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As way of explanation, Tuesday night was a very special night for Portsmouth and still can't think of anything else for the moment. See Twitter for why, although it won't mean much to you. Also yesterday had to take my wife to the airport as she's off to Japan for a cruise, and has been very anxious about it all. Normal service will be resumed next week, but I will posting.
"Thank you Flitch for your efforts on these papers, but even the children here could tell they aren't official documents. Do you have a considerable sum of gold to pay the guards, it would be the only way to get, even a guard, to let you through." He scratches his chin and starts a whispered conversation with his bird. After several moments Drakmak offers up, "By the grace of the camel race in Ithtar, these documents do have some worth, as templates for more detailed papers. Hmmm, does anybody feel like they can create suitable forgeries? Or shall I attempt it, I do after all have a steady hand for my jewelry work, trained as I am." He bows humbly to Flitch. He waits in case someone other than himself decides to try, although he picks out some paper and crayons, for when Noggin inevitably offers up 'help'. "Flitch, you no doubt know a little about the guards, have you attentive ears heard any stories about the guard they call Ellvard. We might very well be interested in visiting him to see his art. Like the breeze that blows the leaves of the palms, have whispers passed your ears?"
"I know you must be cautious, but we are from your friend Guaril, who is hoping to meet you, when the time is right." the half-orc smiles at the young man. "We have followed you here from the message you left, it was a very clever idea, for which you should be commended. You have the cunning of the desert jackal, almost as Guaril himself."
As the group wander around lost and return to the start again, Drakmak starts to talk to his bird, "No of course I can't follow tracks, you need a small friend like a red fox, they can sniff and smell the way a smelly thief can go. Don't think I can do that..and I wouldn't want to try in this dark dank place." Drakmak shrugs his shoulders, and replies softly, "Well I'm going to have to use my magics then." Drakmak drains the magical power held in Racvern and casts a spell once more, transforming Noggin into a red fox, which amongst it's other powers, is able to follow a track using scent.... As Noggin turns into the creature, Drakmak turns to Norbwald and says quietly, "It's a shame he'll turn back into a goblin, he looks quite cute as a red fox."
The half-orc quickly follows Achurius into the building, shutting the door behind him, "Now let's see what do we have here..." He stops at some funny looking graffiti on the wall. His head moves from side to side as he tries to make out something in the myriad of writings. "Ahh, friends it seems that by the grace of the refreshing waters of the oasis, Flitch has left his name here and some other scribbling look like some sort of coded message? Here look." as a green bejeweled finger points out and follows the writing of Fitch's name and what looks like the coded message.
Drakmak looks for a quiet spot, away from the crowds and out of sight, and motions to Noggin to follow him. "If I cast this spell on you, you have 10 minutes as a rat to get into the building, have a little scout around, before you return to your normal goblin self. My feathered friend can take you closer or I'll put you in my pocket til we get outside the house again." A golden bird flies up from Drakmak's shoulder after Drakmak whispers to him, , "Racven, keep watch from above, look out for armed men, the city patrols."
"The door seems a little stiff, let me hmmmmm!" The merchant ponders and looks over the state of the building, "This building doesn't look very solid, I mean there are holes all over the place. I have an alternative, should someone be willing? My magics, could perchance make someone a lot smaller, say with all the attributes of a rat. Sneak in through one of the holes, have a look around, before returning and opening the door from the inside. Or we let our apprentice carpenter enter through a window, it might be loud, but won't annoy the guard on magic watch." He looks at Noggin and Norbwald to see if there are any takers...
"Noggin, May the desert dust never parch your throat, but if we are going to use discreet carpentry methods to gain entry, you might want to follow Archurius' idea and practice where people can't see you. That is, try around the back door. Let us try here first, then if the door does not open, we'll try the back as Achurius suggests." The half-orc's hand rests gently on Noggin's shoulder as he says this. A mellow fatherly voice issues the words.
The half-orc realises the goblin is watching his every move as he moves wooden slates in place. Every piece of wood, measured carefully before being cut and pieced together. With such an attentive audience, Drakmak cannot resist to exaggerate his work, with flamboyant sweeps of his arms as he carefully nails and screws pieces of wood together. As he continues he speaks to Noggin as though telling a small child how to pile bricks on top of each other to create a wall. "So you see Noggin, watch very carefully that the string is the exact length, before I use it to place it carefully on the wood to provide an exact place to cut the perfect length. Now did you get that? I'm sure you'll pick it up and get the hang of it. I mean you've mastered the art of demolition, now with the aid of the gods of the oasis we might just get you to understand the art of creation." Drakmak puts his hand on Noggin's, saying a few draconic words, which fill the goblin with a feeling that he can use his hands more easily in squeezing them into the nooks and crannies of the barrel and feel how it has changed.
