Lucius Difax has given them directions to a location in the Parego Dospera where he says one can sometimes find agents of the Bellflower Network. And in exchange, he will accompany them in the decrepit district this night to spy on the pale Winnow, Uskwood agent of Pangolais, so Yaos can build a working rapport with the young bastard with so much potential, Kylian Phandros.
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Following the directions Lucius Difax set forth, Yaos and Magnius leave the bustling Parego Spera, the cloudy afternoon muting Westcrown's citizens as they blandly meander through their colorless routines.
But at least in the Parego Spera there is still life and activity. Entering the Parego Dospera again, Yaos and Magnius feel the cold juxtaposition of Westcrown life and living on the peninsula district and Westcrown destitution and abandonment on the northwest district.
It soon becomes clear that Lucius Difax both told the truth and, perhaps knowingly, did not help afterall. Approaching a crumbling church near the north point of Westcrown, Magnius informs that he's been here before. This is the place he spied the Halfling Aaron Smallbridge! The Bellflower Network is now long gone from this place.
Ready to leave in frustration, a wicked creature known by both Yaos and Magnius from reputation, is seen approaching. The dreaded Bogeyman.
Known nemesis of the Bellflower Network and many other groups or individuals guilty of instigating Chaos and trying to break the glorious Infernal Empire, The Bogeyman is likely also arriving hunting down rumor of Halfling freedom-fighters.
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After introductions, Magnius and Yaos will return to the collapsing hovel where they saw the poverty-stricken Wayang and Gnome, huddling together in stale warmth for the night in their home. Remembering that the older couple seemed almost androgynous as they bedded to sleep for the night, and remembering that Kylian Phandros described Winnow as androgynous (as well a pale, thin and nocturnal), there is no harm in returning to check on the homeless couple. There is still a little time before night falls and the ever transient Dusk Market opens.
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Tomorrow they will leave Westcrown and find Magnius' marker and follow Aaron Smallbridge's trail.
There was a moment of uncertainty as, only a couple blocks away the girl seemed to panic for a time and rush around chaotically, haphazardly speed-walking in uncertain circles. Then she abruptly stopped by a merchant's egg cart and hurriedly bought several eggs, basketing them quickly before resuming her walk to the townhouse.
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From a short distance away Azlain sees the beautiful woman, who can not have seen but twenty years in the Infernal Empire, walk up the steps to an elegant brown-stone townhouse overlooking the sea, basket in hand. She pauses to quickly brush her luxurious hair and smooth her pretty dress. The door opens and a tall, old man -- more than twice her age -- exits angrily. His little wife was gone too long. Where has she been? What was she doing?
She enters her husband's house giving him the basket of eggs as answer. He begins inspecting their quality as she closes the door. It is only a moment before his shouting erupts. An eggshell has a crack; is she so stupid as to have not seen the crack before she bought the egg?! Here is another that is too small. And another that smells as though it was fertilized and has a chick in it already. How could she be so stupid, so careless. This time it is not a question but a statement.
Outside, Azlain hiding in the shade of stately elm tree on the cobbled path, the townhouse and neighborhood exude the wealth of merchant lords and Westcrown's elite. City guards are in sight. And a group of poor landscapers trim lush, leatherleaf viburnum hedges for the well-to-do of Westcrown.
Before entering the Parego Dospera Yaos has summoned her eidolon Red Wing and sent Pale wing above on aerial lookout.
When surprised by The Bogeyman Yaos, who looks very much the decorative socialite, reacts more like a veteran soldier; rising to the balls of her feet: raising her hands and turning side on to The Bogeyman. Yaos appears to be concentrating or gathering power then relaxes somewhat as she hears the man speak.
When The Bogeyman has finished speaking Yaos replies in level, apparently relaxed tones "Well, good evening to you. You are quite right, we are hunting the Bellflower Agents you mention. Perhaps before we share our intelligence on the network, you could introduce yourself and enlighten us on how you came by knowledge of who we pursue. That would be good etiquette, and you look like a man who puts a high value on manners and form." Yaos ends with a winning smile and if she is joking with her last sentence gives no sign of it.
"The Bogeyman. You certainly look the part. I am Yaos Battori, sometimes called the Red Widow or Yaos Hellbringer. I more aspire to be a plague on the Bellflower Network. I used to be a plague on those who invaded my house, killed a number of our servants and my husband and nearly killed me. But I had to give it up on account of them becoming extinct. You seem to have overlooked my question about how your Bogeymanness came to know about Magnius and I pursuing the Bellflower Network."replies Yaos, who from her manner could be conversing at some elite ball rather than with the intimidating figure in front of her.
"Seems logical and we definitely have enemies in common." Yaos replies while thinking Hmmm. And why does he happen to be here? We don't seem to be getting the full story. Nonetheless, he looks like an ally.. Yaos turns to Magnius and asks "What do you think Magnius? Do you know of The Bogeyman? And what do you think of his offer to work together?"
