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Pinball was hesitating, because Pinball knows that the Master of Masters does not approve of lies, and yet, it seemed somewhat unwise to declare themselves Pathfinders, as, judging by the words of their original briefing, Pathfinders had until just this mission been currently personae non gratae within Cheliax's borders.... and it was possible that Ianereth's decision had not yet been made public to, say, constables at large, like this halfling. So Pinball had been considering, very carefully, how she might word something delicately....
...only to have it quickly be a moot point, as her colleagues saw no issue with identifying themselves.
The gnome shrugged. Well, that was that, at least. Pinball offered a bright fixed smile at the halfling.
"Indeed. The Honorable Ianareth Alazario is welcoming Pathfinders to your.... your fine country once again."
The halfling's eyebrow raises and he scribbles something down on his pad. "Pathfinders back, eh? Well, welcome to Corentyn Pathfinders." He starts to say something else, but one of his men step up. "Not here. Searched the whole ship." Tamrin nods tightly and jerks his head toward the docks. He turns to the Captain and holds out a hand. The captain drops a coin pouch in it. The halfling smiles and bows his head slightly, then turns and leaves the ship as abruptly as they arrived.
Your way is cleared down the gang plank and you find yourself at ease in Corentyn. Your directions to the Museum seem sound, though you have a distinct sense you're being watched.
Broad marble steps, barely dulled with age and showing only the tiniest of cracks lead to the solid, reinforced double doors of Corentyn’s Museum of History. The building stands in stark contrast to the surrounding structures, most of which are small, cramped, and crumbling. Two city guards stand at the intersection nearby, watching the tradesfolk, fishermen, vintners, and others who make High Quarter their home.
As you enter the Museum, the smell of books and linseed oil fill your noses, probably from the freshly waxed wooden floors. A clerk sits behind a small desk and if you ask for Zefiro Ballinger, she nods and points you to one of the wings. There a thin man with a scholar's outfit and a dark mustache stands, perusing a large tome. He looks up as you approach. "May I h-h-h-help you?" He stutters slightly.
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Before they leave the ship Garret tells the other pathfinders "I don't know what they were searching for, but their search was perfunctory. No chest was opened, they only searched between the chests. That money pouch that exchanged hands does not bode well for how much we can trust on the law and officials here."
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"Well met Master Ballinger, we are members of the Pathfinder Society. The society has been granted permission by the Chelish government to explore a site in the Eismonts called Emberhold. We were told you might have access to more information regarding this site. Would you be willing to share that with us?"
The captain laughs at Garret. "Docking fees, lad. At least here the graft is all by the book."
"P-p-p-pathfinders? Of course, happy to help." He slides over to the nearby window and looks out, his face going pale. "Oh n-n-n-no."
"Gods! You were seen coming here! And now they're bound to... I'm in danger. You've put me in danger!"
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"Yes. Cheliax," Pinball sighs at the docks, but is pleased enough they're allowed to pass.
At the library, her brows arch. "Curator, if we've brought danger on you we're very sorry, but we're happy to defend you as a friend of the Society. Can you tell us something about whatever the problem is? Please be calm; we're a competent bunch."
Pinball produces a wand as he speaks and taps himself with it.
"I-I-I-I, but... perhaps?" He looks like he's almost convinced...
Working together you finally succeed at calming Zefiro, and in a few moments he takes a deep breath and in a slightly stuttering voice, tells you of his friend, Mireille, who he believes is in danger of being “disappeared” by the Order of the Rack. Zefiro remains paranoid, referring to his friend Mireille as a “valuable historical asset.” He tells you that he would be willing to help you if you can secure his friend’s safety—an act he insists is vital to the preservation of Corentyn’s history.
Assuming you agree, he directs you to a local business called the Fox Den and instructs you to tell the doorkeeper that Zefiro sent them. He believes the Hellknight order is aware that his friend is spreading unrevised information about Cheliax’s past, and that the guards may have been watching him for that purpose. He asks you to ensure that the Hellknights haven’t discovered her yet—or help her evade them if they have.
With a last glance out the door to spot any guards, you head across town to the Fox Den. The smell of raw fish, stale sweat, and old booze permeates this section of the West Drenches. Broken pathways are slick with mud where they aren’t simply flooded. Small wooden buildings are built around narrow canals brimming with dark water that flows swiftly out to sea. Sounds of a busy business district quiet intermittently, at which time the groaning boats and boisterous sailors in the nearby port are just loud enough to hear.
