Ransaq notices that it's about 15ft down to the roof of the first level, then another 20 to the ground. The walls are made of hewn stone, somewhat roughened by the years. They look like a difficult climb.
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"Bust indeed." Garroth said, looking over the edge. Then, without warning, he pushed Ransaq over the edge, catching the elf by the scruff of his new cloak. Holding him suspended there a moment, he then proceeded to heave him back over the edge to safety.
Snorting loudly and spitting on the ground, he strode back towards the door. "If you are gonna make jokes, make it funny. I bet you didnt like that one either." He called back as he entered, making his way towards the way they came in. "Cmon, lets try to float back down again, maybe the same word works."
Melaphi suppresses a smirk at Garroth and Ransaq. Someone is no doubt going to look to get some payback for that setup, better keep my eyes open.
"Hold a second Garroth. Let's see if there is anything out here on the roof. It makes sense that the top level would be to the open sky, the high priest being a druid and all. Maybe they simply wanted a place to view the stars, but there might be more than that. Help me take a quick look around."
Melaphi utters the words to make his shield glow with light then moves about the roof, looking for anything unusual.
Melaphi finds nothing of interest.
"Don't worry Garroth, from here on out they will be much funnier."
Orald glares at Garroth and Ranzaq, his temper fraying.
All right you knuckleheads. We are on the RUINED roof of a temple devoted to some CRAZY minor power, where something has driven one man INSANE already. At least pretend that you are trying to be heroes. That is why we formed this group isn't it?
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Orald takes a drink from his mead skin and pulls out a rope to attach so we can climb down.
A little rope work is probably safer than looking for some wierd magic babbling in that place.
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Ransaq follows Orald down the rope.
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The party safely climbs down Orald's rope to the ground, ready to begin their midnight journey home.
"Trade you a rope for a swig of mead Orald?" Garroth called down, then untied the rope before attempting the climb.
Garroth expertly climbs down the dangerous stone wall of the temple, carrying Orald's rope with him. Having completed their quest and lived, they set off again towards town, already discussing where next to adventure.
When they next get together Melaphi says, "I say its about time we clean this place up. Go sweep out the cob webs of the old keep."
Aye, guess it is time. Our ancestors are pressing against my skull like never before. Lets see what bogarts are infesting the old place.
2 in a row, booya!
"I wouldn't mind checking out the old keep. Has anyone seen Aurora? I haven't heard from her all week."
Patricie wheels her wares throughout the market selling pots, figurines and other such creations made from the clay of her caverns.
Whilst about such business, the aasimar overhears a cloaked elf speaking of the old keep. She's long desired to see it from above, as some of its foundations can be seen from within her caverns.
"Can anyone come along?" she asks with wide eyes and a smile.
Sanza had just arrived at the city, ready for a new start in life. While looking for work, he was able to sell a couple of his cloaks to a merchant in the marketplace.
"Too bad about those two havin' other business that needed tendin'" Garroth grumbled in response to talk about the keep. "I mean, sure, we are a fierce lot, but wouldnt mind a few more bodies before goin' into the unknown."
Just then, a rather chipper woman sauntered into his field of vision. He managed a few seconds of appraising her figure, before being interrupted as she spoke right at him. "Wha? Where...uhm, what?" He looked around with a sheepish expression, trying to determine if she was talking to someone else. Regaining his composure somewhat, he cleared his throat and straightened up, gripping the hilt of his sword in an attempt to look important. "Uh, yes, well, I suppose..." He began, looking at his compatriots. "But this is dangerous business lass, you sure youre up for it?" He got an odd look on his face, tilting his head as he studied her again, this time looking at her attire.
"What is it exactly you do?" He asked.
Sanza can't help but notice the conversation between the woman selling pottery and the muscular half-orc. He is sharply dressed, with a cloak and a rapier at his side. He picks up one of the figurines and admires it. "Did I hear something about an excursion? I might have some skills that could be of use. Pardon me, I forget my manners, I am Sanza Quintana, at your service." He doffs his feathered hat and does an exaggerated bow.
Ransaq looks to the aasimar upon her approach, "I'm sorry mam, but I doubt we've any need for a potter". He then looks to Sanza, "You on the other hand... is that rapier just for show, or can you actually use it?"
"I know a thing or two. I would not dismiss our friend here, though." Sanza twirls a dagger in one hand while trying to surreptitiously lift a potion from the elf's gear.
"Is that so? Tell me potter, do you like taking risks in your spare time?"
"But of course. Life without a little risk would be dull, right?"
Ransaq looks to Sanza, "You also sell pots?" He pauses briefly, but not for a response, then looks back to the aasimar for her answer.
Having left his warhorse stabled this day Melaphi walks up to where he sees Garroth and Ransaq chatting with a few people he doesn't recognize. His normally dirty brown and gray gloves have been replaced by a set of new white ones. He tugs at them making sure they are pulled on all the way as he stops a few feet away. "Special day today, figured I should dress for the occasion." he chuckles.
Taking a closer look at Patricie and Sanza he comments to Ransaq, "Hired help? Or independent forces of all that is holy and good?" the last said in a dry tone.
Melaphi's parents own the business, though Melaphi is skilled enough at this point he could run his own. You could either hire on there, or we could break out into our own line of fashion clothing :).
Ransaq gestures to Sanza with an open palm before referring to the aasimar. "As far as I know, neither. Though this one does have a rapier, and this one a rather nice collection of pots".
