"Well fought ladies." Imperia says, "Although I deplore yet anothe life lost for Oppians foolishness."
She opens the double doors with a flourish and spends a few minutes examining the maps while the others check for threats. When none are forthcoming she sighs. "We must press on."
A long stone staircase ascends in a curve along the northwest wall of this lofty circular chamber; a second staircase to the southeast descends to the level below. Dozens of niches are embedded in the walls of the room, each containing a stone statue and a bronze plaque.
This chamber is a memorial to the previous high priests of Valor’s Fastness, each of whom is represented by one of the fine sculptures in the alcoves, their names and titles inscribed on the bronze plaques. Several alcoves remain empty for future expansion.
As Zara steps foot in the room, she triggers a magical trap! A column of divine flames roars down to engulf the Hellknight!
She dodges the worst of the flames, warding them off with her shield. "Ouch. I'll take those healing potions now," she grumbles.
Zara chugs them all, nearly all of her wounds disappearing. "Thanks. We must be getting close."
"They will be expecting us." Imperia warns, "Tread carefully..." She looks ahead for signs of magic, something she probably should have done before...
Jordanna drinks a barkskin extract and passes a second to Zara. She follows it up with a shield extract and holds her enlarge person at the ready.
The stairs continue climbing along the walls of the tower, curving upward toward a break in the stone ceiling above. As you approach the top of the spire, though, an archon flies down to confront you. This celestial knight bears a flaming javelin as she flies through the air on metallic wings that seem to grow from her armor. "You will trespass no further in this holy fane!" she declares.
Jordanna drinks her extract, growing in height and using her superior reach to stab at the archon! She fails to penetrate its armor. Zara switches to her crossbow but misses as well.
The archon hurls its javelin, but Jordanna's shield deflects it. Another javelin appears in her hand!
Imperia pulls out a scroll as they ascend and, as the archon attaccks, reads aloud to summon an air elemental!
Jordanna misses again as she flaps her wings to keep the archon in melee with her. Zara lands a good hit with her crossbow.
The archon flies back a few feet again and strikes Jordanna with her javelin!
Imperia successfully finishes casting her summon spell, and a large air elemental appears! It transforms into a whirlwind and batters the archon, but the celestial avoids getting sucked up in the wind.
Imperia draws a wand this time and fires a barrage of missiles at the archon.
Jordanna misses yet again. She snarls in frustration! Zara reloads her crossbow.
The archon produces a flaming greatsword out of thin air and attacks the elemental, delivering a powerful blow.
The elemental returns to its normal shape as it attacks with its fists!
Imperia tries the wand again, not keen to risk her own magic against the creature.
Jordanna and Zara miss, but Imperia's magic missiles make a dent in the archon's armor. The archon attacks the elemental again, but misses this time.
The elemental pummels the archon some more! The badly wounded angel is starting to falter!
The wand seems to be somewhat defective Imperia decides.
Jordanna misses, Zara reloads, the archon misses, and the elemental lands one hit!
Getting frustrated Imperia glowers at the angel!
Zara lands a lucky shot with her crossbow, and Imperia's glower distracts the archon enough to cause her to miss. The elemental lands a final crushing blow, and the angel plummets out of the air, crashing to the floor far below and lying still!
"Bah! Stupid archon!" Jordanna snarls in frustration at her ineffectiveness in combat.
"Onwards while the elemental lingers!" Imperia commands, reassuring Jordanna can come later.
You swiftly command the elemental to grab a hold of you and Zara and rush up to the top of the stairs, with Jordanna flapping her feathery wings to follow behind with Jalila in tow.
No walls enclose this circular space high above the temple. Instead, regularly spaced pillars frame open archways around the chamber’s circumference and support a domed roof above. On a plinth beneath the center of the dome stands a stone statue depicting the goddess Iomedae bestowing an intricately crafted longsword upon a kneeling noble.
The whole of Kantaria is visible from the rotunda. Fourth Sword Knight Oppian Nevilindor, high priest of Iomedae and governor of Kantaria, kneels before the statue, opposite the stairs. As you arrive he slowly stands and turns to regard you, his face awash with anguish. "Why?" he asks. "Why do you bring such ruin upon me?"
