Intelligence Report – Part 5

House Thrune Intelligence Report on Elements C, G, L, Q, and V

Day 17 – Kintargo (Rova 17, 4715)

Rova 17 marked the beginning of the third week of the elements' pathetic attempt at rebellion against the thrice-damned House Thrune. R had gleaned further information on the SR's fictitious “first” rebellion from the old Livery documents.

According to these, many of the SR were adventurers or followers of Milani. The daring Jackdaw was the most powerful and influential among them, but other “celebrities” in their ranks included:

Amyreid (half-elf, female, priestess of Milani); Ba (halfling, male, enchanter); Kyda (human, female, roguish bard); Brakisi (human, male, urban ranger)

Directive: Open files on these elements. Even if fictitious, references to them may reveal connections to the current seditious elements.

During dinner at Laria's inn, a squad of three dottari entered the establishment and demanded that Laria allow the premises to be searched. The city guards had brought a letter linking Laria to subversive elements. G, Q, and C promptly left the upper floor, while V and L—using magical disguises—went downstairs to lend Laria support.

L and V, the latter disguised as a woman, did indeed manage to distract and annoy the dottari with such amateur theatrics and incessant squawking that, although the upper floor was searched (unsuccessfully), the basement entrance that actually mattered remained hidden.

The companions were troubled by the letter of denunciation, however. Brief and vaguely worded though it was, it brought them another step closer to possible discovery. And when the ghostly sound of panpipes was heard in the Wasp Nest—as it had been so many times before—V failed to find its source, but did discover a magically altered document among the pages R was decoding. Disguised by a spell that concealed its true contents, it appeared to be a form from the year 4643, lying among the pages—in plain text and out of place. Given the high cost of dispelling the concealing magic (about 400 gp, with no guarantee of success), the companions decided to leave the document there for the time being.

Day 18 – Kintargo (Rova 18, 4715)

The SR teams were deployed in a coordinated operation. Forvian Crowe and his men were to make the streets safer, while the Fushi Sisters were to gather information. G practiced fighting with L, C learned about magic from V, and the latter devoted a great deal of attention to Vendalfek, the faerie dragon.

Even though the dragon really ought to have been discharging his duties as team lead for the Villegre Jugglers more conscientiously.

Directive: Open files on the Villegre Jugglers. Leader: Monica Lupes; She is garrulous, outgoing and highly protective of her 'troupe', preferring to keep their involvement non-violent. Team: (5). The Villegre Jugglers are an informal group of street performers and entertainers who have worked in Villegre Park for years, though the membership has changed many times in that period.

Day 19 – Kintargo (Rova 19, 4715)

Shortly before the eleven o'clock snack, after second breakfast and the 10:45 a.m. “mint tart,” Gronk returned to Laria's establishment to speak with Grizzly. He informed him that Rinston Jon, the owner of Clenchjaws, had been arrested by Queensmen and taken away for doghousing. Although this was, of course, a thoroughly appropriate response to subversive behavior, it offended the sense of justice of this band of ne'er-do-wells, and so it was resolved to lend the pleading Gronk a hand and free Rinston.

He was being held in a doghouse lined with nails on the inside, beneath a pagoda in southern Aria Park, guarded by 4 Queensmen and two mastiffs. As the companions scouted the area, sheets of paper suddenly fell from the sky, bearing alternate lyrics to the tune of the Varisian folk song “Came He O´er the Sea”: the forgotten and forbidden “Hail Ye Chelish Lords,” evidently written by the Poison Pen. A few copies were collected.

With the help of a little magic, V managed to learn that the dogs were to be fed shortly before sunset, putting Rinston in danger in the process. They decided to wait until then and strike under cover of darkness. G found the way to and from the site through the sewers with impressive confidence. V gave a copy of the paper that had fallen from the sky to his brother Marquel, who promised to analyze it for him.

Rinston's rescue began relatively bloodlessly. V managed to put two Queensmen to sleep shortly after the mastiff caught the scent of one of the companions. A fierce, bloody fight then ensued, but the companions emerged victorious. All the Queensmen were killed, Rinston was freed, and the bodies of the slain were disposed of. At the site of the doghousing, V left the SR's tag on a stone table.

