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You return to the Wasp's Nest, having accomplished your goals in the Many-Steps Monastery. Rexus is tearful and grateful to receive the books containing his parents' memories. After reading them, he turns them back over to you, knowing that the information therein can aid the Silver Ravens.
One particularly disturbing thing you can learn by studying these tomes is in Porcia Victocora’s soul tome. Among the dangerous books once stored (and now missing) was a copy of the diabolic chapters of the Book of the Damned. This in and of itself would be of note, but the fact that only one person has been allowed to read it in recent years should raise a red flag. The name of the well-spoken traveler who managed to convince the archivists he should be allowed to study the book for a single hour is recorded in the text as “Trailblazer Huni,” a man who claimed to have been a wandering scholar.
The Silver Ravens are well on their way to becoming one of the most potent threats to the oppression of Barzillai Thrune, but Kintargo’s new lord-mayor is still hesitant to admit this to his minions or himself. Rather than publicly admitting to the Silver Ravens’ threat, Thrune chooses a stance of “no comment” on the topic, hoping to avoid validating the Silver Ravens. Of course, this tactic backfires, and support grows as word of your actions continues to spread!
You've earned a bit of a break, but soon the fight against Thrune will resume!
Tanjona is only too glad to divest himself of the books. He's used to carrying heavy loads as a porter at the docks, but that doesn't mean he wants to do it all day.
Once the team settles back in at their tiny retreat, he takes a little time to clean his trident (years at sea have made this a habit to avoid corrosion and rust) and then he's off again to the docks to make a little extra pocket money and perhaps hear the latest rumors.
Seraphina has been so focused on their group recently that she has been neglecting her duties. She spends a few days traveling the city looking for those who need healing but are too poor, injured or sick to find it. She toils tirelessly from sun up to sun down, doing what she can to help them with her gifts.
The Colorful One spends her evenings performing in assorted taverns and alehouses entertaining the masses and subtly seeding the thoughts of rebellion.
The remainder of her wakeful hours are occupied with her magical research and studies.
14 Desnus, 4715 AR
It has been a relatively quiet week and a half since your last big mission. Barzillai Thrune continues to slowly tighten his grip on Kintargo, announcing an increase to the toll to use Bleakbridge, the main thoroughfare that connects the northern and southern parts of the Silver City. The bridge previously cost only 3 cp to cross, but now the toll stands at 5 sp--a cause of much consternation among the citizens.
Early this morning, the Lord-Mayor issued a new proclamation, the ninth one since taking office: BY ORDER OF LORD-MAYOR BARZILLAI THRUNE, THE CONGRESS OF HELLKNIGHTS KNOWN AS THE ORDER OF THE TORRENT IS FROM THIS DAY FORWARD STRIPPED OF ITS CHARTER! ALL OF ITS HOLDINGS AND POSSESSIONS ARE CONFISCATED, ITS PRIVILEGES AND ENTITLEMENTS REVOKED, AND ITS MEMBERS DECLARED OUTLAWS! STEADFAST CITIZENS ARE COMMANDED TO TURN OVER THOSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SLIPPED THE NET OF JUSTICE!
The Order of the Torrent are a small band of Hellknights native to Kintargo, housed in the Castle District in Citadel Vaull. The Order of the Torrent’s primary purposes are to seek out and rescue abductees and missing persons and to protect coastal and river travel, but over the past few decades, the order has been in decline.
Anyone caught harboring a Hellknight of the Torrent runs the risk of facing her own punishment, ranging from a fine of 500 gp up to excruciation via doghousing. Public reaction to this proclamation is somewhat mixed. While many of Kintargo’s citizens have little love for the overly strict Hellknights, those of the Order of the Torrent have never done wrong by the city—in fact, over the years they’ve helped many desperate people escape capture by pirates, kidnappers, and worse.
A few hours after the proclamation, Laria Longroad comes down into the Wasp's Nest. "A message just arrived for the Silver Ravens," the halfling says. "It's from Setrona Sabinus, the owner of the Tooth and Nail tavern in Old Kintargo. She wants you to pay a visit at your earliest convenience to discuss 'matters of mutual interest.'"
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Adolina spends most of her time down in the Wasp's Nest, working on the details of the spreading rebellion and sparring with the new recruits. She picks up a number of tricks in the process, both "real fencing" and "distinctly underhand".
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"Laria, remind me again how people know to contact the Silver Ravens through you? That might be a security flaw we need to rectify. Still Setrona Sabinus... what do we know about her?"
Adolina sets her spies to work on that question, and scours her own memory for what she can find.
”It was passed to me through a series of agents. Don’t worry, your secret is still safe with me,” Laria says.
