"Ok, let's try much the same trick we played with Scraps. You make a distraction and I'll come up behind and try to charm one of them when the others won't notice. But be ready to fight. If this spell doesn't land, the subject will know someone was trying to influence his mind..."
Once Grenz sets in on his distraction, Khamul focuses his mind, and then sneaks up behind the guards. Whereupon, he will try to charm whoever is at the back of the 4 guards, without the other ones noticing...
3 ranks +3 trained + 4 Dex+4 Small+1 Trait+1 guidance
+1 spell level +2 Cha
Grenz nodded, cracking his knuckles as he prepared himself. "Alright, I’ll give them something to focus on. Just be quick with that charm. This could get ugly fast."
He took a deep breath, stepping out from the shadows and putting on the air of someone who's had one too many drinks. Staggering slightly, he approached the group of men with an exaggerated sway, doing his best to channel the persona of a rowdy street brawler looking for trouble. His voice boomed out as he got closer.
"Hey! What’s going on here? This mill looks like it’s seen better days—didn’t think anyone would be hanging around this dump at this time of night!" Grenz slurred his words just enough to sound convincing but kept his eyes sharp, ready to react if things went sideways. He waved an arm as if to catch his balance, stumbling a bit closer to the men.
"I was just looking for a drink, but this place caught my eye. You lot having a game or something? Mind if I join? I could use a bit of fun."
As he spoke, Grenz made sure to keep the attention on himself, giving Khamul the chance to sneak up and work his magic. Inside, he braced himself for a fight, knowing his bluff wasn’t foolproof but hoping it would be enough to buy them some time.
Khamul easily slips behind the group of men as Grenz attempts to appear as an innocent drunk. Unfortunately, his well trained agility and inherent skill at movement betray the look. The two playing the game stop for a moment, eyeing Grenz, but neither one is willing to move away from where their wagers are lying. The bored one moves forward and attempts to redirect Grenz.
”Private game, pal. See your way down the road, friend, or this will not be a fun night for you.” As if to emphasize his words, he pulls the bag from his shoulders and shows Grenz the handle of what must be a weapon.
The other one that was watching the game smirks as his companion accosts Grenz, not knowing a certain halfling was not far behind him, attempting to stir his mind a bit. However, Khamul must have been distracted by the interaction, as his spell doesn’t seem to affect the man, other than to make him more than concerned.
”Hey, I just got this weird tingling in my neck, like there’s magic afoot.” He draws something out of his shoulder bag, more than likely a weapon. ”What’s say we just take this guy inside and give him to the boss?” He pats the weapon in his hand as he approaches Grenz.
Khamul whispers a message to Grenz:"Fight or run? I can sneak out of here if you run..."
+4 dex
With Grenz dropping into a combat stance, Khamul mutters a spell, calling upon the powers within him to conjure a thundercloud that sweeps into the men from behind!
Fail negates
+2 spell level +2 Cha
As Grenz beats feet, Khamul whispers after him "Meet up at the Laughing Dragon", and slips off into the night...
3 ranks +3 trained + 4 Dex+4 Small+1 Trait+1 guidance
Grenz saw the situation quickly deteriorating. The men weren't buying his act, and one of them was clearly preparing for trouble.
With that, Grenz took a step back, putting his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Alright, alright, no need to get rough,” he said, trying to sound as non-threatening as possible. He started to back away slowly, keeping his eyes on the group and ready to move quickly if they decided to follow.
The aggressive man moves forward getting as close to Grenz as he can without getting into striking range. His partner puts a hand on his shoulder. ”Let him go, if he tries anything stupid, we have more than enough to bring him down with.” He glares at Grenz. ”Get gone a’fore I change my mind.”
Slipping through the shadowed streets like a ghost, between stealth and shorter legs, it Khamul some time to get back to the Laughing Dragon. No doubt Grenz will have arrived first...
Once there, and wrapping himself around a meat pie and a pint, Khamul looks to the bright side "Well, we found something out tonight. There's something serious going on in that old sawmill. You don't have four goons outside as guards unless it's pretty big... But I don't get why they had obvious, public guards like that; why aren't they concerned about the city guard showing up?"
"Maybe they have paid them off" - Grenz shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess, they probably have some sort of a deal going on..."
