"Goodness!" Meresaa exclaims as the boy falls. "Are you alright?"
She rushes to his side and kneels, turning him onto his back and looking him over. Pulling back sleeves, pant legs, collar, etc., she tries to determine the cause and extent of the wounds. Removing her waterskin from a pocket under her robe, she unstoppers it and tries to give the child a drink.
"What's your name? What's happened to you?"
Does it look like he was attacked by something/someone? Is he conscious at this point? Not sure what the appropriate roll would be so I'll roll both...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I wouldn't want to touch him directly. It could be a trap"- Ermasnietsz folds the draft map and carefully places it inside one of the pockets. Then she moves near the stranger and bends over the body. She's trying to figure out if someone's been keeping an eye on the pair of investigators. "Let's move him out of the way and hide him among the bush."
Dolan moves to his desk and withdraws his journal. "Please, everyone, take a seat. I shall attempt to help you in any way I can,"his voice is quick, excited, "perhaps a group of outsiders may be able to succeed where I have failed."
"It has come to my attention over the past number of years that events, seemingly freak occurrences, have transpired against me and almost led to my ruin. I had initially been sceptical of my findings, assuming them to be paranoia," Dolan pauses to think, "however, too many incidents happened at the most inopportune times for this to be a random happenstance."
"O'Toole?" Dolan asks as Nikita mentions his name, "he seems like a man of good reputation. Though, if he believes there to be corruption within the guard then his life could be at risk."
"The Town Council is the main authority within Saltmarsh. It rules on local matters, controls the guard, and decides who can and cannot trade within the town. Currently, due to the recent death of Sir Charles Freyn, Esther's father, a seat has become available. It is no secret that my name has been put forward as a potential successor; without wishing to blow my own horn I believe that this would be a boon for the council as it provides them with a direct link to many of the merchants operating in the area it also looks good - a 'rags to riches' story if you will, for my upbringing is no secret." Dolan looks around the group to check they are following along.
"There are others whose names have also received a lot of support. Firstly, Casper Brinck, it was he who was most outspoken against the Carnival coming to Saltmarsh. Not much is known about him, he rose to prominence around 3-4 years ago. If there was a candidate that represented nobility and wealth it would be him. Spends most of his time charging around the place in an obscene-looking black carriage drawn by huge shire horses. Flaunting his wealth." You get a sense that there is no love lost between Dolan and the man.
"The second would be Eliander Fireborn. He seems like an honest man, incredibly loyal to the crown, he served in a number of wars. He walks with a slight limp, rumour has it he sustained it attempting to subdue an owlbear... with his bare hands. The reason he does not already serve on the council is that it would unbalance it in favour of the crown; as there are already a number of loyalists on the Town Council - the most vocal being Manistrad Copperlocks."
"Finally, there is a dark horse of sorts - Jilar Kanklesten. She is the guild mistress of the Carpenters' Guild, largely unliked by residents, she nonetheless carries a lot of support among the Guild's members. She always acts in her own self-interest, but then that means that she is not easily influenced by either the Traditionalists or the Loyalists." Dolan explains.
"Wellgar Brinehanded" Dolan says simply, "he is the current head priest of the Temple of Procan. Welgar and I go far back. He's a bit eccentric to be sure, but I fail to see how he would have any role in any foul business that occurs in Saltmarsh. An alms and medical centre is run from the temple led by a DrJen Cavendish. She took over after the last person to run it was responsible for almost poisoning half the town; turns out he used to drink quite heavily on the job and started misdiagnosing people, rumour has it that someone died due to his incompetency."
Dolan pushes his hands through his hair, "where was I? Oh, the guard? It sounds like you're referring to Kraddok. He serves as the town's jailer, located at the barracks. Did you know it has an entire underground prison complex? I believe he served in the wars alongside Eliander."
You get the sense that Dolan does place a lot of trust in his employees and is likely a very protective employer. Furthermore, call it a hunch, but you believe that there is something more there. Could it be that he has had past issues relating to employee loyalty? It seems to be a topic he is avoiding.
Answering Nick's questions, Dolan replies, "there seem to be a couple of major factions in Saltmarsh that have very different ideas regarding the towns 'best interests'. Manistrad Copperlocks and Anders Solmor owe allegiance to King Kimbertos Skotti of Keoland, they comprise the Loyalist faction within the Council. Manistrad was placed there by royal decree and the Solmor family has always been vociferous in support of the King. If Eliander is granted the vacant council position that would enable them to have a ruling majority. Otherwise, the Traditionalists, if you will, believe in an independent Saltmarsh less hampered by the crown; Eda Oweland and Gellan Primewater are the Council members that hold tight to this position."
"O'Toole the tool," Dolan chuckles, "let's hope for his sake that he knows what he is doing."
Dolan looks around at each of you in turn. He then proceeds to show you his journal, which contains a number of references to different incidents that have occurred to his businesses. Among them, you see occurrences of shipments going missing, of ships being sunk, of accidental deaths of employees, of discrepancies in the taxation levied against his goods. He slumps back on his chair, "if I didn't know better I'd say that someone had it in for me."
Investigation checks for those wishing to draw any conclusions from his business journal.
She is trying to follow along voraciously, keeping notes furiously in a notebook while keeping her eyes on Dolan's face as much as possible. But she glances sympathetically at Nick Nack and Faila to see how they are faring under this torrent of information. After the conversation, she would fill them in that Saltmarsh is on the southern end of the Kingdom of Keoland. So "loyalist" here would signify loyal to the king, whereas others in Saltmarsh ("traditionalists") apparently might be more independent and chafe under heavy-handed Keolish control.
He would also relay to them (when time permits) that at the Temple of Procan (who won't currently help the Carnival), Dr. Jen Cavendish likely replaced Nathaniel (ex-priest back in carnival sick tent) who was the previous (incompetent?) leader of the alms and medical center, drank on the job etc. - possible that Jen Cavendish is in on conspiracy.
Nikita's head snaps up when she hears about Casper Brinck and his black carriage. She decides (again) to trust Dolan.
"Thank you very much Mr. Dolan. This is a wealth of information. To respond a bit in kind, we have evidence that Billy, a Carnival boy, and Esther, Maureen Freyn's daughter, were kidnapped together while at the Carnival yesterday evening by... three strange faceless people with a singing doll..." (Nikita says this in a way that indicates she is aware how far fetched this sounds) "... but more importantly, in a black carriage that sounds exactly like Brinck's carriage. This same carriage then tore through Saltmarsh, breaking Tony Brodie's sign outside the Ruddy Tankard before charging out the western gate. Are you aware of any destination to the west of Saltmarsh they may have been headed?"
"You say Sir Charles Freyn passed recently, leaving an empty spot in the Council. How recently? 4 years ago or so around when Brinck rose to prominence? Several things seem to have happened 4 years ago - for example, Asha Hawkes, the professor's friend going missing. But also events for several others related to carnival currently suffering misfortune. And in some cases, the misfortune seems... supernatural."
Nick takes the information in like the little scavenger hunter mucking-about-in-the-mess-of-it-all that he is. He ponders the town, remembering the infighting in his village that lead to them getting wiped out because they didn’t move camp, nostalgia overtaking practicality…
“Does it hurt your business or interests if Jilar Kanklesten gets the seat? The others all sound like they put the council out of balance, and since you clearly have an enemy… you getting the seat does as well.”
nick paces back and forth, feeling that Dolan is in the same pile of cow dung as they are, he treats him as an insider, bringing out his mage hand in a visible form and stroking his chin with it at the same time.
