|
"Ahh, very well Mister Hawke! You have found more specifics than me. However, I think I've heard you wrong. I thought you just said entrails is in the name of the establishment. That sounds too hideous to imagine. Then again, if any city in the world would have such a name, I do believe it would be Kaer Maga."
|
"Sounds like a plan then. Another night at the inn, then breakfast at the Augur's Entrails while we wait to make contact with Besel."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The party once again crams like sardines into a single tiny room in one of Kaer Maga's cheapest inns, getting less-than-restful sleep on account of the limited floorspace, to say nothing of the druid's mighty flatulence.
In the morning, the Augur's Entrails is all but empty. The clanging of three towering iron figures can be heard just as you settle into a booth. In strides a short, thick man with a ruddy complexion and tussled brown hair, followed close behind by his golem bodyguards. He heads straight for the door behind the bar...
|
|
"Mr. Ardoc!"
Calls Cott as the man strides past the table. He kicks out a chair and motions politely to it.
"Won't you please join us for a drink? I understand you're a very busy man, but we have some pressing business to discuss. A matter regarding a mutual acquaintance of ours, the merchant Collgardie."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The man ignores you all the way up until "the merchant Collgardie," which stops him in his tracks. He turns slowly to face you, proceeding neither to the proffered chair nor through the back room door. A tense moment passes.
As one, the heads of all three iron goliaths swivel to face you.
"State your meaning."
|
|
"We understand you were providing protectio... err, insurance to him. We also understand that your services failed to live up to expectations, and that you sent some men to his home to try and remedy this failure. Unfortunately, they also failed."
Cott places the note they found on the bodies of the hired thugs on the table.
"We do apologize for the loss of your men. A simple case of mistaken identity. You assumed anyone visiting Collgardie's home would be his killers come back (a rather faulty assumption I must say) and we assumed that the armed thugs we found in his house standing over his corpse were in fact the ones who's attacked him. It's funny really. You know, except for all the corpses. Anyways, the point now is, we both seem to have a vested interest in finding who's been making trouble in the city and killing your customers. So, join us, and let's talk."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Besel doesn't move from his spot. "Collgardie was my friend, not my customer. I suggest you learn that, quick." After a pause, "So if you're not his killers, who are you?"
Cadmuk keeps a careful eye on Ardoc, but his thoughts are drawn to the towering metal figures whose heads all but scrape the high ceiling. He thinks drawing his bow would be a very bad idea.
|
|
"We are... problem solvers. In the employ of another friend of Collgardie's from out of town. We were sent here to meet with Collgardie and render him whatever assistance we could in dealing with some rabble rousers who were causing trouble in the city and for him. Meeting with him is no longer an option unfortunately, but that doesn't mean our job is over. We're still under orders to sort these trouble makers out. Problem, we don't know who they are. You however... you're well connected in the city, and a personal friend of Collgardie. If anyone can point us in the right direction it's going to be you. Now, since you already hired men to see to avenging his death, I'm going to assume that you still want that matter taken care of. The men you hired weren't up to the job. We are. So once again Mr. Ardoc, please, sit and speak with us. Or continue to spurn our hospitality and we'll be on our way and bother you no further."
-Posted with Wayfinder
One of the iron golems moves to block the exit as Besel interrupts Cott half-way through. "I asked you who you are. Don't mince words with me. Who are you and who sent you?"
|
|
"Oh how rude of me"
Says Cott lightly, pointedly ignoring Ardoc's posturing.
"I'm Cott, this is my companion Jenny, and our associates Khakil, Thaddeus, Jasmine, Cadmuk, and Luc. And as I mentioned, we were sent by another friend of Collgardie. Our employer prefers to remain anonymous. A man of such import and stature as yourself will understand their need for discretion I'm certain. They would rather not be seen as stirring up trouble in the City of Strangers. Too much potential for making powerful enemies they'd rather not have. Like you for example. I hope you'll believe me when I tell you, we'd very much like to have you as an ally. We're on the same side here Mr. Ardoc, and working towards the same end. You want the heads of the men who attacked your friend, we want to bring them to you. Can we work together on this, or would you prefer to try hiring another group of incompetent thugs?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
Khakil chokes on his drink as he hears Cott give away their real names so easily...
