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"Ugh. More o' the dummies taking peoples. So durn dumb. Gotta go save em before them become dead. That boy gonna talk or I don't drink beer. Har Har."
Belly rumbling laugh, Brachar waits for Venture-Captain Hestia Themis to answer Grahl's question. Never the one to ask, he is just ready to smash some evil cultists with his hammer.
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The Venture-Captain looks at Grahl, "Who was taken, we don't really know. There were at least 15 people in total captured. All of them were from engineers, city planners, masons and other such fields." She listens to Thael and shrugs, "Well, he is a bit unstable. But when he's lucid, he provides good information about the cult and their plans. He could potentially provide us with future information and serves us better as an ally, alive and unharmed." Then to address Brachar, "Yeah, dumb people kidnap other people. The evidence of this kidnapping is all pointing towards those Groteus-worshipping fools, the Cult of Nature's Cataclysm. With Dalirio dead, it seems unlikely that they've reorganized themselves. I suspect Derro influences."
Knowledge Local Checks for the Swift Prison.
Swift Prison’s prisoners must pay fees for lodging and favorable treatment. These payments even include a “chains tax,” requiring a prisoner to pay 5 sp each month to avoid being shackled. Swift Prison has an unusual policy in which non-violent criminals who pay for the privilege are allowed to roam the streets surrounding the prison, so long as do not cross the invisible boundary known as the “Rules of the Swift” (which is what the prison calls the invisible boundary that surrounds the prison). Prisoners who cross this boundary are put to death when recaptured—very few have broken those rules in the prison’s history.
The wardens of the Swift are notorious for allowing unusual privileges in exchange for exorbitantly high sums. Prisoners who pay these extortions earn the right to reside in one of the Swift’s private apartments. Rich prisoners may also purchase the “Liberties of the Swift,” the right to walk the prison grounds and surrounding city streets freely. Wardens of the Swift are often replaced after being caught abusing their posts for personal gain.
Those unfortunate souls too destitute to pay often find themselves locked in the Swift’s cellar begging cells. If they are unable earn enough money to pay for their release by begging, they typically succumb to disease. The inmates call these dank cellars Stavian’s Fair.
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Grahl nods to Hestia, "Thank you Venture-Captain, we accept this mission."
As the party leaves the office, Grahl shakes his head, "I remember hearing about this prison, if you can even call it that. Most prisoners are allowed outside of the prison and can live a relatively normal life. Only limitation is distance from the prison. Swift Prison is where I would want to be interred if ever I must go to prison."
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Thael puts a finger in the air and begins to explain some additional things he knows about the prison.
"In addition, Prisons of Taldor states that Swift Prison’s prisoners must pay fees for lodging and favorable treatment. These payments even include a “chains tax,” requiring a prisoner to pay 5 silver each month to avoid being shackled. Swift Prison has an unusual policy in which non-violent criminals who pay for the privilege are allowed to roam the streets surrounding the prison, so long as do not cross the invisible boundary known as the “Rules of the Swift” (which is what the prison calls the invisible boundary that surrounds the prison). Prisoners who cross this boundary are put to death when recaptured—very few have broken those rules in the prison’s history. Quite the interesting modus operandi."
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"Glad I chose to adventure with the smart ones." Brachar playfully punches Thael in the arm, which many hurt more than he things since he is still wearing his spiked gauntlets.
"Ima walking in, and Ima walking out. Not stayin' in no prision, no matter if they let you leave or pay fer chains. More dummies."
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A pallid humanoid enters the room, decked neck to toe in black leather. He carries an iron-banded tome in one hand, and wears a mithral buckler on the opposing arm. The only accessory adorning his bald head is a pair of thin-rimmed spectacles. He raises an eyebrow at the assembled group.
"Nie, preesuns 'ere... zey zoft. No fear. Preesuns een Ustalav? Ja. Mooch fear. Nobuddy vont to be een preesun."
Upon noticing the strange looks in his direction (and the likely stares), the Dhampir sighs and changes subject.
"Da, forgeeve me. My name ees Viliym. I hail vrom zee Immortal Preencipality ov Ustalav. And, ja..." he gestures broadly, running a hand over his pale forehead, "I am Thompeer. Vother vuz Vampire, Mother vuz... Veectum."
Changing back to the subject at hand.
"But, da, vee have Derro? Ja? I know zum zings ov Derro..."
"Zee question truly iz, tho... Vut do zay vont vith zees captives?"
1st− Repair Undead (x2), Burning Hands (x2), Vanish, Obscurring Mist
2nd− Blindness/Deafness (x2), Flaming Sphere (x2), Command Undead
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Thael welcomes a fellow wizard, though he raises an eyebrow at Viliym's history and appearance.
"Indeed, that is the question most in need of an answer. We have been on this trail for some time. I believe we might discover additional revelations at the prison," he suggests thoughtfully.
"Perhaps when we have finished here, we might have a look at each other's spell books..." Thael leaves the thought hanging for a moment.
"I study primarily conjuration magic, though I dabble in most areas."
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This tengu's dark plumage is the color of black clothes that have been washed too many times. He wears the loose, plain robes of a Tien priest, a straw hat, and he walks barefoot. He stretches and yawns.
"My name is Ginko Nakami. I am a mushi-shi. Everything has voices; if you quiet yourself, you can hear them. That is what a mushi-shi does."
He speaks with a smooth, deliberate pace, like water streaming. His voice is quiet and grandfatherly, carrying a distinct Tian-Xia accent.
