Andy looks for a moment at the map, and starts chatting happily again as he takes you to your destination.
As the doors to the Common House swing open, the sound of music, drinking, and merriment flows into the streets. A team of servers rushes among clusters of tables, delivering pitchers of ale to grateful patrons. In the center of the hall, on top of a long table, a team of fiddlers dances and plays a cheerful tune. Near the performers, a small group of armed individuals sits at a table with a conspicuous row of empty seats. One of the armed people stands and beckons. “Pathfinders! Thank you for coming. Over here, please. We’ve saved you seats.” Indicating his two companions, he says. “This is Anva and this is Joelle. They’re fellow councilors. I’m Halman Wright. We have the honor of representing the interests of all of the fine folks of the Bottoms.” He gestures for everyone to sit. “Your venture-captain speaks highly of you. I’m glad, as the job I have for you is very important. Yesterday one of the Duskwardens reported to me that a group of travelers had disappeared along the Halflight Path on their way here. While any such disappearances are terrible, what makes it my business is that they were headed here to join the Freemen. You see, they were—until recently—slaves in Nidal. I shudder to think of what horrors they endured there, but to be so close to their destination and just vanish,” he trails off and lowers his head.
Joelle speaks up, “We hope you are able to find these lost travelers and return them to us. All we know is that they vanished along the Halflight Path and that the Duskwardens never received a message from the Halflight charms the travelers carried. Please use whatever means you have at your disposal to find them and bring them safely here.”
“I suggest you start by talking to people around town,” adds Anva. “I’ve heard a few stories of other disappearances. Maybe there’s a connection. And try getting a meeting with one of the Augurs if you can.”
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"Long" Beau is pleased when the halfling leads them to Common House. "Thank you, Andy. Please hang around. We will likely require more of your service."
The cleric makes his way to the open table, Scratch at his knee, calm but alert.
"Well met, Halman Wright. My name is 'Long' Beau Blakros, priest of the Stag Lord." Before he takes a seat, "Long" Beau shakes hands with the leader of the Freemen, then with his fellow councilors. "Anva. Joelle. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"Is there anything more you could tell us about the Duskwardens and the Augurs, the escaped slaves from Nidal, and the Halflight Path?"
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Poppy joins the musicians and joviality, partly because it is fun, partly to keep an eye out on the comings and goings in the place whilst the party is distracted.
"How big was the group? Do we know where these travellers were last seen and their planned or apparent direction of travel? I assume the charms are some magical emergency device or something - do they need to be triggered and do they have a range?"
"Oh, and who are the Augurs? Got a lead on a friendly one?"
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The others had asked quite a few relevant questions. Reesa decided to wait on the answers, while she took in the scene around her. She tried to pay attention to the briefing, but those fiddlers we’re playing such a fun tune that she basically only caught every few words. She took her mug of ale and sloshed it around in time with the dance. This place seems so fun!
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Otto looks about the Common room carefully, attentive to see if there is any sign of his missing dog, while also anxiously making sure that there is no spilled beer or discarded food at his seat. Once he is assured that his spot is (relatively) clean, he gives their hosts his full attention.
"I'm sure we'll find your missing travelers, have no worry about that - they don't call us Path-Finders for nothing! But tell us a bit more - it might help us in our efforts to help you. What is this Halflight Path you mention and why were they traveling upon it? And what the charms you mention? Do the Duskwardens give these charms to all who walk there, and if so, why?... Oh, and who are the Augurs and why do you think we should meet with them?"
"The half-light path is the way into the city, and the Duskwardens are its guardians, protectors of those who travel it. The charms are magical tokens the Duskwardens give to travelers on the Halflight Path. People carrying a token can activate it to send out a distress signal to the nearest Duskwardens."
"The augurs are a group of trolls with a deep knowledge of the city and a real talent for prophecy. Their services don’t always come cheap, but they are often worth the coin."
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"Long" Beau speaks, "Thank you for sharing what you know. Our venture-captain, Sheila Heidmarch has sent us in response to your request for aid. We will find these lost travelers and return them to you."
The cleric asks, "It's our understanding that the Duskwardens would cooperate only if we can demonstrate endorsement from one of Kaer Maga's ruling factions. Can you give us some token of your support that we can present to the Duskwardens during our investigation? "
"Long" Beau stands, ready to be about their business. "We'll heed your advice and seek to learn more as we get to know the city and its inhabitants. Can you provide lodging for us while we're here?"
Once the team exits the Common House, "Long" Beau does what he can to help the team learn more.
"You will not need any token, we will make the Duskwardens aware of what they need to know while you are looking for more information."
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Otto is tremendously ugly, and his personality isn't any more attractive, but nevertheless he attempts to aid the frivolous Scarlet's efforts to gather information: "... and also, be sure to be on the look out for a loose dog. He escaped sometime back and has proved to be a wily foe. Can't promise he isn't dangerous - might be mad or even rabid. Any information you have will be most appreciated."
You wander around, asking questions. You overhear many rumors, but the following are the three that sound like they come from someone who might know what they are talking about:
A drunk former blacksmith named Maran blinks and confesses to you "I must have had more to drink on my last trip in than I realized. I saw a big puddle of goo turn itself into a trap!"
