Baldwin the Merciful's - CoT Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master baldwin the merciful

Andrea sips her wine as Daniel speaks first and then draws several bundles of papers from her satchel.

Daniel is correct, Ilnerik is dead and and most if not all of his shadowmen forces have been slain along with his otherplanar allies the Nilohi and Nightcrawler. Andrea then plaves the bundles of paper on the tabel for others to look over.

These papers we recovered have details of the council as well as members I believe, we didn't have the oppurtunity to do a thourogh reading but I believe the Dottari and Hellknights will be most appriciative to receive these, especially if they help ferret out any traitors.

There is still a significant amount of valuable items in Walcourt that we were unable to take with us. I would request that a number of dependable men be sent to secure Walcourt so we can remove as much a spossible. We can provide an extensive map of the location.

Lady Grulios steps up with the other nobles listening intently, curiously looking at the hedge hog poking out from the witches blouse. She waits for the other heroes to speak.

So you have the following noble families represented: Oberigo, Tilernos, and Grulios. from your prior history you know the Tilernos and Gruilios family are allies.

How about the Missepes?

How about the Missepes?

They don't appear to have a representative at this meeting.

I'm waiting on Gerard, Phem and Orsin to add to the conversation.

As Orsin pointed out, Euphemia is a guest in this room. Whilst her mother might have grown up in the lap of such luxury, she grew up in Rance's apartments... She isn't up to speed on all of the political intrigue at work, here.

"My desire here is simply to aid in the slaying of the devils. The treasure should help with that aim, but so would more information on what has happened during our time below."

Gerard was never good at diplomacy, always letting decisive action speak for him. Why mince words? He owed these nobles scant little.

The Council of Thieves shall be dismantled, corruption will not be tolerated. Any action or intent against the people of Westcrown shall be met with extreme prejudice. No one nor collective will be allowed to stop us.

Now, let spies slink back and inform their masters. Let the wise sally forth and garner support.

"You've done a mighty deed and service to all..." a very short pause, ...but let's not get ahead of ourselves, you've exposed the council and damaged a significant pod but there are other elements, those I fear have gathered their strength and forces under the siblings." She signs a bit, "You've done excellent work but this city is spinning in chaos right now, which is, and was, Chammady and Ecarrdian Drovenge's ultimate goal."

Your brother listens to the discussion Daniel then speaks up, "I can afford to send one squad of 6 men to that guide house." He looks over to the Grulios family, "can you spare an equal sized squad?" There is brief nod.

The representative from the Oberigo family quickly chimes in,"We are happy to send over 3 or 4 squads in support." That comment has a chilling effect with the other nobles.

lady sascar is correct about dealing with the chaos in the city. We should check up on old friends and see if they can help. She looks at Orsin. we should see if John, Lucrezia and Faelyn can be of assistance.

Lord Tilernos waves off the representative from the Oberigo family's offer to send help. "Twelve men should be enough...I'll send make sure that we send Talberd the Grey with the two squads...in case magic is necessary." The message is clear that the treasure hoard is coming back safely.

Before the representative from Lord Oberigo departs, he will address the heroes, "Your assistance with my lord was greatly appreciated and although certain noble houses have varying business interest within the city, we can certainly agree to put those differences on hold for the betterment of the city. The Drovenge family has caused a binding between house Oberigo, Tilneros and Grulios along with their beholden families. We will, do and, commit resources to this cause." He bows to the group.

Lord Tilneros will state to the representative, "As agreed earlier the families will met here tomorrow at noon to report progress." Obviously, before the heroes arrived the three noble houses came to some cooperative agreement.

Daniel remains silent for the rest of the meeting unless directly pressed. He was a soldier and Tilneros the head of the noble house they were in. As much as they were all supposed 'friends', protocol would still need to be observed. This alliance among the houses was new and so it would take time to solidify. When the other hoises leave he finally presses his brother.

Have you any contact with Jenivein or Areal? They should be kept abreast and the others no doubt await further orders. With the destruction of Illnerik the shadow curse is ended but I would remain with them if allowed. The twins have made unlawful attacks on many houses. I would see justice done and with the current chaos in the city I do not feel the Hellknights sufficiently...motivated for the task.

And after John did so much for us!

I believe we have a line of communication into the Hellknights, A friend of ours, John Deos is a Hellknight Armigar and was with our group from the start before he left for other duties after our raid on the Red Knives. I believe I can ask him to be our representative to the Hellknights and help cooperation so the riots and attacks in the city can be quieted.

I have to see if Duncan is still sore over our parting. Sigh. I hope he is willing to lend a hand. I think I will check on Faelyn as well, I believe I now have the ability to restore Khazrae to her true form, an Erynie's aid would be very useful.

Euphemia just lets the entire conversation sink in for a moment, pursing her lips and petting her hedgehog despite the spines.

