At the mention of the painted faces, he looks about quickly and lowers his voice. "That'd be the Last Laugh Thieves' Guild and it's best not to be asking about them. Stick to the caves and ruins for your adventuring. I've frequently found humanoids to be the most dangerous thing around. We maintain a strict 'live and let live' policy here at the Slippery Eel. No questions asked and none answered."
With a small nod and trace of a smile, Silfr speaks loud enough for eavesdroppers, "The caves and ruins, just as we hoped! Thank you for your kind answer to my question on where to find adventure."
"So, what will we call ourselves? The Stormblades can't be the only group in town with a fancy name."
"My preference is to earn our name through deeds, where we may be inspired by strange circumstances, common attributes or notable foes."
"Fellows, have we found ourselves satisfied with the meal and ready to depart? It is time to accompany Finneas to that cradle of his youth, the orphanage."
"Hi Aroon and thanks for the advice! We are indeed a party of adventurers and strong in purpose at that. Thank you for your welcome!" Turning to the others, "5 questions. Hrm. No, most of those I can't answer. I er, don't remember some of them though so maybe if you asked more slowly?"
Simpleton! He likes me! Alexander calls me that all the time. We're like brothers almost.
"I do have the divination." Atol digs a scrap of paper out of his pocket and begins to read. He reads well enough, though very directly and slowly savoring each word independently of the words around it.
"The locks are key to finding them. Look beyond the curtain below the cauldron. Beware the doors with teeth. Descend into the malachite hold where precious life is bought with gold. Half a dwarf binds them, but not for long."
"What do you think it means my friends? I'm afraid I don't get out much, so I don't know of these places with the curtain or malachite hold. Maybe slavers? That's as far as my thinking goes."
"What do you think it means my friends?
"Atol, we must not forget the interpretation of Jenya, that the locks are related to those at the orphanage."
"Atol, we must not forget the interpretation of Jenya, that the locks are related to those at the orphanage."
"Oh, right, right. I forgot... To the orphanage then as you suggest!"
Atol gathers the note from the table and tucks it carefully back into his pocket like the precious divine gift that it is.
"Atol, we must not forget the interpretation of Jenya, that the locks are related to those at the orphanage."
"What do you think it means my friends?
Aeneas considers the text. "Well part of it makes sense, the malachite hold must refer to the dwarven fortress. I do not know what Jenya said but the words locks, and curtain also refer to water. I agree that the first place to see would be the orphanage. Shall we be off?"
Dyrant gets ready to leave, deeply unsatisfied with the answers so far, but intrigued by the oracle's riddle.
Too many questions remain...of primary note now is where to find the Last Laugh guild?
Standing, Dyrant adjusts the holy symbol at this neck, gathers his belongings, and makes ready.
"Finneas, we follow you."
"It is settled then, to the orphanage. Atol, you have your holy symbol and that divination packed?"
Lead the group to the orphanage.
"It is settled then, to the orphanage. Atol, you have your holy symbol and that divination packed?"
Atol checks his pocket, "Yes, uh, Finneas. I have them both and stand at your service." Atol stands up.
I thought Aeneas was in charge? Hard to keep track of this lot. The archer will be in charge next! Atol laughs to himself.
Aroon eyes you and glances down at the table. He looks back at you and clears his throat loudly, "Uh hmm! I shall keep your tab open. I can expect you and your 'generosity' back when? I just wish to know so I can have a fine dinner prepared."
Any undo interest in our group, or individuals tan on only one half of their face due to the application of paint on the other?
"Dryant, rather than scurry away take this moment to restore your reputation ... here at the Slippery Eel, and prove to Aroon that you are not a vagabond or charlatan." Silfr then gestures to the table that once held a bountiful spread as well as Dryant's bowl of mystery meat stew.
Silfr then says a goodbye to Aroon, shaking his hand and discreetly offering him a generous gold coin for the fine meal chicken satay, rice & coffee, making no mention of information asked or answered.
