Feanor asks:
"Where did you meet the halfling, the one who hired you?"
"While you were being attacked, did you observe anything that can help us identify your attacker?"
"Where did you meet the halfling, the one who hired you?"
"Molo hired me, but we met the halfling at The Dancing Hare, in Callestan."
"While you were being attacked, did you observe anything that can help us identify your attacker?
The goblin was yelling at the winged bastard to kill the priest, but that demon thing kept flapping around laughing. Finally he growls something like, "Why would I need Mask when I have a priest right here? Then he was just taunting Molo, asking if he wanted to live or die. Last I remember."
With that his eyes glaze over again and the body goes slack on the table, the arm missing fingers falling off the edge and hanging limp.
The Dancing Hare? Sounds like a potential place to try to find this smelly halfling. Issac scans his memory to see what noteworthies he can recall of the Dancing Hare
Ostensibly an Inn district in Lower Dura, the Inns and taverns of Callestan conceal any number of businesses behind closed doors. Those who actually choose to stay at one of the Inns sacrifice comfort (and potentially safety) to avoid the watchful eyes of the law. Callestan is supposedly under Boromar Clan's control and they ensure the Watch's disinterest. Other criminal elements operate out of the ditrict, but all pay tribute to Boromar for the right to do so. Those of you who transported the bodies back to The Watchtower offices earlier today passed through Callestan on the way to a lift.
"So it seems we now have three tasks ahead; travel to Lower Dura to seek the alchemist, find some knowledge of gargoyles and their weaknesses, and seek this halfling. I suggest we go now, in force, to Lower Dura - the other tasks seem less urgent, and I am don't want to split up now."
"I second this. It seems to be able to bring our investigation further the fastest possible way."
The Bazaar is the closest entry back into Dura from the offices and it is a short walk. From there it's a matter of waiting on the 'bridge'. Like all entry points from Dura to Central Plateau, the "bridge" is a something much more akin to a ferry. The telekinetically-supported free standing platform shuttling back and forth could only function in Sharn where the energy from Syrania constantly bleeds through. As a side effect of the plane's connection, in Sharn things just "want" to fly.
The ferry bridge is less convenient than a real one at times like this, but it is a matter of practical security. In the event of riot or other disaster in the poorer quarters, all public entry from Dura to the Central Plateau may be severed immediately. However, the side effect is a morning and evening overflow. Crowds of workers have gathered at the dock gossiping, flirting, and unwinding- the servants and menial workers of Middle Central returning home after a days labor. It takes three returns, but eventually the lot of you find your place on the ferry-bridge pressed against the railing as more and more pile on. Ah the smell of humanity...
The Bazaar is closing down for the day as you pass through. Vegetable refuse is scattered in the walkway between stalls and the smell of fishmongers permeate the area. Still here and there a stall is willing to keep later hours and the surrounding tavern business is just picking up. Down one alley you notice goblin runts spread out scavenging the shed leaves of lettuce or discarded greens into sacks.
Though there is both a lift and a spiral ramp to Lower Dura near the Bazaar, Isaac* wisely suggests cutting across Middle Dura and finding a lift closer to Fallen rather than descending here to make a long trek through one shady neighborhood after another in the dark. Isaac leads the group through the various towers of the Bazaar weaving in and out of towers by short connecting bridges, sometimes heading up or down a level to make a connection. The Bazaar gives way to reasonably well lit quiet residential areas.
*
Removed from the bustle of a busy district, Phia's ears perk up. What she could have dismissed before, she is now certain of. Someone is following you... There it is again, a series of quick foot steps and then nothing- like someone darting along between cover.
"How far is it, Isaac?"
"How far is it, Isaac?"
"Not too much further..." Issac absentmindedly whistles a tune while leading through the narrow streets and cramped alleyways.
Phia realizes that they will be going through Callestan and thinks to forewarn the rest of the group. "We will pass through Callestan in a bit, I want to warn all of you that this is a shady place and things aren't always what they seem to be. I strongly suggest that we do not stay in Callestan. As far as the Dancing Hare is concerned we need to be careful there as well, or I can put it another way and say that if you want to know what lala land is like that is the place to get on the magic carpet." Phia looks around for a moment and tries to gather the group a bit closer, "I am certain we are being followed by someone, I am not sure who we are dealing with but right now we can never be to careful. I think we might be able to branch out a bit and perhaps get "lost" in the crowd and maybe circle back to try to get a better look at who is following us. Does anyone feel up to a bit of a challenge?"
