Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Jeff]

The leader shakes his head, not recognizing the name as Condign describes Krez. “Vampire? We…” He looks to his men. “No, we’ve not crossed paths with a bloodsucker yet. No, the one we’re after is tall—tall as you—but skinny and robed up dark. Had a curved staff, and a shit-faced, foul-smelling gangly piece-of-Khyber-damned henchman with him—"

“I’ll KILL the bastard!” one of the men shouts. “Twice! Then piss through his skull!”

The leader shouts at the man to shut up then turns back to Condign and continues to speak loudly to be heard. “We were…doing a job in the Harbor, down near the Wavecrest.” Condign understands this to mean they were in a battle, hired to fight someone, while Shorak knows this is a reference to the Wavecrest Tavern (the Harbor’s most famous drinking locale). “Gerleg’s brother” —he indicates the red-rimmed-eye man—“he falls. It’s bad, real bad, bad enough he might bleed out fast. Before we can get over to him, out comes this damned necro-freak and his henchman, out of an alley, and they just pluck the body up like it's theirs. Darj...I don't know, we might've been able to save him, you know? But no, off they go, back into the dark where the freak came from, like he just wanted one body.”

Rinti tugs on Kal’s sleeve. “I’ve heard of that,” she mouths to him, her soft voice not bothering to raise given the volume of the weather.

“After the fight, we asked around…locals said this freak does this, comes out of the dark in the early hours of the morning, takes the dead who haven’t been cleaned up already. The kids around there say he’s a necromancer, comes out of Respite. Don’t know where. Know anything about such ones, or where they'd live?” He pats his belt. “A few gold if you do.”

Meanwhile, the mercenaries scrutinize Condign’s companions the best they can, as if seeking their target from among them. They seem to dismiss the notion quickly enough, especially with Starg in your group. No one looks like the one they're looking for.

[Joe]

Streko steps up to Condign's side, hoping his diminutive size and clerical robes, soaked through as they are, present a more positive image than one they are used to seeing.

"Gentlemen, my friends and I are on a quest of our own. Should we come across someone who knows the necromancer of whom you speak, or perhaps of Gerleg's brother, should he still live, I shall do my best to gather what information I can and get it back to you. If I find something, I shall send the information to the House Jorasco Enclave, here in Respite."

He bows slightly and offers up a short prayer to Olladra that Gerleg's brother lives, or, at least, did not suffer long.

[Dave B.]

Shorak takes a non-threatening stance. He just listens to the conversation between Condign and the group of outlanders.

When Condign brings up the subject of Krez, Shorak practically snarls. He does sigh a bit in relief, somewhat guiltily, when the man says it had nothing to do with vampires.

He is a bit curious about this necromancer that took away their companion.

[Darren]

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."

"Dancing wasn't highly prized in Sentinel Tower or on the Talentan Plains, Belarin," Kal says matter-of-factly, "But I think I hold my own rather well.".

When Rinti tugs his sleeve, Kal kneels down to be at eye level with the girl. He tries to ignore the rain dripping down his nose. "Tell me everything you know, Rinti. This may be important. Leave out no detail."

[Brian]

Smiling, Condign gives Streko's shoulder an affirming squeeze. "It is as my noble friend said," he calls out to the mercenaries. "Check in with House Jorasco. If we learn anything of note, we will send word there." Condign hesitates. "We are new to town, and occasionally in need of work. Not that we want to take gold from your hand, but if we required employment, who would we seek out? Do you think the lord who hired you might need more help?"

[Jeff]

The rain softens for a spell, allowing sound to travel just a bit better.

Although Streko's dragonmark is not in sight, his confidence as he speaks of House Jorasco seems to surprise and calm the men a little bit. The one called Gerleg nods vigorously as if grasping at the tiny bit of hope that the halfling is offering.

"Appreciate that, err, lord," the leader says to Streko. "Yeah, all right...the enclave, then. We'll check there from time to time." Then he looks back to Condign. "My employer....not sure I can talk about that. He likes things quiet-like, discrete. I think..." He looks over his shoulder at his men. "...we're all he needs for right now. But if not, I'll tell him of your company. You look like strong and, err, diverse ones, eh?" He tries to smile but it's clear they're all too pissed to find any good humor right now.

"Good luck with your vampire."

Leaning up to Kal's ear and whisper-shouts so he can hear her clearly. (The others around Kal can also pick up some of her words.)

