Thiago Carral

Chief Hyne has you cornered in tha back of the guard tower, underneath the shrine to Jode, patron deity of guards. "There'll be danger pay, of course. Under the table." he adds.

Captain Hyne has spent the last five minutes briefing you on a new "situation" that he was assigning you to deal with. "Situation" was the Nightwatch's euphemism for a problem that needed a discrete solution. It usually meant less paperwork and more danger pay, but also more blame if things went sideways.

It was unusual for Captain Hyne to be personally directing any situation. As a career officer, he exemplified the Nightwatch unofficial motto: the less you look for crimes, the less crime you'll find. But, it sounded like an unusual situation. Evidence pointed to occult activity in a public bathhouse on the Market Square side of the Unseen Barrier. Witnesses have seen some strange folk coming and going late at night dressed in hooded robes, and rumours had it there is a secret door inside that leads to a dungeon.

"Pick two recruits to go with you under your command, and don't come back until you've put an end to this riff raff, or proven the rumours false. I expect 'swift' justice rather than arrests in the former case. The only good demon worshipper is a dead one."

As one of the youngest members of the Nightswatch, you aren't positive why you were being trusted with command over two fellow recruits (though you might have thoughts about that). Whatever the reason, danger pay doubled your week's salary.

Thiago scratches the sparse beard on his boyish jaw. Either the matter's too trivial for seasoned watchmen, or the Chief's testing the waters with discardable chum. Either way, Thiago already knows who he's taking with him.

"I'll have a report for you by day's end, Sir."

Thiago finds his buddies with some of the other new recruits gambling at dice behind the barracks as usual. Hye-Jin's slanted eyes almost disappear into mere slits when she laughs hard, as she does now at Riston's expense. His scowl as she takes his money twists the scar across his left cheeck into ugly patterns.

These two are the closest thing Thiago has to a family. The three orphans grew up together on the streets, and they enlisted together. They spent most of their childhood getting up to all sorts of mischief and running from the 'Watch, now they are the 'Watch. Of course, that doesn't mean their days of mischief-making are over.

"Come on, you two. Lieutenant's sending us on patrol." Better not give the other hot-bloods cause to be jealous.

The trio grab their gear and make for the bathhouse. If it's true this is a demon cult, that makes this assignment personal. These three were orphaned when their parents died in the demon attacks twenty years ago.

Riston and Hye-jin look up from the dice game as you. Riston's got a fistful of zlots and a few talers - clearly a successful game for him. He scoops up his winnings, and once out of earshot he confides in you his secret.

"10 o'clock is the providence of the Fourth of the Eight triads," he says with a smirk. "The meridians were completely aligned in my favour!"

While Riston is gloating, Hye-jin liberates the shiny new talers from Riston's purse. She pats him on the back "Meridans, bro? Bitchin' scam. Proud of you, Botha."

Once you fill them in on The Situation, the two of them are in full-heartedly and follow you to the north end of the district.

Making your way through the market district in full uniform is an easy way to travel. Nobody gives you trouble. Honest and shady folk alike try to stay beneath the notice of the Nightwatchmen. As you approach the bathhouse, the skyline becomes dominated by the Unseen Barrier - a 1500-foot-long and 40-foot-high permanent wall of force that separates the nobility from the common people. Truly an awe-inspiring sight, although it does remind you of your lower station. You can't help but watch the beautiful Glass Gargoyles that protect the wall patrol in majestic flight patterns.

The bathhouse sits right in the Unseen Barrier's shadow. It is a one-story stuccoed building with stained-glass windows and clay roof tiles. Ten-foot-tall walls enclose a large courtyard outside the southeast corner of the building. The closed wooden doors to the courtyard are engraved with images of smiling nymphs dancing and frolicking in water.

Thiago pauses at the bathhouse dooor. He does his best to project authority without being officious. Not to mention, not looking like some fool over-reaching his low rank! Overall he wishes he looked and felt much more confident! Dammit, the water themed-decor suddenly awakens an urge to urinate. Nothing for it. With a glance at his mates, he enters the establishment to seek out the proprietor.

Thiago leads his team into the courtyard. He steps around the trimmed lawn, nicely manicured shrubbery, and white marble benches. The stone fountains that are urging him to urinate each feature a smiling nymph tipping a jug that spills water into a circular stone basin. This posh establishment feels out of place in the Market district, a sign of money that is flowing downhill from The Rise.



Thiago strides into the bath house. The walls of this twenty-foot-high pillared chamber are adorned with frescoes of bathing royalty. Natural light streams through stained-glass windows, creating colourful patterns on the tiles of polished blue marble that cover the floor. Three shallow, sunken pools contain scintillating perfume-scented water pouring out of brass faucets. In the north pool lounges, a single male client. From the looks of his slick, oiled hair and gold jewellery (not to mention fat, doughy body) you can tell this is a man of privilege and power. At the back of the room, a pair of closed doors lead to back rooms.

A female elven attendant in flowing white robes approaches you and addresses you in a singsong voice that echoes pleasantly in the chamber. "Good morning to you, sirs and madam. What brings you to our humble abode?"

Thiago's never been good with words—that’s Hye-Jin's talent—and he's out of his element here, but he's got to do his best. He's suddenly glad he's got his friends here to back him up.

"Inspection," he says, hoping he doesn't sound too gruff.

"Health inspection," Riston clarifies.

"Only the highest standards for Iskandar's finest citizens," Hye-Jin adds.

The elf gives you a cold smile and seems to buy your story. She enunciates her words so perfectly and precisely, with only a hint of a Sylvan accent. "Very well. I am Enara, First Initiate of the Folded Cloth. You will find the city's standards are exceeded in every capacity. Our permits are paid in full."

She hands Thiago a stamped and embossed parchment, signed by Kade Brightsword himself, the captain of the Market District chapter of the Diligent Order of the Nightwatch - the top man in the district.

"I suggest we can begin our tour outside. Keeping that white marble clean in this city is nothing short of a miracle. I'll be right there, I just have to attend to my client."

She gestures to the door, and your companions look to follow your lead.