Gameplay Thread for the first part of 'Gallows of Madness' - 'A Foul Breed'
While undergoing testing and recovering from your arduous journeys you receive a visitor at the Sincomakti School of Sciences in Rozenport – Beaurigmand Trice, Venture-Captain of the Vodavani Lodge in Caliphas. He requests your presence at a private dining area which is well supplied with food and beverages.
"Please help yourselves to the refreshments and have a seat. Well done! I told Dr. Quolorum I knew just the group to assist him in solving the mystery of the phenomena and you didn't let me down. Congratulations all around. So now that you're officially members of the Pathfinder Society it's time to explore, report, and cooperate."
Retrieving some parchment from a haversack he places a map of the nearby area on a table and begins again.
"So this one is going to take a combination of discretion, diplomacy, and ingenuity – traits in which you have proven capable. I have received disturbing reports from sources about some type of trouble in a little town called Saringallow in the nation of Isger."
VC Trice indicates where the nation of Isger is on the map and the town of Saringallow.
"Unfortunately I don't have much to go on except there are 'unofficial' rumors of missing people and that the Mayor, afraid to spook the local populace, can't rely on the town guard to investigate. That's where you come in but there's a couple of catches. First is the Society's relationship with Isger. Although nominally an independent nation Isger is in fact a vassal state of Cheliax. Cheliax has no love for the Society; the government officially banned our presence and closed down all the Lodges. So you'll have to conceal your true allegiance while in Isger. Saringallow is a small but somewhat important trade town since it sits on the banks of the Conerica River. The Conerica River is part of the Conerica Straits, a critical trade route between Cheliax and Druma that provides much of Isger's tax revenue. Second catch is the nature of the populaton in the area. Although Isgeris aren't fond of outsiders they're accustomed to strangers due to the flow of so much trade. It doesn't help that the nation's military was hollowed out by the Goblinblood Wars. What remains of Isger's military is engaged with protecting the capital Elidir and the important trade routes. Much of the rest of the country is beset by brigands and various monsters. That's where your cover story begins."
Pouring himself more wine VC Trice continues, "I have booked passage for you as caravan guards. You'll sail from Caliphas to Kerse, the capital city of the Kalistocracy of Druma, and then travel with the caravan all the way to Saringallow in Isger. Rumor has it the Mayor of Saringallow has made quiet inquires looking for, how did she phrase it? "Intrepid heroes" I believe and that's why I immediately thought of you all. Your mission is to travel to Saringallow, contact the Mayor, and find out why and for what she needs intrepid heroes. Any questions?"
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An obviously nervous young man shakes his head. "I-I-I don't have any questions, Venture-C-C-Captain." Seeing everyone looking at him, he blushes and adds "Um, hi. I'm Jakeric. I read all of Q-Quinn's reports from Ustalav. Great job! Oh, and this is Grizzlebin." He gestures towards what looks like a small bear standing upright with a glowing rune on its forehead.
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Cannoli slaps the obviously nervous stuttering man on the back, ”Fear not friend! None of my teammates have been killed yet. A minor maiming here or there, but nothing I can’t piece back together. Can I pet your bear? They like treats? I have some cheese leftover from the last mission.”
That’s right. Stuck with the catfolk again. Keep your valuables close.
She replies to the big boss, ”Hide our presence as pathfinders? Easy enough. Heck I barely remember being one half the time anyway. Let’s do this! Adventure, glory, spoils of war, battle awaits!”
The catfolk is now dressed in a really nice breastplate. She still has all her spiked leather accoutrements though, choker, bracers, pants, boots, the works.
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Not fond of outsides? Oh lovely...I'll fit in like a giant at a halfling party. Well. if it was easy, this life would not be fun, right? Daegon says as he drinks a dark red wine and munches from a plate of finger food.
Well met, Jakeric...and Grizzlebin. I gather he has been combat trained? Or is that a work in progress... he asks as he walks around and studies the bear.