In the sewers, the group now confronted Rinston with his options. He decided against making common cause with the SR, choosing instead—at Q's suggestion—to leave the city and let Gronk run Clenchjaws in his absence.

On the way back across the bridge, they still had to defeat a giant leech and pay the River Talons 10 gp for safe passage.

Days 20 and 21 – Kintargo (Rova 20 and 21, 4715)

Mocking song from the Chelish Civil War (lyrics: Paizo, Hell's Rebels), to the traditional tune of “Cam Ye O'er Frae France”. Music and voice “AI”-generated (Suno).

Lyrics and meaning, line by line

Line	Text	Interpretation
1.	Hail ye Chelish lords! Hail ye dukes of Isger!	A call to unaligned Chelish lords (including those in the province of Isger) to unite under Davian's banner.
2.	Abbie plays at swords and wee devils with her.	A warning against the rise of House Thrune: "Abbie:" Duchess Abrogail Thrune of Egorian (later Queen Abrogail I). "plays at swords:" double-meaning: an inexperienced military commander, and Varisian slang for having many male sexual partners. "wee devils:" dismissal of Thrune strategy of reinforcing its ranks with called devils.
3.	Do you know the place called the Stallion's Hammer?	"Stallion's Hammer:" Infamous brothel in Egorian specializing in male whore-slaves.
4.	I saw Abbie Grace dallin' with a lemure!	An insinuation that House Thrune must debase itself to devils: "Abbie Grace:" reference to Duchess Abrogail's title "lemure:" foul, dim-witted infernal creature that is the least of devil-kind.
5.	Before the tears had dried for the dead Azlanti	"dead Azlanti:" Aroden
6.	Abbie she connived for to up the ante--	(through line 8) An extended analogy of the war as a card game.
7.	Marked old Gaspie's deck in her game of Towers	Accusation that House Thrune conspired against King Gaspodar. "Gaspie:" King Gaspodar "marked the deck:" cheated at cards; by extension betrayed the king. "game of Towers:" double-meaning: both the well-known card game of Towers, and the political side of the war.
8.	And Gaspie cashed his cheque for a wreath of flowers!	Accusation that House Thrune assassinated King Gaspodar.
9.	Abbie went to Hell! There is little doubt here	House Thrune is tainted by its deviltry. Also a direct insult.
10.	For that awful smell that always clings about her.	House Thrune is tainted by its deviltry. Also a direct insult.
11.	Who will stand his ground? Davy will defend it!	"Davy:" House Davian
12.	He'll wear the Chelish crown, though dented he will mend it!	"though dented he will mend it" (the crown): When it gains the throne, House Davian will re-unite a fractured Cheliax.
13.	Milani sent the call to Cayden and to Desna	Hyperbolic claim that the gods are on the side of House Davian.
14.	To make the curtain fall on Abbie's fell adventure.	Note that all the gods cited are diametrically opposed philosophically to diabolism.
15.	Davy's holding strong his Ostensan vira	House Davian successfully defended Ostenso from a Thrune offensive in 4532. "vira:" A Chelish estate
16.	While Abbie's gazing long in her infernal mirror.	Unclear. Perhaps this line calls out the hubris of House Thrune's belief in being able to control its infernal allies.
17.	Hail to Bobbing Don! And the Inheritor's Lady!	The last stanza is a rallying cry for allies of House Davian "Bobbing Don:" Admiral Donwell Crispin (4592-4639) "Iomedae's Lady:" probably First Sword Knight Pontia Voralius of Kintargo (4602-4644)
18.	Hail to Lancer Tran-- her dancers all a-ready!	"Lancer Tran:" probably General Trania Davian (4598-4640). "dancers:" probably a reference to the 19th Cavalry Brigade, "Darwath's Dancers."
19.	Davy's back in town and like an angry daddy	Prediction of House Davian's victory in the war. Analogy that Abrogail is a child throwing a tantrum that needs to be disciplined by her father.
20.	Take her knickers down and spank the bum of Abbie!	Also note the sexual overtones of the final line.

