Alrighty! Everyone dot and check in and we'll begin when we've got everyone! I've picked up two new recruits to keep us at six players.
|
It is good to see so many of Alrathien's friends have come to join him on this next great adventure. Alrathien is certain that all will be useful towards gaining knowledge and understanding of the world around us. Perhaps one of Alrathien's friends brought some cheese? Or fruit, maybe? A bit of chilled wine would also be pleasant while we wait.
I have two new recruits joining you, let me try to hurry them along. I also see I screwed up and posted this under general discussion and not a campaign, I'll need to fix that (oops)!
Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, a petite, raven-haired, black-eyed Taldan beauty, paces her office within the Pathfinder lodge in Cassomir and addresses you.
“I am perplexed. A new kidnapping spree plagues my beloved city. It seems our citizens make easy prey to those who profit from such exploits. While this disturbs me, I am more troubled by reports that some of those kidnapped return to the city as undead monsters who accompany this Cult of Nature’s Cataclysm plague, a plague that I can’t seem to excise from my beloved city.
“This ends now! For a third time we battle Groetus-worshiping dogs and there will not be a fourth!” Taking several deep breaths, Hestia regains her composure. “I am sending you to Swift Prison to interrogate a cultist we captured who was trying to kidnap a local engineer. Meet my man Garver out front—he’ll take you in to see the Nature’s Cataclysm fool. Find out where the other cultists hide, where they’ve taken their recent victims, and how they’re turning them into skeletons. Free as many Cassomir citizens as you can—the good publicity never hurts. Any questions?”
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.
|
"It's all clear to me!" Jeffrey announces with a big smile. "Interrogate the cultist, safe the people! Clear enough."
Those who noticed Jeffrey before he spoke, may have observed he had his big smile ever since he entered the room. Once they've been around Jeffrey for a while they may notice he never stops smiling.
|
|
As the Venture Captain spoke, a fastidious looking elf moved over to a cabinet and poured himself a hefty measure of brandy from a crystal decantur. He leaned against a bookself, eyeing the titles and sipping the brandy, completely oblivious to Themis' glare.
"Ah, Alrathien has heard of this Swift Prison before. Yes, it came up when talking with friend Bennybeck about his acquisition of some merchandise with...suspect origins. He told me that there are often low-security prisoners allowed to pay money for better accomodations and care, and that some of these 'trustees' can even pay for the privilege of walking about unfetttered."
"Venture Captain, is Alrathien to understand that these shall accompanyhim on this fact-finding mission? How excellent. Alrathien believes that one can never be too short on friends, especially when they are such fine, upstanding ones that might prove most excellent at cards, and share insights and knowledge from the world over. This brandy is quite execrable, by the way. Have you ever tried Ostershallen brandy? Now that has flavor like angelic fruits lightly caressed by the sun. This? Horse piss on mushrooms." The elf poured the remainder of the glass in the nearest waste bucket.
|
Kimiya leans against the wall and watches Alrathien. A slow smile spreads across his face but he's quick to cover it when VC Themis looks on, aghast.
He turns to the new comers, "you'll get used to friend Alrathien soon enough. He's a bit of a talker so you're forced to." Kimiya chuckles, "but he's good with a joke and he'll light up your smoke so he's a good man to have at your side."
"I am Kimiya Sayo with the Order of the Blue Rose. My word is my bond and despite what you may have heard about our prior adventures, I aim to serve Sarenrae in a peaceful manner."
|
Velen nods to each in turn, giving Alrathien a measured stare during his spiel. Mostly to himself, he mumbles "Yes, you look like the type that is well familiar with the many flavors of horse."
To the room at large, he states: "I'm Velen, here on behalf of the Dark Archive. My superior is very concerned about the manner in which this cult is conducting themselves, and the source of their power. I received a very terse note to head this way, so any background information you have from your previous mission would be appreciated."
He leans back against the wall, crossing his arms and surreptitiously keeping everyone else and all the possible entrances and exits within view.
|
|
As the party gathers and listens to Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, Grethe barges in the room unexpectedly. He gets about halfway in the room, stops, looks around briefly and exclaims loudly with a bit of a slur, "What?!? Ders no s!+#ter here!".
He scans the room quickly and then with a huge smile on his face he exclaims "Ohhhhhh! An adventure party!"
