Chapter 2: Rites of Passage

[Josh]

Leaving Phorem's Tower

Grafth hands over two sovereigns and climbs aboard. "I'm meeting some friends there, and I'm running a bit late. I've got two more sovereigns for you if you can make it especially quick."

[Lara]

Pel is intent on examining the dead commander and searching his body for anything that might be useful.

"I wonder..." the others might hear her say.

_____________________________
I guess that calls for a Search check. Sorry - I can't get to that right now. Pel's trying to estimate how well she might be able to masquerade as the commander. She's curious about seeing who the boss is and learning more about what's going on.

[Darren]

Kalarian seems to consider Streko's words. He turns to the Emerald Claw soldier and raises his eyebrows slightly. "My halfling friend here does make an excellent point, commander. You are one of the lowest forms of life. But you do deserve the chance to live." He moves to kneel by the man's face. "Consider this. I don't care if your order intends to keep coming after us. They keep doing it, anyway. I hear the same tired story from all of you time and again. 'Leave me be or you'll be chased by the Order tirelessly.' And so on. I usually hear this right as I'm killing one of you. You've failed numerous times. The result of that failure is your friend Davin up there. I killed him, too. Twice, I suppose." Kalarian smiles at the thought of that. "We're not going to kill you. I think you know that. We could disfigure you, leave you tied up for the rats as our small spiritual advisor suggests...there are plenty of things we can do to you. We could let the others of your order know of your betrayal of them. I'm sure their undead ranks need swelling. But there are things we can do for you." Kalarian inches even closer to the man, his face very close to the other man's. "You are a son of Karnaath, as am I. I understand the value of honor, and I think you do, too. This man...this thing...that has hired your group, has turned your comrades into the undead...you have a chance to restore some honor to yourself and to your Order. A true soldier does not so readily abandon his comrades. I don't believe you are the honorless dog that the halfling says you are. I don't believe you have any good in you, and that's fine. I'm asking you to get revenge, and I KNOW that's something you Emerald Claw scum understand just fine. You don't have to fight, if you're afraid. You just have to play along." A not-altogether-friendly smile spreads across Kalarian's face. "Last chance. What do you say?"

[Jeff]

Beneath the Brewery

The Emerald Claw soldier seems to consider Kal's words. But the silence is broken:

Velhan steps closer to the soldier again, sword still pointed at the man's neck. His words are directed at the group, or more specifically, at Streko. "We are not discussing leaving this man behind. He is a criminal, a terrorist, and an accomplice to murder. But for Lord Kalarian, and the rest of us, he would have joined his superior officer in the murder of innocents. My family. He will answer for his crimes. If you leave him behind, he will eventually escape and we'll be forced to kill him when, inevitably, we meet him again."

"Instead, we should turn him over to the Passage watch. I don't know what crimes he is guilty from outside of today."

He looks back to the soldier. "Your cooperation is demanded, cur. The Sentinel Marshals, or the Passage authorities, may show you leniency if you submit to the requests of these good people. Help us to find this...agent of whom you speak. Take the first step toward honor."

Pel studies the commander's form in detail, even as she checks his inventory. Besides a single dagger, he is carrying very little of value. Even his armor is not a uniform. Only the helmet he wears is an Emerald Claw effect. Pel is fairly certain she could imitate his body quite well, but since she had not had a chance to study his manner, his voice, or his movements, she knows she'd only be able to attempt a passing resemblance to the man himself. If she intends to wear his persona and interact with someone else, she suspects she will only succeed if the other party in question is not strongly familiar with the commander.

Aboard the Skycoach

The Lyrandar coachman smiles. "I'll do my best, sir." The skycoach surges off, gliding across the air like a sailboat that caught a strong gust of wind.

Matheu himself catches the currents, outpacing the skycoach only slightly. Within two minutes, the southwestern side of the city is beneath them. A very small plume of smoke catches Grafth's eye, and then he smells it.

Fire and gray smoke surge from the open windows and doors of a single establishment. It doesn't look like it's caught anywhere else?the buildings are stone?but it must have done a good job at gutting the brewery. Grafth can see a sizable crowd has turned out to watch.

