Intercept The Red Troupe

Steel Realms

CHRONICLE: PIN FEATHERS

Look, with the demise of the Tide Watchers, word has gotten out. There’s a band of adventurers coming to “pick up the gauntlet”. We need to ensure they never make it the Herald of the Baron of Crestwold. We do not need competition, we need to regain bannermen status if possible. How do I know this? She looks around and uses her hands to emulate a bird flapping its wings – lets just say a bird told me.

Feather is explicit. Kill them. Send a message. This must be public, but no witnesses and no way to prove it was us. They are coming to take the place of The Gallants as a ‘special force’ of the Baron of Crestwold – we cannot let that happen.

The Red Troupe split up, and disguised themselves thwarting the scouting of the familiar. They confronted them on the second bridge over the Murchart River, in common space used for traveling merchants. It went sideways fast, and devolved into direct conflict.

+8 days +3 days of rest (of 7 planned) = Common Year 10-1-9168

Aftermath of the Red Troupe

Joise Welles Introduces Herself

As you heal up at the villa, you have a visitor. Her name is Joise Welles, and she puts herself forward as representing Morben Brothers Casters and Haulers trade interest – she explains a local family that has lost some control over contracts t outside forces. “Once the Gallants and I were allied, but now I take what aid i can get. Five years ago, Coran Maerkle married the High Mayor’s daughter and gained influence in Torrelsons Ford – he brings money and resources at the behest of outside powers. The outside forces – Tolmans Guides – are known to be run in secret by the Twin River shadow council. With all the horrible things that have happened, we have a labor shortage in Torrelsons Ford. They were advocating for a loosening on child labor restrictions… since the Red Troupe’s demise, this effort has failed. Presumably for fear of your influence now. Don’t say anything, you need not respond to this… but I just thought i would thank you in person. I hope we can more productive dealings in the future, a lot hinges on this outside influence trying to exert itself ultimately failing. I bring you wine as a welcome. Though I know a couple of you were ‘left over’ from The Tide Watchers, you are all new to this. Please come see me when you are rested within the next month if possible. I might have some employment opportunities. Even if not, come see me. I bid you good day.” She smiles and a couple teamsters bring a pair of small crates. They pry the tops off, nod to you and follow her out. The crates are filled with good wine, eight bottles each.

What Good are we Doing?

After she leaves, Asil asks “We were told to ‘send a message’ but also ‘don’t be seen/identified’ so… what message did we send beyond ‘There’s some unknown brigands slaughtering well-equipped mercenaries in the area’?
Won’t that just invite MORE well-equipped people to kill the brigands and make the area look weaker?”…

Feather says…
1) They were looking to fill the power vacuum the demise of the Tide watchers created.
2) They are dead.
3) There’s only one group of people that could take out a professional group like that. The mercenaries are already leaving Torrelsons Ford… that leaves pretty much you guys. Brigands? Not against pros.
4) No one can prove anything, but people are assuming it.

[Ben/ASIL] “Because the common people I don’t think would care if it’s us defending them, or outsiders, as long as SOMEONE is. To them, we just slaughtered aid coming from a neighboring region. Hence the reputation dip. So we need to start doing things to increase our rep before we get driven out as tyrannical invaders, seeing as most of us aren’t local to the region either.”

Initial Research on Bronzemen Ruins

[Earl/Atreus] During the week of rest, can Atreus study the local history book he picked up? Many looking for any information on Bronzemen ruins / location of outpost in the area. Also in between resting and the studying he would walk around the villa, with the intent of creating a mental image of the villa in the sounding fields. The last day of the rest week Atreus looks at the list of locations he found in the book, then he use channel divinity and asks Thoth what location do you advise I visit first?

The book just has ruins that the Umbakians and Dunstrandians have built upon. Long harvested of their meager building materials and bereft of their power. They lie under places built over them, or have been dismantled. Mostly the Folk of Bronze built with organic materials – materials easily worn with weather and use. There is a envelope with an updated map and description of the recently unearthed Ashfall Enclave – the ruins have been swallowed by Calibans Slurry once again some 20 miles east. Thoth’s great Ibis head appears in your visions… The beak does not move, but you hear a voice in your head… “Your patron Feather has such knowledge. Seek you the knowledge hard won by your predecessors, not the easy path of delving into the sacred thoughts of Thoth. The path of discovery is as important as the knowledge itself.”

Date @ End Common Year 10-4-9168

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic