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"Huh, no one has ever asked me that before!" Hangust considers the number of thugs he has dispatched without thought to clean up afterwards while he eats, but he eventually shrugs it off.
"You said more death in this town wouldn't mean much, can we just deposit them in the street?" He clearly isn't worried about the affair. "Maybe House Cartahgen can help us if you don't like that plan. We were told we've worked with the Society frequently, so they may have done clean up before, either way we should get to them soon as well. Do you know where we can find them Senzer?"
Senzer stairs at the three dead bodies, with a bewildered look on his face, while considering Brunhilde’s suggestion. ” I suppose I could work out some sort of acid vat, but that will take some time to set up.” The alchemist doesn’t look pleased with the idea at all.
When the Halfling mentions tossing the dead bodies out into the street, Senzer shakes his head. “That won’t work. Although there is a lot of killing in Bloodcove, it definitely will draw unwanted attention.”
After Hangust speaks up about House Cartahegn, Senzer perks up a bit. “Yes they are just the type to help with a problem like this. If you are heading there, could you ask them if they would provide a discrete cleanup service? I would be happy to barter alchemical services, if they are willing to help.”
While sitting around the table, Senzer explains a little about the trading post. “Before my son became ill, I use to do quite a bit of business with House Cartahegn. They are the ones that use to export many of my alchemical goods out of Bloodcove. They generally deal in food supplies themselves, but they are willing to barter in behalf of a merchant for a small fee. My experience with them, is that they are fare and reputable. That being said, they generally don’t have a lot of love for the way Bloodcove is run. They would be a good option, seeing they have been somewhat sympathetic to the society in the past. Here let me give you instructions on how to get there.’ Senzer pulls out a piece of paper and begins explaining the most discrete way to approach the trade post. “It’s a long walk across Bloodcove, so be cautious.”
The streets have increased in traffic as the local populace begins their daily routines. The smell of fresh fish and baked bread weighs heavily in the air, as you begin the long trip to House Cartahegn.
Surrounding a sprawling, two-story trading post is a mass of citizens and merchants alike. Some wear worried expressions and wring their hands, while others shout angrily at a well-dressed young woman by the entrance.
“As I said,” shouts the Cartahegn spokesperson from atop a wooden crate, “all Cartahegn resources are needed to deal with this emergency with our sugar-press, and our storefront is closed for the remainder of the day or until management resolves the situation. We apologize for the inconvenience, but for now please return to your homes and places of business.”
As she climbs down, most of the grumbling mob begins to disperse.
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As the crowd seems to leave after the spokesperson's words, Barnaby jostles his way through the throng to try and reach him .
"And exactly what type of emergency in the press is big enough to shut down the entire store? And how long do you expect management to take resolving it? I and my employer are in a bit of a time crunch."
“Oh yes,” says the well-dressed woman of barely twenty summers. “This ant situation in the sugar-press is dire! We’re losing thousands of pounds of sugarloaf an hour, and frankly I doubt we’ll be able to turn these clicky beasts back. We expended all the available sword arms just chasing the monsters back into the basement. If more ants show, we’ll surely lose the entire mill. I hope you aren’t here to buy food, because if Cartahegn must continue to devote all its resources to fighting off the ants, expect food prices around Bloodcove to triple overnight!”
“A shame we have no more soldiers. An idea came to me, you see—my housekeeper makes a sort of lotion that frightens bugs away, and I bet if someone dumped a load of it in the ants’ tunnel, it would keep them away until we could brick it up! You didn’t happen to bring any guards or soldiers with you, did you?”
“If you were hoping to buy food and are willing to help us out, I promise you quite a discount in exchange for your services once we’re open again.”
The young woman turns and leads the group into the building. Many of the establishment's shelves are packed with food wears that have been packaged for export. There are also a number of nonperishable items that are obviously being shipped out on consignment. "Did you have something in mind?" The woman says, as she begins sliding a small set of crates to the side of the door.
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After her typical poor night's sleep, Jane seems a little dazed as she awakens, but by the time the group reaches the warehouse.
"While most of us are not exactly guards or soldiers, we're certainly willing to handle the situation. We just might need to see about a meeting with your superior afterward."
