DM Aku |
The tree of you descends into the dark. Johan is careful to close the passage after all of then enter the place, and then he takes out his Burned Ion stone.
It’s a really well made tunnel, no signs of life and not signs of recent usage.
You walk for about one mile when the passage finally lead into a stair, and the stair into yet another stone door. You open it to a dark vault. It holds a vast stockpile of durable, emergency rations. Several thousand days’ worth of iron rations fills this vault alongside barrels of potable water and other durable provisions.
There’s a trap door in the ceiling.
From what Eldred can tell. This place don’t see anyone alive for some time now.
Intentions?
ELDRED CROFTER |
Let me take a look....
He checks the locking mechanism etc and oils the hinges.
After doing the needed maintaince he carefully checks it for traps and then opens it... peaking out.
Take 20 on Percept, Disable device and Stealth
DM Aku |
The trapdoor is not trapped or locked. You listen but don’t hear anything from the other side, so you assume it’s safe to open it.
The room on the other side. Appears to be base of a circular tower. There is a fully functional forge here that vents its smoke through a crude chimney. The vents are small and even tho there’s no one using the forge at the moment, you can see the room is quite smoky. There are several racks on the wall and you can see a lot of halberds, longswords, breastplates and shields.
There’s a stair on the wall, leading up, and another wooden door, closed near it. No one can be seen in the place.
ELDRED CROFTER |
Eldred shuts it gently.
Opens into the forge... looks empty - do we come back another night to explore? Get to know some guards and use their faces? If caught between invisibility enchantments?
Johan Hale |
Yes, That makes the most sense. We've got what we want now, and there's not much to be gained by skulking through the place tonight, so far ahead of our other plans.
Johan cast his gaze around the small stock room with a sense of accomplishment - finally, some progress! Feeling as though he had finally gazed upon the face of an elusive enemy, he turned and led the others back up the tunnel to the inn.
DM Aku |
The trip back in uneventful, you get to basement to find it exactly as you had left.
You return to your rooms, to rest and plot murder, betrayal and death.
And so it ends you fourth day in Aldencross.
Until now, you’ve learned lot’s of useful information.
There’s a patrol that can be hunted.
There’s a secret passage to the tower.
There’s an affair to be revealed.
There’s a good priest to be killed.
There’s a play to interpret.
There’s a dwarf to interrogate.
There’s an old woman to use.
There’s so much more, and so little time.
You have yet, ten days before the bugbear hordes are ready to march.
There’s yet a commander to kill and some gates to throw open.
And so, the fifth day begins.
Intentions?
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
And so it ends you fourth day in Aldencross.
Until now, you’ve learned lot’s of useful information.
There’s a patrol that can be hunted.
There’s a secret passage to the tower.
There’s an affair to be revealed.
There’s a good priest to be killed.
There’s a play to interpret.
There’s a dwarf to interrogate.
There’s an old woman to use.
There’s so much more, and so little time.
You have gone too far sir!
Agrippa will once again charm the Innkeep, and what is this about a play to interpret?
Johan Hale |
OK, Time to start executing some of our nefarious schemes!
Here's a quick sketch of Johan's planned activities for the day, variable depending on what others are doing...
Johan spends the morning of their fifth day trying to figure out when the patrol leaves. He speaks to soldiers and villagers, counting backwards from their last trip if necessary. He then spends some time procuring what he needs to follow them - a riding horse and some quantity of dry goods he can use to pose as a trader if questioned.
He returns to the inn by midday, when the place is at its quietest, and enlists Eldred to visit the dwarves rooms and search them.
He leaves the evening open to assist any of his companions with any of their tasks
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
Heinrich will time his charm to last during the search of the Dwarven rooms. He will also provide invisibility to Eldred should he require it.
ELDRED CROFTER |
For Day 5, Eldred, in his old original guise of the servant of Pious John, just returned from delivering a message. He speaks of the bonus of 5 gold coins he received from his master and he is anxious to spend it and share tales of his brother the guardsman in the capital.
Why he says 'share' he does a hell of a lot more in the listening department and speaks only of generalities but he's quick to praise the guards here and stand them an ale or two.
