Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Jeff]

Jun 4, 2014 23:23:54 GMT -4 Darren said:

Finally, Kal produces a dagger from within the straps around his right leg. He holds it out to Rinti, hilt first. "Keep this on you, in case you need it," he says, kneeling down to look the girl in the eye. "It is not for fighting...it is for defense. Do you understand me? If you are attacked, the first thing you do is run. If you can't abide by that rule, then I'm afraid we will have to part ways right now." He waits for the girl's response before letting go of the weapon.

Rinti nods. "Only for defense," she agrees and accepts the dagger. She tucks it into her belt.

Five minutes later, the group steps out of the Cornerstone Inn and into the driving rain. It's falling in sheets, hammering on awnings and windows, muffling most other sounds in the city. Although it's still morning, it looks like afternoon turning to night. The everbright lanterns posted in parts of the city—less here in the Cyran district than elsewhere—reflect on the shiny cobblestones.

Your cloaks keep the rain from thoroughly soaking you—the finer the cloak the more lasting its protection—but it's only a matter of time before you're completely sodden. Starg, towering over everyone, allows the rain to fall onto his head and horns. It doesn't seem to bother him at all.

Larest keeps hood drawn tight around his head, an effect which makes him look a little less dignified. Sem...

Seem seems to have employed a peculiar cantrip that shields the rain from him almost completely. It doesn't so much bounce off a barrier as curve away from him by a few inches. From the droplets of moisture in his spiky hair you can see the mist of it still gets through, but he's not very wet.

Rinti keeps close to Kal, as does Tangat. Tangat is, of course, thoroughly drenched.

Shorak leads the way.

[Dave W.]

Adamant steps out of the building into driving rain, "I don't understand how it can still be so hot and yet raining... shouldn't rain be cool?"

He leans over to his tiefling friend, "I hope Histra's family has plenty of towels or are prepared for a flood", Adamant says, referencing Condign's earlier assist.

The warforged addresses the group as quietly as he can over the rains, "So, we are done with our "disembling" for now. I am Adamant again? If so I'd suggest that Condign and I take the lead."

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My son has recently been trying to learn html, so I've dusted off my ancient memories... but I think I got t his to work!

[Darren]

Kal looks down at Tangat. "Don't think this counts as a bath," he says, sticking to the Common tongue so everyone can appreciate his joke. He settles into an easy rhythm, allowing Belarin to lead the way to Histra's house.

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks back at Adamant. "You can stay close, but it would be best if I lead. I will certainly get behind you and Condign if necessary." With that the half-drow moves down the street, trying to take a path that takes the group under awnings and other overhangs, to lessen the onslaught of the current downpour.

[Ken]

"Yes, my friend," Belarin says to Adamant, "your career as a deceiver is over. You were remarkable, but there is no more need to twist your metallic morality into knots."

He continues trudging through the torrential rain, hoping that his wits will not be as damp as his clothes; he'll need to be sharp to deal with Histra's family.

[Dave W.]

Aug 29, 2014 19:29:30 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Shorak looks back at Adamant. "You can stay close, but it would be best if I lead. I will certainly get behind you and Condign if necessary."

"Ah, yes, of course, the whole 'not get getting lost following the people who don't know where they are' thing..."

Adamant falls in behind Shorak...

[Brian]

Condign, rainwater dripping from his horns and from the tip of his nose, takes a position at the rear of the group, preferring to have reinforcements at either end of the company. He peers up at the minotaur. "My lord Starg, would you care to join me in safeguarding our rear flank, or would you prefer a more specific role in this journey?"

[Jeff]

Starg nods and moves to walk alongside Condign at the rear of the party. The minotaur breathes of the humid air deeply and the deep sounds reminds the tiefling that Starg is probably the least human-like of everyone. Even his foot are hooved and make a distinctive, if not especially loud, clopping sound on the cobblestones.

Sem points grins at the tiefling and minotaur. "I'd have preferred you two at the front. Who else can steer us right?" He points at Starg's bovine horns, then his hooves. "Get it? Steer...."

Starg ignores the gnome completely.