He sits down, pulling out a tea set and placing it before him.
"Would any of you like to share some tea with me?"
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Ginko nods, smiling as he pours tea for the others. His brow raises at Viliym's talk of undead, and he lets out an almost imperceptible sigh before returning to a tranquil expression.
"I do not know what it will taste like yet, actually. Ghenshau says that it is best to not worry over exacting little details. Experimentation with no expectation."
The tea is a calming custom blend. It has just a hint of earthy spice undertones, while also being devoid of bitterness.
Ginko softly turns his head back and forth at Grahl.
"We do not need to rush, do we? You might find resting for a few moments will make you perform better later."
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It took you a little time, but you were able to find the Swift Prison.
Swift Prison’s formidable gates loom over those who pass beneath them. Out front, a gilded statue stares uncaringly at those who serve time beyond her sentry-like gaze. The wrinkled, dirty faces of Cassomir’s prisoners are briefly illuminated behind the bars of the ground floor begging cells. Their pathetic drone as they beg for coppers fills the courtyard in front of the prison.
Hestia’s man, Garver—a tall Taldan man with a slim physique and plain peasant’s clothing—approaches. “You made it. Good. Follow me.” Garver turns and enters the prison, marching through myriad hallways that twist and turn and finally end at a plain but thick wooden door. Garver produces a key and says, “Our captured cultist enjoys visitors, and if you like his work, it’s all for sale.”
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Garver looks at Theal, "Ah, his works are oil manly. They are quite lovely, if you like that stuff." turning to Viliym, "I'm terribly sorry sir. Could you repeat that for me?" he waits for Viliym to repeat himself. This time listening a little closer the the garbled words coming from Viliym's mouth. "Ah, well, i am sorry to say but we haven't been able to find out much about him. The guards are the ones who nicked named him "Crazed Painter" and that we've been calling him since." He nods as Ginko speaks, "Yes, me too sir. Now, if you would please. Follow me this way."
You are then led through the door and down several stone steps into a dingy, shadowed room with three cells. Garver gives the two guards there some coins and they head back up the stairs, closing the door behind them. In the center cell, covered in paint, a man dressed in torn beggar’s rags, his feet shackled to the floor by a 3-foot length of chain, throws color onto a dirty canvas. The man stops painting when the PCs arrive, looks through the bars, and exclaims with a toothless grin: “For you, my master, always for you!” He then lays the painting atop a small pile of recent works and sets up another blank canvas, madly attacking it with his brush.
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Turning to Thael, "What do ya think that is? Horse in a meadow? Winter bear in Whitethrone?"
Brachar addresses the painter, "That's some splendid work there friend. Who is your master? And why all the painting for em?"
Barachar tries to sound calm and soothing, this one obviously touched in the head, but does an avalanche ever sound soothing?
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The Crazed Painter slings the paint brush violently at the bars, splashing Brachar with some of the oily paint and shouts. "You are no master, You no not Master." He keeps shouting for several moments, splashing your group with paint before Garver pulls out a pipe from his back pocket and slams it against the bars. making everyone cringe from the loud bangs. The Crazed Painter looks at him. "Why did you do that for?" he says before dipping the paintbrush back into the paint and continuing painting.
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"Aye, Vil. Care to scrape the paint off ol' Brachar? Can't get any uglier, but to mess me coat is just mean. Harhar!"
"Ja, ov course, dis vurk on anyzing..."
Viliym begins magically dispelling dirt, grime and paint from the Dwarf's clothes, skin and hair.
"...clothz, canvas, valls... Can make ver-chooly anyzing deesappear az tho eet never happeened."
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The Crazed Painter looks at Viliym and then Ginko and says. “Friends! Did the Master send you? Yes, he must have. Praised be he who ends the days! Do you seek my secret? Soon enough—but in return I ask something from you. You must give it to me as I need it to complete my collection.” He points to two paintings hung in a shadowy corner of his cell. A third canvas hangs next to them but is blank. “If you go outside this very prison you’ll find a statue covered in gold. You may have already seen her! Describe this statue to me in exquisite detail and I will tell you all I know.”
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You can freely exit and reenter Swift Prison. The crazed painter refuses to provide any information until he gains the description requested. The statue sits just outside of the prison’s gates, its golden form shining brightly in the sun. It stands just over 7 feet tall and rests atop a 3-foot-tall stone base. The statue depicts a curvy Taldan female with short hair and wearing flowing robes open at the neck. She regards you with a blank, uncaring expression. Faint moons decorate her flowing robes, and she crushes a set of scales beneath her left foot.
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"Umm quite the busty lass. Erm, wow she is tall and yellowy. Bah! Someone writing this down? Wait, what do I see here? Take a looky at her foot. No, the other foot, she has two ya know. Is that a 'I'? Must be the sculptor that dun made her. Now I make somethin' like this, gonna make a banner about say 'Brachar dun make this'. Har Har."
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As promised, Thael takes copious and descriptive notes of the statue, even calculating the estimated height and weight of the subject in question.
He easily spots the letter on the foot and nods at Brachar as he sketches the statue.
"I believe these details will satisfy the madman. Let us return at once," he says before setting off to the cell once more.
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In contrast to Thael's practical approach, Ginko circles around the statue, viewing it from every angle he could reach without flying. He does tricks such as walking past and glancing at it sideways and closing one eye and then another. At each spot, he contemplates how light would affect how the viewer interpreted the statue.
Ginko pauses to contemplate the scales under the woman's foot.