Carina tugs on Tanith's arm. "Tanith, I think we should be going now..."
I'll have to explain things once we're clear of this place.
Tanith nods and gives Forwell a nod of gratitude. "Take care. We'll be in touch."
Once the party has left the shrine and regrouped, Carina turns to them with a wary look on her face.
"Yeah, I'm getting the impression something's definitely up with them." She whispers. "I noticed that while Tanith was speaking with him, he got a suspicious look in his eye and nodded his head at someone I couldn't see. The way I see it, there could be two things going on: either he's hiding something, or I've become paranoid of every little thing that could be mistaken for something sinister."
"No, I think he's fishy too. Varda came to visit him the night before, and left FURIOUS. They obviously argued about something."
Carina feels a wave of (misplaced?) relief. "Oh. So it's not just me, then. Thank Fharlanghn."
Sombra slithers up onto a rafter while the heroes make their excuses to leave.
"Don't we have that appointment at the bank, guys?" Rodrigo asks, offering them an out.
Sombra slithers up into the rafters while Forwell is distracted, and the heroes head out to the 'bank'.
Astraden nods. "There was some guy with a sword that Farrukh punched. Definitely fishy."
"Wait, what?" Carina's face pales a bit. "Why'd you do that, Farrukh?!"
"Farrukh punched someone?" Tanith says in impressed surprise. "But he's always wearing those spiked gloves."
An hour goes by. The visitors begin to slow as the elderly petitioners file off to find places to sleep. Finally, Forwell is alone.
And now he does something strange. The priest goes up and locks the door to the shrine. Sombra sees him reach beneath his shirt collar and grip something—perhaps a holy symbol. He chants in a strange language, and before him, a cube of earth rises up to reveal a trapdoor.
He jumps into the hole, opens the trapdoor, and drops down into darkness. The trapdoor slams shut behind him.
"Rodrigo planted his snake before we left, so if there's anything actively weird going down, we should be able to find out." Eben says. "So we just need to stay in the neighborhood, I guess. Anyone for lunch?"
"Wait, what?" Carina's face pales a bit. "Why'd you do that, Farrukh?!"
"He decided to talk some s@+@ about Astraden being "pomarj filth", so I thumped him. Made sure to keep the spikes out of the way, if that's what you guys are worried about. His nose is probably broken, but he ran away on his own power."
"Rodrigo planted his snake before we left, so if there's anything actively weird going down, we should be able to find out." Eben says. "So we just need to stay in the neighborhood, I guess. Anyone for lunch?"
"I could go for some food."
"How about we check where Laslo died first?"
(29) Yarpick Roast: A fairly young cafe on the edge of the Foreign Quarter. It's a small place headed by a young immigrant from the Bramblewood Forest named Ageelia.
(5) Murdo's Pantry: Murdo is an astonishingly fat dwarf who makes very expensive—but very tasty—pastries and cakes.
(9) Two-Boy Theatre: Run by a pair of young half-orc brothers, this Olidammara-friendly theatre puts on plays, using silhouette puppets and their own acting skills in religious miracle stories.
(3) Mobber's Tasty Vegetables: Owned by a dwarf who grows strange but delicious plants with the help of a friendly druid.
(18) Marik's Buns: Marik and her six children run this bakery with love and devotion. Marik has a friendly rivalry with Murdo.
(10) Shortstone Wines: A former church of St. Cuthbert that fell on hard times. Now run by a tall dapper gnome who wants to convert the place into a warehouse to import and export fine wines.
(28) The Two-Necked Swan: The roughest ale-house in Midnight’s Muddle is run by Tudge and Ruck, bald half-orc brothers who won the bar in a bet. Aside from being a den of gamblers, lowlifes, and cheap prostitutes, the tavern has a fighting pit in the basement.
(37) Web’s Rooftop Dragonchess Parlor: A very snobby parlor to play dragonchess in. Without an invitation, the only way to get in is to either win Web over or offer a very hefty bribe.
