Way of the Wicked - a Tale of the Fall of Talingarde (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

On his way to Aldencross Black Jack adjust his disguise to be an armed guard of their little merchant caravan.
Sounds like a lovely town...boss. In front of the tavern. Should we get inside to get the lay of the land? So we have come... maybe from the capital? ...to re-supply. What stuff are we "buying" here anyway?

What stuff does the north export? Why would a merchant caravan be here?
K. Local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Weapons and armor would be the most expected forms of trade coming out of Aldencross. There is little else produced here in quantities enough to export. You can see smithies and the telltale trails of smoke from their chimneys working even now.

From within the tavern you hear a voice call out "Come, come good sirs, please enter and warm yourselves" seeing a portly but earnest face gesturing from behind a modest bar within.

Mi'Dre's disguise as a child is somewhat hampered by the barely veiled expression of contempt as he follows Albina through the streets of the town sheltering beneath Balentyne's walls. When they reach the inn and are welcomed inside he shakes his head, eager to be about some mischief after so long cooped up in the ship.

"I'm going to take a look around." he observes to the others, and assuming no great protest, he slips away into an alley, from which emerges a moment later a scruffily dressed halfling who moves off, disappearing amongst the street traffic.

Mi'Dre's just going to wander around, see if he can find any good spots for spying on comings and goings, look for anything that looks shiny and interesting, anyone who looks like they could do with some murdering, etc. etc.

"What any merchants who come out this far trade. Finished goods for raw materials. No doubt theres fur traders, miners, and the other rough sorts here willing to trade fresh tools and plenty of alcohol." Shendalyn yawns. "The usual boring, dry, mercantile work that provides for Talingarde's dinner table."

Shendalyn's disguise is very minor, little more than a rounding of ears and reshapong of eyes to just be "human" Shendalyn.

Cruxcarr's jolly skin hails the innkeep back with a broad smile;

"Thank you kind sir! We shall... we shall... We desire food and beverage my good man... it has been a long and eventful journey to your fair town and we have built quite the appetites..."

The porty merchant approaches the bar, nodding to other patrons as he goes.

Jack looks around the tavern floor while following Cruxcarr to their table. He pays special attention to the patrons.

Mi'Dre Scouting:

Mi'Dre finds the town to be small, but substantial - housing roughly 1200-2,000 souls. He spys some housing that suggests a reasonable minority of dwarves and halflings among the population. There is a reasonable marketplace and you see signs for an alchemist, scriber of scrolls and a wide range of forges. There are a few decent looking emporiums as well - no doubt servicing those that venture North looking for adventure.

The Rest:

You find the bar quite empty at this early hour, just a couple of townsfolk within and no-one who looks to be too interesting. The man behind the bar smiles and responds "Aye, food and drink I can do... and mayhap a room as well I hope?" chuckling to himself "Bellam Barhold is my name - and welcome to The Lord's Dalliance." casting his arms wide to encompass the modest inn.

"We're entertaining a few already, so you'll have to share rooms I'm afraid... or if you're laden with Southern coin could I tempt you with the suite?"

What about Balentyne? What sort of traffic does he see between the tower and the town? What about guard posts, patrols, etc.

Anything shiny and mgical in the shops that might interest him?

The tower Balentyne sits separate and slightly apart from Aldencross, straddling the River Albryn that joins the lake where you left Kargeld to burn. Mi'Dre can see little of the tower itself without drawing near to it... and given the paucity of traffic and idle villagers in the area he may stick out somewhat. The watchtower is a four story static fortification and does not appear to have much in the way of regular patrols or outposts from that building.

For the shiny - you'll need to actually head up to a shop and pop inside. Which I'll need an RP of how you approach it, etc. Do you scan from outside, or go inside? Shiftily or engage with the proprietors?

Share rooms... between ourselfs or with strangers? Black Jack asks a little annoyed.

"Just between yourselves good sirs and maam, two rooms and four people."

Mi'Dre finds a decent spot--elevated if possible--and simply observes the tower for an hour or so to verify his initial impressions. If possible he will catch a bird and eat it for his breakfast.

The black guard shrug his shoulders waiting for his companions decision.
I did not expect the frontier to be so busy, what brings so many travelers to this parts?

The barkeep smiles "Not so many travelers sir. There's a company of dwarves staying for repairs on the keep... apologies in advance for the noise you'll need to endure when they get to drinking in the evening, but they do pay well"

Repairs? Was there an attack on the city? Looking alarmed.

Mi'Dre settles in at his oversight spot and starts a quiet vigil.

