Sparkling Eyes
A few words...
The Sparkling Eyes adventure, originally called "The noble without honour", was constructed 1993. At that time I was very much into roleplaying with intriguing subjects, and therefore almost all my campains were placed in western Hârn. This one was no exception. Although most locations on the Hârnic islands could have similar plots, I believe I found the right spot for this one. The adventure placed mostly in the rich and snobbish city of Aleath has what all good adventures has; intrigue, murder, kidnapping, assaults and an ending with a twist. Hopefully the players and GM's who participate in this tale will enjoy it as much as I and my players did. I haven't drawed any maps since I feel that the GM's using this scenario should do their own instead of redrawing the ones I used. The maps I used are perhaps already occupied by some other resident in his/her campain. I will however leave a description of the place. Likewise when it comes to character stats, I leaved them out as well. But as with the maps I will leave a desription of the persons involved. At the start of the adventure it's best if the PC's already are acquainted with Collus the mercantyler, in one way or another. They could travel with him as his friends or as his bodyguards placed under the command of Pasel, Collus captain of the guard. Also travelling with the mercantyler is his young and beautiful daughter and his personal scribe and assistant. All should go well until the party reaches Aleath, but after that all hell breaks loose. Any comments about the adventure, questions etc.? Please send a note to the adress below. Thanks!
The mercantyler eyed the stones curiously. Were they so valuable that another man, a noble, would pay him a fortune just to get them delivered at his house in Aleath? Why didn't the knight get them himself and why all this secrecy? Many thoughts wandered through the wealthy merchants mind as he sat down on the chair opposite the fire. The chimney in the room was doing what it was suppose to in this time of winter, but the man on the chair didn't care. All his thoughts were fixed on those two gems. While looking into the 'Eyes' as he himself prefered to call them, he saw a faint glimmer of greed in the horizon. Khuzan Diamond stones, almost as valuable as the rubies from the far away Lythia. They could make a man go insane, commit murder if necessary. These were prescious pebbles cut from the hard rock and cut with delicacy, and they were worth a shipload of silver. No this deal was going to be his most successful and he had to let go of all this paranoia. It was a respected noble, a knight or a good trader as he had prefered to call himself who was the buyer. A man from Hârn's most respected city. Yes, this was indeed a good trade.....
The past...
Sir Arath of Porsadyn was born in the manor of Colhyn some forty years ago. Colhyn, located near the border keep of Ibonost, was the only estate the Porsadyn clan held. At the age of thirteen Araths father sent him to Ibonost to begin his squire training and learn the chivalric ways of the knight. He was a quick learner and soon rose to become the best squire of them all. No one could match his fighting skills and no one was as an adept leader as he was. Still Arath was a problem to the master of squires. First was his arrogans towards poor and common people. Something he had sworn to protect. Second he could not let the maids in the keep be and had therefore sired more than one child before his training was complete. A normal squire would have been thrown out but this was no ordinary one. Sir Arath had an tremendous ability to persuade almost anybody, including the king. So it was to be that he completed his training and was knighted the summer of 699TR.
Being the third son meant no estate and no land to inherit. This was very clear to sir Arath already from the beginning and, as he put it himself, joining the religious order of the Checkered Shield was out of the question. Although scirmishes and battle was common in the order in the Menekod/Hyen area it lacked two vital things; money and pleasure. So it became that Arath joined a mercenary band in Dyrisa. This band called "The Peacocks of Andasin Hills" was under the leadership of another but older noble, lord Drevin. Since the Ezar's war ending many nobles were terrified, both in northern Kanday and southern Rethem, of after-assaults from brigands and other villains. So most of them hired mercenaries to keep their land safe. For five years this band guarded various manors in the border region. Of course for a man like Arath this wasn't enough. Arath wanted the gold and pleasure of the wealthier nobles, not the peasant and ale money this mercenary band was getting. This couldn't change unless Drevin was desposed of. And desposed of he would be. Arath rode to Golotha and purchased Leorteval, a slow killing poison drug, from the local smugglers. Drevin died a few weeks later and Arath took control over the Peacocks. They went to Coranan.
