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Andor is a little frightened that this situation gets out of hand.
"Red, please calm down. I believe that we need talk to Vendalkek about his current and future actions." Andor says and looks at Red with a pleading look on his face.
He then turns to Vendalkek "I understand that you were one of the regular guests in the Thrashing Badger. Surely, you must have been part of the resistance movement that was building there and must have known people that escaped the burning and are now active at Clenchjaw's, right? Look, we are not happy with the oppression that Thrune represents and if you continue with your mischief you will endanger all your friends that are now covertly working against the Thrunes at Clenchjaw's."
Andor then gives Vendalkek some time to let the information sink in.
"We would very much appreciate it if you could stop your illusions and your sleep spells and would rather establish contact between us and the resistance movement against the Thrunes. What do you think? Do we want to work together?"
"Alright... I'll move out of Clenchjaw's... I won't bother his boring clientsssss again. I don't really understand what you mean about this resistancccce you ssssspeak of... human politicssss are boring... what'sssss happened? is thissss connected to the burning of the Badger?"
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At 1st level, a noble fencer can spend 1 panache point when he attempts a Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Sense Motive check to roll 1d6 and add the result to the check. He can do this after he rolls the check but before the result is revealed. If the result of the d6 roll is a natural 6, he rolls another 1d6 and adds it to the check. He can continue to do this as long as he rolls natural 6s, up to a number of times equal to his Charisma modifier (minimum 1). Just before a verbal duel, a noble fencer can spend up to 4 panache points. For each point he spends, he selects a tactic for which he has chosen Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Sense Motive as an associated skill and gains an edge he can only use with that tactic. This deed replaces the dodging panache deed.
Andor looks at Vendalkek a little confused. "Hmmm ... so you are not part of the resistance? So what were you doing in the Thrashing Badger and later in Clenchjaw's?" Andor asks.
"To answer your question Vendalkek: Yes, the Thrashing Badger was burned down because the political climate in this city is changing for the worse. And this is affecting you as well as you see. First it was the Badger and it might be Clenchjaw's next if we do not stop the Thrunes that want to make this city more and more boring." he says trying to make the dragon understand.
"I sssee... ok then, I'll help you out. Where do you ssstay? when I find a home, hopefully soon, I will go meet you and I will try to help..."
"I don't mind Vend. It sssound cool. And you, Kardessss, yesss? what is thissss placccce you ssspeak of? I'm not picky. People to talk to, if sssmart ones; people to tease and make fight one another, if on the dumb side... but really, I'll be happy with anything at thisss point."
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”I would agree to take you with us but the place belongs to a Halfling woman with the name Laria. She has the final say on this matter Vend!” Andor apologetically makes clear.
After returning to Laria and Rexus and explaining what happened we would introduce Vend to Laria and ask her if he can stay.
”Laria, Rexus, do you have any idea how we can get the attention of the resistance movement that was in the Badger and now potentially has moved to Clenchjaw’s? We need more eyes and ears!”
Back at Long Roads Coffeehouse, Laria and Rexus are delighted to meet the little dragon, and she tells the dragon he can have run of the Wasp's Nest down below. The dragon accepts, and Laria also allows him in the actual coffee house if he behaves.
As for Andor's questions, Laria seems puzzled. She asks if you found sympathetic ears at Clenchjaw's or made friends with the patrons there. She wonders why you decided to work there. She had no idea you were all so short on coin! Besides, you have free meals and lodging here at her establishment.
She thinks you should all focus on gathering resources, building contacts, and recruiting support at this time. Before anything else, she thinks you need to track down supporters and allies in Kintargo. Taking actions to help the downtrodden and to seek outspoken dissidents for support are but two possibilities. Paying attention to city rumors may give you your own leads, she adds.
About two hours after your arrival, Vendalfek comes upstairs in a panic to meet you in your bedrooms. He says, "One of the walls downsssstairs has collapssssed on one of the tengus! nicccce ladies by the way... but HELP!! I'm too small to even lift the small stones! they're trying to dig her out!"