As the skycoach lowers to the ground, Grafth can make out among the crowd a single soldier, dark-skinned and clad in House Deneith livery?a Blademark mercenary, he thinks. He stands talking to a squad of watchmen. At his feet, seemingly unconscious, is another soldier in chainmail?but he shows no identifying emblems or colors.

Grafth sees some children pointing up in the sky?at Matheu. The pseudodragon simply circles over the crowd a safe distance from the smoke. Help is on the way, it would seem, he projects to Grafth.

Grafth turns and sees several more watchmen escorting a pair of uniformed men. They look like city officials, however, and each man produces a wand of some sort.

The skycoach touches down.

[Josh]

As the shifter readies to disembark, he hands the driver two more sovereigns. "Would you mind waiting around the area for a bit? It looks as if there's been some trouble here. I'd like to find my friends and go elsewhere. Not long... if I'm not back in this spot in a quarter hour, you could go about your way.

"Of course, if you were to wait for me, I would gladly pay you for your trouble."

If the driver agrees, Grafth tells him that he'll bring his friends back to this spot as soon as he can and exits the coach. If the driver refuses his offer, the shifter thanks him and moves on.

Once outside the coach, Grafth's senses are immediately assaulted by the acrid smoke that wafts into the air. He immediately heads toward the Deneith blademark, getting close enough to hear the conversation, does not look directly at the group of watchmen or the man on the ground. He chooses, instead, to scan the crowd, hoping to find a familiar face, and to look toward the brewery, as the rest of the people around him seem to be doing.

[Darren]

Kal spares a glance towards Velhan, his eyebrow arched slighly in annoyance. 'I've got this, Marshal.'

Turning his face back to the soldier, he presses him again. "What's your answer, commander?"

[Jeff]

Beneath the Brewery

The soldier stares into the darkness for several strained moments. "An agreement can be made between us." He looks back to Kal. "Let me free. Heal my comrade here. Leave us behind. And I will tell you everything I know, and where the Captain was to meet the agent."

The Sentinel Marshal gives Kal a warning glance. He doesn't seem particularly angry at him, but Kal knows the Sentinel Marshals have protocols, and letting a criminal walk is a rare occurance.


Outside the Brewery - Ground Level

The Lyrandar coachman nods, but he hesitates. Grafth is pretty sure he could get other faires during that waiting time, so he seems to be pondering if waiting would be a profit. "I will wait."

The two city officials stop about ten feet from the open, smoke-spewing door of the brewery. One lifts his hand, points his wand, and a spray of frost surges from the tip. He starts to advance on the door. His companion does the same, spraying magical cold against the windows. The fire is losing the battle.

When Grafth nears the Blademark, he here's the man talking to the watch: "—Lord Kalarian is below, in the cellar. He, nor his other companions, made no attempt to come up. I think there may have been another way out."

"Possibly the sewers. We will dispatch a team. And these Karrns, you're certain they're of the Claw?"

"No," the Blademark answers. "But Lord Kalarian seemed sure of it. And that creature—one of their own, I think—is evidence enough for me."

The crowd continues to thicken—passers-by and other gawkers—and Grafth is pretty sure those are Jorasco healers showing up on the other side, tending to some wounded. He can see that none of this companions are among them.

[Darren]

Kalarian clears his throat, then begins to stand up. Lightning quick, he strikes the man again with the back of his hand. "That wasn't the deal I offered you." Kalarian paces a few steps away. His back to the soldier, he addresses Velhan, loud enough for all to hear. "I don't know, Marshal. It seems there is no getting through to this man. Perhaps I should just let you turn him over to the authorities. He seems to have trouble comprehending the offer I've made to him, so I guess he's no longer of use to me." Kalarian takes the sunrod and begins to move a few steps towards the open passageway, looking to see what lays beyond.

[Josh]

"Well, I didn't come here to stand around," Grafth mutters as he heads toward the front door of the brewery. He will look inside to try to see if he can identify any of his friends and assess the risk in venturing further inside.

[Lara]

Sunrod in hand, Pel moves to Kal's side. Keeping her voice low and controlled, she says, "If you want to try to meet with this leader, I may be able to pass as the dead commander. Certainly, I can assume his form and don his apparel, but his mannerisms are another thing entirely. Still, if it helps us get closer to this enemy than we might on our own..." She shrugs and uses the sunrod to peer further into the sewers. "It's something to do."

