Rayne nods at Ben's statement. "Yes, I think that would be the ideal place to begin. I have little hope that our little friend is still around, but there is always that chance. It's worth checking out."
Mirra nodes, "The tower it is." She grabs a roll off the table and stuffs it in her coat pocket and she stands. "Shall we head out?"
"Very well - good luck. And may the blessings of the Flame go with you, Warden Imarad," says Agan.
"Yes, indeed," says Toppe. "Andrei here has a credit note here to provide you with the amounts you requested. Don't spend it all at once! Come." And with that, the High Warden, the High Deacon and their retinue sweep from the restaurant, leaving the party at the table.
A waiter approaches, and coughs politely. "Excuse me, - the bill," he murmers, proferring a small leather folder to collect the payment.
A waiter approaches, and coughs politely. "Excuse me, - the bill," he murmers, proferring a small leather folder to collect the payment.
Rayne casts a withering glare at the Flamics as they depart, leaving them with the bill.
"Vethkat suerakas."*
He takes the bill and looks to see how much this rendezvous is going to cost them.
Now, that's an expensive meal!
Lyrandar Tower is in Highest Towers in Upper Central, the tallest part of the Sharn that is actually connected to the ground. More a stone pylon than a building as such, it is the main point in the city where airships dock to pick up or deposit cargo and passengers. Craning up, two ships hang in the air, their elemental rings dull as their “engines” slumber. They are tethered with ropes and wooden gangways hang over empty space before mating with metal and stone jetties projecting from the side of the tower. Skycoaches buzz about – while there isn’t much traffic at the tower, what passengers that are about are almost all well-heeled. Travel by airship is the preserve of the wealthy.
As the party's skycoach descends to land, Andrei chats with Urthona. "I'm sure that your tribe's relic can be recovered for you. The Purge was a long time ago, and views have changed. But it might take a while - Church bureaucracy can be slow."
At the base of the tower is a plush reception area, its large glass windows offering excellent views across the city. Two half-elves – a man and a woman, probably unmarked scions of the house – sit behind a desk and greet the group as they enter. “Gentlemen, madam, can I help you?”
“Gentlemen, madam, can I help you?”
Colvare steps forward to the counter, "Hello, we are trying to catch up with an old friend, and have been told that he took, or is taking a transport to Stormreach, we would like to know if he has left yet, or if there is anyway you could get a message to him for us? His name is Varen."
"I'm sorry, sir. We don't release those sorts of details."
Mirra steps up to the desk, "Wells when is the next ship leaving for Stormreach? We need to reach Xen'drik anyway with or without him."
"I'm sorry, we don't release details of existing or previous charters - our customers prefer to retain their privacy. Would you like to hire an airship?"
"I'm sorry, we don't release details of existing or previous charters - our customers prefer to retain their privacy. Would you like to hire an airship?"
"Most likely we would. What sort of time scale would we be looking at, and what sort of price? Also, you didn't answer my other question. If you *did* have a passenger as we described, would it be possible for you to get a message to him? Obviously we wouldn't need to know if you did or not, the simple passing of the message would be fine"
The man at the desk smiles tightly. "If you need to pass a message, sir, might I suggest House Sivis? Where are you travelling sir - the charge varies depending on the distance and deistination."
The man at the desk smiles tightly. "If you need to pass a message, sir, might I suggest House Sivis? Where are you travelling sir - the charge varies depending on the distance and deistination."
"yes, very helpful, I must say. We wish to reach Stormreach, as soon as possible."
The man at the desk smiles tightly. "If you need to pass a message, sir, might I suggest House Sivis? Where are you travelling sir - the charge varies depending on the distance and deistination.""yes, very helpful, I must say. We wish to reach Stormreach, as soon as possible."
"Of course, sir. That will be 1,500 gold pieces. Per person. Unless Sir would prefer a charter, which is 1,000 gold pieces per day. I believe that Stormreach is a four day journey by airship." There is a distinct tone of superciliousness in the man's voice.
"Of course, sir. That will be 1,500 gold pieces. Per person. Unless Sir would prefer a charter, which is 1,000 gold pieces per day. I believe that Stormreach is a four day journey by airship." There is a distinct tone of superciliousness in the man's voice.
"I take it the charter will be quicker too? How soon could we depart?"
"There are alternative ways of getting there other than the most expensive possible," growls Andrei.