___

Shaking his head "Nothing like that, boys have been here a while and will be a while longer - just overseeing maintenance is all... so about those rooms?" he enquires hopefully.

Albina pays the innkeeper for a night's room, and, under pretext of ordering a meal for their company, attempts to ply him for information about the local farming and foodstuffs. "I am quite interested in what sorts of locally-grown dishes are popular in these parts, as one can always make some coin, or at least a good impression, by introducing an intriguing new meal in the somewhat more decadent southern regions."

Pretext to start a Gather Information use of Diplomacy over the next 1d4 hours, not necessarily from the innkeeper himself, but from his patrons who may be in the business of providing / growing food for the Tower community, food which could be, in the fullness of time, subject to contagion or riddled with toxin, to weaken the defenses of said Tower.

Take 10 on Diplomacy for a 19, or, if a roll is required... 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

The innkeeper Bellam is more than forthcoming about the state of farming... especially once some coin has been laid down for a room. Albina finds that for the most part the tower takes care of it's own - they have stewards who cook within the tower's walls. But once a week the cooks get the night off - and Mama Louisa Giuseppe from Aldencross cooks for the garrison. She struggles a bit now... what with her sons having left for the South - but bless her heart she still makes the trek up with her home blended spices and makes her famous beef stew.

___

Mi'Dre finds little else of note to report from viewing the tower from afar. There seem to be occasional patrols making their way from the tower to Aldencross and back... but they travel in fours and look well drilled - so he's not confident he could jump one of them alone.

'Home blended spices?' Albina thinks with genuine glee, Well bless her little heart...'

She waits until they are in the privacy of their own room to share this information with her companions, keeping to a low whisper, in case nosy little ears listen at the walls of adjoining rooms.

"I sought only to taint or poison foodstuffs making their way intot eh place, but, thanks to our circlets, we should be able to impersonate this woman, and perhaps her 'fortuitously returned sons,' to infiltrate and directly handle the administering of toxins, in the guise of her 'home blended spices,' to the troops." she whispers.

"The 'fortuitously returned sons' might prove a touch more difficult, as it triples our chances of discovery, and is an immediate point of suspicion, but I'm not entirely confident about my chances sneaking in their alone, as I am not the most skilled at pretending to be other folk, or at pretending I have any idea what to do in a kitchen..." she continues, in a quiet tone.

"Who knew that learning to cook would be a vital step in a plan of world domination?"

Shendalyn, after the rooms have been settled adn most of his things tended to dresses in his almost finest evening wear and looks for entertainment.

If you like I can roll up a couple of days of 'fact-finding' into a single post to give you a more rounded set of options as to what you could attemp to bring down the tower?

If you like I can roll up a couple of days of 'fact-finding' into a single post to give you a more rounded set of options as to what you could attemp to bring down the tower?

That would be great. More options, the better, since the 'bad cook' idea has a lot of kinks that would need working out.

Yeah sounds good VoV.

Mi'Dre after a couple hours poking around, watching the comings and going will sneak his way back into the inn and head to sleep until night fall. He will spend the next few nights flying around the tower and if he sees an opening sneaking around inside the tower itself. If that proves fruitless then he'll go back to poking around the town during the day.

During your couple of days spent getting the lay of the land, you o'erhear a few things that pique your interest in the tavern:
"Mad Martin is a strange one! He tends the rookery in the Watchtower. They say he never leaves except for necessities. He talks to the birds like people and has named every one!"

"Soldiers today! A worthless, shiftless lot! Balentyne is in total disarray. Soldiers today are too lazy – not like in my day."

"There’s a pack of dwarves in town led by a grumpy short fellow named Barnabus Eisenbauch. They’re here to fix up the watchtower or so I’ve heard. A hard working fellow -- just don’t challenge him to a drinking contest. He’ll drink you under the table every time!"

"Bellam Barhold is such a lush. He does enjoy his wine. He’s always complaining about how he can’t get any of the good stuff here in the borderlands."

"Have you seen Kaitlyn Mott? She’s the most beautiful woman in town! How did an ugly lump of a man like Captain Franz Mott bag a looker like her? And how does he keep her, that’s what I want to know!"

You also establish the following information:

• Eleven dwarves stay at the inn, and they trek to the tower each day to work.. though on Sunday they spend most of it drinking. When full of liquor they get as any dwarf does... ornery.
  
• A patrol moves through the wild below the wall to keep any bandits on their toes. It is led by a fine horseman Captain Varning and he is attended by six guardsmen.
  
