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"Master Ghelve, please make yourself at ease and enjoy a smoke as Maxim here has suggested, perhaps there an even better room to have this discussion in private. Where you could relax a bit, for we're not here to accuse you of wrong doing but to find the children.
Ryan ask about the change of room and allows the halfling to respond before continuing.
There is a riddle, as it were, that Abadar has graced us with, this is the one JJ spoke initially about. It clearly states the locks are key to finding the children. So forgive our impatience in coming to speak with you and then bombarding you with question and the feeling of accusation.
Your locks at the orphanage are very well made and a credit to your craft, however, that being said it reflects very badly on your shop that two of these quality locks were bypassed with such ease as to not even show a sign of being tampered with.
You have stated that you did not make a copy of the key for these locks. That being the case do you have an apprentice working under you to learn your trade? One perchance that would have the skill to do so."
Ryan let's that question sink in a bit before continuing.
"Master Ghelve, so far this evening we have found that the Last Laugh has been involved with the disappearances to some extent. We found them beating a fellow cleric warning him to stay away from the orphanage investigation, they have been paying off people to watch some in the Orphanage. That isn't right and bodes ill for the children now caught in the crossfire.. .... One person against an entire organization might go along to keep his family and holdings safe, but at what cost."
Having said a great deal without giving the smith a chance to reply Ryan waits to see how he responds.
"You know nothing, you do not want to listen to me" Keygan raises his eyebrows even more clearly than the time before "I have nothing to do with the children kidnapping, I make no copies of my locks keys" he winks both eyes to Ryan and points with his head to the curtain.
The gnome seems to desperately want to have fun also with Ryan in the back store.
Quietly Ryan taps Maxim on the shoulder and heads for the curtained area. Nodding to the halfling.
Looking to Dondarrian and them the halfling hoping the guardsman will protect the smith should the need suddenly arise.
" Yes yes you keep telling us the same thing over and over again."
Ryan is pacing now, inspecting the pipe and lock collections, ever towards the curtain, finally opening it when he arrives.
The gnome makes space for the cleric to pass next to the counter and enter the backstore. Although Keygan eases the pass and do not move to stop him at all he shouts once the cleric is inside the backstore "Ei! Stop! Who allowed you to go in?"
In the backstore black curtains partially obscure a window niche that faces the street. Ornate locks and complex locking mechanisms are neatly displayed in the niche. The room itself looks tidy, but lived in. Carpets cover the stone floor, and a broom leans against the railing of a wooden staircase leading up to a second floor balcony. Three wooden chests rest in the middle of the floor, their lids bound shut with sturdy iron padlocks. Small tables, shelves, and benches hold various knick-knacks, and a framed portrait of a silver-haired gnome similar to Keygan but older hangs next to a tall wooden box at the base of the stairs. The wooden box contains an intricate array of ticking gears, counterweights, and cylindrical chimes, surmounted by a circular face that bears the numerals 1 through 12 on its circumference.
Maxim listens as the locksmith veers from irate householder to defensive suspect...
:
... to... randy wee fey!
Picking up the list of Keygan's intimations, brings a hard smile from the gun-mage levelled at the gnome;
"Heh. Alrighty then. Seems we have our fuses crossed here little fella. Talking and smoking are things we can do at ease... but I have no earthly compunction to have intimate relations with you. One: I prefer to knock boots with womenfolk. Two: I'm married. So thanks but no thanks... you savvy?"
As Ryan presses further into the shop, Maxim follows, keen to see what the priest had discovered that irked the gnome so much;
"Watch and Church business Ghelve. Where he goes, Brokenhill follows. An' where he goes we all follow..."
"Dwarf, you are making me extra concerned. So many people at my shop using strange powers, I feel bullied."
Kikinnin looks at the gnome with one eyebrow raised. "Strange powers? I was just eyeballing you. You know, get the measure of the man? Didn't mean to upset you, so for that, I'll say my apologies."
As Ryan, then Maxim, gets invited towards the back of the store, Kikinnin wrinkles his nose, and steps up to the counter. "Hey, hey, curtains block sight-lines. Keep the curtain open, if you're gonna wander deeper into this place."
When the shopkeeper yells out, shortly after inviting the two in the first place, Kikinnin frowns deeply. "Who you yelling for, Keygan?" The black-beard pulls his waraxe, and lays it on the counter, still in his hand. "We could all still be talking out here, but you're throwing out invitations you don't really mean. Now, I don't trust you. Why on Cauldron's slope would you want any of us to move beyond the counter? We're not here to shop, but to talk with you. Your behaviour is telling me I gotta worry now. I don't like worrying about things I haven't got much knowledge of. You got anything more you want to tell us, or are you gonna keep proclaiming your innocence? You know someone who's not innocent you'd rather talk about?"
