Zanos sunk to the ground, weary from the morning's exertion.
Looking to the guards, and then the woman, he yelled back, "Ma'am! That half-orc and his cronies attacked us first!"
"Then they stole something from us!"
"We were defending ourselves and attempting to stop the thieves!"
"One of which still escaped with our property!"
Shine adds to Zanos' explanation. None are dead, not even the camels good guards. That scoundrel there She indicates the half orc. Attacked using a vile poison on my friend here. I have closed his wounds so that the city's justice may be done.
Rameth looks around for Fairsplindle and realizes the gnome has not reached them yet. As he realizes that, the three in the alleyway hear a woman's scream, and some commotion from the street behind them.
Zanos leaned against a wall and scanned the area for some sign of the thief.
He's got to be here somewhere! Did he disguise himself? Zanos wondered to himself.
Rameth kneels down on the ground. Weak and tired.
[ b] Gentlemen. I have told you who my gnomish friend and I are employed by. I suggest that you seek out the other thief that we were chasing. If you are unable to help me deal with the poison inflicted on me by that scum in the street then I suggest you make yourself useful and go find him![/b]
Halistar casts Detect Magic and has another look around.
Halistar detects some magic. Which 60 foot cone of the street is he concentrating on first? People more or less just ignore the two after a brief look, as they hurry on about their business.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Fairsplindle and Rameth meanwhile trot back towards the annoyed looking guards. Fairsplindle easily reaching them first as she points out that noone was actually dead. The soldiers moves cautiously around the gnome, their weapons ready as they examine the Half-Orc and generally take stock of the damage.
When Rameth arrives a short time later the person in charges levels a glare poorly hidden behind a slightly bowed head at him. "and what thief would that be sir?" he says, looking around the street at the nervous people ready to duck behind cover again. "Is the thief the one who burnt that building and terrified all these people, sir?"
Shine tries not to look too guilty and stands ready to back up (assist) Rameth's explanation
Perhaps it is the poison that is making me answer that question. But it would be the one that turned invisible and fled. I know it is hard to believe but magic is real!
It is as this good man says. Just look at his wound and obvious weakened state. She indicates the puncture wound from the crossbow bolt that likely shows nasty signs of the poison. [/b] I must get this man to a temple before he succumbs to the foul venom. [/b]
Halistar concentrates on where he last viewed the thief heading and detects a low, and slightly fluctuating magical auras, some from passersby--a cloak, or a ring here, a weapon or some armor there. Giving the shifting and changing nature of the crowd it's hard to pinpoint anything, but he manages to spot a fading illusion aura inside one of the shops that could perhaps be something.
"Well, honored sir, the city watch wouldn't want to interfere with the great workings of the First Speaker's men. We will leave you to find your 'invisible thief' and we will busy ourselves with cleaning up the mess." the Sergeant matches your sarcasm as one of his men try to calm down the hysterical woman, and the squad starts to spread out to calm the populace, and figure out what actually happened.
Halistar will head toward the area of the fading illusion, still concentrating on his spell.
"Oh joy, more chasing," muttered Zanos as he pushed himself back to his feet and followed Halistar.
You make your way across the street, but the aura fades before you can enter the place. The place it's coming from seems to be a tailor's. When you enter there is a middle-aged attendant leafing through a book.
Could you heal me up again there?
Either way he rises and follows, after putting away his sword.
Aye, and I can offer you a ride as well. She offers you a hand up onto the camel she is on/
Rameth stays close to Shine.
Shine perhaps there is something on the half orc to cure this poison...
Shine glances at the guards nervously as they go about their jobs. hmm. I would want a cure if I carried poison. Makes total sense. Since he poisoned you, you should look before you mount up with me. Shine casts a quick detect Magic and considers the unconscious half orc.
The rest of his gear seems to be simple, if finely made; a Scimitar (as mentioned above), a Chain Shirt, a sarcophagus lid modified to be wielded like a tower shield; with a shuttered arrow slit in the center, and assuming it has not been taken, the Hand Crossbow left behind in the street by your caravan.
He whispered to his companion, "Perhaps you should do the talking."
Zanos then scanned the shop.
lead on shine. Lets take it all!
"Excuse me sir, did a man in an artisans outfit just come in here?
"It's possible sirs, many come to browse my wares. Was there something I could help you with?" he asks, Halistar noticing a light sheen of sweat and a discomfort of the current topic.
Shine before we move on, can you cast another spell on me?
Rameth moves diffcultly being weighed down by his equipment
Any spell you have in mind? The gnome jests, but pops out a wand from a wrist sheath and uses a charge from it. I had thought I would be using this in dark tombs when we could not rest, not on the open streets of this city.
Will that hold you until I can rest and prepare more spells? Now grab that stuff and mount up with me.
Zanos waited to see how Halistar would reply.
Thanks Shine. I am still struggling but I can move again.
He quickly lashes the half orc, and the gear to the second camel and hops on behind shine, while holding the reigns of the other.
Lets move!
The gnome rides to combine herself and Rameth with her elusive party for the first time. :)
Rameth ties the bloody and nearly dead Half-Orc to one of the other camels and climbs up behind Fairsplindle, the two beasts heading towards the alley the thief fled down. They found a dead or dying camel laying at the far end, and though the crowd is giving the alley a wider berth than usual, some of the people inevitably spot the Half-Orc, eliciting a strangled scream, some gasps and a lot more hurried traffic. They do not spot Halistar or the other man who had been giving chase with him.
This is a life and death situation! Where is ? If you saw where they went point the way!
I saw them go into that ally. Shim adds helpfully.
"'ey went in 'ere." says a large tusked and sweating Half-Orc eventually replies, pointing over his should with his thumb to one of the shops across the street. "Wut i' it wit peepul deese days..." he mutters to himself as he resumes loading up a handcart with sacks of some kind.
Rameth leaps off the camel, assuming Shine will tie it up and races towards the shop drawing his sword as he goes.
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People scatter out of the way of the madman waving a sword around as Rameth charges through the crowd and burst into the shop, finding Halistar and Zanos speaking with the shopkeep.
Outside the Half-Orc pauses to shake his head, before grabbing the spokes of his cart and trundling off.
Zanos, who was waiting for Halistar to reply to the shopkeeper, whirled about at Rameth burst into the shop.
"Whoa! Careful with that thing!" Zanos exclaimed.
The shopkeeper ducks behind the counter as the sword wielding maniac enters the shop, and apparently recognizes Halistar and Zanos. He pops back up a moment later with an armed crossbow, pointed in your general direction; the source of the magic aura.
"Look, I don't want any trouble. He came in here, tossed me some money, and asked if I had a back door. Then he... changed. I let him through to the side delivery door, and that was it. Now kindly get the f#+! outta my shop." he says, the hands holding the crossbow shaking as he waves it at the three of you.
Rameth quickly sheathes his sword, and counts out 40 gp and plops it on the counter. For startling you good sir! Rameth then pulls on his luck as he drops down the money.
Halistar I presume? I am Rameth and my friend outside goes by Shine we are hear to help you. Whichever direction you wish to go.
"We should check outside this side door, but I am thinking that he is long gone. If there is no sign of him, we should hurry back to the caravan and head to our destination."
Zanos looked sheepishly at the shopkeeper, careful not to make any sudden movements.
"Um, changed? Changed how?"
"His face. Now take your money, and your pretty words and leave." he demands, still shakily pointing his crossbow, apparently not open to further discussion.
Zanos turned to Halistar and Rameth.
"Rameth, right? I'm Zanos. Let's go!"
The sage headed for the indicated exit to see if the thief was still in sight.