SouthSpire
Prepare ourselves, and teleportation circle into Kingston
Kingston
We pay the Orc and two humans their bribe money, and head into the bazaar. Heading towards the main road, hope to get there without any issues.
Make it to the fountain, and get one of the random kids to get us a carriage.
Kingston – Trading Zone Two
We make it to the White Star Trading Company without incident. We are introduced to Rowan, an older man with tattoos on his arms. After some negotiation, the deal is struck. There is a concession where we are not to trade Southern Kingdom goods in Kingston, but we are able to secure trading rights from all the races in the Northern Lands, Gnomes, Halflings, Elves, and the Underdark denizens, as well as the various monstrous races.
Money is handed over, and we finalize the contract. The Northern Wardens Trading Post is now in operation!
We return to the Silk Forest Inn and then we use a Sending Stone to contact Katla, letting her know that the contract is in place, and we now own the trade route.
The Silk Forest Innkeeper told us that they didn’t disturb our rooms, but Berdyn notices that they 100% did disturb our rooms. Best not to trust them.
We take a carriage back to the trading area, heading to the kingdom of the tiger embassy. We notice in N4 that there are a number of Royal guard, wearing the Ellynbrigge crest (Red Stag on White field). There is one mansion that is larger and much different from the rest of the manor houses, noticeably so.
We make our way to the entrance of the embassy, with warnings that we are now approaching Kingdom of the Tiger lands and are subject to their laws.
We speak to two monks on guard at the entrance, who are unarmed, but their arms are arms so they don’t need weapons as they are weapons. They are kind to some of the beggar children, providing them with food.
We speak to them and are invited inside, speaking to Karesi.
We meet with her over tea and delicious sugar cakes. She tells us that the Kingdom of the Tiger members and the Everlife refugees made it to Kingston safely, but all the Everlife refugees have since vanished. Karesi has tried to contact them without success. It is likely they were vanished by Sabre Khaludz.
Berdyn then hands over the two weapons that are Kingdom of the Tiger. They accept this graciously, and let us know that the owner of these weapons are passed on. They do not speak the name of the dead, as they believe it binds them to the world.
We also talk to Karesi about trade. They are open to the idea. We also reveal that Everlife has a teleportation circle, and they are interested in having us provide the Teleportation circle, in exchange for a favor. They want to resupply the Everlife people if possible.
We discuss politics, and the fact that Sabre Khaludz attempted to murder everyone in Everlife with the Shader-kai assassin. As that included the Kingdom of the Tiger, they are interested and concerned. It is revealed that Sabre Khaludz has attempted three times to have an audience with the Khan, but they are refused.
Finally, Bale tells Karesi that he is in fact Able Ellynbrigge Alegan, to her surprise. We work with her to invite Bale’s half-sister Rin Bluewolf over to the Kingdom of the Tiger compound, so that Bale can meet with her in secret. She agrees to do so.
We find out that the Kingdom of the Tiger don’t have a formal alliance with the Northern Kingdoms. We find out that the Northern and Southern Kingdoms have an alliance, but it is fraying due to the fact that the crown prince’s children are seeking refuge in the Southern Kingdoms. That’s an interesting piece of information.
Codex asks about the Cinnabar Clan, and he is told that the Cinnabar are forbidden from coming near the Kingdom of the Tiger holdings. They are not in this area.
We say our goodbyes and return to the Silk Forest inn. Codex speaks to the bartender and asks her about the Cinnabar clan, she doesn’t know about them. Codex asks about where mercenaries gather, and she tells him about the Thirsty Cleric Inn. This is where mercenaries tend to go, and could be a place to find some clue to his family.
In the early evening, we make our way to the Church of St. Cuthbert, in the poor quarter. It is a different city in the evening, and people out are a lot shadier. After poor Simon fails to find a carriage willing to stop, Bale flags one down quickly. Racism is in full effect.
We travel through the trading areas, and into the poor section. It goes from shady to struggling, these are working poor trying to live their lives.
The church of St. Cuthbert is a barracks, it looks like a bunker, a small castle. We meet with Karak DeGray, a former paladin and now leader of the Billet, a Sect of ST. Cuthbert who protect the faithful.
Karak tells us that there was no knowledge of the fall of Everlife, no one is aware in the city, none of the church of St. Cuthbert. He’s angry to hear this. He advises us to speak to the other church, where the majority of the heads of St. Cuthbert reside.
He also confirms that the Gambling Cleric Tavern is within four blocks of the northern tavern, and he had met Codex’s father Flint and Rhogar.
He isn’t certain where Thurman Stonefist and the Everlife refugees are, because he wasn’t aware of anything bad happening to Everlife. He suggests we head to the Dwarven areas.
We also find out that Father Clarence may be found, and he will let us know where, sending out acolytes to find him.
When we leave the Cuthbert barracks, we have to walk back to the main road. On the way back, we are met by four of the Royal City guard, with the tabards. They are menacing and very racist, but Bale is able to talk them into escorting us to the main road. It is a stark reminder of the danger that comes with the discrimination and corruption of the city.
We get back to the Silk Forest Inn and have a steadying drink, commiserating with the half-orc bartender before going to bed.