He screws up his face as the locksmith invites the other two "through the curtain" so to speak.
For a moment he pouts a bit, opening his mouth as if to give a quick retort, but after a moments consideration he closes it again.
After about thirty seconds he is unable to stay quiet. "Any cauldrons back there?" he eventually calls out hopefully.
Ruben watches this whole bizarre scene play out before him but something doesn't seem right about it at all. As the others begin to move into the back he covers the distance between he and Ghelve in two swift strides and grabs a handful of the man's shirt, dragging him close enough to smell his breath.
What's going on here, gnome? Is someone else back there? Spit it out!
As Kikinnin burst into a reprimand Keygan makes signals as if he wants you to lower your voice. Then Ruben closes by the gnome and while JJ asks through the courtain the gnome answers the arcane duelist with efforts to breath "Skulks!"
The shout, followed by the noise of a body falling over other body. The courtains wave while at the other side noise of combat breaks out.
Maxim and Ryan where not prepared to see what comes over them, two smooth-skinned, hairless humanoids with penetrating eyes and skin that shifts and changes mimicking the surroundings wood and stone of the backstore.
One of the creatures fell just next to Maxim failing to hit the dwarf whom is surprised by the creature appearance.
The other one is more lucky and success to hit with his shortsword at his target, but Ryan's shield at his back deflects the blade in the last moment.
The creatures attack very fast again before you can react.
Unlucky for Maxim one pierces through his belly causing a deep wound and making him to fall unconscious and dying.
The other one though hits again Ryan's armor causing him no pain.
Those outside you hear Maxim screaming in pain after the clashing bodies.
The skulks are rare Darklands monsters that mimic with their environment making them very difficult to see. More info: here
Two attacks ringing off of his armor does wonders to focusing Ryan on the attack at hand, from thoughts of the riddle he'd been pondering. Spinning to avoid an attack as he retrieves his mace he concentrates on the creature to his left.
"We Got Trouble! Maxim you OK?"
Thoroughly confused, and now alarmed by the sound of combat, JJ vaults the counter and heads into the back room - drawing his sword as he does so.
"I'm coming!" he calls out.
With a glare at the gnome he adds "Don't move!"
Ruben keeps a firm grip on the gnome and growls;
If those are your men you're going to find out how hard it is to do your work with broken fingers, you little wretch!
AC = 18, Shield worn
HP = 16/16
Weapon Equipped = Dwarven Waraxe
Condition(s) = Inspired (+1 to hit/dam, +1 to saves v Fear)
Kikinnin glowers at Keygan, unhappy that the man's led two, now three of his search crew through the red curtain. With Ruben holding the gnome, the black-beard elbows his way around the two, equipping his shield as he rounds the counter.
"Good, Ruben. Hold that one. He'll have some explaining to do, harboring clowns skulking in the shadows." Unaware of the nature of the opponent, Kikinnin keeps moving, not able to pass through the curtain for his short legs.
Marigold yelps in surprise at the sudden crashing and banging that comes from behind the curtain, but the word 'skulk' calls to mind something she read in a book once.
"Skulks! આ Darklands થી જીવો...ઓહ ના, નથી ફરી!" she yells, then claps her hands to her mouth as Abyssal sounds from her lips instead of Common.
With Ruben keeping a tight hold on Ghelve, she reaches out and places a hand on Kikinnin's arm as he moves past and around the counter. "સાવચેત રહો!"
She then attempts to clamber up onto the counter to get a better look at what's happening on the other side.
"Skulks! Creatures from the Darklands...oh no, not again!"
"Be careful!"
Quick to react to his companions plight Dandarrion rushes forward and bellows, "True friends of the Cauldron rally to our companions aid."
Ryan quickly attempts to react to the attack drawing his mace, but in the hurry he fails the attack over the first skulk.
JJ demonstrates his high skill at arms drawing his blade at the same time he moves behind the counter, opens the courtains and on observing the attackers he quickly reacts jumping over the one with a green reflection and stabbing his sword on the creatures right arm.
As the courtain opens you see Maxim bleeding on the floor with a reddish skulk over him.
Keygan barely can move, talk or even breath on Ruben’s strong hold. The human inspiring his companions with words of authority.
With a blessing Marigold touches Kikinnin while the dwarf readies his shield. The ratcacher moves then to the courtain as the layer conceals again the next room when JJ relaeses it on his attack.
Dandarrion inspires his companions as well telling them how to dodge better the attacks while he moves to the courtains.
