Location: The Haunt (21)
Services: Patronage, information
Key NPCs: Tashka (female medusa envoy)
The medusa Tashka arrived in Quickstone just one week before the start of your campaign: she is a new arrival, and the people of the town aren’t entirely sure what to make of her. Tashka is an emissary from Cazhaak Draal, formally here as an envoy for the warlord Sheshka; many suspect she is truly an agent of the Daughters of Sora Kell. Officially, she has come to Quickstone in recognition of the growing importance of the town. She has begun what will likely be lengthy negotiations with House Orien, and has been discussing the market for Cazhaak Draal’s unique resources with Tuuva Mercantile.
While many locals are uncomfortable around the medusa, Tashka is calm and polite. She keeps her eyes covered when in public, relying on her serpent mane for vision. Her exact skills remain a mystery, but she often carries a shortsword and seems to feel that she has no need for a bodyguard. She’s quite well-informed about Quickstone and the east, but there are occasional gaps in her knowledge that can be entertaining—though it’s possible these funny moments are feigned when she wants to break the ice. While she is an official envoy of Queen Sheshka, Tashka genuinely seems to be interested in getting to know the people of the town, and can often be found drinking in one of the taverns or inns, or enjoying the show at the Rose Theater. She is usually happy to talk about her homeland, and will offer advice to adventurers planning a trip into Droaam. She may also have work for adventurers; for the most part such tasks involve exploring ruins or unusual sites on the eastern side of the Graywall, likely things Sheshka has learned about but been unable to explore. It may be that, as some speculate, she is truly working on behalf of the Daughters of Sora Kell. But others note that the warlords of Droaam are quite independent; it’s possible Sheshka has her own agenda that has nothing to do with the interests of the Daughters.
Tashka has set up her tent on the edge of the Haunt, a stretch of ruins shunned by the townsfolk. There’s no question that the Haunt is in fact haunted, but Tashka seems to be unafraid of its dangers. Her tent is quite large, and made of what seems to be the hide of multiple gorgons. She’s lured two cockatrices out of the nearby mine and keeps them in the tent, where she appears to be training them.