With perfect order, the sun rises slowly in the east. The light First touching Tien, then Taldor, next Andoran, finally through the Whisper Wood to touch on Cheliax before rushing onward. Dark things look to the sky as the sun begins its climb over Westcrown. They scurry back to their dens. Bugs, rats, thugs, and worse flee light and seek the safety of the darkness. As the sky turns, the guards of the Dottari begin their morning round. As dockworkers and laborers exit the tavern common rooms, the guards extinguish the pyrahje, the islands of light and safety being no longer necessary in the early morning light. Slowly men and women go about their work, business men open their shops and down at the docks ships resume loading and unloading their cargo. In the low market a Hellknight beats a child for stealing food. In on Regicon island noble men and women begin their day slowly. High above the bustling Wiscrani men and women the Qatada Nessudidia, the great temple of Asmodeus looms.
Through all of this a dark haired human woman moves with purpose. She ignores the merchants and the beggars as she goes about her business.
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Kadin Stone was up early that morning as well. There had been a rumor going around that there might be some new recruits at the watch today, and she wanted to look her best. Granted, this didn't differ much from any other day; after all, the offices of the city watch were a bustling place, and you never knew when the man of your dreams - or at least someone reasonably well-off and attractive - might walk through the door. People often commented on Kadin's attractiveness, though occasionally people - like her brother Tobin - would tell her that just because she was pretty didn't mean that she couldn't apply herself to something. What they never realized was that beauty took effort and was, in fact, the best way to reach her current goal, which was to get married so that she could stop being a burden on her brother. Tobin repeatedly said that he didn't mind taking care of his sister, but his wife Octavira was generally less pleased. And if the best way to reach that goal was to get up before dawn every day and ensure that her red hair shone to the best of its ability, that was what she was going to do.
Ichabod Crow woke up two hours before dawn today. His internal clock was used to such abuses. Long ago, he learned that it can be informative to periodically see what goes on in town when everyone believes the city is asleep. After all, that's how he had exposed the farmer's wife for her affair with with the blacksmith, that's how he'd known where the butcher got his "special" meat, that's how he'd learned about the tax collector's business dealings, and that's how he'd discoverred which part of the river the medicine man gathers his false "holy water" from. The thought of discovering a similar fraud excited him. It didn't matter to Ichabod that revealing such things rarely paid well. Few townfolk ever showed any real appreciation for Ichabod's work, but each lie and scam he eliminated made him feel a little more comfortable living in this world.
Packed as though he wouldn't be home for a week, Ichabod put on a large hooded cloak to conceal his face, and he stealthfully went to people-watch from one of his favorite vantage points in town. An unsual number of foreigners had traveled into town during the last few nights, and he intended to learn where they were going and what they were up to.
Ichabod : During your early morning watch you see little of real interest, a few skulkers and petty cat-purses slinking in the predawn hours. There isn't even a hint of the infamous shadow beasts said to roam the darker streets of Westcrown late at night. You begin to think this would perhaps be a wasted morning when you just barely spy a handful of Teiflings scaling the wall to the abandoned section.
Kadin Stone was up early that morning as well. There had been a rumor going around that there might be some new recruits at the watch today, and she wanted to look her best. Granted, this didn't differ much from any other day; after all, the offices of the city watch were a bustling place, and you never knew when the man of your dreams - or at least someone reasonably well-off and attractive - might walk through the door. People often commented on Kadin's attractiveness, though occasionally people - like her brother Tobin - would tell her that just because she was pretty didn't mean that she couldn't apply herself to something. What they never realized was that beauty took effort and was, in fact, the best way to reach her current goal, which was to get married so that she could stop being a burden on her brother. Tobin repeatedly said that he didn't mind taking care of his sister, but his wife Octavira was generally less pleased. And if the best way to reach that goal was to get up before dawn every day and ensure that her red hair shone to the best of its ability, that was what she was going to do.
