Framed & Chained

Sax Panther, by thecatwhowalksbythemself

"**Framed & Chained**" (1x12) is the 12th episode of Dun-Johns and Dragons.

### **Previously on *Dun-Johns and Dragons***

After defeating the slime monster in the sewer on orders from Makaria Quest, the party cleaned up and returned to the pub, where they were approached by an old man who asked them to intercede on his behalf with a loan shark who was making threats against his business and family. Upon arriving at the loan shark’s house, the group realized they’d been set up after killing a gnome who had been Polymorphed into a mimic. The Wolf Pack, Prince Tara’s personal guard, led by Shayne Ironsprinter, descended upon the house to arrest them, claiming they were responsible for the Butcher murders. Stone managed to meld into the stone floor and escape detection, but the rest were arrested and led through the city toward the Halcyon Spire.

### **Part I**

As the party is marched through the city, word spreads that "the Butcher" has been caught. Father Buckitt begins yelling about the Wolf Pack persecuting him for his religion, trying to stir up support among the crowd. Ironsprinter subdues him violently, dealing a significant amount of damage in the process. They reach the Spire and the guards put sacks over their heads and take them inside, somewhere underground, presumably into the Netherkeep. Father Buckitt tries to memorize the route they take. Presently they are chained to a wall, their belongings and armor are taken, and their clothing is searched, though the guards are entirely unable to remove Dugluss' armor, even with a crowbar.

Each person is taken individually for questioning, Magpie first. Ironsprinter asks her how the group came to be in the building with the dead gnome, and how long she's been acquainted with the rest of the party. Magpie tells him essentially the truth. Ironsprinter tries to play "good cop", suggesting she's been caught up in a murderous cult against her will, led by Father Buckitt. Magpie laughs off the idea and says she hasn't killed anyone, and while she thinks Buckitt is deluded, he's definitely not a murderer. Ironsprinter interrogates Zander next, using a similar tactic; Zander babbles about his family and confesses to a bit of petty theft, but nothing worse. Ironsprinter asks if he’s been forced to kill anyone; Zander nonchalantly says he hasn't killed anyone who didn't deserve it, and certainly not for a few years at least. During Yoolna's interrogation, Ironsprinter refers to her as "big 'un", to which she takes particular umbrage. He also mentions the murdered gnome was a mid-level government official. Yoolna flatly denies any wrongdoing and reiterates the true version of events, but Ironsprinter remains unconvinced. As they take her back to the cell, Yoolna makes herself dead weight as a small retaliation for the slight about her size. Instead of an interrogation, Dugluss is taken to a cell where eight guards chain down every possible bit of his armor from every single angle; Dugluss takes this in good humor, flattered that they think him such a threat.

Next, Father Buckitt is interrogated. Ironsprinter seems to recognize him; he summarizes Buckitt's background saying that he is Rurick Looka[sp?] from Ironedge, sent to the Temple of Tempests in Westerhaven after being orphaned, where he climbed to a position of some authority, was well-regarded socially and even known to the prince, before disappearing without a trace about 8 months ago. Around that time, word of an unauthorized fringe religious sect began spreading, and the "Butcher" murders began. Ironsprinter asks what would make such an upstanding individual abandon everything and start a murder cult. Buckitt admits to being strange, but utterly denies any murders by himself or anyone associated with his (admittedly small) group. Ironsprinter asks how he came to worship the Bucket, and what happened to take him from the temple to living on the streets with a bucket on his head. The details he describes sound somewhat familiar to Buckitt, but his memories are clouded and even the name doesn't seem to resonate, and he can't quite remember anything from his life before the Bucket. He tells Ironsprinter that his former life doesn't matter; when the Bucket came to him he was born anew, and cast off his former life and devotion to the false gods. Ironsprinter warns him against blaspheming against the gods of the city, but Buckitt is undeterred. Ironsprinter says that the prince and his guard allow the churches because they provide a service to the population, but that religion is for people with small minds, and suggests that Buckitt is one such small-minded person, and that his religious delusion has driven him to murder in an attempt to regain his place in society. Buckitt points out that if he did purposely cast off a comfortable life in high society, it wouldn’t make sense for him to be trying to get back in. Ironsprinter suggests that he may be insane. Regardless, he continues to insist Buckitt is the Butcher; the guards drag him out and he and the rest of the party are placed in cells.

