** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[spike]

One of the elderly men said 'That's one tough girl!'

The group exits the secret area, you draw closer toward the way you came when Karlene and Idrys both spot three giant ticks engorging themselves on one of the broken ones carcasses. The first spider-like tick has its head fully embedded into the back of the dead creature. They don't seem to notice you, what do you do?

'shit!' one of the freed prisoners muttered, and the others scolded him for it.

Ash extracts a fan from his pack and a feather of a Roc, chants 'xiorgoth demibrazeul sordigom nomi' when a wall of wind erupts before the three bloated ticks, blowing them backward and making them roll across the ground like tiny balls.

'Continue, while that wind wall is up' he said.

It takes some time but the group manages to clamber up the iron rungs of the sewer ladder and escape without much further incident. Eventually you make it to the Copper Wrym and the crowd dispersed, alive to see another day.

Back at the Inn, Karlene sees another pimp striking his whore, in the same spot Meagan was just earlier.

Meagan: "Let it go, those pimps work for the thieves guild, they're protected. The one you took down wasn't'

Ash: "Yes, we cannot save every soul in this hamlet, nor should we' he then goes off saying 'I'll return in the morning, hopefully with something useful'

The rest of you enter the Inn and are shown to a room. A pair of mercenaries is hired by the Inn to secure this floor of rooms. You're taken to a luxurious suite which is nearly immaculate, well furnished, cozy and comfortable and has an adjoining bathing chamber. Also also an identical room reserved for the black guard, and Idrys takes that one.

A note is left on the bed, it reads:

'My friends,

I fear I've been recalled back to the Elven court, at behest of my lady. There is imperial business which must be tended to, and she's assigned me tasks I cannot refuse. However, in the short time spent together, I feel for non elves you show some character, albeit rough around the edges. If you ever seek my help or need a ally during dark times ahead, do no hesitate to seek me within the Black Forest Kingdom'

Yours,

Delilah of House Stillwater

[Chris1234]

"Shame. She was good," comments Karlane about Delilah. "Sleep well, Idris. We can sort out the stuff in the sacks tomorrow when I will have a Detect Magic. We're in here, Meagan." She lead the way to the double bedroom on the left.
"Are you hurt at all, Meagan?" Karlane asks. (If so, she will use her last CLW).
She washes nd so forth then settles down for sleep, mace at hand just in case.

[spike]

*NEW* Right before you go to bed: There's a knock at the door and in came the halfling that you rescued. He greets you and introduces himself: "Well met, I'm Spider, at least me friends be calling me that. My real name is Varn Kilgot from the ten shires, a prince amongst halflings but a commoner among men, heh heh" he said with a chuckle, plucking Idrys's purse as if by magic, tossing it back to him with a playful grin, 'I owe you both for getting me out o' that awful place, I was bamboozled long the highway coming here when those unholy bastards came out of the shrubs and dragged me down a dark hole in me sleep. Some o' those items you procured were actually mine, but I wish for you to have em, in lieu of any monetary reward. Afraid I'm quite strapped for cash of late. Listen, if you've need of a capable fighter, I'm pretty good. Actually I'm better than good, not to be too cocky. Like you two swords, but the shorter kind. Short, and fast tall boy! As well I can move around unseen and unheard, better than you both I'd wager but then, I'm not comparing just declaring' he said. He turned serious suddenly and said 'I think you two are alright, and I want to offer you an invitation to audition. I belong to a secret organization, highly secret, dedicated to protecting the common weal and fighting as protectors for innocents. We also dispose of garbage that requires disposing of, and do not have any qualms about moral compunctions and unorthodox methodologies to fulfilling its objectives. You can call me a recruiter of sorts, an eye for talent, and when I say this it doesn't always sound as impressive as it ought'

[TristenC]

[Ooc: I didn't read the halfling was ever rescued until he showed up at the door. So wait, we're at rhe inn now and it's bedtime? Delilah is gone (we kind of left her behind in the alley, right?). Did ash tell us where he is staying? I feel like a lot of things are getting glossed-over/fast forwarded again...]

A talent recruiter, huh? What is this organization called? I've other obligations to attend at the moment, but this does sound promising.