“I Don’t like it anymore than you, but it sounds like someone is gonna have to die… just a question of who…” nick ponders the way two mountain goats butt heads, or two mountain lions wrestle for dominance… “how would you take it if I put my mind to working on making our friendly little ghost Casper disappear? Not right away of course, but if he IS the one after you and your girl,…”. Nick makes the throat sliding motion with his mage hand against his own skin, playing up the expression of resisting such a cut, then losing control of neck and facial muscles.
After a moment of silence for dramatic effect, Nick uses his mage hand from behind to pull up his own head to put it back into place and talks out of his mouth while otherwise still pretending to be dead, “thu thead downt spweik.”
O'Toole looks like he is about to respond but pauses. Hanna returns with drinks, O'Toole has an apple juice. "Never drink on the job," he explains.
"You are sure it was a black carriage you saw?" O'Toole whispers under his breath, "interesting. A local merchant, big-wig in Saltmarsh, owns a carriage as you describe. Casper Brink is his name." As the Sergeant moves to take a drink of his apple juice you see his hand shaking, whether through adrenaline or fear you cannot decide.
"West gate... guards didn't stop them..." At this point, O'Toole looks like he is ready to barf - his face goes a pale white.
"Have care Mr Nilssen. The person you implicate is a powerful figure within Saltmarsh. I...I... my work colleagues, the other guards... I've..." O'Toole takes a look over his shoulder.
"This would corroborate a great deal of evidence I have been compiling over the last few months," he shakingly reaches into a pocket and withdraws a scrap of paper. O'Toole places it on the table in front of you. It contains the names of several 'key individuals' and has lines going between them; in the centre of the note is a name you have yet to come across Theodore Sedgewick, the rest of the note seems to be O'Toole's scribblings, many of which are illegible or have been crossed out ((see spoiler)).
"It's my belief that there is a group at work within Saltmarsh... pulling the strings," O'Toole explains. "I came across a smuggling operation not more than a few weeks back. Found a reference to the Sanguine Cabal. I mentioned it to my superiors, within the guard, and they said they would deal with it. I then begin to find myself placed on more and more menial work - rookie stuff. I do not have much evidence, but I am certain that a number of the names on this list are involved; save Sir Charles, Rothstein, and possibly Dolan. I'm certain that Sedgewick is the key, he hasn't been seen since the Carnival arrived in town."
O'Toole nervously checks over his shoulder, "we were told not to help them you know - the Carnival folk. The town guard knows what's happening with the camp." He sighs heavily, "I was a coward at first. Ignored them. But when Esther went missing? I owe Sir Charles a debt sir. I'll not let anything come of his daughter, I swear. I failed the father, I shall not fail the daughter." You note that he struggles to contain his emotions, "No way Sir Charles killed himself, sir. He weren't like that, even if he did fall on hard times."
Dolan contemplates, "if Jilar does get the seat I cannot see that it would hurt my business. She will at least act for the good of Saltmarsh, as long as it lines her pockets. That said, she may take decisions that hurt the town in order to financially benefit."
"Die?!"Dolan splutters, "only if you have irrefutable evidence, Nick. Best you don't go around killing people without any proof of their crimes... even if it is Brinck."
He coughs and blushes a little when you mention 'his girl', "Isolde is a fine woman, truly charming, but I fear there may be powerful people at work here. If you were to somehow remove the threat to Saltmarsh and, in so doing, expose Brinck then I would be in your debt."
Meresaa flips the boy onto his back; he looks to be in his early teens and of Skurra descent. He groans and holds on to his waist, he seems delirious as he talks, "Essie, Essie, save Essie." His eyes widen in pain and he lets out a deep groan before closing his eyes.
The boy is in a weakened state. It is clear to see that he has been running for quite a while, the cuts on his arms and legs suggested he likely either crawled or pushed his way through a thorn bush, he may have also scaled a wall or rocky surface.
Nature:
The signs are there as soon as you look at the boy. His skin is parched and cracked. Lifting up his shirt you see dark forms writhing under his skin in his abdomen. It is clear that he has been infected, or rather implanted, with a number of the parasitical creatures similarly to Harold.
You can tell that the boy is clearly drained and exhausted. As Meresaa turns him on to his back you spot a number of the dark parasitical creatures crawling under his skin near his abdomen.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Faila listens to all of this, a great flurry of information and names that she has difficulty following without having faces or bodies to put to them. One thing sticks out to her, though, that captures her interest. Even a wild creature like herself has well learned what it takes to come out of the wilds and have civilization---a ruler and an arbiter of justice who has true authority.
"Sir," she says, leaning forward a little in her chair, "you say, that Saltmarsh is not all loyal to the king? Who will protect Saltmarsh, or resolve disagreements, except for the king?" She realizes she doesn't know anything about the king. "Who is the king of Saltmarsh? Why do they want to be free of the king?"
Nick notes that the word Die came out of Dolan’s mouth was followed by only if and not heavens no… and realizes they are understanding each other well, though perhaps Dolan lives in circles where politeness and subtlety are of paramount.…
as Dolan answers other people questions, Nick looks about the office and watches tue employees in the warehouse before remarking, “you know when there is conflict there is death. Death of opportunity, death of employees, death of inconsequential bystanders when powerful people bicker. I just don’t want to be one of those bystanders, who lets others decide who lives and who died. You may well be the best for the council position, i but only if we get whoever is after you off yours ass. “
Nick thinks to his family and siblings dying, because of the stubbornness of the village elders, how did father wouldn’t listen, and how he went off on his own instead of just doing something about it… sometimes, maybe this time, the person who knows what must be done needs to do it, even if everyone tells him it’s a bad idea or hates him afterwards… after all, if you care about people, better they hate you and live than think kind of you but be dead…
“Dolan what if any, of this fortune you’ve amassed matters to you? Who matters to you? If someone is out to destroy your all, and you might only walk away from this with but a few trinkets or people saved, what do you choose? For it seems to me if you do not act soon, you will be left with none of it… do not pretend with me, or pretend it all equal value in your heart, for I have stared death in the face and survived, but not without losing everything that matters to me.”
Nick looks at the group, and realized somewhere deep down he was starting to care again, and deeply… of some amount, he saw that he cared about Nikita, and he cared about Faila, and that he cared about the smithy even, and he cared about the kids he saw playing in the street, and he cared about the innocent merchants just trying to make it home with some food to feed hungry mouths… and that even though he sees them all too as beings just stepping slowly toward their graves, life but a slow flowing return to place we all come from, he still sees a place of meaning within their efforts, and he is motivated to care from a part of his heart he had forgotten was there.
nick remarks to no-one-in-particular sarcastically, “seriously?!? Just take me now will yah? Please?! This is funny to you isn’t it? … putting me yet again through this prisoner’s dilemma of part-of-the-gang-but-everyone-hates-me or all-alone but-everyone’s-dead?!?” Nick falls to the floor like a bag of bricks, refusing to move until someone moves him, he gets hungry, or needs to pee.
Boyd informs the guard that he didn't personally see the black carriage, but his sources were explicitly very sure of it.
The thief then reviews the notes. "I know some of these names..." he mumbles under his breath, mostly to himself. "But not all of them." A fat finger lands on the word 'PROSPECT,' "This a ship?" he inquires.
He knuckles his beard while thinking, "Awfully foolish of Brinck to abduct kids in his unique carriage, eh? A set up? Or is he just that stupid or desperate? And what's the 'Weekly Wail'?" ((I don't think Boyd knows this IC)) once the sergeant explains it's the newspaper, he asks, "What's his connection to it?"
