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Pierce moves about slowly not looking at anything, just listening to conversations as he moved past, as if he were here to observe strange human customs and not interact. He found that allowing others to speak he could pick out a snippet of conversation to step into instead of targeted questioning which seemed to come off as suspicious from his race. Listen - Perception
Pierce turns to Jixel, "I meant no offense to you friend. Unnaturally large animals are often more hostile than their normal sized counterparts. In my experience anyway. I have encountered a few dire rats and their consideration of my innards as a meal was something I had to dissuade. Yes, rivals fighting for something. I'd like to know what as well. Perhaps we can investigate further tomorrow. For now I suppose we should stay on our current task". The Warforged heads into the Skewered Dragon.
Perception Knowledge Local Pierce whispers, "That's the symbol of House Tarkanan, a criminal organization run by people with aberrant dragonmarks and known to supply assassinations, muscle, and perform rougher sorts of thievery. Perhaps its worth mingling to see what happened here". Pierce turns to Ash, "Let's avoid that alley than, that's a rat even I do not wish to encounter".
Knowledge Local - Pierce nods, he has visited this place to gather information though he left with little more than a lingering stench that he needed to clean off of his plating. "Does he have any enemies that you are aware of? Where does he normally reside?"
Pierce approves of the questions posed thus far by Illendur, with nothing to add, yet anyway, he awaits Gaebler's responses. Could it be that I will be paid for this and that it may lead to the furthering of my own inquiry? Plus I will have the added aid of these new allies. A predicament I cannot decline, the Warforged thinks to himself.
Pierce shakes his head at Ash, "I open my mind to the Sovereign and I am filled with Wisdom. Even on subjects heretofore I had no knowledge of". The Warforged heads back to the table with Ash and takes a seat, this time within line of sight of the well. He does not wish to have such a deadly portal at his back.
Pierce shakes his head at Illendur, "I do not know but let's see if I can learn something". Now that it is dead, Pierce will grasp the creature and try and learn more about its nature.
Pierce has no idea what the thing is, curious, he moves forward and around as best he can, attempting to touch it and find out the answer to Illendur's question. Touch Attack -
Initiative Pierce usually quick to react, is taken aback by what climbs from the well. He cannot identify the thing and if his face could frown, it would.
Pierce drifts nearer to the table but turns his head at Illendur's statement about the pit.
Perception Pierce heads near the table to mill about but does not sit keeping an eye on the original table as there was supposed to be an employment opportunity here tonight.
Knowledge Local - Pierce nods at Ash's explanation, "They may well be linked". As the raucous crowd turned into a potential ruckus Pierce looked at the group with the affiliated symbols. Unfortunately, he did not recognize them. Though he had been doing a great deal of reconnaissance the Warforged had yet to become familiar with all underworld gangs just yet. This Arma certainly likes to rile things up it seems. Interesting, the Minotaur is much more level headed though he seems more likely to be in his environment here. Pierce stands up and pushes forward from the other side of where Arma stands as he does not want to appear aligned with her, at least not yet. "Let us not play these childish games Breathers, the exchange of words does not need to rise to the level of bloodshed". Pierce will study the gang to see if the word childish triggers some sort of verbal tick. Childish, kidnapping, it was worth a shot as Pierce had no better leads to look into at the moment.
Pierce's darkwood plating stands out as he enters the Inn. He holds a backpack slung over the same shoulder as a shortbow and a quiver. His free hand holds a walking stick. As he sits the chair does not creak with weight as thye often do under Warforged bodies. His height and weight are the same as a normal human of his size (5'6"). As Ash pulls him in closer, Pierce shakes his head and whispers in return, [b]"I do not know if there is a connection but there could well be. Did these shifter nappings happen here in the city recently? I fear thus far I have made little headway wit my investigations".{/b] Pierce does not pay attention to the raucous Inn reacting to the man approaching the large opening. ---
Pierce shakes his head at Jixel, "Not yet. When I do, I suppose it seems that I can find some of you and see if perhaps that is a face you have seen or a name you have heard. More contacts are always better than less contacts". Pierce does not bother asking the Minotaur the same question again, if it wanted to answer, it would have. Besides, now he has several other curious locals who he can leverage, possibly.
Pierce shakes his head in the negative, "No. I was asked to travel here and gather information on these kidnappers, if I could discover any".
Pierce cocks his head at Arma, "I am not member of the Watch. Nor am I sworn as a constable of any locality including this one thus I cannot be defined as a cop".
