Finn instinctively checks his bag. "Ah, good, no, it looks like all my urchins are still here."
His items accounted for, he adds, "So what does this mean about your bird, Zstelian? When do we see him again?"
Finn accepts the wand of CLW with a thank you.
"Yes, I think Vanthus is still our more pressing concern. Back in the day, I would flitter from idea to idea, paying attention only to the thing presented before me at any moment! Oh, the blissful ignorance of living in the present! At least, up until the point you get sacrificed for some dark god, that is. No, now I'm going to focus on a more long-term goal, and right now, that goal is Vanthus. Discipline and focus! Those are the things that make men great! Does one bout of meditative exercise improve the body and soul? Yes, but only imperceptibly! Rely on your eyes alone, and you'll never see tomorrow! Off to Vanthus!"
"Discipline and focus is all fine and good, but it is passion and spirit that make men great. It is the fire that separates us from the boys! They try but we, the heroes, succeed! You stick to Silvio and not only will you see tomorrow, you will see the whole of next week!" Silvio says before he departs to quest for Vanthus lair.
Silvio soon abandons his quest for the Taxadermist's Hall and concentrates on a more readily awailable commodity: wine. He is abit tipsy and staggers slightly as he returns to the group, holding a tankard from the last tavern he visited. "There is no Taxidermist's Hall here. All Silvio's friends swear by it!" he announces. He is to intent on his own story that he remains oblivious at the street urchin's sleight of hand.
Kyson wonders why Zstelian wants to see what's in his pockets.
"Are you robbing me?" Kyson asks in a hurt tone.
I always thought it would be Sekathral that did that...at night. After putting a dagger in my side.
Kyson sighs and opens his pockets for Zstelian to look through.
A crumpled bit of parchment that Kyson doesn't remember putting there covers the contents of one of the Sarenite's pouch.
Scribbled in common is a brief message:
"You are being watched by the Lotus Dragon. Your questions will bring you misery -- it's best to sit back and let things happen as they will. Further interference will only bring you tears."
Kyson listens to the message, confused and afraid...but relieved that Zstelian isn't robbing him (yet).
"Who would want to hurt me? What have I done?" Kyson asks aloud.
"If we're in danger, maybe we should just give up, huh?"
A crumpled bit of parchment that Kyson doesn't remember putting there covers the contents of one of the Sarenite's pouch.
Scribbled in common is a brief message:
"You are being watched by the Lotus Dragon. Your questions will bring you misery -- it's best to sit back and let things happen as they will. Further interference will only bring you tears."
Dargon smiles to his friends. "Tears 'er good for cleanin' da eyes, you know."
Finn laughs. "What a silly thing to write! It's like they're trying to invite us in, by promises of misery for questions that need asking because they're so incredibly cryptic!"
The gnome doubles over in laughter. "I've never heard of the Lotus Dragon before. What's the Lotus Dragon? Oh! Oh! Haha, look! A tear! By Aroden, this stuff really works!"
"We are not in any danger. A threat from somebody who names himself after a flower is as harmless as a kitten or a butterfly. Everybody knows that flowers are for women, not for threats. When this garden dragon comes with daggers, then Silvio can deal with him. Until then, Silvio's got a wrong to right with the rat Vanderboren."
Kyson wonders what he knows of the Dragon Lotus or Lotus.
Knowledge (religion)
"Maybe we should seek more information after we deal with Vanthus," Kyson says meekly.
"There is the Taxidermist's Hall," Kyson points to the building. "Are you guys ready to go in and get Vanthus? I'll be right behind you."
"We are not in any danger. A threat from somebody who names himself after a flower is as harmless as a kitten or a butterfly.
"Easy to choke on a kitten" replies Sekathral, solemnly. "Hard to choke on a dragon, unless you've either got a gob the size of Silvio's or are doing something you really, really shouldn't, even if you are a Calistrian high priestess and it's your birthday." He coughs, slightly embarrassed. "Ahem. Yeah. The hall. Are we just planning on walking up to the front door and asking nicely for them to let us disembowel Vanthus, or what? Shouldn't we find another way in? "
"Shall we go in?" Kyson asks again, not seeing any other way.
"Yes, of course. We're not going to find Vanthus standing here", Silvio says and strides up and opens the front door.
Zstelian, Kayle does not return, but only because you seem to have followed her. She's perched on a building nearby the Taxidermist's Hall, and flies to your arm when you arrive.
Trying to not draw any attention to yourself, you can follow her to her target, at which point the falcon leads you to a well in the center of Dead Dog Plaza, behind the Taxidermist's Hall.
"Yes, of course. We're not going to find Vanthus standing here", Silvio says and strides up and opens the front door.
”Torag help me, I can't shake da memory o’ Vanthus as a boy,” Dargon says as he lets out a sigh, revealing his hesitance in pointing the finger at Vanthus.