"Not much to say. There's someone we called the Lurker Man back in the Harbor. Some say he's just a human or maybe an elf, but others say he's a demon. Either way...he's a necromanancer...necro...what that man said. He lurks in the shadows, in alleys, just out of sight, until someone dies. Then he's there like magic, ready to claim the body and disappear again. Don't think he kills anyone, just takes away those that already died. Most of the time, no one tries to stop him, especially the kids. We're...scared he'd take one of us. I think because some of the business owners in the Harbor, well, they say the Lurker Man at least keeps the streets...'cleaner.' There's a lot of fights in the Harbor. A lot. Mostly between the gangs, but you know, whoever. And if there was no Lurker Man, then there'd be bodies to worry about. Anyway, he has a curvy staff, I have seen him myself a few times from far away. It's usually at night. I know this kid who says he saw the Lurker Man during the day, but I think he's a liar."

[Brian]

Condign bows slightly toward the mercenary leader. "My thanks for your time. Best of luck in your endeavors, and I hope you find your comrade." Turning to Streko he says, "Come, my lord. Let us rejoin our friends."

[Darren]

Kal watches the mercenaries leave even as he is listening to Rinti. "Interesting fellows," he says, when she's done speaking. Under his breath, he adds, "Though traditionally it's better to piss IN the skull of one's enemy, and not through it, but I suppose I won't judge in this instance...."

"Thank you, Rinti," Kal says. "If you see this...man...again, you make certain to turn the other way and run as fast as your legs will carry you, understand? And you let us know if you see him, okay?" Kal nods at Rinti, not waiting for her to answer for herself. "Well, Condign? What did you find out? Do we know where we're going, yet? Tangat won't smell any better by leaving him out in the rain longer..."

[Brian]

"What I learned," Condign says, blotting water from his brow, "is that we are no closer to finding the lady Histra than we were moments ago." He relates his conversation with the mercenary. "The tall necromancer may be irrelevant to our mission...or he may not. I also tried to discover the name of the mercenary's employer, to see if his job related to the Eye, but it did not work. He was as tight-lipped as a halfling in a vomitorium." He peers at Shorak. "For now, we may wish to inquire at a local apothecary as to the location of the il'Serrell family."

[Dave B.]

"Apothecary it is, then." Shorak says as he pulls his hood tighter for the continued walk through the rain. "Fortunately, I believe we will find one in the general direction of the graveyard. How pleasant for us." He says with a wry chuckle. He motions for everyone to follow and heads down the street.

[Ken]

Sept 9, 2014 17:26:16 GMT -4 Brian said:

"He was as tight-lipped as a halfling in a vomitorium."

"Good one," says Belarin admiringly. Condign can then see him silently repeating the phrase. It's as though Belarin were savoring a new type of wine.

"To the apothecary we go," he says, walking behind Shorak. He looks over his shoulder at Kal, having seen his friend talk to Rinti. "I take it that this weirdly garbed 'death harvester' is a bogeyman of sorts in this neighborhood, yes?" he asks. "Although perhaps more man and less bogey than we'd wish. Something else to ask the ir'Serells about. We're full of fun topics for them today!"

[Joe]

Sept 9, 2014 17:26:16 GMT -4 Brian said:

He was as tight-lipped as a halfling in a vomitorium."

"Well, I suppose if I were in one, I would be very tight-lipped, although I am unsure as to why. I must think on this...." Streko looks over to Belarin. "Does such a place exist in the civilized world?"

[Dave W.]

Sept 10, 2014 0:12:57 GMT -4 Joe said:

Sept 9, 2014 17:26:16 GMT -4 Brian said:

He was as tight-lipped as a halfling in a vomitorium."

"Well, I suppose if I were in one, I would be very tight-lipped, although I am unsure as to why. I must think on this...." Streko looks over to Belarin. "Does such a place exist in the civilized world?"

"I am beginning to believe that 'civilized' needs to be a more flexible definition than I would have thought." Adamant says softly as he sets off behind Shorak. He makes a weak attempt to add light to his voice with, "I did mention holding cups of steaming liquid; I did say that aloud, correct?"

[Mike]

Sept 9, 2014 21:25:46 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

"Fortunately, I believe we will find one in the general direction of the graveyard. How pleasant for us." He says with a wry chuckle. He motions for everyone to follow and heads down the street.

"You all have such an interesting outlook on death," Syrdan replies to Shorak. "Someday I suppose I'll learn why so much of the world fears it so. A topic for another time, perhaps."

