Mel learns that Lorcan Kell is a ruthless thug who feigns gentility. He runs the largest thieves' guild in Flint. Kell is unpredictable and hot-headed, confident he can kill anyone who’s a threat, and when people try to stand up against him he takes it as an opportunity for entertainment. For him, nothing’s better for him than taking self-righteous do-gooders down a few pegs by showing off his power. His seat of power is a theater in Parity Lake where scum is welcome and decent people are turned away.
"Well this iz not ideal..." Lucien says in commendable understatement. "So, do we try and find a way in or leave it untel after ze meeting? I think eet is not the most important thing right now. Gale may be able to answer all of our questions if we are fortunate. Better prepare for ze mission we know we can do."
"No, we have to leave this and try and figure out what to do with Gale. We just don't have the time to wade in and get bogged down. Let's try and establish Gale's territory and where she may lead us to try and get some high ground. Let's go talk to Nevard and see if he has any ideas. I really don't wanna be blindsided." Mel replies.
Unfortunately, Nevard’s people prevent you from speaking to the aged skyskeer. They say that he is a meditative trance, trying to understand the meaning of the visions he had atop Cauldron Hill, and has left explicit orders not to be disturbed. It seems you’re on your own for now.
You rest overnight, and spend the next morning finishing up paperwork around the office. An hour before the time you stated for your meeting with Gale, the canary that has been following Thalia starts singing and trying to get your attention to head out. It guides you to the Cloudwood, down wild trails and up lush hills, before finally stopping at the top of a three hundred-foot high waterfall with a clear view of the eastern horizon. Natives of Flint will recognize the cascade as the Bridal Veil, a romantic icon of folk poetry and the site of several famous weddings.
The river that feeds the waterfall rolls over a eighty-foot wide cliff, spreading the cascade into a thin sheet that at dawn can illuminate the whole valley with the sun’s reflection. Wildflowers wreathe the cliffs and dot the few boulders that hang near the falls’ edge. Hummingbirds flit about, and they seem to pay close attention to your presence.
An eladrin woman in a flowing dress emerges from the tree line on the opposite shore of the waterfall, and she holds out a hand. The canary that guided you flies to her, and when it touches her hand it disappears. The woman then steps off a high rock and glides a few feet above the surface of the water, stepping on three boulders over the 80-ft. river as easily as if hopping a narrow stream. She lands on the shore by you and nods.
”Thank you for coming. I am Gale,” she says in her elegant voice, tinged with a trace of a Danoran accent.
"Enchante Mademoiselle." Lucien says, stepping forward to offer a bow. "This is a truly beautiful place, my soul sings to be in the presence of such harmony." He waves expansively to the city below them. "However, that is not to say that we cannot gain much from the fruits of labor and industry also. Az in all things there must be a balance, do you not agree?"
"You know my politics, and I respect you enough not to try to persuade you to my point of view," Gale says with a slight smile. "But the reason I agreed to meet with you is to tell you of a mutual threat that I have discovered.
"I have a contact, a courier to the Unseen Court who lets me call him Ellik. He’s an eerie creature, dwells in shadows, but is loyal to the court and has a fondness for this nation which treated his people well for so many years.
“Just over a month ago, when the last new moon was aligned with the planet Nem, Ellik arranged for me to walk with him into the Bleak Gate. I will spare you the details of that journey’s emotional toll, but during the few hours that night when I could see into the dark side of the world, I discovered something.
“There is activity in that mirror image of Flint. Not much. I never saw anyone other than my guide. Most of the buildings are hollow, like abandoned shells of dead sea creatures. But there are no echoes, and no wind blows, so you can hear footsteps from miles away. And in the distant gloom I saw torches and lanterns, lights that the denizens of that world would never need. Their path ran along the canal, to the still analogue of Parity Lake, and then up toward the Nettles. I did not have the time to get close, but I heard churning there, and saw smoke and steam drifting into the starless sky.
“They are working, assembling something, hidden right where we can’t see it, on the other side of our shadow. My Nilasa found a clue. I sent her on a mission, and she found the truth, and they killed her for it. I am furious at her murderers, but Nevard has made me realize that this conflict is larger than my selfish desire for revenge.
“Unfortunately, I can’t return to the Bleak Gate, nor show you what I saw. The same alignment with Nem will not repeat for decades, and I have not yet found another way into that world. But I do have proof of my own.” She produces a tiny vellum book from her belt and offers it.
“This is a copy of a spell that will detect certain kinds of planar energy, though you have to have been exposed to what you’re seeking. Worthless to most people, but I have been to the Bleak Gate, and I believe that when you were with Nevard so did you, or at least you touched the veil.
