The group traveled by Skyship, Cyre's Hope captained by Capt Jorvis, to reach Stormreach. One of the few cities to thrive on the borders of Xendrick.
Only after a disagreementat the docks to the adventurers meet with a friendly face.
A rough cut dwarf, that is in fine attire of a merchant. "Greetings, I was told to come collect you, that you may not have troubles, but I am late. Come come, we have much to discuss. I work for Harash though only for smuggling and the occasional other side business. Please forgive me and come." The dwarf ushers you away from the scene that was just made out of the ship onto the dock.
Saronis will nod in agreement to follow. Following the actions of his companions, but also sensing another soul that needs help.
Sense Motive.
Erdath picks up the tail of the group making sure no one is following them.
"Very well, then, Tharivello says, nodding. If only you'd have come earlier, we'd have had fewer issues, though the majority of the issues are to be had by the harbormen and guards. Ah, well. Too late for anything to be done about it now, I suppose.
The dwarf does a raspberry, "I know please forgive me, but at least your reputation as oposers of oppressors and of great strength will make most people avoid you. You business will easily be handled without much opposition." One lane past the harbor, you find yourselves on a sailor's lane, with taverns, inns, and brothels lining the road. The dwarf leads you to the foaming berserker. A rough looking place with quite a few goblinoids and orcs within, he passes by and goes into the back room. Do you follow?
Saronis looks back at Cil and Thar, then shrugs his shoulders following the dwarf, unless they say something, still with his elven court blade resting on his shoulder.
Cil follows the dwarf, giving both Saronis and Thar a look that spoke volumes.
Arriving at the door of the berserker, Cil pauses in the shadow of the lintel, her features taking on a more bestial countenance before she walks after the dwarf.
Saronis cocks his head at Cil, then nods his head up and down. Following her right behind, puffing his chest out and letting his thick shoulder span be more evident, at least for an elf that is.
The Dwarf parts the curtain he just passed behind. As you go through you notice that the room is a few feet lower than the main bar area. This room is circular with two other archways. A door is in each archway, solid and made of a strange multicolored black and white wood. There are a few torches lit along the walls. A braizer is hung from the ceiling in the center of the room which gives minimal light but some warmth. A metal stove is in the center of the room, you can see burning coals within and some logs of wood on the side of the stove. A large couch dominates most of the room circling all the way around, even in front of the doors, just not the archway you just entered. The couch has many cushions covered in silk and extoic furs.
"Come come, take off your shoes and I will prepare you a meal. Please ask any questions that come to mind." He says happily, you can tell his own shoes were taken off and put in a nook inside the archway you just passed.
I've no questions as of yet, I suppose. This is a rather nice place, if I do say so myself, Tharivello says, taking off his shoes as he enters, placing them next to the dwarf's in the nook.
"Yes, yes, welcome to my home away from home! Please do have a seat." The dwarf pulls out some mulled wine and pours each of you a cup, then once the kabobs are finished roasting he hands one to each of you.
Saronis wipes off his shoes, but chooses to keep them on. His lightly glowing Elven Court Blade is put on the couch next to him. He pulls out a cloth and polishes it, and makes sure all the blood is off of it. Taking the drink, but setting it off to the side not tasting it.
"Are we waiting for something or someone in specific?" Saronis asks.
"Oh yes, there were a few others that were commissioned onto your group to make sure that you had the skills to get to the dig site in adequate time and as safely as possible." The dwarf points to one of the doors. "When they make it they will be coming from that door. Then when you are all ready, you will leave from that door." Pointing to the last door. "Just some precautions, and magical help." He says smiling.
As if on cue, a human male with a scarred face walks through the door. He wears a chain shirt and a longsword is slung from his waist; this would not normally be noteworthy if they weren't of a quality above your run-of-the-mill adventurer. One hand has a long glove that runs up to the elbow.
The man's face seems to permanently be in a scowl. He looks at the members of the group arrayed before him, and sees the dwarf. "You must be the one that wanted to meet me here?"
"Well why are you here?" The dwarf asks cryptically.
"Did you ask for a mercenary to help get your group where they're going?" the man asks, intentionally vague in case he is in the wrong room.
"Yes, that will work quite nicely. I only have one other question when did you get to Stormreach?" The dwarf asks politely.
Saronis eyes the new fellow and nods at him.
"Last Zarantyr."
"Interesting very interesting. Feel free to make yourself comfortable, we should have a few more coming along." The dwarf says. Going back to cooking the kabobs. "Would you care for some mulled wine..." You can tell he is looking for a name.
