Kaul watches them go with a furrowed scowl;
"Feckin' little gnomes. Always tinkerin' and flickerin'... Don' trust 'em."
The brute bosun claps Dingus' skinny shoulder with a grin;
"So what mayhem ye hav planned Ding? What's all this new found interest in 'istory?"
"Well... There are some people I know back in Freeport that I'm becoming quite close with. They have a faction of people that are interested in finding a new god to follow, and they suggested Soralyon. He's all into history and what not... and ruins, which of course we are experts with... and I told them I would help. Kinda volunteered you guys as well, but I figure with ruins and old places there is usually treasure involved... so if'n you've got no other plans"?
Dingus then leans closer to Kaul. What's up with you guys? You look a little paler than usual... and Jim looks like he can barely keep his feet".
"Well, Besmara's quested us with huntin' down Red Aesha," Corliss tells Dingus. "Once that be done an' Jimmer an' Kauly be back at full strength...yeah, then our schedules ought be open again."
"I almost forgot...Kaul, we got a monument to check out. It's down in Underbridge, which is supposed to be the most dangerous part of the city. Interested? It's called the Shadow Clock, and considering a shadow done this to us the name's an auspicious one.'
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Kaul doesn't seem to hear his mates as his bloodshot eyes scan the area for more treacherous small folk. Only when Veric starts to lead the others away does he snap back to the moment.
Veric seems somewhat more enthusiastic about the tour after the potential good omen on the Mapstone. "I hope that the Shadow Clock only refers to its location in the shadow of the Irespan and not for any more strength draining haunts. I wouldn't typically recommend a visit to Underbridge, but I'm hoping Lady Luck is keeping her eye on us." So saying, he leads you back into the Dockways and toward the looming cliff and arch of the Irespan.
Along the main street that parallels the docks, Jim's attention is drawn to a large manor house four stories tall that towers over the docks. From balconies and windows, barely dressed women and men wave and beckon promising all kinds of interesting sex acts. At the moment though, the depleted sailor is left to wonder if he even has the strength for that. The sign over the door says 'The Shucked Oyster' complete with lewd illustration.
The crew skirts the many-canopied booths at the edge of the Bazaar of Sails and pass another monument, this one depicting twin wizards surrounded by demonic-spiders that appear to be getting the worst of the battle.
And then the high bluff comes between the sailors and the low sun as the group enters the Underbridge.
Despite his weakness, Jim tries to stride confidently, one hand near the hilt of his rapier. "How far is it to this thing?"
Corliss keeps close to Jim and Kaul so he can cast bull's strength spells on them at a moment's notice.
Despite his weakness, Jim tries to stride confidently, one hand near the hilt of his rapier. "How far is it to this thing?"
Veric squints through the dim light of the Underbridge and waves his hand in a futile attempts to disperse the foul odors that seem to have condensed under the stifling overhang of the Irespan above. "It's a tower, right? Look for a tower."
Most of the structures in this district are hovels of scavenged rock and wood that only rarely ascend to a second story. There are four immense pilings, some hundred feet in diameter that rise nearly thrice their width to support the remnants of the bridge above. Two are on land between the cliff and shore and two are just off shore. Nothing else of any height interrupts the view to the gray light at the other side of Underbridge.
Jim contemplates the scene sourly.
Corliss suggests visiting a local dive and asking about the clock monument. At worst, he figures, the crew will at least slake their thirst a bit.
Jim looks around and sees a group of kids playing some form of tag. They sing a weird song as they run around,
"...And when the dog is snoring,
And when you’re fast asleep,
Mumble Mumble Scarecrow
Will find you good to eat!"
A kid in the middle limps after, trying to catch one of the singers.
A Varisian man standing behind a box with a trio of bent cards face down makes eye contact with Jim and beckons him over with a chin nod.
Several men and women hang about chatting near a row of ramshackle houses.
Corliss' suggestion is met with a shrug from Veric as he notes that they are right in front of The Old Fang, which is one of the best known taverns in town.
"Give me a moment, hey? I'm about to go make a fool of myself." Jim walks over to the Varisian.
"That usually be my department," Corliss comments offhandedly. "Good to see ol' Jimmer branchin' out a bit."
Veric sighs as Jim walks over. The man at the table smiles broadly. "Hey and good day to you, sir! You look the worldly type, keen of eye. It's a simple game I have here. I've got three cards here- the Owl, the Bear, the Peacock. Keep your eye on the Peacock. That's the one you want. Eye on the Peacock. So every time you pick the Peacock, I'll give you silver and every time you don't pick the Peacock, you give me a silver. Simple enough. Which card do you want?"
All the while that the man talks, he flips the cards over and back face down revealing the images on the cards, switching them back and forth until all are face down in front of Jim.
Dingus keeps up a constant stream of banter as he takes turns wearing the ears out of each of his shipmates and Veric with a stream of consciousness rambling... as usual.
