Once you land on the deck, three turnkeys rush out from the wheelhouse to confront you. There is an odd look in their eyes, though, one that you easily recognize as indicating that they are being controlled by some kind of enchantment. They stand no chance against Conna and Jordanna, who swiftly incapacitate them. You could try interrogating one or proceed into the barge’s hold.
Imperia wraps one of the men in her own enchantment and begins the now familiar process of pitting her will against the original enchantment.
"What is happening below?" She asks, repeating the question until she gets an answer. "What creature has enchanted you?"
The man can only tell you that some ghostly creature has invaded the barge, “feeding” upon the captives in the prison hold. He also reveals the password to bypass several glyphs of warding that protect the hold.
"Wonderful..." Imperia mutters, "Lead on Jordanna, and be wary."
She silences Conna before proceeding any further - just in case.
Several bulkheads split this long, dim hold, forming small cubbies or cells along the sides of the barge. Nearly two dozen ragged prisoners huddle in the cells, numb with unrelenting terror, moaning miserably or staring vacantly into space.
A pale young woman steps forward to greet you, though you cannot hear her words due to the silence effect. Still, you can feel magic trying to probe at your mind and read your thoughts, your ring of mind shielding foiling the attempt.
At a gesture from you, Jordanna pounces on the woman, quickly slaying her. But a grinning specter with mad eyes and blood red hands emerges from the corpse and tries to possess the changeling!
Jordanna barely manages to resist!
Imperia grasps Conna's shoulder and implants a gift of will before pulling out her wand of magic missiles and mentally commanding the halfling to fire!
Jordanna and Conna each only land one hit on the specter. It tries to dominate Conna, only to be foiled by your gift of will.
Logic dictates that the spirit will come for Imperia next but there is nothing else she can do other than blast the spirit before it gets a chance!
This round proves to be much better for you as the spirit takes several hits. Badly damaged, the spectre shrieks and flees the barge!
Imperia waves languidly and cancels the silencing effect. "You are free now." She says to the cowering nobles. "Come sirs, we must get you off this barge and back to your homes. Once you have confirmed your allegiance to the Queen of course."
You set out to determine which of the prisoners are actually loyal to House Thrune and which are simply self-serving (and should therefore remain imprisoned). Unfortunately, 12 of the 23 prisoners are suffering from feeblemind, so none of these prisoners can effectively respond to questioning until their faculties are restored. In addition, all of the prisoners, whether restored or unaffected, declare lifelong devotion to House Thrune and Cheliax to endear themselves to their liberators.
Your skills at manipulation make it easy to determine their true loyalties. Only nine of the 23 prisoners here (four of whom are affected by feeblemind) are loyalists who would genuinely rally their supporters for Thrune’s reconquest of Westcrown; the 14 remaining prisoners are merely opportunistic sycophants. Escorting the loyal prisoners to somewhere safe (such as the Qatada Nessudidia) assures their continued loyalty and support for House Thrune. You call some barbed devils to serve as new jailers before heading to Obrigan Gate.
Built into the 30-foot-high wall separating Rego Crua from Rego Cader, the Obrigan Gate is an imposing barrier three stories high. Two sets of forged iron double doors, 25 feet tall, stand on both ends of the gatehouse. Between these gates hang two iron portcullises. Two tall, narrow guard towers flank the gate on either side.
The doors and portcullises are rarely opened, and the denizens of Rego Cader have learned to keep out of bowshot of the rundottari in the guard towers. As a result, a posting at the Obrigan Gate is considered both dull and trivial. Nevertheless, the Glorious Reclamation deems the gate an important symbol of its stewardship of Westcrown, so the rundottari are vigilant despite the lack of action.
Two full squads of rundottari—12 elite dottari constables and two knight banneret lieutenants— are stationed at the Obrigan Gate at all times, one squad in each guard tower.
Imperia removes the feeblemind from one of the loyalist prisoners - providing both a salutatory demonstration of her powers and a subtle reminder of the rewards that loyalty can offer. Still, bigger things to be dealt with and the barbed devils serve very effectively as jailors.
----------------
Dealing with the gate promises to be straightforward. Imperia renders herself and Conna invisible, has Jordanna pick the lock on one of the doors and then casts a spell of confusion into the tower - letting the silent gunslinger and the invisible alchemist rend the distracted guards into tiny pieces.
The battle is straightforward indeed. It is nasty, brutish, and short, the dottari standing little chance against your might. Soon enough, all are dead and you can open the gate. You can let the monsters have free rein of the city, or you might be able to negotiate some sort of deal with one of the more intelligent creatures lurking in the ruins.
