"Ironleg, I think an evening at the arena would be most fascinating. In my short time here, I spent all of my time studying the Cyphergate so I haven't been able to partake of Riddleport's other attractions. By the way, the shaking that occurred this morning. Is it a normal occurrence?"
Kozaric will fortify the catwalk above the gambling hall. The cage match sounds great.
Responding to the dwarf's question, Ironleg thinks for a minute, "No, it is not common at all. Seems like we have had a couple in the last few months, but before that, I don't really remember them happening before. Strange thing."
Eroril steels his stout body to attempt to resist the surging water. Acrobatics .
If Eroril succeeds, he will first check how his colleagues are doing, if they are swept out by the water, he grabs his rope and tries to throw the rope to them to pull them back. If none of his colleagues, are affected, Eroril will attempt to save the fishermen with his 50' rope.
If Eroril does not succeed, he looks about under the water for the first object that he can hold on to so that he is not pulled back out as the water recedes.
Acrobatics
Ironleg steeled himself against the water and deftly balancing, was unaffected. He pulls out his cord of hemp rope and begins looking for people to help. Seeing his friend Eroril struggling, he tosses the rope to him to help him regain balance.
Eroril thrashes as the water begins to pull him under. A rope splashes near him, and with one last lunge, Eroril manages to grab the rope. Looking through the crashing wave, he sees the other end is held by his dwarven companion, Ironleg. Who pulls him to safety.
"Thank you, Ironleg, for your quick action. That wave caught me by surprise and I was fearful that I may have been pulled out to sea."
Kozaric tries to steady himself in the oncoming rush of water.
Acrobatics:
Once Ironleg pulls Eroril to a more stable condition, he looks around to see who else was struggling against the strange current. Seeing Kozaric, unable to stay on his feet, Ironleg again tosses his rope, this time toward the 1/2 elf.
Regaining his feet, Eroril also looks for others to help. Seeing that Ironleg seems to be assisting Kozaric, Eroril takes out his rope and looks around for Cavan who was also joining the group going to the arena. If he does not see Cavan, he looks for others that may need his help.
Perception
With a startled look on his face, Kozaric’s legs fail him in the onrush of water. He reaches out and grasps Ironleg’s rope, and hopes the dwarf is as sturdy as he looks.
Pulling franticly, Kozaric rights himself and regains his footing and shouts to the others,”By Erastil’s antlers! What is happening here?”
Eroril continues looking for Cavan in particular and others in need of help in general. He shouts back to Kozaric, "First the world shakes, now a mysterious surge. Something troubling is afoot! Are you ok Koz?"
”Yes Eroril, I am fine, the water took me by surprise is all. “ Kozaric begins to scan the area looking at the damage the torrent has cuased.
Eroril spots Cavan as he manages to stay upright against the tidal surge. "Cavan, I feared the worst. I'm glad to see you are ok. Can you make your way over to us?"
"Let us go to the Publican House to both mourn the loss of our comrade, Kurth, and celebrate those that survived. I will buy the first round!"
"Sounds like a fine idea, Eroril. We can forget this strangeness for one evening." Shaking his head, Ironleg mutters, "I've never seen anything like this around here before."
”I guess I should see this Publican House, it seems to be a good place for more human interaction.”
Eroril leads the group into the Publican House. He scans the room looking for an available table when his eyes fall on a table with a single figure seated, drinking a brandy. Eroril's eyes widen when he realizes the figure is Cephadrel Drocaloron, an elven wizard that Eroril had met when the two were studying arcane magic together in the libraries in Tar-Kazmukh.
He leads the group over the table and claps a hand on the shoulder of the elf saying "In Torag's name, you are the last person I expected to see in this town." Turning his two friends, Eroril continues, "Gentleman, allow me to introduce Cephadrel Drocaloron, a very good friend from a long, long time ago. Ceph and I studied arcane magic together at the Tar-Kazmukh library. That is until Ceph grew tired of studying in libraries and set out to explore the world. Ceph, these are my friends, Mikhail Tunnelsmith, Kozaric of the Bow, and Cavan Prylfellow. How have the gods been treating you and what brings you to Riddleport?"
"Hail Eroril and uh... friends of Eroril. Eroril your presence surprises me as well this city seems so, unlike you. I'd guess you're here on account of the Gate and the Blot, I am as well, more the Blot then the gate, but they are probably related. Um.. as for the gods, well they all treat me differently... on the whole probably not too differently from the average mortal." Says Cephadrel, a bit drunk, exchanging looks from Eroril to his cup.
Kozaric looks at the half drunk elf and shakes his head. Cephadrel is the first elf that he has had to engage in conversation since leaving the monastery. Memories of the monastery and his treatment as a half human there flood his mind, and even though the brothers treated him fairly he was still not treated as well as the “true” bloods.
He nods to the elf," Drocaloron.”
He then motions for the barkeep to come over. “Barkeep, give my friends a drink of what they are having and give me a mug of your freshest wholesome milk.”
"You can loosen up just a little, General," Ironleg laughs, slapping the always tightly wound Kozaric on the back, as he reached for a tankard of the local grog. [b]"All things are fine in moderation."
"Nice to meet you, Ceph. Always nice to meet a friend of a friend."
"I'll take a pint of the house ale, if you please." Eroril turns back to Ceph, "Even under the influence you are still sharp as tack. Yes, I have come to Riddleport to study the blot and the gate. The next stage of my research is to study in the libraries of the... , Eroril lowers his voice in deference to the Publican House's aversion to the Cyphermages. "Cyphermages."
