To Korak and Jorriko It is better if we deliver that gem as soon a we can. We shoudl buy a scroll of obscure item so the gem have some defenses agasint scrying. It woudl be 50 gp per person, for a 75 gp net gain. Or we can just deliever the gem and retrieve the money hoping the last owner do not spend much resorces trying to locate it.
Jorriko sneaks back into the merchant's house and pays a visit to Hank's room on the second floor. Slightly paranoid, Hank has locked his door, but the lock is no match for Jorriko's skills. He easily unlocks the door and makes his way into Hank's room.
Sheathing his great blade in unholy power, he plunges the sword through Hank's chest. Hank jerks up from the bed, a look of shock on his face, and a little blood issuing from his mouth.
"Wh...y?" he manages to gasp, before the life leaves his eyes and he slumps backward again, laying splayed out onto the bed.
Before he leaves, Jorriko takes out a small boot knife and nails a note to the headboard of Hank's bed.
Thanks for your help in our little heist, Mr. Charwyte. Consider this payment for services rendered.
~Charles
The next morning the criers can be heard on every corner.
"Rhylatha Tiardasharan's daughter snatched by the undead at the Festival! 500 gold reward for any info leading to the capture of the perpetrators!"
Not long after, a courier arrives at your doors, with a message from Alfred Bell.
Guards are on high alert after Gaurten's place got robbed last night, along with the kidnapping, and then the murder. They're looking for two people, but the guards don't have anything concrete on you yet. Be careful out there. There's word of the Obsidian Order getting involved on this one, and that can mean nothing but trouble for entrepreneurs like ourselves. Try not to cross them. They're skilled, and they're nasty to criminals, especially Mandrigal members.
Charles received word that he'd been played from one of his informants the next day.
He seethed and spent most of the day pacing his room, and ranting to himself in a language you couldn't understand.
Knowing that sudden disappearance is as likely to attract unwanted attention as being seen in the wrong place, Korak spends the next few days practicing his martial arts, monastic training by day and having fun at the tavern where he first met Sammy Two-Fingers by night, drinking, getting involved in brawls and flirting with willing ladies, sames as any other barbarian.
He occasional comes by the mandrigal hq and sees how things are going.
Despite his (apparently) relaxed behavior, he stays alert all the time.
You don't see anyone or anything following you for the next few days, though you get a vague sense that you are being watched.
However, on the third evening, as you are walking away from the tavern, you are greeted by 3 guards, and one man in leather armor bearing a black diamond with jagged edged swords crossed behind it.
You recognize it as the symbol of the Obsidian Order.
The Order member addresses you.
"Stand where you are, don't make any sudden movements. We need to ask you a few questions. An anonymous tip said you'd be here tonight, as you have been apparently for the last three days, and that you were somehow involved with the robbery of one Tyrrio Gaurten of a rare gemstone, and the subsequent heinous murder of one Hank Charwyte."
"You are under arrest. Come quietly and you will not be harmed. Resist and justice will be swift and merciless, for your actions will have proved you guilty of crimes against the people of Myrial."
Korak examines these so called guards for signs of deceit. Donning armor and mentioning names of dead mean doesn't make them real guards.
"Do I look like the sneaky type for you guys? Or do I look like the skull-cracking type? I have no hand in the death of anyone who didn't attack me first, so unless this Hank Whatishisname is a back-alley thug with poor judgement for picking targets, I didn't kill him. My muscles and weapons are not the only ones at my disposal, so I suggest you get out of my way."
The Barbarian turns his head just slightly, directing his voice to his fellow tavern dwellers.
"Hey, Sammy, what do you think of these three blokes here? Do you think they're smarter than the last bunch who tried to push me around?"
The guards take one long look at Korak's calloused hands, claws, and his backup, and decide that discretion is the better part of valor.
The Obsidian Order member is visibly shaken, but sticks around for a while to give an ultimatum.
"Fine. If this is the game you want to play, we will respond in kind. I'll be back, scum, and you'll find that when I do I won't be so easily intimidated next time. We'll bring all our might down on you, and all your little friends, don't you doubt it."
Korak replies to the member of the Obsidian Order without losing his boastful tone.
"Good. You will need it. And while you are gone, ask your priests and mages if I really killed Hank whastisname. Then you'll at least know if your beating will be deserved or not."
