Chapter 10: Eye of the Storm

[Jeff]

Team B

A deep-throated (but not inhuman) male voice shouts up from the ground level. You don't know what the words are, and the language is quite strange and uncomfortable sounding, but you're almost certain they're addressed to someone other than you. In the stillness of the tenement, they echo through the stairwall and hallways fairly easily.

A second male voice, thinner, reedier, responds from above Shorak's apartment: clearly that apartment door door is open.

Then whoever's down on the ground level starts running up the stairs, pounding with heavy boots.

[Jeff]

Team K

Seeing that you're not quite as impressed or amazed as she'd expected, Rinti leads you on away from Eldred's Pool. You pass through Locksmith Square, a bustling a hive of peddlers, street performers, and hagglers—didn't Shorak say this is where he'd lived?—and then you reach a wide cobbled ramp that leads into Silverwall's other half: the half known as Coasthold, which is accessed as the ramp becomes a bridge over a massive trench.

Dwarf and human guards flank the entrance, but there's no gate, and no one moves to stop you. They hardly even give you a look: you look like you have business there, and it's pretty clear that Coasthold is Locksmith Square's silent, no-nonsense twin. A place of business. A pervasive sense of gravitas, of orderliness, fills this quiet and dignified half of Silverwall.

Taller, more massive buildings come into view.

Straight ahead, dominating all of Coasthold and sequestered with its own defensive moat, is the Kundarak Enclave, a series of heavy stone edifices. As squared and secured as you'd expect the House of Warding to be, guard towers look down upon the street traffic leading up to it. Another bridge reaches across the 20-foot moat (which is actually covered with pleasant floral lily pads) to the main gate. The enclave is also where the Kundarak bank vaults can be accessed.

Behind the Kundarak Enclave you see a taller tower further back at the edge of the city: The Tower of Kol Korran. You don't really know anything about that.

To your left (the north side of the district) is the Citadel of the Twelve, a series of towers arrayed around a central, thicker tower.

"The dwarves own everything here," Rinti says. "The Twelve is for all the houses, I guess, but the Kundaraks own this land and built just about all of it. They've got a lot of say here."

[Brian]

Team K

"Well," Condign begins, "if we are to visit the shops, I would like to have some money on hand. I am uncomfortable enough with relying on the generosity of my friends. Does any mind if we make a brief stop at the Kundarak bank?"

[Joe]

Team K

"I agree, Condign. Let us stop and gather enough currency to at least prepare ourselves for what lies ahead."

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak waits quietly. If the newcomer goes directly up to the top story without stopping by his apartment, he'll do nothing. At least until he is sure that both interlopers are in the rooms above his. Though he is ready to act if someone attempts to enter his abode uninvited.

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin/Nerrin says very softly and sarcastically to his two friends, "Stealthy, aren't they? Let's see what happens. May not involve us at all..." He positions himself as though examining Shorak's things, and continues to mutter softly to himself.

[Dave W.]

Team B
When the visitor charges up the stairs, Adamant reaches to open the door. Belarin's words stops him.

"Are you sure? Right now we have two persons to ask about what happened here. That may not be true in a moment. And the one we lose might have the information we need."

[Darren]

Kal jingles the coins he carries slightly, then shrugs and gestures for Rinti to lead them to the bank.

[Jeff]

Team B

Tension fills the air as you hear the sound of whatever heavy-footed person has been coming up the stairwell reaches the third floor (Shorak's floor) and starts to tromp down the hallway. Purposefully, steady. Not running, not strolling. the shouting of voices has stopped, but you can just make out the muttering of something beneath the man's breath. You can't see him yet, as you still stand just inside Shorak's door, which is slightly ajar.

[Ken]

Team B

Mar 9, 2012 9:07:09 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

When the visitor charges up the stairs, Adamant reaches to open the door. Belarin's words stops him.

"Are you sure? Right now we have two persons to ask about what happened here. That may not be true in a moment. And the one we lose might have the information we need."

