EDGE OF ANARCHY- The Sawmill

What we learned during "Skeener's Townhouse":

Aerodus- Likes to play dress-up.
Baelgren- Every so often he buys a goat that is never seen nor heard from again...
Lucien- Does not like the smell of rotting meat, is able to charm the pants off big stinky monsters, and is not very good at deciphering Nidalese (Shadowtongue).
Lugo- Meeting Laori did little to convince him that the 'Shadow Pact' is a good idea.


In this episode, our heroes spent a lot of time figuring out what to do next. They contemplated returning to the sewers, but no one was excited about a second meeting with Lucien's pet monster (especially Lucien). They finally read the taxation document found at the scene of the murder (see EDGE OF ANARCHY- The Shadow Pact), only to realize that the one date left on the taxation document had recently come and gone. They spent some time trying to find Laori in a request for help, and were surprised to find that she is the owner of a respected medical practice in the Midland District. They learned that 'Father Skinsaw' is another name for one of Korvosa's lesser known and more feared deities; Norborger. Finally, the party concentrated their energies on finding the place in Skeener's notes called 'The Sawmill'. After some investigation, they found a lumber yard named the Seven's Sawmill:

Shortly after dusk, witnessing half a dozen employees exiting the mill, the characters make their move. First they gain entry into the undermill, where they discover large water wheels that provide power to the building's machinery through a series of belts, gears, pulleys, and ropes. With no apparent access to the upper levels, the party is forced to gain entry by picking the locks to the front doors. Another dark room awaits them, apparently a loading bay with stairs leading up. Climbing the stairs, they hear footsteps from the floor above. Trying to get into better positions only reveals their presence to a mill inhabitant who, after realizing he is outnumbered, quickly retreats. The PCs press on despite having lost the element of surprise. It is not long before they encounter opposition; a trio of masked humanoids wielding wicked-looking razor knives. Aerodus takes advantage of the cramped fighting quarters by throwing one of his explosive concoctions, knocking two of the assailants prone and forcing the third to run away. At this point they hear a hoarse, scratchy voice addressing them from above, "What do you want?" The ensuing conversation confirms they have found the man they have been looking for; Skeener. He invites the intruders to reveal themselves, which they do, and finally they are able to put a face to the name (a disfigured face, but a face nonetheless). The following negotiations fall short, forcing a heated battle in which four cultists are subdued, Skeener escapes, a prisoner is murdered, and Lucien & Lugo are rendered unconscious through an accumulation of physical damage. Aerodus and Baelgren load their immobile companions onto their donkey rental, find the nearest inn, and decide to lay low...

EDGE OF ANARCHY- Skeener's Townhouse

seal of korvosa

What we've learned about the 'heroes' so far...

Aerodus- He can make things go BOOM!
Baelgren- Not only does he sell magic, he can cast it too.
Lucien- He's a good distraction when the other guys want to escape...
Lugo- He doesn't have any money (or else he pretends he doesn't have any).


Things the 'heroes' learn in the days following their ordeal:

1) They are now wanted by the Korvosan Guard and the Order of the Nail (hellknights). Wanted posters with a fairly accurate description of Lucien are posted across the city.

2) The murders they are being blamed for aren't the first, and have been dubbed the 'Skinsaw Murders' because of the grizzly fashion in which flesh has been removed from the victims.

3) The symbol on the cover of the Book of Shadows is probably that of a deity, and may be represented at the Pantheon of the Many.

4) The ring found by Baelgren is one worn by bureaucrats of the city of Korvosa. Embedded in the face is the seal of Korvosa.

After a few days, the group is reunited; Lucien manages to rid himself of the manacles and finds Baelgren, who in turn finds Aerodus and Lugo. It is decided that the group will go to the Pantheon of the Many and attempt to ascertain the meaning of the of the skull symbol found on the Book of Shadows and murder victim. They learn that the symbol is that of a deity named Zon-Kuthon, god of envy, pain, darkness, and loss. The Book of Shadows is written in Nidalese (otherwise known as the Shadowtongue), and is known to some servants of the Umbral Lord. They meet one of his worshippers, a strange and unsettling, though altogether striking priestess named Laori, with whom they are able to reach a bargain: If they surrender the Book of Shadows and are able to return a renegade priest to the fold (alive if at all possible), Laori will personally conduct the Shadow Pact, of which she is familiar. In addition, they are to return a sacred tool stolen from Laori; a multi-tailed barbed whip made of black leather and covered in rusted barbed wire, shards of broken glass, and fangs. "The scourge is dear to myself, as it is to my Lord. If you should find it, be warned against keeping it for yourselves...it might prove to be...an unwise choice".

The renegade priest is simply named Skeener, and Laori seems convinced that he is behind the recent murders, which have landed her in some trouble with the local authorities. She provides the group with an address and a somewhat ambiguous description of the culprit, "He has some elven blood, though you might not be able to tell...you see...he is, shall we say, missing a few features."

Though the encounter that is dubbed Skeener's townhouse is an interesting one, we shall not delve too deeply in the details at this time. It is suffice to say that it involved:

1) Spending a lot of time casing the house and nearly being arrested by the Korvosan Guard.
2) Entering via a second story window.
3) Playing a long game of hide-and-go-seek with a pair of murderous 2 foot tall dolls.
4) Finding a trapped door leading to a basement used as a torture chamber/morgue.
5) Finding a small tunnel leading to a vast network of underground tunnels.
6) Lucien charming and narrowly escaping the loving embrace of a gigantic, moving, monstrous garbage compactor (otyugh).
7) Getting the hell out before something really bad happened.

