"Luckily, we are not aware of their involvement."
About Galt:
The Gray Gardeners are the executioners of the Galtan government. They operate the final blades, magical guillotines that capture a person’s soul at the moment of death. The Galtan Revolution, known as the “Red Revolution” has been ongoing for the last 50 years.
Galtan justice is rarely just, as its judges and courts are heavily influenced by public opinion and the whims of whichever government currently holds power. Gray Gardeners constantly hide their faces behind gray masks or veils to remain anonymous and to not themselves become victims of mob justice.
The Gray Gardeners are headquartered in the city of Litran, located approximately 230 miles to the northeast of Woodsedge. Due to their influence, the city is relatively calm by Galtan standards.
The only democratically elected government of Galt, the first Revolutionary Council, commissioned the final blades nearly 50 years ago. Its members wanted a humane, painless form of execution that would deny Hell its harvest of evil souls.
About the kidnapped senators:
Senator Augustyn Naran is an older Andora politician who helped throw his nation’s support behind Lady Gloriana Morilla’s Army of Exploration during the Society’s fight against the demons of the Worldwound.
Victoria Garvensi is a member of the Andoran People’s Council representing part of the city of Augustana. The Garvensi family was a formerly noble family that gave up much of its wealth and property during the People’s Revolt in 4669 AR when Andoran gained its independence from Cheliax and become a democratic.
Senators Garvensi and Naran recently sponsored the Banking Reform and Regulation Act, a proposed Andoren law that, should it be enacted, would give banks and other lenders significant new authority to collect on money owed to them, including sending those in default to debtor’s prison.
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"I was able to find some information. The Gray Gardenersare the executioners of the Galtan government. They hide their faces behind gray masks or veils. The Galtan judges and courts are heavily influenced by public opinion. The Gray Gardeners' headquarter is in the city of Litran." Nijena shares all the information she got.
Venture-Captain Eliza looks at Lilli, rubs her eyes, and now seeing Zarzuket for what he is, gives a quizzical look. "I could have sworn you were female... not that all gnomes look alike to me.", she quips, shaking her head at her own confusion. before awaiting any questions from the remaining agents who were busy looking at the museum first.
Eliza looks on with more wonderment, sure that she did not remember seeing the old gentleman enter the room. "Some tea would be lovely.", she responds.
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No tea for me, thanks.
Is there a reason that these senators were specifically chosen? Do they have anything, good or bad, that the Gardners would be interested in?
How were you able to scry them? Do you have something of theirs that we can take with us to help identify them?
Arkynn also works to remember the names while stowing her Wayfinder as far into her pack as possible.
My vote is to start at the docks. It seems suspicious that an informant would wait so long unless something happened.
"Unfortunately, I have not heard of any particular reason why the senators were targeted; I have not kept up on my Andoran gossip."
"As I said, I was unable to scry the senators, but did used auguries to confirm that they indeed were kidnapped. Also as stated, they seemed to be warded against scrying and other divinations."
"I would appreciate any information about Larisa. She is typically pretty reliable, but it seems too much of a coincidence that she let the ship slip through."
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It take roughly half an hour to reach the docks from the Museum. Given the directions to her office, it doesn't take long from there for the party to find her. Larisa Stronwell is a short, slender woman with brown hair and freckles, working through a stack of papers. Without looking up at the group, she greets with a quick, "Hello."
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Arkynn will slowly move to the side of the group to see if she can spot a rear exit in case Larisa bolts.
It should be a fairly small riverboat. It had a weird name, didn't it Pip? Something like Floating Driftwood... or may it was Drifting River. Anyway it shouldn't have been more than a couple of days since it arrived.
Arkynn puts on her best smile when the lady looks up.
She looks up abruptly, replying. "It's in the harbor. What else is there to say?" She then returns to her work, seemingly satisfied with her answer.
