Letting go of Reth so he and the others can keep a closer eye on the guards as they escort them to the guardhouse Cal walks quietly with her arms wrapped around herself, looking distinctly like she just wants to go home.
Cal tries her hardest not to be disturbed by Atherton's words, but finds it quite difficult and giving a small involuntary shudder she holds onto Rethvian a little tighter. "Can we please leave now?" She asks in a whisper, feeling more ill at ease with each extra minute spent in the butchers.
Atherton nods. "Seems we're done here. Let's get these...fine gentlemen back to the Marshal and collect our reward."
"Move, you louts." Malik begins to herd the captured ex-guards out of the building.
He follows them through the streets, to an old butchers shop, and after most of the night, after the sun has risen in a cloud free sky, he sees the group emerge, trailing a group of men in guard uniforms fettered with rope....
After waiting outside the butchers shop most of the night, Talon throws caution to the winds and walks up to the person whos voice and general build belongs to the man he has been trailing, Atherton Dram.
"You must be Atherton. I saw and heard what you did to Gaedren from below the floor boards. Thank you for freeing the kids and getting rid of that monster." Then turning to Calandra and looking down at his feet, "I heard your voice also."
He looks at the others, especially the large Shoanti warrior, with a bit of fear and awe in his eyes, "I am Talon, and once was part of Gaedren's kids, but have not been for a while. May I walk with you?"
Welcoming the distraction from the dark situation Cal decides for the group and takes Talon's arm "Of course you can walk with us. Although I have to ask; why were you under the floorboards?" She enquires with a smileunable to stay her curiousity as to whether they'd missed anything of interest in Lamm's old hideout.
Welcoming the distraction from the dark situation Cal decides for the group and takes Talon's arm "Of course you can walk with us. Although I have to ask; why were you under the floorboards?" She enquires with a smileunable to stay her curiousity as to whether they'd missed anything of interest in Lamm's old hideout.
As Calandra reaches for Talon's arm, he makes sure that it is his left one, so he can continue to carry the bag with his possesions over his good right shoulder.
Still looking down at his feet a bit, and somewhat flummoxed at the attention from Calandra, "I was going back to kill Gaedren. I don't know how, but I had to try. I swam in under the boat house when I heard him talking with Atherton and you, and heard his end. After you left, I made sure he was dead and then kicked his body into the water for the reefclaws to finish off. Then I left and have been tracking down Atherton and you all since then."
Cal smiles lightly "You're lucky Gobblegut didn't get you" She responds lightly to the news that the young man swam in under Gaedren's hideout. After a moment wondering why Zellara hadn't contacted him as well she leans in and talks quietly to Talon. "Is there something especially interesting about your feet today?" She questions playfully
Reth warily looks over to Cal and the newcomer thankful that the boy seems to be distracting her from these men and trusting her to be able to ferret out why he is stalking them in middle of the night. Leaning close to Atherton he whispers, "Does it seem odd to you at all that this boy should show up suddenly in the middle of the night while we are takin care of our current "business"? He may have been workin with them or with whoever "V" is in this note. The reason I mention it is because I'm sure your great with kids.....care to keep an eye on him?", a smirk crosses his face and he goes back to making sure the guards are moving in the right direction.
Cal smiles lightly "You're lucky Gobblegut didn't get you" She responds lightly to the news that the young man swam in under Gaedren's hideout.
Pulling up the sleeve on his left arm almost to the shoulder to show the scars and the still slightly injured left hand, "Gobblegut did get me once. Thank Gozreh that I was able to get away." he angrily retorts.
After a moment wondering why Zellara hadn't contacted him as well she leans in and talks quietly to Talon. "Is there something especially interesting about your feet today?" She questions playfully
Blushing furiously, Talon looks up at Calandra's face and eyes, and stammers a bit, "well... I.... it's just that.... you are" and he looks down again.
-- Talon
With wide eyes Cal gently touches the scar "Ouch!" She exhales "Whatever hell Gaedren is in it's far too good for him" she adds with a small frown. The frown clears and a smile comes to her face as Talon manages to look up at her. "What? I'm what?" She asks with a small laugh.
Atherton turns quickly to the newcomer, raising his crossbow and leveling it at his face. "What do you want from us? he asks suspiciously.
As Calandra takes Talon's arm, he lowers his crossbow and follows a few paces behind, listening.
With wide eyes Cal gently touches the scar "Ouch!" She exhales "Whatever hell Gaedren is in it's far too good for him" she adds with a small frown. The frown clears and a smile comes to her face as Talon manages to look up at her. "What? I'm what?" She asks with a small laugh.
Gulping loudly, Talon braces his shoulders and looks up at Calandra, "your prettier than any girl I have ever seen."
Atherton turns quickly to the newcomer, raising his crossbow and leveling it at his face. "What do you want from us? he asks suspiciously.
"Just to walk with you to the guard headquarters, for now" replies Talon, relieved when Calandra takes his arm, and Atherton lowers his crossbow.
Atherton turns quickly to the newcomer, raising his crossbow and leveling it at his face. "What do you want from us? he asks suspiciously."Just to walk with you to the guard headquarters, for now" replies Talon, relieved when Calandra takes his arm, and Atherton lowers his crossbow.
"Mhmm. I'm sure."
Calandra gives a tiny laugh "Then you haven't been looking very hard, there are far prettier women than me out there" She gives a small smile and a shrug "Although if you get like this around a pretty girl remind me never to bring you home with me. Between my three sisters you'd possibly never look up from your feet again!"
Laughing a little more she gives the young man's arm a gentle squeeze "All joking aside, why do you want to walk with us. Surely there are better things you could be doing at this time of day"
Laughing a little more she gives the young man's arm a gentle squeeze "All joking aside, why do you want to walk with us. Surely there are better things you could be doing at this time of day"
Relaxing a little, Talon looks at Calandra and explains why he is here. "About eight years ago, I became one of Gaedren's lookouts for small jobs that us kids would do for him. Little things like distract the guards or a young couple, while a more experienced thief would steal his money. You will do most anything if you are hungry and cold enough, I hope you never had to be like that."
Continuing as the words seem to be coming out on their own, "then I met the group of druids down at the docks, and they taught me about Gozreh and his ways, but they killed someone recently and I left them. I had gone back to kill Gaedren to try and make amends for all things that I had done, but I heard and saw you and Atherton and your friends, so I figured that anyone who stood up to Gaedren would be worth knowing and being with."
With all of that out of him, he finally says. "I have no one, and I have done many wrong things during my life. I would like to stay with you all and prove to myself and you that I can do the right things. Good things. Not like when I was a small town lookout, or with the druids at the docks."
He stands there, somewhat of a cross between a remorseful and defiant teenager, waiting her answer.
-- Talon
With all of that out of him, he finally says. "I have no one, and I have done many wrong things during my life. I would like to stay with you all and prove to myself and you that I can do the right things. Good things. Not like when I was a small town lookout, or with the druids at the docks."
"Well if that's how you feel kid. I know there are soon to be some openins in the guard." Looking meaningfully at thier prisoners. "With what's goin on in the city they can use all the help they can get. And it just so happens we are workin for them now."
"Well if that's how you feel kid. I know there are soon to be some openins in the guard." Looking meaningfully at thier prisoners. "With what's goin on in the city they can use all the help they can get. And it just so happens we are workin for them now."
"No, I don't think that I could be a guard, too many rules and regulations, but helping the guard like you guys are would be ok with me. Guess I kinda owe them that much" he chuckles while remember some tricks he has pulled on some unsuspecting guards in his earlier years.
-- Talon
Atherton laughs. "If you think we're heroes, you're sadly mistaken. There are no heroes, and the sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be. I had my reasons for killing him, just the same as everybody else, just as selfish as everyone else's reasons."
"Never said you were heroes. And I had my own reasons to kill him", as he holds out his scarred left arm, "but anyone who would stand up to Gaedren is close enough to a hero for me."
-- Talon
|
The trip through the streets to the Guard HQ is quite a sedate and uneventful one. Verik has reverted back to his dejected demeanour, and the more thuggish men are too used to following Verik to do anything but trail along in his wake.
The group gets some strange looks from passers-by, a group of rag tag miss-fits trailing Korvosan guards in ropes. No one interferes though, they are still too wary. The locals too, are still subdued, but Korvosa seems to be returning to normal, if slowly. There are more people on the streets than yesterday. It will be a long time before the bustle of the old Korvosa returns.
The group is met at the gates, but a group of Grim guards, someone obviously saw your approach. Verik and the other en are taken into custody, and manacled securely, before being escorted into the main building. The guardsman who is left hands Atherton a mall sack. "Field Marshal Croft left this for your return. She also said she would like to see your group tomorrow at dawn, and that the second half of the reward for Verik would be available then, assuming you brought him in alive. For now, looks like you could all do with some sleep!"
Reth looks to the others, "I'm still a little wound up. Goin to examine the stuff we found at the meat shop. Malik would you mind usin a bit of wizardry to check if any of this stuff has magic on it?" Lookin over to Calandra, "We should take a look at that silver dagger you picked up while we are at it. I found this bag in the pig sty. Blood money and loot from the guards victims by the looks of it."
Atherton wordlessly takes the sack and examines it's contents.
Reth looks to the others, "I'm still a little wound up. Goin to examine the stuff we found at the meat shop. Malik would you mind usin a bit of wizardry to check if any of this stuff has magic on it?" Lookin over to Calandra, "We should take a look at that silver dagger you picked up while we are at it. I found this bag in the pig sty. Blood money and loot from the guards victims by the looks of it."
"I'll see what the word on the street is; someone I know might know something about Verik's operation."
|
|
Atherton wordlessly takes the sack and examines it's contents.
