"Oh, um, it sounds like interesting to go on a ship and sail the seas, isn't it? I think I should really try one day" Izomandakus comments as they walk back to town deciding how to move to Sandpoint. He will be fine to use the road as always though.
When it comes to splitting the party's share, Izomandakus will claim the +1 ring "Kast, as our guard of doors I guess the keychain belongs naturally to you. If you wish so" and looking at the scarf he offers it to Valena "I think you said something about having a matching piece of clothing. But if no one else wants it, I think I will keep it, Pachemu looks just more brave with it"
Through the couple of days of goes and come backs, Izomandakus will end inscribing the remaining spells from Leyre's book.
On the chilly morning of their departure, the boy joins the others with a look of satisfaction shining on his eyes. "Take this, Kast. I am over with it" Izomandakus retrieves a thin travel book with simple arcane runes on its cover, it is Leyre's spellbook "You will know what to do with it"
Level 1: burning hands, comprehend languages, detect secret doors, floating disk, grease, identify, mage armor, obscuring mist, ray of enfeeblement, sleep
Level 2: invisibility, locate object, mirror image, minor image, see invisibility, shatter, spider climb
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Val wakes up and gets dressed, sending another morning message to Sapphira. As much as she would like to make small talk or whisper sweet, quiet words, there is a question on her mind since the manor.
[i]”Sassy, your response truncated. Only twenty-five words! Have you heard of a ‘Brotherhood of the Seven’ in Magnimar? Possibly connected to Corioles. Love you!”[/i
Whether Corioles is connected is of course tenuous at best, but it is the most likely answer to why Aldern recognized her and thought it was ironic that she did not recognize the organization.
She meets with the others afterwards as they finish looking over the spoils. She picks up the Chelaxian wine. ”Take the shawl, Izo. It does look fetching on Pachemu, and I have already claimed the wine.” She brandishes the bottle by the thicker bottom. ”With the manor gone and the murderer dealt with, I think we all deserve a drink. The least we cqn do before the long road to Magnimar.”
"Take this, Kast. I am over with it" Izomandakus retrieves a thin travel book with simple arcane runes on its cover, it is Leyre's spellbook "You will know what to do with it"
Kast looks down at the book, then at Izomandakus. ”I will?” Kast’s eyes look at the spells and shrug. ”Uhm, I don’t think I’m going to start memorizing spell, Izo. I mean, maybe I would in another life or another time, but I’m committed to the Iron Quill. I mean, I need to master the bardiche if I’m ever going to make it in Lastwall. I have to get better at that…not sure I have time to focus on this kind of magic.”
Kast takes the book.
”Unless you meant for me to carry for you until we can sell it Magnimar? Or offer it to Brodert?” He shrugs, knowing he can do these things but also might be confused by what Izo was implying.
Is he saying that I should stop fighting and take up magic?! No…he wouldn’t. Kast’s eyes cloud over with doubt.
* * *
Kast is happy to go overland to Magnimar.
Izomandakus jiggles back at Seamus "Eager to try your new horse? Sure! Do you have a name already for your new friend? What saddlebags have you chosen? I saw a pretty one at Hosk, but we might find more modern ones in Magnimar. Perhaps even magical ones, there are some that can fit more inside than it would seem from outside"
To Kast, the boy just nods "Just give it a read. From our adventures together, I have seen more talent in you than in many that claimed to be magicians" he gently taps the guard's hand "You might find in those pages your own way to perfection"
"It seems we will make the road once more my friend" the redhead taps Pachemu's head and gets ready for the trip.
Of course, he will tell his mother and sister about it, this is going to be a full investigation to find the Brotherhood and it might be a while until Izomandakus can be back in Sandpoint.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
”Sassy, your response truncated. Only twenty-five words! Have you heard of a ‘Brotherhood of the Seven’ in Magnimar? Possibly connected to Corioles. Love you!”
”Oh, sure, everyone knows them. They’re the Skinsaw Men of Magnimar. A cult, some say are well connected. The guard is looking for you. Love!”
