Day 0 of the Incident
Wartorn Realms - Material Plane
Continent - Zarendar
Subcontinent - Purodisus
Country - Kalasell
Official Control - Holy Empire
Cartel Corruption Level 100%
06:45 Local Time
Rainiersport
The colonial city of Rainiersport lay along one of the coasts of the marshlands and jungles on the peninsular nation of Kalasell. Wood and stone buildings, covered in cheap, peeling plaster, lined the cobbled streets of the city. Most of the buildings had a gable roof made of ceramic tiles held in place by cement. Though some small houses and even a few manors were present in the sleepy city, most residences were large tenements, the majority of which were run down or in disrepair. The main attraction to the city was, of course, the large, elaborate seaports. Many ships passed through those ports every day, either leaving to someplace far away from the continent, or returning back from such an extended voyage. Smaller fishing ports existed, to feed the colonies, and rarely to trade abroad, but these did little to support the city. Above the table, most of the money the city made came from ships passing through, as one of the last stops before warping to the Spirit World. Below the table, the city was a hotbed for corruption, as the nation as a whole was a backwater, and the colonial government cared little. Smuggling was commonplace in the nation, through port cities like Rainiersport, and through the dense jungles. At one point, the native kalasellan tribes ruled the peninsula - now the invisible but often felt hand of the cartel controlled the fate of the country.
In one of the small homes in the city lived a human man, Herminio Labriego, with his husband Poncio. On this foggy morning, Poncio was making cooking breakfast for the two: roasted herring, bread with honey, and some wine.
"Good morning, love." Herminio said to Poncio, before kissing his husband on the cheek.
"Yes, it is a fine morning. Will you be training the city militia again?" Poncio said, his attention still on the wood burning stove and the breakfast he was preparing.
"I will. But I promise I will be back soon. You know I can't stay away from you." Herminio replied.
Just then there was a loud knocking at the front door.
"I'll get it!" Herminio called out, walking over and answering the door.
Standing at the door were two kalasellans, a male and female. The male wore nothing but tattered slops and a leather bandoleer, showing off his fern-colored scales. Between his teeth was a cannabis cigar that he smoked. The female wore cuir bouili, a bandoleer, along with a quiver of bolts and a heavy crossbow.
"What are you doing here?" Herminio whispered harshly to the duo.
"I have a mission for you from the Caputfamilia." the male kalasellan answered in a raspy whisper.
"You can't be here. My husband can't know any of this." Herminio whispered, shooing the two lizardfolk away. "I'll meet with both of you after I've eaten."
"Who is it?" Poncio asked from the kitchen.
"Just some of my friends from the milia. They were just leaving." Herminio replied.
"Oh really? Why don't they stay for some food? I'm almost done cooking." Poncio offered cheerfully.
"I'd love something to eat!" the male lizardfolk said, stepping through the entrance. The female followed, more slowly. They both sat down at the dining table with Herminio.
"You never really talk about work, dear. Who are your two friends here?" Poncio asked.
"He is Basks-By-Coast and she is River-Friend." Herminio responded.
"Oh? What do you two do for the city militia?" Poncio smiled, while serving breakfast, and pouring everyone some wine.
"I'm a ranger." River-Friend said flatly.
"I'm a messenger." Basks-By-Coast answered, putting out his cigar.
"Oh, like a gofer?" Poncio asked.
"Uh... yeah. Like a gofer." Basks-By-Coast frowned.
"So what are the two of you doing here?" Poncio asked.
"We were here to bring your husband in to work. There's been a new development." Basks-By-Coast said in between bites of herring.
"A new development? In militia work? Here in Kalasell?" Poncio asked incredulously.
"What Basks-By-Coast was meaning to say is that we have a job to do. Some monsters were spotted down by South Reach." Herminio quickly covered for Basks-By-Coast.
"That sounds very dangerous. Be careful, dear." Poncio said.
"I will, my beloved." Herminio told Poncio, before giving his husband a kiss.