Pierce replies to Illendur, "Kidnapping. I've seen the little versions of your kind running around, they seem rather helpless. Picking on the helpless in such a manner seems a terrible crime to me". The 'Forged turns to Arma, "Is one of us a member of the Local Watch who was placed in here? That would be a helpful contact".
Pierce's question to the Minotaur is taken up by others in the cell, Good. Others are curious as well. "I do not have a name for a face, at least not yet". He moves closer to the others in the cell so the rest of the prisoners cannot hear him, "I have come from Sharn looking for one or perhaps a few who committed a terrible crime".
Pierce stares at the Minotaur with his unreadable Warforged expression, "How good are you at remembering faces Goggh? Can you put names to faces if there was incentive behind it?"
"I am Pierce. Despite the surroundings, it is good to be able to meet someone in this city who is not trying to throw a punch at me. I do not think I was ever involved in such an altercation in Sharn despite years of frequenting such places to meet sources".
The dark plated Warforged shifted on his feet. He had been staring out into the other cells for a long time. As his cellmates spoke he turned around, "My first night in this city and I am swept up due to a fight I never even threw a fist in. Resisting arrest seemed an ill conceived idea and so here I am".
The events of Act I can keep Pierce in town for additional investigative purposes. After all, an Inquisitive has to follow the leads and cannot be beholden to a boss or a job!
Easy enough through the "all thrown in jail" scene. Pierce was present gathering information, wrong place wrong time and he got scooped up as well and arrested. Maybe he was released first as a "non-participant". Over the course of the next few days, Pierce would contact each of the PC's to see if/how they could aid his investigation, after all he does not know anyone else BUT them. Plus it's criminals that kidnap children, not law abiding citizens. :-)
Suggest away! :-) Still moving so I won't have time to add much meaningful thought to this till Thursday evening.
I am moving tomorrow so my availability will be limited that day (if at all). I will be on a bit more on Wednesday and fully back at it on Thursday.
Pierce checking in. Here on a case as an Inquisitive from Sharn. This would be his first trip to the city. Really his first trip outside of Sharn.
Perfect DM! Hook written into the submission . This is Storyteller Shadows' submission.
OK, took some time to rebuild but he is done. His focus is now as a ranged combatant and Inquisitor. Had to reconfigure his stats and rework his skill points. I am utilizing the background per your PM Aubrey which should allow him to join the group right out of the gate. I will create a new Avatar a his moniker no longer is applicable as he follow the Flame and not the Sovereign but his remake is included in this alias for now.
Pierce has thwarted goals of the Dreaming Dark in his backstory but he never did find out some of the deeper mysteries as to what they were planning with Warforged, so it would certainly interest him to encounter them once more and throw an even greater wrench into their plans. Are we sure the Flayer killed Gelb or just checked his memories :-). Inquisitive minds want to know!
OK, I've decided to utilize Pierce as my final submission for the open slot in the campaign. I believe Aubrey is back tomorrow. Good luck to all applicants!
Pierce Hit Points: Level 1 Artificer HP 8+3 = 11 Minimum 4: 2 Favored Class - 4+4 = 8 3 Favored Class - 11 4 Favored Class - 4+4 = 8 5 Favored Class - 11 6 - 4+3 = 7 7 - 8 8 - 4+3 = 7 9 - 7 10 - 11 11 - 8 12 - 8 13 - 4+3 = 7 Total = 112
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
Tool-Box cocks his head, "Into the COGS? This unit does not go into the COGS unit Pierce. Too dangerous for our kind down there. I have heard tales of being captured to be used as spare parts or worse. Sorry Dev, count me out". Pierce turns to you Dev, "Very well. The contact is Brentthorn Dolom, a Dwarven Inquisitive. He has placed out a few feelers so don't be surprised or alarmed if you are not the only merc looking to take on this project. Take the main lift from the rowdy tavern district of Downstairs to a foundry in the Cogs."
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
"A missing person case. The person was apparently down in the Cogs and hasn't been seen in weeks. The family has a little money and they are afraid that their son is down there involved in some sort of drug culture. Has a history of that habit. Would you be interested in further details?"
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Fourteenth Day of Dravago -
The Inquisitive Forged enters the shop, "Greetings my friends. I have spent a few days on reconnaissance at the Broken Anvil with nary a Warforged in sight. I did not come here to report nothing though. My Inquisitive Agency just received a slew of new cases. One of them, I think may be right up the alley for men of your talents. The pay is only ten gold but if you successfully complete the mission, there is another 50 gold per head in it. Interested?"