Belarin is about to respond when he hears that the unknown arrival has stepped out of the stairwell and seems intent on approaching Shorak's apartment. The disguised warlock views this as confirmation of his original feeling that the residence has been under some sort of surveillance, whether mundane or magical or both.

He raises a silencing finger to his lips, and he resumes Nerrin's perfunctory puttering through Shorak's belongings. As before, he occasionally mutters criticisms. In the quiet of the nearly abandoned building, the sound should be audible to anyone right outside the door.

[Jeff]

Team K

At this point, Rinti doesn't lead. She steps just behind Kal as he goes, perhaps because of the dour looks of the many dwarven guards about. No fewer than four heavily armed guards man the central gate of the Kundarak Enclave on the ground level, and guard towers above also stare down at you.

But no one stops you, and within ten minutes you've walked through the great hall and threshold of the Bank of Kundarak—though that seems to be only one facility of the colossal compound.

And in the central vault administration room, the dwarven clerks attend customers. It doesn't take long to be served. All they require is a thorough look at your identification papers to verify your identity. Then they ask what up like to deposit or withdraw. 

[Dave B.]

Team B

"Looks like the decision is made." Shorak whispers. "We deal with the stonefooted one first." He takes a step backwards and raises his boomerang. "Be ready" Again, keeping his voice low.

[Brian]

Team K

When the dwarf looks expectantly at him, Condign opens his mouth, but then pauses. He looks at his friends. "The Gaash'kala are a humble brotherhood. Arms and armor are what we know. Wealth of any amount is unheard of, and my experience is . . . limited." Looking embarrassed, he adds, "I do not know how much to ask for."

[Dave W.]

Team B
Adamant nods to his friends, assenting to the plan. He returns to stillness and waits.

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He's going to try to stay out of sight until the man (?) enters the appartments.

[Jeff]

Team B

The intruder stops somewhere in the hallway, still not quite in view. It may be that he hears Belarin and has stopped to listen, or maybe not. You then hear the rustle of cloth and the chink of something... ceramic? There is a strange hiss and a quick burst of something that sounds like childish laughter, but far more sinister, then it quiets again quickly.

Another couple of seconds roll by, then...

"Drow!" the man's voice calls out in Common. It sounds like a challenge.

[Ken]

Team B

"Oh, do be quiet," says Belarin/Nerrin as though speaking to a misbehaving child. "Or do YOU know where he is? I've wasted quite enough time here, thank you very much."

Inwardly, Belarin suspects that some gas or liquid has been released -- a potion, perhaps? He prepares to repel an attack if one comes.

_________________________
Same precaution (i.e., sudden retaliation) applies as before if Belarin is suddenly attacked.

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak smirks at the challenge, but makes no sound or move to respond to it. He can be very patient.

He once sat in a tree, just as quiet and motionless, and in the rain, for several hours. That was a rewarding job. He smiles a little at that. Because, it wasn't money that he received for his efforts, but the knowledge that one less poor child would be sold into slavery.

He nods slightly in appreciation for Belarin/Nerrin's performance. Shorak has always enjoyed most of life's challenges, but he's finding it to be so much more fun sharing these experiences. Has his time as a loner come to an end? He'll just have to wait and see.

For now he waits on this unknown challenger to come to them.

[Brian]

Team K

Instead of waiting for a response, Condign turns to the dwarf. The best way to learn is to make mistakes. If he makes a fool of himself, oh well.

"May I withdraw twenty gold pieces, please?" he says to the banker.

[Dave W.]

Team B
Adamant makes to response to the visitor in the hall. The warforged stands still but poised to move as soon as a target appears.

I may have erred in placement. When I step back to let him in I will be separated from my charge. -- hmmpf, look at me thinking like an actual bodygaurd -- Well nothing to be done about it now.


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Maybe not an interesting post but it indicates I'm still here paying attention!

[Jeff]

Team K

The dwarf nods, consults the books, and shortly returns to the desk and counts out twenty gold pieces and places them in a pouch. He hands this to Condign and asks the tiefling to sign a transaction document. The dwarf's eyes stray to Condign's prominent horns now and again.

