Our characters inquire about trade to some local folk and are directed to an individual named Adoli, who sits under the symbol of the Babylonian faith. Carlo gains some insight in the people around us and gets the general feeling of ‘going along to get along’ between the dock hands and the new Babylonian occupiers.
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| Bugibba |
Making our way we find a structure guarded by two guards outfitted in dragon styled armor as we find and then enter the establishment in question. Inside we find a businessman toiling at a desk accpmpanied with a six and a half foot tall brass task master construct with a clear marking of Tiamat upon it. Behind this brass automaton the businessman, Adoli endlessly stamps papers with a dragon-headed stamp with the word Ripae upon it. Our characters overhear some haggling over preferred trade that end results in an officially stamped document.
Our characters are next to speak with the brass construct who asks if we will be using the Bank of Tiamat and how long are we staying. We mention staying at the Gypsy’s Heart and learn that unfortunately it is closed for repairs. Adoli asks more questions about our purpose for visiting but with some sly talk from Jabari, Adoli suggests a two day stay with ‘special considerations’. Adoli suggests an old barracks to stay at and if we are truly visitors a half price writ should do. 250 in gold, 200 in gems was negotiated and after payment our characters are each given a dragon-scale badge.
Outside Adoli’s office Marco and Evagara stroll the dock sampling seafood along the way; while folk before were talkative, they do not seem so much these days. Lete however looks for individuals that perhaps are watching our group and notes there doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency to the Babylonian occupation.
We head back to the ship to discuss our next course of action and decide to check out the Gypsy’s Heart. Along the way we find the Floating Death dock bustling with gnoll mercenaries as well as large rafts out on the water working on the bay to make it useable. Here we see Inquisitors supervising as well.
Heading into town, some of us under disguise we avoid harassing merchants with street carts and find that with the scale badges we are seen as part of the occupation. In sight of the Gypsy’s Heart we see all the outlying buildings are occupied by hostile forces and on the streets, barricades prevent a clear path to the Gypsy’s Heart. We don’t linger and head over to Dogtown to find a couple of Babylonian guards patrons as well as some familiar Halfling face. The Halflings don’t indicate they recognize us but eventually find a purpose to get close to us. While the races are being ran our characters over hear sailors complain on how this city used to be great.
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| The Apartments (That's Garamaldi) |
Marco draws attention away from the information gathering characters with Evagara at his side and Lete at his back. Meanwhile Jabari finds a note on his person: ‘Beware Rayit. Do not stay at the barracks,’ then an address all written in King’s Tongue (to circumvent accidental reading). Our characters stay for a few more races then proceed to the address.
About an hour later we arrive at the address the halfings provided, the first thing we notice is that it’s an old apartment building once with a rooftop garden, it is walled with a courtyard. We go to a first floor apartment and are met by Metas who is surprised to see us. After proving who we are and disavowing our badges. We learn the basement of this structure is being used by a small resistance force; furthermore our characters learn that Garamaldi is in fact on the second floor and has been an asset to Metas.
We learn the High priestess Kakakombi has been converted to the Babylonian faith and Ripae has become the temple to the ‘new hoard.’ However our characters know the high priestess has in fact been replaced with a facsimile. We learn that Rayit was the betrayer; Zimol has been elevated and the Battalion has been officially disbanded and whose members are with the Fire Captain in the outskirts of Buigibba. News of Boienhiest says he has been officially bought out and relocated, but it likely he is dead. And Inquisitors have taken over the bank at Ripae and now uses Babylonian coinage.
Marcus asks if there are any open Tengu in Bugibba and learn there are none out in the open. Lex asks about people we know in the basement, we learn Img and the Flowers of Rebellion operate there. An apartment is arranged for the next few days. Lex asks if there is a plan to take the city back. Metas says there is a lot of danger in that because Inquisitors operate with ultimate authority.
Next our characters go to visit Garamaldi and we find we are not alone, there are others here too. Here, food and equipment are being traded in a small marketplace. Jabari and Lermang head to the roof top, Carlo goes to the apartment as Marco, Lete, Lex speak with Garamaldi and after some qualifying questions to assure we are all who we say we are; he is naturally happy to see us. We tell him of our capture, the trial and events that followed. We eventually bring up Ta’Tabibu when eventually Garamaldi states he does not know where Ta’Tabibu is but knows how to get communications to him. We learn Garamaldi is experiencing a number of difficulties and is being actively hunted by the Inquisitors. There is a lot of paranoia in the area these days and he believes the Babylonians may be too over confident. And if victory is to be had for Bugibba surely the Inquisitors should be dealt with along with proving the High priestess is a fraud. But Garamaldi admits he has no master plan we ask how best to save Bugibba. Lex expresses interest in contacting Ta’Tabibu with a message stating our deal is still on. Our characters decide to hunker down and wait for a response from Ta’Tabibu.
