"Indeed." Jack agrees. "But we'd best push on and deal with the Rabbit Prince first. We can deal with tidying up afterwards."
The next room is a long storage room that contains several chests, trunks, and shelves filled with all manner of paraphernalia. The oddments include things like a crude sculpture of a brass dwarf, a stuffed house drake with a globe in its claws, and a well-worn cat-o’-nine tails with the words “Property of the Teamster” printed on its wooden handle. One of the chests contains a heavy leather scroll tube containing a scroll of dimensional anchor and 1,500 gp worth of diamond dust.
A door here leads into the room you glimpsed through the crystal ball—the Rabbit Prince’s sanctum. Future harrow-themed plans are on display on the three easels here. One, called “the Mountain Man,” displays a giant mannequin towering over Absalom, crushing the city beneath its feet. Another, titled “the Uprising,” depicts a map of the city with a series of calculated fires spreading outwards from Harrowland. The third, titled “the Lost,” shows an army of armored skeletons walking through the streets of the Precipice Quarter.
The twisted halfling himself is still in this room, and he reacts to your intrusion with displeasure. ”No, no, no! You should not be here! You do not fit into my plans. But... with some magic and some surgery... maybe I can make you fit!” The Rabbit Prince looks at you with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
You present one of the harrow cards discovered in Harrowland to the Rabbit Prince and destroy the card to show the fictitious nature of his delusions. Attempt a DC 36 Deception or Diplomacy check. The result of this check determines the Rabbit Prince’s actions.
Critical Success The Rabbit Prince immediately stands down, conflicted. He drops his sword and harrow deck, declares his name is Othobian Bootblack, and surrenders.
Success For the next round, the Rabbit Prince uses an outcome one degree of success worse than what he rolled for his attacks (critical success becomes success, for example), and you use an outcome one degree of success better than what you rolled for saving throws against his abilities. In addition, add a +1 circumstance bonus to future checks to Sway the Rabbit Prince; this bonus stacks with the bonuses from any previous successful attempts.
Failure The Rabbit Prince is unmoved.
Critical Failure The Rabbit Prince is convinced you’re merely a clever construction trying to trick him; you can’t attempt this activity again.
Dani tries to sway the Rabbit Prince, but is not nearly convincing enough in her ploy.
"Surgery? You're an idiotic child playing with knives!" The dhampir snarls, striding forwards to show the Rabbit Prince the error of his ways!
The halfling dodges Jack's first attack, but the second one draws blood. "I am not a child! I am the Rabbit Prince!" he shrieks. "I am bringing the truth of the Harrowed Realm to life to replace soulless beings such as yourselves! Perhaps you should open your minds to reality!"
He steps away from Jack and casts a spell, attempting to rewire your senses!
Steeling his will against the Prince's magic, Devon moves to flank with Jack! "Keep trying to get through to him!" he exhorts Dani as he lands a hit.
Dani temporarily gives up on the card plow and inspires courage and defense in her allies instead.
The doctor curses as the magic twists his senses.
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Dora is completely overwhelmed by the spell and stands there in amazement as she tastes cherry air for the first time. It goes wonderfully with the light green sound of the battle that she knows is going on somewhere behind the rather loud symphony that keeps jumping up and down in front of her.
Devon and Jack both manage one hit each on the Rabbit Prince. Dani's songs fill the air as Dora is momentarily overwhelmed by the synesthesia.
"Bah! You'll pay now! Feel the fury of of my darting flurry!" the Prince shouts. He jabs at Devon twice with his blade, scoring one critical hit, then darts away from the champion and Jack, moving so quickly that Devon can't even take an attack of opportunity! As he crosses the room, he turns and leaps in the air, flinging a hardened Harrow card at the champion, landing another critical hit!
Dani drops the song playing and casts haste on Devon before moving up behind him so she can attempt to treat his wounds next round.
"Ow! That hurts!" Devon exclaims. Feeling the haste magic take effect, the champion lays hands on himself before moving to follow the Rabbit Prince, attacking again. This time, though, he raises his shield to ward off further blows.
Jack, having seen what kind of damage this thing can do, tries the diplomatic-ish approach.
"The Harrow World is the illusion, not this realm!" He commands. "Behold the Devils Lantern - I tear it asunder!"
And he proceeds to do just that.
Dora is still reeling from the spell but fumbles for a Harrow Card of her own.
"You see - the cards show the Harrow Realm. We aren't storykin - look at how we've made our own choices in finding you!"
