Chapter 6: The Limitless Rise

[Jeff]

Moving in close, Condign also gets a good look at the approaching figure. The cut of his robes is different, but beyond the changing "fashion" of priestly vestments, this man looks a lot like the fountain statue in the flesh. The metal symbol around his neck depicts an open book with an Octagram impressed upon both pages.

Syrdan and Condign see that that the man's eyes don't fix on theirs. He doesn't seem to be truly blind, but is probably nearly so. He looks like a man in his late 70s. His hair is white and very thin.

"A creature? I do not know of it, but I am concerned at what you say. I am Alrev, servant of Aureon, one of the shrine caretakers. I have come recently to this division of the City, away from my own, because one of its...residents has gone missing. I pray that she is not the same...creature that you speak of."

And who are you? Is your business in the City with this creature?"

[Brian]

A creature? I do not know of it, but I am concerned at what you say. I am Alrev, servant of Aureon, one of the shrine caretakers. I have come recently to this division of the City, away from my own, because one of its...residents has gone missing. I pray that she is not the same...creature that you speak of."

And who are you? Is your business in the City with this creature?"

When the man is finished speaking, Condign says: "I am called Condign, my lord Alrev. The reticent elf is Syrdan. We have several companions with us, standing back in the intersection. We have been asked by a local shopkeeper to investigate -- and deal with appropriately, if necessary -- a creature that has been attacking the city's residents."

Condign pauses for a moment, realizing what exactly the priest had just said. "What do you mean one of your residents has gone missing? They are all dead, are they not?"

[Darren]

Kal moves near to Adamant, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Do you know anything about the layout of this part of Sharn? How the streets are arranged? Is it a grid? If we continue down one of these paths, could we come back around and behind whoever they are talking to?"

__________________
I'm working under the assumption that Kal cannot hear the conversation taking place up ahead.

[Mike]

Mar 7, 2010 20:29:54 GMT -4 Jeff said:

And who are you? Is your business in the City with this creature?"

"Yes," Syrdan says quietly. "Tell us about this missing resident, whatever it might be. If it is indeed the same as the creature we seek, we need to know what we may be facing. We have precious little time to waste."

[Dave W.]

Mar 8, 2010 8:28:19 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal moves near to Adamant, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Do you know anything about the layout of this part of Sharn?"

Adamant matches Kal's whisper, "I am sorry my Lord Kalarian, I have only been in Sharn a short time and nearly all of that has been restricted to High Walls. This is my first time in the City of the Dead."

[Jeff]

"What do you mean one of your residents has gone missing? They are all dead, are they not?"

"Tell us about this missing resident, whatever it might be."

The elderly priest squints, clearly trying to get a better look at Syrdan and Condign. His glassy-eyed stare fixes on Condign at last, his brows coming together in puzzlement. Tangat's presence at their feet doesn't bother him.

"There is...." He pauses, as if hesitant to go on. His eyes drift to the greatsword in Syrdan's hands. Then he looks in Condign's general direction again. "Who are your companions yonder? A shopkeeper sent you? Is there a Vassal among you? I would speak with him, as I am too old to be repeating myself."

Both Condign and Sydran have heard the term enough to know that 'Vassal' is a devoted follower of the Sovereign Host, whether clergy or layman.

[Brian]

"Who are your companions yonder? A shopkeeper sent you? Is there a Vassal among you? I would speak with him, as I am too old to be repeating myself."

Condign blinks once, then shakes his head in puzzlement. He turns and calls back to the others: "Will my lord Streko or the wa--or Adamant please come here. This gentleman wishes to speak to a Vassal."

[Ken]

"Oh, I can't miss this," says Belarin, who starts walking toward Condign's and Syrdan's position, regardless of Adamant's or Streko's actions. "I love it when people attempt to talk over my head."

[Darren]

Kal seems surprised at the fact that a warforged can manage a whisper. Hearing Condign's request, he one again looks around the intersection. "alright," he says to Adamant, "eyes open.". He looks at the gems on Adamant's head. "Um, yes. Anyway, stay sharp. We're all heading up there. Hang towards the back and keep a lookout behind us. Let's close ranks." Kal motions to Varna. "After you." Kal then follows, keeping Streko next to and slightly in front of him.

When they reach then man, Kal inclines his head slightly. "I am Kalarian d'Deneith and my companion here is Streko d'Jorasco, a disciple of Olladra. How can we assist?"

