|
Since you're already in the market area, it's a relatively short jaunt over to the bank. It's open to the public for worship and business. Acolytes are outside triaging requests and guiding the faithful and customers through separate, orderly rope lines.
As the party approaches, an acolyte in a three-piece robe greets you: "Welcome to the Church of Abadar. What can we do for you today?" He has a quill and a piece of parchment ready to take notes on your request.
Zaxxle notices there are small "comfort stands" located at strategic points in the lines where those waiting to do business can get a complimentary cup of water or small candy. No baked goods, however.
It seems that the first cup or candy is free. After that, patrons are welcome to purchase additional comfort items.
The line seems to move efficiently and quickly.
____________________________________________________________
You tell the acolyte about your need to check the records. He suggests: "For a small donation to the church, we can check the records for you."
Given the amount of business they do here, checking the records for yourselves could be challenging.
|
|
"Thank you for your piety, brother!" the acolyte bows sincerely to Berosius. "We'll assign your group to the best archivist in the temple!"
The acolyte leads the party to a records vault where robed Abadarans scurry to and fro. The acolyte delivers your request to a mousy looking man with spectacles and a balding pate.
"Section W, Row O, Shelf E," the mousy man instructs immediately.
Your acolyte guide retrieves the records from that area and brings them back to the balding man who *tsks* disapprovingly. "This is incomplete. Are you sure you got everything, brother?"
After checking, rechecking, and triple checking, the archivist gives you the rundown.
__________
tl;dr
The baron's records aren't that helpful. But they reference a missing document called The Firespeaker Accord. The baron's notes indicate the document is significant to the town but do not state any further details
|
|
The party heard that Berislav can be found near the blacksmith. You all head there. He and a handful of his men are playing cards near the smithy. Berislav is clearly in a cranky mood. Even when he wins a hand, he slaps his cards on the table with just a touch too much force.a
|
|
Berislav gives Harrow a glance but doesn't respond. He slams some more cards on the table.
One of his men laughs, lays down a single card, and exclaims, "Sorry, sir," and takes a pile of coins off the table.
This actually elicits an approving nod from Berislav. "Fair's fair. You got me. That time."
They deal another hand.
Husarq watches the gambling. A spark of memory lights his normally substandard brain...
"Deal me in the next hand. If you dare... hehe," says Husarq to Berislav and the table, with an uncharacteristic chuckle.
|
Mareq watches his thrall take uncharacteristic initiative. It sends a shiver down his back. Signs of independence in his slave are always a symptom of worse to come.
Mareq steps forward, ready to reprimand Husarq for not knowing his place, but then considers the possibilities Husarq's gambling could provide in this situation.
Instead of reprimanding him, Mareq pulls forth coins and hands them to his charge. "I will front you, S~&!-for-Brains. Do not lose."
Husarq sits and watches the game unfold.
This one is hiding something... he thinks to himself.
|
|
Ironically, Husarq plays it cool. One hand is played. Then another. Then another. The eidolon quickly loses three in a row. Then, sensing a pending bluff, the extra-planar being goes all in.
This time, he wins.
Berislav nods in a silent acknowledgement of Husarq's ability to "read" the table.
"Harrow Tatterhood at service," he says. "Harrow can tell you upset. And if you Berislav, Harrow think he can help."
"Why do you care about our troubles? Even we can do nothing but sit here in Zmeyka while our people suffer. An unrelenting plague sweeps through our hometown. But our duty, and our current assignment force us to remain here because of this stupid feud."
Now that he's started talking, it seems that Berislav needs to vent.
"As the stars see me, this entire dispute rests on the Orlovskys! They claim these lands as their ancestral legacy, but House Rogarvia granted these lands to my family years ago. We even offered to keep them as neutral territory as a truce, but they won’t have it. They won’t listen to a word we say. It's as if they blame us for the disappearance of the Rogarvians. Stubborn fools, all of them! Especially that proud Captain Sylvanna of theirs. Between you and me, I think she's just sore that she missed her chance to move up the chain after the Vanishing ended her betrothal to some Rogarvian scion."
Now that the outburst is out of his system, he turns back to his game of cards.
|
|
While not the most eloquent of speakers, Harrow is nonetheless personable! Sylvanna nods at his forthright nature and offers: "There's precious little room for neutrality in this town. House Surtova are a group of duplicitous collaborators, and Berislav in particular is an uncivilized brute!"
Her horse snorts (as horses do), and her expression softens for the briefest fraction of a moment. "It's alright Silvermane. We'll go for a ride soon." she says gently.
Off in the distance, you can hear Tarn giving more divinations: "Dooooooooooom! Doom shall befall all of youuuuuu!"
|
|
"My lady, I am Berosius. We are Pathfinders. We wish to assist the people by offering our assistance as neutral parties. I think it may be possible to assist the noble houses of Orlovsky and Surtova to find a mutually agreeable solution to your problems. Well, to your immediate local problems, anyway. We simply wish to present ourselves at this time and seek any information we can find on the local plague. I think it may be possible that we can help with that."
|
|
"I wouldn't be surprised if the plague was the gods bringing justice down upon House Surtova! They seized the Dragonscale Throne with more haste than a quickling. It makes one wonder how long they've been waiting for the opportunity. They belittle us with derision and mockery; you should hear how Berislav addresses me! It’s one insult after another. I would sooner see these lands barren than in the hands of such crude brutes. They think they can claim whatever they like, but House Orlovsky has had enough of their overreach. This land was ours long before they weaseled it from our grasp. This very town was founded by the blood and sweat of my kin's toil. They will return it to us, or we shall take back what is rightfully ours."
|
|
"Lander? Strange boy. Good family. He's a little younger than I, but I expect he'll grow to be a fine noble someday. Perhaps his family could be convinced to stand against Surtova as well."
"We sued to play... Well, that was long ago."
"I used to play in the area as a child. I lost a treasured childhood token in Hartsfall Keep many years earlier. The item was a copper eagle cast by my deceased father..." She pauses. It is clear that being back in the area has caused her to become overcome with memories of her loss. Perhaps finding this token of happier times might ease her mind.
|
|
A travel-worn road cuts through the rolling farmlands between Zmeyka and Hartsfall Keep. Gentle breezes carry the sound of rustling crops and the bleating of livestock across the fields.
As you travel along the road, four armed humans appear.
"The royal houses control the cities, but we control the roads. You haven't paid your taxes to the McGuffin Gang. Lay down your arms and armor, and walk away."
They're 20 feet ahead of you with javelins and halberds.
|
Harrow chuckles and strides forward a step or two. The wind catches his cloak, a patched and tattered affair that may have once been red.
"You not know who you trying to collect from. You face Harrow Tatterhood, and Harrow HATE device in story that serves merely as a trigger for the plot!" he says, clearly having been divinely inspired to come up with some of the words he just said.
"Ragathiel not like bullies! Harrow not like them, either! Now turn around and run or Harrow give you runs!"
|
|
"I used to play in the area as a child. I lost a treasured childhood token in Hartsfall Keep many years earlier. The item was a copper eagle cast by my deceased father..." She pauses. It is clear that being back in the area has caused her to become overcome with memories of her loss. Perhaps finding this token of happier times might ease her mind.
"We shall find this token and return it to you, madame," promises Mareq.