"Well to be fair spells that can make people just drop dead with no marks aren't all that uncommon." Merle states matter of factly "And its not like there is a lack of things around here that could cast such spells."
""And did you hear what those Collectors were saying about a body without any marks on it? All kinds of things happen, but it's worth thinking about. Our friend Toranna, there: she had a symbol for some minor death power on her tabard. Not sure which, but I remember they didn't have a savory reputation. Something's queer at the Mortuary, besides the Dusties for once."
"Hmm. You say true and I say thankya. Guess we can place that in the 'red herring' pile for now. Think we ought to head out of the Hive soon, or do you have any other ideas?"
"Lets just get away from all the corpses walking or otherwise" Merle makes a small face of disgust whilst speaking "I guess we just go and wait for the others."
The Mortuary team keep chatting as they head back to the Copper Cauldron and some well-deserved dinner. The Gray District fortunately gives way to Ragpicker's Square quick enough. Although the square has a fair amount of Dustmen and their undead allies, the sheer volume of shopping and haggling going on give the plaza a living feeling.
"Scrolls, codexes and portfolios! Works from around the Wheel!"
"Linen rags! Fine linen rags! Washed and deloused!"
"Gently-worn dresses, shirts, tunics!"
Travelling through the plaza, they enter the Gear Street and the various shops windows stocked with magical whirlygigs. They travel past the Foundry District, the smokes from the stacks fogging the streets in a sulphuric yellow fog.
Passing through Swordhold, the group enters Meatmarket Square and the Temple District. The night sky is lit with varicolored fires and crowds of evening worshippers.
Skirting through the Court District the group passes the City Courts and the Prison. the area is deserted except for the taverns and wandering Hardhead patrols.
The Nobles' District is alight with lamps and magical beacons. Fancy carraiges and palanquins hurry off to soirees hither and thither. The well-dressed guards at the gates of the palaces frown as the group passes.
The Memorial Plaza marks the beginning of Copperman's Way. The wide boulevard is crammed with the night traffic, a leavening of Lower Planars, odd underdwelling creatures and the occasional undead. Gangs of roving Indeps, Sinkers and Xaos boys whoop and yell down the street. The Hardhead patrols try and keep up but aren't lucky in the most part.
Finally the Copper Cauldron comes into view. The common room is busy, but you see Renkar and Hanali enjoying a meal at a table in the back. Mercutio the faerie dragon is dimly seen in the rafters eating an apple pie slice.
As soon as they are in Merle flops down in the nearest chair and begins trying to communicate with Seph to try and get an idea of how the others are doing.
As soon as they are in Merle flops down in the nearest chair and begins trying to communicate with Seph to try and get an idea of how the others are doing.
"You cutters have a few moments to talk a little privately?" She asks in a low tone, so as not to be overheard by the folks in line for the office
Karrin picks up Seph, Merle's cat familiar, and cradles him in her arms.
"You bet," Karrin pretends to say to the cat, "anywhere you want to go."
As soon as they are in Merle flops down in the nearest chair and begins trying to communicate with Seph to try and get an idea of how the others are doing.
Swift follows Isaac's lead with the occasional shake of her head at the lack of sitting around and chatting or breaking in somewhere to get clues, she could have stayed in her room and catnapped, the halfelf seemed to have it all in hand. Still, she keeps her opinions to herself and follows along, taking in the everchanging sights and sounds around her as the group travel.
Grinning brightly as they return to the Cauldron she bounds over to Mercutio and gently pets the top of his head.
Draconic:
She greets him in a series of reptilian hisses with an enthusiastic grin before sitting herself on the arm of Merle's chair and watching her closely as she seems to meditate.
Isaac surveys the common room, checking for the rest of the Silver Rose. He gently pats the table where Merle is sitting and gives a whispered,"Gonna tell Renkar we're here" so as not to break her concentration. Then he'll walk over the Hanali and Renkar's table in the back.
