"Good guard, do you really think that a ranking member of the Elite, even one in disfavor and such personages as this valiant knight or known guide through the city, not to mention myself, would bother you or attack the defensless woman? Look at the night outside. We came to the closest shelter to keep well-known murderer in safe-keeping, not to let him go. At least give us a benefit of a doubt. It can be easily checked later."
"Good guard, do you really think that a ranking member of the Elite, even one in disfavor and such personages as this valiant knight or known guide through the city, not to mention myself, would bother you or attack the defensless woman? Look at the night outside. We came to the closest shelter to keep well-known murderer in safe-keeping, not to let him go. At least give us a benefit of a doubt. It can be easily checked later."
The guard sergeant relaxes his grip on Mani and listens to Akos words. His anger dissipates but he doesn't smile. Instead, he runs his fingers through his hair and then shakes his head. "Al'right, I might have overreacted, but you have to u-understand that we in the Regulars are all a bit frazzled. It's been a hard couple of m-months." Akos can see that the man is bleary-eyed and a bit unsteady on his feat.
The other guards nod and lower their swords.
"I told you to knock it off!" Vinccenzo takes a swing at Mani with the flat of his blade, but the doppelganger avoids the clumsy swing. "You're not going anywhere but to a cell!"
"Is she really a doppelganger?" a female guard asks.
OOC:
Akos' roll makes the guard sergeant become Indifferent to the group while the other guards become Friendly.
"My name is Tuck," the kobold says hurriedly but politely, "And you are smart enough to know at least stories about doppelganger tricks, Anton."
The urban ranger hopes that knowing the name of one of these guards, if only because he once helped out a cousin of his with a rat infestation, can help build trust that they are, in fact, delivering a doppelganger.
OOC:
Taking some liberties here, but I imagine an urban ranger who has helped people around the City for years, has a chance of knowing one of the guards. Right?
Anton looks through the fog to try to find the face that goes with the voice. Then he sees the kobold and his smile disappears. "Your the one who helped my cousin. Those rats came back! You need to give the money back to him or finish the job!"
OOC:
Okay, so Tuck's Diplomacy check wasn't great, but was mitigated by Akos roll. I'm going to say that Anton is only Indifferent to Tuck and Friendly to the others.
JustinCase said:
Mutt growls as Mani attempts to fool his way out of this situation. The dog understands little of the conversation, but it knows that a prey is trying to escape, and it cannot allow that to happen.
Mutt moves in next to Mani and nips at the doppelganger's butt. His teeth meet only air.
The doppelganger tries to shuffle away from the guard sergeant and the adventurers and slither out of the ropes Akos bound it with. It misjudges the location of the open door and knocks its head on the open door and falls over onto the ground.
Tim's eyes narrow. He ignores the sergeant and other soldiers, speaking directly to Mani. "You know, Mani, I was willing to give you a chance. I spared you against my better judgment. But now, you are about to force my hand... Have you heard tell of terrible curses, bestowed by evil warlocks, which are only broken when the warlock who bestowed them dies? I wonder if the same goes for your disguises? If I paint you now, to use your terminology, will you still appear as a helpless old woman after your soul has departed this world? Do you want me to find out?"
As the doppelganger tries to stand back up, Tim steps forward and swings the flat of his greatsword over Tuck and Akos' head and tries to connect with the shapechanger. The blade misses but the big half-ogre brings his shield down on Mani's head, but doesn't put all his weight behind it.
The doppelganger goes down in a heap.
"Was that really necessary?" The sergeant asks. "She wasn't going anywhere."
"Sarge, look!" Anton gasps.
The visage of the old woman disappears and is replaced by the doppelganger's true form.
"I guess I am an effing dragon."
"We need to lock it up, quickly," Vinccenzo says. "And once this fog clears, word needs to be sent to the Lord Commander and The Five."
"Anton, Mariana, take that thing inside and lock it up!"
