry for permission to cut and burn and play with the footsies of another Halfling, readily agreed to use his most powerful ability, a spell-boon granted him by a true Cleric of Barbatos in Westcrown, to learn whether Camabah's gut instinct regarding the Halfling and his noble allies were true or not true.
So Vaelin, Expert clerk for Phandros and Adept for Barbatos, sat cross-legged in a pentagram after taking nearly ten minutes to scratch it in the dirt, and began intoning to his Devil-God. With humility he sacrificed a gold trinket in the form of a Halfling's foot, bruised and whipped, and then with the burning of some incense, began to finish his ritual. With Camabah, Joareln and Itch close by -- and Pale Wing spying in the air above -- he asked his Divination.
What befalls Francesco Phandros and his allies if we trust these interlopers, Manius and Yaos, Magnius and the Halfling with the pretty feet, Alfred Ensbridge?
And at the end of ten minutes, his ritual Divination complete, a Herald of Barbatos answered the powerful augur.
WOE befalls Francesco Phandros and woe befalls his allies, if any show trust or give quarter to those so named. Like good devils, they mask truth with lies. Ask me not again, false cleric!
An hour-and-a-half into the first watch, most people sleeping by now, Lord Magnius Arvanxi tries to pass the time with the dozen guards and the Ranger on first watch, keeping an occasional eye on Yaos and Red Wing and his sleeping allies.
Meanwile, the wonderfully wicked Imp Familiar, Itch, creeps up behind Yaos and prepares to put her to sleep an instant before Joareln and Camabah and Vaelin attack the camp. They hope the Ranger and dozen guards can handle, or at least delay, Lord Magnius Arvanxi.
Perception from Yaos and Red Wing, please.
Nothing special against invisibility. Imps don't usually have sleep, which is not to say this one does not.
My will save would be +11, but I am immune to magical sleep effects, Half-
elf racial trait.
Initiative:
(for use in both current Surprise Round and regular initiative order):
.
And a DC 10 Perception check for the Ranger, six guards, and Lord Magnius Arvanxi, to notice an Imp stinging Yaos.
Success on the Perception means one can participate in the Surprise round.
Initiative:
Magnius jumps to his feet, and gestures for the guards to do the same "Treachery! My companion is under attack from a fiend! This must be the work of that foul priest Vaelin!. Come my friends, if you side with the righteous, true power of Asmodeus and Cheliax, I will gladly offer you double what these weak pretenders pay you!"
Surprise Round:
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26 Joareln
23 Yaos .... Unconscious due to poisoning
20 Camabah
19 Red Wing .... Sent back to the Outer Plane from where it came
14 Lord Magnius Arvanxi
11 Itch, Imp Familiar
9 Ranger / Scout
4 Six Guards
1 Vaelin
Since Yaos failed the save vs the Drow poison, she goes unconscious and Red Wing disappears.