Kadin : You make your way from your brothers residence to the Dottari watch house in the Regoscripto. Being a common guard of the streets and gates may lack the glamor of the canal watching Condottari or the Regidottari of the old royal sector, but it is respectable and a good deal safer the ruin duty in the Rondottari. Your Duxotar is an efficent woman named Saria Roccin, who is generally pleasant unless the Hellknights decide to take an interest in Wiscrani Law enforcement. The truth is though you wear the red and black uniform you have seldom had to draw a weapon and usually only end up on patrol if extra crowd control is required. The position does put you in contact with a variety of interesting people though and keep you up on the latest gossip. There are few non-dottari at the watch house when you arrive and Leonus, the middle aged man who handles the booking records, greets you as you enter, "Kadin! Morning to you bella and how are you today?
Dakaar sat atop a roof as the sun rose, inspecting a wound from the night's work: A clean cut about 4' in length, it would heal nicely with basic first aid. After taking an agonizing few minutes to stitch the wound, he patted the pack slung over his shoulder feeling its contents: the night's quarry was his.
As the streets began to fill with the earliest risers, Dakaar quietly made his trek to the slums to deliver what was promised...
Dakaar sat atop a roof as the sun rose, inspecting a wound from the night's work: A clean cut about 4' in length, it would heal nicely with basic first aid. After taking an agonizing few minutes to stitch the wound, he patted the pack slung over his shoulder feeling its contents: the night's quarry was his.
As the streets began to fill with the earliest risers, Dakaar quietly made his trek to the slums to deliver what was promised...
(4"... Not 4'!)
After spending half the night planning on how to best turn Cheliax upside down and usher in an age of enlightened peace and harmony to Westcrown and with any luck the rest of Cheliax. Alcibades has come the the conclusion he needs more allies. There are many questions left in his mind the most important has been haunting the whole night. How can I find trustworthy allies?
One of the things he knows is a cleric would be useful. But is hard to find any good clerics these days with most follow Asmodeus. Clerics also have ways of weeding people of certain alignments out of the crowd.
As Alcibades strolls out of the ruins of Redo Cader when the first rays of light begin to hit the streets. He finally decides to head to the docks. Maybe there he can find people that aren't tainted by the Thrice-Damned house of Thrune. Alcibades heads towards the docks to watch and listen hoping inspiration will strike or perhaps he will hit a patch of good luck and bump into a few brave souls looking for adventure.
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There's nothing Aya loves more than waking to the sounds of bells and music. She is hardly what one would call a “morning person”, but all those years of morning devotions and training have resigned her to the early hours. Sometimes Aya wonders how the people outside her temple cope with the harsh realities that surround them. Despite the wonders of life and nature, much of the good & beauty is clouded by the evil that occupies and looms over Cheliax. It is this tragedy that rests heavily on Aya’s mind in the early hours. Perhaps if everyone could see the world as she did, they might discover that deep down we are all beings with shared pasts & common goals; all searching for a purpose.
But enough of these depressing topics, rehearsal calls and Aya’s mandolin surely will not play itself. Aya always finds that morning rehearsals tend to lift her heart from whatever depths in which it might be stuck. She skips to the chamber and greets the day with a smile that never seems to disappear completely from her face.
(4"... Not 4'!)Dakaar sat atop a roof as the sun rose, inspecting a wound from the night's work: A clean cut about 4' in length, it would heal nicely with basic first aid. After taking an agonizing few minutes to stitch the wound, he patted the pack slung over his shoulder feeling its contents: the night's quarry was his.
As the streets began to fill with the earliest risers, Dakaar quietly made his trek to the slums to deliver what was promised...
Dakaar : Waling towards the edge of the __ you see little out of the ordinary. You pass a man muttering about peoples homes not being safe anymore and the indignity of it all. When you arrive at your destination you notice something strange. The door barely on its hinges and a notice is nailed to the the front. No one appears to be in the building.
After spending half the night planning on how to best turn Cheliax upside down and usher in an age of enlightened peace and harmony to Westcrown and with any luck the rest of Cheliax. Alcibades has come the the conclusion he needs more allies. There are many questions left in his mind the most important has been haunting the whole night. How can I find trustworthy allies?
One of the things he knows is a cleric would be useful. But is hard to find any good clerics these days with most follow Asmodeus. Clerics also have ways of weeding people of certain alignments out of the crowd.