"Yes sir, Sarge," the woman replies. She and Anton pick up Mani with Vinccenzo's help and drag the doppelganger inside and through a wooden door into an enclosed area and dump Mani into a cell big enough for one person and lock it.
"She's not going anywhere," Anton notes.
Back in front of of the guard post, the sergeant goes to shake Akos' hand. "I owe you a debt. I nearly made a mistake that could have cost me my job. If you ever need anything, just ask."
Anton looks through the fog to try to find the face that goes with the voice. Then he sees the kobold and his smile disappears. "Your the one who helped my cousin. Those rats came back! You need to give the money back to him or finish the job!"
OOC:
Okay, so Tuck's Diplomacy check wasn't great, but was mitigated by Akos roll. I'm going to say that Anton is only Indifferent to Tuck and Friendly to the others.
Tuck huffs at that remark, but the kobold lets it slide.
Back in front of of the guard post, the sergeant goes to shake Akos' hand. "I owe you a debt. I nearly made a mistake that could have cost me my job. If you ever need anything, just ask."
”More than your job,” mutters Tuck to himself, then says out loud, ”This doppelganger, by his own admission and as proven by the evidence we provide and his knowledge of crimes not yet known to us, is the Old City Killer. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to find the other victim he bragged about, and to find and deliver the antidote for the other victim’s poison.”
Tim smiles wryly as he speaks in a calm and polite tone: "Sergeant Dragon. See to it that the prisoner is locked in a cell of his own; DO NOT put him in a cell with other prisoners. Also, make sure his cell has a solid door, with a food slot and no window. Entering a cell with him would be a mistake, for all but the most seasoned, and strongest of guards. Despite his appearances, he is a strong, and skilled combatant. And he is very agile as well. And lastly, he is a confessed murderer, I swear this on my word of honor, as a Knight of the Order of the Scarlet Cross. If you enter his cell, it should be with no less than 5 of your best men, and you should NOT believe any form he may take. My guess is that he will change himself to look like a guard, and claim that the Doppleganger tricked him and escaped. He would do this in hopes that YOU YOURSELVES would set him free! DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HIM. He is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, and you should always treat him as such, no matter HOW calm and submissive he appears to be. He is the type that will bide his time, hoping that you will relax, and lower your guard. DO NOT DO SO. REMEMBER MY WARNING, AND HEED MY WORDS."
Tim turns to Tuck with a nod, and a wink. "Ready when you are, boss man."
"We will come back for it. Or send someone to collect it. Whoever it is will mention Order or Knight of the Scarlet Cross. Don't let anyone else inside, there may be other shapechangers about."
Facing the fog again "Lets try to heal that boy and find the rest of the victims. Mani...lets hope they can hold him. Moving in this fog-soup will be challenging without carrying him along."
Anton's grimace softens and he nods. "I'm glad to hear it. The rats are costing Walther tons of money. He had to close the bakery due to the infestation. He and Albina are at their wits end. She had to take a third job here in Old City for them to be able to feed their children. I'll send him a message to let him that you'll handle it."
JustinCase said:
”More than your job,” mutters Tuck to himself, then says out loud, ”This doppelganger, by his own admission and as proven by the evidence we provide and his knowledge of crimes not yet known to us, is the Old City Killer. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to find the other victim he bragged about, and to find and deliver the antidote for the other victim’s poison.”
Tim smiles wryly as he speaks in a calm and polite tone: "Sergeant Dragon. See to it that the prisoner is locked in a cell of his own; DO NOT put him in a cell with other prisoners. Also, make sure his cell has a solid door, with a food slot and no window. Entering a cell with him would be a mistake, for all but the most seasoned, and strongest of guards. Despite his appearances, he is a strong, and skilled combatant. And he is very agile as well. And lastly, he is a confessed murderer, I swear this on my word of honor, as a Knight of the Order of the Scarlet Cross. If you enter his cell, it should be with no less than 5 of your best men, and you should NOT believe any form he may take. My guess is that he will change himself to look like a guard, and claim that the Doppleganger tricked him and escaped. He would do this in hopes that YOU YOURSELVES would set him free! DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HIM. He is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, and you should always treat him as such, no matter HOW calm and submissive he appears to be. He is the type that will bide his time, hoping that you will relax, and lower your guard. DO NOT DO SO. REMEMBER MY WARNING, AND HEED MY WORDS."