With the gates under her control Imperia leaves Conna to guard them for the moment and goes with Jordanna into the ruins in an attempt to locate a leader amongst the monsters - one who is able to think and therefore be accounted as a person rather than an animal.
You don’t have to go far. A ramshackle, abandoned tavern called the Gaunt Glutton lies just beyond the Obrigan Gate in Rego Cader. The peaked buildings and high wall separating this sector from Rego Crua cloak the area in shadow for most hours of the day.
Within, four vampires carouse under the watchful eye of some sort of fiend wearing the skin of a plump, pale rundottari, as well as a blood-soaked uniform. He grins. ”Name’s Skinless Sark. You the ones that killed the dottari at the gate?”
"Indeed." Imperia replies cooly. "Do you have some sort of control over the... denizens, of this district? I am willing to open the gates and allow you free reign in the city. For a time. Once the Glorious Reclamation is crushed and the forces of Her Infernal Majestrix reclaim the city then our arrangement would be at an end."
She waits with a single raised eyebrow - there isn't going to be much negotiation over this.
”Aye, some bow to my commands. We are happy to move into more populated hunting grounds. In exchange for free run of the city, I promise to focus our predations on the dottari to make your lives a bit easier. Sound good?”
"Until Her Majesties forces reclaim the city, we have a deal." Imperia agrees. "The gates will open in one hour."
Skinless Sark grins and shakes your hand. ”We have an accord.”
You call a squad of bearded devils to guard the Obrigan Gate before opening it and allowing the monsters inside. Screams echo into the night as the dottari scramble to deal with the sudden attacks around the city. That leaves the duxotar open to attack.
Duxotar Jharnavar can nearly always be found in the Ducotrion, a low, sprawling stone building that serves as the headquarters of the city’s dottari, centrally located in Rego Pena. Two full dottari patrols are normally stationed inside, but they are out dealing with the monsters.
You quickly sneak up to the duxotar’s office. s and shelves overflowing with files. The amount of bureaucratic work represented by the sea of paperwork is staggering. Perched around the room are several fist-sized glass bull statuettes.
Duxotar Ariende Jharnavar is a devastatingly handsome half-elven man with an open, cheerful countenance and an athletic build. He is accompanied by his eidolon, an imposing armor-clad angel named Righteousness who wields a bastard sword in each hand.
Righteousness grunts and turns to look around when you get close, sensing your presence. ”Is someone there?” Jharnavar calls out.
Imperia makes a split second decision and opts to paralyze the duxotar - the angel is a more unknown quantity. Conna, pre-emptively silenced of course, is given a mental nudge to shoot down the angel.
You paralyze Jharnavar, leaving him helpless as Jordanna and Conna slaughter his eidolon. All he can do is stare as death comes for him next.
With the duxotor brutally slain Imperia ransacks his body and office for anything useful and then leads her companions in a swift escape. Due to the darkness and the fact that Imperia is running somewhat low on magic she leads them back to the safety of the Asmodean temple - there to rest and recover for the next day.
When said day dawns she begins with calls on the nobility, intending to move on to the bridge afterwards.
Jharnavar’s desk contains detailed evaluations of the four durotasi (the captains of each parego) who report to Jharnavar directly, as well as several other high-ranking dottari officers. These evaluations indicate which officers are loyal to the Glorious Reclamation and which seem inappropriately supportive of the former regime of House Thrune. Jharnavar’s notes indicate that these officers are not exactly traitors, but he is keeping a close eye on them nonetheless.
You summon some imps to capitalize on this information, using their skills as tempted to further erode the conviction of those dottari officers whose loyalty to the Iomedaeans is already weak.
***
The next day, you prepare to meet clandestinely with the nobles of the city. Some of Westcrown’s most important noble families, such as House Tilernos, are unshakable allies of the Glorious Reclamation. Other families, such as House Drovenge and House Oberigo, no longer have enough influence to be of any use to you. Of the remaining major houses, three would likely make good candidates for confidential discussions: House Dioso, House Grulios, and House Salisfer. It’s your choice who to meet with first.
With the advice of Jarvazus, Imperia begins with House Salisfer. She has, strictly speaking, no license to make promises on the Queen's behalf but since this is for an excellent cause it seems likely that she can commit House Thrune to certain concessions, as long as they are not excessively onerous.