“I’ve flown across this city, trying to find sources. In some place the stink of it bleeds through naturally, especially on Cauldron Hill, but I’ve followed trails. The night after Nilasa was murdered, I found a strong source at the consulate, and I tracked it across three districts before I lost it. And too often I’ve found it clinging to factories, or in the foyers of rich businessmen.
“There is a conspiracy afoot. The Danorans are involved, and industrialists in this city, and some third force in the Bleak Gate. They’ve already killed to protect their secrets. We need to find out what their goal is."
Lucien listens to this tale with raised eyebrows, that only climb further up his forehead as the story progresses. "Zis is... a very dangerous claim." He says eventually. "If eet is true than the danger might be much greater than we had thought. Still, Mademoiselle Gale, there are other things that we must address. Why was Mademoiselle Nilasa setting up a meeting to buy weapons, no? We 'ave heard about a lot of your work and not much of eet is good... I think I speak for us all when I say merci for your help, but we are not convinced of your good intentions - yet."
Gale lets out a breathy sigh. "I will admit, that some of my actions in the past have been...radical, especially in the wake of Duchess Ethelyn's defeat. I spent most of my life as a slave, the property of Danoran mine owners, so I have been trying my best to pay Danor back for the decades of pain and humiliation they caused me. But with this conspiracy afoot, I feel the time has come to put my own desires for revenge aside.
"I don't trust the rulers of Risur, nor the RHC at large, but you helped Nevard, so I am willing to give you three the benefit of the doubt. If you can help me find out who killed Nilasa and why, I'll do my best to calm my people and stop the attacks on industrial targets. Eventually I hope to be of service to the city, and perhaps earn an audience with Governor Stanfield to press for formal negotiations. I know that I likely won't be able to convince the nation to abandon technology altogether, but I want to do anything I can to protect some people and places from its effects."
Lucien nods and sketches a bow once again. "All I can do is offer my apologies Madamoiselle, for your treatment. Let us hope that this can be a chance for reconciliation and amite going forwards."
He looks to his fair companions to see if they have anything to add.
"I feel like we can trust her," Thalia says. "Either way, we need to solve Nilasa's murder. We should resume our effort to try to find Doctor von Recklinghausen."
"Agreed." Lucien says, offering a nod and smile to Thalia. "Melenae? I sugeest we find ze doctor now and then investegate ze industrial deestrict tonight?"
Coming out of somewhat of a daze, Melenae realised she was, unfortunately, daydreaming through some of that information and is very thankful of Lucien's jolt out of her dreaming.
"Yes...we should definitely do summin' like that. Lead the way Monseiur Fesch." She says, gesturing a little too elaborately forwards.
"Do we want to try to question the doctor's known associates? Or do we risk a meeting with the crime lord Lorcan Kell?" Thalia inquires.
"Let's go see the associates." Melenae suggests. "Don't wanna cross Kell unless we have to!"
Lucien nods his agreement. "In the company of such lovely mademoiselles I would not risk Monsieur Kell. 'E would be too blinded by your beauty to answer any queestions!"
You can find Dr. von Recklinghausen’s sponsor, Dr. Barnaby Camp, at his residence in North Shore. Camp is a portly, curly-haired man who had Wolfgang as a student many years ago. They had kept in touch with occasional letters, and a few months ago Wolfgang referenced some marital troubles and a desire to travel alone to Ber, so Camp arranged for his residence in Flint.
When you ask about von Recklinghausen’s current whereabouts, Camp frowns. ”You constables aren’t the first ones to come asking about him. There was this guy who came by while I was teaching class, blonde hair, pencil-thin mustache. Flashed a police badge and said his name was Officer Porter.
“He was injured, too. Had a bandage and dressing on his chest. I offered to let one of my students tend to his injury for free, in exchange for letting the class watch, but he very rudely refused.
“At any rate, I got a bad vibe from him, so I didn’t tell him anything. Truth be told, I didn’t know where Wolfgang was, anyway. But just yesterday, I received a letter from Wolfgang. It says he is in hiding and asks me to try to arrange safe passage out of the city for him, and alludes that he has made deals with criminals in order to avoid a monster that he thinks is chasing him. The letter goes on to direct me to contact Lynn Kindleton at Pardwight University, who will know how to get in touch with Wolfgang.”
Camp hands the letter to you. ”I hope this will help you take care of the problem.”
"Merci Monsieur." Lucien says, taking the letter. "We will do our best to help Monsieur von Recklinghausen. You vere quite right to say nothing to Officer Porter."