"No, no, no! Lies! How can irrelevant creatures such as you claim to know the nature of reality?” the Rabbit Prince shrieks. He attacks Devon again, but his confidence is shaken, and Devon blocks the blows!
"Because we are this world!" Jack replies. "In all its terrible complexity. How can you prove otherwise? Are you Sorrenrae, weaver of the realm? Are you Alainn, Teller of the Tales? Your story does not end thus!"
While everyone is being showing cards, Dani busies herself with healing the two injured men.
Devon piggyback on Jack's success, further increasing the Rabbit Prince's doubts. "Keep it up, Dora!" the champion says, sighing with relief as Dani's magic heals his wounds.
"Please!" Dora adds, playing on the creatures heartstrings as best she can with words forming beautiful clouds of color in front of her face.
"So many people have died! Surely no-one else has to suffer for this story."
The Rabbit Prince continues to shout his denial as he attacks, managing to land a hit on Devon.
Jack continues to talk soothing words at the madman, rather glad that Devon is still taking the brunt of the blows.
Devon produces another Harrow card to try to convince the Rabbit Prince to stand down. "We're running out of cards! Dani, Dora, one of you has to get through to him!"
"There is so much life in this world!" Dora protests. "If you'd just listen!"
”Search your feelings! You know it to be true!” Dani says, somewhat ominously. ”Remember who you truly are!”
The mad halfling stares at the Harrow cards in front of him. ”The Rabbit Prince! I am... the Rabbit... I am... I... No!” He drops his sword and his deck of cards. ”I am not the Rabbit Prince. My name... my name is Othobian Bootblack. My name is Othobian Bootblack...”
He falls to his knees and begins to sob.
Jack moves swiftly to take the blade and the cards, ensuring that should Bootblack crack again he will be significantly less dangerous. He does however leave the comforting/psychological care to someone more inclined. He'd prefer to end the 'man' for crimes against surgery.
Dani attempts to console the halfling enough to get some useful information out of him, but he is too upset and distraught to provide any coherent answers. You put him in manacles until he can be taken into custody, collecting his blade of the Rabbit Prince and his hardened harrow deck.
Once Othobian is secure, you exit into the darkened big top tent at the far end of Harrowland. With several loud pops, powerful spotlights come to life, illuminating the interior of this massive top tent. One of the most obvious and surprising set pieces present is the monumental earthmover called Graveraker with several barrels stacked on its treads—this machine had vanished from the Radiant Festival quite some time ago.
The spotlights illuminate Acting Primarch Wynsal Starborn as he looks down at the corpse of his assistant, Harlo Doleen, who has an ornate dagger protruding from his chest. Looks of puzzlement, sorrow, and resignation cross the primarch’s face in succession. Immediately, shouts of “You’re under arrest! You’re all under arrest!” ring throughout the tent. Dozens of Edgewatch agents charge into the big top to cut off any escape. Grim-looking members of the Starwatch accompany them, cool and professional amid the scowling district guard. Shouldering through the crowd of officers comes Lieutenant Grospek Lavarsus with the widest smile you’ve ever seen on him. Another familiar figure follows close after him— newspaperman Reginald Vancaskerkin, looking calm and collected as usual.
“Looks like this ugly business goes all the way to the top,” Lavarsus says. “Thanks to your tip, Vancaskerkin, we managed to catch the bastard right in the act.” As he handcuffs the acting primarch—who puts up no resistance— the lieutenant loudly proclaims, “Wynsal Starborn, you are under arrest for the murder of Harlo Doleen and grand theft in the first degree.”
As Lavarsus gloats, one of the Starwatch opens a barrel on Graveraker. “Lieutenant, this is blackfinger blight all right. Looks like we have them in connection with the Irorium incident too. They’re likely in league with that Flakfatter bastard.”
“There’s no need for violence,” says Wynsal. “I’ll come along peaceably.” The acting primarch shoots you a very deliberate look. You can hear his voice in your minds as he addresses you telepathically. ”And so the trap is triggered and the jaws of the beast clamp down. The Twilight Four aims to seize the primarchy itself, and you are the only ones capable of stopping them. Obviously Vancaskerkin is likely one of our foes, but there is one more member of the Four still at large. We need more intelligence. I am to be arrested, and you will be discredited at best, but I need you to follow the clues if we are to beat this thing together. Do not fight, do not flee. Once you are free to move about, you must find a crime boss named Miogimo in the Undercity. He can help.”