From here we all adjourn to the rooftop garden and a row of carrots where the message can be left. Eventually Jabari finds that the badges we are wearing hold some minor divination magic. Later that night Garamaldi knocks and says a representative for Ta’Tabibu has agreed to meet with one of our group at the old church of Dispater a mile and a half outside of Bugibba at midnight.
At midnight our characters head to the edge of the city; Jabari supplies Lex with a mount to carry him the rest of the way to the old Dispater church. Along with way, while there is no official curfew there is noticeably an absence of city activity. However when we reach the edge we see other groups also leaving town.
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| Old Church of Dispater |
After making some preparations, Lex approaches and sees the church had been damaged in the past as he makes his way to the holy water basin. Eventually Lex spots an invisible person who examines Lex before searching the immediate area before another individual presents himself: from a passage behind a old pipe organ Unt'wory, a tiefling introduces himself.
Lex asks him if he was given instructions for this meeting, the tiefling indicates yes. Lex states our first run was due to Rayit’s betrayal, this news seemed well reviewed. Lex asks if Ta’Tabibu has any interest in a second meeting: yes he wants to establish connections. It is at this time Ta’Tabibu will step out from behind the pipe organ and take over the meeting.
Now that Ta’Tabibu knows it is Lex he speaks frankly. He suggests taking the meeting to an upper loft where there is a better vantage of the surrounding area. Here, Lex explains we had just arrived today and are interested in taking the city back. Ta’Tabibu concurs because as the tiefling states: nothing is the same after the arrival of the enemy.
Lex tells him of what our characters witnessed including the high priestess being copied with aid from Brudiphan. Lex believes freeing the priestess from Ripae is the best way to get the uprising started. Ta’Tabibu believes there to be 12 to 24 at Ripae and mercenaries, but admits loyalty only goes so far, they will break at a show of a strong force against the leadership. Ta’Tabibu believes the Fire Captain would serve as a fine leader should the Priestess be too far gone and is without her mind.
Lex’s request: Ta’Tabibu was compensated for three Egyptian statues? We need those. He says they are in Ripae. And after a few more questions Ta’Tabibu believes Boheheist is dead after giving up his secrets. Lex has another request of making an upside distraction in Rapae as our characters go in below. Ta’Tabibu asks for 24 hours; he is in contact with members of the battalion and with coordinated effort Ta’Tabibu can offer many diversions to draw attention away from our endeavors. Ta’Tabibu asks for his items in Ripae as well as vault #3 and would not claim any more. Ta’Tabibu will proved darkvision potions for our characters and a distraction for our characters.
If we should fail leave word in Qala on Gozo; however if we are successful the meeting place be at the docks and the Bonded Mind. There we will see what resources remain to take the fight directly to the enemy who are hunkered down at the Gypsy’s Heart.
Ta’Tabibu will plan on creating the diversions about an hour before our time to enter and hopefully draw enough attention for our characters to make the assault. Unt'wory will be Ta’Tabibu’s liaison.
Lex inquires about Hatkim and learns two nights ago two inquisitors discovered Hatkim’s hidden mansion but Ta’Tabibu doesn’t know the fate of the man; since its discovery the Babylonians have been active in the East Bay.
When Lex returns to the group we return to the apartment building Lex relays all the information of the plan with Ta’Tabibu via bonded mind so that no part of the plan is spoken in the presence of the dragon scale badge.
The next day our Halfling contact wake us with a recounting of information we had mostly learned over the past 24 hours but offer themselves for questions; they also come with a small request for our ship. They would like a particular breed of greyhounds from a Carthaginian merchant name Bluath at a sea-moot NW of gozo (C2) or ‘monster island’. They are willing to spend up to 5,000 but don’t wish to spend more than 1,200 per pair of mated pups.
Eventually Unt'wory arrives to tell us the Battalion is interested in helping us but wants their own meeting with our characters as soon as possible. Eventually we meet with Lyeadaldbelo who admits that strange times call for strange bedfellows and he wants to verify the plan before he commits his help. Lete is reunited with friend Deled. Lyeadaldbelo offers our characters full members of the Fire Battalion and a parcel of land. Our orientation into the Battalion is a blood-brother ceremony that includes citizenship of Bugibba. After inquiring Lyeadaldbelo speaks highly of Hatkim. We also dictate instructions should we fall in battle we could declare services.
Lete informs Lyeadaldbelo that Inquisitors may have found Hatkims invisible mansion but once he hears where the Babylonians are looking Lyeadaldbelo doesn’t become concerned.
Lex asks Lyeadaldbelo about Rysywe of who tells us Rysywe operates a tug boat named the Hammerhead; Tazed, while recovering has been also been inducted into the brotherhood of the Battalion. Before departing Lete gives Lyeadaldbelo a belt of giant strength +2, a ring of protection +1, and a ring of rat fangs for his Battalion Brothers; Jabari gives a +1 short sword, and from Lermang a +1 chain shirt; Marco loans two +1 rapiers to the Battalion as well as 10 sunrods, 2 fuse granades and 7 Composite long bows +3 str from the ship.
We begin next session at dinner the next night as we receive Unt’wory’s darkvision potions.