Once they have some privacy he reads the letter and then passes it to the ladies. "Eenteresting. And what ees thees monster? We may know our link to Monsieur Kell 'owezzer."
"Well I don't know 'bout no monster." Melenae says with a frown. "But it don't sound good. We'd better find him quick. And maybe file a report back at HQ..." She turns a slightly hopeful look to Lucien, hoping that his sense of chivalry will leave him volunteering to do the paperwork.
Following up on the lead, you head to Pardwight University. The “campus” of Pardwight University weaves through many streets and occasionally shares buildings with other offices in Central District, and Professor Lynn Kindleton meets with students every morning in her office above a butcher shop, then teaches class in a hospital morgue a few streets over.
When you get her alone for a few minutes, she frowns deeply. "You're looking for Wolfgang? I'm afraid I cannot help you. I haven't heard from him in at least a week."
"Anytheeng you can tell us would be most 'elpful Meademoiselle." Lucien replies. "Eet is a matter of 'is safety and we were told zat you were ze person who could contact 'im. How exactly did that work? Do you know where 'e was staying?"
"N-no, I already told you! I don't know how to contact him! You are mistaken," Lynn insists. She is sweating a little bit, and holding her hands tightly to stop them from shaking. It's clear that she is a terrible, nervous liar.
"Madam." Lucien replies, his voice becoming stern. "You know eet ees an offense to lie to the Royal 'Omeland Constabulary, do you not? Eet would be a great shame eef we 'ad to remove you from your office een chains. Ze only zing we want ees to protect Monsieur von Recklinghausen so do not make zees more difficult for us!"
"Please! I just want to protect Wolfgang, too!" Lynn whimpers. "But how do I know I can trust you? Wolfgang said he was being followed. What if you're the ones who are following him?"
"We were geeven thees by Dr Camp." Lucien says, relenting a little and holding out the letter. "Apart from our identification zere is leetle else we can do to assure you that we are 'oo we say we are Madame. You must trust us."
Lynn examines the letter with trembling hands. She lets out a long sigh. "Okay. He's somewhere in the Nettles. I don't know exactly where Wolfgang is hiding, but he's been sending me letters. Every day I leave a letter downstairs in the butcher shop, and a messenger comes from the Nettles, delivers a letter from Wolfgang, then takes my letter and a supply of meat and other foods back to the doctor.
"I can try to arrange a meeting for you, but he wouldn't trust anybody but me. I'll have to go alone to talk to him."
"Zat ees acceptable Madame." Lucien replies, not seeing any other way of dealing with the situation. "Pleese remember zat we are on 'is side. We know of ze criminals zat are pursuing 'im and we weesh to find 'im first. Zen we can protect 'im. Tu comprende?"
"He's askin' if you get it." Melenae adds, explaining Lucien's most recent question, as clearly this woman is a little slow.
"Oh. Yes, of course, I understand," Lynn says. "Return here tomorrow morning, and I'll let you know if Wolfgang agreed to the meeting."
As you depart the university, Thalia looks up to the afternoon sky. ”The wand smuggling deal is happening tonight. We should get ready for the raid. We still need to decide if we want to try to stop the meetup from happening or bust the smugglers in the act!”
"Catch zem in ze act, non?" Lucien says. "Eet makes questions of guilt much simpler!"
You requisition the use of one of the RHC's cutters as you prepare to bust the smuggling operation. At dusk, the smugglers' ship, a small cutter called Silvo, departs from a secluded wharf, and you direct your ship's captain to follow them. Fortunately, there's enough traffic in the harbor to watch from afar without attracting attention.
The Silvo sails to the chain of islands known as The Ayres and floats just south of an uninhabited rocky isle. Every few minutes, somebody on board the ship plays a set of five horn notes. Another set of notes sounds in the gloom as a reply. Soon, you can see the lights of a second ship approaching the Silvo, the two ships communicating via lantern signals.
Dousing your own lights, you can easily come within 500 feet of the two smuggler ships without being spotted....
Thalia's starry eyes sparkle in the gloom, pointing out the best angle of approach to avoid enemy lookouts. "When we are close, I will call on the spirits to send hippocampi to aid us," she says. "They will help us close the distance through the water swiftly."
Lucien is a straightforward soul, who tends to jump straight in to both diplomacy and violence. Thus his particular skill set is not much help in this situation.
"Per'aps we can get into ze shadow of ze cliff." He says, pointing.
"Good idea!" Melenae says, staring across the water. "I don't know bout tides and stuff, but they won't see us in the cliff shadows."
