Session 4 - Greg

Session 04 (2024-08-09) - Greg

Last time

Last time we met up with Delridge after midnight and crossed the river with Dander, navigating some dangerous currents. Dander told us about the magical plants on the south bank and warned us about the unpleasant fog. We reached the Southern Beacon, a haunted lighthouse with a tragic history involving Agostino Barlucci and Julietta Barlucci.

Inside the lighthouse, we discovered letters and a diary that revealed a story of descent into alcoholism and depression. We encountered a poltergeist throwing bottles around and struggled to open a hatch as water filled the chamber under the beacon. After breaking out, we found Julietta’s corpse and theorized that her death and Agostino’s guilt were keeping his spirit there.

We then faced a banshee, the ghost of Agostino’s daughter Corina Barlucci. After a fierce battle, we managed to destroy it. We evacuated the burning lighthouse and saw the beacon starting to function again. Now, we’re planning to head back towards the dock or Mother Verduna for further investigation.

The diary included Julietta’s notes that were favorable to Agostino while the letters to him were cruel and biting. The handwriting matched, but the inconsistent tone is confusing.

The Southern Beacon

We have enough information to speak with a smith or professional and ask them to make an assessment, though we don’t have the skill ourselves. Barrick investigates the lighthouse to learn more and learns two things:

  • The glass floats that let the lighthouse keeper check fuel levels are broken, but likely repairable by a glass blower
  • When the flame erupted from the top of the beacon, it may have damaged the lenses.

Bikke investigated the boat. It’s sufficient to get us back to the dock, but certainly not across the river.

The mist retreated as the sun rose, but it did not burn away.

The party walked back to the fork in the trail to talk with whomever’s on watch for The Lazaretto. While walking, [[Pedestrian Wolves/PCs/Kira Fe’lorin|Kira]] notes that while most of the plants are native and a few species are invasive, there are a few plants on the trail that she remembers from the Feywild. Kira keeps this information to herself for now.

When we reach the fork, we see a thin, darkly robed figure on the path in the mist to the south towards The Lazaretto. The figure said that they heard us fighting and lighting the fire over here.

Conversation with the figure:

  • Gavin asks if they knew Julietta. He says he did not.

The figure approached more closely. He is badly deformed from the rotting disease, his height is an unnatural consequence of the disease. His skin is cracked and has taken a bluish tint. He was probably once a formidable half-eld and, under the cloak, still wears the bits and pieces of his armor. He is also wearing a very large bastard sword across his back. Barrick notices that it was once a well-made sword, though it has clearly seen overuse and decay with limited resources for maintenance.

  • Barrick complimented his sword and asked if it had history. It was carried on three fronts.
  • He offers to let us into The Lazaretto and see Mother Verduna. We agree.
  • Gavin asks his name. He’s named Lepett
  • Gavin asks if Lepett’s disease presentation is typical. Lepett says it is not, perhaps due to his heritage.
  • Gavin asks if Lepett is strong. Lepett says he was cavalry, so strong, but not as strong as he once was.

The Lazaretto

The party approaches The Lazaretto at Lepett’s invitation.

Aside: Ilmater is like a god of suffering and sacrifice. Ilmater and his followers will suffer other peoples’ pain. Ilmater is not popular for obvious reasons, though his followers are extremely devout healers and ascetic religious extremists: vows of poverty, etc.

The Lazaretto is surrounded by a wooden palisade, the gate is open. There are carts with bodies out front. As we make our way past the barrier and into the Lazaretto, we see a burn pit to the north where a camp member is throwing trash into the burning dumpster fire. There are a few buildings around the camp and Mother Verduna is talking with one of the stricken in the courtyard.

Gavin greets Mother Verduna and informs her of the fate of Agostino, Julietta, and Corina.

Mother Verduna offers us help, Hugh asks for sleep, so she leads the party south to the Temple of Ilater in the camp. The template has some basic pews and a well-made image of Ilmater himself. An apparently healthy nurse brings blankets and food the shutters are closed. [[Hugh]] hunkered down to sleep.

There is no evidence of Mother Verduna being ill.

[[Bikke]] asks if the temple is older than The Lazaretto. Mother Isabel Verduna answered that it is, but not by much. Bikke continues talking with Mother Verduna:

  • Verduna’s been here for 15 years and her predecessor tended to the sick for 20, so about 35 years of disease.

