The Kargat and the Kargatane
Hook
Black Lily revealed that his mortal Kargatane cell serves beneath a higher supernatural organization called the Kargat and arranged for the party to meet his master.
Evidence
- Black Lily described himself as a recruiter and overseer who reports monthly to a Kargat contact.
- He reacted to thoughts of that superior with apparent pleasure, desire, or enthrallment.
- Kargatane patrols openly move through Martira Bay and appear to control its streets.
- Black Lily warned the party not to speak with children before reporting to the Pale Lantern.
- A higher-ranking human companion later brought Black Lily back to arrange the party’s audience.
- Black Lily’s patron is Darian Corvrick, a supernatural vampire and relatively new full member of the Kargat.
- Darian gives Black Lily a monthly drop of blood that visibly restores his youth.
- Darian welcomed the party’s murder of Ablander and rewarded them with gold.
- Several Pale Lantern revelers transformed into bats during the celebration.
- Black Lily proposed that the party attack or disrupt Castle Avernus.
- Alcio “Baron” Metus is the scarred head of the Kargat and ruler of Martira Bay.
- A wererat serving Baron Metus described itself as belonging to the second Kargatane circle and placed the party in the outer circle.
- Dillo appears to hold a rank comparable to Black Lily’s.
- Darian sent Black Lily general orders concerning Neblus and zealots in Nevuchar Springs.
- Black Lily supplied the party 40 gp for explosives and promised transport to Castle Avernus.
- Two strangers at the Gilded Thorn appeared to discuss Kargat headquarters or tunnels beneath Martira Bay.
- Black Lily arranged a coach and a driver named Vermoth but stayed behind in Martira Bay.
- Vermoth betrayed the party outside the city with two presumed Kargat vampiric thralls.
- An envelope from Black Lily stated that “the phylactery must be hidden in the castle.”
- After the party returned to Martira Bay, Black Lily claimed Vermoth’s ambush was only a demonstration. The party rejected his explanation and killed him.
- Before his death, Black Lily confirmed that passages beneath the Cosmopolis Club lead into the city’s underground.
- After the Rat House battle, Ignatius overheard a furious Kargat vampire supervising the investigation and blaming his subordinates for the failure of a plan that had made Martira Bay’s people feel safe.
- The vampire transformed into a bat and entered the Rat House, which remained under Kargatane guard.
- Martira Bay was under near-total civilian lockdown while Kargatane patrols moved constantly through the streets.
Current understanding
- The Kargatane are mortal servants, recruiters, mercenaries, and pawns.
- The Kargat is the supernatural organization above them and appears to include vampires.
- Darian is confirmed as a vampire, but the party still does not know whether every Kargat agent is one.
- Black Lily’s relationship to Darian appears both hierarchical and physically sustained by the vampire’s blood.
- The organization can rapidly lock down Martira Bay and take direct control of an investigation when one of its operations is exposed.
Next steps
- Determine the full effect of Darian’s monthly blood gift.
- Learn what lies in the Kargat passages beneath Martira Bay.
- Learn whether Darian knows about Rage’s attempted arson.
- Determine why children are dangerous to speak with.
- Determine the purpose of the outer and second circles.
- Learn how Baron Metus and Darian divide authority now that Black Lily is dead.
- Identify the vampire who took charge at the Rat House and learn what failed plan he was trying to protect.
- Determine whether the lockdown and Rat House investigation were responses to Black Lily’s death, the party’s actions, or a wider crisis.