Chance takes a deep breath, picks up the kukri again, and this time finishes casting the spell. He closes his eyes as his vision fades from the present into the weapon's past.
The gnome is shaking when he opens his eyes after the vision ends. He tells his friends what he saw and felt .
"The anger coming off the weapon now... so different from the giddy joy I could feel as he murdered his poor victim. I couldn't even see who it was being killed in the vision. The only thing I could see clearly was the damnable knife itself."
Chance glares at the blade as Vitalis carefully nudges it into a container to carry it back to their base. "That guy carved me up like a solstice ham, so I'm fine with whatever he has coming to him. But Based on Wex's journals, this all started when he stumbled across the kukri at the Newt Market. I think the weapon might be the real killer." He looks down at the hand he touched it with and shudders. "Do me a favor and keep it on a really tall shelf while the Milanites figure out how to destroy it. I don't want to touch it again, even by accident."
Vitalis listens to Chance's revelations. "Okay, so there is some evidence that Wex may have been manipulated by the blade. But that alone is unlikely to exonerate him of his sins. It'd be a hard sell to convince people that the weapon was the murderer and the man was just the tool. However, giving Wex the opportunity to speak free of the weapon's influence may give some additional insight before proclaiming final judgement. We could have just killed him in his apartment, so we owe him nothing else."
Edrakk is immediately drawn to the alchemical and medical texts, which he studies with a morbid curiosity. Several times in reading them, he can be heard quietly gagging to himself, but continues nonetheless.
"I-I agree with Vitalis," Edrakk says, "but I don't think he did this solely because of the blade. These notes already suggest some fascination with death and the Temple Hill Slasher--although I admit, given my own field of study, I am not entirely one to judge. More worryingly, though, he had already been trying to make a kukri, and I would assume it was before he got this weapon," he winces as he gestures to it, "since he wouldn't need another one. We should give him a chance to speak with a clear head, but I don't think it's going to change anything. Either way, we definitely need to figure out who that weapons seller was."
Edrakk is immediately drawn to the alchemical and medical texts, which he studies with a morbid curiosity. Several times in reading them, he can be heard quietly gagging to himself, but continues nonetheless.
"I-I agree with Vitalis," Edrakk says, "but I don't think he did this solely because of the blade. These notes already suggest some fascination with death and the Temple Hill Slasher--although I admit, given my own field of study, I am not entirely one to judge. More worryingly, though, he had already been trying to make a kukri, and I would assume it was before he got this weapon," he winces as he gestures to it, "since he wouldn't need another one. We should give him a chance to speak with a clear head, but I don't think it's going to change anything. Either way, we definitely need to figure out who that weapons seller was."
Outside the apartment, Vitalis takes out the silver raven and crafts a message for Laria Longroad saying, "Laria. Please get a request to the Tanessen livery that Vitalis and company needs a carriage to pick them up at the Iudeimus Tenement in Old Kintargo and take them to a location to be provided to the driver upon his arrival. No questions asked. I've attached my signet ring to the raven to use as proof that the request is coming from me. We know we can count on you. Thanks. Vitalis."
Then he puts Wex's body out of sight and waits for the carriage to arrive.
Jisara sends Thatch to watch the most likely direction for the carriage to arrive from, with instructions to return immediately once it's spotted.
Many minutes pass by when finally Thatch sees the carriage coming to the tenements.
When the PCs leave, with Wex’s unconscious body almost stereotypically wrapped up in a rug, a couple of tenants, including the crochety landlady, look at them with raised eyebrows, but none stop them from entering the carriage.
The driver does not ask any questions, as that is not within his paygrade, and they drop the PCs off at the Devil’s Threads.
Hetamon Haace is inside stitching a patch onto a set of trousers when the PCs walk in. Luckily, there are no customers at the moment. Hetamon sees the PCs and quickly understands some of the situation. He directs them all into a back room as he puts an “Out for Lunch” sign in front of the Devil’s Threads.
*
”So, he’s the one who killed Myrletta?”
The unconscious Varl Wex has been bound to a chair as the PCs caught Hetamon up to speed.
”Even if he was influenced by a murderous kukri, he still killed people. He’s a menace.”
