Find Ethan

Cathance and Quelenna were recounting their encounter with the grell to Block.  His presence there seemed incongruous, Cathance mused; while most of Duquesne, Cliffshadow and even the front of Freelancers Tavern was human, most of the juniors were other peoples.  Moreover, he seemed to be following druidic discipline, while Quelenna, the Wild elf, was not.

A rough-looking human entered the tavern, obviously a hunter.  His hair and beard were brown, his hat and clothing had seen hard use, and he had a short bow on his back.  His clothes were pretty ill-fitting, and a closer look revealed they had bloodstains.  He reminded Cathance of her near-capture with Osric and Fine Branch, trying to rescue a lost hunter, and her eyes narrowed.

Block, seeing him, called him over, and the four of them got to talking.  The hunter's name was Broo'an, and he'd heard of the money Freelancers made, and he'd come to try his luck.  They decided to ask Arnari for a mission, and went upstairs to her office.

Arnari's office now had various sized chairs, to accommodate all the Freelancers, from Cathance to the towering Nohea.  Broo'an's eyes roved about the office, taking in the maps, the chairs, the knick knacks, as if he hadn't just been there talking to her about joining.  Maybe he hadn't.  Maybe he'd talked to Tomtom.

Arnari stilled the harp on her lap, assessing the humans, as Quelenna sat down.  Cathance climbed into the largest chair, obviously sized for Nohea or Torinn, and kicked her feet.  Broo'an and Block both stood awkwardly in the back, with Broo'an taking off his hat and fiddling with it nervously.  Quelenna said to Cathance quietly, "I dunno about these guys."  Cathance gave Broo'an another speculative look, and then Arnari started talking, without preamble.

"You might enjoy…" Arnari said…

• Track down Ethan of the Daystar cult.   Just find him; do not engage.  Church of Storms will pay 150gp/person for this info.
• Go to Stormhaven, and track down the halfling man, who
  • Freed Jamie from the Skyguard outpost, who was working for pirates
  • Hired thugs to attack the Freelancers
  • Tailed Freelancers the last time there was a mission to Stormhaven
• Go to the farming hamlet between Cliffgate and Three Rivers, which is having a problem with farming.  Talk to Sinéad Willowsteel of Cliffgate.
  • They are having some problem planting seeds in the ground.
  • This will pay 100gp/person.

Broo'an's jaw dropped and he had stopped his nervous fidgeting with his hat.  When Arnari paused in her recital, he exclaimed, "150 gold pieces?!"  Arnari replied, quite sincerely, "If you fail, but still find some info, still might get paid some of it."

Block was also intrigued.  "Farming is interesting, but I like money more."

Quelenna said shortly, "Daystar is interesting."  Block raised an eyebrow.  "Religious affiliation for the monk?" he asked her.  Quelenna said cooly, "Āhua, but not a devotee."

Broo'an was still brooding.  "Not much with cities," he drawled.

Quelenna realized Cathance had said nothing.  "What does Cathance think?" she asked pointedly.  Cathance thought about her trip to Waypoint Superb and said "They're trying to spread their crazy lotion all over Skyway!"

Broo'an asked, "What lotion?"  Arnari explained, the Daystar "cultists" had a lotion which protected from burning, and also apparently obviated one's common sense.

Block looked more and more thunderstruck as Arnari explained.  "Are people… that into this kind of… protection?" he asked.  Arnari made a face, and said, "If they are exposing their parts to the Daystar, I imagine they want the protection."  Block's face cleared with unhappy understanding.  "Ohhhhh."

Cathance asked, "What do we know?  Were Dryali and Tuala able to find any leads?"  Arnari said, "They were looking at the popup store, and did not find anything out."

"Ethan is 5'10", blond hair, green eyes," Arnari continued, "The last time Freelancers ran into him, they found out he had flaming sphere, and he bamf'd his self and another person out of a warehouse."

