After your strange experience, Grunyak heals the wounded, and Taariik promises to return if he remembers more questions, though from the look the two addicts give you as they are gathering their meagre belongings, they probably won't be here should you return.
You decide to investigate the lead of the "big book" that Frell had gotten as part of his work for "some gang or other", and possibly attempted to sell. The potential buyer, "Madame Carrington", has also reached your attention earlier in the day when the herbalist Grunyak spoke to mentioned that she had predicted some of the deaths.
The herbalist had given rough directions to her shop, so it's around 5:30pm when you find it at the junction of Nacre Street and Arkona street. Below a sign depicting a faded screscent moon, a cracked glass door opens into a waiting room adorned in once-fine appointments, now worn and faded by age. As you open the door a bell rings, and a short man with a wispy mustache and an ill-fitting suit too small even for his tiny frame stands up to greet you.
"Welcome to Madame Carrington's Oneiromancy, do you have an appointment?"
He asks in a way that makes it clear that he knows you do not. The room you're in is quite small, twenty feet long but only 5 wide. It has a few shabby chairs and one ornate door into another chamber. At the far end is a weapons cabinet, presumably for guests to deposit their weapons before being admitted.
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"I figured as much...No, no appointment. But we do have a few questions for Madame Carrington. I assure you they are important and may be able to help the general welfare of the area." "Now will you go get her please. This should not take but a few minutes.
Grunyak, in true Dwarven fashion, gets right to the point not wanting to play games with appointments and such.
"It is getting on to closing time for the day anyway and you all do not appear to be busy."
The man disappears into the adjoining room, opening in such a way as to prevent you from seeing inside, then closing it with a flourish. You can hear his muffled voice speaking, but no reply, before he returns.
"Very well she will see you, but I'll need you to place those weapons in the cabinet before you may enter"
”But of course!” Huxwren hangs his tiny dagger up between Taariik’s polearms and Grunyak’s heavy hammer. ”Lead on, my good fellow - lead on!”
Making no effort to disguise his scrutiny, the man watches you place your weapons in the cabinet before finally nodding with satisfaction. He does not remove the short-sword belted at his hip.
"This way if you please." He opens the door with a swoosh, and bowing says
"May I present Madame Carrington"
You enter a dimly lit room, larger than the waiting area but still quite small. Against the far wall is an aged chaise longue with a middle-aged woman draped over it. Her face seems frozen in a grim rictus, but her eyes are full of smouldering dignity and flick between you appraisingly. She's dressed in a black mourning dress several decades out of fashion. Her eyes flick to the attendant, who invites you all to sit down in one of six folding chairs arrayed before her.
In front of her on a small table is a talking board and planchette. The board has the Taldan alaphabet on, as well as the phrases "Yes", "No", "Goodbye", and "Tell me more" in each corner.
Arranged around the room are six large potted plants.
Once you are sat down the attendant closes the door and waits until Madame Carrington fixes him with her gaze, at which point he says
"Tell Madame Carrington what it is you want from her, and give as much detail as you can. Look to the planchette for her response"
After he says this, the planchette moves very quickly to focus on the phrase in the corner "Tell me more", while a few motes of magic float around Madame Carrington's head.
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”Dear Madame, thank you for welcoming us! We have heard that you are involved in this nightmare that has been plaguing the city for sometime now! We are here to support but are suffering as many in the city! Is there anything that you can share with us?“ Taariik says with a bow.
”Oh, and I am sorry for your physical condition. Should you require any assistance to move within the city then of course we are always available!“
”Oh, ehhh ... I have no idea why I remember this but these plants appear to be Xtabays, a dangerous carniverous plant that can emit a soporific pollen that induces a short sleep. You do not want to poison us, do you?“ he asks.
He then looks at the others.
”Ooops, I better be quite. We were supposed to ask a question, right!?“ he says like a schoolboy that realized that he has made a mistake.
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Grunyak grunts a little weary of the parlor tricks.
"Madame, we are not here to have dreams interpreted. We are here to help you and all suffering. We are working to stop the nightmares and also the murders of shiver addicts."
"Just recently we encountered a corps, Frell T, reanimated and spewing green gas. We saw another man die in a weird event where the dream became at least partially real and attacked us with swarms of spiders. I think it was a death spider but somehow phased into a dream realm or something."
"We believe we need to know if Frell sold you a book he acquired while doing 'some work for a gang' as his associates indicate. The book subject and the 'gang' name he acquired it from/for would be helpful." "Can you explain about this book?"