The elf with the faintly glowing curved blade that looks to be about the size of a greatsword sitting next to him, says "I am Saronis... so you have been here for about a year, what brought you to Stormreach and what have you been up to?"
This elf is strongly built for his race, he has coppery red hair that is kept short for practical matters and his hazel eyes seem to glow at times. He wears grey non-flashy clothes. Though his pack and arsenal of weapons show him to be well prepared. A circlet of worn silver is on his brow, his belt has three shining sun stones that glow, and a shard orbits his head.
"Quantos. I would love some mulled wine." Quantos will take a cup of wine on his way to an open seat.
After a taste of the wine, his demeanor softens somewhat. "So, are you all prospective mercenaries in the defense of the group?"
Saronis looks to his two companions, then shrugs, They will fill in anywhere I miss out. He thinks to himself, "You could say we are the group to defend. Though in the end it would seem we will all be hunting together. Any affiliations Quantos? Did I say that right?"
"You are the group to defend? If a group as tough as you needs defending, then it looks like my work is cut out for me. You could say that I am between affiliations at the moment, I work for myself."
"I lived in Sharn, but that is a tiresome place to live, indeed. Some places in Sharn, it's a thick layer of politics covering up masked faces in dark alleys. Other places, it's some bugbears paid to hack people up for marks on their skin or what books they like to read. Politicians trying to look like heroes, hired blades trying to look like politicians, merchants trying to make gold off of both."
He pauses, taking another drink. "At least here, you can tell who's dangerous. A lot less sissies with gold running things, as far as I can tell. Not to mention all sorts of things coming from the jungle. This city has stood here for over 200 years and we are still seeing new things come out of the jungle. That brought me here, coupled with my desire to leave Sharn. As for what I have been doing, I am a mercenary."
"Ahh, a swords brother if I have ever heard of one!" Saronis says with a great big smile on his face. He gets up and offer his arm for a warrior's greeting.
Quantos stands and returns the greeting. "So, from where do you come? And what brings your myriad group to the city of dungeons?"
Saronis grips his forehead for a few moments, "I have lived in Sharn for the past few years, though luckily enough to not get tangled into any webs until now. We are searching for a book and the make the one who stole it pay either by bringing her back or not."
Safe for years, then all of a sudden a part of three or more plots, ehhh. He thinks to himself.
"Interesting. Do you know what the book is about?"
"You would have to speak with Thar, Tharivello Siannodel, our healer. I think he has a better grasp on that subject. Ahhh, those kabobs smell wonderful, are they ready yet?" Saronis says to Quantos, then asks the dwarf, standing beside him to get a better wiff.
"Ack... elf, wait I must season them otherwise you could get a parasite. Don't worry I doubt you would, but the spice in the seasoning will kill any of the parasites, and tenderize the meat. A very weak acid that burns off with heat. From Xendrick!" The dwarf says enjoying to sell his goods. "No worries I will be sending you outfitted with the best of my wares, as I was commissioned to do so."
Saronis sits down again, motioning for Quantos to sit next to him, "If you want." He casually says as he tilts his head to the right side of him and pointing with his right elbow at the couch. Saronis picks up his sword and goes back to polishing it.
Quantos will take the offered seat, eying the kabobs hungrily as well.
"Nice sword, is it enchanted?"
"Yes it is enchanted, I found it in a vault in the depths below Sharn. Where this whole mess started. She is a lofty sword of legend from the times of giants, one's who intent is unknown to me, though I act as her attendant." As Saronis talks about the sword his voice becomes less emotional and inflections leave the words he says.
"She? Intent? So it has a mind of its own? That is impressive."
"Impressive... yes... that would be an adequate word to describe her." Saronis says in a monotone voice.
Carrying in his pack a tall green grayish skinned half orc with a falchion at his side and burn scars on his finger tips walks in. He sees two men talking and walks toward them.
Hello I believe I have been hired to work with you.
He says his eyes searching the room back and forth taking everything in before settling between the wooden faced elf and the scarred man.
"You would have to speak with Thar, Tharivello Siannodel, our healer. I think he has a better grasp on that subject. Ahhh, those kabobs smell wonderful, are they ready yet?" Saronis says to Quantos, then asks the dwarf, standing beside him to get a better wiff.
