The Shadow Within, Part 1

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About the Saga

On the heel of the death of vehement anti-draft opponent Councilor Golari Drammenstad, and just after the Blackrazor Gaiseric is shaken down by members of the Sellsword Guild for protection money, Obsidian Bay is shocked by a series of brutal murders. The first victim of these new murders is one of the Blackrazor Guild’s own: Calvin Cloudmore.

Timeframe

Cast of Characters

Notable Quotes

“I have powerful enemies and far more powerful allies! You do not want me as your enemy!” – Gaiseric to Lester Goodman, member of the Sellsword Guild.

What Has Come Before

On Flocktime 15, CY 591, Golari Drammendstad, member of the Council of Commons and an opponent of the proposed Freesword Draft Act, was murdered by orcs about one day from the city. He had been on a tour of outlying manors, trying to build support for his stance among the Lord Holders. When news reached Obsidian Bay of Drammendstad’s death, the already-high tension in the city exploded into open rioting between pro and anti-war factions.

The Blackrazor Guild finds itself similarly torn, but without the violence. Greggor O Vurd'on has taken up a pro-draft stance, and has attempted to build support for the bill in the city. Meanwhile, Kalib Ironfist, a former member of the guild and leader of the Trithereonites in the city, has been quietly working behind the scenes to have the bill scrapped.

The Saga

Flocktime 17, CY 591

A Mundane Shakedown

Gaiseric was minding the counter in his Shoppe of the Mundane, enjoying his downtime after the assault on the cloud giant citadel of Durengard, and generally reveling in the bliss of the moment – a moment in which he is alive and unthreatened.

And then they came in. Four figures, each with a sword strapped to their hip, and looking like they could bench press a horse without trying. They were followed by a man wearing a hooded black cloak, a cloak that covered fine black silk trousers and tunic.

The four hulks moved to the side, allowing the hooded man to advance. “Ah, Gaiseric, keeper of the Shoppe of the Mundane. Good to see you … so good to see you. I was a afraid you might be dead again,” the man said.

One of the hulks snickered at this.

“I have come to discuss a … business proposition with you. Seems that your long … absences … tend to leave your establishment unguarded, or at best, under the dubious protection of some hired help. My associates and I in the Sellsword Guild are interested in providing you with first-rate guard services for the mere sum of 1,000 gold a month. This would provide you with a several guards who would stop in occasionally to insure that nothing … troubling … was happening, such as say, your goods being smashed by vagrants or your shoppe catching on fire.”

“Of course, you could decline our services, but accidents do happen, and happen with such striking regularity. Why, you never know when lightning might strike … or when a faulty cobblestone might trip you up and cause you to break your neck. Yes, never can tell.” One of the hulks grunts a short laugh.

“So … what do you say? Do we have a deal … or do we have a deal?”

Scrappy looked at him, bewieldered, unsure he’d heard what he just thought he’d heard. "Who are you? Who do you work for?

The cloaked man replied: "Ah, ah yes. Names. My name is Lester Goodman. As for who I work for ... I thought I made that clear. The Sellsword Guild. Perhaps you've heard of us? We are renowned in Alhissa, but we've only just arrived in Obsidian Bay. Yes, only just arrived, but it’s surprising how many clients we've already secured for our unique protective services. Must be our sales techniques." Lester smiled.

"So, once again, the Sellsword Guild is here to insure that nothing ... unfortunate ... happens to you or your fine businesses. We offer this service at an extremely affordable rate of 1,000 gold pieces a month. Now, do you accept this offer ... or do my friends have to start getting 'clumsy'? This really is quite the nice shop ... and it would be so unfortunate if a flask of burning oil accidentally splashed on the floor here. Or if you inadvertently fell on a dagger."

He rested his hands on his hips, pulling back his cloak enough to reveal a fine looking dagger on his right side, and what appears to be a wooden wand hanging from a leather strap on his left. Behind him, you can see one of the men fiddling with a flask hanging from his belt.

Thinking quickly, Scrappy said … “Alright…” He threw down a pouch filled with a thousand gold pieces. “Now leave!”

Lester looked surprised as Scrappy presented him with the gold. "Hmmm. I did not expect you to come to your senses so quickly. Clearly we underestimated your willingness to cooperate. Thank you ... yes indeed, thank you very much."

"Now, I'm sure you've heard that most businesses thrive on good word of mouth. Well, ours does not. In fact, we very much value the privacy of our clients. And as such, we ask that they tell no one -- not authorities, not friends, not even cohorts -- of our ... arrangement. And to insure that you are true to your word, you will accept a magical mark ... a mark that will burn quite painfully if you should betray our ... agreement.

He drew his wand and two of the hulking enforcers stepped forward. "Please bare your arm ... this will take only a moment."

Scrappy looked indignant. "There will be no branding here! Take the money and I bid you farewell. If this is not good enough for you then we are at an impasse, wouldn't you say?”

"I am the Hero of Obsidian Bay...this medallion proves as much," he says brandishing the Golden Griffin. "I have awakened the god Krovis and I have thwarted the Blood Lord! I have faced the Fire Giants of the Crystalmist mountains and was victorious in honest combat! I have unearthed the treasures of the Star Cairns and have faced danger and evil unimaginable by simple folk such as you! I have powerful enemies and far more powerful allies! You do not want me as your enemy!

"Take your brand a leave this place! I have given what you have asked! perhaps someday YOUR guildhall will erupt in an explosion of flame and death, just as the inn here in town! Perhaps you should buy insurance from ME to prevent that from happening!"

And with that said, Scrappy cast an eye toward the window next to the counter. If they did not buy this bluff, he was going to jump through it.

They didn’t buy it, and unfortunately, while Scrappy was fast … Lester was faster. The Sellsword raised his hand, hurling a spell at Scrappy that froze him in his tracks. Immediately after that, everything went black.

And Scrappy didn’t have another conscious thought for 19 hours.

Experience

Not available.

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