Gavrin looked nervous. That wasn't a surprise to Idrassa- he often looked nervous, unless he was riding on the edge of some kind of drug that made calmed him down- but this seemed different somehow. He nodded at Idrassa and pulled a folder from his bag. The not-so-young student put it on the table and slid it over to Idrassa. "That's for you, the thing you asked about."
He cleared his throat and glanced briefly over at Eyve. "Um. I have a, uh... an opportunity for you." Gavrin cleared his throat again and grabbed his drink to clear away the dry mouth. "Um, Eyve here is a client of mine." Of sorts, anyway. "She, uh, um. She's..." he glanced at Eyve, his voice rising into a question. "looking for work? I can vouch for her."
Trollskull Manor, North Ward, late morning - (let's say everybody but Idrassa and Eyve, even though this is not happening at the same time as their meeting)
Goggh usually got to work after breakfast unless there was an early morning delivery scheduled. Today he'd told the Trollskullers he had a surprise and would be at the tavern a couple of hours late. So it was just before lunch that the minotaur showed up with a stranger in tow, a tattooed half-orc none of the Trollskullers recognized.
"This is a friend of Dok's. Name's Thraag." The tavern manager nodded his horns at the door. "Ever since the bombing I've been thinking about bringing on more security. And with what happened at the Gralhunds, well..." The minotaur shrugged his huge shoulders. "I figured we could use the help." In case House Tarkanan showed up, he didn't say out loud.
He patted Thraag on the shoulder. It was like someone briefly dropping a sack of flour on his shoulder- even restraining himself, Goggh was immensely strong. "Dok says he's a good fit." Goggh hooked a thumb at the kitchen. "I need to go get ready for the lunch crowd. I'll bring you all out something to eat."
Thraag nods and says, "Do you mind if I take a seat. It would seem like a good time to get to know each other over lunch."
Thraag is a heavily tattooed half-orc. He has a spiked chain wrapped around his torso over a breastplate. He wears amulet with the symbol of House Tharashk.
He cleared his throat and glanced briefly over at Eyve. "Um. I have a, uh... an opportunity for you." Gavrin cleared his throat again and grabbed his drink to clear away the dry mouth. "Um, Eyve here is a client of mine." Of sorts, anyway. "She, uh, um. She's..." he glanced at Eyve, his voice rising into a question. "looking for work? I can vouch for her."
"Thanks for the file," Idrassa answered, forcing herself to keep her voice pleasant. She wished she had Tweety with her - the serpent was remarkably good with emotional chemistry, and there was definitely something off here. "I don't know if we have an opening at the inn, but I can talk to the co-owners. What kind of work do you do, Eyve?"
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So 1, he's not used to asking Idrassa for favors- they don't have that kind of relationship and he's kind of scared of her and Tweety. And 2, he's trying to pass the buck of being caught with Eyve on to Idrassa. Not that he'd necessarily get in trouble for harboring Eyve, but he's not quite sure whether he would or not. He's stuck his neck out far enough to whip up fake papers for Eyve but really wants to get her off his hands.
Declan was sitting in the stool normally reserved for a resident minstrel. He had a foot up on a higher rung, a lute draped across his lap. He was in the process of tuning it; a rather buzzy cacophony of electric feedback emanating from the instrument. Clearly it had some sort of enchantment enhancing the sound. At Dok's (and Thraag's) entrance, he stopped his tuning and looked up. With a guest arriving, the black-clad not-bard set his electric lute to the side and stood to greet the newcomer.
"Welcome," he said, extending a hand and leading the orc to a table. "A friend of Dok's is a friend of ours."
"Thraag, was it?" Declan confirmed, sitting in a chair opposite the orc, "I am Declan. Resident magus, aspiring bard, and occasional handyman."
Thraag takes the mans hand a shakes it. "Yes, Thraag the younger. As I am often reminded. It is good to meet you Declan. I am an Occultist. Joining on here will be a new experience."
"Ah, a fellow man of the Arts. I would welcome conversation about the differences in our approaches when time permits." He fell silent, however, allowing Zander to inevitably ask his questions.
"Security primarily." Eyve replies after a moment of careful consideration. "Most of my...training pertains to keeping others safe...or dealing with dangerous situations."
Her words seem carefully chosen.
"Security primarily." Eyve replies after a moment of careful consideration. "Most of my...training pertains to keeping others safe...or dealing with dangerous situations."