__________________
Unless she gave away the sunrod when I wasn't looking, I think Pel still carries it. Did Kal produce a second one? Reading quickly, I might've missed that detail.

[Joe]

Streko approaches Velhan.

"It will not be any trouble to leave the man here with his companion. Your soldiers above will, by now, have no doubt alerted law enforcement to our whereabouts and situation. However, for whatever comfort it may offer, your son is alive and well...and these vermin have failed in their task. They will pay, dearly, for that failure. In the meantime, we can bind them down here while we escape and alert your forces of their presence once free of the sewers."

To his companions, he says, "Let us eliminate the threat these "men" bring to our situation and leave these sewers. I am not particularly comfortable being underground with Emerald Claw agents and long for the warmth of Eberron's sun. Shall we?"

[Darren]

Kalarian takes Pel's arm and moves with her farther up the sewer, away from everyone else and out of earshot of the soldier, but not so far that darkness has completely descended over that area. Lowering his voice for her ears only, he says, "Unless he's willing to help us, I don't think the ruse will work. It's not that I doubt your abilities, but I think that once you have to talk, your cover may be blown and that would put your life in grave peril. I would guess that whoever this man is who hired them, he's quite powerful and probably not someone we want to take lightly."

__________
Kal only ever lit one sunrod, which he took back when he got to the bottom of the ladder, so unless there was another one, I think he's got the only one. Which also means it's starting to get dark back by the soldier. Just the way Kal wants it to happen....

[Jeff]

Outside the Brewery

Even as Grafth eyes the doorway, he wonders if getting anywhere near the blasts of frost is a good idea anytime soon—and the floor looks slippery right now. Also, the crowd's attention is on the spectacle; the notion of being their primary attention isn't welcoming to Grafth. The two officials seem to have the blaze under control. The smoke continues to boil out of the establishment, but only a few bright orange wisps can be seen through the smoke. When the blasts of frost fizzle out, the two men turn to a second pair of wands, which streak out with thinner beams of cold light.

"You there! Come away." One of the watchmen sees Grafth idling near the front of the brewery and calls out to him.

When Grafth glances back, he meets the Blademark's eye. The dark-skinned man approaches him, leaving the unconscious soldier with the watchmen. "Something about this place interest you, citizen?"

Beneath the Brewery

Velhan frowns down at Streko. "I cannot thank you enough for helping my son, Lord d'Jorasco, but I cannot suffer such a man to freedom. If he had threatened one so dear to you—your wife or your child—and was party to their attempted murder, you would not be content to leave them here."

"But those are personal matters, regardless. These men must, by law, be required to answer for their crimes. I will see it done, Lord."

The Marshal turns to the soldier. "By rights, I could kill you now and both the Passage watch and House Deneith would not hold me accountable. But you will be shown as much leniency as we are able if you cooperate."

The soldier looks conflicted, once again. He shakes his head and mutters a curse under his breath. "The Lyrandar docking tower. At midnight tonight. It's where his dragonhawk is least likely to stand out. If you go there with a large party, he will see you and fly off, and he will know my unit failed. If no one shows up at all, he will also know."

"How many does he expect there tonight?" Taymra asks. The dragonmark on her face still glows softly, which stands out in the darkness of the chamber.

"The Captain, and usually two or three men with him," the soldier answers.

Toler steps over to Streko, still pale, and smiles weakly at the halfling. "Thanks."

[Josh]

Grafth looks the blademark in the eye as he approaches. "I was told to meet a traveling partner, Kalarian D'Deneith, at this establishment. Alive or dead, I'm guessing he's still here, and I need to find him." His tone conveys more annoyance than concern.

"Has anyone been inside yet? Where is the owner of this place?"

[Jeff]

Outside the Brewery

"Being questioned," the Blademark answers, gesturing to a stricken-looking man in a smock enclosed by watchmen. "You're another of Lord Kalarian's comrades, eh? Then come with me, sir. There's a way 'round back, and I'm tired of waiting. The name's Amal. We just took on some Karrnathi undead thing and there were several other soldiers within. I...suspect...Lord Kalarian beat them, but they may be trapped somewhere."