________________________

20 gp has been deducted from the bank total and added to Condign's inventory.

Darren and Joe: Does Kal or Streko want a starting amount to have on hand? Again, after this, if you need to make a big purchase or sale, we won't have to roleplay return trips to the bank. Both Kal and Streko are ritual casters, and I imagine that's where you'll spend some money, on alchemical reagents (which a lot of rituals require) or mystic salves.

[Jeff]

Team B

No attack comes. Not yet. But the footsteps grow louder and the figure in the hallway moves past the door. In that moment, through the crack in the door, Adamant glimpses a tall, bulky figure (not so bulky as himself) in a gray cloak and hood holding something mace-sized in hand, but Adamant has had enough religious tutelage to recognize that it's something like an aspergillum.

The man doesn't push or even touch Shorak's door, but something splashes against it and Adamant himself feels a tiny spatter of some fluid upon his face. It's alchemical and oily, but it doesn't smell like actual lamp oil and it certainly isn't water. Nevertheless, the warforged sees in the figure's wake plenty of the solution has been spattered on the ground as well.

He feels no ill effects, though. The figure strides on past, seemingly ignoring the door...but Adamant suspects he's still dispensing more liquid.

Shorak, positioned behind Adamant, only caught a glimpse of gray cloth. Where Belarin is, he sees nothing but he heard the footsteps move past the door. And everyone hears the deep murmur of some sort of chant in the same strange language.

[Ken]

Team B

Although Belarin doesn't see what Adamant does, he hears and notices enough to understand that the man outside is no crude legbreaker. And that worries him.

He says loudly and in an annoyed voice, "Redoubt! Go out there and tell that fellow to stop his infernal muttering. He's interfering with House Orion business!"

He draws his wand and positions himself behind Adamant.

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak whispers to Belarin/Nerrin. "At least we can block any attempt to get to the stairs. Of course, there is the window at the end of the hall" He is curious what the purpose of the liquid the stranger is splashing around.

Does the liquid have any odor?

[Jeff]

Shorak can detect a tangy scent of alchemical solutions, but that's about it. It doesn't really smell like oil, and it looks grayish in hue, from what little he can see of it on the hallway floor through gaps around Adamant (who is otherwise blocking his view).

[Dave W.]

Team B

Mar 11, 2012 13:22:43 GMT -4 Ken said:

[Belarin] says loudly and in an annoyed voice, "Redoubt! Go out there and tell that fellow to stop his infernal muttering. He's interfering with House Orion business!"

"Yes Master Nerrin," the warforged replies in a bored tone, "I'm certain that will be a exciting new use of my extensive martial training."

Redoubt waves back at Shorak, indicating he should stay out of sight for now and then flings open the door, making it slam loudly against the wall. He tromps in the hall, and looks for the visitor, "What is the meaning of this?! That's quite enough of this vandalism! Please take it and you mumbling elsewhere."

"And what is this oil anyway... If this is a practical joke of some sort I can assure you Master Nerrin has no sense of humor whatsoever."

[Darren]

Team K

Kal takes quick account of his own coins. "Nothing for now," he says, "but keep my account open. I may have need later."

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I think Kal might be carrying enough for now. Again, I have no concept of what things cost.

[Jeff]

Team B

Now positioned in the hallway, Adamant has to reach out to the wall with one arm to steady himself on the slick floor. When he turns to face the cloaked intruder, the man swivels around to face him, too. He's over by the window at the end of the hall.

The man is big, and through his hood Adamant can see a scarred, ugly human face. His eyes are beady, set far apart from one another, but there's a gleam there that unsettles the warforged. Whatever this man is here for, he's quite serious about it.

He lets the aspergillum-like device clatter to the ground as he hefts up a thick, neatly sculpted wooden club studded with metal spikes that had been concealed in his bulky cloak somewhere. The human smiles in challenge, now looking a little more like a traditional thug; he's even got a few missing teeth. "Aye," he mutters aloud and starts to advance.

