The healing potion really helps Egg and he opens his eyes.
The evoker is definitely dead as half of his body exploded when he was shot and bitten by the dark duo. The human cleric is also dead but after Jonathan stops eating the gnome you realise that he is still alive and the same is true for the half-orc.
Once the enemies are secured with Blackpowders manacles he will heal them and wake them up (2 clw charges).
"Egg if you have a wand I would be happy to heal you up."
The group swiftly takes into custody the gnome and half-orc woman that gave them such a hard fight. They wake up with the healing but the gnome stays silent!
The half-orc immediately tries to stand up, but the rope binding her keeps her muscles at bay.
She yells "Dammit! What are you going to do to me, you monsters? Kill me in cold blood, here in the open market? Have your way with me, like you did with my friends?"
"You saw what happens when we are attacked right? Let's not have an encore. We don't want to hurt you. We do want to know why you defected to the shadowlodge and how many more of you are there."
The fox leaps onto her chest, staring at her intently, before nibbling on her nose as punishment for the tone she's giving them, before hopping back away, just to watch the others 'interview' their captive.
The half-orc woman stares blankly at the fox and Blackpowder, surprised to see him be civil.
Indeed, she seems surprised, before she stops to think for a moment, looking at Egg, then the gnome, and then to the dead cleric.
She remembers the gunsmith’s articulate words and her eyes go wide as she turns to the cleric.
"Muminah! She told me you people tortured and desecrated Pratt!!" she says angry after some time and she seems agitated about her inability to even stand up.
"Wymund Pratt and I have a respectful dislike for on another and I did wound him but like you I healed him and and gave him a chance to redeem himself."
You get the feeling the half-orc might have moral issues now. How she ended up fighting against you is a mystery, but you remember these were all Pathfinders at some point.
She starts talking in disbelief "You did did not kill Pratt? I .. I'm sorry for the injuries you suffered. Me and Todor were told you tortured and killed Muminah's sister and Pratt but that ... was a lie?" she says as she motions towards the dead wizard.
The gnome cries out "She did what she had to! She told you what you needed to hear!! These Pathfinder dogs needed and still need to die for the Shadow Lodge to rise in Kaer Maga!" but he is silenced by the menacing view of his two dead comrades.
Sighing, the half-orc woman continues "My name is Bega - I am a member of this band of Pathfinders. Had our Confirmation together and everything. However, we were sent on a suicide mission by our Venture-Captain, Thurl. We were just distractions for the real team to swoop in for the treasure. Two friends died." she says as she grunts and smashes her foot against the ground.
"We were determined to leave the Society once we found out. But then we got an offer by a man named Kormiggon Sussworth. He said he was employed by a very powerful man, and represented a new Lodge in the Society - the Shadow Lodge. We had a debate and here we ended up. I can now see the error of our ways. We were manipulated once again, this time by one of our own."-she says, throwing a mean glance at the dead cleric.
"If you want to put an end to this, you're going to need many more Pathfinders. But what you can do is stop the hold of the Shadow Lodge in this city. Kormiggon is holed up at the Temple. It's a junkyard that once used to be a prison. Clearly, whoever built it didn't realize Kaer Magans don't throw criminals in prison: they either are criminals themselves or kill them outright." she says.
"If it makes you feel better myself and many others have problems with the pathfinder society. There is obviously corruption that rises all the way to the top, but we are fighting it from the inside. Thank you for you cooperation."
Bega thinks for a moment and replies "Yes, I see that now. You're good people, and in need of directions and help" as she tries to stand up, enduring her injuries.
"The Temple is in the Bottoms district - we were supposed to report there with the rest of my group. My injuries won't let me help you, but give me some healing magic and I'll put these bastards where they belong." she says, holding up her arms forward to be untied.
"I can also provide some information on the Temple's layout and garrison. Together, we can storm the place." she says determined.
Whilst this is happening the gnome is squirming in anger and frustration, yelling obscenities and profanities "You traitor! You'd sell us out just to save your pathetic life?" is one of the nicest things he says.
|
"As ol' Aunty Mila used to say 'if ain't nothin' nice gonna come outta your mouth, best to keep it closed," Reggie says to the gnome, riding over and taking out his sling staff again. He delivers a few blows to his head until he's unconscious again.
Then, it's back over to Bega. "I been on some crazy missions before but never one that didn't have a point or where I felt like my life was being risked over nothin'. I ain't sayin' it ain't never happened to nobody but I believe it don't happen too much and the Pathfinders is a good organization, overall. Even the best batch of berries got a few bugs in 'em though and you gotta get 'em out 'fore they're fit to eat. We'd be pleased to have you helpin' us with get these particular bugs dealt with."
He pulls out his sword and cuts the ropes binding her.
"Come on back to our temporary lodge with us and we'll stash this fella and figure out our next move."
"Ya this member of an anonymously governed paramilitary collections agency thinks the best thing we can get you to do is to watch your friend back at our lodgings. Make sure he does not hurt himself or others and we will follow your leads."
Bega looks a little frightened when Reggie hits the gnome to unconsciousness but his words and his action to free her can gain her trust again. She also nods after hearing listening to Blackpowder.
Once untied, Bega would bring out a piece of parchment and sketch the prison.
Her sketch is in broad strokes and more doodly than detailed, but she explains "There's 4 operatives at the prison currently. Kurmiggon Sussworth, at his office. Then there's The Renderer, a troll Kurmiggon recruited to be a bodyguard against any Commerce League agents or the Ardocs. He stays in the entrance. Finally, there's two operatives I've seen before, but have never talked to." she says scratching her chin.
