Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="pogre" data-source="post: 1893934" data-attributes="member: 6588">I hope you can forgive me for a few less pictures in the next couple of updates. It mostly is an investigation that takes place in the city and does not lend itself to miniature scenes as readily as the dungeon delving episodes.ZandyriumEpisode 10During the dark early hours the adventurers made their way to the Temple of Gravitas Morte. The paupers’ burial carts were lined along the street near the temple’s rear area. Only one of the carts had a horse with tack. The driver of the court came out shortly; drinking a hot cup of broth, he explained that only one cart was now needed to cover the city. Justinius asked the driver a number of questions as they worked their way through the narrow streets of Zandyrium’s slums concerning the lack of paupers.The man rubbed his chin and puffed on his pipe, “You know father, it occurs to me I had a conversation with a fella’ a few days ago that might be of interest. He told me the recently resanctified Temple to Kala’s priestess was taking a number of homeless and poor into their place. The fella’ said he went to the temple hoping for a bit of work and a bite to eat. The mood at the first meal told him something was amiss though, something sinister he could not put his finger on – he left the temple that night.”“Is there a chance we could speak to this soul?” Heinrich asked.“Usually, yes, but come to think of it, I have not seen him since we last spoke.”“Hmmm,” Justinius replied.“Have you seen this priestess of Kala?” Mercutio asked.“A few times, although not of late, she used to hang out by the docks, where the real hard-luck cases were about.”Deciding they had enough information to at least proceed with their investigation the group retired to the Barrel. Once at the tavern, and with a repast of game hen, brown mushrooms, and white bread resting in their stomachs, they discussed their next move. Justinius, Heinrich, and Wassabe decided they would move on to the Temple of Ventus, the deity of trade winds, which was located in the dock districts.Mercutio struck upon another, more covert plan. He would take on the role of a beggar and stay in the alleys near the Temple of Kala. Once the temple invited him in he would investigate the situation from the inside. He would communicate with the group via messages conducted by his sand sprite. As a Saracen-touched sorcerer once per day Mercutio could summon a wee Sand Sprite to do his bidding for a short period of time. He summoned the sprite and showed him to the bar keep and instructed the man he would be receiving messages from it for the next few days. He promised the man 5 silvers for every message he delivered to his friends.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/1001_mercutio_meeting.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/1001_mercutio_meeting_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“Who’s paying that 5 silvers?” Thoren demanded.“Here’s 10 gp – that’s enough for 20 messages,” Mercutio threw a small purse down onto the table. Thoren smiled and picked up the gold.*****Early the next morning Heinrich rose from bed early and walked to the Library of Virtua. An old friend allowed him into the stacks containing the Imperial and city histories and many other mundane records. <a href="http://www.pogre.com/1002_heinrich_researches.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/1002_heinrich_researches_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Heinrich learned that the Temple of Kala had been closed a couple of years earlier due to a controversy. The records were quiet on the exact nature of the controversy, but given that Kala was a chaotic goddess of love, beauty, and lust, Heinrich thought he had a pretty good idea. An Ecumenical Guild meeting’s report from the previous year revealed the Empress Annalise Hestalt had championed rededicating the temple. The Empress also demanded the spa and bathhouse attached to the temple be re-opened as well. The Emperor apparently agreed, for an order to find a new head Priestess for the Cult of Kala was issued from the meeting.A suitable candidate was found in the intervening months from the Thraegian Coast and the temple was re-dedicated with great fanfare. Heinrich also gathered from the records that the priestess was being paid a stipend directly from the Empress. Which was a most unusual arrangement. Heinrich returned to the Barrel to try and catch Mercutio before he left and share what he had learned. The Empress’s involvement in the temple concerned him more than a little.Heinrich reached the Barrel in time to share a late breakfast of poached quail eggs, oat muffins, and morning beer with Mercutio. As they compared notes Justinius approached and grabbing a muffin stuffed it in his mouth while discussing his plans for the day. The three shared a pot of hot apple tea and then departed ways. ****Justinius met a leading cleric in the cult of Ventus and after exchanging some sharp retorts about each other’s temples the cleric admitted to not really caring about the homeless people around the dock area. The cleric of Ventus made it very clear that the temples main object was making cash and helping travelers along the way. He did finally suggest that Justinius go down on the docks and speak to one of the lay ministers who offer portents to merchant ships.Quizzing a lay priest on the docks made it immediately clear that some money was necessary to further the conversation. Justinius forked over 5 gp and learned that a priestess had been coming down to the docks and taking the homeless into her temple. The priestess visited less often, now that there were fewer homeless, but he did see her a couple of days ago. During that visit she had two large men-at-arms in tow and they were looking around some damaged warehouses at the far end of the docks.Justinius considered the conversation with the lay priest carefully. It was clear there was something amiss with this priestess of Kala. He also feared he might need some added muscle. He returned to the Barrel and had a lunch of boiled ham and roasted carrots with Wassabe, Thoren, and Ginny. Grabbing a sampling of sweet meats for the road, the four headed back to the docks.***Mercutio’s disguise was quite good and he thought himself the exemplary beggar. He had already managed 7 coppers and it was not yet late afternoon. The sorcerer renewed a pair of cantrips to help with his disguise and continued to wait in his role as bait. A group of three people approached his position and Mercutio quickly realized they were from the Temple of Kala. She was a lovely woman dressed in simple garbs was flanked by two burly bodyguards. As she leaned down to Mercutio he realized just how truly attractive the woman was.