Regrouping with the others he is ready to travel to the orphanage.
Remembering the state of his purse... "Silfr, thanks for lunch. I'll make it up to you I promise!"
Need to remember to buy Silfr lunch sometime. REMEMBER!
"Dryant, rather than scurry away take this moment to restore your reputation ... here at the Slippery Eel, and prove to Aroon that you are not a vagabond or charlatan." Silfr then gestures to the table that once held a bountiful spread as well as Dryant's bowl of mystery meat stew.
Dyrant doesn't know what to make of Silfr's comment.
What is this supposed to mean? Ah...is he senile? My Angel has not given me the healing powers for that yet. Maybe he is just confused.
Dyrant will look around to see if anyone else get the humor before finding the words to answer.
"Mr. Aroon, you'll have to judge me only by the company that I keep. And I know not how I would judge it yet either."
Aroon eyes you and glances down at the table. He looks back at you and clears his throat loudly, "Uh hmm! I shall keep your tab open. I can expect you and your 'generosity' back when? I just wish to know so I can have a fine dinner prepared."
Finneas discretely puts a gold coin by the plate of satay he had so recently enjoyed.
"It was a fine meal, and I look forward to many more."
The party walks the few long blocks to the orphanage at the corner of Lava Ave and Lantern St. It has charcoal-colored stones held together with mold-encrusted mortar. The windows on both stories are tightly shuttered. Lanterns hang on either side of the oaken front door, mounted to which is a green copper knocker shaped like a gargoyle's visage, its nostrils pierced by a copper ring. Children can be heard playing inside, but no one is currently outside.
Hands shaking and memories swirling through his head, Finneas thumps the door several times with the knocker.
Home again. Focus. Focus. This is no longer your home. This is the past. Face it. Focus.
"Let us hope we find some answers here. We will teach this Last Laugh the meaning of irony."
Hands shaking and memories swirling through his head, Finneas thumps the door several times with the knocker.
You wait for what seems like forever before you hear the door being unlocked. It opens slowly and your eyes fall upon the familiar face of an elderly halfling. She stares at you for moments before the years fade from her view and she recognizes you. Gretchyn looks unchanged until she greets you. Her shaky voice shatters the illusion, "Finneas! It is good to see you, so good. I am glad you are safe. When you left I was unsure you'd return. But, where are my manners? Come in. Come in. And, who are these people with you? Don't tell me you've become an adventurer. You know it's not safe. I'll worry about you even more now."
Thierry bows to the aged halfling women before following his companions into the orphanage.
"Hello Mother Tashykk. I was not sure I would be back either. The last few years have been interesting. I am an adventurer now. I have been sent with these new companions to find out what happened to the"
Looks around cautiously
"missing children."
She is so small. Was she always that small? How much has changed in the last two years?
"Greetings Mother Tashykk. I am Dyrant."
Dyrant enters and looks around, particularly at the state of the children.
Perception in whatever room they are in.
Dyrant. I should remember that. Dyrant the archer. Has a nice ring to it. Archer Dyrant. Arched Rant. Like an annoyed cat.
"My lady we are at your service."
"Hello Mother Tashykk. I was not sure I would be back either. The last few years have been interesting. I am an adventurer now. I have been sent with these new companions to find out what happened to the"
Looks around cautiously
"missing children."
"What polite friends you've found Finneas. Please follow me into the kitchen and we can talk there. The children should be done cleaning by now."
As you walk to the kitchen you see children of various ages, some at work cleaning the house, some simply playing, and a third group in a side room being taught their letters by a female half-elf that the kids call Ms. Atherfell. Some kids Finneas recognizes and they greet him eagerly demanding stories and treasure. Mother Tashykk sends them on their way with promises that there will be time for that later.
The kitchen is spotless with everything in its proper place. A husky man with short cut hair and wearing an apron stands at the cupboards apparently lost in deep concentration. A woman with a simple bodice and long skirts sits at the huge table in the middle of the kitchen, her hands working a mortar and pestle furiously. She lifts her head and acknowledges your entrance. Mother Taskykk introduces her, "This is Neva, our partime nurse and fulltime helpful assistant for whatever need arises."
