Revelations

 

January 19, 2011

 

Again, the group thinks about what it has to do.  It's the next morning and they have found some new friends.  Ander was at Candlekeep and so many knew him from there.  He didn't say why he was in town but was willing to help the group.  Same for Inari although it's less clear why she was in town.  If Vahn wants to keep his boots, he needs to make the delivery to Berdusk in the next five days.  Also, that night, Vahn's sword came to him in a dream and told him that it wants Vahn to go after the elves that tried to claim the sword a while ago.  The sword has found them corrupted and wants them to be turned back to the light.  If that's not possible, they must be destroyed.  In getting back to town, they find out the thieves guild has been very aggressive in setting up protection schemes and they aren't happy about that.  Further, they hear a rumor that the thieves guild have sent envoys to Darkhold to ask about their influence in town.  

 

This motivates the group to go after Avenel.  They want him gone and decide to go after him.  They go to the house and scope it out.  It's one of the few walled houses in town, with an eight foot brick wall around it.  The house itself is a single story.  There is also a guest house and stable as well as a garden in the walled area.  Inari can tell there are guard dogs but thinks she could keep them busy.  There are also two guards visible from the front gate at the door to the main house.  

 

The group talks about it for a bit and then comes up with a plan of distraction and infiltration.  So, Ander goes up to the front gate and starts making noise to get their attention.  When one of them finally comes close, Ander says he is the horticulturist and that he is here to help with the plants.  The guard doesn't know anything about it and Ander tells him to check with the master of the house, then.  The guard seems nervous about that and instead decides its better to let Ander in and keep an eye on him.  The guard pulls out his ward token and lets Ander into the yard.  Ander insists on the other guards help as well as they are going to be digging up a plant and changing things around.  

 

As this is happening, Inari manages to get the dogs attention with and get them to the side opposite where the rest of the group is going over.  Bamarden looks at the rest of the wall and can sense there are magical wards in place that will need to be dealt with.  Teldryl has made mental contact to everyone, except Bell, and so the group can keep in contact as they move around.  Bamarden and Teldryl start working on taking down the wards.  Realizing that the ward token could be easier, Ander tells the one guard that he needs to strip and leave his pouches so that he doesn't smell as the plant in question will make him smell if it gets on his clothes.  With the clothes off, he is able to get the ward token.  Inari then riles up the dogs and the guards go check it out right away, keeping a vague eye on Ander.  Ander uses this moment to use the ward token to drop the ward.  It won't stay down forever but for long enough for the group to get in.  

 

Bamarden was not having luck with the ward.  He kept remembering things a bit too late but fortunately, hadn't ruined the chance he had to bring the ward down.  He moved onto a different area and was worried about what he did, when the ward went down.  He had done it!  And Ander never told him otherwise.  The main group then moves in, checking the stables and guest house.  They make sure no one can follow them from those and then head to the side door of the main house.  

 

The door is obviously magically warded but Vahn moves up with his tools and manages to remove the magical ward on it with Teldryl's help.  Then he moves onto the lock but it resists his attempt to open it!  Through the connection, knowing that he needs some help, Ander manages to slide over while telling the guards he is checking out the other plants and gives Vahn some magical dust that will help him open the lock.  Using this, Vahn is able to unlock the door as Ander goes back to the guards.  

 

The group enters the house to find themselves in the kitchen and servant area.  They move through it mostly quickly, but Bamarden really wants to take something.  He resists.  They move through the house and find themselves in the foyer.  From there, they go to the office where Vahn knew about when he infiltrated in disguise and they hear voices on the other side of it.  Wanting to make an entrance, Darksouls barges into the room.  

 

There are two people, Avenel and another person sitting with his back to Darksouls, in the room.  Darksouls wants to speak to Avenel and now.  

 

"Of course, my good bard, you just had to ask."  Avenel looks past him into the hallway and sees some of the others.  "Please, come in.  Is Vahn among you?  Ah, Teldryl, nice to finally meet you.  Bamarden, are you going to join us?"

 

"No," replies Bamarden, "I'm fine out here."  

 

"As you wish.  Now, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?"  

 

"Who is this?" asks Darksouls, voice booming with power and pointing at the other man.  

 

"A potential business client."  

 

"Does he have a name?"  

 

"Yes, but I don't want to igive it out if he doesn't want it known."  

 

"You just gave him all of our names.  Why not tell us his?"

 

"Ah, yes, my friend by then he was invited and you were not.  You lost a bit of hospitality in that.  He hasn't."  