She shrugs "Then there's the matter of the pets. We keep a giant scorpion on our yard Kormiggon is trying to learn how to ride. Finally, beyond a portcullis we keep 5 goblin pets in their pens, led by their shaman." she says as she finishes drawing the sketch of The Temple.
|
"Gaining entry shouldn't be too difficult, particularly with Bega's assistance." proposed Kavendell. "I am well-trained in disguise and could readily pass as Todor. Perhaps, Reggie could stand-in for Micky? And, since the cleric was masked, one of the others could take her place?"
"Trolls aren't oft known for their perceptiveness." he notes. "If we make our way to the office, neutralize Kurmiggon first, we may be able to cut off the head so to speak. The others, then, may be more ready to give up the fight."
The fox listens to the disguise talk.... and yawns, scratching its ear with a paw.
Blackpowder nods along. Willing to go with the flow he says, "I can go in as a captive, but fair warning I'm not the deceptive type despite the stereotypes of wayang. That said I can briefly turn into a shadow and become invisible."
"This seems like a basic furball con. Kavendell Octavianus is the face he talks his way in will help. The rest of us manacle up. I have these. Fox your a familiar sit a be cute. You walk up to the door with us in hand and say "they have important information the boss will want to here immediately."
The fox sits at attention when Blackpowder explains the plan.
Bega looks at you and nods.
"The building's made of durable stone walls 20 ft. high and a stone roof. But the yard is open on top. Guards used to patrol on the walls themselves before the prison was abandoned." Bega says.
Without delay, the party makes its way to The Temple. Led by Bega, you are all eventually greeted by the sight that is this is an abandoned prison.
Blackpowder will cast shield companion when they are about 5 min away from their destination, throw on some manacles and wait for the faces to start the plan.
|
|
Kavendell excuses himself to purchase a disguise kit and a scroll of disguise self, then returns.
He activates the scroll.
"Reggie and I can pass as the rogue Pathfinders." he suggests. "Then we enter the compound with our half-orc friend. The others will accompany us as 'prisoners', save our furry canine agent."
Egg stalks the surroundings and determines there's only one entrance - the front door.
Additionally, one could enter through the yard, and encounter the Giant Scorpion it houses. While the front door is locked, Bega takes out a key and says "Once we go in, I'll do a secret sign to identify as a Shadow Lodge member. Kavendell can pass off as Muminah well enough. After that, it's a matter of finding the right time to act. I believe an invisible creature might make it past, but there's not enough cover for someone to just slip through the complex unnoticed."
She teaches the Shadow Lodge gesture to Kavendell and he clothes himself in Muminah's black and white robes, and you start approaching the entrance of the prison.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
With the plan set out and talked through, Bega knocks on the door three times and opens it, revealing to all of you the sight that is The Renderer - a large, burly troll. His tusks jut out of his massive jaw, and his green hair and skin seem unsightly and foul smelling.
Somehow, however, this troll seems to be dressed in decently - clad in a pair of working pants, a sleeveless white shirt and a black hat tailor-made for him. He looks at all of you with eyes full of anger, as he grunts "Password?" expectantly.
Bega nods and together with Kavendell they do a secret sign, putting their arms to the sky and saying in unison "Shadows restore order.".
The others except of Egg are all tied up in the wrists, and are led in a small file through the entrance. Egg has not been noticed but the door is closing. Fox is not really noticed and enters.
|
|
"Keep your close eyes on the street.". A disguised Kavendell cautions the troll. "I suspect that we may have been followed. I suggest that you do your best to intercept any suspicious looking characters that wander nearby, so they aren't able to pinpoint where we've set up 'house' "
As he makes his way into the interior, he whispers to the half-orc, "Onto the 'boss', then?"
The fox quietly follows the group, though looks back to see if mr Fu comes in or not.
Now that you are in you realize that the Temple is exactly as described—a trash heap.
It may once have been a model of beautiful prison architecture, but its facade is faded and cracked, piles of windblown trash hug its walls in drifts, and what may have once been manicured landscaping has since devolved into a tangled, swampy mess.
A single path of cracked, wet bricks links the street to the entrance of the Temple, which appears to be a brand new, iron-braced wooden door. Above the door is a decayed carving of a human man on his knees, his arms raised toward a rising sun.
* * *
The first room you see is small and looks as though it were recently cleaned.
Piles of broken furniture lay against the east wall and a single, nondescript desk sits in the middle of the room facing the door in the south wall. Another door, just as thick and sturdy, is opposite the main door on the north wall.
You easily open the door to the north and with Kavendell's distraction and Egg's ability to be exactly positioned where the Troll is not looking at.
You move into the next room .
* * *
This long hallway stretches 110 feet from east to west and is periodically broken up by thick, iron portcullises. Several sets of doors can be seen at even intervals along the north and south walls, and at the far east end the hallway appears to terminate in a room filled with large cages. The floor of the hallway was recently swept, but spiderwebs the ceilings.
There are two portcullises here which block the path so that it is not possible currently to move past the first two doors of the hallway.
Bega shrugs and tries to silently explain that she really does not know.
"I do not think they will need additional weapons to kill us all." she says silently and it seems as if she has doubts.
Blackpowder looks at the groud dutifully.
The longer you stay in the hallway the more suspicious the troll is getting You cannot act indecisive ...
|
|
.
"We should not linger in the hallway without drawing suspicion." whispers Kavendell.
He then says to Bega, "Is the portcullis easily moved. It seems strange that it would be down during the day. If 'K.S.' is in his office as I indicated on your map, do we think he would come and greet us if we called out to him?"
Beg looks around nervously.
”The first one is unlocked and can be easily lifted with Strength. The second one is firmly locked. A mechanism in Sussworth’s office (area 6) unlocks this portcullis but I don’t know how!“ she whispers.
Bega nods and tries but us not successful.