The next morning is barely seen by any of you. Saul and Samaritha politely let you sleep in, but descend on you with questions pretty quickly once you're up. You find them in the bar hovering uncomfortably around Kwava, who sits in a chair by the unlit fireplace, boots off and cup of acrid smelling coffee steaming in his hand.
Samaritha frowns a little at the elf as you enter.
"He won't tell us what you found, or what happened."
Kwava smiles and explains in his accented common, "I did not want to tell your tale. It is an insult among my folk to do so."
There are certainly stories to tell from the evening that we spent. Of DARK things and dire happenings. Things are not right in the world and the dark drow meddle in things that shouldn't be meddled with.
This blight upon our sky is not happenstance. There are people who must pay for these dark times.
We have brought retribution upon some small part of their numbers, and more remain.
What have you learned here? Is there any insight to the blot upon the sky?
"Yes, he said Drow. That's who Rondo went to meet. Unfortunately, they spotted us before they had a chance for us to hear any secrets. After that, neither of them felt very inclined to talk."
"These writings are all we have in the way of clues to what she was up to. Can anyone read this?'
Samaritha shakes her head in wonder. "All legends and myths are true, I think. Dark Elves and Sandpoint Devils... Spacemen riding chariots across the outer void... "
She looks through the things displayed when the story comes to Rondo's death. She plucks up the gold ring with a grand smile and slips it onto her finger. "My arcane bond!" she exults. She looks around sheepishly when she realizes she's just snatched something from your loot pile.
"Its only magical property is its bond to me and my spell-casting. I swear... and that," she points to the bone ring that Rondo wore, "is his bond. Unfortunately it also likely has no magical power other than its connection to a dead wizard."
"I owe you more than I can repay already, but let me start by figuring out what all this stuff is. I haven't studied my spellbooks yet this morning, so I can prepare certain divinations that will help. This stuff, for instance," taking up the indecipherable journal, "can likely be conquered by a spell I know."
The brown goop in the vials smells just like the poisoned bolts. It must be drow poison.
"Ring's yours. I wonder about Rondo's though. He conjured skeletons against us in his first encounter. That and the shocking grasp are the only two things that he may have done without the use of an item. I'm not convinced he actually knows how to cast a spell."
left from last ooc post:
2 spider climb potions
1 bull's strength potion
3 thunderstones
from Rondo:
A ring made of bone -> Samaritha says this was Rondo's Arcane Bond and has no other magical property
A black cloak -> Cloak of Resistance +1 as identified by Samaritha. .
1 wand -> Wand of Color Spray (44 charges remaining), identified by Samaritha.
from the dark elf:
Drow shoes -> slippers of spider climb. identified by Samaritha.
Drow chainmail shirt -> +1 mithral chainmail suit for a female elf frame.
arcane spell fail 20%, move 30'.
Drow ring -> Ring of feather fall, identified by Samaritha.
Drow hand crossbow -> +1 hand crossbow, with bayonet mounted, may be used as a 2nd weapon for purposes of dual weapon fighting rules. 6 poisoned bolts, 20 more not poisoned & quarrel.
3 vials of drow poison.
masterwork short sword.
masterwork buckler.
Jewelry - needs to be appraised or claimed by a lady. strange dark-elf pieces.
A collection of exotic and revealing outfits.
Drow journal -> Samaritha probably can translate.
diagram and loose notes - exotic paper & ink
money - 25 platinum, 25 gold & 78 sp
id'd & claimed:
wand of fireballs (3 charges remaining) - Rees
scrolls from Rondo's - Rees
potion of barkskin - Isegrim drank this
Rondo's spellbook - Samaritha claimed for study.
A small gold ring - Samaritha's arcane bond
1929gp 3sp 8cp
Lia takes a moment to make sure Sam is all right. "Anytime you want to talk, I have ears," she tells her. As Lia surveys the pile of loot in the room, her eyes light up. She fingers the drow boots and shirt. "I'd love to have these," but as she studies the shirt, she realizes she can't use it. "Maybe the shirt could be altered to fit someone else?"
{ooc]I don't have medium armor proficiency, so unless I spend a feat next time, I'll never be able to use it. Someone might get some use out of it.[/ooc]
Lia continues to survey the pile, and turns toward the jewelry. "This feather fall ring could come in handy for some of the situations I get myself into. As for the drow's other jewelry, I might know a guy that could help us with it." She's used a man in the city before for other 'transactions'.
