Session Nine: A Change of Plans
General Summary
- 1 of Han -
"You're free to go," he said, "You can do as you wish as deputies under Serra Hyne. In the meantime I'm declaring martial law and securing the town. I'll send troops to the perimeters and also to Flandal Steelskin's workshop. In the meantime Wolne is under arrest and I'm going to go talk with Captain Alvert."
The party was brought to a central paperwork room. The cadets moved in with Wolne and Alabaster and Yarrow tied the Corvum to a chair. Cyrus and Alabaster then moved around the room and started to search the paperwork there for information. In the paperwork Alabaster found documents signed by Captain Alvert. They were items that were being imported and brought to the Overhang. The caravans cleared to pass were said to carry ore and metals for forging. However the caravans were cleared to cross the bridges, which have a certain weight capacity until they risk breaking, even though if they were carrying supplies of that nature they would need to be taken and redistributed. Cyrus finsihed what he was doing and went through Wolne's belongings. Wolne had some papers regarding his duties as a guard as well as a ring that had a faint magical aura around it. Cyrus reached for the ring, which cause Wolne to pull back, but Cyrus pulled the ring off causing a small spark of arcane energy. The veins in Wolne's arm pulsed and some force created a sharp but distinct magical pain in his head. If he hadn't been unscathed from the fight before then it may have killed him. Aldous looked at the ring and inspected it. On the inside of it was the mark of Kren, the Sly. The ring marked the wearer as being loyal to a certain person. If the wearer attunes to it then when they reach 0 hit points they die immediately. If they try to take off the ring then it deals 5d10 psychic damage to them and if they drop to 0 hit points from this strike they also die immediately. Yarrow sat with Wolne and asked him a few questions which the ex-captain either didn't answer with straight-forward responses or refused to answer at all. Aldous moved behind him and began to cast Detect Thoughts.
Yarrow saddled up in front of Wolne and grabbed out his knitting supplies. He then smiled and asked the ex-captain, "What's your favourite colour at least?" The Corvum smiled and rolled his eyes. "Blue" Wolne said. Alabaster finished with his investigation and moved over to glare at Wolne. "Says a lot about you." The bard tightened his glare at the Corvum. Yarrow continued to knit with a blue yarn, hastily making something while smirking. Aldous focused his magic on Wolne and began to read his surface thoughts. 'I'm going to die. I'm going to die to Alucard's son which I still can't believe he's alive. Also I don't know how I'm going to serve him in this state and I don't have my ring on so he'd just kill me anyway.' Aldous got a little closer to Wolne. "What are your intentions in Brackenmill?" The ex-captain tried to look as indifferent as possible and no sound came from his beak. However his thoughts continued to betray him. 'We need those weapons for the larger plot to work. These fools are already involved, eh, they better not get in our way.' "Who do you answer to?" Aldous asked moving the questions along. Wolne looked a bit contemplative. 'Answer to is such a crass term, I don't really answer to him do I? I mean I guess I kind of do but we all wear the same ring, even him. Even if he is the most powerful of us.' "What are the whereabouts of Serra Hyne?" Aldous edged a little closer still. Wolne looked at Yarrow and Alabaster and smiled. 'She's been dead for a day. These fools are looking for dead people. They don't know what we're capable of. Why is this Corvum sitting behind me, is it some kind of intimidation tactic? It won't work.' "What is that gem that was around your neck?" Yarrow asked looking up from his knitting. Aldous looked to Yarrow from behind Wolne and gave a slight nod. Wolne looked confused at the Tola, raising one eyebrow. 'Why does he want to know about that? Also what is the gem? Better question is who is the gem?' [color:#444444]Wolne snickered to himself.[/color] Alabaster reached for the gems he had and felt them. "What are your intentions with Emma" Aldous asked sharply changing the subject. 'The cadet? oh right, he's worried about his niece. How commonplace. Alvert was right about targeting her th-' "When is the bandit coalition attacking?" Aldous cut off Wolne's thoughts. Wolne narrowed his eyes behind him as best he could and then looked to Yarrow with intrigue. 'Well it's supposed to be tomorrow but it will probably be sooner now since the plan has gone to shit. I haven't answered any of their questions yet so why do they keep asking. And what is that Tola doing?' "How'd you know my dad" Alabaster asked in a rage. Wolne smiled, "We used to be friends." "Some friend..." Alabaster said glaring at the Corvum. Wolne shrugged. 'We were friends once...' "Who are the members of your conspiracy?" Aldous asked bringing the conversation back. In Wolne's mind Aldous could see flashes of Alvert, some of Alvert's guards, some of Wolne's guards, a series of nameless bandits, and then Serra Hyne. Wolne stopped and thought more. 'I suppose Serra Hyne but she's more of a tool than anything else. Well was a tool.' "How do we get you to do what we want?" Yarrow asked looking to Wolne with a head tilt. "I'm bound to a chair I don't know what you want from me?" Wolne said with a scoff. 'They just want information from me and he's got some kind of weird magic, he'll probably just enchant me to make me do what he wants anyway.' Aldous inched closer to Wolne gripping his walking stick. "what do you know about the great Calamity?" Wolne looked confused and startled: "What, the fire?" 'I don't know much of anything about the fire. All I know is that we're trying to catch ember beasts for use in battle but not much beyond that. Does he think we caused the Great Calamity?' Detect thoughts ended and Aldous stood up and grabbed his walking stick. He walked past Wolne and bopped him on the beak. "Thank you Captain you've been very useful," Aldous looked to the rest of the party, "Serra Hyne is dead. The bandits will attack soon. We should make preparations and discuss what to do next." Wolne looked Aldous up and down. "Ah, That's why he wanted to kill you so bad, that makes sense." Wolne said with a smile. Yarrow held up his project, a blue noose knit together hastily. "That's you soon" Cyrus pointed at the noose and smiled. "Now are you going to kill me?" Wolne asked rolling his eyes. Yarrow puffed up. "I'm hoping they go with my initiative to put prisoners to work on the farms so the civilians aren't attacked by mutant wolves." Everyone looked at Yarrow with different expressions. "That isn't going to happen." Everyone said looking at the Tola.