In the mighty city of Coranan Arath and his band were employed by the local mercantylers guildhall to protect goods brought in by land. They renamed themselves "Protectors of the road" and after three dozen or more successful missions, they were contacted by the master of the annual caravan heading for Tashal. In only three years the Protectors had become Coranans most well known mercenary band. The Caravan meant more money and more connections for Arath. So it came to be that almost all the mercantylers involved in caravan trade knew the name of Arath, leader of the Protectors. Guarding the caravan for several years made Arath a wealthy man and later he retired, not in Coranan, but in Aleath. The contacts he had made with the mercantylers remained.
The port of Aleath opened up a new world for the knight. Maritime trade and ocean going vessels would bring in a fortune, this Arath knew. The first thing he did after buying a residens was to visit the local shipyard. There he ordered the master to build him two large Niviks. Two years later they were ready and launched in the sea. By that that time Arath had already nestled his way into the Aleathan merchant community and was a well known trader. He hired the best crew for his ships and made a deal with a very promissing young mercantyler by the name of Gusle. They became Aleaths most succefull traders in many years and their wealth was the envy of all, including the richer nobles. Arath had become the one thing that he craved the most. He had become the wealthiest man in his community.
In one of his travels of the Hârnic islands, Arath met a mercantyler from the grand Azyrian empire. This man was an owner of half a dozen ships and some huge estates. Both were as ruthless as merchants and soon became good friends.They started to trade with each other in the summers and completed each other well. The merchant who traded in gems and jewels heard from Arath of the legendary diamonds of the Khuzdul. The Azyrian mercantyler wasted no time. He wanted two large stones for his firstborn son's wedding. He was so wealthy that he would pay Arath fifty ounces of gold just to deliver them to him. Said and done, Arath promised that he would deliver them the next summer. The gold was paid in advance.
In Aleath Arath contacted his old connections up in the Coranan area, telling them that he was interested in buying two large diamond gems from the Khuzdul. He was told that a merchant named Collus from Shiran could get them and that he was the best of them all. Arath invested all his money in one last trip that would give him the money to purchase the stones, and went to Shiran. Gusle, his companion, left with the vessels and goods and went out to sea. In Shiran Arath met Collus and gave him twenty five ounces in gold and told him that he wanted them to be delivered at his house in Aleath. This was a very good proposal and it was accepted by Collus who told the noble that the stones would be delieved to him in the winter season. Arath went home satisfied.
Unfortunatly for Arath, his ships were destroyed by Ivinian pirates returning home, and he lost all his life savings. This was the worst thing to happen. First of all Arath had nothing left and second, he had to deliver those two gems to the Azyrian mercantyler. There was only one thing to do. Kill Collus and steal the stones from him. Arath went to Golotha for the second time in his life. In the dark city he met with the Lia-Kavair through some mercantyling friends and hired their best assassin. Oberil the shapeshifter. They both went back to Aleath. He awaited Collus, and in the late winter 720TR, the mercantyler arrived.
The wind howled through the barred windows, and it was cold through the bones of the messengers back. In spite of this he was sweating. He eyed the knight placed on the other side of the table. His pale face was hard as a rock. The penetrating gaze that had hyptnotized many in combat and as well taken their lives, looked a him like it was going to destroy him in a blink of a heartbeat. The message did have had an impact on the noble. He was usually calm as a summers breeze, but now his grip on the goblet and his knit brow betrayed his feelings. He was shocked. The messenger gulped and drew breath through his lungs. He asked to be excused and the knight waved him away to leave. As he closed the door the messenger heard the goblet fly into the wall. He rushed quickly down the stairs to escape any anger or burst of violence that could end on his own life. He knew the noble and he knew how he could react. Now he had lost both his ships and his life savings, so who could tell what he might do. Upstairs the knight looked at the wine dripping from the walls where the goblet had struck. Someones blood was going to drip as the wine did. Someone was going to take the blame for this. He just didn't know who. The knight spit on the floor and opened a window. The autumn had struck deadly on his life and it was time to do something about it. He didn't know fear as normally men felt it, but he knew that he was broke and he had nothing left. He had to make up a plan to get the back on his feet. Just like he always had done. This time there would be no failure, only success. Even if it meant killing someone for it...
Characters...
