He is grateful and promises to return the favour if ever he can.
Sclavo is keen and pleased to have your support, he follows Daxius' lead but is not naturally as dour as the inquisitor.
He defers to you in the decision.
DC16 fortitude check from both of you to avoid being half-cut (a bit drunk).
When he and Sclavo return, Daxius tells the group what he learned. We have returned the ring to Sylvain Borlo, a prosperous glovemaker. The ring belonged to his daughter, Lossia. He was distraught, of course, but conducted himself in a manner befitting a gentleman. He is a credit to his family, and I would not hesitate to have further dealings with the man. He feels that he owes us a debt, though I would be loathe to seek repayment if it carried even the slightest risk of harm to what remains of his family.
He listens to any news from the rest of the group, prays, and tries to get a good night's sleep.
The next day, after his morning prayer, he has a sparring session with Sclavo, with wooden swords. He will organize a strategy meeting for the afternoon, based on what the others learned.
Angus comes in later that evening, singing a bawdy tune, horribly off-key, very loudly, and while swaying just a bit.
And so on.
Pontia cocks an eyebrow at Tarvi when she notices the apprentice. "Next time you wish to help, please ask me first. This time it wasn't something dangerous...you may not always be so fortunate. Still, if you really recognize that symbol sequence from one of your books, I should like to see it. Now, if not sooner." Every day, I have more sympathy for Master Titus. How did he get me through this?
On Daxius' return, she strides up to him. "With Tarvi's help, I have found the means to destroy the disc. The process should take just over an hour, including preparation time. I should like you to be there; will you have the time?"
"Larko, are the stevedores likely working at this hour?"
Pausing a bit for a reply, "If we can find them, let us. I'll confer with the others as to getting an audience with the harbourmaster".
Nicolai and Larko have a little more luck, one of the experienced Stevedore's makes a few suggestions, "That's not a major house, don't know it. But... that's an old style, its not a new house with those designs and whatnot: from before the Fall, that is."
As Angus rolls in, Arael and others rush to silence him, Arael hisses angrily, "Secret hideout! What part of that don't you understand?"
Hyngrot isn't far behind Angus, tracker's instinct the only thing keeping him quiet having given in to drink himself. "The lad could learn a little control, but gotta give him some credit. He knows how to find a good tavern, and not just for the drinks. We've got a lead to follow, but I think that'll be waiting until tomorrow. For now, I think I'll be sleeping this off."
Daxius responds to Pontia. I will make time for such an endeavor.
He visibly tenses as Angus enters, using every iota of his self control to hold his tongue.
After thanking the stevedore for his time, and offering 2 gold soverigns him, Nicolai turns to Larko, "Allright, I think we have enough. We'll see what the others have turned up."
Afer getting back (and thanking Larko), Nicolai finds the others and gives his knowledge out.
"While we didn't get much leads into the matter, it seems that if we can secure an audince with the habourmaster, we might get better answers. Also, one of the more experienced stevedores doenst think this symbol is of a noble House - perhaps some secret organization from before the Thrune regime?"
If the weather permits, Pontia will take the supplies and the item up to the roof, along with a pair of tongs. In a businesslike voice, she says, "Tavri, please come along. Daxius, it's time." She'll find a spot that looks like it'll stay sunlit for at least the next hour or two and sets up an appropriately-sized beaker. "Here, stand so you don't cast a shadow on this. It has to stay in sunlight for an hour." She produces a glass vial labeled with Iomedae's sword and sunburst and pours its contents into the beaker. "Daxius, I think I would feel a little more comfortable if you would say a prayer asking Iomedae's blessing on our work." After he obliges (assuming he does, of course), she unwraps the disc and sets it on the roof, taking care to touch it only through the wrapping. Then she picks it up with the tongs and carefully sets it in the beaker, turning her head away in case it splashes.
Daxius replies as requested, raising his face to the heavens and praying to the Inheritor. Oh righteous Iomedae, we ask that you grant us the strength to cleave this evil stone as you smote Erum-Hel, Lord of the Morghs, at the Battle of Three Sorrows. His prayers are generally brief, and to the point.
Just before Pontia does whatever she is about to do to destroy the item, Daxius adds, For Victory, for the Heart!
The next morning, Angus awakes with a curse, and a pounding headache.
"Cayden's Cup! Which god thought it was a good idea to make the sun so damn bright?"
After washing his face and the woolly aftertaste from his mouth he finds something to munch on for breakfast before looking for Arael.
"Why are we looking for this Scarro fella? I found some stuff out, but I would like to know if I need to swing to kill, or just knock him unconscious."
The letters from ED, which we intercepted, instruct Scarro to increase his attacks. If the Swords of Light wish to bring justice to the people of Westcrown, then Scarro must be apprehended or killed. He will likely assemble another gang soon and resume the banditry. Incidentally, he was the man instructed to kill you, Angus, as claiming your reward was deemed an unacceptable risk. A pause. May I ask what "stuff" you learned?