"Because the Glorious Reclamation is blinded by its own light!" Imperia replies. "Has it ever occured to you that the Lord Marshal was wrong? That she simply desired power and to wield Hearts Edge for herself? Your goddess is pure but her instruments are flawed. Surrender Oppian, your time is done!"
"Please, Oppian," Jalila begs. "We don't want to hurt you. The people of Kantaria are suffering because of what we have done. Lay down your sword."
Oppian's glower deepens. "No, this is not my doing. This is hers!" He points an accusing finger at Imperia. "You ally yourself with monsters. You corrupt my friends. You.. you seduce the woman I pine for! The only way this ends is with your death! For victory! For the heart!"
"I look out for the people!" Imperia hisses. "I see you all for what you are!"
She snaps her fingers and blinds Oppian with, ironically, light before stepping out of the way for her combat troops.
Jordanna and Zara miss with their opening attacks, and Oppian resists being blinded. The elemental tries to suck him up in a whirlwind but he manages to avoid getting trapped within, though he is still battered.
Oppian raises his sword, which glows with holy white light, as he attacks Zara! She counters his attacks!
Imperia resorts to the wand once again, still unwilling to paralyze Oppian unless it becomes necessary.
Your magic missiles slam into Oppian. As Jordanna shifts into a flanking position with Zara, her belly shudders as the tumorous child inside emerges! Swiftly growing to the height of a man, it bites at Oppian, its poison sapping his strength! Zara lands a hit on the cleric while the elemental slams him twice before it disappears.
Though badly hurt, Oppian is too fanatic to even entertain the idea of surrendering. He raises his sword and calls upon the Inheritor as he tries to smite Zara. He slices into her and shoves her back away from him, then turns on the demon child but doesn't hit it.
"Surrender you fool!" Imperia calls, as much for show as anything else, before firing more missiles at him.
"I will suffer death before dishonor!" Oppian shouts as the missiles slam into him.
The priest's eyes widen and he lurches as Jordanna's spear stabs him through the chest. "Death it is, then, fool," the alchemist snarls. Oppian's sword and shield fall from his hands, and as blood pours from his wounds, the light in his eyes dims and he slumps to the floor.
Jalila cries out as she is engulfed in bright white light. When it fades, you can see that the tattoos describing the Eleven Acts of Iomedae that had previously adorned her body have vanished. The monk stares at her bare arms in shock. "The Inheritor has forsaken me," she says softly.
Imperia moves to Jalila and takes the woman in her arms. "So much the better Jalila. Now you are free, free to follow your own path and do what you understand to be right, not just what the Inheritor commands. Live Jalila, live for yourself and be free." She places a soft kiss on the woman's brow and then looks around.
"He will receive a proper burial." She decrees, "But for now we must ensure that the Fastness is secured. We do not need any zealots trying for martyrdom." She looks to Jalila, "Then you should probably convene a meeting of the governing council - they are in charge now."
The few remaining priests inside Valor's Fastness surrender once they are made aware of Oppian's death. Searching the temple fortress reveals no further treasure, though in Oppian's personal chambers, you do find a partial confession letter that the priest has penned:
May this letter find its way into good hands,
I write this knowing that my time as Kantaria’s protector is drawing to a close. Forces loyal to House Thrune have usurped the work we’ve done in restoring Kantaria to the light, and even now, I fear they march on our last remaining bastion. I am not certain who my foes are, but I have my suspicions, and I’m sure to see them confirmed at the top of this temple’s spire, where I take refuge and pray to Iomedae for guidance and absolution for the choices I’ve made.
Ever since my blade ended the life of my friend Tychus Groat, I have doubted the price of Kantaria’s supposed freedom. Is the betterment of life for a people already managing to endure in the harshest of lands worth so much pain? I don’t know. I doubt I ever will know. But I believe that what will befall me is my penance, the righting of an injustice performed by my own hand.
I dream now of Tychus rising from the grave, his withered hands wielding his foul hammer. He comes seeking retribution for a friendship and trust so miserably betrayed. And the worse thing is that part of me believes I deserve it...
***
With the defeat of Oppian Nevilindor, Kantaria swiftly returns to the hands of House Thrune. Seeing the inevitable outcome of the conflict, the inhabitants turn on one another, and the town’s loyalists round up any remaining Glorious Reclamation supporters in hopes of offering them up in exchange for pardons from the Chelish government.