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
"Well met Master Ardoc...I am the Thaddaeus of whom my friend speaks. And he does speak true; if our interests were not aligned we would not have bothered to seek you out. You clearly have more protection that you need, certainly enough to handle the likes of us, and despite what you may think of our intentions I'm sure you can see that we're not so foolish as to put ourselves in harm's way by challenging your authority."
"In short...our we intend to keep our relationship with you both discreet and to our mutual benefit."
|
|
Khalil casts Charm Person on Besel from behind his stein.
"Our goals align well with this situation. Please consider my companions' points."
-Posted with Wayfinder
As soon as Khakil starts spellcasting, Besel doesn't even wait to identify it. A tiny flick of the hand and suddenly there's a massive, black iron fist in the bard's face. The bard slumps back in his chair, unconscious.
To the rest, Besel continues. "I suggest you don't try that again. Now, if your employer wishes to continue operating in Kaer Maga -- ever -- you'd better tell me right quick who he is. Unless, of course, you'd like to end up like your friend here." He turns to Thaddaeus. "Please, do continue. Who is your employer?"
"If this is some kind of ruse, get to the bottom of it and do what you can to keep our Society’s good name in Kaer Maga -- we may not be completely welcome there, but neither are we unwelcome. Let’s keep it that way."
Collgardie was a friend of Drandle Dreng. Collgardie was also a friend of Besel. Ergo...
|
|
Drool begins to drip from the bard's so called 'silver tongue' as it hangs out of the corner of his mouth.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
"Mr. Ardoc, please forgive my companion's inappropriate use of a spell. He means no harm but certainly wants to please you and he will stop and no length to do so. As you can see, my friends are torn with conflicting loyalties. They obviously want to work with you, but they do not want to divulge information that has been entrusted to them. I'm sure you can appreciate loyalty when you see it. I'm also sure you can see that we are all eager to get to the bottom of this matter as fast as possible. Will you please work with us?"
"As a rule, I don't work with those that keep their employers to themselves. We Ardocs have plenty of enemies in Kaer Maga. Now, you seem convinced that you aren't -- but I'm not so sure. Who. Do. You. Work. For." The last sentence is spoken with icy staccato.
Reposting the mission briefing again for your convenience:
“One of my good friends, a merchant in the Varisian outcast’s haven known as Kaer Maga, sent me a very strange letter, which I need you to investigate. The merchant -- his name is Horis Collgardie -- tells me that the residents of Kaer Maga are very upset about the Society’s plan to build a lodge in their city and even further upset that the agents we sent are making trouble, stirring up the delicate balance of power that exists in the so-called City of Strangers. The trouble is, not the Decemvirate or any venture-captain I can find gave the okay to build a lodge there. We know it would be folly to do so -- at least right now -- and so this idea that Collgardie has that the Society is there and doing just that is worrisome. In a few weeks time, you’ll be in Korvosa. From there, book passage on a river ship for Harse, then travel overland to the road’s end at the cliffs below Kaer Maga—the so-called Twisted Door. There you must pay the Duskwardens to escort you through the Halflight Path to reach Kaer Maga. Once inside the city, find Collgardie and find out what he’s talking about. If there are Pathfinders in the city founding a lodge, tell them I order them to stop at once. If this is some kind of ruse, get to the bottom of it and do what you can to keep our Society’s good name in Kaer Maga -- we may not be completely welcome there, but [b]neither are we unwelcome[b]. Let’s keep it that way. Any questions?”
|
|
"Apologies...not only for our unnecessary withholding of information but for my companion's poor judgement." Thadd gestures toward Khakil's motionless body...muttering something about bards who spend too much time with nobility. "My name is indeed Thaddaeus as my friend already told you. I'm sure you recognize my uniform as being that of an Eagle Knight; however we are here on Society business. We were let to believe that we may not be welcome in Kaer Maga; and our purpose for withholding our employer's identity is for that reason....and not to deceive you."
