Guligak; As you watch the young man swing the sword, something in your gut tells you that there's something more at work here. You definitely get the feeling that he's faking ineptitude with the sword.
"Hmmm...not bad, but I'm sure you could do much better. MUCH better." He takes back his sword.
"I don't know if meeting your uncle would be useful. Does he like to help people out? Does he like to fight?
What do you think about him? Do you like him or not?"
Corner of Keep Road and Dusk Lane;
Bumbo hands the sword back to Guligak, grinning sheepishly. "If I had a sword of my own, I could practise with it! And then I could be part of your army, Goo-lee-gak."
"I like my uncle ok, I guess. He's not always nice to me, but he sometimes helps me and other people out. Like, sometimes he gives me a gold coin to buy whatever I want with. I usually buy sweetbread. And sometimes he lets me eat dinner with him. But, I can't stay with him in the keep. He says I'm an im-bee-cile. What does that mean anyway? Is it because I smell like the dogs?"
Almir Estate
"Pathfinder, I am a business man, through and through. I have no interest in what, I imagine, are the tedious affairs of running a town like this. I have my own things to worry about, including the profitability of my mines. Which is why, I regret, I am not able to share such sensitive information with you. I've worked hard to obtain these surveys, maps, and charts. I can't give them to you. That would, quite literally, undermine my prospects here."
Dreyxor remains calm, puffing on his pipe.
"He says I'm an im-bee-cile. What does that mean anyway?"
Guligak shrugs. "Who cares? If you want to insult someone, a punch to the face says more than any fancy words."
"Yeah! There's a lady down the street who always throws stones at me and calls me names. I'm going to go punch her!"
Bumbo picks up his bright cape, and heads down Dusk Lane, a strange air of righteousness about him.
heir of righteousness
Andrea nods at Roses speech and the two women leave the Temple...once outside Andrea leans against a piller and sighs
"You know..that might have just been the saddest thing I have ever seen...imagine..he must have been there for the last hundred years..waiting for his god to return..going a little crazier every day..it's so very, very sad"
She wipes a tear from her eye whilst silently cursing herself..whores don't cry that was one of the first lessons she learnt on the streets.Then she straightens up and looks at Rose
"So do we just ask around about the current church? Maybe we should go back to the Inn and ask"
"Yeah! There's a lady down the street who always throws stones at me and calls me names. I'm going to go punch her!"
Bumbo picks up his bright cape, and heads down Dusk Lane, a strange air of righteousness about him.
This is too much for Jon. He strides quickly after him. "Bumbo, wait up there. Listen, brother, you can't go punch a woman, no matter how ornery she is. It wouldn't be right. You're a big strong fellow. People would think you're a bully and they'd be right. Complain to your uncle or the guard. Now, if you've some complaint with another man. Some just complaint. Then you can fight."
Guligak snorts. "Don't listen to him. If you feel like punching someone, go ahead! Gorum will smile on you."
Guligak snorts. "Don't listen to him. If you feel like punching someone, go ahead! Gorum will smile on you."
"Gorum smiles if you measure yourself against a worthy foe. Would you trample the cripple and call it honor? Would you slaughter children to call down the Lord of Battle's blessing?"
"That depends. Did those children and cripples insult me? Because that's asking for a boot to the head. That's how the weak learn to respect the strong."
"That attitude breeds fear and resentment which helps no one. The strong should be respected for their deeds, not merely their strength. Gorum gives us what we need to defend ourselves, our families, and our land. In that defense we earn respect."
Almir Estate
"Well, no, I guess I'm not mining beneath the town." Dreyxor says sheepishly. "But I certainly don't think that there's anything worth noting beneath the town, especially nothing in the way of ruins for that matter, but if you are really adamant, I'm sure we could work out a deal. How much are these notes and survey maps worth to you?"
Andrea/Rose
If you ask around about the current church, passersby are quick to scoff "Ain't no church, but it's down thatta way. Down at the corner of Keep Road and Dusk Lane."
