Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)

[talien]

And Madness Follow: Part 1b – Telthin Manor

Kham crept his way into the attic. A woman was on the other side, scrambling backwards as fast she could.

“Hey, easy, easy. I’m not here to hurt you.”

The woman’s clothes were torn and spattered with dirt and blood. Long dark hair hung limply across her dirty face.

“The monsters came!” she shrieked. “They changed my friends!”

“Calm down.” Kham put one hand out, palm down, in a gesture of peace. “Those things won’t bother you any more. Here, this might help.”

He tossed her a wineskin. After staring at him with wide eyes, she slurped thirstily from its contents. When she finally wiped her mouth, she had calmed down.

“Somebody up there, boss?” shouted Skiz.

“Uh, yeah. Why don’t you stay downstairs for the moment while I talk to this very edgy woman who doesn’t need to be further frightened by anything out of the ordinary.”

“Oh. Gotcha.”

Kham turned back to the woman. “What’s your name?”

“Maegen,” she said in a quiet voice. “Maegen Brimworth.”

Kham crouched down on his heels. “Can you tell me what happened here?”

“Silas took up three guests over the last few months. They were going to aid him in putting on a new play—“

”Did you say Silas? Silas Fedders?”

“You know him?”

Kham frowned. “Unfortunately, yes.” He recounted the events when they had last met. “Damn it! That means Silas was really behind…” he stopped speaking when he saw Maegen was watching him intensely. “Sorry, go on.”

“The premiere performance was to take place here in Hallowfeld, but I arrived late. Thank Illiir!”

“Let’s get you out of this place, hmm? Do you have relatives anywhere nearby?”

“Lamid,” she said hesitantly.

“Great,” said Kham. “Well, uh…” he reconsidered. “We’ll escort you there. I’m sure your family will be happy to see you when you arrive.”

The girl nodded as Kham ushered her down the steps.

 

[talien]

And Madness Followed: Part 1c – Telthin Manor

Sebastian and Beldin were waiting for Kham when he came back out of the manor with Maegen.

“Typical.” Sebastian’s hands were on his hips. “You walk into a place looking for a bed and you walk out with a woman.”

Kham shrugged. “That’s usually your line. This is Maegen. Maegen, this is Sebastian and Beldin.”

The woman responded by shrieking at the top of her lungs.

“That’s not quite the greeting I expected,” muttered Beldin.

They followed her terrified gaze to two lobster-like things crawling their way around the buildings. Upon hearing her scream, the creatures turned to face them.

“I’ve seen these things before.” Kham took aim at one of them. “Unfortunately, we’re not standing over a frozen river this time.”

The light reflected off the creatures’ mottled carapaces. Their small dark eyes fixed on them with a hungry stare; the tentacles that dripped from their mouths squirmed excitedly as they scuttled closer.

Maegen shrieked and ran in the other direction. Sebastian moved to stop her.

“Let her go,” said Beldin. “We’ve got bigger problems.”

Kham took aim. A pistol kicked, but the bullet ricocheted off the thing’s mottled carapace.

“Well, that’s all I got.”

Sebastian stepped backward as Beldin charged forward. “I think I can do better,” said the dark-kin. “Mulimodis Oris!”

Three ghostly pairs of vicious jaws flew out from the folds of his robes. The jaws snapped and bit at the first crustacean, stopping it in its tracks.

Beldin leaped into the air towards the second thing with his axe high overhead. He came down on one of the thing’s claws, cracking it open. Black ichor spurted upwards.

Kham fired another of his pistols. “Skiz, reload.”

He reached into his satchel and drew forth another pair of pistols, dropping the spent ones into the magical container along with his pet talking rat.

“What’s with the teeth and the tentacles?” asked Kham nervously. “You’re not going all Carcosa on me, are you?”

Sebastian was concentrating on keeping the first thing at bay, mentally directing the first two pairs of ghostly jaws to keep the beast busy; whenever he found an opening, the third pair struck and bit into the armored beast.

“Let’s just say I’ve got a new perspective,” said Sebastian.

A huge claw snapped at Beldin, but he batted it away with his shield.

Kham fired twice, this time aiming for the tentacles. He blasted one right off, and this time the crustacean under Sebastian’s magical attack reacted with a squeal.

“Be careful of the tentacles, Beldin, they cause—“

Beldin hacked away one claw and beat aside the other with his shield, giving a clear view of the creature’s maw. Then a net of dripping tentacles exploded onto him, encircling his arms and legs and lifting him up. Beldin went rigid.

