The Foxes assemble

Gozran 5, 4712

Concerned over the loyalty of the Hellknight command staff, Roscoe and Omok devise a clever strategy to determine whom can be counted on. Every day, they will question the orb of command with the name of a Hellknight on the command staff and determine whether that individual is loyal to Roscoe or not. Over the course of the next 45 days, the same depressing answer is returned: No one is loyal to Roscoe. The entire command is not loyal, nor are any of the senior officers out in the field. Roscoe begins to ponder how to replace the command structure before it is too late.

Three options present themselves to Roscoe. First, he can clean up the command staff of Fort Inevitable either by wholesale replacement or through attrition and appoint a new command staff that will be loyal to him. His second option is to figure a way to exile the Hellknights completely by clever stratagem or rapid battle attrition, and replace them with soldiers loyal to Roscoe before the next quarterly exchange of troops. The third option is to simply walk away from the Fort and its people.

It will take Roscoe a long time to reach a decision, and he wants to talk to his siblings. Unfortunately, none of them are currently around.


Sarenith 12, 4712

Now back from investigating the stealing of lumber, Daryle and Darelle meet with Roscoe and report on their discoveries. First, they mention that one of the conversation they overheard on the Unbroken dealt with the rumor that Duke Mosley's injuries were serious and were getting worse. Such rumors have been swirling around Fort Inevitable for a few months now.

They mention to him that it's time to come up with an exit strategy from Fort Inevitable. Roscoe tells them he's been thinking the same thing, and it is time to implement his strategy. He presents the options he and Omok have been weighing over the last few weeks. The sisters agree that the first option, that of replacing the command staff with new leaders is the best option. There is no realistic way to entirely remove the Hellknights from Fort Inevitable, and as for simply walking away many people in town and around depend on them, including their mother's cousin and others who depend on them for help or for work.

Roscoe mentions that there are references in Hellknight files to an organization in Fort Inevitable called the Seven Foxes. This resistance group was decimated six years ago when two of its leaders were arrested, tried, and executed following the assassination of the former Lord Commander, Emos Varden. Since then there have been hints that this group still operates in the shadows, but none of the remaining principals' identities have been revealed. Perhaps someone can connect Roscoe with this group and survey their interest in participating in a replacement of the Hellknight command staff? Darelle says that she's never heard of this group, but Dr. Mordel probably has. The Coopers decide to go talk to him. Their plan is to invite some of the Foxes at the Hunters' Lodge, then discuss with them Roscoe's plan.

After exchanging pleasantries, Darelle reaches the reason for their visit. She explains the dilemma the Coopers are in, and explains the three options outlined by Roscoe. Mordel agrees that the first option is not the safest, but it provides the most likelyhood of keeping Fort Inevitable away from disaster. Roscoe asks Mordel if he knows of anyone who could serve in a leadership position and be loyal to the town. Mordel provides the names of six people who could form an effective council to govern Fort Inevitable: Falandra Nolm, whom he trusts; Abernard Roysts, whom he does not trust; Karlyle the Butcher, whom he does not trust but knows he has Fort Inevitable's best interests at heart; Doliver Reedbank, owner of the Juliver Arms, whom he trusts; Mormuk Goldfoot, owner of Goldfoot's Mercantile, whom he trust; and Peter Ardra, son of Adrian Ardra, one of the civic leaders of Fort Inevitable. Adrian was executed following the assassination of the Lord Commander Varden in 4706, and Peter is currently in exile. When asked by Darelle whether he could also serve, Dr. Mordel replies that he has no interest being involved in such a leadership entity. He expresses that he has enough work with his research and his patients.

Departing Dr. Mordel's hospital, Roscoe and the sisters decide they need to organize a meeting between themselves and members of the Seven Foxes. Getting the Seven Foxes involved, along with the citizens named by Dr. Mordel would help fill a void left with a dismantling of the Hellknight command staff. Roscoe asks his sisters where they think they should start looking. Daryle mentions that Mordel suggested Karlyle's name. Since she's on friendly terms with Karlyle, and he seems to know everyone that's anyone in Fort Inevitable, he's probably the first one the Coopers should talk to. Roscoe agrees and says that he will talk to Doliver, since he used to live there and knows the halfling pretty well. Darelle agrees to talk to Falandra. The Coopers part ways to talk to their respectives contacts.