"Temar. Don't be rude. Say hello to Finneas and his friends. They've come to help find the children."
Temar continues to stare into the cupboards a few moments more before the words truly reach him. With a start, he turns and takes in the crowd before. "Please excuse my manners. It is so difficult to keep these children properly fed. They won't be under our care forever and if they don't have good roots they will surely be blown away by the first gust of wind that life has to offer." And then he begins to sob loudly and collapses on a bench at the table.
Mother Tashykk sits down beside Temar and rubs his back before addressing you again, "How can we help you help us?"
"What polite friends you've found Finneas. Please follow me into the kitchen and we can talk there. The children should be done cleaning by now."
"How can we help you help us?"
"Not only are they polite, but they are far smarter and wiser than I. If anybody can solve these kidnappings, it's them. I think the best place to start is the beginning.
What do you remember from the night of the kidnappings, how many children were taken, and is this the first time it's happened? How did they get in, how many were there? What did the guard say?"
Finneas takes a deep breath to steady himself. He bows before Mother Tashykk and then steps to the side of the kitchen so she can address everybody.
Dyrant clears his throat and enters the conversation.
"Mother Tashykk, I'm sorry to be blunt, but like Finneas, I have many questions."
Dyrant will pause between questions to listen to and absorb any answers given.
"Who pays for this orphanage? How do they get your monies?"
"What do you know of the Last Laugh Guild? Do you know where they hang out?"
"Does you have any idea why children might be being stolen? Do you know of any evil cults in the area?"
"Who else has gone missing recently? Are their other orphanages in the city?"
Whisper to Silfr, "Did that sound noble? I don't actually know what irony means."
Whispering to Finneas, "Irony has words betray their meaning, so some would consider it not noble at all. May I suggest if you speak truly in your own words, your voice will hold such authenticity as desired by the high and low alike."
Silfr will look for anyone watching the orphanage as they approach, look closely at the locks on the front door, then look around for the quality of locks on doors and windows while considering both security and safety in the event of fire or other emergency.
What do you remember from the night of the kidnappings, how many children were taken, and is this the first time it's happened? How did they get in, how many were there? What did the guard say?"
Mother Tshykk sweet voice answers Finneas, "Oh Finneas, you are smart and wise and caring too. Yes, this is the first time children have been stolen from our care; Temar is taking it quite hard. The kidnappings happened three nights ago and we found nothing amiss aside from the lanterns in front being blown out. We awoke to find the doors still locked with no sign of damage. We have talked to the children and none of them saw anything. Poor Andro had a nightmare about an evil gnome with crooked teeth and a tattered cloaking trying to steal his breath."
"We of course called the guard and they came by and looked around. They talked to the staff, the children, and me, but also found no clues as to how they children were taken. The lord mayor even sent a pair of half-elf investigators the next day to follow up, Fario Ellegoth and Fellian Shard--nice gentlemen. They asked the same questions, but also left apparently no closer to discovering what occurred.""
Mother Tashykk then turns to Dyrant, "An inquisitive and straightforward man of the clergy. You are an interesting fellow."
"Who pays for this orphanage? How do they get your monies?"
"What do you know of the Last Laugh Guild? Do you know where they hang out?"
"Does you have any idea why children might be being stolen? Do you know of any evil cults in the area?"
"Who else has gone missing recently? Are their other orphanages in the city?"
"This is the only orphanage in Cauldron. We receive donations from numerous sources. Your own church and Finneas's contribute. Each of the noble houses contributes. Even the town itself contributes. They see the wisdom of bringing up all children properly and keeping them from being sucked into the gangs like the Last Laugh. As for hoodlums like that, I don't know where they loiter about, but they are not welcome here."