She then turns her attention to the drow's outfits. She blushes bright red as she holds one up in front of her. "I'm not so sure these are the thing for me, but you," she says to Rees as she tosses her the outfit, "you might be able to find something to do with this." She smiles at her brother.
After her blush cools, she turns to Kwava; an unknown element in her book. "So what's your story? We've killed a single drow, and Sam has agreed to help with the papers. This might get us closer to an answer about the blot. What's your place in all of this?"
"We did well in our recent encounters, but supplies might be getting low. We should shop while we are able. Saul, will we have any trouble with Zincher's men if we venture out and about?"
Kwava took up a few of the notes from the desk while much of the story of the evening is relayed. When Lia asks her question, he looks up with a frown. "My talents do not lie with letters." He puts the papers down and answers her.
"I'm certainly interested in finding out what she was up to. I'm a member of the Lantern-bearer society." Pauses for just a second, then plows on, "Not really surprising that none of you have heard of it. We're an elven society that is committed to watching for dark elf incursions onto the surface. Word of this one came to me on a ship off the port of Magnimar, from another member passing in a different direction."
He looks out the tavern window into the street below, where a gang of men trot by heading for the waterfront. There must be a ship standing in.
"My road is north from here to the eaves of the Mierani forest. There's a town there. Crying Leaf. There is a summons there that members of my order must answer. I diverted here on the rumor of this drow, and here I am. I would very much like to know what's in the journal."
Saul shrugs at Lia. "You know how things lie with him, but word on the street is his boys are backing off a little. I'm not sure he possesses a single cap who would openly challenge you on the street right now. The Rondo thing... hitting his place like that yesterday... That sends a message to a bully like Zincher."
"I think you'll be okay. Just watch each other's backs."
The journal was written by a dark elf named Depora Azrinae who claims to be from a dark elf city named Zirnakaynen. It tells in frank and graphic detail about her alternating rivalry and love affair with another woman from her city named Shindiira. Shindiira is a worshipper of Nocticula, which apparently makes her quite sought-after as a lover. It describes their journey along with several others of their kind to the surface world, as well as clues to what they are doing here.
They were on some kind of sacred mission that was given to them by the matron of Depora's house, to come to the surface world and act as the eyes of her matron. She clearly felt that executing her part of this plan would bring fame and power to her family, and by extension to herself.
She describes a deep-seated hatred of her fair-skinned 'cousins' whom she considers corrupted. In fact she seems to hate everyone mentioned in the journal with the occasional exception of Shindiira, whom she seems to passionately love and hate. She writes about her feud with Shindiira over a male wizard, and her strong suspicions that Shindiira won this match by bedding the wizard. The wizard is named Novelniss, and his magic was apparently key to researching and constructing some kind of weapon. She felt certain that part of her test in being sent to the surface was to see if she could seduce the wizard, and she feared that her inability to dominate Shindiira would be seen as a weakness when she returned home. She intended to murder Shindiira as soon as her 'business' on the surface was finished.
Her task in Riddleport was to extract samples of stone from the legendary Cyphergate that dominates the city harbor. The stone was a critical component of some other witchcraft of Novelniss's design. She describes finding the caves and widening them to the point where the Cyphergate could be reached. She cut the famously ensorcled stone with some chisel sent with her for the task, then returned to the wizard with the pieces.
Apparently Novelniss was impressed with her efficiency, because he becomes her lover at this point in the story... though Depora suspects his motives. The wizard is upset with Shindiira because of the blot in the sky. For reasons not clear in Depora's musings, Novelniss blames Shindiira for its existence. In the end, Depora is sent back to Riddleport to observe the blot and watch for signs of it growing stronger or fading. She's not happy about these orders, but is reassured by the fact that Shindiira is trapped on an island named Devil's Elbow until her work there is complete, and cannot return to Novelniss while she is away. In any event they expect that the blot will disappear when Shindiira's secret work is complete, which should be any day now.
"Devil's Elbow is an island just south of the Velashu River estuary. No more than 20 miles from Riddleport proper."
Stand back folks that wardrobe is all mine. They may be a little tight but thats okay. Reese turns and smiles at Trystan. She looses track of the conversation for a while but then chimes in to claim the colorspray wand.
After a little while she realizes that there is another adventure coming. One that will most likely be gross with lots of mud and bugs again. Reese grimaces at her playmates and decides she is taking a few days off to enjoy her bed and her new wardrobe. She walks over to the table then over to Trystan and grabs his arm. She whispers to him, take what you want and lets get out of here, grab a bottle of fun too.