"We only have five cells here and they all have bars not solid doors. But there is one where we can keep it isolated from any other prisoners. It's been a quiet night, so the rest of the cells are empty," the sergeant replies. "We will make sure that no other prisoners are kept in the cells next to it, and I'll have Anton and Wymond watch it carefully. Wymond has some magical skill, so he's the best man I've got to watch this killer."
Another one of the guards standing behind the sergeant nods to the PCs. "I won't fall for his tricks."
"We will come back for it. Or send someone to collect it. Whoever it is will mention Order or Knight of the Scarlet Cross. Don't let anyone else inside, there may be other shapechangers about."
"More of them, eh?" The sergeant muses while rubbing the scruff on his chin. "Do you think they'll come for him?"
"They might, so be very careful and don't let anyone in, even if you know them," Vinccenzo echoes both Tim and Akos' words and tone. "Also, the doppelganger is wily and a bit mad. It will say things to try to shock you. Don't listen."
"Sergeant Lichefield, syr, we could put him in the cellar," a burly, bearded guard says in a heavy northern accent. "In the ol' storeroom. It's nearly empty and has a good lock. If he makes a ruction, no one will hear his wailing."
"I agree. You should put him down there," Vinccenzo says. "And I'd say to have at three guards stationed outside the door at all times and do as the knight suggests. Don't enter the room with less than five guards."
The sergeant looks at his underling, a bit annoyed before glancing towards Tim. He seems to be thinking very carefully about the knight's words. "It will be a bit of work, but its the best idea." He looks back at the guard. "Since its your idea, Odhran, you can stand guard with Wymond and Anton will stand guard up here at the door to the cellar. Go tell Anton and Mariana to prepare the prisoner to be moved downstairs and then go clear out anything in the storeroom that it could use to escape."
Facing the fog again "Lets try to heal that boy and find the rest of the victims. Mani...lets hope they can hold him. Moving in this fog-soup will be challenging without carrying him along."
The fog has become as thick as the iron-pea soup that "Nonna" Valencia often force fed him when he was a boy. Luckily, the fog doesn't smell or look like the soup. He, Breva, and Vinccenzo let Akos and Tuck guide them to the Mill of Hooves. It doesn't take as long as it did to get to the guard post with the two of them working together.
Entering the stables, they find the boy, Joseph Dale, lying where Akos left him. The boy's breathing is steady but shallow and when Akos checks on him, Joseph moans softly. "Mama."
"We need to get him to a temple but there isn't one close by. Well, not that I know of," Vinccenzo says with great concern. He looks at Tuck than at Akos. "Do you know of some place nearby? If we have to take him all the way to the Temple District, it will take too long."
He ponders for a second, looks as if he's going to suggest something to Akos, and then shakes his head. "Damn! I need to spend more time outside the Wizard District!"
Roll another Knowledge (local) check (DC 18). Vinccenzo tried use Aid Another (DC 10) with Akos, but he just doesn't know Old City well enough. Tim can try to aid Tuck, since he's been in Bluffside for a while now. Remember that if you have 5 ranks in Gather Information, you get a +2 synergy bonus. If either of you beat the check by 5 or more, your PC knows exactly the best place to go and how to get there (in about 20 to 25 minutes). If you both do, then you can get Joseph there in 15 to 20 minutes.
Note that a Natural 20 is considered a 30 for my games (and that a 1 is always a failure). If either of you roll a Nat20 (even if the other one rolls a 1), then you can get the boy to the best place in 5 minutes flat!
