Thiadora leads you all to a ramshackle river barge Halstyn's Folly tied to Lake Tarik's bank.
"The master commands you board. You will learn more later," she instructs.
The ship is manned by her Captain and a three man crew. As soon as you are all aboard, Thiadora directs the Captain to shove off, and you are on your way. In the distance you can see the town burning, and hear the lamentation of the people, but that was the goal, right? To bring Talingarde to its knees? Some times in order to build, you must destroy first.
The barge is sluggish and does not make great time. The single deckhouse has been claimed by Thiadora, and she is not good at sharing. You are left to sleep out under the awning on deck. It gets cold at night, but at least the awning keeps the rain off when it comes.
Each night you have noticed a pattern. The captain pauses the barge for a few hours, during which time you cannot find Thiadora.
Should you choose to query her at all, the answers to various questions are in the spoilers:
On the twelfth night of your voyage, Thiadora emerges from her cabin.
“The master is here and commands you attend him,” Tiadora says grimly. “He’s in the cabin.”
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Cardinal Thorn greets you and is quickly to business: “You have served me faithfully, my ninth knot, and I have rewarded you both in treasure and vengeance. Thanks to your efforts, the Fire-Axe has been unleashed. Even now he writes his name in blood across the Borderlands. ”
“Three battles have been fought and three victories won. The villages of Ambryl and Tarrington Fields lie sacked. The fortress of Lorringsgate is in ruins. Each of you did your part in seeing these triumphs come to fruition. Do not think I have forgotten that. ”
“But our work is not yet done. Talingarde has not yet acquiesced to our unholy master nor tasted the full measure of our vengeance. So I have another mission for you. Tomorrow this barge will dock in Farholde, the northernmost town in all the realm. Farholde is a backwater of no real significance. Its lord has already left the place hoping for glory in the war. But it does border the Caer Bryr , the largest unmapped forest on the entire island. ”
“Hidden within the Caer Bryr is the Horn of Abaddon, an ancient temple once occupied by a particularly loathesome death cult called ‘The Sons of the Pale Horseman’. Almost eighty years ago the first Darian king, Markadian I called the Victorious overthrew the Horn and destroyed the Sons. No great loss, honestly. ”
“But what the Victor found within the temple is why we are here. He defeated a daemon prince called Vetra-Kali Eats-the-Eyes. So terrified of this monstrosity was the king, that he had the priests of Mitra craft a great silver seal to forever forbid the daemon from returning to our plane of existence. The seal remains to this day. ”
“I have learned the truth about this daemon prince. I have learned what the Victor feared. Vetra-Kali is an archdeacon in service to the lord of pestilence. This immortal monster could create a plague so virulent that it will bring Talingarde to its knees. ”
“When the Victor attacked, the Daemon Prince was close to unleashing his masterpiece upon the world -- a pestilence known as the Tears of Achlys . I am uncertain of the specifics of this plague but if anything could terror in the heart of the Victor, then I want it. The Tears of Achlys will be our poisoned dagger into the heart of Talingarde. ”
“I already have agents in the great cities of this kingdom. With this pestilence, they could deliver blight and death to the very center of the realm. Caught between the twin storms of the Fire-Axe and Vetra-Kali’s gift, we shall bring ruin to Talingarde. This gift you shall bring to me. ”
“It will not be easy. I have already lost one band of followers on this errand. I sent the fourth knot to find the Horn of Abaddon. They succeeded at that at least – revealing to me that it was concealed within a great spire of stone less than a day’s ride from Farholde. ”
“But then they vanished. I have heard no more from the elven ranger Aiden Kael since. He knew the Caer Bryr well so no normal hazard would defeat him. Perhaps the Horn of Abaddon is guarded. I cannot say. But it matters not! The Tears of Achlys must be mine! ”
“I am undeterred by this setback. Where one knot failed, two will succeed. I will also send my seventh knot – the Knot Hibernal led by Elise Zadaria. I task you with finding the Horn and calling forth Vetra-Kali. Elise and her knot will aid you. Elise proved herself a capable assassin in our last venture. The seventh knot will remain in Farholde and see that anyone who tries to find the Horn and interfere with your work meets an unhappy end. Thus, you will have time to do what must be done. ”
“There is another who may be able to aid you. Once a thriving cult of Asmodeus existed in Farholde. It was led by a half-elvish noble – the Baron Arkov Vandermir. He is treacherous and decadent, but wealthy and well-connected. Tiadora will introduce you before she departs. ”
“I know not what aid the Baron can provide, but his family is old and long has dwelt in Farholde. Never trust him but know this – he’s afraid of me and with good reason. If he does try anything remind him that you are in Farholde on my behalf. That should keep him in line. ”
“Find the Horn. Find the seal and shatter it. Call Vetra-Kali back to our world. Bind him to your will and force service from the monster. And then bring his gift to me. Can you do this, my knot? Have I found servants with might and will enough to see this task done? ”