The Fox Den is a modest-sized building with boarded windows and a badly faded sign that depicts a fox hiding behind its own bushy tail. There’s a small stained glass window set into the front door with a patch of fogged white glass, through which you can a woman's blurred form.
The door opens only a crack and you can see an eye as well as several stout chains inside the door holding it close. "Yeah, whadya want?"
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"Manius and Blanmieux, remember that your first allegiance is to the Pathfinder Society and not to the Chelish government or this Hellknight order." Garret reminds his teammates when they walk to the Fox Den.
At the door he waits for Pinzel to introduce them, looking for anyone that might be watching the team.
Garret doesn't see anyone watching the team, but he does notice a curious lack of people. In an area like this, he'd expect to see people walking, people leaning out of windows to chat, but instead he sees nothing.
Something has this neighborhood spooked.
The woman hesitates for a moment, then closes the door and you hear chains being unlatched. "Get in. Quickly!" She hisses, pulling you inside.
Inside, a cheery fire warms the cool sea air, and nine young children of varied ages sit around a slender, middle-aged elven woman with chestnut colored hair and a simple, yet elegant rust-colored dress. Her eyes are closed, and she commands the attention of the children with a tale about Rius Galdaeon, a kind Chelish architect and paladin of Shelyn, whose allegiances aligned with Chelish loyalists when Thrune began to take control. He viewed Thrune’s reliance on devils as a blight on Chelish achievements and so confronted Baraxial, a powerful barbed devil called to aid the Esoterium Lodge. Their battle shook the foundations of Aroden’s Arch, and it’s said great pieces of it crumbled into the sea when Baraxial dragged Rius with him back to Hell. She says the entire city felt each blow land, and it was the signal she needed to flee from Corentyn while civil war raged on.
When she finishes the story, she opens her eyes and offers you a strained smile. "Welcome friends! I am Mireille Goldenglow. I believe you already met Velia," she gestures at the woman who let you in. "What can I do to help you?"
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"A friend of yours at the museum is worried about your safety, as are we." Garret starts before he adds "It seems the neighborhood is rather quit, I would expect more people on the streets, although they might be scared by your tale that went against the Thrunes" Garret finishes with a lame attempt at a joke.
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Pinball offers a smile and a bow.
"Hello," she says, twisting the wooden beads of her holy symbol around her fist again. She tries to put on her friendliest face as she's sure the sight of Manius in his armor is somewhat discomfiting. "Your friend Zefiro believes you might be in a spot of trouble. I would say the children shouldn't hear such things, but... growing up here, perhaps they should."
Still, Pinball moves closer to speak discreetly. "Zefiro believes the Order of the Rack has an interest in silencing your truths. He has requested that we guard you and keep you safe. Has anything happened lately to make you feel threatened?"
"Zefiro thought I needed protection? Poor man. He's sweet, but his paranoia is.." She's interrupted by a hard pounding on the door and a shouted "OPEN UP IN THE NAME OF THE GUARD!"
Mireille freezes, her eyes wide. In a low quick whisper she says, "Near here I have a safe house. I'll meet you there, but you need to delay the guards so I can get away. Stall them, bribe them, whatever, but I need time." In a few quick sentences, she gives you directions and heads toward a secret back door concealed in the southern wall. Velia waits until she's out and opens the door. Five guards wielding stout clubs storm in and head straight toward you lot!
The lead guard points his billy club at your chests. "You lot! We have solid intelligence linking you to one Mireille Goldenglow. Give her up or tell us where she is or we're taking you in for disrupting an investigation!"
The guards seem taken aback by Blanmieux's assertion. "We have orders to apprehend one Mireille Goldenglow. If you are interfering with our orders, you are breaking the law, 'hellknight'." One of the guards points toward the south wall. "Sir, a hidden door!"
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Pinball's dark blue eyes open fractionally wider at the lie being told; she clutches at her beads, her small mouth tightening unhappily. In the service of the Master of Masters, she has learned to embrace truth and avoid falsehoods; it pains her soul to be forced to go along with this deception because a colleague has trapped her into lying for the sake of their mission.
Still, Mireille's life may ride on it. Pinball closes her eyes briefly, summoning up the old memories of life before Irori's service, of self-serving and chasing every whim that occurred to her.