He pauses for a brief moment, still speaking loudly he states "Wait, what day be now? ohhhhhh no. OHHH no, I dun forgot! I was supposed to be here. Me bad comrades! Everybody call me Grethe! But my friends, dey call me Grethe! Get it? Cause everybody friends with me! Ha Ha! Wut I miss?"
|
|
Veren sheathes the daggers that appeared in his palms when the door crashed open as smoothly as he pulled them out, resuming his relaxed stance against the wall before most of the group is finished staring at Grethe.
Without expression and almost no inflection, Veren says "So far we've determined that the elf over there", nodding at Alrathien, "does not enjoy the taste of horse piss. Oh, and there are cultists in or around the city kidnapping, murdering, bringing townsfolk back from the dead, and then siccing them on the town. We're supposed to go to the jail and interrogate a captured cultist for information." When he mentions interrogation, Veren's hands unconsciously flex, and then curl into tight, knuckle-cracking fists before relaxing folding across his chest again.
He glances back to VC Themis, "Does that about cover it?"
The Venture-Captain's glare turns into one of complete amazement as the wizard not only helps himself to her brandy, but then goes on to insult the brandy. Her cheeks suck in slightly as she grinds her teeth. Thin-lined lips firmly press together as she crosses her arms and stares at the wizard. "
The short burst of unaccented Taldane cuts through all chatter in the room. It's clear that her intentions to reprimand the wizard are imminent. "I had heard reports of your shenanigans with Pathfinder Lianis, but I did not expect you to--"
Her words are interrupted when the half orc bumbles into her office. The Venture captain blows out a terse breath and spins to face Grethe. "Ah, yes, of course. Late again I see Pathfinder Grethe. I honestly do not know if I expect anything else Liberty's Edge these days. I understand the principals of Common Rule which grant every man a voice, but please try to make sure that the body attached to the voice arrives promptly when requested. I will let your companions fill you in on the details."
She sighs and with her arms still folded she pivots to look back at Alrathien and says with feigned enthusiasm, "Your fellow Pathfinder over here was on the verge of being reassigned to latrine cleaning duty before your aptly time appearance." The Venture Captain is clearly worked up over something. Either the antics from earlier or something prior to your arrival, she seems to be extremely frustrated with this situation.
She clears her throat quickly and loudly, signalling that enough discussion of nonsense has taken place. "Now then. What mission related questions do you all have? Do I make myself clear that this issue must be resolved this time around? I simply cannot have any more of this cult in Cassomir!"
|
|
"Ah! It's seems that Alrathien has caused some offense? But really, dear Captain, how could you not know? Or is it that the wise Venture Captain Themis joyfully places horse water brandy out for unsuspecting guests, waiting in pleasure as they sample it? For shame, Venture Captain, for shame! Unwittingly Alrathien goes to sample your generosity, to find himself the brunt of a cruel prank. Truly, Alrathien thought better of you."
"Now, before we leave, are there restrictions you wish to place on Alrathien and his stalwart companions before we go? Shall Grethe, here, refrain from twisting this vile cultist's head from his shoulders to get the information needed? Shall Kimaya be able to poison him with a bite? what? You can't actually poison people with a bite? Ah well, much sadness there is in that. Quite an expedient option, it would be."
"Still, Captain, you look worked up about something. Has it only to do with these cultists, or is there something else that has you puckered up so. Other than the brandy, that is?"
|
|
"What's wrong with Liberty's Edge?" Jeffrey asks while looking at his companions. "I haven't joined the weirdo faction, have I?"
Jeffrey slowly bows over to Alrathien, and whispers as he nods at the black-haired Venture-Captain. "I suspect the raven's having her period. Let's get out asap."
"No more questions!" he announces abruptly, and quickly leaves the room to join Watkins.
Are there restrictions you wish to place on Alrathien and his stalwart companions before we go?"
The VC shakes her head. "No. Remember the tenents of your training. Explore, Report, Cooperate."
A slight pause is added before she adds, "-and take of this damn problem for me so we don't have to have this damn conversation again."
Clearly agitated the VC takes a deep breath trying to calm herself before continuing on to Kimiya's question.
"I'm sorry for being blunt. I simply cannot deal with the continued kidnappings in my city much longer. I need this resolved."