One, perhaps both, of these people was guilty of something. Everyone was, really. It was mostly just a matter of knowing where to look. Azlain removed his mask and his features melted back to his usual far less imposing visage.
"Mindy, go find out who they are." he said passing his familiar a small black orb and casting a simple spell to allow them to communicate.
Then, she shifted into the shape of a gecko and climbed down the chimney, disappearing from sight as she went. Once inside she became a rat and began slinking around, describing what she was seeing to Azlain through the Message spell.
The front door opens and the girl emerges hurriedly. She begins to run to the water's edge, presumably to throw the four sleeping pallets into the sea, never to be seen again. She looks fearfully over her soft shoulder in fear that her husband may have awaken and discover her with the four pallets.
It is not a strain on Azlain's memory that there were four prisoners the HellKnights were escorting to Taranik House.
He followed, letting the dark hide him. He put his mask back on again. His form shifted. Once again he was a Signifier.
He drew a scroll. As Mindy rejoined him he gestured toward the girl. "Use this. Stay above her." he whispered through their Message link.
Mindy took the scroll, invisibly taking position above the woman. Then, as Azplain threw his alchemical bomb she read off the magic of the scroll.
The grinning imp became visible as the crackling bolt of purple and green energy shot down and wrapped around the woman's neck.
At the mercy of her attacker the girl stays quiet, only gasping as the spell initially hit her. She knows she is caught. Ten feet ahead of her the break wall catches a wave that sends sea spray up in the air. And the wild flower at her feet that she was going to pluck for her husband as explanation of her being outside whilst he slept, stands rooted in the ground still.
Forty feet away a routine patrol of guards will come into line-of-sight with the girl in another moment.
Azlain calmly put her in a shackle and locked the other side of it to his own wrist. Then he pulled her along as the effects of the spell faded and the tanglefoot glue hardened and became brittle. He was unconcerned with the guards.
"Let's start with your name," he said as he led her away.
Spotting the 'Boogeyman' before he reveals himself, Magnius is not taken aback by the strange man. He is however, annoyed by the fact that Lucius duped them. He would pay for his lies. Which puts him a sour mood when the creep beings speaking.
"Cut the nonsense. Who are you, really, and why are you following us? I have no patience for theatrics while our prey is on the loose."
"Look The, you are attempting to be mysterious and clearly are not telling us a lot about who you are, why you happen to be here and how you know who our enemies are. We are not buffoons who will team up with someone we know nothing about when we about to face serious danger."adds Yaos, who obviously is in complete agreement with Magnius.
"Magnius, this has to be The Bogeyman. I took him to be a local myth, but here he is. He stalks the enemies of Asmodeus in this city, murdering them. I guess that includes the Bellflower Network, I just got here."Yaos is obviously certain that this is The Bogeyman but not sure what to make of him. She does not sound worried let alone terrified.
If Aaron Smallbridge is alone in the hideout he was running to after being spooked by word of being found, the Inq/Inv could have followed the Halfling by himself and taken care of it alone. But if Aaron Smallbridge has gone to a hideout with other agents, well, Yaos and Magnius don’t want what happened last time to happen again. If The Bogeyman is thinking something along those same lines, then joining together in common cause is a good idea.
And, if The Bogeyman is as good as his reputation, he may have some specific info on a place that Aaron Smallbridge may be going — which would also make following the Halfling’s trail much safer.
"I've heard of you, yes. But, I am wise enough to know you are not, in fact, an actual 'Boogeyman'. Keep your secrets for now, but if you endanger our mission or otherwise cause any trouble, know that the full weight of both the Hellknights and House Arvanxi will come crashing down on you."
"I have the best of leads. I know the rough location of one Aaron Smallbridge. Care to join me in hunting him down, and 'bringing him to justice'?"
"Is your lead one we can follow now Magnius? Or will we need to gather our gear for an expedition?"
"Well, if you are half as effective as your reputation indicates you will be an asset indeed Mr Bogeyman. Or can I call you The? Where are we off to Magnius?"
She has no knowledge of what they were hiding from.
She met them when her husband, a week prior, had brought them to his home for an evening wine-drinking social. They had been involved in a business dealing. Her husband's business involves inspecting ships and bills of lading.
One of the men flirted with her that evening, unbeknownst to the husband, Tirin. At first (she says) she was modest. Later in the social, because of the wine (she says), she allowed the flirtation. Several days later they contacted her privately, away from Tirin; they were in desperate trouble and needed her help. Her husband Tirin was NOT to be told. He must not be involved.
She knew it was wrong to hide them. She doesn't know from what they were hiding. Only they were handsome, and she's unhappy. They recognized that and were sympathetic. They consoled her. She cuckolded her husband. He must not find out, she urges.
When she saw the men arrested by the HellKnights she became terrified. She did not know it was that serious. She wanted to destroy the evidence.