Shorak works out the best route and leads the rest of the group through a fairly direct path—one in which the streets sometimes weave like tunnels beneath low overhangs that afford some protection from the rain. Where they incline, the streets resemble shallow streams, water surging along boots, bare feet, or hooves. For the most part, the people your group passes are sprinting through the rain, eager to get where they're going. A few are strolling casually through it, unaffected.

At one point, you pass by an elderly woman in a rain-drenched robe standing openly in the middle of the street, arms outstretched, staring into the growling sky. Her chanting sounds like laughter, but is mostly muffled by the downfall.

Shorak knows that Stormreach's sewer system is vast, deep, could—in theory—get a person from point A to point B without having to be exposed to the sky. But he also knows it's dangerous: several gangs vie for supremacy over the upper levels of the sewer, such as the Bilge Rats who dominate the Harbor. Worse things than kobolds and some wererats dwell down there, in any case.

Eventually, though, rain-soaked, the group reaches the entrance to Respite, the district often deemed the "quietest" in all of Stormreach. Some of you have been in Respite before, having retrieved Kal and Streko from the Jorasco House of Healing a couple days ago, where they had both been deposited under mysterious circumstances. 

As you enter the district now, the driving rain makes it look and feel like everywhere else. Shorak doesn't know where the ir'Serrels live, nor had he heard of them before. Evidently they keep a low profile. But then he's never specifically come into Respite and asked around for a family of human necromancers purported to live there. He finds an overhang to guide the group, a jutting piece of stone large enough for the group to gather beneath.

Larest keeps his hood on tight and just looks to you. Sem, still dry beneath his spell of rain redirection, looks at the group at large. "I guess you could pick someone at random on the street and just ask, or we could stop in one of the few taverns."

Shorak knows of two: The Drowning Sorrows tavern and the Open Palm Inn. There are also some shops where you could inquire: the House of Wizardry, an alleged "magic shop"; Empty Handed, a knickknack shop; or the Feather Fall Apothecary. Shorak isn't particularly familiar with any of them but he could locate any of them.[/color]

Likewise, two groups are passing on the street right now, also trying to keep beneath whatever awnings and overhangings they can find: A trio of halfling women and a group of five mercenary-looking humans.

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks around at the group. "Well we are in respite. From here we'll need to ask directions, unless someone has some idea where the ir'Serrels reside." He looks towards Belarin with a raised eyebrow.

[Darren]

Kal doesn't hear anything that is being said. Walking into Respite, it suddenly occurs to Kal what his life has been like recently. In the past few days he, Kalarian d'Deneith, the boy who no one thought could fight for the Deneith banner, had had a conversation with a dragon AND a sphinx. And lived! Kalarian becomes unsteady on his feet and nearly topples over, his head swimming at the idea that this could be true. He responds to Rinti's worried look with a wave of his hand and a smile and tries to keep walking in a straight line.

_____________________________
Thanks for the refresher, Jeff. I completely forgot about the dragon...

[Ken]

Sept 2, 2014 21:52:15 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Shorak looks around at the group. "Well we are in respite. From here we'll need to ask directions, unless someone has some idea where the ir'Serrels reside." He looks towards Belarin with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't point that eyebrow at me," Belarin says with mock offense. "I don't know, either. However...." he looks around at the shops and storefronts in the area. "Based on my quick discussion with Histra's sister, Thestra, I doubt any members of the family would visit places they deem 'beneath' them. For instance, any place that purports to sell arcane items is definitely off the list. Children's toys to the ir'Serells. A place that sells ingredients for spells, though, that's more likely and...."

He suddenly smacks himself in the head, causing water to fly from his rain-soaked hair. "Shadow take me, of course! What would a group of necromancers need the most?" He looks at Shorak. "What's the best place around here to find unclaimed dead bodies?"

He adds, "Also, I am expected. Last night, Thestra specifically requested that I meet with her ... at least before the party turned into a mess of blood, betrayal, and homicidal golems."

[Jeff]

Shorak knows that while Respite is half businesses (shops/taverns), scenic locales (like the Garden of Respite, the lush, multitiered ziggurat), and the opulent neighborhood known as Stormhaven (which house's the city's wealthiest, including the Coin Lords themselves), the other half is Delera's Watch and the assorted and unofficial plots of land around it.

