"Ishmael says yeh lot have summat to palaver about. I'm listening."
"Hey Mordrigaarz. We did some checking and we thought you deserved the heads up, turns out this killer goes by the name of the Shadownave, turns out he's working in league with Toranna, and we're just on our way to try and flush out the rest of the story. It's likely gonna be dangerous, going into dustman territory to try to out smart a dustman, so if things turn real bad we wanted to be sure someone else knew. We want to get justice for those barnies."
Karrin lowers her voice, "personally I hate this stealth stuff, I'd prefer a little smash and grab, but part of the crew thinks we can out smart the bent and who am I to tell them otherwise when they get a head of steam."
Swire stands off to the side, looking around the area with a practiced eye.
Perception
1d20+4 » + 14 [+4] = 18
Merle doesn't see a thing.
Drazek looks at the large man thinking about where he'd have to strike to take him down.
"Hey Mordrigaarz. We did some checking and we thought you deserved the heads up, turns out this killer goes by the name of the Shadownave, turns out he's working in league with Toranna, and we're just on our way to try and flush out the rest of the story. It's likely gonna be dangerous, going into dustman territory to try to out smart a dustman, so if things turn real bad we wanted to be sure someone else knew. We want to get justice for those barnies."Karrin lowers her voice, "personally I hate this stealth stuff, I'd prefer a little smash and grab, but part of the crew thinks we can out smart the bent and who am I to tell them otherwise when they get a head of steam."
Mordrigaarz looks confused.
"Who the sodding Hells is Toranna? She's a Dustie? They're behind the killings? I'll sodding shove animated bones up every one of their narrow nethers!"
Mordrigaarz looks agitated
"Filthy corpse rustlers taking barmys off the streets and necrotizing them. I'll raise the whole faction against them!"
Mordrigaarz is working up a good head of steam and getting louder by the second. Several nearby Xaositects start to slowly amble over quietly, trying to overhear the conversation.
Isaac breaks his reverie to check out the large group of Xaosmen working towards the group. He loosens his short sword in its scabbard and lets out a high-pitched whistle. He nods toward the approaching mob.
"Oi, cutters, might want to stow it fer a spell. Some addle-coves want to welcome us to the District."
Concentrating on the discussion going on the odd Xaositect, Ekuur is at first oblivious. However, as the man begins working up the head of steam, he notices the large group coming towards his new companions. He unshoulders his trikal, and gives a warning to the group. "Who are your friends coming this way?" he yells to Mordrigaarz, pointing them out and making sure the rest can see them.
Perception roll #1: 8
Perception roll #2: 23
Nari draws her bow keeping a wary eye on Clawboy and the group with him.
Drazek chuckles quietly, slowly cracking his neck from side to side, the vertebrae popping loudly in sequence.
"Looks like ya get that workout you were hopin' fer Karrin."
Bethany happens to glance back down the street and notices Clawboy and his goons heading in tha party's direction. Sighing, she draws her Footbow and trains an arrow on Clawboy, ready for anything the crazy berk will pull.
Swire reaches for his rapier while doing something beneath his cloak.
Swire, being the reknowned knight of the post that he is, had made sure to keep himself at the fringes of the two palavering groups, close to a narrow alley leading between two crumbling tenements in case a rapid retreat was called for. The thick fog helps to keep him unobtrusive.
He squints at the leader of the new group as it approaches, but he doesn't recognize the berk in the iron mask. These Xaos barmies bred all sorts of strange leatherheads out here in the Hive District.
Swire tries as best he can to ready his hand crossbow for a sneak attack. Considering the harpy Bethany just pulled taut her footbow he was relatively certain that no one was paying too much attention to him in the corner
Mordrigaarz swivels at the approach of Clawboy
"Ehh, jest what I needed .." He mutters, hand going to the greatsword scabbarded on his back. He pulls it in a practiced manner and points the massive steel blade at Clawboy's approaching form
"I ain't in the mood to piss poles with yeh tonight Clawboy," Mordrigaarz snarls, "I've got bonier fish than you to fillet."
Clawboy flicks his claws together with a clang.