"My talents are needed elsewhere right now. I don't see anything I can't literally live without here. Perhaps we will have time to shop again before we depart? My leathers are getting.. a bit rank."
Lia offers to take the jewelry and bone ring to sell in the city. She's feeling 'twitchy' at all this 'togetherness' with others. She's used to being alone and needs some time to consider all that has happened. She convinces Saul she'll be fine on her own.
As the group starts dispersing, Brenin finds a seat closer to the elf. "How long have you been watching us? I've seen a hawk out in the woods North of town and another at Rondo's house. Then we find you and your owl in the Marsh."
Before Trystan and Rees disappear , again, he takes time to listen to all of he new information. When he does speak, he first takes a substantial pull off a strong drink. "You may not take me as a serious man but rest assured there is more to me than this perfect head of hair. I am an orphan of this troubled city. Some men would cast it aside for any blue horizion. Some would. Not me. Yet, my desire to right this place spills out beyond it's borders. If there is anything you can tell us now that will allow us to navigate the rapids ahead be out with it!"
Samaritha smiles as you all compete to read the translation.
"Just so you know, the comprehend languages spell is compliments of our late acquaintance, Rondo Vareech, and the spellbook he misplaced. And can't he just twist in the hells."
Kwava sits back and thinks a minute on what he's read. Samaritha's had longer to process the whole thing, so she's first to speak up.
"That's powerful sorcery to cut the Cyphergate stone. It's sensational news if it gets out. The Cyphermages are going to lose their minds with envy. And then to have it done by an actual dark elf."
She shakes her head, "The Cyphermages are likely going to come knocking. They're going to want to know everything you know. The more I think on it, the more I'm convinced that you should hide what you've learned from everyone in Riddleport."
Saul chimes in.
"You'd be instant legends. Drunks in every bar in town will be mispronouncing your names, the dark elf hunters of Riddleport! We could make a tournament out of it... 'Steal the Drow's Dowry' or some such..."
Kwava speaks, plainly conflicted.
"These drow must be from Celwynvian. She never says so in the journal - only names her home city underground. I'm frankly torn between the summons at Crying Leaf and going to find out what's happening on Devil's Elbow."
"I doubt the leaders of our society know of this plot we've found. My bet is that whatever is going on out there is directly connected to the Crying Leaf summons."
"Although, I'd gladly leave drow hunting to you and your group, the answers to the blot may like on that island. This is what I came to town for and I'll be going. I'd love to have you along."
"Lia needs none more than some jewelry, why hide her gifts behind the cloth of drow." Isegrim posits before Lia thrusts herself out into the wilds of Riddleport.
"As for me that wee cloak may perhaps give some respite against the oddities of the world that seem determined to cut themselves on our blades. Aye, its for me. The shores of this tawdry port have found me friends and comforts that I would prefer not to see wither beneath the shadow in the sky. I have some small knowledge of boats that I may have gathered and would venture forth to said isle to see if we can root the truth of these dark times.", says Isegrim.
"Let us smoke the pipe and drink the mead and gather our energies afresh before we set out. I could use a good smoke and a drink before throwing myself into dooms way again, though I would be happy to help doom find its own on the Ravenblade."
"Is there anything that we should picking up that might make the errant drow a bit more complacent? Or afford us some better preparedness against the coming darkness friend?"
"Lets not speak of the Cyphermages with their blah blah blah and etc. Who can bear to hear them gloat of their magnificence? Let's hold off on the tourney until we have more trophies to drive the point home and give the marks more to pay tribute towards, without worrying about the sky falling in around them. A heros welcome and a week of celebration rather than a hollow night."
"Let's finish the business and adjourn to the baths, my skin needs to be cleaned from the dark misery of dark places. A night of rest a day of questions and provisioning and set forth after the next night? Providing their dark sorcery doesn't provide some terrible incentive to cut short our brief respite? Is there anything that we can do fo you Saul, more to the point is there anything that you can do for us to end this gloom that we might return to profits and full house of bawdy laughter and good times?"
"Trystan has the right of it, let's finish this business and move on to better days, the mold of this port has grown on me and I wouldn't have it fade."
The target you pick is a well-off sailor stumbling away from a brothel just down the street from Taren's. He lurches your way and makes the pick that much easier. The whores have left you 45 gp and 25 sp for your trouble.
Taren's is as cluttered as ever. The little halfling stares through a monocle lense at the jewels before offering you 65 gp for the lot.
Kwava replies, "I need to find out more about this Devil's Elbow. I take it you guys run this place?"