Arath of Porsadyn
Apperance: This noble is very tall and quite thin. He has blond long hair that falls naturally on his shoulders and neck. He wears a thin mustasch and possesses a well trimmed beard. His eyes are clear but extremely cold and he is in a woman's eyes, very attractive. His age of forty two isn't notable since he looks much younger. He walk with a superior grace and looks up to nobody except himself.
Personality: Arath's egoistic and corruptible side is unknown to almost all his "friends" and associates. The ones who do know it are well aware about the knight's intentions and capabilities. Arath's ability to lead and persuade people are amongst the best ever heard and he has fooled many common man. Although the knight might look scant, he is one formidable warrior indeed. Possessing great skill with the broadsword, shield and even longbow has left many dead on the battlefield. Many claims this was done with his hypnotic gaze and not his skill in arms. Arath craves three things in life; excitment, pleasure and wealth.
Equipment: He usually dress in the finest Emelrene linen, with mixed colors and added silk inlays. He wears high boots and at winter has a sable fur cloak slung over his shoulders. He never wears any hats. Around his thin waist hangs a superior broadsword stuffed in a embroidered scabbard. A gift from his Azyrian friend.
Collus of Serin
Apperance: This man is quite plump and has a double chin. In spite of his stoutness, Collus has a friendly face and smiles often. His balding hair is raven black and his brown eyes are comforting. He walks with a slight limp because one of his legs is shorter than the other. He's often to be seen riding.
Personality: Collus is one smart tradesman and has aquired wealth through carefulness and well made plans. He loves food and is a well known gourmet in Shiran where he is a regular at the local inns. Although very careful, many believe Collus to be half-paranoid. This could be true since he has rejected several good trades because they didn't seem secure enough. He worships gems and jewellry and is currently trying to teach his daugter all it's secrets. Collus is releated to the powerful Seris clan in Shiran and tends to visit his relatives as often as he can. He is fifty three years old and is still a very active man in western Hârn.
Equipment: The mercantyler dress spartanious with simple linen clothing and a simple leather hat. He wears only a dagger for defense and has all his possessings locked away. The purse is always held in his right hand. He rides most of the time sitting on his mule.
Erwyna of Serin
Apperance: Erwyna is the opposite of her father Collus. She has short blond hair, is slim and is very beautiful. Traits she inherit from her late mother. Her brown eyes comes from her father and her smile can make the most toughest soldier heartbroken. She always smells good of perfume and bathes often.
Personality: Looking fragile like Erewyna does fools many. She is in fact one hard-boiled twentyfour year old woman who wouldn't stop short if her family was threatened. She is however looking for the perfect husband who is a hard worker and would protects his family. She is currently dating, of sorts, a clothier from Shiran. This shouldn't last long since Erewyna want's a man to be strong in all ways, physically and mentally. Like rough smiths and hardened timberwrights. She is a young but good master jeweller who helps her father when necessary.
Equipment: Erewyna prefer red clothes and has good taste. The gowns she usually wears tends to be sturdy but are often very pretty. She walks unarmed and wears only a small gold necklace as jewellry.
Sven the Scribe
Apperance: Sven who is originally from Ivinia has short red hair as most of his fellow countrymen. But that's the only similarity he has with Ivinians. He is short, scant and has a squeky voice.
Personality: His apperance has made Sven very shy towards women and he loathes them when the mock him. However he's one good scribe and has Collus fullest confidence. Unfortunatly for this thirtyeight year old man, he's in love with Erewyna.
Equipment: Sven always, no matter the weather, wears a leather vest. He tends to prefer buckram clothes instead of linen. He wears no jewellry and does not wield any weapons.
Pasel of Laknir
Apperance: This darkskinned ex-gladiator slave has one big scar running from his right ear to left cheek, lined over the nose. He has a massive frame and is strong as an ox. Both his hair and eyes are dark brown.
Personality: Pasel who is a freed slave, by the hand of Collus, would give his life for his master without blinking. He has only one goal in life and that is to serve well. He is Collus personal bodyguard and he's also captain of the small guard force that Collus is currently paying. Needless to say Pasel is extremely good at what he does. Pasel is only twentyseven years old and is already a master weapon wielder. Unknown to many, he's as good with his feet and fists as he is with his weapons.
