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- Here's a real man! What bloodlust! Real predator!
- Stop it, Kida! We should not kill for any reason! Only when we really need it!
- Stop whining you wimp!
Zaamir makes a few hand gestures and utters unpleasant sounding word in a foreign dead language
Try to take him alive! He could know something userfull!
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Gromsh, you're like a collective image of a half-orc. To my great regret. Slightly wrong - immediately pick fights. Let's try to think first, then talk, and then fight - in that order, not vice versa.
Zaamir looks irritably over at fellow his race who started the fight.
While he's still bleeding, but not dead - let's try to treat him using your wand, Gromsk - and then interrogate. Suddenly he knows what the hell is going on here, and what the doctor, who declined to come here.
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Druga looks at the pacifist half-orc in wonderment. What do you know? Gorum clearly favors this warrior. Here Gromsk, hand me your wand.
Here is your wand back, Gromsk
Druga hands the wand back to the big half-orc. He then takes a knee next to the fallen guard. He whispers a quick prayer to Gorum and places his hand on his forehead.
If there is any life left in him, that should stabilize him so we can discuss his fate as a group.
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Vanya chuckles at Druga's words:"I always thought Gorum just favored the last brute who didn't die after trying to get himself butchered. But what do I know? I'm just a silly young girl after all..."
Then, suddenly serious, the taldan woman points at the fallen Ulfens:"Can someone heal these louts, please? After playing we should ask nicely for some answers, I suppose"
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Druga kneels down by the other wounded guard and again says a few words as he lays his hand on the man's forehead.
There, now they are both stable.
Looking over both guards, Druga selects the one who looks the least wounded. Producing his healing wand, he taps his selected guard on the top of the his head.
Hopefully that will be sufficient.
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Druga looks at the pacifist half-orc in wonderment. What do you know? Gorum clearly favors this warrior. Here Gromsk, hand me your wand.
This case is only for half-orcs. Internal. If you will become a half-orc, will be persecuted all your life and will have the prospect of becoming in society solely a fighting dog in the arena - we get back to you on that.
The guard comes around, looking a little astonished.
I have three news. Good - you're alive. Bad - the big boys and smart girls behind my back not quite happy with it. But you have a chance. And now the great news is that you can stay alive and help your master. We believe that he is in great danger. And the fact that you were ordered not to let us inside - it's part of the conspiracy against him. Help us - and you not only save your life, but more importantly, to save the famous warrior from death that he not deserved - death in bed instead of death with sword in hand! And now answer. Who are you? How long have guarding this place? What is this doctor, who ordered not to let anyone in? Where did he come from? And describe all that unusual that you saw here during your service.
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The guard looks around.
"Look, me and Bjork, we ain't really guards for Skelg. We worked for Bengeirr. Him and Skelg got history. And I mean serious history. You lot wouldn't get it, but where we come from there is bad blood between them. I don't know the deatails, but if you heal Skelg as well - well, we'll stay out of your way."
He shakes his head.
"I was thinking I'd be dying with my axe in my hand, but you know, having got that close to doing just that, I'm thinking I might find a tavern that needs a new innkeeper."
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Vanya considers the ulfen words carefully:"And how do we know you won't warn your employer of our presence here? I'm against cold blooded murder but we need a way to be sure you won't betray our trust... and considering how you just tried to kill us that's something that will take some effort on your part i fear..."
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He shrugs.
"You can't. I'd swear on my axe, but I just told you I don't think I'll be needing that any more. Still, I'll do it if you like. Besides which, what would I tell him 'a handful of southerners beat me up'? He'd kill me himself."
Turning back to Zaamir the guard adds "Just Skelg and his servant. Tyranos or some such silly name."
He takes a key from around his neck and hands it over.
"That will get you through the front door."
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"Strangely enough I tend to believe you. So go now. We never saw each other and you just decided to leave your post because you felt it was past time you realized your childhood dream of finding a tavern somewhere, brutally kill the owners and set up a legitimate tavern catering your services to pirates and brigands.... right?" syas Vanya before following the others inside the manor.
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Skelg is easy to locate within the mansion.
You open the door to the master bedroom and are greeted by a blast of heat. A roaring fire blazes in the fireplace even though the day is swelteringly hot. A huge bearded man shivers under his blankets, his bed pushed dangerously close to the fire. A thin servant sits in the far corner by a window, fanning himself with a handkerchief. The bearded man looks at you and blinks a few times, then speaks through chattering teeth.
“Are y-you P-path-f-finders?”
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The servant steps forward, still fanning himself.
"Last week there were some intruders. My master confronted them in his vault below. One had taken a lantern that was my masters loot from the north. They had lit it and when the light struck my master he was afflicted with a terrible cold."
Skelg joins in.
"T-tt-e light.. .it sssshone oonnn a tap-pastry bbbeelow. A sssshimmering door appeared. Frriighhtteen by it... the theeeives f-f-f-fled."
The servant continues, concern on his face at the strain the conversation is putting on his master.
