Chapter 10: Eye of the Storm

[Joe]

Dec 15, 2011 1:00:54 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Team K

Kal studies this half-elf girl, Rinti, trying to assess the truth of her words. And his gut is telling him that she might just be genuine. More importantly, Tangat's sniffing at her feet and he seems to like her...

But Streko's words seem to harden the girl's expression some. "I don't have a clan," she replies to him specifically, staring back at him eye to eye. "Just some mates." She whirls around and points out several of her friends further back in the crowd, the very same ones Condign has already spotted.

Giving Streko a daring look, she adds, "No one looks out for me but me, and my mates. No one takes my hard-earned coins, Master Halfling." She points a finger at his holy symbol. "Does not the goddess of good fortune reward the brave and the independent?"

Streko smiles, looks back at Kal, winks, and turns back to the girl. "Indeed She does. She also favors those who are prepared for whatever comes and those who help themselves. Rarely does she shine Her favor toward the foolish.

He takes a deep breath and blows it out. "You have convinced me, Rinti, that you are indeed the guide we need. Besides, if there was ever any doubt, our great WarHound, Tangat, would have eaten you whole by now. He seems to favor you as well...and there is no one I rust more in this world, outside of Olladra Herself, and my Lord Kalrian, of course, then Tangat."

He looks back to Kal. "She is yours to command and reward, my Lord. We are, as ever, at your side, your most loyal servants, Olladra bless us all."

Streko wonders to himself if he's laying it on a bit thick, but decides that Kalarian WANTED to be noticed...so why not make a fuss? Besides, there is something about the girl that reminds him of his sister, Varna. He finds that, like Tangat, he, too, is undeniably taken by Rinti and her plucky attitude.

[Brian]

Team K
From his place next to Kal, Condign gestures to get Rinti's attention. "My halfling friend was simply being cautious. He has seen more misfortunes in his travels than you have seen years, and he is still alive because he is not recklessly trusting. But--you have pointed out the very same people I have already spotted as your, uh, 'mates.' I am inclined to trust you for the moment. If my lord Kalarian agrees, a gold it is. But we shall require more than 'the local word.' For starters, there is a woman of my kind watching us with great curiosity. If you know about her, or others of my kind in Stormreach, that would be worth the price. If your information proves weak, well, it shall be the silver."

He nods respectfully at Kal. "My lord?"

[Ken]

Team B

Dec 15, 2011 1:44:09 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Stopping several steps from the threesome at the top of the stairs and turns towards Belarin. "This is unfortunate Master Nerrin. Would you care to wait or shall I lead us another way?" He motions back the way they came.

"I like the direction that we've been going in," says Belarin in Nerrin's voice, ending the sentence in an annoyed whine. And in reality, Belarin would rather not go down and up another set of stairs; maintaining Nerrin's limp on various stairways is tiring.

"You lot!" he calls out. "Will this take long? Or can you at least move off the stairs so that others can pass?"

[Jeff]

Team K

Rinti throws a glance over her shoulder to look at the tiefling woman. She quickly looks away again when she finds the tiefling's gaze already on her.

The girl quiets her voice. "Ohh. That's Fire Eyes. 'Least, that's what we call her, don't know her real name. She's here every day, watching the seas, for about a month now. My friend says she's with the Rats, but I don't think so. She's a sentry, right? She's no picker. She's on lookout for something, or someone, right?" She gives Condign an appraising look. "She's not part of your tribe, eh?"

"If you want to talk about her...maybe not here. We should get going, right? A silver to start, a gold to finish? Where to first, my lords? Forgelight, or do you need some land food first?" Rinti seems to hope for the latter. She looks much too thin.

[Jeff]

Team B

Belarin's words go unheard, or at least unheeded. The dwarf keeps ranting, the kobold keeps shrieking, and the warforged's deep, softer voice is almost completely drowned out.

But then they all go quiet when a trio of men start up the stairs behind Belarin, Adamant, and Shorak and one of them calls out. They are armored in leather and chain and have peculiar uniforms of dark blue and stripes of red. Their leader is human, with an unpleasant heavy with stubble, and his companions are a half-elf and another dwarf. They all have a dark look about them. Smug, bullyish.

