Chapter 10: Eye of the Storm

[Dave W.]

Team B

Jan 23, 2012 10:17:37 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"Lerrhana is also a cousin of Queen Etrigani. It is paramount she returns with us to her homeland."

"I would be pleased to see her reunited with her family... If that is her choice."

Adamant will follow to Shorak's apartments, though he will insist on staying next to Nerrin.

[Jeff]

Team K

Leaving the leather shop behind, Rinti leads you further into Forelight, and the fortress of the Deneith enclave begins to loom higher as you draw nearer. But before you reach the slender river that it lies across, another structure catches your eye. Especially Streko's.

A temple. Very large, but smaller than the mighty cathedrals that dominate the capitals of the Five Nations. It boast an unusual shape with draconic designs in the architecture and a heavy, raised gate before the open front doors. Above the gate is carved the Octogram, the symbol of the Sovereign Host:

Streko knows that all temples devoted to the Host as a whole contain a shrine for each of the Sovereigns.

Rinti gives the temple an uncertain look. There are no guards outside the gate, but you do see an Adamant-sized warforged sitting on the stone steps that lead up to the door. He seems to be waiting around for someone. He holds a shield emblazoned with the shield-and-sword symbol of Dol Dorn, Sovereign of Strength and Steel.

"I don't get that," Rinti breathes quietly but loudly enough for Kal to hear. "'Forged serving gods."

[Jeff]

Team B

"I would be pleased to see her reunited with her family... If that is her choice."

Ptolyn gives Adamant a strange, dangerous-but-calm look at this remark. Then he nods, and the elves turn to follow Shorak. Ptolyn gives some orders in Elvish, and one of the elves remains by the edge of the fountain—presumably, they were waiting here for someone else, as Eldred's Pool makes a good city landmark.

The elves stagger their numbers, and you notice that despite their appearance, they almost seem to blend in with the edge of the crowd, somehow managing to not look like they're all moving together when in fact they are. Ptolyn walks side by side with Shorak, his eyes keen, scanning the crowd constantly.

A few minutes later and the building Shorak lives in comes into view. It's a four-story structure, squared and nondescript, and it's built up against the head of an ancient giant's statue head. The head is female, and an elaborate hairstyle makes her look like a queen. But the face is slightly chipped. Shorak's looked upon it a thousand times. She looks very serene. His landlord used to refer to her casually, and fondly, as his missus.

But something is amiss now. Shorak gets a slight twist in his gut. The street around the building is abustle as always, and nothing physically looks wrong. He can see the window to his apartment on the third floor, closed tight just as he left it. A few of the other windows have plants and flowers in stone boxes, and that empty flat above his still looks dark. The main door looks normal, the stoop unoccupied, his landlord's flat on the ground floor dim, but that's normal.

Shorak is feeling...watched somehow. His eyes are drawn up to that empty flat which his landlord never seemed able to rent out. Darkness in the window, as always. So what's amiss?

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak slows as only his eyes turn up to the window in the apartment above his. He stops a few yards from the entrance to the building, making a show of looking for his keys. Turning towards the elf and including Belarin as much as possible, he smiles as if in idle conversation about how he has misplaced his key.

What he actually says is this; "I do not wish to alarm anyone, but I feel that something is wrong somehow. I can't explain it. It might be safer for me to approach the building alone. Do tell me if you see any movement from the top floor's window." Here he points to his window and whispers, "The one above the one I am pointing at."

Is a perception check in order here?

[Darren]

Team K

Kal also studies the warforged as he responds to Rinti. "I also used to think the warforged were nothing but soulless killing machines. That's what my time during the War led me to believe, anyway. I saw them commit atrocities to men without any change of expression, working methodically to rip soldier apart without any sound but that terrible clanking of gears and scraping of metal." Kal pauses, his eyes distant as he remembers.

"Then the war ended, and I had occasion to meet some others. My opinion has changed, Rinti. They are not all what they at first appear to be. Like people, each one must be taken as an individual. There are some, certainly, who probably do nothing but follow orders. There are probably those who even enjoyed the killing they were made for. But there are some who genuinely strive for more out of their lives." Kal chuckles slightly at his choice of words. "Lives? Well, I suppose some of them are trying to be more human. I don't know or understand what passes for emotion inside of them, but I do know that some of them truly seek to find absolution in whatever gods they choose to follow." Kal smiles as he thinks of Adamant. "Some of them may even find it."

[Ken]

Team B

Jan 24, 2012 2:17:00 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

"I do not wish to alarm anyone, but I feel that something is wrong somehow. I can't explain it. It might be safer for me to approach the building alone. Do tell me if you see any movement from the top floor's window." Here he points to his window and whispers, "The one above the one I am pointing at."