Gathering up mental pictures of these guards and their voices and mannerisms so I can get a circumstance bonus to disguise checks later
DM Aku |
Niles, I’ll roll your action, but try being a little more descriptive. When doing something, tell what the outcome you expect is. Makes easier for me help you get what you want;
Agrippa walks out in of his now clean room. And go eat breakfast. He takes his time, enjoying himself and his freedom. Some hours later, he call Bellan for a chat and use his spell on him.
Will Bellan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
==//==
Eldred spend most of his time talking to the local soldiers, trying to discern speech pattern and mannerism. Something big is to come, he is sure of it, but he must be prepared to it.
At midday, Pious John enters the place and give him that ‘I-need-you-to-kill-someone-for-me’ kind of stare. He follows him up to their room, where John says;
”We got some dwarfs, doing some repair work at the tower. I was thinking that Maybe there’s in their room something of values to us.”
Assuming you accept
Eldred goes looking for the wizard, to get his offered help with some invisibility spell.
As soon he get’s it, he goes to the dwarf’s room and try to unlock it:
The lock it really well made. It take some attempts until he is able to unlock it.
Taking care to not disturb anything. Eldred goes exploring the place. In one of the closets he finds something really good! A map of the entire watchtower! He is about to take it, when he stops and remember. If something goes missing, they’ll know someone was inside their room. But with his news, he goes out of the place, taking care to lock the door again.
Fet the false-hearted |
It seemed to Fet that he had been left cleaning up and brewing. While he did not mind the less dangerous work, he wished to contribute more thoroughly to the full plan. In addition his mind keep wandering down different imaginary scenario's of what would happen to this border town once the Bugbear army arrived. Every scenario he imagined had the alchemist's shop being torn down, blown up, or otherwise ransacked and made useless to his own purposes. It was for that reason that he came up with a scheme of his own.
Fet stood in front of a mirror for sometime trying on one new guise after another until he found one he was happy with. He settled on that of a comely young man with dark hair and blue eyes. Slender and uninpressive in stance, he outfitted the disguise with pale blue robes and a scholars cap.
Fet spent a good hour practicing the voice he wanted to adopt for the young man, as well as a thorough backstory and mannerisms. Satisfied with the final product he made his way across town to the alchemist's shop. Stepping inside, he took off his cap and held it to his chest.
"G'day sirrah. I be Tef Fairwin. I just graduated from the academy and I was in hope that you were looking for an apprentice."
Bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
ELDRED CROFTER |
Just wondering if there is a copy spell or cantrip we can use here... to get a copy of that map. I believe there is a spell that copies the contents of a book
DM Aku |
@Fet
You enter the place, as always the old man, wearing his old and used robes, as always the place is full of bottles and potions, most of then you suspect is only for show. There are some ominous names as ‘the vampire hunter’ or ‘kiss of the nymph’ but those are for show only, he does not sell.
”Tef you say, eh?” he looks you up and down then asks ”Wha can you do? And wha is your expertise area?”
Fet the false-hearted |
"Yessir. Tef Fairwin." Fett repeated trying to put on the act of appearing as a nervous young man trying to seem confident. With a smile he stepped into the shop and let his eyes rove along the shelves and the various bottles and potions displayed. Quickly he tried to establish what it was that this man primarily sold and the sort of clientel he usually attracted. Thinking he has stumbled upon the correct answer, he came within a foot or two of the old man.
"Primarily supplements. Things like alchemist's kindness to remove the after effects of a heavy night of drinking, Padzhr and meditation tea. I can even create a anti-toxin or anti-plague elixier."
He took a moment to look around for the older alchemists laboratory and offered a smile to the old man. "I can also make useful tools like a sunrod." He paused for a moment and then added in a bit of a whisper. "I also learned how to create an alchemical supplement to enhance a man's strength or another to make a man steril for a short period of time. Please sirrah, let me prove me skill. Ask me t' make something and I shall."
Fett in the disguise of Tef would then create (hopefully) whatever the old man requested, clearly displaying an eagerness to prove himself.
Craft Alchemy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Johan Hale |
After rifling through the Dwarves' room, Johan decides to help Eldred along with his plan to frame or murder the captain and his lover. He heads down to the office of public records.