Barding might be a worthy investment...I know there are some that make it for familiars other than horses...
"I can speak for myself," declares the bear-like creature in a low growl. "But chatter makes me angry."
Taking in the group's questions, and Jakeric's nervous stutter, VC Trice says, "Let's see don't utter phrases like 'Glory to Andoran!' or 'Devils stink!' - pretty basic stuff. Maybe not shame Isgeri for the shabby state of the military, infrastructure, lack of safety throughout most of the country since they can't afford to rebuild after the Goblinblood Wars. I'm not that familiar with Saringallow but I do know the name of the town is a portmanteau."
Obviously flaunting his knowledge and vocabulary he explains, "For those who don't know a portmanteau is blending two words into a new one. In this case Saringallow is a portmanteau of 'Sarini' from House Sarini and 'gallows' as in the the structure used to hang people by the neck until dead. It's also a good example of being delicate and walking a fine line: I suspect the residents of Saringallow aren't fond of House Sarini but it's still a prominent House in Cheliax. And who is Isger a vassal state to? Cheliax. As for those of you with exotic appearances..."
He looks at Daegon, Guardian XI, Cannoli, and Grizzelbin, thinks for a moment, "You can't go wrong with a 'down on your luck' story. Ma and Pa lost the farm, Pa was a vampire from Ustalav and you didn't want him to drain you, too many catfolk in the litter, stranger from a strange land - I'm confident you'll convince everyone."
Flashing a broad grin one would see on an Ustalavic real estate agent selling 'bucolic living' to an outsider that moving next to Gallowspire isn't bad at all VC Trice says, "As soon as you buy some new equipment you'll be ready to go!"
"I know I don't l-look much like a burly caravan guard," says the skinny, limping Jakeric. "B-but maybe we can t-tell people I'm a p-powerful battle wizard or something! And hopefully we'll never get attacked, and no one will find out the truth . . ."
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"I can speak for myself," declares the bear-like creature in a low growl. "But chatter makes me angry."
”So, no cheese then. Got it.”
She turns away.
"…too many catfolk in the litter..."
”Tell me about it, seriously. My brother is apparently the ‘chosen one’ in my parents eyes. So he gets everything, the business, the love, the accolades. All I get is a curse and a badass attitude.”
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Guardian seems relatively satisfied with the VC's suggestions for simple cover stories.
Well, I don't think I can pass off a story about a ma or pa, but I think most would believe my general functioning as a guard in many contexts. I could easily be rented out to make income for an inventor from Alkenstar!
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My humblest of apologies...I had no idea of your capabilities. I had only heard of familiars that can talk, but only though magic. Daegon says with a nod of respect.
He visibly recoils when the boss mentions a vampiric father.
So best to keep the back and forth with the locals to topics that are not a hot point...
The journey is fairly common for its type: Close calls with pirates and monsters on Lake Encarthan but stability and security once the caravan arrives in Kerse. In fact, due to having enough money to eradicate anyone who tampers with their business, your 'guarding' duties through Druma consist mostly of staying awake.
All of that changes once you cross the border into Isger. Not long after losing sight of the border with Druma some haphazard goblins and desperate brigands give you a bit of trouble. Nothing you can't handle and those you don't kill flee in fear of your prowess!
Before long your caravan arrives at a secured entrance and the caravan master tells you, "This is your stop. Nice working with you and if you ever need a job I'll hire ya!"
What do you wish to do?
"It's not gonna matter, kid. If the mayor wants to hire us, he'll hire us, whether we stink or smell like roses. I'm with the big guy--let's get this done."
Asking the guards near the gate for directions to the Mayor's office, the group finds their way with little problem.
Entering the Administration Building and finding the Mayor's Office the Pathfinders see a middle aged human female sitting behind a desk. She looks up at you as you enter, "Welcome to Saringallow. My name is Caleria Axillus, Secretary to the Mayor. How may I help you?"
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Cannoli pushes her annoyance down deep like a good adult, where it can fester and boil over at some future inopportune time.