During the search of the basement, a stack of scrolls was found. Seemingly written by Skeener, they reference a host of different subjects, though deciphering some of the notes proves difficult as they very are unorganized (it is obvious the author is intelligent but deranged). They reference:

- The mutilation, humiliation, and damage suffered at the hands of Laori. Plans of revenge.
- Zon-Kuthon, in both positive and negative lights.
- A new master called Father Skinsaw.
- A group named the Brotherhood of the Seven.
- A place called 'the Sawmill'.
- Monsters in the sewers that may be bargained with 'meat'.
- Humanoid anatomy, torture, medical techniques, etc. (this compromises the bulk of the notes).

EDGE OF ANARCHY- The Shadow Pact

The players:

-Aerodus, a well-to-do dabbler in elixirs and potions
-Baelgren, a minor street vendor of items magical in nature
-Lucien, a down on his luck middle-aged crooner
-Lugo, a man seeking to shed himself of his tortured past

It begins with Lugo and Baelgren. Reacquainted after many years, Baelgren convinces Lugo (with some difficulty) to partake in a ritual called the Shadow Pact. If successful, Lugo would gain powers over his own shadow, effectively separating it from his being and gaining a powerful ally in the process.

"THIS is where you got the idea for this Shadow Pact?", Lugo asks, looking incredulously at Baelgren as he groans with despair. Though small, the object in question appears and feels so disturbing that Lugo literally starts to shake. Never before had any item had such an effect on him. Black as night, the outer shell of the small tome is engraved with vile white sketches of the crudest sorts, depicting scenes of torture, rape, and pain. In the center is a symbol of a skull with chains through the eye sockets. To the touch, it feels slippery, yet slightly tacky. "Blood, this damned book is soaked with blood...take it back!", Lugo shrieks. Baelgren smiles and removes it from Lugo's grasp, "There is no need to fear what you do not understand Lugo.". Lugo gazes at his own hands, expecting to see them stained red. Instead, they appear quite normal.

Despite his reservations, Lugo decides the payoff is worth the risk. Knowing that some parts of the ritual are beyond his particular skills, Baelgren enlists the help of a business contact, one Aerodus Leroung. But even Aerodus is puzzled at some of the ingredients demanded in the ceremony. Mulling options over ale at a local tavern, the three gather the interest of a fellow patron when one of them mentions the name Gaedren Lamm, but it is only after leaving that they notice their eavesdropper. Slipping into an alley, they manage to corner him and extract an explanation. He is Lucien Graysong, and, like them, he's had dealings with the monster Gaedren Lamm. Before they have time to talk overlong, a scream splits the night air. They investigate and stumble upon a brutal assault. Two figures dressed in colorful clothing and bizarre masks, apparently the assailants, laugh and run off as they hear the group approaching. The victims, a man and a woman, have both had their throats slashed. A quick investigation of the bodies confirm they are both dead. Baelgren finds two items of interest on the alley floor near the bodies; a scroll and a ring. Also of interest is a symbol, freshly branded, on the male murder victim's forehead: A skull with chains through the eye sockets. Baelgren, Lugo, and Aerodus look at each other with alarm as they realize the symbol is nearly identical to the one depicted on the cover of the Book of Shadows. Before they have any time to think, the scene turns from bad to worse. A group of hellknights appears at the mouth of the alley. With blood on their hands (from searching for vital signs), weapons drawn, and a symbol linked from murder victim to an item in their possession, the group decides to flee rather than face the infamous justice system of the hellknights. The resulting chase meanders through much of Old Korvosa, with the party unable to shake the tenacious hellknights. Eventually, they find themselves on a newly constructed dock jutting into the chilly Jeggare river. Unable to retrace their steps, they are at a dead end and are forced to jump into the waters or surrender. The resulting 2.5 minutes spent in the freezing river seem like an eternity and nearly drown Lugo and Aerodus, but it is Lucien who draws the attention of two knights when he, to the amazement of the others, starts to sing! His cover blown, Lucien is quickly captured and manacled. With their attention on Lucien; Baelgren, Lugo, and Aerodus haul themselves out of the water and hide amongst construction debris in the nearby alley. The trio launch a surprise attack, dropping one of the soldiers as Baelgren injures him with a bolt of sizzling arcane energy and Aerodus finishes him off by throwing a flask of volatile liquid that explodes upon contact. Out-numbered and out-matched, the remaining hellknight surrenders. Upon hearing more foes approaching, Aerodus, Lugo, and Baelgren quickly scatter, leaving Lucien, wrists bound, to fend for himself.

Everyone survives the night. Lugo follows Aerodus to his apartment, unabashedly making himself at home (indeed, it seems that in the coming weeks, to Aerodus' dismay, Lugo earns the distinguished title of 'The Party Mooch'), while Lucien, despite being handcuffed and having lost his backpack, is able to make it home with only his feelings bruised. Baelgren also makes it home, though he nearly succumbs to hypothermia from his swim in the Jeggare.