Good afternoon sir, he says to the scribe perched on a stool behind the registry desk. I'm looking for real estate deeds and land leases.
The scribe looks down through his spectacles dubiously at the scruffy, bearded pious John. Are you now? And you might be?
Johan wipes his hand on his travelling cloak and offers it to the scribe with what he hopes is an earnest and open smile on his face. Jonah Smytheson of Karfeld, but everybody just calls me Pious John. I work the trade routes between here and the capital, but I'm thinking off getting of the roads. Looking for somewhere to hang my hat and setup shop. Need to look for residential and commercial opportunities hereabouts.
Mmmm... The scribe seemed to have lost interest. He made a note in his journal and waved Johan through. Archive room three, on your left past birth records, the man said without looking up again.
Johan found his way around with little trouble - the place used a similar layout the archives in the monastery he spent his youth in - and was soon seated at a table covered in books and ledgers, scanning lists and maps for the family names of Mott and Eddarly. His goal was two fold. First, he was determined to find addresses for their amorous captain Eddarly and the wandering Mrs. Mott. Second, he needed samples of their writing. Even just a signature from a mortgage or licence would be enough...
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
Hmm, lets see here Agrippa says as he looks over the paper.
Given enough time and the proper materials, I would believe that I could produce a likely enough facsimile.
ELDRED CROFTER |
Eldred is glad to be up and doing. He helps Agrrippa gain whatever is needed, even if only to guard his back.
ELDRED CROFTER |
That night when Johan comes back...
We need another Cellar interview. The barman can help get them down there so we can speak in private - I've picked out two guards that should serve. I'll slip down there as the squire but all hooded and cloaked, and you'll be waiting down there as your former self but with Pious Johns face and we'll give them 50 gold and get all the information we need AND scare them s&!@less. Once I have that final thing? We can begin... including maybe paying a visit to that sweet wife.
DM Aku |
The Alchemist is surprise with Tef expertise and try to disguise it as best as it can.
”You still got much to learn ma boy, but it seems I can help you improving. You may come here tomorrow, at first light and we’ll discuss your payment.”
@Johan
You can assume you succeded.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
Do I need to make a roll for the letter? Linguistics? Bluff?
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
Agrippa will forge a love letter, which implicates the two captains and the wife, the love letter will also allude to possible heresy and/or diabolism as this is something that Agrippa knows much of.
Johan Hale |
Johan took the letter from Agrippa, lips moving slightly as he read over its contents. The flowery language was lost on his wooden heart but he supposed it sounded romantic enough - the kind of drivel that would make milk maids swoon. He looked up and nodded with approval. Good, now lets set things in motion.
Johan used his circlet to shift into a stooped old man in worn home spun with a wide brimmed straw hat. He makes his way over to the neighborhood of the Mott residence that evening. Once there he finds some children playing in the street and calls one over. You know the Mott house sonny? he asks. The boy nods. Johan holds up a silver coin to make sure he has the lad's attention.Good, good. Now take this letter and give it to Captain Mott. Only the captain, mind you. Tell him its from someone who wants to see his family's honour protected. Now run along, no time to waste. He hands the sealed letter and the silver over o the child and watches him run off.
DM Aku |
It’s night, you are all at the inn, chatting and thinking about the day’s work when an uproar can be heard, not much time later, excited screams can be heard and someone barges into the in, out of breath while says ”It’s a duel! Captain Mott challenged Cap Edd over his wife!” and with that, he and almost the entire place rush outside to see what’s happening.
Assuming you go too, or you could use the distraction to do any other thing.
A huge crowd has already gathered around the two. Cheering can be heard, some say to stop then, while others tries to make the fire burn higher.
”Now you coward, let’s see how well can you ‘handle’ things when they come back at you” says an enraged Franz Mott
”What are you talking about you mad man!” Edd asks, but he is doing a poor job at trying to pretend he does not know.
”If you want to explain anything, do it with your blade!” says Franz tossing a longsword to Edd and assuming a combat stance, with his Halbert.
Edd, seems reluctant to pick up the blade, and after he picked it up Franz charge at him, without giving any more time for Edd to say anything, but instead of attacking his directly, Franz used his weapon to trip Edd, and when he was falling, he then attacked using all his might!
