Episode 42
Episode 42
Scapa sat on the ground and looked down at the puddle of wet goo he had been sleeping in. “What in the name of Paba am I doing here?” He started to remember, the drinking contest last night. It was getting to be a problem, and he knew it.
“I need some time away,” the sorcerer thought to himself. “I just need a few weeks to dry out and refocus.” He pulled himself up out of the alleyway and headed back to the Inn where the rest of his belongings were.
The Innkeeper smiled as Scapa ambled in. “Rough one last night, eh Scap?”
Scapa scowled.
“Hey, Johann stopped by to pick you up earlier. He wants you to meet him over at the markets on Hagora Street,” the Innkeeper reported.
Scapa flipped the keeper a gold crown.
“Most generous of ye’ Scap,” the Innkeeper commented.
“There’s a message with that coin if you don’t mind?” the sorcerer asked.
“Not at all,” the Innkeeper replied.
“Tell Johann and the rest of his lot I’m going on holiday, and to have a nice life,” Scapa said.
Scapa retrieved his belongings and headed out. “Maybe I’ll visit Almarr,” he said to himself.
…..
“Where is the hedge wizard?” Quint asked.
“I left a message for him to meet us,” Johann replied.
“Look what crawled out from under the rock,” Bridget commented. She was referring to Frederick who was walking towards the group.
Meeting Frederick the Reader.
“My friends!” Fred began a bit too loudly, “I have been looking everywhere for you. I was hoping you could do me a favor.” Frederick did not wait for a response and handed Quint a piece of parchment. “Therein you will find a message from a fellow named Ladrophos who would like to have a meeting with you.”
“Well,” Quint began, “Use your skills Frederick, read it to us.”
“Of course, of course! ‘Hello, I would like to meet with you and discuss a little errand. Although, you may be wary because of my reputation, you will find this proposition most interesting. Besides it does not cost a copper to talk. I look forward to meeting you tonight at the Broken Tail. I have heard a lot of good things about you.
- Ladrophos’”
“Ladrophos? Why do I know that name?” Johann asked aloud.
“I would consider it a large personal favor if you would just meet with the man,” Frederick interjected.
“He’s a captain with the network,” Quint answered Johann’s question. “Heavily involved in drugs and protection as I recall.”
“Does that mean the Dregs?” Johann asked, knowing full well the answer.
“Yep, let’s try to get there before sundown. I hate walking the Dregs at night,” Quint stated.
“A thousand blessings on your houses my friends. I promise I shall not forget this gesture,” Frederick gushed.
“What do you owe this guy Fred?” Bridget asked.
“A small matter of a gambling debt. Really it’s a misunderstanding concerning repayment terms. However, your kind acquiescence to see Master Ladrophos will buy me just enough time to settle the debt.”
…..
The Dregs were always a dreary place even in the daylight hours, but at least it was mostly quiet when the sun was up. The group made its way to the Broken Tail tavern and entering the small bar spied a slender man with a sparse set of whiskers talking to a huge Half-orc with tattoos wrapping around his arms. The man looked up and noticed the adventures and said something to his large companion that made him walk away. There was no mistaking it, this was Ladrophos and he motioned for the party to join him at his table.
Ladrophos.
Ladrophos introduced himself to each member of the party and ordered everyone drinks. Ladrophos then said, “I have a job that calls for the use of outsiders. No doubt you are aware I am a well-known part of the network [thieves’ guild]. As such, I cannot call on my associates to carry this task out. There is nothing illegal about this job, but there is some risk. You see, I had something taken from me and I want it back. I have rightful claim to it.”
Meeting with Ladrophos.
Ladrophos then reached in a pocket and retrieved a piece of parchment. The parchment had the look of a legal writ and read:
The Registration Office of the Greater Temple of Hemmerschneg
Be it known to all men of the city that one J. Ladrophos is the rightful owner of a wondrous item known as Lenses of Vorbifare. Said item is purported to have the following characteristics:
The lenses allowed the wearer to see those who are invisible, they allowed one to see poison on food, and they allow a greater scope of peripheral vision.
