Ivan's bullet flies from his pistol and into the Hobgoblin. The enemy winces in pain before kicking the bench out from beneath the figures on the gallows. Two fall to the floor while the last one kicks their legs slowly as they begin to suffocate.
The hobgoblin swings his spiked chain at Miseria.
The chain smashes into her, but the damage does not translate beyond the armour.
Combat Round 1/2 - Bold May Act
Ivan
Tashi
Miseria
Bennett
Hobgoblin (Red) -6
Edwin
Both of Bennett's shots bounce off the Hobgoblin's armour.
Ivan's bullet whizzes past the hobgoblin's ear, narrowly missing as Edwin enters the room.
Combat Round 1/2 - Bold May Act
Ivan
Tashi
Miseria
Bennett
Hobgoblin (Red) -6
Edwin
Miseria makes a thunderous strike with her Urumi drawing a thick line of blood on the exposed flesh of the hobgoblin.
Tashi makes a two-handed slash but the blade meets armour, not flesh.
The hobgoblin whips his spiked chain back at Miseria in retaliation.
The chain hits Miseria and the spikes bite in hard.
Combat Round 2/3 - Bold May Act
Ivan
Tashi
Miseria -9
Bennett
Hobgoblin (Red) -24
Edwin
Bennett and Tashi cannot connect with their attacks but Edwin manages to work around the defenses.
Combat Round 2/3 - Bold May Act
Ivan
Tashi
Miseria -9
Bennett
Hobgoblin (Red) -35
Edwin
Miseria swings and strikes the hobgoblin, dropping it to the ground where he lies, bleeding. As he falls he speaks some final words. You may have got me, but the Spider avenge me.
The three from the gallows are staggered and the one between the chairs is fading fast.
Bennett stabilizes the one between the couches.
All four of the captives regain their senses and sit up. They are slightly groggy but coming back slowly. One begins to speak as he stands and straightens his back.
Thank you for saving us. My name is Brackett and I an the Venture-Captain of this lodge. It was during a party of mine last night that a group of hobgoblins under the command of this Hagla here, who himself answer to 'the Spider' burst in and began massacring the attendees. Hagla captured myself, my librarian Telfyr, and these two guests here. His plans were to use the temple bells to signal the horde to commence their assault. There was a specific order they would be rung in, but I suggest you muffle them all the same so that the signal is not given inadvertently.
He breaks to take a breath.
Recently a great Osirian sage named Amenopheus came to the city. We have been working together as he infiltrated the Shadow Lodge. I fear that his subterfuge has been exposed and he may be in great danger from this Spider. I suspect the Spider is council member Dorianna Ouidda but I have no proof of that myself. Please, save Amenopheus.
He turns to check on the health of his fellow captives.
The cool ocean air of Almas is less forgiving than usual this early morning, leaving the streets empty even of vagrants. As the moon showers its last ivory rays onto the cobblestone street and the tip of the sun begins to climb over the watery horizon, a lone figure slinks out from a nearby alleyway, pulling back its hood and revealing itself to be Venture-Captain Alissa Moldreserva, a dour expression cemented to her face.
It’s a shame we couldn’t have met at the lodge, but thanks to all the disappearances and political turmoil as of late, I’d say it’s best to keep a low profile for the time being, at least until things get sorted out. It’s bad enough that the good name of Pathfinders everywhere is being slandered by that treacherous group of villains, the ones who call themselves the Shadow Lodge—now the politicians are on our hides thanks to that damnable Ouidda.
No doubt you’ve heard of her—Dorianna Ouidda, one of the representatives on the Peoples’ Council here in Almas. She showed up in Almas a few years back, and she’s been out to get the Society ever since. Her origins are damn-near untraceable by practical means; it took us this long to finally get to the bottom of the matter, and while it’s no secret she has it out for the Society, few know the truth behind the matter, which is what I’m here to tell you.
We have it on good authority that Ouidda is none other than the Spider—the leader of the Shadow Lodge cell here in Almas—and that she’s been using her fellow cabalists to smear our name throughout the city. She’s trying to get the legitimate members of the Society either completely run out of Almas or completely under her thumb, but for what reason, we don’t yet know. We know she’s got some shady dealings in her past with the slave trade, and we think she might be up to some of that business here in Almas too.
