"In my duties I came across some ancient writings and adapted them to modern day uses." he announce, subconsciously tapping a target tome strapped to his side. Opening his jacket, numerous vials can be seen strapped to his person.
"I'm not going to blow the keep, as it were, but I should at least slow the enemies progress. I will do my best to stay out of your way, being the professionals amd all. I feel I can prove myself useful though."
"Push comes to shove, I'm decent with this bow as well."
His expressions softening with a broad grin, dimples raising to great the day, "I promise to withhold publishing until the crisis is deemed averted and..." pausing as he turns to Tarphex, the small man sqints."...what color would this great dragon be?"
Sherman shrugs.
"Well... I can't say you'd be the strangest one in this fellowship of ours..." the Reverend tries very hard not to look at Tarphrex. "So welcome, I suppose."
"But no publications! And do not even write down our names!" He adds, quite firmly, tapping his finger against the halfling's notebook. "We are working against some very powerful enemies, and it's best we work in secrecy."
Loth turns back to Quinn. "Well, there you have it. Just make sure not to put yourself or us in danger. I will say, those vials do look intriguing..."
He looks around for a moment, remembering where they are. "For now, it's probably better to at least leave here to somewhere hopefully a bit safer."
Hmm, looks like Quinn might be an alchemist. Interesting. Zenaida thought he might be a wizard. They tend to like books and knowledge of all kinds, not just magic. But if he thinks he can take care of himself in combat, that's good enough for her. "Very well. I look forward to seeing what you can do."
She turns to Loth and nods. "I think we've found everything there is to find here. I suggest we find a busy market to lose any potential followers before heading elsewhere." Paranoia? Not when an evil cult is actually out to get you.
His expressions softening with a broad grin, dimples raising to great the day, "I promise to withhold publishing until the crisis is deemed averted and..." pausing as he turns to Tarphex, the small man sqints."...what color would this great dragon be?"
Tarphrex narrows his eyes, trying to determine whether the newcomer is having fun at his expense. Deciding that he is being respected as is proper, he smiles - kind of a toothy sneer - and replies, ”Kobolds born with many colors. Sometimes different color than ancestor.” He holds up clawed hands that are mostly green in color, but Quinn can see many green scales appear faded or cloudy as they are molted away. Shiny new black scales are visible in patches where green ones have fallen away. ”Tarphrex born green, but have clutch-mates blue, red, white… ” He pauses, looking up at Zenaida for a moment before looking back at the hiss-torian and continuing, ”but none black. As Tarphrex grow in power, Tarphrex change, becoming mighty black dragon!”
The tiny kobold seems a bit awed about the transformation he is going through, but his words are sincere - he believes what he says, but he’s not sure how or why it’s happening.
Well, this has been great. Reading all the role-play for the past week has been fantastic.
Also...
Hey everyone, I have another player to join the group. Just FYI. Unless you figured that out already. You super slueths.
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I believe the plan was to scope our the 7 Brothers Saw Mill and then discuss a plan, correct?
Please feel free to disbute that and/or to continue role-play as you all walk across Magnimar.
If no one disagrees, I'll post the "you're in that area" stuff tomorrow.
Moving through town, the group mass pass from the wealthy parts atop the cliff, down through the middle class districts, passing but not entering the poorest section known as Underbridge (since, ya know, it's under the giant's bridge).
The streets are bustling at this time of day, just after lunch, but are wide enough that you're able to keep track of each other. You circle the Bazaar of Sails, the largest market in the city that is covered over with huge, dyed sail cloth, and is bound to be absouletly packed with bodies.
Eventually, you make it to the bridge to Kyver's Islet. Traffic is lighter here, though the bridge is designed to accomadate a large group of people. And come quiting time, the many businesses on the islet will spill forth their workers who will jostle their way towards their homes on the mainland.
Finding the sawmill is simple enough, seeing as all the mills are located relatively close together, and the simple sign above the door says "7 Brothers" in a simple pattern.
Just below the sign, a set of sturdy doors are closed tight.
As you watch, a worker exits from the lower door mentioned previously, closing it behind herself, and makes their way around the back side. You can see her lower herself into the water.