 

"No, Avenel, that's fine.  My name is Baeric," says the seated man.  He finally turns and sees the group.  He dismisses them with his eyes, although he lingers a bit on Vahn, before seeing Bamarden.  "Oo, I like the look of that one.  Come here."  

 

Bamarden could feel the compulsion and power in the tone of Baeric's voice but it didn't affect him.  Baeric tries again and again Bamarden is able to resist going.  So, Baeric is suddenly standing and in the hall talking to Bamarden.  That's when it's obvious to all that Baeric is a vampire and is very interested in how Bamarden tastes.  

 

In the meantime, Darksouls and Vahn are talking to Avenel.  

 

"We want you to end the guild.  Or at least your part in it."  

 

"Well, I can't end the guild as it's not mine to end.  And I like my part in it," replies Avenel.  He turns to Vahn.  "You killed Trey, so why not take his place?  I could use a good person such as yourself."  

 

"We didn't kill Trey and no."  

 

"You didn't?" asks Avenel, confusion and disbelief on his face.  

 

"We were there when he died but we didn't kill him."  

 

"Ah.  In any case, why not join me?"  

 

"No.  And you still need to stop.  And who is your boss?"  

 

Avenel looks as if he isn't going to answer but finally speaks up.  "Thessa is the one who started and runs the guild.  And she only operating in this town.  She has guilds in many towns of the heartlands, from Iriaebor to Elturel and many in between.  If you want the guild to stop, you need to talk to her."  

 

Baeric walks back into the room.  As he passes Bell, he tells her a message for her master and then stands back by Avenel, who had taken up a defensive position on the wall.  Teldryl asks Baeric who is his and he is doing there but stops when she realizes that Baeric is watching to see how Avenel is going to handle this.  She also realized that if she pushed Baeric too much, he might help Avenel and knowing what he was, didn't want Avenel to have an ally if it came to blows.  So, she leaves Baeric alone and they go back to questioning Avenel.  

 

"We want a meeting with Thessa," Vah is saying to Avenel.  "Set it up so we can talk her out of this guild."  

 

"I can't guarantee anything.  I work for her, not the other way around.  I will do what I can."  Avenel seems amused by it all.  

 

"It had better happen or we will be back," snarls Darksouls at Avenel.  Then the group takes their leave.  Bamarden has to take something, so grabs whatever he finds in the foyer on the way out to take it.  Bamarden then calls to Ander, who is trying to keep his own disguise in place.  Ander had the guards finished digging up some plants and moving them around during this time.  Inari had gone back to the gate in case she needed to get inside quickly.  Ander takes one of the dug up shrubs with him, thanks the guards, and then leaves.  

 

As they are headed back. Bell says she needs to go someplace but will catch up with them.  They all say okay but Vahn follows her.  She goes to a modest house and Vahn goes to a window and spies as she talks to a human male inside.  

 

"Hello, master," Bell says, all but going down to her knees in front of the man.  "I met Baeric and he says that he wants the deal to continue as you discussed.  He says he has arranged payment through the usual channels and you should see it soon."  

 

"Oh, very well.  That's fine.  Thank you, Bell.  Now, how is it going with Vahn and the others."  

 

"Why don't we ask him," and so saying, Bell turns and looks out the window at Vahn.  Vahn curses, not realizing he had been noticed.  

 

"Ah," says the man, "Why don't you come around and join us?"  

 

Vahn does and is quite unhappy at being caught.  

 

Once Vahn is inside, Bell speaks.  

 

"Vahn, this is my master, Vax.  Vax, this is Vahn."  

 

"A pleasure to meet you, Vahn.  Bell speak highly of you.  How are things going with your plans?"  

 

"They are going fine," Vahn replies, looking at Bell as he says this.  "What is your role in all of this?"  

 

"I want to help you.  I don't like the thieves guild or some of the others any better than you and would see them gone."  

 

"What's in it for you?"  

 

"A void I might fill."  

 

"So, you want what they have?"  

 

"Not really.  I wouldn't do anything so organized as what Thessa has done.  But, something like that."  

 

"Why should I trust you?"  

 

"Well, let me tell you something that you might not know.  Thessa replaced Lady Ambermantle a while ago and is effectively the ruler of Scornubel.  Now, she can't do as she wants, not yet, that is too much and too fast.  But she is now where she wants to be to weaken the Red Cloaks and make it even easier for her guild to take root here.  I think Scornubel was the hardest of the towns for her to infiltrate, which is why she is taking a personal hand in it.  So, be careful around her."  