"Any information you have would be appreciated."
Grunyak folds his arms and waits for the response, not expecting much. He is growing more and more skeptical by the moment.
"Madame, this would go much easier if you are able just to talk to us. I am sure your mage hand will spell out stuff but we don't spell so good."
As Taariik speaks, the planchette hovers over the Tell me more phrase, briefly flicking over to No when he suggests helping her around town, but her eyes soften and you can see gratitude there. At the mention of the Xtabays, her eyes flick across to her attendant who speaks up.
"Ah. The Xtabays are quite safe. They are for inducing sleep in clients so that Madame Carrington might peer into their dreams"
Everyone listens as Grunyak begins his questions, but the attendent gasps at the suggestion she could speak.
"Madame Carrington suffers from a disease which prevents her from speaking. Her gifts allow her to communicate with us, for which I am immensely grateful. Have patience and listen to her wisdom"
The planchette begins to move.
T - H - E - - S - P - I - D - E - R - S - - P - O - I - S - O - N - O - - U - S - - W - E - B - S - - E - N - S - A - R - E - - T - H - E - - M - I - N - D - S - - O - F - - T - H - E - - L - U - C - I - D
F - R - E - L - L - - S - T - O - L - E - - F - R - O - M - - T - H - E - - S - P - I - D - E - R
H - I - S - - S - O - U - L - - W - A - S - - S - T - O - L - E - N - - B - Y - - T - H - E - I - R - - C - R - O - O - K - E - D - - W - I - T - C - H - - W - H - O - - S - E - E - K - S - - T - H - E - - K - E - Y
T - R - I - E - D - - T - O - - S - E - L - L - - M - E - - B - O - O - K - - O - F - - D - E - S - N - A - - A - N - D - - M - I - T - H - R - A - L - - K - E - Y
P - R - I - C - E - - T - O - O - - H - I - G - H
The planchette returns to "Tell me more"
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"I guess my moderate inconvenience is nothing compared to your frustration with not being able to speak. I am sincerly sorry for my crude behavior and callousness. Please forgive my ignorance and let us continue."
Grunyak posture eases a little he bows his head and says a mumbled something under his breath his guantleted hand rubs his balded head. He looks up and continues his questions.
"You mention the crooked witch. Can you tell us more about her? Do you know where we can find her?
"Do you know where we can find and kill this spider?"
"Do you know if Frell sold the book and key to someone else? And who?"
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Dru listen to the seer, wondering how she does her thing without any alcoholic beverages
I've heard about spells that could cure blidness and deafness, it never occured to me to ask if spells could cure muteness too... It should make sense. I'll ask Grunyak later, as a priest, he might know.
She eyes suspiciously the plants, muttering
Never been good with plants. Things that thrives on water and myself don't go along that well...
"Fascinating!" Huxwren claps delightedly. "Did he steal from the giant spider, or was that like a figurative thing? Why would a giant spider even have a book to steal? Do giant death spiders know how to read?" He looks up at Eldren for confirmation.
Madame Carrington listens intently to what you have to say. She blinks for an extended period of time when Grunyak apologies, evoking a sort of nod of the head.
When Huxwren asks if he stole from the giant spider, the planchette quickly moves to No, and when he asks if it were figurative, it moves quickly to Yes. When he waxes about spider literacy she rolls her eyes.
To Grunyak's questions about another buyer, she once again moves the planchette to Yes, but then to No when he asks if she knows who it was. When he asks about the witch, the planchette spells out another message.
WITCH STALKS DREAM-CITY
DANGEROUS
She looks over you all appraisingly, before her eyes lock with her attendant's for a second. He seems to think before nodding, and planchette moves to Yes. Satisfied with that, he starts speaking.
"Madame Carrington has been most troubled by the evolving nightmare plague in Bridgefront, and has determined your motives to be good. She would like to extend to you an offer of her protection. She can seek out your dreaming forms and bring them here to her sanctuary in the dream realm. Alas she does not have space for all the residents of bridgefront, but as you are working to put an end to it, your psychic well-being is of great import. Do you accept?"
"Wait, so how does a figurative spider have books? What does a figurative spider even look like? Is it like an organization or cult?" Huxwren's spirits seem completely un-dampened by the madame's eye-rolling. "And of course we'll take you up on your offer of protection - I can't see any reason why we wouldn't, after all." He pauses for a moment before asking gently, "If you don't mind, just how do you plan to find our dream selves and keep your dream sanctuary safe?"