She smiles sweetly to the receptionist, ”Hello there. I believe there may be a standing appointment for some ‘intrepid heroes’? Perhaps you could let us talk to her ladyship about it?”
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Responding to Cannoli's statement with a grunt of surprise? Disbelief?
Caleria turns her head to the closed door and shouts loud enough to have everyone's ears ringing (Wow what a set of lungs on her!), "Mayor! There's some 'intrepid heroes' here for an appointment! Or the menagerie is in town - tough to say!"
A voice responds, "Thank you Caleria, please escort them in."
With a 'huff' Caleria stands up, motions you all, and says, "Okay get moving." and opens the door for you.
"I think I'm into her," mumbles Grizzlebin as he follows the others into the mayor's office.
The plush red carpet and oak furniture upholstered with velvet lend this room an air of comfort, but it’s also clearly a place of official business, with several layers of administrative papers, staff memos, maps, and charts covering the wide surface of the solid desk in the center. From her tall-backed chair behind her desk, Mayor Sandra Trinelli looks up, shaking herself out of a deep concentration. A subtle look of relief flashes across her face as she motions to the oversized chairs in front of her.
“Normally, I’d exchange more pleasantries with my guests, but I fear there is no time,” she says. “The business that brought you here is quite urgent—it may actually be a matter of life and death."
“Let me explain. Several young apprentices from various establishments in Saringallow have disappeared in the last couple of weeks. Every one of them has failed to show up to work, and nobody seems to know where they’ve gone. That’s not all. Rumors are spreading about sightings of enormous insects roaming about town. So far, the townspeople have chalked up such rumors to overactive imaginations, but I fear they might be real, and that they might have something to do with the missing
apprentices. I have no proof that the situations are connected, but if folks get that notion into their heads, things are bound to spiral out of control.”
She shifts nervously, as if avoiding an uncomfortable implication, before continuing.
“Please, I implore you to look into this matter quietly and thoroughly—find out where our apprentices have gone and discover the cause of our vermin problem. Don’t jump to conclusions until you have investigated every possible angle; we need to be absolutely sure that we know who or what is responsible before we take any necessary law enforcement actions."
“I suggest you start by interviewing the masters of every missing apprentice on this list I’ve compiled. I suspect that, collectively, they might shed some light on the youngsters’ whereabouts. That could in turn illuminate our vermin problem, but until we have more information, I caution you against suggesting to anyone that the two situations are connected. Beyond that, though, you have my full cooperation in this matter. If anyone gives you guff about your line of questioning, show them this letter.”
The mayor pushes a scrap of paper with several names scribbled on it across her desk, as well as a rolled-up, ribbon-bound letter written on thick parchment.
“As far as an incentive,” the mayor says, “I’ve pooled together 50 gold pieces as a reward for each apprentice you manage to find and rescue, as well as an additional 100 gold pieces if you can determine the cause of our vermin problem—and eliminate
it. Do we have a deal?”
"D-don't worry, Mayor Trinelli. You can c-c-count on us!" says Jakeric. He looks at the list. "Wow, there really are a lot of m-missing people! Is the list in the order they d-disappeared?"
"No. Since none of them have been 'officially' reported as missing we don't know who went missing first or in what order."
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Cannoli has been so far picking dirt off her cloak and carefully depositing it in a trash basket nearby. Hopefully it’s a trash basket…
She pipes up, ”Why not use the local guard? Do you think they did it? It seems unwise to just allow missing persons to pile up and just hope intrepid heroes like ourselves show up.”
Mayor Trinelli replies, “No I don't think the town guards are involved. My concern over involving a least a small contingent of the guard—they’re a talkative lot who would no doubt reveal the nature of my inquiries. You see how my hands are tied. I need help, preferably outside help. You seem like the perfect candidates.”
"I don't think the guards will bother you but, if they do, please show them the note. At the very least they'll report to me and I'll set them straight."
