"Always nice to help some new friends..."
Ivan continues to meditate.Trying to blot out the chatter around him, he focuses on the conflict that day, what he did well, and where he could improve.
There are sacks and a few old blankets lying around allowing you to dry off and stay warm as the night passes. The rain continues for several hours, finally breaking near dawn as the sun tries feebly to warm the drenched city through grey, overcast skies.
As morning comes, the interior of the warehouse is lit passably via the skylights, although the office remains dark. On further examination of the office, the hessian sack nailed across the boarded up window reveals several well concealed breaks in the boards, allowing you to look out onto the street with very little chance of being seen. The door at the back of the building is both barred and bolted closed, but is otherwise unlocked. It allows access to a small alley which runs along the city wall before turning between the old neighbouring glass factory and the warehouse, providing a more discreet entry than the large, sliding door which opens directly to Gutterspill street.
People are soon moving along the street on their way to work in nearby buildings, although the factory and warehouse on either side of the one you stayed in remain quiet and seem unused.
Grunthor wishes to continue sleeping to attempt to regain some hit points.
After Damandor wakes from resting, he will help keep watch over our acquired item until Antius gets there, and periodically checking on Grunthor.
You spend the morning resting in the warehouse, waiting for Antius to make his appearance. However, noon comes and goes with no sign of your employer. An hour or so after your scheduled rendezvous, it is clear that he's not just running late - he's simply not here.
here
Grunthor sees five options. I'll list from least favorite to favorite.
1. We walk off and pretend this never happened.
2. We open the crate (He told us not to.)
3. Wait here some more.
4. Move the crate to the abandoned warehouse or glass factory next door and wait for him. (In case he is captured and reveals the location of the create)
5. Move the crate and start looking for him.
GF
.
Damandor says, "Antius must have been part of some kind of organization, I don't think that he was doing this on his own. I think that the fifth option Grunthor presented may be best at this time. I would say that we find a safe location for the crate and then try to find Antius, or to gain access to his organization, so that we can get a message to them."
"The morning before we all met each other, I was tending the garden at the shrine for Corellon, and saw the head of my order, Theriandor, talking with a man, who I later learned was Antius, and was told that I was to go and meet with him that evening. My teacher and leader Theriandor may know more about Antius."
"I for one need to rest and replenish my spells. I had not thought that we would be still involved past noon, and I suddenly feel ill prepared to give anyone aid. Plus, if we are to leave this place during daylight hours, it may draw undue attention." If no one has any objections, Eland rtires to the cot in the office and drifts off to sleep.
"You know someone who actually knows him? I just stopped him from being mugged. Anyway, I say we move the box and leave someone here in case he actually shows up."
"Well, Eland needs to rest, so I can stay here and wait with him while the rest of you move the box. We should set up a meeting point if we're going to split up."
Grunthor will go check out the abandoned glass factory to see if it would be a good place to hide the crate if someone would go to the other warehouse. Looking for someplace dry without too much dust to be disturbed.
Grunthor will go check out the abandoned glass factory to see if it would be a good place to hide the crate if someone would go to the other warehouse. Looking for someplace dry without too much dust to be disturbed.
As Grunthor enters the old factory complex, he sees that it is relatively intact and, unusually for such places, has not been completely ransacked by looters or vandals. Surrounded by a ten foot wall, a single gate leads into a small courtyard which provides access to three different buildings.
The first is a small office, the door currently standing open but still serviceable. All furniture has been removed, leaving just a bare room. There is also a small warehouse, filled with shelves and racks on which glass panes used to be stored. All that remains now are a few shards of broken glass and several large trolleys in varying states of repair.
The final building is the factory where the glass was manufactured. There are several furnaces, two large, industrial kilns and a number of bins which were used to hold the sand and other raw materials needed to manufacture glass. Although this large room is sealed from the weather, there are signs it has been visited since the factory close. The floor is covered with broken sheets of glass and many jagged shards. There is not enough debris to make it unsafe to maneuver through, provided you take some care and move slowly.