Leaving the girl and Archurius, Drakmak calmly states, "Archurius, good luck, medicine is a mystery to me, much like the magics of materials and crafts are a mystery to many. May the gods be with you." Drakmak moves to help Noggin, he carefully removes the sparkly rings from his fingers and brings out various heavy duty tools, not normally associated with his skilled artistry crafting. "Noggin, if I may be so bold, you appear to have made a right pigs ear of that barrel, perhaps this isn't using the best of your abilities. Let me see if I can produce better results."
After a shaky start working with wood, Drakmak manages to improve his craftmanship on the false floor.
DRakmak winks at Noewald, "May the waters of the oasis bless you sir, but we don't know what to call you and your daughter. I myself am named Drakmak, jewelry maker to those that have purse, not that I am selling my wares today. If we know your names, I'm sure my companions will feel more relaxed and be able to better treat your daughter." He bows to the innkeeper.
Drakmak is intrigued by the contents of the notebook, "Noggin, seems you've made friends with an usually talented guard. It would be interesting to learn more, but finding our customers is probably more important, that's where the money is." he says scratching his chin. A golden coloured bird lands on the half-orc's shoulder, producing a smile on the wizard's face. "Racvern, where have you been, so glad you've returned. Tell me what do you think, should we find more customers." The bird seemingly whispers something into Drakmak's ear, "Yes you are probably right" the wizard replies. Turning back to the others, Drakmak touches his brow, "Well my friends, it is time I introduced you to Racvern, a friend of mine." The bird looks at each of you in turn and almost winks to you all, although his gaze lingers on Norbwald, longer than any of the others. "The Rockfish Inn sounds a good option, though I might miss on the fish heads." His nose turns up slightly and a look of disdain crosses his face at the word, "fish head".
Drakmak looks on with amazement at Norbwald's sudden swift movements, taking the book and making it blend into his walking chair. Yet to Drakmak the blur looked just like the gnome's normal awkward movements. He resists the urge to do anything that might compromise Norbwald's clever work. Instead he makes a positive effort to watch Noggin's dramatic impression of a city guard, his hands almost clap in appreciation of the goblin's fine effort.
Drakmak takes the papers, "I'm sure my little friend will be more that please to fill in these papers and read what he must do next. I'd best take them, he can sometimes get over stimulated. It is my pleasure to have met and with luck to see you again when my friend is ready." Once more he bows and walks away with the papers under his arm. Upon reaching the rest of the group, he says in a very hushed voice, "I have been given a small notebook, does anyone know the best way to smuggle it past the guard?" He asks as he thinks of a plan.
Drakmak, makes a grab for the goblin, but Noggin is too fast and Drakmak staggers forward a bit before he regains his balance. With a slap of his hands on his forehead he lets out a loud sigh. He mumbles quietly to himself, "Why or why? It's a goblin, what did I expect!" and as if his mind is tuned into Noggins he almost sings in time with Noggin "....And that armour." Drakmak walks over to the Captain and the Noggin, "Please forgive my over enthusiastic friend, I'm sure we can make it up to you. I will have some more of these trinkets in a few days time, when you come to us, I'm sure there will be ring fit for you. I have some stones ready to fit, would azure, the colour of the sea suit your finger?" He bows and gestures his thanks with his hands, before taking his leave and with Noggin in tow.....
Drakmak shakes his head, "Indeed the moons above the oasis are not light enough to show Noggin the way to the sweetest water." He moves towards Achurius and quietly says in his ear, "Honorable Achurius, I do believe that the Captain is indeed the Garrla we seek? Noggin does not see it. Can you speak with the Captain whilst I encourage Noggin to seek a different interest."
Drakmak takes one of his trinket rings off his fingers as he passes the guard that spoke to Noggin, "Don't worry about my little friend honourable guard. Here take this present, it might look good on .... a friend." He winks at the man, attempting to put the ring into his palm unnoticed as he shakes the guards hand. "I'm glad you'll help him to try and impress Garlla. Where is Garlla by the way?"
Drakmak moves off to follow Norbwald.
Drakmak is impressed with the goblin's charismatic approach to the guards and getting them through the checkpoint so easily. "My friend Noggin, may the suns of the desert warm you but never burn. You have a way with words I have never associated with many goblins of my acquaintance." and give a small bow. "I am most humbly guided by your wisdom in our destination, but would it not be sensible to perhaps discover a little more about this place, Xin-Edasseril. Once we have discovered our friends, I wonder, what we do with them?" The half-orc ponders and waits for his companions to offer their opinions.