As Alcibades strolls out of the ruins of Redo Cader when the first rays of light begin to hit the streets. He finally decides to head to the docks. Maybe there he can find people that aren't tainted by the Thrice-Damned house of Thrune. Alcibades heads towards the docks to watch and listen hoping inspiration will strike or perhaps he will hit a patch of good luck and bump into a few brave souls looking for adventure.
Alcibades : The docks are soon bustling with the normal sights and sounds of the morning, ships being loaded and unloaded, children running about chasing rats and other animals,and of course the usual hustlers and low-lifes. You do note that down an ally behinde a dockside taven, three burly men are roughing up a pair of teiflings.
Kadin greets Leonus calmly and pleasantly, inquiring after the health of his wife and children. She smiles at her fellow watchmen and women as she heads over to the duty roster to check her assignment for the day, all the while scoping out the room to see who's there and most especially whether the rumors of new blood will be proven correct...
Dakaar steps back slightly and looks around for signs of anything strange, before dipping into the alley to peek in the windows, checking if anyone is still inside the home. Satisfied with his survey, he returns to scan the notice....
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"Good morning, or as it looks, perhaps late afternoon? Sometimes I get caught up in my playing. I don't believe I have seen you here before. Is there something I could help you with?"
A man in his mid 30's, with dark features and of middling height, named Eibu Dann tells you "I thought I heard something in the middle of the night so I went down to my shop to investigate. I was assaulted by a gang of Teiflings. They trussed me up like a hog and beat me, then proceeded to loot my shop. I would have stayed their all day had my wife not come down and found me. There was at least 8 of them. The thugs left this." He holds up a small wooden coin with some kind of portrait burned into it. "Now young lady, just what are you going to do about this? This is intolerable!"
I smile at the nice man and explain the process that the watch follows when confronted with such situations. I ask him clarifying questions to fill out my paperwork, and assure him that his complaint will receive the full attention that it deserves.
I sight to myself and mutter, "I guess it can't be helped." Taking a step towards the seen I observe the situation trying to gauge the situation. I especially pay attention to the way the burly men are acting... Do they seem angry and out for revenge? Or more like they having a good time and picking on the Teiflings? Or perhaps both parties are just drunk and picking on each other?
Assuming i believe they are picking on the Teiflings because they are simply Teiflings. I straighten up and from about 30ft away (assuming that is in the alley and closer then i was to start from)and in a loud and confident (as always) voice say, "Gentlemen that's enough i have been looking for these two. Leave them to me."
If in fact both parties seem to be drunk and on fairly even ground and both giving each other a hard time i simple wait at a distance and see how things develop.
If either Teifling is in fairly bad shape I make more haste. Once about 20 ft away from the group i let lose a thunderous, "What do you think you are doing?" I then begin to spout legal jargon at the men explaining their crime and the punishment. I of course find a crime they are commuting even if one doesn't fit precisely. If time permits i ready an attack. However, the whole time locking at them as if i expect nothing but their compliance.
(If none of these scenarios fit my approximation of the situation as i get closer i guess i will have to try again. ;))
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you notice a man and a woman both human who are in the rest area. They wear no uniforms and seem to be heatedly discussing something in hushed tones.
I position myself such that i can attack as many men as possible with a 30 ft line or 15 ft cone as possible without hitting the Tieflings. I thunder "Decist! Do you realize what you are doing?" I do not wait for an answer. I then begin to spout legal jargon at the men explaining their crime and the punishment. I of course find a crime they are commuting even if one doesn't fit precisely. I speak to them in such a way that I expect them to comply. Meanwhile I ready an attack if threatened. If the mob begins to hesitate I say, "I have been looking for you two (addressing the Teiflings). Come with me."
You make your way towards the section of wall where they went over. You hear the sound of movement as you try to
get closer to where they went over.
I want you to know that this is really just NOT how I planned to spend my evening. Granted, I wasn't necessarily looking forward to another evening of Octavira belittling my kitchen skills, but at least I knew where that was coming from. And yes I want to help people. I mean, of course I want to help people. Who doesn't? But I'm not entirely sure that becoming a paladin was my best option here. I mean, I wasn't doing so bad working at the intake desk. I know that no one believed that the guard was doing anything, but I knew who to report things to so that the most got done. And I was thinking about trying to move up in the ranks at some point, though I guess that was mostly so I could spend some more time with some of the higher-up guards. But what's wrong with that?