Khamul trails off... and then picks up again: [b]"Well, let's get some sleep. We met Scraps at breakfast, then we go see if we can talk to Jarlsprocket again, see if he can tell us anything about our worries - Maeve's indiscretion, that damn thing under the Drowned Rat, that weird painting... "
"Then maybe go do some shopping? Another question for you: do you trust Jarlsprocket enough to show him that we have stuff we perhaps shouldn't have? After that though, anything you figure we should do? Maybe we could get properly organized and go visit the nice folks at the sawmill? "
Moonday, 28 Lamashan, 4707. 8:27am. Morning, 39 degrees F. Light Breeze. Laughing Dragon, Docks District, Magnimar, Varisia.
There is a chill in the air this morning and you aren’t sure if it’s the early sea air or something else, perhaps from yesterday’s investigations. Still, the smell of promised warm bread and a hearty sausage and egg breakfast is enough to rouse you from the down comforter and make your way downstairs to the common room. It is packed already with folk getting ready for their workday and for those leaving on a ship, there is a bit of luck wishing and fond farewells.
You find that Scraps is already here, sitting at a table with two other boys, appearing to bet on the outcome of a match between a garden spider and a cockroach. There is a stack of copper nibs on the table. When Scraps notices you, he smiles broadly, ”See? I told you they were real. They gave me money and clothes and everything. They’re my friends.” Some of the coppers go from the pot to Scraps’ extended hand.
Khamul ignores Scraps (and everything else) until he finds a cup of coffee. A deep draught and a shake of his head appears to kickstart things; "Hey Scraps, who are your pals?"
The coffee is as strong as it is dark. Your mind takes a moment, but it soon clears and you can focus on the two new boys. One, who Scraps indicates as Spider, is the one with spindly arms and, according to Scraps, has a penchant for climbing things he should not. The other, a more rotund boy, is called Grunt, as it appears that is the only sound he can make. ”They want to help too.”, Scraps explains.
Grenz cracks his neck with some concern, then orders a hearty breakfast for the three boys - "This is no game children - danger abounds" - he shakes his head, taking a sidelong glance at Khamul, then back at the boys - "Though we might be able to use your help. You would need to be discrete and undetectable"
"Hmmm, well for now, gets yourselves some breakfast kids. Then we need to have a talk in private."
After breakfast, he gets Grenz to mind Spider and Grunt, while he takes Scraps off into a corner for a few quiet and private questions.
"Scraps, I'm not absolutely sure you thought this through. A few questions. First, do these guys have tattoo's like yours? Second, what did you tell them? Third, who else heard the story? Did you tell anyone else when you were recruiting; somebody who turned you down, or was listening when you talked to Grunt and Spider?"
The two other boys nod is dumbfounded agreement to Grenz’s statement about the necessary qualifications. When Khamul takes Scraps aside, he is crestfallen. ”I was trying to help by getting just a couple of my trusted friends. I didn’t talk to no one else, just these two. I don’t think anyone heard me and they won’t tell anyone nothing neither. I only told them about how you asked me for help and then you got me fixed up real good. Nothing else, ‘cause I said they would have to pass a challenge first before we told ‘em stuff. They don’t got no tattoos like I do though. Do we need to get them one? I can ask Master Raven.”
"No, no, they don't need, or want, a tattoo like that. Understand, you're in this whether you like it or not, because of that tattoo on your chest. Someone is killing people with that mark. Folks have tried to kill both me and Grenz over this mess. Do you really want to haul your pals into the swamp with you? "
Khamul lets that question hang in the air before continuing.
"Not to mention if word got back to Master Raven, do you think he might take it badly, you getting involved with a couple of strangers like me and Grenz, and then bringing your boys in as well. He might think we're competition and that probably wouldn't go well for just about anybody involved, right."
"So let's not spread things around anymore. For now, we got a bunch of meetings and research to do, but thing's will get interesting this evening, I think."
With that little discussion, Khamul heads back to rejoin Grenz and the other kids...
Khamul addresses the kids:
"Ok guys, Scraps here vouches for ya, so your in. But Grenz ain't lying when he says 'danger abounds', this is serious business. "
"Ok, Scraps may not have told you all of it. There's someone or possibly some group that are killing people in Magnimar; lots of people. The common factor is all the bodies are marked with the symbol that Scraps here has on his chest. There's clearly some mystical juju s#++ going around - we've seen both undead and shapeshifters in this mess, not to mention people getting possessed. Me and Grenz here are aiming to stop the killings."