"Okay, look, I noticed that the Drifting Current, was deliberately kept off the books. Beats me on who's doing this.", Larisa comments to Arkynn's prodding. She leans closer over her desk, speaking in a whisper. "Prying further into something like that could be dangerous."
"Not sure...", some hesitation notable in the dockmaster's voice.
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I can understand that. Makes me wonder how many other things your folks are keeping off the books from you though... I mean aren't you the one that would ultimately be held responsible for any problems here on the dock?
*dramatic pause*
Anyways thanks for the help. If anyone asks, we'll be sure to let them know just how "helpful" you were
Larisa puases on Arkynn's words, but does't seem to be moved enough to be spurned into action.
Unfortunately, the charming butler's actions do not hold sway with Larisa either.
The courtesy of a butler and the intellectual prowess of the tiefling are one thing, but even Larisa cannot ignore the holy plea of a paladin asking for aid. With a sigh, the dockmaster relents. "Alright, I'll see what I can find. Check back after an hour and I'll share what I can find."
Nijena sadly does not entice the dockworkers, who busily avoid the paladin lest they risk getting proselytized on the spot!
The gnome, oddly, seems easier to approach, and after a bit of lip work, he manages to find a dockworker on break willing to share something.
"Grey Gardeners? Yeah, I saw them.", she says nonchalantly. "Yeah, umm, I try not to pay attention to them, but one of them shouted a strange name that caught my ears. The fella was scolding one of the prisoners, yelling 'Korkovin!'"
You remember hearing about Morvius Korkovin, a famous and wealthy Andoran banker known for throwing lavish parties and heavy drinking.
Returning back to Larisa Stronwell, the party finds her desk, busily scribing over more documents. Almost anticipating the group's arrival, she tersely answers, "Lofton. Alois Lofton apparently bribed various dockworkers in the harbor to conceal the ship's arrival to 'facilitate the apprehension and security of dangerous criminals and traitors to the Revolution'... whatever they want to call that."
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Nijena seems to be surprised by the outcome of Stronwell's investigation. "Thank you for giving us this informatin." she answers to the dockmaster. "Do you have any proof of Lofton's involvement? Apart from the dockworker's word?"
Nijena looks at the others, not sure what to do now. She whispers to her companions Ventur-Captain Petulengro said there is something going on with this Lofton. I think we need some kind of bargaining chip to talk to Lofton. Without that he won't tell us anything I'm afraid.
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A tall, lean half-elf runs up to the group. He wears his platinum blonde hair long, and it loosely frames his face. His hand, which bears a rough brand, rests on his sword's pommel.
He wears no armor, symbol of deity, or implements of magic-use. Instead, he is dressed in the fine, flashy garb of a noble. Aside from a pack, his only possession seems to be an elegantly-crafted adamantine blade. This sword appears to be a bit over three feet long and very slightly curved. It is not the blade of a brute, but of a duelist. The half-elf's long limbs and agile build seem well-suited to be a swordsman.
When he speaks, it is with a tone full of hubris.
"Excuse me...I seem to have overslept. I am Erevan Stormstride," he says, almost as if it is a boast. "With my considerable skill with my blade, we will not fail."
Larisa shakes her head. "Unfortunately, I don't have anything more than that. The dockworkers accepted coin and nothing else traceable. However... as long as it is that daft Lofton I need to testify against, I will vouch for my intel personally."
"Would appreciate that.", Larisa replies tersely, undercutting the potential threat of doing anything involved with the Gray Gardeners.
It is shortly after 2pm when the party arrives at the Woodsedge Guardpost. Given the description Venture-Captain Pentulanegro, it is easy to spot the oval-faced woman with close-cut, curly brown hair sitting at a desk within the public entrance to the guardpost. Seeing the party approach her, she raises a quizzical look and asks. "Can I help you?"
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Pip tips his bowler hat slightly to the guard.
"Yes greetings madame. My master and Zarzuket his friends are quite interested in any information you could provide on some missing nobles. They believe that it has something to do with the arrival of a ship by the name of Drifting Current a few days ago."