Searching the room of the elves - DM Marcin Wednesday September 1st, 2004 2:23:51 AM
Sarigar follows the grandmotherly person and her ward. The pair walks resolutely in the direction of the market and, once there, starts browsing various stalls for food. Soon the basket starts being filled with apples, potatoes, onions, carrots, and other choice vegetables and fruit. The grandma wipes a large apple on her skirt and hands it to the girl, who laughs and starts to enthusiastically chew on it, sprinkling everyone nearby with juice. Meanwhile, Sarigar and Black Paws have a following of their own: a small group of street urchins. Some of them, with total lack of self-preservation instincts, repeatedly try to touch Black Paws fur.
After about half an hour or so the two halfling ladies - young and old - leave the marketplace and head back to the inn. The basket is filled to the top.
Meanwhile, the party has already been alerted about this strange pair by Roger, who also mentions his rather awkward encounter with local officials.
Draax thanks the stable boy. The lad is enthusiastic to make such an important friend. "Pity you don't have horses, sir. I would take best care of them. Choice oats, brushed twice a day. Well, maybe next time. You will be coming back from time to time, won't you?"
Feng stands by his decision to accompany Benny the Guard on his search of his lost love. For the moment the halfling is gone, "taking care of loose ends", as he said. He promised to show up again in the evening.
Setanos and Gaxx continue along the magic trail. There are two branches of the aura leaving the inn. One of them, somewhat weaker and seemingly older, connects the Glassy Gaze with the Trade Gate and the bridge on Crescent River. The trail extends further along the Trade Road. The second, stronger branch, passes through the city until it reaches West Gate. Then it follows along the road heading north into the countryside.
Renik invites himself into the room occupied previously by the elves. Either by design or by chance the guests chose a room with only one small window. The stable boy has been piling manure on the outside just under it, so Renik doesn't have to worry that somebody might accidentally glance through and see him at work.
Three mattresses stand lined up against the wall. A broom, a mop, and a bucket have been left in the middle of the floor, indicating that somebody is supposed to be cleaning the chamber but decided instead to go slacking off somewhere else.
Renik goes through the room and finds some details that might be of significance. The mattresses have smears of some tan colored substance on them. If he wasn't using one on his own he might have never recognized it as face paint from a disguise kit. There is an empty container of golden hair dye in the bucket, together with other, less significant trash: leftover food and such.
Kneeling on the floor Renik picks up a long hair.
It is white.
These activities take a little more than an hour. It is now around noon.
Gaxx Wednesday September 1st, 2004 5:46:19 AM
Gaxx looks up at Setanos, "How far do ya tink we should be a followin dis trail? Mayhap we should be a fetchin da oders ta come wit us."
Sarigar and Black Paws Wednesday September 1st, 2004 11:38:02 AM
Following the grandmother and child back to the inn, the brothers try to position themselves near the party, but also where they can keep an eye on their quarry. He watches them with a hunters gaze, barely moving, as if, should he move, his prey might try to bolt.
He says nothing, just nods his head in the direction of the pair of halflings, should any of the party ask what he's doing.
Renik Wednesday September 1st, 2004 3:52:49 PM
Blinking back out to rejoin the others the rogue shows the hair and tells of the face paint.
"I thought there was something fishy about those "elves". It looks like Rhiad was meeting with Drow."
Perhaps we should consider sharing this information with the elven encampment? They may prove natural allies..."
Feng Wednesday September 1st, 2004 4:43:17 PM
"Our own dealings with the dark elves have not been good. There is the chance, albeit a small one, that any dark elves we meet know of us."
Draax Wednesday September 1st, 2004 9:34:24 PM
When the stable boy asks Draax about returning from time to time the half-elf smiles at the boy, "Ya never know about where the life of an adventurer will take him, but if I am able I will make sure I stop by every now and then."
Draax moans when he hears that the drow are involved. He is not looking forward to another clash with the dark elves.
Roger Thursday September 2nd, 2004 12:59:37 AM
Not knowing if and when Sarigar might need a break, Roger lays down to catch a quick nap.
It takes him a little while to drift off, as he worries whether the party is too split up, trying to find their target?
"I have just one question..." - DM Marcin Thursday September 2nd, 2004 3:51:10 AM
Gaxx wonders how far the trail might go along the road. The part analyzed so far stuck to it, but does the aura deviate from the trail anywhere along the way? Who can tell? If not, it might go miles into the Crescent Valley.
Sarigar follows the pair back to the inn. There the grandma goes straight to the kitchen, where she starts a friendly argument with someone over the quality of the onions she bought. The girl runs out into the courtyard and joins a group of children playing there.
Renik reports his findings to the rest of the group.
About an hour later the heroes get an unexpected visitor. Arien recognizes the small halfling straight away: Thomas Thimble, the Chief of the Watch, walks into the Glassy Gaze, and it doesn't take very keen eye to see that he is positively fuming. The red on his face stands in a nice contrast with his blonde hair. After having a word with now rather scared Folko he heads straight for the table occupied by the party and asks in an icy cold tone of voice: "I have just one question: what have you done to my man Benny?"
Gaxx Thursday September 2nd, 2004 5:39:34 AM
Gaxx returns to the Inn to give his findings to the others, only to arrive just behind the Chief of the Watch. He waits patiently, wondering who this Benny guy is and what might have happened to him. When he gets a chance to speak with Renik, he tells him what they found and urges that they move quickly before the trail fades away.
Sarigar and Black Paws Thursday September 2nd, 2004 11:01:52 AM
Hearing the terms Drow and Dark Elves, especially in relation to their chosen quarry, an low audible growl begins to emanate from deep in the chest and throat of Sarigar. The look of intensity in his eyes shifts from keen watchfulness to one of anger, hatred and vengence.
With an almost growl he asks, "Where were they?! We will hunt them down! If they are the ones that killed my pack, they will feel our pain and anger! He looks directly Renik since he has the physical proof in his hands. The look in his eyes is almost crazed. Black Paws seems to be mirroring his brothers anger as if he's sharing the rage of his brother.
Setanos Thursday September 2nd, 2004 1:48:39 PM
Setanos looks around at the others for explanations about this Benny, hoping one of the others will speak up about where he might be.
Arien Thursday September 2nd, 2004 2:28:22 PM
Arien remembers the last dealings they had with the Drow and wondered if these were the same ones as before.
Renik Thursday September 2nd, 2004 4:01:42 PM
"Your man Benny? Ah, then you must be the Chief. My name is Renik Dacour, and I lead this group. In truth, sir, it is not what we have done with Benny, but what Benny has done to us. But let me explain.
"Your man, it seems, has been harboring a love-born rage for some time. It seems his sweetheart vanished some time ago, and he is desperate to retrieve her. It is blind chance (though some might claim it the will of the Gods) that he chose the one man on my team soft-hearted enough (some might say soft-headed enough)," he adds with a friendly wink at Feng, "to discuss his feelings with. As a paladin our friend Feng feels honour-bound to accompany Benny on his mission. So if you are angry at the loss of your man, I am no less chagrined at the loss of mine. However some things simply are; there is nothing to be done about it. I learned long ago never to argue with the logic of love."
"However, your arrival here may yet prove serendipitous. It seems the man we seek met with (and possibly left with or met his end at the hands of) three Drow disguised as travelling elven mages. We have a fresh magical trail leading out of the city, and once my companions Sarigar and Black Paws here have had a chance to pick up a scent in their room (with your consent of course, Chief and Folko) we will have an olofactory trail also. Time is of the essence! If we are to find our man these Drow are our best and most tangible lead. I would welcome your assistance on this mission Chief, but if you consider our destination out of your juristiction you can at least look on the bright side; this troublesome band of adventurers will be out of your hair, and the Drow who have infiltrated your fair city will be brought to task!" He smiles at the Chief, hoping he has won him over, or at least cooled his anger.
Feng Thursday September 2nd, 2004 5:35:53 PM
"I must disagree with you sir, Benny is his own man. I simply offered to assist him in this. He was not pressured in any way. When we return you might find that you have a better man working for you. People perform better when they are happy."
Draax Thursday September 2nd, 2004 10:59:33 PM
Draax listens as Renik addresses the angry chief and hopes that the halfling does not hamper the group's opportunity to pick up the drow's trail.
Gaxx Friday September 3rd, 2004 6:54:15 AM
At the sound of Sarigar growling, Gaxx makes sure to put Renik between him and the angry wolfman.
Talking with Thomas Thimble - DM Marcin Friday September 3rd, 2004 11:04:14 AM
The outburst of rage from Sarigar and his animal companion sends the nearby halflings under their tables. The crowd withdraws, but then spreads around in a wide circle. Some betting starts on whether Sarigar is going to tear off his clothes and change into a werewolf. It seems that the period of peace enjoyed by the Valley did a lot of damage to the self-preservation instincts of the populace.
The Chief spreads his hands in disbelief. "What mission?! There has never been talk of any kind of mission until you showed up!"
