Wiki of The Dungeoneering Crew

The session began with the group having just defeated the queen ant and her defenders. Brandy was severely injured and used a full bottle of Extra Healing. They couldn't continue without resting but couldn't rest in this chamber. They decided to go back upstairs to one of the ruined rooms. They carefully moved back through the tunnel until they reached the split off where it went back upstairs.

Upstairs, they entered the first room on the right and considered casting the Tiny Hut spell, but the room was too small. They decided to rest without it. Audra slept against the door to prevent anyone from entering unnoticed. After resting for four hours, Audra heard voices outside the room speaking in Orc. They were discussing the dead Orcs found near the stables entrance and indicated they were searching for the group that killed them.

Audra stayed alert while the others slept, listening for any sign of the Orcs approaching. The noise eventually died down, and the group woke up refreshed and each healed slightly. Pyreece used Cure Serious Wounds and Cure Light Wounds to heal Brandy and the others. Audra informed everyone about the Orcs she had heard. Feeling ready, they ventured out again.

They went back downstairs and started exploring the tunnels. Kipp found a 'T' intersection with two large ants to the west. Before attacking the ants, Brandy explored a tunnel to the northeast and found a small chamber with gold pieces, gem stones, and a potion bottle containing a black, oily liquid.

Brandy checked the main chamber where the queen had died and found a cloak, four red potions, and a scroll tub. She took them back to Elenor. Pyreece identified the scroll as Protection from Petrification, 10-foot radius, and the red potions as Potions of Extra Healing. They prepared to attack the ants.

Brandy and Kipp sneaked in, but the ants were ready for them. The rest of the group moved in to attack, while Elenor stayed back to cast spells. One ants slipped around behind Elenor and attacked. Pyreece moved to intervene and protect her. After several rounds, they defeated all seven ants. Along the way, Brandy tripped a net trap.

Oglesby used one of the new potions to heal and they collected broadswords and shields from the ants. They found poisoned darts on the shields. Brandy tripped another net trap, but Audra helped her out. They found a passage heading northwest and moved through a long, winding tunnel.

They came to a split and chose the northeast passage. Oglesby dimmed the light source and saw a faint glimmer of light ahead. They continued and found a turn in the tunnel leading to a ladder down into lit room with four large weasels and a human male working at a table.

The room had a square portion and a circular area with a liquid moat. Brandy attacked a weasel, and Og attacked another. They saw four Orcs on the outer ledge. The human pulled out a saber and attacked Brandy. Kipp and Audra joined the fight, but she was momentarily distracted by the man's beauty.

Oglesby attacked his weasel again but missed. Brandy hit her weasel again. Elenor and Pyreece prepared to cast spells. The man attacked Brandy again. Elenor sent a fireball across to the island, damaging the Orcs. The weasels attacked again but missed. One weasel killed itself by failing twice(rolled a 1). The Orcs fired at the group, hitting Oglesby.

Oglesby hit his weasel again. Audra and Kipp continued fighting the man. Brandy killed her weasel and attacked the man from behind. Pyreece cast Hold Person on the man, paralyzing him. Kipp shifted his attack to a weasel and killed it.

Kipp attacked another weasel and killed it. Brandy charged at an Orc and hit him. The last weasel bit Oglesby and began sucking his blood. Elenor cast Magic Missile and killed that weasel. Oglesby was bleeding badly. Pyreece, Audra, Brandy, and Kipp finished off the Orcs.

Oglesby kept pressure on his wound, but the blood still flowed. Elenor gave him a dose of Extra Healing. Kipp noticed the moat was filled with sewage. Audra tied up the man and they stripped him of his armor and weapons. Kipp searched the Orcs and found longswords.

Oglesby couldn't let go of his wound without it bleeding again. Elenor tried to help him. They found lots of documents and notes on the table, including a finance record. It discussed the offloading of captives from Elredd and the outfitting of a caravan.

Dirk, the man, revealed he was known as Sturm Bucholtz and warned the group about the Slavelords. Brandy demanded information about their kidnapped friends. Dirk revealed they were likely taken to the stockade in the Drachensgrab mountains.

Audra asked about the names on the finance record. Dirk identified S.B. as himself and S.K. as Stalman Klim, a Slavelord. He explained that he follows Klim's orders without question. Dirk warned the group about the dangers of pursuing their path.

