Session 25

The session opens as the group has finished collecting items from the island.

They decide whether they wish to get more information from the Black Swords and the villagers or go to the mines. They decide to head to the village to talk to the families. Before leaving, they mark the location of the cave on their map.

The town is mostly deserted. There are a few people walking around with muskets bearing the symbol of the Black Swords. What's left of this town appears more as a supply depot for the fort the Black Swords are building.

Pete wants to learn about the mines and gather info about Billy Blackjaw.

Athtar and Benjamin stay back and discuss working with the miners to take over the fort they're building. A Black Swords guardsman approaches the group. Pete steps forward mentioning the contract he has with the Black Swords.

The man squints his eyes, looking at the group. He mentions that none of the group was on the boat with the other mercenaries. The group lies saying one of their companions was deathly afraid of water.

The guardsman mentions they should keep an eye out for a group with a human, dwarf, and an elf. Thankfully, the guardsman doesn't notice despite Salis asking for more details on them.

The group gets away from the Black Swords guardsman and warns Salis that the guardsman was on lookout for the current group.

They decide to head to a general store to buy a repair kit. Going in, Athtar asks the shopkeeper if they have any repair kits.

The keeper replies, "We do have them, and they cost 400 scrip." Athtar is about to exchange gold for scrip, but the man tells him that they only exchange in demoniations of 150 scrip, despite the exchange truly being 1 gold to 200 scrip.

Benjamin negotiates with the shopkeeper to simply use the kit without exchanging money and successfully convinces him to let Athtar use it.

Athtar repairs Salis's axe.

The group heads up to the outpost where the fort is being built. It is a massive walled off area with several towers being put up. Multiple bridges are built. Four different mercenary groups are on the towers, all armed with muskets.

Benjamin plans to make his way around the perimeter of the fort. Pete is unsure why they came to the fort. They head inside the fort after declaring that they're mercenaries reporting in. As they head in, they count the guards noting at least 12 Black Blades guards.

A man dressed in a wide brimmed hat covering most of his face with a large cloak and metal mask. Around his neck is a chain with a metal disc displaying the symbol of scales i.e. for weighing. He goes by "The Minister"

The man mentions that they were not expecting a new group of mercenaries for a few days. Benjamin mentions that they had delays in their arrival due to them needing to make the trip on foot.

As Pete steps out to hand the papers to the man, he notices his hands are made of metal, and on closer inspection, he doesn't believe that he is wearing a mask, but the mask itself is his face. He takes the paper, and his eyes light up for a moment as he scans the contract. Pete signed the contract under the name Sable. He mentions that everything is in order; however, there is one issue. He hands Pete a letter, which is a notice of a warning for his arrest that arrived the other day.

The man pushes himself up from his seat, saying that if they come willingly, there will be no need to fight. Pete says he has a bomb. The man's arm expands outward, forming a maul. Combat ensues.

Pete runs from the room and enters one of the tents. It is a dirt floor tent with a map of the frontier. It has similar markings as the one he saw in Ridgewater but also denotes the mines and this fort. One of the guards enters the tents with a pistol, shooting Pete.

One of the guards rings the bell in a tower, alerting the other guards. Athtar heads out of the area and gets into cover from the musket guardsmen while not being too far from Pete.

A person in ragged work clothing is attempting to climb over the wall as Benjamin calls Pete's name to alert him. Athtar manages to take a ladder and jump off one of the side bridges of the fort.

Benjamin climbs the wall via helpful steps and tells the person who was attempting to climb the wall that he has friends coming but to lead them to where he came from. The person doesn't stick around but says the group can follow if they want.

The group manages to escape the fort and follow the miner.

It is noted that the leader of the Black Swords in this fort is allied with Asmodeus.