Chapter 1: A Peaceable Kingdom

[Jeff]

Taymra walks over to the warforged in the hall (of the 5th floor) and plunges her rapier blade through its wooden neck twice, just to be sure. She takes a final look at the hall, slick with Streko's blood and the warforged's mess.

She leads your party down the hall again, past the shattered window. The airship is now a shape in the darkness, glittering with a few magelights, growing more distant. It is clearly retreating.

You reach another stairwell, and Taymra leads you past it to a second, then takes it down. On the fourth floor, two members of the Fairhaven watch stop you, scrutinzing the group.

Taymra flashes her identification papers, neatly displayed in a slim steel case. "Watchmen, listen. There are two warforged on the fourth and fifth floors, maybe more. They've killed at least one or two residents that I know. We've destroyed them, but I don't know if there are any more. Please see to the safety of the rest. My name is Taymra d'Orien, I live here. I'm bringing my companions to the Jorasco hospital for help. If you need to question us, inquire at Chalice Center."

She moves on as if there's nothing to discuss. The watchmen hestitate for only a moment, then hustle up the stairwell to investigate.

"Sometimes it's best to be honest," she says to whoever keeps pace with her. "Trying to hide just makes you look guilty. We did no wrong here. They let us go and they don't have your names."

As the party goes from level to level, you see various occupants of the building peering out from their doors. Goran finds it difficult not to imagine the invisible thing moving somewhere among them, but he doesn't sense it.

"Pellorien, are you all right?" she asks as you near the ground level of the tenement complex. The charm spell seems to be in effect, because Pellorien is clearly in good shape compared to Streko.

__________________________________

If anyone else has anything to say as you make the trek from the building to the Jorasco hospital, say so now. You've just had a battle (XP will be dispensed soon), but if there's any particulars you want to point out, feel free.

[Jeremy]

Goran will want to get some berries as soon as opportunity allows. After mentioning this, he points his question at Tamyra.

"Will we be safe at the hospital, for a while? More to the point, will the hospital and the people there be safe from the danger we bring? Wherever we go with the book, I think pursuit will follow, unless we can find a way to break the link our enemies have with that book, or get rid of the book."

[Darren]

"Goran has a good point. We either need to keep on the move, or find ourselves someone powerful enough to break the enchantment on the book. I could inquire of House Deneith if there is someone who could do that without revealing details of the item in question."

[Jeremy]

"Thanks Kal. I know we're trying to get moving and keep getting from this place to that place, but we're going to end up in the same trouble everywhere we go until, as Kal points out, we can do something about this enchantment.

"However, since a couple of our guys needs attention NOW, we've got to do that first. Tamyra or Kal, do either of you really believe your people can do something about this enchantment or link to the book? Because if so, then presumably we can address that and the healing in the same place."

[Darren]

"I don't know, honestly. Let's get to a Jorasco healer, and then I'll try the Deneith enclave. We can't keep running, and we can't get any answers if we get attacked every five steps."

[Ed]

Sorry, a little rushed right now. Oss will burn his healing spells on Streko, Jeff.

[Lara]

"Who's to say that a higher ranking member of either of those Houses won't take the book for himself?" Pellorien asks, suddenly tense. "A man died for it, and he entrusted me -- all of us, really -- to keep it safe. Do what needs to be done to heal the halfling and the dog. But I won't give up the book." Defiance fills her voice and eyes and marks her posture.

[Jeff]

Taymra leads the party out onto the street. The hour is late, the sky dark. There are fewer people on the streets than earlier, but the airship incident has drawn the interest of those who are out.

As the party is decisive, Taymra stops at an intersection. "If you can heal yourself, that is well. Jorasco can't hide us, but they can guard and heal us, if you have the coin. I have some."

Oss channels healing spells into Streko, right there on the street. It revives him almost immediately. Streko sees the night sky first, then Oss's face, then the rest of the group clustered around. His shoulder still hurts like the breath of Khyber, but he feels much safer now. Grafth hands him his sickle and thunderstone.

Goran will not be able to acquire berries out here at this hour, but a restaurant (not a tavern) or the Jorasco enclave may be able to help him out.

