Book depository:
Talk with Rivereye Badgerface
The party spots Rivereye at the top of the stairs. He heads downstairs and feebly nods to the group, coughing and complaining that he caught a cold on his trip here from the Ragesian capital. He’s a pug-faced, ugly little gnome with blue robes and a runny nose. Rivereye inquires as to who they are. They mention Peppin isn't with them. Rivereye looks concerned, he asks if anyone of them know the password. When the party explains there is not password to be had, Rivereye bolts. Shedding his magical disguise as Rivereye, the short male elf sprints up the stairs. Some give chase, but the blond elf makes a spectacular leap off of the balcony and floats harmlessly to a nearby roof. Lord Robert glimpses an Archon drifting towards the 3rd floor.
Guards investigate, find other guards and real Rivereye tied up. Rivereye recounts story of his ambush, password ruse, and overhearing talk about 'her' and 'Gabal's School'. He describes the case as black metal, about a foot long and wide, and half a foot deep, made of (he thinks) adamantine, with a lock.
Wyvern Rider:
Talk of safehouse, party determines best to get to school quickly. In route they see the battle in the skies between Ragesian wyvern riders and Gate Pass griffon riders has been long and bloody. The party sees two flying shapes — one with feathered wings, the other with bat wings — cross paths overhead, and a loud crack sounds out. The bat-winged shape spirals out of control and crashes onto the roof of a building further down the street with a death groan. A moment later, the shattered lance of a Gate Pass griffon rider falls out of the sky, its tip having snapped off in the neck of the Ragesian wyvern. They see a rope tossed down from the roof of
the building into the street. The rider of the wyvern dismounted, descended with this rope, and then fled down the nearest alley. They find the wyvern dead, a broken lance tip driven into its throat. The rider’s tracks are easy to follow in the snow. He headed down an alley, and less than a hundred feet into his trail the party finds a trio of townsfolk, chopped to death by an axe. The trail leads to a row house, Makeighla hears sound through the door. Mike kicks in door and charges in. Party follows. They see the warrior, Flaganus Mortus, is a veteran, but injured, wearing full plate and a heavy steel shield, and carrying a masterwork battleaxe and a silver shortsword. 3 bodies are strewn about the house. Mike attacks, battle ensues... three 6'+ guys all swinging two handed swords at the guy in the corner. Lots of back and fourth, Torrent keeps Mike standing, Makeighla shoots into melee, Fen eventually burns a spell... finally victory... one body (young boy still alive). Prisoner and boy carried to safehouse.
Safe House:
Lots of people, not much space. No one is with anyone else (very important). Torrent and Rivereye find a spot and sit down. Torrent begins prayer, Rivereye attempts shut-eye. The temple is packed with at least a hundred nervous people, all squeezed into a 40-ft. circular prayer chamber and adjacent rooms. Many are nervously relating rumors of how the battle at the main gates is going. Children cry, and priests tend to numerous injuries from fire, stampeding crowds, or violent looters. People are scared and demoralized. Priests go between the wounded, tending them as best they can, their healing spells all expended.
Just inside the front door, a dark-skinned and dark-haired young woman dressed all in black plays a depressing tune on a mandolin— a typical new year’s festival song, redone in a minor key. Some of her 'audience' grumbles, she seems to be bringing down the mood. She sarcastically says she left the sheet music for her “happy songs” in her house, which burned down. Lord Robert to the rescue! Looking down his nose at the obviously low born 1/2 orc, he asks her to cease and desist that infernal racket, and furthermore get off his lawn. The lady with the mandolin refuses. A quick
Lord Robert and Makeighla are asked to leave by paladins of the Aquiline Heart. Explanation of the order's beliefs, Lord Robert and Makeighla seem unsatisfied. They are escorted out. Kah'less and Mike speak to high priest. He tells them to bring their friends around back.
Safe House Again:
Enter back door, child and prisoner taken care of. Priest knows not much about school nor contact there in. Party rests for a spell and off to Gabal's school.
Gabal's School:
Gabal’s school consists of a small campus with four 50-ft. towers and several smaller buildings, surrounded by a moat and an iron fence. It is mockingly called The Castle by those in Gate Pass who don’t like the school’s pompous headmaster. One of the towers is cracked from a Ragesian bomb. Additionally, the corpses of a
griffon and its rider float in the moat, having been slain by a wyvern’s sting.
When the Ragesians assaulted, Gabal himself went into hiding, while some of his students went to the battle to lend their aid. Only a handful of students remain at the school. Diogenes is at the front gate, watching for signs of trouble, smoking cigarettes in an attempt to stay warm. With a paunch, a prematurely receding hairline, and a sarcastic tone that is lost on most people, this blue-robed wizard possesses an everyman’s charm. He greats Fen as a fellow student.
He takes them to a kitchen and offers them whatever they’d like while they discuss plans. Shealis has had visitors this evening (an elf and the archon), tho they left a while ago. When the party talks of about Elf woman, he mentions Shealis, a powerful evoker who is leaving soon and he has a grudge against her. Party makes plans... Diogenes has an idea. He'll challenge a her to a dual, if someone lifts her spell component pouch, she'll lose the match. Also it will keep her distracted while the party ransacks her room.
Plan is afoot, but must wait until morning. Dual is accepted and publicized. Makeighla passes Shealis as planned. This blond elf woman’s blue eyes flicker like shining sapphires, and her pale skin glows like snow. She wears concealing red robes, but the metallic gleam of chainmail peeks out from her collar. Her gloves shine like silver. Makeighla manages to lift the component pouch undetected. Shealis begins the match unaware of her missing items.
Makeighla and Kah'less attempt entry into Shealis' room. Door is trap free, guaranteed! Or not. They are joined by Fen. Opening the door reveals the Lawful Good Archon, who is dispatched with John-style diplomacy. Tho Fen's magic missile was the fatal blow. Shealis is shaken by her familiar's death, she bolts for her room. Mike and Lord Robert catch her before she gets to far, binds her, and drags her back to her room. In the room, Fen discovers explosive runes! A map to the apparent hideout inside the elvish spymaster’s spellbook, which includes notes of the location of a hidden door that leads into an elvish ghetto, about a mile away. A map of the ghetto highlights a carpentry shop that lies next to one of the walls, and a note in Elvish reads, “Arborea before Elysium before Celestia.” Shealis is interrogated, Makeighla 'confesses' to killing the familiar, she's rewarded with a few magic missiles.
Diogenes arrives shortly there after, inquiring about Shaelis. The party clues him in, and he assists by charming Shaelis. She reveals the location of hideout, that her friends are there and they have the case. She doesn't share her spellbook secrets, as not even a close friend gets those. Her contact in Shahalesti is a wizard named Clathan. Her mission was to take the case back to her homeland. They don't want the Ragesian's to win either.
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