Sure enough, the only building that could fit the bill is found not so far away. Calling it a church is a bit of a stretch, however. It is squat, square, and unadorned save for a few strange details.
The entrance to this stone building is flanked by identical brass statues depicting a handsome man with small horns on his head and his arms crossed in front of him. The tall iron doors are marked with faintly glowing pentagrams.
Standing not sixty feet from the building, are Guligak and Jon, apparently in some kind intense discussion.
Corner of Keep Road and Dusk Lane
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Rose and Andrea approach. They look a little forlorn, and are standing outside of a strange building. They see you, as well.
"There's our muscle. Do you think they've found anything useful?" Rose turns, trying to put off entering the building as long as possible.
"Hey! Boys!", she shouts. "Find anything fun to do in town?"
Guligak smiles. "Yup. We met the baron's nephew, Bumbo. He's a good man, but there's something wrong with his head. He tried to trick us, though; he pretended to not know anything about swords, but he didn't fool me. Maybe someone cast a spell on him."
"There's our muscle. Do you think they've found anything useful?" Rose turns, trying to put off entering the building as long as possible.
"Hey! Boys!", she shouts. "Find anything fun to do in town?"
Jon swivels his head at Rose's call. "Not for us. But Pae's having a high old time. The master of this ~points~ manor apparently has a library. Pae went all glassy-eyed and begged a visit. About the best we found was this kennel. Bumbo here helps run the place."
Rose listens to what they have to say about Bumbo and nods knowingly, whispering; "Perhaps a spell. Do you think that the Baron is a spellcaster?" Louder now: "Oh, and we found another one of those yellow-tailed birds we were talking about. She's perched just down that way. We found some interesting eggs there. They'll make for a tasty lunch, whenever we get around to it. Other than that, we thought we'd take a look around at the church. You know, see if anything was stirring. We only found a crazed elf. I guess he was once a worshipper of Aroden. His god's death was understandably too much for him, and now he's cracked. Some woman told us about the new church in town, and I guess this must be it, though I'm loathe to go inside this place."
"Any word from the little man? You think he's alright in there?"
Andreas face sets hard as she sees the statue
"The Prince of Lies..well we might have guessed with the chelaxian influence on the rise that the Lord of the nine hells would be present.. do hope that doesn't mean we will be encountering anything infernal"
Andrea listens to Guligaks blustering..when will that man ever learn some sense shouuting things all over town.
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"I'd be most interested in any ruins that lie below this town for now, I obviously can't have free leave to depart the city on a fact-finding expedition, so the ruins below the city if any will have to do."
"what more can you tell me about the pre-history of Piren's Bluff? Why was this manor built, by who, and when?"
draws a drag from his pipe and blows smoke into a large ring, then puffs a couple smaller rings through it.
"As for payment, are you looking for monetary compensation or a favor?"
"Some woman told us about the new church in town, and I guess this must be it, though I'm loathe to go inside this place."
"Any word from the little man? You think he's alright in there?"
Andreas face sets hard as she sees the statue
"The Prince of Lies..well we might have guessed with the chelaxian influence on the rise that the Lord of the nine hells would be present.. do hope that doesn't mean we will be encountering anything infernal"
Jon turns to look at the temple. A look of disgust crosses his face. "Wonder how long that's been here. And how popular it is."
***
"I'm sure Pae's fine. What's the worst a rich book collector would do? Throw him out?"
Almir Estate
"I'm quite resourceful, and would profit off of either." Dreyxor quips, as he begins searching his expansive shelves for the brittle pieces of paper that mark the history of the town.
"This estate, originally much smaller, was built at the behest of my fore-fathers several hundred years ago. We were part of Cheliax, of course, back then. It was a strategic place then, as it is now, for it is central to many of the mining operations surrounding the region."
