Can you D.I.G. it? – 18.11.2021 – 'Tinuviel'

Rolled into a palm sized tube is a notice and a piece of nondescript parchment written in a mix of common, symbols, elvish, and draconic.


ASSIGNMENT REPORT #17

People/Organisations of Note:
Jaezred Vandree – mage (divine; Chosen of Lolth), noble, drow, male
Varga – fighter/barbarian, half-orc, female
Cyclone – spar velah’rnair, genasi (air), female
Carnán – nature holy warrior, furbolg, male; wolf companion/pet (Ulfr)
Ivan Erickson – barbarian, human, male
Claire Kolesar – butler to House Underwood, human, female, member of D.I.G.
Lady Saria Underwood – noble, halfling, female, one of the leaders of D.I.G.
The Dutchess – human(?), noble(?), female, one of the leaders of D.I.G.
Ceres – spar velah’rnair, half elemental (lightning)/half elf, female
Evanus Synsel – was once an elf, then a wraith, soul dealer, male (deceased)
Dawnlands Intelligence Gatherers (D.I.G.) – Dawnlands spy investigators/network

Locations:
Daring Heights – Dawnlands city
The Underwood Estate – Home to Lady Saria Underwood
Meandering Flotilla – Collection of boats, barges, and rafts on the outskirts of the Wandering Court

Body:

Answered a notice from Lady Saria Underwood – she who pursued and pushed for the Aegis Accords in the Dawnlands. Were given a brief summary as to why the notice was posted: Many threats to the Dawnlands over the years that have resulted in nearly catastrophic, planar ending events. Archselon has done her best (NB: Debatable, according to some, yet she has managed to hold her position as head of the Council through her hard work, or so it seems.) but it was time something was formalised.

The Dawlands Intelligence Gatherers, or D.I.G., wanted to gather information on the Outlaw. Between him and the Fugitive, Farstep is the enigma with not much known besides his brief stint in the Amaranthine Games. Lady Underwood said she had a lead, a previous partner of Farstep’s, Ceres. They were on the same team, competing together in the Games for the River King. Ceres had been located at the Meandering Flotilla, a large-ish town composed of boats, rafts and barges on the edge of one of the Wandering Court’s rivers.

Before fully committing to the job, Vandree and I noticed someone else in the room, an invisible spy spying on the meeting. After revealing the person in question, they were recognized by Lady Underwood and her staff as someone called the Duchess. (NB: Will attempt to find more about this “Duchess” as, according to Vandree, she seems to have a reputation of being involved in matters of a secretive nature in the past in Daring. Also concerning was what she called me – ”Ken” – despite the disguise I wore, somehow knowing where I come from. Might not be a major concern, but still worth checking.)

The Meandering Flotilla is a place typical of any town on the edge of a territory. Though technically in the River King’s domain, there were no banners or symbols dedicated to them. It is a place filled with people who merely live their lives. There are a number of larger boats and barges, full of healthy and decently well off folk, but it is a place where people are not meant to stay long – unless they are an outcast.

After arriving at the Flotilla, Varga and Erickson asked the first local where Ceres could be found. Erickson, using the shoulder of lamb and cask of ale he brought along with him as a bargaining tool, found our target was to be located farther back in the Flotilla – and that she runs a martial arts school. Her raft (NB: It was a hovel, something that should not have been able to stay afloat) was small, and when our party arrived, Ceres was in the middle of a class. We politely asked her to wrap it up quickly so we could speak to her and Vandree took the lead in questioning.

Ceres was on the defense initially, guilt on her face at the mention of where our group came from. But when Farstep’s name was mentioned she had anger, almost like she does not like him. She would give us all the information she had on him if we helped get her a new boat.

Which we did, easily. (NB: The boat was owned by one Evanus Synsel – see notes above – and was dispatched with relative ease by the party with no lasting injuries.)

Summary of Information Ceres told us about THE OUTLAW:

• He is a versemaker, meaning he could already do magic → it wasn’t enough
• Farstep wants power, to be on top of “the system” more than anything else
  
• Would talk about his desire for “freedom”, that he is a “free spirit not to be chained down by anyone” → The more you have the less people can tell you what to do
• Feels limited by everything – rules, laws, physical limitations
  
• When Farstep took the Orb of Souls, he saw his chance → Could leverage it for more and more things
• Invested a lot of time and power in his pursuit of becoming a True Fey
  
• Ceres has not seen Farstep since the Amaranthine Games ended → she chased him down but he escaped, leaving her “holding a pile of shit” which she had to take back to the River King
  
• Got banished because of their failure/what Farstep did
  
• She blames him for their defeat
  
• He has a huge amount of power with the Orb of Souls
  
• The Orb was what Farstep used as a power source for their mech but it either did not work as intended or was too powerful
  
• The canon destroyed the shoulder on the first shot; it destroyed the mech on the second
  
• When Farstep is in his element he is very good at what he does → But it grates on him that though he he a “fabulous” con artist he is not as powerful as he wants to be
• Never told Ceres how he solved the Orb; Did brag about stealing it from a witch
  
• Wants to make sure he can do whatever he wants and have no one tell him otherwise
  

All of the above information was shared with Lady Underwood and the Duchess.

Two other points to note from talking to Ceres:

• She and possibly Farstep too, were the ones who delivered the disease known as the Lassitude to Daring Heights
  
• She wants to help hunt Farstep down

(NB: Whether it is us or another that contacts her is entirely up to the Queen’s discretion. Ceres does seem to have a score to settle with Farstep, and that could be useful.)

Vandree has requested to speak tonight – about what has been going on. It seems that the Chosen of Lolth has been collecting his own information. Meeting is at midnight. Will pass on anything learned.

Report passed on 18 day of the Rotting.


Neh diis lus’a, lus diis’a.


An additional note is added to the tube on a separate, smaller piece of paper.

Acquired a means to stay hidden befitting a daughter of the Twilight. Still laying low. No further contact from her as of yet.