“Paralysis,” finished Kham. He holstered his pistols and drew his scimitar and dagger.

“What are you doing?” asked Sebastian out of the corner of his mouth.

“Saving the dwarf. Stay here.”

Kham focused. His eyes burned like points of silver fire. And suddenly it was he in the tentacles and Beldin slumped next to Sebastian.

“Hi,” said Kham. His ring prevented the tentacles from grabbing him, causing him to slip to the ground. With a quick spin, Kham snapped his blades in a downwards arc, hacking through the tentacles. The crustacean screeched in pain.

It reached forward with both pincers to grab Kham, but the val was as slippery as an eel. He hopped backwards as it snapped at him in frustration…

Only to be struck by the other crustacean from behind. Although they couldn’t grab him, they could certainly hurt him. The shadow of the thing loomed over him and all he could see were pink tentacles.

“Radius Incensio!”

Flames struck the crustacean full in the face. It fell backwards, the ruins of its head still smoldering.

Kham scrambled to his feet. “Well, I’m glad that’s—“

The second one lurched forward, claws snapping for Kham’s face. It collapsed before Kham, Beldin’s axe protruding from the back of its hunched head.

Beldin licked his lips. “Anyone else hungry for lobster?”

Sebastian and Kham shuddered.

 

[talien]

And Madness Followed: Part 2a – Lamid

The journey from Hallowfeld to Lamid was short and uneventful, just over a day’s travel on foot. By the time they arrived, the town was in total chaos.

Most of the town’s inhabitants remained huddled in their homes and no businesses were open. A large crowd of conscripted townsfolk gathered outside the barricade erected in the center of town.

“The villages said Constable Radcliff was the man in charge,” said Sebastian. “Hopefully, he can tell us more about what happened here.

As they worked their way through town, empty shops and closed shutters were everywhere. Kham reached down to pick up a piece of litter tumbling along the street.

“I already know what happened here.” He showed Sebastian the paper. It read:

Premiere Engagement!

ONE NIGHT ONLY AT THE LAMID AMPHITHEATER

ANULEE GALEN
AND THE KING’S PLAYERS PRESENT

THE KING IN YELLOW

Performance Begins at Dusk​

“Oh no,” said Beldin. “Not Anulee.”

The sounds of screams and cries brought them to the edge of the town square, where one man was clearly in charge.

Constable Colbert Radcliff was a middle-aged man that stood just under six feet tall with short, light-brown hair. He was surrounded by dozens of frightened conscripts, men and women standing guard at a barricade of wagons, creates, rubble, and lumber that blocked the street into the town commons. From beyond the barricade came the sound of strange gibbering cries.

“The King came for us all and he granted us the wisdom of Carcosa!” someone shouted.

“We’ve been sent on behalf of the Coryan military.” Sebastian was becoming quite adept at telling white lies. “What happened here?”

The Constable kept one eye on the barricade. “Last night, a special performance of Anulee Galen’s new play turned to madness. No one knows exactly what happened, although about an hour after dark there was a tremendous flash of nauseating yellow light and the strange sound of rushing water. Almost immediately thereafter, the screams began.”

“Was Silas Fedders with them?” asked Kham.

“I’m not sure. By the time I arrived with the militia, those unfortunate enough to be caught in the town commons were either dead or had joined the mob. We erected barricades, but the militia took heavy losses.”

“The Harbinger brought us gifts from the King in Yellow!” someone shouted.

“Will you SHUT UP!” Kham shouted back.

“I think that’s the mayor,” said Radcliff. “That’s his voice.”

“The mayor of Crazytown,” said Kham. They crossed the barricade.

 

[talien]

And Madness Followed: Part 2b – Lamid

Once they entered the town commons, things took a turn for the worse. Within, buildings were vandalized, signs and doors torn down, lanterns smashed on the cobblestones, and litter strewn throughout. Worst was the bodies. Dozens lay dead in various states of wholeness. Body parts lay in gutters or hung from broken windows. Corpses festered in tangled heaps, in many cases bearing signs of cannibalism.

Beldin peered into a ruined building. The dark shadow of a tentacled thing was hunched over something red and wet.

