Chapter 13: A Ghostly Glow

[Jeff]

Chapter 13
A Ghostly Glow

Sar, the 14th of Aryth 998 YK had already begun, but you're hardly conscious of the date at present.

First there is darkness, and no real sense of time. Planar travel is enigmatic. After an indeterminate period of darkness that is neither quick or nor long, you become aware that you're somewhere again...

"Kyber!" a nearby voice swears loudly. Not one of your companions.

"Where'd they come from?"

"Get away from them!" another voice says. "They ain't moving. Ain't natural. All stiff-like."

"Don't be a rabbit. They're not bloody gargs..."

Rabbit. Shorak knows that's slang for "coward" among the rogues and footpads of Stormreach. And gargs are gargoyles, of course, which in Stormreach are more likely found underground than above.

"...though there could be some'a them about, so let's be quick, right?"

"No, let's go. This ain't the time for sport. Not with this storm!"

"Not sport, idiot. Coin. They ain't even movin'. Ease as the breeze. An' this storm ain't going away anytime soon, anyways."

Finally the darkness that had enveloped you all so completely drops like a curtain. The first thing you all feel is wet. Very. It's nighttime, and it's raining. Somewhere nearby, around a corner, there is firelight—and though you can't see it directly, it seems exceptionally bright and warm compared to where you've come from. The sky overheard—between buildings pressed narrowly around you—is dark and cloudy. But by the gods there's real color in it! Texture. Life! A slender tongue of blue lightning flashes through the clouds and for a split seconds, it lights up the scene around you. Then there is low thunder.

You're standing in an alley in ankle-deep water. Which immediately makes Shorak think of the Harbor district. But no, it doesn't feel, or smell, like the Harbor. It doesn't stink enough, for one. It smells more like a marsh. And then he places it, and all his sensory memories confirm it: This is the Temple district, near the Koronoo River. Already a sodden place lower than the rest of the city, Shorak can imagine heavy rains overtaking the sewers and rising to the streets. Ahead, he can even glimpse the river itself risen frighteningly high. The party has appeared right near the edge of the district and the city itself. You must be near the House Phiarlan Enclave.

Each of you is standing only a few paces from the next person. Belarin and Histra stand side by side at the front. Behind them, Condign stands between Streko and Shorak with very little space between them and the alley wall. In the back, Kal and Adamant stand side by side, and Adamant is still carrying Tangat—who already smells like wet dog.

"Wait...they's moving now!"

The strange numnbsss of flashing between planes has also fallen away.

In the dim light, you see a thick-bodied man with some possible orcish blood in him, standing in ragged clothing and brandishing a machete-like knife. He stands about ten feet in front of Belarin. He's big, obviously strong, and quite scarred, looking like he's survived many street fights. "I don't care how many of you there is, mate," he says, leveling his knife at Belarin and Histra, then at the ground at their feet. "That one there is mine. Claimed it first."

Looking down, Belarin can see a corpse at his feet. Some poor sap who looks like he's been dead for no less than an hour, now half submerged in the street water. It looks like he's still got a backpack on, and pouches. But no armor, and just a dagger on his belt. Definitely a find for looters. Right away Belarin deduces that the party's arrival near a fresh corpse was probably no accident.

"So back off, boy!" the half-orcish thug snarls as he swings his thick knife about to demonstrate his willingness to use it. "Or I'll send you right-quick to Dolurrh, right. Then the girl."

Kal and Adamant, standing in the back of the party, turn their heads and see a gang of at least seven other men slowly moving towards them. The one in the front was the second speaker. That man, a human, looks like he doesn't want to be here.

---

I'd like to provide a map only if this becomes a battle.

[Dave W.]

Awareness comes upon Adamant, yet he has been struck inert by the visions during the transportation between worlds. The pain of his failure at the fall of Cyre rings in him like the clapper of a bell. He struggles to still the sound; to refocus on other sounds around him. But he is still as that day years ago.

It is Tangat that finally breaks the spell. The animal in Adamant's arms shudders; perhaps from the cold rain perhaps from whatever visions a hound sees in passing the veil.