"Good evening, cutters. Sorry to interrupt your meal, but we're back from our first look in the Hive. Do you want what little findings we have now or do you want to wait until we're all together?"
"You cutters have a few moments to talk a little privately?" She asks in a low tone, so as not to be overheard by the folks in line for the office
"You bet," Karrin pretends to say to the cat, "anywhere you want to go."
Derioch nods
"Let's take a walk in the courtyard out back. Follow me."
Derioch leads the group down through a hallway that opens out to a nicely-kept multi-acre courtyard wedged between two wings of the Gatehouse. Seeing orchards of fruit trees and sweeping vegetable plots in the heart of the Hive is a shocker. Residents in cheap burlap johnnies and old clothing tend the vegetables and fruit trees under the supervision of Bleaker namers in dark-hued clothing. Derioch leads the group to a sheltered grape arbor and sits on a stone bench. After a brief introduction to the various party members, Derioch gets right down to business.
"I wanted to rattle me bonebox at yeh because I've lately been tasked with summat of grave import to my faction," Derioch begins "For the past few months, a lot of barmies in the Madhouse district, an' as far as I can find, all over the Hive have turned up penned in the dead book. Naturally, we don't like bashers wot scragg defenseless folk. A leatherhead wot preys on the weak is the lowest form of slaad sucker in me book."
Derioch pauses
"Unfortunately we've been rolling snake-eyes when it comes to finding whoever likes killing barmies. So I'm going to offer yeh a deal."
Derioch leans closer.
"I'll do all I can wif me lads ta see if we can find your Eliath, an' you keep an' eye on the streets for anyone wot looks out of place bangin' around the Hive. You find any chant or darks, yeh come lookin' fer me. I'll leave word at the Records office they're to track me down if yeh come back. Fair deal?"
Mercutio sweeps down at Swift's call and nesles around her neck
Draconic:
"Good evening, cutters. Sorry to interrupt your meal, but we're back from our first look in the Hive. Do you want what little findings we have now or do you want to wait until we're all together?"
Renkar looks up and smiles. Hanali does as well.
"Ah! Our first team returns! Pray, sit down Ser Issac and tell us true what transpired in the Hive today!"
Still a little pale from the visit to the Mortuary, Isaac takes his seat, nodding to Hanali and managing a half-hearted smile.
"Well, boss, it seems the Dustmen may have already cremated this Eliath berk, though they named him as "Barmy Eli" in the dead book. The woman I spoke with, Toranna, got pretty annoyed when I asked if there was a chance we were talking about the wrong person. She also said it was eight peaks ago that he showed up. When was the last time you contact got word of Eliath in the Hive?"
Renkar frowns
"Well, that's not good news, but it's better to know I guess."
He thinks
"Ironfist mentioned that Eliath had disappeared 'over a week ago' so that could fit. I assume he tried to find him for a while himself before resorting to hiring our services. After all, we don't come cheap ."
The half-elf taps his chin in thought.
"To me it seems the obvious questions from here are 'how did he wind up in the dead book' and 'what basher put him there'. With all the corpses that come in off the street, how is it that Eliath wound up identified? Do you think he would have friends or contacts in the Hive? Someone knew him enough to give him a nickname and the Collectors aren't really scrupulous enough to look around for friends and relatives."
The half-elf taps his chin in thought.
"To me it seems the obvious questions from here are 'how did he wind up in the dead book' and 'what basher put him there'. With all the corpses that come in off the street, how is it that Eliath wound up identified? Do you think he would have friends or contacts in the Hive? Someone knew him enough to give him a nickname and the Collectors aren't really scrupulous enough to look around for friends and relatives."
Renkar ponders
"Well, we have the word of one faction member that he was penned in the dead book. It is odd that they had that much information on him, especailly if he was a newly-barmied sod wandering in the Hive. What did you think of this Dustman Toranna? Did she sound trustworthy? "
Swift brightens even more as she listens to Mercutio, a dazzling grin on her face as she stroked the little dragon.
