Session 20 (Part One)
Is the Third Time a Charm?
Quintus was bone tired…
He tried to get his mind around the flood of information that flowed in through various “Red” faction spies and lookouts in the three days since the party had escaped the Oar sewers. The “Greens” were after them; the Merchant’s Council still had a 10,000 denarii price on their collective heads and the Shadowblades were itching for revenge. The raids on the underground’s hideouts had produced plenty of casualties, but no information linking Maythrax to Antionine Sestius and Drusilla remained lost.
To make matters worse, quiet word was circulating that Abbott Patroclian was very interested in speaking to a certain living relic – Cragen – and was offering a handsome sum for that “privilege”. Finally, and completely unexpectedly, an imperial delegation had arrived from distant Emor in a sleek man-o-war. The huge quinqereme, anchored in the middle of the harbor, dwarfed the fishing vessels and coasters that usually berthed in Oar. The Emorian legate had caused quite a stir when he arrived unannounced and marched to the Merchant’s Palace with half-a-cohort of spit-and-polish legionnaires.
All of the angles, plots and subplots made the elder Scipio’s head hurt. Severus noted his master’s discomfiture, ruffled his feathers and paced about the table were Quintus sat. The sorcerer found his empathic link with the osprey growing more and more comfortable with each passing day. He routinely sent the bird on morning and evening scouting missions to survey the city and was getting used to the occasional distraction caused by Severus swooping down to snatch a fish from the harbor.
He leaned back and rubbed his temples. ‘At least we are getting a brief respite to train and refit,’ he thought. ‘Osirian knows we need one. All I want to do is find Drusilla and quit this cursed city. Rowan and Rosë agree with me, though Sextus would like to stay longer. I am still trying to figure out what in all the hells happened to Brother Lew and how to treat our new-found comrade…’
(DM’s Note: I use a house rule for leveling. Immediately upon attaining a new level, a PC gets new hit points, saves and BAB. They may put skill points into skill they already know, cast additional spells from levels they can already cast and improve class features they already possess (like barbarian rage or rogue sneak attack). They must train if they are adding a new class, adding a new feat, adding a new skill, adding a new spell level or adding a new class skill. Training takes a couple of days and some monetary expenditure. This system leads to PCs that are running around at level “x.5”, since they don’t have all the benefits of the new level, until they have a chance to take a bit of “down time”.)
He was startled from his reverie as Valyria, Captain Rook’s mage, hurried in. The Caeldyn’s impish features were crinkled in a merry grin. “I have found her!”
A hasty conference was called with the principal “Reds” to discuss Valyria’s news. Through the skillful use of scrying magic, Valyria had been able to discern Drusilla’s presence within the very hideout the party had recently retreated from. “She still lives, although I do not know what manner of ills she has suffered at the hands of the cursed Shadowblades”, the mage explained. “If you can get me close enough, I have magic that will permit us to enter their hideout through the walls, instead of attempting to assault the gate.”
Lady Andrimia nodded towards Captain Rook and spoke; “We are summoned to a reception at the Merchant’s Palace in honor of the Emorian Legate two nights hence. As a council member, Antoinine Sestius will also be there, so that might prove to be an opportune time for another attempt. We cannot lend to much aid, since most of our forces must protect our warehouses and ships from possible “Green” faction reprisal, but perhaps Valyria and a small contingent could accompany you.”
Quick agreement was reached that the party, Valyria and four crewman would row a dory into the sea cave at low tide the eve of the Legate’s reception, use magic to bypass the outer defenses, secure Drusilla’s release, make a quick search for materials incriminating Antionine Sestius, then retreat. Preparations were made and new skills and tactics were honed.
Cragen become more and more comfortable with Tradespeak, but still broke into archaic Old Emorian when excited. He and Rosë quickly drained the meager supply of ale in their safe house turned their attentions to a recently discovered cask of brandy. Rowan closeted himself with Valyria, comparing his memory of the tunnels with her scrying efforts to determine a point of penetration. Quintus and Sextus traded some items to Valyria in exchange of several scrolls of useful magic.
Captain Rook and Lady Andrimia stopped by in their finery to wish them luck before departing for the banquet. A short time later, a low dory with muffled oars slid from the quay near the “Red” hideout and made for the headland below the ruined Bishop’s Palace. Half a turn of the hourglass later, the boats keel scrapped sand and rock inside the sea cave. Quintus set Severus to watch the cave entrance and warn them of any approaching danger and then Rowan led the party back into the sewers. Valyria made a brief pun about the stench and then conserved her breath against the foulness.
Less than an hour later, they huddled at the spot Valyria and Rowan determined to be the close enough for Valyria’s magic to work. Final preparations were made and the mage carefully unfurled a brittle looking parchment before intoning arcane words of power. Bluish light flared briefly and a thick beam bored into the wall. The solid rock shimmered, turning translucent before become completely transparent. The light faded away, revealing a circular tunnel through the stone into a dim room beyond.
The party rushed into the breach. A trio of groggy Shadowblades rose from stools around a rickety table, upsetting a half-empty bottle of wine. Rowan, in the lead as usual, notched an arrow and launched it at the surprised guards in one fluid motion…
…To Be Continued
Next: Session 20 (Part Two) – Is That All You Got?
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