Shadows in the Harbor Session 36
General Summary
Hit 'em Where It Hurts
After breakfast, Keck and Damakos discussed their next steps. They knew that it was still a few days until the ship set to depart with "roses" - code for the Warforged that the South Wind Trading Company transported around the kingdom - and they needed to be useful in the meantime. They hatched a strategy and they needed to buy-in from Viscount Silverbane, so they headed over to Hardingham Keep to get it. First they stopped at the dungeon. The guard appeared to recognize them but they couldn't be sure. They convinced him to take them to Matilde Carson. He complied, proclaiming that he was a good guard. As he opened the door, they noticed a fresh bruise on Matilde's face with her cowering in the corner. The guard looked proud of himself. Keck and Tim the Not-so-Tiny scowled at the guard but said nothing. They entered with the door closing behind them. They could hear a click! behind them. They let out a collective sigh knowing that the idiot guard had locked them in. The party asked Matilde if she wanted to die or if she wanted a chance at redemption. She leaped at the offer, telling them that she would be willing to help. They asked her if she'd be willing to help them some more and told her that they'd need her skills in the future. She fervently agreed and told them that she would prove her worth. That was enough for them. They figured out their way out and left the dungeon with Matilde in tow. Walking through the hallway, they encountered one of the same servants that had been posessed by the one who identified himself as "The King in the Darkness." A slighly older woman, she cringed in embarassment at seeing them; she still remembered the horrifying feeling of being controlled by such a malevolent force. The servant was carrying a tray of mostly finished food from the Viscount's office. Keck recognized her and stopped her, inquiring as to her condition from the day before. Keck asked her name, to which she replied with "Harriet Blackwood." Harriet confided that she had awful dreams that night, a dark room surrounded by glowing red eyes. In the center there was a single, severed hand. And then she woke up. She remembered feeling nothing but terror the entire time. Keck figured there might be some kind of psychic link between her and the King in the Darkness. She clutched at her blouse and continued with her duties; Keck expressed his concern and asked her to keep them informed if there were any other dreams or visions. The party entered the Viscount's office. He was still eating some bread when he looked up and asked what they needed. He reminded them that Zelda Bens in Arrowport needed to be disposed of. Keck and Damakos suggested that while they wait for the ship that they continue their efforts at bringing down the South Wind. They informed the Viscount that they wanted to enlist the help of the Merchant's Guild, but he told the party that they had been run out of the city years before when the South Wind took over. They also told him that they'd like to enlist the help of Matilde Carson and that they were seeking a pardon for her. She was adamant that she would be a productive member of society and would do everything she could to redeem herself in the eyes of the people of Castleport. The Viscount thought about it, taking into consideration her assistance the day before with the Warforged by the docks. He agreed to the plan. The party further secured the protection Castleport's small fleet, but with the caveat that they could only go so far west as Middlerich and as far northeast as Navania. After all, pirates from Garby Haven still hunted in the waters south of Oduth. The party planned to head to Fairshield and enlist the help of the local Merchant's Guild along with some of the smaller mercantile groups in town to forcibly remove the South Wind. They were light on details, but planned to start at the top: the local manager, Voren Thorne. Matilde cautioned them to be wary of Elara Vex, who she characterized as an enforcer for the guild. She was unclear of her methods or her exact role, but highlighted that dead bodies tend to show up wherever she goes; sometimes competition, sometimes other South Wind. She was ruthless, cunning, and efficient. With their short-term plan in place, the party heads to Fairshield to hit the South Wind where it hurts – their pockets.Character(s) interacted with
Harriet Blackwood
Report Date
01 Nov 2024
Primary Location
Related Characters
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