“What is your story fair citizen?” she asked.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/1003_mercutio_approached.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/1003_mercutio_approached_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Mercutio spun her a sad tale of lost caravans and broken dreams. As he finished, he noticed she was casting a spell. Mercutio held his breath, he was hoping to not have to fight his way out. Much to the sorcerer’s relief it was merely a healing spell. Mercutio allowed one of his own disguise cantrips to drop to give the appearance of becoming  more healthful and robust.“I am Elan Kanto,” the priestess began. “I am the head priestess at the Temple to Kala and I would like to give you a new start. Would you like a chance to get cleaned up and to eat some food in exchange for a bit of honest work?”“Very much,” Mercutio readily agreed.The priestess smiled brightly and bid Mercutio to follow her. The two bodyguards trailed behind making Mercutio a bit nervous. They arrived at the bath house and the Priestess Kanto introduced Mercutio to one of the Bath House servants.“Take good care of our desert man,” the priestess instructed the servant and smiled at Mercutio. “I will be back to check on you in a while.”  She departed, leaving Mercutio in the care of the servant.Mercutio removed his clothing and stacked it carefully nearby. He concealed a few small items in the dressing room. As he emerged from the dressing room he found the servant waiting for him. A young attractive lad, the boy had the countenance of a beaten dog, and walked with poor posture too.“What is your name?” Mercutio asked with as much cheer as he could muster.“Speaking is forbidden,” the servant replied.<a href="http://www.pogre.com/1004_mercutio_in_bathhouse.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/1004_mercutio_in_bathhouse_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>“Well, now that you have broken that rule – what is your name friend?” Mercutio again asked.The boy smiled and responded, “Why are you here?”“Presumably, to take a bath. Now that I answered your question, what of mine?” Mercutio answered.“I am Dagy,” the boy answered. “The bath is here.”The bath house had a series of stone pools and was full of steam. Pipes of all sorts crisscrossed the room’s ceiling and decorative tiles, no doubt imported from the Thraegian Coast decorated the room. Mercutio eased himself into a small pool of steaming water and began rubbing the filth off of his skin. Dagy sat watching Mercutio intently.“You should leave,” Dagy said abruptly.The boy’s comment caught Mercutio off guard, “Really? Why?”“This is a bad place. Many…” Dagy’s conversation was cut short by the appearance of one of the priestess’s burly bodyguards.“Welcome,” Mercutio said with a smile. “Please join me good sir.”The bodyguard eyed Dagy suspiciously and said, “I’m sorry to cut your bath short, but Priestess Kanto has requested that you attend dinner.”“Excellent!” Mercutio exclaimed clapping his hands together. The echo from the clap reverberated through the bathhouse. “Allow me to just retrieve my clothes and,..”“You will wear this,” the bodyguard threw down a simple gray tunic and a pair of sandals.“I would prefer my own garb,” Mercutio replied.“Your clothes have been burned. These clothes are a symbol of your new life,” the guard now smiled. It was a sinister grin, with several broken teeth revealed by his parted lips.Mercutio obediently put on the tunic and sandals and followed the bodyguard. “Will you be joining us for dinner?” he asked.“There is no talking at dinner,” the guard replied brusquely. Mercutio was thinking of how he would reach the items he secreted at the bathhouse when they emerged in the chapel. A number of people were seated at the tables all wearing gray tunics. The room was absolutely silent. Mercutio took his appointed seat and ate in silence with the others. He tried to whisper to some others cloe by, but all ignored him. He could sense the tension and fear and the air. People seemed terrified of Priestess Kanto.When dinner was finished Mercutio managed to steal away to the bathhouse. He scrawled a quick message detailing what he had found. He summoned his sand sprite which grabbed his message and flew off towards the Barrel. **Justinius and the others made their ways to the dock that afternoon. Desiring information about the warehouses they went to the harbormaster and inquired about buying some property. The harbormaster told them that all leases and purchases must be approved through the Merchants’ Guild. They also learned that the Pulanti family owned the abandoned warehouses where they had heard the Priestess of Kala was hanging about. Further questioning revealed that the Pulantis owned numerous interests in the city, but seemed very unconcerned about maintaining these profitable ventures. The Pulantis seemed to be making money in spite of themselves. Nonetheless, the family had rejected offers from two other very respectable trading families for the warehouses. It was very clear the harbormaster was disgusted with this lack of business acumen on the part of the Pulanti merchant house.Departing the harbormaster the four adventurers discussed how they might go about exploring these mysterious warehouses.*Mercutio slept on a plain cot in a dormitory with a number of other men. Despite repeated attempts, he could not compel any of these men to speak to him. The following morning Mercutio was assigned a mopping duty with another man in a gray tunic. Following some prodding from the charismatic spell caster the man revealed that he too was fearful of the priestess. He recounted how 7 or 8 men disappeared shortly after he had arrived around the time of the new moon. He also said he had tried to leave late one night, but was not permitted to by two large men-at-arms standing guard of the temple. The priestess had flown into a rage and labeled him as ungrateful. A little later another one of the homeless people did escape. The priestess sent her men-at-arms looking for him, but he seemed to escape. Mercutio deduced that this must have been the man the driver of the death cart had spoken to.Mercutio began to consider how all of these pieces of the puzzle came together. His thoughts were interrupted by the appearances of one of the guards.“The priestess would like to see you now,” he ordered.“Of course,” Mercutio replied and gently handed his mop over.To be continued…</blockquote>

Verification