Tony Nedraid |
After ordering the house wine, Tony leans forward;
"Say, what should we do about a company name? Perhaps... The Ethishia's Seven?"
His eyes turn dreamy as he stares into the distance, a sappy grin on his face.
Chelin Karos |
Chelin considers the question. "Perhaps the Seekers of Forgotten Knowledge? I suspect that each of us would wish to uncover lore which has been lost, whether hidden beneath the ruins of the city, left on a hidden scroll, or simply locked away within our own memories." With that last bit he looks at Railina pointedly.
Ekard Keller |
"Eh Ekard, you met any of the Pale Dogs, I mean any we didn't kill or knock out?" Railina asks with a laugh. "I'm with you guys, we should take care of this before we receive some night visits."
"None that I can put a name to. They're not the social type if you run with another outfit. Back in the Warrens we don't exactly make social calls or drop by for tea. If a gang member doesn't put a shiv in ya after you've handed over your purse, you can thank your stars you've met one of the nice fellas."
Ekard Keller |
After ordering the house wine, Tony leans forward;
"Say, what should we do about a company name? Perhaps... The Ethishia's Seven?"
His eyes turn dreamy as he stares into the distance, a sappy grin on his face.
"Kill that noise. Just cause you've gone all moony over some bint doesn't mean our group needs to get saddled with her name. You want to impress her? Write her a love poem."
Ekard has decided to splurge a bit with the group's recent windfall of money. He orders and then digs into a stuffed game hen. He eats like it is his last meal, leaving nothing but the bones, and even sucking those clean. He tops off his meal with a slice of blackberry pie, leaving nary a crumb on the plate.
Chelin considers the question. "Perhaps the Seekers of Forgotten Knowledge? I suspect that each of us would wish to uncover lore which has been lost, whether hidden beneath the ruins of the city, left on a hidden scroll, or simply locked away within our own memories." With that last bit he looks at Railina pointedly.
"Sounds kinda uppity to me. I ain't seeking any knowledge, unless its to show me where a big cache of gold is being kept...or a bunch of ratmen willing to give up their tails so's I can collect the bounty."
Tony Nedraid |
Tony jumps to his feet, outraged.
"What?! Of course she would approve! What Lady would not like to have an adventuring band named after her! Venturing into the howling wilderness to destroy the monstrous enemies of Ptolus; diving to the noxious underground labyrinths in search of adventure..."
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"Almost certainly!"
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"Probably."
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Tony sits down and mumbles; "Though maybe her mother might misunderstand; I don't want to offend her."
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"Again."
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He looks around; "Ah, perhaps another name might serve?"
Railina |
After finishing her food, Railina looks over at Ekard's plate. "That was some darn good game hen eh Ekard? And the pie was fantastic."
In response to Chelin's suggestion for the party's name, Railina scratches her head for a moment. "Though I'm definitely seeking some forgotten knowledge, I'm not partial to one name or another. I'll leave it up to you fellas."
Lord T |
Lord T wrote:I am going to take a guess your going to be doing the bartering Ekard, so go ahead and roll a diplomacy checkDiplomacy Roll: 1d20+6
Ekard
When you go out the next morning to sell all the gear at Rastor's, during your hour or so of bartering your able to swindle the shopkeeper to pay full price for used gear and get 167 gp for all the gear.
Myrp |
Myrp quietly eats his meal, not saying anything (that's out of character for him, but he is awed at the moment), and observes his new companions, trying to memorize their names and what they do. From time to time he pinches himself...Is he really here with these adventurers...Is he an adventurer now...Is he crazy?...and with that last thought he hurriedly downs a swallow of wine.
Ekard Keller |
When the party meets again the next morning, Ekard walks up grinning like the cat that ate the canary, placing a sizable bag of coin on the table with a loud thunk.
"The shopkeepers in this section of town are pushovers. I talked him up to eight silver on the gold for that used gear. That gives us an even twenty thrones apiece, just from the gear. Not bad for a quick alley scuffle."
Ekard slides the coin out of the bag and begins stacking coins in a quick and efficient manner. You get the idea he's done this before. When he finishes, he slides a stack in front of each person.
"There. 25 thrones and 6 shields for each of us. (25gp, 6sp) There's a pittance left over. I'll add it to our next score. Otherwise, we can use it for times when we need a bit of coin and don't want to take up a collection, like paying for this morning's breakfast."
