"Big fella, you can come if you want. If you have more pressing matters, I'm not one to come between a god and his servant. But yes, that's where you will find us. All of the teams gather there for a bit of drink and story telling after their explorations."
Alzaar hefts his pack.
I'll go with whoever is selling the items. I want to see some of the city before I settle into the Hookah tonight. Plus, there is a particular item I'm going to try to find and purchase with my share. It'll be useful if I can it.
"We all have our tasks to be dealt with. But I would enjoy celebrating with a drink or two with the group later this evening. If nothing else, you tea-totalers can toast to our success with a cup of water!"
"We should have the Church of Pharasma catalog these items before we sell them. Come with me Alazaar. We'll see what the Church will give us."
The party turns in the group's report to the priests of Pharasma, who are very eager to document the Penthus family history into the archives and thank you for releasing the house's evil taint. They gladly buy your items.
Alzaar finds the item he is looking for in a bazaar in town. Interestingly, Alzaar learns the item was recently sold and procured from the corpse of "Mad Dog" Marnn, the wild halfling leader of the Dog Soldiers, who was recently killed in the group's latest investigation. The magic sword he was hawking is also for sale in the bazaar now.
At the Tooth & Hookah, there is a somber mood, as news has spread about the unfortunate end of the Dog Soldiers. The only groups in the inn are the Daughters of the Desert (Sigrun Firehair, the Ulfen leader, raises her ale in salute upon seeing Rhade alive) and the Scorched Hand, who seem rather frustrated and upset and whose leader again pesters the team about having found the "Erudite Eye". It is clear they care little about the party's exploits. The party's lack of knowledge only angers them more.
To liven the mood, Farhaan, the owner of the establishment, serves drinks and you raise a glass to the fallen raiders/explorers who have come before you, as there is one final day left for exploration.
Gorguk does indeed spend some serious time at the temple before he eventually makes his way to the Tooth and Hookah. While normally restraining from partaking in much drink he does indulge slightly as he raises a drink in memory of the fallen. Perhaps it is the recently fallen group that he was part of that he is remembering but Gorguk buys a drink for his new group in memory as well. Drink up please. We made it through another day. Let us celebrate that and pray that we have many more days ahead of us together in fellowship.
"Yes, a toast by all of us is called for, I think. Yet another successful expedition. As the Dog Soldiers have proven, every time we return in one piece, we need to thank our lucky stars and enjoy another day on this fine world of ours. It could all be taken away very quickly," the gnome adds, realizing he is getting just a bit somber, so he adds with a grin, ..."but that's why it's quite so exciting, isn't it?"[/b]
For the remainder of the evening Rhade was very happy, spinning quite a few tales about what menaces the group faced, and overcame. Some of them were almost true, even.
Alzaar looks around the Temple of Pharasma while Jalaal handled the sale and history documentation, more out of an insatiable curiosity than anything else. When it's over, he goes to the bazaar and purchases a Wayfinder. After he's finished there, he starts to look for items the group could use and/or depleted in the last venture.
Jalal bows his head when he hears of the fate of the Dog Soldiers. "They exceeded their size in their bravery and ambition. May Pharasma judge their deeds well." He takes the artifacts to the Church for their appraisal and catalog.
After finishing his errands, Jalal returns to the Tooth and Hookah and takes one of the drinks. He offers a toast. "To all our fallen explorers! May Pharasma take their bravery and service to the city into account!" He takes a long drink and motions for Farhaan to get some music playing. The elf take a hookah over to the table and begins puffing on it.
|
After spending some time in prayer at the shrine of Nethys, Kakra returns to the Tooth and Hookah, she joins in on the toast, though she only takes a sip of the alcohol, not really having the constitution for much drink.
"It would seem that with each expedition, fewer and fewer return, we should remain diligent, to be certain that we return ourselves next time."
Still a bit somber even with the celebration Gorguk acknowledges the words by the rest. Indeed, this is a perilous task. There is much to learn and history to uncover yet the way is clouded with traps and vile undead creatures. We need to hone our skills to prepare for each day. At the rate that the others are dropping we will soon be the only ones left. May Sarenrae guide us and protect us on our quest.