The elements kept a “low profile” during these days. Only Marquel's interpretation of the song “Hail Ye Chelish Lords” provided any diversion. As one would expect from the Poison Pen, it is a mocking song directed against House Thrune during the Chelish Civil War.

Hail ye Chelish lords!

Loyalist folk song from the Chelaxian Civil War (4626-4640), in support of House Davian. This song stands out for its thinly-veiled yet coded language, sardonic and crude sexual humor, and vitriolic anti-Thrune sentiment. Attributed by Chelish authorities to the halfling bard Chimon of Kintargo (4598-4641), who was convicted of penning this song and was executed in Egorian for it. Most scholars outside of Cheliax doubt this authorship, citing significant stylistic differences with other known works by Chimon. The internal rhyme scheme and coded language strongly suggest Varisian authorship, especially in comparison to the Varisian folk song "Came He O'er the Sea," which shares the tune. (See below) Copies of this song were printed in Kintargo in handbill format in 4634-5 and widely circulated. All printed copies were ordered to be destroyed per Imperial Order 7-4321.1 subsection F, issued by Her Infernal Majestrix Abrogail I in 4640. Any person caught performing this song was to receive 30 lashes and have his or her tongue cut out.

The tune used is from the Varisian folk song, "Came He O'er the Sea," a similarly-satirical retelling of the First Battle of Conqueror's Bay (4405) near Korvosa. That song tells how an outnumbered Shoanti quah successfully repelled the first attempt to invade Varisia by Chelish forces.

Day 22 – Kintargo (Rova 22, 4715)

This day could have spelled an early end for the new, impertinent SR; regrettably, things turned out otherwise. C discovered Morgar, one of Forvian Crowe's men, in a corner of the Wasp Nest, crawling across the floor and pushing twigs and straw under crates. When she asked what he was doing, Morgar could offer no coherent explanation, so C remained suspicious and informed the other elements. V managed to conjure up Morgar's complete trust by magic, whereupon he revealed that he had been hearing a woman's hate-filled voice in his head for quite some time—most recently even coming from a rat—telling him to do things such as write the letter of denunciation. And now, to prepare a fire that could have smoked out the Wasp Nest and driven the Ravens into the streets. Since Morgar was plainly under the influence of magic, and the source of the pipe music had still not been found, the alarm was raised and an extensive search launched for the whispering intruder. For the time being, however, it yielded no further information.

Day 23 – Kintargo (Rova 23, 4715)

On this day, the first day of autumn, V surprised his companions with a small ritual dedicated to the pathetic Desna. The so-called Swallowtail Festival celebrates the beginning of autumn with the flight of hundreds of butterflies, in commemoration of Desna's alleged rescue by an orphan whom she subsequently turned into a butterfly as a token of gratitude. A butterfly! Hard to believe anyone would actually celebrate such an event voluntarily (!). This must change. This will change. Nonetheless, the elements seemed to enjoy the occasion, as L and G afterward wanted to learn more about Desna from V, and others even kept the paper butterflies (perhaps to wipe their asses…).

The Fushi Sisters reported the following: “Quite a bit is already known about the Silver Ravens. People on the streets are talking about them… the saviors of the Devil’s Nursery. They were the ones who raided the Sallix Salt Works, they snoop around charred ruins, and they rescued Rinston Jon from doghousing. The Lord-Mayor does not seem particularly interested in them. A feared Varisian harrower, however, does. She supposedly studied at the Acadamae in Korvosa and is said to be a fanatical follower of the Prince of Darkness. She has reportedly instructed the dottari to look for a tiefling, a halfling, a bouncer, a squad of mercenaries, a group of birdfolk, and the names Lorax and Quinn. Her name is Zella Zidlii, and she supposedly has information from the rebels' innermost circle.”

Day 24 – Kintargo (Rova 24, 4715)

R informed the elements of twelve occasions on which the original SR had allegedly defended Kintargo—against noble houses, hostile sea dwellers, vampires from Nidal, and a blue dragon named Rivozair.