"Please don't tell my husband." She is begging. More afraid of him finding out than any punishment from the Law.
It is only fifteen minutes before The Bogeyman recognizes where this is likely leading -- a walk of about six hours -- straight to a great old sycamore tree, underneath which a short, dug-out, crawlspace tunnel leads to a large sinkhole-made cavern that provides lair for up to a dozen Kobolds or Halflings or Dark Creepers or such. It is easy to post a guard or two in the Sycamore canopy to keep an eye on the approach from a long way out. It is very easily defendable.
Generations ago it was the sanctuary of a Dryad. But she was removed by some glorious Chelaxian pest control agents long ago.
He pauses from his task of removing a tick from a goat and runs to the spot where he piled some damp wood and a heavy goat-skin tarp. In a matter of minutes his bonfire is producing smoke and the tarp covers and uncovers the flame to make his smoke signals -- brief and simple and effective. Back in Westcrown the message quickly finds the Imp, Itch, servitor of Barbatos. And former Familiar to the Phandros clerk, Vaelin. Recently murdered by Yaos and Magnius and their allies.
His task done, the young teen boy happily jogs back to the goat to remove the blood-sucking pest from her flank. He dreams of when his reward, the potion that will poison his older brother. 'This time next month, I shall be heir to the farm!'
"You remember when we first met I told you I was sometimes called Yaos Hellbringer? I could call up a bevy of Lemures to flood the cavern with noxious gas and another bevy of fire elementals to immolate the tree and serve as foot soldiers. The thing that bothers me is the possibility of there being an escape tunnel, back exit or the like."Yaos speaks softly and thoughtfully, dismissing her eidolon as she speaks and examining the tree for signs of a lookout or, more likely, that one had been there in the recent past.
"I was thinking the same thing Mr Bogey, burn the whole tree down. I do agree smoke should reveal any passages."
"With all of them?" she said in the language only she and Azlain shared. "I like her."
The mask hid his face so Maria did not see Azlain's grin. "I think I do too." he said only to Mindy.
"You should have come forward." Azlain said to Maria, his Hellknight guise changing his tone to a chilling rasp. "You were guilty of nothing save trusting too much. Now, though, you are guilty. You saw that they had been arrested and instead of offering what you knew you attempted to hide the evidence of where they had been and your involvement with them. That is not a small crime."
"I may be able to help you reduce the punishment you are due, but that depends on how well you cooperate now."
"Did you husband say where and how he had met the fugitives? Any details about their business together?"
Seven guards now stand by Azlain. The Dottari. Wardens of Westcrown who patrol the various Parego and answer to Lord Mayor Arvanxi. The Aroden Eye, black over red, marks their stern uniforms.
The ranking guard suggests breaking down the door and interrogating Tirin. He is indifferent to whether Tirin learns of Maria's actions. But he recognizes both Azlain's authority and the fact that this was happening underneath his own patrol and it was Azlain and not he who made the discovery and arrest.
"There is no need of breaking down the door, Wardens. The lady of the house is right here." the Hellknight rasped.
"Stand guard out here. Have one of your number thoroughly search those bedrolls for anything left behind. The rest of you take up positions around the perimeter in case there are other accomplices inside who decide to run. I will enter and question Tirin. If he cooperates, your presence will be an unnecessary precaution."[b]
To Maria he said [b]"Introduce me to your husband."
It is truly remarkable how quickly his initial wrath at being awoken flashes to raw fear at the sight of a Signifer, a Duxotar officer and his little Maria in manacles.
Maria speaks immediately, trying desperately to control the flow of information. The four men he did business with the previous week had snuck into the basement to hide. Maria insists to Tirin she did not know. Her voice breaks as she blurts out.
Tirin is instantly forthcoming about his deal with the four men. He begins to produce copies of bills of lading for the Dottari and Azlain; he quotes code and procedure; he begins a formal statement.
Maria stands frozen in her manacles, wishing she could become invisible. It could take hours or days or months for The Order of the Cipher to determine guilt. Most likely Tirin will be subjected to Detect Thoughts and Zone of Truth and the like.
"Sir, please dress." he said to Tirin. "You will need to be moved to a more formal setting to give your statement. Your cooperation is a credit to you and has been noted."
He turned to the Duxotar. "Afford them both the courtesy they are due, but do not let them leave your sight while they prepare to leave. Have your men search the basement where the fugitives slept, then take them to be questioned. Keep them separate. I am not charging either of them with a crime at this time, but the chain of information must be protected."
Azlain wrote a quick report detailing the information he'd uncovered, but left out Maria's infidelity. He handed it to the Duxotar.
"They are in your custody."
Then he left, his dramatically swirling cape and two Imps following in his wake. A whispered command brought his undead steed to him.
"Lead me." he said to Itch as he mounted.
To Bogeyman "We're actually hunting the Bellflower as a whole, in connection to a prior violation."