[Chris1234]

{OOC: I echo Tristen's comments. Need to let the PCs set the pace more.TBH I've been politely criticised for forcing the pace in other games on this site and I'm having to work in this game to keep up. We need time to catch our breath, join up the dots, examine any stuff we've found. Now, if this is the final person (halfling) that we had to leave as Ash broke his pickpocket and then said to come back after he (Ash) had done cure blindness on Idrys in the morning, then I suggest you edit the last post, Spike, just for continuity. If there is a natural reason how and why the halfling appears now, then fine. But otherwise trust the PCs - we will go back for him.}

Half undressed, Karlane hears a noise at the door and picks up her mace. She also looks at Meagan, still waiting for the girl to confirm whether she needed any healing.

[spike]

Sorry I forgot to include the part I realized, where Idrys's rope tug yanks the door off its hinges.

OOC: I never actually stated it was bedtime, Karlene was just getting ready for bed even though it's still broad daylight out. vs. CON 11 you're not even sleepy eyed, yet. You're simply at the Inn now in your room.

Spider said 'The brotherhood (and sisterhood) of guardian watchers. We're behind a great deal of interesting exploits, though you would have no idea of our involvement, if you had we're not doing it right. Our existence is not well known, but I leave you to read this at your leisure (leaves a parchment scroll). If it piques your curiosity, come have a drink with me, I'll be at the booth of the high lord in the fifth commonroom down below."

Meagan: "No, I think I'm okay for now, thanks"

[Chris1234]

{OOC: If its not bedtime then its unclear why we were tugged out of the dungeon.}

Ok, having had a good wash, Karlane re-clothes herself and stars to check out the accumulated loot.

[TristenC]

[Ooc: also unclear why the phrase 'Right before you go to bed:' was used if it's not bedtime...]

Idrys 'looks' over the take as well,

[Chris1234]

Karlene starts of by making an inventory list, adding, "Anything I've missed, Idrys? Ha! That's assuming you can see stuff. How are the eyes now?"

• Gloves of magic missiles (x3/day), cobalt & emerald gems near the knuckles
  Elven dagger, contains 3’ garrotte
  Elven glassteel katana
  Elven hauberk (chainmail)
  Elven cloak
  Elven boots
  From pimp: 10GP, signet ring (black scorpion), 3 gold teeth, tiny ledger book (list of names and unpaid debts)
  Documents from Mage Karnac for Dezloz. Stolen from priests of Lor.
  Black officer: a map, several documents (cypher encrypted, invisible ink), glassteel ring (flame burning within.Engraved with runes 'Power', 'Firearrow', possibly 'Rings of the Elder Highlords')
  Black guard #1: dirk, longswords, mace, 3gp, tiny black leather bound journal, cloak, black chainmail
  Black guard #2: 3 gp, 25 silver., dagger, boot dagger, cloak, black chainmail
  Small bandolier of vials (thyriz) off each officer
  Broken Ones area: journal, pouches, shoes, rope, armor, sword and shield

"So, what have you go to add to the list, Idrys? And we should start an "'unfinished business' list too!" comments Karlene.

• Get Meagan some proper clothes and write Letter of Introduction to the temple of Lor.
  Halfling (Varn Kilgot aka Spider) of 'The Brotherhood of Guardian Watchers' -parchment scroll - booth of the high lord in the fifth common-room down below
  Finish off the rooms where we rescued Meagan
  Find unspecified intel from Copper Inn
  Find (and sort out) Priest Lomag, sacrificer to DemoG, has 2 shadow protectors, runs the 'Broken Ones'
  Mage Karnak in Harby, works for ??? ("Password is Belzagoth") ==> for what???
  Unspecified black guard (legion) spies (forearm runic tattoo of two opposed dragons, red and black). Work for Dezloz?
  Ancient ruined Lorian underground temple somewhere near Harby - 'Vor' was asking who who's found it.
  Ash has gone to find the location of this place we came here to find
  Speculation: Is rat-stick beggar a look-out/spy?
  Mayor <name of ???> hires people to kill orcs. Blood Ravens (mercs) won't take this work.
  Black Officer's list of sleeper agents in Harby & location of a secret base on the outskirts of town (map???)
  Guardsman thought our sister (Sister of Mercy) wanted us killed by the assassins (elf + dwarf) but Alzor Dam didn't. Either way they were to kill Ash after we'd found him. mentioned 'an inheritance'.
  Divest cheese, wine & silks in Harby.
  Draxcon ruins: a pair of father's swords ('Ebonblade', 'blueblade' both adamantium) on the second level beneath Draxcon
  Journal extract: "Mayor of Harby...hired adventurers (200GP)... find the source of...disappearances. (Jermlaine?) Thief tailed 'Broken Ones' (source 'cleric @ Copper') to sewers. Directed from above. Mayor is corrupt." We need to find the cleric. Is Spider that party's thief?

