2022/10/05

Last time in the Iron Kingdoms, mysteries presented themselves.

The party made their way back to Five Fingers after their mission to observe and sabotage the incoming Crucible Guard army. As they made the journey, the absence of Gazza became more and more concerning. Eventually leading to the regretful conclusion that Mr. Enthus had most likely perished in the service of Five Fingers. The high captains thanked the party for their efforts and gave them a few days rest before their next assignment. During this time, the party was met at Undertow by a representative of High Captain Matea Rubeu, who brought with him a dwarf. The representative introduced the dwarf as Hector Slatecliff and said that Hector believed that he was needed alongside the team in the coming days. The party was skeptical of Hector's claims of divination, though after asking about next of kin and where to send any potential corpses, accepted his assistance.

A little bit after Hector's appearance, the party's leave was cut short. The Five Finger's government had received a mysterious letter stating that a potential friend was to be found a little ways outside of the city. The letter said that there was a farmer in the area that had a laborjack that was a little too smart and sophisticated for the standard farming jack. Reading between the lines the party saw the potential that the farmer was a warcaster and had left military service to become a farmer. The dangerous bit about the message was that it came from an anonymous third party that promised information and assistance to the new free city. Thus the high captains decided to send the party to investigate the letter, as they had the best odds of escaping any potential trap, as well as having experience with diplomatic talks. With a warning of caution from Atrixia to the party, they departed at the crack of dawn.

After three quarters of a day's travel the party arrived in the small farming village of Glendale. The locals gave the party a wide berth as the sight of full warjacks and their attendants were not something that was commonly seen in the village. After the party had secured lodging for the night in the only tavern in town, they set about trying to find out anything about the rumors that had led them to the village. Charlotte set up in the center of town and just existed. Waiting on the braver children to approach her and Kitten. When they did she interacted with them politely and introduced them to Kitten. A little bit later some of the adults of town came over to get a read on the newcomer to town and to make sure that there was no threat to the children. Charlotte assuaged any fears from the locals and then asked about the rumors of a farmer and an advanced steamjack in the area. The best fit from the townsfolk was Old Greg who had a small farm a little ways outside of town and was mainly a sustenance farmer. When Charlotte said that they didn't want any trouble with Old Greg, rather just to talk to him, the townsfolk said that they would send someone to give Old Greg a heads up that some new faces would be coming round. Xavier went looking for information at the small Church of Morrow in Glendale, and talked to Fr. O'Malley the priest of the area. Fr. O'Malley couldn't tell Xavier as to what sort of jacks the folks in the area had, though did say that there were a number of soldiers in the area who came here for the quiet life. And if their quarry was one, then they likely came here for a reason.

With that information set, and someone providing an introduction the party slept the night in the tavern and then made their way to Old Greg's farm. The farm in question was a small place, with a couple of small fields and a simple farmhouse and shed. At the farmhouse, an older man with grey hair greeted them. The man introduced himself as Gregori Stravinsky and asked if the party wanted to come in. Not that he had enough seats for everyone, though at least they'd be inside. The party agreed, and left the warjacks outside to watch for anything resembling a trap. Inside they party told Gregori of their suspicions as to his identity and asked if he was willing to join Five Fingers. Shakes thought that Gregori's name was familiar to him, and asked if he had served in any of the same conflicts that he had, rolling up his sleeve to show his Crucible Guard tattoo from his official military days. Gregori did pause at the sight of a former Crucible Guard member before admitting that he served with the 8th Winter Guard Division in the invasion and occupation of Llael. Shakes was surprised to learn that they were former enemies though let the past lie there, returning to the matter at hand. Gregori did say that while Five Finger's cause was probably more just than any of the motherland's, their fight was a young man's fight and he was quite happy doubling the average warcaster life expectancy by reaching the age of 60. The party accepted this statement and said that they would keep his location to themselves and that Old Greg was not the warcaster that they were looking for, just a man with well taught laborjack.

As the party was about to leave, the warjacks outside did notice trouble on the horizon. A number of suspicious figures were skulking about the fields and looked to be getting into position to attack the farmhouse. The party informed Gregori that he had less friendly company and advised him to fuel up his warjack if he could. Gregori stated that there probably wasn't enough time, though while his body was old his mind was still sharp and he would help the party in defending his farm. The party then went to greet the interlopers and were told that they were here for the arrest of Gregori Stravinsky for crimes against Llael and to step aside or be considered aiding and abetting the criminal. The party declined such offer and thus a fight broke out between the party and the Llaelese black ops team. The party eventually won the day though the Llaelese soldiers proved to be rather capable, inflicting grievous wounds upon the party and their warjacks.

Gregori then turned to the party and said that things were likely getting a little too dangerous here and that him traveling with his warjack Ozero was not the best idea. So he was going to loan Ozero to Five Fingers with the understanding that if both he and the free city survive the next year or so he would be returning for his warjack or a replacement to help him out on whatever farm he gets made. Gregori didn't know who sent the letter to Five Fingers about him, as Llael seemed to already know about him and there was no need for them to get Five Fingers involved, and any of Khador's people would probably want him back for themselves rather than another party. Regardless he told the party if they ever did find out who sent them, to tell that person to forget the name Gregori Stravinsky. With that the party burned down Gregori's farmhouse with the bodies of the Llaelese soldiers inside and went back to Five Fingers to deliver Ozero to the city's defense as well as to pass along what happened. The party had the suspicion that Five Fingers and possibly themselves had just been tested by whoever had sent the message, though they didn't know as to if they had passed.