Equipment: He wears Ring leather, a plate helmet and heavy clothing to protect himself. He uses a heavy handaxe for primal weapon. His tower shield is a rare sight, but was given to him by Collus. The three guards under his command wields spears, shortsword an roundshields for protection. They all wear helmets and sturdy leather armours.
The Argan Twins, Kastor and Gorowel
Apperance: Both of these broadshouldered twins are quite plain and has very big ears. Their brown colored haircuts are so ugly that in Aleath they go by the names of "The Hurricane Twins".
Personality: These twins are originally from Kaldor and were once employed in the Kath march forces. Arath hired them several years ago and they have been loyal to him ever since. They are not very bright and have a tendency to go berserk in combat. Both of them can often be seen at the Fox and Glove as well as the local brothel. The twins have no goals and tend to take one day at the time. Both are thirty-three years old.
Equipment: These soldiers are equipped with heavy shortswords and heavy spears. They wear double leather armours and hoods. They don't like helmets and each has a big dagger stuffed in their left boot.
Jemis the thief
Apperance: Jemis is a rough looking thief. His head is shaved and his face is adorn by a hooked nose.
Personality: Like almost any Lia-kavair member Jemis seeks wealth from other people. His primary goal in life is to become the master of his guild. Even this may seem impossible, he might just do it. Jemis is quite intelligent and is often seen debating, of various issues, with the victims that he steals from. He don't like unecessary violence and prefer to be swift and gone by the time his theft is detected. He's twentysix.
Equipment: Jemis is often seen wearring respectable linen clothing with many colors. He has a set of picklocks and one pointy dagger hidden on himself. In the dark streets at night, Jemis also wear a dark cloak.
Oberil the Shapeshifter
Apperance: This assassin has a well trained body and moves as easily as a cat. His face is adorned with two small streaked eyes and a pretty flat nose. His hair is common brown as is his eyes. He is not handsome.
Personality: Oberil has no heart. Not if one is to believe in the gossip around the slum quarters in Golotha. He's a viscious killer and cares little for material wealth. Unknown to his guild in his homecity, Oberil is a Navas-Kara and and keeps an eye on the Lia-kavair for his masters, The Navehan priests. He is one of the best assassins on Hârn in spite his young age, and he's a formidable life stealer to the unfortunate who gets in his evil way. He's only twentyfour but can wield knives and daggers like no one else.
Equipment: Using different clothing and looks at each time he cut throats, has given Oberil the pet name Shapeshifter. One day he can appear dressed like a noble and then the next like a beggar. He never wears the same clothes twice. He like to use weapons without poison. He claims it takes the pleasure out of the act. Oberil should be avoided at all costs.
The Chastisers, Daffi, Terin, Beovel and Aol
Apperance: These are four real hoodlums, a rare sight in Aleath, and they are quite rouge looking. Daffi is tall, Terin is broad and strong and Beovel and Aol look like each other, without being related to one another.
Personality: Money is their primary target and they can be hired to do any kind of service. Mostly battery though, because it's their finest skill. If one was to hire them it's easiest to find them in the Silver Cavern Inn.
Equipment: Daffi and Terin are dressed like ruffians and uses daggers, hidden of course, for protection. Beovel and Aol wields clubs and can sometimes be seen wearing leather tunics.
The assassin followed the blood dripping from his victims shirt. It ran on the bedpost like water in a dried out stream. Killing this man had been easy. Drug a guard, steal some keys from a trusted scribe and easily slip in through the now unlocked door. The assassin felt satisfied. Nobody had heard him, not even the dead victim, and his employer would procur what he craved. Success was once again inevitable. He opened the lockbox placed on the table and searched it through. Pennies, scrolls, quills and ink, but no diamonds. The assassin searched the victims clothes and... Nothing! He looked in the travelling chest and... Nothing! The dead mans purse... Nothing! The nocturnal killer searched the rest of the room without success. No stones! He opened the door and slipped out in the hallway. He sneaked all the way down to his room without making a sound. The mercantyler had known! Some way or another, he had known! He had moved the gems to a safer place far from his own possessions. He was now dead but the stones were still in his belongings. The assassin knew failure for the first time in his life. This was a cold and unpleasant feeling he would never forget...
The story...
Day one...