08:30 Local Time
Rainiersport
Along the waterfront, there was a tavern called "the Drunken Trochilus". On the sign outside, there was an image of an obviously drunken bird, with black and white markings, stumbling around in the open mouth of a happy crocodile. Inside the tavern, sea shanties were sung and much food and drink were served, most of it seafood, puls, and escargot, but a variety of drinks were served, from ales, wines, meads, and a variety of spirits. Herminio, Basks-By-Coast, and River-Friend all entered the tavern, and sat down together.
At one of the tables, there was a very drunken ship's captain, an explorer for the Holy Empire. He ordered great sums of food: herring, salmon, crab, and mussels, smothered in defrutum syrup, and a great many glasses of spiced wine sweetened with plumbous acetate.
"So, why are we here?" Herminio asked. From this point on, the conversation was coding in Airden cant, so anyone overhearing the conversation would not understand it.
"Do you see that man over there?" Basks-By-Coast asked.
"And there was that one time I personally fought off a sea serpent as long as two miles, with nothing but my bare hands!" the explorer loudly boasted to the entire tavern, while spilling wine down the front of his shirt.
"The braggart lush? Yes, I see him." Herminio answered.
"He has a map with routes to a yet unexplored world. The plan is that we will get the map from him, steal his ship, and travel there ourselves. We'll have a foothold in a new world. And the Caputfamilia says you'll be the leader in that new world. Think about it, Herminio." Basks-By-Coast answered.
"I would be Caputfamilia?" Herminio asked in awe.
"Yes. You would be Caputfamilia, boss." River-Friend replied flatly.
"There was also the time I discovered an island with a hundred beautiful sirens, singing the sweetest melodies that would break your heart!" the explorer boldly exclaimed.
"For the mission, you will have a hundred latro at your disposal." Basks-By-Coast informed Herminio.
"I see. The first order of business would be getting the map from our drunk friend, and then rubbing him out." Herminio said.
"Sounds like a plan, friend. I'll leave you two to it." Basks-By-Coast stood up and left the tavern.
"Alright boss. How do you plan on getting the map?" River-Friend asked.
"The cartel owns this business. We'll get the bouncers to remove our drunk friend, except he's really being taken to the cellar. Our mages set up a few wards down there to muffle the sound. We'll bring in Kallikles to help extract the information from him. Then we'll kill him, and your crocodile can dispose of the body." Herminio laid out the plan.
"You want my animal companion to do what?" River-Friend exclaimed.
"Eat the body." Herminio said.
"You'll have to chop it up first. I don't want Marsh-Fang getting indigestion from his fat corpse." River-Friend frowned.
"I can arrange that. Jepit can bring us a hacksaw." Herminio said.
"And then there was that time I had to fight off a whole army of barbarians with only my wits and a wooden spoon!" the explorer continued to boast of his questionably accurate exploits.
"And you have someone who can read the map, boss?" the kalasellan ranger asked.
"I know a guy. I can pull some strings to get us a wizard." Herminio smiled.
"Alright. So far, this is good. But we're still overlooking the crocodile in the marsh. How do you plan on stealing his ship?" River-Friend chided.
"We'll go in fast and loud. Bring in Yuali and Mei, take a bunch of hostages from here and the docks. With those hostages, we'll have a chance to take the ship before anyone can stop us." Herminio stated.
"Okay then, I suppose." River-Friend sighed.
"Good. Go get the bouncer and we can begin. I'll head in back." Herminio said, then stood up.
He adjusted his wide-brimmed hat and feather, and walked right into the back rooms. Receiving protests from some of the employees, he gave a scowl.
"I have a very important business meeting back here. Your boss already knows about it. I have a timetable to keep now, and if I can't keep that timetable, I'll be issuing a complaint with your boss about how you stopped me from having my meeting." Herminio glared at the employees. He leaned in closer to one of them and whispered, "I know you have a lovely daughter, around 12 years of age, studying alchemy. I hope she grows up and has a long and successful life." Afterwords, he walked into the back rooms without being stopped.
Meanwhile, River-Friend was talking with one of the bouncers, a large southern orc wearing brass knuckles. Shortly after, the bouncer approached the explorer's table, and laid his hands down on it, staring at the explorer.
