Session 04: Interrogations Report
General Summary
Mystan heals Virion as he arrives, and Virion snarks "Misty, how nice of you to show up" but then leans on him. Mystan laughs and supports him.
Melody then kicks Virion, gets up in his face, laying into him for being effectively a race traitor as a Jan Pana who works for the empire, but still uses Bladesong, on a sword! Virion defends himself by pointing out he was just a boy when the empire came, and the unsaid implication is that this is all of his culture he has left. Melody, still, asks him not to use his bladesong around her again.
Their spat, however, is interrupted by Sanbalet being a smart-ass. While sitting he is still taller than Melody, especially with his massive hat. He does, however, admire Melody's own fancy hat. Sanbalet also constantly talks in third person. Virion, eventually, directs the conversation back to interrogation, only to learn that Sanbalet knows very little about Saltmarsh, not even giving much up when Melody steals his hat!
Sanbalet's hobgoblin friend - the much more eloquent smart-ass Kaval - then speaks up, pointing out that they have been captured and are certainly doomed, but Sanbalet has no fears. The human bandit, meanwhile, is just sitting there. Kaval then insults Melody, asks if she's a national, Virion then takes Kaval's side, and the hobgoblin goes off on some spiel.
Virion by now is flipping through Sanbalet's spellbook. He protests, but Melody threatens him with fire, and the wizard yields. She then checks around the corner to ensure there aren't any more of the gang members. She quickly runs back to the group, as a hobgoblin named Zurg stabbed her. He gives chase, but ends up under Hold Person from Melody, allowing Virion to tie him up as well (DC 17). Apparently, Virion has quite the knowledge of knot tying. Mystan moves Zurg over to the others, and the interrogations continue.
Sanbalet decides to flip the script and ask the party what their intentions are. Melody states that they are going to take Sanbalet back to Saltmarsh for trial, while Kaval responds with a speech supporting anarchism.
Ignoring the surprisingly eloquent hobgoblin, Virion accuses Sanbalet of being a slaver and Melody accuses him of being a smuggler. Sanbalet refutes both of these accusations, claiming (still in the third person) to be a merchant, a scourge upon the Cobalt Sea but far, far from a Sea Prince.
Virion decides tto look through the creates to learn what goods Sanbalet is trading in. Five bolts of silk and eight casks of brandy are revealed. Melod suggests skimming a bit off the top, which only causes Sanbalet to accuse Melody of being no better than him.
Virion, for his part, is seriously struggling to decipher Sanbalet's notes. They're chaotic, and rather than titles being spell names they all start with "Sanbalet Casts...". When questioned, Sanbalet states "Sanbalet is a great and powerful wizard who doesn't use such foul instruments." Virion tries to intimidate him with a flame blade, and the two go back and forth - all Virion learns from this game of chicken is that Sanbalet believes in "dramatic villainy".
The human bandit, Gil (who is a fence), decides to speak up. He claims he was acting in self defense, and when Eva is mentioned he says he knows who she is!
Melody suggests taking Sanbalet back for smuggling. The wizard protests: he bought the silk from someone fair and square! Fishcod thinks he's lying through his teeth though, but Kaval backs him up, stating they do have real associates.
This makes Melody think though, and so she interjects to ask them about Ned and their contact in Saltmarsh, stating that these bandits will need the party's protection.
Sanbalet got his hat from the same people Sanbalet is associates with. Kaval warns Sanbalet against giving too much way, while Gil is just done with this shit and doesn't want to die. When the party mentions Gellan Primewater due to Ned's contact's particular manner of speech, he says "Everybody knows Gellan Primewater, he's a powerful merchant."
Virion decides to ask if Gil knows anything, since he seems to be the most reasonable. Gil knows that the goods are taken from a ship that comes in, and should next arrive in 13 days. It comes in from the room Zurg came from, within which are more goods. It leads to a cove, where a rowboat is docked that can travel to where the ship drops anchor. With this detail revealed, Sanbalet offers to speak only if safety is assured.
Mystan keeps guard around the prisoners while the other three leave to make a plan. Melody wants to set a trap and leave them there, but Virion and Fishcod disagree. Melody counters with the skeleton room being a perfect place to throw the bandits, and that they could simply tell the councilors it was an independent group of bandits who killed the Blueson twins.
The party decides they need more information, and return to Sanbalet, who is spouting off about profits and capitalism. Virion counters with some mercantilist dogma, and Melody cuts in by declaring they are bandits who know nothing about the Sea Princes. She then asks for more information with safety guaranteed, and Sanbalet finds this more agreeable. Melody further sweetens the pot by giving Sanbalet his hat back.
Sanbalet then reveals the following:
His organization is independent with no higher ups. He's basically a fence, smuggling goods all around the coast. The silk is an expensive good which he gets from other suppliers, and he wants to use it as an opportunity to expand his operation. The ale, meanwhile, is mostly just for his subordinates; it keeps them loyal.
Furthermore, Sanbalet chose this location due to it's haunted nature. He says that the ship Gil mentioned is the Sea Ghost, their main supplier which mostly deals in weapons. These weapons are then bought off his operation buy a group of lizardfolk led by Queen Othokent, though why the lizardfolk need the weapons he doesn't know.
Sanbalet then offers a few words of warning. He knows the party will likely try to ambush the ship, and he also knows that ambushing a ship is hard. The lizardfolk are armed to the teeth now, and if they want to take over the signalling to lure the Sea Ghost in, they must do it perfectly.
That said, the Sea Ghost does indeed come in two weeks to drop off arms and armor. Sanbalet usually sends a few underlings to meet a rowboat in the dark. Aboard the Sea Ghost is a deck wizard named Punketta who is a bit of a crack pot but quite talented, with skill comparable to Virion. Sanbalet then claims to be an alum from Seaton's Academy for the Arts and Arcane. Virion, though, calls him out for bullshitting him, as Sanbalet is clearly self taught. Interestingly though, he does have a treatise detailing the powerful cambion Ithiqua.
The Sea Ghost has a crew of 20 maximum, and the party now must find a way to take it down. Perhaps use fire or force them to shore, or maybe steal the ship - but they think that would be too difficult given the numbers issues. They might be able to damage the ship, but it would limp back home. Perhaps they could find their home base by asking around in the next two weeks. Either way, they have time to figure it out.
They then make preparations to leave, taking the bandits' possessions. They strip the bandits of their weapons and armor, Sanbalet's ornate pipe, decorated scalemail with fish and shell motifs that glistens blue in the yellow torchlight. They also find the keys to the lock boxes by the beds, but decide to search them later. Melody further takes Sanbalet's wizard robes and hat and leave them behind.
Returning to Saltmarsh, the party tries to hide the bandits' identities by putting bags over their heads. Virion also speaks with Fishcod about firearms and teaches them how to shoot.
Not all is going smoothly, though. When they come to the jail, they find Ned sleeping against the wall - but when Melody bangs on the cell, he doesn't wake. According to Eva, he's been asleep for a while and hasn't woken up. She's enjoyed the quiet, but it's getting concerning. Melody casts Tasha's Hideous Laughter on Ned to try and wake him up, but nothing happens. A guard comments that nobody has been in and out, a fact Eva confirms. The guards then open the cell and Virion feels for a pulse. There is none: Ned is dead, his body cold.
Melody whips around and accuses the guards of having failed, but they insist that nobody was in or out; they have no idea how he died! Melody then begins to inspect the body. There's no obvious wounds, which leads he to believe it may have been poison in the food. That or some sort of powerful spell. Virion inspects the body as well, and again there's no sigh of what's wrong. Eva and Ned ate the same food, though, and she's fine. The guards are truthful, the food probably wasn't poisoned then.
Melody is worried that Sanbalet will also be killed if left in the jail. She then tells the guards to leave and assures them their jobs won't be lost, which is not at all in her powers, but Mystan assures them that it'll be alright. Virion then asks for Lieutenant Johnny, and the guards leave, taking the other prisoners to the main holding cell.
Lt. Johnny comes down, at Virion's request. He is a handsome young man, and at Sir Sylvenne's request he reveales that privates Valentina and Gonzalo were positioned during the day, with Carmen and Martin in the evening. Chef Ryan took care of the gruel and washed the bowls.
Further investigation reveals that indeed, nobody visited the prisoner last night. Nobody else was even arrests, not even anyone for drunk and disorderly conduct. Melody then demands a council meeting from Lt. Johnny, who is not having it with a Jan Pana civilian ordering him around. Virion, who is a knight, tells Melody to calm down and then asks instead for just Captain Fireborn, Eda Oweland, and Anders Solmor. Begrudgingly, Lt. Johnny agrees.
While awaiting the council, Fishcod offers to move the body, and a guard helps. Virion and Melody notice Fishcod put something from their pouch onto the body, some sort of powder or something. Before they can be interrupted, the councils arrive and meet within the warded cell to not be overheard. Captain Fireborn has a few guards but ask them to leave, while Anders has his butler Skerrin Wavechaser at his side. Eda Oweland is alone, but irritated at being summoned.
Melody then lies her ass off to the council, explaining that while yes the house ran a bandit operation, they were only hitting travelers. Virion, uncomfortable with the lie but understanding what Melody is getting at, interjects to say that they pick their targets carefully to avoid notoriety. Melody also offers that these bandits are the ones who murdered the siblings, and that their operation has been stopped. They can't be part of the Sea Princes; they don't even have a ship! Furthermore, the house is in disrepair but that they will do a second sweep in two weeks to make sure no bandits come back. She then demands a reward, and Eda - totally buying that the party have solved the case - offers 100gp with an extra 100gp added on later, but that all the councilors will be needed to call a meeting and decide, which will be held at 6 pm.
Before they depart, Eliander asks if Virion is okay. Virion points to his wounds but says that he'll be alright, he just needs a drink. Melody asks if anyone wants to go for a drink now, but Virion refuses, stating they should go after the meeting - but that he'll pay. Fishcod refuses to drink outright.