"I think yer dealing wif me whether yeh wants or not, Mord." He yells. "Bringing outsiders on our turf, kissing up to them like some Fated bumboy, looking for help on Xaositect matters. Yeh ain't even using the scramble. Forget did how you ?"
A growing crowd of Xaositects, sensing blood in the air, has wandered over from the big tavern. Several well-armed cutters stand in a group just beyond the main crowd. A frowning half elven bint with a spiky do, several dozen piercings, a scar seaming the right side of her face and wearing a light purple robe is arguing with a thin Githzeri cutter wrapped in a decent chain shirt and carrying a wicked-looking spiked chain.
Knowledge (local): 1d20+6=20
Isaac's gaze falls on the gith with a glint of recognition. He addresses him over the chaos in the street.
"Oi! Factol! You got an opinion on this or you gonna let these bashers tear each other up? Bad form when all we're doin' is havin' the wigwag with your man, here. Faction business, could be big. Don't want to cost yerself any namers or factotums over somethin' barmy like this, right?"
Diplomacy: 1d20+1=21
"Oi, grate face," Karrin shouts, putting her axe on her shoulder and stepping away from her companions, "we're here out of respect for Mordrigaarz, but I ain't got no respect or fear for you. Step up and you and me will throw down. Seems like your beef is with us anyway."
Karrin adopts an open stance.
"I suppose you're too yellow to throw down with a tiefling girl though. Tell you what princess, I'll even let you have the first shot, I work better when I feel pain. When I taste blood. So what do you say? You want to man up or do you want to run home for your purse. You want to act like the big man, the leader of your gang, but I don't think anyone standing behind you's gonna follow a coward. So I'm giving you one time chance to prove yourself."
Don't want to cost yerself any namers or factotums over somethin' barmy like this, right?"
Diplomacy: 1d20+1=21
The Githzerai frowns, then grins. He strides forward, the purple-clad half elf woman at his side and his entourage of toughs following closely. The 30-odd Xaositects attracted to the fight part around him.
"Oi, grate face," Karrin shouts, putting her axe on her shoulder and stepping away from her companions, "we're here out of respect for Mordrigaarz, but I ain't got no respect or fear for you. Step up and you and me will throw down. Seems like your beef is with us anyway."
Karrin adopts an open stance.
"I suppose you're too yellow to throw down with a tiefling girl though. Tell you what princess, I'll even let you have the first shot, I work better when I feel pain. When I taste blood. So what do you say? You want to man up or do you want to run home for your purse. You want to act like the big man, the leader of your gang, but I don't think anyone standing behind you's gonna follow a coward. So I'm giving you one time chance to prove yourself."
Clawboy spits through his mask's grill.
"Yeh're after Mord, never you fear devilspawn."
He continues to bait Mordrigaarz.
"Big me yers an' man, you on come an' against mine. Or you have zills got no or ?"
After the last scramblespeak sally, the Githzeri with the spiked chain roars out:
"SHUT GOBS YER !"
The crowd falls silent, or as silent as a crowd of Xaos boys can ever be expected to get
He looks at Mordrigaarz and Clawboy
"Clawboy, Mordrigaarz is doing this palaver with the outsiders for the faction. He is doing it with me blessing. Yeh cause problems now yeh're not just messing with Mordrigaarz and the Clueless, yeh're messing with me."
Clawboy laughs harshly
"So he's yer pet then, fine. I don't take orders from anyone."
The Githzeri twirls his spiked chain idly in a lazy circle. A glowing band of runes snake their way along its links.
"Yeh'll take MY orders, cuz' I have the juice to make sure yeh take my orders. Yeh don't gotta like it, an' I don't care. I'm backin' Mordrigaarz on this, and yeh can sod off to Nirvana for all I care yeh sucker on yer Modron mommy's square teat."
Clawboy snarls, turns and stalks off, a few other Xaos boys following, but not as many as before. The extra melt into the crowd. Karan nods at Mordrigaarz and says:
"Yeh better put a right capstone on this Mordrigaarz. Specially since I put me rep on the line for yeh. Screw this up an yeh and me'll have words."