Draconic:
Her response is oddly chirpy and excitable, an odd tone for the draconic lanuage but she clearly doesn't care as she converses happily with the faerie dragon.
"Honestly? I may not be the most impartial source: Dusties tend to get on my nerves to begin with. But there's a few things I noticed, in comparison with the others that I've met. One: she got rankled when I asked if there were a chance she was mistaken, letting it slip that we were indeed pretty 'sodding lucky' that she had as much chant as she did. Most Dustmen, they can't really bring themselves to care much and likely would have just shrugged and said it was possible. She wanted to close the subject pretty quick."
"Two: She had a symbol of a Power on her tabard. A jawless skull on a purple burst. I don't remember the exact power, but I remember they were a minor death god with a bad reputation."
"Three: Now, this may be nothing and Merle already pointed out that there could be any number of explanations. We overheard some Collectors picking up a corpse from an alley in the Grey District. For one thing, this is right by the Mortuary to begin with. For another, they said there weren't a mark on them, no pox or wounds. And I got the impression that there were more like that."
... chant ...
Renkar nods
"It sounds like this Toranna was a bit more excitable than your garden-variety Dustman. If she was hiding something she might have thrown Eliath's name out to try and throw you off the track."
Renkar taps a finger to his nose absently
"I've heard of that sigul before. Cyric, a power from that Prime world Toril uses it. The few devotees of him I've met haven't been particularly pleasant, but few death god cultists are."
Renkar frowns when Issac mentions the unmarked deaders.
"That is indeed strange. I have personally seen many folks die, in many ways, and few didn't have some mark on them from their cause of death."
Renkar leans back and takes a sip from his ale
"We might have stumbled on something bigger than Eliath here. It might involve the whole Dustmen faction itself."
Swift brightens even more as she listens to Mercutio, a dazzling grin on her face as she stroked the little dragon.
Draconic: ** spoiler omitted **
Her response is oddly chirpy and excitable, an odd tone for the draconic lanuage but she clearly doesn't care as she converses happily with the faerie dragon.
Mercutio opens his orange black-striped wings
Draconic:
Mercutio calls to Renkar:
"Renkar Renkar! Mercutio take Swift to office show her her pretties?"
He nods and Mercutio launches himself out the front door of the Copper Cauldron.
... chant ...Some more chant, a few darks.
Isaac leans back. Glances at Swift and the faerie dragon leaving, Merle at her table. Checks the door for any sign of the other group.
"I think I may have an idea of how to get an in with the Dustmen. There's a recruiter, State-Of-Grace by name, at Gathering Dust. Tried to get me to join. I'm not about to renounce the Godsmen for those ghouls but maybe there's a way to work around that."
He drums his fingers on the table.
With an excitable giggle Swift bounds after the faeriedragon, her expression one of kittenlike playfulness as she follows Mercutio. Usually content to put across the notion she's a (mostly) mature adult, the tibbit takes the opportunity to not worry and indulge her young side and play along with her little draconic friend.
Draconic:
,... "I'll do all I can wif me lads ta see if we can find your Eliath, an' you keep an' eye on the streets for anyone wot looks out of place bangin' around the Hive. You find any chant or darks, yeh come lookin' fer me. I'll leave word at the Records office they're to track me down if yeh come back. Fair deal?"
Justin has pretended to be interested in the activities of the orchard-tenders as the conversation takes place. Since their new friend seems somewhat nervous. (which Justin considers unusual in one's own 'home turf' so to speak) he looks around for anyone taking an unusual interest in their chat.
Justin glances at Karrin. He doesn't want to usurp her 'authority', and he's not sure how Renkar feels about his crew accepting side-jobs, but this is the kind of thing that catches his interest. And he's recently developed a real soft spot for those unable to defend themselves.
Justin smiles at the woman as if she just told an amusing story. He replies casually, but low-voiced,...
