Doctor Rohalendi's house is located just south of the town's walls. Fifteen years ago, Gerya Rohalendi opened her home to an elderly retiree who could no longer live alone. In doing so, she realized that dozens of Longacre’s elderly were struggling to survive and faced uncertain futures. Over several years, she transformed her home into a charity hospice, opening her doors to those in need of medical care and devoting herself to offering the heroes of her country and community dignity in their advanced years. Rohalendi currently shares her home with five local seniors in need of assistance.
The doctor looks harried, but she forces a smile to greet you. "Of course! It would be my pleasure to help when your maidservant is ready for delivery," she says after you explain Jordanna's condition. "I don't make house calls, though. I can't leave my wards alone for any extended length of time. You'll have to bring her here."
"Hopefully she'll be in a fit state to travel." Imperia replies, "You seem very busy, would you like some help? I find myself at something of a loose end this morning so I'd be happy to offer my services. Although I don't do well with bodily fluids..." She admits with an all too real shudder. "I'd be happy to provide company for your residents and do anything else that might help though."
Rohalendi seems surprised by your offer. "Oh! Yes, I would much appreciate that. I'll show you where you can help..."
You pass most of the day caring for the seniors in the hospice. You return back to your home to enjoy a tasty meal that Sally has prepared before turning in for the night.
***
The next day passes without much happening. More flyers have shown up around town again, and Cimri has been thus far unsuccessful in her attempts to find the person responsible.
***
On the morning of your fourth day in Longacre, Mr. Ingoe passes along an interesting letter he intercepted before it could be sent. The letter is from Doctor Rohalendi to her cousin, a lesser noble named Nivianne Giatanno, in Remesiana. In the letter, the doctor laments that she has just been informed she owes 300 gp in back taxes, a sum she is unable to pay. Although she has a little money to keep things running for a few more weeks, unless she can come up with some means of paying her debt, she’ll have to close the hospice, and she doesn’t know how to tell the people who depend on her...
How interesting... Imperia muses, reading the letter for the third time. The Doctor might be open to some pressure...
Helping at the hospice is not too onerous a task and provides a rather good cover for Imperia as a woman of means with a certain level of community spirit - most appropriate for an Abadarian! Thus she heads down to the hospice at her usual time, having made sure to purchase a good apron to save her normal clothes.
"So," She comments lightly as she works alongside Rohelendi. "I've been speaking to a few of the patients and some of them are saying that their rheumatism is playing up in the cold. I located some blankets at my new home, they're a little dusty but I'd be happy to bring them down to the hospice once they've been aired. If you think it would help of course Doctor."
The doctor smiles warmly. "Yes, that would be perfect. Thank you, Imperia! Your help has truly been a blessing."
"I'm happy to help." Imperia replies. "Your hospice is a real boon to this community Gerya, if there's ever anything you need please ask. Anything I can do, just let me know."
She smiles and heads back to Mr Furston.
The rest of the day is quiet, as is the next one. Finally, on the morning of the sixth day, Cimri knocks on your door. "Whew! Finally found the little bugger who's been spreading those flyers around! I camped out by the town post and saw Caswella Runder skulking about with a stack of the papers! The slip is a stocker at Gield's General Store."
"Well done Cimri." Imperia says, giving the girl a pat on the head. "That's excellent work to have found her so quickly. Now I'd like you to keep an eye on that slip. I want to know if she's making the pamphlets herself or getting them from someone else. If she's putting out recruitment posters then that suggests a purpose so keep your ears open too, we need to know what's going on."
Imperia visits the goods store a couple of times - once as herself to chat with the sisters and catch up on all the latest gossip. She casually mentions how she could use some extra help and asks where they got their slip 'since she seems to be very helpful' and gently probes for information.
She returns later, cloaked in glammer, and browses slowly - taking the opportunity to watch the halfling, focusing on who she interacts with and how she does so...
Cimri bristles a bit at the condescending pat, but she nods.
The Gield sisters tell you Caswella is a free halfling who is a native of Longacre. She's a spinster with no other local family members.
Observing the middle-aged halfling, you see that she performs her job without complaint. But you occasionally catch her casting furtive glances about, and she slips away to the basement several times during her breaks...
Imperia files that note away for later - perhaps Cimri's talents extend to petty larceny... but given that there is little else to do until nightfall she enjoys her day wandering around the town. Best not to press the Doctor just yet. Let her turn over her predicament and decide whether Imperia's help is a price she's willing to pay.
That night she tasks Cimri with breaking into the basement, while she and Jordanna keep watch...
