Truth and Fables

Truth and Fables is the 3rd Chapter in the SKT Saga.

Short Summary
The group has visitor to the town and this time its not goblins.

Long Summary
Upon hearing the approaching horses, the party immediately springs to action. They head on over to the gate with its bordering watch towers and climb into them in pairs. (They had raised the drawbridge earlier after the fight with the goblins in the church) As they watched, a group of 7 individuals on horseback approached the moat across from the gate. They were all dressed in simple riding gear with cloaks all in earthy tones.

The man in the lead (tall, tan, full bearded) gets off his horse and approaches the river bank on foot before calling out asking if anyone was there. The party asks them who they are and what they want from atop the towers. The man introduces himself, somewhat ostentatiously, as Xolkin Allasander, leader of the 7 Snakes. He claims that they are a group of "retrieval specialists" on a mission for the lords of Waterdeep. When asked what that means, he says that they retrieve certain things and individuals but before he can finish, Lox asks if they are looking for a person named Kella Darkhope. Xolkin is a bit taken aback but says yes.

The party doesn't trust him, which isn't too surprising considering what they've gone through in the past few hours. Nightshade tells him that unfortunately, they would have to go back empty handed as Kella was slaughtered by the goblins that attacked the town, a lie that Xolkin saw through unbeknownst to the party. He asks to be let in so that they could talk. The party eventually agrees to let him in on the condition that he come in alone and the rest of the Snakes stay outside the town. Xolkin agrees to the terms and is let in once the Snakes made camp a fair distance away.

Once inside the town, Lox demands to see proof that he is who he says he is. Xolkin produces a writ stating that he was indeed hired for the mission he claimed to be on. They press him for more information on his target and he reveals that Kella was guilty for crimes of espionage and treason. She was supposedly a spy for the Zhentarim, the black network, a shadowy organization that meddles in the affairs of many a kingdom and city. Nightshade reiterates that she is very dead and that he personally saw her killed by goblins. Xolkin remains unconvinced.

Xolkin asks if there is a place for him to tie his horse and sit down for a while because he's exhausted. Ben and Lox lead him to the well while Almond takes Nightshade aside and asks him why he's lying so much. Nightshade assures him that it's for their safety. Almond states that he isn't comfortable with all the casual deception and Nightshade tells him that he is perfectly fine speaking in lies so leave the talking to him. Almond tells Nightshade that any decisions regarding Kella should be taken after consulting with him and the party.

Meanwhile, Lox and Ben tell Xolkin about the giant attack and the goblins after they sit down near the well. Nightshade and Almond approach and Xolkin offers everyone some wine which they accept. Nightshade gets up and says that he's going to go check if there was any edible food left in the inn's pantry (they fought some goblins there as well. I forgot to include several fights). He heads in and then up to Kella's room and tells her that there is a bounty hunter here looking for her. She asks him what kind of bounty hunter it is and Nightshade mistakenly tells her that it is a bounty hunter from the Zhentarim. Her tone immediately changes and asks him if the party has allied themselves with him. When Nightshade responds with a no, she tells him that the bounty hunter is no threat. Nightshade sits down and informs her that she has a lot of explaining to do.

The rest of the party is having a good time with Xolkin. His charm seemed to have won over even Benedikt and they all (save Ben) try out his extremely strong wine to some not so great results that lead to laughter and what feels like a long awaited moment of peace after a very trying night. They also talk about the town. Xolkin mentions that all he knows about it is that Nightstone was originally a getaway for some Waterdhavian nobles and that the settlement was named after a stone monument it was built around. The party also ask him more about Kella and he says he's already told them all he knows. That she was a spy for the black network that was dangerous enough for his team to be dispatched.

Cutting back to the inn, Nightshade takes out a ring from his pocket and displays it to Kella. It has a symbol on it of a dagger piercing through a mask and he tells Kella that he wishes for her good fortune. She is rather surprised but mostly maintains her composure as Nightshade explains that he was sent here to meet and protect her, and that he needs more information about what her mission is. She asks him who his associates are that sent him and he tells her that he belongs to his people. (Nightshade is lying through his teeth this whole time and Kella has her suspicions) Kella's demeanor at this point has visibly changed completely, from meek and subservient to straight backed, calm and confident. She asks him how she found out about this and Nightshade makes up some spiel about certain connections. When challenged on that he backtracks slightly and explains that what he wants is the information she gathered and in turn the guild will protect her because they firmly believe in honor among thieves. Kella spits that she is no thief but seems to accept this new arrangement, asking him if the bounty hunter gave him a name. As soon as Nightshade speaks the name Xolkin Allasander, the winged snake in her sleeve slithers out and looks around and Kella shushes it with a slight smile before walking over to the window and looking down to where everyone else was. She remarks on how it is peculiar that he would say that he is a bounty hunter and a Zhentarim operative (Guy realizes he misspoke here) and then confirm that Xolkin is indeed one of her associates. Nightshade(and the rest of the players) are surprised and he assumes that she isn't being entirely truthful but he isn't sure to what end. She asks to be escorted down to see him and Nightshade complies.