Damandor stays in the warehouse at first, hesitant to leave, but then changes his mind and says, "I think that I will follow Grunthor next door and check out the glass factory. I don't think any of us should be alone at this point."
"I am curious about what could be in the container. Antius seem very specific about the time that he was going to be here, I hope that what ever is in the crate, didn't need to be taken out at a certain time."
Eland dreams of sweet honeyed mead and various female aquantinces. When he wakes, he pulls out his spellbook and refreshes his spells. He steps back out into the warehouse and looks around to see whether anyone has stuck around.
Eland dreams of sweet honeyed mead and various female aquantinces. When he wakes, he pulls out his spellbook and refreshes his spells. He steps back out into the warehouse and looks around to see whether anyone has stuck around.
Anyssa waves cheerfully from where she is sitting near the door.
Have a good sleep?
Ivan finishes meditation and realizes that their contact has not reached them. He figures that means he will not get paid nor his allies. He wants to know what he risked his life for. As such, he sizes up the crate and prepares to open it.
Slaps Ivan's hand away from the crate.
"Hey, watch it. That's being a bit hasty, isn't it. We don't know for sure that our employer isn't going to show. Hold off on the opening until we're sure we're not getting paid, 'kay."
After checking out the glass factory we head back to the warehouse through the back door. If no one has gone to the other warehouse, Damindor and I will check it out.
Grunthor and Damandor finish exploring the factory next door. The complex of three buildings is relatively intact, although devoid of any furnishings other than the large furnaces, trolleys and old storage bins. They return via the side alley and through the back door to see the rest of the group waiting inside. Eland is sleeping in the office and Flint is in one corner of the warehouse, entertaining some stray cats he has enticed inside.
There has still been no word from Antius. Heading out once more, Grunthor and Damandor cautiously enter the dilapidated warehouse next door – slipping through the door to the office, which currently hangs by only one hinge. This building is in a terrible state, there are piles of refuse and rags strewn throughout the place and several holes in the wall where the wood has warped are allowing the weather to gradually erode what structural integrity remains. There is some evidence that squatters have been living here, but not for some time to judge by the state of the place.
As Grunthor and Damandor head back outside and return to their companions, they can see ominous rain clouds building once more. The rain has held off for most of the day, but it looks like the city is in for another cold, wet night. Once more entering through the back door, the seven of you congregate around the crate in the warehouse.
Damandor upon his return says, "The abandoned glass factory is in pretty good shape considering it looks as if it has been out of use for some time. There are some storage bins that might serve to put the crate in."
"The other warehouse is in poor shape and looks like it might collapse at any moment as far as I can tell. It is filled with debris and looks to have served as someone's shelter, but not for some time now."
"As far as what is in the crate, I too am curious, but still cautious as we were admonished not to open it. Although, I could cast a spell allowing me to determine if what is in the crate has a magical aura. I will not be able to determine what type of magic it is if I cannot see it, but I will know if it is magical. Should I give it a try?"
"Sounds fine to me. Nobody said anything about not casting spells on the crate. Just not opening it."
Ivan shows his displeasure at not being able to open the crate, though he does not go against the group as it is clear he does not have support. He keeps a look out while the others decide what to do. He is ready to lend his strength where necessary.
Cast away friend.
Damandor casts Detect Magic while facing the crate, concentrating to see if he can see any magical auras.
Eland shepishly watches as Damandor casts his detect magic, wondering why it never occured to him.
As you all gather inside the main room of the warehouse, Damandor begins to murmur a spell, his hands weaving complicated patterns as he concentrates intently on the large, wooden crate. The spell lasts for around half a minute.
Damandor:
It is now mid to late afternoon. You are all well rested, with spells prepared and wounds healed, however you are beginning to get both hungry and thirsty. Throughout the day, traffic in Gutterspill street has been exactly what you would expect. The rain has managed to hold off, although that will probably not last through the night. Despite the temporary reprieve from the rain, it is still bitterly cold outside.
Eland shepishly watches as Damandor casts his detect magic, wondering why it never occured to him.