Her words seem carefully chosen.
Idrassa did not miss the evasiveness from either party. She eyed them both carefully.
"Look," she said quietly, maintaining a poker face. "I'm willing to cut a deal here, but one of you is going to have to tell me what's going on. What are you to him?" She asked Eyve, "And why would a security expert be looking for work at a tavern?"
"Ah, a fellow man of the Arts. I would welcome conversation about the differences in our approaches when time permits." He fell silent, however, allowing Zander to inevitably ask his questions.
And Zander had, indeed, asked them.
Everything from "where did you come from," to "how do you know Dok," to "what, if anything, are the meanings of the symbols painted on your external surfaces," and a few dozen other questions in between.
The gold-skinned Warforged did not seem skeptical, nor did his questions seem tied to whether or not Thraag was competent to be employed as a security guard. It seemed mostly that he was genuinely (if excessively) curious.
Eyve studies the other woman silently for quite a while...long enough to make it a bit uncomfortable before taking a deep breath, glancing over at Gavrin, before responding, her voice pitched low enough that only the other two could hear her.
"My...status in the city is...complicated. Everyone knows at least the basics of the Treaty of Thronehold, the moment when Warforged were essentially declared…people, and given the same rights as everyone else.” she says, pausing a moment for acknowledgement of the fact. ”Nimblewrights and other….constructed entities are not.”
”I am..different…something in between. Much like a human, I eat, and sleep, and breathe, though I am by the estimation of any who have studied me, artificial. And yet, I am alive, and as far as I know, unique, and as such my status is…awkward…to say the least.”
Thraag will rattle off answers to Zander for a while.
After a while he says, "That is a lot about me. Why don't you tell me where you came from Zander."
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”I am..different…something in between. Much like a human, I eat, and sleep, and breathe, though I am by the estimation of any who have studied me, artificial. And yet, I am alive, and as far as I know, unique, and as such my status is…awkward…to say the least.”
Idrassa remained impassive as Eyve spoke, but when she finished, the human gave Gavrin a hard look. It was a look that communicated that he had tried to make light of a favor that could have serious consequences. It was a look that made clear there would be more discussion on this later.
But when she returned her attention to Eyve that look was gone, replaced with something more contemplative. Idrassa remembered what it was to be alone and friendless, to not understand your place in the world, to be cut off from a past that was well and truly done with you even if you could never really be free of it. She knew she could not let this woman walk away alone.
So, with an ease born of a youth spent in a dragonmarked House, she rationalized her actions. "We could use some extra security," she said. "That bomb in the marketplace went off a little close to us, and things have been tense in the city." She left their other projects unspoken. Gavrin surely suspected Idrassa was up to something complicated, but the less he knew, the better.
"I need to introduce you to some other people and get their consent," she said. "But I don't think it will be a problem."
"Do you need documents?" She continued. "It's hard to move around the city without them."
Gavrin looked relieved and he shook his head. "No, no she's set. I set her up already. Thank you, that's great. She'll be really helpful, I know she will." The perpetual student turned to smile at Eyve. "See, I told you it would be fine!" His nervous energy started to fade as the part of the situation that was potentially dangerous to him looked to be going away.
Idrassa stilled him with another hard look, then returned her attention to Eyve. "We'll work things out," she assured the android.
"Any more surprises I should know about?" She asked Gavrin.
"Yes I believe the necessary paperwork has all been settled." Eyve replies to Idrissa, as Gavrin confirms. It takes a moment, but she returns the harried student's smile with a slight one of her own, nodding her affirmation and giving Idrissa a nod of thanks for her acceptance.
Trollskull Manor, North Ward, late evening - All PCs
The dinner rush was over and the tavern was full of patrons as Shan Chien entered the bar. It was the first night Declan's band was playing and the place was loud.
Eyve and Thraag, both brought on as security, were having a busy night. Trollskull Manor was typically a quiet spot to drink but tonight for whatever reason more than one person had already had to be escorted out. Goggh usually did the honors of throwing people out but tonight he was letting the two new folks take the lead.
Renaer il'Nelview and Floon Blagmaar were holding down a table in the corner with half a dozen well dressed- and more importantly, well paying- friends. Ash was at the bar, Illendur was out at work, and Jixel had spotted a tabaxi friend winding her way through the crowd, though she was keeping that to herself for the moment.
