Dart mocks looking hurt, when his skills are called into question.
My oh my, Feisty! I know my way around a brewstand quite well! Hey, you can come back now!....
He stands arm outstrechted for a moment, then waves in your general direction.
BAHH, fine, I will go myself, comon Daniel, we can handle this tonight and take the credit all ourselves, I am sure to be named captain then!
He takes off down the hall, disappearing into the darkness.
Daniel hesitates a bit, looking down the hall after Dart, then back towards the others, after a few moments he shrugs.
Um... someone has to make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble.. h-heh, Sorry, he is quite a good guy, once you know him better.
Daniel takes off down the hall as well, never quite disappearing due to his glinting armor.
"What fun would you be implying dart? perhaps maybe we could do some alchemy! Alchemy is fun, and I got a new concoction to make that I'm sure will clear any hangover." Therie states, pulling out a couple of vials.
Roryx raises an eyebrow at the surprising response - he seems about to answer but instead shakes his head and smiles, taking another sip from his drink.
"... and if we mortar some bull's genitals it may even have an energizing effect."
This time however he does laugh, and looks at both Narunith and Therie - "I wish you both good luck on your 'experiments' - may that removing the animal's genitals be worth it somehow" - he offers as they leave.
Um... someone has to make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble.. h-heh, Sorry, he is quite a good guy, once you know him better.
"And a nice evening to both of you too, though perhaps some lessons should be learned alone? Why is it that you should take care of him?"
The meeting went surprising well, thought Maeron in his sleep-dulled state. That is, until he was about to call on Daniel and get to know him a little better on the way back to the room, only to watch in dismay as he races off after his partner in crime.
The paladin shakes his head as he mutters, "Now THAT is a friend." The smile fades as he realizes it's been years...decades, since he's seen...
The paladin drives the thought from his head, and takes the time to bid his teammates good night. "I'm glad to see you're part of the team, Roryx. You were most impressive in your blending of the arcane with the martial arts during the training missions."
He looks over at the elven pair as they depart to their room discussing...alchemical concoctions? "Perhaps I should sleep under my bed tonight."
Even though resilient to genitalia references, Roryx does seem to hesitate in face of a compliment - "Thank you... Maeron is it not?" - he retorts.
He looks over at the elven pair as they depart to their room discussing...alchemical concoctions? "Perhaps I should sleep under my bed tonight."
"You think it unsafe?" - he chuckles - "Though I wish they would stay a while longer, I had no opportunity thus far to discuss the details of what is to be done tomorrow at the orphanage with you yet - that has been the set course decided upon, yes?"
"Maeron. Maeron Thurngood." The elf notices, but chooses to overlook the apparent hesitancy.
"Unsafe? No. Probably not. Narunith should be able to contain whatever Therie throws her way." Maeron chuckles at the image. "Both figurative and literally. Therie has a reputation of being...explosive. What we saw at the training was likely but a glimpse of what she can do when she unleashes herself." Maeron turns to Roryx and smiles. "I suspect that can be said of everyone on the team. Why, even of Dartaniel and Daniel. They've filled this team with some pretty extraordinary talents, I'd say."
"Ah yes. The mission. The main observations relayed to us were strange sounds and smells. Given this is in the poor district not known for pleasant assaults on the senses, for them to notice it enough to call it strange says something." The elf knight ponders the mission momentarily, trying to regather his thoughts. "While no set course has been determined yet, I believe a word to someone in charge so that we do not disturb their activities is in order, and getting the layout and purposes of the various areas and how they connect with each other would be useful. Beyond that, I've seen enough of our teammates in action to believe we will find a competent course of action based on whatever's presented to us when we arrive at the orphanage."
"bull testicles? Never use that as an ingredient. hmm... I could see the potential! do you have any? Oh I must have some now. Are there any bulls around here? I don't mind getting a pair if we need them." Therie rapidly spouts out, lost into alchemical equations.
Rockjaw listens in at the group, some half asleep (him not having gone down yet, or even changed out of his armor) and scoffs a bit.
