So, the PCs captured Filge and found the note from Balabar Smenk. They turned Filge over to the Church of St. Cuthbert, and here's where I have run into a bit of a problem concering the next adventure, 3FoE.
I'm assuming that Filge will be interrogated by the Church, Cubbin's men, the garrison, or all of the above. In doing so, they'll learn that Filge was brought here by Smenk, that there's a cult in the Dourstone mines, and that Balabar and Ragnolin are somehow involved with this cult. Logically, the garrison and probably the clerics of Heironeous would then investigate the Dourstone mines and a huge battle between the militia and the cultists would erupt. My problem is: if this happens, how can the next adventure (3FoE) take place?
I can think of only one solution off the top of my head: Smenk flees the town the moment he hears that Filge is captured, and Filge is assassinated before he can talk. But how would the cult know to assassinate him so quickly? Knowing Filge, he would start talking the moment he was captured in an attempt to spare his life. He was willing to spill the beans to the PCs, after all.
Any ideas on how this progression of events could work out?
Technically, the garrison does not have jurisdiction over Diamond Lake and its people, that's Sherriff Cubbin's responsibility. The garrison is using the town as a base to patrol the surrounding countryside.
Plus there is a certain amount of friction between Cubbin and the garrison; the garrison want to clean up the town, Cubbin doesn't want to lose his job. Plenty of scope there for people to fall between the cracks.
I'd say, let Filge be interrogated. If the garrison are doing it, then they may want to hire the party to check things out without being seen to be interfering in local law enforcement. Equally, Cubbin could hire the PCs to investigate the mine in order to prevent harm to his precious skin.
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Here's something else to think about. As all Age of Worms DMs know, Cubbin, Smenk, and just about anybody else with power in Diamond Lake is corrupt. And the garrsion and the Church of Heironeous is not the type to do things to grease the wheels (unless I'm terribly mistaken). That being said, the garrison & church being a well behaved lawful entity will first try to go through the proper channels within Diamond Lake. This gets them absolutely nowhere. As every one will be looking for a bribe to not look the other way. I see things happening one of two ways, the first way involves the church or the garrison hiring the party to infiltrate the mines and into the underground complex that Filge will end up spilling his guts out about. Way number two involves the more paranoid world view. After the party drops Filge off for questioning, a member of the garrison goes to report back to Filge. This garrison member then pays a lot of attention to Filge, to make sure Filge doesn't start doing his best impression of a canary. And if Filge does, then off him in a subtle but distinctive measure (and for our story, preferably a method framing at least one member of the party). At this point, the garrison isn't sure about the party, and at the same time they're trying to get things done about the information they got from Filge before he expired. But again, this nets no help, so when a large number of the garrison is gone doing this and other things, Smenk sends some men in to dispatch a few of the garrison men and women, capture a few and frames the whole thing on the party. But at the same time he also sends a message to the party, letting them know what he did and that if they meet him, he will let them know what they can do to rectify things.
Thanks for the quick reply.
The way I see it, once Filge starts talking, Lanod Neff would see this as an opportunity to disgrace Smenk. So he'd want to have Cubbin arrest Balabar, only Smenk has already fled!
As for the cultists, the Church of St. Cuthbert, being lawful, would certainly inform the Sheriff, and the Sheriff would very likely inform Neff. That is, unless Cubbin was a member of the Ebon Triad or had some connection to them. Assuming he's not, Neff would learn of the cultists and would then have to make a decision about what to do about them. Obviously, Cubbin's men can't take them out, so he could go to the garrison (which he might do if he felt they were a real threat to him). Perhaps, he would rather have the PCs scout the place out first, before he does anything...hasty.
Thanks for the quick reply.
The way I see it, once Filge starts talking, Lanod Neff would see this as an opportunity to disgrace Smenk. So he'd want to have Cubbin arrest Balabar, only Smenk has already fled!
As for the cultists, the Church of St. Cuthbert, being lawful, would certainly inform the Sheriff, and the Sheriff would very likely inform Neff. That is, unless Cubbin was a member of the Ebon Triad or had some connection to them. Assuming he's not, Neff would learn of the cultists and would then have to make a decision about what to do about them. Obviously, Cubbin's men can't take them out, so he could go to the garrison (which he might do if he felt they were a real threat to him). Perhaps, he would rather have the PCs scout the place out first, before he does anything...hasty.
1) Smenk would silence Filge if he got too vocal.
2) Neff is not there to rock the boat. Only in the face of overwhelming scandal would he act out against Smenk.
3) The lawful churches and the the garrison would not act out against the cultists without overt evidence. Your players may have allies and friends within their circles, but their hands are tied to do anything until the PCs can turn something up.
4)The true forces in law in DL detest the sheriff, reckognizing that he is Neff's lapdog. And Neff would balk at sending soldiers into the Dourstone Mines at the word of a lowly band of adventurers. It's counter-productive in Neff's eyes.
5) Gelch Tilghast and Luzane Parrin are more likely to conspire against Smenk. Arrange clandestine meetings with them if your players are in the mood for subversion and general cloak-and-daggery. They could ask the PCs to poke around the Dourstone Mines.