• A Captain Zack Eddarly was heard to be lamenting that Kaitlyn Mott was ill-kept by her husband... well until recently.
  
• There is a troupe of actors due to arrive in a week that will present a play to the guardsmen within Balentyne. There is much excitement around this fact - as none within the town have seen the great William Marlowe perform before.

There is a troupe of actors due to arrive in a week that will present a play to the guardsmen within Balentyne. There is much excitement around this fact - as none within the town have seen the great William Marlowe perform before.

For no other reason except "becuz" Shendalyn is now hating mighty fierce on Bill Murray.

"So who feels like doing unspeakable things to famous actors and taking their place on stage?" Shendalyn says amidst half drunken slurring wearing a not too small smile on his face. It's clear that the past few days have not been kind to his health. Unshaven and sweaty from far too much drink and other recreational substances.

Turning to Albina.From what you say this poor old women is all alone with the duty of feeding the whole garrison for a day every week. Bringing all that food up the trek to the tower... all by herself. She could use a helping hand like our good Mi Dri here.

And missing her soons so much... nodding.
Her heart would sure warm up to help a poor orphan child with such an innocent face. pointing at the devil. Give him an honest job to keep him off the streets...

A lot of possibilities, lets see what else we can uncover. I was never a lover of the arts but who knows... If you excuse me, I belive I have a meeting with some drunk dwarfs, lets see what they have to say.

Black Jack joins the dwarfs in their drinking. He pays for a couple of drinks and tries to befriend them with small talk about soldiering, weapons and alcohol beverages.
Gather Info on their job and the fortress: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

If things are going well and depending on what he finds out he may even challenge Barnabus Eisenbauch for a drinking contest

"You want us to perform a play?" Mi'Dre asks Shendalyn with a scowl when the group gathers together to share what they have found a few days later.

"Poisoning their stores sounds good, but we need to find some poisons first, and we shouldn't all go along..." he observes as Albina brings up Madame Giuseppe, at Jack's suggestion of him helping the actual Madame he holds his judgement at first, until the Antipaladin starts waxing about giving him an honest job he can't help a scowl.

"I'd say we should try to find some poisons either way. There's some cavalry that could do with some horse problems I think, they seem a little too competent... There's also an odd bastard who likes birds a bit too much in one of the towers I think I might talk to, he could be useful for something..." he mutters.

Do we know anything about who this Bellam Barnhold is? and the other two below? Things like what position they hold, that sort of thing.
Knowledge Local about Bellam Barnhold: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Knowledge Local about Captain Franz and Kaitlyn Mott: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Knowledge Local about Captain Zack Eddarly: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"Perform is a strong word." Shendalyn says staring at the blasphemey that was the bottom of his mug. "But it seems if you want to get all of us into that tower and get all the soldiers drinking, eating, and otherwise being unarmored and possibly unarmed in one spot..." Shendalyn trails off hoping that he doesn't burn out his compatriots minds with the effort of thought.

"I thought devils loved the theatre anyway. In either case it does not have to be acting but it would be somewhat easier to murder and replace some of the actors then try and get into their good graces as honest laborers.

We have like 3 people in the group with a half decent charisma

Hmm, with a few days/nights of scouting Balentyne under his belt does Mi'Dre have a rough estimate of just what sort of forces there are in there? I'm guessing it's enough a direct assault of any kind by the six of us will be unwise.

"I fear that I am as untrained in the arts of theatre as I am in the kitchen," Albina concedes, at the mention of impersonating the theatre troop, "I'm going to be a terrible high society wife, some day, aren't I?" she adds with a smile.

"The details on Captain Varning's patrol are intriguing, but I do not immediately see how ambushing them would serve to gain us entry to the keep. That's the sort of information that might be better considered for the timing of our actions, so that we can be sure they are freshly departed, and will be away for some time, so that we can ambush them after their brothers in arms have already succumbed to whatever we do to them."

"I am intrigued by the possibility of arranging some sort of brouhaha among the dwarves. Perhaps arranging for some local ne'er do well to provoke them into a barfight, so that he can steal a fortune in gems we'll tell him they have hidden away in their room while they are busting up the place, could create a ruckus that would result in men being called down from the keep to try and enforce the peace?"

"The old fool in the rookery seems crucial to deal with post-haste, if we engage in some sort of assault on the place. His birds seem the most likely source of messages being sent to warn other nearby towns and guard stations of trouble, and we very much don't want those birds to fly. Mi'Dre seems the best suited to reaching the rookery unseen, with his own unique capabilities, and ensuring that Mad Martin's little feathery friends do not live to sing any untoward songs, or, if some regular 'all is well' message is required, that it be sent even after Mad Martin has taken a tumble off of the tower's top."

