"He's an ex-cultist of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. For some reason he left the cult and thinks they are out to kill him. To be fair, they probably are. I've tried to get information from him, but he thinks the Society is just as bad, or just another cult, so he won't talk to us. He's pretty paranoid. I'm surprised you got this far with him."
Manaya looked as if she were considering something. Then she said "Look, the Society is in need of some help. Can I count on you for help if or when we need to move against the Esoteric Order of Dagon?"
Manaya nods, and it seems like a weight has been taken off her.
"Look, see if you can get some information from Dredge. I feel sorry for the old bugger, but he probably has information we need. Don't break him, but see what he can tell us. While the society doesn't have a lot of agents at the moment, we have some means, so you'll be paid for your work. I'll send an intermediary because I can't be seen meeting you all the time. They will show you the sign."
You know Manaya means the helmet sign you found on the body on the beach, which indicates membership of the Secret Society.
She heads back to Primewater Mansion while you enjoy the rowdy company of the Snapping Line inn and tavern.
Irob looks to the party, notably Zaerra as she has been talking to Dredge with him.
"I suggest we leave Dredge alone for the time being. He likely saw us talking to Manaya and if we start asking questions he'll connect the dots quite easily. Perhaps tomorrow we can buy him some drinks to ease his tongue."
Yakeerk thinks that is a good idea. "He won't say no to a drink, I'm sure. And it doesn't have to be today. We've got time. Although now we're aware there may actually be someone trying to kill him, we should keep an eye on him when we can."
Amici Noctia retire for the night. Tomorrow Yakeerk is attending the Town Council meeting where they will discuss what further action to take, if any, regarding the smugglers at Makaster House.
New Day: Deepspring 4 Waterday (middle of the week).
After breakfast at the Snapping Line Yakeerk heads off to the Town Hall. Dredge is here at the Snapping Line and he waves at the party before turning back to his free meal He looks hungover.
Does the party want to do anything today as a group or individually? Talk to anyone, look for anything at the market or other shops. Gather information about the Church of the Sea Mother, which is apparently a front for the Esoteric Order of Dagon?
Rask will head to the market and will seek out other mercenaries- ostensibly to see if there are any short-term opportunities but in reality to determine if there is any information about either the Church or the Society.
Irob will sit beside Dredge as he eats his breakfast and begin to make small talk. He is not pushing him for information, simply trying to maintain a good rapport at the moment
Weather wise, today is a much better day than yesterday. There are few clouds in the sky and it is bright and warm. Puddles from yesterday have already evaporated and some middle class people carry sun umbrellas to give them shade.
Yga wanders up the hill to the Temple of Kord and enters, looking for the High Priest, Nestor Tabi. She finds him lifting rocks, building up his strength, sweat beading on his bald head. He grins his big, wide grin when he sees Yga. His grin turns into a frown when the gnome asks him about the Church of the Sea Mother.
"They are different. I know what our church is like, I am friends with Gerald Isslor, the High Priest of The Wanderer. I know Wellgar Brinehanded although we are not friends, we are friendly, and I know how he runs his services. We all talk, get on, help each other. None of the clergy of the Church of the Sea Mother do that. It's like they keep their distance from us, but they are very active in recruiting, very keen to get the disaffected, the desperate, those seeking answers to life's mysteries, maybe even the insane and unstable, into their church. I'm not convinced it is out desire to help. I suppose it's just a way to get bums on church pews, to give them legitimacy through numbers of worshippers. They are new here, maybe started up about 5 years ago. The High Priestess of the Church of the Sea Mother, just known as Tahi, acts friendly but doesn't give much away. She doesn't socialise with us or have her clergy join in on any of our multi-religion events. One thing I can tell you that I think is significant is that none of their priests can heal. No healing magic at all. Isn't that interesting?"
Rask moves through the crowds at the market. She sees what she is looking for - at any market there is an area where mercenaries for hire gather, usually near an inn or tavern. The closest inn to the market place is actually the Snapping Line, so Rask didn't have to go far.
The mercenaries are all human, and look at Rask with interest as she towers over all but the largest. She mingles among them, buys them alcohol, asks questions - at first about themselves, then slowly brings the conversation around to the Church of the Sea Mother and if they recruit.
