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03.17.20

Saviors

by Steel Claw

A door in the basement of the Crossed Hammers Co. contained, well, horrors. Bodies in various states of decay laid on tables and nearby surfaces. most had some kind of head "surgery" or incision -- mostly missing parts of brain. The people (the bodies) are notably well-off and clothed ("clothed in what they came in"). I count 26 bodies. Master Theo connected the missing brain bits to the temporal bombs of which we found 4.
 
Calling upon Abadar's grace, Master Murg pulled at the fabric of life to speak to one of the dead victims. Another elf, a young one, stabbed the one we interviewed with a poisoned blade. The elf called himself Argyle. The victim was a diplomat from the Hallowed Isles working in Bezia.
 
Master Murg asked another, a female elf; this one was taken from her home. She was controversial, in that she supported (voted for as a politician) Bezia joining the Arcadian Accord. She mentioned as well a Lord Reginald (another victim).
 
Izol found a small lockbox on a shelf in the room. Picking it up, he unwittingly triggered a tripwire that sprang a poisonous dart directly into his shoulder. Again, thankfully Master Murg was there to lend Abadar's light to relieve Izol of the poison. Izol continued then, opening the lockbox and a chest underneath it. The chest contained files and papers, research that proves the Crossed Hammers targetted all of the deceased (and no more). Again, all targets were nobility (who hired the Crossed Hammers assuming the company would perform work). We have evidence (nearby) that some of the Crossed Hammers are masquerading as beggars or poorer folk (notably, big-sized [orcish] men).
 
 

Bomb Squad Cat


 
While the party was investigating a magical trap, Steel was finishing collecting parts and tools in the alchemy chamber. When he reunited with the group -- to find them assaulting an arcanomechnical trap of a glyph and tripwire on one wall. Wordlessly, he strode up to the wall, knelt down with his artificer's tools (complete with a welder's mask), and a minute later snipped the offending arcanomechanical trap cleaning off to nullify the danger. Needless to say, the group was pleasantly shocked. Thanks to this, the group was able to safely investigate the rest of the room: the Crossed Hammers have a multitude of uniforms and disguised meant to work together (en mass disguises for groups). Izol and Steel muse over them before taking one of the "sets". Much to Steel's self-dismay, he takes a set of Vecti uniforms (to fit to the party members). "Disgusting and vile".
 

Disaster Strikes


 
Upon leaving, Master Theo squared everything out with the guards he had hailed to stand guard at the crime scene. We left, pondering what next to do, as Theo sent a message to Administrator Connor about what we had learned. The response: The captain is dead.
 
We raced to the castle, and up to the warroom with Admin Connor. The Crossed Hammers showed up to break the dwarf en route to his captivity, slaughtering the captain and his regiment with basilisk venom (melting the man inside the armor). There were at least four assailants.
 
Connor also added that Argyle was part of a group called (simply) The Bloodied Collective. He also connected the dots for us: there is a gala dinner tonight to be held at the castle.
 

Sapphire's Quarters


 
With a spark of inspiration, Steel took Izol with him to his sister's quarters, to fetch the group something to wear. He found two outfits, for himself and for Theo, before leaving Sapphire's bead behind for her to find.
 
Reconvened, Admin Connor brought us to a hallway before the feasting room. The gala had already begun, and we threw on our disgusies -- Stell helping Theo into his Tired Sands garb, Master Izol putting on makeup and "doing his hair", and Master Murg praying. Steel was to play the part of Ebon Badger, Sapphire's (and his own) brother.
 
Admin Connor: "these nobles are non-human supports and some 'racists'. Ignore them the best you can. The four of you are Veradin nobles contracted as advisers in Sapphire's absence."
 

A Night to Remember


 
As we pressed inside, the party was in full swing before we showed up. A shame, then, the demise that weighs above our heads.

Continue reading...

  1. To Bezia: Dangerous & Familiar
    10.22.19
  2. To Waylay Arcadia
    10.29.19
  3. As the Gods Watch
    11.12.19
  4. Recap: Riding the River to Bezia
    12.03.19
  5. Honor Returns to the Redtails
    12.03.19
  6. Honor and Innocence
    12.10.19
  7. What Ends & What Begins
    01.07.20
  8. Night Before the Report
    01.14.20
  9. Adrenaline
    01.28.20
  10. Fairytale's End
    02.11.20
  11. CSI: Abominable Charges
    02.25.20
  12. Stones in the Basement
    03.03.20
  13. Saviors
    03.17.20
  14. A Night To Remember
    03.24.20
  15. The End Draws Near
    03.31.20
  16. Black Reckoning
    04.07.20
  17. Argyle's End
    04.10.20
  18. Two and Two
    04.14.20
  19. Concentration
    04.21.20
  20. The Magic in Winter
    04.28.20
  21. Real, Under, Dark: Indrada
    05.12.20
  22. Puzzling the Way Forward
    05.19.20
  23. The Cold Cases
    05.26.20
  24. Band through the Woods
    06.02.20
  25. Cold Claws of Death
    06.09.20
  26. Another Shot in the Dark
    06.16.20
  27. More To Learn
    06.30.20
  28. The Heart of Varunmund
    07.10.20
  29. Arcane Mishap
    07.14.20
  30. The Treasure of Weave-Steel
    07.21.20
  31. Rolling Bones
    07.28.20
  32. A New Land
    08.04.20
  33. Ice and Storm
    08.11.20
  34. Up Rocks
    08.18.20
  35. At the Top of the World
    09.01.20
  36. Beware the Depths
    09.08.20
  37. Granting Repose
    09.15.20
  38. Trial by Crystal
    09.22.20
  39. Cries of the Pained
    09.29.20
  40. Old Friends
    10.06.20
  41. Watch and Tower
    10.13.20
  42. The Death of a Gate and an Alhoon
    10.20.20
  43. Joy in Many a Reunion
    10.27.20
  44. A New Line of Questioning
    01.05.20
  45. Renewing the Offense
    6th of February, 2022
  46. The Last Vanguard
    02.13.22
  47. Portals
    02.20.22
  48. Heed the Changing Winds
    03.13.22
  49. Champions of the Winds
    03.27.22
  50. The Epicenter of Truth
    04.03.22
  51. It Begins Again
    04.10.22
  52. Stratagem to the Winds
    04.24.22
  53. Wet Cat
    05.01.22
  54. Another Hot Time
    05.15.22
  55. The Aegon Assault
    07.31.22
  56. Unfavorably Familiar
    08.07.22
  57. Cloaked in Red
    09.11.22
  58. Forged After War
    09.18.22
  59. Truthseeking
    10.02.22
  60. Two-Parters
    11.12.22
  61. Blade & Bow, Hammer & Axe
    11.20.22
  62. Faith, Truth, and Peace
    11.27.22
  63. Act as you know, and you will never shame me
    12.04.22
  64. The Stringing of the Bow
    01.08.23
  65. A Clashing of Fangs
    01.15.23
  66. Nleyke [v. To Wish]
    01.29.23

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 14:47, Nov 8 2024