EDGE OF ANARCHY- The Halls of Enchantment

Things we learned during 'The Hunt for Skeener': 

 

-Aerodus: Hmmm...argues against slitting a prisoner's throat...could he be the only member of the party with a healthy conscience? 

-Baelgren: One ruthless SOB (we kind of knew before, but now it's a fact).

-Lucien: Despite proclaiming he is terrified of being united with his otyugh lover, he is the first to follow Skeener into the sewers:  brave hero, stupid idiot, or closet monster fetish?  You decide. 

-Lugo: Turns out he's a decent grappler, maybe a career change is in order.  It's rumored that the VWF (Varisian Wrestling Federation) is looking for future stars.


     You all stare silently as Lugo stands, shaking, face pale from the foul deed he has just committed.  At his feet lies the corpse of your rival, Skeener.  In one hand Lugo holds a bloody sword, in the other, Skeener's freshly shorn head.  The blood dripping onto the floor echoes eerily in the dark tunnel.

     (Nice to see another adventure starting off in such a positive light!)

     It's becomes apparent rather quickly that retracing their steps through the damp Korvosan underbelly might not be as easy as initially thought.  Intent on their foe, the companions traveled quite a distance before apprehending Skeener; down ladders, into cramped side passages, through flooded chambers, not to mention the handful of confusing intersections and absolute darkness.  Putting the theory into practice only confirms their suspicions, and, after a short period of time that feels like an eternity, they are hopelessly lost.  Debating their next move, the group realizes they are being shadowed and waste no time in uncovering their secret admirer; a small, filthy, malnourished, rodent-faced man with a badly burnt and useless right hand that he keeps pressed to his chest.  The man seems incapable of making eye contact and has the disgusting habit of licking his damaged appendage mid-sentence.  Pressed for information, the companions discover the poor creature is named Samp.  It seems Samp somehow manages to eke out a living in the sewers and has noticed Skeener coming and going in the past weeks or months.  More importantly, he knows of Skeener's 'secret destinations'.  For the bargain price of five gold sails, he agrees to lead the group wherever they would like to go.  They flip flop between:  a) "Let's get the #*ck out of here before we get killed"  and  b) "What if Skeener's got some sweet loot hidden somewhere?!?".  Greed wins out.

     Samp cautiously leads them deeper into the sewers, often sniffing the air like a mouse, mumbling to himself, and licking his hand vigourously before making decisions.  A few times, the party members look at themselves in confusion as Samp suddenly stops and reverses his direction.  When they hear the loud shuffling noises of an all too familiar and smelly monster, they understand why.  Lucien is quietly thankful for Samp's keen senses.  Yet even Samp isn't infallible as he is later ambushed by some humanoids while scouting a good distance ahead of the party.  Thinking Samp alone, they act like schoolyard bullies.  When they attempt to do the same to the PCs, things don't work out so well.  There are a few tense moments though; the first assailant, a filthy human charges them, followed by a terrifying rat-man hybrid who seems almost impervious to weapon damage.  Thankfully his resistance does not extend to the arcane, and although some members sustain injury, he is finally brought down with magic.  Samp is shaken, but obviously relieved that the rat-man, whom he calls Girrigz, is dead.

     The group presses on.  Soon the tunnels become larger, the craftsmanship in many sections more detailed, even the stench lessens...until they reach the huge reeking, garbage filled chamber that is, according to Samp, their destination.  Samp tells the companions that Skeener would come here, cross the floor and 'disappear' on the other side, though he never witnessed how.  He refuses to follow them, though he promises to wait.  Reluctantly, the characters clamber down the stairs into the pit that is the floor, sloshing through knee-high muck and refuse.  Their reluctance is well deserved, half the way across, they realize they are smack dab in the middle of an otyugh den, and the den is occupied!  Assailed on all sides by miniature versions of the vile monster they encountered in their first trip to the sewers, they retaliate.  As they slay one of the juvenile otyughs, they hear a disturbing sound approaching from one of the large tunnels leading into the chamber.  Momma Otyugh is coming and she's going to be plenty mad when she finds out somebody has been slicing her babies!  Panicked, the foursome make their way up the steps onto the landing opposite the way they entered.  Wondering what to do next, someone notices a small indentation at chest height in the center of the wall.  The indentation is in the form of a seven-pointed star, exactly like the medallion found in Skeener's possession.  Putting two and two together, the group is able to activate some type of magical portal that transports them away from the awful tentacled reach of Momma Otyugh.