"Yes, he's the one. And, yes, we agree with your assessment. The question now is what to do with him. We were considering letting him speak for himself, but we have no expectations that he'll change our judgement."
Vitalis listens to Chance's revelations. "Okay, so there is some evidence that Wex may have been manipulated by the blade. But that alone is unlikely to exonerate him of his sins. It'd be a hard sell to convince people that the weapon was the murderer and the man was just the tool. However, giving Wex the opportunity to speak free of the weapon's influence may give some additional insight before proclaiming final judgement. We could have just killed him in his apartment, so we owe him nothing else."
"Oh, indubitably. Indisputably. Inarguably." Chance nods vigorously. ”Maybe there’s some reason he deserves mercy, but I’m not the one to plead on his behalf, not when my clothes are still soaked with my own blood, spilled at his hands.”
Chance spends the carriage ride in deep thought (the other Ravens can tell by the way he scrunches up his face and jiggles his knee up and down from the moment they sit down in the carriage until he clambers down at The Devil's Threads).
The gnome jumps in as soon as Vitalis finishes his answer. "We definitely need to talk to him. We need to learn exactly how he came to have the kukri. We know he found it at the Newt Market, but how did it get there? Who sold it to him, and why weren't they affected by it? Did the seller have it on display for months until someone susceptible to its enchantments - maybe already with a predilection for brutality - happened to wander by and notice it? Or was Wex sent off on his murder spree deliberately, wound up like a clockwork toy and let loose among the people here for the express purpose of causing death and chaos and grief?"
Chance gulps in a breath. "Say, I'm parched. Do you have any coffee?"
The gnome jumps in as soon as Vitalis finishes his answer. "We definitely need to talk to him. We need to learn exactly how he came to have the kukri. We know he found it at the Newt Market, but how did it get there? Who sold it to him, and why weren't they affected by it? Did the seller have it on display for months until someone susceptible to its enchantments - maybe already with a predilection for brutality - happened to wander by and notice it? Or was Wex sent off on his murder spree deliberately, wound up like a clockwork toy and let loose among the people here for the express purpose of causing death and chaos and grief?"
"I-I agree. Even if he's almost as brutal on his own, the kukri is far more dangerous, and we need to know where it came from." Edrakk scratches his head with a talon. "And his crafting is still bugging me. It would've made sense if he was already trying to make some kind of weapon before finding this, but why make one after? He had the weapon already, what did he need another one for?"
Chance gulps in a breath. "Say, I'm parched. Do you have any coffee?"
"I-I would not object to some coffee either, although if you don't have any I can just make some later."
”Yes, yes, that’s all well and good, but can we worry about the more immediate issue of what we’re going to do with the cold-blooded killer and his murderous weapon?”
Hetamon pauses for a moment before quickly adding, ”Also, I don’t drink coffee.”
"Well, we thought it best to leave that up to you, as you are the closest Myrletta has to an advocate here. I'd have been happy to slay him then and there, mind you. My solution to both murderer and murder weapon is the same: destruction."
”I’m not one for wanton violence, so it pains me to say that I agree. Who knows what would happen if we turn him over to the dottari; worst case is they make him into an ally. We know enough to know that this man was merely pushed over the edge by this weapon; he is still unhinged and easily manipulated.”
Hetamon reaches over and grabs a morningstar that was leaning against the wall. He steps forward to the unconscious Wex and grabs his morningstar in both hands as he raises it high. However, Hetamon stays in that position, seemingly frozen. Hetamon’s grip on his morningstar wavers considerably. Hetamon exhales a shaky breath, realizing that he had been holding his breath for a considerable time. Hetamon releases his morningstar, which falls and clatters to the ground. ”I-I’m sorry; I can’t. Excuse me.” Hetamon turns heel and leaves the room, leaving the PCs alone with the unconscious Wex.
"We should probably go check on him. But I don't want to leave Wex unguarded either even if he in unconscious. I should probably stay here."
When Hetamon moves to execute the unconscious killer, Chance starts to object, then waits for the Milanite to come to his own decision. When the tiefling leaves, the gnome scowls and follows him out.
"Hold on a second there, Hetamon. I've got short legs, can't go quite as fast."
Once he catches up, Chance continues more quietly. "Let me guess: you signed up to be a freedom fighter, not an executioner?"