Factol Karan looks about
"Get drinkin' to back sods yeh ! Over show's !"
The crowd melts back towards Quake's Place, as does the factol's entourage.
"Bloody coward," Karrin snarls after Clawboy, "I might be clueless but I know a coward when I see one. No brains either. That's a bad combination. Sorry if I was interfering Mordrigaarz, it was rightfully your fight but I thought that worm was beneath you. My guess is he would have tried to get his men to swarm you and that's just damn annoying. Takes me hours to clean my mitt when that happens."
Karrin looks at her mitt as if imagining it covered in blood, hair, and bits of gray matter.
Not understanding most of the words that had been spoken, Ekuur can still tell that the danger has passed. Surprisingly, that almost disappoints him; he hadn't used his trikal since coming to this strange city. He looks around, and noticing Naridre not standing too far from him, he leans in to the elf and asks, "Who were those people?"
Not understanding most of the words that had been spoken, Ekuur can still tell that the danger has passed. Surprisingly, that almost disappoints him; he hadn't used his trikal since coming to this strange city. He looks around, and noticing Naridre not standing too far from him, he leans in to the elf and asks, "Who were those people?"
Naridre lets out an involuntary squeak of terror as the newcomer speaks to her and then blushes a deep crimson as she completely fails to hide her embarrassment.
"They're Xaosmen," she said in a near-whisper. "As far as I can tell they really just don't like order. At all." She shrugged. "I've only been in Sig- er, the cage a few days now, so I'm still pretty clueless."
Swire steps out of the alley he was in, casually holding a hand crossbow. "Well, that was disappointing. I was hoping I'd get a chance to put a bolt through that barmy's head."
Justin noticed the approach of CLawboy and his 'friends', and tried to casually move far enough back/to the side of the groups to use his crossbow and spells if needed. His brain was working so overtime, he completely missed the obvious solution,... get someone ELSE to take care of it! He smirked and nodded to Karrin and Isaac as Clawboy stormed off.
'Good heads on those shoulders. Despite what Karrin seems to want others to think.' He muses. Then steps up and catches Isaac's attention, pointing to where a pocket-hourglass would normally be carried,... if he could afford one.
"Sands pouring, keep it short." He murmurs to the Experienced cager, then continues to keep a lookout for CLawboy or his friends, and continues to worry about what might go wrong with 'The Plan',...
Isaac offers a vexed expression and little else before pointing after Clawboy and addressing Swire.
"You can still catch 'im if yeh scarper. Don't let us keep you, if yeh got big plans."
He grumbles under his breath.
"An' if I get called Clueless one more time tonight, there's gonna be some berks with missing teeth."
"You can still catch 'im if yeh scarper. Don't let us keep you, if yeh got big plans."
"Hey, I don't want to enough to fight all of them. Besides, if I stay with you all long enough, he;ll show up for some revenge, I'll stab him, we'll all be happy."
Ishmael blows out a cloud of acrid smoke, and squints with narrowed eyes at the edgy gang of outsiders, "Factol Karan." he says simply, "Boss of the Xaositects. So, looks like we're on the up and up."
He surveys the motley band of Clueless and Cagers, "You're gonna need help if you're lookin' to scrag this Toranna bint."
He turns to Karin discretely and in a whispered growl mutters, "It's 'barmies'... with an 'm'."
As Karrin insults Clawboy as he leaves he calls back
"This ain't over devilspawn! The Cage is a real small place. You'll rue the day you crossed Clawboy's shadow."
The masked form and his cronies vanish into the thick fog.
Sorry if I was interfering Mordrigaarz, it was rightfully your fight but I thought that worm was beneath you. My guess is he would have tried to get his men to swarm you and that's just damn annoying. Takes me hours to clean my mitt when that happens."
Mordrigaarz laughs at the duskblade's words.
"Well thankee sai for yer confidence. He IS beneath me, but he wants to climb the ladder on me corpse. I appreciate the backup."
