Leaping into the darkness of the sewers, the half-elven girl looks about confused. I-I thought I knew where he was. He's down here somewhere and in danger! Can anyone help us find him? We must hurry!
To Francis' query, the girl looks about in the dim light. Yes, yes! Can anyone help us? I can't see! She calls out into the darkness. Suddenly a multi-colored, vaguely humanoid shape slowly forms near the party. It hovers near them and seems to look at them for direction. Dancing Lights
To Nalia's question, the girl pulls a twig from a fold in her dress. Here! She says, shoving the tip towards anyone who requests aid. I found this and it can ease your pains. She looks at Nalia with a tilt to her head. Languages? I speak just my native tongue, Elven. And of course the common tongue. The Others speak their own languages. But no time for them now. As Herald BobE proclaimed, we must seek and save Poppo!
The girl fires off 3 healing spells from the wand. On the fourth, it seems the wand doesn't work, but after she shakes it and tries again, Nalia feels fully restored.
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shut your mouth woman or at least whisper. You want healed or you want zombies? your choice.
and to Vyna Girl, can you tell how many there are and can you tell what the room looks like? And if you can't do anything useful when the fighting starts, hang in the back and run if it goes badly. Can you do anything useful? BobE asks as the smoke rises from his singed clothes and burnt beard.
[ooc] bobE will cast magic fang on beatrip prior to combat. If we can sneak close enough he will also cast bane if it will reach. [/b]
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I have torches and can cast light on an object as needed if that helps. Thanks for the healing! That little twig is wonderful. Once we're all or mostly recovered we can push on thru this sewer. The light will give us away but we don't have much choice, unless BobE you want to send Beatrip ahead to explore. Francis, thanks for helping us find our friend!
Alright if anyone wants to look for Poppo I need survival check.
Poking around for tracks:
Vynya is able to locate some tracks. First thing she finds is what looks like a scuffle happened close to the bottom of the ladder. Two sets of footprints one small the size of a halfling the other the size of medium sized creature. It looks as though a battle happened as you also find some blood on the ground. Further inspection you find a small boarding axe embedded in some sewer sludge. An small indentation would suggest that the small figure was either killed or knocked unconscious.
The medium sized footprints exit where the battle happened and you are able to follow a trail of blood and also the occasional footprints in the muck. However the tracks begin to go in circles. Going down one path then doubling back. The steps become wider apart or walk backwards and you can't make heads or tails of which way the medium sized creature actually went.
Then you see the outline of a figure walking down the sewer toward...
Well Francis, you are almost on the right track, almost. A tall hobgoblin says, who steps from the shadows. He has a rough appearance, most notably is that he is missing most of his right ear. He has a long, blue braided beard, bushy blue eye brows, and his hair is pulled back, although he is balding. He wears a long brown cloak covering most of himself; and leans on a walking stick. He has an air of confidence.
I've answered your summons. I assume my regular fees applies to this one, except I understand the missing halfling is a member of the Holy Order and I still owe them a favor, so I'll do this one gratis. But I understand Trusty is also missing, be glad to find him too, cost will be time and a half to find him? He let's the statement hang like a question in the air.
Hurak! Good to see you old friend. Yes Poppo Hedgehopper is the halfling in question. As for Patches, he is a pretty useful individual so I will pay for you finding him out of my own purse. He looks at Vynya, BobE, and Nalia Let me introduce you all to Hurak the Hunter the professional investigator I mentioned earlier.
Old Vesuvius will get ripped limb from limb when Turngut finds us! Let me go now and I'll see your life is spared! The angry little halfling says as he does his best to wiggle around, now that he has feeling again.
He tries to break free.
Good that's settled, well good to meet you all; if he's where I think he might be we don't want to waste time with a lot of idle chit chat. With that he nods at Francis, and starts moving through the sewers, though he limps along on the cane, he moves very quickly, and is difficult to follow.
Poppo wiggles and wiggles trying to escape and upon trying to intimidate Vesuvius the dwarf just laughs.
Vesuvius laughs again Wouldn't do that if Vesuvius were you. Vesuvius picks up a large hot poker and through the bars of the cage pokes you right in the center of your chest with it, laughing as he does. Now Vesuvius has some other work to get done! He motions to a man already on a rack struggling to break free but unable to.
