With a slight step to the side, the doorman steps to in front of the doorknob and into Ebenezer's path, muttering something as he does so.
After Ebenezer bounces off his chest like a rag doll off a brick wall, he inclines his head to the rest of the group. "If you have business with a client inside, then I am permitted to allow a single one of you inside. I suggest you choose this someone carefully."
Alexander keeping low looking at the doors man, laughts at what is happening. [ooc] Spellcraft:1d20+5=23
Alexander
The doorman muttered the verbal component for the Stoneskin spell. Most likely the spell itself was an activated component of a magic item.
If you have business with a client inside, then I am permitted to allow a single one of you inside. I suggest you choose this someone carefully.
"Well if none of you go in there soon it will be me who does all the talking" Says Ebenezer as he stands and brushes the dust from his robes.
He then makes for the guard again, this time walking until there noses are an inch away, "That was a neat trick... cabbage boy..."
"Wait," Ranah says to Ebenezer, thinking that perhaps the old man may not be best suited to this particular task.
"Perhaps the good elf here should go inside," she nods to Altruen. "I would volunteer myself, but I feel I might not be the best choice."
Atruen nods kindly to the female fighter saying, "I would be happy to enter this place, I am sure their is nothing to fear from it. Thank you for your faith in me. May I have the portrait of Bareena?" Once Atruen receives the portrait, he straightens his leathers, checks the sheath of his rapier to make sure it is in place and walks confidently into the building.
The door opens into a long hallway made of dark wood. Along the wall are paintings. Your eyes grow wide as you spot some of the most famous heroes of Valusia. You see a picture of Kerreth the Red Knight, Spyke the thief, Regulon the Golem Smasher, and more. With a little luck, perhaps your own picture will hang upon this wall someday!
At the end of the hall is a set of double doors with ornate brass handles. You open them into a dim room filled with beautiful round tables. Above each table are chandeliers mounted with what can only be ancient Sa Karen glow stones.
None of the tables are occupied at this time of day, but you can smell something delicious cooking in the rear. A quick glimpse at the Specials board reveals the cheapest thing on the menu would set you back at least 20 suns.
Tou your left is at least one familiar scene - a burly bartender with white hair smiles at you as he cleans glasses.
"Mornin' young lad," he says.. "Can I help you?"
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The door opens into a long hallway made of dark wood. Along the wall are paintings. Your eyes grow wide as you spot some of the most famous heroes of Valusia. You see a picture of Kerreth the Red Knight, Spyke the thief, Regulon the Golem Smasher, and more. With a little luck, perhaps your own picture will hang upon this wall someday!
Atruen stops to gaze at the well made paintings. The composition on this one is nice but the artist's use of chiaroscuro seems contrived. Oh, what a wonderful palette on "The Golem Smasher", very unusual for a traditional portrait. He takes care to note the names of each artist.
To your left is at least one familiar scene - a burly bartender with white hair smiles at you as he cleans glasses."Mornin' young lad," he says.. "Can I help you?"
"And a fine 'Good Mornin' to you as well, sir. This is a lovely place, but a touch slow at the moment, " Atruen says as he walks to the bar, his right hand outstretched to the bartendar. "I don't mean to interrupt you but I was wondering if youcould assist me for just a moment. My name is Atruen Roualt and I was hoping to find a woman that goes by the name 'Bareena'. She was referred to me as an excellent guide. Do you have any idea where she may be?" As Atruen inquires, he watches the bartendars eyes carefully.
"Well now! A lad who knows how to keep a civil tongue in his head," the bartender grins. "It has been a little while since I have seen one of those."
"We hired Bareena not a few hours ago to help take care of a pest problem that cropped up in the cellars. She hasn't come out yet, so chances are she is still at work. If you want to speak to her, I would suggest you go down and find her. You would have to use the back entrance though, the chef gets in right high dudgeon if I let anyone through the kitchen."
Ducking under the counter for a moment, he comes up with a heavy ring of keys before leaving the bar erea. "Come with me out the front and I will let you in the side gate."
Atruen follows the bartender, hoping that "around the front" means that he will see his new friends again before going into any basement alone. "So, what do you know of this Bareena?", he asks. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet."