You approach from a stealthy angle, then Thalia casts her spell, summoning a pair of hippocampuses to serve as willing mounts. You climb onto their backs, and they quickly close the remaining two hundred feet to where the smuggler ships are tied together. You can see that in addition to the smaller Silvo, the larger cutter is a Crysilliri ship called Li Grifoni Grinyande.
By the time the lookouts notice you, you are already on board the ship and ready to bust these smugglers! Each ship’s captain is in the midst of chatting and drinking as the sailors transfer the crates of wands. Two burly bodyguards stand by them as well!
The Crysilliri captain curses as she rushes back to her ship, yelling for her crew to make ready to cast off! The captain of the Silvo rushes for cover behind a crate as he draws his hand cannon. ”Crack open the boxes, boys! Let’s see what these wands can do!” His two bodyguards do just that, grabbing random wands from the nearby crate!
Lucien took a moment before boarding to summon his armor, a slightly spectral piece of glowing silver chainmail.
"Surrender Monsieurs!" He calls, moving to intercept the captain. "Assalting an officer will double your sentence!"
Thalia calls upon the heavens to create a swirling pattern of lights. The lights hypnotize one of the thugs, but the other resists the spell!
Melenae follows the unofficial motto of the RHC (knock them down first, fix them up and ask questions later) and fires off her pistols at the captain before he can do the same to her!
Meleane grazes the captain with two bullets, then Lucien slices him with falchion. The man grimaces, takes a step back from the tiefling, then fires his hand cannon point-blank! The bullet buckles the paladin's breastplate and embeds itself in his chest.
Meanwhile, the thug who wasn't fascinated by the hypnotic pattern activates the wand he is holding!
He suddenly leaps up high into the air with a surprised shout, entangling himself in the ship's rigging!
Lucien lets out a harsh growl and strikes again, aiming for the mans wrists. He has no intention of taking another blow to the chest like that. Thankfully righteousness is its own defense.
Melenae ducks behind a barrel and frantically reloads her pistols. Hopefully Lucien and Thalia can handle a few seconds without her covering fire.
Thalia targets the wand-wielding jumping fool with hold person.
It's super effective!
Meanwhile, Lucien deals a heavy blow to the ship's captain. Cursing in anger, the man drops his gun and draws a cutlass, slicing at the tiefling!
"You 'ave chosen unwisely Monsieur." Lucien says calmly, unphased by the sight of his own blood.
With both thugs down Melenae mentally says something unkind about Lucien blocking her line of fire, before squinting and then letting loose both pistols in a deafening double BANG!
Though Lucien misses with his attack, Melanae shoots the enemy captain with both of her guns! He falls to the deck with a groan, passing out from the pain of the wounds.
With the threats neutralized, the other RHC agents onboard the cutter quickly board the two smugglers' vessels, eliciting a surrender from their crew. You are able to take the criminals into custody and impound the Crisylliri wands as evidence. The smuggling plot has been foiled!
"Weel zat went weel." Lucien says, having ensured that the captain is not going to bleed out any time soon. "Per'aps we can 'ave a full night's sleep or most of eet before we resume ze 'unt tomorrow?"
Chivalrous as ever he offers to walk both women back to their lodgings.
Indeed, you are able to get a good night's sleep in your respective homes. When you report to the RHC Headquarters the next morning, you find sealed letters have arrived for you. In fine handwriting, the missives invite you to come to a coffee shop in Stray River on the corner of Yearling Street and Healers Street, near where a subrail station is being built.
The writer, who signs “Morgan Cippiano,” says he takes breakfast and lunch there, and he’ll wait at your convenience for the next three days. He says he wishes to discuss the legal case against his “family members,"
and says he might be able to help you in your greater investigation.
"The RHC pursues every lead." Lucien says, looking dapper this morning in a fine coat and cravat. "May I treat you lovely ladies to a coffee?"
"I will absolutely take you up on the coffee." Melenae replies with a sigh. She's had two cups already this morning, but more will be required to dispel the fog of the late night and long days which have proceeded this one.
"Thalia? You in?"
Thalia inclines her head. "Let's go."
You make your way to the coffee shop. When you arrive, you find a well-dressed man, going on forty and stylishly bald, sitting at a table. Seeing you approach, he casually gestures to the proprietor, who quickly tells his daughters to bring out comestibles for you. The seated man sips at a cup of black but intensely sweetened coffee, craning his head to get a view of your shoes.
"Good morning," he says, his voice gruff. "Have a seat, constables. I am glad my letter found you well. And what a fine coat you are wearing, Monsieur Fesch. It pairs quite nicely with your cravat."