Vesuvius tortures the man getting some information about Silent Blade movements in the Undercity before taking a huge greataxe and butchering the man. Chopping at each of his limbs just to be able to get the tied up man off easier. Vesuvius giggles with glee looking at both you and Patches.
Vatyra said Vesuvius wasn't to kill one of you's didn't say nothing about maiming ye. So who wants to go first? Vesuvius will only take a few fingers or toes no need to worry. But if you keep struggling little Hedgehopper I'll take more than that.
I think I will depart back to the Grove Francis says motioning to his wounds Besides I can't do much else today. I think I will go in person to report to Lord Motylek. I...I hope you are able to find him. he says looking at Nalia and BobE before limping out of the sewer.
Of course, Herald BobE, this stick can heal you...I think. Now hold still, this doesn't usually hurt. She fires off 2 more cure spells from the twig-like wand. On the third, the wand sparks and gives BobE a static electricity-like shock, but then sends one last charge of positive energy into him.
Oh Sweet Malphas! I'm so sorry m'ser! She stammers when she accidentally shocks the old man. When the hobgoblin appears, the street urchin woman begins to mutter and pace around, all the time pulling on her hair and pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. No, no, no, no...not this one. Who is this? I haven't seen him before. Is he the one or is he the one that takes the other one??
As soon as the hobgoblin takes off, however, she instantly snaps back to the moment and rushes after him, still muttering, but at least with her eyes open. The eerie spectral light floats just behind her casting shadows on the wall that almost look like they have lives of their own.
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Thanks for the help Francis, be safe getting back home. We'll get Poppo back and look for Trusty as well. Turning to Hurak she says, Nice to meet you. I'm Nalia, this is BobE and our new friend we just met is Vynya. I fear we'll need to quiet and sneaky in order to find and survive getting our sneaky friend. I'm not very good at that but will try and be as quiet as I can. Hurak, can you lead us in the right direction?
Ha, ha, yeah sneaky and quiet is how I work. Nalia, interesting accent you have, clearly not from Enderal, my guess is your from Nehrim, based on the accent and how tall you are. I usually do this type of stuff alone. In and out unnoticed or barely noticed. But I doubt I can convince you to stay here while I go retrieve your friend. So do your best to keep quiet, we may have to use a more direct approach.
The hobgoblin takes a small vial out of his cloak and downs it quickly. Before, leaning down looking at some tracks in the sewage.
Ha ha He begins to move along quickly once more.
Hurak is speedily able to follow the tracks with some assistance from Nalia. He stops for a brief moment as the tracks appear to stop but he quickly finds traces of the person doing a brief wall run to throw of the scent. You find yourself at an outtake pipe.
This is the furthest in you've been to the Undercity as the buildings are scarce here and the people even scarcer. Hurak can tell that the footprints indicate that once out of the sewer the figure began to move much quicker. Continuing to follow the tracks you find yourself trekking through this very open part of the Undercity which is very far away from any other part of the Undercity.
The tracks lead you to what appears to be the very end of the Undercity where you are met with a massive cave wall. You can tell that this used to be a massive dug out tunnel but it has since caved in. The tracks indicate that the figure began to climb up the side of the cave. I will need a climb check and a perception check from everyone.
With a panicked look on her face, the young woman's eyes go wide and look back and forth the rest of the party. She begins to pull on the ends of her hair. I-I didn't know how difficult this would be. It looked so much easier when I was just seeing you. Climb!?! I am not very strong. I thought I was just showing you the way, not going into battle. Should I just stay here? She asks hopefully, but then with determination, tries to climb the rubble.
Vynya can't quite climb up the rubble but from the ground is a able to spot a narrow passage partially concealed in the massive rock wall.
With Vynya pointing out the narrow passage Nalia scales the cliff with ease and grace.
Oh! My name? My name... She drifts of absentmindedly for a moment. I don’t know. I think most people call me Vynya, Lady Malphason. You may call me that if you wish.
The name she gives, Vynya, is a generic term that you’ve heard before. It typically is a mildly derogatory term that means “child of Vyn”. Almost like “Earthling”, but more patronizing.
With Vynya pointing out the passage, Hurak sees it as well.
Vynya? Hurak replies, knowing full-well the connotation.
Let's try this passage out, why don't we, I don't climb as well as I use to since I blew out this knee, funny story, you see...
He starts to tell it, but remembers the task and moves toward the passage, peeking inside.