Seriously, what was so wrong with my life and goals? I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just trying to fit in, play to my strengths. Sure, I could have been one of those crusaders who constantly fights against the system, but they end up in jail and executed with their bodies hanging out for the maggots to eat. What intelligent, practical person wants to end up as public maggot-food? I was doing work to the best of my ability, and I just wanted to marry someone nice and raise some children to be good and decent people. It's a perfectly normal and valid goal; lots of people want it. It's really the best thing that someone in my position can expect, and I have worked very hard for it. If you wanted to bless me, why not give me something useful for me; making skeletons explode is really just NOT USEFUL for prompting men to propose marriage. In fact, apparently when situations come up that involve both men and blowing up skeletons, the men can be counted on to scream like little girls and not much else.
And let's pretend for a minute that I wanted to be a paladin and dedicate my life to the destruction of evil. WHY would you assign me to work with these people? This is a suicide mission! I mean, yes, they are right; people should not have to live in fear, and I would love to live in a world where I could rest content that the cobbles under my feet definitely did not contain the bones of any children under the age of 5. But these guys? They only have 15 members, and their leader has apparently been captured. This does not bode well for the longevity of their organization. And if I get caught associating with them? Public maggot-food can't help anyone. And their new recruits? Let's just say that I did not sign on for either burning buildings OR attacking hell knights. The hell knights are just doing their jobs! Granted, they could possibly be doing it in a way that less hindered the freedom of the entire populace, but achieving success for yourself so that you can take care of your family is not such a difficult goal to understand. If I were signing on for the saving the world mission, this would be the kind of people I'd want to HELP, people who just want to do a day's work for the good of their city.
Also, when I get home, I am lying through my teeth to Tobin and Octavira about where I've been. If you want to take away my paladin powers for violating my paladin code, then you should have picked someone with a lot less reason to lie. As if being a paladin in Westcrown isn't reason enough.
Ichabod
The Parego Dospara has two main quarters, the Rego Cadar and the Rego Cura. Both sectors house their fair share of derelicts and downtrodden. Few people go there who can avoid it. The Rego Cadar is almost completely unpatrolled. This makes it an ideal location for thieves and criminals. In fact some prisoners are exiled to its ruins as punishment. The northmost section (Rego Cader) has a few major features including the dusk market which operated only in the 2 hours before sunset and floats from place to place, and the Ramble Gardens, a once beautiful park gone wild and out of control. The Rego Cura nestles up to the walled separating it from the northern quarter
it too once held and continues to hold dirtier trades and the further south one goes the nicer the buildings get. The Platera, a massive slave market is housed here. The Obrigian Gate connects the two sectors and serves as guard house for the Rundottari. It is vary rarly opened. There is a building called Walcourt that is rumored to be haunted. It was once a shrine to one of the city founders.
You wander through the streets of the Rego cura, moving towards the section of wall where you think they went over. You duck down a blind ally that runs up to the wall. For a moment you think you are too late, but then you notice hoof prints in the stone and dirt. They are warm. One of your teiflings was probably here. You spot a small wooden circle on the ground.
Sewer Crew
So far our motley crew of characters has heard Janiven's Sales pitch for a Westcrown grassroots rebellion of sorts. This meeting was burst in upon by the order of the Rack seeking to snuff out such disgruntled citizens. Setting fire to the floor of the Tavern before leaping into the sewers, out PC's have navigated their way past two groups of overzealous Arminger, undead, vermin and goblins. Having taken the pittance the goblins called their treasure they have moved on hoping they are not far from the sewer exit which will lead them to a safe house when...
Sewer Crew
You rush on past the goblins lair and continue on the path set out by the markers. You pass several markers and junctions when you enter a particularly quiet segment of sewer. Even the vermin seem still. You reach a T junction and pause to check for a marker. You notice this passage is different from the others. It is more circular. The entrance is surrounded by strange markings and the way is barred by a large portcullis.
SPOT CHECK!
