Beren looks at the halfling still questioning the logic of the circumstances. He then turns his head slightly and asks his companions, "Should I let him in?"
She explains to Sari. “We’ve got a place to stay in town – for another day at any rate. I’m sure the boys won’t mind some more feminine company if you want to join us for dinner, and we can discuss our next move. But yes,” she turns to Beren, “lets see what your friend Tessik has to say.”
"Thank you for your hospitality a shower does sound nice. I do have a room at the Deneith Enclave, however I would prefer to stay with you. I am grateful for another woman to talk with."
After 'accidentally' wandering into Valessa's bathroom to take a shower and this time being escorted out by the point of a very long (and beautiful) Drow made knife by their newest companion Sari. Women they get all worked up over the simplest things. Ruuz finally 'found' his room and washed all the blood and gore from his hair and cloths.
After Showering Sari waits for Valessa to finish and finds herself face to face with Ruuz. Sari draws her knife not knowing what to expect from him. "Just what are you doing in here? Never mind that I know your type and you had best turn around and leave before I do something to you that YOU regret." After Ruuz leaves Sari waits for Valessa to finish. "Ruuz was just in here, I made him leave. Is there something I should know about the two of you? I hope I didn't over step a boundary."
"Well now that we are all clean what do you say about getting that bite to eat and maybe filling me in on a few details?"
Beren looks at the halfling still questioning the logic of the circumstances. He then turns his head slightly and asks his companions, "Should I let him in?"
Before Sari can wait for Valessa's reply there is a knock at the door. Sari places her hand on her knife not knowing who or what is at the door. She would rather be prepared than not. After listening to the Halflings story she is both intrigued and weary of him.
Sari looks toward the door and Beren "I think we should let him in. If need be we all can take him."
"Thank you." I say as I step in "My proposition is really quite simple. You allow me to stay here, I'll pay part of the rent, and I would get an equal share of whatever spoilers should be garnered on out exploits. In exchange I offer my services as a healer. I can also talk my way out of most situations and when that fails I do have some small combat prowess." I say with a winning smile. "What say you?"
"I dunno," says Rokko, "I never trust short people."
"I dunno," says Rokko, "I never trust short people."
Brick, as usual, walks in during the middle of the conversation. Missing the sarcasm, he chastises Rokko.
"But Rokko, you're short. So, you don't trust yourself? I'm tall. Do you trust me more?"
Beren doesn't know what to make of the Halfling. He has heard of joining the military, but to just show up at their doorstep seems to convenient for what has been going on since the arrival in Stormreach. Not trusting the Halfling for a moment, Beren keeps his longsword out. Looking down at their potential new companion he says, "I need to know more about you. Where have you been lately and why are you in Stormreach?"
"For the last week and a half I've been in Stormreach looking for an opportunity to make a little gold and mabye a name for myself. Before that I was on a ship bound for Xen'drik for about a month. Before that I was travelling with my mentor, a fellow cleric and before that I was in an Olladran temple. Before that I traveled wuite a bit as a bard and before that I was being trained in a temple to the Silver Flame and prior to that I lived in at my family's ancestral manor. Any other questions about my past? I came here looking to make an arrangement with you, like I said." I say, now becoming slightly irritated. "These tall folk no nothing of hospitality." I think to myself.
Beren listens to the reverse list of the Halfling's whereabouts noting an odd possible contradiction. 'Training at temples of both The Host and The Flame. Well, keep your friends close and your enemies closer,' he thinks to himself.
Beren lowers his sword. "Sorry, just a little wary of strangers right now. I guess I don't have a problem with you joining us. There is an empty bed in my room." Beren says this through almost gritted teeth, his eyes unblinking, and his sword arm twitching.
"What aren't you telling me?" I ask suspiciously. "I can tell that there's something I'm not being told."
Frustrated that his false welcome fell through, Beren snarls, and says, "Fine, if you must know, I don't trust you. But then again, I don't trust many. Especially after the last couple of days. Come, settle in, but I will have my nose on you."
Beren walks away and sheaths his sword with a shake of his head and a growly grumble.
Frustrated that his false welcome fell through, Beren snarls, and says, "Fine, if you must know, I don't trust you. But then again, I don't trust many. Especially after the last couple of days. Come, settle in, but I will have my nose on you."
Beren walks away and sheaths his sword with a shake of his head and a growly grumble.