The planchette shoots across the table at breathtaking speed, requiring you to watch carefully to follow the words.
BROTHERHOOD OF THE SPIDER
SEEK THEM AT THE NIGHT M
The planchette which was starting to shake unsteadily, falls off the table with a thud, and Madame Carrington's heavy breaths seem to indicate frustration. Her attendant rushes over, dabbing at her mouth with a cloth and arranging her pillows to be comfortable.
"I'm afraid Madame Carrington has become too tired to continue this session, I will have to ask you to leave. If you need to speak with her again you can stop by tomorrow. Or if any of you are skilled at Lucid dreaming you can talk freely with her tonight in the dream world.
As he ushers you out, he also answers Huxwren's question.
"Madame Carrington's form here in the material world is a prison, but in the dream world she is free. She spends most of her time there, and is quite powerful. Many things are possible there if you have the force of personality to impose them, and she is quite unique in that regard. She can find sleepers very quickly after they appear, fear not. And good luck in your quest. I'm Maynard Colville by the way
In the waiting room you can retrieve your weapons and set out again. The sun is setting and the evening approaches, the mists still persisting from this morning are starting to thicken again, and if anything Bridgefront seems livelier than in the daytime.
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Once outside after getting his weapons, Grunyak rubs is bald head one more time and then crams his helmet down into place.
"I think Madame Carrington was trying to tell us to seek the Brotherhood of Spiders at the Night M...arket." "We could go there and ask about book dealers who might sell books of Desna and dreams. And we should ask about Dream-City. The Witch is there apparently." "Or we could do the same at the Roost asking who Frell might have sold the book to."
"I think the Night Market again, personally."
You travel the short distance from Madame Carrington's Oneiromancy to the Night Market, this time in the evening. You find it busier than before, filled with people trying to keep themselves awake.
Taariik leads the questioning as you ask around after Shiver dealers, but despite his natural affability and likeableness, you make very little headway. Most people simply turn away from you and stop talking at the mention of dealers, while others are others are clearly so intoxicated they struggle to focus on you long enough to give a coherent answer.
The night winds on, and by the stroke of 10 PM you're starting to wonder if this is the right approach after all. It's around then though that a lanky young lad draws your attention by calling to you from an alley that you're walking past.
"PSSSST. I hear you're after dealers, a certain fraternal organisation in particular? As it 'appens I've laid eyes on Greeley himself, and I'll happily sell you the info for 50 gold pieces. How about it? Can't say fairer than that."
He's leaning against the alley wall and wears a wide grin that makes him look very cocky, and he appears to be around 13 or 14 years old.
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50 gold pieces? That's quite a sum...plenty of money for a lil"boy like you! Why do you need so much gold? I'm not afraid to spend the coins, but not if you want it to buy drugs, or even booze, understood? And please don't lie to me, to us. You don't need to.
Dru has a gentle, warm smile for the street urchin
"I'm not a little boy!"
The young lad seems wounded by Drusilla's words, but he's clearly interested in her attention.
"I'm a entrepeneur! Rumours and gossip are the real currency of the Night Market, and old Kestrel here is the richest man in town. Of course it helps to have, you-know, real currency on hand too. I don't touch shiver miss, and booze is too dangerous for someone in my line of work. Folks sometimes get a bit testy when their private business is overhead so they do."
He swaggers up to Drusilla and puffs up his chest, hooking his thumbs into his bracers and whistling.
"Now I don't normally offer discounts, but for a charming young lady such as yourself I could go as low as 40 gold pieces. I'll even take you there myself, can't say fairer than that!"
Kestrel hides behind Dru.
"Whoah there Mr! This info is golden, no funny business." He adjusts his shirt and nods to Grunyak. "Payment on arrival, that seems fair"
He leads you north a short distance to Breakwater pier, a recent work project to improve Bridgefront that appears to have been abandoned. Now its full of wharf houses that have become hovels for squatters and shiver users.
Kestrel makes casual conversation, making sure to keep Drusilla between himself and Taariik. He takes you to the end of an old wooden pier that parts the pylons of burned-out quays that jut from the bay. The wharf terminates at a small flat-roofed building with soot-covered windows, and outside the door is a person wearing olive covered robes with a cowled double hood hiding their face. Kestrel calls a halt and lowers his voice, pointing at the shack at the end of the pier.
"That's the place where my man saw Greeley, one of the main dealers for the brotherhood. I had it from him myself, that's where they're conducting their operation from, as promised. Those robes are a dead giveaway." He holds out his hand for his payment.