Patricie flips her copper hair, allowing her emerald eyes to gleam in the sunlight. It proves a mistake as she squints, unaccustomed to such light. "Danger! I don't know..." she says coyly, before turning to an alleyway nearby, addressing an unseen friend, "What do you think Trilby? Are you up for some danger?" A growl and a snort are the answers to her question as a large black bear clad in wooden armor, and wearing a backpack saunters out and sits next to the druid awaiting his customary ear-scratch which he recieved forthwith.
At this point it becomes clear that the walking-stick in her hand is actually a quarterstaff, and the crossbow on her back has been used for more than hunting.
Melaphi takes a quick step backward at the appearance of the bear. But after recomposing himself says in a loud whisper out of the corner of his mouth to Ransaq, "Can we leave her and take the bear?"
But then with a genuine smile stretches out a hand to the two, "I'm Melaphi."
Ransaq see's the bear and realizes he misjudged the woman, and as usual, makes light of it with a joke. "Does he make pots too? He says, gesturing toward the bear.
Sanza shakes Melaphi's hand, keeping a nervous eye on the bear. He relaxes a little when he sees it is not a threat.
"A pity, I left my bear at home." He grins.
"Yowsah!" Garroth exclaimed at the sigh of the bear, tiptoeing to its side and gently patting it on its shoulder, almost probing at first, but then full on petting, as if he had needed confirmation that it was real. "Never seen one like this." He marveled, moving around Trilby excitedly. "All the bears ive ever seen in town were de-clawed and musseled. He sat down next to Trilby, offering the bear a helping of dried meat. "How do you do it, keep it like this? Did you pacify it somehow? We dont really have much use for a teddy bear that wont fight."
"So it appears we have an equipped party again. Beat the birds back here tomorrow, head out from there?"
"I've been wanting to explore the keep, but I'd like to know a bit about your goals."
"G-oooo-als??" asks Ransaq, with a sarcastically puzzled look on his face.
Patricie takes Melaphi's hand, and returns the greeting, "I am called , Avatar of the Caverns. Patry to my friends"
The druid chuckles at Ransaq's joke, "Ha! No, but..." she says rummaging around in her cart, "I do..." she pulls out a disc about 8 inches in diameter, "sell his print! He's very proud of it." She knuckles his head in fun.
When Garroth approaches, Trilby initially rears up and bares his teeth, but Patricie pats his paw, and the bear eventually succumbs to the greeting. However, the words "it," "declawed," and "muzzled" turn Patry's stomach. "Heavens! What awful crimes are these? No I would never do such things to Trilby, he is practically my baby! He was abandoned as a cub and I took him in and cared for him. He is a good boy: he does what he's told, and only what he's told. You need not worry."
"Sounds like a plan!" Hearing the time to meet, and seeing that her new friends haven't any interest in her pottery, she sends Trilby back to his nap, and leads Milly (the horse) onward through the town selling her wares.
Ransaq makes his way to the local gambling den or pub and remains there for the rest of the evening. He arrives at the meeting spot the next day at the agreed time, groggy eyed and lacking enthusiasm.
"Well, alright then." Garroth called after Patricie as she continued on her way. Scratching his neck with a bemused look, he shrugged with a smile. "Well, that was easier than I had hoped." He shook Sanzas hand. "Welcome to the team then mate. Im not usually one for takin' the first thing that presents itself, but I got a good feelin' about the two of you."
Letting go of Sanzas had with a parting pat on the mans shoulder, Garroth walked off, calling back. "Well, Im gonna go see about a meal then, see you all tomorrow."
"Sheesh." Garroth commented as Ransaq came close enough for his face to be easily visible in the morning gloom. "You elves dont usually look bad, even at the worst of times, but when you do..." He offered a cup of coffee to Ransaq. "...Well lets just say its not pretty. Did you even sleep?" He knocked back the contents of his own cup, quickly refilling it.
Ransaq takes the coffe from Garroth, "'Till the last minute".
Sanza's eyes widen at Patricie's impressive title, but he asks no questions. Sanza gives the bear an experimental pat, and then a more vigorous one. "Pleased to meet you too, sir bear." He smiles at how interesting his life is getting.
Early Saturday, Sanza saddles his horse in the twilight and leads her to the designated place. "Anyone care to go for a ride?"
The party meets in front of the Finders' Keep, central stronghold and long-abandoned fortress of the City. Legends swirl around the Keep like smoke from a censer, but all anyone really knows is that since the death of the last king, no one who enters the Keep returns. In spite of the apparent danger it may possess however, due to its central location in the City, it has become a common area for foot traffic by merchants and vagrants alike. Though while the party all catches up and make some new introductions, it becomes apparent that another small group nearby is not simply passing through, nor apparently selling anything or begging. Rather, due to their mismatched nature and the presence of some weapons and armor, it seems more likely that they may, in fact, be adventurers themselves.
Patricie and Trilby lumber in from the wilderness at full speed, with Milly trailing behind them at a rushed, but lesser velocity. Skidding to a stop, and getting even more dirt in her sandals, she greets everyone, "Sorry I'm late everyone, Trilby took a while to finish his prayers," she leans forward with a hand blocking one side of her mouth, "I think he had a rough night," she adds in a hush.
Seeing the other group, she leans to one side to see them better around her bear companion. "Hey! Did anyone see those fellows? They look like they might be here to check out the Keep too..."
Ransaq makes way from the other group, then leans against a wall. "I'd be prepared to fight if we run across those guys inside".