Through Razelago, Archbaron Fex commends you on your success, and as promised, presents you with a reward for your actions.
The surviving council members (Jalila Hadjara, Jana Holdus, Linton Demeer, and Loredana Viorica) turn to you to appoint a new governor as you await the return of the Narikopolus family from Egorian and new orders from Archbaron Fex. Of course, you could always take the position yourself, if you're so inclined!
Imperia, after a considerable amount of soul searching and with a degree of mental anguish, eventually appoints Linton Demeer as the new town governor. Of everyone on the council he is both the most clear headed and the most invested in Kantaria's continued survival. The fact that Imperia has a useful hold over the 'man' is the final decision maker - despite the almost physical need she has to take charge herself.
Realistically though Imperia knows she cannot commit to governing Kantaria in the long term. Archbaron Fex could still 'ask' her to leave and perform other tasks and governing a town - even a psychologically significant one like Kantaria - is not where Imperia sees herself in the long term. Therefore, with long term thinking firmly in mind, she applauds along with the rest of the town as Linton is appointed Mayor. Then she sets about the much more important business of turning some of the many items they have collected into more useful forms...
Linton Demeer proves exceptionally suitable for governance. Once put in charge, he strives to rebuild the town in hopes of attracting new immigrants—more food sources for him and his fellow faceless stalkers! Despite his motives, under his guidance, the town quickly recovers from the depredations the Glorious Reclamation inflicted upon it. It would seem that the town's future is bright, indeed...
Imperia spends a week or so taking it easy, selling items where she can and haggling ferociously but with a degree of good humour to ensure that she gets the best possible prices. Jordanna receives a considerable sum in coin for her services and Imperia holds back certain useful items until she has a chance to speak to Zara.
When the opportunity arises she meets Zara for 'kafe' at the Little Uskwood, bidding the Hellknight sit. She gets right to the point.
"What are your plans now that you are free Zara?" She asks. "As you know I am an Agent of House Thrune and I expect to receive another mission in the relatively near future. You are a capable warrior and I would be delighted to have you at my side, or in front of me once violence begins. If you were agreeable then I would make it worth your while since it is in both our interests that you be as well equipped as possible." She withdraws the longsword that used to form part of the council table in Valor's Fastness. "I also have considerable funds at the moment and I will happily pay to enchant your armor for greater strength, alongside any other items you think might be useful to you. So, what say you? Will you accept service to me under those terms?"
Zara lays her hand on the sword's hilt and nods. "Yes, I accept your terms. Eventually, I will need to resume my duties with the Order of the Rack, but I am in no particular hurry to do so. For now, I will be your shield."
"Then take up your new weapon and use it with pride." Imperia says with a smile. "The enchanter in town is ready to work on your armour whenever is convenient for you."
Imperia dispatches the diamonds with Razelago along with a series of instructions and is pleasantly surprised when they are returned, set and enchanted exactly as she requested but with no accompanying demand for payment. "Fex paid." She informs Jordanna, "Finally a gesture with a certain amount of delicacy from him!"
Imperia also spends a fairly large amount of time with Jalila, trying to gently guide the sheltered woman into her lofe without the Inheritor. She doesn't force diabolism on the woman but does expound a number of both Abadarian and Asmodean tenets that may give the woman some more guidance in her life to come.
Jalila is grateful for the guidance and attention. It is clear that she idolizes your confidence and authority, but it doesn't rise to a level higher than hero worship. After some time, the monk announces her intention to travel to Egorian to seek further spiritual instruction. She expresses her hopes that you might meet again one day soon...
"I hope that we do too." Imperia replies, wishung the monk a fond farewell. "Travel well."
Aa the weeks wear on Imperia begins to slowly disentangle Loredana from her. The nidalese innkeeper had been clear at the start thqt she lnew any relarionship wpuld be short and Imperia reminds her of that fact as needed. The two still provide each other with 'stress relief' buy less often and Imperia is careful to guard against any expression of lingering feeling that might give Loredana a false impression.
"It has been a pleasure staying woth you." She tells Loredana one day. "Your hospitality has been above and beyond and I will certainly stay here again the next time I am in Kantaria. Perhaps next time I will be a guest in my own right and not as a favor to another patron."
