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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
True to their word, the d'Orien's left a note with the dwarven proprietor Haskur Grindscale located in Redstone Shops of Upper Dura that the four of you were to cut in on the share of the ancient Cannith goods recovered from the sewer levels in the city.
Rich, perhaps some of your wildest dreams, some of you spend it on new arms or other expensive magical devices while others hoard it not knowing when the next pay day will come. In fact, with that much coin, another pay day may never need to come.
Despite the high of the reward, the low is pretty low. Dharakk and Rission are simply nowhere to be found! The body of Haqueton was not discovered nor is a single clue Taryn's brother un-turned. The four allies head to a watering hole in the lower levels, as they were down here investigating anyway, where three quarters of them are known and the drinks are mostly paid for due to their status.
Contemplating what to do next, the four see a familiar face, Sergeant Dolom enter the Dragon. He clomps over to your table, receiving raised eyebrows from the other patrons as he wears his uniform of the Sharn Watch.
He sits down and nods to each of you calling out for a mug of ale, "Greetins'. Interesting te' find the four of you all together. Id'a hoped for a report from one of ye' after the drama of the slain professor and the inspection of the journal, which is still in my custody by the way. Does not matter I guess.
Mickey P. contacted me and told me where tha' 'forged that broke out was located. Darned if we could find tha damn entrance much less the criminals body.
What I did run into though was me brother. He tells me that there was a group o' outsiders sticking their nose around some missing persons cases in the lower Dura. The descriptions match those of the four of you. Is what I was telled correct?"
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
A few days have passed since the job bodyguarding Lady D'Vown, a job that paid so well neither of you really need to work for a while if you don't feel like it. Xetovia seems to be distracted with her re-kindled acquaintanceship with the d'Orien's and so she has not been around since two days ago when she came by the shop to pick up a few odds and ends that she had left behind.
A sharp rap at the door has a very familiar pattern, it's Pierce!
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
The Inquisitive Forged enters the shop, "Greetings my friends. I have spent a few days on reconnaissance at the Broken Anvil with nary a Warforged in sight.
I did not come here to report nothing though. My Inquisitive Agency just received a slew of new cases. One of them, I think may be right up the alley for men of your talents. The pay is only ten gold but if you successfully complete the mission, there is another 50 gold per head in it. Interested?"
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At the sergeant's question, Viorr merely raises his eyebrows questioning to Talyn.
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Carduus snorts at the dwarf's question, and his reply drips with sarcasm. "No, not us, sarge - must be three other elves that're showing their grandpa from the Court around the city." Afraid we're doin' yer job for ye? I swear, ye can't catch a moment of peace in this city without three folks tryin'a give ye trouble for it. "Why, you got any leads on the folks we're lookin' for?"
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Well Sergeant Dolom, there isn't much else to report really. The slain professor was killed for an map to the entrance of an ancien decommissioned Canith forge probably on order from one Warforge Called the lord of Blades. An other party of warforge tried to look for that place but not much would be done with the old place it was wreck. Can't really tell you about a missing person's case because right now i am currently not under any employment, and i don't think those three are either. Right now we are just kicking it back and enjoying drinks she smile
May i offer you a drink of something you are authorized to have ? she offers
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Dev's looks up and bursts into a huge smile when he sees it's Pierce who's coming into the shop. It's rare that a visit from the Investigator ends without a new job offer, and even though these last few days had been fun what with Tool-Box hanging about (a talented craftsman in his own right and an absolutely incredible listener), there's little denying Dev's in need of some adventure.
For that matter, the pay's not so bad. Not as good as the 400 gold he got for the glorified slumber party with Lady d'Vown the week prior, but not so bad either.
"I won't speak for my friend here, but I'm in, certainly," Dev replies enthusiastically. "You know me too well, Pierce. What's the gig?"
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It wasn't 'the four of us', like it was a job we'd taken..." Taryn offers thoughtfully, "It was mostly me, personally, with some help from my associates. You see, Rission--one of the men I've been looking for--is a member of my House and my original contact in the city, and another is my own brother whose disappearance weeks ago... months ago by now, I suppose... but, his disappearance is what brought me to Sharn in the first place. Why, do you have any information about any of them?"