Pinball opens her eyes, and grins disturbingly.
"Yesss we're hunting the rebel ourselves, you fools! You've ruined our mission, perhaps-- I want the name of your superior officer, but you had better give it quickly and then do as we say and get out of ways!"
The guards seem utterly taken aback, each one glancing at each other with confusion. The lead seems to finally compose himself after a long pause. "Oh my, we weren't told. Are you working for Thorne as well? She didn't inform us... We'll head back out, make as if you thwarted us, would that be best?"
The guards swallow hard and nod, heading back out the front, doing their best imitation of dejected and defeated.
A few moments pass, then you head out the secret door, looping around to ensure you're not followed, and from there onward to the safe house. Mireille waits there, with a flushed face and obvious worry. Once she hears how you tricked the guards, she smiles and thanks you. She assures you that she is leaving town until the heat dies down, and thanks you greatly. She tells you that she will get a message to Zefiro, letting him know that she's fine and she's sure he'll be happy to provide you with information on the archaeological site you're interested in. She tells you to take rooms tonight at the Wicked Fork, a pub in the West Drenches neighborhood and that Zefiro will send information to you there, care of the proprietor, Neld.
Bidding her goodbye, you head to the Wicked Fork, who proves to be a small inn with a bustling common room. The next morning you head down to eat, only to see Cassian there as well. He looks disgruntled and when you ask him about it, he tells you he was sent here on Zarta Dralneen's orders and told to meet with her 'contact', who turns out to be the halfling clerk who searched the ship, Tamrin Credence. "And guess what? That rat turns out to be Aspis!"
The inn's proprietor, Neld, seems to be listening and nods vigorously, leaning over to whisper, "Well, that’s what I heard, anyway. His ties go back—way back. But that’s how it goes around here. Everyone ties their cart somewhere, you know?”
Cassian sighs. "Zarta. I swear that woman and her schemes! Wheels in wheels. Anyway, I have the supplies ready for your expedition to the Eismonts. You're set to leave."
Neld smiles and slides a scroll case across the bar. "And a friend dropped this off for you. Seemed grateful." Inside the case you find information on the town of Anglemire and the Davian family, including a proclamation from Abrogail I. It reads:
"Notice: By the grace of Her Infernal Majestrix, Queen Abrogail I of the Thrice-Damned House of Thrune, all residents of Anglemire are pardoned for seditious and treasonous acts. House Davian, found guilty of instigating unlawful conflict, is excluded from Her Infernal Majestrix’s mercy. Henceforth, all aid knowingly or unknowingly quartered to House Davian and its members will warrant death and eternal damnation. House Davian and all those still pledging loyalty to House Davian are hereby branded traitors to the Chelish Nation, and sentenced to death by starvation in accordance with Her Infernal Majestrix’s wishes, lawfully obeyed by authority provided under Edict 208.14A." In addition, the documents indicate the last known bastion of the Davian family's location. With this, you're off to Emberhold.
With these documents in hand, you board the ship and head to the Eismonts. The voyage takes a day and a night, but you arrive near Anglemire and disembark.
Little remains of the town of Anglemire. Nature is reclaiming the few sturdy stone buildings still visible from the coastline. At the north end of the city, where the Eismont foothills meet with the rocky steps of the Menador Mountains, is a short square tower surrounded by the crumbling walls of Emberhold. Thick curtains of lush, green ivy reach upward from an ocean of waving grass and cling to the cracked stone walls—all that remain of the keep.
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"Well that was more pleasant than I expected ..." notes Theleb after the guards depart ...
"Aspis eh? ... That is not welcome news at all. Nothing like a mission to dance on a rope between factions. " ...
"Seems we have a slightly better welcome here ... as it seems that no welcome is really what want while in this Infernal country"
A fire long ago removed the roof and floors of Emberhold’s great hall. Five thick columns still stand amidst a dense gourd patch at the bottom of the large pit that remains. The main doorway on the south side is flanked by two stone staircases that wrap around the interior of the west and east walls, much of which have crumbled to the ground. To the northwest is a square tower that’s only partially standing. Weeds have overgrown a doorway on the east wall, which breaks on the northeast corner for a wide set of stairs descending from the ground level. A rusty iron gate still stands at the center of the pit’s northern wall, rising from the densest portion of the gourd patch and fencing off a descending set of stairs.
You have a distinct sense that you're being watched.