A roll of 1 by either of them (without a Nat 20 by the other) would be bad, but not the end of the world. (A delay of 2d4+2 minutes.) A roll of 1 by both would be very bad. (A delay of of 2d12+4 minutes and there isn't any place close by. The PCs will have to take Joseph either to Sylemis at the Ascetic's Temple in the Gardens, which will take over an hour in fog.)
Since the boy is in peril, you can't Take 10. It's been about 50 minutes since Akos Heal check. (He can make another Heal check [DC 16] at that time to try to extend the time by another hour.) That means you have another hour and ten minutes before the poison starts to take effect again. I'm assuming the PCs still have Mani's dagger to help create an antidote.
"As I said, someone was blackmailing him. It was in the letters on his desk. We've put it away for now," the praefectus replies. "The details of the blackmail weren't mentioned in the parchments but the the blackmailer's intent was clear — comply or face the ruination of Legatus Avitus position here in Bluffside and his life."
"It is possible that he grew tired of being under the blackmailer's thumb," Scriba Amphion notes. "And he refused to help them anymore, although there wasn't any letters or other writings where he mentions refusing them or penning a confession. The parchments are in a locked chest in the armory. Two guards are watching the door."
"You can look them over in the morning, if you wish," Praefectus Casca suggests. His tone tells Falen that the conversation is over. Falen can tell the man is tired, even weary.
Scriba Amphion salutes the praefectus and motions for Falen to follow him. He leads the unseen seer out of the room and back to the anteroom. He points to the left. "Through there is a hallway that will lead you to the barracks for the embassy. At the end of the hall, you will find one door to your left and two others to your right. Don't go into the door on your left. That is where the guards sleep. The first door on the left is the privy and the second door is room for the servants of visiting dignitaries. It's empty right now, so you'll have the room all to yourself. There are two small beds. Feel free to push them together."
The scribe goes back to his desk and goes back to his work. He glances at Falen before beginning to write. "Personally, I do not believe that Legatus Avitus was under any sort of magical charm. The letters have no mention of payment for his compliance either. He was under threat. Whatever it was must have been life or death. The legatus was a good man." He pauses. "If you like, I shall write an introduction for Lady Oppia Nazaria and have it delivered tonight. That way she will be expecting you. And I can send word to Lord Commander Reginald Oakfirst that you wish to meet with him."
“Thank you please. I shall see her tomorrow. I’ll wait on Oakfirst. I shall retire as you suggest. Thank you.” Falen retains the note from Lord Max, retiring to the room suggested. He locks or otherwise bars the door upon entry, and he sleeps lightly, privy to what’s happened and what could happen. He does not resist the urge to read the note provided to him. He realizes breaking the seal may be...not what he should do...but he does so anyway, gently. He feels very guilty about it, but with what’s happened, and not knowing the ground under his feet, more information is better than less.
And thinking of additional precaution, Falen warms up a nightly spell, a secret space just above a corner bed in the room, to offer additional protection, and climbs a magical rope up into it.
Loremaster concentrates, positioning himself on his mental map. It is unfortunate that most of his sermons are near the lake and intended for simple fold with simple pleasures rather than more jaded nobles as he cannot remember any specific noble-born priest. Or temple. Now that he thinks about it, he should take steps to make a temple to Titania in the city. The park would be ideal, although the lake would be his preference.
He shakes himself off fantasies, flights of fancy he is prone to must give way to grim reality. Checking the boy over, he finds that his ministrations are holding, but there is nothing further he can do. Even new pulse of the belt seems weak in the thickening fog.
Fog. Lake. Temple. Horsemilk is the color of this fog. Lake makes fog. Lake takes frog. As he stares into the swirling emptyness outside random stream of thoughts runs through his head. But the training, the knowledge. With inattention the brain is free to make connections. And the lore is rich with uncommon phenomena.
Tuck thinks quickly. Sure, Old City is not where he spends most of his time, but the kobold has lived in this city for his entire life, knowing the way better than most. Surely there is a friendly temple nearby?