"How many people are missing? And is there any known connection? And is this cultist a friend of the Society or will he need some, ah, convincing to assist us?"
“At least 15 Cassomirites—all of them engineers, city planners, masons, and the like. The evidence points strongly toward 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 but have no proof."
"I'm not sure he is to be considered a friend, but he's offered information in the past. Consider him as an ally however in regards to your question. He’s 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.”
The party departs the VC's office and makes their way over to 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. “Ah. 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, [b]“Our captured cultist enjoys visitors, and if you like his work, it’s all for sale.”
Ohhhh A prison! So dis guy here. Dis guy. He is in prison, but we get all dat we wants from him? Seeeeeeeems shady. How he end up here anyhow?
Garver explains that the crazed painter was captured after the destruction of cult that the Pathfinder's broke up. Beyond that, he has no answers for your party. "I'm very sorry, I don't work here and so I know very little about this man. The only thing I DO know is that no one knows who the painter is—he hasn’t given his name and no one has discovered it yet. The guards simply call him the “crazed painter,” a nickname he either doesn’t mind or isn’t coherent enough to understand."
|
|
"Very well then, good sir! Let us see this 'crazed painter' and evaluate his work. If it stands on its own merit, then Alrathien may indeed be interested in picking up a piece or two. The lodgings at the Jade Parrot are certainly affordable, but Alrathien finds them a little bleak and, not to put too fine a point on it, homely."
Alrathien motions for Garvey to open the door and show them in, stepping back slightly to allow Jeffrey and Grethe to take the lead.
|
|
Grethe walks up to the cell door, but pauses before entering. With a slight grin on his face, he yells out to Alrathien Ladies first!
...
He busts out laughing, gives Alrathien a good slap on the back and states Awwww I'm just messing wit'ya mate! Ha ha ha!
Grethe continues into the cell chuckling loudly.
Garver looks at Alrathien strangely, "Alrathien? Should I know this man?" Shrugging, he leads them on into the building.
The building itself is fairly fortified, but the manner in which in which it is run has more to do with escape likelihood. You are continuously eyed with suspicions because you are armed, but no one stops you from proceeding. Those that seem like they are going to be a problem are quickly thwarted from a coins from Garver's pockets.
You are 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 at your arrival, 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.
|
|
Now's the time!
"Hey mate, you're spilling some of that paint on the floor!" Jeffrey tells the man in the center cell, then burst out laughing while giving Grethe a soft pat on the shoulder. "Bwahahahaha!"
When Jeffrey's finally stopped laughing he takes another look at the painting. "Joking aside, you've been quite busy! What are you painting now?"
The painter seems oblivious to the meaning of Jeffrey's words and halfway through each of both of his sentences he shouts, “For you, my master, always for you!” and continues to furiously paint.
His face suddenly ticks into a smile. “Oh! Friends! Yes, the master! 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.”
|
|
"It's a very big statue," Jeffrey responds, expecting that explanation to suffice. He then seems to realize more detail is expected.
"And for that reason we could be gone for a while. But don't worry, we'll get it done!"
Jeffrey shrugs at the others and starts heading out. "At least we'll get some fresh air. This place smells awful."
|
|
"Oh yes, friends of the Master indeed. Alrathien has seen the aforementioned statue. In fact, this very day as we walked to this place, Alrathien noticed her stern glare, her fine visage looking forth on the rabble below with such personality! Alrathien can see why this figure would interest such a master craftsman as yourself."
"Alrathien would like to see further this collection to which you ascribe your efforts."
Without waiting for a response, Alrathien cast a spell of light upon himself and moved to the darkened corner to see what other paintings the artist alluded to.
|
|
Grethe, quite bewildered, looks over at alrathien.
"Da fuk?"
Grethe shakes his head back and forth like a dog trying to dry off. Sounds about the same too. He then looks over at Jeffrey who has now left.
"In out! In out! Dees guys cant make up der minds." Grethe lets out a large sigh and walks out behind Jeffrey.
The painter repeats his request for information the statue over and over, apparently unwillingly to speak on anything else until he gets what he wants.
Jeffrey goes outside and gets a very good description of the staute. 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 any one looking at her, with a blank, uncaring expression. Faint moons decorate her flowing robes, and she crushes a set of scales beneath her left foot. He notices that the sculptor left his mark on his work of art—he carved a small letter “I” into her left foot, though he unsure who the statue represents.