He readies himself for a jog.

[Josh]

"More undead?" The shifter says, surprised. "Yes, let's go."

Grafth follows Amal, keeping pace. Once around the corner, he grasps his shortspear with two hands, at the ready.

[Darren]

Stepping back to the main room, Kalarian chimes in, "There now, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Looking at Pel, he says, "Now I believe we have a plan. Goran, if you would relieve these men of their helmets, then I believe that I would be content to turn them over to you, Marshal. It is clear that they will be of no more use to me. All that remains is for us to get out of here, and given the fire above, I think heading down this tunnel is our best bet. Shall we?"

[Jeff]

Outside the Brewery

Taking his shortspear firmly in hand, Grafth catches a faint whiff of the foul lemure's flesh, permanently attached to the haft of the weapon. He's not entirely sure he can live with that indefinitely.

In no time, Amal leads him to the back alleys, where they find a watchman and a third official standing in the open back door. "Can we enter there, sir?" Amal calls out.

The watchman turns, slightly taken aback at the sight of the Blademark and armed shifter. "No."

The official steps out, coughing in the smoke. "Nothing could survive that, men." He looks pointedly to Amal. "If your lord was in the cellar still, he's dead now. The fire is quelled, but the smoke and ash smother everything. None are allowed in right now until we get a better assessment from the Canniths."

Amal looks grimly to Grafth. "The sewers, then," he says softly. "What do you say?"


Beneath the Brewery

Nodding, the Sentinel Marshal stoops and lifts the unconscious soldier (the one Goran's arrow took down) over his shoulder. His son, Toler, sticks close to him. Velhan points his sword at the other soldier. "On your feet. We leave here now, where you can explain all this again soon to my superiors."

He looks to Goran.

_______________________

Goran is probably the best equipped to navigate the sewers, simply because he can find fresh air better than anyone else. But I'm not going to assume he'll take the lead unless he chimes in here.

[Jeremy]

Sorry, Goran's controller (a scallywag named Jeremy) has been experimenting with insanity for the last three days. Back now.

---

Goran looks around to assess the situation: Is everyone ready to go?

"If we're ready, then follow me. I'll have that Sunrod, please. I won't need it so much as having it bobbing about behind me will only hurt my vision."

He'll take the Sunrod and keep it low, and by his side so the others can benefit a little from its light. He will keep his Deneith dagger unsheathed.

"Stay close behind me, and keep silent if possible. If you see me stop, stop and don't say anything until I signal it's safe to speak. Just in case we run into something down here, which isn't likely. The air is foul enough, but not that foul. Kal, I suggest either you or Velhan bring up the rear...we should have a strong arm there."

I assume part of the goal here is to not just find a safe way out of the sewer itself, but far enough from the brewery conflagration to avoid popping up, soot-stained, out of the street among the crowds that have no doubt gathered nearby. So, a few "stops" up the way should be sufficient?

---

Goran also has a +4 on Knowledge: Dungeoneering, which could come in handy here.

[Jeff]

Beneath the Streets

The more sanitized Emerald Claw encampment chamber gives way to a network of dark tunnels in Passage's sewer system. They're cramped, dank, and, Goran quickly realizes, something of a maze. Sunlight filters down from the streets above through various cracks and locked grates, offering a tantalizing hint of cleaner air above. The unpleasant moisture then starts to give way to the foulness of refuse channels. In Passage, or any of
Khorvaire's more sophisticated cities, these ingenious irrigation and sewer channels makes life cleaner....except when you're down below where the filth is ushered.

You are able to skirt the worst of it, but you're beginning to suspect that the stink is going to cling to your clothing. Even so, while Goran has some knowledge of caves and subterranean ventures, the layout of sewer tunnels baffles him. Even so, he quickly learns to follow the path that smells the best; that is, the way to fresher air above.

