The Jinil Saga

Part 1
Smuggle me this

Light from the Azure sun was fading slowly. There was a bitterness to the air as night rolled in. Morsh, a savage rogue, approached the East gates of Hydlaa. When he spotted the guards at the gates he stopped dead in his tracks, knowing that if he entered he would be immediately arrested. Coughing slightly to make his presence known, he spoke confidently. "I need to see Adenu." Turning his head slightly, Moren replied, "Be off with you. You know better than to be here, rogue. May I suggest you be on your way?" Not allowing himself to be so easily turned away, Morsh awaited the next person to walk through the gates. It wasn’t long before a young lady arrived. "Any chance you can do me a solid, stranger?" Morsh said in the friendliest voice he could muster. "Why would I help a rogue?" came the bitter response. "Look, I don’t want trouble, all I ask is a simple favour. Adenu is a guard and he should be on duty in town. Could you please fetch him for me? Just tell him Morsh is here; he will come." Eventually the young woman agreed to help and wandered off to find Adenu. It did not take long for her to return with Adenu in tow and several other interested citizens.

Adenu says: I thought I told you that you were not to show your face around here.
Morsh rubs his face with his hand and looks worried.
Morsh says: I know. And I told you I wanted the investigation with Zak to STOP!
Adenu says: Listen to me you thug! You have had your chances, and blown them all. I cannot influence the investigation more than I already have.
Morsh steps closer to Adenu and lowers his voice.
Morsh says: We had a deal! I would cease the supply of potions, but you would see to it that the investigation ends.
Morsh looks angry.
Morsh says: You know what? Forget it! I will deal with this myself!
Morsh draws his Daggers.
Morsh says: By the way, Kisatol sends his regards.

Morsh plunged his dagger into the heart of Adenu without hesitation and without a care about who witnessed the whole incident. He yanked his dagger from the chest of Adenu, turned, and ran away. Taking chase, the citizens of Hydlaa tried to catch Morsh but he eluded them in the hills of the Ojaveda road.

Confused and not knowing what to do next, the citizens followed the only lead they have, Zak. On arrival at Zak they discovered he was not alone. He was being questioned by a senior Guard of Hydlaa, Edeli.

Edeli listened patiently to the citizens as they explained the events which they had just witnessed. He was horrified to hear of the death of Adenu. but seemed more upset to hear that Adenu had been hindering his investigation into the smuggling ring. Edeli's attentions then turned to Zak. "So what exactly do you know about all this?" "well..." Zak went on to explain that Adenu was being paid by Morsh to silence him and that several threats had been made on his life. Knowing that Adenu was now dead, Zak had no qualms about telling all he knew.

With all this information now brought to light, the interference from Adenu and then his death at the hands of Morsh, Edeli realised that Morsh would be a key figure to apprehend to get to the bottom of the recent criminal activities in Hydlaa. So, he enlisted the help of the citizens to form a search party to go out and capture this elusive rogue.

With a party of over thirty strong, the citizens marched out into the wilds in hunt of Morsh. The only clue they had to his whereabouts was something Zak said about him having a Derghir contact somewhere. The hunt was on! Relentless in their search, they eventually came across Morsh hiding out in the Derghir village just outside Ojaveda. However, he wasn’t about to give up easily and he wasn’t alone. Morsh hid behind a building while his two very powerful accomplices took on the angry mob.

The fight didn’t last long and Morsh was soon taken into custody by the Hydlaa citizens. Morsh agreed to come quietly (after watching the complete slaughter of his colleagues) and the group headed back to town. The journey back was quiet. Very little was spoken by anyone until they approached the city gates and Morsh suddenly stopped. "Am I going to be safe here? It’s not like I don’t have enough information to cut a deal." No sooner had these words rolled from his tongue when a shout came from the top of the city wall. "Morsh, I can not let you be taken alive." With that, several Energy Arrows rained down on Morsh, killing him instantly. "It was Jinil, the guard!" someone shouted. With that another search was on to find the assassin guard. But the group soon realised that he had slipped away quietly.

Disgruntled, disappointed, and confused the players returned to Edeli to tell their story. It was clear that Edeli was not at all happy by the news. He had not only lost one corrupt guard but found out he had another in his ranks. He dismissed the citizens with a hint that he may well call on them again for more information and services.

Part 2
Find Jinil

Edeli entered the plaza with confidence in his stride and determination on his face. He wandered the streets until he had gathered a number of the citizens who had helped him previously and a number of new ones too.

After a small pompous speech Edeli requested that the citizens form another search party, this time to hunt for Jinil. He went on to explain that Jinil is a proud man and probably will not be taken alive. He also warned them that he is a skilled fighter and so is a very dangerous man. He offered a 10,000 Tria reward to those who either returned him to Hydlaa or brought proof of his demise.

Again with little to go on, apart from the fact he left Hydlaa through the north gates, the citizens headed off in search of Jinil. They spoke to everyone they came across along the way. They even visited the magic shop to speak to Levrus to see if he had seen Jinil. From Ukabnu the players learned that Jinil stuck to the road and headed straight toward the Bronze Doors.

