Mudgol is confronted by Bishop Connif and the acolytes of the Cathedral of Blades, whom he beseeches in his usual 'indirect' manner to fix up Lt. Banghorn. Though he appreciates his service, Connif asks Mudgol to maybe stop disrespecting everyone by unceremoniously dropping in, though he's sure it won't be the 'last' time... Mudgol leaves back to the barracks, forgetting that most of the PCs are waiting for him. Baro is busy at the barracks dealing with his privates when he hears Mudgol arrive, and then after the half-orc feats upon a turky leg, the two wizards head over to Royal Leathers. Gruulsh, after doing her nightly street walking for trouble, and being pick pocketed, is soon to also arrive at the HQ. Mudgol fills in the PCs that he has successfully grabbed Banghorn from his cell, but he is not yet in any condition to talk. The PCs sleep.
Essel, Martenin 16th, 838 ID
A loud rapping on the front door of Royal Leathers reveals a fat teamster named Kozke, who has brought the furnishings donated to the PCs by the noble Attican Vlad. Ginwkrench and Gruulsh assist in moving the furniture as they attempt to one up another, and Kozke takes no guff from Rumpridge, whom he gets into a brawl with inside the shop (one that Rumpridge quickly wins). Baro and Ballyhoo show up in the midst of this encounter, and after being tipped handsomely and not given the breakfast Mudgol offered him, the fat man gets on his horses and departs. Mudgol, Ballyhoo and Rumpridge decide to visit the Cathedral of Blades and speak to their friend (and uncle) Banghorn, while the others head off on other errands, like visiting the Fiery Rat.
After getting their daily dose of lesser restoration from the Cathedral acolytes, the PCs are brought in to the hospice where Banghorn is happy (and grateful) to see them. He seems surprised that his nephew has joined the Last Eidolorn, and thrilled to see his old, YOUNGER friend Ballyhoo, who he calls by his real initials. Banghorn tells the PCs that he was actually being held in Sothos Karr, in the village of Badash, a mining and slaving town built on a series of small plateaus over the Mothergorge. There, the Score have bribed several of the local slavers to provide secrecy and protection, and they keep captives and enemies there. Banghorn reveals that he was a member of the Stride, a double agent for both the rogues and the Last Eidolorn, and that some of the other missing survivors (guild master Aslak and an elf named Ivellio Roodeye) are still being held still. He also confirm the death of the half-orc Gardi, who was related to the late Luz.
Banghorn goes on to reveal other details he could make out during his time imprisoned. He knows that Kohl Harthas, Shalabar Klasp and a new recruit known as Syriux (a powerful ex-slave) tend the Sothos Karr hideout, while the Score's leader Gremek and the red wizard Merevos Tha operate out of the Haunted Horrn with the Blooded Lash and their Warlord Ultroon. He is also aware that they have two 'floating' groups of mercenaries ranging through Floivin Province: two assassins that operate primarily out of Floivin Keep, and might be responsible for the PCs' recent troubles, as well as steering them wrongly over the past few months; and a trio involving Luorn Stride, Parodee the magician and the poisoner Pedegar Pell, who roam the Province causing trouble where they may. As it turns out, though, it was Kohl Harthas who arranged for Banghorn's abduction. Before they leave, Mudgol, Rumpridge and Ballyhoo learn that they will need a much more powerful cleric to regenerate Banghorn's...losses.
Meanwhile, the other PCs are hanging around at the Fiery Rat, Ginkwrench consoling Flake with some platinum coins. The barkeep is now serving indoors, but tells the heroes that after the poisoning, business has largely disappeared, and even some of the serving girls quit, terrified. He says Odd Jon has taken to a bout with depression, and he's unsure of the Fiery Rat's future. The PCs reconvene and hear out Banghorn's testimonial of captivity, and then decide to follow up on 'Adder' and 'Scroundel', the two Score rogues who may be residing still in Floivin Keep. Ballyhoo and Rumpridge will attend Monch Gnarlbottom, while the rest of the PCs will head to Floivin Penitentiary and speak with prisoner Zinsk. Unfortunately, Monch has no information for Ballyhoo, but they manage to pick up his son Ymurf, who reports for duty in his full regalia and his new Magmahammer maul from the Sunken Forge. After collecting the mugs from the Fiery Rat that were poisoned, Mudgol unsuccessfully tries to use them as a focus to scry whoever marked them. Gruulsh spars with an unfortunate private who Baro helps goad into the challenge.