"Is anyone else hungry at this very moment?"

Andrea looks down at the crumbs of the bread,meat and whatnot on her plate.Not very I'm afraid.

"Oh, I suppose I was allowed to eat from the start... Erm... There is no need to pay me any mind whatsoever."
Euphemia finally indulges. Etiquette... that... that is a thing, but it's not here.

Lady Grulios and her entourage departs soon after the representative form House Oberigo. Thereafter Lord and Lady Tilneros will begin explain a few things that have happened over the last two days.

"Although your deeds are appreciated and will have deep ramifications in shedding light on this dark City, I fear we are still teetering on disaster." Lord Tilneros remarks. "Chaos rains supreme and it HAS caught House Thrune's attention. It’s really just a matter of time before the Imperial Navy, lead by General Vourne, sail down the Adivian River to institute martial law over Westcrown under the orders of House Thrune. While this would likely result in a restoration of peace, General Vourne is not a subtle man. Many innocents would perish and many businesses and families would be lost. Westcrown’s been lucky over the past 70 years in that the government hasn’t been too oppressive—if the general arrives to find the city incapable of governing itself, Westcrown will not be a pleasant place to live for a long time to come."

Lady Tilernos then joins in by suggesting, The most important goal,
therefore, should be to get the riots and looting and mayhem under control—indeed, this is likely the Council’s plan: let things spiral into chaos, then step in to re-establish order and convince Vourne that the Council has control. There’s no doubt that Thrune doesn’t care who rules Westcrown, so long as they do so without causing a fuss, and this would give the Council of Thieves an incredibly successful and powerful grip
on the city’s future."

Lord Tilernos mentions, "It is best if you all get some rest, lets get your gear tidied up and I'll make sure Areal and Janiven get word that you are safe and sound, I'm sure they will want to fill you in on the Brotherhood's activities." He chuckles and looks at Euphemia, "Your brother Rance has been quite helpful these last few days."

------
The Captain that Daniel spoke to entering the grounds does appear with a squad of men. "Sir, the Gruilos unit is already being deployed to Walcourt and Sir Talberd is with them. How do you wish we proceed? Do you want the items removed and brought back here or should we simply stand guard? Should we expect any visitors that we do now know?" He looks at Gerard.

Even if we can show that this has the arch-devil Mammon's fingerprints all over it? We have found the infernal contract that states the terms of the bargain between the Elder Drovanage and the arch-devil. If Eccardian gains his greatest wish, then his sister is sacrificed. Considering that Thrune doesn't play nice with other religions, I don't know if they would accept him in control.

In the matter of the contract, it has been discussed that we reveal the contract to Chammedy and she if we can gain her aid in this matter. Even if we can, I say she should suffer the same fate as her brother and if we are able, kill her after dealing with Eccardian.

"They might just destroy one another." Euphemia points out, dabbing her face with a napkin. "Therefore showing her the contract would not be a wasted effort."

"Being Judge, Jury and Executioner should not come so rashly." The paladin leader of the house states with a touch of concern for Andrea's soul. She has witnessed and been much hardship and loss over the last year. It has taken a toll.

I wonder if Fiosa would like a threesome with Daniel?

In any event, I agree a rest is in order. When I wake, I will see about getting in contact with old friends.

Andrea excuses herself and is about to head to a bedroom but pauses next to Orsin. Orsin, we should talk about your...obligations.

Lord Tilernos mentions, "It is best if you all get some rest, lets get your gear tidied up and I'll make sure Areal and Janiven get word that you are safe and sound, I'm sure they will want to fill you in on the Brotherhood's activities." He chuckles and looks at Euphemia, "Your brother Rance has been quite helpful these last few days."

------
The Captain that Daniel spoke to entering the grounds does appear with a squad of men. "Sir, the Gruilos unit is already being deployed to Walcourt and Sir Talberd is with them. How do you wish we proceed? Do you want the items removed and brought back here or should we simply stand guard? Should we expect any visitors that we do now know?" He looks at Gerard.

Moving the hoard invites too much risk, especially in these chaotic times. Guard it. For now only Talbard and the Party here should have access. We will need to identify pieces in place and move out some as required via bags of holding or haversacks. We will come up with better means later. Guard it well for now

"Do you want Sir Talberd to inventory what he can?"

Yes.

In any event, Andrea's schedule for the next day is to get up early and start work on a Scroll of Blessing of Fervor (550 gp). She will then head down to Grumm's smithy and see if Duncan is in.

After an invigorating evening, with very little sleep, Andrea peels herself out from under Fiosa. The halfling stays sleeping while Andrea sets to work scribing her scroll. After a couple more hours of sleeping the little one stirs then pats the bed next to her. "Why'd ya leave?"