Belarin/Nerrin smiles amiably and nods as though Shorak said something fairly amusing. "If you're sure..." he says. His concern sounds odd when spoken in Nerrin's nasally voice. "Tell me quickly, Shorak -- is there anything magical in your apartment?"

After Shorak answers his question, Belarin replies, "Off you go, then. Take your time."

Once Shorak heads toward the building, Belarin turns his body slightly and says softly to the elves, "It's been a while since he was last in Stormreach. It may be nothing serious." A pause as he considers something. "Krez did arrive before us, but he wouldn't have known Shorak's identity..." Belarin leaves unspoken the obvious "...would he?"

He looks back at the building, trying to do so as casually as possible. He then begins concentrating, searching for signs of magical auras within.

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Belarin will take 1 minute to attempt to detect magic. Unless Shorak is rushing in, Belarin might get results before Shorak reaches his apartment. Range is 30 feet, which should extend to at least part of Shorak's 3rd-floor apartment.

Arcana check (Detect Magic) (1d20+15=29)

[Brian]

Team K

Condign, who is walking slightly behind the others, listens carefully to Kal's words. His friend had spoken of his war experiences before, but this time he thought he'd heard a tone, a context that ran like an invisible river, just beneath the surface of his words.

That context sounded surprising like. . .empathy.

Given his friend's fondness for self-promotion, he is momentarily surprised. But then he thinks back to Sharn, and the d'Deneith enclave there. Kal had been hurt, his leather-strapped leg twisted at an unnatural angle. And he remembers his friend's obvious chagrin at Condign seeing his. . . ? Defect? Deformity?

Kal, like that river running beneath his words, would appear to be deeper than Condign had given him credit.

He smiles. "All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost." It was another lesson Lorjad had tried to teach him. And maybe now, he is starting to learn it.

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Darren, that was a mighty fine post you made. It inspired me, though I could not match your eloquence.

[Dave W.]

Team B

Jan 24, 2012 10:54:52 GMT -4 Ken said:

After Shorak answers his question, Belarin replies, "Off you go, then. Take your time."

"Yes, take your time… but do it quickly please." Redoubt says to Shorak. Turning to face Nerrin he adds, "We are exposed here and though not expecting trouble, as your hired man, I officially disapprove."

While facing to the rear of the group, Redoubt looks for trouble. He in particular looks to the roof-tops.
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If you feel that warrants a Perception check, I'd be delighted to receive a d20+6 check…

[Joe]

Streko notices the temple for the Sovereign Host. "Well, thank the Host for some civilization, yes?"

[Jeff]

Team B

Ptolyn stops and watches Shorak, then studies the building from afar as well. He merely nods at the half-drow's words and allows him to investigate as he will. The other elves, at a look from Ptolyn, remain further back, hanging among the passers-by.

Shorak realizes the first problem: there's no sign of life at any of the windows of the building, no movement of lights....nothing. And that is unusual. There were at least three families living here that had people moving about at all hours. But beyond this, he's just not sure what's amiss. He'd have to go in to find out.

Meanwhile, Belarin scents the air for anything magical. He does sense something odd, though he cannot identify it. There is, or was, a magical presence here that's a little off the mark of the sort of magic he's used to. It doesn't feel strong. Either it's gone now and these are just lingering traces or it wasn't very powerful to begin with...

And then he feels a spike in that power, like a quick flux of a spell that strikes and then is gone. It's bizarre, and it feels anomalous. It actually reminds him, just a little bit, of the kraken's presence. His eyes stray over to the giantess's statue head. Is that mucking with this sense? He's not sure.

Adamant sees no obvious or even subtle physical threats against himself or his allies. Though, he does, after a minute or two, see a man on a flat roof across the street, leaning against the wall of an adjacent taller building, in the shade. He is human, lean, and seems to be staring right back at Adamant and his allies.

The female elf who spoke earlier walks quietly up to Adamant. "You see him, too?"
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Perception rolled.

[Jeff]

Team K

Rinti smiles up at Kal. "You've seen a lot of the world, haven't you? How old are you? Like fifty?" He's not sure if she's kidding, or if everyone older than twenty is old. She quiets he voice so the warforged nearby doesn't hear her. "I know...warforged are kind of common around here. I never now what to think of them. Even if they're kind, they look like they don't care about anyone."

She leads you on, towards the bridge that connects to the Deneith enclave. She looks over at Condign and Streko as she goes, and says to Kal, "Will they know you here? Will your tiefling friend be allowed inside? I've always been shooed away from here myself..."