Signed,
Terphonas
Chief Registarar Inquisitor
The registration paper was dated some fourteen years earlier. Once the group had inspected the writ Ladrophos continued, “As you can see I am the rightful owner of the lenses. However, a while ago one of my former associates stole the lenses for a man who lives just outside the city. I have recently confirmed for certain the man has the lenses and I even know where they are hidden in his house. I need you to retrieve these lenses for me.”
“We can see that you were once the rightful owner of these magical lenses. Who is this guy who you claim stole them from you?” Johann asked directly.
“It is a man named Graywyr,” Ladrophos answered. “And I reassure you my friends I am the rightful owner of these wondrous items.”
Quint scratched his ear and said, “Graywyr, Graywyr, I know that name. Hmmm, let me see – oh yes, I recall now, he is one of the seven gems.”
“As in one of the seven most powerful wizards in the Realm?” Bridget asked in an astonished voice.
“Yes, precisely so,” Quint answered.
“His reputation is greater than his power,” Ladrophos interjected quickly.
“Oh yeah,” Johann began, “Why don’t you and your band of merry men get your rears up there and reclaim these lenses?”
“No, no this must be someone from outside the network. Someone not as well known,” Ladrophos answered.
“You have this document, why not just take him to court?” Bridget asked.
“I do not foresee my getting a fair day in court. My reputation means gaining an impartial magistrate is well nigh impossible,” Ladrophos answered.
“Stealing a powerful item from a powerful wizard, that’s a high risk job. High risk jobs deserve high risk pay. What’s the rate on this?” Quint asked.
“What’s your charge?” Ladrophos asked.
Quint looked down. He was not sure what the price should be and he was not sure they should take this job at all. “Better go high if you have doubts,” he thought to himself.
“Five hundred crowns each,” Quint said.
“Fair enough, 500 each on delivery,” Ladrophos answered.
Quint bit his tongue knowing the price was too low and too easily agreed upon.
“Where’s the manse of this Graywyr?” Johann asked.
…..
The walk the next to Graywyr’s manse the following morning found the cleric Bridget in a talkative mood. “This is too easy. I mean why would a kingpin in the Network not have enough outside connections to pull this off? Didn’t we get a document made by someone in the Network? What if that registration is not real?”
“Look, we all know it’s a set-up, but these lenses are worth a lot of money. It’s worth looking into, even if the registration is a fraud,” Johann rebutted.
“So you think it’s a fraud? In that case…” Bridget started.
“Wait,” Quint interrupted, he could see where this was going and he knew they needed the cleric. “Think Bridget. Would you forge a document and then date it fourteen years earlier?”
“When would Johann learn some tact?” the storyteller thought to himself.
Bridget was starting to renew her chatter when they came upon Graywyr’s manse. It was smaller than they imagined it would be. A simple two-story tower of washed white rock, covered in thick ivy at the lower levels. The place looked most inviting. The group marched around the building and found two doors and numerous windows. All of the windows seemed to be of a smoked glass, for they could not see beyond them.
Shannon picked up a sizeable rock and threw it at one of the windows. With a metallic ting the primitive missile bounced off the pane.
“Just knock why don’t ya’?” Johann complained.
Still there was no stirring within the building, which gave the adventurers some comfort. Whilst clerics discussed a proper course of action, Quint scaled up the corner of the building and in short time was looking down on them from a flat roof. He lowered a rope with a smile and reported that there was a trapdoor.
One by one the adventurers ascended the rope. Johann opened the trapdoor, which was unlatched and the group descended a simple set of stairs into the upper story.
Down into Graywyr’s Manse.
The adventurers began moving quickly working from room to room, making quick searches and then exiting.
Exploring Graywyr’s Manse.
They found a master bedroom, an empty room with charred black walls, a room decorated with sitting benches and strange floor tiles, and what looked to be a storage area.
They opened one more door and saw
Yikes!
to be continued…