"We are looking for 2 people. Jaheira and Khaleid. They are supposed to help us. We can inquire after we eat. It's been a long road. "
AND SO YOU EAT...
Is anyone else going to do anything?
"We should stick together. I don't like the idea of one of us being caught alone," Rasp remarks at dinner.
Rasp walked up to one of the patrons he heard mumbling Thieves Cant.
"I'm looking for honest work," he said while scratching his left eye with his thumb. "Any lead on a host?"
Rasp, you walk up to a morbidly obese, greasy looking fellow, with unkempt clothing and pudgy fingers glistening with jewelry. He sizes you up for a moment, scowling, before seeming to relax.
Aye lad, honest work harvesting the wheat, if you hear me straight. Look for Jasper, near the temple, he will show ya whats what.
When they finish eating, Qorin gets the bartender's attention.
"You wouldn't happen to know where to find Jaheira and Khaleid, would you? We've got a message for them."
Rasp, you walk up to a morbidly obese, greasy looking fellow, with unkempt clothing and pudgy fingers glistening with jewelry. He sizes you up for a moment, scowling, before seeming to relax.
Aye lad, honest work harvesting the wheat, if you hear me straight. Look for Jasper, near the temple, he will show ya whats what.
The man looks you in the eyes, seeming to measure you up for a moment. After a tense moment, he relaxes.
Aye, I know them. Expecting a friend I do believe. Or a few, evidentally. If ya wish, I can have you wait in a private room whilst I fetch them.
Rasp nodded at the obese man and walked away.
Jasper -- probably some low-level enforcer. Perhaps he could give him some information on the halfling and his friends. Or possibly the half-orc in the polished armor. At the very least he needed to know who not to anger overly.
There were too many unknowns.
He walked behind Qorin and heard the barkeep confirm their contacts. He nodded.
"Have them sent to our rooms in an hour. There's a gold coin in it for you, if you do. How much for the rooms?"
The man looks you in the eyes, seeming to measure you up for a moment. After a tense moment, he relaxes.
Aye, I know them. Expecting a friend I do believe. Or a few, evidentally. If ya wish, I can have you wait in a private room whilst I fetch them.
Uruk nods at places where appropriate. Otherwise he doesn't...and he follows folks.
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The Innkeeper nods in agreement, and accepts a Gold each per night for the rooms. Beyond the Merchant you aided outside becoming more and more despondent as his coffers are emptied by the Red Robed Man, and the continued glances from the Massive Armored Half-Orc, nothing else of note happens.
At the agreed upon time, you all gather in the rooms Rasp has procured for you. The Keep houses four towers, and each tower has been turned into housing, with numerous rooms both spacious and cramped. You all have been given a spacious common room, with small bedchambers leading off of it, high in the Western Tower. It is comfortably furnished, though not flamboyant, with the basic necessities you would need.
A knock comes upon the door, followed by three figures entering the room. The first is a tall, lean but well built Half-Elven woman, with tanned dusky skin and almond eyes. Her hair is long and loose, and her clothing simple but functional. She wears leather armor, and carries a scimitar and shield. What few ornaments she carries all take the form of tokens to nature, such as a silver oak leaf clasp for her cloak.
The second figure is a man, tall and muscled, with a thick black beard and mustache adorning a sharply narrow face. He constantly glances about, seemingly nervous, and never strays far from the woman's side. He carries himself proudly despite the nervousness, and his skin tone and features, as well as the manner of his clothing, would seem to mark him as a man from Amn, or perhaps even further south. He wears scale mail, and bears a sword and shield.
The last figure too is a man, a familiar one at that. The Innkeeper steps inside, his imposing physique now wrapped in fine Plate Mail, and a large Greatsword unsheathed and at the ready. Where before his handsome features where pleasant and welcoming, now his bears a determined, even harsh manner, and stares at each of you with violence in his eyes. As he steps in, he blocks the doorway out and locks it behind him, facing each of you in turn.
Jaheira, Khalid, these are the ones that have been looking for you. It seemed prudent to gather them all in one place...
He turns to you.
Excuse the harshness of our visit, but I do not know you, and know not what you have planned. Know now that I will brook no violence in my house, and that Jaheira and Khalid are dear friends of mine. If you wish violence or ill will upon them, I shall return the threat in kind. Now, they agreed to at least hear you out before I interrogated you, so thank Tymora for that small favor. Speak now, and quickly, and I shall judge you by your words.
All three stand there expectantly, waiting to hear your tale.
Qorin rises when the three of them enter, and at the sight of the innkeeper's unsheathed sword, he raises his maul, not quite raising it to strike, but his feet are planted and his posture is ready.
"We have seen enough of violence, these past days," he says, turning his eyes on the innkeeper, "But do not think to frighten us. I will tell you our story, but not because you threaten us."
"Many days ago, Gorion of Candlekeep summoned several of us to meet with him. He insisted that we leave Candlekeep with him the following day. In the intervening hours, several of us were attacked by foul creatures known as doppelgangers."
"When we finally left the town, he told us that we would find friends here, and gave us your names: Jaheira and Khalid." He turns to the Innkeeper. "He did not mention you. After we left the town, we were attacked by a man in black armor, who had ogres and witches as his allies. We all would have died, if Gorion had not teleported us to safety, but as he did so, he received a fatal wound from the man in black armor."
