Game 5 - Barroom Blitz

General Summary

Starting the day in The CrossRoads the group did a few town chores before starting the day to include buying rations, new armor, a leatherworking kit, poison, and milling about town looking for rumors. As they completed personal business the group sent a few to review the job board in town and found three active jobs.

• Investigate odd lights seen by a caravan in the night that caused a disappearance - 15GP
• Emonvale Lord requested a group to clear out a dam that had been over run by white gnoles - 500GP, Magic item of value
• Port Town Lord requested a group to investigate recent disappearances -150GP, 50GP bonus possible

After a quick conversation the group decided to head to Port Town via the barges that traveled up and down the small river from The CrossRoads. Paying ahead for their horses to stay two extra days the group secured passage for five silver each and were able to make it to Port Town by mid day, a four hour journey.
Arriving in the large town they found that a significant amount of trade was taking place with as many as thirty masted ships in port or just arriving/leaving. The group was able to see that a significant amount of the cargo was weapons, armor, and provisions. The guards in the area seemed well trained and watchful although there were still vagrants and pick pockets about. The group was able to get direction to the jobs boards and quickly made their way there.
Arriving and finding the job was posted in Port Town as well they went to the Magister to record the job but found another group (two humans, an elf, and a hooded individual with scales and tail) were arguing with Magister Mark Tillean already. Apparently believing they had technically completed the job that would allow them a bonus the Magister was unwilling to pay. After some argument he eventually gave in and provided the group the additional 250gp.
After a brief conversation about the previous group as well as the job its self they were informed that the disappearances were primarily on the south side of town and that squire James Riga who is in charge of the area would be able to provide more information. Leaving the group decided to head to him first and soon found themselves in the rundown southern part of Port Town.
Arriving at the barracks the Squire was excited to see them although his mood soured as he gave them the information. Apparently feeling less and less confident as the questions poured in about the groups ability to find the killer or killers. Eventually having felt they got the information they needed they requested to talk with one of the subjects a young man named Pradsen Vanderdoss who was with one of the victims the night she either killed herself or was murdered. Apparently arrested soon after the event as Pradsen Vanderdoss was of low station and the parents of the woman killed were from a wealthy family that did not wish to have their name marred by suicide.
Arriving at the cell the group questioned Pradsen and determined that he was likely not the killer although felt they would be best served to check up on his story. Having told them that he had visited the young woman at the Guilded Drake. At this point a series of comical yet ultimately lethal misunderstandings took place. Wherein a few members of the group, not fully understanding the situation believed that the suicide or possible murder had taken place IN the Guilded Drake. As a result they opened the conversation with the Drakes owner with the following:

We are here to inquire about the death that took place recently. If you can't remember when it was, I guess this is the kind of place murder happens a lot at, eh?

The conversation devolved quickly from there. As a group of sailors stood up as their barkeep was becoming agitated The Heros quickly attempted to change tactics by sliding over the total sum of 2 gold pieces. Apparently unimpressed but willing to take the money the barkeep informed the group that they were trespassing and should leave immediately. Pax Uhtredson feeling like he had just rightfully paid for a room informed the business owner that he would in fact be going upstairs.
Running into the group of sailors which had grown from a group of six to more than a dozen they blocked his way and informed him he should leave. When he refused and attempted to push through a bit of banter back wherein hygiene and sexual orientation where quickly discussed devolved the entire situation further and the sailors began throwing punches. Not one to stand still while being punched by fifteen men Pax Uhtredson quickly followed his group out the door while dropping a pile of coins at his feet at which point Arliden Ruh having apprised the situation felt that de-escalation of hostilities by use of superior force was the best diplomatic approach and cast Thunderwave resulting in three individuals bleeding out, Objects being tossed (including Venali Roseshade and Pax Uhtredson) violently, and an unknown number of broken windows in the surrounding businesses and residences.
Momentarily shocked by the display the heroes and sailors spent a few seconds deciding on what to do. With silver to burn two members of The Heros decided to nimbly toss a handfull of coins each into the crowded and confused sailors. Then with a shout from inside the remainder of the bar patrons apparently decided the tone for the evening was already set. The remaining revelers erupted into a fully chaotic barfight. Bottles of booze stolen, table legs used as clubs, and even the piano ended up a casualty as they scrambled for coin, the exit, and each other. The group where able to stabilize two of the three heavily wounded individuals with healing spells before rushing from the doorway.
Breaking into a run the group only made it a few steps before deciding that the best course of action would be to leverage the power granted by their contract and quickly be the first to talk to the guards setting the tone of events in their favor. Quickly concocting a story about how they were accosted when they started investigating the recent disappearances the first officials to arrive bought the story despite still leveling a 25gp fine on the group for disturbing the peace.
Realizing that the bartender/owner had cooperated with their lie and feeling it the right thing to do Asher walked in and with little words deposited a sack of over 50gp on the bar floor and left.
Regrouping and discussing the miscommunication between themselves they quickly realized where the night went wrong and decided they were better off spending the night unwinding before picking the investigation back up in the morning. Finding a nice Inn near the docks named the Pearled Reef. While talking Arliden Ruh realized they had been followed for most of the day as she spotted the face of an individual that had been hanging around the job board when they had arrived at the city earlier that day.
Deciding to confront him the group devised a plan and left the Inn. As the man left to follow them Pax Uhtredson who was hiding in the shadows instead tailed the individual. As the group made its way down an ally they turned to confront their stalker and un-phased he quickly went into negotiations with the group.
Identifying himself as Jeroth Calembine a collector of antiquities and historical documents he told the group that he had been waiting to see who would be given the job they were now on. He had followed them to see what type of people they were and the display at the bar made him decide they were the "frontal assault" type and that he could help them find the cause of the recent murders in exchange for them returning with a map that would be in the same area.
After discussing the particulars of the map the group decided they were not particularly cut out for "investigation" work and took him up on the offer. He explained that the murders were due to a cult that was in the area that had obtained the map he was looking for. Apparently, some time in the distant past they had utilized a summoning or other type spell and it ended up going poorly and they were now primarily, or wholly undead of some sort or other. Concerned about having not fought the undead before Jeroth assured Asher that there was a temple to Oolia in the area and he could likely get consecrated water too help them if needed.
Agreeing to the deal the Jeroth offered to buy dinner and returning to the Pearled Reef they were treated to an expensive meal and told the location of the cultists old compound.

GM Notes

• Horses left at The CrossRoads on the 21st with two days worth of boarding paid for.
• 25GP fine levied too the group via the guards. Fine in possession of Asher.
• Two total sailors killed. One by the spell, one due to wounds from the barfight.
• Akvardian completed two scries and was able to determine the location of the First Luminus .

Rewards Granted

None.

Missions/Quests Completed

None.

Character(s) interacted with

• As part of investigation
  • Squire James Riga
  • Pradsen Vanderdoss
  • Paradax
  • Bardeth Helm
  • Jeroth Calembine 

Related Reports

Game 4 - Gold and Gobins

Report Date

03 Jan 2021

Primary Location

Port Town

Secondary Location

The CrossRoads