Returning to Sandpoint it doesn't take long for Seamus to pull his lute out, throw his right leg over the saddle horn and start to play. As they arrive at the Goblin Squash Stables, while he dismounts and unties his pack, he asks, "Hey Hosk how old is this gelding?" Patting the big plow horse in the neck, "And does it have a name?"
”Oh, that’s Oceanpastry. It’s a silly name, but I inherited it, and just never changed it. Youngish horse, it belonged to a farmer who lost his life to a goblin raid off the ‘Platter. He’s yours if you want him. Happy to find him a new home.”
A boy stops in the Rusty Dragon as you’re eating your breakfast and preparing for your journey. He has a note from Sheriff Hemlock wishing you luck on your journey, and offering a suggestion. ”I met someone that might be of assistance to you while you’re in Magnimar. They seemed much like you - eager to defend the helpless against evil. I offered them the same deal I offered you, and I think they’re going to take it. Please look them up.”
You chose to ride to Magnimar rather than go by boat, at least this time. It’s two days by horseback to town, though you must camp as there is no inn at the midpoint (if you recall, the two inns are arrayed at the slower pace of caravans). There is a campsite there though, on a low hill and easily defended from the occasional goblin raiding party.
You don’t have any luck with a raid while you’re there, and your trip is uneventful if brisk. You arrive in beautiful Magnimar, city of monuments, late on the 19th of Lamashan. A Sunday. The last of the Varisian caravans are trickling in through the gates of the mighty city, as a substantial chunk of the Varisian people overwinter in Magnimar.
Thankfully most of them camp in their own wagons, so you are able to obtain your usual inn, if you wish, and can at least enjoy a nice supper at a reasonable hour. It’s around 6pm.
Izomandakus is happy to see Pachemu improves a lot through the days of travel.
The boy smiles when Seamus passes the name of the horse "Hope you two are not planning to take over mom's business"
---
During the night stop Izomandakus looks for a calm spot and crafts an obscuring mist scroll.
---
As the great city of Magnimar appears in the horizon, the redhead's mood improves forgetting the dust of the road "Look at there, the City of Monuments! Some people say the Empyreal Lords guard the city and some of the monuments and if you will pray for them, they will give you their favor"
And then he turns to Valena smiling as they get even closer "So, what will be the game of faces here this time? Meg or some other new performance?"
"You might find in those pages your own way to perfection"
Kast looks down at the book and shrugs acceptance. He will give an earnest look at the book overnight, and then again on the trip down (two nights), but it will eventually be placed in the to-sell section of the party's wares. He tried to find interest in the magical scribbling, and does find some things of interest, but none of the reading really compares to that of the heroes of Lastwall or how to best defeat orcs or the undead.
* * *
"So, what will be the game of faces here this time? Meg or some other new performance?"
Kast leans in to hear the answer, but then realizes that it's better that he is surprised. He looks around for the nearest bakery or food stall, hoping to find some river bread or vanilla reservoir croissants, or at least a good brie biscuit.
He will bring back some for everyone, of course.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
”It will need to be Meg. I have already committed to the bit and I would only draw attention to myself by changing it too much. Too many people have seen Meg with this group and the rest of you staying the same while I change would be incredibly obvious even to the densest observer. No, I think I shall keep playing Meg for now, but I will mix up my style a bit. We can say Meg got a bit of a makeover if anyone comes asking.”
She switches out the stiletto boots for her flat ones. “Meg” has worn the former everywhere, so people would associate her with a different height. She goes a dark brown that is all-but-black with her hair and puts it up in a Galtan braid. Using the magic of her hat, she appears now to be wearing a broad-brimmed navy cavalier hat and a matching riding coat with white jodhpurs. She has the disguise magic spiffy up her boots appearance to shiny black. For her face, she applies a burgundy lip and light shadow plus liner to her eyes. She re-hues her eyes to a less striking brown.
She brings the others close in, communicating with message spells so to minimize the chances of others hearing. ”I sent to Sapphira this morning with a new trick of mine that lets me check in with her once a day. She says that the Brotherhood of the Seven are known here in Magnimar and that they are ‘Skinsaw Men,’ a cult of some kind. Does that trigger any memories that might help us?” She looks expectantly at Izo and Kast in particular.