Setrona Sabinus is a fixture of Old Kintargo—a woman of small stature with a larger-than-life personality in the old Kintargan neighborhood. As the proprietor of one of Old Kintargo’s oldest taverns, the Tooth and Nail, Setrona knows and is known by a diverse array of citizens, and her reputation as something of an upstart and a critic of the government is well established. This tendency has long been a cause of friction with her only living relative, Lictor Octavio Sabinus of the Order of the Torrent.
Setrona is short for a human, and has a habit of making up for her height with a bombastic (some would say shameless) way of speaking. She’s often called “Countess” by denizens of the district, a wry yet affectionate reference to her family’s long-lost noble roots.
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Adolina passes on the information she receives from her agents to the group.
"All in all she sounds like exactly the kind of person we could use on our side." She says. "I think we go to check it out, having taken suitable precautions first of course. I say we send a few of our people to start drinking there, give it three, maybe four days so they stop drawing glances. Then when we go we have some back-up, just in case."
Seraphina nods along with Adolina "I think it's a good plan. Are we concerned about traveling and being stopped and questioned at these tolls? Are we passing them together or separately?"
”I’ll just use the river itself,” says Tanjona.
You wait a few days before responding to Setrona's invitation. During that time, your agents bring you a handful of rumors they've been hearing around the city:
“Heard another murder victim was discovered somewhere near the south wall in Old Kintargo, slashed up the same way Professor Mangvhune carved up his victims back in the day... makes you wonder!”
“The Silver Ravens are attracting all sorts of strange attention—I heard that Thrune even hired a Tian specialist of some sort to help track them down!”
“A friend of my cousin swears she saw a blue dragon flying in circles above the Cathedral of Asmodeus last night while the bells rang. No one else saw it, but I still believe her! Maybe Rizovair didn’t get killed during the civil war after all?”
***
Eventually, you feel the time is right to make your way into Old Kintargo. The Tooth and Nail may present the facade of a rundown tavern, but it is in fact a fixture of Old Kintargo as a popular hangout for the district’s artisans, merchants, and adventurers. The single-story tavern is marked by nothing but a wooden post outside, four bent and rusty nails and six wolves’ teeth hammered into its weathered face. The tavern shares the building with a confectioner’s shop, identified by the words “Sweet Tooth” painted at its entrance on Tuce Alley.
Inside, the Tooth and Nail carries the stink of stale beer, tobacco smoke, and less discernible odors hovering in the air like clouds of gnats. Narrow windows, stained yellow, allow in little natural light, and a few sputtering candles do little to disperse the gloom. The furniture is dilapidated, and was of poor quality even on the long-ago day it was fashioned. The common room is nearly empty when you arrive--besides your agents, there is only a lumpish man with close-cropped blonde hair sweeping the floors, and Setrona Sabinus herself.
"Insome, why don't you take a break?" Setrona suggests upon spotting you. The man nods and leaves the tavern, at which point Setrona invites you over to the bar. "Wasn't sure if you got my message or not. Drinks? On the house, of course."
After she fills your orders, Setrona quietly unburdens her worries. “My cousin Octavio is an obstinate and difficult man, but he’s also an honorable one. He’s led the Order of the Torrent for a decade, and during that time they’ve rescued dozens of missing people and other unfortunates from abduction. The order’s members aren’t all stationed here in Kintargo— they work throughout Avistan, after all, and I suppose it’s something of a blessing that most of their two dozen or so members were elsewhere when Barzillai made the order illegal. Those who are outside Cheliax are certainly lying low, awaiting word from their lictor, but if we can find my cousin, I’m certain he can be convinced to aid the Silver Ravens. He might grouse a bit at your methods, but I know for a fact that he’s no supporter of Thrune, and having his network of agents at your disposal can only help, right?
“In any event, assuming he’s not in the clutches of House Thrune, I think I know where my cousin is. He’d probably hate me if he found out I told you this, but the Order of the Torrent sometimes uses a small shrine just south of the city in the Argo swamps as a safe house. The place is warded against magical observation, and they’ve used it in the past as a staging place for smuggling those they’ve rescued into or out of Kintargo. The place is the Shrine of Saint Senex, and if my cousin is anywhere, he’s there.”
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Adolina nods, "From what I know of the Saint she would approve of the Order of the Torrent. If the Lictor is willing to work against Thrune then he would indeed be a worthy ally. We will visit him at least, but I don't think he will appreciate visitors out of nowhere to his secret base. You are well connected in this city clearly, is there anything we could tell him as proof of our good intentions?"
Seraphina should probably know something about this, but try as she may she cannot recall anything. When Aolina speaks, the oracle just nods along. "That sounds about right."
She turns to Setrona and asks "Should we expect any trouble between here and the shrine? I'd hate to be caught unprepared."