My friends, they must have seen these visions too... I should comfort them... but they have seen me fail, what must they think?

Adamant drops to one knee and gently sets Tangat down. Head bowed, he still pays no attention to the thieves. One heavy hand strokes the dog's head both trying to draw comfort and give it. "If only I could weep," he whispers.

Finally, he lifts his head to take in the dozen or so other men in the alley. "Lady of Light, we thank You for guiding us back home." To punctuate the sentiment, he turns the Delver's Light to shed bright light in the alleyway.

[Ken]

"Let me see if I understand this," says Belarin slowly. "A team of wizards and warriors appears out of nowhere in the darkness -- and you're threatening us?" He summons eldritch power to add strength to his words. "We're leaving. Don't get in our way."

___________

Belarin uses his Fey Presence to frighten the half-orc and those near him.

[Jeff]

"Kill one," Histra whispers. "Then the rest will go."

[Dave W.]

Apr 16, 2016 19:05:54 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"Kill one," Histra whispers. "Then the rest will go."

Adamant stirs at Histra's command. "I would rather avoid that," The warforged stands tall, "You are making a mistake," he addresses the thieves. "We just escaped Dolurrh, there is no need to send others to replace us."

[Darren]

"Nobody dies," says Kal, "unless you choose to." Kal runs a hand along the blade of his sharrash. Sparks follow along, leaping from his fingers to the blade. "We have had a very long journey and we only want to leave. Take that body, if you want. Don't make threats that you can't follow through on. Get out of our way and everyone finishes the day with all their limbs intact."

[Brian]

Condign frees his mace. He fixes his gaze on the half-orc thug. "As my friend said, allow us to leave and you will all survive the next few minutes. Touch any of us and we will kill you all." He gestures to Shorak. "Take us home."

[Joe]

Streko glances around at the crowd forming around his friends and the dead man at his feet.

"Back in the real world, at least, only to find this. Perhaps some of our friends from Dollurh would enjoy feasting on the souls of these vagrant thugs?"

From all around them, the hurried and whispered voices of thousands of disembodied dead whisper to the thugs, inviting them to stay and join those voices in the realm of the dead.

Streko tamps his foot slightly and around the group, tremors rumble through the ground. Harmless to the buildings around them, they instead invoke the possibility of numbers stampeding toward a place.

"MINIONS OF THE DEAD! COME TO OUR AID AND DESTROY THESE PETTY FOOLS WHO THINK TO THREATEN US!"

Streko's voice booms over the thunder, cascading across the thugs surrounding them.

"DINNER TIME!" the Halfling says, his voice harsh and filled with hate. "STAY AND BE PART OF OUR FESTIVIITIES!"

The whispers continue to call to the would-be looters, the ground continues to tremble beneath them and Streko begins to breathe heavily, the sound of his breaths resonating across the watery streets and ricocheting off the nearby walls.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Streko casts Thaumaturgy, creating three simultaneous, though minor, wonders. (Taking some creative license here and hoping nothing occurs between castings. Of course, if it does, Streko may react differently. For the record, the order of castings is correct. The whispers start first, then come the tremors and then the booming voice.)

[Dave B.]

Shorak nods to Condign. Shakes his head at Streko's actions, knowing that if it doesn't scare off the thugs, it will only anger them. Shorak gets his bearings and motions towards the way they need to go to get to their lodgings. "We are not interested in scavenging. You are welcome to the body." He says as he moves away from the still form.

If their path can avoid passing through the gang, Shorak will take it.

[Jeff]

For a moment the orcish-featured man stares transfixed at Belarin.

Then, despite Kal's and Shorak's offer for him to claim the corpse, the thug turns sharply and sprints away, splashing madly through the water. He ducks out of sight. Histra only shrugs.

Streko's dramatics reverberate through the alley, while Kal's lightning display and Condign's readying of his mace follows. The rest of the gang turn and flee as well, leaving you alone with the corpse.

Within seconds, you stand alone in the alley, hearing only the slosh of the water and the constant drizzle of the rain.

