Loshdain, 13th
of Thaumont 1,000 A.C. (roughly 10:00
am)
Having received the ransom letter from the mysterious “D,”
the party decided to split up and prepare for action. Eric found a valet to
perform laundry services for the group. They each left a set of clothes behind
to be cleaned (3 sp per load). Chow-Lin spoke with the innkeep at the Lion’s
Den Inn to secure 2 rooms for the next two weeks time (paid up until the end of
Thaumont). Finally, Markus headed for the marketplace to buy weapons from the
Gnome Caravan. Unfortunately, the weapons he was seeking were unavailable, most
being taken during the raid on the Duke’s Road. He instead made a note to seek
out the dwarven weaponsmith Kharveth at some later date due to his fine quality
weapons.
Unable to purchase new weapons, Markus headed north to the
Foreign Quarter to locate Vittorio, a Veiled Society member who had trained him
upon his return to Specularum. He searched through the waterfront taverns but
could not find him. At the Twisted Vine, however, he spotted a man in a black
cloak and black leathers. After purchasing a local red wine from the barkeep
for a gold coin, he noticed the man had entered the bar and left behind a tip
for the barkeep and an iron ring. After some hesitation, Markus recovered the
discarded iron ring and left the place, continuing to search for Vittorio.
Markus was obviously being followed so he decided to continue seeking help from
the Veiled Society.
Meanwhile, Eric and Hamlin went shopping for supplies they
would need for their journey to Haven. They purchased extra clothing and gear
for Hamlin, food for both the party members and the pack mule, and extra
camping gear. They also headed to the North Gate Ostler to make sure their mule
was ready to leave. Eric found that the party was a bit negligent, however, and
had to pay for a week of stabling for the mule. Chow-Lin headed for the College
of Heralds to see if any word of the messenger had returned. Nothing had been
heard from the Vorloi Estate as of yet so Chow-Lin headed back to the Lion’s
Den.
Markus continued to check taverns in the Foreign Quarter.
He stopped briefly at the Fisherman’s Quay, just long enough to hear
superstitious gossip from a pair of fishermen and be repulsed by the odor of
fish-head soup. His next stop was the Golden Barnacle, a tavern along the bay
in North End. Here he bought some bread and cheese and looked around at the
clientele. Noticing the black-cloaked man staring at him through the window,
Markus decided to wave him in to talk. The black-cloaked man obliged and
entered to speak with him. Basically, the man was blunt and to the point. He
held Portio ransom for the money owed to the Iron Ring for Markus’ training. If
Markus did not deliver the gold by that evening, Portio would be returned to
the party a piece at a time. Markus was told to meet at the Slumbering Serpent
Inn in the Foreign Quarter, alone, with the gold. Markus agreed and headed back
to the Lion’s Den to tell the others.
Along the way back to the Inn, Markus and Chow-Lin passed
by a group of men in the marketplace. A fat, greasy man in robes was apparently
doing some business with five Ethengar men. They were watching Chow-Lin as she
passed through the market. Markus, who had been closer to the group, overheard
them speaking of a deal to secure goods. It was obvious that they must be
speaking of Chow-Lin. The fat man was paid some money which he deposited into
large belt pouches, then the group of men separated, going in different
directions. Chow-Lin hurried away from the marketplace to return to the safety
of the inn. Markus continued to follow the fat man in hopes of obtaining
coinage with which to pay off the ransom.
The fat man continued to wander through the market,
stopping in stores along the way and speaking to an ugly, hunched-over man in
the streets. Markus had apparently picked up two thugs after leaving the Golden
Barnacle, and fortunately they were easy enough to spot. This may have also
tipped off his mark, as the fat man began trying to evade Markus by ducking
down an alley. Markus eventually caught up to him, but let him go as the noisy
thugs caught up to him. Markus let the fat man sneak away to a busier street,
while admonishing his pursuers. The thugs were going to stick close to him and
make sure he wasn’t trying to leave the city.