Sept 10, 2014 6:52:38 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant makes a weak attempt to add light to his voice with, "I did mention holding cups of steaming liquid; I did say that aloud, correct?"

"Just be careful who you ask for a cup of steaming liquid in this part of Stormreach," Syrdan replies dryly. "You may get a liquid that isn't particularly refreshing."

[Jeff]

Rinti agrees to Kal's instructions to let he know if she sees the Lurker Man.

A few minutes later, Shorak leads the group within sight of the gates of Delera's Watch. The necropolis, from this view on the street in the rain, appears as a cluster of dark, mausoleum-encrusted hills about a two hundred feet away. Surrounding it is a thin ring of twisted trees, and lying between you and those trees is a rock-strewn, muddy field with jutting sticks, wedges of stone, and other improvised gravestones. While most of the field is flat, you can see a few ditches and holes, likely unfinished gaves. All in all, it looks like a wasteland in miniature. Shorak knows this is where the poor bring their dead. Only Stormreach's wealthy can afford to inter their deceased in Delera's Watch, which he thinks may be "managed" by competing mortuaries. A low stone wall surrounds the field, and in two places you can see a stone and iron gate, both hanging open.

Directly across from the nearest gate, along the curving street, is a series of buildings etched into the blocky stones that form the foundations everywhere in the city. Given the interspersed lit and unlit windows, they look like a mix of residences and businesses. Shorak soon spots the sign for the Feather Fall Apothecary, whose sign hangs suspended above a door on the second floor.

A narrow stairway leads up to it from the street. 

It's still late morning and despite the lighter rain, it's still nearly as dark as night.

[Ken]

Belarin is glum as the group walks past the necropolis and improvised gravestones. He puts a hand on Streko’s shoulder. “I dare say Olladra’s will kept a few new graves from being added this morning, eh, Good Streko?”

After Shorak leads the way to the apothecary, Belarin steps toward the stairs. “Charming... thank you, Shorak. Well, let’s see if he’s legitimate. I may not always spot liars – my presence in Stormreach is testament to that! – but a fraud can always spot a fraud.” He smiles ruefully. As he starts up the stairs, you can hear a harsh intake of breath, and Belarin’s hand moves involuntarily to his thigh – a reminder of the lingering pain and wounds from last night’s brutal fight.

Without another word, he continues up the stairs.

[Brian]

Shaking rainwater from his cloak, Condign waits for the others to follow Belarin before he mounts the steps. He stops at the doorway. Lightning streaks across the darkened sky, illuminating the swollen clouds with an eerie blue glow. He glances along the street, his eyes searching for anything out of the ordinary. With the quest for the Eye full on, he doesn't trust anyone...or anything. As Kalarian passes, Condign raises a hand.

"Should we keep someone outside to keep watch? Tangat, perhaps?"

[Dave B.]

Shorak nods to Belarin. "Most businessmen will commit some form of fraud if they feel it will fill their purse that much more. At least, those in Stormreach." The half-drow waits with Condign, also sweeping the area for any signs of trouble before proceeding up the stairs to the apothecary.

[Joe]

Streko smiles. "I, for one, am quite interested in seeing what an Apothecary on this continent has to offer. What new herbs I can discover and lore I can learn!! He seems more animated than he has in some time.

[Mike]

Sept 10, 2014 18:09:04 GMT -4 Brian said:

"Should we keep someone outside to keep watch? Tangat, perhaps?"

"Tangat's earned the right to stay out of the rain for a bit, I think," Syrdan says. "Have no worries. I'll keep watch out here."

[Darren]

"I'll join you," Kalarian says to Syrdan. "No point in starting to dry off, only to end up in the rain again." Kal nods at Rinti, "I'll wait here with Tangat. You go just inside with the others, but stay near the door so you can hear me if I call you." He waves both hands towards the door. "Go on. I promise I'll be fine."

Kal turns his attention to Syrdan. "If you want to take up a position with a bit more... cover? I'll stay out where everyone can see me, if you follow my meaning..."

__________________________
Ugh....words are escaping me lately. I can't write anything good....

[Jeff]

Kal, Syrdan, and Tangat wait outside. There is an awning beneath the sign, but it's feeble protection against this frequently sideways-slashing rain.

The rest head through the door. As it opens, with Condign in the lead, he sees a heavy brass bell swing and its clapper strike the interior several times but no sound comes from it. A half second later, a loud ringing emits from across the shop instead, like some ventriloquist trick. Starg has to stoop particularly low to clear the door.