"Well, you won't have to tell him anything because I'm coming with you!" Setrona insists. "We'll have to dodge the dottari and any other Thrune agents that might be about. So long as we're stealthy enough, we should be okay. We'll go at night and keep our heads down."
Tanjona nods his agreement to this part of the plan.
That night, you meet Setrona at the designated spot and slip out of the city. Fortunately, you are able to dodge the dottari patrols without incident. Once you are out of the city, it’s a short walk west of Ravounel Road to the swampy western shore of Argo Isle. The shrine is mostly underground, carved into an upthrust escarpment of stone that overlooks the Yolubilis. No track or trail leads to the shrine, but the swampy ground between it and the road is safe to travel. As you draw near, the shrine’s aboveground extents become apparent—a 2-foot-wide path rises up from the marshy ground, leading to what appears to be a heap of stones and driftwood. The mound has an opening on the southeast side, flanked by two poles sporting gouts of fire that dance erratically in the ocean breeze.
Beneath the shrine’s dome await two figures clad in tattered rags--a middle-aged couple. Seashells are woven into the man's long beard, while the woman's braids hang down past her waist, shells and bits of driftwood knotted in their lengths.
"Greetings. I am Brother Jenbai, and this is Sister Remele. What brings you to the shrine of Saint Senex, travelers?" the man asks.
Seraphina is relieved that Setrona is accompanying them. Once they reach the shrine, she moves to the front and tries to present a peaceful exchange with the two men. "Greetings Brother Jeenbai and Sister Remele, I am Seraphina Alazario and I've come in search of Octavio of the Order of the Torrent. I have a family matter to discuss with him, do you know where I could find him?"
”I’m his cousin,” Setrona adds with a smirk.
”Of course,” Jenbai says. ”Octavio has cast his breath upon the Stone many times, long a friend to our shrine. We honor those who honor the watery dead. He has been granted asylum in the chambers below, but that if you wish to speak to him, you must pass the altar door and meet the challenges below, to prove to Saint Senex you are worthy to speak to a friend of the shrine.”
Remele uses a distinctive hook-shaped key to lift the stone altar to reveal the way down. Once the door is opened, a 3-foot-wide shaft set with iron rungs is revealed. 15 feet down, a dark, foggy mass obscures vision
The ceiling of this damp chamber is seven feet high, bolstered by square supports of rough-hewn wood. A shallow pool of water lies in the northwest corner of the room, where a rusty iron ladder descends from a hole in the ceiling above. An iron gate blocks access into a corridor to the east. Piles of sail canvas and jumbled coils of rope litter the stony floor, and the walls, floor, and ceiling have been carved to look like wood. Brown paint clings in patches, and it’s easy to see how the room may have once looked very much like the hold of a ship. To the west stands a statue carved from driftwood depicting a woman dressed in robes, holding the body of a drowned sailor in her arms.
As soon as Adolina steps away from the ladder, the statue’s mouth appears to move and speaks: ”Those who would visit the drowned departed must bring to these lips the gift of lung’s bounty, lest my guardian stand before your approach.”
"You have to kiss the statue," guesses Tanjona. "Like trying to give breath to a drowned sailor."
The sailor advances cautiously toward the statue, keeping an eye on the pool to the northwest.
As Tanjona guesses, breathing on the statue’s lips causes the gate to unlock with an audible click.
Tanjona keeps his trident in hand, still suspicious of the dark water. Things hide in dark water, after all.
Once everybody is down the ladder, you head through the gate. This seven-foot-high vault contains over three dozen human-shaped bundles of sailcloth, each wrapped tightly, sewn shut with heavy thread, and laid respectfully side by side on the cold stone floor. A shallow pool of water lies in the southeast corner, while in the northeast corner of the room someone has set up a camp.
A tall man in Hellknight armor broods in the camp. He tiredly makes his presence
known with a gruff baritone comment: ”These shrouded bodies are those of drowned sailors with no living relations, given a place of honor down here by the grace of Saint Senex.” He pauses a moment, then turns to face you with open arms and says, “Those who seek Octavio Sabinus have found him. His safe capture, however, is no certain thing.”
Setrona rolls her eyes. ”So melodramatic, cousin! Lighten up, will you?”
Octavio furrows his brow. ”Setrona? What are you doing here? Who are these people with you?”
As she stands holding her skirts up a bit, Farrina gives Seraphina a nudge. "Now there's a handsome fellow, wouldn't you say?"
”You gotta come back, Octavo! The city needs you! The Silver Ravens are gonna take down Barzillai! With your help, they’ll be unstoppable!” Setrona says,
Octavio gives you an appraising stare. ”Well. You are certainly hopeful idealists, but in my experience, passionate revolutionaries lack discipline. Like my cousin, I believe you have good hearts, but it takes more than heart to stand up for what’s right. If I’m to throw in with the Silver Ravens, I need two things. First, I need to know that my surviving armigers are safe. Second, I need to know that the Silver Ravens are more than thugs who seek to fight in the streets—I need to know you can exercise subtlety and work at least partially within the bounds of the law to solve problems when such an option exists. As it so happens, this is a perfect chance for you to accomplish both goals.