"Twice more on our journey here we were attacked, by bandits and by goblins. Gorion believed that a dark power has been readied to move against us. He believed that you could offer aid or understanding. That is why we came looking for you. Now you've heard our story, shall we put our weapons aside, or see who still breathes when the fighting's done?"
Rasp subtly removed something from his belt and tossed it onto the floor. It landed with a loud thump. Everyone looked down to see the holy symbol of Bhaal covered in dried blood.
"Our evidence, as it were. We also have a letter from Gorion himself, which you'll only see once you've put away your weapons."
Kemek wonders why the Innkeeper is dressed like a warrior.
"Is there some problem with our drinks?" he whispers to Uruk. "If he is insulted, I could order something oily..." Kemek smiles his best impression of nonchalance at the Innkeeper.
At a nod from Jaheira, the Innkeeper sheathes his sword. He takes the letter and scans through it, his serious demeanor soon replaced by one of grief. He silently turns and passes the letter to the others. As he does so, you cannot help but notice a passing resemblance to Garion you had not noticed before.
Jaheira takes a step forward, anger and grief shrouding her beautiful features. With a cry of rage she slams her scimitar into a chair, leaving the blade lodged in the wood as she struggles to calm herself. Khalid stays calm, though pain is evident in his gentle eyes. He moves over and places an arm around Jaheira.
Please...forgive us the way we approached you, but our dear friend Gorion warned us to be wary. The wise old man knew some darkness was stirring, but forbid us from following. Damnit Gorion, why would you not accept our aid? Alas...all the Gods watch over you, my oldest friend...you were the best of us.
He turns to you.
I am Khalid of the Harpers. This is my wife, Jaheira, and our companion, Garek, brother to Gorion. Please, though the cause of our heartbreak is still near, we must ask that you share the tale in its entirety. Gorion obviously wished us to aid you, and I will not dishonor his memory by failing in this duty.
Siera makes an ample gesture to the chairs around the room, calmly distributing wine glasses at the table. Hoping that the simple gesture might calm everyone's nerves, she picks a travel journal, ink and ash from her backpack.
I have committed all I know on the last few days to paper, but I'd be the first to admit that's not the complete story. Rasp, if you and the others are unopposed to the idea, I'd very much like to chronicle the recent events so as to inform the people on the Sword Coast about this menace. I believe it's what Gorion would want.
Uruk sushes the druid but givesa shake of his head to indicate that Kemek is not anywhere close to to the right track of thinking. As introductions are made Uruk gestures to himself. Uruk and then the head. Kemek...we...ah...need to get him a body. As to the tale in full I will let the others regale you. Ridel, Tessa and I came to the group later. Uruk looks to Rasp and Qorion to fill in the gaps closing his eyes and tilting his head to Kemek then shaking his head as though to say "don't trust this one to give the right details".
Here's a link if someone wants to reread the beginning in full.
"There's not much else to say. Six of us were summoned by Gorion to a tavern. He -- he told us that we were special, somehow," Rasp said with a scoff.
"He said we needed to leave Candlekeep. But wouldn't specify why. If you knew the Old Man, you knew he liked his secrets."
"Later we were attacked, as Qorin said. I do not know for certain what happened to the other three. But it's safe to assume that they're dead," Rasp finished sadly.
Rasp's hand unconsciously slipped to the hilt of the dagger on his belt. The dagger that he took from Gorion's corpse.
A dagger he vowed would be stabbed in the heart of the Black Knight.
With much effort, Jaheira takes control of herself, wiping tears away as she does. Garek remains silent, though his face is contorted in anger, and wrath dances in his eyes.
Jaheira turns to you.
I understand, and grieve for your loss. Gorion was a great man, and we shall all be lessened without him. Of course we will offer what aid we can to his wards, and those who have chosen to travel beside them. Tell us, what have you planned next?
"Our priority is Kemek. He was gravely injured and we want to return him to functionality again. Afterwards -- truthfully, I'm not sure. We must find out what we can of this Black Knight and his band."
Suddenly Rasp straightened. He remembered something.
"Wait! Do any of you speak Abyssal? We found some papers on the Bhaal Priest written in the demon tongue. Ridel, show them the papers."
Uruk offers a shrug at the mention of abyssal though he raptly listens to the story and frowning over the details.
"I am fluent in Gnome! Will that help?" offers Kemek.
All three glance at each other before shaking their heads, with Jaheira speaking up.
I am afraid none of us can speak that tongue, though I am certain you could find someone here who could. Their are no shortage of people lodged here, and perhaps a scholar or wizard has arrived. It could not hurt to inquire, though I would advise caution, or allow us to ask for you. From your tale, I do not believe it would be safe to expose any of you more than is strictly necessary.
If you think it better that you inquire, then please do. I think we should find out what the document says...
"Yes, please inquire. In the meanwhile I shall take Kemek to the Temple of Lathander. Perhaps they can help him. Will anyone else come with me?"
"I will go with you!" enthuses Kemek, unaware that he has little choice in the matter.