Dreyxor seems to find what he's looking for, a large and dusty case holds the rolled up surveys and charts.
"We've been here since before there was anything else. Which is why I can assure you there are no ruins beneath the town. In fact, I doubt there's....ooh...that's interesting." Dreyxor mumbles looking at one large map in particular.
"There's some kind of tunnel, not far from the estate...maybe...a hundred feet...that way." His pointing would indicate somewhere on the ground of Shenk's Dog Yard. "What's the date here...let...me...see...ah, this one dates back to just before my father was born. How strange...and the tunnel leads straight into the keep...." Dreyxor continues his murmuring, quietly drifting off as he studies the charts.
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"So no actual ruins below the city, so unfortunate." Inside Paellat is beaming with joy as he has discovered the information he was searching for"What of ruins outside the walls? Have you located anything the society might be interested in, in this area?"peers over the map, trying to get a good view of the tunnel, and whether it's straight to the keep or not
Almir Estate;
"No. No ruins in or outside the town. Not yet anyway...We'll see how this siege holds out. The Andorens may make ruins out of us yet.", Dreyxor sighs.
The tunnel does indeed seem to go straight to the keep. Emergency escape tunnels and passages are not uncommon for nobility, but this one was built long enough ago that most people had forgotten about it.
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"Your collection is indeed impressive, might I call upon you at a later date to peruse it for any obscure information?, with compensation of course."
"If there are no actual ruins on these charts and surveys then they truly are of no use to the Society, tho I see the quality of the surveys is quite complete."
pulls out his coin purse
"Now what do you feel is fair compensation for your time today sir?"
Almir Estate;
"Ah, my time, my studies, and my notes are things of worth and value to me. And so is a good story. From what I can tell about you in this short amount of time, I would say that you are accustomed to rushing headlong into adventure. I have a feeling you're going to find those ruins, even if they don't exist yet." Dreyxor says, somewhat cryptically. "So, as payment, I'll take a Pathfinder's promise that you'll return and tell me of your exploits sometime. Perhaps when we are not currently under siege. I would advise you to lay low in Piren's Bluff until this blows over or blows up; make your exit as quickly as you can."
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Almir Estate;
"Ah, my time, my studies, and my notes are things of worth and value to me. And so is a good story. From what I can tell about you in this short amount of time, I would say that you are accustomed to rushing headlong into adventure. I have a feeling you're going to find those ruins, even if they don't exist yet." Dreyxor says, somewhat cryptically. "So, as payment, I'll take a Pathfinder's promise that you'll return and tell me of your exploits sometime. Perhaps when we are not currently under siege. I would advise you to lay low in Piren's Bluff until this blows over or blows up; make your exit as quickly as you can."
"You read me well sir. I have always leapt before I looked, at times it's lead me into more danger than I would have been able to handle without assistance of others. I shall indeed return one day to tell my stories, if I survive..."
Almir Estate;
"Well good day to you then, sir." Dreyxor says, as he leads you out his estate. "Next time you pop in, just tell Mr. or Mrs. Hartleby that you're here on business. They won't give you such a hassle."
You emerge from the estate and find the rest of the crew waiting for you on the corner.
"So? What did you find out? Who lives there?"
"The Mind-Baron? What? Nevermind." Rose shakes her head.
"We met with the Apothecary and Herbalist in town. She says that recently the Baron has been purchasing large quantities of things in order to preserve the dead. This has, apparently, led her to believe that the Baron is amassing some kind of undead army. A scary prospect, indeed. We thought investigating that particular idea seemed prudent, and so we decided to check out the local temple. We figure, if the baron is raising undead, he'll need some help, either in the way of magic or corpses. The temple was dedicated to Aroden, strangely enough, and all we found was that it was inhabited by a lonely and quite insane elf. An ex-priest far too damaged by the loss of his god to prove of much use. He kept going on and on about how he was once a little girl who tied up people's minds with black lace and silver. Insane."