"No, I don't know why the children were stolen. I just hope they are all right. If you suspect evil cults, I am afraid I will not be of any help. Our world here in the orphanage might be too secluded from the real world, but I know no other way to keep them safe. Only I have the keys to the front and back doors and I keep them locked at night. Unfortunately, even that no longer seems to work."
"I overheard the guards and half-elves talking about other abductions, but have nothing else to offer. There is so much to do here that I'm afraid I don't get out much."
Silfr will look for anyone watching the orphanage as they approach, look closely at the locks on the front door, then look around for the quality of locks on doors and windows while considering both security and safety in the event of fire or other emergency.
The orphanage appears quite secure. All the windows have strong shutters that can be secured from the inside. The locks on both the front and back doors are of similar design and appear in good working order. They are quite good and appear beyond the skill of anyone in your party to open without a key.
"The children who are gone. What are their names? Are they different in any way from the other children - older, stronger, same race? "
I'm glad I have family. They clearly work hard and care, but it must be tough to grow up here. Atol looks at Finneas with renewed confidence. If he made it through this he must be strong. Clearly a good leader for us.
The simpleton asks a good question.
Dyrant listens intently, trying to think of his next question(s).
"The children who are gone. What are their names? Are they different in any way from the other children - older, stronger, same race? "
"Four were taken. Deakon Stormshield, a nine-year-old dwarf. He came to us three years ago when his parents failed to return from an adventure. Evelyn Radavec, a nine-year-old human girl. Poor girl's parents succumbed to the filth fever plague that struck Cauldron seven years ago. Lucinda Aldreen, an eight-year-old human. Her poverty-stricken mother made the difficult decision to give her up four years ago. Finally there was Terrem Kharatys, a nine-year-old human. He came to us after his mother died in childbirth while out of wedlock."
"They were all children and of course special, but none of them had displayed any extraordinary talents."
Finneas nods at these answers, trying to think of his next course of action and waiting for the others to weigh in with their thoughts.
"Did any of the other employees see anything? And how is Patch? I haven't seen him in years."
"If there are other people being taken perhaps we should see if the guard have a list? More people to look at means we may find something in common. We should talk to these investigators, there is no reason to chase information they've already acquired."
"hmmm talking to the investigators might be a good step."
Finneas nods at these answers, trying to think of his next course of action and waiting for the others to weigh in with their thoughts.
To Finneas, "Perhaps you could ask Andro about the gnome from his nightmare? The children might find it easier to talk with someone once from the orphanage than all the guards, investigators and clergy."
"Mother Taskykk, thank you for providing us these detailed and thoughtful answers."
"Neva, have any children complained of unusual ailments or conditions recently?"
"Temar, is there anything you would like to add? Even small oddities could develop into meaningful clues. You were carefully considering the cabinets when we arrived, is something amiss?""
"Did any of the other employees see anything? And how is Patch? I haven't seen him in years."
"No. None of us saw anything, but only Neva and I are here at nights. It's as if they just vanished in a puff of smoke. Patch is about the house somewhere repairing or cleaining something or another. He helps keeps this place in great shape."
"Neva, have any children complained of unusual ailments or conditions recently?"
"Temar, is there anything you would like to add? Even small oddities could develop into meaningful clues. You were carefully considering the cabinets when we arrived, is something amiss?""
Still furiously working the mortar and pestle, Neva responds, "No. Some of them have lost their appetite, but that's not to be unexpected with such a tragedy. A few more bed wetting incidents and definitely more nightmares, but nothing that has me concerned."
Temar stops his sobbing long enough to utter simply, "No.*sniff,sniff,snuffle* Nothing at all."
Temar stops his sobbing long enough to utter simply, "No.*sniff,sniff,snuffle* Nothing at all."
What a crybaby. Pull yourself together, man.
Dyrant has no more questions though he is not completely sure what the next step is. He will wait for others to finish their questioning and inspections before discussing next steps.
"Mother Taskykk, with your permission I would like to speak to Ando."