"He's supposed to be a fence that hides his 'wares' in Pah-ray-goh Doh-spare-rah."
It's obvious that Angus has a little difficulty with the Chelish name.
Right. Tomorrow we go out and search the area, looking for men who fit Scarro's description, a bald man wearing a great deal of jewelry. We can split up in pairs to be less conspicuous, and monitor his contacts. We must determine with whom he deals in his stolen goods. We may learn something of the criminal underworld we are committed to disrupt.
Parego Dospera
The Parego Dospera (“Despair’s Altar”) refers to the abandoned ruins and downtrodden slums of the northern shores of Westcrown. The roads are often in disrepair, and running in the Dospera invites a twisted ankle or a broken leg, leaving one fair game to the many threats in its shadows. While the northern sector is entirely a ruin, only kept in vague control by the sureshots of the rundottari on the walls around it, the southern rego acts as the buffer zone between it and “civilized” Westcrown.
Rego Cader
“Dead Sector” refers to the northern ruins, though older Wiscrani can tell you this used to be Rego Plea (formerly home to house slaves, servants, and lesser trades) before Aroden’s Fall. Inside this sector are the “low trades” the nobles wished not to see, including many forges or smithies still useful, if not in good repair. The bulk of the abandoned or ruined buildings were once taverns, inns, rooming houses, and stables. Now, most are either squats and partial homes for barbaric humans, dens of thieves, or even the lairs of monsters from leucrotta to goblins and tieflings strong enough to survive. There may even be gargoyles still bound to guard areas that have long since fallen to ruin around their perches.
Rego Crua
“Blood Sector” once held all slave trade and a wide array of low-end or less-desirable businesses, from tanneries to slaughterhouses. As a result of the stench and filth, this sector also contained the northern slums of Westcrown, nestled up against the walls of Rego Cader (which sometimes makes them safer due to the near-constant presence of rundottari above them). The farther south one travels, the more buildings rise in height and cleanliness until you cross the eastern Pegasi Bridge into Parego Spera.
After a minute with no effect the disc begins to flake off, the flakes slowly dissolve and the surface gradually turns a moldy, patchy grey.
After half an hour the pool is full of floating flakes and after and hour they have almost completely dissolved, leaving an inky, black liquid which smells like wet dog.
"Are there any of the gang that would be helpful? Perhaps Fiosa, if there are any halflings living in the areas?
Whether Daxius wants it or not, Angus tags along, and does some of the talking.
"A straight-laced Iomedaean like you? We'll find you face down in a gutter with naught but yer skivvies, I'm coming whether you want me to or not."
Daxius frowns disapprovingly at Angus. I hope your unneccessary taunting brings you joy.
Daxius would vote against including any of the other Swords of Light, as he thinks going into the Parego Dospero would be to dangerous for them.
"Some, but I wasn't taunting you that time."
Pontia lets most of the liquid evaporate, then burns the rest of the sludge (being careful to stay upwind).
Nicolai shrugs, "Just as well, I suppose. I guess I'll just have to brush up on my people skill, eh?"
Diplomacy
Sense Motive
Disguise
Moving through Pargeo Dospera with quiet chatter and keen ears the Swords of Light soon learn that:
- Scarro is a fence
- He used to be a pawn broker who fenced to odd thing on the side
- You can spot him because he wears the jewellery that he is looking to sell on
- Recently he's been doing a bit better for himself and has fixed up his property on Oca Vicolo
- Word is that he works with a group of tieflings hiding out in Rego Cader
- Scarro has taken to working at night, he doesn't seem scared of the shadow beasts
- His pawnshop is open by day, but only after mid-day
- Scarro's constant companions are a human woman called Parlona and a human man called Brondo
- Parlona is some kind of a magician
- Brondo wears armour and carries a guisarme
"So how do we want to do this? Seems we have three major options. Head to his shop, feel the place out. Pay a visit to his home in Oca Vicolo. Or try to find out where these tieflings in Rego Cader are. His companions, might be beneficial to learn more about 'em, but I worry if we start askin' more questions, word will get back to him. Hell, might be good to give it a few days to calm down before we move."
Regrouping after the information gathering effort, Daxius seems a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation. After several minutes of contemplation, he finally offers, We have no hard evidence that Scarro was involved with the banditry. The letters show that he was being given orders, but don't prove that he actually carried any of them out, so handing him over to the legitimate authorities is not an option. At least at this point. We could confront him, but that would only make him more cautious, perhaps drive him to hide evidence. I suggest that we either investigate his house while he's working at his pawnshop, looking for evidence of stolen goods, or recon Rego Cader to pin down the location of his tiefling associates and see how they're connected. I suspect that the latter would be the more productive option, but it also carries more danger. He pauses, going over the logic in his head. Seamingly satisfied, he adds. The evidence so far suggests that Scarro is a true criminal, involved in a network of thievery and violence. I'm concerned but also curious how he operates at night. We must proceed with caution.