Denny, a grizzled mercenary who has spent his career on ships and the Azure Ocean tells Rask that the Church of the Sea Mother has taken some worshippers from the temple of Procan, who is a more traditional god of the sea, weather, and navigation. The Sea Mother is presented as a more “nature-centric” deity than Procan. Sea Mother priests say Procan is a deity of humans’ relationship with the sea and weather, while worship of the Sea Mother is more about the veneration of the sea as an aspect of nature.
Rask learns they do not hire mercenaries for jobs in Saltmarsh, but have hired them for jobs outside of Saltmarsh, although none here have been hired by them.
Irob will sit beside Dredge as he eats his breakfast and begin to make small talk. He is not pushing him for information, simply trying to maintain a good rapport at the moment
"So what's your story, tin man? You are like me, trying not to be noticed. Someone after you, like me?"
Irob makes a noise that one can only interpret as a long drawn out metallic sigh. He looks to Dredge and with a quiet tone explains.
"My past is complicated. There are people in this realm who would rather experiment on my body than offer me the basic rights I as a sentient being would deserve. From what I know their efforts have indeed made it this far south and so I must be careful to not attract their attention. It is in some ways precisely your situation, and I believe in some ways completely different. I trust you will keep this to yourself?*
"I was part of a cult, The Church of the Sea Mother. It seemed like a good idea. I liked the idea of being one with the sea, part of harmony with nature. Some of us were asked questions about whether we thought it would be good if people like us were in charge, that if the world was to be remade, we could be in charge and make sure nature in general and the ocean in particular was venerated and protected. I said yes, of course. Next minute I was being shipped off to an island off the coast."
Dredge looks around to make sure they are not being watched or overheard.
"They worship some elder god called Dagon, who will apparently break the world and remake it. Apparently there will be a sign in the heavens when the time to summon the elder god approaches. The cult believes that when the breaking of the world happens, they will be raised to rule the new world and shape it how they want. I freaked out a bit and came back on the next ship. They locked me up for a while, and I just told them I still wanted to be indoctrinated but I had some anxiety. First chance I got I escaped and I've kind of been on the run ever since. So I get it. People want me to either shut me up or get me back into the cult."
"He's an ex-cultist of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. For some reason he left the cult and thinks they are out to kill him. To be fair, they probably are. I've tried to get information from him, but he thinks the Society is just as bad, or just another cult, so he won't talk to us. He's pretty paranoid. I'm surprised you got this far with him."
Manaya looked as if she were considering something. Then she said "Look, the Society is in need of some help. Can I count on you for help if or when we need to move against the Esoteric Order of Dagon?"
Zaerra nods to Manaya, "You can count on my help but I am unable to speak for my companions. "
Yga affirms her support, "Aye - those cultists are no friends of Kord! And their feet stink..."
Rask nods her agreement. "I will help where I can. The idea of an evil overlord and council of cultists doesn't appeal to me, oddly enough."
"I will perform whatever tasks are necessary. Although if it is possible to avoid drawing attention to myself that is preferred"
"Well you can count me in as well. I have no time for cults and those that would enslave or destroy others freedoms."
Manaya nods, and it seems like a weight has been taken off her.
"Look, see if you can get some information from Dredge. I feel sorry for the old bugger, but he probably has information we need. Don't break him, but see what he can tell us. While the society doesn't have a lot of agents at the moment, we have some means, so you'll be paid for your work. I'll send an intermediary because I can't be seen meeting you all the time. They will show you the sign."
You know Manaya means the helmet sign you found on the body on the beach, which indicates membership of the Secret Society.
She heads back to Primewater Mansion while you enjoy the rowdy company of the Snapping Line inn and tavern.
Irob looks to the party, notably Zaerra as she has been talking to Dredge with him.
"I suggest we leave Dredge alone for the time being. He likely saw us talking to Manaya and if we start asking questions he'll connect the dots quite easily. Perhaps tomorrow we can buy him some drinks to ease his tongue."
Yakeerk thinks that is a good idea. "He won't say no to a drink, I'm sure. And it doesn't have to be today. We've got time. Although now we're aware there may actually be someone trying to kill him, we should keep an eye on him when we can."
Amici Noctia retire for the night. Tomorrow Yakeerk is attending the Town Council meeting where they will discuss what further action to take, if any, regarding the smugglers at Makaster House.
New Day: Deepspring 4 Waterday (middle of the week).
After breakfast at the Snapping Line Yakeerk heads off to the Town Hall. Dredge is here at the Snapping Line and he waves at the party before turning back to his free meal He looks hungover.
