Chapter 6: The Limitless Rise

[Darren]

Kal smiles at Condign. "Yes, and I shall take to just calling you 'tiefling'."

Accepting the Rekkenmark blade back from Condign, Kal nods. "This one has...sentimental value....for me. As for your new sword, if you'd like, I can ask at the Deneith enclave if it can be further enhanced for you. I know it is not the equal of your old blade, but perhaps we can make it so again."

[Brian]

"Thank you for the offer, but I am afraid an enchantment is well beyond my means. I only have few coins . . . . Hold on. How did you come by this sword anyway?"

[Jeff]

At one point, he takes Varna aside and says quietly, "Identification papers... you hinted that you may have some contacts in that field. I'd appreciate following up on that, when you have the time, of course."

"In due time, Belarin," Varna says. "When we can find some time to ourselves, I'll...introduce you to some interesting people. People who can get things done."

[Darren]

"My friend, Condign, you travel with a scion of House Deneith, now. The finer things are to be expected."

[Dave W.]

While the others have been shopping and resting, Adamant has spent much of his time in High Walls. When he is at the healing house he is clearly concerned about Condign's condition.

"This is not a fight I can fight with you my friend, but I have seen it before and only the very young or very old cease from it."

"hmm, now that I think about it, this illness is often spread by rats. Isn't that part of Old Wirtha said? How did it go?" Adamant shrieks in a fair imitation of the blind Cyran, "Rats and birds! Rats and BIRDS!! The setting sun will seize your horizon!"

"Do you think," Adamant asks returning  to his normal voice, "it could have meaning? If, when you're repaired, you would like to speak to her again I can arrange that."

[Joe]

Streko performs a second check on his Tiefling friend the next night. Otherwise, throughout the day, Streko will make sure to visit his family, assist at House Jorasco and, during a few quiet moments, inspect the item he has been holding since his time in the sewers. "Perhaps I should be consulting Belarin on this matter, as arcane items are well beyond my purview.
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Healing check for Condign: 1d20+13=23

[Mike]

Jul 25, 2010 12:19:34 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"Syrdan, come with me? We'll go right to my mother's now and hold down the fort. If you can wait one more night before reporting to Shae Lias, that would be great. My mother won't be happy, and we won't be truly free, until we take at least one meal there."

"That's fine," the elf says to Varna. "Kindly lead the way!"

[Jeff]

Kal retrieves his new clothing fro the tailor. The shirt is "red and purple, and soft materials, please," he'd said, while the coat is "long, black, with a high collar," and threaded subtly with gold.

Returning to Olladra's Kitchen and the Eatery, Varna introduces Syrdan to her mother, Esthryn, and her father, Orval. Syrdan hasn't known many halflings personally, but he suspects that these elders represent some of the best qualities of their race. And now that he's spent time with Streko, he can see the family resemblance and where the spark of passion came from.

He immediately sees, from the look of the place, that Orval is a gardener and herbalist by trade, and that Esthryn's sole purpose seems to be the feeding of those around her. She thrusts a bowl of soup in front of him almost immediately.

He also catches on that halflings do pay some measure of respect to their ancestors, certainly far more than humans. From what he's seen, nobles and dragonmarked humans seem to refer to their sires only when it suits them, when title and privilege can be invoked to influence others. The Tavvens, though not exactly recent immigrants from the Talenta Plains, still make casual remarks that refer to their tribes of old. They don't record and recite and ritualize their connection to the deep past, as do the Aereni, but they do remember where they came from; it's a strong part of their culture. Syrdan can't help but respect that. And although he knows the Tavvens are part of the extended Jorasco house, they certainly don't act like a family affiliated with the dragonmarked. Then again, neither does Streko.

"You really should have some more," Esthryn remarks to Syrdan when he finishes the soup.

The day concludes when each of you returns to Esthryn's Eatery. Esthryn throws her arms around Streko and praises Adamant for keeping his promise in keeping her children safe. She gushes at him and thanks him for helping out Gerus with his problem. Adamant has seen non-warforged flush red with embarrassment, but though he doesn't know what that physical sensation is like, he imagines he would probably do the same if he could. Feeling a mother's gratitude for protecting her children is a satisfying experience. It's something he wished he could do for Cyre more and more.

Esthryn also gushes at Kal and Belarin and Condign, speaking words of concern at their injuries. Given Condign's natural skin color, she can't actually tell he's fighting an illness.

Varna has given her parents a very threadbare account of your adventures in the City of the Dead and the Depths below it. Something about a minor ghost that somehow got free from the necropolis and needed tracking down. This led to some old dungeons below the tombs, where old traps (not monsters) led to the scrapes and bruises that you experienced.

"Well done," Orval says to each of you. Something in his eyes tells you that he knows there's more to the story....and grateful that his wife doesn't know about it.

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The results of Streko vs. Condign's disease will come in my first post in Chapter 7.

Any absolute last-minute posts go ahead and make. I'll probably kick off Chapter 7 tomorrow (Thurs) sometime.

[Dave W.]

When Esthryn praises Adamant, the warforged stammers, "No, it was nothing... I mean I was honored to be of service... " 

He pauses and finds a better way to deflect her attention, "In truth your children are very capable creatures. You should be proud of them, they do you both credit."

[Joe]

Jul 28, 2010 21:37:05 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"In truth your children are very capable creatures. You should be proud of them, they do you both credit."

Streko nods. "And having such a fine guard to protect Varna was a blessing."

He glances over at his big sister and grins. "For without Varna, who would have protected me?"

Briefly, Streko sends a glare at Condign, which spreads to Syrdan, then to Kal and then, finally, to Belarin. The glare turns into a grin.

"Truth be told, there is no finer company than the ladies and gentlemen in this room. From Elf to Tiefling, Human to Warforged and, lest I forget, Halfling and War Hound, there is no finer company indeed." He tosses a gravy soaked piece of bread he's somehow pilfered to Tangat. "None finer."

Streko glances around. "Of course, without Olladra, I doubt any of us would be here to partake in the most delicious food and herbs in all of Sharn. So, is dinner ready?? I, personally, am famished!"

[Darren]

Although Kal speaks to Esthryn, his eyes are on Varna as he says, "Yes, I'm afraid there won't be any interesting storytelling involved with this latest adventure." From somewhere near the stage area that Kal used for his last story, the sound of crickets can be heard. Kal turns his head towards Esthryn and grins, then throws a wink at Varna.

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Not planning to post again until Chapter 7 starts.

[Ken]

Belarin continues to be uncharacteristically quiet, but his mood definitely improves in the Tavvens' company.

"By the way, nice clothes, Kal," he says after swallowing a mouthful of stew. "Not as good as mine, but still, they're... nice."

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Ditto.

[Jeff]

Before ending the night, Streko closely examines the small, circular crystalline gem with the faint flickering light in it. He finds he doesn't need Belarin to figure out what it does. It's a passive, alchemically created crystal that attracts and negates electric energy.

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Joe: The suppression crystal has been added to Streko's inventory. It's essentially a one-time use item. So long as Streko has it in his possession (but not in his haversack), the first time he's attacked with something that does electricity or thundering damage, some of the damage will be negated.