Loredana accepts the distancing between her and Imperia with the same stoicism with which she meets most situations. "We had quite some fun together, didn't we? Well, all good things... I'll look forward to our next meeting, whenever it might be," the Nidalese woman says. "Be well, Imperia."
***
8 Sarenith, 4715 AR
At the end of the month, the members of House Narikopolous finally arrive in Kantaria to resume their rightful rule of the town. At the same time, the accuser devil Razelago appears in town to deliver a missive to you from Archbaron Darellus Fex, recalling you to the town of Longacre for your next mission. No teleportation is provided for you this time, though, forcing you to make the 9-day journey by horseback.
Eventually, though, you arrive in Longacre and had to the archbaron's manor, Scarlet Crown. Fex waits for you in his office, seated in his throne-like chair beneath his coat of arms of two warring stags with bloodied antlers. Razelago hovers nearby, wings buzzing, and a tall, thin man with a shaved head and stubbly beard, dressed in the red-and-black robes of an Asmodean inquisitor, sits in a chair in front of the archbaron’s desk.
Though Fex is no doubt aware of most of your activities in Knataria, he asks for a personal report of your time there. Once you have finished, the archbaron commends you for your deeds, then turns to introduce his mysterious guest, who has been quietly listening to your account.
"Through your actions, you have proven yourselves worthy as Loyal Agents of House Thrune, and your success in Kantaria has attracted notice in the capital. Allow me to introduce Corrector Izinio, one of the Bound in service to Thrune. He has come here from Egorian to reward you by initiating you into the ranks of the Trusted."
Izinio nods and steps forward. "To advance to the next rank of service, you must now swear your minds to Queen Abrogail II by accepting an infernal brand that prohibits you from betraying House Thrune. In exchange, you will enjoy even greater authority and prestige than you did as Thrune Loyal Agents."
Assuming you agree, Izinio officiates the initiation ceremony, with Razelago as a witness. Izinio withdraws a specially crafted branding iron from a black silk pouch and touches it to the invisible arcane mark each of you received upon becoming a Thrune Loyal Agent, announcing, “By the grace of House Thrune and the favor of Asmodeus, I name you one of the Trusted.” The branding iron is not hot and the ritual is painless.
Following the initiation ceremony, Izinio takes his leave and Archbaron Fex briefs you on your next task. “Somewhere in the Whisperwood, not far from the city of Senara, there is a portal to Hell. The locals call it the ‘Inferno Gate,’ an apt name if their harried descriptions of the site are true. The portal connects to the sixth layer of the Pit, Malebolge, the realm of Moloch and his infernal armies. As I’m sure you can imagine, House Thrune is not interested in uncontrolled devils roaming the Whisperwood and dragging Chelish citizens to Hell—not without the queen having a say in the matter, that is. Unfortunately, the complexities of our beloved governance prevent Thrune from handling the matter directly.
“Which brings me to why I’ve summoned you. I want you to go to the Whisperwood, locate the Inferno Gate, and shut it down. Such a bold deed committed by my most favored agents, so close on the heels of our successes here in Longacre and in Kantaria, is certain to impress House Thrune and increase both my own prestige and yours in the eyes of our superiors.
“I’ve already done extensive research on the portal, and the ritual to close the gate requires a number of components that you’ll need to gather. I have already acquired the first component, an infernal talisman, which I left in my townhouse in Senara for safekeeping. Unfortunately, while you were busy in Kantaria, Senara fell to the knights of Iomedae and their Glorious Reclamation. As a titled noble of Cheliax, I would probably be arrested on sight if I showed my face in town, but I have no doubt that you can get in and out of the city with minimal effort. I’m not interested in retaking Senara—it’s far too well defended for even you two to have much success, but we need my talisman.
“Once inside the city, you can retrieve the talisman from my townhouse. It’s a quaint little manor on the hill that you can’t miss. My butler—her name is Bessie or Billie or something, I believe—will meet you and give you whatever you need. You’re welcome to stay there, but don’t linger in town too long—you still need to find the other components for closing the gate.”
Fex hands you a list of the components you'll need to gather. The archbaron also informs you that, as usual, Razelago will act as an intermediary and handle any communications between you and Fex.