The greenish skulk turns towards the just arrived human that stabbed him and attempts to pierce through him likewise.
But he is unbalanced and hits the stairs side instead.
After dropping Maxim the reddish skulk steps next to Ryan and attacks with his blade.
The skulk attacks at the face where he observes the cleric is not covered, and he almost succeeds to scratch his cheek but a word from Dandarrion in the last minute helps Ryan to avoid the blade. “Jukit! Iklahk palohkatal!” shouts to the other skulk in an unintelligible language.
Realizing that the team was bottled up at the moment, JJ considered his options.
Stepping between them is probably unwise, but the others can't get in if I am here..
Gritting his teeth he strikes out again at the creature in green, and then steps between the two of them to make room for more to get into the room.
"There is room for more in here, come and help!"
Realizing the spell slinger was not in the fight "Kikinnian, Marigold, Maxim's down!" before continuing his previous attack
Dandarrion runs into the room almost tripping over Maxim's prone form. realizing the danger he rushes past the Skulks and takes position towards the back of the room, "Fight friends fight and stop this evil blight." When he makes it to the back of the room he waves his hand an mutters a few words and four glowing spears appear in the center of the room.
JJ stabs the greenish skulk on his left arm, while Ryan follows with a strike of his mace over the creature's head. The thing loses his consciousness and falls to the ground unable to hold against the combined attack.
As Dandarrion moves into the back of the room and passing the courtains, the skulk stabs him in his belly causing a considerable wound.
The man casts then a spell creating small orbs of light that remove the darkness in the room.
AC = 18, Shield worn
HP = 16/16
Weapon Equipped = Dwarven Waraxe
Condition(s) = Inspired (+1 to hit/dam, +1 to saves v Fear)
Kikinnin looks down at his arm as Marigold touches it, and smiles at the young lady, sensing something of power passing through the halfling's hand. As she brings forth words he doesn't understand, he shakes his head.
With Dandarrion's call to meet the menace head-on, the still-conscious dwarf works his way through the curtain, and almost trips over Maxim himself. Seeing the creature before him, Kikinnin brings his axe down on it, hoping at least to scare it off, if not end it where it stands. He doesn't use the flat of his blade this time.
He looks to the others in the room. "What is it? Does it understand our words? Do you understand my words, Mr. Shifty? You really don't belong here. You understand me?"
Upon hearing Ryan call out that Maxim has fallen, Marigold gulps and hops down on the other side of the counter. "કોઈ કોઈ કોઈ છે, આ ક્રેઝી છે, આ ક્રેઝી છે..." she repeats as she darts forward and hesitantly pokes her head through the curtain. Catching sight of Maxim's still form on the floor, she reaches out and places a hand on the dwarf and wills his wounds to mend.
Don't wanna do this, they'll ask questions but can't let him bleed out!
When his eyes flutter open, he sees a worried Marigold peering over him as well as the chaos of battle. "નીચે રહે છે!" she hisses.
"No no no, this is crazy, this is crazy..."
"Stay down!"
Spells Remaining
1st - 3 of 4
Orisons - At will
Keygan keeps trying to free himself from Ruben's hold without success, his eyes filled with fear.
Kikinnin swiftly opens the courtain and enters the backstore cutting through the skulk's left arm. All he receives as a response to his attack is a guttural Common "Silence surface dweller. You all gonna die or serve us"
When Marigold touches Maxim, you observe his wounds to magically close very fast. The composed dwarf recovers his conscience, observing the fight over him prone on the floor.
Ruben keeps a firm grip on the wriggling gnome.
Tell me, damn your eyes, are those your men or not!?
Keygan can hardly move, firmly hold in the air by Ruben. With difficulty to articulate a word the gnome attempts to deny with his head.
The skulk turns scared by the axe that almost slit his arm turns against the new foe and strikes the dwarf on the right ear.
"Klorat stallaarth!" screams in his unknown language while he retreats placing himself on a menacing position against the man that brought the light to the room.
The language is Undercommon. A common language of Darklands denizens.
Yeah we'll see about that.
Ruben struggles with the gnome and tries to throw him to the ground.
Ruben succeeds to pin the small Keygan against the floor. The gnome face expression changes to that of desperation and fear for his life. He attempts to reach a small bag on his belt but Ruben hold his arms tight and the gnome cannot even open it.
He tries to free himself then but Ruben is just too big, too strong for the gnome.
Try that again and things will go worse for you, Ghelve. Believe it!
Are you alright in there? he calls.
