GM Rinaldo's Midnight Mirror (Inactive)

Game Master The Great Rinaldo!

Laiashi turns to Lucian. "If we're going to prove that it was them," she says, taking his side to hopefully get him to cooperate, "we'll need more of the story. When did your girl go missing, and from where?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Of course.

Squaring his shoulders, Ushi steps in-between the persecuted and the mob. "Attacking the defenseless will not restore what has been lost. We shall investigate the matter properly. The child will be found and the kidnapper caught. Your assistance in remaining calm and returning to your own tasks will greatly help in this."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

Ushi's plea calms the mob somewhat, but someone calls out, "Lucian is captain of the village watch. His word is all the evidence we need. Besides, the first people to come down with tallowthroat were the ones who dealt most closely with the fetchlings recently fired from Boroi Manor. It’s clear to all of us that they’re the ones spreading this disease, likely kidnapping the healthy to weaken our resolve even further against the plague."

Your words are starting to have an effect. Some of them are backing down, but most are still siding with Lucian. He continues his threats, and it is becoming more clear that he's not thinking clearly, whether because of grief over his missing child or some other factor. Perhaps some additional points to try to sway the crowd are in order, with Diplomacy or Intimidate checks.

The fetchlings continue to cower, but seeing that you are defending them, they are huddling near you, to keep you between them and the crowd.

"All you're saying are assumptions. We need solid evidence!"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"So no one will touch those fetchlings before we finde real evidence. Is that clear?! Or you will face my greatsword!!! That goes for you, too Lucian!"

intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 19

”Captain of the watch? You should know better than this mob justice!”

Intimidate Aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Lucian backs off slightly, though not as much as the rest of his crowd. Many of the people are starting to murmur things like, "Maybe the outsiders can figure out what's going on ... we haven't actually *seen* the fetchlings do anything ..."

With enough of the citizens on your side, they manage to talk Lucian down and lead him away. As the crowd disperses, the fetchlings are grateful for your help. They invite you to Shade Row and offer food and lodging, if you are in need of it.

"Also, if you are willing, we would be extremely grateful if you could check on our cousin Gavril. He's one of the few that weren't fired from their jobs at the Manor, and is still living there, but we haven't heard from him in a few days."

Seeing the crowd come to its collective senses, Patros turns to the fetchlings.

I am glad we were able to avoid any...incidents. We can surely look into the situation of your kin. Now what do the mran about this tallowthroat? I am unfamiliar with it...

"I am glad that we have solved that peacefully."

Laiashi holds up a hand to the fetchlings. "First things first, I think. Seems only fair that we track down that missing girl-- after all that trouble, it seems like the best next step. Then we'll check in on your cousin." Unless, of course, the two are related... "Do you know anything about her? Who is she?"

"We had no idea his daughter was missing ... we had just come into town for some shopping, things we can't get in Shade Row. He started yelling at us, and then the crowd surrounded us."

"Did you notice how swollen his throat was, and his raspy voice? That's the Tallowthroat. No one knows what causes it, or why it only seems to affect humans, but since fetchlings aren't affected, some of the humans have decided we are somehow responsible."

"So, it's probably best not to touch the infected person."

"Where shall we start looking for the girl?"

"Lucian lives next door to the watch house. We'll be passing it on our way home to Shade Row, we can point it out to you."

I have marked the location on the map; you can visit there now, or return at any time.

"What if we first check Temple of Zon-Kuthon?"

We must follow our directive first, then we will see about your cousin. Do be careful...that fool Lucian might not be easily convinced in the future....the idiot...

"The temple is a risky proposition, given they may been less friendly than the townsfolk. Let us speak with the wayangs and see what they have heard that the humans have not."

"OK, let's do that!" says Nino to Ushi.

Sounds like a plan. Patros says as he bids the fetchlings goodbye and heads for the door.

"The temple is a risky proposition, given they may been less friendly than the townsfolk. Let us speak with the wayangs and see what they have heard that the humans have not."

What wayangs? I don't believe I have mentioned anything about wayangs in this module ... ? If you meant the fetchlings, you can accompany them to Shade Row.

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Sounds like a plan. Patros says as he bids the fetchlings goodbye and heads for the door.

...you are outside ... you saved them from a lynching, then walked with them toward the section of town they live in ...

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So I need clarification ... are you going to the temple, to Shade Row, or elsewhere?

Wayangs, fetchlings, they're all the same to Ushi. :P

Ushi Goroshi wrote:

"The temple is a risky proposition, given they may been less friendly than the townsfolk. Let us speak with the wayangs and see what they have heard that the humans have not."

What wayangs? I don't believe I have mentioned anything about wayangs in this module ... ? If you meant the fetchlings, you can accompany them to Shade Row.

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Patros Therinor wrote:

Sounds like a plan. Patros says as he bids the fetchlings goodbye and heads for the door.

...you are outside ... you saved them from a lynching, then walked with them toward the section of town they live in ...

===========

So I need clarification ... are you going to the temple, to Shade Row, or elsewhere?

LOL! We're a hell of a team

"So guys, to the Shade Row then!"

You walk with the fetchlings (who give you their names as Sergei, Marius, and Delia) back to Shade Row, across the narrow Dimar's Way river from the main town. On the way, they explain to you that most of the non-farming fetchlings in Karpad live here, now that nearly all of the ones who had been employed in the manor have been fired. A few humans live here with them, but not very many. One of those humans, Ionela Zagrev, is considered to be the "mayor" of the ghetto, and works hard to ensure that her people do not starve.

