Dungeons & Dragons - The Oceanside Diversion

We are taking a break from the Lion Castle Colony Scenario. Same players, new characters, new setting.
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This is not an official SFABC event, but everyone in it is in the club, so I am listing it.
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Adventure Chronicles of September 21, 2025 Session:
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Character (Player): Helen (Claire Fisher), Queller Machinson (Charles Garofalo), Dartyen (Gregory Warden), Sioned (Anastasia Warden), Zeno (David Willison)
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The adventure began in the city of Pavis, a municipality which controls the mountain pass which is the primary trade route from the Kingdom of Oceanside to the rest of the continent.
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The Player Characters were among a number of adventurers of different races and professions who met shortly before dark at the Dew Drop Inn in response to an employment opportunity for experienced adventurers to guard a small caravan on its way to Ocean City, a 3 - 4 day journey. The recent incursion of giants and their allies into the Kingdom's hinterlands motivated Mr Zarth, a dealer in rare curios, to hire additional guards.
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Mr Zarth's representative, a pale, handsome, black-garbed aristocratic gentleman, arrived after nightfall. He outlined the nature of the position, payment terms, and spoke privately to each of the prospective guards. He selected 11 adventurers including the Player Characters. The applicants who were not selected received a small payment in consideration of their time. Those chosen followed Bela to a different inn where Mr Zarth (who was elsewhere occupied) and others in his employ were quartered.
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The following morning the group met Boris, a taciturn, heavily-scarred Fighter who was Mr Zarth's daytime liaison. He led everyone to Pavis Falls where strange mechanical engines lifted people, equipment, and mounts from the top of the falls to the bottom. There were 15 wagons awaiting them. One housed a large carriage which held Mr Zarth and Bela, two held supplies (mostly food) for the trip to Ocean City, and a dozen empty wagons for the return cargo.
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The caravan set off down Gap Road. This is a wide thoroughfare whose center was constructed of 40' great stone slabs, with cobblestone and gravel extending the width an additional 15' on each side. The Player Characters were the vanguard of the expedition, the half-dozen other guards hired along with you were the rearguard, and the wagons and the guards who had been with Mr Zarth forming the middle.
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The teamsters driving the wagons observed that traffic was lighter than usual and soldiers more common, likely due to the recent troubles with the giants. There was smoke from distant fires, but it never got close to the road.
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The road itself was lined with food stands, smithies, inns, and other businesses with services for hire. There were numerous plinths topped with Magic Mouths along the road. Some advertised local or Ocean City businesses ("Heading to Ocean City? Make sure to stop at Heebie Jeebies where Red Head is performing her hit song, 'Heart of Brass'"), official business ("These men were hanged for crimes against the ocean. All hail the Sea Queen and the Land King!"), and other announcements.
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The trip was uneventful. One evening a knight and his family and servants camped nearby, singing songs around their camp fire. Bela stopped and smiled: "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" The following day a pair of manticores unsuccessfully attempted to make off with a couple of the little ones. After that, the knight's party kept closer to your caravan.
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The caravan arrived at Ocean City without incident. The wagons and most of Mr Zarth's entourage went to a space they had booked in advance. The players, the other new hires, Zarth (who the players never saw; he and Bela entered through a private doorway), Boris, and some retainers stayed at an upscale hotel. Mr Zarth had booked the top three floors of the luxurious Hilt-on Hotel, owned by a family famed for its striking pummels, as their chambers. The players were settled on the top floor of the ten-floor skyrise, Zarth, Bela, and Boris on the floor beneath them, and the other new hires and some previous associates on the 8th floor.
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The following morning a batch of black-clad men and women burst into the players' quarters, hit them with a barrage of spells, handcuffed them, removed their holy symbols and spell components, and marched them one floor down where they witnessed three naked dead bodies: Bela, Boris, and Mr Zarth (identified by his 8th floor associates). Everyone (the players and the people from the 8th floor) was asked if they knew anything about this or if they had seen or heard anything suspicious. No one admitted to knowing anything. The man in charge said he was taking them downtown to sort things out.