Mordrigaarz's face sobers
"Starting a big brawl here would have been a swarm for sure if yeh lot had gotten involved. We Xaositects fight among ourselves a lot, but we close ranks when outsiders step in. That was a good word in the right ear there cutter." He nods to Issac "Yeh bought safe passage for yer whole crew at least for this Antipeak."
Mordrigaarz calms himself and sheathes his sword
"All right. Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? Yeh said yeh had a line on some Dustie who's making their own deaders? Are they getting impatient? Want better quality stiffs? Lann me the straight chant cutters."
Karrin rolls her eyes at the Clawboy's comments and all but ignores him.
"We don't know the reason yet," Karrin says in response to Mordrigaarz, "we know the murder's name and who he's working with, but little else. That's why my teams trying to pose as some mercs that made the mistake of jumping my group today. They're thinking that if they can fool Toranna into gabbing something . . . anyways that's where we're headed too now. We're hoping to get the location of this Shadownave. All we want is a bit of time and space to try to pull off this con, then, if things go bad, like I think they will, we'll bust in there and try to grab Toranna because she is one of the few that knows what's going on. Oh, and one last thing, some of these Barnies that the Shadownave supposedly killed are turning up very much alive and very much de-barnified. I don't know what to make of that yet."
He turns to Karin discretely and in a whispered growl mutters, "It's 'barmies'... with an 'm'."
'Barm?' Karrin thinks, 'they're calling these people foamy instead of using the root word barn? A barn can be a mad house but foam? Well it does make sense, some people blow the foam off of an ale before they drink it, and these people are similarly discarded . . .'
"You sure about that?" Karrin whispers back, "nobody ever corrected me before. Thanks."
"We don't know the reason yet," Karrin says in response to Mordrigaarz, "we know the murder's name and who he's working with, but little else. That's why my teams trying to pose as some mercs that made the mistake of jumping my group today. They're thinking that if they can fool Toranna into gabbing something ... anyways that's where we're headed too now. We're hoping to get the location of this Shadownave. All we want is a bit of time and space to try to pull off this con, then, if things go bad, like I think they will, we'll bust in there and try to grab Toranna because she is one of the few that knows what's going on. .. "
Mordrigaarz nods grimly
"If yeh needs some time an' space I can whip up a ruckus at their front gates. They expects Xaos boys to be wonked out ultra barmy, so we gives them what they expects. "
Mordrigaarz grins, looking at the party.
"Mayhap a bit more than they expects."
... "Oh, and one last thing, some of these Barnies that the Shadownave supposedly killed are turning up very much alive and very much de-barnified. I don't know what to make of that yet."
Mordrigaarz shrugs.
"I dont know the dark of that chant cutter. Alls I know is that I've been tromping around for weeks, trying to catch the berk wots been killin' barmies, an' I'm full torqued off about the situation now."
Mordrigaarz cracks his large knuckles and grins evily
"I don't like the Dusties nohow, so I'll be more than happy to scrub a few tonight."
Mordrigaarz looks at Karrin
"Do yeh need the diversion first before yeh get there or once yeh're in? I'd like one of me bloods to tag along with yeh too."
He indicates Ishmael
"This is Ishmael. He's a hende blade in a tight spot. He'll give yeh a hand."
"Nice ta meet ya Ishmael," Karrin says, flashing a toothy grin, "A distraction at the front gate would be good, I'm thinking there wouldn't be too many questions asked inside for unfamiliar mercenaries with spotty references if there were chaosmen at the front gate! Might be easier getting people inside. But I'm also thinking that the guards would be on high alert after that and it might not be easy getting people out . . . but I like it. I want this Shadownave bad, I hate bullies and murders, and I don't care for sneaks much either. I think we'll take your help Mordrigaarz, it would be rude to seeing as we're in your territory and you're offering, maybe Ishmael can travel with us so he can relate what we find back to you. No offense but I don't want to bash skulls every time I come into this district, for one thing I like getting paid for axeing questions (so to speak), and for another thing local powers don't care for that sort of thing . . . especially if I thump some faction guys by accident. Speaking of which, should grate face do something uncharacteristic and darken my doorstep, would it cause some friction if I gave him the short hair cut? You know, the really short hair cut? I'm normally not particularly vindictive but I'm beginning to genuinely dislike that meatbag and I'm thinking that the feeling is probably mutual. I doubt if I see him outside of the hive he'll be coming apologize for his 'Brutish behavior' or some such. No I figgure next time I see him and his gang we're likely going to have to throw down. I hope I won't earn the enmity of the Xaos when the inevitable happens . . .