Know (Local) - Skinsaw Men
Kast ponders, trying to recall something.
”Well, let’s get stuff sold and that scroll we need and get back to Sandpoint. No need for us to dawdle here when there is evil at home.”
Kast will sell all the things that need to be sold when they get to Magnimar.
Neither Valena nor Kast get any remembrances regarding Skinsaw Men. Apparently it's less common than you might have imagined from the ever-so-short sending.
Kast walks around the block and finds plenty to eat, bringing back armloads of street food which you have in the privacy of your suite as you continue to discuss what to do next. It's still early evening when you complete your repast.
Seamus remembers much.
These fanatic murderers are not assassins - they kill not for wealth, but for the sick joy of it. The Skinsaw Men hold that all of their murders serve a greater cause, their leaders receiving visions of victims that they believe to be divine messages from Father Skinsaw. With each murder, society is shaped - deeds the victim might have accomplished go unrealized and the lives of those who knew the dead shift and change in subtle ways.
Over the course of years, or even centuries, murders can shape nations and write the future’s history. And when the Final Blooding occurs, then shall Father Skinsaw reveal to his flock the purpose of this shaping of society by death.
The Skinsaw Men are the stories parents tell their children by night to put fear in their hearts.
- - -
Izomandakus nods as Meg is revealed once more.
"You mean the bounty on Shaz 'Redshiv' Bilger?" Izomandakus nods in agreement "I guess it is collected either in the Arvensoar or the Pediment Building"
"The note said Xanesha's agents would wait for Aldern at his townhouse here. Perhaps that's the place were we should start our investigation" and he tries to remember what neighborhood might be the best one to look for the noble's house, or perhaps what contact is best to find out this information.
Val pats Seamus’s shoulder and smiles. ”Sapphira sounds good. I love that I can check in with her every day now. Now that I can connect with her each day, probably better to not risk a visit yet.”
She shakes her head at Kast. ”We have more to do here than just collecting a bounty and selling loot. We need to find Aldern’s townhome and investigate it for signs of this Brotherhood. Tomorrow, while you all stop by to collect the bounty, I will…” She sighs, defeated. ”…go to the library and see if I can learn any more about Skinsaw Men.”
A quick note about the bounty. You have a letter from Sheriff Hemlock indicating he saw the man, dead, and you brought him in. That should be sufficient to get the bounty (and avoids the messiness of bringing a dead body to Magnimar). You just have to present the letter in the appropriate guard post and they should pay you on the spot.
Izomandakus isn't sure where the townhouse is, but he and Valena, I think, would know where to ask around (Gather Information (given time) or immediate Knowledge Nobility checks).
"So we are facing a Norgorber cell..." Izomandakus frowns worriedly "What you tell matches with what Aldern said about modifying the world through his kills. The note said something about a list of next to be murdered. We need to make that people aware of the danger"
"Perhaps we could try to get some information about recent assassinations in the city and try to find out if they might be related to the Brotherhood" the boy breaths deeply "Ahm, this is going to take so much time..."
"About Foxglove Manor... I do not know where it is, but I might know who to ask" Pachemu nods affirmatively as Seamus leaves with his lute "Ok, let's gather in the docks tavern in about a couple of hours"
Val listens, her face heavy and grim, as Seamus explains about Skinsaw Men. ”Do…they ever wear strange outfits? Like a jester. Kind of red and gold.”
Kast follows along, eating his reservoir bread and waiting to dig into his brie biscuit.
To sum up a bit, while Kast heads out to get food, Seamus and Valena head out to see if they can discover the location of Foxglove’s townhouse. Izomandakus too has one or two people to talk to so he may confirm what he thinks he knows.
Magnimar is packed. Varisians line the streets, and anywhere there’s a byway or inlet, a wagon or two will be parked, like as not with a campfire surrounded by friendly people. As you walk through the streets (walking is easier than dealing with your horses while in town, so I presume you’re walking everywhere) you’re invited to more than one of those fires, no doubt to sell you something, or sometimes just ‘borrow’ something from you. For you do look rather finer than most and so you stand out a little.
Still, you each make several stops, obtaining information, or a tasty brie. Meeting back up in an hour or so you compare notes.