Before Sekathral has a chance to question what side Dargon’s on, he continues, ”I know there’s but one way forward,” conceding to the obvious path before them. ”It just makes me uneasy ta think he would become a part o’ this.”
And with that of his chest, he follows Silvio and boldly moves to enter through the front door.
Before Sekathral has a chance to question what side Dargon’s on, he continues, ”I know there’s but one way forward,” conceding to the obvious path before them. ”It just makes me uneasy ta think he would become a part o’ this.”
"Happens. People go bad all the time. Couldn't care less, personally, unless they decide to take it out on me. That being the case, I'm going to take it out on THEM. That's fair, after all."
Sekathral unships his crossbow, loads it, then hides it underneath his cloak and follows the others into the building.
Kyson follows Silvio and Dargon.
They should keep me safe. I hope.
Silvio walks over to the door with wide determined strides. He throws up the door and steps inside. He finds the closest table around the center of the room and introduces himself. "You are looking at Silvio Callgari Pazzi, great sea captain and hero to all. Silvio requires the whereabouts of Vanthus Vanderboren. Take this chance to bask in Silvio's glory", he announces with a gittering smile and dramatic gestures.
Kyson stands behind Silvio wondering how, against all creation, that speech is going to work.
As you enter the door of the Taxidermist's Hall, you find yourself face to face with dozens of animals -- ranging from parrots, monkeys and bats to more monstrous creatures like a monstrous centipedge, a stirge and even a black dragon wyrmling. A moment of surprise quickly resolves as you realize everything in the room is in fact stuffed.
Nothing living seems to be in the approximately 20-25-foot room to hear Silvio's exclamation, but a bell near the door bears a short sign: "Ring for service."
The plaza appears to be empty other than a well, though Tosh can find a second door into the Taxidermist's Hall from Dead Dog Alley, which cuts through the plaza.
Kyson rings for service.
This, I can do. Seems safe enough.
Silvio stands ontop of the chair presenting himself with his arms outstreched before he notes that his introduction has gone unnoticed. He jumps down gracefully and walks up to the stuffed black dragon wyrmling. "Silvio will have to remember this place. It will come in handy to immortalize Silvio's future conquests."
Silvio stands ontop of the chair presenting himself with his arms outstreched before he notes that his introduction has gone unnoticed. He jumps down gracefully and walks up to the stuffed black dragon wyrmling. "Silvio will have to remember this place. It will come in handy to immortalize Silvio's future conquests."
"Good way of immortalizing Silvio, too. Why not ask them for a quote?"
Finn wonders aloud, "What do they use for stuffing?
The chelaxian turns to Sekathral with a wide smile. "Ha, once again you jest with Silvio!" He runs his hand across his face and assumes an heroic pose. "Do you see this face? These features are ment to be chiseled out of stone. Silvio is to be immortalized as a statue, where the people can come to bask in his glory and remember his heroic deeds. Silvio is yet to decide where to place the statue, though. "
A minute after Kyson rings the bell, a door in the back of the room and a lank, middle-aged human enters. He seems surprised to see the large crowd gathered in his shop, but after a second smiles broadly, revealing a gold tooth.
"Welcome to the Taxidermist's Hall," he says. "My name is Nemien Roblach. So many of you. Let me guess, adventurers who have something they wish preserved to show their glorious deeds. Quickly, let me know what it is and I will tell you how long it will take me to preserve it. Every moment wasted is one in which your prize can spoil!"
Yes, Tosh can squeeze past the door. Do you want him to enter and explore?
Kyson looks at Silvio and waits.
"See, Silvio's reputation precedes him", Silvio says with a smile to Kyson. "You are correct in that you have the honor to meet Silvio Callgari Pazzi, great sea captain and hero to all. But it is not...", Silvio seems lost for words as he casually waves his hand at the stuffed animals, "taxidermy that brings us here. No, our quarry is yet to be caught, and this is where you come in my friend. You see, Silvio has recently suffered great injustice at the hands of Vanthus Vanderboren. Now Silvio stands here in your shop to right that wrong. You have mr Vanderboren and Silvio must insist that you surrender him to us."
From behind Silvio's shoulder, Kyson will go to his tippy toes to say "Yeah!" to the man before going back to hiding behind Silvio.
That helped.
Finn helpfully adds, "We'll pay to have him stuffed, if you like."
"Well, I'm a busy man and have no time for solicitors. If business doesn't bring you here, kindly take yourselves elsewhere!" the apparent shop owner snaps.
Sekathral, at first everything appears to be dead and stuffed other than you all and Nemien, but you do then notice what appears to be a small weasel peeking out from behind the door that Nemien came in. The small rodent quickly ducks back behind the door.