In just a few days’ time Ouidda will be going up in front of the Council to make her most damaging speech yet, a speech which could obliterate the Society’s presence in Almas, if not the whole nation of Andoran. The tricky part is, the Society doesn’t have enough proof of her association with the Shadow Lodge or the slave trade to get her disbarred yet. That’s where you come in. Uncover the evidence of Ouidda’s foul business in Almas, whatever that may be, and stop her from delivering her speech before the legislature at the palace of the Peoples’ Council the morning after next. Uncover what you can and investigate deeper where you feel you must. I trust your judgement.
The general public is not keen on Pathfinders since Ouidda started smearing the organization’s reputation, so I recommend that you find what you can as quickly as possible during the day and make the rest of your moves after dark so that you do not rouse too much suspicion.
|
Shadow lodge. As bad as Aspis. We are constantly hounded by these scoundrels. Tell us, Venture-Captain, where should we begin? Are there specious dealings or involvement with unsavories to investigate? Bennett pours through his knowledge of the area and may consider hitting up some local toughs to get some leads.
You'll have to investigate and kick over some rocks and see what crawls out.
You have until she gives her speech in 2 days time or I fear that it may be the end of us.
Bennett asks around town but does not hear anything particularly helpful. Maybe if one of his cohorts helped him he might uncover something.
Bennett and Miseria comb the stores of the town for rumours. After an hour of digging they find a halfling merchant named Analis Broomwillow working hard in her small shop which sells general supplies.
If rumors are true—and I hope they’re not—then this Spider is the nasty sort of arachnid, the kind from distant lands like Katapesh that brings her creepy slaver buddies with her. Only sensible way in from Katapesh is from a boat, and the only boat I seen around here that says it’s from Katapesh lately is the ship they call the Sailswift.
Bennett further probes the halfling trader and manages to wheedle more information out of her.
I don’t know much about the Spider, but if what I hear is true, he’s into the slave-trading business. I’ve also heard that some rather nasty crew members from a boat called the Sailswift have been showing up at the Almas docks more and more lately with rugs and contraband from Katapesh, only those sailors don’t look a bit Katapeshi. Real eerie, these types—and they only do their business at night. Their ship is anchored far off the shore during the day, but when dusk falls they bring her to the docks until sunrise.
Ivan and Edwin ask around and are directed to a beggar. This old half-elf, goes by the name of Jarovar—a real stingy, nasty type—well, he’s just set up his investment establishment in Almas, but he refuses to subscribe to any of the merchant guilds in the city and he only deals with a few clients who get small contributions from him, one of whom is the Spider, I hear. Queerer still, he makes odd ventures out of his shop in the dead of night, well after closing.
|
"Aye, so let's review me hearties and see what we've learned so far..." Ivan scratches his chin with bemusement, not used to playing the role of a sleuth.
"Our job is to find what rotten work this here Spider - Dorianna Ouidda as her mama named her - has been up to here in Almas. Ebidence, I think the law calls it. An' we's to stop her from giving her big speech thing at the palace in two days time."
"We know she's been involved in dirty slavin' - is there any other kind?!? - in the past, and mayhaps she's doin' the same here, which I don't reckon these here Andoren freedom lovers will be too happy 'bout, if'n we kin proove it."
"Our best bet for findin' a boat o' slavers is prolly the Sailswift, harkens from Katapesh. But the sailors ain't look like they's Katapeshi, not a bit, 'n they's only about at night, when they bring the ship in to the dock.
[b]"Another lead we should look into is this here Jarovar. Rumor has it he's tied up with the Spider 'n he's up to funny business in the night hours."
"Not to mention, the Cap'n says she's the head o' that cursed Shadow Lodge, so if we kin find ebidence to tie her to it, that'll be some help too."
"Seein' as she's made the Pathfinder name as palatable as raw reefclaw liver, the Cap'n thinks we'd best keep a low profile, usin' the daytime for a bit o' discreet askin' about, as we bin doing, 'n save our proper investigatin' sleuthin' for the dark o' night."
Ivan sighs and pauses for a moment, as if talking so much has tired him out. "So we got two places to go to, most likely both after dark: the Sailswift 'n this Jarovar's shop. Let's see if there's any more info to be scared up from the locals..."