Hrumph. Best way to lead a group is ta leave em behind? Best way to order someone is ta ignore ya own orders? Hrumph. Lead a stone ta water an have em drink, i say. Useless an good luck!
Then, before Therie goes, Oie! Ya aint supposed ta cure tha hangover, ya supposed ta drink it away! Finish tha bottle ya got stored away!
Rockjaw just assumes that every sensable person should have a bottle or two hidden away. Well 'night ya lot!
Full of himself and stubborn ... Good to know for the future. I hope for Daniel's sake they won't get into to much trouble. Must be hard being the son of the headmaster. Everyone looking at you to live up to his name and whatnot ...
Mikhail listened to Maeron's ideas on what to do when they would get to the orphanage.
"That's some really sound ideas Maeron, but I guess we'll see if that will still be necessary when morning comes." Mikhail said looking in the direction Dart and Daniel had left. "And with that I bid you good night."
Mikhail then quickly followed after Rockjaw.
Roryx finishes his drink, bids the others good night, and goes back to the room.
As Rockjaw returns to his room, grumbling something about elves and idiocity and always hurring and by tundar... He gets ready for the nights rest, fractured tho it may be. Tossing the note out the window, stripping down his mountian of earth and setting it rather roughly at the foot of the bed, Rockjaw then crawls into a groaning bed and says Night. rather curtly to Mikhail before soon snoring away. Loudly. Like always...
In the morning he is dressed, full gear, and ready to be out the door, as punctual as possible... Rockjaw hates being late.
Therie spends the rest of the evening brewing an amazing remedy to her hangover, only to realize that when she finally finishes she doesn't appear to be suffering from the hangover any longer.
|
As you each make your way to the scheduled meeting room around 10 am the next day, you are greeted by Aia, the head cleric.
She speaks in a soft, but commanding soothing tone.
good morning all, since investigsting this was my request the headmaster as placed me in charge of its procedures. We seem to be missing two. Do any of you know where dart and sir Daniel may be?
She looks around the room then to each of you.
Even though Narunith has taken great care to hide the effects of her tiredness the best she could, she still looked sleepy. Well tended, but sleepy. Earning the trust of a juvenile was hard work, because Therie got ever funnier ideas the longer they worked and Narunith didn't want to be the lame one who put a stop to it all. A couple of times she almost caused an explosion herself, because she almost fell asleep while working with chemicals.
"Good morning, sir... I do have a certain idea, but even if they did... they should be back by now." she shrugged. "Or he simply overslept, he probably has as much reason to as any of us."
She grimaced as she suppressed a yawn with all the strength of her will. "Well, Dart did try to talk us into doing it at once in the middle of the night. Either they overslept or they actually tried to do it. Hmmmm... but they should be back by now if that were the case. I don't think they would have been let into the orphanage in the middle of the night... Well, I hope they just overslept... Sir." Military protocol was not her strong side. She always felt excessive protocol a bit ridiculous. They just might haven broken and entered there. Or assumed privileges as knights of the order they did not have.
"Wait, that man last night actually went to the Orphanage? Who does things without a good nights sleep? That guy is clearly not all there. Seriously, I'd be liable to blow something up." Therie adds with a laugh, recalling a fond memory of the time she tried to stay up through the night to enhance the effects of one of her bombs. Thank the goddess I had the window open.
Nope. Not ah clue. No idea where they be. But anyways, lets get on wit it, some o us slept in an now we be late already, no use bein even later... What be your orders?
Rockjaw says with an almost sour look on his normally hard to read face.
Having taken the time to greet the dawn, as was his habit, Maeron returns to the meeting room with plenty of time for meditation and thought as the rest of the group gathered.
The paladin bows to the head cleric as she greets the group. "There were indeed some differences of opinion as to whether it is better to approach in day or at night. Perhaps in their eagerness to help Dartaniel and Daniel did indeed make an initial foray to the orphanage. However, as I did not see where they headed off to, I cannot say for certain."