Daryle is the first one to reach her destination. The doors are wide open, and Karlyle is busy butchering a sheep with his assistant. They make small talk for a few minutes, and then Daryle intimates that she would like to talk to him alone. Karlyle sends his assistant away, and brings Dayle to his storage area. Daryle uses all of her diplomatic and innuendo to invite Karlyle to a dinner at the Hunters' Lodge that very night. She tells him that he can invite a friend, and intimates that she hopes members of the Seven Foxes will be present. When Karlyle discovers that Roscoe will also be there, he wonders aloud, in these times of trouble, how his return back to the Fort will be made safe. Understanding that he's asking for a guarantee of safety that this is not a Hellknight trap to catch the resistance, Daryle personally vouches that he will neither be harmed not impeded. Karlyle agrees to meet her there at dinner time.

Roscoe arrives at the Juliver Arms. As he enters, the conversation among the numerous guests gathered for lunch swiftly come to an end. He steps to the counter, and is greeted by Doliver Reedbank. They talk for a few minutes, then Roscoe notices that the place has emptied rather quickly. He takes this opportunity to invite the halfling to a meeting at the Hunters' Lodge. Doliver agrees to meet him there at dinner. Roscoe steps outside, and waits around the corner. The departed guests all return inside the inn. Roscoe shakes his head and walks away. This is another reason to implement his plan!

Darelle walks to Nolm Bindery and is greeted by Gerald, who appears to be balancing the books. Something is off, though, and she can't quite put her finger on it. She meets Falandra in the back of the store, and asks her if she's noticed something strange about Gerald. Falandra replies that indeed she has. Gerald has not screwed up anything nor has he destroyed anything of significance in the last month. Darelle shakes this off and invites Falandra to dinner tonight. She agrees to attend.

In the afternoon the Coopers arrive at the Hunters' Lodge. Darelle prepares a sumptuous meal. Daryle patrols the grounds. Roscoe prepares his argument. Around five, the guests begin to arrive. Karlyle is the first one there, followed closely by Falandra and Abernard. Soon, Doliver and his cousin Dunleaf Appletop also cross the bridge. High Mother Sarise Dremagne , head of the Temple of the Golden Key arrives next. This surprises Roscoe, but not as much as the next guest to arrive: Maralictor Wirt! Finally, old Mother Holworth is the last to arrive. There are now seven guests at the Hunters' Lodge.

Roscoe questions Wirt and asks who invited her. Mother Holworth discreetly nods at the group, and Karlyle reveals that he invited her. Wirt may not be loyal to Roscoe, but she appears to be loyal to the people of the Fort. Roscoe then presents his plan, with the hope that the Seven Foxes could take a leadership position. Mother Holworth retorts that they are not willing to stick their neck out at this time in case his plan backfires, but they know some reliable young folks who could step up and fill these roles, with the Seven Foxes remaining in the shadows for the time being. However, Dunleaf adds, they have a condition. Thorne and his various associates and enterprises must be dealt with. Roscoe tells them that Thorne has already lost access to the treasury, and that he is more than willing to deal with his associates if Dunleaf could provide a list of names. Dunleaf agrees to do so. Darelle talks with Dunleaf Appletop about the missing lumber and reports what her sister and her discovered. Dunleaf is pleased that at least the wholesale theft of lumber from Fort Inevitable has been dealt with. Falandra agrees to take a look at the bookkeeping Thorne did while in charge.

Satisfied with their meeting, the Seven Foxes depart. The Coopers return to Fort Inevitable soon after. That very night, Falandra delivers three forged letters to Roscoe.


Sarenith 13, 4712

In the morning, Roscoe requests his top three commanding officers to meet with him, one at a time. Using Falandra's forged letters, he informs them that he has received news from the Hellknight hierarchy that several forts have recently lost their commanding officers, and due to their tireless and devoted services, they are being promoted but most leave immediately. By the end of the day, all three have ridden away. Roscoe's plan has begun!

The Silver Demon comes to play

Sarenith 3, 4711.

The Coopers are spending time in Fort Inevitable, awaiting the return of Roscoe from his extended patrol with the Hellknights. Darelle has been working with Doctor Mordel for the last two weeks, learning about healing and medicine. Mordel approaches her one day after a long day with a proposition. He admits to her that he is more informed about her brother Thorne than he led her to believe when she first met him. In fact, he was aware that Thorne had some illegitimate dealings with denizens of Fort Inevitable, and that they had done some business together.