At the Penitentiary, Lt. Ginwkrench pushes his weight around, pissing off most of the private rank soldiers on duty, especially one of the gaolers who is concerned at having Mudgol on the premises (since the half-orc offered to help free Chef Gusta recently). They don't notice Zinsk in his cell, but then a swarm of rats rushes all over Gruulsh, and the she-bugbear finds herself being groped by a naked old pervert. Since he was brought a 'woman', the old man tells Mudgol that he thinks this 'Scroundel' they sink was known to hang about the eastern gate market, when it still existed before the invasion. The diviner has a faint recollection of a paper thin, unusual elf hawking weaponry. Then Zinsk mocks Ginkwrench, his old cell mate, who tries to sucker punch the druid and misses...then quickly transforms into a rat and moves back into his cell.
The gnome is pissed, storming out of the jail, and the guards he pissed off chuckle at his expense, only to be ordered by the Lieutenant to latrine duty! However, since they can't leave the front gate unattended, they beseech Gruulsh to take over for them. Baro also helps her, and Ginkwrench's plan sorta backfires. He and Mudgol head over to the Fiery Rat, where the gnome plans to drink more. There, Rumpridge and Lord Ballyhoo have already begun to query a local Hosspotch named Joble the Noble, who says he will see about seeking an audience with Grandmother, but doesn't know of the two rogues they seek. He does reveal that one of the Hosspotch, an exile named Frynne, is herself a member of the Score after interment in Sothos Karr. Rumpridge gives a hundred platinum to Flake so that he can offer a free drink promotion, and Lord Ballyhoo begins to perform, instantly drawing a crowd who might otherwise have dreaded the Rat after the recent poisoning...
Eventually, Commander Hoary arrives and gives the PCs a scolding, especially Lt. Ginwkrench who he has received numerous complaints over. Cleverly, Rumpridge and Ballyhoo deflect the crowd's attention to Hoary, who realizes this. The gnome leaves to relieve Gruulsh and Baro from the prison duty, while Odd Jon arrives, depressed, to the Fiery Rat, where he's astonished to find a crowd. Rumpridge speaks with the dwarf a few times to lighten his mood. Ballyhoo
After leaving the prison, Gruulsh decides to scope out the old East market area, for any signs of the Score. She finds only remnants of carts and vendors, and then hides out in a building. Later, an elf does appear at the gates, garishly dressed and armed with a rapier and other fancy weapons, which the gate guards admire before letting him inside the Keep. Doesn't match the proper description, but before retiring for the night, Gruulsh notes Kozke driving his wagon out of the Keep well beyond business hours. She pursues by foot, able to keep up with the wagon due to her monk's training. When he arrives at Halehusk, Kozke unloads his 'charge', an unnaturally thin, strangely moving individual who tips him a small purse of coins before entering the Blind Vixen in the village. Kozke turns back towards the Keep, and Gruulsh sneaks up to confront him!
PCs: Ballyhoo, Baro, Ginkwrench, Gruulsh, Mudgol, Rumpridge
NPCs
Dreezel (human male): A young halberdier, presumably in his late teens, hired on with his cousin to guard the Gnarlbottom manor in Floivin Keep. Suffers from some sort of severe mental handicap, impeding his speech and reasoning abilities. Refers to his pay as 'moneys' and can't seem to note the difference between denominations. Drools a bit, has crossed eyes and seems to view most people and places with wonder.
Joble the Noble (halfling male): A robust halfling male of middle age with a pronounced sense of self importance carried through his speaking tones. A Hosspotch if there ever were one, Joble wears elegant but simple brown robes, and keeps his hair in a tidy, curly brown mop. A font of information, he seems to know a lot about the PCs without being told, and claims to have erotic preferences for both genres and several races. Ballyhoo and Rumpridge approach Joble to seek audience with Grandmother.
Kozke (human male): A porker of a man, with a girdle and leather 'lift straps' tucking in his massive gut. He also adorns a leather cap and a kukri knife, and smokes stinking cigars obsessively. Kozke is a teamster for hire, driving his wagon for various residents of Floivin Keep. He is also known to engage in more 'illicit' dealings and transports in the evening hours, as Gruulsh discovers. Drives a pair of horses which he over feeds with fiber, causing them to defecate on the streets more than normal.