"Sorry," Karrin says when she realizes that she's well into one of her spiels, "I've been rambling, sometimes I just talk without thinking. I'm not very disciplined by nature you see, and I have to force my mind and stuff to behave. I don't know who my parents were but I don't think they were devils."
Isaac nods to Ishmael.
"And that fulfills the Rule of Three for this antipeak. I'll be a Guvner's monkey if I'm lanned to whether that's fair luck or foul, but there 'tis. I'm Isaac, namer for the Believers of the Source."
"If everything's Mr. Tinker on this plan of ours, what say we get movin'? Our bint's expectin' a scragged sellsword an' we don't aim to disappoint. Wouldn't want her splittin' to her kip on us, right?"
"An' if I get called Clueless one more time tonight, there's gonna be some berks with missing teeth."
Justin barks a short but genuine laugh.
"Welcome to MY Plane, partner!" He whispers with a smirk.
Justin nods to Ishmael, "Welcome to the party. Your just in time!" He says with a raised eyebrow and his usual smirk. HE turns with the others as they make their way to the Mortuary, feeling OH so much better about the plan now. After all, they have (at least temporarily) received the blessings of the leader of the Chaos Gang. What could possibly go wrong?!? ;P
"Sorry," Karrin says when she realizes that she's well into one of her spiels, "I've been rambling, sometimes I just talk without thinking. I'm not very disciplined by nature you see, and I have to force my mind and stuff to behave. I don't know who my parents were but I don't think they were devils."
Mordrigaarz laughs
"Learn to mix yer words up an' yeh'd make a right good Xaositect. If yeh wants to scragg Clawboy, be my guest. 'Course he'll probably go after me first. Jest don't do it in the Hive, less yeh want a mob scene."
The smile leaks off his face and he looks about.
"Right. I'm off to whip up the boys. I'm sure I can get a good lot who want to do summat to the Dusties. I'll give yeh a headstart. I reckon if there's a disturbance out front chances are they won't let you in the back. Get inside, and then we'll cause the ruckus. Get the dark on this Shadowknave an' I'll have him swinging from the leafless tree by Peaklight"
Mordrigaarz clasps hands with Ishmael and turns and walks towards Quake's Place, yelling:
"RIGHT! FOR WHO'S UP LITTLE A BASHING DUSTIE ?"
Bethany smiles at Karrin as she puts Clawboy in his place and follows him out with the knocked bow until he's out of sight. After Karan's speech, she feels somewhat better aboutt he situation and puts her bow back in the quiver. She launches herself over the edge of the rail she's perched on and alights next to Drazek. She flexes her wings once and then settels in to watch the rest of the discussion with interest.
She nods to Ishmael as he looks her way, a neutral look on her face until she can better get his drift.
The parlay over, she once more takes to the air to follow the others through the streets towards the Mortuary.
Justin shakes his head as 'Mord' leaves them, yelling at the nearby Xaoists.
"I don't which bothers me more. The fact that there are people who talk like that on purpose, or that I'm beginning to understand them!" He smirks, then glances at Ishmael.
"No offense." He adds with raised eyebrows.
Justin stays towards the center of the group, checking his pockets for his bits of mystical flotsam, and making sure he has what he is looking for lined up. As he reviews his form-changing spell, a nasty idea comes to mind.
He smiles. In the dimness of the Hive it makes the tall lanky mage look disturbingly feral.
"Oh, yeah," He mutters, "This might just work out after all!" He continues to grin as his ideas take shape,...
The group departs the environs of Quake's as Mordrigaarz starts to whip up an angry mob of Xaositects. It is now After Antipeak , and the streets are dark and wrapped in a thick Cage fog. The smell of trash burning and open sewers spice the air.