[Dave W.]

Team B

The female elf who spoke earlier walks quietly up to Adamant. "You see him, too?"

"I do, Haralee, is it?" Redoubt sets his voice to the same volume as the elf. "And I am certain he sees us as well. I'm tempted to wave," He adds lightly. "I suppose that would be frivolous."

"He worries me only in that Shorak senses something wrong here. I might have overlooked him without the warning. We could take turns watching, one casually observes him for a few seconds and then makes a light sound on metal -- I'll have no problem there -- as a signal that it's time to switch. We keep moving separately around our assembled friends?"

"Could you trust me enough for that? I am being called Redoubt these days, by the way."

[Jeff]

Team B

"This will be an exercise in trust," Haralee responds to Adamant even as she looks casually away from the man on the roof across the way. "Because I'm not yet certain that your drow friend isn't leading us into a trap and that the fool yonder isn't another friend of yours."

Adamant can hear the smile in her voice, but he's fairly certain she really is on the fence about his trustworthiness. She goes on as quietly as before. "I did not introduce myself. But if I were to name you an ally, I would do by the name Redoubt. If I would be referred to in turn, I would respond to Haralee, yes."

[Dave W.]

Team B
"Well, a pleasure to know you, Haralee." Redoubt continues lightly. "I will say that I do not know the man on the roof, of course you would have to take that on faith."

"I have chosen to trust you; we will see where that leads us. In truth I find your caution encouraging.  It is probably best to be cautious."

[Ken]

"There was an odd... spike of magical activity," says Belarin, still speaking as Nerrin, to Ptolyn, Adamant, and Haralee. He returns his gaze to the building. "Very faint at first, almost residual, then suddenly powerful and fleeting, like a lightning bolt. Now gone. I don't care for it." His hand reaches habitually for his dagger. Then he remembers that he gave it to Shorak.

Cursing silently, he then reaches for the pocket containing the wand that he acquired from the kobolds' trove... and his hand touches the pouch with the black candle. For a moment, he forgets what he's doing and almost opens the pouch to activate the necromantic field. But he shakes off the unnerving feeling and grasps the end of the wand.

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak moves toward the front door of the building, casually. His eyes continue to flick to the right and left, up and down. His right hand is under his cloak, ready to draw his boomerang if the need arises. His left hand holds the keys to his lodgings.

When he gets to the front door he stops to give it a closer look. Examining the lock, handle, jamb, everything.

I forget. Is it a thievery check or perception when checking for traps?

[Darren]

"I've never been here before, so there is no reason they should know me personally," Kal says honestly. "They may know my family name, though, and there is no denying my lineage," he says, tapping the dragonmark on his arm with one finger. "They will let us in."

[Brian]

Team K

Condign takes in the bridge leading into the d'Deneith compound. Then he scans the crowd, looking for potential dangers. The fact that a d'Deneith heir was aboard the Merrow may have become common knowledge. And that his traveling companions could include a tiefling and a halfling. If Krez--or anyone else in the hunt for the Eye--wanted to thin the competitive field, here would be an ideal place to try it.

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May I get a Perception Check, please.

[Joe]

TEAM K

Streko, still flush with his two purchases and imagining the things he could put into them, finally shakes it off and realizes he has little recollection of the journey from the shop to the Deneith compound.

"Pay attention, you fool!" he berates himself. "Get your head out of your magic bag and make sure we aren't being followed or watched...or if we are, we know of it!"

"They will let us in."

"Of course they will. Our reputation, no doubt, preceeds us here. As it does in most places, these days. Wouldn't you agree, my Lord?"

[Jeff]

Team K

While Condign keeps an eye out for anyone casing them, Kal and Streko speak and keep the group moving. Crossing the bridge and seeing no one suspicious, the Deneith Enclave soon rises before you, a fort upon a hill.

Kal and Condign especially can't help but regard the enclave with a tactician's eye: While the district of Forgelight, which the enclave is situated in, seems exposed on its north end—exposed to the jungle beyond—it's clear that House Deneith has built up great earthen banks and fortified the hill that their fort sits upon into a steep edifice. If there ever was an attack against Stormreach from the north side of the city, they'd have to get through House Deneith first. No easy feat.

Flags bearing the colors of the house and the imagery of the crest fly in the wind. He also sees a few family flags and crests, probably from families within the house who've served in Stormreach for more than a generation. The Jaeren family is not among them.