Shorak instantly recognizes them as members of the Stormreach Guard. Gathered from expatriates, criminals, and mercenaries who come to Stormreach (usually on the run from elsewhere), he knows the Guard to be as likely to help you out as demand tribute. More than once has Shorak seen an off-duty member of the Guard serving as the lookout for a gang of muggers. A lot of things are said about the Guard, and they're almost all true. They serve their own interests—and truth be told, maintain at least a semblance of order in the city at large—and the interests of the Storm Lords.

The stairs are too narrow to simply let the guards walk past—especially with Adamant's size. And anyway what's left of the wooden railing has long since broken off. The fall from here is about twenty feet to the next stone landing.

"Guards!" the dwarf merchant calls out in response. "This warforged tried to rob me, and that vermin with him cut my belt!"

The three guardas give Belarin, Adamant, and Shorak a measured look. "You—did you see this happen? Is the 'forged a thief?"

Everyone falls quiet, waiting for a response.

[Ken]

Belarin adjusts Nerrin's spectacles and briefly stares at the guard as though he's a polka-dotted insect. Not a glare -- it's more like an intrigued "Huh, that's not what they looked like in the tourism brochure..." appraisal.

"No," he says in the nasal voice, "we saw no such criminal activity, just accusations. We simply want to be our way, but this...this... altercation is blocking the path!" He ends with a dismissive gesture toward the arguing trio. Then he points his finger at the grimy warforged, and he commands in a grandfatherly way, "You there, warforged! Stop mumbling and say your piece while there's a moment of silence! Get this matter resolved so that other people can use the stairs!"

[Darren]

Team K

Kal watches the back and forth between Rinti and his friends with a bemused smile. He has the casual look of a lord letting his vassals negotiate for him. At last he holds up his empty left hand to forestall any further conversation. Kneeling down so that he is face to face with the girl, Kal opens his right hand. The two gold coins glint on his palm and he smiles warmly at Rinti. As she reaches out to take them, a small shock runs from Kal's hand, through the coins, and into the girl. Kal still smiles, but it is perhaps not as warm as its outward appearance might suggest. "You are hired," Kal says. "But you will serve me until I say otherwise or until I leave the city. This is but the first of your compensation, Rinti. Serve me well, and you will be always well fed, well clothed and well taken care of. Cross me, and you will find yourself back here on the street...if you're lucky. Do we have an agreement? If so, I would like to go to the Deneith enclave now." He smiles again and looks down at the girl. "By way of one of the better local food stands, of course."

[Joe]

Team K

Streko smiles. "Olladra does indeed smile upon you this day, Rinti. May She continue to favor us. And yes, food sounds good, as long as it isn't fish or similar fare from the sea. If you please."

[Dave B.]

Team B

Shorak watches and waits to see how the other warforged responds. At the same time he surreptitiously keeps an eye on the Guard. He is unaccustomed to being this close to them. He has to struggle not to react to the smell of them.

[Dave W.]

Team B
Redoubt stands ready to defend Nerrin. Though he is closest to the dwarf-warforged-goblin, he actively tries to not focus on them. unlikely, but a classic ambush... A demonstration to draw attention followed by some flanking maneuver. Adamant scans the surrounding area.

Adamant encourages his fellow 'forged, "Yes, tell your side while the opportunity allows."

------------------
Sorry, really fried... Work, go figure... Anyway, Adamant continues to play bodyguard and stands ready.

[Jeff]

Team B

"You there, warforged! Stop mumbling and say your piece while there's a moment of silence! Get this matter resolved so that other people can use the stairs!"

"Yes, tell your side while the opportunity allows."

"I know this kobold," the warforged says simply. "But I did not see what happened. May be an accident."

The kobold, quieter now, whines in Draconic.

The dwarf shakes his head. "I am a respectable businessman, here in Stormreach to meet with associates abroad. I have business in Coasthold. I did not deserve to be accosted by this sewer vermin." He shakes his broken belt at the kobold and warforged. "I demand recompense. Five galifars—of which two, perhaps, should go to the Stormreach Guard for their diligence in this matter."