"I'm not good at these things... but I can try, Phia. Or I can lead our follower on."
"Lead on then friends."
Phia tries to discretely pick out anyone who might be hiding in the shadows or behind cover while she informs her associates, but nothing stands out.
Speaking in Elven: “Perhaps the we non-stealthy types can provide cover while the stealthy types hide and while we continue on for about a hundred feet and then stop at a stall or window display. This should give the stealthy types a chance to pinpoint who’s following and how many. I’d suggest we shout peppers in Elven if we need to bring the group back together quickly.”
"Njar. I knew I should have prepared something to create an illusion to cover for you, guys. Sorry. That was unprofessional."
"Njar. I knew I should have prepared something to create an illusion to cover for you, guys. Sorry. That was unprofessional."
Issac stoops to fix his boot; "I think I can whip something up for Phia but I'll need to stay concentrating on the illusion. If Phia can mix in the crowd I'll create a double of hers. Hopefully that will give her the opportunity to locate the trackers without their knowledge. I'll break off into the crowd and hang back."
Hide =15Once in the crowd, Vale surreptitiously keeps his eyes open for sign of the pursuers. Spot 10
Drakefall Spire, the tower you all have just crossed into, is mostly residential with a hollow core stretching above and below farther than any of you can see. Floor after floor makes a central core of walkways ascending in rings connected by flights of stairs. Every several floors a passage cutting through the tower opens to a skycoach dock on one side and a bridge to another tower on the other allowing a for breeze and some natural light in the tower core. Being residential and beyond the early business hours the few neighborhood shops keep, there aren't so many people on the streets to blend in with now. All the better for making the pursuers stand out. Still, Phia sees an opportunity at the next tower bridge where a few people are milling around chatting and others coming and going from the tower. While the others stop to provide cover, she steps out onto the bridge briefly, seeming to return when Isaac silently and discretely sculpts an illusory double of Phia.
In the time that it took Phia to break away from the group she sees a goblin following the group, he stops and hides and then motions to someone out of her sight. Seeing that the second Phia has been created she uses the opportunity to change herself into a dark haired dark skinned elf and silently watches to see just whom the goblin is motioning too. Phia sees that there is a group of cloaked figures following her group and she stays where she is and waits for the group to come down to the level she is on to get a closer look.
Issac stoops to fix his boot; "I think I can whip something up for Phia but I'll need to stay concentrating on the illusion. If Phia can mix in the crowd I'll create a double of hers. Hopefully that will give her the opportunity to locate the trackers without their knowledge. I'll break off into the crowd and hang back."
Var smiles slightly, enjoying the quiet competence of his companions, and keeps walking.
To Feanor, "Time for steel soon, I'm thinking."
To Var, "I see." Feanor unsheathes his scimitar and shoulders it.
Vale concentrates on maintaining Phia's double. His pulse quickens as he senses events moving to confrontation...
Vale resumes concentrating on his illusion waiting for a chance for the quarry to show themselves.
Feanor looks for a likely place to set up an ambush for their unseen follower.
"Friends, though I have been in this city for quite some time, I am always amazed by its sheer magnitude. I suspect that architecture is not the only thing responsible for it. What do you think?"
Phia
Vale's mind holds on to his illusion. He whispers to his companions; "Let us see if we can lure them in a bit more. A few of us go down while the others remain up here. With any luck we can seal them in."
"What are you waiting for? Pick it up!" Janras pipes up and makes his way down the stairs.... a few steps
The group stands around the stairs divided- some heading down others lingering. From Phia's vantage she can see the crouching goblin come to a decision and gesture some kind of signal to the orange skinned figure above who nods and pulls back. The goblin begins creeping around the central core's railing.
***
Janras and Isaac are only a few steps down the stairs when a raspy voice heavy with the goblin accent calls out, "This has gone on long enough longshanks. Where is the gargoyle hiding? Tell me now and you might be lucky enough to live. If I have to drag it out of you... well- we don't really have to find out how that ends do we? This is your one chance, you might want to take advantage before I change my mind."
The goblin addressing you has risen from behind the protective barrier wall that rings the hollow core of the tower directly across the tower from you all. His black leather is a slick fitted design, mostly hidden by an old cloak though the hood is down now. He watches you all, eyes darting back and forth while twirling a stick between the fingers of one hand.