The sack contains the 500gp Cressida promised for Verik's body.
Reth looks to the others, "I'm still a little wound up. Goin to examine the stuff we found at the meat shop. Malik would you mind usin a bit of wizardry to check if any of this stuff has magic on it?" Lookin over to Calandra, "We should take a look at that silver dagger you picked up while we are at it."
The silver dagger radiates a faint magic, but with no specific qualities.
If you kept them, the arrows are +1, and the bow is a masterowrk composite longbow (+2Str).
"I'll see what the word on the street is; someone I know might know something about Verik's operation."
Nevyn:
If you kept them, the arrows are +1, and the bow is a masterowrk composite longbow (+2Str).
I have them and I'd love to keep those as they would be absolutely perfect for Reth but he is planning on presenting what they found with the guards to the Field Marshall. Reth isn't a thief and doesn't think just because he beat these guys up that he is entitled to everything they own (that will be for the Field Marshall to determine). He is also probably not going to want to have anything to do with what he conciders blood money and loot stolen from the guards victims. If any of the guards confesses and describes who the victims were Reth will seek out thier relatives and try and return thier loved ones stolen property and tell them thier sad fate.
"I'll see what the word on the street is; someone I know might know something about Verik's operation."
"I'll ask around also"
Does that mean that I have 2410 XP also?
Also, now that the Beta is out, do we get the option of +1 HP or +1 Skill point when taking a favored class level? Since Talon does not intend to be a front line fighter at all, I would much rather have the Skill point...
After evaluating the pieces for the presence of magic Cal looks tempted to keep the dagger but instead offers it to Malik "Maybe you have more chance of discerning the magical aura on this" She comments with a faint smile "And I think the arrows and bow would suit you best Reth" She quickly adds before looking over the group.
"And as fun as it was watching the murderers for the night I should go rest and check in on the girls. You're all welcome to join me at my home for some food if you think you're capable of dealing with a bunch of teenage girls!"
"And as fun as it was watching the murderers for the night I should go rest and check in on the girls. You're all welcome to join me at my home for some food if you think you're capable of dealing with a bunch of teenage girls!"
Blanching at the thought of spending time with *more* teenage girls, Talon asks, "Is there another place we can stay? I can find somewhere for the night, but a bed sounds better then the ground."
Don't forget your free room and board courtesy of the Korvosan Guard at the Three Rings(?)
After looking over everything Reth will say that he is headed for the Three Rings. He comments to Talon, "There's always the barracks here if you don't want to spend time with the girls. As I said, they are lookin for new recruits." So he will go and get some sleep and rest until the meeting.
Calandra gives a small shrug at the response from Talon and Rethvian. "To each their own, I'm sure the girls would have just used it as an excuse to try to get me to date one of you anyway" She remarks with only the faintest of blushes "I'm off to get some rest, see you tomorrow I guess"
"To each their own, I'm sure the girls would have just used it as an excuse to try to get me to date one of you anyway" She remarks with only the faintest of blushes "I'm off to get some rest, see you tomorrow I guess"
His tired look transforms, his eyes suddenly glitter with amusement, and he gives a half smile, "I hope you haven't forgotten about our dinner plans. I have picked out a nice candlelit place where we can enjoy a nice meal. We have a lot of catching up to do." He winks and heads off toward the inn.
"I can explain later, but really, more important things to be doing right now. When we're done here we can go for a drink and I'll fill in the gaps with what I know" She promises with a small smile.
Cal gives a faint smile at Rethvian's words, vaguely surprised that he'd remembered her words the night before. "If you can find me at a point where we both have time and aren't too exhausted from watch duties we'll definately have that drink" She replies with some amusement and a small shake of her head "I don't quite remember making dinner plans though" She adds as she turns and starts to make her way home, giving a brie glance in the direction of the other men to see if any of them want to take her up on the offer of her making food for them.
Malik's stomach has no place for food at the moment. Two things have happened to chase away any appetite he may have felt. The results of their exploration in the night and morning was one and the other's definitely more painful right now. He looks at the dagger in his hands and takes a deep breath. At least I will have a look at the weapon we found.
Malik tries to ascertain the qualities of the dagger they've found, but his thoughts are elsewhere.
|
|
Cal:
Lost in thought Cal steps to one side to let a carriage pass, carrying Grey Maidens, only to be barged into by a drunk falling out of the Inn siding the road. The man stops, stooped, and looks bleary-eyed at Cal. he wears a guardsmen's uniform, dishevelled, and stinking of ale and sweat.
Cal: DC10 Perception
Atherton:
As he enters the shop downstairs though, the door is open a crack, not the way he left it.
Ath DC 15 Perception:
|
|
Malik tries to ascertain the qualities of the dagger they've found, but his thoughts are elsewhere.
There really isn't much more that Malik can ascertain, the knife is beautifully made, so much so that parting with it would be a wrench, and is giving off an obvious aura of magic, but nothing more specific.