The thought of 'persuading' Abrogail brings a smile to Imperia's face and she announces herself at Vaeno Salisfer in a far more friendly fashion than she normally would because of it.
House Salisfer is a relatively small aristocratic family that has maintained its prominent position and significant wealth due to its studied neutrality (some would say cynical opportunism) in political affairs and its large contingent of skilled contract lawyers and information brokers. The family’s fortified Rego Laina estate, Vira Salisfer, is the center of upper-class society on the island of Islatra. Ursion Salisfer, a melodramatic patrician with a dazzling smile, serves as the family’s head and is nearly obsessive about putting his house’s many trade contracts into writing. House Salisfer has weathered the arrival of the Glorious Reclamation better than many other noble families, which Ursion credits to his keen diplomatic skills.
”Welcome, welcome!” Ursion says, rising to kiss your hand as you enter the meeting room. ”To what do I owe the honor of a visit from a lovely lady such as yourself?”
"The changing of political winds." Imperia replies, "We can all see that the Glorious Rebellion has little time left before the Imperial forces arrive and I am here to see what... incentives the crown might offer in order to be assured of your support."
Ursion sighs theatrically. "I see. Well, I can't say I didn't see this coming. Truth be told, I wouldn't be sad to see the Glorious Reclamation go. I am a fan of the theater, you see, especially the Theater Motrescci. Ever since the successful performance of 'The Six Trials of Larazod' a few years back, the so-called 'murderplays' were just starting to make a comeback before the Iomedaeans shut them down. They are turning Westcrown into a cultural backwater, quashing a centuries-long legacy of arts in the city! Promise me that House Thrune will restore the theaters to their former glory when they regain control of Westcrown, and I will pledge my family's support."
"Culture and the arts are part of what makes the Empire great." Imperia replies with an easy smile. "Westcrown's cultural scene has long been a jewel of the empire, I see no reason why Her Infernal Majestrix should wish for anything but that it return to its previous heights of cultural glory."
They are snake charmers words, exactly what her target wants to hear and committing to nothing - but Westcrown is a backwater now, no matter what her nobles may say. If one can survive in Ergorian then running rings around the Wiscrani is nothing.
Ursion eats up your words, and eagerly pledges his support, though he insists you put your agreement in writing! Now it's on to the next family: either House Dioso or House Grulios.
Putting an agreement in writing is simple - Imperia summons a contract devil from the Inferno Gate to add extra gravitas to the proceedings and once the contract is signed tells the devil to remain ready, she will call upon him again no doubt.
She proceeds to the nearest house, which proves to be Dioso, intent on securing all their support as swiftly as possible. With Infernal Contracts to keep them all in line she has no worries about them reneging, but speed is still her ally - the Rebellion still has considerable forces.
The Dioso family occupies Vaneo Dioso, the largest and most elegant manor house on the island of Triam, financed by generations of control of Westcrown’s organized crime. Sour-faced, sharp-eyed Scategi Dioso has been matriarch of House Dioso for many years. Despite her lifelong
criminal connections, the haughty noblewoman skillfully navigated her family through both the downfall of the Council of Thieves and the inquests of the Glorious Reclamation.
It is a fairly open secret that House Dioso was one of the key families behind Westcrown’s legendary thieves’ guild, the Council of Thieves. A few years ago, the Council was exposed and its leaders slain, leaving the organization a mere shadow of its former power and influence. You have heard rumors that Scategi has been surreptitiously pulling together a network of former operatives in an attempt to seize control of the Council of Thieves’ remnants herself and expand its operations once more. The arrival of the Glorious Reclamation has delayed Scategi’s plans, as many of her operatives have been jailed or executed.
Scategi agrees to meet with you somewhat reluctantly. "I am a very busy woman, as I am sure you are aware," she says haughtily. "I hope you have come with an offer worthy of my time."
"A free hand once Westcrown returns to Imperial rule." Imperia replies, getting straight to the point. "Your loyalty to the crown must be absolute of course, but Ergorian has always been content to let Westcrown manage its own affairs and as long as Westcrown and its noble families remain loyal I see no reason why this should change."
It would be more accurate to say that she doesn't care if it should change, but that would be less than diplomatic.
Scategi is content accepting your words at face value, agreeing to support House Thrune.
You head to the last of the major houses, House Grulios. House Grulios is a sprawling clan with numerous branches of the family spread throughout Westcrown. The patriarch of the family, Asad Grulios, is a harried, balding man. He manages his family’s banking interests from the family estate, Vira Grulios, whose red-topped towers are a striking sight on the skyline of western Triam island.