Speaking normally, Eroril continues, "Alas, my meager treasure was not enough to secure lodging and thus access there. So, I attempted to win my way in at large gambling tournament a night or two ago at the Gold Goblin. You may have heard there was robbery attempt there during the tourney, but fortunately hardy and brave men, like my friends here, Ironleg and Kozaric, were able to squash the felony in its tracks. As a result, the proprietor of the establishment, Saul Vankaskerkin has offered us jobs and lodging at the Gold Goblin, our outward task are to fill roles within the casino, but our real job is to take care of any trouble that comes Mr Vankaskerkin's way. Unfortunately, we have lost one of our friends to the surge tonight, Would you be interested in an employment opportunity?
"Mm, I've never worked in a casino before, and stopping trouble can be both entertaining and occasionally enlightening" Cephadrel looks at the ceiling for an answer. "I was hoping to find out about the blot but no one seems to care much, your offer sounds like a fine alternative. By the way this Vankasker character, he wouldn't happen to be gang affiliated would he?"
"Mr. Vankaskerkin was a former gang leader here in Riddleport, but which gang I do not know. Having found that the criminal life costs far more than it pays back, he is trying to stay on the straight and narrow now. That is why he has hired us for protection instead of going to one of the local crime bosses as he would have in the past."
"Ceph, you will soon learn anyone who is anyone in this town is or has been related to a gang in some manner or the other. That's the way it has always been. Some of us are too tangled to get out, others are more lucky and escape that path," Irongleg says, before quickly realizing the conversation had gotten a bit bogged down.
"Ah, ignore my musings. Been around this place too long, I suppose. Has anyone heard any new rumors about the Blot?"
"No, I have not heard anything, but I do wonder if the blot has something to do with the tremor and the tidal surge today. Strange, the blot has seemed dormant for so long, if it is related to recent occurrences, I wonder why it is happening now?"
As the conversation at the table continues, Eroril keeps an ear out for any mentions of the blot by the locals at the tavern.
Cephadrel starts looking intent now that the blot has come up, "I was thinking, earlier when I was thinking, that perhaps the tremor was caused by a mage, probably of the cypher variety, doing something to either the blot or the cyphergate. Pure speculation obviously but as you say Eroril it is odd that there is activity after so long and I can think of no other explanation as to why..."
Diplomacy Check=
Ironleg offers to purchase the first round for the group. "I am still troubled by the tidal wave that happened earlier. I have been here my whole life and I have never seen anything like that here. Maybe one of the mages or priests at the temple can figure out what is happening around here?"
Eroril laughs heartily,
"This is quite the generous group we have here. First, I offer to buy the first round to thank you, Ironleg, for pulling me out of the drink, then Kozaric made the same offer when we ordered the drinks, and now that the drinks have arrived, you end up paying!"
Eroril takes a long, deep drink from his ale and wipes the foam off of his mustache.
"A very fine ale, Thank you Ironleg for your generosity, but I am afraid I'm going to insist that I buy the next round. On a more serious note, I do think you are on to something with your idea about asking at the temples for their thoughts on these strange happenings. I think we should also visit the Cypher lodge to see if there are any omens or prophesies in their archives. All of this can wait until the morning. After this next round, we may want to return to see how things are at the Gold Goblin. Besides, we need to introduce Ceph to our patron and see if he can join our generous band.
Who's ready for another round?"
"ah not so fast Eroril" mumbles something about dwarves and stomachs.
"Anyway I agree with Eroril about the plan, give the figurers some time to figure and in the morning I, we shall be in a state to receive their wisdom. Also which temple did you have in mind? Ironleg was it? Some how I don't think the priests of Cayden Cailean will be much help."
"You can put it under Prylfellow
"Well, now that we finally have payment for the drinks settled, let's get down to brass tacks. I think that if these strange happenings continue, it's going to be bad business for a fledgling casino such as the Gold Goblin. I also think Mr Vankaskerkin will agree and will support a discreet investigation that successfully squashes these distractions.
We all seem to agree that we should question the local scholars for more information. What do you all think, should we split into two groups to cover more ground, or stay together? Also, since Ceph appears to be joining our company, how do you all feel about giving him those magic items we confiscated from that roguish wizard? Then we can sell the remainder of the items. Looks like could all use some upgraded equipment in case things get dicey."
"If Ceph can get some use out of the items, more power to him. I think we could break up into tow groups, one to question the sages, and one to check out the temples to see if anyone has any idea what is happening to Riddleport."
"I wouldn't mind stopping by the cypher lodge and questioning some of the mages. Or, perhaps some information might be gleaned by a bit of tactful eavesdropping around the lodge itself."
"I certainly wouldn't turn down magic items, as for splitting up into groups I believe that Eroril would be the best to question the temples and I would be the best to ask the sages. I agree with Mr. Prylfellow's idea of eavesdropping on the cyphers as I have found them a rather untalkative, I assume you are able to do this as well. As for Mr. Ironleg and Mr. Kozaric I do not know where your interests lie... what do you think are the best uses of your skills?"
”I will go with Eroril, if needed , but do not forget that our main duty is to Mr. Vankaskerkin and we must be around to protect and serve the Goblin. The strangeness of these past events may assist in the turning of Riddleport into a true city of crime.”
"I'd be more at home in a temple than dealing with mages, that's for sure," Ironleg answers Ceph.
"And of course, Kozaric...I was talking about doing a little sniffing around during our off duty hours. And first things, I'd say when this winds down that we take Ceph back and introduce him to the boss. Another set of hands around the Goblin would be appreciated, I am sure."