Mordel requests a favor. He has a patient who needs to be smuggled out of Fort Inevitable, and he is willing to pay 500 crowns for this dangerous mission. Darelle tells him that she will discuss it with her siblings and get back in touch with him the following day.

Back at the farm, the Coopers discuss the situation. Smuggling out Mordel's patient provides them with some much needed income, and leaves Mordel owing them a favor. On the other hand, if they are caught their lives will be forfeit as smugglers. It's an incredibly risky proposition, but they agree that they must help Mordel.


Sarenith 4, 4711

The Coopers return to Mordel's office. At the Juliver Gate they notice that the guard has been tripled, and everyone is being searched going in or out. They hear the rumor that someone was gruesomely murdered last night, and the killer has not yet been found.

After an hour the Coopers are searched and let inside the fort, and they head to the clinic where they meet Peter Ardra, the son of one of the convicted and executed conspirators of the Lord Commander's assassination three years ago. Since then, Ardra tells them, he's been drumming up support and financing for an overthrow of the Hellknights.

Mordel tells the Coopers that Ardra was attacked by a very agile creature near the forest entrance to the sewers. This creature was humanoid in shape but moved very quickly. He slashed it with his sword, but was immediately sprayed with a silvery liquid. He managed to escape down into the tunnel, but by the time he had reached Mordel's clinic he had a fever and was shaking uncontrollably. Mordel then noticed that Ardra's blood was slowly been transmuted into silver. With a steady dose of medicine and with all the skills he could he managed to save Ardra's life, but he cannot successfully reverse this transmutation. For that, Ardra must go to a specialist in Daggermark. Ardra can walk, but he can't run, let alone fight, so he must be safely escorted away from the town.

Gerald jokes that Ardra could become a werewolf hunter, for if a werewolf were to take a bite, he would immediately encounter pure silver. Daryle tells him that it's not funny, the poor man in his condition. The Coopers agree to help Ardra leave the town. They devise a quick plan. Daryle will talk to Maralictor Wirt at the Mosswater Gate and see if they can get a permit to hunt goblins in the sewers. Then, they will smuggle Ardra through the small branch that runs by Mordrel's house and into the forest, from which he will be able to reach a wagon that will take him down to Daggermark.

Daryle  thus goes to the Mosswater Gate. Maralictor Wirt is busily engaged in the searching at the gate, and tells Daryle that now is not a good time to talk. She confirms that there was a murder, and that patrols are combing the streets and the sewers looking for clues or the killer. She agrees to provide Daryle and her twins with a license to hunt goblins in the sewer. But, she tells Daryle, at sundown the Hellknights will flood the sewers, flushing out anyone hiding there. The challenge passkey is "Who comes?" while the answer passkey is "Well met." Several patrols are already down in the sewers, looking for last night's killer.

The Coopers head down in the sewers, and for the first few hours they scour the tunnels underneath the town. In the distance they see two different patrols pass by, and are challenged once. With no results, they decide to pass by Mordel's house, so they head down one of the older tunnels. Daryle notices that the doctor's basement wall is visible from the tunnel, when Mordel said that it should not be. 

A few hundred feet in the tunnels they encounter another Hellknight patrol, led by Captain Ulrik. After exchanging passcodes, the captain advises the Coopers his patrol has seen nothing down this tunnel. At this very moment, one of the guards disappears in the shadows, wailing and abruptly becoming silent. A humanoid silvery creature stands at the back of the patrol, and begins to slaughter them. The Coopers and the Hellknights begin to fight, but their weapons appear to not affect the Silver Demon. The Demon leaps over the patrol, and makes straight for Gerald. Enough damage is done that the Demon runs away down the sewers, back towards the town. The Coopers and the remaining Hellknights give chase, but lose sight of it before the intersection. 

The party splits up, with Gerald heading towards the surface to bring back reinforcement. Daryle and Darelle head towards the lake with Captain Ulrik. They corner the Silver Demon by the lake, and after a great battle the Coopers are victorious.

The state of siege over Fort Inevitable is lifted, and the Coopers are informed they will be awarded the First Level of the Crow during the quarterly ceremony on Erastus 1st, and they will also be invited to the Lady Commander's annual grand ball.

That night, they smuggle Ardra out of the town. They relay their fight with the Silver Demon to Dr. Mordel and to Abernard Royst. Abernard tells Gerald that the Silver Demon always attack in threes ....