Baroness - Lady Origena Devy's page

Hanzo grimaced inwardly. Perfect. They had a watchdog for the Baroness along.

Outwardly, he pressed, "If it will be that dangerous, surely you can supply us with equipment as well before we go?"

"I have full faith in your abilities, master Belkin. However, you did just come into a decent amount of wealth. Perhaps you will find something in town."

With the contract drawn, the baroness dismisses the party.

"It is unlikely the dragon you spoke of stayed in hiding until now. "

The half-orc eyes Thomas, Hanzo and Joriannika unsure what to make of them and if they could be trusted for this type of mission.

"No valuable items will be taken out of the property under my watch but, if we would be facing resistance inside the premises it's possible that there would be damages."

"I understand, master Sheaorlis. All I ask is that you try."

Joriannika nodded, a twinkle in her eye. "I'll help. But I'd like to hear the story of the dragon. It's not one I'm very familiar with."

"If it's stories you want, I'd suggest you speak with our local historian, Bassy. She probably knows more about Belhaim's history than I do."

Everyone nods or gives a word of consent to this new task. Everyone except Guruthos. It's not that the elf keeps silent, but that he actually speaks up.

"I'm leaving. Goodbye. Hanzo, take care."

Everyone is stunned in silence. A minute passes, the baroness makes an attempt, if you can call it that, to get Guruthos to reconsider. He remains resolutely silent, except for the raspy breathing further muffled by his mask.

"Very well. Thank you, master elf for your service to Belhaim. Here is your payment. You will always be welcome here."

She distributes Guruthos' payment, as well as everyone else's.

(Total payout is 1,200 gp, or 240 gp each. I don't remember if you're using a collective fund or not.)

The rogue leaves and another man comes in with a length of parchment, upon which he writes the terms of the agreement between you and the baroness/Belhaim.

"As for the rest of you, his cousin didn't give a time limit for her request, so enter at your own leisure."

"Very well. However, if they fail to keep their promise, the consequences will be on your heads. Now, young cleric, it so happens Aeteperax was the name of the dragon slain by our village's founder, Tula Belhaim, more than one thousand years ago. Do you mean to tell me this den of reptiles was forming some sort cult worshiping a long-dead dragon, or perhaps a descendant? Or do they claim that Lady Tula failed to slay the creature? " The questions seem rhetorical as she pauses only for a moment before continuing. "Whether or not the figure of their fascination exists can wait." She takes a slow, deep, breath

"There's been a development. When you confirmed that Balthus Hunclay had perished, word was sent via raven to his only living relative, a cousin in Yanmass. Just this morning, her reply arrived-she doesn't seem all that distraught at his death, and has no interest in coming to Belhaim to claim his estate and belongings. Instead, she has requested that I auction off all of Hunclay's property and possessions so that the proceeds, minus expenses of course, can be sent to her. As you can imagine, this leaves me with quite a daunting task: cataloguing the contents of Hunclay's manor home means entering the place and exploring its interior, an enterprise that could entail considerable danger. Hunclay was something of a foul-tempered recluse, and word around town is that
his manor was warded by magical traps and guarded by monsters. The fate of the kobold who burned to death on the manor's front porch has only added to locals' fears."

"I ask for your service to Belhaim once more. Exploring Hunclay's manor and identifying any unusual or magical items there while simultaneously deactivating traps and dealing with any monstrous guardians seem to be tasks tailor-made for adventurers, after all. However, you are not permitted to loot anything you find in the manor. I will pay you a flat fee of 5,000 gp for performing this service, and you are more than welcome to participate in the auction, if you wish. We can draw up a contract right now. What say you?"

"And you are all convinced that these creatures will... keep their word?"

Sorry about the delay. Life, amirite?

The party makes their way up to the manor to report to the baroness. Much like the baroness herself, the regal estate stands dignified, yet humble, finely crafted stone bricks hiding behind thick vines.

The same servant greets you as before, leading you to the familiar parlor where the Lady Devy sits. She remains stony-faced even as the party enters, still bearing the evidence of the bloody toll this day has taken. Her eyes bounce from one of you to the next.

"So, it seems the two dispatches joined forces. Yet you return so soon? And two of your number are absent. Tell me," her eyes fix on the cleric, "where is your dwarven friend? And the ifriti, what of him? Please, tell me everything."

