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Vera Foss looks at the lizardman, What's yer name?
After Rakish' response, she nods, I'll not be forgettin' any time soon.
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The address leads you to a small shop in Podol's Plaza. The building's front door opens into a small, cramped office. Looking within, you can see a number of different heraldic banners hanging upon the walls, each above what looks like a gaudily-decorated family tree set into a frame.
A handsome man with the haughty disposition of nobility looks up as the door opens. He straightens and stands, speaking deadpan, Oh, hello there. Sarcasm almost seems to drip from his mouth, I am very excited to be a part of this.
He has long black hair framing a narrow face, with piercing green eyes. Agin Lamarck is dressed in fine silks and linens, wearing no less than a half-dozen ostentatious rings upon his fingers.
"Well, greetings. Wonderful place you've got here. We are here to investigate a theft of a book. We believe the thief was looking for some information in the books. Could you tell us more abut the tome he took? He must be foolish to dare steal from someone as important as you," Glenda says, smiling and trying to flatter Agin.
We're not too excited either, pal! Glenda thinks to herself.
Rakish watches the scene and surveys the area, keeping an eye out for trouble while his companions do the talking.
Krissina watches the man, and tries to restrain from smiling at Glenda's comment. someone who flaunts his wealth so much is probably compensating for something...
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He sighs, as if this is a waste of time and begins to speak, The book in question is called Lords and Lineages of Phlan. It is a catalogue of every noble house that has resided within Phlan from present day to as far back as seven centuries prior.
Lamarck walks over to the counter of his shop tracing his fingers along the dark wooden top before continuing, This book has been in my family for over two centuries, and has been my family's responsibility to add to it as the years pass.
The haughty noble gestures for you to follow and leads you to his workdesk, The book was secured within this drawer, locked and protected by powerful spellcraft. That being said, I have no inkling why this text would interest anyone. While it is old and rare, it is little more than a collection of lineages and notes made by scribe of the past and current noble houses.
He frowns slightly, In all honesty, it is a dreadfully ugly tome discussing a dull subject and cannot be expected to bring much of a profit.
After paying off Glenda's additional gold piece winnings, Sera sets about following the rest to the next step. She blanches when she notes how this mans nose practically scraps the ceiling, and makes faces behind his back when he turns to lead them around.
So you're saying that your families life's work is "a dreadfully ugly tome discussing a dull subject"? she says, doing her best snooty noble impression during Agin's comments. Well, my family has made its living reading people and knowing when people are trying to pull the wool over on us... And you ARE. What aren't you telling us, and WHY aren't you being honest with the people trying to return your property?
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Once again Rakish notices the odd mannerisms signaling the man is holding back information. But it seems Pink Power has it covered.
So instead, he snorts.
"There is no need to be so humble. Your family has long been considered experts in the field of lineages. And if this book was secured, there must be some information within it that's important!" Glenda says.
Sera continues to stare at the man as if to drag the truth out of him with the power of her will.
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Agin Lamarck looks furious at Seraphyna's accusation, staring at her as if he could set her ablaze. But the young half-elf returns the stare with equal ferocity until the nobleman breaks!
Alright, alright! Lamarck places his palms on the countertop and takes a deep breath as if gathering the strength. Despite my family's long-standing claim to nobility, we are not actually related to the House Lamarck. In truth, the last surviving members of the Lamarck line dies nearly two centuries ago.
He pours himself some brandy from a bottle and takes a pull before continuing, My great, great grandfather made a couple of clever forgeries in the Lords and Lineages of Phlan, allowing my family to claim descent from the line. With no one to contest the claim, there was no doubt to the legitimacy.
You cannot breathe a word of this to anyone, I beg of you!
He looks around and seeing no sympathy he moves over to the desk and unlocking the drawer, he withdraws a bag that clinks with the sound of coin, 50 pieces of gold! It is this week's profits, and it's yours! Please!
He looks much less haughty, much smaller than he was, Please just return the book to me. I do take our responsibility seriously, and I am dedicated to the integrity of what we do, despite what my ancestor did.
"So what can you tell us about who might have stolen it? Who else had information about this? No more tarrying; the thief could be getting close to discovering the information as we speak!" Glenda says.
Good work, Seraphyna! Glenda whispers. And I think he's sincere about what he just said.
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Lamarck watches you leave, not daring to hope that his pleas will be honored, his hands wringing before he closes the door behind the last of you.
