Session 5: "Bad Men from the East" (3 Flamerule, DR 1372

Quick Summary:

• Party continue to interrogate "Twelve", and are joined by Rania

• Twelve reveals he is a shapeshifter, able to learn different forms

• Twelve reveals he is one of 12 siblings working in the Dale Lands

• Twelve reveals he has led multiple ambushes, but knew party would defeat theirs

• Twelve works for "Bad men from the East", and warned of their arrival to Turnfork

• Party elect to stay up to watch for the "Bad men from the East"

• Rania and Kelnor stay up to see Jierdaan, Graal, Sturk and an unidentified wizard

• Jierdaan orders the death of a Priest of White skull skulking in the tavern

• Rania attempts to intercept the lynching, but fails -- just gaining attention

• Jierdaan is piqued by the elf, and invites her to talk in private later

• Party regroups before sleeping through to the morning

• In the morning, the group inform Yessica on certain events the night before

• Group disembark at the Turnfork quay to head the rest of the way to Daggerfalls

Loose Ends

• Rania's message to Jierdaan [in the end, assumed not written]

• Who is Jierdaan [Zhentarim agent - see forum after Session ~7]

• Why did Jierdaan order death of White Skull priest [patron deity wranglings among the Zhentarim - Session ~7]

• Twelve described the Hooked Man (Hoseph's murder suspect)

• Where did Twelve go after the entrance of Jierdaan? [Later encountered in Felzenheim]

• Twelve's siblings in the Dale Lands [Later understood to be much greater in number, and infiltrated in families during the Zhentarim occupation]

The party are interrogating Twelve in the private function room of the Turnfork. Coincidentally, Rania rejoins the group while Twelve is warning the party about the "Bad men from the East". Rio suggests to the group that the boy is unlikely to cause any immediate harm and kicking up more of a fuss will likely attract the attention of the Purple Tunic guards at the inn.

The group suggests Twelve provide information to repay the debt owed for leading them into an ambush. He agrees to provide some information, so long as he is protected form the men from the East.

Twelve says the following claims:

• He fears the men from the East, who are 'bad men'

• He was fomenting trouble in the wilds with other 'bad men' -- e.g. army deserters

• He has eleven siblings, doing similar things in the Dale Lands

• He can take the form only of those he knows -- it requires familiarity

• His brother, Seven, was meeting the "Bad men from the East" at the Turnfork Inn

• Fearing his death, he wants a way out from his current line of dangerous work

• He indicates his other siblings may not be interested in emancipation

• He cannot run away as others who have tried it have been killed

• He is familiar with the hooked man,

• The hooked man is a cruel task-man of the men from the East

• Twelve was not involved in the Deepcut murder, but the hooked man was

The group elect to wait-up late to observe the group of men Twelve is talking about -- Rania and Kelnor agree to stake out the bar while the others sleep. Late at night just about as they are giving up at 2:30, a group of armored men arrive. From their armor and bearing they are clearly the men that Twelve was talking about. They make a show of force, beating into unconsciousness a patron who was his own business, claiming that the deed is done owing to his affiliation to "The White Skull", "Lord of Lies". Rania makes an attempt to intervene by causing a noise, and eventually stumbles toward the group as if pretending she is drunking, providing a distraction for Kelnor as he dashes upstairs to warn the rest.

The leader of the intimidating new arrivals quickly notices Rania as she is the only inn patron daring to stand up and come closer to his crew; he tells her to sit down and not cause a fuss. He finds himself piqued by the fact she is an elf, and invites her to talk with him in private later (although a promised message to invite her there never arrives).

Meanwhile, Kelnor has woken up the rest of his party and updated them (except Yessica and Freli).

As Jierdaan and his crew depart the bar, the group decide they are better-off heading to sleep, and departing the inn in the morning.

Yessica wakes first as she has had the most sleep (not being up late gallivanting around the Turnfork), and is at once annoyed by how late the others evidently stayed up, and impatient to leave. The group tell her of the previous evening, holding nothing back. However, they do not tell her about Twelve and his role.

Yessica is evidently confused why JIerdaan and his crew would attack a follower of the White Skull. She leads the group to leave as soon as possible, but entertains the possibility of Rania setting up a conversation with JIerdaan -- she seems conflicted on this, seeing it as an opportunity, but at the same time not wanting to put Rania in any danger. The group decides to leave on their boat, during which they discuss with Yessica how they came about the information of the visitors.

Rania leaves a note with Jierdaan, declining the meeting, but designed to keep his interest alive in some way.

Experience:

• Artus (40)

• Gaerfinas (40)

• Kelnor (40)

• Rania (40) + 50 XP for private meeting gambit with Jierdaan

• Rio (40) + 50 XP for session log