After Damandor finishes casting his spell, he turns to Eland and says, "Not to worry friend, it took me an hour wandering around the neighboring buildings before I thought of it. Next time you may be the one to suggest a good course of action."
Addressing the group as a whole he says, "Now let me tell you what I have learned, which is not much, but may lead us as to what course of action to take. There is, in deed some sort of magic emanating from inside the crate. In fact there seems to be multiple types of magic inside, that with out seeing the item, or items directly, I cannot tell what types. At any rate the aura of the magic is strong."
"With Antius this overdue, I think that we have two options available to us. First, would be to open the crate ourselves and try to determine what we are dealing with, which Antius said would be dangerous without the proper key. Second, would be to try to take the crate with us to another location. That would probably be best done after nightfall, in my opinion."
"I still believe that the leader of my order may be able to tell us something more of Antius. If we delay until nightfall we may want to send a couple of us out to get some food for the rest of us."
In a rare moment of clarity, Eland says, "The fact that Antius said it would be dangerous to open the crate without the proper key suggests that the crate is warded somehow. I would hate to bring attention and pain to all of us by having some explosive ward meet our atempts to see what is in the crate." I looks at everyone with a look of surprised satisfaction on his face. "I would be willing to find some food but would appreciate some assistance. Plus, I could make a few inquiries about our benefactor while out."
Eland's plan would be to head back to the Wilted Rose and get some food, and then ask his superiors to try and find out what has happened to Antius.
Perhaps oneo of us can go out and find out what might have happened to Antius. And get some food while they're at it.
"I would be happy to go and help get food, but," she bites her lip, "I tend to be a bit...memorable. I know I could just drop the act, but if the wrong person happens to see me not acting like a klutz, that puts my family in danger and I won't do that. So maybe it would be better if someone else went."
"I'd go get some food, but some old friends of mine would like to have a nice chat *Gestures at short sword* with me. So, can any of us go get some food without risking someone's life?"
"I could go as well, and perhaps we could stop by the shrine to Corellon and speak to the leader of my order."
I could go, the only people that have anything against me are the cultists. But as far as I know, the only ones who have seen me are dead. Lets go get some food and stop by your monastery on the way. If we get food at the strangled chicken we might find some info there. Does anyone else want to go?
Eland:
“Eland, my boy,” he begins excitedly. “You’re still with us, at least! How did things go last night? Were you able to fulfil the task Antius had for you?”
Damandor:
“Damandor, it’s good to see you well,” begins the high priest. “I worry about you – these are dangerous times and I'm afraid that you will come to see more danger than most.” As he watches you, the old elf’s face is marked with concern as he frowns slightly. “What’s wrong? Did things not go well last night?”
Ivan and Grunthor:
Anyssa, Flint and Garret:
From the office, you can easily keep an eye on the outside, via the strategically placed gaps in the boarded over windows. Time passes...
Perception check: 14 + 3 = 17
Monty Haul:
Damandor relates to Theriandor the events of the previous night.
"We were to meet with Antius at noon today, at the place he directed us to, but he never arrived. We waited as long as we could, but had to go out for supplies, and also to try to find out what may have happened to Antius."
"Yesterday morning when Antius came here, it seemed to me that you knew each other, and I was hoping that you could tell me where we might find him. If not, do you know how I would get in touch with someone who knows him. We need to deliver this item to Antius, if not him, then someone who knows what to do with this item."
"Master I was able to detect a very powerful magical aura emanating from the object in the crate. Many overlapping schools of magic. I told the others that it was strongly magical, but didn't tell them exactly how powerful it is. I fear that it the wrong hands, this object could do great harm."
"Please Master Theriandor if you know anything that can be of help, will you please instruct me?"
Anyssa is basically doing whatever the fantasy equivalent of "100 bottles of beer on the wall" is in an attempt to stave off boredom. Quietly of course. She really can't carry a tune :)
I rolled 15
Flint, in his boredom, begins to see how many plants he can remember and there uses. Every now and then he pulls out a small leater bound book to check if he is correct. He stops after a while and just stares out the window gaps.