You make your way through the streets on the way back to Mantor's Library. The sun is shining, as it is late afternoon, and the streets are bustling with hundreds of people milling about.
You round the corner and an elf steps to the edge of an alleyway, and leans against one wall with nonchalance, speaking just as you pass, The Welcomers send their regards, and have information that you may find useful. Follow me, if you are interested.
With that, he abruptly kicks off the wall, upon which he was leaning, and heads deeper into the alley and around the corner.
At Larmarck's
As they make to leave Krissina speaks quietly. "Keep your gold, I can make no promises to keeping your secrets, but I see no compelling reasons to spill them either..."
Back in the timeline
"Well now, how can we turn down an offer like that?" Krissina follows eagerly, disregarding the danger of following strangers into allyways.
The Welcomers? Mmm... all right, Glenda says, wondering if there's an ambush ahead. The fish in her pouch is twitching..
She whispers to the others. Something isn't quite right about this elf, besides that he has the manners of a orc after far too many ales. I'd suggest getting your weapons ready...
However, the promise of information is too good to pass up. She follows the elf...
Rakish follows along, but draws two hand axes, ready to throw - just in case.
Drakr nods at Glenda's assessment of the elf "We do need as much information as we can get, even if it is from the Welcomers..." he whispers back. He doesn't draw his warhammer as he rounds the corner following the elf, but he does strap on his shield and keep his right hand ready to snatch his weapon quickly...
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"Is it just me or was that guy a bit, um... what's the word... odd?" Fronar pauses for a moment, his eyes roll up as if looking into his head. "Usually people say that about me." He shrugs his shoulder and casts Mage Hand on a coin that floats about 2 feet above his outstretched hand and following along with him as he follows he others down the alley.
Sera nods in agreement as Glenda comments on her worries, bits of pink sand beginning to trickle from her clenched fist. There are many versions of odd, Fronar, and this is the odd that could find you looking at your own innards.
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As you turn the corner, expecting trouble, the alley opens up into a cul-de-sac about 40 feet across. The elf stands before you, a wide grin on his face. As if on cue, two other Welcomers, halflings based on their heights and bare feet, step out from behind piles of rubbish and crates, cutting off any means of escape.
You've had yer nose where it don't belong, the elf says coolly, Time it is, fer us to bloody it!
You notice a third halfling sneaking up to stab Drakr in the back!
Rakish slow moves in a circle, looking around at the new opponents around him. He bares his teeth in what could almost be taken for a feral smile.
In his gravelly voice, Rakish says, Boredom and sleep had come to me, but you bring me welcome and joy.
Then, quick as a sparrow, his axes go flying, one towards each of the halflings (1 and 2).
Afterwards, he starts running towards the elf, drawing his a battle axes.
Krissina smirks as she draws her rapier. "Well, I do suppose this information is useful, so what is your involvement with all this?", reasonably sure that Rakish can handle the elf Krissina turns to face the halflings (or one of them at least).
... though not very effectively.
I really don't think you know what you're in for. Do tell us who hired you? Else you'll be in a poor state at the end of this.
Glenda takes out her fish and flings it at one of the halflings. It returns, wriggling, back to her hand after the attack.
She'll move to put herself in the middle of the party.
In halfling, she says to the halflings
Drawing his warhammer, Drakr charges at the Elf along side Rakish. "Battle!" he cries as he swings his warhammer back and forth, aiming to knock the Elf out...
Sera's eyes roll as obvious trap is obvious. Why does everyone insist on ambushing an obviously superior force? It makes no sense! Do they want to die or something? she exclaims, pink sand streaming from her fist. Waving her hands in a circle, chanting in sylvan, she then lobs a grenade of the sand at the halflings. When it explodes, it rains down the dust, causing their eyelids to droop.
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Initiative Order:
Rakish: 22
Seraphyna: 17
Glenda: 16
Krissina: 16
'Elf': 15
Drakr: 13
Halfling 2: 12 (asleep)
Halfling 1: 5 (asleep)
Fronar: 3
Rakish's twin handaxes stick in the shields of the two halflings, causing the halflings to let out their collective held breaths as they ready their spears. They seem emboldened further when the lizardman rushes in the opposite direction!
Seraphyna's sandbomb seems to do the trick, though as the two spearmen fight to keep awake, only to fall face-first to the ground, snoring loudly.
Glenda flings a fish at the elf (because the other two halflings are now asleep) but it flings wide!