At the Lion’s Den, Chow-Lin locked herself in her room,
fearing for her safety. Eric and Hamlin returned just before Markus and had
lunch in the common room. Markus later joined them, noticing the ugly man from
the street enter and sit in the common room within easy earshot. Markus and
Eric finished lunch, leaving Hamlin to watch the man by the fire. They went
upstairs to discuss all they had learned with Chow-Lin. Plans were made to
disguise Chow-Lin and, in order to throw off pursuers, Chow-Lin pretended to
leave the Lion’s Den and headed for the Dragon’s Wing Inn. She was followed
thereafter by Markus who stopped to speak with the thugs. The thugs were
drinking ale with the ugly man, who turned out to be a half-orc. The half-orc
snarled at Markus and gave him a warning that he and his “elven friend” were to
stay away from the docks. The half-orc left the inn heading away from Chow-Lin.
Markus then also left the inn, followed by the thugs, heading to the alchemist
to sell the potion of clairaudience
he obtained without the party’s knowledge. He received 320 gp for the potion
and also found out that the next potion had been identified as a potion of mammal control. Retrieving
the new potion, he headed back to the Lion’s Den with the money. The others,
apparently not pursued by the ugly man, also returned to the Lion’s Den after
disguising Chow-Lin as a boy. There they pooled their resources and awaited until
early evening before setting off to the Foreign Quarter.
Right before dinner, the party headed off to pay the
ransom. Eric, Hamlin, and Chow-Lin left first, getting to the Slumbering
Serpent and ordering meals. There they spotted the black-cloaked man who had
been asking about Markus the other day, sitting alone, waiting. Markus left the
Lion’s Den afterwards, escorted by the thugs. When they arrived at the
Slumbering Serpent, the black-cloaked man demanded his payment. When Markus
could only produce half, and threats seemed to do no good, the black-cloaked
man decided to allow him to see Portio. He led Markus and the thugs to a dark
alley further away from the inn. The thugs returned Markus to the inn to
retrieve the gold from the party. The rest of the party finished their meal and
then headed after them.
The black-cloaked man returned with a battered Portio in
tow. Payment was made and then the black-cloaked man ordered the thugs to beat
Markus up. Markus was prepared for the double-cross, however, and leapt at the
black-cloaked man with his falsely peace-bonded sword. After the initial
scuffle, the rest of the party appeared at the alley entrance, ready for a
fight. Chow-Lin managed to cast her sleep
spell at the combatants, sending the thugs and Portio into a deep slumber. Eric
outlined the black-cloaked man’s form with faerie
fire, making him an easy target for all in the darkness. Hamlin and Markus
moved in to continue to fight as the black-cloaked man drew a dagger on them.
He then drew a poisoned blade and struck at Hamlin who, thankfully, was
unaffected by the venom. The battle ended when Markus made a telling blow with
his sword. They bound the man’s wounds, debating whether to keep him alive for
information or kill him. In the end Markus decided to end this immediate threat
to his life and he slit the man’s throat in front of a stunned Hamlin. Eric and
Chow-Lin retrieved Portio, and Markus stole whatever he could from the
black-cloaked man before they retreated from the alley. Eric cured Portio of
his wounds, allowing him to walk back with them unaided. The party made it back
to the Lion’s Den without incident. They ordered meals for those who had not
eaten yet and retired to their rooms. There, Markus counted up his loot taken
from the man. He managed to obtain both daggers, one regular and one smeared
with green residue, a light crossbow, a bolt case with 20 quarrels, 2 small
belt pouches containing 65 gp and a small jar filled with green goo bearing a
scorpion stencil on the outside, a large belt pouch containing a set of thieves'
tools and a vial of light blue liquid, an iron ring, and a gold ring.
The party then planned to leave for Haven at sunrise. They
intended to leave the intrigue of Specularum behind for a while and help the
Protectors save Haven from the humanoids and the ominous red glow of death.
Cast of Characters
Portio Vorloi – contact in Specularum and relation of Lord
Vorloi, your patron; currently rescued an in your care.
Pip Bumbercork – brownie from Haven who has traveled far
to ask for help from the druids.
“D” – some new antagonist who apparently captured Portio
and was holding him ransom; slain by Markus.
The “fat man” – a familiar man whom Chow-Lin remembers
seeing before; he has dealings with Ethengars…
“Ugly” half-orc – supposed member of the Iron Ring who has
threatened the party to stay away from the docks.
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