"Pathfinder Society? Ah. No other Society would bring together an Eagle Knight, a druid, a Vudran monk, and the rest of you lot, even in Kaer Maga." He pauses. "And so you are part of this boisterous 'Shadow Lodge' that's been causing so much trouble recently? Doesn't the Society know how delicate its position in Kaer Maga is?" He pauses again, as if wondering to set his guards on the rest of you. He hesitates, however, considering his options.
|
|
"The Society is well aware of the delicate position it is in, which is why Venture Captain Drang, the friend of Collgardie I mentioned previously and the one who issued our orders, informed us that we ought to keep our membership quiet.
We're here because Collgardie informed the grand lodge that the grand lodge that there are people here claiming to be of the society, but engaging in unauthorized operations. We're to put an end to it and preserve the society's good name.
It seems whoever is stirring up trouble here didn't take kindly to Collgardie's informing us, and decided to silence him. Just one more reason to put this so called Shadow Lodge down. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Besel looks surprised. "Wait. Who sent you here? When did you arrive?"
Glancing over at the pool developing beneath Khakil, Besel mutters something to himself and snaps his fingers in the bard's direction. One of the iron golems thunders over and, ever so gently, closes Khakil's mouth.
Of course, the half-elf's loose jaw opens again right away, which leads to a quite comical scene of the 12-foot tall golem continuously attempting to keep Khakil's lolling tongue inside his mouth. After a moment, Besel mutters to himself again and shakes his head, striding over a dumping a ounce of blue liquid onto the bard's tongue. Khakil coughs and sputters, sitting back up in his chair.
Besel considers for a moment. "Hmm. That makes sense. We thought 'Shadow Lodge' was just the code word for the sanctioned Lodge you lot were setting up here. They've been pissing off a lot of powerful people in Kaer Maga, myself among them. So I had Collgardie send the letter to Dreng before a bunch of Pathfinders in Kaer Maga ended up dead. And now you're here."
"Beyond that though, I've had nothing to do with the whole situation. I only hired those blokes to kill Collgardie's assassins because Dakar said he would owe me a favor if I did. And being owed a favor by Dakar," Besel adds with a wide grin, "is worth more than all the gold in all your vaults in Absalom."
Besel stares at Cadmuk in shock, then looks around at the rest of the party to see that they're all as in the dark as the monk. Suddenly, he bursts out laughing. His gales of laughter continue for a uncomfortable, perhaps rude, length of time. When he finally stops, he wipes a few tears from his eyes and chuckles. "Dakar is the most secretive man in Kaer Maga, and that's saying something. He's the head of the Commerce League, the city's other major power player besides my family. Aroden's beard, you lot are new, ha!"
"I expect you'll want to meet with him, since I've told you all I know of the situation. But let me give you a word of advice, friend. If you want to talk to him, you might as well climb to the top of the walls and shout for him all day. You don't find Dakar, Dakar finds you."
|
|
"Well then in that case, we'll not waste the effort of looking. I'm certain you'll kick it up the ladder that we'd like a respectful word, and then he'll undoubtedly search us out in short order.
Oh, and speaking of that bit of unpleasantness with the hired goons at Collgardie's house, you might like to know, we did manage to leave one of them alive, and even tended his wounds enough that he could see to dealing with the remains of his friends. As for Collgardie himself, we took it upon ourselves to bring his body to the temple for a proper burial.
Before you go, you're certain there's nothing else you could tell us about this "Shadow Lodge"? What they've been up to, where in the city they've been operating, what kind of personnel they're comprised of, any allies or enemies they've got here, how long they've been in the area, what they're trying to accomplish, anything like that?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"You misunderstand," Besel says, his smile quickly vanishing. "I do not work for Dakar, and Dakar does not work for me. When Dakar wants to speak with me, he finds me -- just as it is with anyone else. He'll find you if -- when -- he wants to."
