Chapter 10: Eye of the Storm

[Jeff]

Team B

Adamant and Belarin are a little shocked to hear Shorak: his mimicry skills are impressive. The voice that comes out of him is deeper than his usual soft-spoken tones, nastier by far, and full of bravado—he's obviously got a good handle on what a power-hungry Stormreach Guard commander would sound like!

Ptolyn takes a step back and draws a slender longsword. He eyes Belarin and Adamant, then focuses his attention on Shorak and the front door of the tenement. The other elves look everywhere else.

Shorak does hear the sudden rustle of the three rogues, and sees them jumping up from their game. Two of them instantly scatter and disappear into the flats on either side, the ones on the left and the right. The third, the leader, merely rises up and holds his short sword tightly. This one's got guts...or perhaps Shorak's ruse is a little far-fetched: ten or more Stormreach Guards and a fey giant...

When Shorak pushes open the door, the human rogue at the end other end looks back at him. He kicks over the lantern, dramatically dimming the light but not extinguishing it. "Surrender? And who are you?" In the dim light, Shorak can't make out many details, but the man looks and sounds almost middle-aged—for a human. Any thief or thug in Stormreach who lives more than thirty years is obviously dangerous.

[Dave B.]

Team B

"Who am I?" Shorak smiles, menacingly. "I believe I asked that question first and we both know I don't really want your surrender. But, I would rather you and your monkeys leave now. I really don't want to get blood all over my home."

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin is about to respond to Adamant when he hears Shorak's impressive bluff to the mysterious figures within the building.

"Very well, Redoubt," he says in Nerrin's voice. "I shall put my back against a wall, once I'm inside." He looks at Ptolyn. "If you will excuse us for a moment, sir. Come, Redoubt," he says politely as he pulls out the wand and advances quickly -- or as quickly as his limp will allow -- toward the building.

"Let's make a new opening somewhere, Redoubt," he says. He points toward shuttered windows halfway down the length of the building. "And can you sound extremely large, by the way? We need to act swiftly."

As he nears the window, he calls out in his own commanding voice, "We're ready, sir! We'll gas the bastards out if necessary!"

_____________________
Bluff check (1d20+11=20)

[Brian]

Team K

Condign cocks a thin blue eyebrow at Kal's words, but otherwise keeps silent. By habit, he continues to scan the bridge and checks behind them. However, now this close to the enclave, he is not expecting any problems.

[Jeff]

Team K

Kal:

"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."

Bereschel cocks her head. "Someone of my standing?" She looks down at her uniform and the gilded trim of her Gold Blade attire. "Rank means nothing, Lord Kalarian. And this armor is too damned clean for my liking. And lately, things do need guarding." She makes no direct comment about the ettin.

"As for trouble...there is always trouble in this city. There are stirrings internally." She indicates the enclave, "But I'm not privy to most of it. What concerns me more are the newcomers in this city. There's always a lot, but this latest surge...." Again, she eyes Condign with curiosity. "Well, yes, something is going on. Are you here to dive into it, my lord?"

Before he can answer, she steps forward and extends her hand to Condign, then to Streko. "Welcome to the Deneith Enclave. What brings an agent of the gods to House Deneith?" Her tone is pleasant, not sarcastic.

[Brian]

Team K

Condign accepts Bereshel's hand. "If I may ask, my Lady, you seem to be . . . intrigued by my presence. And yours is not the first curious glance I have gotten in this city. I paid little attention to them at first--I am often getting odd looks. But twice now you have shown in interest in me, or my race. Is there something about tieflings in Stormreach that I should know about?"

[Joe]

TEAM K

"Welcome to the Deneith Enclave. What brings an agent of the gods to House Deneith?" Her tone is pleasant, not sarcastic.

"My Lady, as one who has had the great fortune of befriending a member of your esteemed house, it is my honor to be here and to serve in whatever capacity I may. Olladra's blessings to you. As to why I am here? I shall allow my Lord Kalarian to answer that question, as, at least from my perspective, this is sumply, or not-so-simply, where we happened to end up. This continent, I mean. This place, I assure you, we came to by choice."