Loth raises an eyebrow. "It's been a while since I've visited a sawmill, but do its workers usually go underwater? Seems a little dangerous to me."
He turns to the others. "We should definitely investigate that at some point."
"Tarphrex think time wrong go close. Maybe friends stay in area of bridge this day and take turns watch building. See who come. See who go."
"Tarphrex think time wrong go close. Maybe friends stay in area of bridge this day and take turns watch building. See who come. See who go."
It's an industrial area, so there is always some traffic. People and carts moving about for whatever purpose.
Someone should be able to observe surreptitiously, especially since there doesn't seem to be any windows on the 3 sides of the building you can see.
"Yes, I agree. Going underwater doesn't sound like a normal part of a sawmill worker's day." Sherman watches the scene, puzzled. The building otherwise seems normal enough.
"And that's not a bad idea, Tarphrex. For now, we should just observe who comes and goes. And later, under cover of darkness, take a closer look to the building itself."
"Sounds like a good plan. We should definitely keep an eye out on the water, see if people leave from there."
Loth looks around to see if there's a good place nearby where they might be able to stake the place out for a bit.
@Loth: You find a likely place to watch from, a narrow run between two buildings. It's dry, which is a good sign, and shadowed.
Anyone else have a thing they want to do while on/not on watch? It's early afternoon at this point, so watching till morning will obviously take a bit.
Alain being both a paladin and of Shelyn will both being polishing and maintaining his gear and practicing his required art, Alain's of course being dance, Alain uses it as a form of workout practicing his steps counting underbreathe, moving at a faster and faster pace as he works into form.
Following the others through the streets, the small man seems rather comfortable gliding through the crowd. Quinn nods in agreement with the human. "Agreed. It seems peculiar..."
Grabbing his notebook, he scribbles a few words before looking towards the great dragon. "You comfortable scouting on your own while we keep watch?"
He nervously shifts his weight from one foot to the other; Scanning the streets ahead. As if willing himself invisible, Quinn tries to pull himself deeper into the shadows.
Zenaida doesn't have an art to practice or a book to write in, and it looks like Tarphrex is interested in the market. "If you want to look around the market, Tarphrex, I'll be happy to go with you. Just don't buy any more than you can easily carry. And keep in mind that we might be getting wet later on." Swimming, ugh. She'll have to take her armor off and drag it along behind her if it comes to that.
Tarphrex nods eagerly at Zenaida's question, but then has a definite pout at her warning. "Mmm, yes, wet not good for buying today. Tarphrex not fear water, the black dragon is creature of swamp and marsh. But Tarphrex things not of swamp and marsh." Nodding decisively, he heads into the market.
As distracted as he seems to be with shopping, he does pause often and apparently stare into space - toward the river, the island, and the sawmill if they are in view.
Loth will try to be as inconspicuous as possible: with his family being targeted by their enemies, it might be best to try and give as few hints as possible that he's closing in on their location. Instead, he'll stick around the stakeout spot even when he's off the clock, so to speak.
While the younger ones hustle around, Sherman finds a comfortable spot where he can sit down and rest his weary bones.
@Tarphrex: As diverse as the Bazaar of Sails is, you would still stick out. When people can see you, that is. It is rather crowded.
@Tarphex & Zenaida: With a human (and a local, no less) to escort Tarphrex, all you draw are stares. Some few children point and ask their parents questions, but the questions and answers are difficult to hear over the crowds. You can see the bay from the side of the market closest to it, but you are several blocks from the river. And soon everything is lost to sight beyond the stalls around you. The sunlight shinning through the dyed sails above your head shading everything below, the Bazaar of Sails seethes like the heart of the city. Packed with people, locals and outsiders, every class, buying everything. Weapons and armor for adventurers and mercenaries, fish and fruit and beef, wine, rugs, curios, books, metal, wood, ceramic, wool. Everything is for sale in the largest open air market in Magnimar.