The reporter spotted Idrassa in the crush and threaded his way over to her. Shan Chien smiled and patted the messenger bag hanging from his shoulder. "It's kind of loud in here! Do you have someplace quieter to go!?"
"Sure - Let me grab the others," she said. She quickly flagged down as many of the Trollskull's fellow staff members as she could. She hesitated for a moment at the two newcomers, but decided if they were going to be involved in security it would be best to keep them informed. If you weren't willing to give people that much trust, she reflected, you shouldn't work with them.
Goggh nodded that he would take over security again. The big minotaur had already indicated he wanted nothing to do with the group's extracurricular activities, so it was probably for the best. The group assembled, Idrassa led them to the common area on the second floor.
"So, thanks for coming," she told Shan Chien once introductions were complete. "What have you found?"
Declan was sweating. He didn't realize how strenuous playing a gig really was. This was his first real chance to play with his band - he had found the group through Illendur's contacts... well, to be precise, he had found the advertisements looking for a fourth all over the city, and used Illendur's contacts to get an audition. And he had offered the Trollskull as a venue to debut. He had been practicing with them, of course, but an actual show was something else entirely.
Rapture of Dragons was a loud band, but melodic. The lead singer, Tiriana ir'Phiarlan, could sing and growl with the best of them. Miranda Fitzroy's solos were both technically impressive and long. Tor Redbeard, the venerable dwarf, pounded drums like he was at war (and probably was). Bruce Khrannock, the bass rhythm, was something of an oddity. Between the gimp mask and thick leathers, one wouldn't guess he was the nicest half-orc in Throneport.
They had just finished their set when Declan spotted Idrassa's motions.
Ah.
Work.
Well, the other work.
Declan sidled up to Tiriana, slinging his "electric lute" over his shoulder. "Good show. Seems the crowd got into it."
Tiriana smiled genuinely, taking Declan's hand and shaking it. "Yes indeed. I am glad we found each other, Declan. Your skills are meshing well with the band."
"Thank you. Mourning Glory seemed to go over well."
"Well, it should, it's our best song." Her laugh was light and fluty, a stark contrast with the harsh growls she was uttering just minutes before.
Declan couldn't help but smile. He shrugged in the direction of the bar, "It appears work is not finished for me tonight. I will catch up later, I am looking forward to our next practice."
"Us too!" Bruce, who was overhearing, suddenly said. The rest of the band, now surrounding their newest member, laughed and clapped Declan on the shoulder. He was part of them now.
He was still smiling when he caught up to Idrassa, a large mead in hand. He wasn't much of a drinker, but the show put a mighty thirst in him. Not the least of which due to sweating out nearly a hogshead of water.
He followed with the group and found a seat away from the others (he likely stank to high heaven, after all) while Idrassa gave Shan Chien the third degree. He sat quietly, listening to the exchange.
Her new situation was...eclectic to say the least, but the wide variety of colorful individuals frequenting the tavern made it far easier to blend in than most places. The work itself was relatively easy, watch the crowd, react to disturbances, remove those that couldn't be calmed or reasoned with, use force if necessary.
Not unpleasant work, to be honest.
As Idrassa gained her attention, signalling her to join her, she nodded, relinquishing her post to the hulking minotaur. Following up to the second floor, she silently takes a seat, wordlessly studying the newcomer.
Thraag moves through the crowd just watching to see if anyone was starting to go to far when he sees Idrassa waving. He changes his course and starts makng his way across the room towards her.
It had been a while now since Zander had come to realize that the tavern wasn't quite the cornucopia of learning he had hoped it would be - at least not as directly as he had expected.
While some people who went to a tavern to drink and eat and make merry were open to having a quiet(ish) conversation with a gold-plated Warforged, most were not. And even those who were generally didn't enjoy being buried under an avalanche of questions. An avalanche that generally only built momentum, given that Zander didn't drink, and the persons with whom he was talking almost always were - often increasing their intake in direct proportion to Zander's increase in questions.
He could still observe behavioral patterns. "People watching," Declan had once called the activity. But Zander was typically seen by the patrons of the tavern as either security, or a curiosity, or an intrusion on their attempts to enjoy the evening.
Goggh had (rather kindly, despite the message he was delivering) informed Zander that it was detrimental to the mission of the establishment if paying customers were made to feel uncomfortable to the point that they no longer were paying customers, and so perhaps it would be best for Zander to minimize his interactions with guests in the common room with whom Zander didn't already have a comfortable relationship. Unless, of course, Zander was "pulling a shift" on "bouncer duty."