The agents of Edgewatch lead Wynsal away before turning to you...
Dani is confused at what is going on and amazed at the spectacle of it all. When Wynsal's voice explains his line of though, she frowns and slowly shakes her head, crossing her arms on her chest. She spurts out in anger to her companions in a forced hush whisper "This is so messed up! They are going to try and take us down for all of the things we corrected? What in the hell is wrong with everyone!"
Devon whispers, "Vancaskerkin's poisoned Lavarsus against us, whether through lies, magic, or both. But this is part of Wynsal's plan to lure out the rest of the Twilight Four. We should go along with it for now."
"Well for the record, I don't like it one bit!" Dani spits out, angry.
Unable to completely hide her disdain for this plan, she turns to Lavarsus and asks "Are you arresting us as well?"
Part 5: Belly of the Black Whale
2 Arodus, 4720 AR
A grim rain falls to the ground outside the circus tent where the corpse of Harlo Doleen rests next to the massive excavator.
“That's right. Lock them all in chains,” sneers Lieutenant Lavarsus, gesturing at you. “Drag them to the nearest jail cell.”
Following the lieutenant’s order, a group of Edgewatch agents tentatively moves forward, but they take only a few steps before Asilia of Gyr arrives on the scene, taking command of the situation with a steely gaze.
“Ignore that order,” she says. “I can hardly believe the charges myself, but these are members of the Starwatch, so I retain the right to discipline them as I see fit until they are formally charged. They will be escorted back to Fort Tempest for the night and kept under watch there until I can get this mess sorted out.”
Lavarsus grimaces and looks like he might try to countermand Asilia's authority. But with a grunt, he relents. Asilia takes you aside, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "What in the Hells just happened?"
[smallest]"The Twilight Four have just managed to remove the Primarch."[/smaller] Jack replies quietly. "We have the name of another one now, but the final one remains out of our reach. The Primarch gave us a lead to follow, once we are able to do so."
He meets Asila's eyes squarely.
Dani isn't sure why Jack relays so much information. What if Asila is the highly placed individual that we seek?
She shifts uncomfortably and says nothing, avoid everyone's gaze and staring at the ground as she tries to deal with her anger and confusion all at once.
Asilia frowns. ”I see. Unfortunately, the charges laid against you make it impossible for me to simply let you off the hook. So I hope Starborn planned for this contingency.”
After you have had your say, Asilia turns you over to other members of Starwatch. The guards escort you back to Fort Tempest and lock you in a large holding cell together. They step away, giving you a chance to speak freely among yourselves.
If nothing else, the forced detention gives you time to reflect on your recent experiences...
"Are we sure about this?" Dora asks, once the group has some privacy. "I know it was Starborn's plan but this feels too much like giving the Twilight Four exactly what they want. Are we sure Vancaskerkin is involved?"
The logical part of her mind can add up the evidence, but the hopeful part of her doesn't want the friendly man she knows to be one of the people masterminding a hostile take-over of Absalom.
"It's too much of a coincidence. Look Dora," Dani starts, putting her hand on her friend's shoulder, "Just because you like the man doesn't mean that you truly know the man. He could be a criminal mastermind and have been playing us all along. Seems perfect to me. Who would ever think to suspect him in the interactions we've had with him so far? Staying close to the investigation, getting the details from us directly. Quite brilliant."
"Brilliant, indeed. And quite devious, to boot," comes a harsh, rasping voice. The air in cell shimmers as two people suddenly become visible. The first is a grizzled, bald human an with white scars covering half his face. The second is a dark-haired elven woman.
"But that's the nature of the human condition," the bald man continues. "Darkness lies in all of our hearts, and it's easier to just succumb to it than to try to look for the light.
"Ah, but where are my manners? My name’s Grimwold, and this here’s my lieutenant Kapral. Like you, we’re members of the Starwatch, working directly with Starborn. Most folks these days think we’re dead, though, so don’t go spreading that information around."
"And what proof do you offer?" Dora counters. "A mysterious rescuer appears when we need them, that's a little too convenient. Forgive us for being cautious."
"Oh, no, don't mistake us for rescuers," Grimwold says, shaking his head. "We received a message from Starborn last night to find you and give you information should you be incarcerated. I doubt he planned for you to get arrested, though. The acting primarch has a cunning enemy somewhere, and I think they’ve outmaneuvered him for now. You and I, we’re his backup plan.