The citizens met with a surprise when they reached the Lake of Tears. Five Rogues had set up camp and it seemed to be a good place to stop and ask for information. It was obvious that the Rogues knew Jinil but they were not giving anything up. After some useless discussion one citizen ran out of patience and attacked one of the Rogues. At that point an all out battle ensued. One by one the Rogues were defeated until there was one left, and with a final devastating blow he too was defeated. As he fell to the ground a book fell from his coat. The book, sent from Jinil to one of the rogues, stated that the meeting place was to be at Vaeiund's camp. The citizens headed off once more with a solid lead in their hands at last. On arriving at the camp, there was no Jinil. After speaking with Vaeiund and explaining the series of events that led them there, Vaeiund was happy to tell them that Jinil was hidden in a cave not far away.

The party, now over 50 strong, converged on Jinil's camp, poised and ready for a fight. However things were not quite as they had been led to believe. The citizens, not wanting to seem like a blood thirsty mob, gave Jinil a chance to speak and explain himself before they took him in or killed him. And as it happened, Jinil's side of the story was not as straightforward as some might have thought.

Jinil explained that he was neither a cold hearted killer nor a soulless monster and that he had never been involved in any sort of unlawful activities prior to the murder of Morsh. He did however admit to casting the magic that killed Morsh. Jinil had been contacted and told that if he didn't kill Morsh, then his family would be killed. He saw no other way to keep his loved ones safe, so he committed this awful act.

The more the citizens tried to convince him to turn himself in, the more adamant he became that he would choose death before the exposure of his family. It was obvious to all that he was truly frightened for them. Fortunately, one of the quick-thinking citizens suggested a ruse. Jinil would give them something to show that he was dead, and the group would present it to Edeli. So, he removed his torso armour, cut his arm, and smeared blood all over it. He also gave the citizens his trusty platinum longsword. As they were departing for Hydlaa, Jinil requested of anyone who happened upon his wife Delitia that they make sure she was in good health and well looked after. The citizens left all the supplies they could with him then set off on a lie.

When they returned to to Edeli, the citizens explained their adventure and how they found Jinil. They also explained that Jinil would not come back and so they killed him as ordered. They then handed over the blood stained armour and sword to prove Jinil was dead.

Dubious at first, Edeli sent the armor to Levrus for analysis, but after Levrus' report, Edeli was happy with the outcome and awarded everyone the bounty that had been offered.

Part 3
Jinil's Story

Delitia, Jinil's wife, was shocked and amazed that her husband could do such a thing. So unhappy with the death of her husband and the accusations that had been levelled at him, she went out to do her own investigation. It didn’t take her long to find people who had the information she was interested in.

In the face of her obvious upset and dismay, someone let it slip that she should not be sad because he is still alive and well. They went on to explain the events over the last few days and admit that Jinil is in hiding and fears for the safety of Delitia. This fearless woman then showed her strength by demanding that they take her to her husband. So, once again, a party formed and headed out to the wilderness.

When they reached Jinil, Delitia hugged her husband and demanded an explanation from him. His joy at seeing his wife again lead him to speak of his woes in greater detail while his wife and the citizens sat and listened intently. Jinil explained that the mastermind behind it all was a female Stonebreaker by the name of Lanfor; a cruel, calculating and manipulative woman. He went on to explain that if and only if Lanfor were captured would he be able to return home safely and accept the punishment for his crimes.

Appalled that anyone could be so cruel, the citizens offered to help again, this time to bring in Lanfor. Jinil then explained that Lanfor was due to meet some of her colleagues somewhere near Gugrontid and this would be a good opportunity to catch her. So, more determined than ever the citizens set out on yet another hunting expedition.

With very little to go on yet again, the only place that made sense for a secret meeting such as this was the ruins. So off they went to set a trap. Luckily the citizens were the first to arrive, so they made sure all entrances and exits from the ruins were covered and all hid behind the trees and the old decaying walls. They did not have to wait long before four rogues turned up. Unwilling to give away their presence the citizens remained hidden. Eventually, sure enough, Lanfor arrived with another rogue in tow. Obviously some serious business was going down as the rogues were loaded with potions and poisons destined for who knows what. Before they knew what they had walked into, Lanfor and her lackeys were surrounded by nearly fifty angry people. Cocky and somewhat smug, she tried to wriggle out of it. When she realised she had no hope of doing so, she set her lackeys onto the crowd. The rogues were a powerful force for sure and they put up a mighty fight, but eventually they were defeated. [Click here to watch the fight] Finding herself alone with no backup left, and not wanting to die herself, she decided to give herself up and agreed to be taken to Hydlaa and charged for her despicable crimes.

Upon arrival in Hydlaa, the citizens sought out Edeli who was on duty at the time. They start by explaining the lie they told about Jinil being dead and why they lied at all. They then explained the details of the story that led them to Lanfor. Finally they handed over Lanfor and explained that Jinil would be happy to come back and answer for his crimes once he was sure Lanfor was in custody. At first Edeli was more than a little angry at the deceit of the group. But he calmed down and took Lanfor into custody. "I will return to you when I have spoken with this vermin and I will be wanting Jinil back too." With that he left to take Lanfor to the cells.