In those instances, Zander's typical interrogative approach to new interactions commonly worked to remove unwelcome guests from the situation with little to no violence required at all.
Questions like, "have you researched the amount of pressure required to separate one humanoid vertebra from another without also severing the spinal cord or the body's external surfaces," when asked by a 6' 3", 290lb golden statue with glowing blue eyes, seemed to leave folks who had become overly belligerent in their inebriation somewhat off-kilter, and cause them to decide that such an area of study - while interesting - could be better pursued elsewhere, and without said statue's assistance.
So it was that Zander, who had not been "pulling a shift" this night, found himself in his usual spot of an evening. Standing on the top of the tower, above the room that had been designated as "Zander's bedroom," despite there being no bed in it, nor him having any need for such. There, in the breeze of the evening, Zander could see the humanoids traveling the streets near the Manor, including those coming and going in and out of the Manor itself.
When he spotted the humanoid called Shan Chien making his way towards the common room's entrance, Zander perked up. It was possible that Shan Chien was bringing some interesting information to share with Zander's companions.
Zander spent a few minutes scanning the streets below, to see if he could spot any individuals attempting to surreptitiously follow Shan Chien. Once he had completed his scan, Zander went down via the trapdoor into his room in the tower, secured the door behind him, and made his way downstairs to where his companions were gathering with their guest.
The group piled into Goggh's office in back, with sweaty Declan perching on a file cabinet near the closet to keep his funk away from the others and Zander standing like a statue in the doorway heading back into the kitchen. Short of someone listening at the window, no one would overhear the conversation without being seen.
Shan Chien pulled sheafs of documents out of his folder one at a time. "Well! I'm glad I met you!" The man paused and frowned for a second. "Perhaps not glad about the circumstances around meeting you," he had been being tortured, after all, "but this is the story of the century," the muckracker said breathlessly.
"Manshoon is back. Again." He paused, looking around at the group's faces for a reaction. After a second without a shocked outcry Shan Chien went on, looking disappointed. "Ah. Well. Yes, Manshoon the Dreambreaker has returned."
The tabloid publisher gives the group his findings.
Long ago aberrant dragonmarks were more widespread than they are today, and they were also more powerful than the common aberrant mark known today—the simple powers granted by the Aberrant Dragonmark feat. The dragonmarked houses—quite young at the time—used the fear of aberrant dragonmarks as a scapegoat, both as a cause that helped to unite the houses themselves and to strengthen public opinion that “true” dragonmarks were good, and aberrant dragonmarks were the foul touch of Khyber… and lest it go without saying, many members of the houses believed the tales they spread. There’s no cure for an aberrant dragonmark, and this led to mob violence and from there to more organized persecution on the part of the houses. “The War of the Mark” implies a conflict between two even sides, and this was anything but. Due to house propaganda, people with aberrant marks were feared and ostracized, and this was more of a witch-hunt than a war. However, as it drew on, a number of leaders emerged among the aberrants—people with the charisma to lead and the foresight to plan, and with enough raw power that even the houses came to fear them. These leaders gathered bands of aberrants around them and sought to establish sanctuaries or hold off her houses.
The band whose exploits are best known was tied to three powerful aberrants. Halas Tarkanan was known as “The Earthshaker,” and his aberrant mark gave him power over elemental forces. His two greatest allies were known only by titles. The Lady of the Plague controlled vermin and disease, and was widely seen as the most dangerous of the aberrants. The Dreambreaker wielded vast psychic power and could crush lesser minds. Beyond his personal power, Tarkanan was a master strategist. Under his guidance, they seized the city of Sharn (which far smaller than it is today) and established it as a haven for the aberrant. But the houses had superior numbers, resources, and discipline. Sharn was besieged, and when it became clear that the battle was lost, Halas determined to make the victory as costly as possible. The three aberrant leaders gave their lives and poured their essence into terrible death curses.
Little is known about the impact of the Dreambreaker’s curse. But Tarkanan’s curse shook the earth and collapsed the old towers, while the Lady of the Plague spread deadly disease throughout the ruins and called up strange forms of vermin. Those few soldiers who survived the attack lingered just long enough to carry the plagues to their comrades; even in death, the Lady of the Plague inflicted a lasting blow on the house forces. Today it’s her curse that is still felt. The region known as “Old Sharn” is sealed off because it’s believed that her plagues still linger in the depths, and there are forms of vermin found in Sharn that aren’t seen anywhere else in Khorvaire. Given the power of the other two curses, the Dreambreaker's curse must be assumed to be equally significant.