"What's the deal with those guys always asking about that Erudite Eye? I've never heard anything about that, and I've been exp.oring ruins my whole life. I don't like the cut of their jib..."
The Scorched Hand does not seem in a celebratory mood and only a couple of them (the warrior Idorii and Khelru the priest of Nethys) raise their glasses in honor of the Dog Soldiers and other explorers. The party gets mostly dirty looks from them the whole night, until they retire from the night, bitter and angry.
Sigrun happily listens to the party's takes taking notes.
No one willing to share seems to have a clue about the Erudite Eye.
[occ]Ready whenever[/ooc]
Perhaps the Erudite Eye is a name that they themselves use and the object of their desire is caled something else entirely. It would make sense if they travelled from afar to come here and are searching for it. Personally I am not going to give it much concern at the moment as we have more in store for us tomorrow as the lottery commences.
Finishing his celebratory and remembrance drink Gorguk rises. I wish you all a good night and restful sleep. I shall see you in the morning to hear about our next commission.
As was his mini-custom, Rhade stayed out drinking much too late, rising with bleary and bloodshot eyes for the lottery drawing the next morning.
Jalal keeps Rhade company drinking most of the night. He recounts their tale for Sigrun and shares some of their good fortune with Farhaan. "Who knows what tomorrow holds! Fate will put us in Pharasma's hands."
Other than the hostile stares from the Scorched Hand, the night passes uneventfully and without incident. Sigrun eagerly writes down the party's tales, even the tall ones.
In the morning you rise (around 9am), a little woozy from drinking (those who participated) with no other ill effects and head toward the Grand Mausoleum for the lottery to be held at 10 am. A moment of silence is held for the deceased explorers. Surprisingly, when the Scorched Hand's name is called, no one from the group is there to claim the ticket to explore the cemetery. The crowd of onlookers stand surprised, though you hear some catcalls that they're probably too scared or drunk to show up. The priestess of Pharasma calms the crowd and announces that the adventuring group has until noon to appear and claim the site. The party's name is then called to some cheers for having made it this far and you are assigned an abandoned temple, believed to be dedicated to Nethys, god of magic. As usual, you are given a map to the Temple and its general location in the Necropolis.
Rhode waves to his admirers, and takes the map. He leads his fellows, stopping off only to pick up two vials of alchemist's fire, before heading out.
Alzaar spends his night revelling in his party's victory, drinking, smoking, and telling tales just as large and just and tall as Rhade's.
He wakes the next morning, bleary eyed and hungover. Eventually, he makes his way to the plaza with his friends, and puts his hand on Rhade's shoulder.
Rhade, did I miss anything? What's our new assignment? I think I drank too much...
Rhade, still stinking of stale smoke and cheap booze, looked bleary eyed at his friend. "I didn't actually look at the scroll to be honest," he smiles sheepishly, as it didn't even occur to him.
Having just a few drinks in honor of the fallen Gorguk is not as bad off as some of the others but the hot sun staring down at him still made him sweat more than he liked.Mentally corecting himself he thanks Sarenrae for the blessing of another day as he goes to find his comapanions at the Grand Mausoleum. Arrivign there he takes notice of the abscence of the Scorched Hand. Perhaps they found some lead and left to go pursue it elsewhere. In the meantime, what do you all know of this abandoned temple?
know religion
Alzaar takes the scroll from Rhade, and squints while trying to read it through his headache.
A temple to Nethys? Lemme think, I might remember something...
He rubs his temples while he ponders, and furrows his brow trying to concentrate.
Jalal looks at the assignment. "Nethys? Hmm...well, maybe there will be abandoned magical artifacts in the temple."
Reviewing the map and location in the Necropolis clicks something in Gorguk's mind and he relates the following: The abandoned temple of Nethys was once known as the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye. It was built long before the Plague of Madness, but like the rest of the city’s populace, the temple’s priests succumbed to the plague and the site was abandoned.
