Setup

Upon returning to Highbridge after their goblin adventures in the Weeping Thornbush Mines, the party learned that tax collectors from the Southern Mercantile Company led by Percy du Ramshead had come into Overtown collecting a “bridge tax” to help repair the bridge destroyed by Cirnan Sulo and The Resistance during a previous mission.

The citizens of Overtown resisted, Grenn the Bartender was hung in the common square in Overtown by Percy, and mercantile company guards had dragged the nephew of Selma Longbottom of the The Knot. In support of an effort to secure his safe return. Selma promised all of the support that she could, including all the information on the Prison that they had on Highbridge Prison.

On the Case

The team planned and schemed and undertook a series of activities intended to get them into the Black Cell level of Highbridge Prison and save Kelmen Longbottom.

Here’s a recap of the prelimenary activities:

• Dawngreeter Yornan Hawklight parlayed with Flint the jack-of-all-trades in Overtown and negotiated a quick copying of keys that were to be supplied.

• Corliss bluffed his way into the Swirling Bathhouse.

  • He negotiated with the proprietor of the establishment, Haelaeya, and managed to get himself a trial job performing music the following afternoon. This was intended to serve as cover for having the party in position the following day in order to perform some thieving.

  • In the meantime, his professional ego was bruised by the treatment he received from Cappen Varra, the bard that typically works at the bathhouse.

  • Relying on the lockpicking skills of Rhagal and the ability of Ser Shadow to get upstairs after becoming a client of services provided by the Mistress of the Red Lanterns, the party learned the identity and room of Amoli, the mistress of prison lieutenant Etienne. She may look a lot like Mila Kunis.

• The party requested information on Percy du Ramsford from The Knot.

  • The Knot tracked Percy, found his residence, and discovered that he has an unsettling habit of finding and punishing lone prostitutes working in the Docks area of Highbridge.

• The party spent an evening at Sally’s Breach in the Docks.

  • Ser Shadow struck up an unlikely friendship with prison sergeant Sebastian.

  • The party stole the ring of keys on Sebastian’s person, had copies made at Flint’s, and then returned them without being caught.

  • The party was also introduced to a set of twins: surly Moria and her quiet, scarred brother.

• Hurodash made a new rat friend named Buddy.

  • Buddy snuck into the Highbridge Prison through a basement window and confirmed the information from The Knot, but was unable to sneak into the Black Cells area.

  • Buddy has taken up residence in a warm pocket in Hurodash’s coat.

And then, as the climatic event of their skulduggery:

• The arrive at the Swirling Bathhouse the next morning and take up position, awaiting the appearance of Amoli and Etienne.

• Ser Shadow hides himself in a third floor washroom after becoming a repeat customer of services brokered by the Mistress of the Red Lanterns.

• Corliss begins circulating through the bathhouse chambers playing a series of 70s jams.

• Rhagal, using Message, coordinates the activities of the various parties, first by notifying the party that Etienne and Amoli have arrived.

• After Etienne and Amoli change in Amoli’s room and head down to the baths. Ser Shadow ransacks the room, finds the keys, and throws them out a window to Yornan waiting below.

• Yornan rushes to Flint’s shop in Overtown to get the keys copied.

• While Etienne and Amoli dally in their private bath chamber, Corliss keeps watch and then ultimately delays the couple to give Yornan time to return.

• The couple heads upstairs before Yornan returns, so Ser Shadow listens professionally at Amoli’s door while waiting for Yornan’s return.

• Yornan returns and hands the keys off to Ser Shadow, just as Etienne emerges from his room and begins yelling for Haelaeya to deal with his compliant.

• Ser Shadow passes the keys to Haelaeya while explaining that he found them in the hallway before stealthing off.

• Haelaeya enters Amoli’s room and satisfies Etienne’s concerns.

• The party pays up and hustles out with no one the wiser.

Aftermath

The party now has copies of two sets of keys in hand, the ring carried by Prison Sergeant Sebastian and the ring carried by Prison Lieutenant Etienne.