Irrelevance, 90 Letum 1999 GR [continued]
Vítday,
36 Autumn Colours 204 LE
While the fight is going on, the Scribe, Raegar and Jirokichi search
the rest of the theatre. There are two apartments in the top of
the theatre - one is the domicile of Sillander (the sea-kin theatre
manager) and the other the Grey Minstrel. Searching Sillander's
apartment reveals a number of papers about theatre business and
a large safe. Jirokichi takes these. Raegar cannot find anything
in the Minstrel's quarters, however a later search by Lycaon and
Gazahi discovers a blank piece of parchment concealed in a flap
within the carpet. The parchment radiates abjuration magic, but
no-one knows why.
Following the fight in the chamber, Revda and Gazahi find Sillander
alive (he was hiding in a compartment behind the bar). Sillander
reveals that the boy who gave the Minstrel the water was Darmel,
however, Sillander believes Darmel has been killed along with everyone
else. This later proves to be false, as Raegar searches all the
corpses and cannot find the boy. Sillander also says that Greta
was meant to be present that evening to collect the takings, but
hasn't shown up. She keeps a house in Oldgate.
The Scribe now casts Speak with Dead on the Grey Minstrel. They
ask the following questions and receive answers:
Q: Who do you believe would poison you?
A: A Servant of the Voice Macabre.
Q: What is the nature of the creature attached to your chest?
A: What creature?
Q: What do you believe was the purpose behind Amulkan'set?
A: He sought to steal the gift of Ysberyl.
Not particularly edifying: at least, not yet. Gazahi speaks of Amulkan'set
and reveals that he hid the body as an insurance policy against
not being paid. Jirokichi adds to the mystery by saying the Minstrel
used to wear a wolf's head ring, but it is missing.
Uncertain of what to do next, the Scribe casts a divination and
learns that they should hurry to Greta's house in Oldgate as quickly
as possible. They leave and take Sillander with them. When they
arrive they find the door has been broken open and a massive fight
has ensued between Greta's goblinoid body guards and (Raegar confirms)
Banshee Knights in the service of Kiaransalee, the drow goddess
of Undeath and Vengeance. Quite why they are here is anyone's guess.
They split up and search the house.
Lycaon hears a noise upstairs and apprehends Greta Sorann herself
as she is trying to climb out of the window! She is devastated to
hear that the Grey Minstrel is dead (he's her cash cow). She blames
a water merchant called Fisk for the poisoning. All of the Grey
Minstrel's water came from Fisk who owns a patch of river right
on by the Wharf Gate (in the shadow of the city wall) where the
Fallow Flow is at its cleanest.
Great goes onto say that the knights attacked before she was able
to go to the theatre. She doesn't know why she was attacked. She
seems quite weak and the Scribe realises that she has also been
poisoned and only has minutes left to live. It seems there is a
plate of poisoned biscuits in the room! However, this is a completely
*different* poison to the one that killed the Grey Minstrel, so
the party cannot be sure that they are connected. Greta is distraught
at this turn of events and demands that the party save her. She
hires them all to be her new bodyguards.
The Scribe uses all his abilities, but has not the skill to save
Greta. Lord Revda starts knocking on doors until he finds a house
that employs an alchemist. With minutes to spare he grabs one and
drags him into the town house. Meanwhile, Greta tells the party
to open a save in the room. In it is the payment she promised the
Scribe - a large necklace (more of mayoral chain). As it happens
the alchemist is able to save Greta and she is put to bed to rest
in the room.
The Scribe recognises the necklace, but he doesn't know where from.
The burn stain on his robe's (Tam's robes - although the Scribe
doesn't know who Tam is) seems to match the necklace entirely. He
puts it on. This causes the spirit of elven warlock Clara Ellien'dael
to manifest in the room. Clara is extremely confused, doesn't know
that she's dead and is expecting the party to "save her".
She apparently died one thousand years ago at the hands of betrayer
called Takash who also imprisoned her. She has no active memory
of the last millennia, although the name Tam is familiar to her.
Her mind is full of holes. The Scribe is very excited to talk to
the ghost and find out all the historical information that she must
no. She seems less thrilled with this arrangement.
Raegar Nerrimaen (showing unusual incite for a two-headed drow)
says that Takash is another name for Eligos - one of Karatath's
Thirty. Eligos used to rule Tharkis for Karatath long before the
Witch-Queen gained control of the city. At the name "Eligos"
Clara changes form into an horrific and terrifying visage. It is
very unsettling for those members of the party who feel fear. It
takes a long time for her to calm down. Jirokichi remembers that
a play: "The Tragedy of Eligos" was going to be performed
at the Darkmantle shortly, and asks Sillander about it. The sea-kin
says that the play is a work of fiction by the (now deceased) playwright
Krystianna Merryn. The play is the tale of a good man corrupted
- he doesn't know if that is the historical truth.
It is late. Raegar and Gazahi go to bed, while Jirokichi stays up
to search the place. He finds a library full of brand new books
that have not been read. The other party members do not sleep. A
little while later a band of luckless burglars break into the house
downstairs. (believing it to be abandoned). Lycaon attacks one,
ripping him apart and devouring his soul. Lord Revda quickly despatches
the others.
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