One (1) agathion heart
One (1) angel heart
One (1) archon heart
One (1) azata heart
Four (4) unicorn horns
"A glorified shopping trip." Imperia doesn't say, although she absolutely thinks it! "Very well Archbaron, I will be ready for departure tomorrow. Shall we meet again here? I assume that time is best spent on the mission, rather than riding muddy roads."
She doesn't introduce Zara to the Archbaron. She has someone loyal to her alone, better not to advertise that fact to an ally as... mercurial as the Archbaron. The prospect of seeing the new sheriff in action however pleases her and she takes leave of Fex with more than usual politeness.
"Why don't you take Zara to the house and show her around?" She suggests to Jordanna. "I am going to visit Longacre's sheriff and hear how things have been going."
As Jordanna and Zara head to the house, you go into town and pay a visit to the sheriff's office. Sheriff Cimri Staelish relaxes with her shiny new boots up on the desk, thumbing through a book with a steamy illustration of a vampire on the cover. She is wearing pristine leather armor and has a gleaming silver badge on her chest.
When she sees you, she breaks into a grin and tosses the book down. "Hey!" She leaps to her feet and rushes over to embrace you, pulling you into a long, sensual kiss. "Mmm, I've missed those juicy lips," she purrs.
A thought occurs to her, and she holds you at length and gives you a stern look. "You haven't been kissing anybody else while you were gone, have you?"
"And if I have?" Imperia replies with a subtle smile. "Would you prefer to hear the juicy details or not? I never expected you to keep yourself like a pharasmin nun my dear. Life is for living and a beautiful creature like you should live it to the full!" She steps back and looks Cimri up and down. "Very nice! Law enforcement agrees with you Sheriff Staelish! How does the title sound? Getting used to it yet?"
Cimri smirks. ”Fine. You can do what you want in other towns, but I am the law here in Longacre, and I say that while you’re here, I get you all to myself.” She leans in for another kiss.
”Yeah, being sheriff is great! I’m finally getting the respect I deserve!”
"Well I'd hate to be less than law abiding!" Imperia replies with a smirk as she gives Cimri all the attention that the young woman wants. "I'm glad it's going well for you." She adds when they both part for air. "It's certainly keeping you in good footwear - who made those for you? I have a couple of shoe orders I'd like made."
Cimri is invited back to Imperia's house for dinner and the changeling makes it very clear what Cimri will be getting for dessert should she accept the invitation.
"I'll introduce you to my leatherworker!" Cimri laughs. "Nice earrings!"
Back at your house, Sally prepares a lavish meal to welcome you home, although your stay will likely be brief. Neither Jordanna nor Zara are great conversationalists, but Cimri fills the silence with the latest gossip about the "old farts" of Longacre. Later, she eagerly joins you in your bed for "dessert."
Sally receives a bonus and effusive praise for the job she has done keeping Imperia's house in such good order and her cooking is excellent too. Imperia and Cimri do a good job of keeping convivial conversation going, and neither Zara or Jordanna can be glum with plentiful good food available.
The night passes very pleasantly and Imperia bids a prolonged and fond farewell to Cimri in the morning before heading back to the Scarlet Crown to leave for Senara.
The city of Senara sits in the northeastern reaches of the Whisperwood, about 190 miles east-northeast of Longacre. However, travel through the depths of the untamed Whisperwood can be dangerous, so most travelers take the safer route of the Whisperwood Way, a road that passes near the Whisper River north of Longacre. The 225-mile journey along the Whisperwood Way takes about 5-1/2 days on horseback.
Senara is a small forest city of 5,200 people built around the confluence of the River Iseld and River Malvesa. Infamous for its population of devil-tainted humans and hellspawn tieflings, Senara is scorned by the rest of Cheliax as an experiment in fiendish fraternization gone too far—a fact that may have contributed to the Glorious Reclamation’s recent success in conquering the city.
Senara’s geography divides the city into three main quarters. The High District, an affluent trading quarter occupied by well-to-do villains and visited by unscrupulous merchants from eastern Cheliax and Isger, sits north of the rivers’ confluence. It includes Castle di Lauro, the largest structure in Senara, which stands in full view atop Paulus Hill, overlooking both the High District and the rivers, though the fortress was mostly destroyed during the Glorious Reclamation’s siege of the city. On the west bank of the rivers sprawls the Low District, a densely populated, rundown neighborhood rife with drug dens and vile rakes. To the southeast, the Farmlands dominate the razed landscape between the River Iseld and the fringes of the Whisperwood.