"So, Idrys, what do you know that I've missed off either or both lists?" Karlene asks. {OOC: I've only worked on what Karlane knows back to post page 21, Jul 12, 2016 2:38 am}

The acolyte gently probes, "Meagan, what can you tell us about Lomag? Or Karnak? Or the Blood Ravens?"

[TristenC]

[Ooc: Thanks, been a little slogged at work lately]

Idrys unloads the gear he found in the prison in the sewers and relates his past assignments. I've also been trying to join up with the church of Lor, mostly for answers about our kind and our past. I met a priestess named Nyra... she was... helpful he flushes a bit, but carries on. I still can't see that well, but we'll set that right in the morning. I found this journal, but I can't read it right now. he hands her the book.

[Chris1234]

Karlane examines (and reads) the journal from the Broken Ones' lair to see if it has more of substance to reveal.
She then looks at the map and documents again from the Officer followed by the tiny black leather bound journal (ex-Black guard #1) and then the tiny ledger book (ex-pimp) and the final doc search is the stuff from the mage.

After this, she tries on the elven cloak and boots to see if they are endowed with magical properties (such as camouflage or moving silently respectively).
Does the acolyte find anything else in the pouches or anything previously unnoticed in the other things from the Broken Ones' lair (pouches, shoes, rope, armor, sword and shield)?

[TristenC]

[Ooc: I can read through and look for a full list later, but here are the basics]

I can't really recall everything, I'll have to think on it. I'd be most interested in going after father's swords, there might be some clues about him there.

For things I've acquired:[/b]
-Gloves, Dwemer magnetic
-Chimaera Leather armor (tailored to fit Idrys)
-Invisible Longsword
-loot from assassins (acid?)
-stuff from Broken Ones

And unfinished business
-meet up with Nyssa, take 'the tests' join the church of Lor
-punk from inn sent assassins after us but got away
-Fat man impersonating a Dhampir apparently into a lot of shady businesses
-Halfling that got away during the raid on the swamp people
-possibly join up with the Halfling "Watchers"
-"Elf and Dwarf"
-Mage in charge here in town wants us dead and Karlene for a slave/concubine
-assassin that attacked said there'd be more (from our sister according to Ash?)
-Apparently every male non-ally in the known world wants to keep Karlene for a sex-slave.
-fucking everyone wants us dead (our own sister, empire, black cloaks, etc, etc)

[Chris1234]

Karlane reads her lists to Idrys and notes down what he says.
"Anything you acquired when I wasn't with you is, and should be, yours. Unless of course there's anything there that you don't want. I take it you already know all about what the magnetic gloves, Chimaera leather armor & invisible longsword do so they don't need identifying. I think they're yours and aren't to be considered as a 'pick' when it comes to sharing stuff out. Which should, I suggest, include Ash when he was with us. I've pretty much got all the stuff from the broken Ones on my list; unless you know I've missed something. I think we shared out the stuff from the assassins. Might have missed a vial or two of stuff, but I'm not overly worried about that just now. So if you check my list again when you're had a rest, just to make sure I'm not overlooking anything," Karlane replies.

[spike]

Meagan thought hard about Karlenes questions and strained her mind but quickly became frustrated, “Lomag I fear nothing at all concerning, but the blood ravens are well known in Harby. They are hard men, yet honor is more valuable to them than coin. Some have been kind to me during lean times, when weak men prey on the powerless they policed the populace for food instead of coin, and the farmers became the real heroes. For the ravens protected us against brigands. However, they still time to time take on less than savoury or honorable patrons. Its been said a mysterious man had trained the first on condition he only train those worthy of their elite ranks. Some call him simply the master and others as the hermit. I believe he was a knight from the olden times, or a great man like a bodyguard of a king.