When the guards are gone, Korak goes back into the tavern and speaks to the barman just one second after placing a golden coin on the balcony.
"So... What do you know of those guys? The one in black is obviously the most notorious one, but I'm still not convinced the other three were actual city guards."
The Order member turns away with a "Hmph." and marches off.
After speaking to the barman, Korak receives this reply with an appreciative nod at the golden incentive he was given.
"They were real guards all right, if just barely. They're none too bright and they're on so many payrolls it's a wonder they don't get confused every time somebody asks who they work for. Jimmy, Tagger, and Fatellio, are their given names, though I couldn't tell you their last names for the life of me. They're well known around these parts for being the only 'good' guards in town...meaning they look the other way on just about anything as long as they're getting paid. Pieces of scum if you ask me, but they're harmless enough I guess."
"That last one was definitely an Obsidian Guard member, or was doing a damn good impression of one. He sure had that arrogant smugness they apparently teach all those bastards down pat. He looked like one of their rookie detectives, too young to have any real skills but better than most people in the guard all the same. I'd watch out for that one. He may be a rookie, but even a low level member of the Obsidian Guard has some tricks up his sleeve and connections you don't wanna mess with."
Korak scratches his chin as he listens to the bartender's words. He places a few more coins on the balcony, then speaks his mind.
"I see... This is interesting news. I'll make sure my friends are aware of these events. Here are a few more coins for your trouble, sir. Give another round of beer to everyone in here. I'll try and solve this little problem before I come back."
The brawling tiefling leaves the tavern and moves through Myrial's dark alleys. He does his best to remain unseen as he heads towards the Mandrigal headquarters, always keeping an eye open for trouble.
"Okay, Jo & Jo. We have much to discuss..." he says as he starts to report his encounter with the city guard to his companions.
Krail listens intently to Korak. He seems to fume silently after the encounter with the guards is mentioned. He then proceeds to explain his actions and intentions to the group as well. He outlines why he believes that Charles is responsible for korak's trouble as revenge for krail's own actions. He then explains his plot to drive a wedge into the "Chuck-wagon Gang" and advises everyone to stay sharp and stay close until that gambit has the chance to play out.
Jo try to recolect some information about (everytime with a diferent dresses and hairstyles and hair color)
- About the guar outpost in the upper city
- About gen sharsluck
- About the sleeping jester
(everytime with a diferent dress, hairstyle and hair color)
Before they leave, Korak informs Jorriko of Jo's plan to gather information and Korak's suggestion that she doesn't go out alone.
The Barbarian follows the Sorceress. He doesn't walk side by side with her in order to not attract unwanted attention to Jo, but he doesn't stray too far either , as she might need his help. These are dangerous times for Korak and his allies, and walking alone is dangerous.
Guard outpost: Lightly manned (only about 7 guards including the captain), but their captain is a highly skilled swordsman and a very honorable man, with a reputation for being incorruptible (therefore, the Mandrigal used some of their pull to get him reassigned to a less influential position). His men highly respect him as being stern, but fair, and try to follow his example in all things. However, rumor on the street is that one guard in particular (a man named Frank Hardwick) may not be as enamored of the man as the other guards under his command.
Gent Sharsluck: Was a deckhand on the Flying Maiden. By all accounts he's not much in a fight, but is extremely good at going unnoticed (but not good enough to avoid being press-ganged a few months back). When he saw his opportunity, he went to the guards and ratted out the smuggling crew in exchange for amnesty for his crimes while a part of the crew. Unfortunately, he decided to do so in Myrial, where many guards are just a few coins away from being your new best friend. He was quickly outed to the captain, and just as quickly went underground. The only rumor of his current location is an old abandoned tavern in the lower quarter, which some strange rustlings have been heard from in recent days.
The Sleeping Jester: This tomb has been here since long before anyone can remember. Nobody knows who lays there, or even how to get in. The lock seems to be made of pure gold, but it's harder than any material available (including adamantine), it's thought that the only way inside is with the key. Rumor has it that occasionally, people walking through the graveyard can feel the eyes of the Jester on them, and catch them closing when they turn to look, though whether this is true or not is undetermined.
Again, you remain unseen and unnoticed, but notice no one watching you from the shadows.
However, at a few points during the day you do notice a shifty eyed guard watching Jo from afar.
