(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown

Quote from SavageVince >>

At the mention of an assassin from Grugga, Leelan looks worried. "Good heavens above, Grugga! Are you alright? What happened once this fiendish ruffian revealed himself?"

 

 
"Well, it was luck really. The real Bishop and some priests of Ord were tracking him and they jumped in and protected me, but he got away. I'm perfectly fine - a bit shaken, I suppose - but I would have had a knife between my ribs or worse. I don't suppose they would have sacrificed me for my looks, but who knows what sorts of evils a hag cult gets up to." He's playing it fairly cool, but he's clearly a bit shaken still, just talking about it.

"Anyway, how are you doing, my friend? I must say, that hydra-skin armor suits you well. You look like a consummate monster hunter. Have you had a good few days off?"

"I have found a contact that offered a few jobs but it would seem these jobs are to be done quickly and given by certain interested parties. Not sure if it is worth looking into more." Guilim says as he join them at the inn, not giving to much detail for the time being. 

Rohuzar raises an eyebrow. “Vhat sort of contact? Old friend in guild?” (I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten the name of Guilim’s old guild now)

On the afternoon of the seventh day Aubrey finally arrives at the Robust Hound Inn and Tavern. He looks a bit upset over something but calms down listening at the others recount and suggestions on what to take on next. You immediately notice he has a raven perched on his shoulder as he enters the tavern, that leaves and flies up on the roof keeping a look out for now. Something seemed a bit off with it but you can't place what immediately.

"I can only agree that we should stay close to each other for now." He says and nods as the others finishes. "It seems my servant Zemo have been murdered, or at least tortured and taken away from the town house, most likely by that cult of Leviticus whose sacrifice we thwarted. While in Shelley I did some investigations into the Beneducci boys and they seem to be a reasourceful and well connected group indeed. They even have a mole inside the a cult in Shelley affiliated with the cult we have crossed paths with. I believe the problem with the Beneducci Boys can wait though, but we should try to find some solution to this matter with the cult here in Bardstown soon." He says grimly.

(History check regarding Bardstown dealers in antiquities: 10 )

Grugga laments with his friend. "Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that, Aubrey. I really liked Zemo. If there's any chance he's alive then we should go after him, right?" He looks around the table to see how the others react. He looks straight at Rohuzar, "I mean, this cult is large and well-connected. They're probably hoarding riches and... think of the jobs we'd get offered after bringing them down." He only half-heartedly tries to appeal to the other Orc's pragmatism, since he believes that Rohuzar is a good man with fundamentally good intentions.

"But then again, the bishop is already looking into it, and he has the resources of an entire church and divine magic on his side. He's already going to let me know as soon as he learns anything... so... that's where we stand on that front."

"I'd like to either go after this cult or otherwise distract ourselves with this archaeology job until we hear something from the bishop."

Rohuzar leans forward, steeping his hands. After a moment gestures to the bartender for a round of drinks before speaking. 

“Bishop is good resource. Not our only. Ve should speak to the Judexi again. I think is not going to go avay on its own, but I prefer to get paid vhile ve vork.”

”Citizen Aubrey… is this vhat disturbs Lady Shelley? And vhat is happening for Zemo if not us?”

He holds up a hand: “May be unrelated… Lady Shelley’s cleric from Red Band. He is servant of Kryptos. Coincidence that job on board also involves priest of Kryptos? I don’t know. I am… my hackles are easy to raise.”

"Yes, Zemo was indeed a trusted and loyal servant of the Goldentides, and I feel obligated to at least investigate his disappearance further." Aubrey says to Grugga, nodding in appreciation over the artificers sympathy before turning to Rohuzar. "As far as I know Lady Shelley was in mourning over an old friend lost in an expedition. I think this is unrelated but I don't know what the expedition concerned so it is hard to tell for sure." He says, but doesn't quite understand Rohuzar's next question.

Aubrey:

Aubrey shares with Grugga and any others interested what he knows about Bardstown dealers in antiquities. (See prior post.)

"No more of concerned citizens that seemingly have concerns about things going on around the city. I don't know if it is worth investigating more." Guilim explains vaguely. 

Grugga shrugs at Guilim, "It certainly could be. I'm always happy to help others who need it. It could even be problems related to the cult, given how prolific they seem to be. But if we think Zemo could be alive and we think we could handle it... I think perhaps we should try to look into the cult ourselves. If we don't think we can handle it, then I think we should see about these citizens' problems or see the auction house about Dwarven artifact prices."