A merchant named Ulgar, a seller of spices and salt, tells you "I've walked up that (Halflight) path quite a few times now, but I'm not going down there again until the Duskwardens take a close look at my complaints! I almost broke my neck. Someone put up a tripwire right near the edge of a drop-off and I only just stopped myself from going over. Ended up on my face, flat on the ground instead! And what do I see?" he asks, pausing dramatically. "A footprint about the size of my hand, but with scales and claws at the end of the toes. Plain as day, right in the mud. Of course when I took a Duskwarden back, he couldn't spot it. Typical!"
A half-elf named Chanstone who runs messages tells you "Something ain't right around here. I heard my pal Trell scream like nothin' I've ever heard before. By the time I got there, Trell was dead, with his head cut open and nothin' left in there. I coulda sworn I saw a terrible skittering shadow rush off, but I wasn't about to follow after somethin' like that. Matter o' fact, Trell isn't the only one who has been found like that here-abouts, and we're all in a bit of a fright."
Andy is unfortunately unable to show you where the troll augers are, until you convince some bystanders to mark the location on your map. Then Andy cheers up, and says he could take you there easily.
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"I wonder if it might be helpful for me to proceed on our mission in the guise of one of these Augurs? I can easily take the form of whatever sort of troll they may be, but I imagine that it would help if they would provide us with a set of their clothing or some other markings. But..." a shadow appears to pass over the ugly oread's face - "well, I know I'm not the most persuasive sort, so perhaps one of you could help convince them of the wisdom of this strategy?"
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"Brother Otto, you might not have the charisma of a Kreighton Shaine, but you're no troll."
"Long" Beau chuckles. "A disguise might be needed, and after we've met the Augurs, you'll be better prepared to pass for one of them, when the time comes."
"If you think it's wise, I can speak to them about the idea. Who knows, maybe they're the sort of open-minded trolls... " The cleric's voice trails off. "Nope, can't say I've ever heard of an open-minded troll."
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Otto laughs in turn at "Long" Beau's witticisms. "No, no my friend, you misunderstand me. When I go into battle I most typically do so in the form of one sort of giant or another. It is a long tradition among the O'Read family - legend has it that great grandmawmaw Ophelia O'Read was part giant herself! In any case, while I haven't tried my hand at troll-form just yet, I can't see any reason why it should present any difficulties for me."
Andy takes the marked up map and leads you to the dwelling of a troll auger named Nuregore. She greets you, and asks you to describe what you already know. When you describe the letter, the meeting, and the rumors you gathered, she nods, impressed by your thoroughness. "In that case, is will cost you 5 gold coins for me to see what my augury reveals."
Scratch hisses, expressing her disapproval.
“I can tell you something of where you should go,” says the troll,
who then kneels on the ground, draws a long knife from her belt
and, with a powerful swipe, slices the blade across her belly.
She carefully reaches inside her abdomen and draws forth her
glistening internal organs, lifting them to her eye level. She does
not respond to the powerful odor that wells forth, and instead
studies her intestines intently.
Nuregore runs the intestines through her hands like a slimy
rope, examining them carefully. She continues to do this and soon
a pile of them lies before her on the ground. She then stops as she
reaches her large intestine. "It goes on a long way and reaches far beneath the surface," she says with a frown, "this place you seek. It would be easy to become lost there, and it likely draws dangers from the darkest depths."
With careful skill, Nuregore shoves her innards back and presses the skin together. Her greenish hide knits together quickly and she stands. "Those are the visions I see."
You are still not sure exactly where to go, but have run out of other people to consult, so you go to the Duskwardens. Andy is able to lead you to them without needing the map to be marked up.
The Guildhouse itself is a squat and solid structure, with a placard bearing the group’s twisted-arch insignia in blue and gold hanging outside.
When you try to enter, a man requests that you tell them your business.
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"Scratch, this is not what people mean when they say, 'Spill your guts.'"
"Long" Beau smiles at the troll. "Thank you for the augury, Madame Nuregore. Your divination has been quite, em, revealing." Not.
Outside the troll's place of business, the cleric looks for Andy. "Little Brother, our next stop is the Guildhouse of the Duskwardens. Lead on."
As they make their way through the city, "Long" Beau tells Andy what the Augur had to say. "Apparently the Halflight Path leads downward and dangers below might head upward. And one might become lost."
"Long" Beau chuckles, "Quite the show for five gold coins. But not very enlightening. I'll be adding a TripAdvisor thumbs-down and comment in my report to the Society."
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"Three out of ten, would not recommend" Scarlet adds to Beaus commentary.
As they wander to the Duskwardens, she continues on "That was all very dramatic, but who knew a wander down some great dirty hole into the depths of the earth and unknown caverns might get you lost and in a position where you might face endless dangers? For another five gold I'll consult the great divine and tell you what day it is tomorrow and whether the sun might rise. What a ruse for travellers who knew no better"
"Hopefully the Duskwardens are a bit less odd"