Poppo takes the hot poker, and tries to hold back the pain. But then let's out a yell.
AHHHH!
Uh, my nose itches that's why I'm squirming! Don't maim me, I'll tell you what I know, which isn't much, I can't take the pain! He blurts out.
Poppo tries to fix his mind on one thing, to try to block out the pain.
Oranges, Oranges
Hehehe the dwarf lets out a low guttural laugh Well if you don't know much then not much reason to leave you alive. But something tells Vesuvuius that you know plenty. Vesuvius unlocks the cell with the keys on his belt. Now let me scratch your nose for you! With that Vesuvius reels back and punches you square in the nose breaking it. Blood drips from your nose down your lips and onto your chin before dripping to the floor. What do you know about the Holy Orders plans?!
Hurak is able to climb up next to Nalia. Both of them are able to throw down a rope to the two you and taking tens the rest of you are able to climb up. The tunnel leads on narrow, only wide enough for a single file line. You walk for around thirty minutes through this narrow passage before it ends.
On the other side you see another wide open stone field that ends with massive cliff going down. To Hurak and Vynya who have spent many years in the Undercity you would have probably heard rumors of the Archcliff. The Archcliff goes down for thousands upon thousands of feet and right on the edge of the Archcliff was a castle said to be the seat of a great lord during the high points of the Undercity.
Then you spot it a towering castle with fifteen feet walls made of the same stone as the cave. Eight figures patrol the walls looking out at the blank field of stone only the occasional stalagmites growing up from the ground give any texture to the ground. Within the walls you are able to see five buildings.
One of the buildings has a chimney that lets off a big plum of smoke. The building is about twenty feet tall but appears to only have one story.
The second building is significantly smaller than the others and looks newer as well constructed of wood. You see figures with bit of lumber leave and enter the building on occasion.
The third building is the tallest, about thirty feet tall. It looks to have three levels and appears to be the central keep of the Archcliff castle.
You watch as the camera suddenly shutters upward getting a full view of the Archcliff, flying over the castle before plummeting downward into the black depths below. A title card appears Shards of an Order Chapter Five: Siege of the Archcliff Castle.
When the Undercity castle comes into view and Hurak spots some guards outside. He ducks down,
Get down! He whispers not wanting to be spotted.
He then starts to ponder an attack plan, Umm, umm He grunts to himself.
Vynya stares blankly at BobE for a moment. Oh! Me? Am I V-girl? That-that's an interesting name, thank you m'lord. She gives another anxious curtsy. As soon as Hurak whispers his command, Vynya falls flat on her face in the dirt, arms over her head. She starts muttering to herself in a strange language, sharp and staccato in pronunciation. Has vory sy za ittapeduwm zmuw upeawwukdy ziwc? Faadw. Io xe syry ul tmirqy, sy safdv mijy wfttyyvyv idryivh suzm afr oayw dhulq vyiv iz ph oyyz.
Nalia has only really heard rumors of this place, its a bit of a local legend. It was said that a ruling family in the Undercity had a castle in the rumored area of the Undercity called the Archcliff. This place supposedly disappeared hundreds of years ago and up until now no one has known where it is. You don't know what nobility presided here.
Looking closer from your current vantage point you can see that the main gate doesn't appear to be the original and looks to be a pair of double doors that have been fitted there instead. The wall itself while not crumbling is in relatively poor condition with some signs of being patched recently. The wall would probably relatively easy to scale.
Nalia in your head you suddenly hear a voice that you recognize, Constantine Firespark.
"Nalia, this is Firespark, limited words, are you all ok? Arantheal and Bartarr are worried. Send report. You can respond to this message, 25 words."
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Pause my friends, Constantine Firespark has messaged me. Arantheal and Bartarr are worried. We can only respond with a report of 25 words. What do we say?
Nalia wonders about what to say, mumbling to herself, We are whipped, at the Archcliff, trying to enter to rescue Poppo who was taken by Vatyra. ?Won the battle, lost Turngut. Found Vynya.
As the blood pores from his nose, Well let's see round up all the scum in the Undercity, especially, stinking, nasty, dwarves, like you! He spits out blood as he chokes on his words.
Sounds like your bosses are worried. If you wanna wait here, I'll go retrieve the little guy and meet you back here. Hurak responds when he hears what Nalia has to say.
As he says it he takes out 2 more small vials and downs them, when he drinks the second one, his skin looks even more leathery.