"Rohuzar, you said we should speak with the judexi? I suppose you're right. Didn't Judex Spezza tell us that the "Full Moon Murders" was his case? He seems to have already been in contact with Bishop Cleghorn, but perhaps he has some ideas where we could help with the investigation. At the very least he should be informed that Zemo has been kidnapped. Should we all go visit the... wait, where to the judexi work? Shieldwall Keep?"

"Hmm…Zemo’s disappearance would explain the neglected  state of the Goldentide estate this week.", he thinks aloud. 

"Aubrey, do servants live on the estate’s grounds? If they do, perhaps investigating the premises would reveal some clues of sordid affair."

"Yes, but I've gone through the house thoroughly Leelan and the evidence points to someone entering the house, knocking Zemo over the head, tying him to a chair while searching the house, possibly also interrogating Zemo and then taking him. dead or alive, making an attempt to clean the place up before they left. I admit we can't be sure it is the cult of Leviticus but I can't think of anyone else that would go through with something like this." Aubrey explains to the others. "As we don't have a solid lead on where to even find them perhaps talking to the Judexi will have to do for now. Perhaps we could try to intercept the sacrfice by the next full moon though, I'm fairly certain they will try to go through with it, especially since their last attempted sacrifice was thwarted." Aubrey goes on, then taking a sip of wine and leaning back in his chair again, troubled over having his family dragged into this.

“Judexi Spezza is the direction I would take before committing more fully.” Rohuzar probably knows how to send a message to him, right? 

Grugga scratches his chin in thought. "Alright then," he says, "let's go see Judex Spezza. If he doesn't have any leads then we can consider alternatives. If he does have something for us, then we go after Zemo. All in accord?"

He stands up, ready to depart, and slings his main invention back over his shoulder. The machine in the frame looks different than it did a week ago. It's been completely encased in an iron shell, no longer an open skeleton with wires and crystals sticking out all over the place. On the bottom of the frame, in stylized lettering to look like yellow lightning, it reads "ZAP."

"I finally finished it. I can't wait for you guys to see it in action. It could probably take my place and I could just sit on the sidelines and it'd still pull my weight." He smiles, proud of his first major invention.

Aubrey nods and empties his glass of wine, readying himself for a visit to Judex Spezza. "Impressive Grugga, it will be interesting to see the new and improved ZAP in combat. This is truly the future of warfare." Aubrey says and gives the artificers a friendly pat on the back.

(Aubrey would know where to find Judex Spezza right?)

[Aubrey would have an idea of how to find the Judexi, but as it happens it is unnecessary.]

As you sit and discuss the next move, the doors of the Robust Hound open and Judex Caius Spezza enters, flanked by two Scourges.  The fireplace seems to flare up and shadows dance around the room.  The 'werewolf' bust over the bar almost seems to move in the flickering light.  Around the bar, patrons lower their voices and mutter among themselves about the presence of one of the Emperor's secret police.

The casual smirk you remember is gone from his face.  He moves directly toward your table, while simultaneously making eye contact with Jonny Nevers and pointing toward the kitchen.  Looking back to your table, "Good evening, gentlemen.  I was informed Master Goldentide had returned to town and you were all together again after your latest escapades.  We have matters to discuss.  Will you join me in the back?"  It is a question, but it sounds more like a command.

Grugga eyes his allies around the table, eyebrows up in only half-surprise at the timing. Already standing, he heads over to the door of the back room and holds it open for the judex, the scourges, and his companions. "It looks like the eyes and the ears of the empire saved us a trip;" he quips to his team, then addresses the judex, "we were just about to come to you."

Once everyone else is in the backroom, the artificer steps in and closes the door behind him. He's been in this room before, alone with imperial agents, bare chested and afraid of their authority. This time, the circumstances are completely different, and he's actually happy that the Empire keeps such close tabs on all the going-ons of their realm if  it means that they have help in the fight against the Cult of Leviticus.

He sets Zap on the ground and takes a seat if there's table. He looks to judex Spezza as an ally, despite any mutual mistrust, and looks forward to shedding some more light on this mysterious cult and the fate of Zemo.

As Judex Spezza enters the Robust Hound Aubrey stands up to greet him. He listens carefully and nods at the words of the judex, then following him into the back room.

Rohuzar gets up and goes to the kitchen.