"Thanks MG!" he says as she returns Maxim to the land of the living; hoping to prevent any further harm to his companions ....with hand on key at his neck
"Abadar be with those here in this house helping at the request of thy church."
channel heal+protection - +1 Sacred bonus to AC(til end of my next turn) and damage (if any) healed.
Ruben frowns.
Damned God-botherers...
Is that a 'Yes' or what? he shouts as he shoves the gnome back down after his attempts to reach whatever was on his belt and contemplates punching the little man in the face so he could go and tidy up in the other room.
Round 3
As the clamour of battle assails his ears and the warmth of Marigold's healing surges through his veins, Maxim's eyes snap open and he rises drunkenly;
"What in the Seven Hells!?"
The dwarf takes in the scene as he see's his companions fight against the strange creatures
:
"Skulkers! Well I'll be... Sneaky little Darklander scumbags... Time for you to make the acquaintance of The Wife..."
Grim set, the gun-mage draws his blackpowder firearm
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AC = 18, Shield worn
HP = 12/16
Weapon Equipped = Dwarven Waraxe
Condition(s) = Inspired (+1 to hit/dam, +1 to saves v Fear)
Kikinnin barks as the skulk gets him with a return strike. "Owwoah! You give as good as you get, Mr. Shifty! My shield can't be all places at all times, it seems..." He steps up on the creature backing down. As he does, he sees the other skulk on the floor, so he flicks his head towards the dead one, as he stares down the live one. "You feelin' like that's you in a moment or two, eh? You wouldn't be wrong."
The blade, although accurate enough, fails to really sink into its target. "Damn it, Mr. Shifty, hold still so I can still you myself." He sees Maxim getting up only then.
"Good morning, Sunshine. Have a decent nap there?"
Maxim grimaces at the memories of the pain come back, then wryly grins at his fellow dwarf;
"Oh aye. Now these sneaky basterds will taste some lead and thunder!"
When Ryan holds up his the Abadar's holly symbol, you all feel a wave of positive energy inside you healing and empowering you.
Maxim finally finds strength enough to stand up, and trying to focus on what is going on around he readies his gun.
Kikinnin strides over the remaining skulk and with a commanding strike on his head front makes the humanoid to go totally blank. After some seconds trying to hold on feet the surrounded creature collapses under the combined attack of the rest of the party.
2 shortswords
4 daggers
2 thunderstones
Despite unconscious, the laying skulk bodies quickly start to mimic the colour and texture of the floor stone. Even with the dancing lights and you knowing directly where to look it seems really difficult to see where exactly they are without really focusing on them.
"Well done.." says the shaking JJ.
He sits down on the desk, watching as his hands tremor.
"I've never been in a fight like that before... but I've heard of these creatures. "
Then he looks around.
"Is everyone okay?"
As the skulks start to 'fade' into the ground, he looks around for a rope, perhaps the curtain ties, to mark them and tie them up with.
Looking around, Ryan realizes the creatures ambushed him and Maxim from the upper balcony. Shaking his head at the almost disastrous consequences he turns first to Maxim. "Sorry friend, thought the gnome had someone listening in on him and couldn't speak clearly, with all of his actions and words not matching up."
"Good idea, JJ" he says as the young man begins tying up the creatures
Picking up the thunderstones, he walks over to Marigold "Surprising things seem to come from small packages, I think these would fit well with you. Just a small warning don't knock them around too much or you might not hear anything for a while." He says with a smile.
Two choices folks, finish searching this house first, or see if Master Ghelves would like to be a little more forthcoming about the situation here? And then search the house."
"We've got enough legs for both tasks, Ryan. Why don't you talk pretty with Keygan. Me and others can make sure there aren't more of these things trying to blend into the curtains."
Kikinnin welcomes company, and heads up the stairs to scour Ghelve's Locks, then back down the stairs, searching slowly. He yells if anything, skulk or cuckoo clock, moves.
Once the situation is more stable, with the skulks immobilized, Kikinnin starts exploring the second floor.
This kitchen contains all the basic amenities, including a table with an hourglass resting atop it. A fire place dominates one wall, with pots hanging from hooks on either side. Two cabinets with frosted-glass doors
hold dishware and utensils. A half-barrel washbasin stands in the far corner next to the pantry stocked with foodstuffs, spices and soap.
The hourglass here is worth 25 gp.
This richly appointed bedroom holds furniture sized for a person of small stature. A coat rack sits by the door, while elsewhere in the room sit a cozy bed with a hand-sewn comforter, a clean bedpan, a chest of drawers at the foot of the bed, a wooden screen with birds painted on its panels, a wardrobe, and a small bookcase with some books and trinkets on it. A lantern sits atop a small end table by the bed.