Barrick talks with Mother Verduna about Julietta

  • Anyone is free to leave The Lazaretto
  • Very few leave.
  • Last to leave before Julietta were nearing the end.
  • There are remote pockets of people around, though difficult to find.
  • Paths to other people are unmaintained and overgrown.
  • When Corina came back from Riatavin, she started working with The Vintner and seemed to take to the job well, according to Mother Verduna.
  • Kira asked about the strange plants, then dropped it.
    • Mother Verduna answered that she can heal through Ilmater’s grace and through what nature provides. She has gathered plants and put them in the ground here, but they have gotten away from her.
    • Kira asks how Verduna got them.
    • Verduna says she buys, sells, and trades.
    • Barrick asked about the strange plants.
    • Verduna’s greenhouse is in the building south of the temple. Kira walked outside toward it. Kira entered Verduna’s place, the rest of the party followed. Kira doesn’t recognize many of Mother Verduna’s plants. Kira asked Mother Verduna about the plants from the feywilds.
  • Verduna purchased plants from an Eladrin merchant
  • Keeping the feywild plants alive has been difficult.
  • The plants have provided palliative support.
  • The Rotting Disease begins in the extremities. Amputation will slow progress, but not stop it.
  • After the skin is harded, the disease calcifies the throat and prevents breathing and/or swallowing.
  • The diseased corpses don’t rot well. They are more like bone or old leather than flesh.
  • Verduna grew up near Neverwinter and came here to serve Ilmater after school in Cormyr.
  • Verduna stays because nobody else does.
  • Many who live in the camp are not followers of Ilmater.
  • Verduna shares cuttings of plants with [[Pedestrian Wolves/PCs/Kira Fe’lorin|Kira]]. She’s excited to have an herbally interested acquaintance.
  • Gavin asks if the nurses follow a protocol. The only nurse is Sister Nightsong and the three doctors are from Calimshan.
  • The rotting disease has not affected anything that isn’t living flesh.
  • Verduna may have a few people willing to help with the Southern Beacon.
  • Kira asks for potion formulae from Mother Verduna. Verduna shares potion recipes with her.

The River Ith

The party leaves The Lazaretto with Lepett. Dandy picks us up at the dock. Dandy heads to the north across the river.

Bikke has a conversation with Dander.

  • Dander reports that Ergzett Rukk has been locked up.
    • Boblin nearly cut off the head of someone spending time with Port.
    • The john was a human merchant
    • It’s unclear whether Port is still working or whether her time costs more.
  • [[Hugh]] accepts Dandy’s offer of whiskey. As we near the north shore, the extreme apathy effect fades.

Port Maraisa

We meet Delridge when we reach Port Maraisa.

[[Kira]] asks [[Delridge]] to give Mother Verduna a bottle of Port as a thank you.

Barrick asks Delridge who does glass work in town. Delridge doesn’t have a good answer re: the lighthouse, maybe [[Calimshan]]?

The party returns to our rooms.

Hugh and Barrick go to The Vintner’s. Hugh’s there to get drunk. Hugh gets the story about Boblin (recorded in Brian’s notes), then sacks out.

The next morning, after breakfast, we go to see Magistrato Dominico Falcone. We look around and find him in a smallish office overlooking some books at a desk.

Gavin started talking with Dominico

  • Gavin described the fight we had with the banshee in The Southern Beacon
  • Barrick described the damage to the lighthouse.
  • Agostino is confirmed dead.
  • Gavin mentioned that Mother Verduna and the Lazaretto are willing to help maintain the lighthouse.
  • Dominico reports that getting parts for the lighthouse is the more complex task. The glass designer is in Memnon.
  • [[Gavin]] asked about Corina. Dominico seems to know very little about her.
  • Gavin asked if we could help with anything else. Dominico asked if we could help interrogate a goblin.
  • Gavin asked whether Dominico knows about what happened.
    • A wool merchant named [[Mathis]] who was a frequent visitor to Port Maraisa from Darromar. Mathis offered to spent time with Port and “Ergzett Rukk was driven into a fit of rage and killed the man.”
    • Evidence was circumstantial, but the blood on the shirt front, hands, and dagger was compelling. Boblin did not resist arrest.
    • Boblin is unsurprisingly uncooperative.
    • The merchant’s consortium has a proper jail, but Boblin would not have been safe there.

Dominico’s Basement

We head down the stairs to Dominico’s basement where Ergzett Rukk is being held. A full size canopy bed for Ergzett Rukk. Boblin’s white, ruffled shirt is stained red with gore.

Gavin approaches Ergzett Rukk with some wine. Boblin looks pointedly at the barrels of wine on the wall and tells Gavin to pour. Gavin pours, Boblin, gulps it down and insults it. Gavin proceeds to question Boblin.

