Colmarr
First Post
Session 19: MacBannin's Manor (part 1)
Session Summary (part 1):
[sblock]Nevard ushered the constables to the carriage that still waited for him, and together the seven rode through the bustling streets to RHC Headquarters.
Along the way, he told the RT3 what else he had seen on Cauldron Hill:
Tok and Thornt puzzled over the visions for a while, before concluding that RT3 would not be able to resolve them in the near future. They thanked Nevard for his words, and he in turn thanked the constables for their assistance. Tok arranged for the skyseer to be treated by the RHC’s apothecaries, and then RT3 returned to the squad room.
There both Thornt and Erik found notes waiting for them, from Jimmy “the Eyes” and the Meister of the Butcher’s guild. Both contained the same information; that the dragonborn arsonists were likely to be hiding out in the southern canalside district of Bosum Strand. Jimmy’s note had an additional piece of information though; that “The Family” ( a criminal organisation with links to Crisiilyir) were also looking for the dragonborn.
RT3 reported their progress to ACI Delft, who in turn authorised an urgent stipend for them. He also provided them with a warrant to search Mayor MacBannin’s manor that he had obtained from a magistrate who owed him a few favours. He warned the constables to be sure before they went charging in; the Mayor was well-connected and accusing him of a crime without being able to prove wrongdoing would prove distinctly uncomfortable for RT3. Delft also agreed to provide RHC constables as backup for RT3’s planned raid on the arsonists.
RT3 next headed to Bosum Strand, where their enquiries quickly led them to an abandoned inn a few blocks from the west bank of the Stanfield Canal. To their surprise, the inn was little more than a burnt-out shell. Smoke still rose from the ruins, and Flint police were in attendance. The lead officer welcomed RT3’s presence, and allowed them to search the scene.
The first point of note found within was the burned corpse of the greatsword-wielding arsonist who had days earlier proved so troublesome to Thornt. From the position of his corpse, it was clear that he had been bound at the time of the fire. Thornt inspected the body, and deduced that the dragonborn had been burned alive. Looking around the inn, Kuri and Tok noticed an arcane residue on a wall, which further study revealed to be an Arcane Mark that read, “Bring Tok RHC”.
RT3 were puzzled by the message, and by who had left it. Enquiries with a nearby hobo revealed that the dragonborn had not welcomed visitors, and in fact had forcibly evicted a number of homeless people from the inn when they moved in. He had not seen anyone else enter the inn during the night.
Thornt studied the area around the inn, and his practiced eyes picked out three-toed dragonborn tracks leading away from the inn. He surmised that they were those of the other missing arsonist. The dragonborn’s tracks spoke of speed and unsteadiness, but there was no blood or other sign of a wound. The tracks ended at the canal, and even after Thornt moved up and down the canal’s bank to try to find a further trail, he could not.
Returning to the inn, RT3 conducted a thorough search of the premises. When they moved the corpse to study it further, they made a shocking discovery. Beneath the dragonborn, carved into the stone of the floor, was a double ring of runes that still glowed with the heat of the fire (pic attached).
More to come when the full session report is finished.
Session Summary (part 1):
[sblock]Nevard ushered the constables to the carriage that still waited for him, and together the seven rode through the bustling streets to RHC Headquarters.
Along the way, he told the RT3 what else he had seen on Cauldron Hill:
“A woman sat on a leather couch in a waiting room, surrounded by red curtains. She held a gold coin and rolled it across the back of her fingers. A pick lay against the side of the couch. He asked her what she was waiting for, and she answered in a language he didn’t know, saying, ‘The place I’m going isn’t here yet.’
“A trumpeter carried a lantern onto the stage of a darkened theater, and the people gathered for his performance applauded, then lit lanterns of their own. The theater never got bright enough for him to see their faces.
“One man tore himself in two, and his twin selves fought over a woman, tearing her into three, who ran away. Mice skittered around them, collecting cheese fallen amid the rails of a trainyard. Then a train roared down the track past him, but it had no one driving it. In the distance it derailed, and crushed two of the women, but which of the three survived?
“A man carrying a bronze staff with three keyholes is assailed by swords and arrows and fire, but nothing kills him. He began to take off his robes, revealing tiger fur beneath them, while stars fell from the sky all around him. Then the sky was dark, and when the sun should have risen, instead a pale glowing cloud floated in the dark.
“Finally, tyrant and murderer languished in prison, hanging from twelve chains and hooks that pierced her feet, her legs, her thighs, her shoulders, her arms, and her hands. But the thirteenth hook that sealed her mouth swung loose, and it fluttered in the breeze as she whispered a map that led everywhere.”
Tok and Thornt puzzled over the visions for a while, before concluding that RT3 would not be able to resolve them in the near future. They thanked Nevard for his words, and he in turn thanked the constables for their assistance. Tok arranged for the skyseer to be treated by the RHC’s apothecaries, and then RT3 returned to the squad room.
There both Thornt and Erik found notes waiting for them, from Jimmy “the Eyes” and the Meister of the Butcher’s guild. Both contained the same information; that the dragonborn arsonists were likely to be hiding out in the southern canalside district of Bosum Strand. Jimmy’s note had an additional piece of information though; that “The Family” ( a criminal organisation with links to Crisiilyir) were also looking for the dragonborn.
RT3 reported their progress to ACI Delft, who in turn authorised an urgent stipend for them. He also provided them with a warrant to search Mayor MacBannin’s manor that he had obtained from a magistrate who owed him a few favours. He warned the constables to be sure before they went charging in; the Mayor was well-connected and accusing him of a crime without being able to prove wrongdoing would prove distinctly uncomfortable for RT3. Delft also agreed to provide RHC constables as backup for RT3’s planned raid on the arsonists.
RT3 next headed to Bosum Strand, where their enquiries quickly led them to an abandoned inn a few blocks from the west bank of the Stanfield Canal. To their surprise, the inn was little more than a burnt-out shell. Smoke still rose from the ruins, and Flint police were in attendance. The lead officer welcomed RT3’s presence, and allowed them to search the scene.
The first point of note found within was the burned corpse of the greatsword-wielding arsonist who had days earlier proved so troublesome to Thornt. From the position of his corpse, it was clear that he had been bound at the time of the fire. Thornt inspected the body, and deduced that the dragonborn had been burned alive. Looking around the inn, Kuri and Tok noticed an arcane residue on a wall, which further study revealed to be an Arcane Mark that read, “Bring Tok RHC”.
RT3 were puzzled by the message, and by who had left it. Enquiries with a nearby hobo revealed that the dragonborn had not welcomed visitors, and in fact had forcibly evicted a number of homeless people from the inn when they moved in. He had not seen anyone else enter the inn during the night.
Thornt studied the area around the inn, and his practiced eyes picked out three-toed dragonborn tracks leading away from the inn. He surmised that they were those of the other missing arsonist. The dragonborn’s tracks spoke of speed and unsteadiness, but there was no blood or other sign of a wound. The tracks ended at the canal, and even after Thornt moved up and down the canal’s bank to try to find a further trail, he could not.
Returning to the inn, RT3 conducted a thorough search of the premises. When they moved the corpse to study it further, they made a shocking discovery. Beneath the dragonborn, carved into the stone of the floor, was a double ring of runes that still glowed with the heat of the fire (pic attached).
Tok carefully prepared a scratching of the runes to take with him for later study, and then a perplexed RT3 headed back to the canal. Before heading off to confront the Mayor, they wished to further investigate the strange trail of Bleak Gate energy that ended beneath one of the canal’s bridges.[/sblock]
Commentary:
More to come when the full session report is finished.