Bandaluthia Session 21

Bandaluthia: Session 21

A Tale of Two Cities

‘Do you know the Tiefling or not?’

Vandrel hesitated, deciding to keep his options open: ‘I have heard of a Tiefling in Bandaluthia: I know not if he’s the one you’re looking for. It is rumoured he is a capable, though inexperienced wizard, with a golden wand which fires magical bolts which strike unerringly. Where he comes from I do not know’.

The man leaned in slightly: ‘You will be well-rewarded for information which helps our cause’. Raising his elbows to rub his temples, Vandrel noticed the bottom portion of a tattoo on the man’s forearm. Could it be a dragon? As his arms returned to the table his cloak fell slightly, revealing ink-black banded armour — shadow armour — beneath. Vandrel had craved such armour since he first heard of its properties. He looked up and the man’s eyes stared intently at his. The man had seen his covetous look.

The week passed without incident. Shaniqua was … somewhere. Qu spent time at the Temple savouring the bounty of Yondalla. Rätsel studied. Affe spent lazy afternoons picking fleas from the back of Mutley's neck, and savouring the fruits of his labours. Coolio spent the time in contemplation: specifically contemplating how to deal terminal damage to an individual, from behind, with his newly acquired magic gloves. Jacob spent more-and-more time with the Animals and they decided to install him as a full member, along with Gus. They were beginning to emerge as a power in Monterey.

Plans were beginning to hatch. The cabbies who had been working for the Animals had come forward with a business plan. For 6000gp they were offering an 80% share in their new company, Panther Cabs. After some discussion the Animals agreed to fund this, on the proviso that ownership be equal between the cabbies and the Animals, while the cabbies reduce the pay they take out of the business to 1gp/day each. Rätsel droned on about “effective incentive mechanisms” while Qu was genuinely enthused about the benefits such an arrangement could have for Animal activity. Discussion then turned to the possibility of taking-over the ownership of the Blade of Orlathry. While Coolio was keen the likely 350,000gp price tag seemed to consign this plan to nothing more than a pipe-dream. Still, as Freddie carver explained, there was time to think about it.

About 11.00am on the Tuesday morning the Animals were in the front parlour discussing such business matters, when Vandrel walked in. He relayed a tale of a chance encounter with a man, who sought a Tiefling wizard, the night before. The stranger wanted to meet this wizard so arranged to see the most psychotic of The Four again the next evening. A plan was hatched to travel to the pub – The Turtle Inn on the Breeg Highway – and Vandrel (to the secret dismay of some of the Animals) would accompany them.

The group arrived at the pub, which was a half-timbered building with stained beams and cream painted rendered walls. A sign outside identified it as The Turtle Inn. The Breeg highway widened somewhat at this point and there were some well-appointed Merchants’ office premises opposite. Beside the main entrance a sign has been posted which read: No Wizards: Parrots and Monkeys Welcome. Rätsel and Coolio (disguised as sailors) arrived first. Thereafter, Höllenlord, Jacob and Qu entered. Finally, Vandrel arrived with Gus. Each group found a vantage-point and awaited the stranger, who arrived momentarily. Vandrel and the stranger sat in a booth and faced one another once more. The latter seemed unperturbed by Gus, while Vandrel relayed that he knew where a Tiefling matching the description could be found and offered to take the stranger to the Satyr and Sickle to meet the mage with infernal blood. His strategy was to bring the enemy to familiar territory. The stranger pushed a bag, containing ten 1000gp diamonds, across the table to Vandrel. Then Crazy-Van left by taxi with the stranger and Gus, but not before he had surreptitiously indicated to the Animals that they were to move on.

Rätsel and Coolio arrived first at the Satyr, and sat upstairs at a table. Jacob, Qu and Höllenlord sat at another table. The two other fighters - with their quarry - arrived last. Vandrel marched the stranger up to the table at which Rätsel was sat and joined him, announcing the Tiefling’s presence to the unknown quantity. The latter pushed another bag of gems across the table to Van-the-Man. The stranger explained that his employer wished to meet with Rätsel: why, he did not know, but he would not be harmed. Vandrel enquired as to who his employer was, but the man either did not know, or would not divulge, his identity. The stranger explained he simply called his employer “sir”. Before leaving the stranger invited the Tiefling to meet with his employer, at 812 the Breeg Highway, the next day at 8.00pm. The Animals indicated that they may attend.

The next day Qu and Jacob sought equipment. Qu took some cloth to Brown’s Taylors, who agreed to work the cloth into a useable cloak with appropriate secret pocket. Jacob purchased some throwing daggers, and a harness which held five daggers ready, and also secured his shortsword and longsword in a back-scabbard. The urban ranger also bought a black silk cloak for his clandestine activities.

At 6.00pm the group set off to see D’Jarra Leon, picking up Shaniqua who skipped up the road toward them. She screamed with delight at the prospect of having some fun. The mighty wizard was not at home, so the group set off to 812 Breeg Highway. After an uneventful journey they arrived a short distance from their destination. They had been briefed by the Clerk at the “job” desk downstairs in the Satyr, so knew already that the building had been empty for some time prior to its recent reoccupation. A little way up the street they could see 812: a neat building, in a row among merchants’ offices. The building is brick, with stone edges and lintels, and three floors. Neat rectangular windows, with drawn curtains, conceal what is within. A green painted door with a large brass knocker on it dominates the front of the property, and to the left of the door is a brass sign which reads: ‘Hartorian Consulate, Meetings by Appointment’. The building is set back a few feet, with four-foot railings separating it from the pavement. To the right of the property is a side alleyway, which the Clerk from the Satyr informed the party goes to a gate, and courtyard at back of the building.

There the session ended. It was an hour before the appointment time. The building seemed quiet and the party were apprehensive. The Animals – Coolio, Qu, Shaniqua, Jacob, Höllenlord, Gus, and a trembling Rätsel – stand outside with the most unhinged of the four. Who or what the greatest threat is, only time will tell …