Maeron considers the situation. "Perhaps we can leave word here for them to catch up to us at the orphanage, if we should miss them on their return. If they are still at the orphanage, then we will join them there. Whatever the case may be, I trust their ability to take care of themselves, and each other, if trouble should visit upon them."
"Since you requested this investigation, and are in charge of the mission, will you be joining as as well?"
|
|
Aia closes her eyes and shakes her head.
Sigh, that does sound quite like them. I presume it was Dartaniel's Idea and that Sir Daniel was convinced to follow along?
She regards Narunith.
Simply refer to me as Aia my dear, sir sounds so... militaristic and formal. quite unfitting for a lady of the cloth I should say.
She shakes her head again and turns to regard the whole group.
None the matter, you will be guided down into the lower city by one of my clerics that frequents there. I unfortunately will not be able to accompany you due to my many other tasks here. Now then, any other questions before I leave you?
as she mentions her cleric, she motions toward a female standing next to her bearing the same Rank symbol as you do.
After Aia finishes, the female cleric bows slightly.
Good evening, I will be your guide, my name is Rebecca, unfortunately I have my own missions in the lower city and will not be able to accompany you once I have shown you to the building.
|
Show me a man or woman of the cloth with a spine and I'll show ye me self as a dwarf who will drink again. Dalrin says once again thinking aloud.
Forgive me miss, but why so busy I thought men and women of cloth had nothing but time to devote, look at me. Could you not devote a bite more? Or re you just a priest with no actual skill. All faith ehh? Were I the head preist you would all get more combat training!
Roryx remains quiet throughout all the exchange not really certain what to add to the conversation - he does smile at Dalrin's words though.
"Is there someone we are supposed to speak to, once arriving at the orphanage - do they know we are coming?" - he asks, while finishing his breakfast.
"Then I guess we know who to speak" - Roryx adds, observing the exchange between Aia and Dalrin, his eyes then going wide as the dwarf's hair changes color.
Taking a step back, his hand reaches for the weapon at his back, though he does not draw it - "What is going on?"
|
|
Aia let's out a chuckle.
the master dwarf called into question my branches abilities, it was easier to show sir darlin, rather than tell him to convince him of them. And I rather needed a laugh of late. I beleive sir Darlin is confident of my abilities now yes?
Aia looks around to the others.
I believe that is everything. You are to head out as soon as you are ready. Be sure to make a full reprot in paper once you have discovered the cause of the strange occurrences.
"Ok then I guess..." - Roryx shrugs - "I guess we can move out" - he adds, but still eyes the woman with some suspicion.
Maeron steps forward at Dalrin's words and tone and contemplates scolding the disrespectful dwarf when...what did she just do?!
Despite Aia's disarming wink, Maeron frowns at the confrontation. Even the head cleric's words, with all her charismatic force behind it, fails to mollify the unsettling discomfort within him. The paladin bows with civil respect but little more, and responds coldly. "I believe it's time we move on as well." He turns abruptly from the head cleric and moves to the door, before halting and waiting for the guide Rebecca to lead the way.
Narunith was a bit unsure what to think of the dwarf's reaction at first. As a wizard, Narunith was herself what adventurers typically called a clothy. And while she was a student of the arcane and not one to devote her faith to the service of a deity, she was strongly faithful to Shelyn.
The very cloth, namely the dress, she wore was indeed a token of her own love to her twin sister, and thus to her faith for Shelyn. While the two sisters shape was identical and the dress fit her body perfectly, its deep blue color did absolutely not fit her blazing red hair. Thus, whenever Narunith saw her reflection, she also saw Mornith, her ebony haired sister.
"I am afraid I can't reverse this right now, Dalrin." she replied carefully, trying to hide her amusement, "but, please, try to bear it with the dignity of the knight you are - this can't stop a dwarf, sober or otherwise, can it?"
She couldn't help herself, she certainly did not want to embarrass him more than he already was but mumbled, hardly audible with a suppressed smirk: "The kids are gonna love you for this."