"So today, Grenz and I got some people to meet up with, and they won't be expecting you guys. So I got a little job for you, to keep you out of trouble: some info gathering."
"Scraps got his mark from Master Raven, but he can't be the only guy giving the marks out, or at least he can't only be giving them out in Scraps's gang. There are too many marked dead bodies for them all to have come from Scraps's bunch without them figurin what's up and heading for the hills... The bodies ain't just coming from the streets either, there's been some high-life folks found dead as well. So your job is to nose around and try to figure out who else is out there giving marks. Also, keep a little list of anybody you figure might have a mark. Well, two lists, one of anybody confirmed to have a mark, and one of people suspected of having a mark..."
"But remember what Grenz to you, you have to be 'discrete and undetectable'. That means that no one else knows or figures out that y'all are gathering the info. This is for your own protection; there are folks involved in this who wouldn't hesitate to snuff your candles if they figure out you're putting your nose in their mess."
"So that your job. We meet back here around supper time. At least you'll get a decent meal out of it."
Kids taken care of, he turns to Grenz, "Let's go, we got people to see..."
Once on the street he heads off to the guild house of the Solemn Order of Sages, Librarians and Teachers; it's time to talk to Jarlsprocket again...
Khamul and Grenz head on up to Jarlsprocket's office...
"Good morning Sage, we've got a new raft of questions... Worst question first: coming back to our previous conversation, I can tell you that our problem was a shapeshifter - I believe it was indeed a faceless one as you suspected. When forced out of it's disguise, it appeared to be a humanoid plant, and it dissolved into ooze when it died. And die it did, so it will not be carrying on it's mistress's plots any further... But it is clear that in it's disguise, it had suborned a young human woman. We were able to confirm the woman was not enchanted, so I suspect the trick was accomplished by lying and flattery. I worry that it may have seduced her. If it lay with her as man with maid, would the coupling simply be sterile, or do we have to worry about her possibly carrying some sort of monstrous spawn?"
He pauses for a reply.
He pulls out the sketch he made of the thing we met under the Drowned Rat, and shows it to Jarlsprocket. "Second, We met this thing in the city; apparently it is leading one of the criminal organizations in the town. I can tell you it communicates telepathically, and can apparently possess others. It's definitely some sort of a mind mage... Can you tell us anything about this thing or it's kind? "
Again he pauses for a reply.
"Moving on, from monsters to the arcane, we found a ... what appears to be a painting, I suppose. It shows an oddly shaped room with no sharp corners in it at all. There are runes marked around the edges, only apparent with magical assitance . It physically could not be moved, and seemed to attempt to pull me into itself, when I tried. It it currently hidden under several layers of sheets and blankets. I am not sure my description is doing it justice. Would you be willing to come see it for yourself, tonight?"
Again he pauses for a reply.
"Finally, we found this. It radiates magic, we can tell that much, but can you tell us what it is?" He shows Jarlsprocket the silver rod we FOUND.
Jarlsprocket is noticeable perturbed at being interrupted from whatever contraption he is working on when you come in. He listens intently though as you explain in detail the beings that you encountered. He even goes so far as to take notes. At least, you assume they are notes. He could just be doodling.
”I see,” he says as he strokes his chin. ”Other than the elves and orcs, which share similar blood, I have not heard of much that can breed with a human with successful results, unless magic is involved of course.” He mutters something about owlbears under his breath. ”Nonetheless, this creature’s ability to completely become another person is both intriguing and disturbing, but I suspect that unless it brought its family with, you should be free of its mischief, though this other thing you describe, that could be anything really. There are many creatures that can influence the weaker minded and not all have even been catalogued. Something aquatic speaks to a number of beings attuned to the Great Sea Beast, Sekolah, but what you describe may even go further back, to the time of the aboleths, creatures from beyond our own realm that controlled vast empires in their day, but most, if not all, were eradicated millennia ago.”
Jarlsprocket grows more curious as you describe the painting. ”Well, you seem to have come upon a portal frame. Though a dangerous one. Your mention of no corners intrigues me, as I have heard of a place in which corners are a way for them to come into our world. Leng, I believe it is called. It is good that you didn’t go through, I’m afraid you would not have been able to make it back.”
