"I see. That's not a lot to go on, is it?" the old man muses. "I'm sure my son has told you already, but we do not have enemies, not anymore, and I've worked hard to make it so."
"So there is access to the underground nearby." Nathalion mutters. Then in a slightly louder voice he adds: "Gnome with a beetle friend just crawled up out of the ground over there. Wonder if he's a friend of Zilderban's."
Nathalion gets up, heading over to where the gnome and his beetle appeared. The passage to the underground is of interest, perhaps there is a passage to the Matador Lodge. The wizard wrinkles his nose. Probably an aromatic passage. And not pleasant aromas either...
Gaziq raises an eyebrow, looking around to see which way the gnome went. "Deverin said the intruder had a light step and a high-pitched voice. A gnome would fit the bill. If he knows his way around the sewers as well, it might be a good idea to keep tabs on him."
"I see. That's not a lot to go on, is it?" the old man muses. "I'm sure my son has told you already, but we do not have enemies, not anymore, and I've worked hard to make it so."
"I've heard as much. Some folks don't see reason the way you 'an I do." Raleigh leans against the wall as he changes his attention back to Tilos.
"I need ya to be frank wit me. You were holdin out on me when I asked bout Selli. It's probably outta place fer folks like me ta pry, but anything you can tell me can help. He start actin' different recently? Go somewhere at all maybe?" His tone stays level-even polite-out of respect, but the sudden shift in his eyes says enough. Calculating, even a colder hue of blue compared to before, keeping track of every detail of Tilos' body language from under his helmet.
Uuzkhangr leans over and whispers to the others.
"I think we should follow that fellow. Quietly, if possible."
"He may have already done his sabotage against the beast house here though."
Uuzkhangr looks around.
"Raleigh isn't back yet..."
Uuzkhangr pulls out a piece of chalk, and writes a mark on the ground in the lee of the wall by the Beast house, in a spot where it won't get stepped on too often:
RALEIGH
------>
"He should be able to follow us. Ready?"
Tilos grimaces and glances at his father, who gazes calmly at Raleigh for a long moment before inclining his head. Clearing his throat, Tilos says softly. "Selli--Selliriyen--isn't human, no whatever what he may look like. He's an angel of some sort, a servant of the Empyreal Lord Black Butterfly. Selli is a...bodyguard, of sorts. I think that's enough for you, Mister Raleigh. It's not possible that Selli has been mind controlled."
"Chalk is a good idea. Just a couple of us can stick close by, and the others can follow at a safe distance. All grouped up, he might see us."
Raleighs gaze softens somewhat at the unexpected news.
"Huh. A regular guardian angel, eh? Guess thats 'bout as solid 'n alibi as the adamantine in a misers purse. One less thing ta worry 'bout. How's the letter comin'? "
Nathalion nods his head in agreement. "A good plan."
He takes a ten count, slowly and silently, then follows along behind Gaziq.
|
The alley is cluttered with detritus, mostly the leavings of what looks to be dozens of shattered barrels and rusting metal hoops, though rotting garbage and old canvas can also be seen in plenty. As Uuzkhangr, Nathalion, and Gaziq creep into the alley, the clutter scraps and rattles softly--though perhaps not softly enough as a small raspy voice cries out.
"NO!! No, no no! You'z gotta go'z away, I'z no ready fer my big entranz! Git! Git!"
"Oh I'm quite sure it'll be adequate to your needs, you'll be investigating Deverin properties and business associates. Minvandu will no doubt insist on a close reading and will nitpick at whatever he can, he likes to show off his legal minutiae. It's tedious." Lord Deverin reaches out to accept the letter from Tilos, briefly peruses it and nods as though satisfied and holds it out to you.
As you take hold of it he doesn't release the paper until you look up. "Master Raleigh, I hesitate to bring up such a thing, it's been a settled matter for years now, but there is one lead your group may wish to consider. For many years I had, well, something of a 'nemesis' in the wizard Orizir, an employee of those snakes at the Bronze House. Some twelve years ago I able to prove that he was the ringleader of a slaving-circle and daemon-worshiping cult, and he was arrested and sent to the Hells. I received word six years ago from city officials that he was confirmed dead, and certainly the attack Tilos described doesn't sound quite like what a mage of some skill could achieve. But...perhaps an apprentice? Or a member of the daemon cult who escaped arrest? It's truly the only thing I can think of pertaining to suspects."