Streko bows and backs away, suddenly concerned that he may have said too much!

[Darren]

Team K

Kal stands respectfully by while his friends introduce themselves. "Yes, Bereschel, it would seem that we are mixed up in what is going on. Surely you have heard rumors?" Kal lets the question hang in the air, hoping the Gold Blade will offer up more information.

[Jeff]

Team B

Shorak:

"I believe I asked that question first and we both know I don't really want your surrender. But, I would rather you and your monkeys leave now. I really don't want to get blood all over my home."

"Your home?" The human smiles smugly...but Shorak can see his eyes shift a bit, looking for the promised other guards are going to come barging in...

"This isn't anyone's home anymore. Why, were you away? I'm sorry to break the bad news to you, jungle elf." He points with his short sword. "You gonna throw that? In here? You'll only get one throw..."

Meanwhile, while Belarin nears one of the windows, Adamant sees a figure slip out of a different window on the left side of the building, right in front of where the building leans up against the giantess's statue head. Immediately, one of the elves near Adamant draws an arrow, knocks it, and sights down the fleeing rogue. She looks to Ptolyn for the command to fire. Ptolyn looks to Adamant.

"Yes or no?" he asks calmly. Adamant has only a moment to decide.

[Dave W.]

Team B
"I can try being loud, Master Nerrin," Redoubt replies, moving towards the window and preparing sword and shield. "I suppose we are going in then."

Redoubt stops, still a distance from the window, about to attempt to imitate a firblog as best he can when the man comes through the window.

Ptolyn gives Adamant the choice, "No, not yet." the warforged says to the elf.

Adamant projects his will, calling to the figure, "YOU WILL STOP! Surrender to us and there may be mercy. Flee and elven arrows will take your legs and still you will have to deal with ME!"

"Let him choose wisely," Adamant whispers an inadvertent prayer.
---------------------

Sorry for delay, got called by work...
Intimidate (1d20+14=24)

[Dave B.]

Team B

Jan 31, 2012 0:12:47 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Team B

"Your home?" The human smiles smugly...but Shorak can see his eyes shift a bit, looking for the promised other guards are going to come barging in...

"This isn't anyone's home anymore. Why, were you away? I'm sorry to break the bad news to you, jungle elf." He points with his short sword. "You gonna throw that? In here? You'll only get one throw..."

"Since you are the one trespassing, I believe now would be a good time to answer my first question. Who are you? And you may as well answer my next question as well. What are you doing here?" Here Shorak's smile grows wider and even more menacing. "Your reply will dictate whether or not I use this," he raises his boomerang, "and then we'll see about having a single throw or not. Shall we?"

Shorak's ears practically twitch when he hears Belarin/Nerrin and Adamant/Redoubt join in his bluff. "Ah, one of your monkeys is about to be killed or captured. Now speak."

The half drow's relaxed posture belies the coiled muscles ready to spring into action. Shorak is so tired of these ruffians and prepares to chase this bandit out of the building or retaliate in kind if he attacks.

[Jeff]

Team B

"Too late," the elf marksman whispers.

The rogue on the street does not stop running. The elf keeps him sighted down, but does not release....there are two many passers-by to risk it any longer. He relaxes, and the human melts out of sight.

Inside, the human lowers his short sword and starts to walk toward Shorak. He looks confident. "My name seems to have slipped my mind..." His tone is condescending. "...but I will tell you that I'm here precisely to see if anyone is laying claim to this pile." He stomps one foot, indicating the ground. "Because it's been empty for more than a week now, and no one knows why."

Strangely, Shorak thinks he's telling the truth about this last thing.

"Since no one else has moved in, the Quickfoot will."

Shorak, knowing of the Quickfoot gang, knows that this is troublesome. They are a greatly feared, relentless syndicate of thugs and thieves, rumored to be based out of the sewers (like the Bilge Rats).