At Pellorien's words, Taymra shakes her head. "If we go to the Jorasco hospital, we'll be dealing with their healers, not their leaders. Whatever we do, let me take you to the Orien station. There'll be no leaders to worry about, I promise you. Not today, anyway."
_______________________________

Oss casts one Cure Light Wounds and three Cure Minor Wounds on Streko, healing him a total of 12 hit points healed.

[Darren]

"By the gods, woman," Kalarian says at Pellorien's words. "Have you no sense?" He lifts Tangat slightly as if to emphasize his point. "Unless you intend to take the book and disappear and, I might add, continue running forever, you're going to have to compromise a little." Kalarian takes a moment to visibly calm himself. "I'm not suggesting that we turn the book over to anyone. I have no intention of doing that. I'm simply saying that we need the help of someone more skilled at magic in order to keep ourselves from getting killed!"

[Jeremy]

Goran looks long at Pellorien after her words, though not entirely with disdain, but rather with curiosity and some trepidation.

"Considering that none of actually knows what the book is for, I'd say it's dangerous to be so possessive of it...as if our holding it weren't already dangerous enough as it is!"

He nods at the idea of going to Orien with Tamyra, at least first, and nodding to Kal re: his suggestion about the Enclave. Then he continues about the book.

"Pellorien, I trust you and I trust that you mean to do a good thing here, but beware of the hold that book is taking on you. I will not try to take it from you if you do no wish it, but you don't know what it's for...or precisely who wants it, or why. There could be some who could put that book to great use for good, should we (or some other agency) be able to deliver it to them. What then would such possessiveness avail us? I would sooner destroy the book than deliver to untrustworthy hands...and its destruction might displease our enemies more than our allies..."

He finishes quietly...

"assuming we have any."

[Lara]

I think we did this already and failed miserably, but is there a re-try? Can the casters in the group pool resources to determine what might help shield the book from scrutiny of the arcane kind?

[Jeff]

There's no retry of Knowledge-type skills unless new ranks are gained at another level. However, as noted previously, Kal, Pellorien, Oss, and Streko are all familiar with the Locate Object spell, if that is what is being used. Hence, they are familiar with that spell's arcana (description)...and limitations. Hint, hint, again.

[Lara]

admin said:

There's no retry of Knowledge-type skills unless new ranks are gained at another level. However, as noted previously, Kal, Pellorien, Oss, and Streko are all familiar with the Locate Object spell, if that is what is being used. Hence, they are familiar with that spell's arcana (description)...and limitations. Hint, hint, again.

That's what I needed to know. Thanks for poking at the memory. The brain's a sieve these days...

[Darren]

As if suddenly remembering lost information (perhaps by some divine inspiration ), Kalarian says, "There may be a few ways we can shield ourselves from tracking. If I remember correctly, the spell we assume is being used has a few limitations. If we could wrap the book in some sort of lead, it should block the caster. Alternately, they are looking for a very specific object. If we change the appearance of the object significantly, it may have a similar effect. I'm not sure where we'd find a lead box at this hour...."

________
Thanks, Jeff. I forgot to look up the spell when you mentioined it last time.

[Josh]

"No matter what, we all need additional healing and rest, as soon as possible. It is unlikely we could stand another attack this eve, and these burns are quite distracting. Perhaps we can obtain, or inquire about, some lead at House Jorasco?"

[Joe]

Streko places both the sickle and the thunderstone into his backpack. He then steps over to Oss, takes his hand and offers a silent prayer of thanks to Olladra before offering his thanks to the human.

"You have my most sincere gratitude, friend, for helping me. Should you need any assistance, you have but to ask and if you cannot ask, you have but to expect my help anyway."

He turns back and listens to the conversation taking place. Streko winces at the pain in his shoulder, but nods at Grafth's words.

"Let us go to the House Jorasco enclave. We can be healed and protected there for a LIMITED time...and I have some pull there so that we may not have to pay for their services. But we must hurry and we must decide on exactly how we are to protect ourselves. Speaking of which..."

Streko goes over to Tangat, closes his eyes in thoughtful prayer and sends healing energy into the dog.

________________________________________

There goes my last spell...I really need to sleep this off and pray for a night without further combat.

[Lara]

"Of course. A lead-lined box shouldn't be so difficult to find," Pellorien responds to the others as they brainstorm.

"Ho, shifter," she calls to the newest member of their party. "Do you still have that warforged's head? Is there any metal on it? I wonder if there's any lead..."