"What is the meaning of this, you filthy orc?" the explorer shouted. "I am Lanius Octavianus Arminus, famed explorer and captain in His Glorious Excellency's Holy Imperial Navy! You can't do this to me!"
The bouncer grabbed Captain Arminus by his wrist, and pulled him from the seat, while the explorer resisted, grabbing onto the table, which proceeded to flip over. "You're making a scene. You're going to have to leave." the bouncer said calmly.
"Get your hands off me, you uncivilized brute! How dare you touch me!" the captain shrieked.
The bouncer was not amused. Still holding onto one of the captain's wrists with his right hand, he delivered a left hook squarely in the explorer's nose. The nose broke with a crunch under the impact of the punch, and blood dribbled down from the nostrils.
Captain Arminus screamed at the bouncer. "Your place is beneath my feet, orc! I'll have you crucified for this, like all the other degenerates! Your family will be arrested and sold off as helots! That'll be one less family of your undisciplined, disgusting kind!"
The bouncer delivered his knee to the captain's abdomen, then punched him in the face while he was staggered. A dark bruise formed around Captain Arminus's right eyesocket. The bouncer delivered a second punch, to the explorer's jaw. Blood dribbled down from the captain's mouth.
"Just like the rest of your violent, barbaric kind." Captain Arminus coughed, spitting up blood.
"Quiet, cur." the bouncer replied harshly, grabbing the explorer.
"Let go of me you wretched beast! You can't do this to me!" the captain shrieked, struggling against the bouncer. The bouncer threw the captain towards the back rooms.
"I'll have you crucified you worthless, unthinking -" Captain Arminus's tirade was cut off as River-Friend delivered a sudden blow to the back of his head with a blackjack. The captain fell over and collapsed into unconsciousness, while the kalasellan grabbed his upper body and dragged him into the back room.
10:00 Local Time
Rainiersport
Captain Arminus eventually awoke tightly tied to a wooden chair. The room was large, dark, and filled with various clutter, covered in dust and cobwebs. The only illumination was cast by a few rushlights.
A towering figure standing nearly thirteen feet tall menaced over the captured explorer. The figure was a mountain of muscle, with hands the size of saucers. The cloven feet of this figure clapped against the cobbled floor as they slowly walked towards the captain. When they stood before the captain, looming over head, the figure's face became visible, a largely bovine head with large, thick horns, and rough scars over the lips. The captain could feel the minotaur's hot breath against him.
"I understand you caused a lot of trouble." the minotaur spoke, his voice deep, with a thick accent.
"I'll tell you nothing, beast." the captain said, his voice slurred.
"Are you sure? I only want one simple thing." the minotaur stared into the explorer's eyes. The flames of rushlights reflected off the minotaur's eyes.
"Do your worst, barbarian. The gods smile upon me in this moment." Captain Arminus glared back.
"So be it. Makes my job more fun." the minotaur said threateningly. "Thankfully, my associates were kind enough to bring my tools." The minotaur walked away from the captain to fetch two bundles of cloth, and returned, laying them down on an end table near the captain. Gingerly, the minotaur unrolled one bundle, revealing several assorted tools: a surgical knife, thumbscrews, a pair of pliers, several sewing needles, and a mason's hammer. Beads of sweat rolled down the explorer's face and body as the minotaur selected his tools.
"You can make this a lot easier. All I want to know is where your map is." the minotaur said, picking up several sewing needles.
"Which map?" Captain Arminus asked.
"The one with the route to uncharted land." the minotaur replied, carefully gathering the needles in his hands.
"F-fine! I'll tell you! Just don't hurt me!" the captain stammered. "It's in my coat pocket, next to my pistol."
The minotaur began putting away the needles back. "Now that was a lot easier, wasn't it?" The minotaur reached his fingers into the captain's pocket, and fished out a pocket pistol and a folded up piece of parchment. "This better be the map. If it's not..." the minotaur threatened, as he left the room.
10:45 Local Time
Rainiersport
In a stone tower with mahogany floors, a short, stocky, bearded, bespectacled man in silk robes sat behind a lavish desk, smoking a cigar. River-Friend approached him, with a folded piece of parchment in hand and a tired look across her face and snout.