2. When Vetra-Kali is here, get the Tears of Achlys from him and bring them to me.
3. Tiadora will introduce you to the Baron Vandermir. Don’t trust him but he worships Asmodeus too. He may prove useful.
4. The Horn is less than a day outside of Farholde in a spire of stone.
5. I’ve already sent other minions to seek the Horn of Abaddon. They failed me.
6. Don’t fail me!
I will handle questions to Thorn the same way I did with Thiadora, if you would have asked the question, feel free to read the response.
When all of your questions are done, Thorn hands you a clay seal marked with the symbol of Asmodeus. ”If you recover the Tears or need to report anything to me, break this seal. I will send Tiadora to wherever you break it within an hour or two. Now go with the blessings of the Prince of Hell and see this mission done!”
Cardinal Thorn departs very quickly therafter.
The next day, the barge docks at Farholde.
Thiadora tells you, "I have already contacted Baron Vandermir and arranged for you to have dinner with him tomorrow night. Best to find something presentable to wear."
You are now free to explore Farnholde. Buy supplies, sell stuff, etc.
Also, there was some crafting you could do during the previous 12 days remember.
Newly armed and protected, paired with his disguise as a Alerion Knight, he was eager to enter the town. This Horn of Abadon sounded like a very valuable treasure
But first this meeting with the Cardinal's contact...
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The dinner is tomorrow, so may as well do something today.
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Once he is in town, Malleck looks for the local enchanter. Once there, he puts his blade down on the table
"My friend, I would like this blade to be enhanced by arcane magics. If you have the time and material available. I have the necessary gold to make the transaction"
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"Well, of course sir, that will cost 2000 gold, and take two days."
He thinks a bit. They have a few non magical basic weapons he can use till then...
"I appreciate it... Just make sure nothing happens to my weapon... It is not something I can replace at a drop of a hat"
He lets the warning hang in the air as he walks away
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"Yes Thiadora, I will miss you." the rogue bows.
Later, he asks about the other Knot. "Can you tell us more of Elise Zadaria? Should the two knots try and keep separate or can we contact them?"
Once on the ground Gertart makes what checks he can on the Horn, Vedrai-Kai, and the seal.
Let's do this with some "gather information" rolls. Again, I have 20 rumors.
Getting DC 10 on Diplomacy gets you a rumor, and for every 5 you beat that DC, another rumor, so everyone interested in asking around, roll up some diplomacy.
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18. The Baron Vandermir is a strange one! The elf hardly ever leaves his manor these days.
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Gertrart whistles as he goes about town.
Mordecai strolls around the town, visiting shops, talking to people and keeping his ears open.
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5. The Caer Bryr is full of living trees -- everyone knows that, but its rare to see them so far north. Still, I’ve heard tell that one dwells not a day’s ride from this very tavern!
@Gertrart - I'll let your Knowledge (local) be used here, so a 21 gives three rumors.
13. The Bugbears are marching towards Farholde! We’ve got evacuate the city!
14. Old One-Eye’s back. He’s half-tiger, half-devil that old cat! Big as a house!
17. Lord Welshire may have gone to war but at least Sir Valin still mans the Castle Farthyn. A knight of true noble blood, he is! Why, they say he is distant kin of the Victor himself!
Still waiting for rolls from Taeral and Xeram.
9. That Sergeant Hallack is a coward! He quit the army and now lets all his comrades march to war why he sits on his duff, drinking his cares away.
16. The Knights of the Alerion have gone mad and are blaming the invasion on the temple of Asmodeus. They’re burning anyone with a black cat at the stake! It’s madness! There hasn’t been a cult of Asmodeus in Talingarde for twenty years. Someone’s organizing the bugbears, surely, but Asmodeans? Ha!