Archbaron Fex’s townhouse is a tall manor in the High District just east of the ruined remains of Castle di Lauro. The building is as grandiose and morbid as the man himself. Fex’s butler, Blissy, greets the you with a deep bow at the house’s front door. An older halfling woman with a solemn gaze, Blissy knows why you are here. Inside, the house’s other servants, all halfling slaves, are lined up to welcome their master’s visitors. You get a hunch that something is bothering the servants, and that they’re deathly afraid.
When you ask about Fex’s infernal talisman, a dark look crosses Blissy’s face, and she takes you into the house’s parlor for a private conversation. ”His Lordship instructed me to give you an amulet he kept here when you arrived, but there’s been... a complication. Burglars broke in to the house last night, and among the valuables they stole was His Lordship’s talisman.
“I had nothing to do with it. Nor did anyone else in the house. The Glorious Reclamation freed all of the slaves in the city, but no one here left. We all stayed—every single one of us. You make sure you tell His Lordship that. We’re all loyal servants, and proud to serve House Fex.
“As for who is responsible, there is only one group in Senara brave—or stupid—enough to steal from the Archbaron, and that’s the Black Daggers, a local thieves’ guild led by a pair of hellspawn sisters. They’re pretty good at keeping their activities and their hideout secret, but surely someone in the city knows. If nothing else, you can probably buy the information at Senara’s black market. And even if the Black Daggers weren’t responsible, they probably know who was, if can you find them.”
Somehow this latest development doesn't surprise Imperia at all. "Very well." She says before giving instructions as to when she wants her bath and dinner prepared, choosing to ignore the fact that the butler had given her an order. Before leaving however she goes to the library (or wherever else the talisman was kept) and conducts a thorough search of her own.
With that done a shopping trip seems to be in order. The first purchase she makes is another set of sleeves of many garments, which she hands to Zara. "These will make you less conspicuous." She says, "I don't imagine there are many hellknights here now."
The halflings have already set a table for dinner, allowing you to eat before heading out into the city's markets. As you prepare to depart the manor, Blissy clears her throat. "There is one last thing I feel I must mention. His Lordship is a good master, but he does not bear disappointment well, and some of the staff are afraid he might take out his displeasure on them. It goes without saying that I would never question His Lordship’s decisions regarding... disciplining... his staff, but if I can mitigate his temper in any way, then I feel duty bound to do so. To that end, I have some information that I would ask you to pass on to the Archbaron. It in no way proves our innocence, but I hope it serves to demonstrate our loyalty to him."
Blissy goes on to say that she was recently approached by an agent of the Bellflower Network, the underground society that seeks to free halfling slaves in Cheliax, who tried to convince her to betray Fex and join their organization. Blissy initially expressed interest in the scheme, but she used the opportunity to instead gain information about the organization’s operations. In particular, Blissy managed to uncover evidence of an active Bellflower Network cell in Egorian, the imperial capital, a city so firmly in the grasp of House Thrune that the Bellflower Network has supposedly been unable to infiltrate it. In addition, Blissy has a description of one of the Bellflower Network’s top agents in Egorian, a human woman known only as “the Barrister” who is missing her left hand, as well as details on how to make contact with this agent. With the abolition of slavery in Senara following the arrival of the Glorious Reclamation. Blissy has had no more dealings with her Bellflower Network contact, whom she believes has left the city, but she provides all of this information to you, hoping to assuage any suspicion that you or Fex might have regarding her involvement with the theft of the archbaron’s infernal talisman.
***
While out at the market, you overhear some citizens talking: “I overheard some of those so-called ‘Glorious Reclamation’ soldiers saying one of their commanders is looking for some sort of portal in the Whisperwood. If it’s the Inferno Gate, maybe we’ll get lucky and one of the devils’ll get her while she’s out there.”
Imperia files away the various pieces of information that come her way for further consideration. However the first consideration is finding the black market, the kind of thing that is usually more easily said than done.
