"Hey now... Nobody said anything about breakfast before. I'm in!" Seeing the spread laid out before them Valeros digs in without restraint. Pointing with one sausage he reconsiders, "Now that I think about it what's the hurry? Maybe we've got time to get in a bath and unwind a little, have a nice lunch and maybe then we can bash some cultists..." From his grin it is pretty clear that he is joking, but maybe only half joking.
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Almost on cue, the ever-dutiful butler noiselessly insinuates himself back into the room, drawing attention to himself by clearing his throat.
"If M'lords and M'lady have finished breakfasting, may I recommend that the new arrivals wait in the drawing room whilst the rest of you pack-up your things...?"
He inclines his head towards Kovar, Talhaearn, and Valeros.
"I believe that there is post-prandial sherry available there, if you need distraction whilst you wait..."
The butler then bows, and leaves the room.
Tender Flesh Puppet,
I long to see you back within the walls of my estate - the servants tell me they miss your screams. That filthy wretch Sebastus Hustavan has fallen far indeed - I hear that the Society is offering him some menial labor work within the halls of the Society in exchange for his information about the Zyphus cult. What an exquisite opportunity! Enclosed, find a small pouch with a single emerald inside - deliver this to Hustavan, and whisper to him that he will get more if he keeps his eyes and ears open inside the Society's halls, and reports everything he learns to my agents. I will contact him again once he's safe in Absalom. Do not let any of your compatriots see you do this - it must be a secret.
Additionally, it seems we missed an opportunity to learn more about the Zyphus-created zombies the cult used in their assault on that pitiful Taldan opera house. Should the cult still be keeping a zombie or two standing around, take a perfect sample of the creature's brain matter, and return it to me.
Whatever it takes,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
In your hand is a scroll, sealed with the familiar mark of Baron Dalsine.
Hero of the Glorious Empire!
Once you lay eyes upon the former consul, Magistros Sebastus Hustavan, you will see how our great emperor deals with failure. Hustavan is a fool - but a well connected fool. When none of your companions can hear you, get close to the old man, and whisper, "The Baron sends his regards. He wants you to know that your sister is safe." Once delivered, watch him carefully! On your return, I would know his reaction to these words - I can hardly wait to hear it.
I also have a personal mission for you to attend to. I have reason to suspect that Fel Bustrani, the dead, former cult leader of the rabble you're to exterminate, stole one of my paintings from an art auction in Oppara. It's a famous painting, depicting Taldor's heroic Panmagistros Taticus Petros, the Spear-Bearer of Zimar. You'll recognise the painting, as it depicts a Taldan man holding a spear - shouldn't be too hard for you to find, no? Bring the painting back to me on your return, and I will shower you with rewards.
With sincerest gratitude,
Baron Jacquo Dalsine
When you have all gathered together downstairs once again, you are met by the butler, who hands over a large hamper.
"I took the liberty of preparing a light repast, in case you are not back for lunch; just a few cold cuts, cucumber sandwiches, and fresh fruit. I am afraid that it is not much, but it should take the edge off your hunger."
He then opens the front door, and ushers you out onto the streets of Oppara.
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A brisk walk through the early morning streets of Oppara gets the party to the docks, where it takes but a few moments to haggle with a barge-master for passage across the River Porthmos to the unofficial 16th District of the capital of Taldor, colloquially known as the 'Vagabond Camp'. Notorious for violently resisting every official attempt to pacify it, and fold it into the embrace of Greater Oppara, most citizens of the 'true' city shun the Camp - and for good reason; the Camp has a reputation for both rampant poverty, and the wild desperation that goes hand in hand with it...
As you pass between the piles of the Grandbridge, you espy the opposite shore, where a veritable gallimaufry of poorly-constructed buildings festoon the earth, like mushrooms springing from a rotting log. The barge-master lets the party off at a narrow, rickety pier, and without a backward glance, poles off, back to the more salubrious neighbourhoods on the opposite shore.
As you hurry through the narrow streets, you get the distinct impression that you are being watched - flickers of movement behind curtains, the crunch of gravel underfoot, faint strains of laughter... but whatever wolves stalk these streets leave you alone, aiming for easier prey.
At last, you reach your destination, the scorched skeleton of a once majestic temple, just as rain begins to patter down in sheets. Walls of thick, blackened masonry stand tall and abandoned, with gaping wounds revealing where stained glass windows once caught the morning sun. The roof has collapsed and most of its remnants are long gone. Only large, immovable remnants of the crumbling masonry remain in the rubble piles scattered throughout the ruin.
Suddenly, coming from inside the ruins, you hear a furious barking, and an elderly voice cries out: "Help! By the Gods, can anyone hear me? I don't want to be dog food!"
Rushing inside, you find a grim sight: An elderly, balding man, his cheeks covered in several weeks' worth of beard growth, dressed in long white robes, which are muddy, torn, and ragged, and wearing what looks to be a blue sash tied around his waist as a belt, up on what once appears to have been a pulpit, attempting to fight off a pair of large, mangy-looking dogs.
