[Challenge of the Frog Idol] Session #15: Conspiracies over Coruvon Part IV

Troubled as the party has its hands tied from last session's events, the adventurers decide to call it a night and return to their quarters, making plans on their next move with a clearer mind. They're focused on infiltrating the estate to at least find evidence of the previous night's sacrifice, as they're quite certain that the groundskeeper's young daughter has already succumbed to the cult's grim ritual. The next day is mostly spent engaging their allies, Karl Dulford and the Privateers, in an attempt to gather a force that will act as a distraction for the guards. Also, as Li is spying the estate from a safe distance, he notices Roggi bringing a young girl that matches the description of Petra, Andros's daughter. The groundskeeper is ecstatic and in tears, but the woman appears withdrawn. Knowing now that there possibly wasn't any ritual last night, and Petra is still alive, the halfling informs the rest of the party. Just before sunset, the adventurers meet a beggar wandering the streets around the Mancoor Estate, and bribe him to spout anything useful. What comes as a surprise is that, while they were away from their quarters, Andros was seen heading towards the docks, a look of concern on his face. Convinced that the groundskeeper is looking for them, they send the beggar as a messenger to call him and discuss in a secluded alley nearby.

Andros rushes to meet the adventurers, as expected, and reveals that his daughter was returned to him, thankfully, but has been acting strangely, which makes him believe something sinister must have happened to her. The party heads straight to the barracks and inform sergeant Silas, in order to gain a permit to access and investigate the estate, which he eventually hands to them. Looking at the estate's barn, the adventurers find a hidden trapdoor that leads to an ancient temple, belonging to some long-forgotten god. Beyond the temple follows a complex of caves that the party cautiously traverses, until they come face to face with the vile cult: Kendrick, Bertram, Captain LeDuc, Vonhilda, Eve Saint Clair, lead by Roggi who, much to the party's suprise, speaks and acts in a highly intelligent manner that what he was previously known. On an alcove, sitting on an old throne is the withering figure of Thaddeus Zephos, the mastermind behind the murder of Jhanos and the cult. After a fierce battle, all cultists fall except for Roggi, who realises that his master is no longer alive, cries over his lifeless body, and surrenders himself, revealing all the cult's plans for curing Thaddeus of his wasting disease and reclaiming his position as the Magistrate, right after Jhanos's death. The party emerges triumphant from the cultist hideout, having enough evidence to clear its name, expose the conspiracy behind the Magistrate's murder and earn the gratitude of several people. The city now acknowledges the adventurers for their bold achievement!

Characters involved
Rolf the Bold, fighter 1
Yudel, dwarf 1
Beldar the Brave, fighter 1
Li, halfling 2

This was the concluding session for the adventure, which I had planned it would take us two sessions; it actually spanned double the time, however, since the players wished to check every crook and cranny before chasing after the murderer. Such is the nature of a murder mystery, I would say, as the party is overwhelmed by several thoughts on possible machinations and interconnected plots. And frankly, it turned out this murder case was deep enough to keep the party busy and exposed more than one plot - the Emporium affair and the workings of the cult of Thaddeus. The module run was a heavily modified adventure from the D&D Adventurers League that I'd happened to have in my possession, converted to BX. Fortunately, we didn't have any losses this time and two characters gained enough experience to reach 2nd level and be close to 3rd.