Part 4
Jinil comes home.

A stern looking Edeli entered the plaza and started looking for some familiar faces. It wasn’t long before he had gathered several of the previous search parties and again, some new interest too. Immediately he got to the point. "Lanfor, to protect her boss, has confessed to the majority of the crimes of which she is accused. The facts that we have managed to get from her seem to corroborate the story you received from Jinil. If you can find him and bring him back home, this will be taken into consideration when handing out his punishment." After a few questions from the citizens he handed one of them a letter to be given to Jinil. The letter read as follows:

Jinil Loniere,
I write this letter in the hope that you can find it in yourself to return. We now have Lanfor in custody and under heavy guard in Hydlaa. Lanfor has admitted to her crimes, including blackmailing you with the lives of your family. As this is the case, this will be taken into account when handing out your punishment.
However, if we are to convict Lanfor we need your testimony. Without it Lanfor will walk free. If this happens, when you are caught you will receive the highest penalty for your crimes as there would be no proof of her involvement in the murder of Morsh. It is in your best interests to turn yourself in.
Sincerely
Edeli
Hydlaa Guard

With the letter in hand, the group struck out for the cave where Jinil was last seen hiding out with his wife. There seemed to be a much lighter feeling about this mission, Lanfor was in custody, Jinil and his wife were safe, all seemed to be looking up at last.

Eventually they reached the Lake of Tears and suddenly they realised all was not as well as they had thought. A large group of rogues were gathered. Immediately the rogues stepped up to the citizens. "And where do you think you're going?" Feeling pretty confident with themselves the citizens ordered the rogues to step aside and let them pass, but the rogues were not about to let them go without a fight. What the citizens didn’t realise at the time was that the rogues were searching for Jinil too. They had been ordered to silence him to prevent him from testifying to the crimes of Lanfor. They also didn’t realise that these rogues were far more formidable than any they had previously encountered. Another fight broke out and this time it didn’t quite go as well as they had hoped. Many of the citizens were critically injured, some were killed and the rest retreated.

It became apparent that the usual tactics for fighting the rogues were not going to work, so they regrouped, healed the injured and gathered reinforcements. They then concocted a plan to split into two groups, one to confront and fight the rogues, the other to slip by and find Jinil and Delitia. This time, they succeeded. While the rogues were busy fighting, the other group slipped by unnoticed and arrived at Jinil's camp.

The citizens began to tell Jinil all about the last few days; how they captured Lanfor, Edeli's reaction and the problems they had reaching Jinil. They then gave Jinil the letter from Edeli and explained that unless he came back to testify, Lanfor could walk free and he and his wife would never be safe. So, with reluctance he agreed to come home.

Fearing that the journey to Hydlaa could be dangerous, the citizens concocted another plan. They would again split into two groups. They disguised a citizen as Jinil by dressing him in his clothes and sent him out with the first group as a decoy. The second group containing the real Jinil and his wife would follow shortly after and take a slightly different route. This plan worked well and Jinil arrived back in Hydlaa safely and with out incident.

Edeli and several guards were waiting to take Jinil into custody. After thanking the citizens for their service and seeing that justice was finally being served, one of the Guards handed out slips of paper to several key citizens who had witnessed the recent events unfold. They were summonses to the trial of Lanfor. With that the citizens were dismissed and told they would be notified of the trial date.

Part 5
The Trial of Lanfor

Many lies had been told, endless twists and turns and conflicting stories were shared. Betrayal, dishonour and deceit had brought Jinil, Edeli, Lanfor and many citizens of Hydlaa to this point. Slowly the real story was unravelled and from the murky waters of uncertainty arose the dazzling light of truth; the truth that Lanfor was the evil behind the deaths of many, be it with the smuggling of her vile potions and poisons or her orders that condemned people to their untimely demise.

Prior to the trial, a closed court martial was held to discern Jinil's fate. With the statement Lanfor had given and those from the many citizens involved, it was decided that Jinil would receive a two year suspended sentence with a dishonourable discharge from the guard. At least with this Jinil was a free man.

 

Now justice was to be served. Many flocked to the trial of Lanfor to witness the hand of law deal with this disease that had infected the land of Yliakum for too long.

During the many hours of the trial, the six jurors and the assembled citizens listened to the list of crimes against Lanfor, the testimonies of the citizens, and the statements from Edeli and Jinil.

 

 

 

 

 

Eventually, the court was adjourned while jury went off to deliberate. It didn’t take long for the jury to reach a unanimous decision. The court was called back in session and the verdict was announced. GUILTY! Lanfor was found guilty of her crimes. After weeks of investigation, after the blood of innocents was spilt, justice was finally served. "Standing here today, listening to the evidence and the witnesses, it is hard to believe that anyone can be so cold, calculating and brutal. Lanfor, you have been found guilty of murder and I feel it is my duty to sentence you with the maximum punishment by law. You will be taken outside and cast into the Crystal. It's not only the Dome but the whole of Yliakum that will benefit from your death." Kekun bangs his gavel on the table "Guards remove this dwarf from my sight. This case is closed." And with that the Trial was over.