EDIT: ninja'd!
After Daxius and Hyngrot finish, Nicolai pipes up, "My two bits, but I feel that out of the three options, we should avoid going to his home unless neccessary - it might attract to much attention, as I doubt it will be left unattended."
Pontia sits quietly for a time, thinking. "Nicolai is right, though we may wish to speak with his neighbors. The Rego Cader would seem the better approach; even if we don't find his tieflings, I'm sure we'll find many people who need help in the Parego Dospera." Her voice starts out in her usual scholarly tone, but becomes far more forceful towards the end, and after she finishes she looks off into the distance for a moment, remembering.
Arael has been gathering increasing reports of a group of tieflings operating out of the Rego Cader calling themselves The Bastards of Erebus. They have been robbing shops in the evening and pillaging empty warehouses at night.
They leave a calling card at their crimes, a wooden devil's-head token, and have killed people who disturbed them during their crimes.
Putting two-and-two together, he spoke to a vagrant who lives in the ruins and begs in the active city... this man gave him a rough location of the the gang's home: an abandoned Temple of Erastil.
The attacks are normally 3 to 5 days apart, they killed a fine weaponsmith recently, and a moneylender before that. They seem to like small, crafted, high-value goods.
Janniven made an initial scout of the location but withdrew when she saw there were lookouts nearby and, she thinks, in the belltower.
The wizard considers the information that Janniven and Arael have gained regarding the tiefling gang. "They need to be stopped as quickly as possible. If we can help it, I don't want to give them another chance to commit a crime. Arael, can you find anyone who might know the layout of the temple they use? If there's a back way in, that would make our lives much easier."
"Always criminals to step up to take over when you take out the competition. But gotta start somewhere to keep everyone safe."
When Pontia trails off a bit, Nicolai asks "Something the matter, Pontia?
After hearing the information from Arael and Janniven, Basterds of Erebus? Subtle. Thinking a bit, Are there any priests or lay worshipers of Erastil around? Perhaps they could give us any suggestions if thier temples have and design similarities we can exploit."
Pontia starts, jolted out of her reverie by Nicolai's question. "Hm? No, just...remembering someone."
"Is the temple surrounded by open space, or do the buildings around it crowd up to it?"
Arael responds, "The temple is mostly surrounded by ruins but there are a few standing buildings to the North which might provide cover."
[b]Well, these so-called Bastards are creatures of the dark, and we are the Swords of Light. Regardless of any ties with Scarro, their threat to the commmunity must be removed. We should get a good night's rest, and confront these Bastards in the morning, in the full light of day. I will call them out from their hiding-holes and confront them with their crimes. I suspect that we will be met with violence, which will confirm their criminal nature. Depending on their defenses, we can withdraw and adjust our tactics, or press forward to capture or kill them."
"Oh sure, that'll go over well. I get the feeling the town guard and the local church militant don't take vigilantism well. These so-called Bastards may think darkness is an ally, but it's only a cloak that will betray you if someone more cunning or ruthless comes along."
Angus looks up from the piece of wood he was carving.
"I lived in the Land of the Linnorm Kings as a young lad. Irrisen is to the east and you'd here about the White Witches' enslavement of the Ulfen there for no other reason than they didn't have the blood of that thrice damned witch Baba Yaga in their veins. But you'd also hear about the rebels who were trying to bring warmth to those lands, trying to break Baba Yaga's hold. They have to do so in secret, as much as we Ulfen love to be up front and vocal. This is no different. We are trying to break an oppressive regime that cares nothing for the people under its care. We must rely on stealth and cunning. All grandstanding is going to do is get us killed."
Pontia steeples her hands and looks over at Daxius. "I'm guessing they've taken time to fortify the old temple as much as they can without being obvious. Daxius, I think it's unwise to give them any warning."
Are you suggesting that we simply infiltrate their hideout using stealth and then begin to murder them without warning? Where is our justification for such a course of action? We have only rumors that these Bastards are thieves and murderers. If we intrude on them, they have every right to defend themselves. If I am misunderstanding your intent, please explain your plan.
Pontia gives a wry half-smile. "Well, when you put it that way, an unprovoked attack doesn't sound like the best choice. Why don't we set a watch on their hideout and follow them if and when they go out to steal again? We can follow them and try to take them in the act. It's more dangerous, true, but also gives us the chance to be certain before we attack."
"Brilliant idea, so who's watching the sewers?" Angus chuckles for a moment before continuing, "In all seriousness, Pontia's plan is probably the best we have. I wasn't suggesting that we murder them in their sleep. I may not be you're typical Ulfen, but I still have some pride. If they die by my hand in their sleep it's because they proved they didn't deserve to die standing up facing me."