"I suggest you run along, jungle elf. My 'monkeys' no one will miss, but you don't want to tangle with me. Nor the others who'd mark you if you try to bleed me. Are we clear?"

He stops ten feet from Shorak, his expression still confident.

[Ken]

Belarin, unaware of what is being discussed inside, gets close to the window he approached, wand at the ready.

______________________________
If the window is shuttered, Belarin will attempt to open it. If he can attempt to peek inside at all, he'll do so. If he sees someone who even remotely appears to be wielding a weapon, he'll attack that person with the wand's ray of enfeeblement (vs. Fortitude). That'll be the "gas attack" he mentioned earlier. By the way, did his Bluff work?

If the person inside is aware of Belarin's presence (as he probably is!) and tries to attack as soon as Belarin appears, then Belarin will zap him first using sudden retaliation (via eyebite vs. Will) with the wand's +1 bonus.

In either case, Belarin will use subdual damage if possible.

[Dave W.]

Team B

Jan 31, 2012 11:03:13 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"Too late," the elf marksman whispers.

The rogue on the street does not stop running. The elf keeps him sighted down, but does not release....there are two many passers-by to risk it any longer. He relaxes, and the human melts out of sight.

"No matter, master elf. I had to make an effort for his sake, but his fate will catch up to him." Adamant turns to Haralee, "And we are still exposed here. I will have to go attend my friends. I hope to be but a moment."

The warforged trots over to Nerrin and his window...

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I need some tactical here... not necessarily a map but are there sutters? Can we climb in through the window... Adamant will do that immediately and certainly will try to go before Belarin... If there are shutters does it look like we could force our way past them?

Can we hear the conversation now that we are right by the window?

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak chuckles at his threat.

"I am here now and the last time I checked, I haven't moved out. I have been away, yes. But, until I find out what happened here, this is my home. The quickfeet can have it after I'm done with it, if it still lies empty." Shorak sneers the name of the gang. "I won't need to bloody you, if you leave peacefully." He steps aside to allow him to leave. He will not attack the thug, unless he is attacked.

[Jeff]

Team K

Bereschel smiles politely at Streko's words, but doesn't seem to know what to say in reply.

Kal:

"Yes, Bereschel, it would seem that we are mixed up in what is going on. Surely you have heard rumors?"

"Everyone does," the Gold Blade replies, but shrugs slightly. "I'm not one to pass them around." She looks back at Kal keenly. "You are part of these events."

[Jeff]

Team B

The rogue tightens his posture and looks spring-loaded with his short sword, but he actually does approach Shorak and attempt to pass him by and stroll on outside. Does Shorak allow this, then?

[Darren]

Team K

Kal cocks an eyebrow at Bereschel. "You didn't make that sound like a question, my lady. Have you heard something of me?"

[Jeff]

Team K

Bereschel shakes her head. And after saying that, Kal realizes that no, she's just speculating, theorizing.

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak allows the quickfoot rogue to pass him to leave the building. His eyes are alight with fiery anger and watching carefully, ready to defend.

Knowing that there is still at least one ruffian unaccounted for, he keeps his ears open as well. He doesn't want to be taken unawares by an invisible lackey.

[Jeff]

Team B

Adamant has moved over toward a different window and finds the windows unshuttered, but far too small for him to actually attempt to climb through.

Belarin awaits at his window, peering in (it is also unshuttered), wand ready. But it remains dark, and he has no real sense of the dimensions or rooms inside.

Meanwhile, the rogue walks right past Shorak, casually out onto the street. "Have yourself a pleasant day, jungle elf," he says over his shoulder, though his grip hasn't relaxed on his short sword. He notes the elves staring back at him, then both Belarin and Adamant (and they in turn see him), and he does look a bit more surprised. But he keeps walking, about to melt into the crowds.

Shorak hasn't been in all the flats before, but he suspects the adjoining ones are now empty. One rogue clearly fled to the street, but the other also has somehow slipped away. There may be other exits he's not aware of on these ground floor flats.

