TIME June 18th, 4am LOCATION The Section House, Chuza seaport.
BACKGROUND:
The thunderstorm was still in full swing when the Agents returned to the Section House after finishing their street patrol. The Cedartree Museum reported that a break-in, theft and murder had taken place that very evening.
The Agents investigated and pieced together the evidence. A young child had managed to sneak in via the sewer system and assisted at least three men to break into the museum. Unfortunately, the child fell victim to the firetrap spell protecting the display case that held the burglar’s objective – a prized book on the summoning of demons. There seemed to be a disagreement between the burglars and one (Valka), was left paralysed on the floor while the others escaped.
The Agents interviewed Valka and struck up a deal to release him in Paraisopolis if he assisted in apprehending the two thieves (Seth and Priest) and recovering the book.
WHAT HAPPENED
Valka was ‘released’ but his belongings were divvied up between the Agents – Crowe took his rapier, Raven his crossbow and Hawke kept the bag of teeth.
The Agents returned to the Section House to change into civilian dress for the trip into Paraisopolis. Crowe worked on a disguise to blend in – a hefty roll of 26. Hawke notified the Section house of murder in the Cedartree museum and that they are investigating.
After some food, they headed to the barbican entrance of Paraisopolis and entered the plaza. They moved confidently past a gang of urchins who heckled them. The streets and alleyways became ‘sketchier’ as they worked their way further into the old city. Crowe returned the rapier to Valka, just in case…
As they neared the Effluvium, they are stopped by members of the Four Corners gang. Crowe tried to negotiate but ended up insulting and angering the gang leader. Initiative….
Raven quickly dispatched the sniper that fired on them from a makeshift hide, skewering him to the box.
Hawke seriously damaged the leader who retreated into cover behind some crates and bins.
Hawke finished another thug with a lethal punch and Valka was seriously stabbed before Raven stepped in to despatch another gang member. Crowe finished off the leader with a well-aimed shot through his crate barricade. They looted the bodies and hurried off, Hawke briefly stopping to heal Valka with his wand.
The wind and rain picked up as they arrived at the churchyard. Valka advised that there was a nauseating stench occupying the old, derelict building. Some nose plugs were improvised from clothing before proceeding.
A distant metal clanging and the inclement weather helped mask their approach to the church.
Flame or torchlight flickered out through the gaps of the boarded windows, but they were unable to see much detail within. They followed the wall to the main double doors, but, on inspection, decided to seek an alternative method of entry.
Crowe removed the debris from around the side door and after checking for traps, opened it.
The old hinges ground and squealed but he reckoned the racket was drowned out by the rain and wind.
Crowe luckily spotted the trap before they stepped in. A trigger mechanism in the floor for a masonry dead-fall.
Unable to deactivate it safely in the lashing rain and darkness, he beckoned his colleagues to make their way around it.
EXTRAS.
Terrain Notes
Outer wall of church is slick with rain and covered with the creeping tendrils of overgrown ivy and gnarled rose bushes.
Climb to roof DC 15 (plus rain mod of 2) as the ivy tends to pull from the wall.
Each move action is a climb check at ¼ speed.
Wall height 20’ plus 10’ of slated roof (dc 10 plus 5 for rain/slippy) to the top.
Windows were of stained glass but long since smashed or looted. A rusting, small gauge, protective grill covers the outside of the portals, with weathered, wooden boards battening the inside.
“Don’t really stop people unless they are acting weird or there’s a merchant run. Even then, as you know, they’ve already paid the dues to enter the city. We’re just here to keep the peace and ensure that no trouble spills out from the Abandonment. Get the odd drunken or drugged nutter but it’s been quiet the last few weeks. More often it’s those wild children gangs heckling. Those maggots should be disciplined.”Paraisopolis Guard, The Barbican, Chuza