In considering the aberrant leaders, there’s a few things to bear in mind. The first is that they possessed aberrant marks of a level of power not yet seen in the present day—aberrant dragonmarks comparable to the Siberys dragonmarks of the dragonmarked Houses. But beyond that, just like the house of today, their greatest powers came not simply from their dragonmarks, but from tools that focused and amplified the powers of these marks. Tarkanan channeled his power through a gauntlet he called the Earth’s Fist. The Dreambreaker used the Delirium Stone to focus his mental energy. And the Lady of the Plague wore a cloak she called Silence. So it’s not that Halas destroyed a city with his mark alone; just as Cannith has creation forges and Lyrandar has its storm spires, it was the Earth’s Fist that allowed Tarkanan to level Sharn. And while these leaders died, it’s quite possible these artifacts survived.
So who were these aberrant champions? The short answer is that no one knows for sure. They lived over fifteen centuries ago, most were outcasts, and of course, the winners write history. Any serious scholar has to eliminate the propaganda circulated by the houses at the time—stories that present Tarkanan and his allies as monsters. Sivis propaganda suggested that Tarkanan was an avatar of the Devourer—a story supported by his elemental power—sent to bring suffering to innocents. Other tales claimed that all of the aberrant leaders were “lords of dust,” lingering fiends from the Age of Demons that delighted in chaos and bloodshed.
The Dreambreaker:
The Dreambreaker's aberrant mark allowed him to shatter the minds of people around him and some accounts suggest that he could twist time and space. However, his power also apparently affected his own perception of reality. It’s said that he believed the Wroat aberrants were actually fighting the Sovereigns, and that the Houses and their mortal minions were simply manifestations of this greater cosmic struggle. He was devoted to the aberrant cause and his sheer power was a vital weapon in their arsenal, but his instability prevented him from leading forces on his own. Like the Lady of the Plague, the Dreambreaker was often featured in anti-aberrant propaganda; Sivis spread wild tales of his abilities to crush minds and claimed that he could murder innocent people in their dreams.
The Dreambreaker possessed a focus item called the Delirium Stone, an item that allowed him to focus, channel, and store his mental might. He was presumed to have died in the siege of Sharn, but is known to have been fighting in a different tower than Halas Tarkanan and some accounts suggest that he planned to twist fate, stealing away the future from the houses… but nothing was heard from him immediately following the destruction of Sharn.
Two hundred years later, a dozen beings all claiming to be the Dreambreaker, fought a war that came to be known as the Manshoon War, as that was the name the victor eventually announced to the people of Daskara, Karrnath, Metrol, and Wroat. Each of the dozen "Dreambreakers" was of a different species and gender but all appeared to share the same memories. Antiquity scholars suspect the Dreambreaker somehow artificially prolonged his life through the powers of the mind.
Over the past millenia the Dreambreaker- specifically the triumphant Manshoon personality- has turned up every few decades, sometimes absent from world affairs for a century or more. The last time Manshoon appeared- 400 years ago- he was defeated by a band of heroes who declared they had disintegrated his body entirely, which with his long absence led people to think the Dreambreaker had finally been defeated for good.
Current Nights:
House Tarkanan thugs say that Manshoon has returned to personally direct the local faction of House Tarkanan. Their numbers have been significantly beefed up and they're doing things out in the open instead of sticking to the shadows. They never would have entered into such a loud, obvious conflict as the gang war that is making the headlines so regularly over the past couple of weeks. In addition to kidnapping prominent people off the street they've been ordered to look for something but no one Shan Chien has talked to knows exactly what.
The Tarkanans were able to quickly beef up their street muscle by poaching thugs from the Boromar Clan, who until recently had been the largest single underworld group in the city. Some Tarkanans arrested or found dead after street brawls have been known associates of Boromar Clan members.
House Tarkanan gang members have been getting into more frequent and more violent fights with members of Daask all over the city. It's not a normal gang war- they aren't going back and forth over territory they seem to be clashing at different locations like they're raiding each others' bases and storehouses (again, as if they're going after something). Dozens of gang members on both sides have been killed and the number of wounded are probably in the low hundreds. The City Watch looks like it's unable to stop the fighting and it even seems to be escalating.
