'No, no, no, Namtar, don't go over there, if he's looking for us we've been made.' Tribim sighs a heavy sigh when he sees his big friend march forward. Keeping to the shadows, Trib looks around again searching for anyone or anything out of the ordinary.
(How to go forward here? The man is obviously a danger, but not eager to talk. I wonder if a little intimidation would sway him?)
(Probably not a good idea. There's Namtar, though, perhaps he'd have better luck.)
Raising his voice slightly to make sure the others could hear, Arundel says "This man is loitering around on this street here, right next to Zummabu's tower, keeping a close eye on anyone who walks by, and pretending to be drunk when in fact his facilities are more than intact. Spying on such an important man as Zummabu I would imagine would carry pretty severe penalties, even if he does know important people. What should we do with him?"
Give him to the justice if the gods. Regin says from just a few steps behind the gladiator.
Give him to the justice if the gods. Regin says from just a few steps behind the gladiator.
The drunk marked Regin's approach and laughed.
"Justice? You got more stories you want to tell?"
'It doesn't look like there is any other threat than this drunk, if he was looking for Namtar and myself he would have seen the big guy so the jig is up already, no reason to continue hiding.' Seeing Namtar and Regin approach, Trib rolls his eyes as the drunk laughs at Regin's comment.
Trib, walking stick in hand strolls up to his friends conversing with the 'drunk' having heard some of Arundel's conversation with the man Trib tries to springboard off of it. "Friend the elf is right, you are at the compound of a very important man, of course you know that Zummabu is brother to the city ruler." smiling broadly he encourages the man. "Why don't you explain to Zummabu's friends who you are and why you are here. Maybe they can help you sort it out."
Trib, walking stick in hand strolls up to his friends conversing with the 'drunk' having heard some of Arundel's conversation with the man Trib tries to springboard off of it. "Friend the elf is right, you are at the compound of a very important man, of course you know that Zummabu is brother to the city ruler." smiling broadly he encourages the man. "Why don't you explain to Zummabu's friends who you are and why you are here. Maybe they can help you sort it out."
"That stick for me, little peck?" the drunk said, eyeing Tribim. "I got paid good coin to keep watch and keep quiet. That's all I'm about."
[dice=diplomacy]1d20+7
[dice=knowledge: local]1d20+5
Amarekashu titled his head thoughtfully. "And how much gold would it cost for you share this knowledge via writing? If your agreement is to be quiet, then the pen makes little noise."
Namtar stands beside the others, muscles tensed, and eyes dark.
Dommer just stays behind, finding the whole thing amusing. That's probably the worst spy ever - if, of course, it wasn't their intention to have the spy noticed. He shakes his head when he hears about Zummabu, though - it seems the man is already getting more information than he bargained for, with the bonus of delaying their departure.
Amarekashu titled his head thoughtfully. "And how much gold would it cost for you share this knowledge via writing? If your agreement is to be quiet, then the pen makes little noise."
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+7
"Oh, I don't know about that. I'm an honorable man," the drunk said. "And I'll have to leave town for a while. Say," he made a show of counting on his fingers. "Two score, five-and-seven beards."
I actually think you should leave town now, without our coins and with your throat intact. - Dommer finally says with a very grim expression - My patience with your "business" here already ran over. Don't force me to run you over.
As terrible as Dommer is with all his social awkwardness, still he tries to put his most convincing/threatening face so the group can go on their business.
Arundel considers attempting to aid the dwarf in his attempt to scare the man
and decides that would be a really terrible idea, so stays quiet, watching to see how the man reacts.
I have kid of friends out in the countryside. It would be a shame if you got lost out there, so don't try anything.
"That stick for me, little peck?" the drunk said, eyeing Tribim. "I got paid good coin to keep watch and keep quiet. That's all I'm about."
'Is that stick for me?' Tribim stands beside the big Gladiator, scowling at the drunkard, "Does it need ta be? Seems like tha smart thing ta do would be ta head out of town quick like."
Namtar growls at the drunkard. Go. Now.
[dice=intimidate]1d20+5
Namtar growls at the drunkard. Go. Now.
The fake drunk watched with growing dismay as the company made their hostility known, his eyes often turning to their weapons.
"Mercy, lords! Never saw nothing! I'll just be on my way..." he warily rose, taking care to avoid any sudden moves and trying to watch everyone at once.
The elf watches warily as the man makes his way away. (Good riddance...)
Looking at his companions, he says "Well, that was quite the start to the day. Is everyone ready to head out?"
'well at least he isn't a member of the watch, or Namtar and I would be going with him.' Relieved to see the "drunkard" leaving, Trib nods his head in agreement with Arundel, "That sounds like a excellent idea Arundel."