Idrys eyes become itchy and it takes some sheer act of will not to scratch them. He can see images now, though still blurry and vague.

Karlene reads the journal (from Broken Ones)

Journal of the Black Company – Haldar Krondak pens this, at behest of our glorious leader Gloron Lassar, who demands all glories of his be immortalized.

Day 1 – setting out, with me are two crazed destroyers Gloron Lassar and Agar Braun, an archer Bria of Tirth, Alcar Ablefingers the thief from Harkonnia, Magnus the mage most masgnificent, and of course myself the acccompanying healer.

These barbarians are fell and mighty, they decimated large number of orc and brigands effortlessly so I have faith in their prowess. Yet none in their ability to work entirely cohesively in black company fashion.

Just cant find good help nowadays.

Day 2 have taken contract to decimate broken one infestation below Harby, and restore order and sanity. These vile things were responsible for many abductions throughout town, not for consumption but for ritual sacrifice. Some inviible mind bends these hated ones to its will, and for now we only call him, her or it shadow man for lack of witty word. The being has considerable power, clerical spells and mage spells wielded with brilliance during battle.

I lost my beloved hound Scraggy during a skirmish against jermalaine. Out of fury and wrath I destroyed over a hundred single handed. Nothing to gloat over, any should do so out of common decency.

Seemed the shadow man commands the treacherous little shits somehow.

Day 3 – disrupted what I believe was to be ritual sacrifce of a virgin princess not from Harby but Harkonnia. She was stark naked on the bloodstained altar where the shadowy elusive one was praying in the corrupt infernal speech. It was the elusive shadow man, a half orc priest-assassin and servitor of Lomag his master. He swallowed poison hid in a hallow tooth. A freed cleric of Lor interrogated his spirit for us and we discovered that Lomag is behind the spread of recent attacks disrupting trade throughout several vital districts heavily trafficked by Nyrian and Jezzurian merchants. He abducts all, takes them alive and gives their wares to his minions as reward. Some of the prisoners are sold into slavery, others sacrificed.

Who is Lomag? I believe he hides well, and bides his power beyond scrutiny of the shrewd, the weary. Lorian masters cannot provide answers, cannot or will not I am uncertain which.

Day 5- we captured a drow ambassador and his two aides who were enroute to a secret meet with the halforc. The drow claimed she was to simply purchase slaves and nothing more. Magnus, our illustrious mage discovered the drow is a member of the female fighter society, also allied with the pain mistresses of Loviatar. An axis of evil powers does not bode well for those folk who dwell above. The Watchers must be involved now, we need to stem the tide of growing evil power.

Day 7 – that miserable black skinned she elf! May she rot in the higher hells. She lead us into a trap and we ran afoul of some rather nasty scrags in a large chamber where a pool comprised the floor. Lost our thief Alcar Ablefingers, may his soul rest in peace even if his body is troll shit. Even though we have a rod of ressurection in our possession,we cannot expend a charge on poor Alcar. He gave specific instructions not to be raised and to be buried in his homeland.

Day 12 – gained a new thief, Scorch a peculiar bloke who sems to love fire. Rescued from drow slavers. Saved us from many traps and magical ones too. Specializes in furniture traps, as his folk own a furniture shoppe in Galtoss.

Day 15 – broken ones we discovered are distant kin to adhererers, a loathsome lot who dwell below the root.

Cleansed most of the west and south tunnels, yet there is an evil taint in the north, east, and west tunnels. Detect evil nearly caused me to be blinded. Scorch hired a more seasoned mage named Lance to decimate and clear some of the tunnels with his fireballs and lightening bolts. He is expensive, and charged us magic potions instead of coin.

Lance wears a mask. I asked him to remove it, revealing a half marred face. Apparently he had tried to cast a spell above his skill level and horrifically scalded himself. Ah magic, it can ruin lives.

Day 23- The blood ravens assisted in clearing the north passsage, met heavy resistance of undead.

Im desperately in search of two magic items with significant dweomers. First the mask of change, which permits the wearer to change self The second? The Cats-Eye ring, Rare indeed, yet I believe I was destined to possess it, for I hail from the house of Reflexxis (the CatLord to mortals).

Black guards journal -

currently investigating this insignificant shithole of a hub – Harby. Lord Scaldar has decreed a sizable bounty on some worthless little orphan brats seven of the little shits. A years wages is on the table, and every bountyhunter and assassin in the thirteen kingdoms will be out for blood.