"So we don't know what they're fighting over but they're definitely fighting over something. Daask and the Tarkanans both seem to think the other one has something they want." Shan Chien shook his head. "I wish I knew what it was but it's probably for the best that I don't. What I do know is that this is the story of a lifetime." He grinned at the group. "And it looks like you're right in the middle of it."
"Do you know if anyone in the City Watch has been put in charge of figuring out this gang war?" Thraag asks as he wonders how the group could stop hundreds of gang members from attacking each other.
Zander tilted his head.
"What sort of lifetime,," he asked, the various humanoids alone have significant variation in their span of life, even discounting propensity for death via war and other conflicts. And does the expression 'of a lifetime' necessarily exclude those humanoids who transition to unlife?" he had been intending to ask about dragons, and how they skewed the curve, but a silent mental throat-clearing by J'r-V'zz reined Zander in. Briefly.
"What is the likelihood that the item that this 'Dreambreaker' used is related to the item that so many of the various individuals and organizations we have encountered that seem intermingled in these events are seeking?"
"Do you know if anyone in the City Watch has been put in charge of figuring out this gang war?" Thraag asks as he wonders how the group could stop hundreds of gang members from attacking each other.
Shan Chien shook his head. "I've seen some reporting in the Observer that mentioned the Watch's organized crime department and caught a Singer statement from a Captain Palmer, I think, but to be honest I wasn't really paying that close attention." His rag didn't really report on local crime news, so maybe it made some sense he was focused on other things.
The Trollskullers also knew that detective civilar Barnibus Blastwind was the Watch detective in charge of investigating the explosion that had taken place outside, but Shan Chien might not know that.
Zander tilted his head.
"What sort of lifetime,," he asked, the various humanoids alone have significant variation in their span of life, even discounting propensity for death via war and other conflicts. And does the expression 'of a lifetime' necessarily exclude those humanoids who transition to unlife?" he had been intending to ask about dragons, and how they skewed the curve, but a silent mental throat-clearing by J'r-V'zz reined Zander in. Briefly.
"What is the likelihood that the item that this 'Dreambreaker' used is related to the item that so many of the various individuals and organizations we have encountered that seem intermingled in these events are seeking?"
At the warforged's first question the tabloid publisher gave Zander a look he and his companions knew well- a combination of "what?" and "are you serious?" Shan Chien shook his head and decided to answer the second question instead. "Uh, I don't know if it's even possible but if the Delirium Stone still exists then that would definitely be something Manshoon would be after. Do you think that's what's happening?" Shan Chien hurriedly took a notebook and stubby pencil out of his bag and started scribbling notes. "Daask somehow found his ancient item of power and now there's an underground war over a legendary item of power?" He nodded to himself as the narrative started to take shape.
Idrassa silently cursed. Shan Chien was quick, and it would be unhelpful if he uncovered too much. Already she was concerned that publishing news of a gang war over an item of power might summon treasure hunters not already in the game. But there was no help for it.
"Do you know the names of anyone on the Tarkanan or Daask sides? I mean, other than this 'Manshoon,'" she added.
Eyve listens quietly, processing both the history lesson and the implication. It seemed that the questions to be answered were the specifics of the item of power, who would even know of its existence, and how they would manage to get a hold of it.
Shan Chien looked up, frowning as Idrassa distracted him from his line of questioning. "Local crime isn't really what my readers want from The Scoop. I could look into it for you, if you want? It might take me a couple of days, I'd have to dig around." He sounded less interested in investigating mundane criminals, even ones involved in a deadly street war, than he did in tracking down an ancient, mysterious artifact tied to one of the most notorious aberrants in history.
"Boromar Clan would be easier, everybody knows Davil Starsong," he added as an aside. "If only every criminal made themselves as available," Shan Chien said with a chuckle.
"I do not believe anyone has found the item," Zander said, though his tone was thoughtful. "Only potential pieces. Although a significant number of humanoids have died during the course of this conflict. So perhaps this is a story of a lifetime. Or several. Ending." Zander wound down.
"What does 'everyone' know about Davil Starsong?"
"He's the man you want to talk to if you have an opportunity for Boromar Clan or if you want to take advantage of any opportunities they may have." Shan Chien looked at Idrassa. "He's a fixer. You can always find him at the Yawning Portal." The muckraker shrugged.
"From what I gathered, there's bad blood between the Tarkanans and Boromar Clan right now, too. There would be worse places to start than talking to him, if you're trying to get to the Tarkanans."