Then he asks, "What are the connections between the pirate captains and Sedgewick? You think he was working with them? Or you think they got rid of him?"
Finally, he warns the sergeant to keep his head low. "We need each other, yeah? You'll be best serving Esther and Maureen by staying in the guard. Can any of the other guards be trusted? You're gonna need to find 'em out if you want to keep this town from looking like bleeding Monmurg."He pauses, looking around the room. "I'll keep you updated. Where can I leave you dead drops? This room have any secret panels or floorboards?"
Once their discussion is over, Boyd leaves first and asks Eamon to wait 5 minutes before leaving. Then he tries to find the others in town, or else heads back to the carnival.
Dolan looks shocked at Nikita's mention of 'faceless men and a singing doll'. "I know both Esther and Billy, they seemed like good kids, that's awful news. If it was Brinck that took them," he balls his fist in anger, "I'm not sure what he plans but he must be brought to justice."
"Out the West Gate you say..."Dolan takes a time to think, "I believe there are a couple of homesteads. To the Northwest lies the outpost of Burle; by foot, it would take an entire day to reach but by horse, it would be able to be reached in around 4-5 hours. I'm on good terms with the commander stationed there - Kiara Shadowbreaker - I could always send her a letter asking if Brinck's carriage has been spotted in the area."
As Nikita asks about Sir Charles, Dolan thinks back, "Esther would have been around what 9. 4 years ago, it does not seem that long, but you have the right of it Nikita. Do you think these events are connected? Perhaps it is worth looking into Sir Charles' death. I know the Weekly Wail keeps an archive of its older issues, might be worth checking out." He sits back in his chair, seemingly overwhelmed by the revelations, "I think there are forces at work in Saltmarsh. Forces that you are close to exposing, which do not want to be exposed. Have I been so blind?"
"King Kimbertos?"Dolan says in response to Faila's question. "He's the King of the Kingdom of Keoland. He has recently become interested in Saltmarsh, everyone knows that Manistrad and her contingent of dwarves were brought in at his request. I think, however, that a few of the traditionalists see them as stepping on their toes. Especially when it comes to their business interests," Dolan says knowingly. "The Town Council resolves a lot of the disputes within the town. Anyone can bring an issue or a dispute to them. In the case of the Carnival, for instance, I suggested it would be a wonderful event for the town which would revitalise the local economy and improve spirits. Brinck on the other hand argued..."
Dolan slams his fist on the table, "... I have been blind! Brinck argued that it would bring outsiders and criminals into our midst. He sought to discredit the Carnival, how better than having them steal away poor Esther? Discredit the Carnival and he discredits me."
You look through the pages of the journal. It appears to be hand-scrawled notes of the mishaps that have befallen Dolan's business dealings. You note that he has lost a lot of money over the years to seemingly 'freak' incidents. However, no pattern is obvious to you.
You look through the pages of the journal. Instantly going to his entries of 4 years ago, you note a large increase in the frequency from this point onwards. You find everything from Dolan's ships being sunk in mild weather to members of his crew disappearing mid-journey.
One of the things that strikes you as odd is references to a particular employee, one of his captains by the name of Rosie Malloy. The entries are initially glowing, talking about her amazing business acumen and captaining ability. However, the entries stop suddenly around 3 years ago. After that point there seem to be redactions in the journal, as if Dolan is attempting to erase, or cross out, certain elements of his business dealings.
It seems that prior to his death, Sir Charles Freyn had often utilised Dolan's merchant fleet. Nothing strikes you as being particularly out of the ordinary about the entries until you see a scrawled name next to one of the orders - Brinck collected. It is the only reference to Casper Brinck you can find prior to 4 years ago and appears to be related to one of Sir Charles' shipments. Was Brink working for or on behalf of Freyn?
Let me know if I need a further Persuasion or some other check for the following (if so, looking for help from Faila if not Nick Nack).
"Mr. Dolan, I think we've both laid our cards on the table, and for that you have our thanks. Even that of my colleague currently taking a nap on your floor." She shakes her head exasperatedly but affectionately in Nick Nack's direction. "I think you must agree with me that it has to go beyond Brinck - if it doesn't, that would make him extraordinarily sloppy to leave behind so many obvious clues pointing to him and his black carriage. Almost like bait. I have 2 further questions. To show you my sincerity, I will tell you what I was running from up north. I was in a coterie of spies from Celene set on exposing and foiling a plot by the cambion lord Iuz. We were found out and all of my former comrades are dead or worse. I have been running ever since. A failed spy. But one determined to do better. And just now that I've reached Saltmarsh (which seems to have a trade delegation from Iuz of all people and places), it seems my new friends and I have a new purpose. To help the Carnival and help the true Saltmarsh. So let us help each other. I promise to follow this up with my colleagues as I've already committed to do for Lady Isolde. Here are my 2 questions:"
Q1: Nikita turns the journal around towards Dolan and points to a 4+-year-old order from Sir Charles Freyn with Casper Brinck's name scrawled next to it ("Brinck collected"). "Can you tell me what this is in reference to?"
Q2: "Also, I suspect this is difficult, but please share what you can about your (former?) captain Rosie Malloy. What happened 3 years ago? Did she betray you? It may be related."
As Nikita says all this, it is striking just how determined but also how young she is. Almost as young as Faila. Perhaps too trusting...
Dolan shrugs at Nick, "I'm not sure I am best suited to the Council. However, I know that certain people should not sit on it. I am ill-suited to all these games of politics, but if some criminal element wants me to disappear then they must have their own candidate in the race. I cannot allow a criminal element to seize control of Saltmarsh, Nick."
"What matters most to me?" Dolan muses. "I have lived a large portion of my life with little more than the clothes on my back and the company of good friends,"he says reminiscing. "I was only a young man when I assumed the captaincy of my first merchant vessel - the Golden Goose. Our previous captain had been killed over an unpaid debt and the crew decided that I was best placed to lead them."
"We were successful and I started branching out into other revenue streams; transporting people as well as goods - dignitaries and the like. People often think that you have to be ruthless in business yet I found the opposite was the case. Win the trust of the local traders and they will become regular customers. It was, in no small part, due to the trust Sir Charles placed in me that helped grow my business venture within Saltmarsh." Dolan sighs, "he was a good man, Nick."
"I have no family, no wife, no children. Yet I do have a number of people working for me, it is they who I care about. And Saltmarsh, this town and its people, I would not have them threatened and I would not have them exploited." Dolan sighs and adds, "there is also a fiddle. I was told it belonged to my uncle, whoever he was. I often find solace when playing, it is a great way to leave the stress behind."
Dolan looks a little confused at Nick's outburst, before reclining back calmly in his chair, "take as long as you need down there, friend."
"Ahh Prospect," O'Toole mutters, as much to himself than to you, "I thought it might have been a ship as well. Spent hours looking through manifests only to come up short. I first came across the term in relation to a piece of correspondence I found regarding Mr Sedgewick, I assumed it may have been code, it spoke of returning to 'Prospect' to retrieve the 'singing Dummy'." He rolls his eyes, "Meaningless unless you can decipher it. I thought no more of the term until I heard it referenced by..." O'Toole reaches forward and taps next to Karl Rothstein.
"He came to town to look for a missing person," the Sergeant now taps next to Asha Hawkes name. "She was a colleague of his at Port Torvin's academy. She must have meant a lot to him, he's still searching. Seems like she had told him that she was going to home to Prospect. Perhaps a house? Or hovel? Or area?" O'Toole shrugs. "I've tried accessing any files the guard have and keep coming up short."