But you also both notice that you picked up a tail, probably because of Tarphrex. And since Zenaida is from the city (and anyone else from the city knows this as well), I'll tell you why Zenaida isn't worrried about it. The Princess of the Market controls the Bazaar of Sails. Everyone in the city knows this, accepts it, and the smart ones welcome it. Though the title is completely unofficial, she never-the-less maintains order and law within the chaos of all these people. Several "guards" patrol to stop pick-pockets and other thieves, quell disputes between vendors, and keep the area clean of garbage (literal and otherwise). The vendors pay a small fee for this service, and most are happy to do so. This follower has the appearance of such a guard for the Princess, and will likely not interact with you unless you do something wrong.
Or maybe he likes looking at Zenaida. However, her armor makes that unlikely.
@Alain: You return to the Temple of Shelyn with a promise to return later for you turn on watch. Armor polish is handled with practised ease, and your kata is smooth and familiar to you.
Stalig does snicker, as she does, when you do your exercises. She prefers more traditional weight lifting and running than the silly dancing (as she calls it). But you've faced her in sparring matches enough times that she knows not to laugh anymore, seeing how effective they obviously are.
@Sherman and Loth and Quinn: The three of you settle in. The run between buildings nearby has a good spot where one of you can watch the mill while the other two relax, trading off every while to keep your minds fresh. The lack of windows from the two buildings means you're not likely to be spotted as long as you keep your voices down. You learn that one of the buildings is a warehouse, the other a cooper's work shop (making barrels). As you watch, you see the same worker woman exit that lower door again, lowering herself into the water. Every little while, she does the same thing.
You notice that she only appears wet from the shoulders down. It doesn't seem like she's submerging.
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As the sun begins to set, workers start appearing. Up and down the street, almost every building begins to spill forth the working class of Magnimar. Some trudge home with a tired gate, others laugh and playfully shove their comrades as they breath deeply of the time away from work. While most head towards the main city, some head towards Ordeilla district that sits alone on the other side of thee river. With the excitment to no longer be on the clock, in less than an hour the island feels deserted. Some stagglers finishing up their work trail behind, then the supervisors that needed to close and lock doors. Eventually, it's just the very few passing through from the two parts of the city, walking instead of hiring a boat. And through all this, none of the workers leave the 7 Brothers mill.
Once twilight sets in, those on watch no longer see or hear the woman exiting the lower door and going into the water. But nothing else seems to happen. Watches change, some of you doze between shifts, others return to their homes to sleep properly. Alain brings dinner from the temple, delicious meals as befitting the art of cuisine. The night stretches on....
Loth sighs. "Looks like whoever's at the sawmill, they're squatting there. This'll make things harder for us... Because knowing our luck, whoever's in there isn't going to welcome us with tea." He thinks back to the fake Aldern. "Or maybe they will, but it'll be poisoned again. Either way, I think we might have to anticipate a fight. Though they might be asleep right now?"
He turns to the others. "Now that the woman isn't coming out anymore, should we check and see if we can figure out what she was doing in the water?"
'I really hope these bombs work right. Should I tell them they're experimental? Or...I haven't actually tested them?' considers the halfling.
"We probably wont have a better opportunity. " he agrees, glancing back towards the mill. "So..." Trailing off his eyes seem to gloss over for a moment. 'Huh...I don't know what happens next. I've read about adventures but...'
Stepping back he prepares to take notes.
"Uh, I'm not much of a swimmer..." Sherman complains. "How about we investigate the dry part of the building first?"
"Careful and silent, of course."
The water seems pretty still near the mill. Like DC 5, you can take 10 (as long as combat doesn't break out) sort of still, placid water.
"I'm with Sherman. I'd really rather not go swimming if I don't have to." If there are any enemies at the end of their swim, Zenaida will be fighting them without armor. Ugh.
So it seems like no one wants to swim, or at least most of you don't.
So what are you doing?
It's night time now. Kyver's Islet is quiet, passers-by only coming a few an hour at this point. The mill is still running, the machinery inside audible from out and across the street where you are.
Not particularly excited to take the plunge into the water alone, he considers another option.
"We could try and sneak in. The darkness and noise of the machines should hide our movements at least a little. That said, I think we should be ready for a fight."