What do you do?
Red sets to work lifting huge chunks of masonry.
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Kardess follows Red downstairs, but places a small hand on the man's hip before he starts moving anything. "We should pray before uncovering the shadows beneath those rocks."
Kardess covers his eyes for a minute, his lips moving quietly the entire time. He then walks around the collapsed rocks and looks carefully at them, before helping Red move the largest stones.
Red is able to pull the larger blocks in time and saves the tengu sister just before she crosses death's door! Assuming some of you can heal, you positively ascertain that this wasn't caused by the tengus: someone else has been down here and caused this collapse...
The rest of the evening is uneventful and you manage to relaxe, eat and sleep peacefully. It is now the next day - food has been had and spells have been studied. What is your next course of action?
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"Thank you so much Laria for the great food." Andor says with a smile.
"I am really happy that you Red and you The Slitheren Kid were able to avert a disaster yesterday and found these clues. So what do you think we should do about that?"
* * *
Later after breakfeast Andor would first see who would be willing to accompany him and gather information on the streets again.
* * *
After the information gathering Andor would propose the following to Rexus.
"If you do not mind Rexus I would take a look at the Silver Raven documents as well. Maybe I can help you to decipher them."
* * *
Later in the evening when the team is discussing the next steps:
"Team, I believe the other locations that burned down should be next on our list. I think we should go to the secret gathering place for the devotees of Sarenrae that burned down first if that is ok for you?" Andor asks the group.
Decoded Truth #2:(Andor) The Silver Ravens maintained their main headquarters in and below the Kintargo Opera House; unfortunately, no information in the documents indicates any other safe houses the group may have maintained.
Decoded Truth #1: (Kardess) Many of the Silver Ravens were adventurers or worshipers of Milani. Jackdaw, a swashbuckler, was the most powerful and influential of them all, but others who rose to particular prominence among the Silver Ravens were Amyreid (a female half-elf cleric of Milani), Ba (a male halfling enchanter), Kyda (a female human rogue/bard), and Brakisi (a male human urban ranger).
Also, both Kardess and Andor notice something weird about one of the pages; it's formatted slightly differently than the rest of the text, and some of the words used in the text don't make sense, almost as if it was written by someone not quite fluent in Taldane...
Gather Information results:
You overhear the following between two scholars, "Someone’s killing tieflings down in the Devil’s Nursery. I’ve heard that whoever’s doing it is taking trophies, but I’m not sure what kind. Sounds like the Slasher’s back... Just what we need!" They shake their heads and are about to complain about something else, but the two men move on quickly as soon as they spot you listening...
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After rescuing the tengu's, Red will ask them (and the pseudo-dragon) what they know about the sabotage. "Who do this?..Rrr.. Who know you here and why they want hurt?..Rrr.. be careful and call if see danger..Rrr"
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Red would accompany Andor once more knowing the streets are not necessarily safe. "Slasher? Sound dangerous..Rrr.. Red like danger but Red think we go visit Rexus old house first..Rrr"
@Red: the tengus ask, "How, how? how do we call if more danger??"
@Kardess/Andor: do you mention your odd find to Rexus or do anything else with this?
As you remove the heavy wooden bar from the door, you step out of the empty Long Roads Coffeehouse to find similarly deserted streets outside. The silence is both eerie and welcome, as it seems out of place for such a large city but also offers the soothing background sounds that would be offered in a more rural area. Crickets, owls and croaking frogs out in the marsh outside can be heard. All the houses have gone dark at this late hour.
Either by luck or timing, you do not encounter or even hear any patrols coming your way. The gate to The Greens district is lit up by two burning torches, but the gate is up, and the guards must have gone out to do their rounds or to take care of something.
As you enter the nobles' district, you note that one mansion to the south of you seems to be lit up, and you hear the distant laughter of guests through its opened windows.
The ruined Victocora estate to the northeast is unattended, and those of you who have low-light or dark vision may make a Perception check.