Once the lads and lassie have settled in, they start pursuing their agenda items.
Sniffles goes to proselytize to the masses in the temple district, hoping to attract followers and build a presence in the city. Bayga goes to the brothels to show Kael the ways of the upper crust. Zaal and Fingers cruise around doing spell based things and KD spends time in the library and the temple district, looking for a cleric willing to lift the curse of femininity.
A few days pass and the only item of note is a rumor that there is someone handing out runes that allow magic use. Well, that and the idea that the undead knight has marshalled a large enough force to threaten the empire’s capital. Oh yeah, that. Anyway…
Folks try to sell their goods, arrange for estate sales, anything to convert items to wealth.
Bayga and Kael observe one of the impromptu “sermons” that culminate in a man and woman marking members of the crowd with runes. They tail the duo back to one of the seediest neighborhoods in all of Ptolus…The Warrens.
One of Bayga’s relaxing brothel excursions turns sour as his favorite concubine (or someone made to look like her) sticks a poisoned dagger in his side and he barely escapes the trap alive. Renewed paranoia has the party laying off half the housing staff and warding the doors and windows of their bedrooms.
More commerce is carried out and the group is pondering longer term moves when they are contacted by representatives of the Defense Council. They have information that indicates the Undead Knight is sending forces towards a satellite city where there is a book of power he wishes to seize. The Council would prefer he not have that book and they bargain with the Saviors of Ptolus to seize the book first. Offers are made, money and magic is exchanged and the group departs at a rapid p[ace. Streets are barricaded as they are raced to the docks, just in time to catch the afternoon tide.
The boat rows hard towards Phinothae and the group scarcely pauses on their headlong flight. Magical mounts are summoned and they race towards the capital at breakneck speed. The terrain is accommodating and the wide open vistas mean that although they can be easily seen, so can any opposing forces. They spare no horseflesh as they ride pell-mell towards their destination. They reach the outskirts of the ruins within six days an immediately deploy eagle eyed Sniffles and the gnome’s tiny kite to survey the area.
Examination of the ruins reveals that there are two churches separated by a hundred yards, one is almost entirely destroyed and the other is mostly intact. The ruins are closer so they get examined first.
Hell hounds appear and attack the party, but they are no match for the concentrated firepower of Zaal and Co, After vanquishing the hounds, the group descends the first handy stairwell and finds themselves in some sort of catacombs. They investigate while maintaining a good rate of forward motion.
Contact! A flaming whip wielding demon stands before a flaming portal Oh yeah. Let’s get it on! Kael rushes in while missiles are fired or launched in support. The demon does its level best to erase Kael from the mortal plane,. but is unsuccessful. A final blow and the fiend vanishes into the rift. The party lets out a ragged cheer and braces for what is next…