When you show him the metal rod, he plays with it as an engineer would a new machine. When he presses the button at one end, a blade shoots out of the other end that glows with red fire. After he recovers from the surprise, he says ”It seems the weapon speaks for itself.” He swings it around for a moment, making a ‘whoosh’ sound before he pushes the button again and the blade retracts. ”Here, you might find it useful in your pursuit of whatever it is you are pursuing.”
"Ok, about this portal frame thing. What should we do about it? As mentioned, we don't seem to be able to move it; currently it's just sitting there on the wall, covered over with several layers of sheets and blankets. Set fire to it? Take an axe to it? Build a brick wall in front of it??"
”I think perhaps that is why it was covered in sheets in the first place, though putting it somewhere more safe from random individuals that might stumble upon it would probably be prudent. However, if the Foxglove family is well and truly gone, I can’t imagine anyone else going in there but thieves and it would serve them right to fall into such a thing. It will take some time for the city to annex the place and have it resold, so I can see many a would be robber taking up the opportunity.” There is an odd gleam in his eyes as he says this. ”If you still want to do something, I would have you brick up something around it, perhaps a nice fireplace, so that eventually, it would be burned away.”
Khamul thinks aloud: "Ok, so you figure nothing can come out of 'Leng' to here through this portal frame... I guess that's not todays business, but we may be doing some bricklaying in the near future..."
"Well, thank you for your counsel sage Jarlsprocket. You've given us enough to chew on so as to keep us out of your office for another day... Hahahah."
With that as a closing quip, Khamul and Grenz leave the sage to his contraption.
As they leave the building, Khamul turns to Grenz and asks "All right, we do owe the man, he's been very helpful. You know him better than I do, what does Jarlsprocket actually like? Aged Brandy? Fine Coffee? He got a sweet tooth? Pictures of dogs playing poker?"
Jarlsprocket grumbles a bit as you exit, but he did seem to be genuinely interested in some of what you came to speak with him about.
You head out into the streets of Magnimar and hear the bells toll the eleventh hour of the day.
With the sound of 11 bells, Khamul's head comes up, and he abandons to the question of what to get Jarlsprocket as a gift, for more immediate matters: "I much doubt a man with Ironbriar's reputation has much patience for people being late. We'd best hurry ..."
Khamul hops on his hound, setting a quick pace to the Halls of Justice.
Moonday, 28 Lamashan, 4707. 12:10pm. Noon, 40 degrees F. Light Breeze. Waiting Area, Halls of Justice, Magnimar, Varisia.
You get to the halls rather quickly through the midday crowds, people rushing to and fro to buy merchants wares or get something to eat before returning to their work day. The Halls of Justice themselves are packed as well, with people coming in and out and couriers and messengers running from place to place. When you reach Justice Ironbriar’s anteroom, you are seated in mahogany chairs that match the mahogany framework of the building. There is a hint of Elven design in some of the marble sculptures around the room, along with small trees that grow in ivory pots. It takes the Justice some time before he allows yo into his room. It is rather elegantly decorated, with lavish tapestries depicting the hands of justice coming down from the sky to enact its powers. On his desk are several sheaves of paper and two empty ink vials along with several broken quills. A new one is in his hand as he is working on something when you sit down.
”I am told you wish to speak with me about the prisoner you brought in from Sandpoint. He has been found to be rather cooperative now that he is in my hands and his trial and execution will be quick. What else did you need to know?” Justice Ironbriar is an elf of great stature, his crimson and onyx colored robes seeming more voluminous than any elf would normally wear. You notice that he also wears a ring signify his station and a symbol of Abadar hangs from around his neck. His voice carries with it a sense of authority that is usually never questioned.
While waiting outside Ironbriar's office, Khamul uses his disciplines to focus his mind.
***
Khamul tries to keep his face from giving away the thoughts above, and listens intently to Justice Ironbriar, paying attention to the details of his face and his posture...
3 ranks +3 trained +1 Trait+1 guidance
2 ranks +3 trained +2 Cha+1 Trait
"Milord Justice, to be blunt, we want everything, every last detail you have. There are simply too many things we don't understand about this plot. Any detail might be a critical one. For example, who is RB? We have captured several notes of instructions, initialed RB. We know they wanted a sample of the mold from Foxglove Manor, but we have no idea what for?"
"I also recognized that you are a busy man, and doubtless have things to do besides discuss the details of this case with us. I am sure you had a scribe transcribing the entire interrogation. Further, I am sure you have a file of records from this case; could we have a copy or at least the opportunity to read it?"
+2 charisma
"The other major item of import is this symbol that is being marked on the victims. It's obviously mystical, but that's something outside both my and Grenz's expertise. What can you tell us about it?"
Grenz nods in agreement with Khamul.
Justice Ironbriar shifts in his seat and puts the quill down, a sure sign that you have his full attention. If he is attempting to deceive you in some way, it is difficult to tell. His face is almost as if it were carved from stone as he speaks. ”You are right, I am very busy, which is why I was just curious enough to allow you to visit with me. However I am not such a man as to bypass protocol and hand over all my case files to someone who is not either a magistrate, advocate or barrister. From what I can tell, you are simply investigators hired by the Sheriff of Sandpoint to continue an investigation that is no longer under his jurisdiction. To what end, I cannot fathom, but do know that it is being looked into and you needn’t worry any longer.” He pauses for a moment and then says, ”I would also avoid going to places that are abandoned here in Magnimar. We have not been able to clean out many of the darker places and I would not want to have to write a letter to the Sheriff and explain what happened to his investigators.” You are not sure if that was a threat or a genuine warning, but either is likely. ”Since I can already tell you won’t leave this alone, I will tell you this much. That rune is a Sihedron, a symbol from an empire long dead. It is entirely possible that someone is attempting to use it to scare the local criminal element into subservience by using it as a marker. I have yet to see anyone claim it, but they will show their face in due time and I will mete out justice when it happens. Until then, you are free to go, but do not interfere with my work.” Justice Ironbriar retrieves his quill, and continues to write, ambivalent to whether you stay or leave.
You note that he specifically seemed to ignore anything related to RB and the mold at Foxglove.
"Thank you for your time, Justice"
Khamul bows respectfully and leaves...
Once outside on the street, he cuts into an alleyway for some privacy, and uses his message cantrip for added security...
"He and Maeve are telling two different stories about what has happened to the thug we brought in. I smell treachery. And unless Maeve told him, he doesn't know she was talking to us... So it's a lot more likely that he's the one feeding us a line. I wonder if we stripped the Justice naked, would we find a Sihedron mark?"
"I can understand he does not want to share all he knows with us, but I agree with you - something is off" - Grenz nodded at Khamul after they exited - "I just do not know yet if there is anything we can do to prove it. And also if we could. Who would listen?"
"I dunno either, but keep thinking in case either of us have a brainwave. But we do have all that sweet, sweet loot from the Foxglove Townhouse; shall we see if we can find some fun stuff in the markets? Then maybe tonight, after a report from the boys, we might try the sawmill again, with me ready for a fight..."
*** 1833, at the Laughing Dragon, with a corner table booth (difficult to be overheard), and the remains of a good dinner for 5 on the table... ***
"All right Scraps, so what did you and the boys find out?"
The boys, eager to enjoy a warm meal and have friends who aren’t exploiting them, the boys spill what they know, each one adding to the next. ”We found a few people who had the mark, most of them live like us, in the streets and all, but there were two that we saw that lived in the White Mansions.”(Alabaster District) ”One of them was a woman, she was walking with a man, but they didn’t seem like they were, you know, together. They were arguing about something, then he left and when she gave him a gesture, I saw the mark on her leg. She started walking towards the Foxglove place. I thought it was rundown, but she walked right in. She was wearing a coat that looked like it was made of firepelt, rare those are, and expensive.”
”I also heard that some of the places they play cards and dice have had people come out of there dead and with a mark on their body, usually on their neck, but then when they saw me listening about it, they chased me out. I was down by the sawmill that broke down a long time ago.”
”Master Raven has been sending us after some new folk in town, instead of the usual people. He says that we need to ‘expand our service to the Seven’, whatever that is. I thought it was just a number.”