---

Thug's Wisdom saving throw vs. Belarin's fey presence = 5 (failure)

[Ken]

Belarin turns to Histra. He smiles, and Histra can tell that it's directed not only at Histra, but at the whole realization of being out of Dolurrh.

"I'll kill him first next time," he says. "Promise."

To the group, he says, "Let's not dawdle. Shorak, do you know roughly where we are?"

[Dave B.]

Apr 18, 2016 12:00:55 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin turns to Histra. He smiles, and Histra can tell that it's directed not only at Histra, but at the whole realization of being out of Dolurrh.

"I'll kill him first next time," he says. "Promise."

To the group, he says, "Let's not dawdle. Shorak, do you know roughly where we are?"

Shorak looks at Belarin in slight amazement. "I just pointed out the way. Were you not paying attention?" With that Shorak continues moving out of the alley and back towards their lodgings.

[Darren]

Kal shrugs at the thugs' retreating backs. "Okay, let's go. I could sleep for a week..."

[Ken]

Apr 18, 2016 20:59:43 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Shorak looks at Belarin in slight amazement. "I just pointed out the way. Were you not paying attention?" With that Shorak continues moving out of the alley and back towards their lodgings.

Belarin shrugs. "Sorry, busy manipulating minds. I love it too much." He follows Shorak.

[Joe]

Streko glances down at the body, perhaps wanting to ensure there truly is no life there.

"If you can be saved from Dolurrh's grasp, then I have to at least try."

Streko reaches down and checks for a pulse, body warmth, anything to ensure life. He will also see if there is anything further that catches his eye before racing after his friends.
_____________________________________________________________

He doesn't perform a detailed inspection of the body, but will check for a pulse and glance at it to ensure it is, indeed, a corpse.

[Jeff]

Streko quickly assesses the corpse, determines it is indeed one, and isn't sure whether the poor man was rendered unconscious then drowned, or had his skull cracked and then was just dumped here. Either way, a blow to the head did the man in. Unless he thoroughly searches the body, Streko sees nothing obvious of value sticking out.

When exiting the alley, Shorak quickly gauges the party's location in the district of Temple (in the northwester corner of the city). Through the rain and a nearby lamp-post he sees the monolithic structure that is the Phiarlan enclave. Beyond it, across an expansive plaza and a colossal, still-rather-intact stone column from the city's giant-occupied days, he spies the towers of the Keep of the Silver Flame.

The entire plaza is also covered in several inches of water. Shorak can imagine the rest of the city, especially the areas with especially poor drainage, must be flooding. He hasn't seen this much rain in some years! It will be a trek to get to Cross and the Cornerstone Inn, but from the looks of the streets, there aren't many people out at all so there won't likely be any crowds to push through. Stormreach's residents have obviously sought shelter.

[Brian]

Condign watches Shorak scan the area. When his friend's gaze stops, when he is looking right of their position, he nods firmly. "That is the market district, correct? And if it is, then the Inn is south of it." He looks back at the others. "We are not far. In a few minutes, we should be at the Cornerstone. Stick close."

___________________________________________________

If no one objects, Condign plans to head south with Shorak, skirting the Bazaar by bearing west of it, and make for the Inn.

[Joe]

Streko sighs, places a quick blessing upon the body, hoping the spirit it once contained can see the light of Olladra's blessing, and then races away to catch up with his friends.

[Dave W.]

"If no one minds, I will guard the rear." Adamant let's his friends file out. "Perhaps, my friend," he says to Condign as the tiefling passes, "if there is an armorer open in the Market, we could make a short detour?"

[Brian]

Condign nods at Adamant's words. "Soon, but first I would like to meet with the failed professor. Much seems to have gone on in our absence, however long that has been. We need information more than I need armor."

[Dave B.]

Shorak nods at Condign's comments. "Yes. The inn is to the south. We should tread carefully, though. This is the worst flooding I've ever seen." Shorak keeps pace with Condign, keeping his eyes open for potential flood hazards, as well as looking out for the thugs. They could have run to get reinforcements.