Dirk revealed there were about twenty Orcs in the area, with eight now dead, that should leave about twelve. He explained the Giant Weasel's bite prevents clotting, making them effective bloodsuckers. The group discussed what to do with Dirk and decided to tie him up and take him with them.

They found rations, chains, supplies, and bags of coins in the chest. They also found shipping documents and a receipt listing people brought in over the last four weeks. Dirk identified Captain Joinville as the captain of the Bloodwort.

They found additional documents ordering the transfer of Kerr and Mitgan to Suderham. Elenor remembered Mitgan as an artist from Dame Gold's party. They found a document elevating Dirk to the Outer Council of the Lords.

Dirk explained that Mistress Edralve wanted him to transfer to Kalen Lekos, but he refused. He described her as a terrifying, powerful killer with unholy powers. Dirk listed other Slavelords, including Stalman Klim, Markessa, and Arijani.

They found a letter suggesting Dirk plan private raids and then handle separating valuable stock. The letter was signed Edralve. Dirk claimed he had never seen the letter before and didn't do raids. The group examined the handwriting and determined the two letters they had from Edralve were written by different people.

Kipp and Pyreece believed Dirk was genuinely surprised by the letter. Dirk explained that Edralve was Drow and that in Drow society, women run things. Then he suggested someone might be trying to set him up. The group discussed the possibility of someone framing Dirk and Edralve.

They found another document ordering the transfer of Kerr and Mitgan to Suderham. Kerr they remembered as the woman who made the potion to cure Dame Gold's brother. Audra compared the black liquid in the bottle to Kerr's cure and found they were not similar. Elenor planned to identify the items they'd taken from Dirk when he volunteered what they were. He identified the items as a +3 Saber, a Dagger of Parrying, and a suit of +3 Leather Armor.

That is where the session ended.

Please start the recorder!

Exp: 1450 + 145 = 1595

Gold: 1042

Home work:

Think about Black Kerr. She was at Dame Gold's but there is more to the story that should catch your eye.

Then we need to think about what we are going to do with Dirk. Brandy is considering letting him go if he wants to join up. Someone is throwing him under the wagon!

David was wondering if Dirk really likes the slaving thing or is it just a job for him.

Kevin thought, if he was trying to increase his position, he would definitely be banging Edralve. That would put him closer to the top. David said he was acting like he wasn't doing that. Kevin said that he didn't want to do that so that alleviates the motivation to climb the ladder and gaining power. If he is evil and craving more power, then he wouldn't have any problem being her boy toy.

The session started with the group having just killed the queen ant, or cow as it's affectionately known, and a bunch of her defenders. Brandy took the brunt of that fight and was really beaten down. She used a full bottle of Extra Healing. They couldn't continue without rest. They couldn't rest in this chamber. They couldn't think of anywhere else down here where they felt safe enough to rest. They decided to go back upstairs and use one of those two rooms that were mostly ruins. They carefully moved back the way they'd come, back through the tunnel until the reached the split off where it went back upstairs.

They went upstairs to the first door on the right. They entered the room and thought about casting the Tiny Hut spell that Elenor knew but the room was too small to hold it. They decided to just rest in the room without it. Audra slept against the door, making it pretty much impossible for anyone to come in without alerting them. After resting for four hours or so, Audra started hearing voices outside the room. She recognized the language as Orc. They were talking about the dead Orcs found near the stables entrance. They indicted that they knew the people they'd been warned about were here and that they were searching for them.

It sounded like the Orcs were still out in the main hallway running north and south. They never seemed to enter the side hallway that led to the room where they were resting. Not wanting to wake the others, Audra stayed alert while the others slept. She listened for any indication they were coming toward them. The noise died down. They never approached that room. The rest of the time passed quietly and they woke refreshed as well as healed a little. Pyreece had gained access to a new spell called Cure Serious Wounds. She used two of those on Brandy. Then she used six traditional Cure Light Wounds to finish healing Brandy and make a good stab at healing the others. Audra told everyone about the Orc's she had heard. They finally felt ready to venture out again.