[Dave W.]

Mar 8, 2010 16:32:59 GMT -4 Darren said:

"alright," [Kal] says to Adamant, "eyes open.". He looks at the gems on Adamant's head. "Um, yes. Anyway, stay sharp."

Adamant nods, "I will remain aware and guard the rear."

Adamant drops back to rear-guard. He looks around and makes note of the places an attack would likely come from. After the initial survey of the surroundings he softly comments, "Hard to plan a defense against a creature that could appear out of the walls."

[Joe]

Streko bows low to the man. "May the light of the Sovereign Host guide us and protect us all."

Streko stands prepared, in case any undead decide to approach, but also pays close attention to the old man, respectfully listening to what he has to say.

[Jeff]

Varna remains with Adamant as Streko moves up to the front, looking up at the priest of Aureon, who struggles to take everyone in. Eventually his eyes settle on the halfling.

Streko:

"May the light of the Sovereign Host guide us and protect us all."

The old priest smiles briefly and nods at Streko, one hand moving in a gesture of ceremony, but he moves quickly onto business.

"Listen to me. There are only two sorts of residents here in the City of the Dead. The caretakers"—he points at himself with one finger—"and the dead. Most of the chambers and mausoleums are sealed and the dead are at rest...but for the occasional disturbance of unwanted intruders. Or other events, which we are tasked with investigating. But sometimes there are...those in between."

He pauses again. "There is a spirit who dwells in this part of the City known only as the Lady of Sorrow. It is believed that hundreds of years ago, she was a young acolyte of Dol Arrah whose empathy for the grieving and the dying knew no bounds. She cloistered herself within the City of the Dead, praying to her goddess, bringing comfort to visitors and supplication to the fallen. One day she simply disappeared, never to be seen again outside the bounds of the City. When she was sighted...it was clear that she was a spirit only, her body unaccounted for."

Adamant, standing in the back of the group, can just make out the old priest's words.

Alrev tries to focus his eyes on Syrdan and his greatsword. "She is a benevolent spirit, this Lady. I do not wish harm to come to her. I pray that she is not the one you seek, but I am concerned for her. She has never left the City before, never preyed upon any of the living. But...she has gone missing...from the places she usually dwells. I am here to find the truth of it."

"Dol Arrah watches over the Lady of Sorrow, has guarded her from the anger that afflicts many spirits. I do not wish to believe she would harm anyone. But tell me, tell me of this creature you seek. Is it a woman's apparition?"

[Darren]

"In truth," Kal says, not moving any closer, "it is hard to say. The creature's form was ragged, bony. It seemed like a man's face, but it was difficult to see. It was definitely an apparition of some kind. Is it possible that this spirit you seek, this Lady of Sorrows, is hunting the same creature we are? If she has normally been a protector of these parts, perhaps she has gone missing because she, too, seeks this creature." Kal's voice grows grim. "Or has become a victim of it."

Kal's head swivels quickly, searching for danger. "Can you tell us where these places are that she usually dwells? Perhaps that would be a good place to begin our search?"

[Mike]

Mar 9, 2010 8:11:59 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"She is a benevolent spirit, this Lady. I do not wish harm to come to her. I pray that she is not the one you seek, but I am concerned for her. She has never left the City before, never preyed upon any of the living. But...she has gone missing...from the places she usually dwells. I am here to find the truth of it."

"If she has not killed, she will come to no harm," says Syrdan. "And if she is free of the accursed taint of the undead, then I have no quarrel with her. I shall seek to help her, if I can."

"But should she be responsible for killing innocents ... well, a price must be paid for the spilling of blood."

[Jeff]

"Can you tell us where these places are that she usually dwells?"

"It is some distance from here, amidst older shrines of the Host. They have been searched, to the best of our ability. But it is because she disappeared from there that I have come here." He pauses again, seeming to consider something else.

"And if she is free of the accursed taint of the undead, then I have no quarrel with her."

Alvrev looks faintly at Syrdan. "I do not like to use that word. Spirits of her kind linger on this world because there is something unfinished, in their mind. For her, I do not know what that is. And I will not call it right. A soul should pass on, to the sleep of Dolurrh and the dominion of the gods. But the living have benefited from the Lady's kindness, however misguided it may have begun. So I do not wish to say she is undead. But....she is a ghost, young man."

