The Bounty Hunter Guild you're a part of in Cove is 'The Blood Hounds of Cove', who have a a reputation for being one of the more reputable outfits. Cove has no standing police force, the City Watch are really more like a militia that deals with external threats, or to break up the poor when they riot, which happens pretty much annually. So people who need things and people retrieved go through one of a dozen chartered Bounty Hunter Guilds. The Thief Taker General of the Blood Hounds of Cove is a big dark skinned Vassagonian known as the 'The Grier', and he is known to be fair enough, but just a tad greedy, he hates finding out that some one held out on him, but he pays fair rates, and is trusted by the Wealthy citizens of Cove so his bounties are some of the better paying. There are about 60 Bounty Hunters in the Guild, and about that many again of informers and hangers on. A bounties are paid through the Job, many of the Guild men operate independently of one another, and will have hired hangers on for the extra muscle. Typical rates run from 5 gp to 100 gp, depending on the danger of the target and the distance one has to travel,
and if they are wanted alive or dead. Dead is cheaper. When it comes to item retrieval the guild takes a finders fee of 20% of the items value, with half going to the guild and half going to the Hunter. Any equipment found by the Hunter on the perps is the Hunter's to keep, although usually a 10% 'donation' of particularly large wind falls is made to the guild by way of a thanks you.
Being a member of the Blood Hounds is a net zero advantage. The only insignia they carry is a small wolf pelt with the insignia of the a scarlet x embroidered on the inside.
And so, Jackaline and Kole found themselves with a contract to recover a magic mirror that was stolen from a wealthy alchemist named Warner. The leading suspect was his up to now loyal manservant named Avery Schmidt, who had disappeared. Last seen heading to the shanty town outside the walls. Jackaline poked around shanty gown and learned a new religious group was gaining popularity there. The men who joined scarred their faces and wore yellow clothing to show their faith.
Jackaline and Kole followed one of the cultists as he worked his was through the market, stealing items.
Kole grabbed the thief before he could run off.
Taken inside for interrogation, the bounty hunters learned the leader of the cult had relocated to a secret lair, but his second in command, a named Gerosh, ran a dog fighting ring in shanty town.
A rival bounty hunter team had been following Jackaline, hoping to hork in on her contract. With a rise to catch them off guard, Kole jumped the pair from behind, beat them into humiliation, then let them go when he learned what they were doing.
Jackaline and Kole go to the dog fights...
They meet Gerosh, but he is too well guarded to do anything about during the daytime. They resolve to come back at night to kidnap him.
On the way out of shantytown, they learn Avery had a secret lover and child with the Baker woman. They stop at her bakery and find she is being watched by a group of the yellow cult. Talking with her in private, they learn the cult took her daughter and Avery off to the secret lair.
After dark, J and K went back to Gerosh' house and snuck inside. Using "daze" spell they were able to get away with Gerosh as a captive. (No picture)
After interrogation, Gerosh revealed that the cult leader, Zodaniel, had found a place of power in a ruined castle in the bay of Cove, where he was using the stolen mirror to communicate with their mysterious diety, the Yellow Child. Hiring a pilot for a 10% cut, they boated out to the castle.
Inside the ruin, a dozen or so beggars turned cultists, Zodaniel and his acolyte and Avery and his daughter as captives. They had summoned a Bayakee, which they were in the midst of negotiations.
Jackaline used a mass daze spell to pacify the beggars, using most of her fatigue.
Then she shot the acolyte in the hand with her crossbow, crippling it and causing him to drop his "death touch" staff.
The bayakee randomly chose a target- Kole! It grappled him and a desperate close combat ensued.
Zodaniel uses a "command " spell on Jackaline, instructing her to stab Kole in the back. Fortunately, Jackaline is only Strength 9. Still, I max out and inflict 4 hits!
The crippled acolyte scrambles for a dropped healing potion, but it isn't enough to heal him back up so he retreats.
Jackeline and Zodaniel spend a round sucking down fatigue options while Kole fends off the Bayakee. Zodaniel charges in, trying to hit Kole with his "death touch" staff. Jackaline uses "rooted feet" to keep him at a distance. A clumsiness spell reduces the Bayakee further, allowing Kole to put the finishing stabs into it.
Kole tries to get Zodaniel to surrender, but he tries to use "command " again, prompting Jackaline to insert her sword into his throat.
Avery and his daughter are rescued! (250sp) and the magic mirror is recovered (400sp)
Plus 700sp worth of odd magical gear sold to Warner the Alchemist. Less Grier's and the pilots cut, each player netted 500sp.
Kill list (although only 2 people were actually killed, a beggar guard and the charlatan priest):
8 mean beggar cultists
5 thug cultists
Charlatan cultist
Charlatan cultist acolyte
Large Bayakee
Ivan the young tough
Pietro the bandit
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