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The Fall of Civilization
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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 4641938" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p><strong>The Argos Affair!</strong></p><p></p><p>The next night, in the Upper District of Fandelose, there is another fire. </p><p></p><p>This time it’s much more serious; this is where the <em>wealthy</em> live. A fire in the Slums is serious, of course, because it’s a fire in the city. But in the Upper District, people take it <em>seriously.</em> The city’s militia begins an investigation. Flyers are posted in the city’s taverns, inns and markets. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Our heroes, meanwhile, work feverishly to unravel the Argos affair before the armies of the Six-Fingered Hand arrive. There isn’t much time, and General Pythock still has not even appeared in his new office. Colonel Jaxe hides his distress well and he is doing what he can with the resources he has available to him, but without a competent overall commander...</p><p></p><p>The party decides that their best course of action is to track down the source of the poison. Cook knows that fulcane- the poison in question- comes from the fulcantha plant, which grows in the distant remote east. Using his streetwise to guide him, Nowhere Jones manages to track down an importer of eastern goods. </p><p></p><p>The shop is full of strange goods of all kinds: odd baskets, bolts of exotic silk, bundles of sweet-smelling, foreign herbs, odd plants and caged birds- altogether a riot of color, sound and scent. Styger, the importer, is a middle-aged, bearded man wearing a small hat. He nods to the party when they enter. They browse around, making some small courtesy purchases, and speak to the importer, gradually turning the conversation to the poison that they are seeking.</p><p></p><p>“So,” says Kratos, “I see that you deal in exotic herbs.”</p><p></p><p>The importer nods. “Ah, yes. I have many beautiful specimens from far places all across the seas of Cydra.”</p><p></p><p>“What about something... <em>else...</em> that might be derived from an exotic plant?”</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps, perhaps. What do you seek?”</p><p></p><p>“Fulcane,” whispers Kratos.</p><p></p><p>“Oh, no!” exclaims the importer. “No, that would not be legal.”</p><p></p><p>The party’s courtesy purchases increase somewhat.</p><p></p><p>“Are you certain?” asks Vann-La. </p><p></p><p>“Oh, yes. I would not do anything to get in trouble with the law hereabouts. Quite certain.”</p><p></p><p>“What about the plant that it comes from?” asks the Kree. “Fulcantha plants?”</p><p></p><p>“Well, that’s different,” Styger replies. “Of course, I could sell you a fulcantha plant. There’s nothing wrong with that.”</p><p></p><p>“Have you sold any recently?” </p><p></p><p>“Well, I never discuss the purchases of my customers...” The party’s expenditures on various small imported goods continue to increase. “I did sell one, recently,” he admits finally. “To a noble, with an odd accent. Not from the city. He was a thin man.”</p><p></p><p>“Did you get his name?” asks Iggy. </p><p></p><p>“No, he never mentioned it. I got the impression that he was a lackey, though he was dressed in finery.” He hesitates. “One more thing. It wasn’t until after he left that I realized that he dropped something. Let me see...” He searches the shelves behind the counter, then exclaims, “Aha!” and pulls out a velvet bag. He tosses it to the party. </p><p></p><p>It’s a dice bag, embroidered with a “d” monogram. </p><p></p><p><em>Chiron daVoi,</em> thinks Heimall.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>The play <em>Nowhere Jones</em> has been running in town for a few weeks, but the lines show no sign of dying down. When Nowhere Jones and Sta’Ligir go to try to get in, they find that it is sold out and the gates are closed. The bouncers aren’t letting anyone in, even though Nowhere Jones claims to be, well, Nowhere Jones. The playhouse is in the Slums, so the air is foul with smoke from all the firestone burning in peoples’ homes and the myriad of small businesses and food-sellers along the choked streets. </p><p></p><p>“Let’s talk to the others and see who all is interested, and maybe we can get tickets for a performance in a day or two,” suggests Iggy. </p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Councilman Knile Keflingorn hears the party’s evidence in his office. Then he stands, clasps his hands behind his back and stares into the fireplace for a few moments. Finally, he turns to the party. </p><p></p><p>“Your evidence is compelling,” he says. “I think you are probably on to something here.” He pauses, then resumes: “It’s compelling, but not <em>conclusive.</em> It’s all circumstantial. If you can find some fulcane in daVoi’s possession, that would be pretty conclusive.”</p><p></p><p>“Where does he live?” asks Heimall.</p><p></p><p>“He doesn’t live here. He could be staying with a friend or relative, or renting a house somewhere. I don’t know. And be careful investigating him- he is a noble, after all.