Chelin Karos |
The gnome will take some time to ensure that Justice is well taken care of bright and early in the morning and that she's had a bit of morning exercise before going to join the others.
"Good morning as well, Ekard and to you too, Railina. It is quite fortunate that we have someone who is so skilled at bartering to ensure we get a proper price. I imagine it will only be more important once we begin to secure proper treasures."
Ekard Keller |
Ekard runs a hand through his hair and looks down at his feet, toeing at a spot on the floor with the toe of his boot.
"Er, yeah, about that. I'm from the Warrens. I'm used to dealing with small time scores. Aside from the windfall that bought my way into Midtown, this is the most coin I've ever seen in one place. We start collecting gems and art and such...I'm not really going to have a clue what its all worth. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty sure when I see a small, sparkly rock set in a ring that I should take it. I just don't know how much to ask for it from a fence. So...I suppose what I'm saying is that I'll need a little teaching."
Ekard looks a bit abashed, and changes the subject.
"So what's for breakfast in this place?"
Lord T |
Around 12 noon on Kingsday a messenger comes with a letter from a Brother Fabitor; he hand delivers the letter to Albrek.
Albrek
Dear Brother Albrek, I hope this message finds you safely, a matter of some import has come to my attention this morning. A matter that it seems you have a stake in. I would like to ask an audience with you. If you would be so kind as to come by St. Gustav's at your earliest convenience.
Your Brother in Faith,
Brother Fabitor
P.S.: Please have those new friends of yours accompany you.
Albrek Dwarfson |
Let's just assume everyone's in the same room at that point.
Albrek hands the messenger five silver after taking the message.
"Hmm. An old friend of mine from the Church wishes to speak with us immediately. Not me, us. Come along, we shouldn't keep him waiting, and I'm going to meet him whether or not the rest of you join me."
With that, Albrek leaves for Saint Gustav's Chapel.
Tony Nedraid |
Tony hesitates, about to eat. "What? All of us? We don't even have a name yet!" He hastily downs the rest of his beer and wraps a couple of the chops in a handkerchief to go before hurrying after the rest of the company.
Lord T |
You arrive at St. Gustav's and are greeted by an acolyte who immediately takes you back to Brother Fabitor's office. Unfortunately when you arrive he is not in his office. The acolyte ask you to be seated while he finds Brother Fabitor. After several long minutes a priest enters the room he stands just under six feet tall and has long brown hair that he keeps pulled back away from his face. His robes seem somewhat disheveled and covered in various stains as if he has been cleaning. He goes first to Albrek and embraces him briefly.
"It has been far too long since I have seen you my old friend. By Lothian it has been too long. How is your search for your true faith going?" he smiles and then looks at the assembled group and briefly walks up to each of you and shakes your hand and introduces himself to you as Brother Fabitor Thisk.
"I am so glad all of you have come to see me...there is a matter that has been bothering me all morning since I heard about it...." he grimaces as he walks around his small desk and has a seat behind it in his chair. He then leans forward
"I hear word you saved one of my congregation members last eve, a beautiful lass by the name of Phon Quartermain...."
Albrek Dwarfson |
"I hear word you saved one of my congregation members last eve, a beautiful lass by the name of Phon Quartermain...."
"Brother, I'm not searching for my true faith. I have already been awakened to it."
Albrek sighs and sits down. "Ah, yes. Phon. Brother, someone hired the thugs that attacked her. Their orders asked for her by name. Do you know anyone who would have motive for this?"
Lord T |
"It pains me to admit I am not sure of the name of the who but...I can say this much, my dear sweet Phon though she hasn't admitted it to anyone I suspect is pregnant, and not from a husband or the sort. Nay I suspect, Nay know for a fact she had an affair with someone very recently. Though she has never said who he was, I believe the affair is over. However I worry for her sake. She is an impressionable young woman. She doesn't understand the gravity of her situation and I fear now more than ever she has gotten herself into terribly huge amount of trouble. And after last night I worry how huge it is...." he sighs deeply and a faraway look comes into his eyes.
"It saddens me so much that such a devoted Lothainite such as she, has gotten into this much trouble..."
Tony Nedraid |
Tony looks confused.
"With respect, Brother, an unmarried pregnant girl is not completely unheard of. What kind of trouble could there possibly be? Aside from being ostracised by the church ladies..."
Albrek Dwarfson |
Tony looks confused.
"With respect, Brother, an unmarried pregnant girl is not completely unheard of. What kind of trouble could there possibly be? Aside from being ostracised by the church ladies..."