The shop interior is decently-sized, with a second level several steps above the main floor a little further in. There are a few tables in the middle filled with bottles, herbalist equipment, and alchemist's tools. These seem to be used for demonstration. The actual supplies ring the room like a library, but there are bottles and jars instead of books. There's even a few rolling ladders. It's warm and dry in here, with floorboards and several carpets.

"Welcome to the Feather Fall, travelers!" a voice calls out as a halfling pops into view behind the counter at the furthest part of the room. He's a bit stout, with thick sideburns, thinning hair, and a cheery face. "Please, do stand on that first carpet for a moment! Don't venture from it. It'll dry you out quick. Best not to drip all over the place."

The halfling comes down the steps to the main level. "See?" He points at the carpet Condign is already standing on and gestures for the others to stand beside him on it. To his surprise, Condign sees that the water seems to be dripping off him faster than usual, and is even forming little rivulets to flow faster. It doesn't actually dry him, but the runoff is sucked away into the carpet rather quickly.

"Would you believe," the halfling says as he takes in your group. "That you're our first customers for the day? On account of the storm, I'm quite sure. My name is Quolish."

"Are you a tiefling, sir?" another voice calls. You look up and see another halfling standing on one of the sliding ladders, up high near a top shelf. This one's much thinner and paler, but not unfriendly. He wears spectacles, which automatically makes him look more studious. "I mean no disrespect, of course. But since opening this shop, I do believe a tiefling has set foot inside exactly once. Until now."

"This is my colleague and partner, Salar," says Quolish.

"Indeed. Welcome to the Feather Fall," Salar says, then starts to climb down. "As you can see, we've got all the ingredients you'd ever need for all your culinary, medicinal, and alchemical endeavors."

"I certainly hope you're not just stopping in to ask directions!" Quolish laughs.

[Mike]

Sept 10, 2014 22:56:54 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal turns his attention to Syrdan. "If you want to take up a position with a bit more... cover? I'll stay out where everyone can see me, if you follow my meaning..."

"Go away and remain silent in the shadows, while you stand guard at the door?" Syrdan replies. "I know what you mean."

Syrdan heads off a bit further down the road, closer towards the gate. He looks for a somewhat secluded vantage point that keeps him within eyesight of both the Feather Fall and the trees surrounding Delera's Watch.

[Brian]

Jeff wrote: "Are you a tiefling, sir?" another voice calls. You look up and see another halfling standing on one of the sliding ladders, up high near a top shelf. This one's much thinner and paler, but not unfriendly. He wears spectacles, which automatically makes him look more studious. "I mean no disrespect, of course. But since opening this shop, I do believe a tiefling has set foot inside exactly once. Until now."

"No offense taken," Condign says to Salar. "Yes, I am a tiefling. And the only other of my kind I have met in Stormreach is Ajdalarr. Fire Eyes, I believe the townsfolk call her. Brusque woman. Used to being listened to." His gold eyes sweep over the shelves. "You have an amazing collection, my lords. Very impressive."

[Darren]

"Someone has to be the bait, and it would be a shame to ruin that beautiful face of yours," Kal says with a grin to Syrdan's retreating back. He pulls up the high collar of his coat, rests his sharrash into the crook of his elbow, and stands with his arms folded, leaning against the wall next to the door.

[Dave B.]

Shorak stands on the magical carpet. He smiles in appreciation as it does what the proprietor said would.

[Joe]

Streko immediately feels excited. Halflings! In this foreign land, it's good to see fellow members of his race. "Greetings! I am Streko d'Jorasco I am quite thrilled to see what good you have in stock!"

He mentally goes over the list of ingredients he would need to cast some of his spells, and other items that might be helpful for the endeavors ahead.

[Ken]

Belarin happily stands on the quick-drying carpet -- and while he waits for his clothes to dry, he focuses his eldritch sight on magical emanations inside the shop. He expects to find a few -- this carpet among them -- but he's curious as to whether there's anything more valuable. Or necromantic. The really good arcane items would likely be locked up in the back, he reasons, and if the emanations in that direction are strong, it raises the likelihood of the ir'Serells having done business here.

"Directions? Oh, the Host forbid!" he jests. "Where's the joy in that? I'd much rather see where the unknown takes me. I might find fascinating surprises, like your shop!"

______________________

Belarin is doing his Detect Magic at-will invocation.