They made their way back downstairs and started searching the rest of the tunnels. They went down one of the tunnels. Kipp followed it to a 'T' intersection. To the west he could see two of the large ants in another intersection. He let the rest know what he saw. Before they assaulted the Ants, Brandy started looking down the tunnels to the northeast. Some of these tunnels would have been very difficult for anyone in the group to enter but Brandy. She explored up the tunnel and found a small chamber. In it she found about 50 gold pieces, 200 gold pieces worth of gem stones, and a potion bottle. They examined the potion bottle and found it contained a black and oily liquid that didn't have a smell.

Brandy checked the main chamber where the queen had died. The room was empty except for some shiny bits in the ashes where the fireball had exploded. She found a cloak, four red potions, and a scroll tub. She took these items back to Elenor. Elenor opened the scroll tub and found it was likely a priest scroll. Pyreece examined it and determined it was a scroll of Protection from Petrification, 10 foot radius. The red potions were Potions of Extra Healing. She found nothing else in the other little chambers and tunnels around the main chamber. They lined up preparing to attack the ants.

Brandy and Kipp started sneaking in but the Ant's were ready for them. The rest moved in afterward. As they entered the chamber they found more than the two Ants. Seven to be precise. While the others moved in to attack, Elenor stayed back and cast spells from a distance. One of the Ant's darted through a side tunnel and popped out behind her and attacked. Pyreece was about to charge down and attack the main group when this happened. She turned around instead and bashed the Ant with her shield, pushing it back and interposing herself between Elenor and the Ant. It took several rounds but they eventually defeated them all. Along the way, Brandy tripped a net trap.

Oglesby had taken a lot of damage and used one of the new potions to heal partly back up. The searched the Ant's and picked up some Broadswords and Shields. They were nice but not necessarily magical. There were 8 poisoned darts on the backs of each of the shields. While they were checking out the passages around them, Brandy tripped another net trap. Audra was nearby and helped her get out from under it. They finally found a passage heading northwest. They moved up through a long, windy, tunnel that was a little difficult to move through at times. Oglesby took the lead, checking for traps along the way.

They came to a split that continued northwest or diverged northeast. They shifted and went up the northeast passage. As they went northeast, there was a tunnel that merged into the tunnel they were in, from the west. They continued northeast. When Oglesby dimmed the continual light source he was using, he caught the faint glimmer of light up ahead. They continued on and came to a turn in the tunnel that shifted to the northwest. The light was coming from up ahead. Brandy moved forward to take the lead. She snuck up to the end of the tunnel where they saw the top of a ladder, going down, into a lit room. Brandy spied down into the room and she saw four large Weasels and one human male.

The man was working at a table with a lot of paperwork. The room was pretty large with a square portion immediately in front of them. It was backed by a large circular area with a liquid flowing around it like an island with a moat. There was a ledge along the outside wall of the chamber. There were bridges over the moat on the north, south, and eastern sides. The western side had a staircase going up over the moat and out of sight. Brandy dropped down to the floor and moved north to attack the first Weasel. She hit it. She called out to Og to break left. Og dropped down next and ran left to the southern Weasel. He attacked it and hit it. Being down here, they could see four Orcs on the outer ledge around the circular room.

The human pulled out a saber, leaped over the desk, and attacked Brandy. He looked like he would be difficult to defeat. Kipp slid down the ladder and moved to the opposite side of the human and attacked. This is about the time that Brandy got a good look at the man. He was a really nice looking man. She seemed to loose focus for a brief moment. In her mind she said, “Oh my gods!”. She quickly remembered her fight with the Weasel and returned to it. Kipp got a good attack in on the man. Audra slid down and moved up to attack the man. She was also enamored by the man's beauty and missed her attack, deliberately or not, we'll never know. Some of the Orcs moved onto the island and used crossbows to fire on them. Kipp was hit by a bolt.

Oglesby attacked his Weasel again but missed. Brandy hit her Weasel again. The Weasel's struck back. All of the Weasels missed, one of them broke a tooth. Elenor moved up to the ladder and slid down it. Pyreece moved up to the top of the ladder and looked down on the scene. She hadn't prepared a spell, not knowing what was going on yet. She saw the Weasels and the man. She and Elenor both saw the man and were also surprised by how good looking he was. The man got a second attack in and hit Brandy. Elenor and Pyreece prepared to cast spells.