"How about we check where Laslo died first?"
"Laslo will still be dead when we get around to it, but I'm starving. Yarpick Roast is nearby. Fod was great last time."
As Sombra spies, the party heads to the Yarpick Roast. It is beginning to grow dark, and Ageelia is serving two other tables when when the group arrives. She smiles in recognition and goes to fetch the menus and bowl of yarpick nuts.
The group journeys to the Yarpick Roast, a small cafe. It's a fairly young establishment headed by a young immigrant from the Bramblewood Forest of Ket. She speaks haltingly, clearly still a bit new to the Common tongue, but introduces herself as Ageelia.
"So," Farrukh says as he looks over the menu "What's our theory so far? I think it's likely Forwell killed Varda. Maybe because Varda figured out who his true goddess was? Any of our more religious types heard of something that fits the description of the supposed 'Weeping Lass'?"
Tanith spends much of the walk to dinner pondering how you could punch anyone properly with your fist wrapped up in spiky leather.
"It could be", Tanith answers Farrukh's theory while slurping his curry. "But if that shrine is a front for some kind of cult, what's his game? The old folks there seemed to like Forwell. As far as we've heard he's been doing them some real good."
Eben protests that he's not a fan of Ket cuisine, but winds up being voted down. In the restaurant, he just orders rice and flatbread.
"Yeah, it's kind of a puzzle. I mean, if he is a priest, why pretend to be a priest of a different religion?"
Farrukh orders a curried chicken and some rice, then repsonds to Tanith in between munching some Yarpick nuts.
"Well, nothing says a murderer has to be pure evil. It could be something far more mundane than an evil cult bent on world destruction. Forwell sets up shop in the city, maybe he worships some unknown goddess or one that's fallen out of favor. Or maybe even one he made up whole cloth. He sets her up as being related to Kord somehow, draw in worshipers from the fringe."
"So he makes some money in the priest game from donations and tax exemption, or maybe even some criminal enterprise he runs out of the church (smuggling, maybe?), and gives back to the community with it. Either out of genuine compassion, or to generate more goodwill, and worshipers from that. Maybe Varda confronted him, and threatened to expose the ruse? That would bring Forwell's scheme tumbling down. Hell, depending on how mad his former supporters are, they might kill him. Or try to."
"So, he takes out Varda and makes it look like an accident. Or at least, makes it a crime that's hard to prove."
"I don't know. Just spitballing. That's the best case scenario for the city, really."
"If it was just a con why all the theatrics? Why the fire, and the phase spider, and the magical floor-melting? He could have just poisoned Varda's food and it would have all been a lot cleaner. There's got to be someone in the Muddle that knows something about his 'Weeping Lass'."
Carina orders a helping of steak to go with her yarpick nuts.
"So, not unlike the Ebon Triad, then? And if the folks at the shrine are as chummy with Forwell as you say they are, it does beg the question as to whether they're true believers or just innocent people being taken for a ride."
"If it was just a con why all the theatrics? Why the fire, and the phase spider, and the magical floor-melting? He could have just poisoned Varda's food and it would have all been a lot cleaner. There's got to be someone in the Muddle that knows something about his 'Weeping Lass'."
"All good questions I have no good answers for."
"If it's just a con..." Eben shakes his head. "The thing is, with a con, you get in, do what you came for, and get out. You have a goal. The longer you stick around, even if the money looks like it's only going to get better, the more the chance of things blowing up in your face. So this guy is either being greedy and dumb... or he hasn't got what he came for, yet." He pours himself a glass of water from the carafe. "Or it's something else besides a con game."
The man stands still, watching the door. His fingers rap against his side as he waits. A moment later, there is a knock.
The old man with the sword comes in, alongside a somewhat scared-looking one-legged man. The swordsman seems to be half-supporting, half-leading his companion as they move in.