Raleigh blinks once.
"That sounds like quite the possibility. One that I gotta say sounds like sumin' way outta my pay grade if I'm bein' honest with ya. I'll make sure ta leave ya in good 'ands if that ends up bein' the case. I know a guy." Raleigh takes the paper and offers his hand to Lord Deverin with a small smile on his face.
Uuzkhangr looks around, but is not sure where the voice is coming from.
"Do you need a drum roll first?"
He leans over and starts slapping a piece of broken crate leaning against the wall in some semblance of a rhythm (but not much of one).
"So much for being sneaky," Gaziq sighs, as his feet get caught on the detritus in the alley.
He pretends not to see the poorly hidden gnome, half turning away. He keeps him in the corner of his eye though, ready to give chase if he runs, or defend himself if he attacks. "We don't want to ruin your entrance, promise. We just wanted to ask a couple of questions. Like, what you were doing underground. It's not exactly a common place to hang out."
With a small smile of his own the elder Deverin shakes your hand, his grip firm but not strong. "You seem a decent fellow Master Raleigh, I hope you are able to resolve this quickly."
"Underground'z safer! Nobodiez bother'd by Dribblez down dere! 'Sidez, dat'z where the dogmonsters iz!" The strange creature suddenly lets loose with a torrent of swears as what appears to be a breastplate clatters to the ground. After pausing for a breath no sound comes forth for a moment.
"Hey mouzy person, my squire got et an' I can't get diz armor on witout 'im. If'n you'z can keep a secret, I needz some help. But da big guyz gotta stay over dere! An' stop all dat racket, dwarf!"
|
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The Hells is the name for Magnimar's worst prison, a heavily fortified dungeon complex into which prisoners are thrown--and left to fend for themselves against the other inmates. Lurid rumors abound in Magnimar's taverns about the deeds and fates of those sent there, but no one seems to have any concrete information except the city government, which offers regular assurances that the Hells are heavily warded and regularly scried.
The Bronze House is the local headquarters of the Aspis Consortium, a large and well-appointed house that serves as the mercantile organizations political and business heart in the region.
Oh right, The Hells, not the Hells like the lower planes. In that case, I might actually be able to stick it out a bit, see where things go.
"You ain't the only one sir." With that, Raleigh makes his way out of the house in a hustle, on his way back to the Beast House. If he spots the groundskeeper on his way out he nods silently at the man.
Nathalion can't quite see where the voices are coming from, or who Gaziq is speaking to.
He leans on his staff, letting the situation play out; a half amused expression on his face.
Gaziq exchanges a look with Nathalion and shrugs before moving towards the gnome's hiding place. "Sure, I can keep a secret." He'll pick up the breastplate off of the ground. He wipes away as much of the dust as he can with his sleeve before helping the gnome put it on. "So what's that you were saying about dribbles and dog monsters? I'm not from around here, you see."
As you step around the large pile of broken barrels you catch a whiff of some acrid, chemical smell. It seems to be coming from the puddle of greenish-black ichor that is drip, drip, dripping from the beetle's visible mandibles, though the timber-wolf-sized bug holds very still.
Stepping over the arrayed armor set, you get your first good look at the bizarre stranger and are alarmed and astounded that you ever could have thought this was a gnome! Standing before you in a filthy burlap 'tabard' stands a [i]goblin[i] with grey-blue skin and a wig made of what appears to be a dirty mop head and some sort of bright green lichen. The creature has a sword slung in a scabbard over its shoulder, still sheathed, and its posture is tense, eyes locked on Gaziq. Shrugging its empty hands out to the side, it mutters, "suprize"
"Well, what do you know. I didn't realize there were goblins here in Magnimar."
He looks over the beetle.
"That's a very fine insect you have there. What breed is it?"
"Would you care to tell ups what you were doing in the sewer under the beast house?"
All considered, a goblin with a pet beetle and (presumably) gladiatorial dreams was not the most surprising thing Gaziq had seen in the past two days. "Well, he was keeping away from the dog monsters, obviously," he said, hoping to endear himself to the goblin. He seemed easily spooked. Better to stay on friendly terms, for now.
"Well, what do you know. I didn't realize there were goblins here in Magnimar."
The goblin rolls his eyes, "Dwarf duz'n know nuttun! City got goblinz forever and alwayz! Doh mehbee not so many now, what wit' da Dogmonsters."