  • Boblin asks why we’re here. Gavin takes a soft approach and casts a subtle Charm Person on Boblin, but Boblin saves.
  • Boblin claims he did not break any law. Boblin sawed the man’s neck open, but did not break law.
  • Boblin states:
    • “In human towns, you cannot cut off the head, and he did not cut off the head. The merchant broke the contract first.”
    • The merchant cheated Boblin.
    • Gavin agreed to be Boblin’s defender.
    • “Those halfling kids were for me. Not delivered, contract broken, wouldn’t pay back.”
    • “Two kids. Brother sister. From Riatavin. I pay for them, don’t receive them.”
      • Speculation: Bandits raiding the caravan were in cahoots with the Darromar wool merchants.
    • No connection with the vintner.
    • Boblin was purchasing the children for a client.
    • “These kids are special. Usually pick them up out east, bundle them up, and send to Riatavin. These kids were paid extra for. Boblin made arrangement to get these specific kids. MAde arrangement to get rid of their families. Instead of getting kids, get nothing.”
      • Boblin arranged the bandit attack on the caravan.
    • “My main in Riatavin buys anything from us. We send him whatever he asks for. Easy. This time, someone comes to town and says ‘Ergzett Rukk’, send the special ones. The merchants will run family off the property, make them leave town, run them down to Port Maraisa.
      • The merchants did the front half of the job. Boblin did the back half with the bandit attack on the caravan.
    • “I have a broker in Riatavin. I don’t know what he does with them.”
    • “Merchant’s friends are on the road. Kill them, find proof, take their money.”
    • “The town is not at risk of attack by orcs. The town is fine.”
    • “There are people outside waiting to hear from Boblin”
    • “Halfling kids, brother sister, little scar on hairline of both.”
    • “Buyer doesn’t care about who, but these were special.”
      • “Most aren’t children, most are just people”
      • “Put (Bikke) in with people shipment to find buyer”
    • “Kill Dominico, then we leave.”
    • “Other merchants are running. I think they go”
    • “Elena Delphino, leader of the merchant guild, is a contact for halfling trade”
    • “Capture merchants, bring them to Bad Doric, get me loose”
      • “Bad Doric” is a human town. No more humans, so better town. Bring merchants to goblins
      • Bad Doric is south of the river, southeast, edge of the marsh.
    • “If you get the kids back, I’ll cut you in.” The party executed Boblin for his crimes.

The party then went upstairs to inform Dominico of the results of the interrogation.

Dominico is concerned with the possibility of a goblin town near Port Maraisa.

Dominico: If there are members of the white skull engaged in activity near the city, it’s concerning. It’s also possible that others may be imprisoned and we should learn more to possibly rescue them.

Dominico: Port Maraisa is part of Tethyr, but mostly independent. Most influence in Port Maraisa comes from the Auttencourt and Elena Delphino is tight with the Auttencourt. If we’re going to bring justice for Delphina’s crimes, we need to know everything that is happening and have the evidence to back it up.

Dominco cautions against taking the first blush of information to Delridge because he may be a bit hot headed. Gavin notes that Delridge’s folk are following us, so we may not have much choice.

Our tails won’t follow us through the swamp as we go to investigate Bad Doric.

After some discussion, we decided to chase down the merchants on the road to Darromar.

We acquired some horses from a reputable stable with Dominico’s help and start tracking the runaway merchants.

Tracking the Runaway Merchants

Kira found a trail believed to be the merchants, about 3 hours behind them. The road is heavily traveled so Kira tracked again and, on a 20, believes they went toward Riatavin.

We found the cart that we were following on the road approaching Riatavin. The cart has 2 riders, one looks thuggish and the other looks like a stereotypical merchant.

Gavin begins a conversation with the merchants:

  • “We’re deputies with Magistrato Falcone performing a routine check”
  • The merchant with the trimmed hair denies our jurisdiction

The thug draws a crossbow and loads a bolt with green fire. Kira casts a thornwhip at the clear aggression.

Fight begins. The party wins handily. Bikke killed the bodyguard and Hugh knocked out the merchant. The pair were driving a cart well-designed for human trafficking.

Gavin begins interrogating the merchant after bringing him back around:

  • The merchant says the other merchant is already dead. (Bikke and Hugh may have misremembered 3 vs 4 merchants)
  • The merchant offered to pay us to let him escape. Hugh considered this disgusting, his money may be taken as recompense for his crimes, but his life is forfeit for his crimes of enriching himself with the blood of the innocent.
  • “Etienne Auttencort tells us (the merchants) what he wants and we (the merchants) buy it from Boblin”
  • “Ettian wants slaves!”
  • “We shouldn’t have taken the special deal, Etienne was good”
    • Implies Etienne didn’t make the special order for the halflings
  • “A week ago, Albrecht Moray approached the merchants and asked for specific slaves”
    • Albrecht Moray is in port Maraisa. He wants themerchants to make sure specific children go to Etienne. They need to go through the whiteskull, Boblin, first. The merchant offered to pick them up directly, but Albrecht insisted on the route through the white skull
  • Gavin: How do we get to Albrecht Moray?
    • “He gave us the money, he gave us the instructions, and he told us to talk to Boblin.”
    • “I don’t know how to get a hold of ALbrecht, he worked through the goblin. Albrecht has brown hair, youngish, handsome, thirtyish” - Sounds like Rowan except for the beard.
    • Albrecht is slender, Rowan is broad.
    • Albrecht was sweaty, like fever sweat, drenched all the time.
  • Gavin: Where were you headed?
    • “Riatavin. Etienne isn’t the one who asked for the kids, Etienne wouldn’t care that we were empty handed because he didn’t have an order in.”
    • Gavin: Anything else you can tell us?
      • “I didn’t want to do this, they’re all sick fucks. I didn’t get paid much. I can tell you where their gold is, but it hurts too much right now.”
    • Name: Grottio Montony. Lives in Riatavin, family in Aureltaran.

After interrogating Grottio Montony, we tie him up and pack him into the cart with the corpse of his body guard to bring them back to Port Maraisa as evidence for Dominico and for corroboration with what Rowan witnessed

Shared Notes

Session 4