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Gertrart touches his head and a wide brimmed hat & dark cloak cover him. "Mwuhahaha! says a black cat-twisting his whiskers in between two fingers.
Compiling rumors we have gathered, as we have at least a week before we hear anything and I wanted to keep posting.
- 9. That Sergeant Hallack is a coward! He quit the army and now lets all his comrades march to war why he sits on his duff, drinking his cares away.
- 13. The Bugbears are marching towards Farholde! We’ve got evacuate the city!
- 14. Old One-Eye’s back. He’s half-tiger, half-devil that old cat! Big as a house!
- 16. The Knights of the Alerion have gone mad and are blaming the invasion on the temple of Asmodeus. They’re burning anyone with a black cat at the stake! It’s madness! There hasn’t been a cult of Asmodeus in Talingarde for twenty years. Someone’s organizing the bugbears, surely, but Asmodeans? Ha!
- 17. Lord Welshire may have gone to war but at least Sir Valin still mans the Castle Farthyn. A knight of true noble blood, he is! Why, they say he is distant kin of the Victor himself!
- 18. The Baron Vandermir is a strange one! The elf hardly ever leaves his manor these days.
Gertart also tries to make a connection with Elise to compare notes on their successes.
Replacing Sir Valin sounds like fun....
And Halleck sounds like a fun play thing to have
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You bet it will, it was the earlier one posted.
Ok, let's see here.
Taeral gets 5 rumors.
Rerolling the 5 and 17
Rerolling the 18 and 17
Ok, so Taeral gets rumors: 4, 5, 8,10 and 11
4. My poor Jeffy has gone to war. I hope he’s alright!
5. The Caer Bryr is full of living trees -- everyone knows that, but its rare to see them so far north. Still, I’ve heard tell that one dwells not a day’s ride from this very tavern!
8. Did you hear Hallack Amon paid off his father’s debts? It almost broke the poor lad. What will he do for money now that he’s left Watch?
10. Have you seen Bianca DeVallya? She plays at Canton’s Canter almost every night. She’s an angel -- the most beautiful lass I’ve ever seen!
11. Sister Marta saved my life. I’ll never be able to repay that blessed angel of Mitra.
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Do trees worship Mitra? I think they are better allies than enemies if they don't.
- 4. My poor Jeffy has gone to war. I hope he’s alright!
- 5. The Caer Bryr is full of living trees -- everyone knows that, but its rare to see them so far north. Still, I’ve heard tell that one dwells not a day’s ride from this very tavern!
- 8. Did you hear Hallack Amon paid off his father’s debts? It almost broke the poor lad. What will he do for money now that he’s left Watch?
- 9. That Sergeant Hallack is a coward! He quit the army and now lets all his comrades march to war why he sits on his duff, drinking his cares away.
- 10. Have you seen Bianca DeVallya? She plays at Canton’s Canter almost every night. She’s an angel -- the most beautiful lass I’ve ever seen!
- 11. Sister Marta saved my life. I’ll never be able to repay that blessed angel of Mitra.
- 13. The Bugbears are marching towards Farholde! We’ve got evacuate the city!
- 14. Old One-Eye’s back. He’s half-tiger, half-devil that old cat! Big as a house!
- 16. The Knights of the Alerion have gone mad and are blaming the invasion on the temple of Asmodeus. They’re burning anyone with a black cat at the stake! It’s madness! There hasn’t been a cult of Asmodeus in Talingarde for twenty years. Someone’s organizing the bugbears, surely, but Asmodeans? Ha!
- 17. Lord Welshire may have gone to war but at least Sir Valin still mans the Castle Farthyn. A knight of true noble blood, he is! Why, they say he is distant kin of the Victor himself!
- 18. The Baron Vandermir is a strange one! The elf hardly ever leaves his manor these days.
Our meeting with who is when?
Your meeting with the elf former leader of an Asmodean cult is "tomorrow" for dinner.
So what's the plan? Do nothing for the evening, and tomorrow, and go right to dinner?
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May as well investigate during the day. Gertrart will see what he can find about Halleck. Maybe join him for a mid morning bender. But otherwise, yes let's proceed to dinner.
"That looks like a good cup son. Let me buy you one." The grizzled warrior with a tight bandana doing a bad job of hiding a missing ear, sits down in the tavern.