The amphitheater itself was in ruins. Seats were torn apart and bodies lay strewn everywhere. The central stage was recessed into the ground and it was filled with brackish, bloody water in which more corpses floated. Here and there, the Yellow Sign glared from buildings and walls, applied with yellow paint in some cases, blood in others, and still others crudely carved into wooden walls by knives or fingernails.

Down in the amphitheater, standing in fouled water up to his knees, was the mayor. He ranted and raved, pacing violently around the flooded center of the amphitheater, waving his arms and frothing at the mouth.

“He chose some, they are his children now!” he shouted.

“Get ready.” Kham had his pistols out.

As they stepped into the town square, a mob of screeching and wailing monstrosities surged out of the alleyways and shop fronts on the opposite side of the town square.

“Incendiaries globus!”

The mob was struck by a massive inferno, tossing transformed villagers in all directions. The crowd was temporarily parted. A lone figure was visible on the other side of the crowd, almost as if it were directing their motions. It was short and stocky, its dwarven heritage mocked by the atrocious tentacles that writhed from its torso and mouth. One rubbery hand gripped a wicked axe, its edge caked with gore.

“No!” shouted Beldin. “Not a dwarf!”

“Beldin, wait!” shouted Sebastian. But it was too late. Beldin charged forward and the crowd surged behind him, cutting him off.

Beldin blocked the former dwarf’s axe as it struck viciously at his face. Tentacles whipped from its mouth, snaking around Beldin.

“You were a dwarf once,” said Beldin. There was gunfire and explosion behind them as Kham and Sebastian kept the villagers busy. “Do not let the King in Yellow’s madness take you, my brother.”

The thing’s tentacles twitched. It hesitated. A tentacle snapped its soulstone from around the thing’s throat and tossed it at the feet of Beldin.

“Hheeeelllp mmeeeeee,” it rasped.

Beldin knew what to do. “Be at peace, my brother.”

He brought his axe down, shattering the soulstone into a thousand pieces.

When Kham and Sebastian finally cleared the remaining transformed villagers, Beldin was still there, mourning the loss of a Celestial Giant.

“Beldin, we have to go,” said Sebastian.

Beldin didn’t move.

“The Constable asked around,” said Kham. “The King’s Players left town last night with their gear and props. And they were headed for Sweet Savona.”

 

[talien]

And Madness Followed: Part 3a – Sweet Savona

Sweet Savona was just twenty miles away from Lamid. Savona was built upon two hundred and eighteen individual islands, interconnected by a spider web of walkways and bridges. Its most prominent feature was the many stepped ziggurat temple of Larissa. Easily the tallest structure in Savona, the temple was normally vibrant and bustling with many worshipers.

Numerous flyers were posted on lampposts, tavern doors, and fences throughout Savona, announcing the premiere of a new play by Anulee.

Kham snatched one off a door. “They’re at the Legion Playhouse. I know where that is.”

The Legion Playhouse was a large wood and stone building located in Savona’s center. Its tall, gothic roof loomed over dark alleys to either side, its façade giving it the feel of a place of worship rather than a theater.

“There’s a door around back.” Kham led them around the side of the building to a smaller door at the end of a narrow alleyway.

“How do you know that?” asked Sebastian suspiciously.

Kham twisted the hilt of one of his many knives. Lock picks sprung out. “Are you going to ask questions or you going to help me stop the play?” Kham fiddled with the lock for a full minute. “Sarish’s ass!” he finaly muttered in frustration.

There was a quiet bonging noise. Sebastian rang a small gong and the door unlocked.

“Nice trick,” said Kham. “Don’t start horning in on my turf or I might just start casting spells.”

Sebastian smirked. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”

Beldin pushed the door open into an empty dressing room. A black curtain hung before them. Beldin hacked it aside with his axe.

The stage had been decorated to resemble a great throne room. At center was a looming throne of sickening yellow-green stone gilt with gold runes, some of which writhed and twitched. A colonnade of pillars rose behind the throne, beyond which was an amazingly realistic backdrop that looked out over an alien city of spires and domes. The dark waters of a lake dominated the horizon, and strange moons glowed in the skies above.

On stage, four figures were visible. Their voices echoed throughout the hall, reverberating off the walls in a strangely hypnotic cadence. On the throne was seated the titular king in the play, a figured dressed in tattered yellow robes that concealed the actor’s face and body completely. He watched quietly as he gaze upon a figure seated before him, perhaps a prisoner.

“Silas,” whispered Kham. “That’s got to be him.”