"Please, be seated." the robed man said, his voice deep and accent thick, and the kalasellan ranger obliged. "What brings you to the great wizard, Kætiløy Stålsmed?"
River-Friend let out an exasperated sigh, before explaining to the dwarven wizard in cant, "I have important business with the cartel. I am in possession of a map with Spirit World routes to as of yet uncharted lands. Can you read the map?"
"Mmm." Kætiløy the wizard mused, before proceeding to reply in cant. "Work with the Airdens again? Sure, but your boss knows my rate. I expect to be compensated appropriately for the risk inherent in such endeavors."
"Yes, yes. Of course you'll be paid. Can you read a Spirit World route map or not?" River-Friend asked impatiently, laying a pouch of coins and jewels on the robed man's desk.
"I can. Why don't you hand me the map and I'll take a look at it for you?" the wizard asked. River-Friend handed the folded parchment to Kætiløy without another word.
Kætiløy unfolds the parchment and lays it down flat on his desk. He peruses the map intensely, carefully disseminating the information.
"Where did you get this map?" he asked.
"That's not important." River-Friend replied flatly. The wizard continued studying the map.
11:25 Local Time
Rainiersport
Back in the cellar of the Drunken Trochilus, just outside the interrogation room, a diminutive, porcine humanoid arrived, wearing tattered rags covered in stains. He was carrying a hacksaw, which was somewhat unwieldy in his small hands. Herminio was waiting there, along with the minotaur.
"You have done well, Jepit. Thank you for arriving so soon. Kallikles and I were just waiting for a reply back from the wizard." Herminio said.
"Thanks, boss. I'm glad I did well, boss." the goblin smiled, with a far too wide grin filled with small, conical, needle-like teeth.
"Do you think the captain was telling the truth, boss?" the minotaur asked.
"To be perfectly honest, I do not know. That's why we are waiting for confirmation from the wizard." Herminio replied plainly.
After a few more minutes, two more people arrived. The first was a lepidoferan, a humanoid moth with four arms, who wore a long, brown leather duster, a tricorn hat, and had twelve pistols strapped to her, and had three powder horns dangling from her, carried by leather cord. The second was a short, humanoid rodent, a sarhisa-aliz, wearing simple robes, smoking a long opium pipe.
"Good. You two are finally here. Now we're just waiting on the wizard to tell us what we need to know." Herminio said.
"You know I don't work for free, Herminio." the lepidoferan said.
"Of course. You'll get your payment, Yuali. Here's a little up-front." Herminio tossed a pouch of coins to the lepidoferan gunslinger, who deftly caught it midair.
The sarhisa-aliz took a long breath of opium smoke. "The wise Lang Bao teaches 'Opportunity is a ripe plum in the garden of fortune.'"
"We must not act in haste however." Hermino cautioned.
Finally, via a magic spell, a reply came from the wizard. Kætiløy's voice could be heard by the motley crew of rogues and ruffians. "The map is accurate. It should lead to some unknown land called Chekbria."
"Thank you for your services. Would you like to join us?" Herminio asked.
"Perhaps. At triple my normal rate." the wizard replied.
"That's acceptable." Herminio said.
Character Key
#de7dca = Herminio Labriego (Caput Regiminis, imperial human)
#a54db1 = Poncio Labriego (Honoratus Amicus, imperial human)
#4c9954 = Basks-By-Coast (Nuntius, kalasellan)
#48715a = River-Friend (Latro, kalasellan)
#da2a18 = Captain Lanius Octavianus Arminus (Holy Empire Explorer, imperial human; deceased)
#8370f0 = Drunken Trochilus Bouncer (southern orc)
#9c422e = Kallikles Foniás (Latro, minotaur)
#4a59bd = Kætiløy Stålsmed (Honoratus Amicus, hill dwarf)
#ae7c51 = Jepit Votsil (Latro, goblin)
#00c8b5 = Yualiomoi Eamolu (Honoratus Amicus, lepidoferan)
#e36a00 = Mei Wang (Latro, sarhisa-aliz)