Yoolna, Magpie, and Zander are placed in one cell together, though not otherwise restrained; across from them and to the left, Dugluss appears to be little more than a good-humored pile of chains. To the right, chained to the walls and floor, is a dwarf whose face they barely recognize, apart from the mustache: Father Buckitt, de-bucketed. He quickly wraps his shirt over his head, covering his eyes; Magpie feels terrible for making him sound crazy and tosses him her hat, which he places over the shirt.

Meanwhile back at the house, Stone emerges from the floor. He peeks out the windows and sees someone keeping watch at the front of the house. He manages to stealthily escape out a back window but is startled by Sax Panther in the alley; two guards stop him and he tries to bluff his way out, but they aren’t buying it; swords are drawn and they prepare to fight.

### **Part II**

Despite a few attacks from the guards, Stone manages to flee on horseback and heads to Captain Olo's office. He bursts into the office, startling Olo and Amberash, who have heard about the alleged capture of The Butcher. Stone fills them in on what happened. Olo says the only way to free the others will be to catch the actual Butcher; restoring his memory might provide them a clue, if he can only remember who sent him off to be petrified. Stone agrees and heads back toward Penumbra headquarters to see if they have the information they promised.

Meanwhile at the Keep, Father Buckitt checks in telepathically with Sax Panther and learns that he and Stone have teamed up and are traveling through the city. After a while, they hear an unfamiliar voice from another cell. They learn that the unknown person was arrested a few days ago for defacing a statue. Zander investigates their cell; he mentions to Magpie that he thinks he could escape, but it would be loud and might hurt the others. Magpie suggests instead trying to get the guards' attention and charm them. Yoolna wonders if escaping wouldn't make their situation worse, and suggests trying to get information from the guards. Yoolna calls across to Buckitt and asks why Ironsprinter thinks he's a murdering cult leader. Buckitt answers that he's definitely not a murderer [though something about this statement requires a deception check, upon which he succeeds].

Magpie and Zander begin squabbling loudly, trying to get the guards' attention. Dugluss, meanwhile, is examining his chains and confirms they are a conductive metal. Two guards appear and Magpie successfully charms one of them and asks to be moved to a different cell. The charmed guard tries to open the cell door against his colleague’s protests. Magpie uses Thaumaturgy to make her eyes glow red and successfully intimidates the non-charmed guard; but, terrified, both guards flee from the room without opening the cell door.

As they discuss what to do, they see the figure of a dragonborn appear in the cell next to them, and realize that their mysterious companion can teleport (Zander recognizes the spell as Misty Step). They ask why the person remains in the dungeon; they reply that escaping would draw more attention. Yoolna asks if they would be able to get a message out, but they say their ability does not extend that far. The individual reveals that they got themselves arrested on purpose because they had information that "something interesting" would be happening in the dungeon. They learn that the person is a researcher and teacher of magic. Magpie notices that they are wearing a silver tiara set with blue sapphires; she comments on it, and they reply that it was made for them by a friend. Yoolna mentions her pendant was taken by the guards, and the dragonborn says that they would have had a hard time removing the tiara.

Dugluss launches an electric blast from his armor, which looks very impressive, but doesn’t do much damage to the chains. Magpie asks what their mysterious companion’s name is, and they introduce themself as Shadowscale, from the city of Tartash. They say that they may be able to help the party, if they are as innocent as they protest. The party asks more about where Shadowscale got their information and what their interest in the situation is; the answer isn’t entirely clear, but it seems there may have been some sort of divination involved. Yoolna comments that Father Buckitt has been entirely silent during this interval, and asks what information he has, given that Ironspire seems to know him, but he doesn't have much to add.

They discuss several possible strategies; finally, Father Buckitt, assisted by Magpie's Thaumaturgy, does quite a good impression of Ironsprinter, yelling that the prisoners have been found innocent and should have been set free already, followed by a Thaumaturgical door slam. Two guards (not including the previously charmed one) enter, confused, and discuss what to do; they're too intimidated to go ask Ironsprinter himself, but also don't want to let the prisoners out in case there's some mistake; they decide since their shift is nearly over, they’ll do nothing and let the next shift deal with it, and exit again. The party hears them climbing the steps and leaving the dungeon area entirely.

Stone, meanwhile, has reached Penumbra headquarters. He brusquely explains to Makaria what has happened. She briefly speaks with another Penumbra member, who nods and rushes off. She then leads Stone to the entrance of the sewers.

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

* Dugluss Deep-Forge
* Father Buckitt
* Magpie
* Stone
* Yoolna
* Zander Brushspark