Eliander is still worried about the prisoners being assassinated, though, and he asks the party what Ned's involvement was. They tell him that they aren't sure; Ned gave no information beyond a vague description of who hired him. Melody claims that they are doing a private investigation to find the assassin, but that she thinks its unrelated. She then insults Eliander by calling him "Mister Fireborn," and Virion insists on showing respect.
Captain Fireborn, in an attempt to impress Melody into respecting him, goes off on a tangent about how he lost his leg in an epic battle with an owlbear. Mystan, however, casts Zone of Truth and Eliander fails, revealing that in his youth he was in the Dreadwood on patrol, checking on the hags. Out from the bushes came an owlbear. The creature jumped him and tore his leg with its beak, and Captain Fireborn screamed like a little girl. Melody then makes fun of Fireborn, and is pushed out by Fishcod, with Virion apologizing and then running off.
In the five hours between now and the meeting. Melody pets her friend's bullfrog Lorris, sharing the actual events with the druid, who warns her of the squirrels listening in. Fishcod takes their armor off, while Mystan and Virion fill out paperwork. Then, the meeting commences.
The party has defeated the bandit threat, but Ned was assassinated - they don't know how or why, but they do know that Ned was hired to stop the investigation. Melody is then caught in a lie and continues to lie, and everyone turns to look at her. Captain fireborn then turns to Virion, and asks if Melody asked for everyone on the council earlier, or just Fireborn, Oweland, and Solmor. Virion gives an awkward non-answer. Melody insists that the bandits were independent, which Mystan backs up. Copperlocks then asks why her mine shipments were never attacked, which Melody says that there probably weren't enough people to do it. The council then offers the party the house after they clean it out in a few weeks, but Melody wants payment - they then give over the promised 200gp, and the meeting is adjourned.
Virion goes out to drinks, and Mystan goes with him to the The Wicker Goat, with Fishcod agreeing after a moment of hesitation. Melody, however, insists that she has matters to attend to. The tavern is hosted by a strong human man, Lankus Kurrid, a veteran officer of the Dreadwood.
His prices are 1 cp for ale, 1 sp for dwarven ale, and a bottle of fine wine for 10 gp. Virion buys a round of dwarven ale for everyone. Fishcod tastes it experimentally and then downs the whole think, Mystan drinks his cup quickly too, and Virion has about half. While Fishcod feels great, Mystan is a bit tipsy.
While the others go to get drinks, Melody follows Gellan Primewater from the town hall to his house a few blocks away. She isn't seen, and the older dandy struts home, asking as he enters "Feliza, what are we having for dinner?"
On the door of his home is a poster advertising the weekly Primewater Banquet, which is open to the whole town.
Meanwhile, who should enter the Wicker Goat while the party drinks but Manistrad Copperlocks! She buys a giant mug of dwarven ale and congratulates the party. Virion buys another round, and Copperlocks continues but seems like she's witholding something. Virion tosses back another drink, Mystan is loosened up, and Fishcod is still apparently a heavyweight. Copperlocks then discusses dwarven architecture and the difference between mountains and volcanoes.
Melody then joins the party in the inn, seeing Sir Sylvenne and Councilwoman Copperlocks drunkenly talking. Virion orders a third round, this one covered by Manistrad; one for each of the party, two for herself. Melody then orders a drink as well, and is aggressive about making change. Fishcod is still sober, Melody quite drunk, while Mystan and Virion are just as drunk as they were. Copperlocks, however, doesn't get drunk but rather enters a state of memory given her dwarven biology.
Melody then has a fun idea, telling the story of Captain Fireborn and the bear. Virion and Manistrad complain that they've heard it daily, but Melody says she has the truth. She drunkenly gets atop a table, the whole tavern watching. She then removes her hat and throws it up, casting Minor Illusion to make it look like smoke is coming out. She catches it and then casts Dancing Lights, announcing that she has a story to regale the tavern with: the truth of Eliander Fireborn! She goes on and on. At first, people are enjoying the story, but as Melody goes on and on calling him "Mr. Fireborn" and insulting the empire, the tavern run by and full of veterans and loyalists gets more frustrated. Someone drunkenly pulls Melody off the table, and Virion mutters that he's thankful he'll only half remember this. Fishcod keeps ordering drinks, only feeling their effect after nearly ten. The party by now are all wasted, and while hangovers are certain in the morning, the four compatriots are happy to have survived and won the day.
Rewards Granted
- 200 gp
- Ownership of the Haunted House
Missions/Quests Completed
Discover who killed the Blueson Twins.
Character(s) interacted with
- Sanbalet
- Kaval
- Gil
- Zurg
- Eva
- Lt. Johnny
- Captain Eliander Fireborn
- Senior Councilwoman Eda Oweland
- Councilman Anders Solmor
- Skerrin Wavechaser
- Councilman Gellan Primewater
- Councilwoman Manistrad Copperlocks
- Lankus Kurrid