The party exited the barracks and made their way to see Flandal Steelskin. The Perch Guard were spread out across The main quest here is dealing with the Bandits plan to steal cursed items from a craftsman." href="/w/mardlo-arias-nuactna/a/brackenmill-article">Brackenmill guarding the perimeter. Many Perch Guard were running around the Temple of Hanera The Provider. Most civilians were out of sight and they could see guards leading people back to their homes for the rest of the day. At Flandal's workshop they could hear shouting from inside. It was Captain Uyncis yelling at Flandal that he needed to secure the shop and the weapons under martial law. Flandal just kept repeating that they needed to get out of his shop and had his workers form a militia line to blockade the guards. The party entered in and tried to get Flandal's attention. After a few failed attempts and on the cusp of a fight breaking out Cyrus held up his dagger and claimed that he had removed the curse to Flandal and that if he surrendered they could talk. Flandal began to listen and the party suggested to Uyncis to create a perimeter around the workshop but let Flandal and his workers keep working inside. Uyncis agreed and Flandal made his way to the party. The Mapach came over only to be met with insults from Alabaster. Flandal ignored him and inquired about the dagger. Cyrus demanded that they talk with him in private. Flandal, a bit agitated, used his gauntlets and fired a lightning bolt into one of the office doors. Then bounced across the workshop to a different one. The group were brought into the same office as before with the weapons. Flandal said that he'd only gotten about a dozen and hadn't been able to make any himself since Odwald left him very clearly bad instructions. The group told him to stop production for now since the bandits wanted these cursed weapons. Flandal agreed and said he would barricade his shop. Yarrow mentioned the mutant wolves peaking Flandal's interest before the group brought them back into focus. Alabaster and Aldous asked who was paying for these weapons and where money/materials were coming from. Flandal told them he was being paid by the Perch Guard as well as Carlos Slim, a major merchant in town. The group thanked him and began to head to the Skymall.
Alabaster, Cyrus, and Yarrow entered the apothecary while Aldous stayed outside and started his ritual casting of Detect Thoughts. Algas was helping some customers wrap up their purchases and saw the group come in. He saw the group and said that according to the guards he was supposed to close down. Yarrow chimed in that they were with the guards and started explaining what had happened with Serra Hyne and the bandits. Algas became a bit intimidated by the sudden wealth of knowledge and his own involvements in the plot being brought to light. Alabaster asked him if he knew anything and if he had any potions to help them. Algas told them that Serra Hyne had shared with him the location of the Bandit Camp outside of town. Algas took some time with the party and explained how to get there and the general location according to Serra Hyne. Then looking through his wares he said that he did have some potions but that he would have to charge them for them. The party tried to persuade him but to no avail. Aldous finished his casting and walked into the apothecary. He instantly became aware of the location and nature of poisons nearby.
Homebrew, Unearthed Arcana
Young Wyvern Poison (Injury Venom)
Poison A creature subjected to this poison must make a Saving Throw, DC: 15 Constitution saving throw, taking 18 5d6 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Rare
Slightly more potent than serpent venom, but not quite as deadly as purple worm poison, wyvern poison is the mid-range vehicle of death for assassins with extremely high-priority or powerful targets. It is kept regulated for the creation of antivenom, especially in regions where wyverns are more common. Acquisition: This poison must be harvested from a dead or incapacitated wyvern. It requires no further preparation.