What info is there on the crypt key?
Jorriko wracks his memory for information on the key to the crypt you received from the wizard. Not too much is known about it, except that it was rumored to exist for the longest time, but nobody ever saw it. Apparently it was supposed to be in the old Royal Vault (back when the city/state had a sort of monarchy), but when the Vault was opened a few years back the key was nowhere to be found, so it was chalked up as just another dead end.
[dice= shennanigans] 1d20 + 15
As Jorriko travels through the street near Korak and Jo, he finally spots their shadow. As he might have expected, Michaelis is prowling the streets with them, flitting from shadow to shadow and taking to the rooftops when traveling the streets would get him caught.
As Michaelis is looking around, he notices Jorriko watching him from the street as well, and the little smug grin he'd been carrying around for outsmarting Korak falls abruptly off of his face.
Jorriko notices, however, that he seems to have no overtly hostile intent...but is unlikely to be up to any good.
I signal the desire to talk to him away from my friends.
Seems to me that this is some kind of trap, a file to uncover an important cell of mandrigal should be more guarded, I think. The rumor can also be false, a part of the trap, we try to talk to Frank hardwick and five minutes later an entire battalion is beating us. I recomend to see if we can do something with the other five members of the guard outpost.
I take 10 in gather information to obtain the place of residance of all members of the guard outpost. With the help of Korak and Jorriko that is a 26.
Michaelis blanches as Jorriko signals at him, but then actually acquiesces.
He climbs down the roof into an alley, and then makes his way over to Jorriko.
"Your senses are a bit too keen for my liking." he says, and then waits for Jorriko to start talking, though he holds himself in a stance that suggests he's quite prepared to defend himself.
Two of the guards live in the Lower Quarter, one lives right off the Plaza in a little apartment he rents above a tavern, Frank and another guard stay at the same inn (Calistria's Fortune) in the "middle class area" near the Plaza (that forms sort of a ring around the Plaza before getting to the main Quarters and such of the city), while the captain lives in the Upper City in his old family home.
Two things actually, of a mundane, and a dire nature. To The mundane: I require an ink visible only to the eye of one of our kind. Maybe something with a faint heat signature... Unless I missed by guess, I believe that such an item would not be above your alchemical prowess. I, of course, would fund such an endeavor. I believe that it could be an invaluable form of communication for higher beings such as ourselves...
On a more dire note: I do enjoy our little games and such... But I must inform you that your "pet human" will be forfeit... And soon. You have my respect, and my warning. There is no reason that the two of us should not benefit from a long and prosperous partnership. Continued harassment between our groups does nothing to further the pursuit of power for either of us... However, your human is a pretentious and arrogant fool who thinks himself better than either of our kinds. He has no place in the future of our organization... The same might be said of your Salvador, but I leave that determination to you... That is, if you agree to me here and now. On the other hand, if you do not agree... Well, you being forewarned just makes the challenge that much more worth while.
Michaelis is intrigued by your offer.
"Invisible ink, hm? Yes, I could make it...though what kind of correspondence you'd want to share with me is beyond my guessing. I had gotten the impression that you were not particularly enamored of I or my group."
At the mention of his "pet human", Michaelis turns a noticeably paler shade.
"I'll admit I once thought the same as you...but Charles is not to be trifled with. I've known pain beyond most people's imagining twice in my life. Once was at my own hand, when I foolishly mixed chemicals improperly, giving myself third degree burns on my face and nearly blinding my right eye. The second was far worse. I made another foolish mistake, crossing Charles soon after I fell in with him and Salvador, after leaving the Darklands with Maya. The man is powerful, ruthless, and cruel. The pain his magics inflicted still haunt me to this day, and I have no doubt he could snuff me out as easily as extinguishing a candle if he put his mind to it."
"I too, have enjoyed our little contests of skill, Jorriko. I tell you this in the interest of continuing them: Do not cross Charles if you value your life."
"I have no direct quarrel with you, and have been given no specific orders to avoid or interfere with you. Currently, Charles finds you beneath his interest, though he was enraged by the little 'prank' you pulled with the merchant's guard, and has asked me to keep an eye on your movements. I see no reason we should be enemies...but if you move against Charles without being absolutely certain you can defeat him, I will stand against you, for my own sake. I fear him far more than I respect you."