Chapter 03 - Breaking in is hard to do

3-16-6050 Morning to Evening

• As usual, the day is one of rest and recovery for the Nightwings after the previous night’s scrapple with the Red Dragons. All except for Jerig who must be bright eyed and bushy tailed for a day at Lemod Charg’s Locksmith shop.
• Raen and Dag go to the Seer of Sotor (the Lady Zaigon)
  • The dusty interior smelled of rotting vegetation and urine
  • Lady Zaigon leads them to a small room with walls of black cloths.
  • Raen sits across from the Seer at table upon which sits a ball of crystal. He asks “Where is my brother”. As the rancid smells get stronger Lady Zaigon says she will be summoning and speaking to dead spirits to answer his question. A ghostly form appears behind her and she responds “Your brother is no longer in the city, he has embarked on a long journey. He is within the Sea of Tears”.
  • Raen asks another question, “Who can help find my brother”?….the answer “Your enemies will help you find your brother”
  • Dag asks for a general horoscope to which Lady Zaigon tells him “Your future is very bright and you will become very wealthy beyond your wildest expectations, despite your shady background”.

3-16-6050 Night - A Rescue Attempt

• Tasher in the meantime, now having given up being a boatman-for-hire, heads to T’revors Tankard in Canal Maze for a beer or six. While in the bar he overhears someone talking something about the Nightwings, but can’t figure out who or any details. Shortly thereafter the rest of the Nightwings meet up with Tasher at T’revors Tankard.
• T’revors Tankard is across a street from The Silver Lining - the moneylending office at which the lovely Xarna is believed to be held captive. While the others wait at the bar Jerig and Cricket case the Silver Lining by climbing to the roof and noting locations of windows. The second floor of the building appears to be an apartment of sorts. Jerig sends in his pet spider through an open window in the kitchen. He notices a few Red Dragons, and finds Xarna kept locked in one of the rooms.
• The initial plan is that our Nightwings will try to bust Xarna out by knocking on her window, then getting her down the rope to Tasher’s boat in the canal below. Dag and Raen mill around the steet out front in case they are needed. However the shuttes are barred from the inside so Jerig and Cricket decide to enter through the Kitchen instead.
• Jerig puts one of the Red Dragons to sleep but before they can subdue a second one in the hall who cries out. Attacks ensue. Four more Red Dragons come from one of the rooms.
• Tasher eventually hears the ruckus and climbs up the rope to enter the room. Raen leaps up to the rooftop and starts to move the rope so Dag can climb up. However, a Red Dragon runs out of one of the building’s front entrances and Dag quickly grabs the opportunity by running in through the previously locked door and up the stairs. While there is a Red Dragon at the top of the stairs, Dag quickly subdues him.
• Back in the kitchen, Raen finishes off a Red Dragon Cricket had been fighting. Dag rushes into the kitchen from the hall and in a stunning move kills another of the Red Dragons. Tasher finishes off two more but one of the gang mebers gets away. Raen quickly heals Cricket and Dag and Jerig jams the lock on the front door. With Xarna with them they climb down the rope and escape on Tasher’s boat.
• Kyse Pharnese is very grateful for Xarna’s safe return - he not only gives the Nightwings 1500 gold (!) but he also asks if they would consider assassinating the man responsible - Jarl Alaxatan, chief rival of House Pharnese. The Nightwings decide this is outside their area of expertise. Kyse thanks them again and tells them - if you ever need a favor, come back and see me.

3-17-6050

• Dag gets a job from his Master - the Lord Agonar - for surveillance on a rich woman at House Tharal. The Nightwings are to keep watch on the house at all times and follow the woman if she leaves. The usual fee applies of 2 gold/day (now a small amount compared to Kyse’s generous reward)
• Cricket runs his normal errands and collects his messages - Sentis Jorlsak, the weasly moneylender at Gold to Loan on the Avenue of the Gods, wants them to retrieve the contents of a trunk from a room at the Barge Inn (in Sighing Docks, #4). There will be an older man staying at the Barge Inn - it is his trunk that is of interest. He will likely be staying at the Barge Inn for at least several days. Sentis is interested in a specific item in the trunk, and they will be able to keep the remaining items (probably scrolls).
• Dag takes Raen to the Seer Doraq Zonn (at an observatory along the Avenue of the Gods called “The Stars Tell” #150). Doraq says he will help find Raen’s brother. He must consult the stars and Raen is to come back the next day.

3-18-6050

• Raen returns to The Stars Tell where Doraq tells him that his brother was sold into slavery and may in fact be on the Sea of Tears - since the Lankanok kingdom is the chief importer of slaves. However he also admits that he is not certain of the specific slave trade routes and his diviniation was not specific as to Raen’s brothers whereabouts.
• Bat meets with Cricket - Bat informs Cricket that the rumor on the street is that the Red Dragons are chomping at the bit to get back at the Nightwings and he wouldn’t be surpised if a group of them showed up in Twelve Bridges district any night looking for a rumble. A few members of the Golden Hand had approached Bat mentioning a possible alliance and Bat was to meet with them about it soon.
• The other Nightwings that have been keeping surveillance on the Tharal House have reported something swimming in the canals.

3-19-6050 - Night

• Jerig, Cricket, and Raen go the the Barge Inn to find out more info about Sentis’ job.
  • Jerig charms the young man at the front desk, who points out the old man that owns the trunk. The inn-man then tells Jerig which room the old man has rented. It does not appear that the old man is aware that he has been observed by these hooligans.
• As Tasher and Dag are watching House Tharal
  • A Barge leaves the house with guards and Lisia Tharal (the woman who is to be watched).
  • After following the Barge at some distance it comes under attack within The Old City.
  • The guards and Lisia are killed.
  • Tasher pulls off a slick pole-vaulting manuever onto the barge from his boat and attacks one of the attackers; the other attacker vanishes. Dag comes aboard and helps Tasher by subduing the attacker. The attacker, with a blue cloak, small shield, and a gold blade is tied up. Upon examination later, he has a tatoo of an eye on the palm of his hand and the Falchion like swords are made of a gold alloy with yellow orbs in the hilts.
  • Tasher poles the barge back to House Tharal. Lord Agonar examines the barge upon which is a tarp. Underneath are diggind tools and a crate. Agonar opens the create to find a cubical box constructed from Dir wood, carved with intertwined naked and obscenely posed humanoid figures.
  • Agonar opens the box - the sides and top flip off and down. Inside the box is lined with red velvet. There are four posts, also lined in velvet at the corners of the box and between the posts is a beautifully fashioned skull of crystal.