Knowledge (INT) Test
The Taldan grins at the patter. "So, a skull for a try? I've a better idea that will take a mite less time: I give you a sail, you tell me where I might find the Shadow Clock, my mates and I go there, and if we find it where you said it was I'll leave you another couple of sails on our way back. What do you say to that?" He shows three gold pieces in his cupped palm, to make it harder for anyone else to see what he has.
The man chuckles, "Just as easy. Sad to say that you're a bit late to visit the Clock. Bells started dropping out of it a couple years back and the City finally decided that it was too much of a hazard to leave standing. Prob'ly the bigger concern was that it's rumored that a murderer cult was dwelling within and had plans on the Lord-Mayor's life."
"The fallen stones were scavenged really quick, even the dark angel atop disappeared, but the old spot where the tower stood remains. No one's been brave enough yet to build over it."
Jim idly scratches his chin. "Well, I'd still like to see where it was, even if it's only a wild butterfly chase. Hate to have come all this way for naught, hey?" He passes the man two gold pieces. "I'll leave the third on our way back. Good hunting!"
The lanky figure taps his forehead as if to doff his cap though he wears a colorful maroon and gold scarf to keep his long hair bound. Jim reports back to his group to find Dingus still rambling about his latest obsession. Veric gives his characteristic shrug. "Well, you ended up losing less than if you'd fell for those Sczarni card tricks. I'd guess that the Shadow Clock used to be center of the Underbridge. Kinda regret not taking a look at it before I left town. This whole place is a hazard though."
The group continues deeper into the shadow through cobblestone alleys between shacks of scavenged wood and stone. central and cliffward of the district they find an open area where a roughly 70 ft x 70 ft region of crumbled black stone remains. Idlers hang about the periphery talking and arguing.
Jim looks around, then murmurs quietly to Kaul, "There's a fellow in yellow robes over there. Not likely to be our man in yellow, this far from Freeport, but the color stands out a mite."
Corliss remains blissfully unaware...as usual.
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Kaul's left eye gives an almost imperceptible twitch at the mention of teh Man in Yellow and memory of Stumpy and its errant tongue. Kaul's lips peel back and a heavy sap appears in his hand. "We'll soon know if he knows anything about it. Hur." He growls as he quickly heads toward the furtive figure.
Veric ponders, "That butterfly was yellow. I wonder..." Hid pondering is cut short as the elderly man in the robes spots Kaul's approach and wails out for help!
Keelhaul Kaul-
Madman Jim-
Dingus-
Corliss-
old man-
Corliss rubs the bump on his head and for the first time in a while something actually clicks!
"Those be the robes o' a priest o' Sarenrae, methinks," the Besmaran reports.
"Feck! Kaul, leave him alone--we want to talk to him!" Jim sprints after the half-orc, trying to get between him and the old man.
Perception
Know: Religion (Untrained)
Dingus spots the elderly man about the time Jim points him out... not because he looks familiar... but because that color of yellow will make his skin look pasty, and the style of the garb is so a decade ago.
He understands after Corliss points out that those are priestly robes. They are so faux pas when it comes to fashion for the most part.
"Yes! Hold up Kaul! The slight sorcerer follows in Jim's foot steps before querying him.
"Do we want to talk to him? Why"?
He keeps running anyway anxious to not loose his shipmates now that they have reconvened.
Jim and Dingus race after Kaul, trying to curb his blood lust. They catch the rogue sailor just before the yellow-robed man casts a spell and retreats around a corner.
"Because we need a friendly priest to fix what the shadow did to us!"
"Oh. Yeah, I guess you would like to have back enough strength to carry out your own nightsoil". He then points to the new arrivals. "What do you reckon those guys are up to"?
"Hey there, friend!" Corliss calls to the priest. "We mean no harm--just wanna know iff'n there be a priest or church hereabouts what can fix up some damage caused by a malevolent spirit. We can pay well fer the services."
Kaul belays any red-handed deeds at the hailing of his shipmates, but he keeps his paw wrapped around the leather grip of Lopper.
"Hur. Only malevolent spirits I know o' is Bloodgrog... Hur-hur-hur..."
While the thug chuckles, his fell hatchet continues to stare the priest down...
Deferring to his companions' less aggressive tack, Kaul draws up though the witchy eye mounted on the axe keeps a steady bead on the nervous priest. The Sarenite stops fleeing, but comes no closer.
"Stop where you are!" comes a belated command as five figures with crossbows and cudgels surround you. Though they wear common clothes rather than uniforms, the woman who gave the command flashes a badge. "We are City Watch and command you to answer our questions and offer no resistance under threat of arrest. State your name and business."
Keeping his hands well clear of the hilt of his rapier, the Taldan suppresses an urge to grin. "I'm Jim Patterson, and my mates and I are in search of a healer."