The party arrives in Aleath one mild winter afternoon. They are led by the riding Collus who is aided by his bodyguard Pasel. They should have no trouble entering the gates unless they act menacing or disturbing. At the gates Collus is told that weapons and armours are forbidden in the city, except for the gentle folk, guards and people with notes of arms, and that these should be desposed of at the nearest inn. Pasel leads the way through the crowded streets until the party reaches Xuaka square. There he tells them to wait while he examines the inns in the city. Moments later he returns and takes the party to an inn called the Fox and Glove. At the Inn Collus pays the innkeeper for the accomodations and Pasel takes the necessary precautions to protect the party. Collus quarters is on the top floor of the house and he and Sven are the only ones with keys to the room. There will be a guard posted outside the door at all times. The mercantyler sends his scribe Sven to contact Arath and inform him that he's in town. The deal will go down the following day. Sven returns and tells Collus that everythings seems to be in order.
Later after all settles down, Collus enters Erewynas room and give her a necklace with a small pouch attached to it. He tells her to guard it carefully and carry it hidden around her neck at all times. She does it without asking, thinking it's one of those security things her father always seems to be so concerned about. When Sven visited Arath, the knight easily tricked the scribe and was given alot of information about their stay at the inn. The most important piece was that Sven and Collus shared keys to the mercantylers room. Arath sends Oberil to steal Svens key and order a room at the Fox and Glove. After he's stolen the key he shall wait and if Sven don't notice, sneak up to the mercantylers room, dispose of all guards and kill the mercantyler. He should then take the diamonds, flee down to his room and lay low. The stones should be delivered to Arath the next day.
Oberil dressed like a woodcrafter almost succeeds, he drugs the guard, kills Collus but he don't retrieve the stones. With thoughs of shame and failure the assassin retreats to his room. Unknown to all, Erewyna has the stones around her neck well enclosed in a sturdy leather pouch. The murder is discovered by one of the players who should wake everybody up at the inn. A short moment later two guard patrols arrive. They are lead by a city official. In collus room everythings is turned up side down. The only new item found is a small dagger piercing Collus heart. The word "Slapped" is found engraved in the hilt. These words are from the universal language of the Lia-Kavair guild, meaning murdered. Oberil left it there to create diversion and ease the pressure from himself if he should become a suspect. One of the patrols escorts Pasel and the hysterical Erewyna to the castle for further hearings. The rest of the guests at the inn are interegated by the official for the rest of the night. The other residents except the party and the staff are a couple of drunken mercenaries, a woodcrafter journeyman, two teamsters and a unguilded merchant visiting Aleath. The patrol leaves early in the morning. At that time Collus body has been taken care of and his room has been cleaned. Pasel returns alone. The news about a killing at the Fox and Glove spreads like fire throughout the city.
Day two...
It's morning and Pasel gathers the party at breakfast. Several curious persons have started to arrive and outside the inn, the streets are crowded. Arath visits the inn early to tell Erewyna how sorry he is about what happened. He's acting like a real pro and should be very convincing. He later leaves but promise to come back and visit the mercantylers daughter when she returns. Pasel is a bit broken down about the murder as is Sven, and he commands his other three guards to protect Sven with their lives. The players are to visit Erewyna at the castle where she is staying as a guest. She has a task for them. Meanwhile Pasel is participating in a local raid at the headquarters of the Lia-Kavair. The dagger left in Collus chest upset the constable and the city officials and they are going to end the guilds "reign". Unknowingly to all, the thieves guild had nothing to do with the murder and is therefore innocent.
The Lia-Kavair have taken precautions to prevent getting caught for a crime they didn't commit. Unfortunatly for the thieves they are to late. The guard patrols aided by the tough Pasel captures many of the fleing members and only one of importance escapes, the dark cloaked lieutenant Jemis. All the captured thieves are brought to the castle and thrown into the dungeons. When the players visit the castle they are led by guards all the way up to Erewynas room. In the room they are left alone with the late mercantyler's daughter. She is quite broken down and cries most of the time. She ask the players to help her find her fathers killer and offers the players a reward of ten pounds. If they accept she tells them to search all of the hoodlum quarters in the city and try to find any clues that might help in tracking down the murderer. They should return to her in the evening and inform her of the situation.