Once he catches up, Chance continues more quietly. "Let me guess: you signed up to be a freedom fighter, not an executioner?"
Hetamon anchors himself against a nearby wall as he takes several deep breaths. He mumbles out something indecipherable to Chance.
If you ask him to repeat again
Suddenly realizing what he did, Hetamon breaks his gaze from Chance’s and stumbles over his words. ”I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap like that, I just got overwhelmed a-and it all felt s-so familiar, and i-it just reminded me of b-before, and now I’m sharing way too much information, and…” Hetamon then deteriorates back into indecipherable mumbling.
"What was that?"
"I'm really sorry, but I still didn't quite hear you, what did you say?"
Chance jumps back, then takes a cautious step closer to the tiefling.
Another? Put that aside for the moment.
"Of course you don't. You asked for our help to stop the killings, not so that you could execute the perpetrator yourself. It's one thing to kill a man in combat, in self-defense, it's quite another to bash his brains out while he is unconscious and tied to a chair. That kind of killing may not bother someone like Wex, but any person with even a shred of empathy for their fellows should be nauseated at the idea."
The gnome starts pacing in tight circles. "Like I said before, Hetamon, I'm not going to plead for mercy for Wex, not from you or anyone else. My clothes are still damp with my own blood from his brutal attacks, and frankly, they're beginning to chafe. But I do think we need to hear what the man has to say before anyone takes it upon themselves to deliver him to Pharasma. If he is nothing but a rabid dog who walks on his hind legs, then I agree he should be treated as such. If he is something more, though, we ought to learn what we can about what drove him to his killing spree and treat him accordingly."
Chance rubs at his eyes, exhausted. "So what do you say we go back to the others and get this over with? I've been forcing myself to be calm about this for hours now, when all I really want is to scream until my voice is gone, then sit in a hot bath until my skin looks like a prune."
Chance rubs at his eyes, exhausted. "So what do you say we go back to the others and get this over with? I've been forcing myself to be calm about this for hours now, when all I really want is to scream until my voice is gone, then sit in a hot bath until my skin looks like a prune."
Hetamon begins mumbling something, then takes a deep breath and wipes stray tears from his eyes as he simply says ”Okay…”
Chance and Hetamon return to the room with Wex, though the latter’s puffy red eyes clearly indicate an emotional event. Hetamon clears his throat and says ”P-perhaps I acted a bit too rashly; we should at least give him a chance to speak for himself.”
With everyone’s agreement, Hetamon approaches Wex and quickly casts a spell as his hand glows with a soothing green light. However, this doesn’t stop Hetamon from delivering the spell with an audible SMACK of Wex’s face.
”Urgh…”
Wex’s eyes flutter open as he returns slowly to consciousness. The man glances around the room, but doesn’t fully process what he sees. He then clearly starts to move to place a hand on his head, only to find his arms bound, the revelation of which manages to fully awaken the man. Wex then pauses for a moment and looks over his body as much as he can. ”Where is he?” Wex writhes in his bondage desperately as he yells at the nearest person ”Where is he?! WHERE IS HE?!”
Vitalis grabs Wex's shoulders tightly to restrain his from writhing too violently.
"Where is who? You were alone when we encountered you."
Is Wex referring to the kukri as a 'He'? He wonders to himself but decides not to mention the weapon yet fearing it could trigger something within Wex.
Jisara covers her mouth with a hand as Hetamon delivers the spell, but she's clearly amused, not horrified by the act.
"Well," she adds, after their prisoner's outburst begins, "at least he's still crazy."
"Sure, but it's a different kind of crazy, isn't it?"
Chance takes a couple of steps towards the bound man, but is careful to stay well out of reach in case he manages to get an arm free of the ropes despite Vitalis's efforts.
"The big man behind you asks a good question. There were no other people in your flat when you attacked us. Who do you mean?"
Wex squirms as Vitalis grabs his shoulders; Vitalis struggling a bit to keep a hold on the man.
"The big man behind you asks a good question. There were no other people in your flat when you attacked us. Who do you mean?"
”No…I…Wasn’t…! Alander! Where is he?!”
"Excuse me a moment." he says to Wex.