Elenor sent a fireball across to the island and roasted all four of the Orcs. None of them fell but they took a lot of damage. The Weasels attacked again but missed. One of them managed to fail miserably again and managed to kill himself. The Orc's fired at them again. Oglesby got hit. Oglesby hit his Weasel again. Audra and Kipp continued fighting the man. Brandy killed her Weasel. She moved a little out of the way of the ladder while attacking the man from behind. Pyreece cast a Hold Person on the man, successfully paralyzing him. She called out to the others to no longer attack him. Kipp shifted his second attack to a weasel and hit it.

On the next round, Kipp attacked the Weasel again and killed it. Brandy charged at one of the Orcs and hit him. The last Weasel attacked Oglesby again and bit him. He latched on to Oglesby and began sucking his blood. Elenor cast a Magic Missile on that Weasel killed it. Oglesby was bleeding very badly. She moved over to Og, pulling out cloth to use as a bandage. Pyreece dropped down into the room. She and Audra headed onto the island to attack Orcs. Oglesby kept pressure on the wound on his neck, trying to stop the loss of blood. Pyreece, Audra, Brandy, and Kipp finished off the Orcs.

Oglesby managed to keep the blood from flowing but it's hadn't stopped trying. Elenor gave Oglesby a dose of Extra Healing. Though he experienced healing, the blood still flowed. While fighting the Orcs, Kipp had run around the ledge to get to one. He noticed that the moat was filled with sewage, not water. With the Orcs dead, Audra tied up the stud muffin. They stripped him of his armor and weapons. Kipp searched the Orcs. They had longswords that weren't particularly nice.

Oglesby still couldn't let go of his wound without it bleeding again. He kept pressure on it. Elenor also tried to apply pressure to help him. On the man, they found he had really nice leather armor. He also had a really nice dagger and saber. On the table they found lots of documents and notes. They found a finance record. It read as follows:

= = = = = = = = = =

⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Rept⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Deb

Offloading Bloodwort⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅40gp⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅20gp/1sp⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅(Dated 4 weeks prior)

⋅⋅⋅⋅Not legible/Elredd⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅10gp

⋅⋅⋅⋅Request py. of S.B.

Offloading Ghoul⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅30gp⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅5gp/1gp⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅(Dated 2 weeks prior)

⋅⋅⋅⋅Special py. Authorized. S.K.

Pay S.B.⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅15gp

Caravan Outfit⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅1000gp⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅800gp⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅(Dated 10 days Prior)

= = = = = = = = = =

They discussed what they were seeing. Offloading Bloodwort and Ghoul. They knew the Ghoul was a ship so Bloodwort was likely a ship as well. It looked like they offloaded captives from Elredd from the Bloodwort 4 weeks prior. They tried to figure out who S.K. and S.B. were. What they read sounded like people from Elredd, possibly the people they were looking for, were shipped here. A few days later, a caravan was outfitted and the shipment continued inland from here. Elenor mentioned a person named Sturm, aka Dirk. Maybe that was something to do with the “S” names above.

Along the way, the man came out of being held and started asking questions. He asked, “Who are you?”. Audra returned the question, “Who are you?”. He answered, “Most people know me as Dirk!”. Audra said, “So you're Dirk!”. She added, “We've heard of you!”. He asked to be untied. Brandy asked, “Why would we want to do that?”. He proceeded to call them dumbasses for being here in the first place and that should any harm come to him, it would mark them for death by the Slavelords. Audra told him that no one knows who they are so how would they be marked for death. He suggested that the Slavelords know many things. “If you are here, they know it!”, he said. He added, “You are being caviler but you should fear them greatly!”.

Brandy got down to business. “The reason we're here is that we are looking for some friends of ours that your damn bunch kidnapped. We want to know where they are!”. She mentioned Dame Gold. Dirk responded, “Pretty much everyone over here is gone.”. Brandy replied, “Yep, and you're going to tell us where the hell they sent them.”. Audra added, “Where did the Elredd group from the other realm go?”. With that question, Dirk looked as though a light had just turned on. He asked, “Are you outlanders?”. Brandy answered, “Yep, as out as you can figure a land can be!”. Dirk eyed Brandy, the halfling, and his eyes lit up with recognition. He said, “Elredd…the halfling…ah, I know who you guys are. Outlanders! Well, bravo! You've made it this far!”.

Brandy told him, “We're going to go further!”. She added, “First of all, you're going to tell us what you do here and where our people were taken!”. Dirk looked a little surprised, “You don't know? You've made it this far and you don't know what's going on?”. Brandy replied, “Right here in this fucking ant hill!”. Dirk asked what they wanted to know. Brandy asked how many more people were here, adding, “How many more guards, how are they armed? Who's in charge of this place and I'm assuming that you use this as a distribution point! Do you not?”. Dirk answered that it was one of many distribution points. “As far as who is in charge, that would be me!”.

Brandy said, “That's a shame! You are no loner in charge!”. Brandy asked where the group they were looking for got shipped. Dirk asked, “What number were they? I don't know names or see faces!”. Brandy asked, “How do they get here, who brings them here, and what do you do to get them shipped out?”. Dirk told him the shipments usually come from the Ghoul. “Sometimes they come from bounty hunters or other ports. Once we get them, we process them. Some are sold from here. Others are sent out to the stockades.”. Brandy asked where the stockade was! Dirk told her, “In the Drachensgrab!” After a brief pause he added, “Oh, you're outlanders, sorry. In the mountains south of here.”.

Brandy told him she was trying to figure out if they would have been on the caravan. Dirk asked how long ago they disappeared. They told him roughly when they would have come over from the other land. He looked at the sheet that they had been looking at. He told them that they could be in the right department here. The Bloodwort was offloaded to the Lotus Dragons in Elredd. Looks like they were boarded on the Ghoul and brought here on the Ghoul about two weeks ago and shipped out about 10 days ago. The caravan would have been headed toward the stockade. Brandy said, “That sounds like what we should be tracking!”. Dirk responded, “If you want to die!”. Brandy replied, “I don't have anything better to do!”.

Audra asked, “In looking at this paperwork, who is S. B.?”. Dirk told her that would be him, “Sturm Bucholtz”. Then she asked, “Who is S. K.?”. He told her Stalman Klim. She asked who he was. He told her, “Slavelord”. He told her, “A real Slavelord!”. Brandy replied, “Oh, one of the real bastards we are looking for!”. She then asked, “what does 'py.' mean?”. He told her, “Payment!”. Brandy asked, “What would they be bringing you that would merit special payments?”. Dirk told her that he doesn't ask questions. “Stalman Klim says jump, I ask him how high!”. Og pointed out that Dirk was being pretty helpful for someone in his situation. Dirk just shook it off as, “Why not? Your going to be dead soon enough anyway!”.

Brandy asked, “What make you so sure about that?”. Dirk replied, “If you keep pursuing the path that you're on, you have no idea who you are fucking with! And I'm not talking about me! I'm terrified of these bastards!”. Brandy told him that, “We'll just have to find out, because we are going to get our people back!”. Audra suggested that Dirk send a letter asking for all of their people back and to close the portal. Audra added, “If you want to make slaves of your people in your realm, that's your business, but send our people back.”. Dirk finally told them that this was a small operation. “There are some Orcs down here, there are a few slaves left but I don't think you'll find anybody you are looking for. They're kind of the dregs.

Audra asked where the slaves are that are down here. Dirk pointed at the door up the stairs. Audra asked how many more Orc's there were. Dirk guessed there were twenty or so Orcs down here. Audra said, we've killed 8 so there are about twelve more remaining. She asked if they ever came down here. Dirk said, “No, they can come as close as the moat. They are only here to protect me. As you can see, they didn't do a very good job of that! My Weasels would do a better job than they.”. He turned and looked at Oglesby and said, “That shit's going to bleed for a while, by the way.”. Oglesby replied, “That's kind of the idea that I got!”. Dirk said, “Just keep pressure on it for a long time.”. He explained that the Giant Weasel's bite has an anticoagulant that prevents clotting so they can suck the blood out. Outside of that, they are pretty friendly, pretty fun pets.”.

Brandy approached Audra and quietly asked, “What are we going to do with this fucker, besides wanting to fuck him, what are we going top do with him?”. Dirk tried to answer, “If it's money you want, there's gold on those crates.”. Kipp said, “You know we can't let him go! He'll tell them we are here!”. Dirk asked, “You people are murderers?”. Kipp replied, “I didn't say we were going to kill you. We just can't let you go!”. Audra said that her thought was to tie him up and leave him here.“. Kipp suggested taking him down to the Ant tunnels and leave him tied up down there. Brandy said, “Or take him with us!'. They continued talking! They could gag him to keep him quiet and if he didn't stay quiet, they could always gut the fucker. They tied his hands behind him but left his legs untied so he could walk.

They looked in the chest and found rations, chains, and supplies for the caravans. They also found bags of coins. It added up to 5,000 gold pieces. There was jewelry amounting to 1,000 gold pieces. When searching the papers on the desk, they found blank shipping documents, bills of lading, declaration papers, packing lists, certificates of origination, and more. Shipping papers essentially. They grabbed those documents. They looked through the rest of the documents. They found a receipt of sorts.

= = = = = = = = = =

Arr. 40 males, 10 Fem. (br. st.), 5 matron, 2 children Outlander-5,000 gp to Capt. Joinville (Dated 4 weeks prior)

Loss- 3 males, 1 fem. (Dated 3 weeks prior)

Sold - balance of Bloodwort consignment to merchant Alforas (Dated 2 weeks prior)

Arr. Misc Merch - special (Dated 2 weeks prior)

Dis. - misc. Merch by sp. Msg (Dated 12 days prior)

= = = = = = = = = =

It listed people who were brought in over the last four weeks. 40 males, 10 females, 5 matron, and 2 children. They paid 5,000gps to Captain Joinville for the outlanders. When asked about him, Dirk replied, “Joinville is the captain of the Bloodwort.”. Then it listed the dispositions of some of those sold. Four had been lost along the way either through death or jumping ship. They sold the rest to Alforas two weeks ago. There was some sort of special miscellaneous merchandise that arrived two weeks ago. The miscellaneous merchandise was disbursed by sp. msg., maybe meaning special messenger, twelve days ago. Dirk didn't seem to know what any of that was about.

When asked about Alforas, Dirk told them that he was a long time slave trader. He operates between Highport and various areas. He's pretty trust worthy as far as the Slavelords go. They use him to transport to the stockade (thought I heard something about Kalen Lekos on the recording). Brandy asked if he was the one that took our people to the stockade then. He never answered. They found additional documents.

= = = = = = = = = =

You are ordered to send Kerr and the slave Mitgan to Suderham in the care of Alforas. Alforas will recompense you for the loss.

S.K.

= = = = = = = = = =

S.K. was obviously Stalman Klim. Elenor remembered the name Mitgan as a name from Dame Golds party. She remembered that he was the gentleman who invited everyone back at noon for the presentation of the new statue that had been commissioned and created for the temple. He was a highly acclaimed artist. Brandy indicated that they must think pretty highly of Dirk. She guessed that Kalen Lekos was a place. They found another document:

= = = = = = = = = =

In recognition of your valuable service and profitable conduct, be it known that you, Sturm (Dirk) Bucholtz, are elevated this day to the Outer Council of the Lords and are hereby accorded all rights and privileges such as the inner council has seen fit to bestow upon that august body. Hereafter, you have the right of appearance within Kalen Lekos. Any of the syndicate who shall interfere with the activities of Sturm Bucholtz has raised their hand against the Councils and their safety is forfeit thereafter.

By the Sponsorship of Edralve and the acclamation of the Nine.

= = = = = = = = = =

After reading this one, Brandy asked, “So Dirky, what did you do that you got such an honor bestowed on you?”. Dirk answered, “Well, up until today, I ran a really smooth operation.”. Audra asked if Mistress Edralve was one of the Slavelords. Dirk confirmed that. Audra asked where Kalen Lekos was. Dirk told them it was in the Drachensgrab. The mountains south of Highport. They found another document:

= = = = = = = = = =

I have received your letter and considered your request, Do not grow overbold Dirk. Once now, you have refused an order of the Inner Council. Lest you reconsider your actions, you shall never refuse again. I do not lend my aid to fools, neither shall they win my affections. You will comply, I trust, proving the assurance I have placed in your hands.

Mistress Edralve

= = = = = = = = = =

Brandy, after reading this note ask if he'd been screwing around behind her back. Dirk told them that the Mistress fancied him, and had ordered him to transfer to Kalen Lekos and he refused. Brandy said, “So she wanted you closer so she could have her boy toy, right?”. Dirk replied, “Something like that. Except I am not her boy toy!”. He added, “She's a…she's what you would call, terrifying!”. Audra asked, “What exactly makes her terrifying?”. He answered, “She's a merciless killer. She's a powerful merciless killer. She commands unholy powers that can wither people with a glance. She has this thing for the Elemental Eye and this god that I could care less about, but she is…let's put it this way, I'm a simple opportunist. I'm trying to make a living, trying to make money, I found a niche. She wants to rule the whole damn world. She's mad, she's insane, and she's uber powerful. That whole damn group is uber powerful. All of them! Stalman, Von Zarovich, the whole bunch, they're nuts.”.

Audra said, “Von Zarovich?”. Dirk answered, “Yes, Markessa!”. Brandy said she wanted the name of every one of them. Dirk said he didn't know all of the names. Brandy asked for the names he knew. He answered, “Stalman Klim, Mistress Edralve, Markessa.”. He paused and asked if they'd come through Elredd. Brandy told him “Yes!”. He asked if they'd been upstairs. They answered, “Yes!”. Dirk said, “I hate to spoil it for you, Markessa…we'll call her Markessa (The Many). You've probably met her already and don't even know it.”. He continued with the names, “Arijani, never met him but sounds scarry as hell. And Lyssa Von Zarovich, never met him. There are more but those are the only ones I've heard of.”.

As Brandy pulled out the last document, Dirk seemed surprised and asked, “What the hell is that?”. Audra said, “We just pulled it off your desk.”. He acted as though he'd never seen it.

= = = = = = = = = =

My most gracious Lord Bucholtz,

Because of Kerr they have learned of the artist. They must not learn any more. They do not suspect how we have profited from these raids. We must be careful however. Klim grows suspicious of the true nature of our activities. We do not want his followers near our operations.

We shall not sell the woman Gold for she will never realize her worth on the block. We shall do much better to ransom her ourselves. Do not reveal identity and arrange to send her here. Alforas will be traveling by the southern route. He is discreet so send her with him.

I agree that you should plan private raids of this type in the outlands. I will see that all shipments come through your base. It should not be too hard for you to separate out the most valuable stock for our special consideration. Through cooperation we shall both make our fortunes

Thy Conspirator, Edralve

= = = = = = = = = =

Audra began reading it out loud. Part of the way through it, Dirk came over to the table exclaiming, “What? What does that say?”. He read it. When it mentioned that he should plan private raids in the outlands, he responded, “I don't do raids!”. When it said to separate out the most valuable stock, he replied, “That's true!”. He read the signature aloud, “Thy Conspirator, Edralve”. He said, “I've not seen that fucking letter before. I don't know what the hell that is!”. Audra suggested he would have the best idea of what it meant, obviously.

Brandy asked, “So you don't know anything about this! Sounds like you are supposed to know all of it.”. Dirk again reiterated that he'd never seen this document before. “I don't do fucking raids so I don't know why…private raids in the outlands, I don't do that!”. Brandy asked, “Well, who the hell does it if you don't. This right here says that you do!”. Dirk said, “They hire out the raiders. I don't do that. I just move em! Separate out valuable stock? I kind of do that! I don't operate…this is some sort of set up, I don't do specialty work for any of the Slavelords. If any one of them found out, you would be slaughtered immediately. If you were trying to run some sort of operation behind the back of another.”.

Brandy said, “Either you're being set up by somebody or you're just a fucking liar. So why would your conspirator Edralve want to set you up? Is she that pissed off at you?”. Dirk answered, “I barely know her, and you can see in that pryor letter that she's pissed off at me already.”. Audra said, “We don't know that she…”. Dirk stopped her and said, “Look the handwriting is even fucking different!”. Audra again stated, “We don't know that she set this up!”. Again he pointed out the differences in the hand writing. Oglesby examined the two letters and determined, with high confidence, that they were not written by the same person. As far as which one is authentic, he couldn't tell. They could both be bullshit and he wouldn't be able to tell.

Kipp, in watching Dirk through this whole experience, noticed his reactions and expressions up to this point had been very deadpan. He'd been mostly charming. He has seemed to be cooperative. He seemed comfortable answering any question that they asked. He hadn't flipped out about them looking at anything. When they pulled out that document, his reaction was surprise, like he'd never seen that document before. Then he actually got up when Audra started reading it and came over to look at it. Both Kipp and Pyreece felt he looked genuinely surprised. He didn't know what the hell that last document was. He could be a good actor and if he is, he's fooled all of them. Kipp and Pyreece believed he didn't know what that letter was.

Pyreece, “It's signed Conspirator Edralve, is there another Edralve with ties to the Mistress, a brother or family member who might seek to usurp her and take over?”. Dirk laughed at that saying, “No, not a brother. No!”. He added, “There is not another Edralve. You don't know much about Drow do you?”. Pyreece said, “No! So she is a Drow?”. He told her “Yes!”. “In the Darkelves, the ladies run things.”, he added. Then he looked over the group and said, “You guys would fit right in!”. “Except for you!”, as he looked at Kipp and Oglesby. “You guys would be slaves!”. Brandy said, “That leads me to this thought! So who the hell is trying to set you up and what do you plan on doing about it?'. Audra pointed out, “Might be setting both of them up!”. Dirk replied, “I don't know! I'm still trying to take this in. It's the first time I've seen it so I don't know.

Brandy asked the next logical question, “Who do you think was intended to find this letter, if it's fake?”. Dirk suggested, “Someone who knew you might succeed?”. Audra asked if it's placement in the pile would have meant it was going out with other notes soon! Dirk said “No, I assume I would have eventually found it. Brandy asked, “So you think it was left for us to find?”. Dirk answered, “Possibly!”. Elenor asked, “Who brings your mail to you?”. Dirk answered, “Private messengers. This didn't come by any messenger though. No one has been here today.”. Audra asked, “There is nothing to indicate how long it's been here?”. Dirk said, “Only that I feel like if it had been on my desk for a week, I would have seen it. I've been doing accounting work but you know…”.

Elenor asked, “If your Weasels were here, could someone have come in invisibly and not been noticed?”. Dirk answered, “Weasels don't give a shit! The Weasels would protect me! If I'm not in danger…”. Elenor said,. “Even if someone walked in here invisibly that they could not see?”. Someone they were familiar with would likely not get the hackles up”. Brandy said, “Think someone is trying to frame him for our benefit. Someone hoping we would do their dirty work for them.”. Dirk said, “Or, there is another one! Think about this! If I were running a side operation like what this letter suggests that I am doing, and my conspirator was a high ranking official who would be summarily executed if discovered, would they sign their fucking name on the document like that?”. Brandy said, “I wouldn't think so!”.

Dirk said, “I would clearly know who sent the letter without that name being there so maybe they are trying to set up Edralve. It's the Mistress who…oh I don't know!”. They looked through the other documents on the table to see if the handwriting matched any other document. Nothing matched that one.

With a little prompting from the gods, they remembered where they'd heard the name Kerr. Black Kerr was at Dame Golds party. She was the Alchemist who created the cure for Dame Gold's brother's ailment. Audra was interested in how the black liquid in the bottle they found here match up to the cure Kerr made. She compared them and they were not at all similar.

Elenor mentioned finding time to identify everything they'd found. Dirk volunteered information. The Saber is +3. The Dagger is a Dagger of Parrying. (it's a +1 dagger and the user can use the dagger to parry and gain +3 bonus to armor class for that round. The dagger must be in hand to use in this fashion and the wielder must declare how the weapon is used each combat round, offensive or defensive.) The Leather Armor is +3.

That is where the session ended.

Please start the recorder!

Exp: 1450 + 145 = 1595

Gold: 1042

Home work:

Think about Black Kerr. She was at Dame Gold's but there is more to the story that should catch your eye.

Then we need to think about what we are going to do with Dirk. Brandy is considering letting him go if he wants to join up. Someone is throwing him under the wagon!

David was wondering if Dirk really likes the slaving thing or is it just a job for him.

Kevin thought, if he was trying to increase his position, he would definitely be banging Edralve. That would put him closer to the top. David said he was acting like he wasn't doing that. Kevin said that he didn't want to do that so that alleviates the motivation to climb the ladder and gaining power. If he is evil and craving more power, then he wouldn't have any problem being her boy toy.