The wardrobe holds Keygan's clothes, including several small vests and three pairs of boots.
The chest at the foot of the bed holds three drawers, all held shut by a single good lock.
Kikinnin will call his group to see if someone can open the chest and JJ will check it finding a trap on it.
The door in the northern wall of the storefront, where the counter lies, remains closed and locked by a good quality lock no one in the party is able to force.
Meanwhile as you free Keygan he exclaims "Ah! I thought you were never going to understand my signals! You were so focused on blaming me..." he then exposes "I will pay for this, but only for the part I am responsible. I was forced to collaborate, but I did not know what were they going to do. Promise me a fair treatment and I will explain all I know"
Keygan seems truthful about his intention to collaborate.
After resting until his hands stop shaking JJ stands and then marches back toward the gnome.
"Now, I'm generous, and I'm going to assume those creatures were threatening you. Where did they come from, and were they involved with the orphanage kidnappings?"
Keygan breaths deep then says with sorrow "They come from the Darklands. The last entrance to Jzadirune lies here, in a hidden door on my store. They somehow reached Jzadirune from the Darklands. And I fear so, they have been abducting people from the city during the last weeks"
The gnome tries to stand up "They were just one or two vicious criminals no one really cares at the beginning. Then, they started to kidnap people in larger numbers"
"They forced me to collaborate. They took my wife and my rat familiar. I do not know what has been of my wife, but Starbrow is located now in a dark place within one mile, and through my empathic link I can sense both my poor rat's hunger and fright" he clenches his teeth as he says what they made him to do "They made me create three skeleton keys, each of a different size, able to open most of my works, which means practically all the locks in Cauldron. One of the skulks carries the keys on a silver ring"
"Show us the door, Keygan. We'll treat you fairly. Sorry about your wife and... rat. You'll understand if we're more focused on getting the kids back first, but I'm gonna assume your wife ain't too far from them, so we might be able to return her to you. And your rat. As long as you can demonstrate the thing's free from disease, I'll not pop its head off."
When Keygan mentions what he's done, in creating the skeleton keys, Kikinnin grows red in the face. "You endangered far more folk than just your wife and your rat, Keygan. You should have never done that."
"They arrived 3 months ago and irrupted in my house taking us by surprise. They blackmailed me to learn about Cauldron and when they learned I had crafted many of the town's locks, they made me create those keys. They made me give them a list of those I sold a lock in the past ten years..." he looks to the floor ashamed "I was scared for my life and that of my family. I dared not act against them while they had my wife and rat familiar hostage... I know I placed more people in danger than them... and yet... I felt tied up. Plus in the beginning I did not expect them to do that. I thought they were just curious about the surface, then I thought they were just interested on stealing. It was a surprise they started to kidnap people, I do not know what they do it for"
"I am eager to make amends, let me help you" he demands permission to move to the backstore and there points some wooden tables on the staircase side, just below the stairs going to the second floor "There is the entrance to Jzadirune. I visited the enclave several times in my youth when I was not learning the profession from my father" he looks at the portrait at the clock on the staircase "I stopped visiting it when a strange magical affliction called the Vanishing caused many of Jzadirune's denizens to fade into nothingness. After 75 years now Jzadirune has faded from most people's memories in Cauldron..."
"I have a very old and racked map of the place at the chest in my bedroom" he points up to the second floor "And you can also copy the spells from my spellbook and take some of my locks by free. It is all I can offer"
All cantrips
1st level: alarm, disguise self, color spray, detect secret doors, hold portal, mage armor, reduce person, summon monster I, unseen servant.
Dandarrion asks Keygan, "What roll does the last laugh play in these events?"
"The Last Laugh?" the gnome looks at Dandarrion eyes open like dishes "What? Do they have anything to do with this? I have heard they are a group of rogues, aren't they? This creatures come from the undergrounds and I do not think they have anything to do with anyone in Cauldron."
Keygan's surprise seems truth, he knows nothing about the Last Laugh and he does not believe they can be involved.
"W-wait..." Marigold stammers, having once again been largely quiet since the skulks were subdued "you m-mean the Last Laugh aren't in on this?" She gives Keygan a strange look and then nods. "N-no...you're not l-lying now, are you? T-they're either n-not involved or if they are, y-you don't know."
She fidgets, rolling the two thunderstones that Ryan had given her in her hands. "M-maybe the Last Laugh has l-lost people t-too? Or they've g-got some other stake in t-this that we d-don't know of yet." Glancing nervously at the two skulks, she adds, "L-let's get them t-tied up before anything else h-happens. M-maybe they'll tell us more."