In a blink of Eye, Captain Zacharias “Zack” Eddarly is on the ground, a deep gash from Franz Halbert in his chest, even then he got up and used the opportunity to attack Mott. He hits, but the damage was insubstantial compared to what Mott had just done to him.
Mott attacks again, two other powerful blows both of then hit again, now there’s only a blood gashing Zack in the ground, he smiles, as if someone that knows death has come and It’s inevitable then he whispers [b]”…she was very good…”[b]
Franz, in a rage-frenzy hit the already dead captain some more times, and then with one last swing, kill a peasant, and his wife, that was hiding behind it.
==//==
Not much time later, Lord Thomas, Father Donnagin, Captain Samuel Barhold and even the magister, appears in the town, to take Captain Franz Mott into custody.
Intentions?
Johan Hale |
Johan follows the others out to watch the duel. He munches nonchalantly on an apple as Eddarly bleeds out into the dirt and tries to look suitably aghast as Mott kills two bystanders.
When the rest of the officers arrive to take Mott away he marks their faces and reactions very carefully. This is the first time Johan has laid eyes on the apparently indomitable Lord Thomas, and Johan studies every detail of the man. As they lead Mott away he ducks behind some gawkers and yells out Murderer!, then moves a few feet to his left and pitches the apple core at Mott. He works his way through the crowd, stirring them to righteous indignation. Hang him!...He killed Burt and Ethel!... Zack deserves better!...We demand justice! Each time moving to a different spot and elbowing the man beside him to join in. All the while he watches the crowd, lloking for soldiers that seem particularly outraged at the events.
If things get chaotic enough, Johan uses detect magic on Eddarly'x corpse and nicks anything that might useful and concealable - but only if it can be done risk free - or suggests Fet or Eldred, both of whom have lighter fingers, do it
Afterwards, Johan retires to Agrippa's room, which seems to have become the knots unofficial planning chamber and discusses the events with the others. Well that went rather well. Watching the crowd, particularly the soldiers gave me an idea. Eddarly seems to have been a well liked captain. I wonder if we could fan things to cause some dissent between the soldiers themselves over this incident - a few brawls, some more arrests . . . anything that's bad for morale is good for us.
Now, looking at this map that Eldred copied from the dwarven engineers. . . they have siege weapons, which could be a problem. Any ideas on taking them out? Also, it looks like the tower where our secret passage comes into is fairly isolated. Who's up for a late night sojourn tomorrow? We head straight up the tower to see what we can see. I expect the rookery is at the top - we could shut down their communications and test their defenses with little risk.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
This rookery, it is manned by their quibbulous little mages correct? I would so enjoy killing one and taking his research.
ELDRED CROFTER |
Your plan worked better than mine... If nothing else we could say that one group of soldiers is referring to the others as 'The Cuckolds'. Would REALLY piss them off... I could later adopt one guards face while he goes to the privy, say "It's hard to drink with cuckolds who are loyal to a cuckold then zip outta the room.
Looking over the rookery seems a smart move. Maybe take a bunch of Alchemist fire with us? Burn it out?
Johan Hale |
We've heard the townsfolk say its run by a man named Martin. They call him mad and say he even sleeps in the rookery. Don't know if he is a mage.
Johan nods at Eldred's ideas of fomenting bad will between the soldiers. That's the kind of thing I was thinking of. Get them riled up and at each other's throats.
A fire in the watchtower eh? That could work - might force those dwarves away from improving the defences to just repairing what we've burned. We could leave the bodies of a woman and a guard with his breeches around his ankles - plant the idea of Martin walking in on them - a fight ensues, a lantern gets knocked over...
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
I would imagine that my dweomer of invisibility would prove useful again yes?
Johan Hale |
Johan's craggy face splits into a wicked grin. Yes, quite useful...
DM Aku |
After the Lord himself got into the place, the ruckus died almost instantly.
Thomas talked to Franz Mott, and even though you could not hear what was being said, you know he was resigned to his fate.
Johan not wanting to let the opportunity pass, tried to stir the crowd again, but before the fire could spread, the lord intervened.
”I know you all want justice to be done.” he points to Mott ”This was to defend his honor, but the methods were wrong. You all know that dueling unto death is a crime in Talingard, and for that, you may rest assured he answer.”