Krissina, feeling as though she can back up Rakish, thrusts with her rapier, but the elf, manages to swat it aside!
Clearly recognizing the lizardman as the greater threat, the elf swings twice with his flanged mace!
The elf's first swing is easily parried by Rakish, but seems to have been a bit of a feint! As the mace sails over the lizardman's ducking head, the elf swings with the momentum, coming up and catching Rakish in the jaw!
Drakr charges in, swinging his warhammer twice, connecting first on the elf's knee, then again on his hip!
There is a click of a small crossbow firing from behind a pile of refuse and Rakish feels like he is punched in the kidney!
Out from the pile of trash comes a halfling woman armed with a shortsword who tries to finish Rakish, hoping that they can drop him before the rest of the party can act! Finish the lizard first! she cries with a thrust! Her blade bites deep, but Rakish still stands!
Your flesh will fill my belly, Rakish growls at the elf.
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Krissina continues to ply her blade against the assailants, though acknowledges her role in the line is more to prevent Rakish getting surrounded than any real effectiveness in damaging her opponent.
Glenda focuses her attention on the halfling woman. Hey halfling! That's a dirty trick! And tricking us too! That's no way for a halfling to behave!
Glenda calls up her magic. "Do your thing, Carp!" she shouts. She hurls the fish in the air and it strikes the halfling woman three times in rapid succession before returning to Glenda's hands.
Sera's usually chipper visage turns dour as Rakish is attacked over and over. Your ambush has failed, yield or we feed the rest of you to the gutter rats. she says with a more primal tone to her voice. Without waiting for a response, she fires off a pink projectile of potent power.
The blast explodes a chunk of the wall near the Halfling woman, That was a warning, the next will be your face.
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Rakish flies forward with a flurry of attacks on the elf! His first strike glances off the elf's skull revealing the sharp white of bone! The second cuts across his chest and then Rakish tears a chunk of flesh from the elf's arm!
The elf snarls and prepares another attack!
Seraphyna flings a pink bolt of energy, that explodes a chunk of brick from the wall!
The halfling hesitates briefly at the half-elf's warning, but the elf seems to have a sort of fanaticism in his eyes!
The hesitation leaves the halfling's eyes immediately as a fish flies into her face and slaps her with its tail!
-10 hp
Seeing that the elf is lightly armored and not as deft as the halfling, Krissina steps up and thrusts, but again, the thug swats it aside!
The elf spits then swings his mace twice at Rakish, moving in perfect concert with the halfling!
With his first strike, the elf lands a blow on the lizardman's side, causing a sharp pain! The second blow comes at Rakish' head, but the warrior catches the incoming strike with one of his battleaxes.
Initiative Order:
Rakish: 22
Seraphyna: 17
Glenda: 16
Krissina: 16
'Elf': 15
Drakr: 13
Halfling 2: 12 (asleep)
Halfling 1: 5 (asleep)
Halfling 3: 5
Fronar: 3
Drakr turns to the Halfling that sprang from the garbage and ducking under Glenda's fish he swings his warhammer down at the woman's head!
Rakish smacks his lips after taking a chomp of the elf. Your flesh brings the taste of a human, elf-man.
With that, Rakish chomps at him again.
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As Drakyr swings his warhammer down at the halfling's head, she jerks to the side and the head of the weapon smashes down on her shoulder with a sickening crack, causing her to falter briefly!
The halfling withdraws slipping deftly around Rakish away from Drakr and stabs twice at the lizardman!
Her blade slips past Rakish' defense both times!
Then she pulls back to the corner of the alley, about 15 feet from Rakish and the elf.
Initiative Order:
Rakish: 22
Seraphyna: 17
Glenda: 16
Krissina: 16
'Elf': 15
Drakr: 13
Halfling 2: 12 (asleep)
Halfling 1: 5 (asleep)
Halfling 3: 5
Fronar: 3
When Rakish falls, blood spraying from his many wounds, Sera's scowl grows darker and darker. The pinkish aura of her fae magics mirrors her mood, as it shifts to blood red. A low rage filled howl erupts from her as her magics explode in uncontrolled arcs of power. Walls blacken where the arcs strike, refuse burns, and the air itself seems charged with energy just waiting for the right spark to explode.
The half elf seems to be struggling against herself and the magics that are clearly out of her control. Surprisingly, none get struck by the arcs of power. Kismet, or perhaps the lass is managing a modicum of control?