Vitalis pulls his allies to the side and whispers to them. "He must be talking about the kukri. Alander was the name of the original Temple Hill Slasher. I have a theory that part of the Slasher's spirit must still be residing in that weapon. It would seem that even though Wex is separated from the kukri it still has some hold over him. We definitely cannot let him get a hold of it again. Nor should we let anyone else touch it. Unfortunately, if he is still enchanted, we may not get a straight answer out of him. Maybe the effect will wear off. Maybe it won't. But our facility is not really equipped to hold a prisoner, especially a dangerous one who could potentially escape."
Hetamon keeps an eye on the struggling Wex, prepared to cast a spell at a moment’s notice should he escape. ”Who’s to say the kukri’s influencing him magically? He could just be completely off his rocker.”
** spoiler omitted **
Hetamon keeps an eye on the struggling Wex, prepared to cast a spell at a moment’s notice should he escape. ”Who’s to say the kukri’s influencing him magically? He could just be completely off his rocker.”
"We know the kukri has some will of its own, and from what we saw in his journals, a lot of his murderous intentions started after he bought it. I don't think it's too much of a leap to say the kukri must have something to do with his current state."
Edrakk turns back to Wex. "Was Alander with us in the flat? Who is he?"
”Who’s to say the kukri’s influencing him magically? He could just be completely off his rocker.”
"Well I'm not sure. It's a working theory."
”Who’s to say the kukri’s influencing him magically? He could just be completely off his rocker.”"Well I'm not sure. It's a working theory."
To Hetamon and the other Silver Ravens, Chance mutters, "Why not both?"
Edrakk turns back to Wex. "Was Alander with us in the flat? Who is he?"
Nodding along with Edrakk's question to Wex, Chance adds, "And how did you get it? Or meet him, if that's a better way to phrase it?"
Edrakk turns back to Wex. "Was Alander with us in the flat? Who is he?"
Nodding along with Edrakk's question to Wex, Chance adds, "And how did you get it? Or meet him, if that's a better way to phrase it?"
”Don’t you f*cking patronize me!” Wex barks. ”Or are you telling me that you didn’t notice the room in my bathroom that I left wide open?! If you can’t connect the dots then that’s not my problem! Now, where is he?!”
"F*$@!" Vitalis curses. "Did we leave something behind? I could have sworn we searched everywhere."
"But unless there is a corpse in the closet, I'm fairly sure you are referring to the weapon you tried to kill us with. And we are not telling you where it is nor returning it to you."
To the group, "We gave him a chance to speak. But I don't have the patience for a murderer's rant. There is no remorse in him. I say we turn him over to the authorities to be executed. Even the dottari will have to acknowledge his crimes. And it could help put the public at ease knowing the murderer is no longer on the streets."
Chance stares at the killer for a moment before responding to Vitalis. "And the murder weapon? Or murderous weapon, I suppose. Do we melt it down? I can't imagine turning it over to the dottari as well, but I'm sure they'll ask."
He turns back to Wex. "Just a few more questions, if you don't mind. How many people have you killed, in total?"
"I don't know how we'd destroy it but I do agree that it should not be turned over. My tenets prevent me from lying about the weapon so it might be best if I stood back if we are questioned."
"But unless there is a corpse in the closet, I'm fairly sure you are referring to the weapon you tried to kill us with.
”Ya don’t say?!”
He turns back to Wex. "Just a few more questions, if you don't mind. How many people have you killed, in total?"
”I…Don’t…Know…!” Suddenly, Wex’s bindings snap as the man uses his strength to break free! He immediately pounces at Chance and grabs the gnome and pins him against the wall! ”WHERE THE F*CK IS HE?!?!”
Hetamon acts immediately as he casts a spell at the man!
not a crit success
Wex cringes in pain before suddenly falling over on top of Chance in unconsciousness. Hetamon sighs. ”He’s not dead; it was nothing more than an amplified ice cream headache.”
Hetamon folds his arms and turns to Vitalis. ”You have any other questions to ask the psychopath?” he asks facetiously.
"No. I was done. And Wex just proved what I was afraid of; that we can't hold him. So either we kill him ourselves or we turn him over for the authorities to do it. My vote is to turn him over. I think the Kintargan people would appreciate proof that the killer won't be hunting them any longer."