Certain they could find Ethan, they decided they would try it.  But they had no idea where to start.  They headed downstairs, discussing the next steps.

Block swung by the bar and got a cup of coffee, then swung out into the practice yard, casting a sharp eye on the weather as he sipped his beverage.  He came back in.  "Today will have a bright morning, with scattered showers later," he told the others.

They decided the best initial course of action would be for Cathance to fly a circuit over various parks with Jigsaw, looking for any Daystar gatherings, and the others check in with Church of Storms for any information they'd gathered.  Cathance left them and went into the stable to get Jigsaw.

Block took the others to Church of Storms in Guildstrom; they had never been.  As soon as they identified themselves as Freelancers, an acolyte hastened to bring Adrian Bryant, a tall human with freckles, auburn hair, and green eyes.  His grey robes were embroidered in silver with lightning patterns.

The Freelancers asked if he'd gathered any further intelligence on Ethan.  "O yah," Adrian said, his Lakeview accent plain.  "We don't think he left Cliffshadow yet, but we don't know where he is."

Block: can we know why you think that?
Adrian: we've kept watch on the docks, but more like he's here to establish presence, so it makes no sense for him to leave.
Quelenna: have you seen any increased Daystar activity recently?
Adrian: we, and Church of Ua, have done a decent job with their leadership, and so been weaning their followers from the lotion.
Quelenna:  thank you.
Adrian: thanks for going after this, but be careful: Ethan is a dangerous person, we don't want you to get hurt!
Quelenna: much appreciated, sir.

At that, the three Freelancers took their leave and returned back to the tavern, mulling how they were no better off than before.  They weren't there long before Cathance returned, obviously exhilarated from her morning jaunt on Jigsaw.  "Block was right!" she exclaimed, "it was a bright morning!  Beautiful!" 

"Did you see anything?" Quelenna asked, and Cathance's face fell.  "No," she admitted.

Block and Broo'an were more focussed on the lotion.  "If they are making lotion, they need supplies," Broo'an said.  Cathance said, "I am learning herbalism, I can ask the people at the herbalism shop."

Quelenna suggested, "Maybe find out if crazy people bought supplies."  Cathance replied, "We can all go ask."

The four of them headed north to Parkside, towards the herbalism shop.  While walking there, they also started looking around if there were any flyers or whatnot for gatherings in the park.  Broo'an was thrown off by being in the city environment, and Cathance was thrown off by the absence of Jigsaw and the presence of Broo'an; but Block and Quelenna spotted a flyer.

Meet at the Park
Noon alternate days
Enjoy the blessings of the good weather

Faintly, the flyer had the Daystar watermark on it.  They figured out today was one of the days, so they had an hour and a half.

They arrived at the Melrose Bloom, the shop where Cathance was learning herbalism.  The others were perhaps unsurprised that the proprietors were also Mikumwesauk.  Macon was busy, but Sabeen was up front and greeted Cathance warmly.

Cathance: hi Sabeen, these are some of my compatriots
Sabeen: sure, step in this other room so we can talk
Cathance: have people not in classes been buying more supplies?
Sabeen: we've had an uptick in basic, and slightly odder ones
Quelenna: so, you are increasing weird sales?
Sabeen: it's been kind of nice!
Cathance: any uptick in abjuration ingredients?
Sabeen: I don't remember well, but some people come roughly every day…
Quelenna: so they are!
Sabeen: ...roughly every prime, same set of people.

Block looked around the shop and area, but the most tan person he saw was Broo'an.

Cathance: why do you think it's the same set of people?
Sabeen: it's the same 5 people, but they are coming in around 3 every time.
Quelenna:  are they very tan?
Sabeen: actually, yeah.
Cathance:  thanks so much, this is so helpful!

At this, they took their leave and headed back to Freelancers Tavern.  On the way they discussed whether they should stake out the shop, or leave it to Cathance to start looking for people when she was there for herbalism classes.