Without other word, they move out, taking Mott, Edd’s body and the others Mott killed in his rage.
ELDRED CROFTER |
That kid really came through for us... that was a very good tip indeed, thinks Eldred in satisfaction.
Johan Hale |
Johan notes the efficiency with which Lord Thomas takes command of the situation, and the reverence the townsfolk have for him. A true leader of men. Certainly can't leave that one alive...
That evening he makes plans with the rest of the knot to infiltrate the tower. He considers kidnapping a drunken soldier and woman to frame for their upcoming arson, but dismisses the idea as not worth the additional risk, or the effort of hauling their corpses up four flights of stairs. Once the Lord's Dalliance is dark and silent, Johan and the others slip down to the basement and disappear into the secret passage...
ELDRED CROFTER |
Though cloaked, Eldred wears the disguise of one of the guards he spent his time studying in the inn.
DM Aku |
You are trying to infiltrate in the same night as the duel?
You walk for about one mile and the stone door is ahead of you again. Eldred gives it’s okay after listening for sound and you open it, to the same vault. Nothing has changed since you last where here.
The only way out of this place is the trap door (No sound can be heard), or the secret passage you just came from.
Intentions?
ELDRED CROFTER |
The trap door is levered up with extreme care, and Eldred peeks out.
ELDRED CROFTER |
Eldred indicates the way is clear and clambers up, then weapon drawn searches the room for apprentices etc.
Johan Hale |
Johan checks to make sure everyone has used their headbands to appear as guards, then follows Eldred into the forge.
General plan: Eldred moves up a level all stealthy like, then signals the all clear if its empty. Rest of the party moves up and searches around a bit (detect magic, secret doors etc). Johan watches the rear. Repeat. Sound good for everybody? When we get to the second from the top we'll have to make a decision on how to enter the rookery...
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
Agrippa nods at Eldred indicating he is backing him up.
DM Aku |
The base of the circular tower holds the castle armory and smithy. There is a fully functional forge here that vents its smoke through a crude chimney out over the River Tyburn. The vents are kept deliberately small so this room can get quite smoky through prolonged use.
A number of the guards are skilled weapon makers and armorers and use this room to keep the garrison’s gear in top condition. On racks are twenty halberds, longswords, breastplates and heavy steel shields. All bear the marks of the Talirean military and are thus difficult to sell.
There's a closed wooden door and a stair, leading up.
DM Aku |
Eldred goes up and end in this large circular chamber is the second level of the tower. This open room is where the banners and honors of the garrison are kept. Six large flags hang on the wall and provide a fine place to hide.
There's another wooden door, a set of stairs leading up and the stairs to floor below.
ELDRED CROFTER |
Again, stealthily, listens at the closed door. If he hears nothing, Eldred opens the door slightly to peek out side and then opens enough to look outside the door.
Johan Hale |
While Eldred moves on to the next floor, Johan searches around and behind the banners and flags. If there is a secret door in the base of this tower, there may be other secrets as well, he reasons.
DM Aku |
From the door, into the open area can be seem. The most relevant aspects are a fountain, directly ahead, a huge statue of a knight. To your left, what you reckon it is a stable, to your left a small shed.
Johan was not able to find any secret behind the flags.
ELDRED CROFTER |
I'd love to burn down the stables too, hisses Eldred. Maybe another time.
Is there a link to the map I recovered/stole/copied so I can plot ahead?
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa |
Agrippa follows behind the two, Detecting Magic as he goes.
Johan Hale |
Surprised to see the tower door open to the courtyard this late at night, Johan skips searching this room and urges the others up to the next level quickly lest they be spotted by a wandering sentry.
Once out of sight in the stairwell as they wait for Eldred's ok to proceed, he whispers to the others, One more level after the next until the rookery, according to the dwarves' map... Fet, are you sure we can set a fire that will destroy the top level but not get too out of control. We don't want the tower to collapse and seal off our access tunnel. And we need to make it look like a mundane accident, not like a fireball went off.
ELDRED CROFTER |
Rookery is on the tower, right?, Eldred asks.
If so we cross the courtyard and up the tower
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