Jisara shakes her head. "I have no faith that the authorities will do the right thing. More likely, they look for some way to twist him to their own purposes. And we can always just tell folks the truth: there was a copycat, and the Silver Ravens ended him."
Chance crawls out from under the unconscious serial killer and sits on the floor. Exhausted, he leans back against the wall and closes his eyes for a moment.
"If I didn't know it was impossible, I'd think that our disturbed friend might have something against gnomes."
Without opening his eyes, he continues, "I don't think there's really a right or wrong answer here, but I didn't join the Ravens to execute unarmed men or put down rabid dogs or whatever killing this jerk would be. Maybe he deserves it, but his last outburst suggests he is more obsessed with the accursed knife than with escape. Is there any means of breaking its hold on the man before we decide anything else? Loathe as I am to slit his throat while he is sleeping so peacefully -" the bard opens his eyes to give Wex a weak kick in the face "- I'd be nervous about turning him over to the dottari in his current state."
"The dottari certainly have their faults but I don't think they are all evil men. Ultimately they are just law enforcement officers following the direction of an unlawful leader. I still have faith that they'd properly prosecute a murderer rather than recruit him."
"Chance, you are welcome to try to break the enchantment. That's beyond me wheelhouse. But if we are keeping him around, clearly we are going to need stronger bindings. I'll see what I can find while he is unconscious."
As far as Chance is aware, Wex does not seem to be under any form of magical enchantment or possession.
Hetamon sighs. ”I don’t fully endorse the idea of turning him over to the dottari, if I’m being frank, but Vitalis may be right; we don’t know how deep the corruption goes. In any case, I’ll stand by whatever decision you four make.”
Jisara makes a disgusted sound, but relents with a wave of her hand. "I know when I'm outvoted, so I'll not press the issue. But if he starts killing again"--she pauses to point directly at Vitalis and Chance--"you'll owe more than an apology to the victims and their families."
Vitalis's estimation of the dottari draws another eyeroll from the tiefling, but otherwise keeps her thoughts to herself.
"I-I dunno. I've still got a list of questions to ask him, but I'm not sure how we could bind him in a way that could keep him there." Edrakk paces the room for a moment. "The kukri is still bugging me. Why did he need a second one? Did this Alander tell him to make it? What was it for?" He sighes. "If you guys really think we can't get anything else out of him, ok, we can kill him or turn him in to the dottari, but I want to try. Even if he's lost all sanity, he may still be able to tell us something."
"I think we're going to need to suck it up and go back to check Wex's hidden room. It's such a waste of a day but that's the penalty for not doing a thorough search the first time. We might get more answers there than from Wex himself. As long as we aren't carrying a body with us, traveling shouldn't be an issue. It's just a chore."
Alright, this discussion (at least to me) has started petering out, so I need an answer: What are you guys going to do with Wex? And, subsequently, what are you going to do with the kukri?
Hetamon sighs. ”Very well. You all still assisted me immensely with avenging my friend; I am eternally grateful. Here.”
Hetamon hands the PCs a quick runner’s shirt. ”I wish I could help more with that kukri, but handing it over to the Shelynites is the right move; they have more power and resources than we do currently.”
The PCs, in order to keep the Raven’s anonymity, the PCs bind up Wex and dump him in an alleyway while they send one of their silver raven wondrous figurines to the dottari telling them where to look. The PCs then stake out where they dumped Wex until a group of dottari find Wex and drag him away.
“These ears aren’t what they used to be, and it was upstairs!”
Wex’s crotchety landlady speaks to one of the dottari as others investigate the struggle that went on in Wex’s apartment.
”A blessing and a curse no one investigated; they could’ve gotten caught up… Do you know where this…Varl Wex is currently?”
“I don’t keep him on a leash! I have no idea!”
”Detective? You’re gonna want to see this.”
Several dottari then arrive, dragging Wex’s unconscious body up the stairs. ”Hey, that’s him!” the landlady interjects.
”This is Varl Wex?”
“Yessir!”
The detective turn to the dottari with Wex in hand. ”Cuff ‘im.” The dottari comply as they drag Wex away to be detained. ”Lieutenant, how did you apprehend this man?”