Back at Freelancers Tavern, Quelenna said, "Should we go take up a convenient location in The Park?"  Cathance declared, "We need a plan."

They all looked at Broo'an.  He really was very darkly tanned.  "Hey!" he said, "It's only the skin not covered by clothes!"

Block said, "I want to see about 'joining their team,' and trying to buy some of that lotion."  None of the others were interested in doing this, but were just as happy to have him try.

Quelenna asked the others, "Do we want to tell Church of Storms?"  But really, there was not enough time.

The Freelancers headed to the Park, Cathance bringing Jigsaw this time.  Before leaving Freelancers, she stopped by the quartermaster to pick up a leaded badge case for 5gp.  Once there, they fanned out looking around for the meeting place, but after a while, Broo'an stopped them, embarrassed at how bad they were at tracking.  "We need to follow their tracks," he told them.

Fifteen minutes later, Broo'an drawled, "Ah think they're over here," and indeed they were, 4 of them in a fairly well-screened clearing, because it was already noon.  None of the group had seen any of them arrive.  The Freelancers put their plan into action, with Cathance, Quelenna, and Broo'an hiding to observe, Jigsaw tied up a ways away.

What they observed was disturbing, 2 humans, 1 Wind sagani, and 1 half-elf in the buff, exposing themselves to the light of the Daystar, bottles of lotion nearby.  They saw some hairy, some paleness, and all much too tan.

Block entered the clearing.  "O!  Hey, hey what are you all up to?"

One of the humans replied stiffly, "This is a public park, but this is a private party unless you are invited."

Block said plaintively, "I was just walking through the Park and I saw you and I was wondering –" the human cut him off.  "Begone."

Oblivious to the human's hostility, Block leaned over and peered at a place the Daystar was not supposed to shine.  "Aren't you gonna get a sunburn?"

The human regained his dignity and stood up, less unfriendly.  "This lotion is really helpful!  Would you like to buy some?"  He produced an unopened jar from his pile of clothes.  Block looked at the jar consideringly.  "Well, how much?"

"Just one gold piece for this amazing lotion," the human said, sounding like a monger in the market. "Soften your skin, protect you from the Daystar's rays, enjoy the outdoors!"

Broo'an, out of sight to these folks, but well within sight of Quelenna and Cathance, was watching the entire tableau in shock.  However all three of them kept quiet, watching, as Block cheerfully spent a gold piece to acquire his very own jar of Daystar lotion.

"Spread your cloak, apply the lotion, get naked!" said the absolutely no longer hostile human, who then resumed his position.

Block looked at him, and the others, said "hmmm," almost too quietly to hear, then went on the other side of the Daystar people.  He spread his cloak, stripped, and appeared to apply the lotion upon his various tender bits.  The other Freelancers were appalled at Block's hairy ass, and wondered how this would end.

Unlike them, Block hadn't forgotten his weather prediction, and knew it would end early as the rain was coming.  Already he'd figured out this human was the group leader, too.

Broo'an could not take this and withdrew.  He wandered around looking for other sign, and finally took up a watch outpost about 60' away.

After a few minutes, Block asked plaintively, "How long does this take to work?"  The half-elf replied, "It's something that takes a while to work on.  Thanks for embarking on this journey with us!"

After another five minutes, Block asked, "It's starting to kind of tingle.  What's in this lotion?!"  The Wind sagani replied, "Special ingredients," and paused.  "It's not supposed to tingle.  Maybe you need to put more on."

Block was happy though, because his chatter had served to distract them from noticing there would be rain, and when it hit a couple minutes later, they all reacted with dismay.  "O No!  The rain!  Ua, why must you hide the Daystar!"

Right then, Block cast thunderclap, hiding the cast from the others, who started scrambling to leave.  "Come back in a couple days!" they bade each other and Block.  The human who had not sold lotion to Block left behind her lotion.  Cathance used prestidigitation on the outside of the bottle, then took it, while Quelenna and Broo'an followed the scattering cultists.