She leaves the question hanging there, but her eyes remain steadfastly on Stone.

"Master elf, that truly is noble. I will not stop you from fulfilling your spiritual responsibilities, but I must also press upon you the importance of the task at hand. What I don't want, is for citizens to take up arms and get themselves killed. How many more would your god require you to bury?" she asks rhetorically. She lets the silence hang there a few seconds before adding, "You may speak with Calladastina, our undertaker. I'm sure she will help you. I'll have Mulle and Hodd offer some assistance as well. At the latest, you could finish by tomorrow night, heading out the following morning. Again, I thank all of you. Now, go. Rest, heal, prepare yourselves."

The party is escorted out of the manor. Hodd, having received his instructions (and quite obviously not liking it one bit), heads back towards the undertaker, assuming that Guruthos will be following him.

It is mid-afternoon. You may go sell and buy whatever you like. Or go visit a place on the map. The rest of the day is yours. Refer to the "Belhaim Locations" link to see what each numbered location on the map is. Treasure obtained in the ruins will sell for the value I stated. Most gear and weapons will sell for half their purchase cost. (Depending on who you are talking to, you may get a different price. Belhaim citizens care very much about their particular factions/religions).

While around and about, you might talk to people who might tell you rumors that might (or might not) be true (because, y'know...rumors). These may grant extra side quests for the party or reveal information that might prove useful later.

I need to stress that in this module, prices for goods is highly likely to fluctuate based on someone's attitude towards you (or the party in general). And because you're so far off the map, remote from any large cities, items by default will be slightly more expensive. Any vendor with a starting disposition of indifferent sells you goods at a 10% higher cost. (But you still sell for 1/2 the normal price). Some might give you better prices, and some might not sell to you at all. Some might share a rumor with you, some might spread rumors about you. There might be a few magic items at some of the shops and religious temples, but you'll need to venture out.

What does everyone do?

The baroness sits in silence for a moment, deep in thought.

"Thank you all for aiding our small community today. As promised here is your reward."

Arnholde Devy, the baroness' adult son, hands Joriannika a bag containing the 500 gp.

"Now. It sounds like there's more to be done. And if you all are willing - and would like to earn a fair bit more than that meager bag - we can continue to benefit one another. I've long been suspicious of a kobold tribe living out somewhere east of here; near the flooded quarry. They have never caused any problems so the townsfolk left them alone.

Keeping the safety of my citizens of the highest import, I must ask this of you. To drive the kobolds out of this region entirely. Use whatever means you deem necessary. Taking out their chieftain should suffice. And in return, I am prepared to offer the lot of you a larger reward: A dozen amethysts, each valued at 100 gold pieces. Of course, I don't ask that you head off right now. You all look like you could use a decent night's sleep. So please, take the rest of the afternoon to prepare yourselves and heal up. Will you serve Belhaim once more?"

The looks thoughtful as Hanzo speaks.

"Well, as I said this morning, it was terribly suspicious that Hunclay was not there at the site or answering his door. He has been petitioning for the tower's destruction... really ever since he moved here; so it's not half as surprising to hear he was down there than it was to see kobolds in my town. What of that mystery? It's perfectly alright if the story that contains the truth is not yet known. Truth can never be fully known. But please, continue."

"Ahh, welcome back! Well, no sense dilly-dallying, let's get down to it."

She looks suddenly serious.

"What did you find out?"

(Thought I'd give this a try!)

The baroness nods in agreement with the inquisitor's words.

"I ask that Sheaorlis here join you in this task clearing out the tribe. A town this size still has a great many rumormongers and, regardless of what may be true, the fact is that kobold bodies were found and my citizens will, of course, find innumerable reasons why the kobolds are to blame. And they do carry some of the blame. They chose to partake in this act, not caring if people were hurt. Maintaining peace, order, and law is a responsibility I bear, and I ask you to help me bear it. But I also will allow you to choose. Spare them if you like, disperse them, scare them off, or ... so long as they don't come back. I want them gone by any means necessary. Now, if you are willing, please go and rest, and prepare yourselves for the task ahead. Sheaorlis, I have already sent word to the Wise Piper Inn to provide a room, if you're not opposed. Was there anything else to report? I have a meeting later with Isadorer Malak, whose wife has been missing for quite some time, nearly three months, and we can't afford to continue our fruitless endeavors."