A moment later, and Adamant (and Shorak) both hear a sound like someone trying thold back a burst of laughter. It's a little shrill, a little whiney, and it's coming from somehwhere north of Adamant. But he doesn't see anyone. Finally, Adamant does hear the footfalls of another figure coming down the steps from the third floor.

Adamant can see it: There's about to be a fight.

Refresh image.

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This will be the initiative order. Commence round 1.

25 = Belarin
17 = Shorak
17 = Adamant
5 = mystery men

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin can't see the man in the hallway just yet, but both the threatening "Aye" and the sudden shift in Adamant's stance tell him that the strangers aren't here to talk. And the unknown partner upstairs likely won't stay upstairs.

He looks at Shorak and points toward the stairway, and then leans into the hallway just enough to see the stranger -- with a mace! "Put that down, you boor!" he yells in his Nerrin voice as he points the wand at the man. A jet of greenish, foul-smelling gas streaks past Adamant and strikes the man.

________________________________________
Move: If Adamant is blocking Belarin from getting a shot, he'll step through Adamant's spot to the square behind him, and if THAT happens, then concealment from Shadow Walk kicks in.
Minor: Place Warlock's Curse on stranger #1.
Standard: Attack with the wand's ray of enfeeblement vs. Fortitude: Ray of enfeeblement attack (1d20+6=26). Ooh. Natural 20!
Damage: 12 + 1d6=1 for warlock's curse = total 13 points necrotic, and the target is weakened until the end of Belarin's next turn. Add 1 more point of damage if Shadow Walk was in effect.

I know we can declare subdual, not lethal, damage, but I'll keep it lethal for this attack.

[Dave W.]

Team B

[Adamant had said:]"And what is this oil anyway... If this is a practical joke of some sort I can assure you Master Nerrin has no sense of humor whatsoever."

Mar 12, 2012 9:34:42 GMT -4 Jeff said:

[The thug replies:] lets the aspergillum-like device clatter to the ground as he hefts up a thick, neatly sculpted wooden club studded with metal spikes that had been concealed in his bulky cloak somewhere. The human smiles in challenge, now looking a little more like a traditional thug; he's even got a few missing teeth. "Aye," he mutters aloud and starts to advance.

"Aye?" Adamant replies trying to appear resolute, "This is[/b] a practical joke? It's not very funny. And that," the warforged draws his sword and points at the thug's club, "is damned unfriendly."

"We're not looking to make this ugly... You may still walk past and down the stairs. But if you insist, I will make every effort to entertain you and your unseen friend."

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A: Am I correct that the oil is the darker grey in the hall? That is, does the oil spread all the way down the hall?

B: If the oil on the floor is going to require Adamant to have a hand free to steady himself then he'll do that and take a Total Defense this round. If Adamant thinks he can fight properly on the oil w/o keeping an arm free then he'll use his standard action to swing his shield into place on his left arm.

In either case this round his AC will be the same: 24 because if he gains the +2 for total defense then he won't have his shield which will cost him 2 points of AC.

C: The mystery man with init 5 is the guy to the south, correct?


=== And now, the move ===

Challenged at Beginning of round: no one

Move Action: Draw Sword

Standard Action: either Ready Shield or Total Defenses (+2 to all defenses)

Minor Action: None


Challenged at end of round: no one

[Joe]

Streko ponders hard over the question of how much gold ot remove from the bank. He has need of ritual components, to be sure. Further, he may need them for more than one use of any given ritual. Not to mention any other necessities he will take with him on the way out of Stormreach (provided he does get out of this city!).

"Kalarian, I have never been on a prolonged adventure of this sort of calibre. Any suggestions on how much I should have for basic ritual work?"

____________________________________________________

I am thinking that I should purchase somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 gp worth of components for the various rituals Streko can currently cast. I am not sure if this is acceptable or even feasible. If you think this is appropriate, Jeff, then let's do that. Otherwise, I am in favor of less, just on general principle.