"If some come in as cook and assistant, and others as part of a traveling theater group, we could all be in place to take advantage once poison takes effect, with Mi'Dre heading to the rookery to silence the birdkeeper, while we cut down the drugged guardsmen. I'm not sure if it would be better or worse to time the situation to have Captain Varning out of the keep, as it just means we will have to face him later when he and his men return at full strength (and maintain the charade that the tower has not fallen, so that he not simply ride off to warn neighboring communities and fetch reinforcements). That in mind," she adds, thoughtfully, "Perhaps the dwarven business would similarly just make our task harder in the long run, by sending a group of men away from our poisoning and leaving us having to gather them up later..."

"Mi'Dre does have a point, my thoughts of poisoning them are meaningless without locating a strong poison in the area, that can be mixed into food. Does anyone know off-hand of any local mineral, plant or creature that has an appropriate toxin, such as hemlock or belladonna or arsenic?"

Heal check might be useful to think up poisons, but not necessarily to know what's local or could be made from local materials...

Black Jack easily finds that the dwarves are performing general maintenance on the fortress... not that anything is broken mind, but that's because they've got well paid masons on the job. They are quite fond of drink, and you get the feeling that as they get more so the dwarves do get ornery... Barnabus himself bests a swarthy local easily at a contest of drink so it would not be difficult for Black Jack to entice him into another.

It occurs to you that one who works at repairing the towers... may well have some papers that might give a concept of it's interior close to hand?

Bellam is the innkeep... the one that welcomed you to the Lord's Dalliance.

Albina recalls seeing an Alchemist's shop on her travels through town... surely some posionous materials could be obtained there - but to buy such a quantity would surely arouse suspicion.

Mi'Dre guesses that the complement of guards at Balentyne are between 80 and 120... plus auxiliary support and leadership. Captains Eddarly and Mott are two of the four captains of the tower - the others being Varning and Barhold.

Cruxcarr interjects at the close of Albina's speech;

”If I may interject my Blackhearts... If we were to encourage the imbibing of venom... then perhaps the local alchemist would serve well as a stooge in such cloak and dagger events...”

The mage smiles wickedly and rubs his corpulent hands together

”However procurement of such poisons could prove... challenging...”

Knowledge: Nature (to attempt to discern some local sources of poison Part 1): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Knowledge: Local (to attempt to discern some local sources of poison Part 2): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

”Indeed should our subterfuge involve murder... and I so dearly hope it shall my friends then I have certain enchantments that can “mold” a corpse to suit our intended requirements... The question would be who or why would our alchemist do such a thing? Perhaps the accursed longbeards have nefarious designs... despicable duergar perhaps... disguising their true nature...”

The jowls of the mage shudder as he surpresses an ironic gurgling laugh

I speak of course of Sculpt Corpse...

"There are almost a hundred men within the castle at any one time, we are not trying to kill them all ourselves, we simply need to incapacitate them and ensure the gates are open for Sakkarot." Mi'Dre reasons "So we need to get poison... If there is an alchemist... can someone tell me what I would be looking for? I should be able to break in."

"Don't worry, I will deal with Mad Martin..."

Cruxcarr smiles endearingly at the Gaav's eagerness for murder and mayhem;

"I also believe there to be a mage amongst the tower's defenders... perhaps they may have spells or enchantments worthy of our endeavours mmm my Blackhearts? Given the chance I could also become such an individuals doppleganger... to futher sow the seeds of discord... Oh how I adore discord!"

"Hmmm if the subterfuge of just being bad actors is beyond you I seriously doubt you can pull off the fine art of replacing someone. No doubt someone knows him well enough that such a ruse would end poorly for you." Shendalyn puts his cup down with a resigned sigh deciding to stay with morbid sobriety for now. "As for alchemists, any alchemist who carries that much poison is bound to be watched carefully in this nation. Perhaps it wold be best to treat that as a more seedy matter? Perhaps he has secrets that can be turned toward our advantage? He may not even have that much material on hand but perhaps he can instead produce it for us?"

Cruxcarr eyes betray Shendalyn's slight, although he maintains his rictous smirk;

"How very insightful of you Master Shawn... we would no doubt be lost without your wisdom-in-cups... However perhaps suitable venom can be harvested from creatures mythic and monstrous? Play the heroes to boot..."

