"Power players, hah!", he laughs.
"The town is known for its siege engine production. The families that own the workshops that produce them are the influence here."
"The vanished pathfinder is a -she-, in case you hadn't heard."
"Charito Menas, her name was. Taldan, lovely to look at, but arrogant as the hosts of Hell. She didn’t like me much.
"Anyway, she didn't go into too much detail. She said she was on the trail of a group she called 'The heart eaters'. Whether this be the hearts of people or livestock, she didn't bother to say. Best to remain vigilant nonetheless."
"I'm not too knowledgeable on old religions and cults, but if i would have to compare it to, say a thieves' guild, i'd think them to be hidden near the settlement or within. Heavens forbid the latter to be true.
They are quite proficient, if nothing in the town looks off."
Enora nods.
"I would propose to gather information and ask about strange behavior or anything else that could be associated with a cult, hearts and eating." she proposes.
"The families got rich by providing their siege engines to Korvosa. They've been manufacturing ballistae, catapults and trebuchets for Korvosa for many generations, from what i've learned.
Religions, there is a small temple to Torag for the dwarves, but the foremost patron is Abadar, with a bank in his honor."
"Topics to avoid? Talk of the red dragon Glarataxus gets eople on edge. It is a scourge to the settlement for a very long time.
False alarm will not be met with a warm reception."
"For the fitting in, i have a cover for you, of which you'll have to decide the roles among yourselves."
"Sheila thought a bunch of Pathfinders asking questions might put the cult on its guard. We put together a different story, if you want it.
One of you will be Avis Dimitrov, from the Dimitrov family in Korvosa. Dimitrov seeks depraved pleasures and mystic enlightenment. Rich, amoral, and not too bright—the kind of folk any mad sect would be happy to have aboard. The rest of you can pose as Dimitrov’s bodyguards, servants, advisors, and hangers-on. I have some fancy clothes to make you look the part, and a letter of introduction from a Korvosan wizard who was born here. No skin off my nose what you do with this; Sheila told me to get it ready and she’s not one to be lightly refused."
A. Lonely Hearth Lighthouse: This lighthouse fortress was one of the two original fortifications that became Palin’s Cove and remains one of the two most prominent structures in the current town.
B. Rumalin Manor: Home to the powerful Rumalin family—which controls much of Palin’s Cove’s catapult manufacturing.
C. Ireni Manor: The influential Ireni family lives here, in an austere manor house rising four stories into the gloomy air above Palin’s Cove.
E. Bank of Abadar.
F. Bright Hearth Fortress: The city watch holds the military fortress of Bright Hearth, which serves as a secondary lighthouse.
G. Belodia Asylum.
H. Talich Foundry.
I. Baited Hook Inn.
J. Talich Manor.
"We should go together and we should designate who is Avis Dimitrov. Vassago! I have to say that only you look Chelexian enough. So the rest of us are bodyguards. Let us do some general information gathering in the city and then we put on these clothes and start to visit some of the families." Enora proposes.
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Harlis nods while tucking away his Iomedaen symbols and making his gear look more mundane by taking out the buff of the armor. "Have all the families been in power here for a long time or some newer? Are the guard here sound or more corrupt? I would suggest visiting the guard at Bright Hearth Fortress first for a missing person. Then if they come upon us asking elsewhere we have some reason for that asking."
"No, sir halfling. As far as i know, they have been here since the time this turned from a military outpost, into a settlement. No corruption, from what i've seen."
Over the course of hours of asking around, you arrive at the fort. A group of watchmen stand at its gates and on the walls.
The captain, who happens to be giving some instructions, is the one to turn to you.
"Is there something you need?"
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"Greetings, I am Harlis, spokesman for M'Lord here." he says as way of introduction while indicating Vassago and bowing from his saddle. "I beg a moment of your time to inquire about a missing human woman known as Charito Menas. A Taldan noble. Quite a beauty I have been told. Do you hold any information that could provide aid?"
"Missing person, a moment."
The man takes a notebook from his his pocket and looks at a selects set of pages.
"I have no reports of someone missing by that name, i'm afraid.
Name doesn't ring a bell either."
The man nods.
"Of course."
He writes down the name.
"Description of the lady? Specifics if you please."
Enora jumps in.
"Have you potentially also heard anything about a group that follows love and their hearts? Something like a local support group for people with fine taste?" she asks innocently.