 

     From here the companions begin to descend an ornate spiral staircase and are assaulted by a hideous tentacled creature that drops from above and seems able to surround itself in darkness.  Terrified and wanting nothing to do with it, they fight it to a standstill and both parties retreat, licking their wounds.  The rest of the exploration fares no better, investigating only a half-dozen chambers find them confronting an exploding gas-filled zombie, a room that plays with their perception of reality (Baelgren was sure the others were losing their marbles), and, last but not least, a creature with the torso of a beautiful woman but very little else that is beautiful (see image at top of blog).  Smelly, dirty, and injured, the group decides enough is enough when they find a small crudely dug side tunnel that leads to a cliff face with a rope leading up.  They seize the moment and escape.  It should be noted that the halls and chambers they saw were obviously ancient and many of the walls and doorways were adorned with intricate carvings.  All were illuminated with magical globes, and the whole place seemed to hum with power, though the source of the power remained a mystery.  At some point in time, hundreds maybe even thousands of years ago, this place was of some great import to some powerful person or group.

     Scaling a cliff with a churning ocean one hundred feet below them in the middle of a windy night might not seem like a good idea to most, but to these tired and terrified companions it seemed an easy choice.  Luckily they survived unscathed (the climb that is, the rest of the adventure likely left emotional scars that might never heal).  Finding their bearings, they made their way into Korvosa, safely avoiding guard patrols enforcing the mandatory curfew.  Baelgren retires to his abode while Aerodus feels obliged to provide accommodation for the other two mooches (any bets on how long it takes before he snaps and kicks them out?).

     The next day, as Skeener's head starts to rot, the group deliver their prize to Laori.  She gleefully accepts the head as well as the scourge Skeener had alledgedly stolen, playingfully snapping the horrible weapon in the air while winking at Lugo.  With her bubbly attitude and dressed in a white healer's uniform, the beautiful elven woman doesn't seem to fit the role of priestess of a god of pain and suffering.  "A bargain is a bargain, you've gotten me what I wanted, thus I will maintain my side of the deal.  I will contact you when all is in order.  Don't be afraid Lugo, I can guarantee our time together will be...unforgettable."  With that, Laori giggles and retreats into her work chambers with one last mischievous wink.  All present are left with a queer feeling, eerily similar to the one felt when confronted with a thousand pound otyugh...

    

    

EDGE OF ANARCHY- The Hunt for Skeener

What we learned during 'The Sawmill':

Aerodus- His bombs are deadly- to foes and friends alike...just ask Lugo.
Baelgren- His true colors are starting to 'bleed through'...just ask his enemies (oh wait, we can't, they've had their throats slit).
Lucien- This poor guy just can't catch a break...unless it's in the literal sense.
Lugo- He might make a pretty good thief after all...keep your eyes on your stuff.


The second morning after their infiltration of the Seven's Sawmill, Lugo and Lucien are recovering from their wounds at Leftovers- an inn in the Eastshore district. Though not the lap of luxury, the inn is likely the best fare that either has had in months. Unfortunately, their stay is cut short by a nosy squad of the Korvosan Guard. They are able to escape through a window into an alley without being seen.

The jaunt through the city proves uneventful, though both are nervous; if anyone were to recognize their faces, things might get a little hairy. Meeting up with Aerodus and Baelgren, the group contemplates their options. Finding Skeener seems to be the main priority. They visit the the Pantheon of the Many in hopes of gaining clues at the shrine of Norborger, to no avail. Despite Lugo's apprehensiveness, the next place on the list is Skeener's former residence- the townhouse in the Heights district.

The group gains entry by picking the front door lock, which Aerodus believes they had previously left unlocked. They search most of the house, starting with the upper levels. Though nothing seems amiss, the party gets the feeling that somebody has been here since their last visit. They find nothing of value, unless one counts an exotic zebra-skin rug, which they roll up and leave by the front door. Entering the main floor lounge area, Lugo is surprised by a pair of Skinsaw cultists. Luckily, he escapes injury, and the PCs spring into action. Lucien boosts the team's morale with song, as Aerodus 'bombs away', Baelgren 'blasts away', and Lucien 'swings away'. The fight is over in mere seconds.

