Session 17: The Cross Maidens
General Summary
The party disembarked from Gowder's gaily coloured taxi-boat and approached Katrin's houseboat. It was a well-built and well-maintained boat moored at the dockside. They saw a curtain twitch on the houseboat and a sturdily-built woman of approximately 40 emerged rubbing her greasy hands on a piece of old cloth. She was official in tone but friendly enough. The companions asked her about the disappearances and the state of the Bard's Gate river ways in general. Katrin explained that she was the head of the Riverman's Guild and was concerned about the recent disappearances. She reported that both young girls and some children, mostly female, had been taken. She also reported that she had been carrying out something of a patrol herself and had spotted a strange scene. She has seen several men dressed as clowns on a riverboat, they were performing tricks and music and had attracted the interest of some children playing on the dockside. Katrin had approached them but they had quickly packed up and set off as she neared the scene. She attempted to follow them but could not keep up and lost them in the side lanes of the old docks area over on the west side of Bard's Gate. The companions managed to convince her that they were genuine in their quest to stop the kidnappings and offered her services if the party wished to explore the waterways. They thanked her for the kind offer and vowed to return later that evening. The party then headed north into the Turlin's Well district and made for the Maiden's Cross Tavern on another tip-off. The Maiden's Cross Tavern was a quiet and neat Inn, there were few patrons and those that were there were mostly female, a women played a restrained tune on a lute as the party entered. Taking no um-bridge with the unusual group of adventures who had arrived in the Tavern a waitress soon approached with a smile on her face to take their drinks order. Although a comely enough wench she had clearly looked after herself and observant party members could see the strength in her arms beneath the serving maid's white blouse. Lady Cassandra noticed an older women behind the bar who was watching them suspiciously, a look of superiority on her noble but stern features. Cassandra also noticed that this woman, although older, was also sturdy in build. The staff of the tavern were not typical of bar staff in other parts of Bard's Gate. Cassandra decided to approach the stern woman whilst the others drunk their drinks. Recognising Lady Cassandra as a noblewoman, the older woman gave a curt nod and introduced herself as Jenette Holycraft, her strong handshake leaving Cassandra in no doubt as to her strength. Cassandra explained to her that they were on the trail of the missing girls and she took Cassandra into her confidence explaining that she and her staff were in fact Paladins of Muir, Goddess of Virtue and Paladins, watching over the city and 'putting wrongs-right'. She is in charge of the Bard's Gate branch of the 'Order of Iron' a military order who has crossed swords with criminals on many occasions and so she is used to dealing with low-life. She was fervent in her anger against the shadier side of Bard's Gate and vowed that she would get to the bottom of the disappearance using whatever means were necessary! She was frustrated to report however, that so far they had had little success. She and her girls have brought in several 'ne'er do-wells' for questioning but got little out of the scum. She has an idea however that the trail might lead to the Black Market, a secretive underground market place below the Market District populated by the worst of Bard's Gate trash, guttersnipes and blaggards. Unfortunately they have had no luck getting into the black market and refuse to go undercover as Jeanette considers this dishonourable. Jenette Holycraft recognised Lady Cassandra as a fellow paladin and invited her to accompany one of the Maiden's Cross patrols on a tour of the eastern side of Bard's Gate later that evening, however the invitation did not include the male party members. Cassandra graciously accepted. Meanwhile the boys had been enjoying a drink and Grouch had surprised them by producing a lyre and proceeding to play several tunes up on the raised stage area. Dinglepop, still a little unsteady after the drinks in the Last Drop Inn and boat trip across the river, was feeling rather unwell. As he slumped over the table some raised voices caught the attention of the party. A colourfully dressed gentleman seemed to be having heated words with several bar staff. Holycraft heard this fracas and excused herself from Lady Cassandra's company to deal with the incident. It seemed that the colourful gentleman was a 'performer' of some kind and had taken a shine to one of the serving girls. Holycraft harangued him loudly and tried to bundle him out of the Tavern but he caught sight of the party and sat down with them as though they were old friends. Jenette Holycraft backed off a little at this not wanting to upset lady Cassandra, but stared at the bard reproachfully from behind the bar. He seemed friendly enough and proceeded to introduce himself as 'Davros' and regale the companions with tall tales of his adventurers and conquests, some on the battlefield and some in the bedroom! Due to the state of Dinglepop and the disgusted looks of Jenette Holycraft the adventurers decided now might be a good time for a little fresh air and left the tavern. Cassandra arranged for a couple of nearby guards to see Dinglepop back to her home to 'sleep it off'. It still being quite early the party then decided that perhaps they should take a quick look at the old docks district to make some preliminary investigations. Davros followed them and they reluctantly allowed him to keep up with them, being short a party member, but were a little suspicious of his over-friendly and outwardly whimsical nature. As the sun began it's decent the party found themselves at the southern end of the Market district and about to cross over to the dingier and darker old docks area. Malcer was walking slightly ahead and he passed a dark, empty-looking warehouse two burly men stepped out and into his path blocking his way. Large, ugly gentlemen they were, dressed in brown leather jerkins and with a cruel looking dagger hanging from each rotund waist. They made it very clear that Malcer had taken a wrong turn and should head back the other way but playing the innocent ecclesiastic Malcer questioned as to why he could not pass? They grew more and more vociferous in their assertions as he proved rather difficult to intimidate. Davros and Cassandra came strolling along the street and joined Malcer, Davros bantered with the men light-heartedly but they were not in the mood for humour and rested their hands on the daggers to further indicate that the adventurers were not welcome there. They mentioned something about it being 'Wheelwright's Guild' territory and that someone called 'Duloth' would hear about the meeting.
Character(s) interacted with
Jeanna Holycraft, owner of the Maiden's Cross Tavern and Paladin of Muir.
Katrin, head of the Riverman's Guild.
Wheelwrights Guild