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>General Pythock still has not been in. The party resumes nosing about, looking for signs of where daVoi is staying. They learn of a ball that he is going to be at in the evening; that’s a good start! </p><p></p><p>When they get to the ball, most of the party goes in the front, dressed up in their dress uniforms and decorations. They manage to bluff their way in, and then begin to circulate. The party gets their first sight of General Pythock at this point.</p><p></p><p>Pythock is a fat man who shows the worst characteristics of the decadent nobility of the Empire. He is surrounded by sycophants, chattering like birds. His face is heavily painted in makeup, leaving his lips a dark red, his cheeks rosy like a whore’s, and his eyelashes elegantly thick and dark. His dark brown hair is oiled in little ringlets. He wears a splendid uniform and sash with a plenitude of medals and decorations on it- none of which are actual military medals or decorations. His rank emblems are all done up in gold. He is the most pompous-looking person any of our heroes have ever seen. </p><p></p><p>The cluster of people he is associating with includes Chiron daVoi, himself only half as portly and nowhere near as pompous as Pythock, but equally painted. A pale, cheerless-looking fellow in a quite fine version of daVoi livery hangs always at Chiron daVoi’s right shoulder. One of the fellows in the crowd with them, a tiefling (and thus automatically sinister-looking), is engaged in a conversation about gambling with daVoi.</p><p></p><p>“A little later on, after the ball, then?” the tiefling inquires. “Perhaps some more high stakes dice at the Gentleman’s Club?”</p><p></p><p><em>Gambling,</em> thinks Nowhere Jones. <em>The dice pouch. We have stronger connecting evidence.</em></p><p></p><p>“Perhaps,” daVoi replies. He waves the tiefling off, who then moves away in the general direction of Kratos.</p><p></p><p>Eyeing Kratos’ decorations, the tiefling says, “So you’re one of the war heroes from the east?”</p><p></p><p>Kratos puffs up. “Why, yes I am!” </p><p></p><p>They strike up a conversation, with Iggy and Heimall joining in. After all, this fellow knows daVoi.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, the cook, who is not even in the military, much less a decorated war hero, comes on the scene in a rather different way: from behind. He enters through the servants’ entrance and makes his way to the kitchen, claiming to be daVoi’s personal servant. He easily bluffs his way into a tray of food and drinks, and then moves out into the ball, circulating and keeping his eyes and ears open. When he spots daVoi, he surreptitiously tries to attach himself to the throng around him.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>The tiefling is named Hkatha Ilmixie. He is a local noble, and as the party draws him out in conversation, he confirms that he is a gambling partner with daVoi and his cronies- who, apparently, include both General Pythock, a number of other local nobles and officials, and the henchman at daVoi’s right shoulder, Millbury. </p><p></p><p><em>More and more interesting,</em> thinks Vann-La. <em>Now we know what Pythock is doing in place of his job... he’s throwing dice!</em></p><p></p><p>After feeling out his attitude about the coming assault by the Six-Fingered Hand, the party takes Hkatha aside. It’s a risk, but they tell him that they are investigating what they believe to be the framing of General Argos, and they ask for his help.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Other luminaries of Fandelose are present at the ball, too. Most of the Bronze Council, including Feevon Bronze, who was the victim of the assassination attempt that landed Argos in the Black Tower, and his young wife Tira. Very young, compared to him- he is an old man. Bridget Willow, along with a gaggle of young women, including Bridget’s two daughters (aged 14 and 17) and their three young lady hangers-on, is present. Councilor Willow nods at our heroes, but is clearly not very happy to see them. On the other hand, Knile Keflingorn, their strongest ally in the city outside of the military (at least so far) is there as well, along with his wife, Dara, and an attendant.</p><p></p><p>Another person of interest that the party meets is Shaylon Player, the actor portraying Nowhere Jones in the current play, who looks splendid in his finery. Many young ladies are fawning over him, and he accepts their adoration as his due. “What a jerk,” the real Nowhere Jones says snarkily.</p><p></p><p>The party overhears a testy man declaring that “something needs to be done!” This turns out to be Sathar Streetlamp, who runs most of the firestone-lamp street lights in the city, and who is having extreme difficulty getting his firestone at present. When our heroes ask why, it turns out that the dwarves that mine the firestone in the Black Gorge are having some kind of issues with their payment.</p><p></p><p>Another man is haranguing part of the crowd, but with much less response. This is High Civilizer Marron, high priest of Hamel, who seems to have come to the ball solely to try to get some donations for some kind project to save the citizens in case the worst should happen when the Hand invades. The party takes interest, and sets up a meeting with the High Civilizer for later to discuss things further. </p><p></p><p>And then there’s Livia.