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
The dwarf waves off the offer of a drink and ignores any sarcasm or simply does not catch it, "Alright then ya coulda' jus' said yes to quicken things up! Me brother telled me that he thinks a lot o' people have gone missin' what went down there.
Brother is an Inquisitive but not a great one, he's got good hunches and good instincts but he's ah, low of courage. He telled me that a site down there is bein' dug out. He's checked it out but there's no permits to do it ye see. This is outta my jurisdiction bein' where it's located but I figured as you all was already looking into something similar you might want to check the place out.
If you find anything, come get me and I'll get a writ to bring he Watch down and investigate further. Whatta ya' think?"
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
"A missing person case. The person was apparently down in the Cogs and hasn't been seen in weeks. The family has a little money and they are afraid that their son is down there involved in some sort of drug culture. Has a history of that habit. Would you be interested in further details?"
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"Well," Taryn ponders looking over the faces of his allies, "I, of course, have a personal interest in looking into this further... but my associates are accustomed to being paid for such endeavors, and there's certain to be costs incurred from such an undertaking... is there any reward being offered in the case?"
after the haul on that last job they may tag along just for something to do but I bet it will be an easier sell if there's the promise of some pay...
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Well right now she turns to taryn
I could come as a personal favor to you, if you ask me to she ends smiling
"Any reward would be gladly accepted...but I will do this thing, regardless. If courage is all that is lacking, I am happy to supply." the elf says with a grin.
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Seeing that his three recent companions have agreed to look deeper into the dwarf's lead without guarantee of compensation, Carduus scratches the side of his nose through his bandages in thought. Leavin' folks behind never does sit right with me.
"In all honesty your brother's nothing to me, Elf-hammer; Dharakk and Rission, on the other hand, deserve to be accounted for, so I'll keep lookin' 'til we find out what happened to 'em."
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Right, then lets get on our way after we finish our drinks, so where should we go to specifically ?
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago - The Drunken Dragon
Sergeant Dolom chuckles, "I'd consider it a close, personal favor if ya' do it. Perhaps a certain volume o' a book might find its way ta' get lost from records if ya' know what I mean.
If'n ye're up to the task, take the main lift from the rowdy tavern district of Downstairs to a foundry in the Cogs. Do it tomorrow afternoon, that'll give me time ta contact my brother 'n let him know ye're comin'? Sound agreeable?"
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Dev's smile blossoms even wider as Pierce delves into the outward details. 'Missing person? The Cogs? Sounds dangerous-- and exciting.'
"More details? You know it, pal. Sounds right up my alley. And whatdya say Tool-Box? You in?"
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"Agreeable enough," Carduus grumbles. "Make sure your brother's ready to fill us in on what he's found out, if anything." The medic finishes his ale then prepares to leave. "I'm going to need my rest. I'll meet you three Downstairs tomorrow?"
Carduus returns to his room in High Walls, curling up on his straw mat after a nightly self-examination. I've still got all my fingers and toes, though that's like to change once we start poking around tomorrow; I'll definitely lose my nose at the least! Though it sounds like none are askin' any questions about this business except Dolom's faint-hearted brother, so maybe things'll stay quiet if we keep our heads down and eyes 'n ears open. Take our time with it. He turns over and begins to fade into sleep.
At least we know there won't be any damn competition!
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
Tool-Box cocks his head, "Into the COGS? This unit does not go into the COGS unit Pierce. Too dangerous for our kind down there. I have heard tales of being captured to be used as spare parts or worse. Sorry Dev, count me out".
Pierce turns to you Dev, "Very well. The contact is Brentthorn Dolom, a Dwarven Inquisitive. He has placed out a few feelers so don't be surprised or alarmed if you are not the only merc looking to take on this project.
Take the main lift from the rowdy tavern district of Downstairs to a foundry in the Cogs."
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
After a night's rest, the four companions head down to the lift taking it a bit lower than they intended to head down to the COGS, Beylinda's shortcut was not that short but at least you are on the...
Wait a minute, as you step on you see a familiar face!
It is, one of Lady d'Vown's "bodyguards" from the last job a few days ago. He wasn't too talkative. The Warforged and the odd Thranish woman who were on that detail with him are nowhere in sight. Coincidence?