 

Vahn isn't sure what to think of this news.  They had used the papers received from the assistant to Lady Ambermantle to make what they did at Avenel's legal.  It wasn't in the spirit of those orders, as they have probably expired, but they don't say that on them.  If this is correct, when was she replaced?  Did they get the orders before or after she was replaced?  Is that why Avenel was so calm when they confronted him?  But then, how can Vahn trust this news?  

 

"What if we decide to take you out?"

 

"That would be difficult."  Vax's form wavers and instead of a human male, now an eight foot diameter armored sphere, with eyestalks coming out the top and a big central eye over a large mouth is in front of him.  Vahn can only stare, slack jawed at the beholder.  

 

"You could try," says Vax, in a much lower, gravelly voice.  "But I wouldn't recommend it."  Vax then shimmers and once again looks human.  He turns toward Bell.  "You may tell him what you need to."  He turns back to Vahn.  "I really do want to help.  I hope you will let me do so by letting Bell stay with you.  The choice is yours."  

 

Bell bows to her master and then grabs Vahn and takes him out of the house.  Once they are walking back to their building, Vahn pulls his arm back from her, not wanting to touch her.  

 

"Do you want me to move out?"  

 

"Of my room, fuck yes."

 

"Do you want me to leave the group?"  A tear forms in Bell's eye but she hides it from Vahn.  

 

"I don't know.  Why the fuck are you with that thing?"  

 

"It was simple, really.  He's a slaver to the underdark.  I gather there is an entrance close by here and he set up shop.  I was captured and going to be a slave when Vax noticed me.  He said I had potential and didn't sell me into slavery.  Given what I had heard happens to slaves where they were going, I was happy for it!  And when my choice became to work for him of my own free will or be a slave, well I chose to work for him!  I'm not proud of supporting what he does but I won't be a slave."  

 

"We will see what happens."  

 

Vahn and Bell get back to the building and he explains what happens.  The rest of the group is shocked about all of his revelations, from the beholder, to Lady Ambermantle and Bell.  They talk about it and agree to let Bell stay and she moves her stuff to the main floor, out of Vahn's rooms on the third floor.  The group then talks tactics a bit before trying to get some rest before the meeting tomorrow with Thessa.  

 

Avenel is already at the meeting place with a woman when they get there.  He introduces her as Thessa.  The talk goes about it did before.  Thessa doesn't seem to take the group seriously and will not back down.  They aren't sure what to do, and are talking to each other via their minds thanks to Teldryl, when Darksouls says they should attack.  He argues that this would be the best time they have to take out two highly placed people in the guild.  So, the group attacks.  

 

In a lucky combination of magic, martial and psychic attack, the group manages to daze Thessa.  Thessa can't think clearly and pretty much goes into a defensive stance as best she can.  This allows the group to focus on Avenel.  That proves to be much harder than they thought.  Avenel moves about the room, attacking people as he passes them and never staying in one place.  Avenel puts up a good fight and probably would have won against only two or three of them but against five of them, with a few keeping Thessa occupied, Avenel can't manage it.  

 

However, the true turning point is when Thessa is no longer dazed.  She looks around at what is happening and says to Avenel, "I am sick of what you have cost me and what you are doing.  I think it's time to get rid of you."  So saying that, she attacks Avenel with a spell that reduces his own defenses.  The group pushes forward and attacks him more, dropping him!  As they turn onto Thessa, she smiles and says, "We will finish this later."  And then she disappears!  The group cries out in rage at her getting away but quickly turn to other things.  

 

350 xp

 

 

GM Notes

 

• We added two players to the group tonight and glossed over the introductions.  We can get to it later.  So, the druid Inari and Ander are the new player characters.  I thought the two new players worked well and added to the group a lot.  We will have to work on better incorporating them into the group but it was a good start.   
• I do dialog when I liked it or I remember it.  I don't claim to have it verbatim here but enough to get what was happening or how I saw it, to clean things up.  
• I saw the fight with Thessa and Avenel as nearly a no win situation for the group.  I saw Avenel as having low to mid 20 defenses and Thessa as having high 20s for defenses.  However, dazing her and then her turning on Avenel made it much easier than I thought it would be.  
• Plot cards definitely came into play against Thessa, which is how she got dazed and then betrayed Avenel.  I thought it worked out quite well.  
• I like Baeric and liked introducing more bad guys for the group to know about and then to have to deal with!  That's fun for me!  
• I loved their looks when I revealed the beholder figure and showed it to them!  Quite fun!  
• I don't have the players leave the table anymore, so everyone got to see all things that happened.  When it was just Vahn with Vax and Bell, everyone still heard what happened.  I think that makes it easier on the players.  

 

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