Kal knows there's probably another reason why the enclave is situated apart from the city proper and up on a hill: so that respected clients and dragonmarked heirs with interests in Xen'drik can visit without sullying themselves in Stormreach’s streets. He even spots a conspicuous structure atop one of the central keep's towers that could serve as a docking platform for airships. Interesting. Usually everyone has to go directly through House Lyrandar operations for airship travel.

As you approach the base of the hill, you see a statuesque, blonde woman in the chainmail armor and uniform of a Deneith Blademark standing at the center of the path. Occasionally she throws a glance—or glare?—up the hill towards the enclave itself. The gold trim of her garments tells Kal that she's a Gold Blade, which is the highest ranking Blademark there is (black, gray, white, gold is the order). As he himself is no longer enmeshed in the Blademark hierarchy or administration, he has no authority over her, nor she over him. The violet-blue swirls of a dragonmark can be seen at her neck and the side of her face, like an exotic tattoo.

As you draw closer to the woman, Rinti stares openly at her. The armored woman seems to represent the unattainable to the street girl: a warrior, beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

The Blademark, meanwhile, now spots your group approaching. Her expression is unreadable. She has just finished speaking with an elderly couple who now proceed up the path toward the enclave gates.

[Jeff]

Team B

Haralee only gives Adamant a nod. Belarin grips the wand. Shorak approaches the front door and finds it hangs ajar, just a little. Without touching he looks it up and down, and doesn't find anything that could be a trap. But as he's looking, he does hear something.

Whispering.

Coming from the hall beyond the front door...he can barely make it out against the noises of the street behind him, but he tries.

"Aye, what now?"

"Now nothing."

"Nothing?"

"No. We wait."

"For how long?"

"One more day."

And anything that follows Shorak can't make out...they're either speaking too softly, or the noises of the street are just drowning it out. The two voices are mail, speaking in quiet tones. He thinks there might also be a soft light, a candle or lamp lowly lit, somewhere in the darkness beyond the door.

Then he hears the chink of dice being rolled.

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Perception is for finding stuff. Thievery for disabling it. Perception rolled.

[Darren]

Team K

A strange mixture of emotions swirls inside of Kal. He breathes deeply, taking in the smells of the place, as though he can inhale the essence of House Deneith. But his nose twitches slightly at the bitter remembrances. It is a place he both craves and despises and the juxtaposition is painful for Kalarian.

Stopping before the Gold Blade, Kal offers her a salute. "Good morning, soldier. I am Kalarian Jaeren, newly arrived in Stormreach, and I seek audience with whomever is in charge of this enclave." Odd, Kal thinks, not too long ago I would have marched up to the gates and demanded to be seen immediately. Traveling with Streko must be teaching me humility....

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak does not like the look of this. He signals to Nerrin/Belarin, raising two fingers, then making a talking motion with his hands and finally pointing towards the door.

He draws his boomerang and from the hinge side of the door, slowly and as quietly as possible, he pushes it open. He keeps his shoulder pressed against the jamb, trying to use the door and the edge of the door frame as cover from any potential projectiles.

Thievery (1d20+12=18)

[Jeff]

Team K

Kal:

"Good morning, soldier. I am Kalarian Jaeren, newly arrived in Stormreach, and I seek audience with whomever is in charge of this enclave."

Kal does realize he declined to use the title of "lady" afforded to any blood-born heiress, dragonmarked or not But if she is offended or not, she gives no sign.

She looks back at him and offers the house salute in turn. "Good morning to you, Lord Jaeren," she answers formally, stiffly. "Welcome to Stormreach and to the house enclave."

She pauses, considering his words. "'In charge'....that would be Lord Greigur."

Kal has heard the name! Not often spoken of particularly fondly. Greigur is a Sentinel Marshal, but not the necessarily chivalrous, paladin-like variety from the old stories, nor the truly impartial variety that Kal's whole family aspired to be. To hear that Greigur is also commander of an entire enclave is...worrying. Is such a man stationed in Stormreach to keep him far from the house's Khorvairian operations, or to give him a lawless place where he can go unchecked? Certainly, he is a man of reputation and unquestionable accomplishment, who has slain many villains and captured many notorious criminals. But he's known to be a hard man.

The Blademark woman looks over to Condign, puzzlement plain on her face, then down to Streko and Rinti. "An audience he can grant you, but I cannot say that it will be immediate."

__________________________________

Darren, go ahead and roll an Insight check. This one doesn't matter if you see the result.

[Darren]

Team K

"Lord Greigur, of course," Kal says, a false smile plastered on his face. "I heard many tales of him spoken in the halls of Sentinel Tower."