"Considering these Seven Brothers seem to enjoy writing letters and contracts, I think we should try to find some sort of office and see if we can find any other documents that'll point us deeper into this web."
'Good thing they're professionals. My first thought would have been to knock' he considers.
Opening his cloak, the halfling fingers a few vials before reorganizing them. "I'm as ready as I can be at this point." Pausing, he thumbs a particular flask, marked simply with a skull. A gleam flashes past his eyes for a moment. "I haven't quite figured out how to share my Elixirs yet but I'll follow your lead, sir."
"Tarphrex can be quiet and Tarphrex can be sneaky. Tarphrex does not need torch to see. Tarphrex scout?"
i could approach and cause a distraction for the rest of you to ambush
"I, too, have been blessed with eyes that can penetrate darkness." Sherman follows up on Tarphrex's offering.
"Or cursed - depending on how you look at things."
"Alas, while I can proudly say a few years ago I was amongst the sneakiest of them all, I am not quite that person any more..." he sighs. The reverend tries to take a few steps on his toes, and winches in pain as his joints protest.
"But I wouldn't like to send our kobold friend there alone, it could be dangerous. We should be very close by, at least."
"I'll go ahead along with Tarphrex. Between the two of us, we're the sneakiest bunch around!" Loth says, jovially slapping Tarphrex on the shoulder.
"We'll scout ahead, and group back up if trouble starts brewing."
Tarphrex replies to the joviality with a very toothy grin and a nod.
How would you like to approach? The front doors? The side door? Rhe water?
Listening intently, he draws a rudimentary cross section of the tower. A small shining star leads a small D with a tail, wearing a crown into the side door.
A pair of crosses brings up the rear. Pausing, he considers it before placing a small book halfway between the two groups.
Nodding, he stows the book "Phew, this is exciting!"
Side door, yes!
______________
Alright, checking out the side door.
Tarphrex and Loth begin to move casually across the street, waiting until there is a time when no one else is using it. Moving towards the front door, they veer to their lefts and onto the slopped, wooden walkway headed down towards the side door.
The walk levels out just above the water line, and any creaking of the wood is covered by the sounds of the machinery inside. Stepping carefully, eyes open for surprises, Loth and Tarphrex make it to the door on the side of the mill without incident.
One of you carefully tests the handle on the door....
....It is unlocked. Light comes from within, seeping around the cracks in the door frame. You quickly close the door before opening it to the point anyone would notice.
What do you do?
If Tarphrex agrees, Loth will quickly peek through the door to get an idea of what's directly inside.
Tarphrex nods, positioning himself beside the door so he will be out of sight from any within and out of Loth’s way. He keeps an eye out behind his halfling friend.
The first thing you both notice is the noise. Loud as it was before, it drowns out all other sound as Loth carefully pushes the door open...
You are at the lowest level of mill. To the south (your left), an opening into the water can be seen, with a log drawn partway up it and secured with hooks and ropes. 3 mundane workers move a stack of logs onto a winch, which raises them up to levels above. The workers do not seem to notice the door opening. Some things to note; all the workers seem to be human, and it is well past time for them to go home for the day.
What do you do?
Tarphrex wants to know what friend Loth sees, but he’s very aware of the water-woman and focuses on their surroundings to avoid a nasty surprise. He doesn’t speak. Loth will share.
Loth quietly relays what he sees to Tarphrex. "Three people. They look like ordinary humans." He keeps peering into the sawmill for a little longer. "Based on these numbers, I think our whole group could get in here and stay in control: we're not exactly running into a swarm of enemies."
Yes, the "water woman" is there. Dry now.
Yes. The log lift is there, going up.
No, the room is pretty open, uncut logs stacked against the walls to keep the floor clear.
”Is normal workers here all night? Other workers go home?”
"We haven't seen anyone leave... but it's definitely not normal that they'd be sticking around working this long. Either this is some serious crunch time, or something's up."
A bit of a pause as some realization sets in. "... We might be dealing with things pretending to be human again, much like the fake Foxgloves. Wanna head back to the rest and let them know so we can all go in together?"
”Tarphrex and Loth maybe check another door first.”