The leader guard smiles and ugly smile. He nods. "Aye. Warforged, you will pay this man."

The warforged tries to shrug while holding the kobold. "I do not...have any galifars."

"That hammer, then," the dwarf says, sounding disappointed. He points to the battered warhammer strapped to the warforged's back. "That could at least be sold as scrap metal."

"Fine," the Stormreach guard growls at the warforged. "Pass it down to me. Or we'll escort you somewhere that gold or metal won't help you at all. You there!" The guard taps Shorak on the arm none too gently, then points up to Belarin. "Pass that down to me, so we can all clear off and you can get along with your business."

The dwarf at the top of the steps looks disappointed, but quiet. The warforged slumps, struggles to hold the kobold still as he unslings his warhammer...and hands it out toward Adamant. Relinquishing his only obvious weapon.

[Dave B.]

Team B

The situation is one Shorak has seen time and time again. Injustice passing for justice. If the Guard wasn't involved with this altercation, Shorak might act to help this warforged, who is obviously being taken advantage of. Probably for no other reason than being friends with that kobold. Home sweet home.

[Jeff]

Team K

The two gold coins glint on his palm and he smiles warmly at Rinti. As she reaches out to take them, a small shock runs from Kal's hand, through the coins, and into the girl.

Rinti yelps and pulls back her hand, startled more than hurt. "Kraken-scuttle-shit!" she curses, proving she's lived among longshoreman all her short life. But then she smiles. "Then we have an accord, my lord." She turns on her heels, braids bouncing. "Right this way, my lord!"

The immediate crowd parts as she calls out shrilly for them to make way.

[Darren]

Kal smiles first at Rinti, then at the sight of the crowd parting around him. Regally, he makes his way through the crowd behind her.

[Joe]

Team K

Streko follows just behind and to Kal's right side.

[Dave W.]

Team B
Adamant stares at the hammer a moment, clearly struggling over some internal question. Deciding, he turns his back on the weapon and it's holder. First he turns to the gaurd, "If this creature has done wrong, then punishment should be dealt. But this does not appear to be a very extensive investigation. Fewer sentences have been spoken that I have fingers."

"You, Merchant," Adamant turns to the dwarf, "Speak the truth, did this creature steal from you? And if so what? You know you will not profit for it either way, that hammer will not earn the two coins you've promised the guardsmen."

------------------------------
You're not making this easy Jeff... we just wanted to find a room...

I'm not sure what might help here, but Adamant (not Redoubt) would like to know if the dwarf is telling the truth... Insight (+11) check? Or Intimidate (+14)?

[Ken]

Team B

Belarin, as Nerrin, immediately responds in an angry voice to Adamant. "Do I pay you to be a magistrate, Redoubt? The guard here has rendered judgment. That will be the end of it!" He looks at the bullying guard, offers an exasperated shrug, and says, "You see what I have to deal with on a daily basis?"

Turning back to Adamant, he says, "Pass down the offered weapon, now." He fixes his friend with a hopefully meaningful look. "Don't annoy any potential business partners. We may need to pass by this area again -- in fact, I adamantly believe that we shall."

[Dave W.]

Team B
Adamant Is clearly unprepared for Belarin's words and he actually Takes half a step backwards. The warforged sputters a few syllables: "But Be... I... Just?" but even those grind down to silence.

When Belarim is done, Adamant towers over the human and for a brief moment Belarin feels the weight of Adamant's will.

Six fingers suddenly unclench, "I am to be a party to this farce? Fine." the last word is cut short and sharp.

Redoubt turns and snatches the hammer and tosses it over his friends heads to clatter down the stairs. "it is passed, may you profit by it in the measure as your own worth."

"Now make way. merchant" he commands the dwarf.

------------------
to Ken: Awwww, but Dad.

For the gm: can I do an intimidate check now?

[Jeff]

Diplomacy = Convince people of something with compelling words or manner.

Bluff = Fool people of something with compelling words or manner

Intimidate = Try to get someone to do something by scaring the piss out of them with "compelling" words or manner. Not just express anger.