You know that House Grulios keeps very few slaves for a family of its size. You also recall rumors that a few of Asad’s children surreptitiously support the Bellflower Network, the underground organization dedicated to freeing halfling slaves.
You could either threaten to expose Asad's family as seditionists and traitors, or you could lie and assure Asad that slavery will be curtailed in Westcrown under Thrune's restored rule.
Imperia summons the contract again to ensure Scategi's support - the old woman is slippery and she wants a little infernal power ensuring compliance.
"Now, Lord Grulios, Imperial rule will be returning to Westcrown in the near future. I am here to ensure that the nobility is on side and ready to welcome Her Infernal Majestrix's return. Now it of no concern to me how a family manages their own affairs or their own estates - and if they choose to spend large amounts on hired labour then that is between them and their finances. What I cannot, and will not, accept is any hint of sedition or active work against Imperial rule. As the Rebellion has been in charge recently some small acts to keep your family on the right side of the immediate power might be excused, but should that continue once they have been crushed... well, then the family would wish that they had signed up to the Rebellion whole-sale. At least then their end would have been quick."
Imperia fixes Asad Grulios with a cold eye. "I trust we understand each other, my Lord?"
"Y-yes, we understand very well, milady," Asad grovels. He signs whatever contract you show to him to avoid repercussions.
With the nobles on your side, you head to Bladewing Bridge. This stone bridge is thirty feet wide and over a hundred feet long. Along the edges of the bridge stand stalls with colorful awnings, each vying to attract the eye of visitors entering the city. Stylized pegasi are carved into the old stone of the bridge; their wings seem formed of swords rather than feathers. Two rearing pegasus statues stand at the bridge’s midpoint. Thirty feet below the bridge lay the dark, still waters of a wide canal. A stone staircase connects the southeastern corner of the bridge to the canal’s eastern bank.
Named for the designs on its carvings and statuary, the Bladewing Bridge is the westernmost of the two Pegasus Bridges that span the Canaroden, Westcrown’s longest and deepest canal, which separates Rego Crua from Rego Scripa. Eager vendors occupy the bridge’s market stalls from dawn until just after dusk. Traders at the west end of the bridge target visitors to Westcrown, selling items such as simple maps of the city or providing directions to lodgings or markets for a small fee. Merchants at the east end focus on people leaving the city, hawking rations, wilderness gear, and other items for overland travel. All of them have wary looks about them, nervous about the recent chaos that has plagued the city.
Several guards keep a careful eye on anyone crossing the bridge or navigating the canal beneath it. Six dottari stand near the western end of the bridge, questioning newcomers as to their business. In addition, two sky wardens—elite Glorious Reclamation knights mounted on half-celestial flame drakes—perch atop the pegasus statues in the middle of the bridge, regularly scanning traffic on the bridge and canal below.
Imperia withdraws her collection of wands, equipping Conna with fly, heroism and silence, and both herself and Jordanna with heroism.
"You two deal with the drakes." She commands before casting the silence spell. "I will tie the dottari up."
She waits until Jordanna and Conna are in a position to begin their attack and then renders herself invisible before afflicting the six dottari with confusion.
As the dottatri succumb to confusion, Jordanna slaughters a drake while Conna shoots its paladin rider to death!
The other sky warden cries out in shock, spurring her mount to battle. She smites Jordanna as she rides by, sharing the smite with her drake.
All the paladin manages to do is destroy a mirror image. Jordanna impales both paladin and mount as they fly by, nearly killing the knight in one blow. She and Conna quickly mop up the enemies before elminating the dottari. The merchants scream in panic and scatter in the face of your swift and brutal victory!
Imperia and her minions valued colleagues make a swift get away, since remaining at the scene is unwise - but the sheer brutality of the spectacle should serve to underline quite firmly that the Glorious Reclamation is decidedly not as in control as they wise to have the populace believe.
Returning to the Temple as swiftly as possible, Imperia regroups with High Priest Jarvazus to dispatch a powerful squad of devils to hold the bridge and then to decide how to strike at the rebellion next.
"Well done," Jarvaxus says. "Before you attack the Grand Marshal, there are still two targets you should take out--the planetar Aveshiel and Second Sword Knight Bellinia Dorjana. It won't be hard to track down Aveshiel, but her true seeing ability will make it difficult to get the drop on her. However, Aveshiel’s normal route through the city has a blind spot where the angel passes a warehouse bordering a public square at the base of Aroden’s Rise in Rego Sacero; you could remain out of sight there until you attack.