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Livia Dierfli is a delightful young woman- handmaiden to one of the local ladies attending on Bridgett Willow. She looks down shyly when Kratos first smiles at her, but smiles back. He asks her to dance. She blushes and accepts.</p><p></p><p>He is in love by the end of their first dance.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>When Chiron daVoi and his cluster of hangers-on push their way from the ball and head towards the Gentlemen’s Club, boisterous and drunk, they have gained an attendant. Cook follows on, still serving drinks. And Hkatha takes one.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> Cook- alone in the daVoi mansion!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 4641938, member: 1210"] [b]The Argos Affair![/b] The next night, in the Upper District of Fandelose, there is another fire. This time it’s much more serious; this is where the [i]wealthy[/i] live. A fire in the Slums is serious, of course, because it’s a fire in the city. But in the Upper District, people take it [i]seriously.[/i] The city’s militia begins an investigation. Flyers are posted in the city’s taverns, inns and markets. *** Our heroes, meanwhile, work feverishly to unravel the Argos affair before the armies of the Six-Fingered Hand arrive. There isn’t much time, and General Pythock still has not even appeared in his new office. Colonel Jaxe hides his distress well and he is doing what he can with the resources he has available to him, but without a competent overall commander... The party decides that their best course of action is to track down the source of the poison. Cook knows that fulcane- the poison in question- comes from the fulcantha plant, which grows in the distant remote east. Using his streetwise to guide him, Nowhere Jones manages to track down an importer of eastern goods. The shop is full of strange goods of all kinds: odd baskets, bolts of exotic silk, bundles of sweet-smelling, foreign herbs, odd plants and caged birds- altogether a riot of color, sound and scent. Styger, the importer, is a middle-aged, bearded man wearing a small hat. He nods to the party when they enter. They browse around, making some small courtesy purchases, and speak to the importer, gradually turning the conversation to the poison that they are seeking. “So,” says Kratos, “I see that you deal in exotic herbs.” The importer nods. “Ah, yes. I have many beautiful specimens from far places all across the seas of Cydra.” “What about something... [i]else...[/i] that might be derived from an exotic plant?” “Perhaps, perhaps. What do you seek?” “Fulcane,” whispers Kratos. “Oh, no!” exclaims the importer. “No, that would not be legal.” The party’s courtesy purchases increase somewhat. “Are you certain?” asks Vann-La. “Oh, yes. I would not do anything to get in trouble with the law hereabouts. Quite certain.” “What about the plant that it comes from?” asks the Kree. “Fulcantha plants?” “Well, that’s different,” Styger replies. “Of course, I could sell you a fulcantha plant. There’s nothing wrong with that.” “Have you sold any recently?” “Well, I never discuss the purchases of my customers...” The party’s expenditures on various small imported goods continue to increase. “I did sell one, recently,” he admits finally. “To a noble, with an odd accent. Not from the city. He was a thin man.” “Did you get his name?” asks Iggy. “No, he never mentioned it. I got the impression that he was a lackey, though he was dressed in finery.” He hesitates. “One more thing. It wasn’t until after he left that I realized that he dropped something. Let me see...” He searches the shelves behind the counter, then exclaims, “Aha!” and pulls out a velvet bag. He tosses it to the party. It’s a dice bag, embroidered with a “d” monogram. [i]Chiron daVoi,[/i] thinks Heimall. *** The play [i]Nowhere Jones[/i] has been running in town for a few weeks, but the lines show no sign of dying down. When Nowhere Jones and Sta’Ligir go to try to get in, they find that it is sold out and the gates are closed. The bouncers aren’t letting anyone in, even though Nowhere Jones claims to be, well, Nowhere Jones. The playhouse is in the Slums, so the air is foul with smoke from all the firestone burning in peoples’ homes and the myriad of small businesses and food-sellers along the choked streets. “Let’s talk to the others and see who all is interested, and maybe we can get tickets for a performance in a day or two,” suggests Iggy. *** Councilman Knile Keflingorn hears the party’s evidence in his office. Then he stands, clasps his hands behind his back and stares into the fireplace for a few moments. Finally, he turns to the party. “Your evidence is compelling,” he says. “I think you are probably on to something here.” He pauses, then resumes: “It’s compelling, but not [i]conclusive.