Taking off his weapons, Finneas turns to his companions
"Please watch over these while I talk to the child."
"Mother Taskykk, with your permission I would like to speak to Ando."
"Please watch over these while I talk to the child."
Mother Tashykk agrees to let you see Ando. He is quietly playing with blocks beside the hearth in the main room. He sees you approach with Mother Tashykk and focuses intensely on his blocks, building them higher and higher.
Mother Tashykk agrees to let you see Ando. He is quietly playing with blocks beside the hearth in the main room. He sees you approach with Mother Tashykk and focuses intensely on his blocks, building them higher and higher."Mother Taskykk, with your permission I would like to speak to Ando."
"Please watch over these while I talk to the child."
"Hello Ando, my name is Finneas. I used to play with those blocks when I was younger."
Finneas waits patiently for Ando to get used to him.
"Sometimes when I had a bad dream I came to play with these blocks just like that. I would imagine that my problems were these blocks. After I had built them up high enough I would knock them over and my problems would be gone."
"Sometimes I was a little rough on my toys. Sometimes the blocks weren't enough though. When I had really bad dreams I would talk to Mother Tashykk about them, and she would make me feel better."
"Would you like to tell me about the gnome Ando? I promise that if you can help me, I will find this gnome and take care of it for you."
I will destroy this Last Laugh for what they've done here.
Male voice: Yes!
Female voice: Yes!
I will destroy this Last Laugh for what they've done here.
Male voice: Yes!
Female voice: Yes!
3rd voice: YES!!
"Would you like to tell me about the gnome Ando? I promise that if you can help me, I will find this gnome and take care of it for you."
Ando continues to build while talking. "He was tall. Taller than you."
He continues to stack the blocks until they are taller than he is. "And he had fangs and claws."
Out of blocks, he starts to take them from the base creating a teetering spire. "And he had a jar that he put close to my mouth."
The block spire looks sure to fall when, , he sends them all flying across the room. "But I sliced him in half with my hand and he went *POOF*."
Dyrant jumps when the child sends blocks scattering across the room.
So it was *taller* than Finneas? Such an imagination on that child. A creature that big would surely have been heard or seen.
"If I may do a quick walkthrough, so as to be informed for our future discussion with the investigators..."
Silfr will discreetly cast Detect Magic and then scan the rooms, objects and people.
Silfr will end his route at Ms. Atherfell's classroom to discover what the subject of the day is for the orphan students.
The block spire looks sure to fall when, , he sends them all flying across the room. "But I sliced him in half with my hand and he went *POOF*."
Finneas nods
"That is good Ando. Thank you."
Finneas returns to the kitchen to gather his gear and discuss their next course of action
"If I may do a quick walkthrough, so as to be informed for our future discussion with the investigators..."
Silfr will discreetly cast Detect Magic and then scan the rooms, objects and people.
Silfr will end his route at Ms. Atherfell's classroom to discover what the subject of the day is for the orphan students.
Ms. Atherfell has the rapt attention of a half dozen young children as she holds up a book for the children, "Kosz the Clumsy Knight." It has a picture of a knight in plate armor tripping over his own long plain grey cloak. She begins to read, "See Kosz run. See Kosz flee. See Kosz trip and scrape his knee."
Atol begins to fidget nervously from one foot to the next unsure what to do. Eventually he goes outside for some fresh air... and to see what the hammering is all about. Maybe it's a clue?
Atol begins to fidget nervously from one foot to the next unsure what to do. Eventually he goes outside for some fresh air... and to see what the hammering is all about. Maybe it's a clue?
Outside you find a half-orc in his early 20's pounding nails into the side of the house. He wears a sweaty but well-tailored shirt, a leather jerkin, good pants, and sturdy ankle-high leather boots with carved bone buttons. He has a patch over his left eye, and several gold earrings on his right ear. He nods at your approach, "Good morning, sir."
"Good Morning! We are looking into the missing children. What exactly are you repairing here? Could it be connected to the theft?"
Nice earring.