"Ahh good point, good point. I think you would make a good member of the guard. Or detective maybe?" O'Toole beams when you reference the Weekly Wail. "Oh, you were asking what it was. It's the local town paper. They keep all of their past issues located within their archives... when you spoke of it I thought you meant to check it for references to Prospect."
He lowers his voice and leans in, "Norma Brunswick - the editor - will not allow anyone to access it. Besides, see that line..." O'Toole's right index finger traces the line between Weekly Wail and Brinck, "Guess who recently purchased the Weekly Wail? If our suspicions of the man are correct I am not sure how easy it would be to obtain access to their archives... legally." He winks at you knowingly.
"Tell me Mr Nilssen. Do you think me poor at my job? I spend a great deal of my day around those that are light-handed. Could be that you have a skill set that may assist you with gaining the information you require," he says before dropping the subject.
"Ahh, the Captains!"the Sergeant declares before lowing his voice, "far as I can tell if Sedgewick is the leader of whatever this thing is, then Malloy is involved, which in turn implicates Dolan. I know she used to work for Dolan, whether that is still the case I do not know. Her and Sedgewick were closely linked prior to his disappearance. As for Lexi? Nasty piece of work. Local thug, bully, probable-pirate. I put a dashed line there," he says admiring his work, "no evidence of the link other than a hunch. If they ever needed an enforcer she and her crew would be it. If it were up to me they'd all be interned in Saltmarsh's prison."
As you ask about the other guards, O'Toole shifts uncomfortably, "the short answer is no. I doubt the entirety of the guard has been paid off but... who knows who has and who hasn't? Same for the council, just about the only one I would trust is Manistrad, she'd place nothing above her loyalty to the Crown." He chuckles softly as you mention Monmurg, "I do not think we are as different as the locals believe."
"Anything that needs to be handed to me can be given to Hanna, she will keep it safe and I trust her. I cannot help but believe that I have placed you in great danger by involving you Mr Nilssen and for that I am sorry," O'Toole apologises as you go to leave.
Meresaa shoots a scornful look at Ermasnietz. "A trap? Really? Look at him. The boy is in need of help. He's in no shape to lure us to our doom. Really... Must you always see the worst in every situation?"
She looks back to the boy. "Essie? Is that Esther? Are you Billy?" She sighs when she realizes he's lost consciousness.
Looking back up to Ermasnietz, the towering woman stands back up. "He's clearly suffering from exposure and some sort of infection. We should get him to a healer. My balms are difficult to make and best saved for life-or-death situations. Can you help me carry him?"
She'll suggest either taking him to town or back to the carnival, whichever is closer.
Faila sits with her hands in her lap, pressing her thumbs on top of one another thoughtfully. "The true Saltmarsh," she muses. She wonders if the king's agents know what is going on, and whose side they are on. Surely a king would have power to step in if a criminal element did try to take over? "Do you support the king, Dolan? Do you think he would help?"
As she ponders this, Nikita's deduction of this going beyond Brinck makes Faila think of Harold and of the creatures she found nesting in his stomach. Her hands tremble and she swallows to coat a suddenly dry throat. "Nikita," she murmurs, "do you think those... eggs have anything to do with this? We never found out if Nancy had them too... or anyone else..."
Nikita, full focus on Dolan, almost starts out of her seat with surprise as Faila addresses her directly. Her expression softens as she looks at the other young woman. She pales, recalling the horrific, aberrant eggs.
"I may be jumping at shadows, but yes I think it has to be connected. And yes, Nancy Carver had the same symptoms - she likely has the same root cause. This unnatural disease could affect all of Saltmarsh, or at least all of Saltmarsh that the perpetrators wish it to."
Nikita looks away, feeling helpless for a moment, then steeling her resolve. She describes the situation with Harold and the eggs, and with Nancy Carver, her condition, and exactly what she said she aw to Dolan. Uncharacteristically, she briefly reaches out and grips Faila's hand, trying to both give and gain comfort.
Thumbtack, her owl opens her eyes in wide circles like the full moon, head swiveling to look directly at Dolan, waiting for an answer to Nikita's 2 questions.
Dolan looks shocked by your revelations. "A spy the whole time," he says with a chuckle, "I would not say 'failed' as I had no idea! I think you may have the right of it, there must be someone behind Brinck. Sure, he is able to play at being a merchant and flaunt his wealth, but if we believe all these mishaps and misfortunes are born from his mind alone?"Dolan shakes his head, "doubtful."
Answers to Nikita's questions
Q1: Dolan looks at his journal and squints. "That's right,"he rubs his forehead with his hand, attempting to recall the information. "I think Brinck might have worked for Sir Charles at some point. Blast my memory... I believe he used to run errands for him." Dolan's face darkens, "the story of Sir Charles Freyn is a tragedy. If the events that have plagued my businesses were bad, Sir Charles had it worse. It seemed, in the months prior to his death, that every deal he was part of fell through in the worse way possible; I know he lost a lot of money, if he had asked I would have stepped in. I..." he seems briefly lost for words, "I let him down."
"Towards the end of his life, everything was crumbling around him. The authorities claimed that they had found discrepancies in his finances and linked him with all sorts of underhand dealings. He was facing public disgrace. I struggled to believe any of it. That's when he... well..." Dolan sighs, "felt he could no longer go on."
Q2: You notice Dolan's demeanour change as you bring up Malloy's name, you feel the anger emanating from him. "Rosie Malloy," he says gritting his teeth, "was, I thought, my most loyal and trusted Captain. It turns out that she had been operating behind my back and turning people against me. At one point she left and took a number of my employees with her. That was not the worst of it, most of her operations were not exactly above board; smuggling of contraband goods and trading slaves!" At this point, Dolan takes a few seconds to calm down before continuing.
"I pride myself on conducting business within the law, Nikita. Finding out that Malloy had betrayed everything I stood for and attempted to take everything I had worked so hard to achieve," Dolan clenches and unclenches his fist. "It left a bitter taste, of that you can be sure."
"In my heart of hearts I wanted to believe Rosie to be innocent," Dolan explains, "but looking back I have to doubt everything she ever told me. I think some of it could be linked. The sailors she lost, many of them were loyal men and women, could it be that their loyalty cost them? Did deals really fall through or did she just pocket the coin?" He sighs, "on reflection I think I wanted to trust her, her story is not too dissimilar to mine."
"He might help, Faila,"Dolan says optimistically. "Do I support the King? Well, I do not oppose him,"he contemplates, "it's whether additional focus from the Crown on Saltmarsh would be a positive thing for its people. Personally, I try to be impartial on the matter, but if things deteriorate then it would certainly be an option. Manistrad undoubtedly keeps the King informed of any developments she is aware of."
Dolan looks concerned when Nikita mentions the disease. "You believe the affliction that the Carnival is experiencing is linked with all this? You mentioned Perpetrators, do you believe the malady to be man-made?" There is a cold fury behind his words, "If so, this is an abomination. Those responsible need to be brought to justice and quick. Do you believe the sickness could spread to town?"
Ermasnietsz flips the golden coin and unfortunately it lands on the palm of her hands.... the head side facing upwards... again!
She's always been a good listener. As a result she eagerly takes in all of the words of chastisement and attempts to explain:
"I'm just trying to avoid instances of potential danger. You had better get used to it, Meresaa. There are people who like to believe that they're actually deceased and constantly suffer as a result or go crazy. But, they actually know nothing of disease and death. They are not a 'reborn'."