"We'd appreciate any help you can give us. Between all of us, I think we know a fair number of people. If I hear of anything, unusual, I'll be glad to let you know." he says with a friendly smile.
He turns to Karrin with the same smile and a look that says, 'agree with me, please?'
Renkar sips his ale again.
"Well, let's wait and see what the others have found out. Why not get some tuvker in Issac? Ramona! Issac and the rest need some feeeding!"
... the tibbit takes the opportunity to not worry and indulge her young side and play along with her little draconic friend.
Mercutio sweeps into the foggy air, monarch wings flapping.
Draconic:
Mercutio flies into the door and opens it with his dexterous paws and a key on a chain around his neck. Inside a lovely bouquet of flowers on Hanali's desk greets Swift. They are orcids, dahlias, canna lillies, birds of paradise and a host of other tropical beauties all arrainged in a red ceramic vase. There is a small card in them addressed to her.
Card:
... chant ...
Derioch sighs
"That's alls I can ask of yeh. I'll have me lads on the lookout for yer friend as well. Do yeh have a description of him?"
Justin:
Justin smiles warmly at Derioch.
"All we can do is our best. Thank you for your help. Elias is tallish, human. Grey haired. Last seen in the Hive wearing blue robes and acting,... well, not himself. Which is why we decided to check here." He smirks good -naturedly.
Derioch nods
"Well its getting dark, an' I have to close up my office. Let me see yeh all out."
Derioch leads them back out the the Gatehouse courtyard. There are fewer folks in the courtyard, but those brave enough to walk the Hive at this hour are queued up for some black bread and beans at the soup line.
Derioch leads them back out the the Gatehouse courtyard. There are fewer folks in the courtyard, but those brave enough to walk the Hive at this hour are queued up for some black bread and beans at the soup line.
Justin nods in thanks to Derioch as she departs. Then pulls up the hood of his coat with a shiver at the chill that seems to come rushing along the wheel with the darkness.
"Anybody else heard anything about what Derioch mentioned? People disappearing I mean? I know that there is a certain amount of unsolved disappearances in any large, 'civilized', area. But if it's happening frequently enough to bother someone who works with the poor and deals with it every day, it may be work checking out."
He looks at the others, his dark eyes shining from beneath his hood. "One or two 'barmies' disappearing or getting killed outright I can accept as coincidental, even if I don't like it. But it happening on a scale large enough to bother a long-term charity-worker? Something stinks. And it isn't just the Hive."
"I don't like it," Karrin says, without a doubt talking about the possible murderer, "and I don't care what Renkar says, we're going to investigate it. But for now we'll have to return and report what we've found . . . which is nothing I guess. I hate loosing. Let's just hope the other came up with nothing as well.
"Let's get going," Karrin says, "everyone stay sharp."
Seph meows happily from his perch happy to finally being able to go back and see Merle.
After a minute or two of trying to contact Seph she realises he's out of range. Sighing she straightens out, Looks around and wonders were Swift got to. She thought she heard the dragon mentioning something about a present and she really needed something to take her mind off the empty feeling in her mind where Seph's presence would normally be. Getting up from the chair she goes looking for the Tibbit.
"I don't like it," Karrin says, without a doubt talking about the possible murderer, "and I don't care what Renkar says, we're going to investigate it. But for now we'll have to return and report what we've found . . . which is nothing I guess. I hate loosing. Let's just hope the other came up with nothing as well.
"Let's get going," Karrin says, "everyone stay sharp."
Justin nods in agreement, casting a wary eye over the swiftly growing shadows that seem to be deeper and more oppressive than the last time he walked the Hive.
The peaklight has faded while they have talked to Derioch. The group descends Bedlam Run towards the Zaddfum Trestle. As they head through the narrow crooked tenements for that fog-wrapped bridge, a voice echoes out from the rainy darkness:
"Pazuzu, Orcus, Graz'zt, Demogorg --- URK! Gerrof me! The shadows--AAAHHHH!!"