As they walk, Atruen keeps his eye on the man, looking him over for any weapons. The town he grew up in was relatively safe, but Atruen's mother knew better than to raise a fool for a son.
"Bareena hails from the far south, nation of Kos if I remember rightly. One of the best woodswomen I have ever met and one of those Scarlet Riders to boot."
A quick lookover reveals the man to be unarmed and unarmored. From his pot belly and the way he walks, it would be a fair assumption that this man is an ex-adventurer that has 'gone to seed'.
The bartender does indeed take you back out the way you came and out the front door. The rest of the group being nearby waiting on your return.
The bartender greets to the doorman, telling him that Atruen seems ok and that he is going to let you around back to the basement to look for Bareena.
Atruen follows, nodding to the rest of the party as he passes, hoping they don't let him out of their sight.
Unlocking the gate, the bartender waves you in. "Just head on around to the first door you see, she will be in there somewhere. I have to get back to it. The lunchtime rush will be on soonish."
Turning, the bartender heads back inside before waiting for an answer.
Excited at the prospect of heading into the unknown, however mundane this passage appears, Atruen grabs hold of the steel hilt of his rapier and enters the hall. As he approaches the doorway, he listens for any sounds coming through from the other side. His pulse quickens just a bit.
Descending into the cellar and walking down the passageway, the smells for the first room assaults your senses as you find an overflow well for the sewers. Thankfully the path around the sinkwell is both wide and dry as you skirt the malodorous room and head to the passageway on the opposite side of the room.
Turning into the next passageway you are confronted by the sight of a woman in leather armor and a red cape sitting with her back and the shield slung across her back up against what seems to be a small depression in the wall. She is covered in scratches and bitemarks, many of them bleeding. She seems to be in a fairly bad way.
"Bareena, is that you?" Atruen says as he glances around the room, looking for the things that did this to the ranger.
If the room seems clear of hazards, Atruen moves to the woman while drawing his rapier. As he bends next to her he says, "Here, my good lady, let the divine power of the great Olidammara heal your wounds."
As he says those words, a brilliant light shines around Atruens large hand. With the softest touch he places it on the forehead of the woman.
"How did you come to find yourself in such a state, and, more importantly, is the creature that did this to you still around?"
The woman looks up, her face filled with relief. "I am Bareena, though it was not one creature that did this to me but many, many rats. Do you know of anyone who wouldnt mind a little exterminating? I have killed many of the rats in the area and found where they were coming from, but I am afraid I cannot move from here. My shield and I are the only things holding back the tidalwave of rats that seems to be on the other side of this wall."
"I just happen to know some folks that would love to try their hand at a little extermination. Hold them back here for just a minute more....I will be right back. Oh, by the way, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Atruen..." he says as he turns back towards the doorway. His chain shirt rustles loudly as he bolts up the stairs back out onto the street above. Seeing his new friends still waiting for him, he yells, "Quick, this way. The lady Bareena could use a hand with some rodents." He smiles a broad smile as he turns back, taking the old shield off his back and strapping it to his right arm. At last, he thinks, I get to use my father's shield for something more than staving off the blows from my brother's sword. I don't care if it is just rats. His rapier comes next as he descends the stairs back to Bareena. The steel feels good in his sweaty palm as he thinks about his first swing....
As Altruen comes rushing back up the stairs, Ranah turns to look at him questioningly, wondering why the elf is suddenly in such a hurry. After his explanation, Ranah nods and begins to unstrap the large two-handed sword from her back. The sword wasn't exactly ideal for a few rats, but it was better than nothing.
"Lead the way," she says to Altruen, before following him down the stairs.
Alexander nods his head and looks at MiYack. "Lets go!"
A;exander follows going down into the basement
The basement seems to be a chain of middling to large size rooms, all interconnected with 5 foot wide passages.
Atruen wonders what could possibly happen next....
As Ranah moves down into the basement, she glances back at the doorway leading up to the outside. Seeming satisfied, she moves through the rooms after Altuen, with a slight cursory glance at the corridor walls.
Atruen waits in the basement to see what happens next.
Alexander looks around
20 suns, good sir, i think that is no fair. I am just an old man SEE! i have no deadly weapons, but me and mi friend here. Please sir would you let us me