She waves her wand to cast Mage Hand when the spellcasting focus suddenly transforms into a clock-work key. The sorcerer extends her hands to lift the young man up- bridal style, but lets out a faint huff when the head drops backwards. Instantaneously, a pair of wooden hands will appear that consist of springs and toothed gearwheels; and these spectral hands will hold the head upward to ensure better blood circulation.
"Let's take him to the large make-shift medical tent. Nathaniel might be able to patch him up."
"Goodness!" Meresaa exclaims as the boy falls. "Are you alright?"
She rushes to his side and kneels, turning him onto his back and looking him over. Pulling back sleeves, pant legs, collar, etc., she tries to determine the cause and extent of the wounds. Removing her waterskin from a pocket under her robe, she unstoppers it and tries to give the child a drink.
"What's your name? What's happened to you?"
Does it look like he was attacked by something/someone? Is he conscious at this point? Not sure what the appropriate roll would be so I'll roll both...
Medicine: 9
Nature: 21
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
"I wouldn't want to touch him directly. It could be a trap"- Ermasnietsz folds the draft map and carefully places it inside one of the pockets. Then she moves near the stranger and bends over the body. She's trying to figure out if someone's been keeping an eye on the pair of investigators. "Let's move him out of the way and hide him among the bush."
Perception 9
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Fishmongers’ Plants (Nikita, Nick Nack & Faila)
Dolan moves to his desk and withdraws his journal. "Please, everyone, take a seat. I shall attempt to help you in any way I can," his voice is quick, excited, "perhaps a group of outsiders may be able to succeed where I have failed."
"It has come to my attention over the past number of years that events, seemingly freak occurrences, have transpired against me and almost led to my ruin. I had initially been sceptical of my findings, assuming them to be paranoia," Dolan pauses to think, "however, too many incidents happened at the most inopportune times for this to be a random happenstance."
"O'Toole?" Dolan asks as Nikita mentions his name, "he seems like a man of good reputation. Though, if he believes there to be corruption within the guard then his life could be at risk."
"The Town Council is the main authority within Saltmarsh. It rules on local matters, controls the guard, and decides who can and cannot trade within the town. Currently, due to the recent death of Sir Charles Freyn, Esther's father, a seat has become available. It is no secret that my name has been put forward as a potential successor; without wishing to blow my own horn I believe that this would be a boon for the council as it provides them with a direct link to many of the merchants operating in the area it also looks good - a 'rags to riches' story if you will, for my upbringing is no secret." Dolan looks around the group to check they are following along.
"There are others whose names have also received a lot of support. Firstly, Casper Brinck, it was he who was most outspoken against the Carnival coming to Saltmarsh. Not much is known about him, he rose to prominence around 3-4 years ago. If there was a candidate that represented nobility and wealth it would be him. Spends most of his time charging around the place in an obscene-looking black carriage drawn by huge shire horses. Flaunting his wealth." You get a sense that there is no love lost between Dolan and the man.
"The second would be Eliander Fireborn. He seems like an honest man, incredibly loyal to the crown, he served in a number of wars. He walks with a slight limp, rumour has it he sustained it attempting to subdue an owlbear... with his bare hands. The reason he does not already serve on the council is that it would unbalance it in favour of the crown; as there are already a number of loyalists on the Town Council - the most vocal being Manistrad Copperlocks."
"Finally, there is a dark horse of sorts - Jilar Kanklesten. She is the guild mistress of the Carpenters' Guild, largely unliked by residents, she nonetheless carries a lot of support among the Guild's members. She always acts in her own self-interest, but then that means that she is not easily influenced by either the Traditionalists or the Loyalists." Dolan explains.
"Wellgar Brinehanded" Dolan says simply, "he is the current head priest of the Temple of Procan. Welgar and I go far back. He's a bit eccentric to be sure, but I fail to see how he would have any role in any foul business that occurs in Saltmarsh. An alms and medical centre is run from the temple led by a DrJen Cavendish. She took over after the last person to run it was responsible for almost poisoning half the town; turns out he used to drink quite heavily on the job and started misdiagnosing people, rumour has it that someone died due to his incompetency."
Dolan pushes his hands through his hair, "where was I? Oh, the guard? It sounds like you're referring to Kraddok. He serves as the town's jailer, located at the barracks. Did you know it has an entire underground prison complex? I believe he served in the wars alongside Eliander."
Nikita's Insight check:
You get the sense that Dolan does place a lot of trust in his employees and is likely a very protective employer. Furthermore, call it a hunch, but you believe that there is something more there. Could it be that he has had past issues relating to employee loyalty? It seems to be a topic he is avoiding.
Answering Nick's questions, Dolan replies, "there seem to be a couple of major factions in Saltmarsh that have very different ideas regarding the towns 'best interests'. Manistrad Copperlocks and Anders Solmor owe allegiance to King Kimbertos Skotti of Keoland, they comprise the Loyalist faction within the Council. Manistrad was placed there by royal decree and the Solmor family has always been vociferous in support of the King. If Eliander is granted the vacant council position that would enable them to have a ruling majority. Otherwise, the Traditionalists, if you will, believe in an independent Saltmarsh less hampered by the crown; Eda Oweland and Gellan Primewater are the Council members that hold tight to this position."
"O'Toole the tool," Dolan chuckles, "let's hope for his sake that he knows what he is doing."
Dolan looks around at each of you in turn. He then proceeds to show you his journal, which contains a number of references to different incidents that have occurred to his businesses. Among them, you see occurrences of shipments going missing, of ships being sunk, of accidental deaths of employees, of discrepancies in the taxation levied against his goods. He slumps back on his chair, "if I didn't know better I'd say that someone had it in for me."
Investigation checks for those wishing to draw any conclusions from his business journal.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Nikita's Investigation check on Dolan's journal: 9
She is trying to follow along voraciously, keeping notes furiously in a notebook while keeping her eyes on Dolan's face as much as possible. But she glances sympathetically at Nick Nack and Faila to see how they are faring under this torrent of information. After the conversation, she would fill them in that Saltmarsh is on the southern end of the Kingdom of Keoland. So "loyalist" here would signify loyal to the king, whereas others in Saltmarsh ("traditionalists") apparently might be more independent and chafe under heavy-handed Keolish control.
He would also relay to them (when time permits) that at the Temple of Procan (who won't currently help the Carnival), Dr. Jen Cavendish likely replaced Nathaniel (ex-priest back in carnival sick tent) who was the previous (incompetent?) leader of the alms and medical center, drank on the job etc. - possible that Jen Cavendish is in on conspiracy.
Nikita's head snaps up when she hears about Casper Brinck and his black carriage. She decides (again) to trust Dolan.
"Thank you very much Mr. Dolan. This is a wealth of information. To respond a bit in kind, we have evidence that Billy, a Carnival boy, and Esther, Maureen Freyn's daughter, were kidnapped together while at the Carnival yesterday evening by... three strange faceless people with a singing doll..." (Nikita says this in a way that indicates she is aware how far fetched this sounds) "... but more importantly, in a black carriage that sounds exactly like Brinck's carriage. This same carriage then tore through Saltmarsh, breaking Tony Brodie's sign outside the Ruddy Tankard before charging out the western gate. Are you aware of any destination to the west of Saltmarsh they may have been headed?"