He looks in Kal's direction. "What you describe does not suit her at all. But a spirit's form can change, usually driven by their emotion."

[Darren]

Kal seems to consider this. He pushes his sleeves up, revealing the dragonmark on his forearm. "Has anything changed here recently? Anything that might anger her?"

[Ken]

Mar 9, 2010 10:47:31 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"It is some distance from here, amidst older shrines of the Host. They have been searched, to the best of our ability. But it is because she disappeared from there that I have come here." He pauses again, seeming to consider something else.

"Sir," Belarin interjects, "I know that a number of the tombs here have protective measures to ward off thieves. Are any of the places likewise warded to keep a particular spirit sealed inside?" He looks at his companions as he elaborates, the normal banter of his voice replaced by a more scholarly tone. "It's possible that the spirit of the Lady might have gotten trapped in such a place, or perhaps even transposed with that of a more malicious spirit, which is now free. That would explain a bit."

He looks back at Alrev. "Or do you have another theory, sir? You seemed to be considering another option...?"

_________________________
Belarin will make a Religion or Arcana check (whatever you think more appropriate, Jeff) to gauge the feasibility of what he's describing.

[Dave W.]

Adamant hearing his Lady's name takes a step forward and pauses to look at Varna, "I... we must move up to join this conversation. It now concerns me more directly." Adamant sheaths his sword and moves forward to stand closer, relying on his height to speak over the party members still in front.

"Master Caretaker, Master Streko, I apologize for interrupting. Master Alrev, I am called Adamant and I strive to serve as a Vassal of Our Lady of Light.", Adamant lowers his shield and touches the Octogram attached to his chest.

"If this servant of Dol Arrah is missing, it would be my honor to assist you in any way I can. But first we must complete our current mission to remove this offending spirit or creature that plagues this district. And I have pledged to defend these people," Adamant motions to the party, "during that mission."

"If," he continues, "the Lady of Sorrow has become this creature, then she will understand that her attacks can not be allowed to continue."

[Joe]

"Also, good sir, it must be said that this apparition which we followed here was somehow physically draining the blood of the young man we rescued just outside these gates just moments ago. The good news is that the Sovereign Host has seen fit to allow us to escort him to relative safety. The bad news is that whatever is attacking the living outside these walls seems to be doing so with malicious intent. It's evil can be felt and seen and it will be destroyed. Having said that, the Lady of Sorrows certainly doesn't fit either the description nor the demeanor of this apparition we seek. My fear is that she, too, has been harmed by this creature. Any information you may have would benefit us in destroying the monster and bringing peace back to this city and its quiet denizens. Further, it would be greatly appreciated and we would be in your debt."

[Jeff]

Belarin believes that his theory is viable. Religious rituals likely exist that can bind, or unbind, undead spirits. But there are many variables, and few things known about the present situation.

Belarin:

"Or do you have another theory, sir? You seemed to be considering another option...?"

"Come with me," Alvrev says suddenly. He turns and begins to walk, not answering the questions posed of him. He moves at a slower pace than any of you but it's obviously swift for his aged legs. "There is one place where we might look. A tomb of some uncertainty..."

In this maze of mausoleum streets, a purpose of direction is inviting.

"Let's just follow him," Varna says softly, behind Adamant, her voice low. "If it looks like he's leading us to a trap..." She stabs the air with her cruel-edged dagger. "Right...in...the...spine."

Clearly not hearing the halfling's whisper, the old priest continues to speak as he walks. "There was a...fairly recent purchase made in one of the unoccupied mausoleums. I saw no name in the ledger...purchases are rare these days...strange..." It's hard to tell if he's talking to himself, or to you.

The narrow alleys soon give way to a very wide avenue, far larger than any street you've seen in Sharn. It feels like a vast line cut through the necropolis, and it gives you a better sense of size. Here the ceiling is higher, fifty feet or more, and the shafts of sunlight which make it this far down reveal the avenue as it stretches east and west. The distance is punctuated by some statuary, decorative stone urns, and occasional stone benches. While grand and beautiful, there is a solemness to this great hall that reminds you precisely where you are: a city of tombs.

______________________________

Belarin's Religion check (1d20+9=27)

[Mike]

Quietly, Syrdan follows behind Alrev, a look of concern upon his face. He shakes his head in exasperation as the old man starts talking to himself.