Did the Council ever serve a beneficial purpose?

The next day Areal would relay the following tale about what the council, "Never a legitimate concern but his is what we have pieced together over from tales."

"The Council of Thieves has existed in Westcrown’s shadow for nearly 425 years. Born from the violence of a brutal criminal war that nearly tore Westcrown apart, the Council became an increasingly destructive presence in Westcrown as the years melted into decades." He stops to make sure Gerard is following the story, "By 4469, the council practically ruled Westcrown from behind the scenes, and the city’s citizens lived in constant fear of accidentally incurring the Council’s wrath. The then ruler of Cheliax, Queen Koradinna, saw that the citizens of the capitol were suffering, but knew that an all-out war against the Council would simply drown that suffering in bloodshed. And certainly there was something to be said for a self-governing guild of thieves as opposed to what Westcrown had before the Council’s rise—constantly feuding gangs of ruffians and thugs." He takes a sip of water. "And so the queen hit upon an ingenious solution. She met with the Council’s leaders and worked out a series of secret payments and hushed deals with the criminal organization. As long as the Council kept its crimes subtle, hidden, and relatively nonviolent, and as long as they paid the appropriate fines to the government’s coffers, they would be allowed to continue to exist without persecution. A number of scapegoats, criminals who had fallen from the guild’s good graces, were offered up by the Council and publicly executed, and the queen announced that the Council was no more. Although many believe that the Council of Thieves was eradicated during this purge, it was in fact at this point that the guild finally came into its own."

He takes another drink, "History tells us it continued to spread its influence in the years following Koradinna’s Accord, maintaining polite if not friendly relationships with the city’s nobility and always seeking to prevent more violent crimes from staining the city streets. Yet while muggings, murders, rapes, and the like dwindled from
the public eye, extortion and other white-collar crimes continued unabated."

"That is until the death of Aroden. The Chelish Civil War was a strange time for the Council. It no longer had to contend with the laws and strictures of a central government, but neither was it necessarily
equipped to prosper in times of such upheaval and violence. So the Council laid low for 3 decades, and when the House of Thrune seized control, it was quick to re-establish its presence in the city. Yet those 30 years of civil war changed the hearts and souls of every man, woman, and child in Cheliax—and the members of the Council were not
exempt from these changes. Whereas before its members had respected tradition and the pursuit of gentlemanly crime, the postwar Council members found themselves dwelling in a city that was but a shadow of its former glory. The government was no longer an enemy but active
competition."

"This new incarnation of the Council of Thieves has, over the past several decades, followed a slow descent into anarchy and disrespect for its roots as a result, despite continued attempts by the Council’s elderly members to maintain their traditions in the face of younger members eager for a change. In many ways, Councilman Vassindio
Drovenge (the youngest man to be elevated to a position of command within the Council at the age of 23 in 4647 ar) was the last traditionalist—the final member of the Council’s “old guard.”

The half-elf continues with the tale, "Vassindio rose swiftly through the ranks, and while the Council never actually had one single
“leader,” by the time his son Sidonai was born 7 years later in 4654 ar, Vassindio was as close as one could be to this vaunted role."

Making sure everyone is following the story, "Vassindio did much to maintain tradition within the Council through a mix of fear and power. Quick to reward success among the guild’s members, he was even swifter
to punish transgressions — no matter how frustrated the younger generations grew with the Council’s ways, the fear of the “old man’s justice” kept things in line." He shakes his head as he mentions how fear kept things in-line. "At no time was the power of Vassindio’s justice more obvious than in 4687 ar, when it became clear that his own son had brought shame on the family name by trafficking with the Mother of Flies in order to engineer a devilspawn child — a
misguided attempt to sire a son that the House of Thrune could not help but respect. When Vassindio learned of this foolish plan, he murdered his son’s wife and house staff and sent his son into exile — rumors that Vassindio sent assassins after his son to ensure that he never reached his new home in exile, He says, "We have it on good authority the assassination is accurate, as it turns out." He exhales. "This did much to bolster the old man’s power over the Council."

"Yet at the crux of these events, Vassindio, for all of his
ruthlessness and impartiality, made one mistake that sealed not only his fate but the fate of the entire Council. He let his grandson and granddaughter live and now we have a shift in power."

Andrea sets down her tools and heads back to bed, letting her dressrobe slip to the floor as she eases onto the matress. Old habit I guess, I haven't wound down yet and have trouble sleeping.

Andrea smiles as Fiosa moves onto her lap and eases back onto the pillows as her lover's lithe form presses against her own and strokes Fiosa's back.

I still have so many many worries and things that I want to do. Andrea moves her hand over Fiosa's bottom and playfully squeezes. I'll be heading to Grumm's to find Duncan and see if we will be willing to lend a hand, I lashed out at him after bringing him back because I didn't understand how he felt. So, while I won't ask for forgiveness, I'll try to start understanding more.