"You say Sir Charles Freyn passed recently, leaving an empty spot in the Council. How recently? 4 years ago or so around when Brinck rose to prominence? Several things seem to have happened 4 years ago - for example, Asha Hawkes, the professor's friend going missing. But also events for several others related to carnival currently suffering misfortune. And in some cases, the misfortune seems... supernatural."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Nick takes the information in like the little scavenger hunter mucking-about-in-the-mess-of-it-all that he is. He ponders the town, remembering the infighting in his village that lead to them getting wiped out because they didn’t move camp, nostalgia overtaking practicality…
“Does it hurt your business or interests if Jilar Kanklesten gets the seat? The others all sound like they put the council out of balance, and since you clearly have an enemy… you getting the seat does as well.”
nick paces back and forth, feeling that Dolan is in the same pile of cow dung as they are, he treats him as an insider, bringing out his mage hand in a visible form and stroking his chin with it at the same time.
“I Don’t like it anymore than you, but it sounds like someone is gonna have to die… just a question of who…” nick ponders the way two mountain goats butt heads, or two mountain lions wrestle for dominance… “how would you take it if I put my mind to working on making our friendly little ghost Casper disappear? Not right away of course, but if he IS the one after you and your girl,…”. Nick makes the throat sliding motion with his mage hand against his own skin, playing up the expression of resisting such a cut, then losing control of neck and facial muscles.
After a moment of silence for dramatic effect, Nick uses his mage hand from behind to pull up his own head to put it back into place and talks out of his mouth while otherwise still pretending to be dead, “thu thead downt spweik.”
The Snapping Line (Boyd)
O'Toole looks like he is about to respond but pauses. Hanna returns with drinks, O'Toole has an apple juice. "Never drink on the job," he explains.
"You are sure it was a black carriage you saw?" O'Toole whispers under his breath, "interesting. A local merchant, big-wig in Saltmarsh, owns a carriage as you describe. Casper Brink is his name." As the Sergeant moves to take a drink of his apple juice you see his hand shaking, whether through adrenaline or fear you cannot decide.
"West gate... guards didn't stop them..." At this point, O'Toole looks like he is ready to barf - his face goes a pale white.
"Have care Mr Nilssen. The person you implicate is a powerful figure within Saltmarsh. I...I... my work colleagues, the other guards... I've..." O'Toole takes a look over his shoulder.
"This would corroborate a great deal of evidence I have been compiling over the last few months," he shakingly reaches into a pocket and withdraws a scrap of paper. O'Toole places it on the table in front of you. It contains the names of several 'key individuals' and has lines going between them; in the centre of the note is a name you have yet to come across Theodore Sedgewick, the rest of the note seems to be O'Toole's scribblings, many of which are illegible or have been crossed out ((see spoiler)).
"It's my belief that there is a group at work within Saltmarsh... pulling the strings," O'Toole explains. "I came across a smuggling operation not more than a few weeks back. Found a reference to the Sanguine Cabal. I mentioned it to my superiors, within the guard, and they said they would deal with it. I then begin to find myself placed on more and more menial work - rookie stuff. I do not have much evidence, but I am certain that a number of the names on this list are involved; save Sir Charles, Rothstein, and possibly Dolan. I'm certain that Sedgewick is the key, he hasn't been seen since the Carnival arrived in town."
O'Toole nervously checks over his shoulder, "we were told not to help them you know - the Carnival folk. The town guard knows what's happening with the camp." He sighs heavily, "I was a coward at first. Ignored them. But when Esther went missing? I owe Sir Charles a debt sir. I'll not let anything come of his daughter, I swear. I failed the father, I shall not fail the daughter." You note that he struggles to contain his emotions, "No way Sir Charles killed himself, sir. He weren't like that, even if he did fall on hard times."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Fishmongers’ Plants (Nikita, Nick Nack & Faila)
Dolan contemplates, "if Jilar does get the seat I cannot see that it would hurt my business. She will at least act for the good of Saltmarsh, as long as it lines her pockets. That said, she may take decisions that hurt the town in order to financially benefit."
"Die?!" Dolan splutters, "only if you have irrefutable evidence, Nick. Best you don't go around killing people without any proof of their crimes... even if it is Brinck."
He coughs and blushes a little when you mention 'his girl', "Isolde is a fine woman, truly charming, but I fear there may be powerful people at work here. If you were to somehow remove the threat to Saltmarsh and, in so doing, expose Brinck then I would be in your debt."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Entrance to the Carnival (Ermasnietsz & Meresaa)
Meresaa flips the boy onto his back; he looks to be in his early teens and of Skurra descent. He groans and holds on to his waist, he seems delirious as he talks, "Essie, Essie, save Essie." His eyes widen in pain and he lets out a deep groan before closing his eyes.
Meresaa's Medicine and Nature checks:
Medicine
The boy is in a weakened state. It is clear to see that he has been running for quite a while, the cuts on his arms and legs suggested he likely either crawled or pushed his way through a thorn bush, he may have also scaled a wall or rocky surface.
Nature:
The signs are there as soon as you look at the boy. His skin is parched and cracked. Lifting up his shirt you see dark forms writhing under his skin in his abdomen. It is clear that he has been infected, or rather implanted, with a number of the parasitical creatures similarly to Harold.
Ermasnietsz's Perception check:
You can tell that the boy is clearly drained and exhausted. As Meresaa turns him on to his back you spot a number of the dark parasitical creatures crawling under his skin near his abdomen.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila listens to all of this, a great flurry of information and names that she has difficulty following without having faces or bodies to put to them. One thing sticks out to her, though, that captures her interest. Even a wild creature like herself has well learned what it takes to come out of the wilds and have civilization---a ruler and an arbiter of justice who has true authority.
"Sir," she says, leaning forward a little in her chair, "you say, that Saltmarsh is not all loyal to the king? Who will protect Saltmarsh, or resolve disagreements, except for the king?" She realizes she doesn't know anything about the king. "Who is the king of Saltmarsh? Why do they want to be free of the king?"
Investigation for the journal: 16
Nick notes that the word Die came out of Dolan’s mouth was followed by only if and not heavens no… and realizes they are understanding each other well, though perhaps Dolan lives in circles where politeness and subtlety are of paramount.…
as Dolan answers other people questions, Nick looks about the office and watches tue employees in the warehouse before remarking, “you know when there is conflict there is death. Death of opportunity, death of employees, death of inconsequential bystanders when powerful people bicker. I just don’t want to be one of those bystanders, who lets others decide who lives and who died. You may well be the best for the council position, i but only if we get whoever is after you off yours ass. “
Nick thinks to his family and siblings dying, because of the stubbornness of the village elders, how did father wouldn’t listen, and how he went off on his own instead of just doing something about it… sometimes, maybe this time, the person who knows what must be done needs to do it, even if everyone tells him it’s a bad idea or hates him afterwards… after all, if you care about people, better they hate you and live than think kind of you but be dead…
“Dolan what if any, of this fortune you’ve amassed matters to you? Who matters to you? If someone is out to destroy your all, and you might only walk away from this with but a few trinkets or people saved, what do you choose? For it seems to me if you do not act soon, you will be left with none of it… do not pretend with me, or pretend it all equal value in your heart, for I have stared death in the face and survived, but not without losing everything that matters to me.”