Arath who curses the mercantyler's carefullness sends Oberil to hire the worst gang in the city, the Chastisers. If the mercantyler didn't have the diamonds there could only be two other persons who have. Erewyna and Sven. Arath sends Oberil to mug Sven and the Chastisers to kidnapp Erewyna. Oberil knowing that the Scribe would almost be impossible to get while being surrounded by three guards, breaks in to his room and search it through. He finds nothing and returns to Arath. The players shouldn't have any greater success searching for clues in the slum quarters. Although they might get in touch with minor thieves no one knows anything that's significant. More likely they get themselves in trouble since people there don't like too many questions asked. Unknown to the players they are being followed by the chastisters who in turn have been followed by Jemis for quite some time. When they return to the castle and inform Erewyna that they haven't got any smarter, she herself leads the players down to the rough neighbourhood to search it through. If the they insist that she shouldn't walk around in the middle of the night searching for killers she will remind them of the reward, and if they don't want to help her she will get guards that will.
The players should follow her and if they do, they will recieve a letter of arms that gives them the right to carry smaller weapons while visiting the city. Pasel, who is busy helping the dungeon master by interegating the captured thieves, is unreachable at the time and can therefore be of no assistance. While searching the slum quarters they are attacked by the Chastisers who tries to kidnapp Erewyna and bring her to a meeting point where Oberil awaits. The assault should be a failure if the players have armed themselves. Within a short while a guard patrol will arrive to investigate the combat screams howling over the area. If the players are successful and have protected Erewyna like they should, she will insist that they take her back to the inn. The guard patrol will ask a few questions at the scene and then take the remaining Chastisers back to the castle. Any necessary visits to the physician will be paid by Erewyna. At the inn Erewyna will ask the players to sleep on the floor in her room. She is really scared and shouldn't be left alone. Later the same night Pasel returns with some information. He checks with the party but wait until the next day to pass it on.
Day three...
In the morning at breakfast Pasel informs the party that the thieves hasn't revealed anything of importance, and that most likely they were framed for the murder. He also tells them that the gang who attacked Erewyna and the players, are called the Chastisers, and that they were paid by a foreign man to kidnapp her and deliver her to a meeting place in the city. Pasel informs all that he is to help with the interegation for the rest of the day, and that they should all lay low and protect Erewyna. She on the other hand opens the pouch. alone of course, and almost faints. In the pouch are two eight carat diamonds worth a fortune. She now relise what the murderer and the gang were after. Erewyna seeks up Sven in privat and shows him the stones. Sven who didn't know what Collus intended to trade is shocked and both he and Erewyna spends the day talking about who might know that Collus had these gems. The noble is one but since he paid a fortune just to get them delivered down here and is considered to be the richest man in the city, they can't belive he would do such a thing. Besides he's a respected knight and is also a well known trader. No the murderer would have to be one of Collus old enemies who somehow got the knowledge about the diamonds. But who? They spend the day thinking of persons who might be responsible for Collus death. Although Erewyna is crushed she will not rest until her father's killer is caught.
Arath is now on the verge of panic and sends out Oberil for the last attempt to retrieve the stones. He's convinced that the daughter has the stones and she must die if the knight is to get them. Oberil should once again enter the inn and kill all if necessary. Jemis who saw Oberil pay the chastisers at the Silver Cavern also witnessed the assault on Erewyna. He is also staying at the the Fox and Glove and spots Oberil when he enters the inn. He waits for the right time to inform the company about the foreigners presence. The reason his doing this is that if the real killer get caught, the Lia-kavair will be free of any accusations concerning this murder. Not to mention the status he would achive within his guild. Oberil who intends to make a quick run at any guards, kill them, break into Erewynas room, press her to give him the stones, then kill her, climb out throught the window and escape on the roofs, don't know he's being watched by Jemis.
Pasel returns angry about not retrieving any new clues about the murder and the foreigner. While he's talkning to the players they are contacted by the thief who informs them of what he have seen. He also mentions that the foreigner is staying at this inn and is probably up to something mischieving. Pasel thanks Jemis with money and the guild member slips away from the inn and into the night. After paying the mysterious man Pasel informs the company that something is probably going to happen later and they should all be on guard and wait for his signal. He's intends to set up a trap for Oberil if the foreigner is up to some evil deeds. He posts himself outside Erewynas room and tells the rest of the group to remain alert and be ready with their weapons.