Loremaster concentrates, positioning himself on his mental map. It is unfortunate that most of his sermons are near the lake and intended for simple fold with simple pleasures rather than more jaded nobles as he cannot remember any specific noble-born priest. Or temple. Now that he thinks about it, he should take steps to make a temple to Titania in the city. The park would be ideal, although the lake would be his preference.
Akos knows the closest place is an Inn on the other side of the Cardinal Wall. The Jade Butterfly Inn is renown for its great services including pristine rooms and some of the best food in Old City. The inn also has an in-house healer, an old gnome matron named Gesallne. She would be able to neutralize the poison in the boy without any difficulty, but it won't come cheap. While the Loremaster knows of her, he's never met her. Still, it would be nice to get out of the fog and the inn is said to be oh-so comfy.
No, the best place to take young Mr. Dale is Spindle's Apothecary near the inner gate known as Green Gateway. His shop is the closest thing to a real temple on this side of Old City. Again, while Akos hasn't met the man, he has a great reputation among the healers of the Temple District. The Loremaster doesn't know why the man setup in Old City, but he is well liked by the locals. This late, however, he might not be open.
There are a couple other places near the South Gate with healers. There are two hedge wizards, an elf and a human, that frequent the Park of Angels and South Gate Thicket. The elf, named Katar, is a bit of mystery -- wise and flighty and can be found talking to the trees in the thicket. The human, named Willow, is gentle and caring. She frequents the Park of Angels both day and night. Both of them might be able to neutralize the poison.
OOC: Akos knows that there aren't any major temples in Old City. Bluffside has a Temple District and over the years almost all of the faiths have set up in that district. The Ascetic's Temple in the Garden is more the exception than the rule when it comes to Old City. He also knows that any nobles or rich merchants with healing ability will ask a king's ransom (or a favor) for their help. Thus, the Loremaster has bothered to learn any of their names.
Gesaline: The old gnome is a priestess of Kusar, a strange deity of travel known more in the lands far to the north of Bluffside. Akos knows that prices for her casting of spells is 25% higher than what is listed in the PHB (p. 129). For Neutralize Poison, it would be her caster level x 50 gp, not 40 (500 gp). And it is considered to be in poor taste to haggle about prices at the Jade Butterfly. Gesaline - generate Caster Level: 2D6+4 = [5, 1]+4 = 10
"Spindle": No one knows if "Spindle" is man's real name or not but most don't care since he's so likeable. He's the complete opposite to the old apothecary who is grumpy and bitter. Akos had meant to stop by the shop and meet the man, eventually. Spindle charges the normal spellcasting prices in the PHB. However, more often, his customers come to him to buy potions, as he's not as powerful as some. He is a devotee of the Bluffside god known as Sky and Air. He is the sort who will help save the boy and ask for payment at some other time. Spindle - generate Caster Level: 2D4+1 = [4, 1]+1 = 6
Katar and Willow: Akos met Katar once and found the elf to be quite eccentric. Katar is more at home in the parks and thickets of Old City where is happy to talk to the trees and sing to the squirrels. The androgynous elf might help or they might not, depending on their mood. If Katar helps, they will want a favor in return. | Willow is old, even for a human, and she loves all living things. While Akos' has never met her, her reputation is renown and she would likely help the boy without asking for anything in return. However, she isn't always in the Park of Angels; she spends a lot of time helping the poorest people in the Undercity, especially during the evening.
Neurotic said:
He shakes himself off fantasies, flights of fancy he is prone to must give way to grim reality. Checking the boy over, he finds that his ministrations are holding, but there is nothing further he can do. Even new pulse of the belt seems weak in the thickening fog.
The boy sinks back into a deep sleep. Soon, the lad might be out of reach.
Neurotic said:
Fog. Lake. Temple. Horsemilk is the color of this fog. Lake makes fog. Lake takes frog. As he stares into the swirling emptyness outside random stream of thoughts runs through his head. But the training, the knowledge. With inattention the brain is free to make connections. And the lore is rich with uncommon phenomena.