The captain shakes his head.
"There are no rehabs for alcoholics and drug addicts here, miss."
Enora looks at the captain with a sigh.
"Okay, do you know anything about a cult or about people going missing?"
"We've had several people gone missing, actually, yes."
"A cult, we've no leads to suggest there is one present.
Just people gone missing, almost a dozen by now. There's no leads to suspects, however."
”Oh, could we have the names and backgrounds of the people that went missing? We would like to speak to friends and relatives as their might be a connection to our own friend that went missing!“ Enora asks innocently.
The team arrives at the bank to Abadar, which seemingly serves multiple purposes. You get the impression the words: temple, bank, hospital, and city hall all apply here.
A woman behind a reception counter takes a break from writing, and after hearing your question, invites you to take seats nearby.
"You can speak to the high priestess, lady Bodral. She's busy right now, but if you'll wait, she'll be available for inquiries you have."
A kid heads up to Sele,
"Whoa! That's a big blade you have sir, what's it for?"
This big sword? It's what I use to hit bad people with, but never you worry your not bad people.
"Whoa! Awesome! When i'm big, i'll buy a great sword like that too, and protect my parents from bandits, and monsters, and dragons, and much more!", the kid wanders off, making swinging motions with an imaginary sword.
After looking at the place, twirling thumbs, and small talk with other people, a door opens.
"Lady Bodral is ready to speak to you."
As Harlis inquires about the missing agent Charito, she shakes her head.
"I'm sorry, but i don't know anyone by that name.
Of course, not all people who visit our town come to the bank. If they don't, the most likely place to have been a visit, is the tavern."
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While the others have been speaking and planning, the good(?) Dr. Vitruvian has been concocting an array of potent - nay, puissant - potables that may be of great value when the time is right.
It wouldn't be the first time I posed as good family doctor for some prodigal popinjay, He reflects to himself regarding the 'cover identity' scheme.
As Harlis is about to inquire about something else, the assistant comes in.
"Pardon me milady, your immediate presence is required, the representatives of Korvosa's Abadarian church are here."
The priestess nods.
"I am sorry, but i must go. I would recommend asking at the tavern."
Some people in the tavern are sober enough to be spoken to, others are looking a bit shady, as if wary of being caught for a minor robbery.... (for example only)
The patrons tell Harlis some minor insignificant details on people gone missing, but one middle aged woman in particular, says something that catches his attention.
"Sometimes, before folks disappear, they start acting strange and talking about service and eternal life. Then again, sometimes people talk like that and they don’t disappear; they just work hard and keep to themselves."
"Wow, all of this sounds super creepy! I will support in gathering information ... let us ask some people on the street and in the pub an so on."
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Taking a moment to talk to the others in the group away from others. "So guessing somewhat here. The cult promises eternal life for service, but that some people disappear instead. So instead of asking directly about the cult it would seem that pursuing the missing people would be the best part of that angle as it also encompasses our missing contact." He pauses to rub a foot on the dirt obviously not very comfortable with the upcoming suggestion. "We could also start to engage our disguise more by dropping hints that our 'patron' is looking for eternal life."
I am really concerned that this search is like searching for a needle in a haystack and a fellow colleague is in danger! And others have vanished too! We need to hurry!
When the team leaves, it is late in the afternoon, and they find they've been busy for the majority of the day. Perhaps they can squeeze one last talk in.
Speaking to other people about the asylum and directions, the team arrives at its gates closed up, a sign hanging a few meters behind it.
[We are closed. Come back in the morning.]
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As the group is turned away Harlis addresses Enora. ”I agree Enora, if you have any suggestions about a better course please say. We have found few clues and those merely tenuous. Else we best return to lodgings.”. He pauses to consider before continuing. ” Although perhaps the bar is open still at this hour.”
"Yes, sorry, then let us go to the bar and try to gain some knowledge. But we should return to the asylum 8 in the morning to continue the investigation."
Enora also tries to support to gain information in the bar on any missing people in town or the cult.
Wandering back to the tavern, you find it pretty much deserted at 20:30, save for the barkeep cleaning the place, and the bouncer tossing out a couple of troublesome drunkards.
Barkeep: "I'm sorry, honored guests, but i'm not serving anymore at this hour. I start again at 8:30 in the morning."
A man in faded colors clothing stands nearby outside, an almost empty bottle in hand.