Sverrir muses the situation;
"This plot against us reeks o' rotten. My throat hates me to say this but they'll be looking for us in inns and taverns... And last time we were too open, too vulnerable aye?"
The doughty dwur fishes for his hip-flask and takes a nip before offering it to any and all:
"Reckon the bookworm Eligos would offer us safe haven? Let us lick our wounds and plan what's next?"
With much difficulty, the conscious members of the party manage to drag Issac back into the well and out of the complex. Unfortunately, with one body to lug around you are forced to leave Senniki's corpse behind. Realizing that there is no way you'll be able to carry Issac through town with out drawing attention, the party drags him to an abandoned warehouse some blocks away and then Lucid heads out alone to make contact with Eligos.
In an unfamiliar city, and trying to avoid notice, Lucid's progress is slow and dawn is lightening the sky before he presents himself at the door of the estate. News of the previous night's attempted murder has preceded him and Eligos is suspicious, but willing to hear him out. After hearing Lucid's story, Eligos steps out to do a few divinations for confirmation, but agrees to help. He sends his manservant, along with Lucid, in his coach to collect the rest of the party and return them to the estate.
Eventually, you are all together once more and in the relative safety of Eligos' compound.
Markus is thankful, nearly relieved. He accepts the hospitality and refreshments, even plain water, with gratitude.
What skullduggery is afoot here, Master Eligos? I come, born and raised, in a small town... Diamond Lake. Though learned with many hours spent under the tutelage of Alustan, this urban cacophony baffles me.
Lucid has brought you up to speed, no doubt. Please enlighten us, in return. By way of introductions, this man is Isaac. He fought along side us. I see virtue in him and consider him ally.
As he talks, Markus attends to his gear.
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It perplexes me also Master Eligos. Why were we a target? This is a powerful organization that can arrest seemingly anyone in the city and we drew their attention somehow. I do not believe in coincidences. And perhaps you could advise us on how to get these false and trumped up charges against us dropped.
"I'm Aerin. This is Nyx. Thank you for the hospitality." the healer said with a smile and a handshake. He was tired and still pretty waterlogged.
As soon as he was able to, he unpacked his gear, hung his spare clothes out to dry, checked everything for damage, dried it, oiled everything that was metal or leather, and packed it up again.
He might not look it, but he had a soldier's habits.
Eligos frowns at your tale, "As for clearing your name, that shouldn't be too difficult. Give me a couple of days. I can make some arrangements and if you'll come in to subject yourselves to some divinations, I'm sure any charges can be dropped, assuming you are telling the truth. I imagine the ploy was mostly to isolate you than to actually frame you for the crime. "
"In regards to who you've run afoul of, the only doppleganger operation in the city is run by someone that goes by the name of Zyrxog. They mostly do high end contract work, so unless you've crossed them directly, someone is paying a large amount of money for them to target you. Assuming that there aren't any new players in the city. I would suggest that you deal with them, before they cause you anymore problems."
"You may stay here for as long as you need. My manservant can run any errands that you may need. If you do leave, please do not return until you've dealt with your problem. I have enough of my own enemies to worry about without having to deal with someone else's."
Isaac is in a bad way... What can be done? We can possibly pay.
Sverrir nods in agreement at Markus' words;
"As is minn throat... Any chance of a drop o' the good stuff Master Eligos? To take the chill off and loosen the tonsils..."
Aerin spent his downtime brewing up some alchemical concoctions.
Nyx perched nearby and gave advice on ways to improve the recipes. Not all of it was practical.
Sverrir does deliver his fallen comrades body to his church with a degree of uncharacteristic reverence.
Once returned the dwur also spends his downtime constructively... and falls deep into his cups, melancholy at the loss of his olven comrade despite the silver-lining of companions new.
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After a couple of days of rest and recuperation, you are ready to re-engage the shadowy group that has targeted you.
Aerin smiles at Lucid's suggestion. "I like the way you think."
The little dragon on Aerin's shoulder looked a little less brave,. She fiddled with a small wand, and then vanished from sight.
This is going to be one of those times where I'm going to have to keep you alive, isn't it...
Heading back to the warehouse, you walk like you own the place, but find it empty. Walking through, you do see that all signs of you recent fights have been cleaned up and all the cells are empty. When you reach the well that leads to the lower level, you peer down to find it dry, descending down into the darkness below.
"Does this go to the sea? Might be that the water level is tidal."
You all somehow manage to make your way down the rope and into the darkness below. Where once the room was filled with water, it is now mostly empty, with little more than a foot of water remaining. The massive pillar, has also much reduced in size and now rises only 10 feet from the floor. The metal ladder nearly touches the ground. The platform, and its door, that were once level with the top of the pillar now loom some 40 feet above you.
"What do you guys say about rechecking that lever on top of the stairs? I'm wondering if it was locked after we used it."
Climbing up the ladder, you fiddle with the mechanical levers on it. With a jolt, the pillar rumbles beneath you and starts to rise, as it does so, water begins to fill the room, flooding in through grates in the floor. Eventually, the pillar and water level settle at the height that you experienced during your first visit.
Proceeding along the walkway, you reach the door only to find it locked .
Sverrir eyes the door in contempt, then brings his mattock to bear on the barrier:
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Sverrir smashes through the door. It opens into a long hall way studded with open doors, from which stream doppelgangers
Combat Initiative
20 Aerin
17 Issac
16 Lucid
15 Markus
6 Sverrir
3 Doppelgangers
XP 800
N Medium monstrous humanoid (shapechanger)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +1 dodge, +4 natural)
hp 26 x6
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6
Immune charm, sleep
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claws +8 (1d8+4)
Aerin couldn't see a whole lot from where he was, so he waited until their foes rushed Sevrrir before calling up gouts of crawling mud from the dirty surroundings.
The little dragon squeaked and vanished.
Dwur, I was thinking. That was a perfectly good door... The grin across his face belies his admonition.
Markus moves towards the larger cluster of foe.
As he swings, the close quarters get the best of him and a sconce catches his weapon forcing forcing him to drop it.
Markus' empty hands are not empty for long as they move are quickly to draw mace and dagger.
OK. Hard way, it is.
Sverrir grins as Markus wades in, then boosted by Lucid's quickening magicks the dwur sets about the dopplegangers with belligerent venom;
"Ha-Har! Is there any other way freinn Markus?"
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Well, brother... I was hoping. Just as well, should be well rounded.