Expecting more opposition in the cellar, Lucien and Baelgren disguise themselves as cultists, hoping to fool their enemies and gain the upper hand. The plan works perfectly, until one of the cultists climbs the stairs and sees one of his slain (and now naked) companions lying in plain view. He raises the alarm, and a second cultist appears to attack Aerodus, Baelgren, and Lucien in the cellar, while Lugo ambushes the first. Though Baelgren and Lugo sustain injuries, the group is again able to dispatch their adversaries with relative ease.

Across the 'flesh curtain', Lucien and Baelgren hear, "So you've found me once again, you are a persistent bunch...". Skeener! Lucien rushes into the next room to find the murderer escaping into the cramped tunnels that lead to the sewers. Throwing caution to the wind, Lucien enters the tunnels. Halfway through, he hears Skeener mumbling something incoherent...a spell! Lucien feels his body stiffen, he can't move. Skeener laughs and runs away. Baelgren comes barreling behind Lucien, and, unable to move past his petrified companion, he decides to shove him forward. The resulting scrapes and bumps hurt so much that Lucien is able to regain control of his limbs. They reach the sewers to see Skeener's light in the distance. With Lugo and Aerodus joining them, they give chase...

Navigating through sewers is tricky business at the best of times; doing so on the run while chasing a foe is another thing completely. Despite this, the group proves successful. Baelgren uses his magic, slamming bolt after bolt of magical energy into Skeener's backside, while Lugo uses his acrobatic skills to close the distance. Three times Lugo manages to get his hands on the cultist, but each time Skeener breaks free, leaving Lugo with handfuls of torn clothing. On the fourth attempt, Lugo will not be denied, he wrestles the priest to the ground, pinning his arms. The rest of the group converges on the downed opponent, each eager to dish out punishment. Seconds before going unconscious, Skeener squeaks, "I surrender". In an act that some would call cold-blooded murder, though others might call merciful, Baelgren draws a blade and slits Skeener's throat from ear to ear.

The hunt for Skeener ends just as it began; a bloody mess...

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.

EDGE OF ANARCHY- Introduction

Background hook #1

Hook: You are somehow connected to Zellera, a Varisian fortune teller in her mid-forties who runs a harrow-reading shop from her small home in the Midland district, near the Gold Market. Less than a year ago, Zellera lost her harrow deck (a valuable family heirloom rumored to be magical) to pickpockets. When her only child and teenage son, Eran, took it upon himself to recover the harrow deck, he was murdered. His head and hands were sent back to his mother in a box as a warning. Zellera has been a wreck ever since. We begin the adventure as you find yourself in front of Zellera's shop...

The door is slightly ajar, so you knock and walk in. The front room is empty. You call out, but get no reply. You quickly search the rest of the house, but find no one. Nothing seems amiss. You return to the front room, and notice a harrow deck on the table. A feeling of uneasiness washes over you; you don't remember noticing it as you walked in. The cards are decorated with hand-painted images, the frames gilt in silver. They are worn, but the images on the faces are so vibrant they seem to move when viewed out of the corner of your eye. It dawns on you; this is Zellera's harrow deck, the one that was stolen from her. How did it get here? You step forward, unable to resist. Your fingers brush the top card. A surge of awareness rushes through you. Your mind's eye sees a burning city, a mob, mounds of decaying bodies, a tarnished crown held high by a rusty pitchfork.

You wake from your reverie as you hear a noise behind you. Standing in the doorway to the kitchen is Zellera, tears stream down her face.

"I've found him, the man who hurt my Eran. It took...so long...so much...but now he is revealed to me. He is terrible, a monster who preys on children. The things he does to them...unspeakable things...wounds that can never heal. You know of whom I speak...it is not chance that you have made your way here to me. He hurt you too, not so long ago. I can sense your pain...and...your desire for vengeance. The nightmare that is Gaedren Lamm must end."

Zellera goes on to tell you that she believes you are the one who must engineer the demise of Gaedren Lamm; you and three others who suffered like you. She tells you of the three, hints that will help you find them. As you leave Zellera's, you feel as if you have just awakened from a dream...