As the group gathers outside of the compound Trib starts to walk toward the city gates, as he gets near he turns to look at the rest of the team and asks "So which one of you blokes know' how ta read tha map?"
Amararekashu nodded. It seemed like as good a time as any to get going.
'well at least he isn't a member of the watch, or Namtar and I would be going with him.' Relieved to see the "drunkard" leaving, Trib nods his head in agreement with Arundel, "That sounds like a excellent idea Arundel."
As the group gathers outside of the compound Trib starts to walk toward the city gates, as he gets near he turns to look at the rest of the team and asks "So which one of you blokes know' how ta read tha map?"
'well at least he isn't a member of the watch, or Namtar and I would be going with him.' Relieved to see the "drunkard" leaving, Trib nods his head in agreement with Arundel, "That sounds like a excellent idea Arundel."
As the group gathers outside of the compound Trib starts to walk toward the city gates, as he gets near he turns to look at the rest of the team and asks "So which one of you blokes know' how ta read tha map?"
As the group gathers outside of the compound Trib starts to walk toward the city gates, as he gets near he turns to look at the rest of the team and asks "So which one of you blokes know' how ta read tha map?"
Arundel sighs in slight annoyance. "Give me the map, I can make use of it." (How hard is it to read a map? Honestly...)
Once the map is in hand, the elf goes with the group out of the city, in the direction Zummabu had indicated.
The Lidish Camp
Day 2: Flamerule 20 in the Year of the Worm. (2,090th year of Gilgeam's rule)
Half an hour's walk brings the company to the ruins of the Lidish Camp, just as Zummabu said it would. Little of it remained within the old walls. Mounds that were once buildings remained, along with the tumbledown stones of a half-high wall around the one surviving structure, a single story of a stone house. Its windows stood empty, rubble and weeds choked its yard. A raised path from the decorative wall to the building resisted the impinging sand. A few hardy weeds sprouted near what looked to be a well covered by a heavy stone.
Hm. What about this place, huh? - asks the Dwarf, walking on his usual slow pace.
Using his Feral Focus, the features of the Dwarf change - his eyes look a little bigger, and even the hair seems feathery for a moment - as if he had the vision of a falcon itself.
- he immediately starts looking around, inspecting what he can. He approaches the windows and yard, step by step, and can't help but notice the heavy stone
Hm. What about this place, huh? - asks the Dwarf, walking on his usual slow pace.
Using his Feral Focus, the features of the Dwarf change - his eyes look a little bigger, and even the hair seems feathery for a moment - as if he had the vision of a falcon itself.
[dice=Perception]1d20+11 - he immediately starts looking around, inspecting what he can. He approaches the windows and yard, step by step, and can't help but notice the heavy stone
Dommer believed that the stone was balanced well enough that if someone ran a good rope through the pylons nearby, a strong man could move it and uncap the well.
The dwarf saw little through the windows save drifts of sand, debris, and the occasional nest. He almost passed one by before noticing just how perfectly round it was. No bird made that.
Dommer sized up the well and believed the stone balanced so a strong man with a good rope run through a pillar nearby could probably move it. It might take a pulley too, but whoever built the well knew their business.
The building's windows offered little beyond debris, a few rotted sticks of furniture, and drifts of sand. Birds had nested in some of the debris. He almost passed over one nest as abandoned, but a second look showed him just how perfectly round it was. No bird made that.
Dommer sized up the well and believed the stone balanced so a strong man with a good rope run through a pillar nearby could probably move it. It might take a pulley too, but whoever built the well knew their business.
The building's windows offered little beyond debris, a few rotted sticks of furniture, and drifts of sand. Birds had nested in some of the debris. He almost passed over one nest as abandoned, but a second look showed him just how perfectly round it was. No bird made that.
Regin takes his time poking around. Be careful here. There could be anything hidden beneath our feet. He warns.
'I always wanted to explore one of the unopened tombs, and here I am, out of town headed to do just that... Oh crap, I'm actually out of town...what am I supposed to do... the grumpy dwarf sure looks like he knows what he's doing, I'll follow him. I think he would like that, that way he knows I'm not causing trouble.' Tribim, once they arrive at their destination, follows behind Dommer; looking at the things Dommer looks at, touches the stones the same place Dommer touched the stones, returning to look at the pretty round nest the way Dommer did, the whole time keeping a keen eye out trying to see what a true naturalist would see.
Amarekashu eyed the stone, muscles bulging as he contemplated moving the thing. His arms and chest were bare with the robes he wore, even if they were of fine material, and suggested he might be able to help shift it at least.