"My friend, I will do my best to ensure these apprentice merchants manage to keep their noses clean. I will do my best to make the effort profitable." Drakmak carefully takes 5 sparkling rings from his fingers and puts each one in a different pouch, after inscribing a name on each band. One ring for each of Guaril's customers. He turns to the elf, "Good Archurius, it is my honour to go with you on this task, but see this there are more subtle ways to hide the names than on bits of parchment." He smiles and opens a pouch with one of the named rings, "See it says Flitch." "Guaril, just one thing, do you have carte of the city, should we need to find our way around the markets?"
Jacknife, stops in his tracks at the mission in front of them, "A low profile you say. Whilst I can keep as low a profile as I can, Belimarius does kind of have an interest in me. His guard most certainly does, I seem to recall when I left last time, there was a bounty on my head! Perhaps it's best I don't make your task more difficult than it is and I let you honourable souls get on with it without me." With that Jacknife bows to you all and makes his way to the back of the deck, where no doubt he will discuss how to improve certain of his skillset with Guaril Karela. Valais Durant sighs, at the revelation, "We're a bit short now on the team, Guaril does one of your entourage fit the bill?" Gauril smiles, taking his moustache between his thumb and fingers and twisting it. "Naturally, did you think I don't have friends within the society, even after my unexpected departure." He turns into the darker shadows of the deck, "Drakmak, it seems you'll be needed to aid your compatriots after all and not just selling those trinkets of yours at the market. Well use your crafts wisely and you might make some profit." From out of the darkness and shadows a cultured tall man with rugged features appears and leans on his long wooden staff. His features and slight green tinge to his skin suggest that his blood is not pure human, but is tainted with the bestial orc. The man touches his forehead gently, "I am humbled to to be asked to join such worthy Pathfinders and be able to add my small gifts and talents to aid your work. It is an honour to called to aid Guaril's and Venture Captain Valais Durant's mission" His hands move gracefully and with no small amount of delicacy. His fingers have many rings on his fingers, though none look worth more than the cheap metal and stone they are made with. "Venture-Captain Valais Durant, to be called for this mission and aid my friend Guaril, will be further proof of my worth to our Society. More than just my skill with hands to make rings for the market." He jiggles his fingers, showing off the rings that sparkle on his fingers. "In my own way, I have studied and read the art of magic, which is ever wonderous to me, though I have a small command of some magics, whose secrets I keep in a tome of knowledge." He bows to the Venture-Captain. He wears no armour under his long dark coat, just a pair of breeches and a white shirt, new and pressed, despite the time spent on the voyage. On a chain around his neck, a homemade pendant with the symbol of Abadar in its centre, rests gently on his chest. His shoes are made of black leather, well made and sturdy. He smiles, [b]"My friends, when our destinies have combined to give us success in our mission, I may make a small token of our work together, should you wish to buy a piece of my fine jewelry?" "If you please you can say such creations were created by Drakmak, my name to bring honour to my family in the lands of Quadira and the trade routes of the Golden Road."
Drakmak tries desperately to manipulate the arcane energies, but they keep resisting him or fly and hide their sigil like manifestations behind different illusions. He just can't tie them down and manipulate their essence. Remember what mother used to say, you try, try and try again. A gentle face now talks to the arcane energy, so that they seem to respond and under his mother's guidance the sigils are manipulated into an order.
Drakmak starts to look at the intricate mechanisms of the pod, it's delicately etched sigils, that almost pass as instructions for the placement of arcane components. "Fascinating, just fascinating." he says as he gets to work, "I only hope our work can return you home, Heraxia." He continue to use his crafting tools to correct what he can, carefully completing some etchings and placing small magical components together to amplify the arcane resonance. He smiles at the dragonkin, "You know it was as if I were in a dram when first I heard you voice. Was it your love that you called? What name did I hear? I could swear I heard a name, Felise."
Drakmak turns to Kya, "Thanks for trying, I'll just have to be careful until I patch up." he smiles at Kya, though the pain of the burns is all to clear. "You are right to save your god's power, until it's needed in the heat of troubles. This place sure is strange, I just wish I could understand what's going on...." his voice trails .. His shoulders slump as he wonders how best to help his fellow Pathfinders. Adoril: When you roll a 20 on a save or roll to hit, you get get one better than the result, so a success becomes a critical success, a failure becomes a success etc.. So you would take no damage from the Likewise with a roll of 1, you get one worse than the result, so a failure becomes a critical failure, a success becomes a failure etc. As an aside, Drakmak has 1 or 2 castings of Magic Weapon, if in future battles it might be useful, just let me know.
Drakmak congratulates Adoril and Scuttlesnarp on their fighting ability, being able to take their adversaries down, as he asks if they have been able to search the woman for any useful trinkets. He studies the rift, but just shrugs and says "This magic is something I've not seen before, very complex pattern. I just don't understand it." He staggers as his bruised and battered body moves across the snow, "If any can treat my wounds. I would be grateful." |