Sari looks at Beren, Ruuz and Merreck, "I am glad this is settled now lets go and grab a bite to eat as I know all of you are hungry and maybe it will make all of us a little less grumpy! I would be happy to help out with the rent as well. From what I have gathered you all have had a rough couple of days and I understand that all of you are more than weary to trust anyone at this given moment. However I am glad you have let me join with you in this quest and I will be true to all of you. I am sure that Merreck feels the same way. He will be a great asset to this odd group of sorts. Now what do you all say that we get that bite to eat and leave the strength you are using to bicker for when we really need it."
"Thank you. I too can understand not trusting a stranger. Hopefully we can all earn one another's trust. As a token of my good will let me take you all for a meal. Also please let me know how much will be due each week for my contribution to the rent." I say, still smiling.
Ruuz looks at the small halfling and smiles "Yes a nice meal would be good and I was just heading to town to buy some goods so we might as well eat while we are out."
“Between Ruuz and I?” Valessa answers Sari incredulously, drying off her hair. “Gods no, he’s just a man you know, always trying to get an eyeful. No, he’s not my type,” she pauses for a moment, and then lowers her voice. “Although some of my girlfriends back in Sharn were of the belief that being with a changeling could prove quite … rewarding…” she says with a sideways look and a raised eyebrow.
The conversation is halted by the minor ruckus from downstairs. After being appraised on the situation, she says “Alright, no harm in letting the halfling take us out for dinner, and he can state his case. We’ll do our shopping too. And we had better discuss rent arrangements for this place to this mysterious Q… Doesn’t give much away does it?” So, it seemed that they’d achieved minor celebrity status after the events at the Tethered Wench, people were coming out of the woodwork wanting to join them.
"I know of a tavern that has good food and good ale. What are you buying?"
"I am looking for an alchemy set so I can start brewing potions for our little crew. Beren expecially needs some extra healing while we are out and about so I need to get started soon."
"I know of a tavern that has good food and good ale. What are you buying?"
"So where's this tavern shorty? Um, Merreck was it? Don't go cheap on us! Oh, I'm Valessa by the way."
"Shorty!? I would appreciate not being called Shorty. My name is Merreck."
“Yeah, Merreck, sorry,” says Valessa as the group bustles out the door, put on cloaks and coats and lock up. “So, you’re a healer you say? A priest?” She looks dubiously down at the halfling. “You don’t look much like the typical priest. Although,” she throws a glance at Brick, “there’s a lot of that going around lately.”
"I'm not your typical preist. I'm sort of...on a sojourn looking for more truth then I found at the Olladran temple. To be honest I'm more comfortable in a tavedrn playing a shell game then in a temple listening to a sermon."
Brick, as usual, walks in during the middle of the conversation. Missing the sarcasm, he chastises Rokko.
"But Rokko, you're short. So, you don't trust yourself? I'm tall. Do you trust me more?"
"Note to self - explain sarcasm to Brick."
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For the meal, you can return to The Giant's Larder, where you have already eaten. Food was good, but expensive at 1gp/plate. It is also quite close.
Or you can feel free to go to <make up a tavern name> which has a decor of <make up a decor> food which is <quality adjective> (and/but) <price adjective>.
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Okay, at this point I am going to assume that you wander off with the intent of drinking off the stink, and possibly some light snacking.
Unfortunately for you, you don't get quite so far as the bar, in fact barely outside the front door when two men in matching armor and surcoats emblazoned with the dodgy symbol of the Stormreach guard, come up the street. "You there, which of you is Beren?"
"Don't worry, you aren't in trouble, we just have need of your services, if you will follow us."
The invitation doesn't specifically exclude anyone other than Beren.
For those who go:
It isn't far before you reach an area surrounded by an ethereal curtain of shadows, a thin stretch of rope dyed yellow enclosing the space with in. More of the watchmen, again in the matching uniforms, are securing the area and keeping onlookers at bay. It is apparent by the mere squality of the guard that some of Stormreach's most influential people have taken note of whatever is inside.
The guards lead you to the edge of the shadow, and guide you through. The magical curtain is scarecly as thick as a real curtain would be, and inside is another scene of carnage for you to be confronted with. Two dead watchmen, in the far more typical mismatched armor. On has had his neck turned fully around to stare down inside his own pack, while the other has had his throat slashed out by a ragged wound.
If Sari is here, she recognizes these as the two guards sent to take the orc woman to the Jorasco enclave.
Beren is easily able to catch the sent of his nemesis.