"This lady went into the Foxglove place? You're sure? Describe both her and the man she was with as closely as you can. If you're a decent sketch artist, draw us pictures. Because you're right, the Foxglove place is indeed abandoned, and has been being used by certain disreputable types. Find out whatever you can about her and the guy you saw her with, but be extra careful - they'll be deadly dangerous."
The boys seem almost too excited to be performing more skulking and skullduggery. They nod almost in unison as they scarf down their food. They are not, however, very good at drawing, but from the description, it sounds very much like Maisie, the other woman you had heard about. The man’s description sounds like just about any of the thugs that live in the Underbridge. Both, at least to the boys, were human.
.
As it dawns on Khamul that the lady in the firepelt coat was likely Maisie, and clearly was someone different than Maeve , he shares a troubled glance with Grenz; their earlier speculation is up-ended...
Khamul hands Scraps a couple of gold and says "Good job boys, have yourselves a little bit of fun tonight, but don't stay out too late. You'll be back on the job tomorrow morning - same drill, finding anybody who's got one of them fancy seven-point stars marked on them, and also anything your can dredge up about firepelt coat girl and her guy. But remember, discrete is the name of the game, because dead investigators don't report their findings..."
When the boys are off to have some fun, Khamul says to Grenz "Raven is talking about 'service to the Seven', and Lady Xanesha was 'Mistress of the Seven'. I think we really need to get into the old sawmill and find out what's what. How about you?"
Khamul gets his game face one, channeling a champion spirit.
Grenz smiled at the boys all around them, and kept nodding a positive reinforcement as they spoke - "You have done great so far, now eat up" - he added, making sure they had more than enough to eat and drink - "Remember to stay smart, use your heads, and don't get too cocky" - he added - "That's how you lose fights"
---
"I agree" - Grenz nodded at Khamul after the kids left - "I am also confused regarding the whole Maisie vs Maeve thing, but we can look into that after"
The boys are all too excited to eat their fill and go play in the streets, as it were. Once they are gone, you are left alone to ponder the woman that seems at once the same and then not the same…
...
"I agree" - Grenz nodded at Khamul after the kids left - "I am also confused regarding the whole Maisie vs Maeve thing, but we can look into that after"
...
"Yeah, I think we got way out over our skis there. But that's not tonight's problem. Tonight is the old sawmill and whatever is going on inside..."
Khamul rides his hound down to the sawmill, stopping a few blocks away. He tells the well-trained hound to stay , relying on its fangs to keep it and his gear unmolested...
As he and Grenz walk the last little way to the sawmill, he lays out a plan: "I'm guessing it'll be the same set up as before - 4 guards out front. But I'll scout before we go in anyway. If it's the same set up, let's keep it simple: I'll sneak behind the guards, between them and the mill itself. Give me a minute to get in position, and then you rush them. I'll jump them from behind. Hopefully we can take them without too much noise... What do you think?"
5 ranks +3 trained+1 Trait+4 Racial to detect danger
3 ranks +3 trained + 4 Dex+4 Small+1 Trait
"We will not be able to take four men down before they raise an alarm" - Grenz pointed out - "But sure, lets give it a try"
"Well, I'll go see what we got, and maybe we can come up with a better idea."
Heading to the rundown sawmill, Khamul disappears into the shadows to observe the building as Grenz watches from across the street. Again, there are four men in the front, but Khamul also notes that this time, there are two patrols of two men each circling the outside of the mill. These ones are not hiding their weapons, instead carrying them like a sack of flour over the shoulder. Grenz notes that he has not seen a Magnimarian Guard patrol come this way in some time.
Khamul reports back "There's a lot more activity outside the mill. There are a pair of roaming patrols - 2 men each, as well as the four at the front. I wonder if something special is going on inside... You figure we couldn't take 4 before they raise an alarm - how about two? We get hidden ahead of one of the roaming patrols and hide - let them run into us. Take them, and then jump the second pair. After that, we'll have to rush the four at the front..."
Khamul expands on his plan "We set up on the North East side. We both hide, with me earlier on the patrol route. I let them go past and hit them from behind with my sling-staff, when they get closer to you; then you rush them... After the fight, hopefully with a minimum of screaming and yelling, we move a little back on the patrol route and hit the second patrol as it comes to us, then we sneak up as best we can on the front door group. What do you think, Grenz?"
"Let's give it a try" - Grenz nodded.