The Pool of Whispered Dreams. The tale comes into his mind. There is rumored to be a magical well hidden somewhere deep in the Jade Thicket at the intersection of the Cardinal Wall and the Green Wall. The tales tells of an old pixie who blessed the waters in the well with its dying breath. The young nobles of Old City are constantly trying to find the well, but it is said that the well will only appear when the need it great and Bluffside is in peril. If the well does exist, it would cure the boy and likely permanently bless him as well.
Hairy Jack. A darker tale of fey magic in Old City refers to a mystery man that is believed to roam the streets at night singing songs of love and death. The man is thought to be a satyr or a power sidhe prince exiled from the Fey Realm, and if you give him one year of your life, he will grant you power to save a loved one. A young noblewoman took Hairy Jack up on his offer to save her young lover who then betrayed her for a richer patron. She threw herself off the cliffs into the sea below Bluffside and is believed to have become a banshee.
Tuck thinks quickly. Sure, Old City is not where he spends most of his time, but the kobold has lived in this city for his entire life, knowing the way better than most. Surely there is a friendly temple nearby?
OOC: Tuck knows of both Gesaline and "Spindle", as well. He's never met the gnome priestess but he does know Spindle. (He hasn't heard of the two hedge wizards, but with a good description, he could try to track them down with Mutt's help.)
------
Tuck remembers a conversation he had with Sylemis when the kobold asked the dragori ascetic why there aren't more temples or shrines in Old City. 'That's the roll of the Temple District, my friend. They get a bit annoyed when newcomers try to set up in other districts beyond theirs. It's ridiculous but that's the way it is. But do not fret, there are places in Old City that have clerics on staff.'
Tuck nods his head. Spindle's Apothecary. Just thinking about old Spindle makes him grin. There are few humans in Old City that he respects more than the apothecary. When Mutt came down with the magical affliction known as the Werewolf Flu, the only human who would help Tuck was Spindle. He saved Mutt's life and was glad to do it. Sure, Tuck had owed him one for a while, but it was debt he'd been happy to pay. Those street toughs learned a rough lesson that day!
The apothecary is on the other side of the Cardinal Wall through Red Arch. Green Gateway and the Jade Quarter are full of some of the best shops in Old City if you're looking for the best. It's a ways to get there, and the boy might not have the time. Tuck knows that it's a good bet that Spindle will be open, even at this time of night. But, the Jade Butterfly is closer. Not that Tuck's ever been inside that pricy place (or can afford its rooms) but Gesaline of Kusar is one of the most renown healers in Old City. She's just more expensive than most, and you can't get her services without booking a room.
Tuck's mind considers the possibilities and then he remembers someone... another dealer in divine magicks.
Rhizhali of the Web. Even thinking her name gives Tuck the chills. The aranea trader is know to have almost anything, if you're willing to brave her tower. The tall spire sits near the outer wall of the district near Widows' Tower. Tuck knows she is a cleric, or maybe a druid, or something else. No one is really sure, but even the Bluffside Regulars give her tower a wide berth.
Her skills as a trader make her invaluable to The Five and the powerful Noble Houses of Old City. She can get anything! The price is always high and comes with a favor to be named later. The bigger the favor you agree to, the better the price. He looks at young Mr. Dale and wonders if it is worth the favor she will ask for.
OOC: Tuck met Rhizhali only once. A kobold he knew went to her for an elixir of love, and she asked his friend to kill a rival of hers in Ambris (known as the City of the Pines) in the Aarzen Valley. (Tuck went with his friend to the tower but had to stay outside.) His friend go the item and a new human girlfriend with it but then refused to kill the aranea's target. He was found strung up with thick webs in the Undercity and his human mate disappeared without a trace. (And Tuck's friend had been a tough fighter/rogue.)
Diplomancer at work