Cimri easily breaks into the basement. Once inside, it’s clear that Caswella has been using the room as a base to create the propaganda she has been spreading throughout town! It’s clear that the halfling is doing all of this of her own volition, without the Gierd sisters’ knowledge. Now you just have to decide what to do about her...
"There is no simple way to take advantage of this." Imperia concludes, once safely ensconced in her living room once more. "Without a concrete connection to the Angel Knight this slip is simply a fool with too much imagination. I will inform the baron, but she is little more than a loose end - unless one of you disagrees?" She asks to Jordanna and Cimri both.
Neither Cimri nor Jordanna disagree. Once word reaches the baron, he sends his guards to arrest Caswella and make a public display of burning the flyers she has been making to show the consequences for defying his will.
***
The rest of the day is uneventful, and you reach the week mark of your time in Longacre. You travel up to Scarlet Crown to meet with Archbaron Fex and receive your payment for the upcoming week. "You have done well so far in helping to keep the peace. I am grateful to have a competent ally in this endeavor."
"It is my pleasure." Imperia replies, meeting politeness with politeness. "Rooting out the source of the rebelliousness will be difficult without a direct confrontation with the Angel Knight but so far I have no leads as to how to find her. Should that change I will of course inform you at once. Good day Baron."
Imperia spends some time seeing to her own outgoings, including Ingoe, before considering her options.I should visit Mr Kels, see if he has anything he is willing to share with his muse...
You find Riley Kels at the Last Stand tavern. While the bartender gives you a dirty look, he doesn't dare to speak against your presence after last time.
The bard, meanwhile, grins and waves you over. "Hello, milady!" he says, kissing your hand dramatically. "I've just finished the chorus of my song for you. Want to hear it?"
He strums his lute and sings awkwardly:
Titania, Titania!
Your lovely looks drive me to mania!
You make me go insane-ia!
Titania!
"A positive, Mr Kels." Imperia replies, trying to give the bard the positive reinforcement that he wants, but clearly doesn't deserve. "I look forward to hearing the rest. So, tell me, apart from performing and your composition what do you do to enjoy yourself around here? Have you met any more muses recently?"
She tries to keep the conversation light, so as not to make the direction of her questioning too obvious, although she doesn't hold out any great hopes.
You make inane small talk with the bard for a while, but once it becomes clear he has nothing more of value to contribute, you mercifully beg your leave from the vapid man.
***
The next morning, Cimri arrives with a new development. "Couldn't help but notice the Castle Gate is standing open. By the archbaron's decree, the gate should be closed, but no one's guarding the tower. Might be worth checking out to see what's going on there."
"Most strange." Imperia agrees. "Perhaps my morning walk will take me that way. It would be most pleasant to see you there." She doesn't wink, that would be beneath her dignity, but her tone very much implies it.
About half an hour later she does indeed direct her morning walk towards the Castle Gate.
Jordanna follows Imperia for her "walk." The clothes and armor the alchemist commissioned are complete, and now she wears studded leather custom crafted to allow her arms, legs, and back to remain exposed so that the soft fur there doesn't catch. Her huge belly is bare as well, the changeling proudly displaying the scars on it.
Cimri meets the two changelings at the gate, which indeed hangs open. A small house sits nearby, home to the gatekeepers who are supposed to be manning it. A rickety wooden door leads inside the Castle Gate’s stone tower, though it seems to have been barricaded from the other side.
"Stay here." Imperia commands her companions before turning her steps to the cottage where she knocks.
"Excuse me? Is the gate meant to be open? When I walked past yesterday it was shut and I thought there was a decree of some sort to this effect? Have I been misinformed?"
The gatekeepers are an old married couple named Bo and Dent. They shrug. "Wasn't us. We haven't been there yet today. Maybe it was the ghost of the gate, pissed that he isn't getting visitors any more."
The comment sounds flippant, but you can sense the old man's earnestness.
"Thank you for your time." Imperia says politely, waiting for the old couple to return inside their house before returning to her companions.
"The gatekeepers claims there is some sort of ghost opening the gates." She says. "I suspect sabotage or someone hiding in the tower. We shall investigate. Cimri, you have the sharpest eyes I think."
She gestures for the scoundrel to lead the way.
In anticipation, Jordanna drinks a bubbling concoction. Her muscles bulge and her features take on a more bestial aspect as the mutagen takes effect. Grinning savagely, the alchemist easily shoves the door open, knocking over several crates that have been stacked on the other side.