To Aia she curtseyed gracefully. "We will take care of the children and get to the bottom of this." She knew that protocol did not require a curtsey, but her heart did. She nodded to Roryx and Maeron, turning to leave.
Seeing how he get himself together, but is indeed suffering more than she thought, she pats him on the back as they leave. "Don't worry, I am pretty sure it won't last long."
|
|
As you go to leave aia bows gracefully and turns towards the grand hall. She calls back to dalrin.
you are right though, my strength lies not in my arm but in my faith, though no lesser a strength is that. Perhaps one day we will call upon you for your training valiant dwarf.
You follow rebecca down multitudes of streets, ride down several lifts, and further streets, you notice the change in housing and materials as you enter and leave several districts, eventually you easily tell you reached one of the poorest districts in the spwarling city. Half of the buildings are run down and falling apart, the other half, ones still usable seem to fair little better, broken windows , rotten wood in places. Its a grand change from the golden halls of the dawn's Hall.
After a few moments rebecca points to a house, in fairly good repair considering the rest of the district.
that is the orphanage. The only other building in use on this street is the one across from it, an apartment like building providing shelter to the poor here. They are not above asking for charity either.
She looks a bit disdainful when she says so.
I am inclined to believe the headmasters opinion on these matters. But nevermind. My duties lay on the other end of this district. Simply knock on the doors and ask for mistress kodavi.
She begins to head away.
The whole trip took you slightly over 30 minutes.
However, the dwarfs beard is still pink.
Upon seeing what had happened to Dariln, Rockjaw bursts our in a roaring laughter
BUHAHAHAHAHA! Oh ahahah! That is a larf! Whats tha matter eh Dalrin? Nutting to say? BUHAHAHAHAHA by TUNDAR that was good!
He gets a very good laugh at the poor dwarfs expense, at least this time...
At the Orphanage, Rockjaw takes point, walking in the front, not so much in case of bad kids, but in case of unruly thugs in the area, tho Rockjaw doubted they would attack a group.like this, never the less...
At the door, and probably a moment before everyone was ready, Rockjaw smote the door a heavy blow with his hand.
BAMB BAMB BAM!
Mikhail was taken by surprise by Dalrin's harsh words and even more so by Aia's response. It seems Dalrin has yet to learn that even though it's a good trait to always speak your mind, it also has its downsides.
On the way to the Poor district, Mikhail fell back into his old job as a city guide. Talking about the various places they passed by, but when they finally arrived on location, he fell silent as he looked at the surroundings.
He grew up in this area and had called it home for many years. Yet when he stood there now as a Knight of the Order of Dawn, it felt different. Maybe now he could make a difference.
Mikhail was shook from his musings by Rockjaw's knock on the door.
|
|
When you reach the building the smells of rotten meat seems to encompass you. It churns the stomachs of even the stout dwarves. As rockjaw seems to shake the smell off first he hammers thrice on the door. Upon the third hammer blow a loud crack is heard and the door slowly falls inward, revealing several kids, mouths agape and one terrified mistress. Perhaps in her 40s.
Maeron stares as the door falls to the powerful dwarf's knock. He quickly steps in. "We apologize for the intrusion. Name's Maeron. Maeron Thurngood. We are here on behalf of Priestess Aia...of the Order to look into some possible concerns you have with the smells and sounds recently." Ignoring the scent as best he can, he glances over to the party to lead the mistress's eyes across the group. "We hope we may be of assistance. Can you tell us what you know of the sounds and odors? Perhaps when you start noticing it, where it seems the strongest, anything peculiar that happened around the time it started?"
Then, looking down at the door he's now standing on, the elf quickly adds. "And of course we'll make sure this gets taken care of"
Giving the mistress a chance to take all this in, the paladin steps back and whispers to Mikhail. "Do you know of any carpenters you trust who may be able to take care of this?"
Narunith is quite shocked by the smell as well and while she tries to hide how nauseating it feels, she goes over to breath through her mouth. Maeron is an elf, just like her, and his senses are just as keen. She's puzzled how he can bear it so well. 'This is more than just a dead cat in the chimney she thought. I wonder how anyone can stay in this place.' But the children and their overseers probably didn't have a choice.