“A tip to the dottari, sir. And, uh…I think you should know something…” The dottari that brought in Wex pulls out a silver raven wondrous figurine.
*
”Malice. Bloodlust. Terrible, terrible things.”
Zachrin Vhast, high priest of Shelyn at Kintargo’s Songbird Hall examines the accursed kukri thoroughly. They turn over the kukri in their hands, being very careful to only touch it as much as necessary.
”This unholy relic is a tool of death and destruction. I will admit that I am not sure if we can purify it at this current moment, but we of the Eternal Rose can surely keep it contained while we find a way. Thank you for bringing it here; I will be sure it has a close eye kept on it.”
*
And now, with the excitement of catching a serial killer out of their minds, the PCs rest up and return to their previous engagement: Clearing out the Lucky Bones.
*
*
In the ‘70s, the Order of the Torrent raided the Lucky Bones and ultimately sealed it up.
The Gray Spiders had four guildmasters: the halfling Lorelu, the human tiefling Baccus, the Tian-Shu human Hei-Fen, and the tengu Tchok.
You fought against Lorelu’s ghost in the gambling hall.
You found tengu bones (presumably those of Tchok) in the same room you learned the guildmasters’ names.
The lower level of the Lucky Bones (the smugglers’ den) is currently flooded and some skum are down there.
The Gray Spiders created a magical water pump down in the smugglers’ den that was used to push out a lot of the water (as the smugglers’ den is below sea level), and one of the Spiders’ fail-safes was to turn off this pump and flood the smugglers’ den.
Baccus apparently had a “pet devil” named Shurshogot.
Chance walks into Hetamon's shop, whistling the melody of "We Need the Ravens". If the merchant is waiting on other customers, the gnome wanders around the shop pretending to browse until the tiefling has a moment to talk without interruption.
"I know this is going to sound like a strange request because it's actually a bit of a strange request, but would you be able to sell me a bunch of needles? This isn't for the kind of fine work you do here, so they don't need to be particularly small - a little larger size would be better, if needles come in sizes. I think something like what you would use to sew canvas or even for stitching leather would be ideal. Maybe thirty or forty of them?" He leans in close and whispers to make sure he isn't overheard. "I may want to poke a few people with them."
"I know this is going to sound like a strange request because it's actually a bit of a strange request, but would you be able to sell me a bunch of needles? This isn't for the kind of fine work you do here, so they don't need to be particularly small - a little larger size would be better, if needles come in sizes. I think something like what you would use to sew canvas or even for stitching leather would be ideal. Maybe thirty or forty of them?" He leans in close and whispers to make sure he isn't overheard. "I may want to poke a few people with them."
Hetamon blinks a few times in stunned confusion. ”I-I mean, I have a bunch of sewing needles, pins, and so on. I’m sure I can spare you some. But forty? That’s, uh…a lot. I sell sewing kits, but I only sell, like, five at a time; I know I’ve had some significant customers, but I still run this place basically by myself. I could probably spare you about ten needles.”
Fireday 20 Neth
*
As the PCs return to the Lucky Bones, they take a stop at the gambling hall where they fought Guildmistress Lorelu; however, all they find there is the naked halfling skeleton sitting at the gambling table. Lorelu does not reappear.
The PCs then return to the room where they fought the group of ghasts and looks down into the watery depths below. Jisara makes use of her magic to cast water breathing on each of the PCs (plus Thatch), which will last for the next 8 hours.
The ceiling of this entirely flooded chamber is fifteen feet high, supported by square columns of stone that measure five feet to a side and are crusted with algae. Ruined doors to the south and west provide further access, while to the north, a heap of rusting, algae-caked rubble lies below a tenfoot-diameter hole in the ceiling. The water is cold and still, but only slightly murky with mud and silt. For right now, ignore the dashed lines on the floor.
As the PCs reach the floor, they notice several fish-people hanging around in this room: skums. The skum likewise see the PCs, but the skum appear to be less prepared for combat than the PCs were.
Round 1
==============
Chance
Edrakk
Jisara
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Vitalis
==============
Jisara wastes no time, taking advantage of the skums' surprise by throwing a jolt of electricity through the water at the two closest targets before taking a defensive posture.