She sets to work herself, asking innocuous questions and slowly building up a picture of information.
Before the Glorious Reclamation conquered Senara, the city’s black market traders openly displayed their wares alongside legitimate merchants on Caravan Street in the Low District. Now, the black market hides in plain sight in the dirty alleyways branching off of the town’s main bazaar. With the Glorious Reclamation now patrolling the streets and cracking down on crime, the black market dealers only sell their illicit wares to customers they recognize or unscrupulous-looking strangers not obviously affiliated with the Glorious Reclamation. Known felons and wrongdoers have the easiest time of acquiring black market goods, since word travels fast in the Low District’s gossipy alleyways.
Asking around about the location of the Black Daggers’ hideout points you toward a freelance thief named Cael, a dealer in confidential information. Cael offers to sell the guildhouse’s location for 2,500 gp, but you are able to talk him down to 1,000 gp for the information, the lowest he is willing to go. Of course, you could just use some enchantment spells to get him to tell you the information for free!
Asking about Fex's ritual components, you quickly find that celestial hearts are difficult to acquire, even in a place such as this. You can learn that an angel has recently been seen in the Old Boneyard, if you want to acquire an angel’s heart yourselves. Otherwise, you are directed to a woman named Ginevra, who might have more information.
Besides the specific items detailed above, Senara’s black market also offers a variety of other proscribed goods. The following are just some of the goods available for sale:
Cursed Magic Items: Among the more questionable wares available at Senara’s black market are cursed magic items. Their prices are equivalent to the ordinary magic items they were originally meant to be. There is a 75% chance that any cursed magic item with a value of 5,200 gp or less is for sale during the day (this value decreases to 2,600 gp or less at night due to the city’s nocturnal danger quality). Sample cursed magic items can be found on pages 538–543 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook.
Drugs: A variety of drugs are for sale at the black market. See pages 236–237 of the GameMastery Guide for a list of sample drugs and their prices and effects.
Poisons: Black market dealers also carry several poisons among their wares. Any poison costing less than 1,000 gp is usually available, including black whinnis (see page 18), which costs 200 gp per dose. In addition, there is a 75% chance that any poison costing 5,200 gp or less is for sale during the day (2,600 gp or less at night). See page 559 of the Core Rulebook for a list of common poisons and prices.
Slaves: With the Glorious Reclamation’s abolition of slavery in Senara, the city’s slave trade has been forced underground, into the black market. The cost of slaves varies with quality, but average prices are as follows: 50 gp for a menial or household slave (human commoner 1), 100 gp for a slave able to perform hard labor (human commoner 1 with Str 15), 100 gp for a slip (halfling commoner 1), and 500 gp for a slave with a specialized skill (halfling or human expert 1). The specifics of slave purchasing and interactions is left to the GM’s discretion.
Imperia has no intention of paying a lowlife like Cael and wraps him in magic until he gives up the information she desires. Most of the market is... not to her taste, but the woman Ginevra seems like a useful lead and Imperia goes there with Zara while Jordanna is dispatched to scout the graveyard for the angel that is supposed to lurk there.
Succumbing to your charms despite a valiant effort to resist, Cael willingly tells you what you want to know. The Black Daggers operate out of an orphanage called Tilo’s Home for Wayward Youths, but their guildhouse is actually located beneath the orphanage, and must be accessed from an abandoned aqueduct nearby.
Ginevra is a withered old woman accompanied by four shifty-looking halfling bodyguards. Ginevra’s body may be decrepit, but age has not diminished her razor-sharp perceptiveness. She talks slowly but candidly, in contrast with the smooth-talking swindlers and con artists that otherwise populate the black market.
Initially, Ginevra claims to have no knowledge of what you are seeking, but after some sweet talking her, Ginerva admits that she currently has only one such item in stock—the heart of an agathion (an avoral’s heart, to be precise)—that she offers to sell for the price of 8,000 gp. Ginevra agrees to hold the heart for you until you have the money.
Of course, once more, there are more options than simply paying up. You could try to enchant her or have Jordanna try to surreptitiously lift it off of her person.
Once again Imperia resorts to her favored method and weaves magic around the woman in order to secure a discount. She offers 2000 gold pieces and advises the woman to accept.