When Jalal hears Gorguk's information it clicks in his mind and he relates that there were stories circulating about a year ago that a powerful necromancer was said to be interested in the temple. But the stories died down soon after and it was forgotten, but for an elf's memory.
Once Rhade was informed about the new ruin the group was to explore, he became visibly excited. "Don't tell those miserable Scorched Hand...but it sounds like, if you two are right, that we got the place they were looking for! I don't want to listen to them complain. I do like the sound of there being a powerful wizard though, even if he was a necromancer. There might be some really good loot, I mean antiquities to recover."
"Right. It seems everyone else has forgotten about this place, but an elf's memory is long. Maybe we can find out what's so important about this Eye. A necromancer will likely mean more undead."
Gorguk looks worried more than excited at the prospect of the next site. Does it seem a coincidence that the group last night was clamoring for a chance to search for the Erudite Eye and then they don't show up this morning. Do you think it is possible that they divined the location and are there now looking for this object?
Nothin we can do about it unless they show up. Should we alert someone as to the possibility of their interference since they were questioning people last night as to this Erudite Eye? Would the authorities be of any help in this matter? Regardless we must continue on or lose our right to the search of the temple.
"Eh, I'm sure they'll be no problem. They won't even know what the place is, unless we tell them. And I don't plan on running my mouth. Until we are back in the tavern drinking after another successful venture, that is. Let's get to it, everyone ready?"
Indeed. Let's get started.
Very well. Lead on then and I will follow. I am anxious to see what the temple has to offer. Although I follow a different god it will still be a learning experience to see how others honor and venerate their deity.
You head to your assigned site. The sun beats down on the lonely, silent streets of the necropolis. You are on guard, wary of any undead or danger in the necropolis coming to claim you. Dust and sand now cover the once-bustling streets, and buildings (15' high) that were once homes and shops are gradually disintegrating into rubble after centuries of neglect. Scattered throughout the ruins is the occasional palm tree or shrub, kept alive by the broken remnants of a long-abandoned irrigation system.
Jalal glances up and down the empty streets, trying to envision what it was like when the necropolis was a functional part of the city, ages ago.
Perception
Perception
The experienced adventurers are no stranger to danger and any sudden movements quickly catches their eyes. Alzaar is the first to notice but his companions sense the immediate danger as well as figures move on the nearby rooftops with bows and thugs in the nearby rubble. Looks like they were trying to set up an ambush for you!
Rhade fires a Magic Missile at the closest rooftop thug.
Damage
Seeing a threat and that Rhade is targeting the rooftop archers Gorguk decides to take the fight to the thugs on the ground. Targeting the closest to him he charges over and swings at the would be ambusher.
Standard action to partial charge to U,30
PowER attack for
Threat confirm for +2 fire
Having delivered a decisive first blow Gorguk looks at the rest of the thugs. Flee now before I unleash Sarenrae's vengeance on you as well.
Energy missiles fly from the gnome's hands, wounding one of the archers. Gorguk rushes and literally cleaves the surprised thug in half!
Archers:
The bandits try to rally, striking at the gnome and the paladin, but the fear in their aim is quite apparent, as the arrows land nowhere close to their targets.
Alzaar uses the well beside him for cover as he unleashes a spell on the archer Rhade hit.
The wounded archer gets hit by Alzaar's magic and he screams in pain, holding his ears, dropping his bow and raising his arms in surrender. "Don't kill me!"
Thugs:
Feeling brave, the two thugs partial charge Gorguk, seeking vengeance for their comrade's death and seeing the paladin off balance. "Death to the scum!" The paladin's armor and shield fend off one attack but not the second, getting slashed on the arm!
The final thug moves up 20', moving carefully through the rubble.
Jalal invokes Pharasma's aid for the group to help them overcome their attackers.
With two of the thugs upon him Gorguk finishes the slice of the first thug only to feel the stabbing pain as his own blood is drawn. So be it. I gave you a chance to flee.
Power attack for
Cleave attack on the other for
Missing badly this time Gorguk steps back to prevent from being flanked by the pair.