"When you return? <IF> you return, you better say, Sir! We are talking about Scab here: giant kin of the foulest kind and worse! Maybe you are forged of the stuff hard enough to withstand Scab, but Benny is not! He is just a guard who some time ago slowly started getting on with his life, and now you show up and rekindle all his vain hopes! It has been what, two years since his loss? Is there ANY real hope of this stupid girl being still alive? Is it going to make him a 'better man' if he stands for a minute over her grave, if there even is one? I don't want him to be a 'better man'. I want him to be a good halfling living in the present, not in the past!"
"And now he runs into my office and tells me he quits his job and goes off to search for Ivy!..."
The mind of the Chief is taken off Benny with the questions about the dark elves.
"These were Drow? How did you figure that out? Out of my jurisdiction? Well what IS your destination, then? You can search the room, but I want to be there when you do it. And what kind of assistance do you want from me? Oh, and yes, I would like nothing better than to have the troublesome band of adventurers out of my hair. I have enough work on my hands as it is with the Election coming up, and I don't need the Burgomeister sending people down from the Castle to ask me to keep an eye on you."
Thomas pulls out his notebook, flips it over, and starts to page through it. It has a visible calming effect on him.
"These three elves - well, drow you say - left Angel Springs the day before yesterday in early morning. They departed through the West Gate and were headed north."
Sarigar and Black Paws d20+19=34 d20+3=7 Friday September 3rd, 2004 12:12:25 PM
Fists clenched so tightly that the knuckles turn bright white and if looked at closely, a few droplets of blood begin to squeeze. With the mention of a room, Sarigar only assumes it's one upstairs. The borthers bolt up the stairs with adrenaline boosted speed and begin looking and sniffing around, spcifically for Renik's scent near a particular door other than the group's room (Tracking 34).
Once the "right" door has been found, he does have presence of mind actually try the handle. If locked and if no one seems to be coming to open it, he will try to bash it in (Strength Check 7).
ooc: Please note, he won't try to batter the door down if someone follows him up to open it in a more gentle manner.
Roger Saturday September 4th, 2004 10:22:32 PM
Rolling his eyes to himself, Roger worries to see what Renik will do.
Seeing Sarigar run off on his own, Roger is once again reminded about how sponaneous the Hamleteers always seem to become.
Renik Sunday September 5th, 2004 5:17:17 PM
The rogue awaits the results of Sarigar's investigations, hoping the innkeeper will open the door for him and the Chief.
To Thomas he says, "I hope to cause you as little trouble as possible. As I say, this perhaps suits all parties best. We pursue this Drow business and get out of your hair."
To his companions he says, "I know you are determined to assist Benny, Feng. Are the rest of you happy that these Drow are both a valid target and our best current lead in our hunt for our thief?"
Tratain Sunday September 5th, 2004 10:25:34 PM
Tratain says "Feng, wait upon leaving with Benny until we have finished our quest here. I would like to help him also, but right now, dozens of lives could hang in the balance. If we don't retrieve the item it is possible that hundreds could be killed or injured because of what happen with it falling into the wrong hands. There are several other things to consider as well, I think it would be criminal to bring Benny to the Scab. Do you think he could survive if hit by a Giants club or rock thrown at him? What if we run into a Dragon or other powerful creature, we wouldn't be able to protect him, would you bring him there to die? And on top of that we all gave our word we would be at the festival to Gargul several days from now, that is not something you can decide not to do or Setanos will fall over dead. If you give me a day or so I can memorize a spell and ask Domi if the girl still lives. I can ask several yes or no questions. If she is alive we can go find her after we complete our mission, but If i learn she does not still live then there will be no need to travel to the Scab, and Benny will know once and for all what has happened."
Where to now, Hamleters? - DM Marcin Monday September 6th, 2004 3:44:02 AM
Sarigar, excited, runs off in search of the door to the room previously occupied by the drow. Soon he can be heard pounding against the oaken planks. Folko quickly runs off to fetch the key and actually manages to unlock it before he has to send off for a carpenter.
Thimble and those of the party who wish to accompany him enter the room. "You didn't answer my question" - states the Chief of the Watch. "Why do you suspect they were drow? My men put them down as elves, and they know how to tell the difference. We don't get many drow in the Valley anyway, and I can't recall even a single instance of one ever trying to enter Angel Springs."
Black Paws circles the room with his nose low to the floor. Most scents are gone - it's been two days - but the big wolf stops at the mattresses for a long time. Here, the scents are still lingering. Three distinct if faint odors fill the nostrils of Black Paws. They definitely belong to drow, but they do not match the scents of any of the dark elf individuals met by the wild man so far.