Days 25–27 – Kintargo (Rova 25–27, 4715)

Days off

Day 28 – Kintargo (Rova 28, 4715)

On this day, the sharp eyes of element Q spotted the imp Blosodriette in the Wasp Nest. She promptly summoned two fire elementals as a distraction, and they threw themselves at the SR. With a suggestion, Blosodriette also managed to induce Q to take a dip in the sewers and—protected by her invisibility—to sow chaos among the companions with a wand and a blowgun with poisoned darts. Fortunately for them, Vendalfek joined the fray and attacked the imp with his cone of euphoria, which had the desired effect and left her severely impaired. And so the elements managed to seize and interrogate her.

Blosodriette was the pipe player. Using a set of pipes of the sewers, she lured rats and spiders into the sewers and had followed the elements from the Livery—of necessity—since she could not move more than 100 feet away from the contract that bound her. The document V had found on Rova 17 was this very contract, binding her to Merindius Sarini. After his death, the SR took possession of the document, unaware that they were taking Blosodriette in along with it. Because of the pipe music, the SR considered the Livery cursed and left Blosodriette behind there, along with their time capsule. Until, that is, the companions took the documents and brought them along to the Wasp Nest.

It is noteworthy that Blosodriette had memories—albeit fragmentary—of her former life as a slip slave in House Sarini. An outright impossibility—in R and V's view. After a brief discussion, the companions decided to kill the imp. V did explain that it would be possible to pose as a party to the contract and—by invoking its terms—use the imp for their own purposes. A decidedly useful course of action—as Q realized—given the little devils' many talents.

However, the moral scruples of the lily-livered V and R would not permit it; V pointed out that House Thrune had already chosen this route to power and that he had no intention of making deals with devils or exploiting them for his own purposes. And so, that evening, the demoralizing, unsettling, and frightening pipe music came to an abrupt end. V took possession of the imp's belongings: the pipes, wand, and three scrolls.

That same evening, the elements received mail. Along with a bouquet of red roses, Laria delivered a message from the “Rose of Kintargo” and a potion of bull's strength, which G took. The message reads as follows:

My Dear Ravens—

You are not alone in your fears for the nest we share, but for now, my flock and I must remain quiet and hidden. The time will soon come when we must meet, but until then, keep building your contacts and resources. Do not rush into opposition against our common enemy. The time to retake Kintargo will come, but to strike too soon will be to lose the war before it even begins. Recruit. Prepare. Remain strong in your patience. We shall speak soon.

—The Rose of Kintargo

Day 29 – Kintargo (Rova 29, 4715)

Early that morning, G told his companions about his concerns. Maercin Kelimber, owner of the general store Kelimber’s Dry Goods and Supplies, had fallen victim to a protection racket. Behind it were the Red Jills, a gang of tieflings who had now run amok in Redroof and needed to be stopped. Given their skills at remaining unseen, L and G decided to be present for that evening's scheduled payoff so they could follow the Red Jills and locate their hideout. Vendalfek accompanied them.

Without attracting attention, all three managed to follow the gang to an old orphanage (T5, Humbright House), which once served as a small church to Aroden and is now considered “spooky.”

Together, the companions crept up to the orphanage, where L gained entry. Unfortunately—for him—guards spotted him doing so, immediately raised the alarm, and fired crossbows at the elements. Before long, Scarplume, a strix, appeared and attacked the companions from the sky with rays of fire, but V briefly sent her gliding off to dreamland.

The Red Jills, meanwhile, proved dangerous opponents thanks to their coordinated combat tactics, inflicting life-threatening wounds on both L and V. Only when V—healed by a potion from C—used the last of his strength to knock Scarplume out of the sky with magic missiles did the Red Jills lose both hope and their luck in battle. All of them, save one tiefling, met their end that evening.

With the loot from Humbright House—assorted coins and jewels—the companions left the battlefield behind. A visit to Maercin Kelimber to return his 30 gp will surely follow soon…