Does the party want to do anything today as a group or individually? Talk to anyone, look for anything at the market or other shops. Gather information about the Church of the Sea Mother, which is apparently a front for the Esoteric Order of Dagon?
Yga will make some inquiries regarding the Church of the Sea Mother, at her temple.
Rask will head to the market and will seek out other mercenaries- ostensibly to see if there are any short-term opportunities but in reality to determine if there is any information about either the Church or the Society.
Irob will sit beside Dredge as he eats his breakfast and begin to make small talk. He is not pushing him for information, simply trying to maintain a good rapport at the moment
Weather wise, today is a much better day than yesterday. There are few clouds in the sky and it is bright and warm. Puddles from yesterday have already evaporated and some middle class people carry sun umbrellas to give them shade.
Yga wanders up the hill to the Temple of Kord and enters, looking for the High Priest, Nestor Tabi. She finds him lifting rocks, building up his strength, sweat beading on his bald head. He grins his big, wide grin when he sees Yga. His grin turns into a frown when the gnome asks him about the Church of the Sea Mother.
"They are different. I know what our church is like, I am friends with Gerald Isslor, the High Priest of The Wanderer. I know Wellgar Brinehanded although we are not friends, we are friendly, and I know how he runs his services. We all talk, get on, help each other. None of the clergy of the Church of the Sea Mother do that. It's like they keep their distance from us, but they are very active in recruiting, very keen to get the disaffected, the desperate, those seeking answers to life's mysteries, maybe even the insane and unstable, into their church. I'm not convinced it is out desire to help. I suppose it's just a way to get bums on church pews, to give them legitimacy through numbers of worshippers. They are new here, maybe started up about 5 years ago. The High Priestess of the Church of the Sea Mother, just known as Tahi, acts friendly but doesn't give much away. She doesn't socialise with us or have her clergy join in on any of our multi-religion events. One thing I can tell you that I think is significant is that none of their priests can heal. No healing magic at all. Isn't that interesting?"
Rask moves through the crowds at the market. She sees what she is looking for - at any market there is an area where mercenaries for hire gather, usually near an inn or tavern. The closest inn to the market place is actually the Snapping Line, so Rask didn't have to go far.
The mercenaries are all human, and look at Rask with interest as she towers over all but the largest. She mingles among them, buys them alcohol, asks questions - at first about themselves, then slowly brings the conversation around to the Church of the Sea Mother and if they recruit.
Denny, a grizzled mercenary who has spent his career on ships and the Azure Ocean tells Rask that the Church of the Sea Mother has taken some worshippers from the temple of Procan, who is a more traditional god of the sea, weather, and navigation. The Sea Mother is presented as a more “nature-centric” deity than Procan. Sea Mother priests say Procan is a deity of humans’ relationship with the sea and weather, while worship of the Sea Mother is more about the veneration of the sea as an aspect of nature.
Rask learns they do not hire mercenaries for jobs in Saltmarsh, but have hired them for jobs outside of Saltmarsh, although none here have been hired by them.
"So what's your story, tin man? You are like me, trying not to be noticed. Someone after you, like me?"
Irob makes a noise that one can only interpret as a long drawn out metallic sigh. He looks to Dredge and with a quiet tone explains.
"My past is complicated. There are people in this realm who would rather experiment on my body than offer me the basic rights I as a sentient being would deserve. From what I know their efforts have indeed made it this far south and so I must be careful to not attract their attention. It is in some ways precisely your situation, and I believe in some ways completely different. I trust you will keep this to yourself?*
Dredge nods.
"I was part of a cult, The Church of the Sea Mother. It seemed like a good idea. I liked the idea of being one with the sea, part of harmony with nature. Some of us were asked questions about whether we thought it would be good if people like us were in charge, that if the world was to be remade, we could be in charge and make sure nature in general and the ocean in particular was venerated and protected. I said yes, of course. Next minute I was being shipped off to an island off the coast."
Dredge looks around to make sure they are not being watched or overheard.
"They worship some elder god called Dagon, who will apparently break the world and remake it. Apparently there will be a sign in the heavens when the time to summon the elder god approaches. The cult believes that when the breaking of the world happens, they will be raised to rule the new world and shape it how they want. I freaked out a bit and came back on the next ship. They locked me up for a while, and I just told them I still wanted to be indoctrinated but I had some anxiety. First chance I got I escaped and I've kind of been on the run ever since. So I get it. People want me to either shut me up or get me back into the cult."