Vesuvius wipes the blood from his face and spits back at Poppo. You're a talker, all bluster! With that Vesuvius quickly exits Poppo's cage and grabs a glass bottle from a nearby table. He smashes the bottle against the ground and grabs a sizable piece of the glass off the floor. He gives Poppo a devious look then walks back over to you. With one hand and with immense strength he forces Poppo's mouth open and stuffs the shard of glass in Poppo's mouth before forcing Poppo's mouth to stay shut. Vesuvius then begins to punch you several times in the face, breaking the chunk of glass into several smaller pieces which shred the tongue and mouth of Poppo. He then lets go of Poppo Now tell me, WHAT are the Holy Order planning you little rat?
A minute or two goes by and then you finally get a response back. "Not sure what Archcliff is, be careful Vatyra are dangerous. What do you mean lost Turngut? Do you need backup?"
Hurak smiles at BobE, Chances, nearly none. The hobgoblin seems supremely confident in his own abilities.
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Hurak, if you think we'll be more of a burden to you than a help then of course you should go get Poppo. We can watch and be ready to help if you're being chased. I just can't allow you to put yourself at risk on our behalf. As we don't know what we're getting into I guess we can leave it to you to decide, or leave ahead of us. We could always provide a distraction allowing you to get out with Poppo unseen.
Nalia pauses then says, I guess even what I mumbled was sent back to Firespark. Their seems to be a delay in the communication, some sort of poor magical connection. He asks if we need help and sounds like he's not familiar with the Archcliff. How should I respond? I don't want to even think anything so it's not misinterpreted.
Well, tell him it's deep in the Undercity, and seek out Francis. Francis likely doesn't know either but, he'll probably have an idea. As I did, but not sure I would have found so fast, if not being able to follow the trail of the kidnapper. He tells Nalia in how to respond, the adds.
Yeah I can get him back, if you hear a ruckus make a distraction by all means. Hurak looks at the others...and gets ready to move in if they agree.
If Hurak wants a Silence spell cast upon him or an object for him to carry, Vynya will do that. Otherwise she stares with fascination at the strange Hobgoblin.
AhmuhaaHH! Poppo calls out in distress as he's brutalized by the dwarf. When he stops to ask his question, Poppo spits out glass, and blood, and bits of flesh, along with a large chunk of his tongue, severed. Poppo's ready to talk, but alas he is now unable, perhaps changed forever.
Uh..blah, ba oly boordr, He mumbles more blood pouring from his mouth. His eyes grow very weary and sad and the youthful halfling seems to age instantly. A deep shadow crosses his face.
Now just a reminder that Silence only last rounds per level, so 7 rounds. If Hurak moves at full speed in those 7 rounds he can make it to the wall in 5 rounds, however he would be at a penalty for stealth for moving full speed. And if he were to move at half speed he would only be able to get 210 feet, so not even to the wall. It is also a very open space meaning he wouldn't have to many places to hide crossing to the castle.
Oh boohoo! Vesuvius grins at Poppo Glass got yer tongue? Oh come on big hero of the Holy Order can't take a broken nose and some glass in his mouth, pathetic! Vesuvius exits and locks the cell Poppo is in Vesuvius will work you over more later! he laughs.
It is also a very open space meaning he wouldn't have to many places to hide crossing to the castle.
Poppo gently weeps in his cell.
Vesuvius laughs at Poppo's despair Broke him quicker than Vesuvius thought. RYAN! Vesuvius shouts a chubby bald headed man with a smile enters the room Watch them while Vesuvius takes a break.
Of course. the bald head man cordially says before looking and smiling at Poppo. Through all the blood and tears you at first don't recognize him, then you do and while you felt in danger before the aura of danger you get from this man is even greater.
Poppo... Patches begins to say before a clap from the bald guard stops time completely.
A familiar eerie violin starts to play as Gaunter O'Dimm walks up to your cell door gripping the bars Got yourself in a little bit of trouble have you dear Master Poppo?
So what are you guys doing?
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Ok Hurak, move out when you're ready. We'll try and distract if it seems you need help. How do you plan on moving in? Are you going to open the door so we can easily enter or just scale and go over. Do you have any healing potions to give Poppo when you see him, in case he's worse for wear? I don't have any to give you. Poppo could probably climb the wall if he had to, to get back out of there.