"Well, sir," says the receptionist, looking slightly surprised at Colvare's offer of a charter, "I'll see whether any ships are available." He checks a large ledger for a few minutes. "Ah, sir, the Dawn Herald is available tomorrow - another charter was cancelled at short notice. Would you care to charter her? He master is Forlgar d'Lyrandar, one of our more experienced captains."
Upon hearing Colvare beginning to whittle away the entire expense account they'd been extended, the changeling's eyes go wide and he calmly pulls Colvare to one side, offering a polite "Excuse us" to the desk person.
"Okay, I realize that you're excited to see the big shiny airship and that you don't have a problem spending other people's money. I, however, would like to KEEP some of said people's money and use it for more practical things like, say, a wand to keep our asses alive when drow skirmishers riddle us all with poisoned blowdarts. Let's explore other transportation options before we go and blow our wad on a thrill ride. Granted, Varen might be on the airship, but then again, he might not. Regardless of how we get there, we'll get there. Varen will be there somewhere, dead or alive. The world's not ending tomorrow. I'd like to get the chance to enjoy retirement someday, m'kay?"
Rayne turns to the others, flashing that characteristic grin. "What say we look into getting ourselves hired on as transport ship guards? I'm sure they've got pirates out there to worry about. The lot of us are fairly competent in a fight. We agree to help guard the goods in exchange for passage and meals, we get to Xen'drik free of charge. Thoughts?"
"There are alternative ways of getting there other than the most expensive possible," growls Andrei.
Colvare laughs, "Don't think I'm making this decision without the rest of you ok-ing it! Beside, are the cheaper options as quick? Or as", with a look to the attendant, "confidential".
"Well, sir," says the receptionist, looking slightly surprised at Colvare's offer of a charter, "I'll see whether any ships are available." He checks a large ledger for a few minutes. "Ah, sir, the Dawn Herald is available tomorrow - another charter was cancelled at short notice. Would you care to charter her? He master is Forlgar d'Lyrandar, one of our more experienced captains."
"Thank you, we will keep that in mind."
[ooc]So, what other options are there, and does anyone mind the slurge on a charter? By my reckoning the charter is actually cheaper for us to all travel anyway, or was that 4kGold each?"
"Okay, I realize that you're excited to see the big shiny airship and that you don't have a problem spending other people's money. I, however, would like to KEEP some of said people's money and use it for more practical things like, say, a wand to keep our asses alive when drow skirmishers riddle us all with poisoned blowdarts. Let's explore other transportation options before we go and blow our wad on a thrill ride. Granted, Varen might be on the airship, but then again, he might not. Regardless of how we get there, we'll get there. Varen will be there somewhere, dead or alive. The world's not ending tomorrow. I'd like to get the chance to enjoy retirement someday, m'kay?"
"Don't worry, I'm not interesting in spending all our cash, unless that is the best thing to do. Seems interesting that a charter just got cancelled though, doesn't it, I'm assuming that doesn't happen everyday if they cost this much in the first place. Could there be a connection, maybe Varen didn't make it this far?"
"Okay, I realize that you're excited to see the big shiny airship and that you don't have a problem spending other people's money. I, however, would like to KEEP some of said people's money and use it for more practical things like, say, a wand to keep our asses alive when drow skirmishers riddle us all with poisoned blowdarts. Let's explore other transportation options before we go and blow our wad on a thrill ride. Granted, Varen might be on the airship, but then again, he might not. Regardless of how we get there, we'll get there. Varen will be there somewhere, dead or alive. The world's not ending tomorrow. I'd like to get the chance to enjoy retirement someday, m'kay?"
I'm in agreement with the way Colvare is handling the Alidaber question. Shagraat is much more comfortable working for the human lady than the overbearing church. Shagraat will be keeping a subtle and cautious eye on our rediscovered paladin friend.
On the subject of travel, I think we need to investigate the fares and travel times for our other options, and potentially talk to Alidaber and find out what she was thinking. Perhaps this whole time we've been battling across the city, she's been arranging travel for our group? Or maybe the drow have her already.
Can we try to track her down next?
for Aubrey
With a gleeful look at the now thouroughly confused teller, Colvare says "Thank you again, most unhelpful." and turns and walks away.
"Ok, I figure we still have time to check out the costs of our other options, we are meeting Alidaber quite late aren't we?" This last with a look to Andrei to see if he hesitates at all.