Namtar seizes up at the gates. He's never been outside of the city, and the open space beyond the walls unsettle him. He looks about, suddenly missing the confining walls of buildings and his tight cell. Then, he takes a deep breath and forces his foot forward, beyond the gates. I am no coward! Master commanded me to go with these freedmen, I must obey!
He looks at the well, shock and awe warring on his face for a moment, before he flexes his muscles and sets himself to the task.
The elf slowly takes in the remains of the camp. He paces around, taking in everything he can.
As he is looking around, he reaches a hand into his pocket and pulls out a very tiny scorpion, setting it on his shoulder. "What do you think, Nym? Kind of a sad place; I can only imagine the stories."
After looking around for a while, the elf will also take some time to cast a spell and look for magical traces.
I believe that stone over there... - the Dwarf points - ... is balanced well enough that if we ran a good rope through the pylons nearby, someone as strong as our big Namtar can probably move it and open the well.
He checks his backpack.
Does anyone have a rope and wants to try it?
Rein shrugs. Sure. I'll give it a go. He takes a coil of rope from his pack and hands one end to Dommer while he takes the other end to a nearby pylon.
Trib starts to reach into his pack for rope, seeing Regin produce one quicker, he leaves his alone. Turning to Dommer reaching out for the rop he offers, "I'm probably the lightest, I'll climb on top and feed it through."
"I will help Namtar with the lifting," Amarekashu added, kneeling and rubbing dirt onto his hands for a better grip.
Regin, Amarekashu, Namtar, and Arundel all marked the same strangely rounded nest that Dommer did as they looked about the ruin of the Lidish Mine. Arundel's divination revealed something magical within, or perhaps under it.
Consulting his memory, Arundel recalled little. Long-ago mines rarely drew the chronicler's eye. The best he could remember was that the Lidish house were among the first Pit Lords, partaking of the heady rush to plunder the Smoking Mountains and coming flush with coin for a dozen or more years -no time at all, really- before their fortunes swiftly ended with the exhaustion of their vein and competitors taking all the rest. Rumor thereafter held that they had consorted with foreign or forbidden gods and Gilgeam or Ramman smote them for their crime, but such rumors attach to any public misfortune among the wealthy and powerful.
The company* set to work on the well cover, Trib running the rope through metal loops hammered into the stone and along the tops of the pylons before Amarekashu and Namtar gave a great heave. The stone rose, dislodging a large amount of sand, to reveal a shaft that vanished into darkness. A small stone shelf stood within, home to a broke winch, a battered bucket, and next to a crude ladder made of projecting bricks which plunged off with the rest of the shaft into the dark past the limit of even Dommer's vision.
The elf walks over to the round nest, and examines it more closely with his divinations.
He will also look more closely at it, looking specifically for anything that might indicate it is dangerous to touch or move.
Finally, he will try to pick up the nest, and see if anything interesting is in or under it.
as Arundel inspects the interesting nest, Trib stays near the 'well' looking down it's shaft. Finally he creates four lights that float and in unison sends them down the shaft as far as he can, watching carefully for anything interesting. "Well boys we may as well see what we can see; a'fore any of us goes climbin' down."
[dice=Know(Arcana)]1d20+8
[dice=Spellcraft]1d20+8He will also look more closely at it, looking specifically for anything that might indicate it is dangerous to touch or move.
[dice=Perception]1d20+11
Finally, he will try to pick up the nest, and see if anything interesting is in or under it.
Arundel detected the faint aura of conjuration about the nest, which soon resolved itself into three like auras. Lifting the nest, he found a small cache of vials with pasted on labels. All the labels bore the sign of an eight-pointed star. Three were lamp oil and radiated no spellcraft. The other three held a murky green liquid.
Beneath the vials lay an aged wax tablet with a message scratched into it:
Whispering sites?
Beneath the fallen statue
Dry riverbed between the rock piles
Need to check mines, but too many guards
as Arundel inspects the interesting nest, Trib stays near the 'well' looking down it's shaft. Finally he creates four lights that float and in unison sends them down the shaft as far as he can, watching carefully for anything interesting. "Well boys we may as well see what we can see; a'fore any of us goes climbin' down."
[dice=perception]1d20+7
Tribim's lights flew down the shaft, showing its brick walls. Many had gone missing or crumbled, leaving behind streams of dirt. It plunged on beyond the reach of the spell.
"Hey guys, I found something. Looks like some lamp oil, some potions, and an old tablet referring to possible Whispering sites."
Once any of the company come closer, the elf points out the eight-pointed star on the labels. "I saw this same star on a ring that the wizard Kassu was wearing."
The Oracle glanced at the vials. "Interesting. I wonder what they could be?" Looking at the vials, Amarekashu considered whether he knew anything that would be likely match the places on the tablet.