Knowledge: Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Rolls to establish if any local flora, fauna or fell beasts could supply venom of a sort...

Aren't we supposed to be merchants, not Heroes..." Mi'Dre mutters at Cruxcarr's suggestion. "If we need to blackmail the alchemist then breaking into his house is still the best option. So give me a list of what I should be looking for and I'll check things out."

There is not much in the countryside that would yield the sort of poison that could survive being stewed without losing some kind of potency... the alchemist's shop is likely your best option.

The alchemist would likely be very happy to sell you product (or you could steal it)... it's more the connection between selling lots of poison and the guards being poisoned that would be a bit dodgy. Remember that you're unlikely to get all of the guards at once.

Cruxcarr does know that most of the travelling troupes of actors tend to have large numbers of hangers on and stage workers that accompany them.

"Hmm, perhaps we should pin the poisoning on the dwarves... We could disguise someone as one of the workers and have them purchase the poisons after getting the real one drunk..."

DM just needs a confirmed IC post on the immediate way forwards :)

"So I'm looking into the birds and the Alchemist, Jack is checking out the dwarves... hmm I should check their rooms too while he's got em distracted... If we need to distract the innkeeper we've got some wine or brandy or something. Anything else?" the muttering devil asks looking at the others with his ugly Halfling disguise still in place. Unless one of them has something else he will excuse himself, collect some coins from his chest, and head into town, looking for some tobacco to stink up the place.

Since you mentioned some burglary Mi Dri I have an idea that would require your help. I can keep the dwarfs distracted in the tavern floor below tonight as you break in their quarters. Since they are working on the towers they should have some floorplans of its interior. And those papers could prove usefull.

Cruxcarr smiles slyly at the mechanisations of deceit at work;

"Most resourceful Master Greaves... a most excellent strategem. I shall attend to the Alchemist also... posing as an interested customer to provide intelligence on the place and its proprietor... or a degree of distraction should Mi'Dre require it?"

"It's Mi'Dre you buffoon!" the devil snaps at Black Jack when he mispronounces his name once again. He turns away from him to their resident wizard. "I had intended to await nightfall to take advantage of the cloak of darkness, but some information on the layout and the owner would be helpful."

Alright so. Black Jack is waiting for the Dwarves to get them drunk and distracted, Cruxcarr is going to spy on the Alchemist, and Mi'Dre will be rummaging through both of their property, and going to say Hi to Mad Marty. Oh, he also plans to go shopping, needs to replenish his stock of tobacco.

Albina adds, "I will make nice with the old lady who prepares the meals for the tower folk, and it might be useful for me to chat up people in the taverns gather information with Diplomacy to learn what sort of route the patrol takes, in case we wish to arrange a 'terrible monster encounter' to thin their numbers."

Roger that Mi'Dre and Albina on the plan, pushed for time yet again (1:30 AM at present after a slamming day) so will put up details tomorrow.

Cruxcarr spends some time with the alchemist and is able to note not only where the poison is stored (in a locked cabinet behind the counter) but also where his tabac is kept... if he wishes he could purchase, but otherwise he finds the man relatively terse and impersonable. The alchemist does live in an adjoining room to his shop though.

Albina easily finds out of Mama Louisa Giuseppe's normal job and finds her working in a kitchen serving up simple fare for the workers of the forges. An easy camaraderie is established with little trouble but for your ears. Now that her boys are away it seems that she has not many to talk to... and talk she can. She attempts to opportunistically venture that you might spend more time together in the future.

Albina is also able to find out from an off-duty guardsman that Captain Varning favours a particular campsite upon his route with a fine lake view - Freeman’s Rock. Regular as clockwork he stops upon his patrol there three days after departing the tower... which he did one day prior. Albina also hears a few whispers of surprise that the newly arrived merchants have not seemed to be interested in spending any coin on goods.

That evening the dwarves return from the tower like clockwork and the drinking starts. Black Jack finds them engaging in some sort of drinking contest that seems more drink than contest at present.
Need an IC approach to the dwarves from Jack, and same for Mi'Dre on the dwarves room.

Black Jack goes to the saloon in the beginning of the evening. He has his supper while listening to the dwarf's conversations. He chooses a point where the subject is also common to him and interject.
Sorry I couldn t help hearing what you just said but you are wrong sir. The best liquor in the realms is clearly Talingrade's Wild Stallion!

The dwarves look you up and down and snort "Heh, manling looks like even a snifter of water'd send him floorward. Best ye talk on something ye actually know about son."

Mi'Dre?