“I want you to find out what happened to the Order of the Torrent armigers and rescue them without causing more violence. I strongly suspect that these armigers are being held in the Holding House. If you can engineer the freedom of these armigers, then I will join your cause.”
Octavio purses his lips in thought before apparently coming to a sudden decision. He draws a mithral short sword and offers it to you. ”You may borrow this blade. Not only will this weapon help the bearer against any devils she may encounter in the days to come, but showing it to the armigers and explaining that it belonged to the my mother should be all that’s needed to convince the prisoners that you are allies.”
Farrina bristles at being lumped in with people labeled as unsubtle, street-brawling thugs. "I'll show you subtle, big boy," she mutters to herself with a smirk.
While Adolina negotiates, Seraphina tries not to stare. She looks at her feet as she leans in to Farrina and whispers "He is quite handsome. And very strong."
"What do we know about the Holding House? Can the Magnificent One forge some documents and use an illusion to just walk in and arrange a prisoner transfer? These repressive tyrannies thrive on upjumped officials who just roll in and make grandiose claims about their personal authority," suggests Tanjona.
The Holding House was the city’s original jail, but until recently structure sat abandoned. Barzillai Thrune decided to reopen the Holding House as an interim prison for suspects who might not yet warrant full imprisonment.
Snapping into the conversation, Seraphina raises a hand tentatively "Eh-excuse me, Mr. Octavio, sir, if you might."
She folds her hands in front of her, waiting for his attention "Do you have a point of contact for someone to help us with the creation or construction of the documents? I'm not sure this is a specialty of ours, I know I possess no such skill."
Octavio levels his stern gaze on Seraphina. ”You are asking me, the lictor of a Hellknight order, if can put you in touch with a forger? A law breaker? Sadly, I cannot. Perhaps my cousin would be a better person to which to ask that question.”
STUPID! says a voice in her mind.
Are you not paying attention, girl? asking another.
Foolish! You could-
"I wasn't talking to you!" she says loudly, shouting it out before clamping both of her hands over her mouth with wide eyes. She steps sideways, behind Farrina, out of sight and trying to make herself very small.
"Yeah, you tell him, girl. Don't let him talk down to you like that," Farrina says with a grin over her shoulder.
"Yeah, I know a girl," Setrona says, trying to ignore Serahpina's faux pas. "Ruba Fenquay. She'll probably charge you a pretty penny for the task, but you might be able to talk her down. Let's head back to the city, shall we? You all are welcome to use the Tooth and Nail as a staging point for your tasks in Old Kintargo, or if you just want to relax and have a drink every now and then."
"The Tooth and Nail isn't a bad place to hole up in," Farrina adds. "I've done a couple of shows there. Good tippers. The crowd can be a little boisterous with hands a little ... friendlier than they should be, but that's not always a bad thing."
The next day, you prepare for your mission to the Holding House. The documents required to transfer prisoners are of a specific and detailed nature—but the format of these documents is no big secret. The seal and signature are the most difficult parts of the forgery, and the attempt is made more complex by the fact that the document needs to cite each prisoner by name and prisoner number.
Adolina sets her information network to the task, and by that afternoon, they return with four names: Benjen Preveau, Hortense Lierre, Ilsani Aberveen, and Kasston Auruda. Setrona Sabinus directs you to the shop of Ruba Fenquay in Old Kintargo. A hand-painted sign proclaims out front, "Ruba Fenquay: Notarius, Copyist, Reader, Translator."
Inside, you find Ruba herself. She is an elderly Varisian woman who wears rough-spun brown robes, keeps her gray-white hair tied in a bun, and has a habit of clacking the wooden dentures in her mouth. "Come in, come in! Setrona says you have a job for me, yes? Well, out with it, then? What do you want?"
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Looking around the shop and finding more than a few things which, while not illegal in and of themselves, would make a dottari raid more than a little tricky to explain, Adolina gets straight to the point.
"I would like a copying job done please. Form 37.2, transfer of assets or personnel to a new assignment. Names are here." She hands the scribe a short note, slipped to her by her contacts. "What will this cost?"
"I see," Ruba says, studying the note. She whistles appreciatively. "That sort of form could be quite dangerous in the wrong hands. I'm not certain if I'm willing to take such a risk for strangers."
Seraphina steps up next to Adolina to help negotiate "This is a job worth taking the risk on. I know you may not know us yet, but that is going to change moving forward. We're an excellent group to have an established relationship with and I think you can trust us to not expose you to any danger."