The young woman smiles when Jane and Sula offer to help with the ants, and then turns to Barnaby. "The ants are not of your typical size. These ants are about your size. By the way, my name is Novaria.” Novaria slides a second set of crates over next to the door and then straitens the brown apron that has been hanging around her neck. “I took it upon myself to bring some of the bug repellent with me, just in case we managed to find someone willing to place it in the ant tunnel.”
Novaria walks behind the trading post’s counter and retrieves what looks to be a midsize honey jar. With little effort, she carries the jar over to Sula and hands it to the cavalier. “Normally we would only use a small amount of this as a skin lotion, but I would recommend spreading as much of it in the tunnel as you can. I’m guessing it will keep them at bay. This will allow our workers the time they need to brick up the tunnel.”
After handing the group the jar of lotion, she leads the group to the basement of the sugar-press. She parts with one last sentiment before unlocking the door. “Please be careful. We have lost a couple men already, and I don’t wish to lose any more to this problem.” The door to the sugar-press basement opens. You and your companions cautiously move into the press-room, when the door behind you abruptly closes, leaving the group in utter darkness.
After the humidity above, the stark dryness of the basement stands out as unsettling, almost as unsettling as the acrid smell and constant, methodical clicking emanating from the darkness. The remains of bags and crates lie scattered across the floor amid a sea of grayish dust.
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"Well this doesn't seem ominous at all." Barnaby says as he tilts his head to listen to the clicking sound. Closing his eyes for a moment, he thinks about protection, a safe embrace, and a faint memory of a woman blocking a sword swipe with a hastily thrown up screen. As he does so, a rippling shimmer appears before him.
"So, we wants to begin our new career as exterminators?"
Otieno's light fills the room, making it much easier to see. As Hangust listens at the door, he can tell that the clicking sound is definitely coming from the next room. It is difficult to tell exactly how many their are. If you had to guess, it would be somewhere between 2-4.
The clicking in the room seems to get louder, then fades as the ants move about.
After kicking open the set of large double doors, you see a mid-sized room that is filled with a maze of pipes and air ducts. The floor remains clear with the exception of chunks of coal that is scattered about the floor. It appears that the dark lumps and dust are coming from a chute along the eastern wall. There is a man-sized hole in the fare Northeastern corner of the room. Two medium sized ants stand guard over the room, and turn your direction as soon as the doors fly open.
Bold may post an action.
Brunhilde
Barnaby
Jane
Otieno
Wolf
Ant (Green)
Hangust
Sula
Rat Mount
Ant (Red)
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Brunhilde steps into the room and quickly sizes up the foes. The green ant is likely best left to Sula and her lance and thus she rushes in and whacks the left hand beasty. Her shield conexts with a sickening crunch as Brunhilde attempts to add to the hurt by bull rushing it with her spiked shoulder.
Attack Damage
Assuming 26 beats the ants CMD I will push it back 5 feet if 26 beats it's CMD by 5 or more I'll push it into the fire.
Swift action Armor spikes attack Damage
Brunhilde: The Ulfen shield maiden charges up to the red ant with such force that her spiked shield smashes straight through the insects carapace. In conjunction with the initial charge, Brunhilde continues the momentum and lunges a knee spike into the under belly of the creature, which sends it flying into the fire.
Barnaby: Quickly moves into the room and fires a bolt at the insect by the fare wall. The bolt strikes one of the joining conduits with a loud clank, and then falls harmlessly to the ground.
Jan Doe: The woman with the elongated cranium, begins to mutate into a muscular version of herself. After evolving, the woman thrusts her 10 foot long spear into the ant farthest away from the group.
Otieno: The druid unleashes a powerfully accurate shot with his longbow, striking the ant dead center.
Wolf: As if on Que, the wild looking wolf lunges into action, and grabs hold of Otieno’s target. The wolf locks its powerful jaws around one of the ant’s legs and begins thrashing back and forth in an attempt to pull the creature to the ground. Unfortunately, due to the many legs the ant has, it manages to stay in an upright position.
Ant (Green): The insect begins clicking its mandibles in a loud plea for help, as it desperately attempts to grab hold of Otieno’s wolf.