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"Payment on arrival as agreed." "Anything else you can tell us? If it proofs useful there might be a reward for you."
Grunyak almost grunts out as the boy finishes his announcement.
Grunyak looks around the area for someplace they can observe the 'headquarters'.
Once their guide is done and leaves, Grunyak says, "Let's watch a while." A good place nearby with good visibility is what we need." "Let's pretend to leave and double back to those buildings and watch."
After doubling back and finding a vantage point to watch the shack from, Grunyak watches the guard for a few minutes and finds nothing of note.
Everyone else however notices that they seem listless, and sluggish in their movements, as if under the influence of drugs. After around 5 minutes or so of watching, the guard hasn't moved.
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Dru gives her share, and then some, with a coy wink at the "young entrepreneur"
Take care and keep quiet. If you ever hear something more about shiv deals and anything about the Brotherhood of the Spider, WITHOUT endangering yourself, and I insist on that point because it might get really dangerous, way more dangerous that what you might find usually dangerous, come back to us, Kestrel. If you can't find us into the streets, deliver the information to the guards. Ask for Captain Cora Crandon. And if you start having strange nightmares, put yourself out of harm, understand? Get as far from thhe district as you can.
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After Dru's warning to the guide and after he leaves. "Dru, you sound like his mother." " I just hope he is not going to tell the cultists we are coming."
After watching nothing happen for 10 or so minutes and after Taariik's statement, "Well, for a headquarters there is not much happening. I was hoping to get a feel for the number of folks in there. But, you are right this doesn't seem productive. But 5 armored warriors approaching the guard is going to change things in a hurry. Anyone have a more suttle approach idea?"
"Why, Subtle is my middle name!" Huxwren explains cheerfully. "What if I were to pretend to have a letter for this Greeley? Ooo! Or I've got a package for him! And he needs to sign for it! And then when he goes to get his pen, I'll cheerfully follow him inside. Then, when he calls the guards to escort be back outside, then the front door will be unguarded and you can waltz right in!" He beams. "It's foolproof!"
In the dark alley, with the waters of the bay lapping gently at the piers and boardwalk, and with drunken revellers singing to themselves as they move about, you plan in the shadows.
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Watching the guard, Eldrin taps his wayfinder absently while he considers. "I think a subtle approach might be best. I could make one of us invisible, then they could try and get closer to assess what we're dealing with.". He looks around at the group for a moment and then says "I don't like the idea of any of us going alone though. Perhaps a blending of Huxwren's idea and my own? One of us goes along invisibly to watch Huxwren's back."
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Grunyak thinks rubbing his head, "Could one of you cover our approach with fog or smoke? All we really need to do is get to the guard without him panicking and getting help. If we could just cover the last portion even. Where the guard is?" "Then we just hustle up to him and start asking questions."
"It just needs to almost seem natural though." "At least to be the most effective."
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Dru smiles after the "mother" remark
It's not a bad thing if you meet someone who genuinely cares for you, once in a while. The world is dark, cold and grim enough. Cayden is a protector to urchins and lost children, you know. Now, to the matter at hand. A ruse can be a good think. It's not a bad plan, but you might need protection. I can follow Huxwren, if you can make me unseen, Eldrin
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"Well I guess that will have to do. Eldrin, if you can make yourself and Dru invisible. Taariik can make himself vanish. Hux will approach and do this thing. I will hang back and pretend like I am just taking a walk... in full armor on a pier over water. It is not great but it will have to do."
Grunyak will hang back from Hux about 60 feet or so. He will walk with his hands in his pockets and whistling a soft tune. He will stroll stiff legged and very slowly.
After concocting your plan, you step forward ready to enact it.
"Grrrreetings!" Huxwren marches up to the guard at the pierhouse with a parchment-wrapped bundle under his arm. "Is this the residence of one Lord Greeley? I have been sent by His Graceful Lordship Sir Gallant Hallospire to deliver a package to his hands." The halfling makes a dramatic show of not letting the guard take the package. "I'm afraid His Lordship's directions were quite clear - from my hands to his. You may escort me to him." He nods towards the door expectantly.
As Huxwren walks down the pier, the guard looks up groggily, and knocks on the door, then watches Huxwren warily
When Huxwren approaches, the guard looks flustered, and from this close up Huxwren can see he's barely standing, he looks like he's mid shiver trip and is swaying on his feet.
"Whaa- I don't wan' any trouble.."