Delera's Watch is the necropolis of the city. Named after the tomb of Delera Omaren, "the pirate queen," one of the city's founders (and ancestor of the current Coin Lord Paulo Omaren), it is now the resting place for Storm Lords, pirate captains, and wealthy explorers. They are, of course, said to be filled with traps and wards and undead guardians. Shorak has never been there before, but all Stormreachers know of it.

Using the land around Delera's Watch as a makeshift graveyard, generations of poorer citizens have, depending on their cultures, buried their dead in simple graves or even left corpses out for scavengers to devour. This hodgepodge of grave markers and bone piles is like a moat around the stately tombs and sarcophagi of Delera's Watch itself, and Shorak has at least ventured near there before and would known the way. But in the rain it would be difficult to locate anything specific.

[Brian]

Condign gives a grunt of disapproval at the mention of unclaimed bodies, and the il'Serrels' preoccupation with them. He never understood the fascination with necromancy. Death is a natural part of life--a final rest after years of toil and work-- and no one has the right to interfere with that cycle. But the world does not march to his cadence. Distasteful as it is, the task at hand requires he abide the unpleasant work of Histra and her family.

Shaking off his distracting thoughts, he casually eyes the band of humans passing them on the street, sizing them up and watching for anything more than curios contemplation of his group of diverse charges.

[Dave W.]

Sept 2, 2014 16:51:26 GMT -4 Jeff said:

At one point, you pass by an elderly woman in a rain-drenched robe standing openly in the middle of the street, arms outstretched, staring into the growling sky. Her chanting sounds like laughter, but is mostly muffled by the downfall.

The old woman's chanting draws Adamant's attention. He tries to catch at least the rhythm of it, but the rain and the need to keep moving makes it nearly impossible. "Pity" he says to no one.

Sept 3, 2014 0:18:56 GMT -4 Ken said:

[Belarin says] "What's the best place around here to find unclaimed dead bodies?"

"Well," Adamant says to Belarin, "that's a sentence I would not have expected to ever hear. It must be difficult to live a life that leads you to such statements… still, it does make a certain sense."

Adamant keeps a watch on both the halfling women and the mercenaries without appearing to be challenging. He's adopted his slouching stance that makes him seem less threatening.

[Mike]

Trailing most of his companions, Syrdan stops briefly as he hears the old woman chanting. He moves closer to her in the street, moving within a few paces of her, and stops.

He closes his eyes, listening to her words, trying to make sense of her utterances.

[Dave B.]

Shorak nods at Belarin's comments. "I do know how to get us to the graveyard, but in this weather, we'll be hard pressed to find anything there to direct us." Shorak shrugs and adds, "I'm sure there will be a shop or some other business nearby we could make inquiries."

[Ken]

Belarin nods. "Makes sense. Is there an apothecary or dealer of exotic herbs nearby? If so, lead the way. Based on some of the ingredients I've seen Histra use, there's a fair chance someone there knows her family. It's not as though you can buy 'Tongue of Gibbeted Ghoul' at the corner market."

[Darren]

"Oh, on the contrary, my friend. Back in Sentinel Tower we had a market that had it delivered fresh daily." It's hard to tell whether Kal is joking or not.

[Jeff]

Sept 2, 2014 16:51:26 GMT -4 Jeff said:

At one point, you pass by an elderly woman in a rain-drenched robe standing openly in the middle of the street, arms outstretched, staring into the growling sky. Her chanting sounds like laughter, but is mostly muffled by the downfall.

Sept 3, 2014 16:02:17 GMT -4 Mike said:

Trailing most of his companions, Syrdan stops briefly as he hears the old woman chanting. He moves closer to her in the street, moving within a few paces of her, and stops.

He closes his eyes, listening to her words, trying to make sense of her utterances.

When Syrdan ventured close, her words hushed and the old woman turned wild eyes around her, as if looking for the source of the interruption, not seeming to see the elf at all. Blind, perhaps? She just held still otherwise until he had to move on.

But now, in Respite, you're all stopped and talking, looking around. None of the other nearby parties appear threatening, or even concerned with your group.