"That's a very fine insect you have there. What breed is it?"
The question seems a favorite subject for the goblin, and his chest swells with pride. "Dunno 'iz breed, da beetle-man zed Dribbles 'ere wuz da strongest an' smartest of da bunch, so I stolz'd 'im!"
The stress on the word "stolz'd" and his obvious expectance of a reaction leads you to believe that he didn't actually steal the beetle, though he wants you to think he did.
"Would you care to tell ups what you were doing in the sewer under the beast house?"
"Well, he was keeping away from the dog monsters, obviously,"
Gaziq's interjection comes before the goblin can reply and he waggles a finger at the ratfolk. "Yeah, dat! But not cuz I'm 'fraid of 'em! Dey et my zquire 'an herald, 'an dere'z more of 'em den deze lyin' ugly dumb sewer-stomperz said! So I sayz to myself, 'Fruggig, you'z could o' courze kill alla deze Dogmonsters y'self, but dat'd take too long, an' witout a herald nobody'd know how great you iz! Deze humies got monster fighters too, mehbee dey wantz to haz a crack at it."
Nathalion isn't too surprised to learn goblins lurk in the city. He wonders what the dogmonsters might be... And who the Beetle Man could be.
"Where are these dogmonsters? We might want to take a crack at them. Perhaps..."
Nathalion decides to let the goblin's lie slide for now. He will pass the tidbit on to his companions later, out of earshot of the goblin.
"Where are these dogmonsters? We might want to take a crack at them. Perhaps..."
"Dey'z in da sewerz, or dey wouldn't be'z a problem for da sewer goblinz! I tellz, ya, a wizard been at deze Dogmonsters or sumtin', dey ain't like no stupid mutt I'z ever seen." The goblin eyes Nathalion skeptically after his vague offer of assistance. "Eh? Sorry humie, but I'z a mighty warrior an' doze Dogmonsters iz pretty tough. You lookz like da runt uh da litter, y'know what'z I'z say'n?"
Turning an indignant glower on Gaziq, the goblin snaps, "Hey! You gonna help me wit diz armor or nah?"
"Beetle Man?" Uuzkhangr's eyes light up with interest. "I'm a big fan of beetles. Where can I find this beetle man?"
Uuzkhangr rubs his beard.
"As to these dog monsters, there are a number of dog-like creatures that are intelligent, so that doesn't narrow it down much. Was there anything in particular it could do that dogs can't?"
"Can't always tell the might of a warrior by looking at him though, can you?" Nathalion answers the goblin.
"Yes, of course," Gaziq says. He fits the goblin with the breastplate befote retrieving the next piece of the suit. Something of a plan begins to form when Fruggig mentions the monster fighters. Maybe he can be the diversion they need to investigate. "You look like a tough fellow. There must be a lot of dogmonsters down there to give you trouble. If you could convince the 'humies' to help you, I bet you could take them on no problem."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Where can I find this beetle man?"
"He'z a loooooong way from 'ere! He livez in a great big cave wit' 'iz dumb muzshroom gartin and 'iz bugs. He'z a weird guy, but he give'd me Dribble'z so guess he'z alright. Dat don' matter now doh cuz we haz a misson to do!"
"Can't always tell the might of a warrior by looking at him though, can you?"
Fruggig snorts and doesn't answer as he raises his arms from his sides to let Gaziq reach the buckles of his breastplate.
"You look like a tough fellow. There must be a lot of dogmonsters down there to give you trouble. If you could convince the 'humies' to help you, I bet you could take them on no problem."
"Oh I iz! An' dey iz! An yeah, dat'z da plan. Problem iz dat my herald got et, so I gotta find somebody to tell da happy-aters wut a great fighter I iz!" He frowns thoughtfully, looking you all over. "Any of you lot know'z howta sing?"
"As to these dog monsters, there are a number of dog-like creatures that are intelligent, so that doesn't narrow it down much. Was there anything in particular it could do that dogs can't?"
"You'z a hunter o' dogz too, huh? Well deze Dogmonsterz is freaky lookin', dey duzn't have any eyez fer startz! Not dat dey haz any trouble findin' ya, believe me! Also dey'z got really really tough skin, and dere blud os blue an' kinda sparkly! Never seen nuttin' like 'em, and dey mean as a rat wit 'is tail on fire."
"A dog, but with no eyes, and blue blood?"