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Eleventh Day of Dravago - Pierce grins, "I'll give you directions then. I will also trail you all to ensure that none follow you".
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Eleventh Day of Dravago - Pierce arrives early in the morning once more. "I have news, interesting news. It seems that the group that Lady d'Vown hired to... uh do whatever she hired them to do, has been successful. However, their employer. a Mickey P, has requested that the Lady meet at The Vista View Festhall instead of the Broken Anvil. He did not elaborate on why".
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Tenth Day of Dravago - Pierce's face is an unreadable mask as are most Warforged, "Well it is a risk yes but a potentially lucrative one. If this band continues to cause problems no doubt a fair amount of coin will be paid to those who know the most about their operations here in the city. I like the idea of that spell my dear, we should discuss its efficiencies further after this particular assignment of yours has come to an end".
Pierce motions in what must pass for a shrug from a Warforged, "Perhaps, no doubt the strange nature of the Mournland has made such an endeavor more difficult than was originally anticipated. I shall be back tomorrow with any news I may discover".
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Tenth Day of Dravago - "Fret not Tool-Box, I shall offer them my services as a spy here in the city and nothing more. No doubt they shall be desperate enough to accept any help they can get so my presence here in Sharn will continue. After my last trip to Xen'drik, I've no stomach for travel these days".
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Tenth Day of Dravago - Pierce pauses in thought, "Very well, here is what I can offer to you then at least for the next few days while my other investigations are on delay. I will await your other charges and inform them that I am your contact. If they leave messages or wish to see you, I will let you know. On the other hand, if agents of the Lord of Blades arrive seeking you, I will try and join with them t learn more of them, does this proposal provide you all with a workable solution?"
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Tenth Day of Dravago - "The Lord of Blades is an enigmatic entity, his nature and motivations are unclear. It does appear that he harbors a strong hatred for "living" races. My sources tell me that he does not reside within Sharn but somewhere in the Mournland. One of my contacts speculated that he is the last creation of House Cannith before the forges were shut down by the Treaty of Thronehold. Others believe he was formed in secret by Warforged who fired up a forge one last time to create their own leader who was free of Cannith influence. The last story I heard was that he was the warforged Bulwark who served King Boranel of Breland. The truth at this point is unknown. What is known is that he has operatives here in the city and that they have murdered at least one person, the Professor. What else they are doing here and why is not clear as the one that was captured refused to speak and escaped before clerics or wizards could be brought in to fully interrogate him. His stronghold in the Mournland, if that is truly where he resides, makes him a difficult enemy indeed to deal with as it is not a place fit for the living. It would seem that they seek something and perhaps the other adventurers hired by the Lady will find out what it is and draw his remaining followers to them. From there we can only hope that they dealt with them or will deal with them and prevent this Lord from attaining what it is he is seeking. I fear that is all I was able to learn. I hope it helps. Tell me Lady, does the group you hired know where you are currently?"
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Tenth Day of Dravago - "No afraid not. I only met Dolom once maybe twice. A no nonsense dwarf to be sure. I did not approach the Watch for information at all at least not on this figure for lack of a better term".
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Tenth Day of Dravago - As Dev let's Pierce in he nods to all present including Lady d'Vown, "I waited until after you eaters completed the breaking of your fast before I came. I got your message Dev and spent the night looking with a bit more of a focused eye on the name you gave to me, the Lord of Blades. Have you any specific questions or shall I share with you what little I know".
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Ninth Day of Dravago -
Pierce responds, "I am sure these three will do just fine they all have differing but complimentary skill sets. I am afraid I have a prior engagement with a new group of Inquisitives I think I may be working with. Any idea what she needs protection from?"
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Ninth Day of Dravago - The Drunken Dragon
"Security? Sal I thought it was retrieval mission?"
FYI Pierce is a DM PC that may be around from time to time I/C as I can't seem to find a game for him that will last! :-)
Sharn - City of Towers - 998 YK - Ninth Day of Dravago -
Pierce breaks the silence, "It has been two years since the Last War ended. From what I understand a group of Heroes of the War were here that night celebrating. Sal, my contact, got that group a high paying job with House Cannith. I tell you this because all of you appear to be, shall I say, less than convinced that a reputable employer would frequent this place..."
Agreed. While I love Pierce such is the life of a paper man, sometimes their stories are told and sometimes they are not. I would be fine with you putting it on hiatus and then perhaps one day when the inspiration hits you can restart the campaign. A slow PbP does not bother me either but if you are not having fun it will just be a drag for you. DMing is too much work for it to be a drag.
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