Kast provides a wonderful repast, filled with a wide variety of savories with tastes ranging from local Magnimarian dishes, to the spiciness of the Kaer Maga plateau, and the wonderful fish fare of Korvosa. Why all of Varisia sits on the table before you.
Seamus knows much about the Brotherhood, and he shares what he knows, but he doesn’t have much luck around town. He learns little of Lord Foxglove or where his townhouse might be.
Valena has rather more luck, and has rather more skill, and learns exactly where his townhouse is located. It’s in the eastern quarter, in a very nice district. Quite comfortable, fully detached (which is rare) and has three stories. A lovely brick and mortar affair. Really solid.
Izomandakus can affirm that as well adding he knows there’s a courtyard in the back, after conferring with one or two associates in town.
”Do…they ever wear strange outfits? Like a jester. Kind of red and gold.”
Seamus isn’t sure. It sounds absurd, but then again, all-male secret societies are absurd…
From here you can venture back out into the town (it’s about 8pm) or stay in the suite and we’ll move on to the divvy and purchases of the morning.
"Ah, yeah, I heard there is a courtyard too in the house" Izomandakus takes a bite from the spicy savories brought by Kast "Perhaps we can profit the night to go there and investigate more calmly"
Among the things Izomandakus wants to buy, he wants an ioun torch.
Val nods along, letting out a giggle at Seamus’s Izo impression. ”I do think I would prefer to pick up a little something before we head over there. The bigger purchase I have in mind will not be changing.”
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Seamus, and possibly others, head over quickly to the townhouse, just to take a quick look. It’s in a nice neighborhood really. The sort where neighbors look out after each other. He’ll get a few glances on the well lit quiet streets, but nothing his disguise skills and magics can’t shake off.
It’s his professional opinion that the best way to get in is going to be boldly, and using the key you think fits. The time it’ll take to pick the lock will attract suspicion, especially with the whole party lurking nearby in the streets. Best to act like you live there and just head right in.
That said, there were lights on inside the townhouse, and he saw figures moving past the windows in his short observation. Someone is apparently living there. Who, he could not see through the curtains, but there were at least two, maybe three, figures.
The night passes uneventfully, and you rise the next day eager to begin your day. Breakfast is a bit muddled (not as good as the Dragon!), but you get through it before heading out into the streets on this lovely Moonday, Lamashan 20.
You make your way safely to the many shops of Magnimar, to divest yourselves of the various bric-a-brac you’ve accumulated. You’re able to sell everything in relatively short order, as the markets are booming and the merchants happy to see the annual influx of customers.
Izomandakus smiles at Seamus disguise display "Nice magic trick. Perhaps we can attend the mansion pretending to be Aldern, Iesha and some home workers"
The next morning he and Pachemu walk around the market and buy a pearl of power I and an ioun torch .
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Kast shops for what he needs: which is a groovy thing he read about in one his stories: a Hand of Glory. And as future hero of Lastwall, Kast wanted to have some glory credentials built in before he even go there.
Sadly, the story he had read didn't offer too much detail on what Hands of Glory actually looked like, and Kast might have changed his mind about the purchase of a necklaced shriveled hand but he was too embarrassed to retract the offer to buy and after counting out 8000 gp in cold coins.
Instead, he awkwardly completes the transaction and works on figuring out ways to disguise the hand as something less...awful.
He works on threading the hand with flowers and ribbons...and his ring of sihedron shielding so that maybe it looks slightly less garish in his crop top, bare belly armor.
I'm sure this doesn't look ridiculous at all.
Val returns with an elegant, simple black belt. Something that would look fine with most outfits was imperative, as she will apparently have to wear it constantly. At least her hat of disguise can let her have a bit more fun with her wardrobe.
Before they go anywhere, she implants a couple of tricks on her and Seamus.
”I am ready. I got a scroll for a more long-term invisibility in case we need it.”
You finish your shopping by lunch and, after an OK layout of sandwiches at the inn, you’re ready to approach the townhouse - if you wish to do so now. Or you can wait for evening, if you prefer to do it in darkness.