"By now, he’s likely been taken to the Black Whale, the most secure prison in Absalom. He needs you to help him escape, so he sent me to contact you because I’m hunting Miogimo, the only creature alive to ever escape the Black Whale. If you want to rescue Starborn, you’ll need to find out what Miogimo knows."
Dani shakes her head with a frown, "The Black Whale? I thought that place was impregnable. No one escapes. I heard Miogimo's escape was just a myth! What information do you have on them?"
"You probably could break into the Black Whale. But the prison is tied to another plane. Once inside, there’s no way to escape, meaning you’d be trapped there with Starborn. That’s why you need Miogimo’s help.”
A flicker of hatred and disgust crosses Grimwold’s face before he responds. “Miogimo is an undead monster. Years ago, I captured him. But instead of ending his life and hunting down his followers as I suggested, Starborn intervened, using his powers as acting primarch to have Miogimo imprisoned on the Black Whale. Eighteen months ago, Miogimo escaped. Now he’s back in the Undercity, leading a gang of ghouls and ex-watch members called the Shadow Guard.
“As long as Miogimo has followers, his life can’t be extinguished. After his escape, Miogimo began killing the Starwatch members that originally captured him—all good people.” A shadow crosses Grimwold’s face, and Kapral stares stoically at a far corner of the room. Grimwold continues: “Several months ago, he set off an explosion that destroyed my house with both Kapral and me inside it. We used the opportunity to go into hiding, and we’ve been hunting Miogimo ever since. Only Starborn knows we’re still alive. With us presumed dead, Miogimo has lowered his guard somewhat, making it possible for us to track down most of his followers.
“The Black Whale is a formidable prison, and only Miogimo has ever escaped. If you want to rescue Starborn, you’ll need to know how he did it. Personally, I don’t care whether you’re crooks or not. All I care about is capturing Miogimo. I’m worried that he’s beginning to suspect that I’m still alive. My window of opportunity is closing. Now, I can help you infiltrate his organization, if you provide me information in return. Miogimo’s lair is hidden and likely heavily fortified. I need you to find a time and place where Miogimo will be out in the open. Then I can recapture the monster—for good this time.
"Miogimo has a weakness for converting members of the watch to his cause. If he thinks you’re criminals willing to serve his vision, he might find a place for you in his organization. Thanks to this Graveraker business, your reputation is already plenty tarnished. No doubt further accusations will follow. My advice? Lean into it. Play along and maybe even provide evidence against yourselves. Miogimo has contacts throughout the watch. If you come out of this looking too clean, he won’t trust you. But if you make yourselves seem as traitorous as the press makes you out to be—maybe by planting evidence or paying the right people to bolster your foul reputation—then you might just earn Miogimo’s favor. In that case, you’ll need to head to the Undercity beneath Eastgate and ask around about Miogimo. He’ll find you.
"Any questions? If not, Kapral's ready to teleport us all out of here." The elf nods.
"Any questions?" Grimwold asks. When you indicate your understanding of the plan, he nods. "Good. Your best bet is to stay here and deal with the coming accusations. To have a shot at joining Miogimo, you're going to have to look as guilty as possible. Good luck."
Kapral puts a hand on his shoulder and casts a spell, teleporting both of them out of the cell.
***
The following morning, newspapers and broadsheets in Absalom publish a series of wild accusations against you. Citizens come forward, each claiming to have witnessed you commit crimes during your early days in the watch before you transferred to the Edgewatch. Worse still, the tabloids all seem to tie these past crimes to Wynsal Starborn and the theft of Graveraker. Perhaps Wynsal has always been corrupt? Perhaps the agents, formerly thought of as city heroes, are actually just the acting primarch’s flunkies?
Disturbingly, the witnesses making these accusations all have vivid memories of the agents committing crimes, plus evidence of the damage caused by these incidents.
Asilia of Gyr sends word that she’ll come to Fort Tempest that evening to formally lay out the charges against you, which means that you have most of the day to further incriminate yourselves.
Several journalists arrive at Fort Tempest to ask for an exposé. An agent who succeeds at a DC 34 Deception check during an interview can “accidentally” let compromising information slip. The reputable journalists won’t publish anything obviously false, so subtlety is key.
The agents could provoke a fight or confrontation with the guards by attempting a DC 34 Athletics or Intimidation check. On a success, they stage a scuffle that seems real enough (without actually hurting anyone) and come across as loose cannons.