The actor was an attractive young woman. She wore pigtails and a form-fitting suit of chainmail; in one hand was a long whip made of what looked like a braided length of blonde hair that ended in a cruel razor-edged hook. To either side of the throne stood the remaining two actors. One was a lean, muscled Altherian with an expression of contempt on his chiseled features. He wore a chain shirt and held a scimitar before him.

The fourth figure wore a yellow-green robe and revealing clothes. In her hands she wielded a long, gnarled quarterstaff. Her face was hidden behind a pallid mask. Although she wore a mask, her voice was clear, and the lips on the mask moved to match her words.

“Anulee,” Sebastian said with a hint of pity in his voice.

She turned to face them. They clearly didn’t belong on the stage.

“Strange is the night where black stars rise,
and strange moons circle through the skies,
but stranger still is Lost Carcosa!”

“Your mind tricks won’t work on me,” Sebastian said, raising his hands, “but I can put a stop—Beldin, what are you doing?”

Beldin was walking mechanically off stage to join the audience. They sat, rapt, a full house of silence, as all eyes remained fixated on the performance.

“Beldin snap out of it!” shouted Kham. He pointed his pistols at the performers. “I’ve seen this play before. The ending sucks.”

Several things happened at once. Anulee took a step backwards. The woman cracked her whip, whipping it over her head. The Altherian drank a potion. And the King in Yellow cast a spell, but it was an all too human voice that said “bardus!”

Kham and Sebastian felt a tingling in their limbs, but it passed just as quickly.

“Beldin!” shouted Kham. “Get up!” He fired one pistol and the woman with the whip fell backwards. He fired another and a red stain appeared in the King in Yellow’s robes.

“Incendiaries globus!” responded Sebastian.

The entire stage burst into flames. The audience finally snapped out of it, screaming and running for the exits. The actor dressed in the King in Yellow flailed about, consumed by his own flammable clothing.

Two byakhee popped into existence above them. One reared its head back to ravage Sebastian, but a blow from Beldin’s axe stopped it in mid-bite. The thing screeched and whipped its head around to face Beldin.

“Enjoy the view?” asked Kham.

He drew his scimitar and dagger to face the second byakhee. He blocked one of its attacks by slashing upwards with Talon, severing two of its claws.

Sebastian pointed at Anulee. “I’m sorry, Anulee,” he whispered.

The pallid mask turned to face him, expressionless.

“Radius Incensio!”

The flames blasted into her, knocking Anulee to the ground.

The shrieks of wounded byakhee behind Sebastian convinced him he didn’t have to worry about them. He walked over to her corpse.

Anulee’s face was hidden behind a feminine porcelain mask, the brow of which bore the all-too-familiar Yellow Sign.

“I doomed you to something far worse than death,” whispered Sebastian. He reached for the mask to remove it. A slow spider web of cracks appeared around the mouth, a jester’s grin.

Sebastian recoiled as beams of yellow light appeared in the cracks. Then the whole mask and what remained of Anulee’s head became a beacon of nauseating yellow light. A malignant portal tore through the stage area, momentarily obscuring the stage with a vision of a vast lake. At the far side of the lake rose the strange, alien towers of Carcosa, and beyond that spanned a gulf of alien stars and unknown moons and suns.

An instant later, the waters of the Lake of Hali rushed into the playhouse. And from the depths of the lake, something arose that Kham had seen before.

 

[talien]

And Madness Followed: Part 3b – Sweet Savona

The bulbous head of what might have been a jellyfish crested the waters. A huge sac, rippling and throbbing and flecked with light, moved squid-like, pulling itself through the air by long, groping tentacles that sawed on the wind.

“Run!” shouted Kham.

“But—“ Sebastian didn’t finish as Kham turned him and shoved hard.

“RUN!”

Beldin turned to face it. Tentacles lifted him like a rag doll and tossed him through the air, smashing him into seats in the audience.

Sebastian ran. They ran right through the small doorway, out of the alleyway. The thing blasted through the wall, floating without any means to support itself. It drifted forward, smashing aside buildings as if they were irritating scrub.

Kham turned and fired two pistols at it, but they did nothing. He slipped in the waters that had spilled out into the street. The thing loomed, pulsing with a sickly green color, its translucent tentacles reaching for him…

The water that was flowing around Kham suddenly reversed. It streamed past him, a reverse waterfall sloshing its way back towards the Legion Playhouse.