When you go, let me know what preparations (other than Val’s spells) you may care to make.
"I would prefer not to sneak too much," Kast says, finishing a nice piece of quiche at the inn well before they approach the townhouse. "I don't...I, uh...I don't sneak too well and it's now really how I want to go about things. Let's approach and investigate as we can without trying to overtly covertly sneak about. Ok?" Kast asks, hoping that he doesn't look too ridiculous with the flower laden shriveled hand hanging from his neck in his crop topped armor.
Izomandakus looks at Kast's flowers and smiles "We can just say we are investigating a recent series of assassinations related to the Foxglove if someone asks. If the key works and we do not need to force the door, I do not expect to have much questions." he looks at Seamus "Um. Well. Except for those figures you saw inside. But I guess those are the individuals Aldern's note spoke about"
The boy has a copious lunch with some cheese, beans and potatoes, finishing with a golden apple before they move along to the townhouse. He is not very talkative but seems in good mood.
As the group carefully approaches the Foxglove manor, and before approaching the door, Izomandakus looks down to the pig "Hum. If someone sees you, they are going to remember about you. We could add some confusion to any casual witness..." he draws his rod, then casually picks up a fallen hair from Seamus' cloak "Hum" and starts waving the rod изменить аспект.
As Izomandakus finishes his spell, Pachemu starts to grow, and grow, his skin turning white while a golden mane grows in her head. Her eyes turn round while her ears become pointy as the pig becomes a tall elven female, only recognizable by the scarf around her neck.
Izomandakus scratches his head and takes a change tunic from his backpack, then places it over the elf "You better don't walk around naked. Hum"
Pachemu blinks and looks startled at her new hands.
Izomandakus also casts mage armor on himself, then looks towards the door and produces the key "I think we are ready"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Izomandakus looks at Seamus a bit confused by the question "What do you mean? She is constantly talking"
Pachemu picks up the silver dagger with hesitation an observes it from one side and the other "Whooooooiiiiinks!" she coughs a couple times "Thoooooooinks!"
Meanwhile, Izomandakus puts the key on the keyhole and turns it attempting to push the door open.
Val blinks as the pig turns into an elven woman. She slowly swivels her head back to catch Kast’s eyes. ”I think we are well past the ‘no sneaking’ point, darling.”
She folds her arms and leans against the wall next to the door while Izo opens it.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
You open the door and step in all forthright and upstanding so the neighbors don’t suspect anything awry. As you close the entry doors behind you, and look into a large well appointed entry chamber, and you find your breath rather taken away.
Iesha Foxglove (image) is just closing the doors to an elegant, dining room, empty from what little you could glimpse. But there’s no doubt it’s her, or a twin sister, as surprised to see you in her home as you are to see her no doubt!
She shouts, which is odd considering you’re just a few feet away, but perhaps she's angry.
- - -
Val plays off her momentary surprise as mere shock at the volume, recovering quickly. When a noble says something wrong, the best response is to play along.
”Oh! It is good to see you are well, Iesha. I had been worried most dearly for your welfare, hence me coming to check on you. Do you not recognize me?”
Regardless of how this “Iesha” reacts, she hopes the lie would at least provide cover to anyone listening in while she tries to get a read on the situation.
- - -
I'll reply to Valena when others have had a chance to make statements/questions as well. :)
Pachemu conceals the dagger within the tunic before stepping after the others.
Izomandakus looks at Iesha confused, then at Valena even more confused "Oh, mmm... it is good to see you. We thought Aldern had strangled you."
Pachemu strokes the scarf around her neck and blinks silently staring Iesha.
"We have reasons to think you might be in danger. The one that killed your husband sent some goons here to contact him. Do you have a different place to pass a few days protected?" Izomandakus inquiries the woman.
Kast doesn't say anything just yet, unwilling to lie or wanting to ruin the lies of others. He keeps his mouth shut for the time being and tries not to worry.
Hasslo sits in the library, reading the names of the books of this mysterious woman's collection while she heads off to fetch her husband. 'Interesting. I should read more.' He chuckles to himself, 'Who am I kidding? I'm not a reader'.
He hears a scream suddenly from the front hall. "Intruders!".