His greatsword remains drawn and ready.

[Darren]

Kal smiles at Varna. "Brilliant," he says admiringly. As they follow the man, he sticks close by her. He looks at Tangat, then nods towards the back of the group, a silent request for the dog to keep his sharp senses focused on anything that might be following.

"Where did you learn to fight?" Kal asks Varna, letting the others deal with the religious matters.

[Dave W.]

Adamant sees Kal move to speak with Varna and nods, Yes, let Kal admonish her for the threat, he thinks.

The warforged moves up to walk beside Syrdan, his shield still in place on his arm but sword still sheathed. "Master elf, do you sense some threat here?" Adamant, concerned that he has missed something, replays what he's heard of the conversation with the old priest.

-------------------
Would an insight check make sense here? Just verifying that the priest seems true to Adamant.

[Brian]

Condign walks down the avenue with the others, the clinking of his chainmail muffled some by his cloak. He looks around and decides the road is wide enough for combat should fighting be necessary. That is, if we encounter no more than a handful of these creatures.

Condign feels the hulking presence of the warforged approaching before he sees the construct walking with Syrdan and him.

Adamant's question to the elf reminds him of a lesson he had with his mentor, Lorjad. The young tiefling -- their newest ghost guardian -- stood at the beginning of a maze of stone corridors. Lorjad told him that between here and the end he would find his Ghaash'kala brethren, armed with wood training swords and shields. His task was to make it from start to finish. He failed.

After several other failed attempts, Lorjad took his charge aside and explained the nature of the exercise. He said: "Each time, you attacked everyone you met along the path. A warrior sees threats everywhere; he will find them along any path he take in life. A true warrior can distinguish between threats directed against him and the ever present dangers of living, and he will only deal with the ones he needs to. This you must learn."

The young tiefling passed the exercise on his next try.

Now, traveling through a City of the Dead, Condign remains vigilant, watching out for threats directed against his friends.

[Jeff]

"Where did you learn to fight?" Kal asks Varna, letting the others deal with the religious matters.

Varna looks up at Kal. "Here and there, and wherever necessary," she answers evasively, and with a grim smile. "It turns out, one doesn't need a great war as an excuse to defend oneself."

Indeed, of all places that he's been through since leaving his home, Condign finds this City of the Dead to be the most like the Labyrinth. Of course, here the walls have been worked by craftsmen and artists, and the dead laid to rest. The vibe is entirely different. But the physical layout, passages with no names, carved within a plateau and canyon walls...it's vaguely reminiscent of home.

Adamant senses nothing false about Alrev's words or actions.

____________________

Insight roll has been made for Adamant.

[Darren]

"Indeed," Kal chuckles. "Some of the best warriors I've ever seen have been street-fighters by nature. When it's a choice between living or dying, using whatever you have at hand is an easy decision." Kal cannot keep a grin from his face. "Still, if you ever want to learn some martial techniques, I'd be happy to spar with you."

[Ken]

Belarin walks quietly alongside Condign, his gaze taking in the solemn yet majestic sight.

Mar 10, 2010 9:41:22 GMT -4 Darren said:

"Still, if you ever want to learn some martial techniques, I'd be happy to spar with you."

Still walking alongside the tiefling, Belarin smiles and mutters low enough so that only Condign can hear, "Is that what they call it in Sharn these days?"

[Jeff]

Kal:

"I'd be happy to spar with you.

"I'm sure you would," Varna says with a teasing smile. "But that's hardly fair, Kal. You're a soldier of Deneith, after all. A veteran of sorts of the Last War, a dragonmarked sorcerer. And I'm just....better." She seems to be studying the dagger in her small hand, filtered light glinting off its serrated edge.

[Brian]

Belarin:

Still walking alongside the tiefling, Belarin smiles and mutters low enough so that only Condign can hear, "Is that what they call it in Sharn these days?"

Condign smiles at his friend's comment. Also softly, so only Belarin can hear, Condign says: "Indeed. Recently, my lord Kalarian always seems to have his sword at the ready." The tielfing looks around to make sure no one is listening. "Let us hope he remembers which one to pull out when battle commences."

[Ken]

Belarin's eyes open in surprise. "Well, that was good," he whispers to Condign. "Nice wordplay. We'll have to have a chat about tiefling humor when we have a few minutes to spare."