The captain eyes Kaul. "What about you? Looking to heal your coin pouch?"
"Be at peace officers. We only wish to speak with this fine gentleman. I am Dingus and not only a recent resident of this fine city, but a Prophet of Soralyon. I vouch for what they say".
He then claps Kaul on the shoulder. "My friend here might be a little overzealous, but he's just protective of his friends. We have no intention of assaulting this man".
Diplomacy
The Captain sighs and speaks to the priest, "I told you this wasn't going to work, Menzir. The attacks happened at night, not in the middle of the day. At most you're going to attract pickpockets and petitioners. We need to set this up at night."
The old man shakes his head fervently. "oh no. One priest murdered and two missing. This is a crazy idea. Go door to door, do some detective work. I'm not playing bait for this, Captain."
Aw, feck. I knew it wouldn't be easy. Jim clears his throat. "'Scuse me? Menzir, is it? Sounds like you might have a problem. Could you use some help?"
The old man seems about to dismiss Jim's offer, but then inspects the group more closely. "Well now. You look like adventurers and quite tough. Perhaps. The Captain here wanted me to roam around at night to try and catch whoever or whatever is killing us. I am not willing to do that, but if one of you should disguise himself and take my place, it might be worth a try."
"And by 'us,' I'm presuming you mean Sarenrae's clergy, not priests in general?" He looks around at the rest of the Freebooters. "We might be able to help you out. Thing is, though, I'm suffering terribly from the touch of a powerful shade...leeched almost all the strength from my arm, it did, and it's not returning. My mate here doesn't have it so badly, so he can still get around without magical aid. We'd do a far better job as decoys if you could heal us both, hey?"
Kaul mugs a grin at the Watch and Priest;
"Hur. Get one o' yer priest's tae 'eal back our strength an' we'll catch yer killer Watch Capo... Like that ol' orc fisherman sayin' goes: Want a bite? Get some sharp teeth! Hur-hur-hur..."
The thug chuckles harshly as Lopper bobs in appreciation.
Corliss does his best to back Jim's play of healing-before-helping. He also figures that the role of decoy will come down to either himself or Dingus, and he points out that the sorcerer's extensive wardrobe makes him a natural choice for the role.
Menzir frowns. "Yes, Sarenrites in particular. We have had a difficult time in this city. Sadly, I am the least of us in Magnimar. I am not powerful enough to restore your strength, but Zadendi or Masika might be. Or perhaps if you could recover the book of rituals that Masika had with her, I could try."
"If you survived a shade, then surely you are strong enough to find and save them! What do you think, Captain?"
The watch captain frowns, but nods her head. "It seems far-fetched to me, but still more likely to succeed if you refuse to do this at night. We will guard you at a safe location then, Menzir, while this group attempts to catch the villain."
'Course it wouldn't be that easy...best chance we have, though. Jim sighs. "Worth a try, hey? All right, we'll do what we can. Tell us what you know about the killings and disappearances, Master Priest, so we can be a mite readier."
"Zadendi disappeared first. She had set up our mission here last summer. It had been some 50 years since the Everlight had a formal presence here. Tavor, Masika, and myself followed to help in the autumn. About a month ago, Zadendi didn't return from her work tending to the needs of the less fortunate. Then a week ago, Tavor was murdered returning late to our quarters near the border of Lowcleft. It was horrible. The Captain can tell you more of that, but then three nights ago Masika didn't return either. Now I am the last and for how long if this continues!" He finishes somewhat hysterically.
The captains shares what she knows. "We became involved with the murder. The man suffered severe head trauma, was stabbed multiple times and his heart was removed. It was quite violent." She glances at Menzir who sobs loudly. "We were able to question the corpse through magical means. He was confused as to how he was killed. Something very hard and heavy struck him from above. He couldn't see much from the blood in his eyes, but he muttered something about silent dark wings. I don't know what that means. Maybe a side effect of the head trauma. That's all we got from him."
"Seems like it'll be a challenge. So you want us to find out what's happening, keep it from happening again, and recover Masika and Zadendi if they're still alive, and at least recover the book of rituals...that sound about right?"
"Yes!" Menzir exclaims with hope rekindled in his old eyes as the watch captain gives a curt nod.
The captain notes the dimming light outside the Underbridge District. "It's not too long until sunset. If you'll follow us to the Arvensoar. We'll have something for Menzir to wear while you borrow his robes and you can prepare."
Kaul listens and chuckles harshly;
"Hur. Ol' Kuala has night eyes, will see the death a-comin'..."
He pats his axe affectionately;
"See. Me an' Lopps 'ere know death. It's what we peddle... Red 'anded deeds. Let us dress as the skinny little Sarenraet. When the wings come, we'll lopp 'em awf!"
"Agreed. Sounds like Kaul's in, too." Jim smiles at the priest's reply. So anything else we find is fair game...got it.