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Downtown turned out to be the imposing Cobblepot Building, headquarters of Cobblepot Property Insurance, informally referred to as the Thief's Guild in some quarters. Mr Zarth's long-time staffers were escorted into one room while the eleven people who had been hired at the Dew Drop Inn were ushered into the large, imposing office of Mr Oswald Cobblepot.
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Mr Cobblepot walked into the room, followed by a beautiful woman in Princess Leia-like leather. While Cobblepot held everyone's attention, Sloned studied the woman and shuddered, feeling there was something very wrong about her, though Sloned could not say exactly what.
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Cobblepot seemed in a good mood and clapped his hands together.
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"Ladies, Gentlemen, thank you for joining us. As you are aware, Mr Zarth and his associates were murdered over the course of the night and their belongings pilfered. I am sure we all agree that the loss of their lives is a tragic matter, but that is not the reason you are here. Cobblepot Industries is not in the Life Insurance business. Our product line is Property Insurance, and it grieves us deeply when someone who has paid a modest gratuity to us for the peace of mind that Your Belongings Are in Good Hands with Cobblepot has his property stolen.
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"Other members of our team are investigating the Hotel Staff and Mr Zarth's long-time associates. As you have only just joined his organization, I wanted to give you my personal attention.
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"I want to be clear about this. If any of you are complicit in what happened, your life is forfeit. It would be bad business to allow you to live. However, I am not an unreasonable man. If you confess and assist us in the investigation, you will be given a quick and painless death. If you attempt to hide your involvement, I assure you that your death will be neither of those."
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Hearing an outside commotion, he paused and looked at the door.
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A woman rushed in. "I'm sorry, Mr Cobblepot, but you have a most insistent visitor. I've summoned security but didn't deem it prudent to initiate hostilities without your say so."
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"Thank you, Berta. I recognize that voice. Leave us and send him in."
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A moment later a tall, lean, head-shaven man strode in, trailed by three leather-clad (as in thief-leather, not Princess Leia-leather) women. The woman who had accompanied Mr Cobblepot when he arrived turned to face the newcomers.
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Mr Cobblepot extended his hand. "Victor Zsasz, how good to see you! It's been awhile. Last year's Equinox Ball, I believe. Your company is always a delight, but as you can see, I am in the middle of a delicate corporate meeting."
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"Your guests are the reason I'm here, Oswald. Those diversions you arranged are not going to distract the Crown for long. Jim Gordon will be here soon, so I need to grab your prisoners and beat it."
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"I am afraid that will not be possible, Victor. These people are potential witnesses to a crime against Cobblepot Casualty. I have the greatest respect for your talents, and those of your associates, but you are in my house. It may appear that I am defenseless, but I assure you, that is not the case. If the deceased had taken out a Life Insurance policy with the Ebony Countess, you may have them after I am done with them."
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Zsasz quietly said, "They were killed with Morganti Weapons."
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Cobblepot's eyes widened. The clerics and magic users in your group shuddered.
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Morganti blades are magic weapons from another plane of reality. People slain by a Morganti blade cannot be resurrected. They cannot be summoned, nor will a Speak with Dead spell work. Their use inflicts a tear in reality which negates all divination spells.
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"So you can see how urgent this matter is to the Countess. I have additional associates just outside this door. No disrespect to you, Pelican, or to Miss Dolordona," Zsasz looked at the woman in leather beside Cobblepot, "but we are fully prepared to press our case."
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"Victor, Victor, Victor. This mutual posturing accomplishes nothing. We have the same goal. We have the same opponent. Let us work together instead of at cross purposes. I propose that we interrogate them together."
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Zsasz sighed. "There is no time for this. Very well. Upon the honor of the Ebony Countess, I swear that we shall work as one in this affair. Boys, come in."