Tharivello looks up as his name is spoken, then responds to the conversation. "If I'm not mistaken, Harash said that the book that was taken was a spellbook, though I'm not privy to it's contents. Based on the importance that was placed on it, there are likely some very, very powerful, potentially ancient spells. But that is, of course, speculation. I've no idea, in actuality, of what the book holds.
"Ermm.... Saronis, would you mind if I had a closer look at that sword at some point? I don't think I've actually looked at it, and it certainly seems to be an interesting sword."
Cil sits mostly unnoticed in the shadows, her heels tucked up in front of her as she watches the newcomers over the tops of her knees.
Sense Motive
She looks sharply at Saronis, "Yeah, let Thar take a look Sar...." she says, sharing a look with Tharivello.
Zehameti takes several steps back felling like he is missing something. He looks at the Elf and Changling then he looks at the sword they seem interested in. He takes hold of his kit and takes out a pair of glasses which he infuses with detect magic while placing them on his face looking at the sword.
"Perhaps later, we will have plenty of time on this trip..." Saronis says off handedly to sate Thar and Cil.
"Excuse me, if you are going to be that rude, then I could show you the sharp side of my blade." he intimidates the half-orc with his words while standing up and holding the blade ready before him.
I see. I'll probably ask more about that later."
Zehameti puts his hands up in front of him.
People seemed worried about you and that sword just checking if your being enchanted. Unless your a rookie you know it's dangerous to go partying with someone who is not in full control of themselves.
He eases himself closer to the changeling.
But maybe it would be best if you put down the sword for a moment it would ease a few of our minds and prove that you can.
"I can do that fine enough, though what say that I just met you and you are not trying to enchant me or something?" Saronis says then sits down. Laying the sword in the seat to his left. Quantos is to his right. He sits down now in a foul mood, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
Zehameti grins at Saronis showing a number of bright white fangs. He puts his glasses back in his pouch.
Be calm The only thing I did was cast Detect magic on my glasses. I am an artificer I cast my magics through things not on people. And I can't enchant people only items. Your mind is safe... from me.
Zehameti is still looking at the sword.
"Well I must say this exchange was rather odd. How are those kabobs coming along?"
"Easy Sar." Cil says, glaring at her glowering friend "We've got to work with these gentlemen, can't have you causing a ruckus !"
Turning to Zehameti, she says "I'm Cil. You've signed on for some strange goin's on, hope yer up fer it."
The door opens, and something comes in, It stands about 8' tall a hooded garment rapped around it. You may note the handle of a very large black sword on its back. The hood is wrong, what ever it is has very big ears or...
Then the heat haze, what ever this being is its seems hot, the air shimmers around it.
It takes a step into the room and closes the door behind it, with its back to you all it says in a dusky Female voice,
"Be a calmed, I am here for the work nothing more"
"Be a calmed, I am here for the work nothing more"
As the words are spoken an odd whisper follows every one as if others close are saying the words in Echo.
It turns around and drops its hood or more in fact it seems falls away, cloths changing before your eyes to a fine set of Armor in Black and Red.
The being looks at you with Silver orb eyes, its red hear moving.
As it looks around at the gathering. Its spots en empty place that could take its size.
You now mat see she's female and moves to the seat, steel like hooves clattering on the floor.
As it sits it takes the great sword and puts it to one side.
She says simplely with a smile made of Metal like Pointed teeth
"My name is Tourmaline"
"My name is Tourmaline"
Now you may see she seems to be a dark cleric of some kind but of what god or Devil is hard to say.
Before Alexandrite comes in...
"Ahh, much like our warforge Erdath over there. I am sorry for my threat, please speak with him to put my mind at ease." Saronis says still unsure of this half-orc.
"I know Cil, but you know how I can get about my blades, my pride and joys." Saronis says to Cil with a bit of remorse in his voice.
The dwarf says, "Yes the kabobs are ready." He grabs them in his hands and turns around to see the menacing figure.
Will DC 12.
The dwarf seems to be visibly shaken by the presence of such a creature, but he keeps his cool. He passes out the kabobs and then offers wine and kabobs to the new comers as well.
"Well I believe there should be one more. At least that signed the contract. More might be waiting at the front. I will go check on them, feel free to eat and drink, I will be back." The dwarf says, eyeing the fiend as he leaves.
Alexandrite, takes the leased cooked Kebabs and rips them with her pointed teeth.
Wolfing down chunks, after she has eaten them she picks up the wine and sips it,
And odd juxtaposition of raw hunger and lady like manners.
Her cold steel like stair follows the dwarf as he go's outside, once gone she once more looks at the others.