Kalarian follows her glance towards Rinti and Condign. "These are with me. My companions and those in my employ. This one in particular," he points towards Rinti, "I believe may have a future with us."

Kal sighs. "I understand Lord Greigur to be a busy man. If one of his lieutenants is available, that would suffice. I have business to attend to and could use some assistance getting my bearings. Besides that, I believe my business may be of interest to the House."

_________________
Insight check (1d20+10=21)

[Jeff]

Team K

There are two things Kal deduces from this woman.

1 - She doesn't like Greigur and chafes under his leadership. It's concealed beneath a veneer of duty and house loyalty, and well hidden, but he can sense when someone resents their superiors. He's been there.

2 - She isn't happy with her current duty. It's not uncommon for Blademarks of any rank to be given unusual tasks when they're not in active mercenary service, but he thinks she's been ordered to stand post her. A punishment, perhaps? She looks like a swordmistress itching for glory and action, but is being kept in administration. He's been there, too.

"If you just seek counsel or advice," the woman goes on, "then I would be happy to steer you wherever you need to go. I am Bereschel Arvonesh." The d'Deneith is implied. She extends a hand to Kal. If he accepts it, he finds her grip strong.

She looks with a raised eyebrow at Rinti. "A little young to be recruited, isn't she, my lord?" she says with mild levity. "If you wish to bring her up into the enclave, I advise you to find page's attire for the girl, in the very least, or you will attract undue attention. There is a shop just beyond the entrance."

[Jeff]

Team B

Shorak gently pushes the door open quietly, admitting as little light as possible from the outside while trying to peer into the dark, his boomerang ready—although more open space is needed for his boomerang to be thrown.

Down at the other end of the hallway, almost twenty feet down, Shorak sees three young men (humans) sitting down. Two have their backs to an open door. The door on the left led into Shorak's landlord's flat. The door on the right was an old woman's flat; she lived with her grandchildren. Behind the third man is the stairwell leading up to the next floor. A small lantern lies between them, illuminating their game of chance.

They don't seem to have noticed Shorak, but in the dim light he can make out something of a ranking system among them. The two men on either side seem like lackeys to the third, who is actually the smallest of frame. They look like well-dressed pickpockets; knaves of Stormreach's nightlife. The "leader" is fingering a short sword, the other two have knives on their belts.

Yet none of them seem aware of Shorak yet. They look like they've been ordered to keep an eye on the building. It bothers him that it's so quiet here. Is no one home?

Meanwhile, Adamant sees the man across the way, on the rooft, take notice of Shorak's positioning. He suddenly ducks down and out of sight. Haralee doesn't see this; she's looking away, per Adamant's system.

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Shorak's Stealth check (1d20+12=24)

[Dave W.]

Team B
"I am officially unhappy." Adamant states flatly, "Haralee, our mutual friend has dropped from sight. He noted Shorak's caution and has moved. We are exposed here and have been stationary while we are under observation. My... instinct I suppose... begs me to move."

A little louder, "Master Nerrin, I recommend we leave here... now. Let us call back Shorak and meet elsewhere. There is danger for the three of us here, should we endanger these other souls?"

"Otherwise, Master Nerrin, if you would put your back to that wall over there, it would give me some peace."

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks back at Nerrin/Belarin. He holds up three fingers to amend his previous count. He motions to both his friends to let them know he needs to act and wouldn't mind a hand if they're willing.

He turns towards the partially open door, at the same time he calls out in a deep and commanding voice. "All right! You 5 check the windows on the right, you 5 check the windows on the left. Sarkov, check the front door with your unit. And keep a hold on that Firbolg. We shouldn't need it, but have it ready just in case."

Placing his hand on the door, Shorak carefully pushes the door open enough so he has a clear shot with his boomerang. Switching back to his normal voice, "Who's in there? You can make this easier on yourselves if you just surrender now."

Shorak is hoping his bluff will scare them off. Much less messy if he succeeds and they just run away.

Bluff (1d20+13=29)

[Darren]

Team K

Kal shift his sharrash from his right hand to his left, grasping Bereschel's hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady. And your advice about my young guide here is well taken. My thanks." Kal pauses, looks around as though he is making sure no one is listening, then leans closer to the woman. "It seems odd to me that one of your standing should be out here guarding the gates and doing the work of a Black Blade. Has there been trouble lately? Is that why someone as experienced as you needs to be here? My companions and I found some trouble on the way here...had to take out an ettin that may have been set loose on purpose. Surely that is the only reason to deploy your talents to an otherwise lowly position."

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Kal is trying a bit of Diplomacy. He's also trying to impress her with his exotic weaponry and tales of their very recent courage.