“The portal!” shouted Sebastian, somewhere behind him. “It’s reversing!”

The thing dug its tentacles into the earth. Great mounds of cobblestone exploded as it anchored itself. It was not leaving without a fight.

“Skiz!” shouted Kham. “Pistols!”

Two pistols shoved their way out of Kham’s satchel. He pulled them out and aimed at each one of the tentacles.

“Say hi to the King for me!”

Both pistols discharged. The severed tentacles twitched wildly as ichor sprayed from the stumps.

The sac-like thing was yanked back with a force that even it could not resist. It was dragged back through the alley, back to the stage, and back to the portal that had formed from Anulee’s mask. With a slurping pop, the entire thing was sucked back to whence it came, water and all.

Beldin came limping up the stage as Sebastian and Kham, caked with mud and blood, made their way back into the Legion Theatre.

“What the hell was that?” asked Beldin.

“You don’t want to know,” said Kham.

 

[talien]

And Madness Followed: Conclusion

Kham threw back the mask of the King in Yellow. Blackened flesh blurred some of the actor’s features, but it was undeniably Silas Fedders.

“Damn it.” Kham shook his head. “Damn it all to hell.”

“What?” asked Sebastian.

“This is Silas Fedders,” said Kham, nudging the corpse with one foot. “Adolphos val’Tensen’s court wizard. When we were traveling through the Dreamheart to get rid of Fleshripper, we ended up in Kadath, the prison of the Unspeakable One. Silas told us he knew how to get us out, but I think…” Kham looked around at the devastation. “I think he tricked us into letting the King in Yellow out instead.”

Beldin put one hand on his shoulder. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. It could have been much, much worse.”

Sebastian was standing over the spot where Anulee’s body had once been. “The portal took Anulee’s corpse, but left her equipment. It’s almost as if it absorbed her soul.”

“Let’s hope not,” said Beldin. “The elorii believe souls are reincarnated in new bodies. Somewhere, Anulee is being born again.”

“Anulee was a good person. She just lost her way.” Sebastian made a Canceri sign with his hands. “May the light of wisdom shine brighter on your new path, child of Osalian.” It was the closest thing to a burial ceremony he could provide.

They stood in silence, staring at the corpses of the performers.

“I need a drink,” said Kham. “Anyone care to join me?”

For once, Beldin and Sebastian agreed.

 

[talien]

Chapter 48: Brothers of the Yellow Sign - Introduction

This is a Call of Cthulhu adventure from Tatters of the King, “Brothers of the Yellow Sign” by Time Wiseman, set in the Arcanis setting. You can read more about Arcanis at Onara Online. Please note: This adventure contains spoilers!

Our cast of characters includes:

• Dungeon Master: Michael Tresca (http://michael.tresca.net)
• Beldin Soulforge (dwarf fighter/dwarven defender) played by Joe Lalumia
• Sebastian Arnyal (dark-kin sorcerer) played by George Webster
• Vlad Martell (human fighter) played by Matt Hammer

This little side trek acts as a bridge between the larger campaign to stop the Unspeakable One and everything else going on in Coryan. It’s also the point in the campaign where the game catches up with the Arcanis timeline. We’re now somewhere in the murky depths of Year Three. However, we haven’t officially ended Year Two yet (that’s in a few adventures), so the timeline is a bit out of sync.

To bring you up to speed, our heroes recently sowed the seeds of rebellion in Canceri, with the hopes that the Nerothians will throw off the Nierite occupation. The Nierites also marched on Milandir but were defeated. A plague heightened the tension between Milandir and Canceri, and Sebastian and Vlad were caught in the middle. Ultimately, the plague was averted and Milandir stayed out of the brewing civil war.

During their journey, Ilmarė was poisoned. Her sister, Anulee, was part of a convoluted plot to protect her honor. She pinned the death of Vlad’s father, a humble guardsman, on Sebastian’s father, who was condemned to death. Anulee was banished for her crime and fled southwards to Sweet Savona.

The Unspeakable One’s minions, the k’n-yan, manage to weaken the rift between Arcanis and Carcosa. This bodes ill, for as Bijoux personally witnessed, it means that the world will soon come to an end as thousands of k’n-yan invade. The heroes stumble upon Hillary Carbo, Livius’ wife, in a power struggle to control yet another cult that eagerly awaits the Unspeakable One’s return. Armed with information that Livius was in Sweet Savona, they headed out…

But instead of reforming her ways, Anulee fell in with Silas Fedders, the former court wizard of Duke Adolphos val’Tensen, and they ultimately tried to summon a Spawn of Hastur at a premiere theatre in Savona. The heroes defeated her, barely. They’re hot on the trail of Livius. If they can catch him, perhaps they can save the world after all.