The single room inside the tower’s base is drafty. The interior of the tower is completely open between the stone floor and the flat wooden roof 20 feet overhead, interrupted only by supporting crossbeams and a well-used ladder that ends at an open hatch.
The pulley mechanism controlling the gate is situated in the southern wall, but the ropes have been cut, making the mechanism useless. "Looks like something with tiny teeth chewed through it," Jordanna snarls.
After looking around the room, Cimri starts climbing up the ladder. When she is 10 feet up, though, a chest suddenly falls down from the trapdoor above, striking the rogue. She curses in pain but maintains her grip.
"Ouch! Bastard!" Angered, Cimri climbs up even frther, but when she gets to the top 5-foot-sectoin of the ladder, the rungs snap and she plummets to the floor, landing hard on her back.
"Son of a b*+&*! Ouch!"
"Some something up there has a habit of setting traps..." Imperia muses. "Jordanna, it looks like the way is clear."
As the alchemist climbs Imperia gives Cimri a hand up and then makes her own way up the ladder.
The roof of the Castle Gate’s tower provides a nearly unobstructed view of all of Longacre. Even the your manor house and Scarlet Crown are visible in the distance. Aside from the view, a simple chair sits beneath a faded periwinkle canopy.
Hissing angrily, a tiny creature slinks out from beneath the chair. Covered in sleek black fur, this vaguely feline humanoid holds flickering flames in its clawed hand. "This is my gate! You'll not keep it closed!" he hisses.
"It's a bloody house spirit. A faerie," Jordanna growls.
"Fire's no good. We flank it! Cimri!" Jordanna moves to one side of the fey and Cimri the other as they attack with spear and kukri. Jordanna hits but Cimri just comes up short.
With little in the way of offensive magic Imperia focuses her gaze on the creature to amplify the pain it suffers and throws a ball of acid at it.
The faerie leaps at Jordanna, thrusting its flaming fist towards her. The changeling snarls in pain as the flames burn her.
Jordanna and Cimri attack again, this time the rogue landing a good sneak attack!
This time Imperia lands a hit right on the end of the monsters nose!
The acid burns the fey slightly, but she burns Jordanna worse+
Barely conscious, Jordanna tears into a vial in viral bandolier, healing herself, before delivering the killing blow to the faerie!
"Well fought!" Imperia congratulates both of her minions, before examining the roof of the tower in case of any other surprises. Jordanna will heal herself, that's one of the reasons Imperia 'hired' her in the first place.
Looking inside the chest the fey dropped on Cimri, you find a masterwork light crossbow and a bag of holding (type I) containing six flasks of alchemist’s fire and a thunderstone.
Jordanna eagerly collects the dead faerie's body to harvest for alchemical reagents. You are able to repair the winch and close Castle Gate again.
***
The rest of the day and the next are uneventful. On the morning of the tenth day in Longacre, Mr. Ingoe passes along another letter from Doctor Rohalendi. Again, the doctor is writing her cousin Nivianne Giatanno in Remesiana. Along with general gossip and continuing worries about her hospice, Rohalendi also mentions her concerns about Archbaron Fex’s recent decrees and the rising rebellious sentiment in town. She even notes that there’s someone the people call the Angel Knight who’s encouraging the townspeople to organize and revolt. Rohalendi says she doesn’t know anything about the rebels, but she wonders if maybe they’d be able to take in or otherwise help some of her patients if she has to close the hospice...
"This is for you Cimri." Imperia says, handing over the crossbow. "A bonus for all your hard work today." The mesmerist does not demure at Jordanna's avid collection of all things potentially alchemical - passing on the thunderstone and alchemists fire without quibble.
"Now I have a small purchase to make in town." She says, "Take that thing back to the house and I will meet you there later."
-----------------------------------------
The second letter gives Imperia pause. "I have to move and soon, if Gerya falls in with the Angel Knight then there is no hope for her." Oddly she feels a pang at that, the doctor is a good woman, trying her best for the community - she doesn't deserve to be pulled into the arms of rabblerousers who don't bother thinking about consequences.
With those thoughts swirling Imperia collects up another bundle of fabric (old curtains - but warm enough) and heads to the hospice. Having dispersed the curtains to some of the veterans who are still dab hands with needles and thread she takes the doctor aside. "Gerya, I'm sorry if I'm being intrusive but you haven't seemed... yourself the past few days? Is there anything I can do to help? Come to the hospice more often? If you need a day off I'm sure I could manage with Jordanna's help for a day. You look like you need a break." She offers a small smile and places her hand on top of the doctor's. "I know I'm still new to town but if you want to just sit down and talk with a cup of tea I'd be very willing to do so." Oddly enough not a word of that is a lie - Imperia can't help but admire the doctor for what she does and she really would like to sit down with the woman for a cup of tea. The fact that is serves a larger goal is helpful but Imperia has to admit, if only to herself, that she would probably do it anyway.