---
Dev, you catch the lift on time and at the right location. You are confident but a bit perturbed that Tool-Box declined the opportunity to go. Lot in your thoughts you hardly notice the next group to get on, till they're on. It's the same group that Lady d'Vown hired to retrieve her schema was it? from the depths of the city sewers...
Viorr raises an eyebrow at the "coincidence" of seeing another connection of their recent business on the lift.
"Fancy meeting you here," he drawls.
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Ain't nothin' fancy about it. Carduus glowers at the man who'd served as Lady D'Vown's bodyguard. "Yeah, a real coincidence. Just headin' down to the Cogs for a night out, are ye?" If the Lady was tryin' t' keep tabs on us, ye'd think she'd use an unfamiliar face; but what other explanation is there?
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Dev smiles at the quick reversal of fate having so quickly run into the four; from the little he knew of them, they got themselves involved in exciting trouble, for sure. And hey, maybe they were going to the same place! This took some of the sting away from Tool-Box leaving...
"Ah, ha ha ha, no no no," he starts off replying, clearly amused. "Following up on a lead to another job, like I suspect you lot might be. Suppose I'd be lying if I said I needed the money -- you lot'd know more than most that isn't true at the moment -- but I can't say no to a job down here! So much happening! Scandal! Intrigue! Never a dull moment!"
Dev, after taking a second to put himself back in order, brushed some dust off his cloak, and asked "You wouldn't happen to be seeking Dolom, would you? I did hear there might be some more folk looking to be involved here."
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Carduus leans away from Dev as he speaks, physically recoiling from the young man's enthusiasm. You gotta be kiddin' me with this.
"You got it wrong, Part-timer; we're already involved. Yer the one lookin' to be. Why exactly are you seekin' this Dolom?"
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"As I said Mister Mummy, the job sounded like fun. Granted, most of my experience is in finding and returning things but I said to myself:
'Dev old boy! How much harder can it be to find a person? They've even got legs of their own --most of the time-- and can carry themselves back out from whence they come,
...and so, now I'm off to find Mister Brenttholm Dolom," Dev replied, still grinning at Cardus, "I'm not much good at waiting, you see."
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"Good to know." Carduus spends the rest of the lift ride in silence, in the back of his mind hoping that it breaks down and leaves them stranded overnight. When they arrive at the Cogs, he gestures for Dev to exit first with a sweep of his arm and a nod. "After you."
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How do these things ever begin? Downtrodden individuals. Chance encounters. Synergistic abilities. The need for someone to watch one's back in a city where it is difficult to trust. At least that is how this particular Inquisitive agency began.
Certainly work has been coming in drips and drabs. Safe breaking. Lost goods. Now, lost people.
A small time gnome merchant, Berk Virs, has hired the new Inquisitive team to find his son who disappeared into the depths of Sharn only a few weeks prior. All clues have led to an Inquisitive by the name of Brenttholm Dolom who has found clues but not heart to follow up on said clues. The gold to get the tip as to where to go next secured from their employer, the Inquisitives Electric Eye, Jiri the Bomb, and Kaine Skyreach head into the bowels of Sharn with the heart and the desire to solve this missing person case.
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago -
Stepping off of the lift there is a small crowd of people already there. A cloaked man , a dwarf , and a warforged . Standing with them speaking to the is yet another dwarf who is the spitting image of Sergeant Dolom. "My apologies Inquisitives, there are several more I am awaiting for to arrive... perhaps this is they".
He turns to the new arrivals.
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Jiri casts a dismissive eye over the new arrivals.
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Double E tiene to the people he's just been mentioned about and extend his right arm. "Salutations. My name is Electric Eye and I'm equipped with basic combat and basic investigation functionality. I hope you give a high rating to my performance."
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Kaine paced a little in the corner. It always took him a bit to adjust to the depths of the city. Anywhere enclosed felt cramped and tight, and he longed to look out across the towers. But he knew these foundations helped support Sharn - both literally and metaphorically, and the city was his life. He knew he had to spend more time breathing in and understanding this side of it as well. Besides, someone was in need of help and Kaine enjoyed helping others. Every little bit that made the city run smoother and even slightly happier was a little bit more Kaine felt like a caretaker for this amazing and complex ecosystem.
As the others entered, Kaine smiled and nodded at them, "Hi there! I'm Kaine. It's a pleasure to meet you."