 

[talien]

Brothers: Prologue

The day was overcast as a carriage brought Sebastian and Beldin into the center of Sweet Savona. Small, crowded streets characterized the area. Fine old palaces and apartments could be found there, as could most of the good tavernas.

A tall, slim, and handsome man approached.

“You’re not Kham,” said Beldin. The dwarf’s fingers flexed, ready to grab the axe across his back at any moment.

He was clean-shaven, with short dark hair and a strong jaw. He was dressed in a well-cut black outfit and shoes. He held himself erect and seemed a little stiff and formal.

“Hello signori,” the man bowed his head slightly. “My name is Paulo Tuminardo. I will be your guide here in Sweet Savona.”

“Where’s Kham?” asked Sebastian. The dark-kin was a little less tense his dwarven companion, but still kept his arms by his sides should he need to cast a spell.

Paulo held up one hand. “Ah yes, you must be looking for him. I apologize, my services have been secured by Domina Luca Gracchi—”

“You’re not answering the question,” said Beldin.

“Your companion is inside,” Paulo continued. “A Milandisian.”

“That would be Vlad,” said Sebastian. “That still doesn’t change the fact that you haven’t explained why Kham isn’t here and you are.”

“Domina wishes you a pleasant stay while you are in her city,” Paulo said with a deferential tilt of his head. “I am to be your guide. With the Patriarch of the Illiirite church dead and the Emperor now Chosen of the Pantheon, things are quite different in Sweet Savona.”

“Who is this Luca, anyway?” The dwarf was losing his patience.

“She is a very influential lady,” Paulo said with a tight smile. “And she is Kham’s mother.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Beldin shoved past Paulo into the taverna. “Every man has to visit his mother some time.”

Paulo gestured towards the taverna, waiting for Sebastian to follow.

“Kham has a mother?” Sebastian asked in shock. Then he followed Beldin.

 

[talien]

Brothers: Part 1 – Reunion

The Widow’s Stone was a well-known taverna in the city. Though the bleak weather made outside drinking and dining out of the question, the taverna had a central fire to warm chilled bones and a large supply of Savonan Red.

Vlad’s back was to the doorway when they entered, but he was unmistakable. The big man had a mane of black curly hair that he only occasionally cut. It was short now, as he had been pressed into military service only recently.

He turned at the sound of the dwarf entering the room.

“Vlad!” shouted Beldin. The usually gruff dwarf’s features flashed a smile. “You’re back!”

Vlad hopped up from his seat and gave the dwarf a bearhug. “It’s good to see you!” He smiled at Sebastian. “And you too Sebastian.”

Sebastian smiled and grabbed a seat. “How are you?”

“He’s grown a beard too!” Beldin looked like a proud father.

“I just got back from the goblin uprising in Milandir,” said Vlad. “Things seem to have settled down, but there was some mention of a rift? Something about the King’s Players…” he trailed off, looking at Sebastian uncertainly.

“Yes,” Sebastian began. “We…we closed the rift to Carcosa.”

“I didn’t realize my father had been framed.” Vlad looked down at the table. “But now his soul is at peace, and the real killer is seeing justice.”

They were silent for a moment. Paulo cleared his throat.

“Who is this?” asked Vlad.

“Oh, this is Paulo. He’s been assigned to us by Luca Gracchi.”

Vlad blinked. “As in, the Gracchi family?”

Paulo bowed slightly. “The very same.”

“What did we do to deserve this kind of attention?” asked Vlad.

“Kham was born,” said Beldin. “Luca Gracchi’s his mother.”

“We’re looking for one Thomas Villiers,” added Sebastian.

“Ah, yes.” Paolo smiled, happy to be of service. “Villiers can be contacted in the shipping office of Giuseppe Colombo somewhere in the Navigli.”

The Navigli were an extensive system of canals starting from a landlocked port that spread out to crisscross the southern portion of Sweet Savona. They transported raw materials and finished goods, lined by workrooms, warehouses, and case di ringhiera.

Vlad got up and stretched. “Let’s go. I’m looking forward to bashing some cultist heads in.”