The Mayor chuckles, "If I knew everyone who disliked me I'd have an easier time in my job. The note is certainly not a legally compelling document. It’s merely a politely worded request to treat you as my proxies, and to answer any of your reasonable questions as thoroughly as possible. If anyone asks you about the details of your assignment, tell them that you’re looking into a matter of personal significance to me, and that you can give no further details. If anyone has any problems with it, they can take it up with me, their duly elected mayor—I’ll handle it from there. This expression of my favor may get you further with some of our merchants than with others and I'll be curious to find out which ones have a problem with me. If you can gather information without using the note it might forestall rumormongering for a bit longer which would be a significant benefit.”
Replying to Guardian XI Mayor Trinelli says, "Unfortunately I don't know who has seen them. Sometimes people don't wish to reveal that they've witnessed something so odd..."
Noting what Daegon said in addition to Guardian XI's question Trinelli pauses as if unsure whether to continue, before taking a resolute swig from the large mug of tea on her desk.
“As you likely know, the people of Saringallow are a superstitious lot, and with good reason—our community has been through its share of hardships, particularly when it comes to our vulnerable youth. If folks begin to assume that foul play is behind the apprentices’ disappearances, they might decide to mete out justice against an innocent person. Or if they come to believe the two situations are related, they may begin to suspect a diabolic or otherwise foul influence, and there would be panic in the streets. Under no circumstances can I allow that to happen.”
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Cannoli reaches into her pack for a brush, but pulls out a deck of cards. A very familiar deck of cards.
"Oho! I forgot about these. I wonder if they still work?"
She pulls a card.
The magic crinkles out of the card and into her body, "Huh, I feel wiser now. Probably won't stop me from doing stupid things though."
Cannoli reaches into her pack for a brush, but pulls out a deck of cards. A very familiar deck of cards.
"Oho! I forgot about these. I wonder if they still work?"
She pulls a card.
[dice=Draw From Deck Boon]d6
The magic crinkles out of the card and into her body, "Huh, I feel wiser now. Probably won't stop me from doing stupid things though."
** spoiler omitted **
Mayor Trinelli nods at Victor, sighs and gazes out the picture window beside her desk.
“It’s a painful history,” she admits, “but more than a hundred years ago, our town was little more than rural holdings belonging to Cheliax’s House Sarini. At some point, the Sarinis began dabbling in diabolism. It made everyone uncomfortable by all accounts, but no one said anything until it was too late.”
She pauses, and when she continues her voice is filled with palpable anger. “Those horrible nobles exsanguinated several innocent youths in service to their dark patrons, like they were nothing but toys. The townspeople rose up, and in their rage, they hanged every Sarini they could get their hands on. They changed the town’s name to Sarini Gallows as a warning, though it eventually became Saringallow. Since then we’ve never knowingly suffered a Sarini’s presence in our town.”
The mayor takes a deep breath, calming the passion that welled inside her while recounting the tale.
“However,” she continues, “We paid a price back then even beyond the lives of those young people. During the hangings, the townspeople began turning on each other, accusing folks of diabolism at every turn. The real villains lost their lives, but so did many innocent people, and I can’t allow that to happen again. If I do, I’ll very likely have blood on my hands.”
She sighs heavily, "This is why people may be reluctant to talk about things like the giant bugs – afraid other people in Saringallow will turn on them. Given the history of the town I think you understand why spreading the news of the disappearances would be ill advised. And why I'm in the position of needing outsiders to investigate these problems."
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Jakeric nods sympathetically. "We had b-best get started then! Everyone, maybe we can start at the Witch's End tavern to get a meal and ask q-questions about M-M-Morvinaar."
Behind the stuttering young man's back, Grizzlebin notices Cannoli drawing a harrow card. The bear-like creature reaches into Jakeric's pocket and pulls one out as well.
Guardian watches as others pull out their decks. He chooses to leave his packed away for now...
Yes, we'd better start visiting the apprentices' masters.
Vreekka keeps her deck of cards untouched.
"I agree, let's get going."