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Carduus chuckles to himself at his feigned deference to Dev as he follows the jeweller out of the lift, but his amusement catches in his throat when he sees those already gathered. What business do a 'forged, a man, and a dwarf have in the Cogs - shouldn't they be walking into a bar somewhere? Carduus notices the second dwarf, who is obviously the sergeant's brother. No, no, no. By Boranel's balls, this isn't happening! His heart sinks as the warforged and the man introduce themselves, confirming his fears.
Oh, Cardy, why wouldn't there be more folks on the job? With any luck, they all work for different outfits.
The bandaged man acknowledges the three with a grunt, then addresses the lesser Dolom. "Ye'd be Dolom's brother then. The good sergeant sent us t' do yer legwork for ya, on account of yer spinal aplasia. Name's Carduus; this here's Beylinda and Viorr." He indicates his two companions with a nod of his head. "So what d'ya got fer us?"
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Dev scurries out of the lift, exited by the prospect of the newcomers.
"Dev," he says, pointing to himself, "is my name, and the pleasure's all mine, folks. Great to meet you, great indeed."
He unleashes as large and genuine a smile as he's capable of, then, after looking the strangers all up and down and nodding at their adventuring accouterments, he follows up on Carduus's question, asking Dolom: "Brentholm it is, yes? Now where has your missing person gotten off to, exactly?"
Viorr nods casually as Carduus mentions his name, but otherwise stays quiet, a faint smile on his face, and listen's for the dwarf's briefing.
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Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fifteenth Day of Dravago - The COGS
Taryn clears his throat, "What am I chopped liver Cardy? Name's Taryn, I have personal reasons to be here..."
The dwarf does a head count and nods to himself satisfied, "Right, you got it right, I'm Brentholm Dolom. There's been a rash of missing persons cases lately. Each of you if I am not mistaken, is here looking into a separate one.
My investigations led me to this spot here in the COGS. This is a fairly commonly used lift to get up to the rowdy tavern district of Downstairs. As with most lifts down here, the tunnels lead to old foundries long disused.
Here and now though, this particular tunnel leads to some sorta' excavation. Whoever is doing tha' work was keepin' a pretty good job hidin' the entrance. Five days ago though there was a couple o' revelers that took the lift down instead of up on accident. They heard fighting coming from down here and got back on right quick.
Whoever was fighting did a bang up job of bashing the rock slate that was used to cover the entrance to the site down there. That's as far as I got when I remembered that old sayin' about discretion an valor.
Anyway, I put out feelers and now here all of you are.
Here's the deal. I show you where to go, I get 10% of any rewards for rescuing any folk we find down here and 10% of any valuables you claim that are unclaimed by the victims or their next o' kin if we're too late to save these poor souls.
Deal?"
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"Ten percent? Sounds like fairly small beer. I'm thinking 50-50."
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"Whe- eehhh..." EE interrupts himself when he listens what the dwarf called Jirrik says. "Wait a moment..."
Before the dwarf called Dolom has a chance to accept the other dwarf's (called Jirrik) suggestion and extend it to the others, EE offers his hand once again. After all, this dwarf called Dolom seems to know the place, which can save some trouble aka money.
"Your offer has been accepted. Please shake hand to confirm YES/NO."
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"You might have accepted it, tin-head, I haven't," snaps Jirrik.
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Carduus looks at the cigar-smoking dwarf in disbelief, momentarily shocked into silence. Fifty-fifty? With Dolom? He looks back and forth between the dwarves, trying to note any familial resemblance, while Electric Eye and Jirrik confer. He then clears his throat and puts his own phlegmy 2 coppers in.
"Ten percent off the top for Dolom, and after that each of we eight get an equal share of what's left. Agreed?" If this dwarf wants to give his share to Dolom, more power to him, I suppose.
"Those terms are agreeable, Carduus,"
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"Works for me! But I'm mainly hoping we find these people alright still. This many gone so close together, however, does not bode well. There's a predator hunting the flock and it must be put down. Well, it might be a figurative predator, but... you know. Anyway, I'm in!"
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Jiri realises his mistake, glowers silently and folds his arms.
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i got back a few days ago but got a big cold because of temperature shock
i'll be getting up to par over the next 24h