The party is still passing around the wineskin when Nightshade opens the door. Xolkin exclaims that they are finally getting fed and turns around to lock eyes with Kella Darkhope. The greet each other curtly by name after a few seconds of silence and before he gets up and walks towards her. The party remains tense until he gets to where she is and then they embrace (confusing everybody further). After long hug, Xolkin pulls back and flashes a smile at Nightshade saying she looks very good for a dead person. Kella asks him if he really did tell Xolkin she was dead to which he replies that it must've slipped his mind. She remarks that Nightshade must be more competent than he initially seemed.

Kella recounts what happened to her and the town to Xolkin and Lox asks Xolkin why he's boning a traitor. Xolkin sheepishly replies that he is technically guilty of all the same crimes. He explains that he really is  a bounty hunter and he accepted this assignment specifically because he wanted to save Kella. He was going to make it look like she had died so that the bounty on her head would be lifted.

They ask for a moment so they could talk privately and walk off to the side. Kella reveals who Nightshade is and that his people somehow found out about their operation here. They write a letter containing information about this information leak as well as descriptions and information about the party before attaching it to the snake and sending it away.

The party speculates about what the Zhentarim are doing here. Ben seems uninterested this plot and wants to go hunt down any surviving goblins and find the people of the town so he could be paid. They talk some more about possible paths of action and after a while the couple comes back. After some chitchat, Xolkin tells them that while the initial plan was to get in, get Kella and get out, there was no point in leaving the safety of the town this late into the night with goblins skulking about and asks if he and his friends could stay here.

Almond asks Xolkin what the Zhentarim really are. He explains that they are a group founded by concerned individuals who wanted to protect the public from the shackles of people who place themselves above them. They consider themselves a public service organization. Kella states that their reputation over the years due to their frequent role in removing people from positions of power but assures the party that their intentions are for the greater good.

The party eventually agrees to let the 7 Snakes camp in the town for the night. The conversation shifts to the large keep near the southern wall of the town and Kella explains that the lady of the town resides there. She adds that none of the guardsman or the keep staff was seen running away with the villagers. The party agrees to go check up on them at daybreak.

Lox escorts Xolkin to the gate to lower the drawbridge while Kella and the others discuss sleeping options. Lox asks Xolkin about his travels and his work. He eventually asks him if he's ever hunted down someone from the Great Dale(Billy's home town) to which Xolkin replies that he has not. They lower the drawbridge and let the Snakes in.

Xolkin and co set up camp near the well while the party sans Nightshade go look at a nearby farmhouse to settle in for the night. Nightshade and Kella have a conversation to the side about her mission. She tells him the she came here to investigate and eliminate the lady of the town, Velrosa Nandar. The keep was cut off from the rest of the town during the boulder barrage which damaged the bridge leading to it. Nightshade assures her that she has his full support. She tells him that this is the start of a very profitable relationship between their respective organizations before they go back to where everyone else is.

Tents are being set up and the horses are being stabled. Almond is in the process of starting a cooking fire and plucking a chicken while Lox looks on. Benedikt sits down at the well next to the goblin and notices that it seems to have died but thinks nothing of it. Lox asks the Snakes about Xolkin and they jest that the old man has been at the top of his game for years but is rusting now. Xolkin claims he could still take all of them at the same time. Lox also asks if any of them have taken bounties for people from the Great Dale and none of them have. Everyone works and banters for a while.

Just as Almond finishes dressing the chicken and setting it to roast, Nightshade approaches and apologizes for killing the goblin before. He says that he would like to make amends by helping Almond bury the other one and Almond accepts. He asks Ben to watch the chicken and they take the goblin and Nightshade leads Almond and a curious Lox to the cemetery behind the temple where he tells them about what he knows about the Zhentarim and Kella's plan to kill the lady. Lox and Almond dig the grave while Nightshade stares at the goblin with spite. They agree that they should go along with the Zhentarim for now and find a way to warn the people in the keep. They also probe Nightshade on why he seems to hate goblins so much. He dodges the questions. They start planning a late night visit to the keep

Meanwhile, Xolkin squats down next to Ben and makes conversation. Xolkin asks him if he really is an old timer or is the party making fun of him like his subordinates are. Ben asks Xolkin how old he is and when Xolkin confesses that he's in his fourth decade Ben tells him that he's far north of that. Xolkin assures him that they are only as old as they believe themselves to be and asks Ben if he has any good stories. Ben tells him about how his town was raided. Xolkin asks where he hails from and Ben replies that he's from near Moonsea with it's beautiful purple waves. Xolkin mentions that he's always wanted to visit the underwater city there. Ben says he hasn't really been to any places there except for his town and he hasn't been back to that region for a long time. (DM's note: Ben is originally from that sunken city). They both talk a bit more about life and Xolkin manages to get through to Ben and get him stop being a grouch for a while. Even asks Ben about his how he's dressed to which Ben says that he's not very comfortable with how he looks. After some more assuring words and Ben saving the chicken from getting burnt, he gets up and makes his way towards kella, pushing over the Snake that made fun of him before making everyone chuckle.

The gravediggers return and everyone sits down to eat. The snakes brought bread and more wine to pair with the chicken and everyone has a good time and a good meal. Benedikt gets his food and goes off by himself where he proceeds to dump the food.

Characters

 * Strangers
 * Almond
 * Benedikt
 * Lox
 * Nightshade
 * Zhentarim
 * Kella Darkhope
 * Seven Snakes
 * Xolkin Allasander
 * SIx more agents

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