Cost: Market Value: 800gp
Brawler's Bourbon (Contact Aquatoxin)
Poison A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a Constitution saving throw, Saving Throw DC: 12, or be poisoned for 1 minute. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the creature is also unconscious while poisoned in this way. The creature wakes up if it takes damage or if another creature takes an action to shake it awake. Uncommon
Brawler's bourbon is a favorite among fighters that don't mind cheating. It looks, tastes, and smells like regular bourbon whiskey, but actually contains a rather potent poison. It has a unique property: ingesting a dose of the poison gives immunity to its effects for 24 hours. Clever cheats will typically take a swig before a fight and accidentally spill some on their hands, delivering a dose with a swift punch to exposed skin. It does not wash off with water. Acquisition: Brawler's bourbon is made from a narcotic plant that resembles black corn, but grows low to the ground and only in the underdark. The kernels are ground to a pulp and mixed into a liquid, typically bourbon.
Cost: 100gp
Mother's Mercy (Ingested)
Poison Saving Throw DC: 13 Effect: A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a Constitution saving throw, becoming poisoned on a failed save, and must repeat the saving throw at the start of each of its turns. While poisoned in this way, the creature's Constitution score decreases by 2. On each successive failed save, the creature's Constitution score is further reduced by 1. If a creature's Constitution score is reduced to 0 in this way, it dies. After two successful saves, the poison ends and the creature's Constitution score is restored. Varies
This toxin looks like, tastes like, and has the texture of cow's milk. Those affected by the toxin slowly lose all bodily strength until they are left unconscious, eventually dying peacefully and without pain.
Cost: 600gp
Dust of the Desert Winds (Inhaled)
Poison Saving Throw DC: 11 Effect: A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take 3 (1d6) poison damage, and must repeat the saving throw at the start of each of its turns. On each successive failed save, the creature takes 2 (1d4) poison damage. After five successful saves, the poison ends. If the creature spends its action consuming a liquid, it automatically succeeds the saving throw for that turn. This effect ignores a creature's immunity to poison and poison damage, but cannot affect a creature with no natural bodily moisture (such as a Skeleton or an Iron Golem). Varies
This powder has uses as a desiccant when properly packaged and used in small quantities. However, it is also the favored poison of assassins that dwell in the harsher climates of the world. The toxin begins immediately leaching all of the moisture from a victim’s body after it has entered through the mucous membranes. Once dead, the victim is little more than a desiccated husk. Acquisition: Beneath the desert sands grows a fungus that draws moisture from its surroundings. The spores of this fungus can be gathered and stored for later use as a poison.
Cost: 150gp
The party made their way over to North Tree to quickly locate Alvert. Yarrow wild shaped into a white stag with long antlers and the party held onto him as he made his way to North Tree. Upon arriving on the perch the party saw Captain Baldwin's troops rounding up some of Alvert's troops. The guard being arrested were on their knees in the square. Yarrow went to the Alvert's troops and looked around. Alabaster, Cyrus, and Aldous all got off the stag and walked over to Captain Baldwin. Yarrow noticed a couple of them looked scared and remorseful. He trotted to over to them and locked eyes with a Tola in the group and began to smash his hooves to speak in Tola. Yarrow said that he was disappointed in them and that they needed to change their ways. The Tola looked surprised and tapped out that he would love to get the opportunity but he was most likely going to be executed. Yarrow returned that he and his companions should ask to work in the fields to work off their debts and crimes. The Tola nodded and said that he'd try but that he wasn't sure that it would work. Yarrow glared and backed away to his group. Alabaster went to Captain Baldwin and asked him what was happening. Baldwin explained that Alvert's troops attacked and that Alvert was nowhere to be found. Alabaster shared what the party learned from Flandal and Algas. He also explained that they wanted to bring the fight to the bandits and that they wanted support to do so. Baldwin agreed and said that he could part with four guards, or one unit, but otherwise he was going to keep Brackenmill safe. The party agreed and said that they'd head out first thing in the morning.
Once the party reach the Temple of Hanera they were met with a sight of chaos. Priests and guards were still busily moving around. Alabaster asked what was happening. One of the guards told him that the head priest had been kidnapped. He had been stabbed by a Tola woman who pushed him out of the building and then the two disappeared. The group was concerned but decided to rest anyway. Yarrow began to help the priests with their duties. Cyrus went to the ceiling and played his mysterious song from his parchment again, this time charging it with a 1st level spell slot. Playing what he knew with the added benefit of his magic garnered different results. The magic created a fog in the temple and people around started to become overwhelmed with a sense of dread and fear. Alabaster accosted Cyrus for casting random spells at a time like this and shot an arrow at him trying to get him to come down. The two chatted for a while while Yarrow continued to help. Eventually the group slept for the night. Yarrow barred himself in a corner and laid a snaring trap in case people attacked in the night. The two performers slept in their usual spots seemingly unphased by the days events. Meanwhile Aldous snuck off out of the temple unable to sleep.
Report Date
11 Mar 2020
Primary Location
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