"The locals pointed us here when we asked for the new church in town. A Pact Hall of Asmodeus is hardly the place I'd like to go into, but it may be an important lead about the undead."
"What was that you were saying about a tunnel? Does it go straight to the keep?"
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Pae carefully looks around for any snoopsPERCEPTION ROLL +2 if sound based
quietly, if it appears safe "yes, I saw a survey map showing a straight tunnel into the castle, now if you say that there are possible undead that the Baron is amassing, then logic dictates that they would be in the castle's dungeons, so we'll need to be prepared, Also I would say time is of the essense, we should enter tonight, we'll need to silence the dogs, as the entrance is somewhere on the dog handler's grounds...hopefully Bumbo won't be a problem."
"yes, I saw a survey map showing a straight tunnel into the castle, ... possible undead ... in the castle's dungeons ... time is of the essense, we should enter tonight, we'll need to silence the dogs, as the entrance is somewhere on the dog handler's grounds...hopefully Bumbo won't be a problem."
"Hold on, Pae. Let's try to hire on as guards first. The baron's in a fix and even if he's got undead, he'll need some good men on the walls. I'll bet 'Gak here is as good as anyone in a fight, and I'm not so bad myself. Red looks the part as well, and you've shown yourself uncommonly useful. Andy doesn't look a fighter, but , no offense, she does look like a camp follower."
"Much as it pains me.. I agree with the halfling we aqquired some stuff that should ensure that we let sleeping dogs lie. Besides if you sign on you'll probably get the worst duty in the worst post..new recruits always do"
"I would imagine that the Baron has some experienced, and trusted, men close to him. Andrea's right. You'll probably get stuck on wall duty, or worse. And I'd hate to think what would happen if the Andoren army actually launched an attack against this place. There would be no way for a fireball or catapult to tell the difference between you and the other guards. I'm all for action, and I'm all for plans, but I don't think we have one."
Rose also takes a moment to check the surroundings with Paellet, making sure that they are not being overheard.
"It's great that we know there's a tunnel somewhere over there, but that's not enough. If we go into there, we'll have to deal with the dogs. And we don't know exactly where the entrance is. There's so many kennels there. Besides, it's within plain view of the Keep's gate guard-tower. They'll be able to see us plainly unless it's night, or we're invisible."
Guligak rolls his eyes. "It's simple. We kill the dogs. If you want silence while we kill, Gorum can give us silence."
"Excellent idea Guli, shall we kill the dog handler as well?, leave a trail of death in our sneaking..."
Guligak grins. "See? I have taught you a lot so far! Just yesterday you were talking about attacking a pile of sand, and now you are making good suggestions! I was just planning on killing the dogs, but killing Shenk is O.K., too."
"I'll tell you what. I'll try asking for a job at the gate. If we don't like the terms, we turn it down and try the kennel."
Andrea really wants to slap Guligak..the barbarian will get them all killed
"Well Guligak could distract the guards by attacking the barons entire army single handed..I guess he would last all of what... do you think Jon..two minutes?..three maybe?"
The scorn in her voice is evident.
"We can make the dogs sleep that's no problem..but should we really be discussing this on the street"
"Would you prefer to discuss it at the tavern with the undercover guards? The blacksmith's with the sentries out front? Or perhaps in this infernal church? Ironic as it is, this may be the best place to discuss things. It's certainly the least crowded, and I'm starting to get claustrophobic. We're trapped in here, like animals. And, sometimes, when you corner an animal, it will lash out, in defense. I think whatever course of action we take will require violence, and we need to prepare for that. No matter what we do, we should move at night. That's still a few hours away, so we need to pass the time until we can move. Should we go to another bar?"
"Well, do you all accept my proposal? I'll try the gate. If we can't get in, then its the kennels."
Guligak shrugs. "I'll try to get a job. Hopefully the baron's guards do more fighting than we've been doing so far. I haven't punched anyone in the face all day!"