Campaign Chronicles-5-Pact with the Thieves Guild and the Murder of Spikeblood

View the previous chapter of the chronicles: Campaign Chronicles-4-Those Hyenas Don't Laugh - They Die

After returning Ambar Mightylock to safety, and retrieving a substantial reward, the party returned to Sparrowdale. For a few hours the group went there own ways, visiting shops and upgrading their equipment. Syrin and Alderick kept an eye out for vacant lots or stores looking for new management, but despite several inquiries came up with no leads. The group also stopped at the Sparrowdale bank to deposit the large amount of coins they had been carrying around. After 'proving' themselves to the bank teller, the group discovered that the Adventurer's Guild had been depositing payment for services in accounts of their names. Adding to the amount, the group returned to the inn to relax before their midnight meeting in the graveyard, enjoying a wonderful performance by Roxanne. Shortly after arriving, though, a well-decorated halfling named Moreshea approached Syrin and Alderick, greeting them and inquiring about their interest in the shop. After a brief discussion confirming their interest, the three moved to a private room provided by Felix to continue their discussion. The halfling offered the two adventurers a deal- with the exception of a percentage of the cost of the shop, the halfling and her associates would provide a store in the Noble's district for the planned business. In exchange, the two adventurers would sell items acquired by Moreshea's associates, usually with less-than-legitimate means. After discussing it, the two adventurers agreed to the proposal, and signed an agreement with the 'Unseen One'. Though still unsure of the business name, the two were eagerly looking forward to opening their own store.

Concluding their business, the two returned downstairs to enjoy the rest of the evening. With the exception of a note delivered to Astronom, the remainder of the evening passed uneventfully. As the midnight drew near, Syrin slipped out of the inn to the graveyard, seeking cover in case the meeting go sour. Finding little in the way of cover, he decided to become some himself- finding a good open area, he drew on his druidic knowledge and assumed the form of a tree, with his loyal bat flying randomly throughout the graveyard. Over the next hour the other members of the party slipped into the graveyard and found their own hiding places- Alderick pretended to care for the tombstones, while Shamil crouched behind a convenient tombstone. Lastly, Astronom arrived, and took up his hiding place behind Syrin, thinking he was well covered by the 'tree'. Time wore on, and eventually two figures emerged from a hole and called out for Shamil, who approached the two figures. The two figures introduced themselves as Minlana Jewelfrost and Black Panther, and gave Shamil a nickname of "Tiny", but the rest of the conversation went by unheard. After finishing their conversation, Shamil left the graveyard to return to the inn, but Minlana called out to the sorcerer and dwarf, having spotted them in their hiding places. After the two had approached the thieves, Black Panther told Minlana she had missed one, and called out to the tree. Syrin reluctantly released the spell, returning to his normal form and joining the other two adventurers.

After explaining to the thieves that they had been sent to meet them for information that may help Arren, Minlana explained (for a price) that Arren had uncovered information that Olain Spellcheek and Morlour Oldarm were conspiring to kill the mayor. Arren had tried to blackmail the two nobles, and they had responded by framing him with the theft. The nobles had planned on Arren being executed, but before the sentence was carried out they were both mysteriously murdered. The thieves story matched evidence the party had uncovered in *placeholder*'s house, but there was still a lack of substantial evidence. Having finished their business with Minlana and Panther, the group of adventurers left for the night, returning to the inn.

Expecting a peaceful night, the group retired to their beds, and enjoyed an uninterrupted rest... for the most part. Early the next morning, with the rising of the sun, a knock on the door woke most of the party. The inn cleaning crew had been sent to provide general room service, such as breakfast in bed and clean sheets. Though Alderick and Astronom responded somewhat angrily at being awakened, the elf Syrin had finished his meditations and happily welcomed the cleaning crew, idly chatting away with the manager as he worked. As such, Syrin responded with interest when another member of the cleaning staff entered to speak with the manager, stating that all but one of the occupants had responded to their knock. The employee explained that Spikeblood's room would not open, no matter how hard they knocked. Realizing it was his friend's room, Syrin offered to help, knocking on the door and calling out for Spikeblood to open. Despite this, though, the door remained firmly shut, with no sound of stirring within. The cleaning crew even tried using Felix's skeleton key, but with no success- the door remained locked, and the key refused to turn. Faced with such a stubborn lock, Syrin worked his magic on the door, altering it's shape and dimensions until the lock no longer met the wall. After that the door easily opened, and Syrin and the cleaning crew walked in, finding Spikeblood lying in the bed. Curious as to why the sleeping barbarian hadn't answered the door, Syrin shook Spikeblood, and even went so far as to throw water at him. When Spikeblood still didn't respond, Syrin became worried, checking for breathing. The elf placed his hand in front of the barbarian's mouth and nose, but didn't find any airflow. Very concerned at this point, Syrin decided to check for a pulse, and with his 'superior' knowledge of the human body, realized that the chest would be the best place to find a pulse, as it contained the heart. Reaching this conclusion, Syrin pulled back the covers...

...and, along with the cleaning crew, passed out at the sight of the stab wound and blood pooling out of the barbarians chest.

Hearing the sound of thuds from the neighboring room, the remaining members of the group hurried into the room. Upon entering the room, Alderick stepped over the cleaning crew, noticing with shock the look of sheer horror on Syrin's unconscious face. Concerned, Alderick bent down and shook Syrin awake, asking what had happened. Still shaken at the sight, Syrin eventually stammered out that Spikeblood had been attacked, pointing at the body still lying on the bed. Seeing the horrible wound unnerved the group, and they recoiled for a moment. The cleaning crew recovered, and, stating they would clean this room last, ran out the door, Syrin following closely behind. After exiting the inn, Syrin shouted for the guard, attracting the attention of Conthor, who quickly ran to the room. Upon arriving he cleared the room and began searching for clues, noting the odd shape of the door and jammed keyhole. After waking Felix and interviewing him and the party, Conthor left Spikeblood's belongings with Syrin, and departed to report his findings to his superiors...

Continue on to the next chapter of the chronicles: Campaign Chronicles-6-The Interrogation and The Earthquake