Haralee and Ptolyn walk up to Shorak. The elder elf speaks quietly. "I do not think this is the right place to speak...this was your home once? Perhaps we can adjourn to Thaendyr’s Rest?" Shorak knows of the place, though he's never dared venture inside. Thaendyr’s Rest is a tavern/temple/gathering place for the few Aereni elves who come to Stormreach. It's in the Harbor.

[Darren]

Kal sighs. "Well, you will be hearing more of me soon enough, I imagine. Yes, I think that what brings me here will bring trouble for many in this city, and perhaps on this continent and maybe even this entire world. Tell me, Bereschel, since this unrest has begun, have you heard any rumors about the Eye of Azalar?"

[Dave W.]

Team B

Feb 4, 2012 2:26:20 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Haralee and Ptolyn walk up to Shorak. The elder elf speaks quietly. "I do not think this is the right place to speak...this was your home once? Perhaps we can adjourn to Thaendyr’s Rest?"

Adamant turns to Nerrin, "I agree with Master Ptolyn, I have doubts about the safety of this place. I do not know this other place," glancing at Shorak, "perhaps our local expert does."

[Jeff]

Team K

Lady Bereschel considers the name, then shakes her head with only slight recognition in her eyes. "Is that what this is all about? I've heard the name, sure, quite some time ago."

"As I remember it, that's just another legend that draws treasure-hunters here every decade or so and kills off most of them in the searching." She shrugs. "I suppose it's being taken more seriously this time...."

[Jeff]

Sorry. This was unintentionally overlooked.

Team K

"If I may ask, my Lady, you seem to be . . . intrigued by my presence. And yours is not the first curious glance I have gotten in this city. I paid little attention to them at first--I am often getting odd looks. But twice now you have shown in interest in me, or my race. Is there something about tieflings in Stormreach that I should know about?"

Bereschel nods, looking squarely at Condign. "There have been tieflings in Stormreach for longer than I've been here. But I admit, I have never seen any of your kin around the Deneith Enclave. Even House Tharashk has attempted to recruit tieflings and had little or no success." She looks to Kal, a question in her expression. "So it surprises me, and it will surprise anyone else up the hill."

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin/Nerrin agrees with Adamant. "Yes, I'm sorry, Shorak. I don't know what's happened here, but it no longer seems conducive to having a private conversation. You should probably grab what you need from inside, then we'll depart ... for now." He says to Ptolyn, "We appreciate your patience. Let's go where you feel appropriate."

[Dave B.]

Team B

"I have to reluctantly agree with you. I will be as quick as possible. Let me just check my landlord's rooms first and then I'll see to my apartment."

With that Shorak does a quick walk through his landlord's apartment and then heads upstairs to check his apartment.

Perception check, please.

[Jeff]

Team B

As the elves wait outside with Belarin and Adamant, Shorak moves through his old landlord's flat. Though it isn't empty of furniture or the dwarf's modest possessions, it has been cleaned out of food. (In a city with a lot of poor, the latter isn't too surprising. No matter what scared away or flushed out the building's residents can't defy the desperation of the hungry.) And he can see evidence that rats have come and gone freely. The old dwarf has been away for a few days, at least.

He also sees no signs of a struggle. It's as if the dwarf just walked out one day and didn't return. Strange and uncharacteristic, to be sure. One of his only weapons, a battered old Mrorian handaxe, is still hanging from his bedroom wall.

Adamant sees no sign of the watching stranger across the way. From her frown, neither does Haralee.

[Brian]

Team K

"Thank you, my lady," Condign says with a bow. "I am often the subject of much curiosity. Though I do appreciate you sharing this information with me."

He touches Kal's shoulder. "Perhaps we should move on, my lord? There is still much to be done today."

[Darren]

Team K

Kal grins as he looks between Bereschel and Condign. "What can I say? I'm very influential...."

At last he nods at Condign's suggestion. "Yes, my lady, we have taken up too much of your time. It would seem that Lord Greigur is not the man we want to talk to. Perhaps you could point us to someone more...appropriate?"