[/i] It’s all circumstantial. If you can find some fulcane in daVoi’s possession, that would be pretty conclusive.” “Where does he live?” asks Heimall. “He doesn’t live here. He could be staying with a friend or relative, or renting a house somewhere. I don’t know. And be careful investigating him- he is a noble, after all.” *** General Pythock still has not been in. The party resumes nosing about, looking for signs of where daVoi is staying. They learn of a ball that he is going to be at in the evening; that’s a good start! When they get to the ball, most of the party goes in the front, dressed up in their dress uniforms and decorations. They manage to bluff their way in, and then begin to circulate. The party gets their first sight of General Pythock at this point. Pythock is a fat man who shows the worst characteristics of the decadent nobility of the Empire. He is surrounded by sycophants, chattering like birds. His face is heavily painted in makeup, leaving his lips a dark red, his cheeks rosy like a whore’s, and his eyelashes elegantly thick and dark. His dark brown hair is oiled in little ringlets. He wears a splendid uniform and sash with a plenitude of medals and decorations on it- none of which are actual military medals or decorations. His rank emblems are all done up in gold. He is the most pompous-looking person any of our heroes have ever seen. The cluster of people he is associating with includes Chiron daVoi, himself only half as portly and nowhere near as pompous as Pythock, but equally painted. A pale, cheerless-looking fellow in a quite fine version of daVoi livery hangs always at Chiron daVoi’s right shoulder. One of the fellows in the crowd with them, a tiefling (and thus automatically sinister-looking), is engaged in a conversation about gambling with daVoi. “A little later on, after the ball, then?” the tiefling inquires. “Perhaps some more high stakes dice at the Gentleman’s Club?” [i]Gambling,[/i] thinks Nowhere Jones. [i]The dice pouch. We have stronger connecting evidence.[/i] “Perhaps,” daVoi replies. He waves the tiefling off, who then moves away in the general direction of Kratos. Eyeing Kratos’ decorations, the tiefling says, “So you’re one of the war heroes from the east?” Kratos puffs up. “Why, yes I am!” They strike up a conversation, with Iggy and Heimall joining in. After all, this fellow knows daVoi. *** Meanwhile, the cook, who is not even in the military, much less a decorated war hero, comes on the scene in a rather different way: from behind. He enters through the servants’ entrance and makes his way to the kitchen, claiming to be daVoi’s personal servant. He easily bluffs his way into a tray of food and drinks, and then moves out into the ball, circulating and keeping his eyes and ears open. When he spots daVoi, he surreptitiously tries to attach himself to the throng around him. *** The tiefling is named Hkatha Ilmixie. He is a local noble, and as the party draws him out in conversation, he confirms that he is a gambling partner with daVoi and his cronies- who, apparently, include both General Pythock, a number of other local nobles and officials, and the henchman at daVoi’s right shoulder, Millbury. [i]More and more interesting,[/i] thinks Vann-La. [i]Now we know what Pythock is doing in place of his job... he’s throwing dice![/i] After feeling out his attitude about the coming assault by the Six-Fingered Hand, the party takes Hkatha aside. It’s a risk, but they tell him that they are investigating what they believe to be the framing of General Argos, and they ask for his help. *** Other luminaries of Fandelose are present at the ball, too. Most of the Bronze Council, including Feevon Bronze, who was the victim of the assassination attempt that landed Argos in the Black Tower, and his young wife Tira. Very young, compared to him- he is an old man. Bridget Willow, along with a gaggle of young women, including Bridget’s two daughters (aged 14 and 17) and their three young lady hangers-on, is present. Councilor Willow nods at our heroes, but is clearly not very happy to see them. On the other hand, Knile Keflingorn, their strongest ally in the city outside of the military (at least so far) is there as well, along with his wife, Dara, and an attendant. Another person of interest that the party meets is Shaylon Player, the actor portraying Nowhere Jones in the current play, who looks splendid in his finery. Many young ladies are fawning over him, and he accepts their adoration as his due. “What a jerk,” the real Nowhere Jones says snarkily. The party overhears a testy man declaring that “something needs to be done!” This turns out to be Sathar Streetlamp, who runs most of the firestone-lamp street lights in the city, and who is having extreme difficulty getting his firestone at present. When our heroes ask why, it turns out that the dwarves that mine the firestone in the Black Gorge are having some kind of issues with their payment. Another man is haranguing part of the crowd, but with much less response. This is High Civilizer Marron, high priest of Hamel, who seems to have come to the ball solely to try to get some donations for some kind project to save the citizens in case the worst should happen when the Hand invades. The party takes interest, and sets up a meeting with the High Civilizer for later to discuss things further. And then there’s Livia. *** Livia Dierfli is a delightful young woman- handmaiden to one of the local ladies attending on Bridgett Willow. She looks down shyly when Kratos first smiles at her, but smiles back. He asks her to dance. She blushes and accepts. He is in love by the end of their first dance. *** When Chiron daVoi and his cluster of hangers-on push their way from the ball and head towards the Gentlemen’s Club, boisterous and drunk, they have gained an attendant. Cook follows on, still serving drinks. And Hkatha takes one. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] Cook- alone in the daVoi mansion! [/QUOTE]
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