When he returns and shows it to the painter, the man turns away, ignoring you as he furiously paints the blank canvas on his wall, splashing paint wildly about his cell.
Upon completing the painting,he shows it to the party. It shows a twisted perspective. The once-beautiful statue stares back transformed, her visage twisted into a demonic snarl. Short humanoids with large, black eyes torment cowering prisoners in the painting’s background. Brandishing a radiant holy symbol, a lone figure fails to fight them off.
Alrathien recognizes some of the same iconography (the paintings stacked on the floor are abstract smears of paint, in sharp contrast to these three works of art) to two paintings hanging in the rear of the cell which he looked at when Jeffrey walked out.
The painting on the left depicts a stately, white stone building. Three-foot-tall bas-reliefs circle the building’s outside walls at ground level, though they are warped and twisted in the crazed painter’s art. Derros stand atop the hall’s steps and seem to punish criminals—all of whom are wearing the robes of Taldan government officials. At the southwest corner of the building, the bas-relief glows a bright white. The same lone figure from the other paintings attempts to sooth a group of frightened children by playing a flute— the notes are actually painted above him on the canvas.
The painting on the right depicts a retaining wall that shores up parts of the ruined abbey. It shows dozens of angry derros smashing brightly-painted urns against the retaining wall, while the same lone figure from the other paintings frantically attempts to push down an obviously barred door in the middle of the wall, presumably to escape another group of menacing derros that seems to pursue him.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Interesting juxstapositioning of the derro in the back there, with the goddess holding them off with her power. A little dark, though, don't you think? Wynvere often used a similar motif, though her works are largely panned in the community as being highly derivative and even, shall we say, pedestrian. Now, Hadar, though, he was renowned for his depictions of government buildings. Though you seem to have cast them as places of punishment for untoward behaviors, rather than as places of enlightened leadership. And here, the derros again - Alrathien thinks someone has a bit of a fixation on the things - smashing things up on...is that Quickfall Abbey? Lovely place, though not as you have it here. Alrathien distinctly remembers a lack of derros the last time he visited, although he was really only there for a short time to peruse a spellbook from olden times. Nasty little thing it was, all written in Azlant and the most backwards dialect too..." Alrathien continued to mutter as he studied the paintings.
The painter watches Alrathien respond and nods and shakes his head throughout his speech. "I do not think it is overly so! Wynvere was a hack and merely copied the earlier works of Svvart! To say she used the same motif is to say that and elf is the same as he!"
The painter notions to Kimiya, clearly agitated by the mention of Wynvere.
Turning to Jeffrey he exclaims, "The master resides within the Crypt of Fools, hidden deep beneath Old Cassomir. I do not know its exact location, but if anyone has knowledge of the Crypt of Fools and how to get there, it would be the engineers at Cassomir’s engineering guild, the Hall of Wonders."
He continues, "The engineers have complete blueprints of nearly everything built by the Taldor government in Cassomir, and since the Crypt of Fools was built by the government to hide the crypts of shamed families, it’s highly probable they have all of the information."
He pauses and grins while watching your expressions, adding, ""I bet you wonder how I know all this? Go ahead, ask me."
Garver takes the opportunity in the silence to lean in towards Alrathien and mention, "The paintings can be purchased from Swift Prison through me. Let's say 1 gold piece per painting. Should you wish to purchase one of the abstracts stacked on the floor, we'll agree to a cost 5 silver. Your choice of the dozen."
|
|
"Alrathien apologizes if you misheard him. "Similar" is as different from "same" as friend Kimiya is from an elf. After all, bipedal humanoids abound, and share many characteristics, but are certainly - as you have indicated - not the same."
"And yes, Alrathien would liek to know how you know the information about the City Engineers and the Crypt of Fools. After all, information is something Alrathien is always interested in. Much like these paintings, actually. All three of the major paintings would look good in the chapter house, and maybe a handful of the abstracts to lighten up the hallways. Let's say... two gold pieces for the large paintings and another for five of the abstracts. You know, for a guild dedicated to pursuing knowledge, you would think that there would be more of an interest in the arts. Perhaps if we were to make a study on the causal relationships between arcana and the forebrain of a creative talent..." Alrathien wandered off into his musings for a while.