Late at night Oberil sneaks up to the floor where Erewyna is staying. He sees the guard sleeping on a chair ouside her room and thinks that it's going to be easy. He stealths toward the man and just as he is about to slit his throat the assassins sixth sense warns him. Oberil jumps back when Pasel attemps to grab him. What follows is an incredible battle between a swift assassin and a lethal gladiator. The rest of the inn should hear the fighters and wake up. The players and Pasels guard will not have a chance to intervene and stop the combatans in the narrow corridor. Pasel fights unarmed and recieves many cuts from the deadly dagger in the assassins hand. However the gladiator's combat experience exceeds his opponent and Oberil is pushed into a corner. Both awaits the other ones moves and they stand still like statues. Oberil seeing the armed people behind Pasel knows it's all over and reveals the truth about Arath and his plans. Then he slits his own throat. Pasel orders all to keep quiet about the knight. He takes the players with him and heads for the knights home. The others are to remain at the inn at all cost. For the second time in just three days the guard patrols arrive at the inn led by a city official.
Meanwhile outside the knights mansion on Andasin street Pasel informs the players that he is to arrest the knight. He knocks on the gate and after a short while it opens. Standing before the Pasel is the the knight and his two bodyguards. If the knight was pale before he's stiff white now. Arath opened the door expecting Oberil and with any luck the stones as well. Now standing infront of him is the mercantyler's bodyguard and his companions. The assassin has failed and revealed the truth about him. Even if Arath is a knight he knows that no matter how much privileges he has as a noble, the mercantyler's clan will try to get their revenge in one way or another. Seeing the blooded guard that's just what he asumes. Arath panics and send forward his two bodyguards to kill the persons infront of him. Not needed to say they berserk. Pasel is to quick for them though and dodges away letting the players fight the two soldiers. He pursues the fleeing knight into the house.
If the players succeeds in defeating the twins they should have time to enter the house and search it through. It's a beautiful house with two floors, a balcony, a stable and a magnificient garden. Inside the house they will find three terrified servants hiding in the kitchen. They will tell the players that combat took place on the floor above but it seemes to be over now. Climbing the stairs the first thing they will see is a bleeding Pasel crawling on the floor. Some yards away on top of a table lays Arath dead. The players are to late to save the captain and he dies in their arms with the word "revenge". The house contains fine furniture, tapestries, silver items like cups, candle holders and some wealth locked away. The players will also find documents with different criminal activities like smuggling and tax evations and payroll with the assassins name on it as well as the Chastisers. After they searched the place a guard patrol arrives.
The knight lowered his head and sword to the ground. This was it! This was the ending of his life. He coughed up some blood and looked up at his opponents. That filthy darkskinned soldier had proven himself to be quite a match. He and his other companions had killed both of his fierce bodyguards. Of course that didn't matter now. Even if he survived this battle he would always be a hunted man. The dead mercantylers clan, powerful indeed, would want its revenge and would probably get it. It was funny he thought, one day a top of the world and the next... He had lost everything; his money, his friendship with the Azyrian merchant, both of his trusted bodyguards and both of his ships. There was nothing more for him now. He spit blood on the ground before him and raised his sword once again. He looked at the others and pushed a smile to his lips. They were still waiting for him to make his move.Well there wasn't a better way to die for a warrior than to die in combat. He charged and the last thing he saw before he died, was the sins he had committed in life. It was not a quick death...
Epilogue...
If the players don't destroy any evidence, the constable and the officals involved will question them and eventually find that they are innocent to the knights death. They will probably get some kind of reward in helping despose of the noble and his evil schemes. This is of course up to the GM and if he finds it suitable. Erewyna mourns both her father and the now dead Pasel but offers the players any jobb they might want and pays them the reward as promised. If the GM wants he can make the surviving players some kind of heroes and they will become quite well known in Aleath. Anyway Erewyna and the rest of the company travels north to Shiran. Collus and his bodyguard are laid to rest outside Aleath as a remainder of the evil that took place. The diamonds are later sold to a wealthy senator in Coranan and never to be seen again.
Patrick Nilsson (blodputt@algonet.se)