[Jeff]

It takes a moment for Dhaz to realize Pellorien is addressing him, not Grafth. "What? Lead?" He holds out the warforged's head. It seems mostly metal, with bits of wood on the inside and quartz-like crystal for eyes. Lead seems probably too soft for warforged composition.

Taymra points to the east. "Jorasco is close. If we've got the gold, we needn't be there long at all. Shall we go, then?"

[Lara]

admin said:

He holds out the warforged's head. It seems mostly metal, with bits of wood on the inside and quartz-like crystal for eyes. Lead seems probably too soft for warforged composition.

Even so, it's a great visual -- stuffing the book inside the fallen enemy's head..... *laugh*

[Joe]

Streko sighs. "Taymra, as I mentioned before healing Tangat, I don't believe that we will need gold upon requesting Jorasco's services...but if you wish to spend yours, by all means, don't let me stop you. However, I do agree that we must hurry there...for all our sakes."

Streko pats Tangat on the head with care and not a little love for the dog.

_____________________________________

re: Healing Tangat - used up final spell for that...need sleep now.

[Jeff]

Streko calls to Olladra, rousing Tangat with a healing spell. The dog comes to straight away, wagging his tail in Kal's arms and licking at Streko's fingers.

______________________________

Sorry for missing that. Streko spontaneously casts Cure Light Wounds on Tangat, restoring 9 hit points.

[Darren]

Kalarian grabs Streko's shoulders, giving him a forceful pat and a big smile. His mood lightened considerably, he says, "Let's go to Jorasco. Then we'll find a way to lessen our chances of detection and get some rest."

"You are in big trouble," he says to Tangat. "What were you thinking, trying to pull of those kinds of heroics?"

A thought crosses his mind as he looks at Streko. "Master Streko, I do not mean to pry, but your pack. It appears to have far more space than is reasonable. If it is enchanted the way I think it might be, isn't it possible that placing the book inside of it might make it undetectable by the location spell?"

[Ed]

Oss glances back and forth at the street nervously.

"I know ya'll are big on the talking but we need to move. Now," he says. "Lady, if you can get us out of the open like we are now, I'll follow you to Jorasco but don't take that as trust of you or them just yet."

[Joe]

Streko nods at Oss's words. "Agreed! We should head to Jorasco immediately."

He begins walking, in fact, he is momentarily leading the way, as if forgetting himself for a moment. He stops and looks back at Taymra.

"After you, Lady d'Orien."

Streko moves next to Kal and speaks directly to him.

There will be no secrets between us, my friend. Between any of us who have risked life and limb for mutual protection. I, too, considered placing the book within my backpack when we first learned of its...unfortunate magical taint, but it occurred to me that such an act would be a fruitless endeavor. My pack simply...how to put this...adds umm...non-dimensional space, creating more space that might originally be present in other backpacks of similar size. It does NOT, unfortunately, contain extra-dimensional space from a different plane or realm or such, nor does it spirit such items to another location or plane of existence. Further, it doesn't do well at hiding objects that wish to be found. Or so my experience and somewhat limited arcane knowledge inform me. My regrets.

He continues walking, keeping an eye on things around the group.

[Josh]

"Of all of us, she seems the most trustworthy so far... " Grafth mutters to himself as they walk toward the healer.

[Jeff]

...I'll follow you to Jorasco but don't take that as trust of you or them just yet.

Taymra gestures at Oss's words dismissively. She looks too tired and hurt to care. "Let's go." She nods weakly to Streko. "Please. I'm no 'Lady.'"

Your trip several blocks away is uneventful. Goran, Grafth, and the other natural "lookouts" don't even get that creeping feeling of being followed. Almost as though that airship's depature took it away. Grafth smells no more smoke in the air. The southern skyline of the city is no longer lined with orange firelight.

In the north section of the city, you arrive at a wide junction just as the 23rd bell sounds (11 pm). At the corner of two avenues, the Jorasco Citadel looms tall like a fortress—a cluster of three wide towers, the closest one reaching higher into the sky. Streko knows the Citadel is both an enclave for house affairs and a hospital for customers/patients.