Looking for clues:
Search 15:
Search 22:
Survival 17:
Other checking as you desire
I look around in disgust and say "I've seen my share of battle but nothing like this! Who did this?" I listen for any sounds of anything suspicious and say "I'm going to cast a spell that will reveal any magic that is hidden from out eyes." I close my eyes and begin mutter strange words and briefly touch my left hand to both of my eyes before opening my eyes and looking around the area again.
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I look around in disgust and say "I've seen my share of battle but nothing like this! Who did this?" I listen for any sounds of anything suspicious and say "I'm going to cast a spell that will reveal any magic that is hidden from out eyes." I close my eyes and begin mutter strange words and briefly touch my left hand to both of my eyes before opening my eyes and looking around the area again.
You detect that the guard with the broken neck has something magical in his pack, and a ring that is more than it appears.
Ruuz looks down at the carnage he thinks to himself 'I think I might just back to our house and hide under the covers of my bed until today is over.'
As their new halfling companion casts one of his spells Ruuz looks at one of the guards "Can I have a look around?"
After the guard nods weakly Ruuz starts looking over the guards for some useful clues.
After Ruuz does a quick search through the bodies he looks up to his companions "Beren I think we should definitely leave her alone for a while." Ruuz adds to himself 'note to self don't invite anymore people into our house.'
While searching for clues I slip the ring into my sleeve and then stand up and go outside, ostensibly to take a breath of fresh air, while concealing the ring by slipping it around the hilt of my dagger. I then step back inside and say "I detected no magic here and my more mundane sense found no clues either."
I then go over to Beren and ask in an undertone "Why would the gaurds come to you for assistance with this? Is there some connection between you and the perpetrator of this crime?"
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While searching for clues I slip the ring into my sleeve and then stand up and go outside, ostensibly to take a breath of fresh air, while concealing the ring by slipping it around the hilt of my dagger. I then step back inside and say "I detected no magic here and my more mundane sense found no clues either."
The guards who are here aren't really watching you, so you get away with it, other party members can spot or not at their discretion.
Valessa sighs. “In trouble again Beren?” she asks the shifter, who just looks at her in surprise and shrugs as they follow the gaurds.
At the crime scene, Valessa, becoming somewhat immune to the sight of corpses, helps Ruuz search the area, but is careful to let him do the lifting and touching anything with blood on it. “What? I’ve just showered,” she mutters in response to his look.
“What does that mean?” Valessa asks, pointing to the puncture marks. “It looks like … she bit him, and …. Sucked out the blood?”
She looks around the group, then turns to Beren, standing from her squatting position beside Ruuz. “Well, what do you think Beren?”
Okay, at this point I am going to assume that you wander off with the intent of drinking off the stink, and possibly some light snacking.
Unfortunately for you, you don't get quite so far as the bar, in fact barely outside the front door when two men in matching armor and surcoats emblazoned with the dodgy symbol of the Stormreach guard, come up the street. "You there, which of you is Beren?"
"Don't worry, you aren't in trouble, we just have need of your services, if you will follow us."
The invitation doesn't specifically exclude anyone other than Beren.
"I recognize these guards from when I first met you. They were there when the hurt Orc female came up to us. I had forgot about it until then. She was the one that told us to find you all at. I am interested to see what they want with you so I am going to join you, Beren."
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They are now officially common knowledge. Knoe: religion for the bite marks:
DC13
They appear to be the bite of the famed vampire.
DC25, or DC 20 Heal after the above
Although they look like a vampire's bite, the marks are off somehow in explicible. Too far from the artery or the vein, and they seem more like little cuts then punctures. A very clever forgery, but not a vampire.
“It is her again.” Beren growls as he looks at the bodies. “Her stink is everywhere, and this is her work.” Beren starts pacing, clasping and releasing the hilts of his swords. ‘She is evil, she is evil, she must be stopped. How?’ He thinks to himself as he paces and reviews the devastation. Then the puddle of blood catches his eye. He moves forward to review it. “It is like she was hovering over this pool of blood like a dog over a water bowl. These tracks they make no sense.” Beren lets out a deep growl from inside.
"Beren I think we should definitely leave her alone for a while."
As Beren is squatting at the scene, he hears Ruuz, “NO! This evil must be stopped. HERE! NOW!” Beren growls again, “Don’t involve yourself, but she will taste my blade. She is close.” Beren turns away again pacing in frustration, sniffing the air.