Dani decides to take the opportunity to blend a little bit of the truth with some flourish to help mask a rather gray area of her recent past. First though, she takes a little shopping trip where she purchases a garrote necklace similar to the one an acquaintance of her wears.
She schedules an exposé to tell her side of the story and during the interview, she idly fingers the necklace to draw attention to it while "accidentally" lets it be known that she's been known to work with Cass Hamish from the Garrote Sisterhood when Edgewatch just wasn't getting things done.
Jack meanwhile leaves the Keep quite openly to go to one of the local medical colleges for a lecture. There he openly gripes about how hard it is to find corpses for dissection practise and, rather unsubtly, lets it be known that if anyone has a body or two available he'd happily pay and not ask too many questions.
Dora meanwhile takes advantage of her intimate knowledge of Absalom's labyrinthine paperwork system and simply files a number of charges against herself and her friends. Having them dispatched through an intermediary to the address next door to the one they need to go to should ensure a reasonable delay, but one that a sharp eyed investigator or reporter could seize on if they wished...
Devon tries to start a brawl, but he pulls his punches too much as he is worried about hurting his fellow Starwatch agents.
You do your best to play up your corruption, but only Dani has any real success--possibly because her lies are rather close to the truth! Near the end of the day, you are escorted to Captain Asilia of Gyr’s office, where she and Lieutenant Lavarsus wait. Inside the orderly office, Asilia of Gyr sits behind her desk on which piles of salacious newspaper clippings and periodicals lay scattered. Lieutenant Lavarsus stands to her right, a sneering grin on his face.
“Well,” Asilia sighs while gesturing at the papers. “What do you have to say for yourselves?”
“Save your breath, Captain,” Lavarsus interjects. “I’ve known this bunch was corrupt from the very beginning. Now they’re finally getting what they deserve.”
No matter what you say, it has little effect on the pair's disposition. "Rotten, through and through," Lavarsus remarks.
"I don't know. It seems like you lot are taking the fall for something you didn't do," Asilia comments. "Unfortunately, the issue is ultimately out of my hands. You are hereby dishonorably discharged from the Starwatch. Hand over your badges."
With the acting primarch’s arrest, the city has fallen into turmoil with regular jail cells already overflowing, so Asilia orders you to stay within the confines of Fort Tempest until you receive a set date for your trial (which could take weeks to months). While you still technically haven’t been found guilty of anything, all the exits in Fort Tempest have guards posted at them, though it isn't too hard to cause a distraction and slip out into the city. It's time to find Miogimo and put Wynsal's rescue plan into motion.
Of course, you have the opportunity to visit Absalom's markets to buy and sell gear of course. From there, simply asking around about Miogimo will no doubt attract the crime lord's attention...
Jack didn't bother to proclaim his innocence in front of Lavarsus. The man's mind was made up in such an emphatic manner that enchantment is almost certainly the only logical explanation. Arguing with him would only serve to reveal information.
Asilia does get a polite nod of the head from the doctor though. She is sharp enough to look beyond the obvious.
"So, we begin this wild goose chase." He says with a sigh once Dani and Dora have charmed their way past the guard and out of Fort Tempest. "To catch a crime lord who has tried to murder Starwatch agents before and cannot die unless all his followers are slain. Once we find him we ask him nicely how he broke out of the Black Whale, break in ourselves and rescue the Primarch... Starborn must either be a diviner of the highest order or Desna's favored son. Or possibly an imbecile, to have come up with such a plan." His tone makes it clear he isn't ruling out any possibility.
"So, to the market and make inquiries?"
"If my family ever hears about this it's going to be atrocious." Dora says, torn between crippling anxiety and a certain sadistic pleasure at the thought of her prim and proper uncle being confronted by such a scandal. "On second thoughts, maybe they should hear..."
That more pleasant thought distracts her for a little while until the pressing business of the day crashes down once more.
"I suppose so." She says in response to Jack's question. "Being well prepared is of vital importance and everyone gossips in the markets so it is a good place to put out feelers. No doubt things will get back to Miogimo eventually."
As they continue to walk she falls into step with Devon. "How are you doing?" She asks gently, taking one of his larger hands in hers. "This must be bringing back difficult memories for you. If you want to talk, I'm always happy to listen."
"If you'd prefer not to talk, we could just keep each other company instead. I just like spending time with you, it always makes me feel better." She adds.