Scene 6 - Showdown at the Docks

The Prison of Abazad

Background

Prybel assumes that the group is either dead or has abandoned their mission. Instead, he awaits Archogados. This scene occurs around midnight after the events of The Shrine of the Deep Prince. Prybel stays hidden on his small sloop until then. He will notice the group if they make themselves obvious in the Freeports District docks (gathering information in the area, discovering the handcart in the alley, etc). Archogados should have escaped the shrine (if he didn't Prybel waits for the party), and appears around midnight to board the ship in Bittersnail's place.

Midnight Calling

At near midnight, the crew of the Black Zephyr begin to get the ship prepared for departure. A herald walks up and down the docks calling for passengers. A few minutes later, a hunched figure shambles out of an alleyway and to the gangway to the ship. One of the crewmen checks a manifest and is about to let the figure pass when gunfire erupts. A Notice check pinpoints the shot from the roof of a nearby sloop. At that point, a mob of ragged figures run from nearby shadows, yelling and brandishing weapons. Investigator Prybel quickly joins them.

Investigator Prybel

Dagon Cultists (10 per character)

Archogados

Tactics

The crew of the Zephyr immediately begin firing from the ship at the horde, thinking they are attempting to take the ship. Roll a d10 and assume that one adherent drops for every point above a 6 rolled every round. Archogados immediately throws off his disguise and attempts to board the ship, but is stopped by crewmen rushing out with belaying pins and pistols. The adherents and Prybel target him exclusively. If the group joins the fight, Prybel seems surprised (Notice) and when he sees the Purple Sapphire, he shifts the battle toward them, calling them traitors. If Prybel takes a Wound, he attempts to flee to his sloop and escape. It should be apparent from his words and deeds that Prybel is tied up with Dagon.

Development

If the group manages to take down Prybel, he confesses to being a cultist before pulling a knife and slashing his own throat (instant critical wound). If they investigate, they find Professor Bell on the sloop, unconscious. Clues and papers on the sloop detailed in the Treasure section below, point to Heregal City. An Investigation success on these materials reveals the following information:

• Prybel was to meet a cut-out in Old Slope. There is no name listed, but the contact would somehow respond to anyone paying with gold smerduks at a taphouse called Blackfish.
• His charts indicate other destinations left up to the GM for further hooks.

If the party drove off the cultists, the captain and crew of the Black Zephyr are very appreciative of the group's work and offers to take them to Zakhara for free. On a Persuasion raise, he'll delay departure for up to two days.

If Archogados is not killed, he disappears in the confusion (either spirited away by one of the adherents or under his own power). If captured, he reveals the schism that has developed in the Cult of Dagon in this region. He knows little else about the Cult outside of Greenstone, though he does know that the cult is in disarray in the city, and probably rendered ineffective for months to come. He does not know where the High Priest of the region resides.

Abazad insists that the group take up the offer of transport to Zakhara. The Professor, if wakened, offers to go along so he can study the gem and conduct research in the burning lands. As a reward for finding the gem and rescuing him, he offers to fund the expedition (up to 2000 rilks in supplies and equipment) The party is free to refuse, of course. They can take another ship, Prybel's sloop, or follow up on other leads and other adventures.

See the Further Adventures page for additional information on a continuing campaign.

Treasure

Prybel gathered his worldly possessions on his little sloop, The Prince, including enough food for two people for 8 months, 300 silver rilks, 50 gold smerduks, and a collection of weapons and ammunition (valued at about 200 smerduks), and a silver holy symbol of Dagon (50 rilks). Charts and other information on the ship indicate that the sloop was bound upriver for Heregal City.

Navigator