A pair of human guards in house livery stand out front, but they merely wave you through the perpetually open gate without even asking questions. Something tells you they're used to seeing some pretty seriously banged up bodies ushered through these gates. Your ragged crew of pick-wounds, leg burns, and bruised bodies doesn't impress them.

Inside the comfortable lobby, the seal of House Jorasco is stylized upon the ground. You see a custodian cleaning up a wide patch of dried blood that has made the peach-colored left hand a few shades darker.

On both right and left sides of the wide lobby are seating areas—where a handful of late-night folks wait in various stages of shock, worry, or weariness. Numerous closed doors lead, no doubt, to other regions of the complex. A long, low counter stretches from one wall to the other on the far side of the lobby, where halfling clerks chat or otherwise look busy.

Just then, a pretty female halfling in a nurse's garb (utilitarian clothing), looking like she's at the tail-end of her shift, approaches your group. "Lord Streko? Remember me—Hemmy?" Streko vaguely does recall chatting with her once or twice previously. One of the few people who was willing to listen to his worries. "Did you find your sister yet?" Genuine concern lights her shining brown eyes. Then she takes in Streko's party. "Oh my."

Taymra looks down at Streko with a half-smile on her face. "Lord Streko? You holding out on us, priest?"

Dhaz looks longingly toward an empty corner of the seating area, half-hidden by a large potted plant.

_______________________________

The entrance to the enclave is totally the Eberron equivalent of a late night emergency room in a rich-blooded hospital.

[Joe]

Streko grins at Taymra. "Please. I am no Lord...and I have done more healing in the last six bells than you care to know...so to answer your question, I am holding back on nothing, especially not to those who have fought and bled at my side. I am a simple cleric of Olladra and I sometimes do favors for House Jorasco. They know of my primary loyalties and goals, so to be clear, I have NO specific favor with the house and no ties to their leadership. As for this wonderful nurse...we are acquaintances."

He turns to Hemmy, smiling, takes her hand and kisses it gently. "An acquaintance to which I am deeply grateful. How could I forget an angel such as yourself, Hemmy. Thank you for your kind thoughts and patient ear. As to locating my sister, I am on the right track now, thanks greatly to these injured men and women. My friends. We all need assistance in varying degrees...and if I may help you or the healers in any way, including my more unique ability," Streko winks at her, "I am at your...and Jorasco's...disposal for the time being."

"One thing, however, of greater urgency! I will need a lead box, approximately arm's length and thigh's width. Sooner is better, as I'm afraid those who have injured us have proven several times this day that they will not hesitate to hurt others in their pursuits. Can you assist me with this, dear Hemmy?"

He continues to hold her hand gently.

[Darren]

Kalarian grins at Streko. This is the kind of thing he enjoys, and knowing that his new companion enjoys it as well pleases him. Turning to Hemmy, Kalarian speaks in Halfling. "Dear lady, any friend of Master Streko's is a friend of mine. I am Kalarian d'Deneith, and it is my extreme pleasure to meet you." Kalarian takes the hand that Streko is not holding and kisses it lightly as he offers her a bow. Returning to his full height, Kalarian smiles as the two halflings. "We are in a bit of a rush, so anything you can do to expedite our care would be sincerely appreciated."

[Joe]

As if remembering he still has some minor spells to offer, Streko goes over to Oss and expends two slots of healing on him, then goes to Grafth and expends another slot.

The efforts drains him, but not enough to offer Taymra a wink and Hemmy a warm smile.

[Jeff]

Hemmy is overwhelmed by Streko's, then Kal's, manner. She reddens and mumbles quiet thanks. In Halfling, she says to Kal, "I will find a room for you and your friends, absolutely."

She suddenly looks at Streko, horrified. "What happened to you?" Not the slightest bit squeemish, she very gently examines the wound that has ruined his priest's vestment and punched a hole through the shoulder of his leather armor. She frowns, now looking a bit scolding, rubbing the still-wet blood between her fingers. "Not good."

"Rindi!" she calls out to one of the clerks. "A new room, please."

At Streko's request for a lead box, Hemmy shakes her head, puzzled. "Umm...I don't...I mean, I can tell someone." In truth, Streko knows she would not be the one to request something like this from. And he knows it is a bit of a stretch for the enclave, unless there is a house wizard about. Which, itself, is entirely possible.
_____________________________

Streko heals Grafth 1 hit point and Oss 2.