I'll make a spot check as well
Perception on the area
Knowledge Nature to see why the critters might be being quiet
Knowledge Dungeoneering to try to understand the area
Knowledge Engineering to see how hard it would be to break through the portcullis and another Knowledge engineering to see if I have any ideas on why this section is round. What is the portcullis made out of? Is there any sewage in this area?
I know Common, Draconic, and Infernal also I role a lunquistics check to see if i can make anything out of the text if i don't know the language.
Are there any other knowledge checks that as i am investigating I think hey that might be useful?
Is the way barred before the T intersection or after? If after are both ways barred or only one?
Also i ask the group if anyone has a way to conceal our tracks as i have been thinking we may be being tracked / followed.
Perception on the area 3d6+5
Knowledge Nature to see why the critters might be being quiet 3d6+6
Knowledge Dungeoneering to try to understand the area 3d6+6
Knowledge Engineering to see how hard it would be to break through the portcullis 3d6+6 and another Knowledge engineering 3d6+6 to see if I have any ideas on why this section is round. What is the portcullis made out of? Is there any sewage in this area?
I know Common, Draconic, and Infernal also I role a lunquistics check to see if i can make anything out of the text if i don't know the language. 3d6+2
Are there any other knowledge checks that as i am investigating I think hey that might be useful?
Is the way barred before the T intersection or after? If after are both ways barred or only one?
Also i ask the group if anyone has a way to conceal our tracks as i have been thinking we may be being tracked / followed.
In the interest of speeding things along, if the above inquiries indicate the door is locked, I will make a disable device check to try and unlock it/unbar it/whatever.
<Backs up in case door is trapped b/c reflect saves sucks for another 1100 XP>
<Backs up in case door is trapped b/c reflect saves sucks for another 1100 XP>
The writing is not elven, although there is something vaguely familiar about it. The openings between the lattice of bars are two narrow for you to squeeze past.
You take a closer look a the obstruction. It is a lattice of metal blocking the side passage. It appears recessed into the walls, floor and ceiling with no discernible way of opening it immediately apparent.
You take a closer look a the obstruction. It is a lattice of metal blocking the side passage. It appears recessed into the walls, floor and ceiling with no discernible way of opening it immediately apparent.
You take a closer look a the obstruction. It is a lattice of metal blocking the side passage. It appears recessed into the walls, floor and ceiling with no discernible way of opening it immediately apparent.
The only reasons you can think for the normal vermin to avoid this area are some kind of environmental hazard or something big and nasty. This area connects two regions of sewage flow. Some flows down the side passage and some flows down away from the way you came. The portcullis looks sturdy. The design here is not consistent with other parts of the sewer, either it predates some sections or it has been re purposed by someone. The writing on around the opening is some form of infernal, but it is somewhat archaic. It seems to be invoking some infernal power to ward the area or bind something. The obstruction is only inside the side passage of the T. Given the lack of other markings you would think the group should continue on straight past this oddity.
You inspect the circle. Turning it over in you hand it appears to be some kind of wooden coin with an image burned into it. It appears to be a devils head in profile. You are trying to remember if you’ve ever heard of anything like this before, when you hear something behind you. You wheel around in the dim predawn light and spot something gliding to the ally floor. You make out an amorphous creature loosely resembles a cross between a large snake and an insect. It has black oily skin, and parts of its very flesh blend seamlessly into the shadows. What do you do?
I warn the party to be wary of the door and not to touch it for now. "I will be making a closer inspection"
"I think this is some sort of ancient Infernal trap. We better stay away from it. Who knows what sort of devil we may run into."
Lets take a look for the symbol on exit. I look for the sign: Perception: . After looking around as long as i don't find the symbol point in another directing. I say, "Let's move on this way." And continue on ignoring the door.
Dakaar and Alcibades converse for a moment before turning to the group.
"We should try to lose them here. We could make it look like we somehow got through the porticulis, and hide our tracks as we make our escape.".
"We should leave obvious tracks leading up to the door, and some 'evidence' perhaps a bloodied strip of clothing?"
Kadin is unsure how a bloody strip of clothing will look like anything other than fake evidence, esp if it's pretty obvious that the door hasn't been opened as the fact that the relevant infernal is still trapped inside.