[Darren]

Kal follows quietly. He doesn't voice his concerns, but his thoughts stray to Rinti. He hopes the girl and Starg returned to the inn without incident. His pace quickens slightly, hoping to reach them that much faster.

[Jeff]

Very to the south, and through several districts you go with Shorak leading the way. In the rains, with limited visibility, it takes twice the time it would normally take—even with near-empty streets. You do occasionally pass another person hurrying and sloshing through the rain. At one point, a knot of ogres minding their own business stand talking with one another, laughing as though impervious to the rainfall.

Halfway on their trek, a flash of lightning overhead precedes a dramatic boom of thunder by no time at all. The storm is directly overhead, and there is no visibility on the sky. Nothing but dark clouds obscured by falling water.

Just as Shorak leads the party on a weaving route through the Marketplace (wherein Condign realizes they started off nowhere near the market), another flash of lightning suddenly reveals the party is not alone. Arranged perfectly around them on the sides of buildings and at various leels—some traditionally perched upright, some nearly upside down in a cat-like crouch—are gargoyles. They are frozen in place but clearly situated as if ready to attack en masse. There are easily twenty of them.

The lightning fades, but now you can see their silhouettes—knowing they're there. They do not attack, however, they don't even move. Their diabolical faces are all turned your way, though. There is a hint of red light in their eyes—

Seeing no imminent attack and suspecting none—gargoyles are ambushers, they wouldn't give up surprise if they meant to attack—Shorak starts to look for the best way around them when another flash of lightning hits. As it does, you finally see movement among the stony creatures: as one, the gargoyles turn and crawl away, disappearing quickly into the shadows.

The rest of the journey is uneventful. Though most of you are tired and extremely uncomfortable, all of you are sodden. Yet by the time you enter Dannel's Pride, the Cyran district, it still feels like a short journey compared to the slow walk through the Shadowfell version of Stormreach. Adamant is glad to see that at least even the many homeless of this district have found somewhere to take shelter. Dannel's Pride would seem haunted, being so suddenly vacant, if it weren't for the constant noise of the rain.

Then the Cornerstone Inn comes into view. Yellow and orange lights in its many windows beckon. You are likewise glad to see that there is light coming from the tower window where Larest rented your suite.

[Brian]

Shaking rain from his eyes, Condign searches for any indication that they have been followed, either by the gargoyles or by more common-place thugs.

_________________________________________

Condign's darkvision should be able to penetrate some of this gloom. Does he see anything suggesting they have been followed or someone may be watching them?

[Jeff]

Condign detects nothing, and he's guessing it would be as difficult tailing someone in this downpour as discovering someone tailing you.

[Brian]

Satisfied they are as alone as they could be in this wretched weather, Condign motions for the others to follow. "Into the Cornerstone and up the stairs. Hurry."

[Ken]

Belarin, soaked thoroughly, trudges along and begins heading up the stairs. "Let's... be on our guard, though," he says solemnly. "We already know that Krez has attacked the Merrow Down's crew. He may have sought out its passengers, too."

[Darren]

Kal tugs the corners of his high collar up even higher. It doesn't stop the drops of water making trails down his back. He sighs, thinking of the fresh clothes that await him inside the inn. "Tangat", he says to the dog, "do not make a mess out of the innkeeper's floors. Shake yourself off under the awning here, outside, before you go in." Reaching the awning, Kal quickly removes his own cloak, shaking out as much of the water as he can before walking inside.

He makes no mention of the gargoyles, but casts a glance behind them before moving through the door. They'll talk more of the incident in private...

[Dave W.]

"That is an unpleasant thought." Adamant replies to Belarin's warning. The warforged stays at the end of the line and looks carefully for trouble.

[Joe]

"If anyone, or anything, keeps us from a warm fire and tasty food and drink, then we shall show them just how angry we are," Streko says, squeezing water from his brown locks, even though they were covered by his hooded cloak. "I might as well be bathing. There does not appear to be a single part of me that is dry." He steps into the Inn and follows his friends up the stairs.