She keeps to the background and mumbles quietly in elven: "Streams of arcane, unveil and illuminate."*
She takes a look around to get an overall impression and takes a closer look at Dalrin's beard as well. At first she had thought Aia had just used a variation of Prestidigitation, but while the spell lasts for an hour, its effects were usually highly volatile. While she is keenly aware how inappropriate it id to stare at Dalrin's beard, she wants to deal with that before they get all too deep in trouble and this prank has went on long enough now.
As for dealing with the situation, she trusts Maeron to act appropriately and her outstanding memory to keep track of it, even though she is focused on something else.
* Detect Magic
|
|
Narunith notices a faint aura coming from the orphanage. And anyone inside the building finds the air much more pleasant, even if the smell wafts up their nose from time to time.
The older women's face changes from terror to relief in an instant.
oh thank god, don't do that to an old woman! I didn't know what was happening!
She ushers the fee children on the ground floor save 3 old ones, 2 females, and one male, all about 14 years of age. Once the others are out of earshot she turns to you, a troubled look on her face.
please, dont worry about the smells yet, 3 children have gone missing, and the other two knights have not returned here yet from last night. I fear something may have happened.
She takes a deep breath
though it may just be an old woman, who has heard to many tall tales, overreacting due to her imagination. But my gut tells Me something has happened.
Elissa, Michel, tell them what you told me.
The children step forward, eyes on there feet, the girl seems to be forcing back tears.
They speak to you almost as one. Taking up wherever the other leaves off.
We were playing with them in the basement, we aren't supposed to go down there but it was the perfect place to play knights at. Its spooky she means. Yeah, spooky, dark too. Yeah dark. Well, after a bit we heard a noise, then we got really sleeply. Yeah! Really sleeply and fell asleep. Mhm, just as he says, even though it was midday... Yeah, weird, right sis? Yeah, anyway when we woke up... The others ... They had vanished. Yeah, like he says. Gone they weren't up here, and they never came back. Yeah, that was two days ago... We are really worried.... The guards have looked, but they are busy with other matters too, they haven't been able to find anything...
The two children seem to be at the point of tears when the mistress gathers them and ushers them back to the couch.
please. You have got to find them.
She stares at you with pleading eyes.
Narunith's concerns become deeper as she notices the aura around and learns that Dartaniel and Daniel have indeed been here, but have not yet come back. Her greatest worry is for the missing children, however.
Still trying to breath through her mouth, so the stench would not distract her so much she focuses on the faint aura around - even though the smell clearly suggested necromancy, she didn't want to utter such a suspicion without evidence. Fortunately the conversation gave her time to get an impression of her magical environment, without alarming the woman or the children even more.
Narunith sighs audibly in relief. Just a protection spell... probably against the cold and the weather, the house wasn't in its best condition. Or it was what was keeping the smell at bay inside. Maybe things are not so dark after all and they will somehow find the children, Dartaniel and Daniel unharmed. She lets go of her sword's hilt - she didn't even remember having grasped it - and focuses on the conversation again.
Therie quirks an eyebrow as the smell assaults her nose. Well that is repugnant. I wonder what could make that.
She walks up to the door with the rest of them, the smell there but not disorientating after working with chemicals for so long.
She listens in silence as the old woman and children tell their tale. Hmm, quite the mystery. and better yet, I don't believe this smell is from something explosive! Therie grins, touching a vial on her bandolier.
Mikhail stepped forward. "Mistress Kodavi, could you tell us what happened last night? I know the 2 other knights came here, but did they investigate the basement? If so, did they come back from that and leave in a certain direction? And do you by any chance have an idea if there is another way into and out of the basement than from the orphanage itself?"
|
|
Mistress looks at Mikail
Well, those two fellows from the order came by last night, we told them about the missing children, and then they went to the basement. They never came back after that. And no, the only entrance should be the one out back...