With a gleeful look at the now thouroughly confused teller, Colvare says "Thank you again, most unhelpful." and turns and walks away.
"Ok, I figure we still have time to check out the costs of our other options, we are meeting Alidaber quite late aren't we?" This last with a look to Andrei to see if he hesitates at all.
Andrei looks fairly normal.
The group heads from the Lyrandar Tower towards Cliffside. When told the destination, the skycoach driver grimaces and says, "I'll drop you at the lifts to Cliffside in Dura. I ain't going down there!" By skycoach, lift and foot, they arrive at the Sea Devil's Reef, at least a day late for their meeting with Alidaber. When they arrive, it seems like exactly the same clientele as before are sitting in the same places in the same hostile silence. Even the sahuagin is slouched at the same table with, seemingly, the same clay cup in its webbed hand. But there is no Alidaber.
The group heads from the Lyrandar Tower towards Cliffside. When told the destination, the skycoach driver grimaces and says, "I'll drop you at the lifts to Cliffside in Dura. I ain't going down there!" By skycoach, lift and foot, they arrive at the Sea Devil's Reef, at least a day late for their meeting with Alidaber. When they arrive, it seems like exactly the same clientele as before are sitting in the same places in the same hostile silence. Even the sahuagin is slouched at the same table with, seemingly, the same clay cup in its webbed hand. But there is no Alidaber.
Colavre walks over to the bar and orders a drink, "You wouldn't happen to remember me by chance would you? last time I was here there was a woman with us who isn't here now. Do you know where she is?"
The barman just shrugs at Colvare’s question and the rest of the punters ignore the group. Suddenly, the overpowering, and deeply unpleasant, stink of fish mixed with cheap booze wafts over the party. The sahuagin has staggered to its feet and lurched over to the group, and it offers what might be a lopsided grin (though its true meaning, given the alien physical and mental nature of the sea devils, is hard to fathom).
“You seek the woman who was here?” it gurgles, its voice guttural and glutinous, though its grasp of Common seems good enough. It continues, oblivious to any replies to its question, “She has gone through the jaws of the shark to the city where the dreamer sleeps. You will follow her – your course is already marked.” Its expression turns into a curious gape, flashing several rows of sharp, backward-pointing needle-like teeth and a ribbed, grey gullet extending down to darkness, the flaps on its gill flaps pulsing slowly. “I know – he tells me.”
I step closer to the Sahaguin and say in an undertone, "Who talks to you, friend? Are you speaking of a vision, or just intentionally riddling?"
"The All-Consuming, he tells me," slurs the creature.
"You say she has 'gone'. Was this her idea, or was she taken by force?
"We did not expect her to start this journey without us, even if she is headed in the same direction we are."
The sahuagin shrugs. "I only know what he tells me. Why she has gone, or what she is doing, he has not told me."
The sahuagin shrugs. "I only know what he tells me. Why she has gone, or what she is doing, he has not told me."
"Then our thanks. Without you, we could have wasted days looking for and waiting for our friend, and she may need us sooner, rather than later. What could I offer you for the information? A meal at least?"
The sahuagin simply proffers if clay beaker and looks at the bar.
The sahuagin simply proffers if clay beaker and looks at the bar.
Colavre acquires the 'man' another drink, and turns to his friends...."Well, it looks like Alidaber may very well be between here and Stormreach, and I doubt she went willingly, without letting us know somehow....What do we do now?"
"Wells lets find a boat and head out. Unless there is some unfinished business we need to take care of." Mirra walks over to Andrei, "Could you get a hold of the stuff the other Thranes used when they attacked us? It sure put several of our people down fast and didn't do any lasting damage so it might come in handy later."
"That's used by the Inquisition - I don't know if I can get hold of it, but I'll try."
(The stuff was "drow" sleeping poison from the DMG. Andrei might be able to get some, but effectively you will be buying it from your share of the advance if you want some. Which reminds me - don't you guys have another shopping spree planned?)
"That's used by the Inquisition - I don't know if I can get hold of it, but I'll try."
(The stuff was "drow" sleeping poison from the DMG. Andrei might be able to get some, but effectively you will be buying it from your share of the advance if you want some. Which reminds me - don't you guys have another shopping spree planned?)
Any chance the trip will be long enough to acquire me a familiar or would that be pushing it a bit?
"I might want to do some shopping but I think we should find a boat pretty quick."