Following the cultists was easy, until they got to the edge of the park and split up.  Since he appeared to be the leader, Quelenna and Broo'an followed the human who sold Block the lotion.

He went south through winding streets, until he got to a business, a general goods store near the docks.  It appeared to sell ship repair supplies, among other items.  He appeared to be returning from a lunch break, and they could not tell if he was merely a clerk, or the business owner.

Since he was obviously working, and they might need shifts, Broo'an left Quelenna to watch, and went back to Freelancers Tavern.

Cathance and Block were not as prepared to follow as the others.  Cathance asked Block carefully if that had been real thunder, and he told her, "No, no, that was me."  She ran over to get Jigsaw, in order to follow from above, while Block donned his clothing and followed on foot.  When they split up, the half-elf and the human who had left behind their lotion stuck together, and that's who they followed.

Cathance had no problem staying unnoticed by the couple, flying Jigsaw in the rain.  Block, on the other hand, had not actually applied any of the Daystar lotion, and discovered that walking was quite uncomfortable.  The couple easily noticed him, and stopped.

"Can we help you?" the half-elf asked Block, who replied, "I'm just walking this way!" and kept on going.  They watched him, suspicious, then changed direction, unaware of Cathance watching from a rooftop.  They went to an open market, and bought some food; then headed to a boarding house in the Trade district.  

Block had caught up by the time they left the market, and followed them.  Once they were inside, he and Cathance conferred.  "Do we watch them?" she asked.  "They might have more," he replied.

"I'm hoping they need to buy more," Cathance told him, "And we'll then find Ethan."

Block was frustrated, not least of which because he hurt in the private parts.  "We need surveillance tools!" he said, and headed back to Freelancers, leaving Cathance to watch for now.

Block and Broo'an met up at Freelancers Tavern to exchange what they had learned.  But first, Block got a cup of coffee.

Broo'an: whatcha drinkin' there
Block: coffee, yo
Broo'an: is it good?
Block: yah, have a cup.
Block: I got this lotion.
Broo'an: lemme see it

Broo'an took the lotion from Block, and tried to figure it out, but failed; it was like nothing he'd seen before.  Block said, "I can use my herbalism kit," and took it back, carefully subjecting it to a stronger analysis, using one of the taller standing height tables along the tavern wall, as Broo'an sipped his coffee.

"I think the prime ingredient of this is," Block announced, "magical bullshit!  It's not herb-based, it's some sort of enchantment!"

Broo'an was distracted.  "This coffee's really good, thanks!"

Block, thinking about what the lotion's beneficial effects were, remembered to heal himself, so he could sit and also walk properly before going back to their stake out.

Time was passing, and Broo'an was getting fidgety.  "Does this… coffee … usually make you hum?" he asked Brock.  Brock just smiled, and then they went back out into the rain to meet up with Quelenna and Cathance.

As Broo'an arrived at the shop, Quelenna did a double take.  "Why are you vibrating, Broo'an?" she asked, and he told her, "Block gave me this strange drink called coffee."

Quelenna brought him up to speed.  "I've seen people go in [to the shop], none look like Ethan," she reported. "I don't think he's left."

Broo'an sent her back to Freelancers Tavern to dry out.  "I can spell you, it's not like I'm sleeping soon!"

Cathance had even less to report to Block.  "I think they haven't left."  He told her he'd take over for a while.  Cathance didn't need to dry out, but she was hungry.

At Freelancers Tavern, wherein neither of them drank coffee, Cathance tried to plan with Quelenna, but the latter just wanted to go back to the shop, convinced this person was the key.

The Daystar was setting in the west, but the intermittent rain continued.

The shop was closing up, and Broo'an saw the cultist leader lock up and leave.  Obviously he did not live above the shop.  Broo'an started following southward.  Luckily Quelenna found him before he'd moved too far to track.