"Do you think these fights between the gangs will spread to these other gangs as well?" Thraag asks, "It seems like it might be a good time to strike while they are occupied."
Idrassa nodded to Shan Chien, then looked started as Thraag proposed a "strike." She knew that might be inevitable, but she did not want Shan Chien to know that.
She found herself thinking of Field Ward, and wondering if there were a way to stop the violence from spreading there.
But sometimes it paid to ask a question you already knew the answer to. "What about the Dragonmarked Houses? Or the nobles?" Added Idrassa. "Have any of them shown any interest in these items?"
"Do you think these fights between the gangs will spread to these other gangs as well?" Thraag asks, "It seems like it might be a good time to strike while they are occupied."
Shan Chien looks skeptically at Thraag. "So you're fighting the Tarkanans and Daask at the same time?" The reporter's ears almost visibly perked up at that.
Idrassa nodded to Shan Chien, then looked started as Thraag proposed a "strike." She knew that might be inevitable, but she did not want Shan Chien to know that.
She found herself thinking of Field Ward, and wondering if there were a way to stop the violence from spreading there.
But sometimes it paid to ask a question you already knew the answer to. "What about the Dragonmarked Houses? Or the nobles?" Added Idrassa. "Have any of them shown any interest in these items?"
Idrassa once again headed off Shan Chien's questions. "I don't know but I can look into it. Crime isn't my beat but I know people who follow this stuff. Do you want me to follow up?" It was obvious that he was going to snoop around regardless of what Idrassa said.
"I meant a third gang jumping in when one of the others are distracted. It just seems that this can spiral quickly. I am not sure how well I would do just attacking one gang, much less two." Thraag says in reply.
Idrassa resisted the temptation to flinch, knowing she had just put the reporter on the Graelhunds' scent. Still, perhaps it was not an entirely bad thing if the Graelhunds were worried their activities might see print. And it would be useful to know who else might be involved.
"I would be interested to know more," she offered. "Thank you."
Declan had been quiet, picking at his electric lute on his knee with one leg lifted onto the chair to facilitate an easier resting surface. It was as if he had been distracted, which was partially true.
"If there is a way to confirm that they are indeed after the stone, that would be valuable intelligence. I imagine to your readers as well. And if you can confirm it is not said stone, perhaps some other driver is motivating the war? Either way, curious minds want to know." He dropped his leg and set his instrument against the wall. "If this war gets bigger, it'll start impacting the business. We need to see if we can resolve things."
Declan had been quiet, picking at his electric lute on his knee with one leg lifted onto the chair to facilitate an easier resting surface. It was as if he had been distracted, which was partially true.
"If there is a way to confirm that they are indeed after the stone, that would be valuable intelligence. I imagine to your readers as well. And if you can confirm it is not said stone, perhaps some other driver is motivating the war? Either way, curious minds want to know." He dropped his leg and set his instrument against the wall. "If this war gets bigger, it'll start impacting the business. We need to see if we can resolve things."
Shan Chien nodded excitedly. "Yes, they certainly will! I'll look into it myself!"
Idrassa resisted the temptation to flinch, knowing she had just put the reporter on the Graelhunds' scent. Still, perhaps it was not an entirely bad thing if the Graelhunds were worried their activities might see print. And it would be useful to know who else might be involved.
"I would be interested to know more," she offered. "Thank you."
"Just give me a couple of days!" Shan Chien grinned and pointed at Idrassa. "I appreciate you all giving me the opportunity at this exclusive. The return of the Dreambreaker is exactly the kind of thing my readers want to know about!"
1) Martem's necklace. -> A Necklace of Fireballs produced by a well known magic jeweler, designed to be reliable and pass notice. See this post and this one.
2) Zander's observations on the roof. -> It was a nimblewright that threw the fireball stone. Idrassa's contact is going to provide a list of nimblewrights and theorized a way to detect nimblewrights. -> A nimblewright matching the correct description is in Lady Yalah Gralhund's retinue. -> Lady Yalah's nimblewright threw the fireball.
3) Note and key on the dead gnome (Dalakhar) -> note from Kalain of the Nine Waters -> Kalain provided a stack of Lord ir'Nelview's papers (see this post).