Heading out of the Hive District, they meet a few groups of Xaos boys, but Ish greets them and they nod and back off. Despite their chaotic nature, the Xaositects seem to know something is up, almost as if they had a sixth sense.
Catching Lot's Lane, the group arrives at the Gatehouse Night Market. The market is in full swing, knights of the post haggling with fences and pawnbrokers about wares of dubious provenance. Painted jinkskirts and jinkshirts alike loiter at every open spot, peddling their own particular wares. There is still a few scorch marks on the bricks near the Bottle & Jug Tavern where Justin flamed the big ape earlier.
The large group doesn't get accosted by either the merchants or the fleshpeddlers. It seems the events of earlier in the Peak has left an impression on the market regulars.
Skirting the twisted district known as Goatswood, Swire sees his tenement slide by. It looks untampered with, which is good. He'll have to gather what few things he has there and see about transfering to the Copper Cauldron, though he's sure he won't be their favorite guest, it's safer than the Hive anyday.
The Gatehouse rears up, the milling crowds of barmies and poor folk looking for a handout have transformed into a tent city shantytown. Cries and moans echo in the foggy night air as the poorest members of Cager society attempt to sleep. Nari looks at the small windows high in the large building for Majeed's, but is unable to figure out which is which.
Haeding Spikeward through the Madhouse District and then into the Marble District, the group enters its main drag, Scab Way. Scab Way is a festive flesh carnival at night, one of the few places in the Hive outsiders would consider going after darkness falls. Swarms of Lower Ward Godsmen, Clerk's Ward flunkies and even a few well-dressed scions of the Lady's Ward stalk the brightly-lit road, looking for carnal adventures and a bit of danger on the 'wrong side of the Ring'.
Justin's gaze lingers on the Fallen Angel as they pass wondering if Skyy is still there dancing. Issac gaze lingers as well, remembering his roisterous night out with Hergik and Jak. Karrin keeps a sharp eye out as well, seeing as this was the road Veria had popped out of nowhere on and approached her.
Scab Way leads to the Gray District and the Alley of Lingering Sighs. The laughing crowds of bubbers and slummers vanish like a magic trick, leaving only silent streets and destitute grey-brick shantys with corpse carts in the alleys. Dustmen are active, if you can ever call them active, running about on whatever errand they have in the dark. The skull-like dome of the Mortuary broods over the dark foggy skyline like a patient spider.
The Mortuary's main doors are closed, but around the back of the wall surrounding the compound is a smaller door obviously used for night deliveries. As the party scopes it out they see a corpse cart being pulled by two Collectors leave the area.
Ishmael nods to his introduction and says, "There are some who call me... T-" he then cuts himself off, seemingly having thought better of it, and then adds with a grin, "Call me Ishmael."
Isaac scopes out the rear entrance and the neighborhood around it, trying to note how many guards there may be and if anyone else is watching it tonight.
Perception: 1d20+11=15
Nari turns to Merle and hands over her psicrystal.
"Hand on to that for me okay?" she whispers.
She looks over at Justin, biting her lip nervously.
"I suppose I need to be tied up now?"
"Isaac, when we get close to her if I do this,"Drazek throws up an open had, closing his fist while twisting his hand,"cover yer ears"
"Anyone know how to tie a slip knot," Karrin asks in response to Naidre, "we want it to look convincing but if we need to make a quick escape you'll need your hands."
Nari turns to Merle and hands over her psicrystal.
"Hand on to that for me okay?" she whispers.
She looks over at Justin, biting her lip nervously.
"I suppose I need to be tied up now?"
Merle nods and take the crystal although she does look less than pleased.
"Anyone know how to tie a slip knot," Karrin asks in response to Naidre, "we want it to look convincing but if we need to make a quick escape you'll need your hands."
"Any knot that isn't too complicated will do. It will only take me a few seconds to get free, I hope."
She looks frightened, but determined.
"Hey. For the sake of us poor berks who just joined up, mind giving us a nice little summary of the plan?"