Nick looks at the group, and realized somewhere deep down he was starting to care again, and deeply… of some amount, he saw that he cared about Nikita, and he cared about Faila, and that he cared about the smithy even, and he cared about the kids he saw playing in the street, and he cared about the innocent merchants just trying to make it home with some food to feed hungry mouths… and that even though he sees them all too as beings just stepping slowly toward their graves, life but a slow flowing return to place we all come from, he still sees a place of meaning within their efforts, and he is motivated to care from a part of his heart he had forgotten was there.
nick remarks to no-one-in-particular sarcastically, “seriously?!? Just take me now will yah? Please?! This is funny to you isn’t it? … putting me yet again through this prisoner’s dilemma of part-of-the-gang-but-everyone-hates-me or all-alone but-everyone’s-dead?!?” Nick falls to the floor like a bag of bricks, refusing to move until someone moves him, he gets hungry, or needs to pee.
Boyd informs the guard that he didn't personally see the black carriage, but his sources were explicitly very sure of it.
The thief then reviews the notes. "I know some of these names..." he mumbles under his breath, mostly to himself. "But not all of them." A fat finger lands on the word 'PROSPECT,' "This a ship?" he inquires.
He knuckles his beard while thinking, "Awfully foolish of Brinck to abduct kids in his unique carriage, eh? A set up? Or is he just that stupid or desperate? And what's the 'Weekly Wail'?" ((I don't think Boyd knows this IC)) once the sergeant explains it's the newspaper, he asks, "What's his connection to it?"
Then he asks, "What are the connections between the pirate captains and Sedgewick? You think he was working with them? Or you think they got rid of him?"
Finally, he warns the sergeant to keep his head low. "We need each other, yeah? You'll be best serving Esther and Maureen by staying in the guard. Can any of the other guards be trusted? You're gonna need to find 'em out if you want to keep this town from looking like bleeding Monmurg." He pauses, looking around the room. "I'll keep you updated. Where can I leave you dead drops? This room have any secret panels or floorboards?"
Once their discussion is over, Boyd leaves first and asks Eamon to wait 5 minutes before leaving. Then he tries to find the others in town, or else heads back to the carnival.
Fishmongers’ Plants (Nikita, Nick Nack & Faila)
((Apologies Tybard, missed your earlier post!))
Dolan looks shocked at Nikita's mention of 'faceless men and a singing doll'. "I know both Esther and Billy, they seemed like good kids, that's awful news. If it was Brinck that took them," he balls his fist in anger, "I'm not sure what he plans but he must be brought to justice."
"Out the West Gate you say..." Dolan takes a time to think, "I believe there are a couple of homesteads. To the Northwest lies the outpost of Burle; by foot, it would take an entire day to reach but by horse, it would be able to be reached in around 4-5 hours. I'm on good terms with the commander stationed there - Kiara Shadowbreaker - I could always send her a letter asking if Brinck's carriage has been spotted in the area."
As Nikita asks about Sir Charles, Dolan thinks back, "Esther would have been around what 9. 4 years ago, it does not seem that long, but you have the right of it Nikita. Do you think these events are connected? Perhaps it is worth looking into Sir Charles' death. I know the Weekly Wail keeps an archive of its older issues, might be worth checking out." He sits back in his chair, seemingly overwhelmed by the revelations, "I think there are forces at work in Saltmarsh. Forces that you are close to exposing, which do not want to be exposed. Have I been so blind?"
"King Kimbertos?" Dolan says in response to Faila's question. "He's the King of the Kingdom of Keoland. He has recently become interested in Saltmarsh, everyone knows that Manistrad and her contingent of dwarves were brought in at his request. I think, however, that a few of the traditionalists see them as stepping on their toes. Especially when it comes to their business interests," Dolan says knowingly. "The Town Council resolves a lot of the disputes within the town. Anyone can bring an issue or a dispute to them. In the case of the Carnival, for instance, I suggested it would be a wonderful event for the town which would revitalise the local economy and improve spirits. Brinck on the other hand argued..."
Dolan slams his fist on the table, "... I have been blind! Brinck argued that it would bring outsiders and criminals into our midst. He sought to discredit the Carnival, how better than having them steal away poor Esther? Discredit the Carnival and he discredits me."
Faila's Investigation check:
You look through the pages of the journal. It appears to be hand-scrawled notes of the mishaps that have befallen Dolan's business dealings. You note that he has lost a lot of money over the years to seemingly 'freak' incidents. However, no pattern is obvious to you.
Nikita's Investigation check:
You look through the pages of the journal. Instantly going to his entries of 4 years ago, you note a large increase in the frequency from this point onwards. You find everything from Dolan's ships being sunk in mild weather to members of his crew disappearing mid-journey.
One of the things that strikes you as odd is references to a particular employee, one of his captains by the name of Rosie Malloy. The entries are initially glowing, talking about her amazing business acumen and captaining ability. However, the entries stop suddenly around 3 years ago. After that point there seem to be redactions in the journal, as if Dolan is attempting to erase, or cross out, certain elements of his business dealings.
It seems that prior to his death, Sir Charles Freyn had often utilised Dolan's merchant fleet. Nothing strikes you as being particularly out of the ordinary about the entries until you see a scrawled name next to one of the orders - Brinck collected. It is the only reference to Casper Brinck you can find prior to 4 years ago and appears to be related to one of Sir Charles' shipments. Was Brink working for or on behalf of Freyn?
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Let me know if I need a further Persuasion or some other check for the following (if so, looking for help from Faila if not Nick Nack).
"Mr. Dolan, I think we've both laid our cards on the table, and for that you have our thanks. Even that of my colleague currently taking a nap on your floor." She shakes her head exasperatedly but affectionately in Nick Nack's direction. "I think you must agree with me that it has to go beyond Brinck - if it doesn't, that would make him extraordinarily sloppy to leave behind so many obvious clues pointing to him and his black carriage. Almost like bait. I have 2 further questions. To show you my sincerity, I will tell you what I was running from up north. I was in a coterie of spies from Celene set on exposing and foiling a plot by the cambion lord Iuz. We were found out and all of my former comrades are dead or worse. I have been running ever since. A failed spy. But one determined to do better. And just now that I've reached Saltmarsh (which seems to have a trade delegation from Iuz of all people and places), it seems my new friends and I have a new purpose. To help the Carnival and help the true Saltmarsh. So let us help each other. I promise to follow this up with my colleagues as I've already committed to do for Lady Isolde. Here are my 2 questions:"
Q1: Nikita turns the journal around towards Dolan and points to a 4+-year-old order from Sir Charles Freyn with Casper Brinck's name scrawled next to it ("Brinck collected"). "Can you tell me what this is in reference to?"
Q2: "Also, I suspect this is difficult, but please share what you can about your (former?) captain Rosie Malloy. What happened 3 years ago? Did she betray you? It may be related."
As Nikita says all this, it is striking just how determined but also how young she is. Almost as young as Faila. Perhaps too trusting...
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Fishmongers’ Plants (Nikita, Nick Nack & Faila)
Dolan shrugs at Nick, "I'm not sure I am best suited to the Council. However, I know that certain people should not sit on it. I am ill-suited to all these games of politics, but if some criminal element wants me to disappear then they must have their own candidate in the race. I cannot allow a criminal element to seize control of Saltmarsh, Nick."
"What matters most to me?" Dolan muses. "I have lived a large portion of my life with little more than the clothes on my back and the company of good friends," he says reminiscing. "I was only a young man when I assumed the captaincy of my first merchant vessel - the Golden Goose. Our previous captain had been killed over an unpaid debt and the crew decided that I was best placed to lead them."
"We were successful and I started branching out into other revenue streams; transporting people as well as goods - dignitaries and the like. People often think that you have to be ruthless in business yet I found the opposite was the case. Win the trust of the local traders and they will become regular customers. It was, in no small part, due to the trust Sir Charles placed in me that helped grow my business venture within Saltmarsh." Dolan sighs, "he was a good man, Nick."