Mm..Hmm... Fiosa murmurs as she pecks Andrea's lips and does something nice with her hands. Duncan is a good man, I'm sure he will.

Further conversation went rather monosyllabic at that point.

Daniel listens to the tale.
Can the rule of Thrune be so eroded here, that a group of criminals could effectively rule Westcrown? I am never a supporter of oppressive law without mercy, but such a thing as the chaos of the recent weeks will result in far more suffering than this city has seen.

He ponders his place in the group.
I am not an acknowledged or chosen protector of Westcrown, merely a resident defending his family. I know not how much further I can push into this.....

The paladins heart screams that he should do more, be more. But his head told him that THRUNE WAS the legal power here. And unfortunately in some sick way, the rule of the Hell worshippers was preferable to what was currently going on.

Freeing the night will also allow the back ally crimes to escalate. ..it will get worse before it gets better.

(At the meeting)

Eccardian and Chammedy are most certainly NOT Thrune's chosen representatives in Westcrown but it seems they want to be. As Lady Sascar said, they will present themselves as the best choice for Westcrown's future and Vourne will allow it just as long as the paperwork is in order.

As for allowing crime to continue, crime appears wherever people gather, what we need to do is make sure it doesn't degrade to the levels of what we had to deal with such as The Bastards. Dealing with The Twin's forces and.. she looks over to Gerard. There are those who will make sure that people can feel like they can go out at night without fearing someone with claw or blade is hiding in an alley waiting for them.

Andrea looks over to Daniel. I feel that your skills and strong ethics will be valuable in ensuring a new generation of Dottari or other group will keep Westcrown's streets safe. Especially since we have information on corrupted elements in their forces. Andrea pats the sheaf of paper. It seems we must be ready to step up and provide guidance to Westcrown in the manner our skills our best suited for. I believe that Orsin has shown great interest in the Pathfinders and thus rebuilding Delvehaven is something he would be well suited for.

Andrea is correct. It is my intent to not only end the shadow threat, but also... take back the night.

"I stand by Gerard. Why allow the devil-worshippers to do what the rest can do on their own with the right temperament?"

While Areal and party discuss the Council, Lady Sacar is holding a sealed scroll. when there is pause in the discussion, she states, "This arrived this morning from Talberd, it is addressed to you:

It is clear that the seal has not been broken.

Andrea will look over the scroll once it is opened. Daniel would like the griffin no doubt since he has been hankering for a mount. Perhaps Euphemia would like the crossbow since you seem to like ranged combat with your special bracers.

As for the stolen money, we should let Talbard take what was stolen from him, I believe Gerald at the Westcrown Exchange would be more than delighted to handle any recovery of stolen artwork and gems.

"Stolen arework and gems? You're going to sell stolen property?"

I mean Gerald has made himself available to find people who are interested in artwork and jewelry. Since he knows buyers, he can find those who have been looking for stolen artwork and get it back to their hands.

Orsin nods in agreement to Andrea's remark. He glibly avoided responding to Adrea's earlier inquiry: his obligation to Geryon was something best managed privately. "Restoring Delvehaven wouldn't help only the Pathfinders, but might stimulate the economy here in Westcrown by bringing in the Society's foreign coin."

Orsin finishes his wine and politely excuses himself for a moment.

After playtime with Fiosa and cleaning up, Andrea approaches Gerard.

I would like to head out to Grumm's smithy to find an old friend that might be willing to help us, we should keep together for safety.

Assuming Gerard is willing, Andrea excuses herself from the household and heads over to Grumms to find Duncan.

At Andrea's request Gerard sees if Phem and Frank are up for a walk. Perhaps, checking on the apartment and kids as well.

Euphemia bolts to her feet at this proposition,being that she is full and quite worried about the children in question.

"Gerard, do you think they'll have made it through alright? I worried they would get into the poisonous reagents in my apartment, but having looters get to them would be just as frightening an ordeal.."

I'm going to assume sometime during the course of your first night's rest you all mentioned your supply request to Lord Talberd. He would acknowledge several of the items are easily attainable, others he would ask around for.

Before you depart for Gruums the following items are produced, or will be made available for purchase:

If you put a cost by the items requested, I'm assuming that is correct and I did not price out items. If there is no cost next to the item just deduct what ever the Equipment/magic items cost is.

Wand,Pearl and shield upgrade bought and deducted. Will figure out potions later.

It's the next morning, you've met with Lord Tilneros received a few items that you've requested - now where are you heading first? There was talk of Gruums and the also Phem's apartment. Are you splitting up? If so, how are the groups composed?

I believe Andrea,Euphemia and Gerard are going together. First to the apartment and then to Grumm's