"The problem isn't her pregnancy. The problem is that the father seems to have hired thugs to beat her."
Lord T |
"Aye, you have read to the heart of the matter, Brother Albrek...This is what I fear the most, as to why anyone would want to harm a mother much less a child is beyond me and wholly evil...Which brings me to my question..."
Brother Fabitor looks about the group with a serious look on his face.
"I would like to have you look into this affair as well as the who, what and why of this whole issue..Though I can't offer much more than 100 gold crowns worth of credit to each of you for your time. However if you do this Phon must not know that I have hired you...I fear that if she knew she would run straight into danger again."
Tony Nedraid |
"Of course we'll investigate! Honor demands nothing less! But surely there is more to this? Such thugs were organizes, and must have cost a fair amount of money to hire."
Ekard Keller |
Tony looks confused.
"With respect, Brother, an unmarried pregnant girl is not completely unheard of. What kind of trouble could there possibly be? Aside from being ostracised by the church ladies..."
Ekard raises an eyebrow. "I'm surprised your not more familiar with this sort of thing, Tony. Your type call it 'slumming.' My guess is that one of the hoity-toity nobles in this burg swept Phon off her feet, figuring he'd have a cheap dalliance. Now she's with child and carrying a bastard son of a nobleman. Some of them like keepin' their skeletons sealed tightly in the closet. Leastaways, that'd be my guess.
This guy's a different breed from you, though. Anyone that would dirty his hands with the likes of the Pale Dogs is bad business, and..."
An odd look crosses Ekard's face as he trails off, apparently silenced by a sudden thought.
Chelin Karos |
"Indeed, certainly we will help you and the lady. Perhaps we could talk to her and help her understand the gravity of the situation? If she will tell us who the father is, it will certainly make ending such attacks much easier."
The gnome will give Tony a bit of a respectful nod at his mention of honor, the man taking a step up in his book.
"You seem to have a thought, Ekard. What is on your mind?"
Ekard Keller |
"Hm? Oh, just remembered something I heard about the Pale Dogs. Word on the street is that they have connections...powerful ones. Some say they've got ties to the Balacazar family and even the Vai."
Ekard runs his hand through his hair and sighs.
"Count me in, but don't think I'm gonna pass up those hundred thrones. I may need it to pay for a funeral."
Pol Voron |
When you happen to leave the church.
You guys find Pol loitering around outside the church, eyes darting around nervously, and settling on your approach with some measure of relief. Never been to keen on religion, he later explains. That, and he slept in.
"Took a while to find you guys." He continues. "You'd better fill me in on what's happening."
Ekard Keller |
Ekard gives out something of a squeak, though it might have been a suppressed scream.
"Tony's right, Railina, we don't want to get anywhere near the Balacazars if we can help it. That's like filling a pit full of poisonous spiders and then jumping in on purpose. And the Vai, they're not a family, they're an order of assassins...assuming they actually exist."
Ekard shakes his head, as if to loose the thought from his head.
"We've still got the note from the thugs, and we know where they were supposed to deliver her. What if we check the place out and see who's expecting Phon to show up gift-wrapped this afternoon at the warehouse?"
Chelin Karos |
"Excellent idea, Ekard. Following up on the note is certainly the safest way to proceed and the most likely route to immediate success. We should not be afraid to follow this to the highest level we need to for success however. If we cannot assure the safety of Phon, then we have accomplished nothing for the girl."
Tony Nedraid |
Tony grins with enthusiasm.
"Excellent! We follow the trail to the warehouse. Do we just wander on in and poke around do ye think? Or dress as thugs and pretend to be them? Railina could be our Phon prisoner!"
Albrek Dwarfson |
Brother Fabitor listens as you make your plan of attack, about halfway through he raises an eyebrow. "What letter? and Why do you need a Phon stand in?
"The thugs had a written copy of their orders with them. They were supposed to meet their employer at Able Road two hours after dusk. We don't know if we need someone to impersonate Phon, but it couldn't hurt."
Lord T |
Lord T wrote:Brother Fabitor listens as you make your plan of attack, about halfway through he raises an eyebrow. "What letter? and Why do you need a Phon stand in?"The thugs had a written copy of their orders with them. They were supposed to meet their employer at Able Road two hours after dusk. We don't know if we need someone to impersonate Phon, but it couldn't hurt."
"May I read it? I may be of some help with it."