______________

I'll await any stated actions. Otherwise, keep working out what you guys want to do.

Joe, you with us? Bueller?

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks around to get his bearings, as best he can in this less familiar area. "Well, I guess we could head in the direction of the graveyard, while seeking out an apothecary along the way?"

[Dave W.]

"Why don't we try an pub? We met some elves in a pub a few days ago and learned lots of interesting things. I got to hold a cup of hot liquid." Adamant makes a circle with his fat metal fingers as if holding an imaginary cup; but only rain falls through them.

"It just seems more pleasant to me than wandering around a graveyard in the rain hoping to find someone digging up human parts expecting them know where Histra's family lives."

"We can always come back to the rainy graveyard later."

[Mike]

"I'm losing my touch," Syrdan finally says to himself. He shrugs his shoulders in resignation. "It seems my powers of observation yield nothing of use of late."

He heads over to join his companions, leaving the mystery of the woman behind.

"An apothecary seems an excellent idea," he says to the rest of the group. "As Adamant says, the graveyard can wait. The dead aren't going anywhere ... or, if they are, I'm sure we'll have even more problems on our hands."

[Brian]

"Or," Condign says, "we could do as the professor suggested and try the direct route." He raises his hand and calls out to the passing group of humans. "My lords, might I have a moment of your time?"

[Jeff]

As a tall armored figure with massive horns steps out of the rain toward them, the five men turn suddenly toward him, reaching for weapons. In that same moment, the sky lights up with brilliant light, illuminating the street, every person and building, and setting the rain to glowing—and revealing the deep red color of Condign's skin. The light fades and then the boom of thunder rattles the city.

Rinti gasps at the timing. "Wow..."

Swords come out, a couple of shields are raised, and then the humans' leader—a long-bearded but not terribly old man—squints in the rain at Condign. "That's close enough, devil...man," he says, sword pointed at Condign. "What do you want from us?"

Condign can see the man is aggravated already, even a bit jumpy, probably was before his approach.

[Brian]

"As you wish," Condign says, halting his advance and raising his hands innocently. "I seek information, my lord, and nothing more. We are looking for a family named il'Serrel. I understand they have a home in this district."

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[Ken]

Belarin briefly contemplates jumping out to give some verbal assistance to Condign, but he knows that his tiefling friend is no slouch when it comes to diplomacy. "Let's stay here, my friends," he mutters to the rest. "That group looks as nervous as Kal did on the dance floor."

[Jeff]

Even as Condign is talking to the group, Shorak, just in observing their body language, senses that they're newcomers to Stormreach and barely know the way around themselves.

"Family? What?" the leader returns, keeping his voice raised to be heard in the heavy rain. "We're looking for a bloody necromancer. Sick freak took one of my men!"

Condign, closer to the mercenaries, can see that one of the men in the back of the group has red-rimmed, rage-filled eyes. These warriors have violence in their manner.

"This ward is where all the bodies go, right?" The leader gestures with his sword at the district around them. Condign can see that the question has reversed. They're looking for direction, too.

[Brian]

Condign peers past the leader to the warrior at the back of the group--at his eyes, and the rage practically glowing from them--and puts together what may have happened.

"Your plight is grave," Condign says with enough force to be heard over a peal of thunder, "and for that I am sorry. It is said that this town can bring the strongest man low. Our few days here have proven that true. And we too have met 'sick freaks.' One worse than the others." Condign describes Major Krez. "Does he sound like the one who assailed your companion?"

[Mike]

Sept 7, 2014 23:12:36 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin briefly contemplates jumping out to give some verbal assistance to Condign, but he knows that his tiefling friend is no slouch when it comes to diplomacy. "Let's stay here, my friends," he mutters to the rest. "That group looks as nervous as Kal did on the dance floor."

"Not a problem," Syrdan murmurs quietly to Belarin. "Although ... well, I just hope they're not referring to someone we may already know, who isn't a major thorn in our side."

[Dave W.]

"My impulse is to go stand with Condign, but I will resist. I have a similar tendency to make new people nervous. I think it is the way you fleshy creatures use your mouth... It wouldn't help for me to go stomping over there and open my jaw."