"I've been briefly in the lower wards of Sharn," Taymra says. "Believe me, this isn't so bad." She tries to sound cheerful against the smell. Everyone agrees in his or her own thoughts that Grafth will be much relieved to learn that he avoided this fate. The sensitive-nosed shifter will, no doubt, know precisely where you've been, however. The Orien heir lends her knowledge of the layout of the city streets to best counsel the ranger. Between them, in a matter of ten minutes, you feel you're getting close to a way out!

Tangat doesn't seem particularly bothered by the smell. Kal, who knows the dog's nose is keener than most shifters, has also seen the dog roll in the droppings of a Talentan clawfoot once. Not one of his prouder moments as the dog's master.

_____________________

Goran's Survival check = 15

Survival is actually the skill for getting around. Knowledge (dungeoneering) is what you use when it comes to knowing something or not. Might still be useful, though.

[Darren]

As they walk, Kalarian says, "You're right, Taymra. This isn't quite so bad. Try walking along a battlefield after the fight is several days old, and the stench of rotting corpses begins to hit your nose. Knowing that many of the dead were your friends simply makes the smell even worse..." Kalarian pauses, as if remembering. Then, as if he hadn't said anything, he continues, "So, commander, while I know you must feel quite at home down here, were you ever taken farther than that previous room down here? Anything down here we should know about?"

[Lara]

Before leaving the cellar room, Pel takes what seems useful from the fallen commander, including his helmet. After a final long look at the dead man's face, she leaves with the rest of the group to navigate through the town's sewers. Most of the walk, a grimace covers her face, and she moves with extra caution, trying to avoid soiling her garments as much as possible.

[Josh]

Outside the Brewery

At the guard's words, a shadow crosses the shifter's face. "They are resourceful, my friends. Let us hope for the best." He looks to Amal, "Yes, let's check. Even if something has happened to them, I must be sure of their fate."

[Joe]

Taymra's words make him chuckle a moment. "You may not think this is so bad, my friends, but I must remind you that I am....errrr....closer to it than any of you and I assure you, it is bad enough."

Listening to Kal, Streko nods in agreement. "Indeed...though having to kneel close to the dead and dying to offer healing or final absolution is, regardless of the stench, no small comfort.

"There are worse things to deal with, however, including rotting corpses animated and sent to kill, as well as infernal beasts from Khyber itself or the Six knows from what plane of existance. Oddly enough, both of these last two events happened less than an hour ago to a few of us...and I, for one, am no longer amused."

He continues to follow the wan light =roduced by the sunrod in Goran's possession, hoping his half-elf friend finds them a way out sooner, rather than later.

[Jeff]

Beneath the Streets

Pel walks with the Emerald Claw helmet under her arm, having nowhere else to tuck it away on her person at the moment.

At Streko's words, Marshal Velhan looks puzzled. But he seems too overwhelmed by recent events to pry into suggestions of another. Taymra merely nods her head.

At Kal's question, the soldier speaks matter-of-factly, sullenly. "The Captain led us down here; he already knew the way, had been involved in operations in Passage before. I don't know these streets, or these tunnels."

Soon after, Goran locates another ladder of metal rungs leading up the wall of a new chamber. Sunlight—and the drip of moisture—filters down from above. It seems to be some sort fo grating that leads directly to one of the streets. Goran has managed to avoid the worst of the tunnels, and you've avoided having to step into any of the fouled water along the way. Not bad for a Reacher who's more accustomed to navigating the woods.

"Excellent, Goran. Thank you," Taymra says. "Now let's hope we can actually open that grate above. Who'd like to try?"

From here, thirty feet below the grating, it's hard to tell if there's any obvious means of removing it.

On the Streets

In five minutes' time, Amal, with Grafth in tow, has managed to locate an obvious sewer entrance. A rectangular sewer grate, five feet by ten, which actually has a member of the city watch standing nearby. Grafth wonders why a sewer entrance would be guarded, but above it there is a strangely-wrought lamp. Capped with a shuttered, everbright lantern, the pole itself is studded with several small dragonshards. Ah—that's why.

It takes a moment for Grafth to figure out why a lamp post would need to be enspelled...until he notices that tiny streams of rainwater are flowing up hill, ever so slightly, toward the grate which lies just in front of the post. Magic seems to be steadily drawing water from this vicinity, to ensure rainwater doesn't flood anywhere else.