[Jeff]

Team B

The Stormreach Guard leader opens his mouth to shout at Belarin and Adamant, then closes it as Nerrin scolds his bodyguard. When Adamant takes and then tosses the warhammer down the stairs, it nearly hits the guardsman. He curses and stumbles back, then points his sword up at Adamant. "Don't you threaten me! Get the hell out of here, 'forged." He swivels the blade slightly to point at the other warforged. "And you...stay put. I'm not done with you."

The dwarf guard scoops up the warforged's hammer and appraises it. The dwarf merchant does move off a short distance, avoiding Adamant's eyes. This allows Nerrin and his associates to move past if they wish.

"Get going," the guard orders them, intent on dealing with the weaponless warforged and increasingly agitated kobold. The little lizard-man screeches again.

[Brian]

Team K

Condign follows closely behind Kal and Streko, his eyes scanning the crowd for danger. And, at the same time, he keeps wary note of the female tielfing and her behavior. She may be interested in him because he is a fellow tielfing, or she may be watching him because she has been told to watch for him. Or, lastly, she may simply be watching for their group.

He stride tall and proud, his grin bright in the sunshine. He is ready for anything.

_______________________

Can I get a perception check, boss? Condign has a +4 modifier.

[Ken]

Team B

Dec 17, 2011 18:12:57 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"Don't you threaten me! Get the hell out of here, 'forged." He swivels the blade slightly to point at the other warforged. "And you...stay put. I'm not done with you."

"Get going," the guard orders them, intent on dealing with the weaponless warforged and increasingly agitated kobold. The little lizard-man screeches again.

"Thank you, and good day," says Belarin. "Come along, you two," he adds to Shorak and Adamant. He places his hands in his pockets and begins limping up the stairs.

As he reaches the top, he suddenly stumbles and falls against the grimy warforged. "Oh, watch where you're going!" he scolds the warforged. "It's bad enough that you were accused of thievery. Just go about your business!" He then walks on... hoping fervently that the warforged doesn't comment on the 5 galifars that Belarin just surreptitiously placed in its massive, four-fingered hand.

___________________________________________
Thievery (sleight of hand) check (1d20+11=25). If a Bluff check would aid this at all, Belarin will use that. It's turning into an expensive afternoon.

[Jeff]

Team K

Rinti leads Kal, Condign, and Streko further up into the Harbor distrinct, and gradually—very gradually—the pungent stink of fish begins to dwindle in favor of other smells. Some are vaguely pleasant, some less so. Ever you move uphill; over time, it seems like the tides have pushes the city proper further and further away. But the citizens just keep on throwing up shacks, stairs, and wooden docks.

"Fancy some salted pork, my lord?" Rinti calls back. "I know where to find the best. Won't take but a few minutes' detour. Then to Forgelight we go!"

Meanwhile, Condign keeps an eye on the female tiefling. At first she's only about fifty feet away, but then as Rinti leads you further on and closer to her, she seems to vanish from sight, lost in the crowd. Yet he knows she's still about, watching, either too shy to be approached and not wanting to be approached. for other reasons. But a few minutes later, as the group climb up a series of wooden stairs and landings, Condign suddenly spots her again—standing almost directly above his party on a massive stone slab. She's about twenty feet up. When he catches her eyes, she smiles. But with the bustle of the crowd, she's too far away to speak to without outright shouting.

Closer now, and looking almost straight up at her, he can't help but notice that she's both shapely and well armed. A curved dagger is strapped to each boot, and a short sword is strapped to her belt. Her black and brown leather armor isn't scanty, but it's well-tailored; it is sleeveless, though, and now that he's off the high sea, Condign isn't surprised. It's warm here, after all. She looks like a professional warrior, her armor allowing ease of movement. Her eyes are vivid red, and her skin is not as dark as his, more of a rusty tan in hue.

She holds Condign's gaze a moment longer, then she lifts her head and points up and away. He follows her finger and sees that she's pointing to one of the floating blocks of stone that hangs over the Harbor. Probably once a part of a giant's citadel, now a large cube partially cracked, and rounded on one side. Like many of the other pieces of floating detritus, it's been re-purposed: a small wooden shack clings to its underside, with large ropes thrown all around to keep it all together. A rope ladder hangs down almost all the way down to an outcropping of stone from the edge of a short cliff.