[Jeff]

Kal stands by the door, while Syrdan finds a lone tree jutting from cracks in the cobblestone—as if this tree sprouted up suddenly once—about ten paces from the nearest gate into the graveyard. From there he finds relative cover from the rain. More importantly, a decent view of the street and the necropolis. While standing there, after about five minutes, he spots* a couple of dark shapes shuffling around the muddy sprawl of the graveyard. From their movements, he's fairly sure they're alive. They don't notice him. They seem to have ragged cloaks.

Inside the shop:

The halflings raise their eyebrows at Condign's closing words, then smile politely. Then Sem steps directly into Condign's field of view and holds up a lecturing finger. "Come here for a moment, Condign," the gnome says, and leads him over to the corner. "Listen, you've got to stop calling everyone you meet 'lord.' You're rendering the word meaningless. Have you ever heard the story of the gnome who cried worg? After joking around with everyone—which, to be fair, is what a good gnome does—no one investigated his screams when actual worgs tore out of forest and dragged him off."

He indicates Larest and Streko. "These two you could call lord. One's a nobleman and one's a dragonmarked heir. Sure, you're as likely to give ir'Zathyran this title as you are to willingly lick a poison frog's back, but I'm just saying: discriminate. Starg's not a lord, I'm not a lord. Kal is. Otherwise you make yourself look, well, uneducated. It'll show." He smiles. "Are you going to fight me on this and embarrass us again later?"

Larest doesn't intrude, but he does say lightly, "I didn't choose Condign for his courtly arts, Sem. Go easy on him. He's a warrior, and I suspect he cares more about the nobility of spirit and strength than of blood."

Sem Darlesh rolls his eyes. "Whatever, Lord Obvious. I'm just being practical."

Shorak finds that the magic carpet leaves his clothes merely damp, but not actually dry. But in short order, he's no longer dripping.

At Streko's introduction, Salar and Quolish both come before him and offer a slight bow. "Welcome, Lord d'Jorasco. We are friends of your house, and cater often to the enclave's needs! Let us know if we can be of assistance in any way." Streko is free to trawl the shelves for his ingredients. While he knows that most of his spells can be powered by the domino that is his Olladran holy symbol, material components can be useful to have as a substitution, and some spells require them**.

Meanwhile, Belarin turns his fey-touched eyes upon the shop around him. By far, most of the reagents in their jars and boxes give off no magical aura, but a few bits and pieces here and there do (mostly without any school of magic associated with it). The water-sucking carpet is aglow with evocation magic, while overhead a pair of ornamental but not bejeweled chandeliers also radiate their own. Quolish has a ring that that glows with enchantment magic, while Salar's belt radiates transmutation. If there is anything else stronger nearby, it's out of his range in a back room, or else blocked by the barriers which the spell cannot penetrate.

After scolding Condign, Sem wanders about like a child in a sweetmeat shop. Starg walks over to one corner and starts examining some jars. Only Larest stands still and glances out one of the two windows facing the street, seeming anxious to keep moving but not pressing anyone about it.

____________________________________

*Syrdan's passive Perception (10 + modifiers) being a 17.

**For example, Streko has the awesome spell Revivify on his list now. This can actually bring back to life someone who has been dead for less than a minute and it's only third level. Sort of a like an eleventh-hour patch job which grabs the departing soul or spirit of a person and shoves it back into the body with a little bit of healing...pulling them back from the brink of death. Only 3rd level! Crazy! But it also costs 300 gold pieces worth of diamonds with each casting. Those are diamonds Streko would need to procure, and not just have 300 gp in his pocket to represent.

[Dave W.]

Sept 10, 2014 9:37:55 GMT -4 Mike said:

"Just be careful who you ask for a cup of steaming liquid in this part of Stormreach," Syrdan replies dryly. "You may get a liquid that isn't particularly refreshing."

Adamant cocks his metal head, not understanding the reference*, but he politely lets it go.

"Quolish, Salar, our very great pleasure to meet you. I am simply Adamant, pay no attention. This carpet is awe-inspiring." Adamant stays on the carpet, appearing inert**.

---------------------

* David gets it mind you...

** If Divine Sense (detecting Good and Evil) can be done while statue-like, he'll do that, just a quick scan to make sure there's nothing he should steer his friends away from. This is my first Paladin-y use of the 5e version of Det Evil... woot!

Sorry I fell behind a bit.. what a week at work! Too hellish for even Condign...