The watchman looks up when Amal and Grafth come into view, aware that they were headed his way. He looks like he's ready to demand what they're up to.

Amal pauses and looks at Grafth. "You're Lord Kalarian's companion. Perhaps you can better explain why he might be beneath the city? He did not impart his mission to me; he said only that we could expect to meet with Emerald Claw agents."

[Darren]

Kalarian looks over at Streko. "What happened while I was away? Can't you avoid getting into trouble when I'm not around?" Kalarian winks at the halfling, aware of the irony of his statement.

"Wait here a moment. I'll climb up and have a look around." So saying, Kalarian proceeds to climb the ladder and see what he can see without opening the grate.

[Lara]

"The sooner we get out of this mess, the better," Pel mutters. "Do you need a hand, Kalarian?"

[Josh]

On The Streets

Grafth smiles, "I wish I could say I knew more about Kalarian's plan than you. Alas, he's a rather tempestuous individual, and not always one to think things out first. The truth is, you probably know more than I do at this point."

He shakes his head, "Nevertheless, perhaps the direct approach will be sufficient." The shifter walks up to the watchman, posture straight, his short spear in hand. "Good day, sir," he says, "or at least it was, until that terrible fire broke out." He motions in the direction from which they came. "I can think of nothing else, at this time." The shifter looks down and pauses for only a moment.

"Tell me... you haven't seen anyone coming out of these sewers, have you? My friends were in that brewery when it caught fire... this Blademark and I believe they may have sought shelter in the brewer's basement, which had access to the sewer. Anything you could tell us would be helpful- I fear the worst may have befallen them."

[Jeff]

On the Streets

The watchman looks Grafth over, then looks to Amal. The Blademark nods. "It's true, watchman. Kalarian, a lord of Deneith, and his companions may have retreated into the sewer system from the brewery." He points to the plume of smoke several blocks away. "Would this be the nearest exit from there?"

"Probably," the watchman answers, going from bored to mildly interested.

"My name is Amal, a White Blade of House Deneith. There are criminal investigations involved, so it may help us if you allow us entrance."

The watchman taps an outlandish, iron key that hangs around his neck on a chain, and Grafth sees a matching lock on the grate. "I need to check on this. Guard this post for me. I'll be quick." He glances back at Grafth briefly; clearly he considers Amal the more trustworthy of the two.

The watchman hustles away, keeping the key with him. When he's out of sight, Amal says, "Ignore him. Not all humans in Passage are as thick. Likely he'll want credit for helping us out, assuming we're of any assistance to an heir of Deneith."

As the two stand there near the grate and the magic lamppost, Grafth catches a very unpleasant smell—coming out of nowhere, it smells like something once-living, now rotten, that's been pickled in something worse, embalming fluid or slime of some kind. This isn't a good day for Grafth's nose. Looking down at the grate—where he knows it's coming from—his eyes detect movement. Something man-sized, now dropping back down into the darkness.

Amal hasn't noticed it, the sight or the smell.

Beneath the Streets

Tangat woofs softly as Kal ascends the metal rungs. They're slick with moisture, but it's an easy enough climb. Nearing the grate, he squints into the sunlight streaming down. The hatch seems to be simple enough, a hinged grate that could be simply lifted up. However, Kal is pretty sure there's a lock on it and a quick test confirms his suspicion. It's locked from above.

It may interest you to know, a voice says in Kal's mind, that your shifter companion and a human armsman are even now attempting to enter the sewers in search of you. He's a short distance away, beside another entrance like this one.[/i]

Startled for a moment, Kal quickly realizes the voice is Matheu's, the pseudodragon he met at Phorem's tower. Looking back up, he sees the tiny dragon's narrow head and neck peering through the gap in the grating down at him.

Adds Matheu, There is a disagreeable odor coming from your person.

[Josh]

Grafth blinks the smell away, "No matter- I stopped being affected by the opinions of others long ago. I say, let those who demand credit have it- words are pale in comparison to deeds.

"Kalarian mentioned the Emerald Claw to you, correct? If he and the others are down there, and indeed, I believe they are, they could be in more trouble." He peers through the grate, "Something stinks in there."

He turns to Amal, "I mean, more than usual, for a sewer."