"Good evening, Elsir!" Forwell says to the one-legged man, smiling broadly. "I'm so happy you're here."
Elsir smiles, unable to hide a bit of nervousness. "I-it was an honor. What do you need me for?"
"I have wonderful news." Forwell steps up and clasps Elsir's hands in his own. "You have been chosen."
Elsir's eyes widen. His eyes dart about. His stance shifts. "I...really?" His voice sounds hesitant, though a bit excited.
"Oh, yes. You have been selected by the Weeping Lass herself. She is pleased with your nobility, Elsir. She and I both admire your integrity—it is that courage in conviction that Kord so values in his faithful servants."
"Oh." Elsir gives an uneasy smile. "That's w-wonderful. Thank you, Master. Um...when do I—"
"Now."
"Oh."
Elsir's voice is small.
The swordsman helps Elsir down to the trapdoor as Forwell opens it. Elsir descends, and Forwell moves to follow him. But first, Forwell clasps the white-haired man's shoulder and whispers something in his ear.
It takes two hours more before Forwell at last heads into the attached shack where he assumedly sleeps and Sombra is able to slither out.
It is now 8:00 pm, and the sun is starting to set when Sombra exits to rejoin Rodrigo and the rest of the party.
"My experience is mostly with, you know, pretty straightforward highway robbery, but I can see what you mean. He's gotta have something more complex planned." Astraden eats the Ketite food carefully, but finds her taste buds much more resistant since dying.
"Well, what does she say, Sir Dantares?"
"My experience is mostly with, you know, pretty straightforward highway robbery, but I can see what you mean. He's gotta have something more complex planned." Astraden eats the Ketite food carefully, but finds her taste buds much more resistant since dying.
"Well, what does she say, Sir Dantares?"
"Please, call me Rodrigo. We've nearly died together for f!!#'s sake," Rodrigo corrects Astraden. "She says..."
"Sounds strange alright and sounds like something we should check out. Do we have a way to get inside unseen?"
"You have done well, my good man. Some of Kord's faithful must be called sooner than others, but we will always remember Elsir's spirit. Now, go home and get some rest. In the morning, we will decide what to do with those festering fools. Nothing can be allowed to interfere with Her plans. Nothing."
"Forwell descended into a hidden trapdoor within the shrine's floor. Then he came out a half an hour later and met with the man Farrukh punched. The man had a cripple with him named Elsir. Forwell told Elsir he'd been chosen by the Weeping Lass, then whispered to Broken-nose..."You have done well, my good man. Some of Kord's faithful must be called sooner than others, but we will always remember Elsir's spirit. Now, go home and get some rest. In the morning, we will decide what to do with those festering fools. Nothing can be allowed to interfere with Her plans. Nothing," Rodrigo parrots. "Then he led Elsir into the trapdoor."
"And, let me guess--the 'festering fools' he's referring to are us, right?" Carina asks between bites of her steak. She hasn't been speaking up much--after all, it's rude to do so with your mouth full.
"S~*!. The guy seemed scared, he didn't deserve to die."
"So whatever is going on, he's talking people into volunteering for human sacrifice? And they think they're doing it in Kord's name? That's just messed up."
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"Yeah, it's pretty ugly. We should go kill him and take his stuff," Rodrigo suggests.
"And save any innocent people we find in there, of course." Carina polishes off her steak.
The extent of Forwell's treachery sets Tanith to brimming with rage. "He's killing innocent people in Kord's name. I'm going to make him pay."
"So, when should we make our move?" Carina leans forward, popping a yarpick nut in her mouth and chasing it with a drink of wine. "We might be able to go right now--even though I don't have the right extracts prepared today."
"Well, in all likelihood, if we're going to save gimpy, we need to act immediately. I can dimension door us down through the layer of earth over the trapdoor," Rodrigo says.
Thank you, Sombra. You have done well tonight. Go rest, Rodrigo thinks to his eidolon. With a moment's concentration he sends her back to her home plane.