Wadi:
Alie:
Talhaearn:
Kovar:
Valeros:
Beggar:
Dogs:
Round 1: Valeros, Alie, Talhaearn, Wadi, Kovar, Dogs, Beggar, Fog
"Hyah!!! Out of here ya mutts!!" Valeros rushes at the dogs with arms spread wide shouting and at the last minute takes his sword in both hand swinging the flat of it like a club.
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Valeros rushes forward, and delivers a resounding blow with the flat of his blade to the rump of the closest mutt, which snarls, and turns to face him, yellowed teeth bared.
Alie concentrates, and sends off a volley of force missiles, which slam into the other dog, wounding it severely, and distracting it enough for Talhaearn to bury his shortsword deep in its side; when it slides off his blade, it crumples to the ground.
Not wishing to waste his arcane might, Wadi simply mutters the words to a cantrip...
...causing a sudden explosion of bright light right in front of the remaining dog, which yelps in surprise, but appears otherwise unaffected.
Round 1: Valeros, Alie, Talhaearn, Wadi, Kovar, Dogs, Beggar, Fog
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The remaining dog, frothy spittle flying from its jaws, turns its attention to Valeros...
...but is unable to find a gap in the sturdy armor worn by the warrior.
Meanwhile, the beggar cringes, whining:
"Look, I don't want a fight; I just want to survive. Please don't kill me!"
He then drops the rotting piece of wood he was ineffectually using to fend off the dogs, and withdraws to a corner, where he drops to the ground, curling into a ball, and begins to sob uncontrollably.
Round 1: Valeros, Alie, Talhaearn, Wadi, Kovar, Dogs, Beggar, Fog
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Alie looks disapprovingly at Kovar. "Now I know Druids sometimes are anti people, but it looked like this fellow was about to be eaten. I like animals, too, but not when they are trying to eat someone, you know!."
Turning to the beggar, the gnome approached, "Hey there, I'm Alie. What were those mangy curs doing attacking you?"
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The beggar pointedly ignores Kovar, but looks up uncertainly as the rest of you approach, and start to talk to him.
"Well young master, I was waiting here to meet some people... It has been nearly a week, though, and I am beginning to give up hope..."
As he staggers to his feet, however, recognition flits across his rheumy eyes as he regards Wadi and Alie!
"Wait a minute... I remember you! You were at the theater! You were the Pathfinders who saved the day! You must remember me; it is I, Hustavan! I am afraid that... circumstances have not been kind this last month; as your star has risen, mine has sunk down into the muck..."
He sighs, and wearily wanders over to sit on the edge of a weather-beaten and broken piece of stone, which may once have been an altar.
"I lost everything. I knew that someone would take the blame for what happened, and it was my rotten luck to be the most politically important person there (who survived, at least)... I just did not imagine quite how much I would lose.
I decided that the only way to be able to regain some semblance of sanity was to help ferret-out the *real* cause of the problem; certainly, those Zyphus-worshippers caused the... incident... at the opera, but all that happened there was that the tree was cut down, as it were; the root of the problem remained.
I decided to seek-out and join the remaining cult members, learn there secrets, and then turn them over to a group which would... end them. Things went smoothly at first; the cult was in disarray after that Bustrani fellow was killed, and I was able to infiltrate their organisation without any trouble.
However, things took a turn for the worse about a week ago; a ragged dead thing with skin like blood and eyes like fire appeared in the middle of their hideout in a nimbus of blood-red smoke and declared all of the cultists to be damned for all time if they didn’t fulfill one final order: to choke their lair with dozens of traps to catch and kill all but one cultist. The final cultist would replace the fallen Bustrani, rebuild the Opparan cult, and again attempt the downfall of the city by Zyphus’s will. After that, I got out as soon as I could, and contacted the Pathfinders.
The entrance to their hideout is in the crypts below these ruins; I know not what traps they have filled their lair with, but I imagine that they will be devious, and plentiful.
Do you have any questions?"
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Wadi nods in recognition as he remembers the former nobleman. "Ahh, Hustavan, now I remember you! It is unfortunate this misfortune has befallen you but have faith. Things may yet grow bright again for you." He glances at the crypt, "Have you seen any other cultists enter or leave their lair?"
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Hustavan glances cautiously at Kovar for a long moment, before warily accepting his handshake.
"Too much has happened recently for me to turn a potential ally into an enemy; I have learned just how fickle friends can be, unfortunately. I accept your apology."
"Is it not enough that I am paying for things that I did do, and for things that I did not? My sister is completely blameless. Leave her alone!"
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Also, Hustavan's reaction is not exactly subtle, and could draw attention to you...
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Once Hustavan manages to extract himself from Alie's hug, He draws himself together with a sigh, and says:
"Well then, shall we head down there? The entrance to their lair is just down the stairs, hidden behind a secret door; I *know* that there is a hidden pit-trap beyond that door - that trap, at least, has been there since I 'joined'. Fortunately, I know where the bypass is for it."