I then go over to Beren and ask in an undertone "Why would the gaurds come to you for assistance with this? Is there some connection between you and the perpetrator of this crime?"
Beren stops pacing to regard the Halfling, but looks in the distance above the Halfling, “Why? Because I know her. I have tracked her for months. Because I want to kill her more than anybody else. She killed my mentor. I will repay the act.” Then Beren looks down at Merreck and makes eye contact, “I hope you realize what you got into when you knocked on our door.” Then Beren walks away to study the scene again.
Something is coming to him. A thought, a memory of a lesson from his studies.
“Well, what do you think Beren?”
Beren stops his investigation to regard Valessa, “I am not sure. I am trying to remember something I learned at Orcbone.”
He looks at Valessa, concentrating. Then as the answer arrives, his face turns to shock, “The lesson I recall is regarding vampires.”
"... I am interested to see what they want with you so I am going to join you, Beren."
Beren then turns to regard Sari. He nods his head in a grim smile, “Sari, you are brave and I welcome your strength, but I must warn you, my path is a dark one.” His vision them becomes distant at he stares off, “Even in death, I will still kill her.”
"I see. I didn't know about this when I seeked you out but it doesn't change my intentions. I will provide what aid I can on this quest of your's. Could it be that we're seeking a vampire? That would be far more than any of us, or all of us together, could handle." I say to Beren.
"I see. I didn't know about this when I seeked you out but it doesn't change my intentions. I will provide what aid I can on this quest of your's. Could it be that we're seeking a vampire? That ould be far moe tahn any of us, or all of us together, could handle." I say to Beren.
After pacing and breathing heavy, Beren starts to slow. His reasoning kicks in and he says, "Then I will train. I will learn. And soon, I will kill the dead b@***!"
"Good. We must all grow in power and in knowledge of this foe that you seek before we can be victorious. Knowledge is power. Is there any more information that can be gathered from this scene of shall we move on? I'm still rather hungry." I say as I flash a smile at Beren.
Beren looks at the halfling still questioning the logic of the circumstances. He then turns his head slightly and asks his companions, "Should I let him in?"
Ruuz lets out his breath in release 'I understand his need for vengeance but I will not commit suicide with him by tracking this monster down tonight.'
"Do not worry Beren when we are ready I will help you hunt down this monster"
Ruuz takes another quick look around and turns to the rest of the group "Well unless anyone thinks that we can do anymore good here I need to get to an alchemy shop before it closes."
Ruuz looks at Sari and Merreck "Like I said before I am going to start brewing potions for the crew so if you are staying on and would like to make a donation of at least 25 gps to the fund that would be great"
Beren looks at his guard escort and is up front with the information he observed, "I am sorry for the loss of the guards. This evil will be stopped in time. Am I still needed?"
“Erm, vampires?” asks Valessa, looking nervously over her shoulder. “Our girl’s a vampire? Hang on, aren’t they allergic to sunlight or something, how could she have been running around town in the afternoon, talking to the Watch if she’s a vampire?” She looks around to see if anyone has an answer.
She walks over to Beren. “Beren, they’re right you know. I don’t think we’ve got the power to take her down - not yet. I agree, she needs to be stopped. But if we get ourselves killed going after her before we’re ready, who’s going to stop her then?” She pauses and smiles. “But I’ll be there to help you when we’re ready to get her, right?”
"I'm afraid that my funds are rather spare at the moment. I'd only be able to contribute mabye 15 gold to the alchemist's lab. However my bardic talents can usually allow me to earn a little extra money so I will pay the other 10 gold once I've found a place to perform and I;ve earned enough money."
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"I'm afraid that my funds are rather spare at the moment. I'd only be able to contribute mabye 15 gold to the alchemist's lab. However my bardic talents can usually allow me to earn a little extra money so I will pay the other 10 gold once I've found a place to perform and I;ve earned enough money."
"Hmm, the body count seems to be increasing dramatically here. Vampires? Ah well, another new experience..." Lights another cigar for a restful puff or two.
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[ooc]Are there tracks to follow, or did my Survival Check only pick up clues around the crime scene?...
No actual tracks, it will be gather information to see if you can pick up any hints. Open to the group, highest roll, +2 for everyone else over 10. +10 for anyone with urban tracking.
Gather info:
15+:
20+:
30+:
The girl's father is a fisherman, which is how she knows so much about the docks, and her mother has been 'entertaining' Mr. 'hey what's in my pack' for a while, which is why she followed.