'I must make sure she's okay!'.
The dwarf stands up and runs to the door, swinging it open with force. "What's the meaning of this!?" he screams as he's walking through the door.
”Oh! It is good to see you are well, Iesha. I had been worried most dearly for your welfare, hence me coming to check on you. Do you not recognize me?”
”I don’t know you.” she says with certainty. ”But you are aren’t unwelcome in this house. Aldern invites many over that I do not know.” she shrugs, inviting you into the dining room.
Izomandakus looks at Iesha confused, then at Valena even more confused "Oh, mmm... it is good to see you. We thought Aldern had strangled you.”
She looks at the odd slight man, ”Oh, heaven’s no. Aldern is a cuddly sort. Not the sort to strangle anyone.” she laughs lightly.
"We have reasons to think you might be in danger. The one that killed your husband sent some goons here to contact him. Do you have a different place to pass a few days protected?" Izomandakus inquiries the woman.
”Oh, don’t be absurd. One moment, I think I hear my husband coming down the stairs. You can explain it all to us then.”
The dwarf stands up and runs to the door, swinging it open with force. "What's the meaning of this!?" he screams as he's walking through the door.
The bulk of the party hears this through the dining room doors, and may, for a moment, think it’s Aldern, though the voice is deeper.
Iesha opens the double doors to the dining room, moving to the back of the room and gesturing that you should follow. The dining room is very lush, and pleasant, though it’s not set for food at the moment.
You also see a dwarf who, surprisingly, looks exactly like the man Sheriff Hemlock said was working with him in Magnimar. Iesha smiles at the man saying, ”Oh there’s nothing to worry about. These people say they’re here to help. My husband will be along in a moment and we can sort this all out. Please, come in out of that drafty hallway.” she adds to the larger group.
You hear someone coming down the stairs from above. They seem to be moving at a quick pace, but not running.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
- - -
We're technically not in initiative, so no readied actions I think.
Val wears a blue riding coat and matching cavalier hat. Her black, shining riding boots are the same color as her hair, which is tied back in a Galtan braid. She has a buckler and a rapier on her, the latter of which has a distinctive hilt that is difficult to make out the details of from a distance.
”You do not know me? Well, I believe we have a mutual friend who meant to introduce us. Perhaps I have only met someone that looked like you. I do get so dreadfully confused with names and faces sometimes.”
”We work for the sheriff and think you do, too. This Iesha and Aldern are fishy.”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Kast lowers the Iron Quill (a well maintained bardiche) a bit, thinking that violence might be near, especially if the party’s big mouths and the dwarf’s loud words keep going.
As usual, he’s dressed in quite revealing breastplate armor (heavy on the breast) but with fewer belly scars. As a average height Varisian ‘man’ (5’9”, about 20 years old), Kast wouldn’t stand out on the battlefield, unless he did for the armor that he wears, or for the flower festooned mummified hand around his neck, but likely for his mangled and twisted left leg: a gift/curse of his birth.
One also might notice the sihedron shaped shield that floats along the left side of his body. It seems to emanate from the mummified hand. Which is weird, but not as weird as his well defined midriff that is completely exposed, uncovered by armor.
If one were to see beyond his crippled leg and forceful shield, you might notice his very earnest face and becoming smile. His eyes always seem to be focused on some ideal that was likely impossible to attain: but yet he strives. His brown eyes and brown hair are unremarkable compared to his other features.
Kast says little just yet.
A a lean, redheaded individual, enters the room after the others and adopts a serious and commanding position in front of Iesha. Despite the temperance of the dressing style, an attention to the fabrics and quality of the sewing is clear, the clothing being expensive and of very high quality, like silk, for a medium city worker or a humble family.
At the side, an elven female of long golden hair and a stare clean of any sin, looks around with the curiosity of a child that observes the world for the first time. She is dressing a tunic strangely warm for the current weather, and a light, brightly-colored scarf. The lady must be freezing by the look of it.
"Your husband is coming? Hum. This is strange and suspicious..." Izomandakus looks up at the stairs, thoughtful "Might have someone impersonated your husband some weeks ago and visited his manor in Sandpoint?"