"Dorjana currently lives in the Dorjanala, a grand palace in Rego Corna built 3 centuries ago for her ancestor, the pious Queen Dorjana. Get inside and you will have a chance to take her out."
"This Dorjana is a cleric?" Imperia asks, making plans. "I also need to find the Taldan ambassador, do you know where he is located? I will strike at him last I think. Dorjana first - since her absence will be the least visible. Then the planetar, and finally the ambassador. I will have to return him to Egorian but I hope to return to you by nightfall, your Eminence."
"Yes, she is the highest-ranking cleric of Iomedae in Cheliax. Bellinia was born with a magic silvery orb inscribed with Iomedae’s holy symbol in place of her right eye, and is known as Bellinia Silvereye because of it.
"Vors Kyniar of Oppara is Taldor’s ambassador to Cheliax. He is a paladin of Iomedae and no supporter of House Thrune. Ambassador Kyniar lives in a penthouse on the top floor of the Trivardum, an elegant market and office building in Rego Laina. You'll likely find him hiding there."
"My thanks once again." Imperia says with a regal nod, before collecting her companions and heading for the Dorjanala.
Once there she simply uses the wand of Dimension Door to move herself, Conna and Jordanna inside, having had Jordanna hand out invisibility all round.
You spot Bellinia through the windows of the Dorjanala's conservatory and invisibly teleport within. Glass walls divided into gothic windows by metal frames surround this high-ceilinged conservatory. The walls curve towards each other at the top, three stories high, creating a long metal seam that runs across the center. While the windows on the south wall are whole, several on the north and east walls are badly cracked, and some are missing entirely. The south wall provides a panoramic view of the massive statue of Aroden that stands above the city.
On the floor of the conservatory, white-painted footpaths wind around clusters of trees and bushes. Thousands of holy symbols, each bearing a longsword in a sunburst, hang like sacred fruit from the greenery. A plain marble altar with a glowing sword driven point-first into its top stands in front of the eastern wall. Two rows of white pews face the altar.
Second Sword Knight Bellinia Dorjana, aka. Bellinia Silvereye, is here, repairing windows on the north side of the conservatory with mending and make whole spells. Bellinia is a stout, pale woman with a mane of curly blonde hair, a small nose, and a silver orb inscribed with Iomedae’s holy symbol in her right eye socket. Like most Iomedaeans in Westcrown, she regularly wears her armor, even when engaged in as mundane a task as window repair, and has her sword at her side. Focused on her work, she does not notice you moving into position...
Imperia silences Conna before entering and then reaches out to paralyze the cleric, snapping her fingers as she does so to alert Jordanna!
Mere seconds after Bellinia seizes up from your spell, Jordanna drives her spear into her chest, delivering a coup de grace that slays the Second Sword Knight! She dies before she even realizes she was under attack.
In the wake of her death, you are able to summon devils to capitalize on your achievement. As the most powerful cleric in Westcrown, Bellinia enjoyed great influence in both the city and among the ranks of the Glorious Reclamation. A heresy devil would be the best choice to poison Westcrown’s church of Iomedae from within. Indeed, you can even summon your old friend Visperthul to enjoy even greater success!
It suits Imperia's sense of humor to summon Visperthul from the depths of the Whisperwood and set him to work demoralising the Rebellion and poisoning the church of Iomedae. She also has Jordanna leave Silver-eye's armour and helm in front of her altar, as though the cleric abandoned them. She makes sure to clean up all the blood - using magic of course, just to sell the story a little more.
With that done Imperia sets out for the suggested ambush site, reviewing what she knows of planetars as she goes.
You know quite a bit about planetars, indeed. You plan your attack and set up at the ambush site. Sure enough, after a couple hours of waiting, the planetar comes into sight. Muscular, bald, and tall, this humanoid creature has emerald skin and two pairs of shining, white-feathered wings. You have but a moment to launch your attack before they notice you!
Imperia merely gestures, the sign for Conna and Jordanna to attack. She herself throws some of her mightiest magic at the angel, attempting to end the fight as swiftly as Silver-eye.
Though your spell falters, Jordanna pounces, landing three strikes. Conna misses with her shot.
The visions of blood overwhelm Aveshiel though, leaving them stunned and unable to fight back as your minions slaughter them!
A very small part of Imperia is sorry that the angel doesn't put up more of a fight, but practicality wins out every day and with Jordanna claiming the angels mighty greatsword they move on to the Taldan ambassador!