"As far as this 'Shadow Lodge' is concerned, I don't have more to tell you. I know that they're Pathfinders, or claiming to be, and that they've stepped on the wrong toes. As a favor to Dreng, I sent warning."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for a meeting. One final word, though: be careful who you make deals with here, Pathfinders. Kaer Maga is a city brimming with politics -- play the wrong kind and you’ll end up dead. Hell, play the right kind and you’ll end up dead. The point is, be careful who you make an enemy of here -- or worse, who you end up owing a favor to." With that, Besel strides through the back door, in front of which now stands one of his massive guards.
|
|
"Well, my friends, that was an interesting meeting."
Turning to the bard, Cadmuk asks, "Khakil, what were you thinking? The next time you try to charm such a powerful person, could you kindly use your own wit and charm and not some magic spell that is going to invoke the wrath of three golems?!! We are all lucky to be alive after that stunt!"
Turning to the rest of the company, Cadmuk asks, "Well folks, what do you think of trying to find the shadow lodge? I hate the thought that there are pathfinders out there that have stopped listening to the decimivrate!"
|
|
"Well that was more difficult than it needed to be. What an unpleasant little man. And Drang might have just mentioned in the first place that he was chummy with one of the most powerful men in the city.
Anyways, seems we're back to some good old fashioned investigation. Time to hit the streets again and see what we can dig up. I doubt we'll find our way to Dakar, but just asking about him often enough or in the right places should draw his attention, and if what Besel says is true, he'll find us.
Meanwhile, we should dig up all we can on the shadow lodge."
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
"Oh what fun is it without at least a little chaos thrown in the mix?" Khakil says to Cadmuk while adjusting his jaw with a hand.
He turns to address Cott. "I doubt pursuing Dakar at all would be wise, even if it is just name dropping here and there. If he's as influential as Ardoc said, I'm sure he's just as curious at the Shadow Lodge as we are. I believe the way to Dakar will be through gaining knowledge on those imposters."
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
Luc's mouth has been agape ever since Khakil tried casting a spell on Mr. Ardoc. He finally closes it with a click and rounds on Khakil, "MERDE! Are you bleeding insane?!? For the love of all the gods man, we'd all be dead if he'd decided that you were some sort of assassin. PLEASE, think before you go casting spells on people." The Galtan man visibly calms himself, then addresses the group, "We should look for this 'Shadow Lodge' but I like Cott's plan as well."
|
|
"I agree that we should not going looking for Dakar yet. First let's find out as much as we can about the Shadow Lodge. My only concern is that I don't want to stir up trouble for the society by revealing that we are looking for a rogue contingent called the Shadow Lodge. How do we even start gathering that kind of research?"
|
|
Two for, two against, one neutral. That's five. But there's six fo us, so how does that make se....oh yeah! Thaddaeus wasn't expecting to do math today. "Our new "friend" suggested that Dakar would be the one to find us, not the other way around. I'm inclined to believe him...and its much easier for a haystack to find a needle. Or something like that." Thadd confuses himself. "Let us ask around about this Shadow Lodge...in the meantime perhaps Dakar will find us and we can kill two birds with one stone."
|
|
Jasmine watches the verbal exchange between Cott and Besel. She can only put her face to her forehead in complete shock when her companion tries to get one over on the crafty man and the golem knocks him out cold. She checks his pulse, frantically hoping no series damage was done.
Relieved to see that he is okay, except for maybe some broken pride, she lets the two men speak. She didn't want to say anything to upset Besel, since she is so knew to the Society.
When sleeping beauty wakes up, she turns to Khakil, Did you have a good nap love? I wouldn't suggest doing that again, I would hate to see you become a vegetable so early in life. It would be such a waste of allyiur beauty, she says with a chuckle.
Thaddaeus:
Jasmine:
Luc:
Cadmuk:
Khakil:
Cott:
|
|
"I've had my fill of high society. I think it's time to mingle a bit with the criminal element. I'm off to the warren to see what kind of vice is on offer in Kaer Maga."
Cott heads to the slums and starts looking for likely hotspots for criminal congregation. He sniffs the telltale acrid event of opium smoke as he passes a particularly run down shack, and, reasoning that anyone inside is likely to have their mental guard down and be particularly loose tongued, ducks inside to see if the city's junkies might have any knowledge of the shadow lodge.
-Posted with Wayfinder