We’re back at the RHC headquarters, and Kane is negotiating what spoils we’re allowed to keep. However, Alaric can’t make a decision on the matter and refers us to Lady Saxby (
gulp).
Ayleen points out that it’s unclear what we are and aren’t allowed to include in our reports. We plead with Stover for more openness and transparency.
We reflect on the potential invasion from the Bleak Gate. Agent X might have been working on this for thirty years already. Are other nations involved too—Danor, Ber? Nevard’s prophecies are still quite cryptic. The first few paragraphs do seem to reference Agent X. Is he from Flint? He’s said to be driven into the sea by the King, and there he would be cut off from his shadow.
We also chuckle again about the note meant for Staf—which he, alone, didn’t read. Thankfully. Still a pity we don’t know who sent it.
We task the C-team with investigating whether the druidic order has been infiltrated by the skeletal figures in white robes and hoods.
But no concrete lead presents itself. The black oil vials, we suspect, are foci for gathering necromantic energy. Whenever an accident occurs, that energy somehow gets captured in one of these flasks... Could Kane perhaps communicate with one of these bottled spirits?
In the end, we decide it’s best to confront Stover about our management concerns first.
Spring 14th, 500 AOV
In the morning, we confront Chief Inspector Stover Delft. We tell him we no longer want to self-censor our reports. He agrees, though he warns us of Saxby’s wrath.
Ayleen also explains to Stover that she’s being blackmailed to repay her “training fees” several times over. We discuss the best way to deal with that.
We then head to the tearoom for our meeting with Cippiano “Cappuccino.” He wants to meet us in person after the recent incidents. He says he’s willing to help. First, by locating
Dr. Wolfgang Von Recklinghausen—rumor has it he’s hiding in a chapel, in a grotto dedicated to Urian, the Light God, in the Nettles. Second, he brings news about the Dragonborn. Apparently, they’re available for hire for all sorts of shady business. He suggests we might
hire them ourselves to set them up for a trap. We’ll need to think about where such a setup could take place. We also subtly signal that we’re open to supporting La Familia in their struggle against Kell’s thieves’ guild, which has been crossing the boundaries of what’s unofficially tolerated.
We make our way to the Nettles. A crowd is gathered near the grotto—people clearly suffering from various ailments. We cut the line and enter the dark tunnel, which opens into a cavern chamber. Kane immediately feels at home. There are ancient decorations honoring a sort of primal father figure with a long beard and four wolves at his side. Urian, perhaps? Further in, we reach a large, dark room. Just before stepping inside, Kane notices a tripwire with little bells. Voices come from a passage ahead and to the left. Pipistrella scouts ahead but finds only hanging curtains in the way.
Upon further scouting, we spot Doctor Von Recklinghausen, a patient, and three shady-looking men. We breach the room from three sides. As soon as we identify ourselves as RHC agents, the men draw weapons and a fight breaks out! Sarïa is the first to be struck by a shortsword. She shifts into a lion and claws back fiercely. Staf throws himself into the fight unarmed. Felix’s Chromatic Orb fails to bounce, but Kane follows up with his death knell, knocking down the first thug. In the confusion, the doctor also draws a rapier and stabs at Staf, but we shout that we only want to talk. After a brief skirmish, the last two Kell thugs are down.
We try to calm the doctor—he’s still suspicious. Staf tries to take over stitching the patient’s wound, but makes it much worse. Doctor Von Recklinghausen quickly jumps back in to put an end to the torture.