When he looks back...she's already gone.

Neither Kal nor Streko see her (though they did spot her earlier), but eventually they do see that Condign looks distracted, and that at one point he's actually stopped to look around.

_______________________

Condign's Perception check (1d20+4=21)

[Joe]

Team K

Condign looks distracted, and that at one point he's actually stopped to look around.

"One moment Rinti. My Lord?" He tugs at Kal's sleeve and nods back toward Condign, who appears to be looking upward and then around him, as if searching.

"Condign, did you lose something? Or someone, perhaps?"

His tone seems playful, but there is a look of concern etched across his face, as if he's preparing for trouble.

[Darren]

Team K

"Yes, Rinti, salted pork sounds delightful, unless you can lead us to more succulent fare," Kal says. Then Streko pulls on his sleeve. "One moment, dear. One moment please." Kal looks back at Condign. "Is this going to become a thing with you?" he says, sounding exasperated. But his gaze locks with Condign, silently asking, Is there a problem?

[Brian]

Team K

Condign is caught up in the mystery of his kinswoman. She hadn't appear threatening in any way, but that meant nothing. If she wanted to meet at that place in the sky, throwing daggers at him wouldn't help--you attract more bugbears with honey then vinegar.

But . . . why? Has it something to do with the quest for the Eye? Or worse, with Ebonfire?

Then he realizes he is standing, staring, and that his friends are talking to him.

"I--um, no, my lord Kalarian. No 'thing' going on. My apologies for delaying you. And thank you, my lord Streko, for you concern. The city is overwhelming and I feel lost. Yet, with you and your goddess, I am found." He puts special emphasis on I am found.

Then he motions to Rinti. "Time for you to prove your worth." He turns and points to the building in the sky that his kinswoman had indicated. "What is that?"

[Jeff]

Team K

Rinti stares up at the floating rock Condign indicates. "That? Ummm...oh, we call that Crow Rock. Not sure who lives there now. Some say there's a curse on it...those that choose to dwell there end up feeding the crows. Or something. Been empty for a few months now, I think."

[Jeff]

Team B

The warforged looks up from his hand after Belarin has placed the coins. He immediately closes his fingers over them to conceal them, because he has no clothing or pockets to place them in—moreover, he's still clutching at the wriggling kobold. The construct's crystalline light green gemstone eyes flicker as he looks down at Belarin, but there is no expression to reveal his thoughts.

Then the guards hurry Belarin on, and their leader stands before warforged and kobold. "Release the lizard," he orders.

"I cannot," the construct answers. "Or he will run."

Belarin, Adamant, and Shorak are free to move on...or linger and see what unfolds next.

[Darren]

Team K

Kal moves close to Condign, lowering his voice so that only the tiefling can hear him. "Make note of the place," Kal whispers, "and we can check it out later. But being noticed is a good thing, remember? That's what we're here for. The more eyes on us, the less on Belarin. Let's not do anything to spook our shadow, yet."

Kalarian takes a step back, glaring at Condign as though he has just scolded an inferior. "Are we understood?" he says loudly. He whirls around and begins to stride off, not waiting for Rinti or anyone else. "Rinti! Let us eat!" he calls without looking back.

[Joe]

Dec 18, 2011 11:23:07 GMT -4 Darren said:

Team K

Kalarian takes a step back, glaring at Condign as though he has just scolded an inferior. "Are we understood?" he says loudly. He whirls around and begins to stride off, not waiting for Rinti or anyone else. "Rinti! Let us eat!" he calls without looking back.

Streko grins. "Ah, the life of a bodyguard. Well, Tiefling, let's get to it!" Streko winks and Condign and, for a moment, looks up at Crow Rock, wondering who may be up there. "Thieves, most likely," he whispers softly. "Thieves like cursed places that keep the curious at arm's length."

He jogs back to his "rightful place" at Kal's right side and steps up his surveillance of the areas around them as they forge ahead.