Greengrass 1371
 

Dear Master Zorthaster,

We are still on our secret mission for Lord Morn so I don't know if I will ever be able to send this letter. Even so, I feel compelled to write. We foiled an assassination plot today but I struggle with the ethical and moral dilemmas of this quest. If Lord Morn were not the great hero of Daggerdale, and had he not asked us to accomplish this mission himself, I don't know that I could carry through with this.

We left Shadow Gap yesterday, leaving Welcar huddling inside, away from the storm clouds that threatened rain in the gap and snow in the heights. Through the Gap we encountered the woodsman Andalara who patrols the trail south of the Gap toward Tilverton. He told us that he is in Tilverton's service and that he had recently fought some owlbears. He reported that our road ahead should be clear. In turn, we reported on the desecration at the shrine along the trail north of the gap, the destruction of the caravan and the symbol of the spider on a crossed sword and mace. He guessed, from our description, that the caravan was that of the Six Coffers Praikos company. He had seen them as they were passing through his patrol area.

Andalara told us of a couple of likely camping spots and took his leave as the rain began to fall. Despite the cover from a narrow overhand along a cliff side, the pouring rain that developed in the evening provided an uncomfortable night. In the morning everything was soaked and cold and muddy. The only good thing was that we had gotten low enough that the cold rain had not turned to snow or ice in the night. It appeared that the day's journey was to be thoroughly miserable until the bard broke into song. I tried to be grumpy, but when Kerith wants to lift your spirits, there is little you can do but be happy. Before long, he had us singing along to silly verses of military marches and children's rhymes. He even seemed to cheer up the horses and got them all marching in step. Despite the mud and cold, the miles dropped away.

Tilverton is still guarded by the King's men. On one bustling street I noticed a War Wizard engaged in conversation with a local. When last I passed through Tilverton, or for that matter, when I left the fair city of Suzail, I was so inexperienced that I did not feel that I needed to register as a spell caster with the War Wizards. Now, even though I have barely learned how much I have to learn, I thought I should at least check in. The Wizard Oriseus told me that I needn't register here in Tilverton as they were just providing protective services here. Oriseus was an impressive character. He seemed capable and powerful and completely lacking the bluster and pompousness of some War Wizards that come around your shop.

We got directions from a city guard to Grimwld's Revenge. The place did not seem to be very well known and we found it finally in a shady section of town. This area was not as spooky as the Hive in Sigil, or the alleyways of Curst, but then few places could be. Still, it was a place to watch your back. We stabled the horses, and went in to find a tavern that was pretty typical except for several large toads hopping about the place. The fire was warm and we were able to rent one room where we hung up most of the wettest gear before heading down for something to eat.

A cute serving wench brought us a hot meal and some ale. I think all of us had the same bad memory of Curst and a tavern meal there. Before any of us lifted a spoon, Primula blessed the food and cast a divine spell that purified the food. One patron of the inn, a weasely looking guy wearing a lot of jewelry got agitated when Primula started, but settled down when he realized that it was a harmless abjuration. During our meal we put Randal Morn's token on the table where it would not be obvious to anyone that did not know what it was. Oskar was busy scanning the room and several times he gave us the signal indicating that the character he was looking at was evil. It put us all on edge. Blethany the serving wench came and went and the business of the tavern continued. Eventually a grizzled guy in a apron came out from the kitchen and the weasely guy cleared out the bar. The grizzled one, Cutthroat McGill, took the amulet and we got down to business. The weasely guy was called Money. McGill told us that violent things were happening to the Purple Dragons and though the King's men thought Artur's men were behind it, McGill assured us they were not.

Almost as soon as McGill professed his innocence, the door burst open and four Purple Dragons came in, dumping a bloodied man at the door and demanding to see Cutthroat McGill who had busted up one of their comrades. They were spoiling for a fight. I popped off a sleep spell that took three of the four out of the game as my companions leapt in to subdue the fourth. He quickly surrendered just as the War Wizard Oriseus showed up with a tough looking guard. He was there to stop his men from exacting vengeance and offered an apology. Suddenly he stiffened and we could surmise that an invisible foe was now holding a knife to his throat. Money and McGill had both disappeared after the Purple Dragons burst into the room. They had pulled something off the bellies of two of the toads and sprinkled it on themselves. Some sort of invisibility powder I guess. It must have been a good enchantment for it held even through the violence of taking Oriseus hostage and a trickle of blood appeared from the dimple in his neck where the knife blade lay against the skin.

There was a tense standoff for several moments when it appeared that McGill and Money were waiting for something that did not come. As time went on, everyone got edgier through the standoff. I was praying to Eldath for calm. If a fight broke out, I think Oriseus could have turned the building into a ruin with us inside. Eventually they gave up waiting and started to hustle us all out of the tavern. We went out the back, through several buildings, down alleys, into basements and eventually sewers as well until we arrived in the opulent throne room of a hugely fat man. Artur Grossman, head of the Rogues of Tilverton. Grossman and Oriseus spoke to each other at first, ignoring us altogether. Blethany arrived, dressed as a rather fetching rogue, and reported more violence against Artur's men and against the Purple Dragons. Oriseus wanted proof that the Rogues were not to blame for the trouble his men were facing. Artur wanted to find out who was responsible and to get the King's men out of his city. We offered a third alternative. Artur could leave with us, leaving the area free for Oriseus to investigate without the distraction of the Rogues of Tilverton. While they were arguing, Blethany demonstrated what she wanted. She pulled off a disguise that revealed her as a male assassin allied with the Fire Knives and tried to kill Grossman. Several of the rogues disguised as Artur's men we instead working for Bleth. We immediately had a pitched battle in very close quarters. I got off a Haste and a Magic Missile before the battle completely exploded. Artur disappeared behind a wall that came down between him and the assassin. We were left to battle Bleth and his thugs. Money, McGill and Oriseus remained to help out, but Oriseus held back a bit, relying on a wand of Magic Missiles for much of his part in the struggle. Oskar struck Bleth with a tremendous crack of thunder from his Urgosh. It set everyone's ears ringing as it killed the would-be assassin. As we fought the remaining thugs, thin tubes came down from the ceiling and lamp oil gushed out. Artur's men ran out a back door and we were close behind. Oskar had barely made it through when a door slammed behind him and the room we had just left burst into flames.

Not much further along we found Artur Grossman once again seated in a massive chair. He seemed very happy and welcomed us to his abode as his personal friends. He looked at Oriseus and they both appeared to agree that what had just happened answered all the questions they were so recently asking each other. Artur's Rogues were bustling, already recasting the gold that dripped out of the floor drains in the throne room turned furnace. Artur and his organization, cleansed of the Fire Knife problem, now seemed ready to head to Daggerdale.

At the end of the battle I felt good about destroying the assassin and his thugs, but I am still ill at ease with dealing with no-good characters like Money and many of the other Rogues. I know Lord Morn has his reasons for inviting Artur into Daggerfalls, but I can't help but wonder if this is really the right thing to do. For now, I will continue on with the quest that Lord Morn gave us, praying that I am making the right choice. May the light of Lathander guide my steps and give me the strength to do that which is right.

Cedar