"After the thieves left, one of Skelg's men walked intothe portal. He returned a moment later saying that it led to a ship encased in ice. He went back to investigate further, but after half an hour the portal disappeared with him on the other side. "
The freezing man interjects.
"I kkknow the ship. Iiiit is the s-s-s-same one as the ta-ta-tapestry. The fff-uneral ship of-f-f my o-o-old ene-em-emy Haldyr."
"My lord believes that the cure for his curse is found on the ship." says the servant. But two days ago, the son of Haldyr returned - his men were the thieves. He killed my lords guards and told my lord 'Now you'll die in bed like an old woman'[/b]"
Skelg flails around in his bed, trying to grab hold of his axe.
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Druga steps forward.
What a mean and despicable act this son of Haldyr has committed against you, Skelg. This cur seeks to dishonor you by causing your death to be without honor. But fear not, Skelg, Gorum sees into your heart and sees that you yet a warrior. Calm yourself and rest. We will find this son of Haldyr and make him pay for his disrespect.
As Druga talks, he does his best to examine Skelg and his condition.
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Vanya scowls as she considers the Ulfen's predicament:"Yes, we are pathfinders, Adril Hestram, sent us. This is no good though, you are clearly cursed but I doubt we have the expertise needed to break the malady. Show us the tapestry and the place where this secret door is supposed to be, maybe we'll find a way to reach the ship.Aslo... the lantern."
Then a sif struck by sudden inspiration Vanya turns towards the servant:"You say some sort of lantern caused Skelg to fall ill? Maybe the answer we seek is right there. Is this item still in the house or did the thieves take it? Perhaps using this lantern again on Skelg could reverse his condition..."
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"No..It is as if the frozen fingers of winter’s blackest midnight clutch at my heart. I’m freezing from the inside out.”
The servant, who introduces himself as Tyros takes you down to a hallway.
There you spy a massive tapestry that an Ulfen longship on a rolling sea, mostly encased in an iceberg.
"It was a meadow scene with shepherd and flock before the lantern
shown on it." explains Tyros.
"The thieves took the lantern when they fled" says the servant sadly.
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Peering closely at the tapestry, Gromsk comes the a conclusion.
"There seems to be a spot where the lantern fits on that boat. Perhaps if we could activate the portal once more and place the lantern there, Skelg's curse would be lifted."
After mulling the predicament over, he continues.
"Regardless, we need to find this son of Haldyr and recover the lantern."
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"Lovely tapestry. Creates an atmosphere. Hmmm..".
Zaamir looks around all those present.
"Well, pathfinders, in the docks? The plan is simple: find out where the ship, climb aboard, and then kill all life on decks, holds and wherever possible, as some of our comrades wish..."
He with a sly smile and joy in the eyes looks at Gromsk and Druga.
"...Well and return the lantern. Objections? If not, then go ahead!"
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"Please don't start the conversation with the fact that we came to the port to climb one of the local ship and cut off a couple heads. Such events are rarely good impact on the business. And even less likely to cause assistance from local authorities. Even if our aims are pure."
"Good day! We are looking for a ship. Ulfen longship. He has recently arrived, is in port for about a week. My friend (shows up on the Druga) found out that his family member has recently arrived in the city. It's his favorite uncle and he would VERY much like to see him after many years of separation. Perhaps his uncle is still on the ship or someone from the team knows where he is. In turn, this guy is my close friend, and I personally undertook to help him in the search, as he even knew which end to approach."
"This is really important. For all of us. Not only for him. I would be very grateful if you could help us find him."
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The harbor master wipes a tear from his eye.
"I was just thinking of me long lost cousin myself. " he looks at the piles of a paper around him.
"Bahh, I'm sure Desna will smile on me for helping you out. These papers can wait."
He warily approaches a stack of docking slips and leafs through them.
"I knew it! They tied up at Tullo Baltias's warehouse. It's across the road from the Rosy Fingers Tavern near the western docks."
He shuffles back to his seat.
"Now go help your friend relive some memories."
A smile crosses his gruff lips for a moment as he ushers you out the door.
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It should be noted that Zaamir, of course, does not believe in the stories that he tells people. And the voice of Kida (the spirit, now a prisoner in his body) whispers to him... not the most pleasant tips on all around. According to this, listening to the harbourmaster and even wanting to believe in his sincerity, he carefully watches the reactions of the interlocutor, trying to find lies or something not natural. Especially in his last smile.
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Zaamir thinks there is little suspicious about the harbormaster. He was probably having a happy thought about some long ago family reunion.
You find the Rosy Fingers without much issue.
The warehouse across from The Rosy Fingers Tavern is built right on the docks, part of it extending over the water. The building is thirty feet tall with no visible windows. On the landward side is a pair of large cargo doors with a smaller door built into the right one. Piers run along either side of the building and on the seaward side is a massive set of doors able to accommodate a small ship.
The street is busy, with several taverns among the warehouses. Most of the warehouses have sentries in front of them, and the ships at the docks are similarly guarded. A northlander warrior with an axe resting in his lap sits on a small pile of crates across from the warehouse, obviously keeping watch on the main door.