4) Dalakhar's room contained a death mark from House Tarkanan
Supposition:
A) Declan's encounter with Floxin (he was a tough merc, dressed the same as 3 dead Tarkanan thugs). -> Floxin headed west from Trollskull Alley and was in no condition to travel very far.
B) Renaer's father's stole half million galifars. See this post. -> The Tarkanans who kidnapped Floon seemed to be looking for the money as well as something called the Stone of Golorr. See this post.
House Tarkanan:
There's a low level an escalating street war going on between Daask and House Tarkanan -> "Somebody stole something from someone," per a Tarkanan thug guarding a ritual site and teleportation ring (see this post)
A Tarkanan agent was following the group around the city and taking notes of their activities
House Tarkanan is trying to brainwash broadsheet publishers
A high level spellcaster set up a teleportation circle under a tower in Castle Ward being used by House Tarkanan cultists of the Mockery
Shan Chien the tabloid publisher brought the group information about Manshoon the Dreambreaker (see this post) and is going to look into the gang war between Tarkanan and Daask and bring his results to you in a few days (he also wants to interview you and feature you in his paper and make this an exclusive story)
House Tarkanan has been supplementing their numbers by poaching muscle from Boromar Clan, formerly the preeminent organized crime syndicate in the city
The Grand Game:
Powerful groups (likely more than just Daask and House Tarkanan) seem to all be looking for Renaer's father's stolen money. See this post.
House Tarkanan kidnapped Renaer ir'Nelview and Floon Blagmaar, looking for information on the Stone of Golorr -> the interrogation was interrupted by a Daask raid on their hideout -> the party rescued Floon (case of mistaken identity, see this post that also mentions their interest in the Stone of Golorr) from a Daask hideout in the sewers (leaving alive a blue goblin and Grum'shar, a half-orc spellcaster) and briefly encountered a mind flayer
Lady Yalah Gralhund has the Stone of Golorr (post)
The Stone requires 3 Eyes to activate; it is currently inert because the Eyes are missing
She suspects House Tarkanan has 1 Eye and Daask has another (see this post)
The Stone of Golorr might be the same item known as the Dreambreaker's Delirium Stone (see this post)
Investigate elf murders in Dock Ward- House Phiarlan (no results on Night 1)
Investigate explosion in Trollskull Manor- self-assigned
NPC Jixel is going to research the Stone of Golorr at a magic library
Personal hooks:
Ash wants to help the shifters and owes Blaze a favor
Idrassa can be as involved or uninvolved with the arbitrage trade you set up in Field Ward as you want
Illendur agreed to go to dinner at his sister Fientia's- they're having a dinner party and she mentioned that Lillian from accounting will be there and she just broke up with her boyfriend
-we can play that out or just say it happens offscreen, up to you :D
Zander was interested in a clockwork bird he noticed flying east-west and back over the neighborhood and tracked it to a neighboring villa in North Ward
Running a tavern?
Background points of interest PCs have noticed:
There's a sea-faring circus that just got to town called the Sea Maiden's Faire
There's something called the Grand Game, played by powerful individuals and groups to get influence over the city
Completed:
Find Red Susie- street urchins
Find Maxeene/return Maxeene's familiar- Remallia Haventree/Maxeene
Protect clinic in Field Ward- ir'Cassalanters
Rescue Floon- Vordik Gaebler/Renaer ir'Nelview
Take noble handkerchief to contact in Dock Ward- Boromar Clan (or the Tyrants?)
Also! Hit me up with personal goals! This is a huge metropolis! If there was ever a game where you thought 'I want my PC to accomplish X,' this is the one to do it in. Does your PC want to do something? Let's make it a hook!
"I think we need to find out what was stolen. Whatever it was might be dangerous and this whole situation can expand quickly if it is not solved. It might be that either Daask or Tarkanan stole the other groups eye and now they may be seeking the last eye. I doubt the other gang is going to let their enemies access the Stone of Golorr without consequences. It seems odd that one would attack the other over the second eye without knowing where a third eye could be found." Thraag says.
"Does anyone know of a good way to figure out who actually stole from the other gang?" Thraag asks.
Declan shrugged to Thraag's question. "The only way to positively determine that is to either ask a trusted confidante, or to go see ourselves. Both of which I doubt are within our current purview." He paused a moment before adding "That said, rumors are supporting a consistent narrative, so it is likely close to the truth of the matter."
Once Shan Chien had taken his leave, Declan said to the group, "I believe our next step is to visit Davil Starsong. The question remains, what do we ask of him?"