Private Investigators

Anton's Return

In Crimsonhold, Anton had received a missive from the Rumiyyad Autarchy demanding an exorbitant tribute, seemingly accrued by the previous overcaptain Ramsey Claiborne. The corsairs were instructed to pay the tribute or be wiped out, but in the aftermath of the battle Crimsonhold had neither the funds to pay nor the forces to fight. While at the Golden Schooner for drinks, he spoke of the situation with fellow captains Mary McCormac and Ide Onobonjo. Ide told Anton that there may be a way for him to rejoin his allies who had traveled to the Autarchy should he wish to meet with its leaders. Ide revealed that he and his crew were not only pirates but also what he called Planewardens: servants of the Faerie Empress who track down renegade fey in the Material Plane. Ide bid Anton come aboard his ship the Maharamia, where he was introduced to Mama Waasi, an ancient and decrepit woman whose eyes were glassed over with age. She told Anton that it was possible to transport him across the world in an instant through the power of the archfey that she served: the Queen of All Witches. In return, he must swear to carry out a task for the archfey; travel to the ruins of Great Khamut, in the middle of the Natrum Salt Flats. In ancient times, the mages of Khamut had grown powerful enough to steal an item from her; the skull of an ancient elf, with emeralds inlaid in the eyes. Anton agreed to this, and Mama Waasi opened a portal which Anton stepped into.
Meanwhile in the Mushtarak desert, Ari was awakened by a sudden burst of magic. She felt the presence of the Blooming Maiden, as well as that of another unfamiliar fey. A green portal appeared in front of her through which Anton stepped. The party was happy to see Anton again, though there was brief tension between he and Captain Meral. After defusing the situation, the party who had by this point been fully roused from their sleep continued traveling to El-Azahdron, approaching its gates by dawn.

Trouble at the Palace

As the party arrived at the gates of the massive, sprawling city of El-Azahdron they found a number of Amber Watch guards and a carriage awaiting them. A man wearing ornate robes introduced himself as Beiram Torabi, High Priest of Pashet and advisor to the Autarch. He bid the party travel with him to the Palace of the Oracle and offered the carriage as an escort through the city.
In the palace, Torabi revealed to the party that an attack had been made against the Autarch two nights before. Assassins had snuck into the palace and used dark magic to conjure a beast. It had attacked the autarch Murad II Rumiyyad who was nearly killed and currently in a coma; the princess Rashida was missing and presumed kidnapped. Currently, Murad's heir Prince Kyrian was serving as autarch. Torabi had ordered the palace sealed off until the party's arrival, knowing of Elria's reputation as a healer and adventurer and not knowing who within the city to trust. As an unbiased group, Torabi asked the party to investigate the scene and do what they could to save the Autarch.

Investigating the Scene

The party began investigating the scene of the attack. In Rashida's room they found the window to be smashed open, and the body of a maidservant lying on the ground with her throat slit. Ra'zon noticed large, bestial footprints leading out of the bedroom out into the hall. The party followed these prints into Murad's bedchambers, the windows of which were also shattered. There they were greeted with a grisly sight, finding the remains of a number of individuals torn to pieces and scattered throughout the room. Through inspection it appeared to be at least two Amber Watch soldiers as well as two women who Jameson presumed were bed guests of the Autarch. The Autarch himself was lying in bed with long, deep wounds raked across his chest. Elria began to address the Autarch's condition while the party questioned Torabi and Kyrian.
Kyrian proved to be a weak-willed and nervous young man, the younger brother of Rashida. He had heard the attack happening but hid in his room to avoid being killed. Through him the party learned that Rashida had been furious and slighted at being passed over as heir in favor of Kyrian. The party asked Torabi if it was possible that the princess herself was responsible for the attack. Torabi said he hoped not, but she had fallen in with a radical sect of the Cult of Solkath and it was possible her anger could have led her to do terrible things. He suggested they ask at Solkath's temple in the Circle of the Holy.
The party traveled to the temple of Solkath where they attempted to speak to the high priest Shaheer al-Taab. While initially hesitant to speak about things, Anton eventually proved persuasive enough to convince him to divulge that in recent months a radical sect of the cult had been growing in popularity. The high priest would not speak more about matters but told them to return after dark when they could discuss things in private.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Private Investigators"

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Previous Chapter: Doctors, Dungeons, and Dead People

Next Chapter: How to Win Friends and Influence Wizards

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Ingame Date: 30^th of Rainseed-1^st of Summerdawn, 1855
Real-Life Date: June 12, 2021
Protagonists:

• Anton von Rheintach
• Elria Sylvistra
• Jameson Harper
• Ra'zon

Featured NPCs:

• Ide Onobonjo
• Mama Waasi
• Khairiya Meral
• Beiram Torabi
• Kyrian Rumiyyad
• Shaheer al-Taab

Locations:

• Crimsonhold
• Mushtarak Desert
• El-Azahdron