-a little update, patience which I am not good at has paid off. I tortured some rather interesting information out of a stubbourn Lorian priestess, after sticking my prick in her several times the litle slut revealed to me what her order, and those detestable Watchers have been up to. Trying to debunk our operations in the region! Add to it those damned pointed earred deviils the elves. I pray Lord Scaldars drow and trolls will keep them out of our hair, at least long enough to find the brats.

The worthless priestess knew nothing much more. At least she had a little hot love before I slit her throat and sent her to ve meet Lor personally.

-Two watcher agents have been identified. Ive been shadowing them from a distance.

The first is a black haired bastardly trickster, cocky and irreverent. Ware this one, he could sink a dag hilt deep in a mans temple from great distances and his chainwhip he is able to disarm, trip, and slit throats at great distance. His agility had me suspect him to be drow or one of those dhampir.

His wizard friend is always clad in crimson robes and mets out spells of rare power and effect. It is as if he has trained under the ancient arcane masters. The two have been behind several ambushes against our scouting units.

It appears they also serve as agents for House Succcundus, though I am not entirely certain.

-I am starting to supect that Lord Scaldar and Dezloz are one and the same person, the way they talk and their commands almost always seem as if drawn from the same mode of thinking. It could be that Scaldar is his disciple. Yet, Scaldar was supreme chancellor when Dezloz rised to power and assumed his destiny. Unless...Scaldar became Dezloz!?

black guard officers map & documents:


map: hastely drawn, some red circles and names of various orphanages.

note on back of map reads - most orphans have been seized they ought make excellent slaves, executed the sickly ones.

Document #1:

high priority-the children our liege seeks each are an orphan, same age, seven total and are roughly bewixt 8-12 in years. Four are lads, three girls, mostly of brown or blonde hair and very fair in complexion, fluent in elven and ancient common.

They were specially trained by lords of dis and are able to defend themselves with the body weaponry of the east.

Thus far, a thief and wizard have been known to be protecting them, and a monk who has been keeping them safe and secret from our efforts of finding them.

Capture if you can, kill if you cannot.

Kill any defending and protecting them, arrest and interrogate any thought to hiding and aiding these imps.

Be weary, two of them possess great power of the mind. Even able to deflect crossbow bolts or fire, and bend metal from afar.

Secondary: if any suspected in aiding these orphans send to the farm in the suburbs of Lor, there they will be broken easily enough.

Tertiary – our secret base in the dark elf lands requires more slaves, send any you deem fit for our special work there.

For the glory of the emperor!!

Document #2:

The brats that Dezloz desperately seeks are prophesied by the Lorian order to be the predestined ones who will shatter a plot and a rise of a mighty power in the near future. See what a hot blazing dagger tip can do when pressed close to a mans eye? Or simply prying a mans toenails. Crude but effective means.

There is a blind mage in Desley swamp north of here that has the gift of farseer. He goes by Hedge and will be able to tell me more, or die if he dares refuse.

Document #3:

Slew a group of mad imbecilles on the side of Direwolf road, prattling on about the chained one and each flogging themselves.

Ive dispatched a group of spies throughout the area for more leads. I paid them top coin, simple fear is never sufficient motivation for desirious results.

I draw closer to the quarrey.

Document #4: a pair of dhampir was foretold by Basiliv to change events whether for good or ill. Dhampir arent to be taken lightly, their involvement can help our efforts if they can be swayed to our cause. If not, they must be slain or compelled to serve us. If you ask me, I would worry more about dhampirs than a handfull of worthless brats!

Karlene puts on the cloak and boots, nothing out of the ordinary appears to happen.

[TristenC]

Idrys focuses on not scrubbing his eyes by listening attentively to the girl. So these Blood Ravens… do you think there is a chance they will know us well enough to come after us regarding what happened today? I’m all for stopping someone by force, but it sounds like if they decide we’re to die there will be too many to deal with. Is there a way to bargain with their honor to keep them off our backs if it comes to that?

As Karlene reads he notices his vision is clearing somewhat. My eyes are getting a little better… he murmurs, finding some wash-water in the room and cleaning them up as well as he can there. Anything interesting in that journal?