Uuzkhangr tries to think of what that could be.
"Whatever they are, I'm pretty sure they don't belong in the sewers. On the other hand, I doubt they are our saboteurs, either."
Uuzkhangr looks at the goblin.
"Say, you don't have any alchemical glue I could borrow, do you?"
Uuzkhangr watches for a reaction from the goblin.
Borumaru watches the goblin as well.
Fruggig stares suspiciously at Uuzkhangr's leading question, wary of some sort of trick. "Alch'me gloo? Nah, I duzn't have none uh dat. You'z could azk Zazzle da Arsonist but he mostly just makes fire an' bomz an' stuff. If'n you'z lookin' for a sabat--for a saob--for somebody breakin' you'z stuff, I didn'd do nuttin!"
Fruggig seems to genuinely not know what Uuzkangr is talking about, but he's defensive at what felt like not-quite an accusation.
"Zazzle the Arsonist, eh?" Nathalion asks with interest. "Where might we find this esteemed individual? And does he have a pet of some kind?
"Zazzle live'z in da sewerz, he's one uh da bigwigz down dere now," Fruggig explains distractedly as he tries to crane his neck and make sure Gaziq wasn't buckling the armor on wrong. "He'z struttin' around 'cuz he'z da only one ta have fought one uh dem Dogmonsterz and wun. Azide from me, a'courze. He'z prolly da strongest boss down dere right now."
"Do you think you could take us to this 'Zazzle?' It would be good if we had someone to introduce us."
Uuzkhangr looks around.
"So... looks like we're going into the sewers after all."
Alright, we're gonna bang on that door again and... why aren't they here?
"We should wait for Raleigh to return. Or leave a message for him somehow. We might need his help, and its best if he does not think we were kidnapped or left him behind." Borumaru speaks solemnly, like a teacher to his students. "Besides... It is the polite thing to do."
"Agreed." Nathalion seconds Borumaru. The wizard looks around at the lighting and shadows. "It's been awhile since he left. I'll go see if he's over by the the fight club. Maybe he's back."
Nathalion hurries back out of the ally toward the Matador Lodge. I notice the goblie didn't say whether Zazzle had a pet or not. Nathalion wonders if Frugig is lying by omission, or just has a short attention span. Probably both. Nathalion decides.
Gaziq does stay focused on the armor, doing his best to suit the goblin up properly. "So, IF we wanted to hire this Zazzle - not saying we do, but if we did - what would it cost us? Say if we wanted a really big fire. How much would I have to pay?"
Alright, we're gonna bang on that door again and... why aren't they here?
[dice=Perception check I might need Iunno]1d20+10
Raleigh looks at the writing on the ground, deciding to erase it when he sees where it points.
Interesting. Really hope they didnt break in without me. He follows the writing to the sewer. Not especially quietly, but quickly.
Raleigh spots the chalk marking and follows it, nearly running into Nathalion at the mouth of the alley.
"Do you think you could take us to this 'Zazzle?' It would be good if we had someone to introduce us."
"Yah, I'z could do dat, but I has two--no, tree--condizzons! One, you" he points at the retreating back of Nathalion as he moves towards the mouth of the alley. "You haz to be m'herald 'til da Dogmonsters iz all ded! Two! Funny ratman is my squire, ratz is good luck y'knowz! And tree, if'n anybody asks who killed alla deze Dogmonsterz, it wuz me, k? Whatcha tink?"
""So, IF we wanted to hire this Zazzle - not saying we do, but if we did - what would it cost us? Say if we wanted a really big fire. How much would I have to pay?""
Fruggig snorts. "However much Zazzle tinks he could get outta ya. 'Ee dunz't seem ta like much, rather have weird eyeballs n' plantz n' critter partz, 'ee turnz 'em into more weird bombz an potions an' stuff. I don' tink I caught alla you'z namez?"
"I am... "
Uuzkhangr thinks for a moment. Would this one recognize a duergar name? Possibly... I'd rather he not know of that race. He thinks I am an ordinary dwarf... best give him a dwarven name.
"Call me Kangar."
Uuzkhangr looks around at the others to see if they will go along with this notion. Not like I have to be someone's squire. Uuzkhangr shrugs.
"I don't have the training to be a proper herald." Nathalion turns to face the goblin. "As you can see, I don't have a trumpet, and if I did, I don't know how to play it. Better if you wait for a proper herald, and let me do what I do."