The next evening, you rendezvous with Tiadora. She is bedecked brilliantly in all white, looking like a travelling noble on the way to her wedding. She escorts you through the bustling dock city of Farholde.
She takes you to the nicest part of town, a gently sloping hill called Calliver’s Green. This is a gated community and she approaches the guard confidently. “Baron Vandermir is expecting us,” is all she says.
“Of course, my lady. This way,” the somewhat nervous guard answers after consulting a list.
There are only six manors in this neighborhood and Tiadora leads you to what is arguably the most impressive and opulent of them. The front door is secured by two guards wearing armor and livery.
The guards are polite but firmly insistent that weapons are collected. “No stranger may go before the Baron so armed.”
However, they do not search you only confiscating obvious armament. Further, they will allow anyone dressed in noble clothing to wear a sword at their belt.
Knowledge(Nobility)
by the current Darian regime.
You are greeted at the door by a formal butler and attended by a small squadron of servants who offer them brandy and hors d’oeuvres. The brandy is sublime and the hors d’oeuvres are a selection of tasty little beef skewers and crunchy spicy crayfish puffs. Finally, you get to meet the Baron himself.
Baron Arkov Vandermir is a handsome halfelf dressed in burgundy and white. He looks quite young, even boyish, but he is more than a century old. His eyes betray a calculating, wicked soul.
Once dinner is served and the servants are dismissed, the Baron becomes frank. “You come to me as beggars, the last remnants of a forbidden faith. You will promise me much, of that I have no doubt. But all that I am likely to earn from helping you is the inquisitor’s pyre. Tell me, why should I help the likes of you?”
Taeral attends the dinner in finely crafted nobleman's attire, complete with jewelry with the appearance of a elf.
Mordecai stands outside the manor, admiring the grandeur. Yes, this is what I aim to. To reach this, I serve the knot. The tiefling uses the Iron Circlet to hide his infernal features, but otherwise the face he wears resembles his own. He follows the guards inside, and has no trouble handing out his mace. The weapon serves only a decorative purpose, he hasn't ever even swung it.
He enjoys the dinner, savouring each bite of the fine foods and each gulp of the exquisite wines. Between the dishes he studies their host, and tries to strike a polite conversation. Once the formalities are over, the Barons question sounds harsh, but that was expected.
"Beggars? Not at all... Wouldn't you rather say 'honored quests'? We are indeed seeking aid to perform a certain task, but we are hardy any last remnants. We are here on behalf of a man you surely know - Cardinal Adrastus Thorn." Then Mordecai falls silent for a moment, to see if the name has any effect on the baron.
Malleck nods
"We are not beggers. We plan to have mre power by the end of all this." he does try to smile. Smiling was not in his nature, not this kind of smile anyway
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@Taeral - I'll get you some answers
Anyone else want to dive in here?
Gertrart stays mostly quiet. He does not have much to add & doesn't like pandering to nobility. The bishop and the lady had begun to change that but the word 'beggars' reminded the former servant of all the things nobility has cost him. As if reminded, he makes a note to notice all the servants around. He does his best play the roll of servant as well adding to the noble position of one oh his allies.
Gertart studies the half-man, finding the best place to put a shiv. However, as an ally of the cardinal's the lets the focus drop. During the conversation he does it again, silently thanking his host for the practice.
Gertart dutifully memorizes the location, races, and general tasks of each of the servants.
@Taeral - Yes, you know quite a bit, and you know that Baron Arkov Vandermir, the man before you, is the heir to the house of Barca, which had been cousins to the Barcas.
He was too young to fight when his father, Baron Zaedor Vandermir and his distant cousin, King Jaraad of Barca were both slain at the Battle of Tamberlyn. When the Victor came to power he treated the House of Vandermir fairly allowing the new baron to keep his holdings if he would only renounce the worship of Asmodeus and swear fealty to the new king. A humiliated young Arkov had no choice but to do both.
But the Baron also lived through the Asmodean purges of Markadian IV called the Zealous. He saw many of his fellows stripped of title and fortune and burned at the stake. The Baron was clever enough to avoid their fate and keep his fortune, his station and his life.
So, Taeral, give us a speech to go along with that awesome roll! Because we're not going to waste a 36 to give a +2 to Mordecai!