Janras
"Well heavens to Betsy! You should have told us you were looking for this gargoyle chap rather than skulking behind us. I'm sure we can work out something mutually beneficial."
Spot: 1d20+0 [8,0] = 8
While trying to look startled sneakily try to retrieve a scroll of mirror image (I think it’s bluff check: 1d20+8 [9,8] = 13)
“What…What?”
Initiative 1d20+1 [3,1] = 4
"What are you waiting for? Pick it up!" Janras pipes up and makes his way down the stairs.... a few steps
Var heads down the stairs with Janras, and like Janras stops after a few steps when safely out of sight.
"Janras - did you catch glimpse of whoever's tailing us? I hope Phia's keeping safe..." Var frets.
[/ooc]
The goblin stalker smiles at Isaac revealing a hideous display of darkened and discolored teeth. "I like this one. We can do business my friend." His eyes narrow as he sees Durel reaching into his pocket, and he calls over his shoulder, "Mech daan kaan. Daan okec khraal okaan."
Someone smashes a glass bottle in the stairwell, and a broad muscular hobgoblin steps out holding a small axe in one hand with a buckler strapped on the other arm. With his sleeveless vest you can see a history of scars and burns marking his dark orange skin. Long coils of dreds are pulled back and bound together in a tail, but bounce with sticks tied into their ends.
His two companions step out ahead of him, long coils of chain dropping off the arms of one of the hulking bugbears, while the other pulls an enormous axe from under his cloak where it was strapped across his broad back. Armed and ready they start to move in...
At the sound of broken glass and the appearance of multiple armed goblinoids, the few people milling around on the bridge quickly move on to anywhere else...
Except one.
A small, wrinkled, gray haired woman steps out from behind a pillar almost directly behind the hobgoblin holding Phia's familiar rapier and kukri. Without a word she steps in behind him thrusting for his unprotected kidney, but the hobgoblin whirls at the last second managing to avoid the worst of it. Silently ruthless, Phia follows up lashes out with her kukri slashing his shoulder before the hobgoblin can get his buckler up.
Intent on dropping this one before he has a chance to recover, Phia drives her rapier at him again, but he's ready this time and catches its point on his buckler. But Phia was prepared and drops low, hacking his calf with her kukri. The hobgoblin hisses in pain, but shaking free of her rapier slaps his chest with his buckler strapped fist and tosses his his mane of dreds. The granny has his full attention now and he roars a challenge so close to Phia that she can smell the rank garlic odor of his breath.
From above the are consecutive twangs and black feathered bolts slam into Feanor and Durel consecutively. A pair of goblins on the floor above whoop in delight and reload with frightening efficiency firing again. One bolt thunks quivering into Feanor's darkleaf breastplate, while the other nails Durel again.
The goblin spokesman turns surprised at Phia's sneak attack, but seeing the granny facing a seasoned hob, he snickers and runs counterclockwise around the floor, pulling something from his belt. He nearly closes with the lot of you before hurling the bag at Feanor where it explodes in quickly hardening goop.
Feanor manages to sidestep forcefully just in time to prevent the goo from bonding to the splatter on the floor.
Issac with a low murmur incants words of power and with subtle gestures projects his will upon the goblin leader. "Call your men off. Let's discuss business in a civilized manner." (Will DC 16)
The goblin stares into Isaac's eyes transfixed and finally blinks, "Hmmm... I think you may be right. There's no need for this."
He turns and calls out to the others, "Hold off while we talk business!"
The bugbears pause and look around uncertain.
Without turning away from Phia the hobgoblin snarls, "The hell I will! That ain't the way this goes runt and you know it!"
He turns and calls out to the others, "Hold off while we talk business!"
The bugbears pause and look around uncertain.
Without turning away from Phia the hobgoblin snarls, "The hell I will! That ain't the way this goes runt and you know it!"
Var grips the hilt of his short-sword, white knuckled. His instincts are screaming that his friends need protection... but Issac's plan may still work... so he holds still, holds the rage in check, waiting for the moment...
Calmly and collectedly, he straps the shield to his arm and moves in front of Feanor and Durel.
Var pauses infront of Feanor, torn between defense and attack. The hobgoblin's lunge towards Phia decides him. With a low snarl he he advances, shield high and shortsword low. The sword flickers out as he reaches his target, controlled cautious attacks testing the hobgoblin's guard.