"To answer your earlier question, I've been keeping tabs on the wizard Rondo since his first contact with the drow. That's why the hawk was outside his house. Her name is Ganmeed. If you've seen her before that day, it must have been chance for I wasn't aware of you until you invaded Rondo's home."
The conversation moves to your recent history, explaining your relationship with Saul and the Goblin. You find out that Kwava's native to the jungles of the Mwangi Expanse - this is a vast swampy jungle that dominates the center of the southern continent of Garundi - many leagues away.
Lia returns to the goblin loose and happy. She tosses a small bag on the bar. "Here's what the jewelry got us." Inside the bag is 64gp. As she pours herself a shot, she says to the room in general, "So, what did I miss?"
The Publican House continues to be the best place for healing services. Luther administers magical blessings to wipe away last night's bump, bruises and worse. He's also willing to sell you more cure potions at cost, though he looks a little worried that you went through the last bunch so quickly already.
"One of the consequences of preaching the virtues of the drink is a high demand for healing magic. I can sell you this morning's potions, but I can't deplete the stocks we offer the parish by keeping up this kind of pace. Who are we keeping alive?"
Brenin shrugs, "It's been a busy week."
"Kwava, what kind of allies do you think this drow will have and what might we need to bring with us?"
Kwava shakes his head.
"I don't know much about Devil's Elbow except that it's near, and that the local shipping avoids it because of the reefs around it. We need to find out more about the island, and to secure passage there. The ship I came in on is based locally and the captain is a friend to my society, but I believe he put right back out to sea some weeks back. The ship is called the Flying Cloud."
"Drow consort with beings from the lower planes. Demon-kind. The Dretches this Drow kept in her company are the least of their kind. I don't know them well, but I know they are very resistant to most elemental attacks. They also make notoriously treacherous allies - though I don't know how that could help us."
Rees walks down to the bar yawning and smiling. She grabs a drink and decides she wants to go shopping too. She turns to Trystan, pinches his behind and asks if he wants to go with.
Trystan smiles, and takes her by the hand. "Let us go buy something frivilous for you my dear… By gods you deserve it."
When Trystan kissed Reese, she forgot what she was planning and decided she was good to go for whatever we are doing.
While her brother and his beau make her want to lose her lunch, Lia decides to make tracks. She goes out and about to see what the locals know. She's interested in finding out more about the place and conveyance.
Lia finds out a bit about the island from an old man who claims to have spied it from the masthead no less then 20 times.
It's one of a couple of mountainous islands just off the coast. See the map here. It's the only one that was ever inhabited for any length of time. There's the remains of a failed mining town somewhere on it, and some old unfinished lighthouses that are used by locals for reference. There's one serviceable harbor, but he's never heard of anyone putting in there. The reefs around the island are notorious killers of ships. He was brought up told that the island was haunted.
The name of the ship that's just docked is the Carlissa. There's small merchantcraft and fishing boats capable of that sail as well.
You also overhear a rumor about a special job being done at the Gasworks for House Thrune, rulers of Cheliax. A powerful cyphermage allegedly worked the magic for this item. Oh and the road to Roderick's Cove is gone completely to bandits.
And also that Boss Croats goon's were allying themselves with Clegg Zincher's goons in order to knock over the Gold Goblin, probably tonight.
At the mention of Zincher and Croat, Brenin laughs. "These guys just can't seem to take a hint. Do we wait for them to come all at once and set up defenses or do we strike one of them now at their place while their divided?"
Umm, yeah. Lia is way more interested in defending the Goblin than talking anymore about some island that local sailors don't like. Besides, she can't wait to try out her new boots and ring. "I vote we defend the Goblin as opposed to seeking out others. I'd rather stay close to home." She has a vision of laying in wait on the ceiling and slowly descending behind a man to slit his throat until he's good and dead. She smiles as she turns to Brenin, "So, nature boy, what's the plan?"
"I don't know. Thought I might swing from tree to tree and shoot them with my bow. Okay, I like the spider climb idea. I think I might find me a nice roof to take aim from and try to pick a couple off from the distance. Rees, you got any more of the darkvision?"
With the late wake up, the extensive storytelling, the shopping and fraternization occurring on the team, it's opening time at the Goblin before you know it.
The late afternoon slides into a muggy evening, but there's just enough breeze to carry the port stench out. The blot smolders in the sky. The early crowd is meager so Saul delays opening ghoulette, leaving Rees free. Lia doesn't need to open her table - there are other croupiers enough to run the floor. Saul nudges Isegrim into making a few extra security passes around the floor, just to make sure anyone looking knows the big man is on duty.