Re: Chapter 8: The Rusted Nail
Ben and Saliq spend the next several days trawling the city for any gossip or intel they can gather on the Ehridol, Talas and Thyrandas families. This pursuit amounts to much carousing in inns where they might not normally frequent, putting a substantial dent in both of their coin purses. The city's elite generally do not share the same accommodations as the lesser folk, but Ben and Saliq are men of substance now. Long gone are the days of living hand to mouth or off the rapidly dwindling fortunes of one's family.
Rumor has it...
The Ehridol's seem to be in tacit alliance with the Talas', using their connections in the Mariner's Guild to enforce a naval blockade out at sea, putting heavy restrictions on what sea traffic can come in and out of the city. Supposedly, mercenaries from the Northern Kingdoms have attempted to gain access to the city, but been turned away. Talk centers around the idea that these men in dragon-prowed longboats have come at the behest of Lord Mayor Thyrandas, perhaps to swell his ranks in the event the Mercenaries' Guild makes a play against the Lord Mayor's Lion Sentinels, the ruling family's personal guard and those responsible for defending Stormhaven Keep.
The Talas family has summonsed many of its outlying fiefs to the city, among them, Lord Myron, for a Council of Lords, to be held within the Mercenaries Guild Headquarters. At least a half dozen lords have answered the call and now gather behind closed doors to discuss whatever it is that Lords discuss. Many of the mercenaries recently drawn to the city have swelled Lord Harvan Talas' ranks and some claim his host of swarthy men from the Empires of the Sands number in the hundreds. Certainly their presence is noted in the city. Many of the inns are bursting at the seams trying to accommodate these dark-skinned men.
The Thyrandas family has been holed up behind Stormhaven Keep for several weeks now and the usually quite visible Lord Mayor Eradan has not been seen in some time. A gardener claimed to have recently seen the Lord Mayor walking through the Keep's gardens, with the assistance of several attendants. The Lord Mayor appeared to have aged considerably and was barely recognizable, were it not for the distinctive circlet upon his brow. The Lion Sentinels are quite busy these days, with all members on watch at Stormhaven Keep.
***
Meanwhile, Eagle, Rath, Galadel, and Inas spend their time investigating the Black Tower, which lies in the extreme northwest corner of Oldhaven, wedged between row after row of tenement housing and small family workshops. This is a poor neighborhood, though not filled with scheming thieves and cutthroats, like the Narrows, rather the city's working poor. It is a close-knit neighborhood and the party's presence definitely catches the attention of its denizens. This is not an area typically frequented by any but those whom dwell here, a forgotten corner of the city.
The dark tower rises above the tenements like an ashy finger extended heavenward, her upper reaches ringed by a crown of winged demonic statues, gargoyles, who leer down upon the surrounding neighborhood. A rusted wrought-iron fence surrounds the cramped yard from which the tower rises, the yard given over almost entirely to leafless, twisted briar. The gate entrance is held fast by a massive chain fitted with a heavy iron lock. A painted placard hangs listlessly by a single bolt. The sign reads: "No Trespassing, by Order of Lord Harvan Talas!"
Beyond the closed gate and through the briar, the party can barely make out what looks like a single stone door leading into the tower. Two leering gargoyles flank either side of the door, their dull, stony eyes staring directly down the path, their mouths cast in a permanent menacing sneer.
Glancing around at the surrounding buildings, the party notices that most in the immediate area seem to be vacant, with inhabited dwellings being a good 50 feet distant from the iron fence.
OOC: Continued in Longshadows thread
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Mon 09 Mar 2015.