Gerya sighs and wipes at her brow, forcing a wan smile. ”Tea would be lovely, actually. I spend so much time worrying about my wards that I scarcely take time to care for myself.”
"Well let's fix that then." Imperia replies with a smile. It takes fifteen minutes to make sure that all the patients are doing well but then Imperia ushers Gerya firmly to a table and puts tea in her hands.
"Sit and drink." Imperia says. "Then you can tell me what has you so worried."
Gerya nods and sips the tea. "Well, truth be told, my current woes are largely financial ones. I'm not making nearly enough money to keep the hospice open for much longer. I am in significant debt, with no clear path forward."
"Then you will let me help you." Imperia says at once, in a tone that brokes no disagreement. "I got my house for practically nothing and there's plenty of the former occupants plate still in there. Nothing could be a better use of that than helping your hospice stay open. Have you considered seeking sponsorship? From the church of Iomedae or even the Archbaron? It might help soften his image."
She leans over the table to take one of Gerya's hands. "I mean what I say Gerya, I want to help. Now how much do you need?"
Gerya sniffles and looks down at the floor. "My debts amount to over 300 gold pieces! I couldn't possibly ask that of you, Imperia!"
"You aren't asking, I'm offering." Imperia says firmly. "I like Longacre, and I like a lot of the people in it too. Especially the ones with kind hearts." She fixes Gerya's eyes for a moment. "My family has always been in the military and no army in the world does enough for its veterans, it is a good thing to use my money to help them now. But I do want something in return. You need to speak out Gerya, try to calm the people down. I haven't been here long but I can sense that the mood in town is growing restless. If respected townsfolk like yourself don't do something about it we'll have a lot more maimed and cripples in town, because I don't see the Archbaron dealing with this gently... we need to defuse tensions now." She squeezes the doctors hand. "First thing tomorrow I will go to the notary and pay off your debt, it's the least I can do."
Gerya wipes tears from her eyes. ”I will do as you ask. Bless you, Imperia! You are truly a godsend!”
The doctor is good to her word, and you notice a marked downturn in rebellious whispers among the townsfolk, though the sentiment remains an undercurrent...
***
Two nights later, you are on your way back with Jordanna from talking business with Mr. Ingoe down by the docks. As you make your day through the darkened streets of Longacre, the flatter of a can gets your attention.
Your darkvision allows you to see two young men attempting, quite poorly, to sneak through the shadows. They wear scraps from a torn white robe over their faces as masks, but it’s obvious that these are the twin sons of Sword Knight Allamar from the church of Iomedae...
Imperia shares a glance with Jordanna and then motions to the boys. She is no expert in the department of stealth, but sixty feet is a long way in darkness so she simply keeps them at the edge of her vision and follows...
Oblivious to the changelings following them, the Allamar boys creep over to the town's jail. There, one of them produces a set of thieves tools and begins fumbling at the lock...
"Is there anyone in the jail right now?" Imperia whispers to Jordanna. It isn't something she's made her business to know.
"That halfling who was posting propaganda throughout town," Jordanna replies.
"Interesting." Imperia replies. "Run and get the guard. I'll make sure they don't leave."
Jordanna runs off. After several failed attempts, the brothers get the lock open. They look around before slipping into the building...
Imperia gives them thirty seconds or so before walking calmly across the square to the jail. She casts a spell before going in and walks in and shuts the door behind her.
"Good evening, gentlemen." She says politely. "I didn't realise that you two were members of the town guard. That's very civic-ly minded of you. No doubt you forgot your keys, which is why you had to get through the padlock. Careless of course, but no-ones fault."
The boys turn around from where they had been fumbling at the door to Caswella's cell. They look at Imperia with wide eyes.
"Who's she?" one asks the other.
"Don't know. A spy for Fex, perhaps! We can't let her report us!" the other says.
"Let's get out of here!" the first agrees.
"Come now boys. Your mother would be very disappointed!" Imperia says sternly.
One of the brothers stops short, a look of regret in his eyes. "Mother! No, please, don't tell her! We're sorry!"
The other one scowls. "Loran, come on! We have to go!" He clutches his holy symbol of Iomedae and intones a prayer, filling the jail with obscuring mist.
"Loran, stop your brother please, we all need to talk." Imperia says, stepping backwards to the door.