"I have no family, no wife, no children. Yet I do have a number of people working for me, it is they who I care about. And Saltmarsh, this town and its people, I would not have them threatened and I would not have them exploited." Dolan sighs and adds, "there is also a fiddle. I was told it belonged to my uncle, whoever he was. I often find solace when playing, it is a great way to leave the stress behind."
Dolan looks a little confused at Nick's outburst, before reclining back calmly in his chair, "take as long as you need down there, friend."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
The Snapping Line (Boyd)
"Ahh Prospect," O'Toole mutters, as much to himself than to you, "I thought it might have been a ship as well. Spent hours looking through manifests only to come up short. I first came across the term in relation to a piece of correspondence I found regarding Mr Sedgewick, I assumed it may have been code, it spoke of returning to 'Prospect' to retrieve the 'singing Dummy'." He rolls his eyes, "Meaningless unless you can decipher it. I thought no more of the term until I heard it referenced by..." O'Toole reaches forward and taps next to Karl Rothstein.
"He came to town to look for a missing person," the Sergeant now taps next to Asha Hawkes name. "She was a colleague of his at Port Torvin's academy. She must have meant a lot to him, he's still searching. Seems like she had told him that she was going to home to Prospect. Perhaps a house? Or hovel? Or area?" O'Toole shrugs. "I've tried accessing any files the guard have and keep coming up short."
"Ahh good point, good point. I think you would make a good member of the guard. Or detective maybe?" O'Toole beams when you reference the Weekly Wail. "Oh, you were asking what it was. It's the local town paper. They keep all of their past issues located within their archives... when you spoke of it I thought you meant to check it for references to Prospect."
He lowers his voice and leans in, "Norma Brunswick - the editor - will not allow anyone to access it. Besides, see that line..." O'Toole's right index finger traces the line between Weekly Wail and Brinck, "Guess who recently purchased the Weekly Wail? If our suspicions of the man are correct I am not sure how easy it would be to obtain access to their archives... legally." He winks at you knowingly.
"Tell me Mr Nilssen. Do you think me poor at my job? I spend a great deal of my day around those that are light-handed. Could be that you have a skill set that may assist you with gaining the information you require," he says before dropping the subject.
"Ahh, the Captains!" the Sergeant declares before lowing his voice, "far as I can tell if Sedgewick is the leader of whatever this thing is, then Malloy is involved, which in turn implicates Dolan. I know she used to work for Dolan, whether that is still the case I do not know. Her and Sedgewick were closely linked prior to his disappearance. As for Lexi? Nasty piece of work. Local thug, bully, probable-pirate. I put a dashed line there," he says admiring his work, "no evidence of the link other than a hunch. If they ever needed an enforcer she and her crew would be it. If it were up to me they'd all be interned in Saltmarsh's prison."
As you ask about the other guards, O'Toole shifts uncomfortably, "the short answer is no. I doubt the entirety of the guard has been paid off but... who knows who has and who hasn't? Same for the council, just about the only one I would trust is Manistrad, she'd place nothing above her loyalty to the Crown." He chuckles softly as you mention Monmurg, "I do not think we are as different as the locals believe."
"Anything that needs to be handed to me can be given to Hanna, she will keep it safe and I trust her. I cannot help but believe that I have placed you in great danger by involving you Mr Nilssen and for that I am sorry," O'Toole apologises as you go to leave.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Meresaa shoots a scornful look at Ermasnietz. "A trap? Really? Look at him. The boy is in need of help. He's in no shape to lure us to our doom. Really... Must you always see the worst in every situation?"
She looks back to the boy. "Essie? Is that Esther? Are you Billy?" She sighs when she realizes he's lost consciousness.
Looking back up to Ermasnietz, the towering woman stands back up. "He's clearly suffering from exposure and some sort of infection. We should get him to a healer. My balms are difficult to make and best saved for life-or-death situations. Can you help me carry him?"
She'll suggest either taking him to town or back to the carnival, whichever is closer.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Faila sits with her hands in her lap, pressing her thumbs on top of one another thoughtfully. "The true Saltmarsh," she muses. She wonders if the king's agents know what is going on, and whose side they are on. Surely a king would have power to step in if a criminal element did try to take over? "Do you support the king, Dolan? Do you think he would help?"
As she ponders this, Nikita's deduction of this going beyond Brinck makes Faila think of Harold and of the creatures she found nesting in his stomach. Her hands tremble and she swallows to coat a suddenly dry throat. "Nikita," she murmurs, "do you think those... eggs have anything to do with this? We never found out if Nancy had them too... or anyone else..."
Nikita, full focus on Dolan, almost starts out of her seat with surprise as Faila addresses her directly. Her expression softens as she looks at the other young woman. She pales, recalling the horrific, aberrant eggs.
"I may be jumping at shadows, but yes I think it has to be connected. And yes, Nancy Carver had the same symptoms - she likely has the same root cause. This unnatural disease could affect all of Saltmarsh, or at least all of Saltmarsh that the perpetrators wish it to."
Nikita looks away, feeling helpless for a moment, then steeling her resolve. She describes the situation with Harold and the eggs, and with Nancy Carver, her condition, and exactly what she said she aw to Dolan. Uncharacteristically, she briefly reaches out and grips Faila's hand, trying to both give and gain comfort.
Thumbtack, her owl opens her eyes in wide circles like the full moon, head swiveling to look directly at Dolan, waiting for an answer to Nikita's 2 questions.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Fishmongers’ Plants (Nikita, Nick Nack & Faila)
Dolan looks shocked by your revelations. "A spy the whole time," he says with a chuckle, "I would not say 'failed' as I had no idea! I think you may have the right of it, there must be someone behind Brinck. Sure, he is able to play at being a merchant and flaunt his wealth, but if we believe all these mishaps and misfortunes are born from his mind alone?" Dolan shakes his head, "doubtful."
"He might help, Faila," Dolan says optimistically. "Do I support the King? Well, I do not oppose him," he contemplates, "it's whether additional focus from the Crown on Saltmarsh would be a positive thing for its people. Personally, I try to be impartial on the matter, but if things deteriorate then it would certainly be an option. Manistrad undoubtedly keeps the King informed of any developments she is aware of."
Dolan looks concerned when Nikita mentions the disease. "You believe the affliction that the Carnival is experiencing is linked with all this? You mentioned Perpetrators, do you believe the malady to be man-made?" There is a cold fury behind his words, "If so, this is an abomination. Those responsible need to be brought to justice and quick. Do you believe the sickness could spread to town?"
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Ermasnietsz flips the golden coin and unfortunately it lands on the palm of her hands.... the head side facing upwards... again!
She's always been a good listener. As a result she eagerly takes in all of the words of chastisement and attempts to explain:
"I'm just trying to avoid instances of potential danger. You had better get used to it, Meresaa. There are people who like to believe that they're actually deceased and constantly suffer as a result or go crazy. But, they actually know nothing of disease and death. They are not a 'reborn'."
She waves her wand to cast Mage Hand when the spellcasting focus suddenly transforms into a clock-work key. The sorcerer extends her hands to lift the young man up- bridal style, but lets out a faint huff when the head drops backwards. Instantaneously, a pair of wooden hands will appear that consist of springs and toothed gearwheels; and these spectral hands will hold the head upward to ensure better blood circulation.
"Let's take him to the large make-shift medical tent. Nathaniel might be able to patch him up."
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer