VII. a. Keeping Tight Lips

General Summary

Cersday, Midsky 13

You, the Crimson Sleep, have discovered the so-long-lost-now-thought-mythical ancient city of Yis'tilah'ste. You have returned to Gravenholm, sold off your treasures, and even joined the Adventurer's Guild. Now, you prepare for a return trip to the ancient city with two goals in mind - carry out as much treasure as possible and take out as many Black Hand as possible.

As you have come to this decision, there is a loud knock at the door and you are surprised to find a halfling woman holding a basket with some candles, bread, wrapped cheese, hard sausage, and some small hand towels, along with five pins showing the Adventurer's Guild crest. Each of you took your pins in varying fashions; Boran and Dreamhawk made theirs available, but hidden, Max put his on his scabbard strap, Ash attached it to her wrist jewelry, and Tort tucked it away in his pouch.

Before returning to Yis'tilah'ste, you decided to write a letter, beseeching your king for an audience. You included an ancient golden coin to back up your claims that you have something of interest to discuss with the king. You requested for Kayla, the Guild Master, to send it out for you, who was happy to oblige, since she runs the mail for the guild. After paying your silver for your courier, you set yours eyes about the tavern before you until you found a likely prospect.

You approached a group consisting of a half-elf, a dwarf, a human, and a halfling. You offered for them to take part in a dangerous quest to an undisclosed location. With little consideration, they were willing to join your cause - for the right price. And after some haggling, you came to an agreement with the group, whom you learned were called the Gloomsworn, and named Mirelda "Moss" Kaelin, Brusk Ironjaw, Kesh the Pale-Eyed, and Taya Quickstring.

After initially telling the Gloomsworn to be ready to head out the following day, you soon changed your mind and advised them that you would need a week before leaving, which they agreed to, appreciating the additional time to prepare to head underground, as you had instructed.

You were surprised to find your rickshaw drivers from the past two days there and available for you. Not only were they available for you, but they offered to be an exclusive service to you, if you could cough up the coin. Without hesitation, you took them up on their offer, and Max threw in a bonus for his drivers.

Taking a step in different direction, you decided to search out one of the people that the Black Hand files indicated they were watching. You trekked across town to the Featherman's Parish, in search of the Temple of Elomir in hopes of interrogating Sister Velara, whom you had no idea what she looked like. Upon your first arrival, the temple is fairly empty, but after asking around, you learned that the Sister would be giving a sermon within the next thirty minutes.

You stayed for her sermon on Elomir's blessing of healing plants and the local plants that could be foraged or grown. Afterwards, you followed her back into what appeared to be an office, where you cornered her for to begin your interrogation. Ash used her Zone of Truth so you could extract your information. You learned the Black Hand is trying to recruit her and that it was a man named Maverick who would visit her.

After reviewing the files and finding two Mavericks, you go for the easier one to access and made your way to the North Parish in search of the Hallow Flask - where Maverick Davis supposedly held the deed. You were dismayed to learn that Davis had been "out of town on business" for a few weeks now.

Feeling like you were running out of options, you decided to try your luck at the palace on your way home. Inside, you stopped the first person you saw - a servant carrying nearly folded linens who looked rather irritated to be interrupted in her work. You were able to convince them to send the steward to you. The steward, a surprisingly short elven man with white hair named Bernard, eventually came to meet you. You convinced him with the ancient coin that you needed to speak to the king, urgently, as you had important information to share with him.

Much to your surprise, after two hours, as the light began to wane outside, you were granted your audience. You were escorted past the throne room into a smaller council chamber that was decadently decorated in the elven fashion. Sitting before you at one of the the long mahogany table is King Rykul Gravens, flanked by his high mage, Lady Elvina Blackwood. On the other end sits High Prince Kelvan Gravens, flanked by Captain Maverick Throne.

Now that you stand before the most powerful people in Grashk, what will you do? Will they believe your claims? Who can say