Keep on the Borderlands - The Path of Evil - Session 44

SESSION 44: DAY 19-21 – BURG LEICHINSTEIN

Lucien and Talmark gather the ears and go to find Captain Wallache and Sergeant Engel at the inner gate house. 

They find Wallache in weapons practice against a few of the brothers. 

As he sees black and red robs of the cleric of Asmodeus and the accompanying warrior he disregards them and continues his practice.

Sergeant Engel is, however, nowhere to be seen. 

 

Lucien and Talmark wait patiently. Lucien knows that Wallache has spotted them and is ignoring them, arrogantly showing them that his time is much more important than theirs. 

After 20 minutes, he completes his training and the brothers return to their guard duties. Wallache wipes the blade of his sword, checking for nicks. He then returns it to its scabbard. 

Casting his eye towards Lucien and Talmark he addresses them directly, “What do thee want, more of the Burg’s gold I suppose?”

Lucien ignores the snide remark and professionally presents the ears. “We’ve cleansed the area again. We’ve defeated many monsters and have improved the lawfulness of the lands. We’ve destroyed 38 monsters and hereby claim the legal bounty for their destruction.”

Wallache summons two of the guards who quickly respond by bringing out a small table and a chair for their Captain. As he sits he examines each of the ears in turn, placing the ones that he feels is worthy in one bucket and the smaller ones in another bucket. 

“Twenty six monsters you have destroyed. The others were hardly a challenge.” He stands, “Wait here. I’ll collect your bounty for you.” He enters the inner gatehouse and after 20 minutes returns with a bag of gold coins “May Irori continue to protect you in your most legal of endeavors” he adds with a sarcastic tone. 

Talmark collects the gold from the Captain and together he and Lucien walk back to the others. 

The party gathers at the Cold Hart Tavern to make their plans. 

"So," Talmark says to his party members, "those trogs were not just out wandering around and we found them by chance. They are out with intent. I think we may need to further reinforce our retreat. I've also been wondering if it may be beneficial to attain or build a permanent residence here in the Burg. The brothers are very suspicious of outsiders, and it may help us become "insiders", or at least less scrutinized. Of course, they may just not like our Asmodian leanings..."

He chuckles. "Anyways, something to think about." 

Kord agrees, “If we are ever to take the Burg for ourselves, and the glory of Cheliax, I think we’ll need a local residence. Somewhere to store spare supplies in safety and to be handy for when we finally act against these ridiculous Irorians.”

Lucien adds, “The Irorians just respect the law, no evil or good intent in them, just the law. They’ll respect our right to worship our own god as long as we don’t break the law. I understand them as I too am a man of the law. The only problem that they have is that they are following the wrong laws. And I cannot stand for that. Eventually, that will be their downfall.”

 

After a pause, Talmark utters "Taking on and defeating a White Dragon would sure be a great accomplishment. But if the Brothers could not do it with their numbers, I doubt we could at the moment. More training and experience will help greatly, and I think we would get a lot of that if we spend some time whittling down Bymbir's followers. The question would be as whether to shift focus or keep at clearing the caves? Perhaps we should check up on Sildar and see what we can learn."

“Yes, and while we’re at it lets get some more supplies,” quips Lucien. “I need more supplies and time for scrolls and I’d like to speak to Berowalt about a special helmet.”

They nod in agreement with Per and Talmark adding that they’d also like to see Berowalt about better weapons and armour and Kord saying that he’d need more time to also scribe some scrolls whilst Malandir would like to find some useful materials for trap making. 

The party go their ways to procure the supplies that they need.

Talmark returns to the smithy to speak with Berowalt and ask if there is anything in particular he is in need of, or would like to have. 

Anything specific that we may come across in our adventures. He is hoping to both garner a better relationship with the smith as well as help out.

Berowalt replies that there is a fair maiden imprisoned within the caves. Berowalt and Geneve were betrothed but when Geneve was on a caravan travelling to Cettigne, the caravan was attacked by hobgoblins and she was taken. He’s been searching for her ever since but he just knows in his bones that she is being kept at the Caves of Chaos and he doesn’t have the skill at arms to adventure there. He is a smith not a warrior of such renown as it would take to try to rescue her himself. He went to the Curate Valdemar and the Castellan Rald but neither could help him with his plight. He would be forever grateful if they could at least attempt to rescue her. 

Gerowalt describes Geneve as having long blonde hair and arms as strong as any of his assistant in the workshop.

Talmark responds that he will talk to the party and they will try to rescue her. 

A few moments later Lucien enters and asks about the gnoll king head. He offers a flat 20gp for him to have it boiled down to the bone and incorporated into a helmet. Berowalt responds that is no problem and he’ll have it ready in two days (DM’s note – please send me a picture if you want a new token). 

Per soon follows with Malandir and ask about master working their glaive and studded leather armour respectively. Berowalt says that too is no problem. It’ll cost 300gp per item to have it masterworked. Malandir enquires about the possibility of procuring some traps. Berowalt says that he has four of these excellent bear traps at 2gp a piece if that’s what he’s interested in (DM’s note - see page 76 of Ultimate Equipment). For more elaborate traps he could supply parts if Malandir could describe what he is interested in (DM’s note - see page 420 of the Core Rule Book for more details on traps and come back to me). 

Lucien re-visits Dearg at Valor Trading and, after a lengthy negotiation, procures master worked scribing/carving tools (50p), high quality silk (75gp), purified silver needle (25gp), purified silver scissors (75gp) and silver threading (25gp), which Dearg just happens to have in a little alcove at the back of the shop. 

Later, back at the Tavern, in their room over the next a day or so, Lucien and Kord prepare some scrolls. Lucien prepares four Shield of Faith scrolls and Kord prepares four Cure Light Wounds scrolls.  Talmark request that Lucien create two more Cure Light Wounds potions for him, which he duly does over the same period.

  

DEW