Campaign Chronicle 8: (Black Scales)

Mercenaries with a Conscience

Scheduling proves to be the toughest antagonist of any dungeons and dragons campaign. But with new players and a shifted play pace we resuscitated the campaign.

Here is an update of the Black Scales Officer Corps:

Smoker - Kunaryd, Shaman of the Winds of War, Chaplain

Mutt - Imperial, Ranger, Spymaster

Good Stab - Sur’ Hatan , Thief, Vulture

Orsik - Vistali, Fighter, Commander

Delfina - Maruvian, Bard, Chronicler

Longbow - Imperial, Ranger, Sawbones

Junior Officers (Retainers):

Ole’ Skratch - Ryvgar, Alchemist

Sexy - Maruvian, Bard

Needle - Maruvian, Bard

Salt - Aegorian, Wizard

Black Tongue - Khemetan Alchemist

Emerging from the subterranean hell beneath their new base of operations the Officers were greeted by ill news, the Don Calderon of the Republic of Santa Avaria had put up a list of 103 names.

A proscription like that of the Empire of old.

103 members of the republic of low and high standing have had their lives forfeited. 1/4 of all holdings and treasure goes to the man who kills any man or woman on the list.

"ANY WHOM RALLY TO THE BANNERS AGAINST THE GREAT CITY OF SANTA AVARIA SHALL FIND THEIR NAMES IN BLOOD UPON THIS LIST."

Miranda Black-Wine, the Companies new Vampiric ally warned them that sooner or later the Company would end up on the list if they remained neutral and within the city. Especially if they continued to recruit from it’s population without making some sort of alliance with the Don Calderon.

The Officers then met with a newcomer to the Company, Delfina. A Maruvian national from the West. She was recently a nun at the Convent of Saint Veilila but disgusted with the treatment of her sister and her kin. Delfina wanted to protect Eliwen and Alda. She was also impressed by the fact that a band of cutthroat mercenaries were treating these two women better than a convent. She was accepted but warned that pledging her sword to the company meant literally being branded by their foe. Uncaring Delfina agreed and wrote her name in the Chronicle.

Mutt, heavily drained from fighting the Shadows (sitting at a Strength score of 2) went to the church of the Drowned Saints to call in his favor and was guided to the chamber of secluded prayer. Inside was a pure mithril statue, partially melted by a lightning strike. He spent 24 hours in silent prayer and when he exited the temple his strength had returned.

While this happened Delfina spent time in the church helping with services. Smoker returned to the Mourner’s Walk to tend his shrine and witnessed carnage in the streets. He sensed the Spirits were uneasy and some craved violence. Smoker experienced a vision of a sunlit room with a giant sky light where 5 merchant lords carved up Rioja on a map.

The Company then set about looking into people on the list to take out and claim their assets. There were many interesting people and they followed several leads. They looked into Kalisto the Wolf and Adriano the Silk Baron. Both of which were in the hills to their immediate North.

Kalisto is a brigand band leader and one time mercenary captain who was loyal to the Republic of Santa Avaira. He commands a band of 60 cavalry who scour the hills seeking death and loot.

Adriano is one of the richest men in the Republic and has ties to the Silk Serpent network of trade which he uses to bolster his connections with nobles all across the nation .

Another person of interest was Beatrice the Crimson Swan, a very wealthy courtesan and socialite. Delfina seemed interested in possibly helping or investigating her. She was hidden somewhere in the city. Using Black Tongue and Good Stabs cartel connections they bought her current whereabouts for a measly 150 silver coins.

Delfina, Mutt and Smoker went to a hut on the edge of town near the shore. Hiding near a willow tree Delfina made contact with Beatrice’s Kunaryd mercenaries and managed to setup a parley. While this happened Mutt and Smoker were horrified by a massive creature displacing water near the shore. At first they thought it was a beaching whale, but it was slimmer and had a long fin which protruded as it turned. They saw it’s tail over breach over 40 feet away. A sea serpent of some sort and it was getting closer to the house.

The mercenaries alerted Delfina and Beatrice and they quickly packed up and fled through the hills towards Mourner’s Walk. Though cautious Beatrice and her two mercenaries had little other choice but to trust the Black Scales.

While in the hills they passed by a pagan shrine which they decided to return to once they had finished other more pressing business.

Beatrice is willing to pay the Mercenaries to take her to a northern port in the hills so she can escape. They gathered the Takers (Their newly upgraded Crossbow Unit) and the Hooks (Their Black Ops unit) and set off with a wagon.

They will be passing through the lands of Kalisto the Wolf and fear the 60 bandit cavalry skirmishers, though they want to try and make an ally of him.

Passing by Blackwall Cave Mutt leads the officers inside hoping to find a fellow ranger who disappeared. After fighting some dog sized scorpions they discovered the corpse of the ranger in the creatures nest and successfully recovered the Ranger’s Cloak which is a powerful magic item only usable by rangers.

It seems as though the Black Scales will be rebelling against the Republic of Santa Avaria and will be independent players in the War of Rioja.

Tunnel Snakes Rule!