Shade Row has most of the amenities of a full settlement, with their own inn, general store, and tavern, though they lack more specialized shops and artisans and must cross the river to purchase the many goods they need for their daily lives - which is what this family was doing when they ran into the trouble you saved them from.

When you arrive in the ghetto, the family tells everyone of your good deed, and you are thanked repeatedly by the locals. Zagrev herself is brought out, and she offers you a meal and a place to stay while you are in Karpad, if you wish.

"Oh, you're too kind. We were just helping out where needed!"

She addresses Zagrev when introduced. "All this segregation doesn't seem right. There aren't many humans around here who like fetchlings, are there?"

Thank you, ma'am. I think it's terrible. These people did nothing wrong...and getting blamed for this Tallowthroat thing...there must be a simple reason for that...

"Thank you for the meal and a place. "

"What do you know about that Tallowthroat and about missing girl?" asks Nino.

@Laishi:
"I don't know anything about the missing girl ... I feel very badly for Lucian, but I know no one from Shade Row is responsible."

@Patros and Nino:
"The tallowthroat showed up just a few weeks ago. It was right about the time the baron dismissed nearly all the fetchlings from his staff, which helped fuel the rumors that they are somehow responsible. Thankfully, none of the humans in Shade Row have contracted it. I have heard that Cataline, the chandler, has it, but she won't admit it. Demand for her candles has been so high recently, with people afraid of the shadows, she's been working round the clock. Poor dear is going to kill herself if she doesn't take care."

"This is quite troubling." Ushi nods, sipping his water quietly. "We were asked to investigate a cease of letters from the baron's holdings. You say the workers were dismissed weeks ago and this suggests the cause. Has there been any contact with the baron since? By anyone in the town?"

"Not really, but that isn't so unusual. He doesn't often have call to come into town himself."

"What of the baroness? And surely there has been some delivery of goods to the manor?"

"What of the baroness?"

"Lady Anya tends to keep to herself as well. With the new baby and all, I assume she has plenty to do in the manor, particularly with less staff in the plance."

"And surely there has been some delivery of goods to the manor?"

"Well, of course there are deliveries. I'm not sure what you are getting at...?" And neither is the GM ... ;-)

Lady Ana stops sending messages weeks ago, fetchlings were kicked out weeks ago, hard not to see a coincidence.

"Very good then, it was concerning to hear the manor might have been cut off for weeks." Ushi nods, considering for a moment. "Cataline is the only one able to produce candles? Has she no assistant? If there is a way we could help, I would be glad to hear it."

"It is a small town, after all. Catalina inherited the shop when her uncle retired and moved to Nisroch, and she does pretty much all of the work herself. Normally it's not quite as busy as it is now, so she gets along by herself fine."

I've marked the Chandlery on your map.

"Shall go visit Cataline?" asks Nino.

"It seems wise. I wonder at the increase in demand." Ushi nods, lost in thoughts of supply and trade routes for a moment. "Thank you, Mayor Zagrev, for your hospitality and counsel. Is there anything we should know of as outsiders, taboos and the like?"

"Nothing that wouldn't be true anywhere in Nidal. Don't do anything to annoy the local priests, nobles, or city guard ... although I suspect you've already got a mark against you in the last category. "

Well, that idiot Lucian should be removed from his position...in my humble opinion anyways. Let's get going....my thanks, Ionela....let's wax on, wax off!

That sounds like three votes for the chandlery.

You bid the citizens of Shade Row farewell, and are again assured of a place to stay if you wish to spend the night in Karpad.

Crossing back into the town proper, you find the chandlery on the eastern side, near a crook in the small river. The building is roughly 20 by 25 feet with a single door and windows looking into the storefront. Sixty feet to the east of the building’s east wall, a set of reinforced double doors opens onto a side of the hill, apparently granting access directly to a cellar.

When you arrive, the front door is open and light comes in through the windows. The smell of wax and incense permeates the room, and candles of every shape, size, and color line all available surfaces, poking out of crates and perching precariously on overstuffed shelves. A single door leads to another room.

Standing next to the door is a human sized wax figure. It is rather crude, having only rudimentary facial features and no paint or dye to give it any semblance of representing an actual person.

Nino steps inside. "Is anybody home?" he asks.

No....that's not creepy at all....what the.... Patros says, a bit taken aback.

Nino's call into the room gets no response.

Nino enters the room.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Nino sees nothing. ;-)

"This is the place, fellows!" Laiashi says loudly. "They say Cataline's candles are the finest to be had for a hundred miles in any direction."

Hoping a bit of light flattery might entice her out, if she's here.
Bluff, take 10: 10 + 10 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

You look around and make loud conversation, but no one responds.

”Concerning. Why would she have this wax statue?” Ushi attempts to detect magic on the wax and the surrounding area before entering as well.

Nino also tries to detect magic all around.

Paros noses around, still creeped out by the wax mannequin.

perc: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Nino and Patros cast spells, and note that the only magic in the room is a faint transmutation on the wax figure, as if a spell had once been cast on it, but is not currently active.

As you all get inside and look around,

survival, untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5