Block had found the right window to look in and listen at for the Daystar couple.  The human's voice sounded peeved.  "Maybe I left it in the park, when the lightning went off," she mused.

The half-elf reassured her, "You can use mine; it will be okay."  She held out some hope. "Maybe will be there when we return," she said.

They appeared to be settling down for the evening, and Block was dubious continuing to watch was of any value.  Just then Cathance returned, and he shared these observations.  They decided to meet up with Broo'an and Quelenna.

Cathance remembered how they found the Daystar worshippers on Waypoint Superb and suggested they drop a ball bearing in the bottle of lotion and return it to the right place in the Park.  Her voice trailed off when she remembered that would require the locate object spell, which none of them had.

Block told her he knew herbalism, and it wanted to use it to make the lotion users easier to follow.  Cathance was considering this, right when they joined up with Quelenna and Broo'an, and suggested adding pepper.

With the growing darkness, the rain, and no reason to suspect otherwise, the human was easy to follow unnoticed.  He went to a flat in Guildstrom, a few blocks east of the Church of Storms.

The Freelancers stayed out of sight across the street, as they watched the flat.  The rain was coming down harder now, and Quelenna was reminded of the marsh, and the frogs.  Fulminating over this, she missed what the others saw as people went in and out:  the flat had several people living it, all very tan, and they caught a glimpse of Ethan.

Block sucked in his breath.  "We should report back!"
Cathance was more cautious.  "We don't know that he lives there."
Broo'an looked for a way to be closer.  "Can we listen?"
Block was undeterred.  "Send to Arnari!"

Cathance thought speed was of the essence.  "We can send to Church of Storms, much closer."

They made a plan, unsure if Ethan was a resident or visitor.  Quelenna would use her winged boots to fly to Church of Storms and report.  Block and Cathance would sit in the outdoor seating of a restaurant across the street.  Broo'an would stake out the backyard.  "They might go out the back," he said.

"How will you signal us?" Block asked.  "I'll carve a whistle," Broo'an told him.  "One: they are comin' out the back.  Two: y'all come running."  He held up his fingers for the numbers.

Quelenna got to Church of Storms in short order, and Adrian hastened to hear her report.  "We are following up," she told him.  "We saw a small gathering of Daystar worshippers in the Park, and followed them when it rained.  He's at his house, and there's someone in his flat who matches Ethan."

Adrian's eyes shot up.  "O really!  Give me the address and details, I will set acolytes to watch."  Quelenna gave him these details, and said, "My Freelancers team is still watching; I am on my way to Arnari."  Adrian called a clerk, and produced a pouch with 60 platinum.  "For you and your team," he said, and she took her leave.  She could hear him summoning the acolytes as she left.

Back at Freelancers Tavern, Quelenna found Arnari gossiping with Yan, and apologised for the interruption, but at "We found Ethan," Arnari rose and they went to her office.  Quelenna handed her the 60 platinum as she told the impressed Arnari they had located Ethan and where.  Arnari handed 135gp back to her as Quelenna asked, "Please give to the others, I must return."  She ran down the stairs, leaving Arnari to put the coin in the strongbox.

Quelenna returned in haste, to find that Block and Cathance finishing up a pleasant dinner at the fancy restaurant for 3sp each.  The outdoor seating was under an awning, and their table even had a bouquet of fresh flowers.  Her eyes widened a little bit.  "Nobody's left the apartment," they told her.

A couple of Church of Storms acolytes shows up soon after, in nondescript clothing.  They took over for Broo'an, and a few minutes later, a couple more took over for the rest of the Freelancers, who then headed back to the Tavern.

"Are we following up?" Cathance asked, looking at the partially used lotion bottle in her hand.  Block shook his head.  "No need, if we found Ethan," he told her.

• Broo'an → level 2 RANGER!
• Block → level2!
• Quelenna → level4!