The voice which started out kind of high-pitched and nervous giggly, suddenly ends with the screeching imprecation.
"I don't care what Renkar says, we're going to investigate it. But for now we'll have to return and report what we've found . . . which is nothing I guess."
Bethany listens to the conversation, not taking part but making sure to note everything saidOnce back outside, she turns to the others before they head back. "Is it normal for us to accept side jobs while on missions? You mentioned that you don't care what Renkar says, which makes me think no. I obviously don't mind extra if they will get us more coin, but if it will impact on my employment with Renkar then I'm not sure it is a wise decision."
"Pazuzu...!!"
Bethany takes to the air and keeps low in the darkening sky as she flies above the party.
Her head whips around as she hears someone mention Pazuzu and she wheels around to find the source once she hears the manner in which the voice was cut off.
Swift grins a little as she reads the card, silently wondering about the true motives of the sender before with a shrug and a smile she pockets the card and sniffs the flowers, deciding she really didn't care. More people should send her pretty things like this, questioning it would be silly and ungrateful. Scooping up the bouquet she grins at Mercutio.
Draconic;
She practically purrs before starting towards her room, bumping into Merle en route and smiling a little at the other feline woman.
Seph's head jerks to where the shouting came from part of him wanting to go help but another realising he wouldn't be able to do much by himself. Turning to Karrin he waits to see what she decides to do/
Her head whips around as she hears someone mention Pazuzu and she wheels around to find the source once she hears the manner in which the voice was cut off.
"Wow those are some really nice flowers. Who are they from?"
Drazek focuses for a moment, muttering something as he makes a weird guesture with his hands. A sense of wrongess coalesces around him for a moment as if reality were just violated.
"Pazuzu, Orcus, Graz'zt, Demogorg --- URK! Gerrof me! The shadows--AAAHHHH!!"
The voice which started out kind of high-pitched and nervous giggly, suddenly ends with the screeching imprecation.
Justin's head whips around at the sound of the voice suddenly cutting off. For a heartbeat he is still, exchanging looks with the others. Then he turns and runs in the direction of the shout. His long legs eating up the ground as he makes a gesture with his right arm. In a flash there are four balls of eldritch light, each glowing as bright as a normal torch. He waves his arm forward, and 3 of the balls of light go whizzing ahead of him, the last staying above his head to illuminate his path.
Bethany, Justin, Drazek, Naridre, Karrin and Seph all race forward. Justin discerns that the scream came down one narrow nameless alleyway a few blocks down. As Justin and his magic illumination advance, with Bethany flying ahead and the others following, they spot a corpse sprawled in the fetid muck of the alley.
The corpse is a ginger-haired pale freckled man, wearing a ragged brown vest and trousers. His tight pale red kinky hair spreads out from his head. He appears to be inked fully in the dead book.
Bethany, Justin, Drazek, Naridre, Karrin and Seph all race forward,... they spot a corpse sprawled in the fetid muck of the alley.
The corpse is a ginger-haired pale freckled man, wearing a ragged brown waitcoat and trousers. His tight pale red curly hair spreads out from his head. He appears to be inked fully in the dead book.
"Why is it my work always seems to involve an ungods-ly amount of running?" Justin gripes, panting as they splash to a stop in the odorous scum of the alley. He arches an eyebrow at the corpse.
"He looks familiar. Didn't we see him on our way into the Ward when we first got there?" Justin asks the others. He quickly looks around, and with a thought sends his spheres of enchanted light bobbing further down the alley.
"I thought I heard him scream 'shadows', keep an eye out,..." Justin looks around again. When he is satisfied that nothing is waiting to pounce on them, he bends down to examine the body.
Arcana: 1d20+11=23, Dungeoneering: 1d20+11=15, Spellcraft: 1d20+11=15
Drazek scans the rooftops with an eye towards the arcane
Naridre frowns and looks around, bow out and ready. Her eyes flash with power momentarily.