Bold may post an action.
Brunhilde
Barnaby
Jane
Otieno
Wolf
Ant (Green)
Hangust
Sula
Rat Mount
Ant (Red)
Sula: Maneuvers her mount into position. Once the entryway is clear, the cavalier bursts into a forward thrust of speed. The little mount’s legs pump with every ounce of strength that it has, as it’s rider barrels down on the remaining ant with a lowered lance. The blow is powerful and precise as it penetrate the ant's midsection. The last ant slides off the small lance and crumples to the ground.
Hangust: The halfling moves forward just in time to see the cavalier dispatch the last ant.
With the last ant dispatched, the group manages to spread the lotion around the inside of the ant hole. The lotion has a strong scent, which Sula and her mount find revolting. Once complete you are able to exit the room by knocking on the door. A young pimple faced boy, who appears to be no more than twenty years old, opens the door.
The young boy smiles with a tooth missing grin at Brunhilde, as she walks out the cellar doors. “My, you be very purdy” the boy says as he turns and begins leading the group back to the trade post store front.
Novaria gets a bright smile across her face as you approach. “Where you successful?” The young woman says in eager anticipation.
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"Successful enough." Barnaby says with more than a hint of pride. "The ants are cleared out for now at least. Whether they stay gone long enough would depend on if that concoction of yours works."
"But in either case Novaria, we've come through for you. And so now I believe there was a discount promised?" he says as he pulls out a list containing Aram Zey's various requests.
Novaria carefully goes over the list. “Yes, I think we can accommodate most of this stuff. I should be able to round this up in about an hour. That’s assuming you have transport for it. This is quite a bit of stuff, after all.”
Novaria begins gathering some of the things that you have requested. The total payment comes up to be far less than what you would have expected. In fact, after using the coin out of the provided pouch, you can tell that there is a fair amount of coin left over. After looking at some of the posted prices on the items that Novaria has collecting up, you estimate that the provided coin would have only covered about a third of the standard price.
After Novaria has a few of her shop hands bring out crate after crate of provisions, Brunhilde begins to understand the scope of how much is involved with the transport. No single animal or person could possible carry the amount of things Novaria is beginning to compile.
Novaria looks over the counter at Sula. “Wow aren’t you a cute race. I have to say, I haven’t seen too many of your kind around Bloodcove. Actually, there are a lot of transport wagoners around. Depending on where you want to go of course. If you could be a little more specific about where you are heading, I could refer you to a driver that might meet your needs.”
Meanwhile the pimple faced, toothless boy, continues to stair at Brunhilde, and smile with a dumb look on his face.
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Having been around humans long enough, Sula accepts the compliment. "Thank you. Bloodcove is not really our favored terrain. There is more then enough trade, but not the most ideal living conditions for a warren."
Leaning in closer, keeping her voice down so Brunhilde cant hear, "You might want to send your... co worker? away with some errand. He's going to end up with something broken if he continues to stare like that. Unless you think he could use a painfull lesson. Then I have not said anything."
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"I believe we do have a man in mind Sula, yes?" Barnaby asks. "A mister Raimondo Scevola"
The detective turns to Novaria. "I'd imagine your House has worked with practixally every transporter here at some point or the other. Do you know where he'd be at this hour, so that we can clear off your loading docks as quickly as possible?"
Novaria gets a puzzled look on her face, then turns to the young boy and realizes whats going on. She then shouts over to the boy. "You, don't you have something to do? Head out to the warehouse and find something the help with, or you will find yourself out of work."
In response to Novaria's scolding, the boy turns and quickly heads out one of the many back doors.
Novaria turns to Brunhilde and smiles politely. " My apologizes, he is young and a bit inexperienced. I'm sure he meant no harm." Realizing she has strayed off topic, she looks over to Barnaby and addresses the detective.
"Raimondo Scevola is a dangerous option. Although the man is probably one of the only drivers willing to attempt a trip up the Vanji River basin, he is a little unpredictable, and has a problem with the bottle. If you know what I mean. When he isn't working, he likes to hang out at a private club called the Wandering Way. If you like, I could give you instructions to the place."