There are tracks left on the floor - muddy prints of riding boots, an imprint of a bare foot, fingertips brushed against dusty window frame. One set of tracks belongs to Renik, and one to some halfling maid. Sarigar studies the other three.
Thimble goes over the room himself, but does not offer any comments. Then he just stands at the door, drumming his fingers on the wall.
Tratain offers some arguments for postponing the journey with Benny.
It is the afternoon of the second day of the Hamleters' stay in Angel Springs. Some clues have been discovered, but no clear image of what has transpired here has formed so far. Still, the hourglass is trickling, and it becomes more and more obvious that some kind of action needs to be taken soon.
Draax Monday September 6th, 2004 6:48:00 AM
Draax agrees with Renik, "The drow or the elves that we believe to be drow are our only targets at the moment. We should try to get to them before the trail disappears."
Knowing how much Sarigar hates drow, Draax is confident that the little man and his wolf will find the trail if it still exist.
Renik d20+9=20 d20+8=19 Monday September 6th, 2004 6:41:52 PM
Renik too searches the room (Search 20), as if he had never seen it before.
"We've had recent contact with Drow, Chief. And from what people said about them, particularly that they ignored an attempt to communicate from the elves of the encampment beyond your walls, our suspicions were aroused. Other, similar incongruities fueled our suspicions, and Sarigar and Black Paws here have confirmed the worst. They were indeed drow, masquerading as elves. If I'm not mistaken that is facepaint there on the bed. A careful disguise applied to meet a thief in an inn. This enterprise was not without risk for them. They must have greatly valued whatever prize they saught. I wonder what it was.
"Well, our best chance of finding out is to get after them at once."
Roger Tuesday September 7th, 2004 12:58:58 AM
Letting Renik do all the tap dancing, Roger lends his eyes to the open room, now that the way is not barred.
Roger briefly tunes Renik out as he wonders what Bill might say or do. Shaking his head so he can stay focused to what he's doing, he returns to the job at hand.
Feng Tuesday September 7th, 2004 1:02:07 AM
The half orc sighs deeply, his chest swelling before he exhaled. "I agree with you Tratain, but as I said before, the decision is not mine. The decision is Benny's, and if you think he doesn't know the danger out there, you are mistaken. Please argue your points with him when he returns."
Discussing plans - DM Marcin Tuesday September 7th, 2004 3:47:03 AM
The halfling guard kneels by the mattresses and whistles. "You have a keen eye, mister," he says with a hint of respect in his voice that was not there a moment ago.
Just then another guard appears in the door. "Chief, you are needed at the Market."
"Well, I got to go. You just behave and we might be able to somehow get along. Well, what is it now?..." The two watchmen depart.
The party is left to its own devices. So far no new course of action has been agreed on. Some suggest going after the drow at once, but others are either silent or want to finish up business in town first.
*** MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE ELSE ***
He watched them, their impassive faces and half closed eyes. Their guise was hard to see through, but he knew that under these relaxed, smiling masks cogwheels of cunning and dangerous minds were turning at full speed.
He captured each and every one of them, made them all players in his game without rules. The feeling was filling him with both ecstasy and dread. It was playing with fire - nay, with thunder itself! But he has never felt so much alive before.
"Tread softly and think ahead, and you just might achieve your goal," he reminded himself. He still couldn't see a straight path leading to this goal, but by gods, he was looking for it, and looking hard.
Setanos Tuesday September 7th, 2004 7:34:34 AM
Setanos watches the swirl of activity around him, feeling as if this quest is quickly spinning out of control as all attempts at subterfuge are abandoned.
Stoically, he follows the group upstairs, ready to move when called, but clearly not liking the direction things have turned.
Renik Tuesday September 7th, 2004 3:33:45 PM
"So, are we agreed or not? If anyone has an alternate plan of action state it now. If not we follow the drow."
If there are no further objections Renik will gather his gear and head for the gate.
Feng Tuesday September 7th, 2004 7:17:29 PM
Feng leaves word with the inkeeper that he will return should Benny inquire about him. The half-orc gathers his gear and summons forth his companion, the mighty war horse. He rides to the gate to accompany Renik and the others. He could not let his friends go off without him when Benny is knowhere to be found.
Draax Tuesday September 7th, 2004 9:02:36 PM
Draax grabs his gear and heads towards the gate with the others. He is surprised how anxious his is to face the drow again. He just realized that he had a bad taste in his mouth ever since they made the deal with the drow they released.
Roger Tuesday September 7th, 2004 10:53:54 PM
Roger nods his head in agreement with Renik, for lack of any other course of action. As soon as directed, Roger will return to the party's room and pack up his gear. (long day really tired, sorry)
LOG ON