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A quartet of crimson-robed humanoids entered the room, tentacles hanging from their hooded faces.
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The eleven visitors were subjected to a psychic attack and crumbled to the ground, thrashing in agony. The pain ended. The Mindflayers turned to Zsasz.
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"They know nothing."
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Cobblepot threw up his hands. "They were the new hires, the most likely suspects. Follow me, Victor. I'll bring you to where we are holding the others."
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The receptionist again ran into the room. "The Kingsmen are in the building. They are coming up Staircase One."
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Cobblepot shrugged. "What a day this is turning into."
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An unimposing man wearing the livery of the Land King strode into the room.
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Cobblepot broke into a smile. "Jim. Jim Gordon. How are you, old friend?"
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"Oswald. Victor. I didn't expect to see you here. I had a hell of a time getting here. There was a fire that caused a lot of smoke but little actual damage. The Green Bridge got stuck in the open position. There was a protest march about recent rent increases. I don't suppose you know anything about that, Oswald."
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"Sadly, that is the price we pay for living in such a bustling metropolis. Sit down. Sit down. I'll have Hildegarde get you some tea and scones."
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"No time for that, Oswald. News of a murder by Morganti weapons has reached the ear of the Land King. We don't want to keep him waiting, do we? Get everyone, and I mean, everyone--not missing anyone who got overlooked in the confusion--downstairs and into the wagons. Gentlemen." He nodded to the Mindflayers. "Victor. Miss Dolordona. I wish I could say it's been a pleasure. It hasn't."
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The ride to the Hall of Justice was uneventful. Sioned was pretty sure she recognized some of the faces in the crowd as faces she had seen at the Cobblepot Building.
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There were lots of impressive statuary, carvings, ponds, and gardens that I will skip over.
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The group was escorted into the Hall of Justice. The Land King sat motionless on a ruby quartz throne. Two figures stood behind the throne. One was a bare-chested, muscular man. The other was a green-skinned, web-footed woman.
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The Land King appeared to be a red-haired girl of about 13. She sat straight-backed in a white robe covered in runes. A black beard had been attached to her face.
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"These are the ones?"
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Jim Gordon approached the throne.
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"They are, Your Lordship. They had been probed by Mindflayers shortly before I arrived. I recommend against probing them a second time today. It may induce psychosis and make it impossible to retrieve any useful information. The Mindflayers will require special accommodations. They will be here in another hour."
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The Land King spoke.
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"Put them in a room in the West Wing. Feed them, get them cleaned up and into proper garments."
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Zeno stepped forward.
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"We thank you for your generosity, and will do everything in our power to--."
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A guard shoved Zeno to the floor.
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"Speak when spoken to, cur!"
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"What else have you learned?" said the King.
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"We have located the buyer for the deceased's merchandise. The item was a Qward Stone."
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There was a stir of whispers from the onlookers at James Gordon's information.
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The Land King spoke.
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"So there are unauthorized Morganti weapons and a Qward Stone in my city in the hands of unknown parties. This disturbs the tranquility of the Land. It may even disturb the tranquility of the Sea. That would be most unfortunate. Continue your investigations, James Gordon."
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The Land King clapped his hands.
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"Next case."
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The party was escorted to a large, well-furnished room. People discussed their options. Queller opined that they should simply stay put. They were not being maltreated or threatened and that from what he could see, being a guest here was a whole lot better than being a guest of Oswald Cobblepot or Victor Zsasz.
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Material below this point refers to the Lion Castle Campaign.
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The players are low level characters in service to a group of nobles who were exiled after being on the losing side of a civil war. They have taken up residence in Lion Castle, the long-abandoned stronghold of the ancient sorcerer, Sargon.
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There are many interesting things in the castle and its vicinity.
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The game uses the floorplan (with modifications) of the old D&D Solo Adventure, The Ghost of Lion Castle, and a mixture of AD&D / home brew rules.