Chapter 2: The First Seal

Dec 19, 2021 9:05 am

Knifesedgegames says:

Berry investigates the barrels and crates, especially those hidden under sheets.

Berry peeks under the dusty drop cloths and finds all sorts of junk, including moth-eaten bolts of cloth, bottles of spoiled olive oil, and hundreds of pairs of wooden-soled sandals that were all the rage last summer but are now out of fashion. Your experience in the underworld tells you this is window dressing for a front, staged for appearances. This warehouse isn't for housing wares, at least not these ones.

Behind one of the stacks of barrels stacked against the solid rock, something catches your eye - a part of the wall flickered. You become certain it wasn't your imagination when you see it flicker again, although it is hard to make out what is happening behind all those barrels.

matmaisan says:

Following the elf to the supplies room on the lower floor, Laurent's mind rushed in multiple directions simultaneously. He was mostly curious about the office room, with the wealth of papers to examine. But that could wait, Tilma's words waking further suspicions in the excitable youth's mind.

Once at the threshold of the room he knelt to examine the strange, bisected footprint carefully, before considering the doorframe. He hummed his dissonant psalm once more as he examined the entrance to the room. "What an intriguing, discovery...", he murmured, mostly to himself.

Laurent is confident the door and its frame are entirely mundane. However, some hold that there is mythic significance in even mundane doors. They likely used a spell or artifact to tap into that essence and temporarily make the door a magical gateway to somewhere else. That's fairly significant magic for a criminal to have, and certainly would be a handy thing.

OOC:

I'll update Laurent's upstairs search tomorrow :)

Laurent Gaudamus

matmaisan

Dec 19, 2021 10:02 am

Chapter 2

OOC:

Awesome!

"These are no ordinary ruffians, ", the young man stated as he stood up. "The sorcery evidenced by this mysterious disappearance is not likely available to ordinary cut-purses. I think we were lucky not to fight our way in," he added, reflexively dusting off his robes and hands. "Whoever did the killing here, they knew their business. Very dangerous," Tilma could see that Laurent’s pale visage was tuning porcelain-white as he silently considered what they nearly ran into. "Find anything out there, Timbers?"

Seabury Berry Timbers

Knifesedgegames

Dec 19, 2021 1:18 pm

Chapter 2

"I think there's some kind of illusion here. Come and take a look."

Laurent Gaudamus

matmaisan

Dec 19, 2021 3:00 pm

Chapter 2

"An illusion? Fascinating!", the excitable scholar exclaimed, moving eagerly towards his erstwhile school colleague. As he approached, however, his thoughts returned to the obvious danger presented by the black cloaks, and he spoke out in an urgent tone "A dweomer could also mean a trap! Perhaps refrain from touching or approaching before it can be confirmed the weave seeks to dissimulate, rather than harm! This might take a while, though. " And Laurent sat crossed legged in the cargo area, and began rummaging through his rucksack.

OOC:

Unless there are objections, Laurent will begin the steps to ritually cast detect magic. Takes ten minutes though, so if we’re in a big hurry, speak up and he’ll stop.

Last edited December 20, 2021 6:26 am

Tilma

Peindora Inactive for 5 months

Dec 20, 2021 6:35 am

Chapter 2

Tilma follows her associate and listens to their conversation about the illusion. After which she takes the first thing she finds and throws it through the illusion. If nothing happens she goes through.

Dungeon Master

Len

Dec 20, 2021 9:18 am

Chapter 2

Laurent prepares his ritual. Clearing away the barrels, you can see that periodically the stone wall changes into an open archway leading into a poorly lit room. You can just barely make out a trapdoor in the floor.

When Tilma throws an outdated wooden sandal from the crates at the solid wall, it holds. But as soon as she throws it through the archway, the archway stabilizes and remains.

It's almost as if the space couldn't decide what it was supposed to be, and the sandal provided irrefutable evidence it must be an archway and not a wall.

Once Laurent finishes his ritual, he discovers the space is woven with complex but frayed tapestry of transmutation and abjuration magic. Not even a hint of illusion magic is contained.

The spell also illuminates something magical on the black cloaked body in the cargo bay. It is also made of transmutation magic but much weaker.

Rolls

bad guys showing uo - (1d6)

Laurent Gaudamus

matmaisan

Dec 20, 2021 10:29 pm

Chapter 2

"Fascinating!", Laurent whispered as, with his ritual completed, he observed the magical effluents oozing from the partially concealed passageway. "Not an illusion; it contains warding runes and a strong smell of transmutation," and turning to Tima he explains, "Magic that changes the state of things."

As he stood up and observed the lower ground with a faint radiance shimmering before his eyes, Laurent pointed to the dead, black-cloaked man. "Something smelling of sorcery on that one, as well. An item, most probably. I must check the office quickly, just to ake sure that there are no further, obvious auras around.

OOC:

Does the abjuration / transmutation magic cease to flicker after Tilma sent a sandal through the archway? Laurent would like to quickly wlak through the warehouse's upper and lower floor, just trying to notice if anything is revealed to his enhanced senses. He will point out precisely what is glowing on the black-cloaked corpse so Tilma or Berry can recover the item, should they want to. Otherwise, Laurent will pick the item once he's done the scan of the different areas.

Last edited December 20, 2021 10:29 pm

Dungeon Master

Len

Dec 21, 2021 2:59 am

Chapter 2

matmaisan says:

Does the abjuration / transmutation magic cease to flicker after Tilma sent a sandal through the archway?

Yes, precisely. When it was a solid wall, it was like the magic didn't exist. But once the archway appeared, the magic was palpable.

matmaisan says:

Laurent would like to quickly wlak through the warehouse's upper and lower floor, just trying to notice if anything is revealed to his enhanced senses.

After a careful once-over, you confirm that nothing else in the building (aside from you already found) stands out as magical.

matmaisan says:

He will point out precisely what is glowing on the black-cloaked corpse so Tilma or Berry can recover the item, should they want to. Otherwise, Laurent will pick the item once he's done the scan of the different areas.

Whoever searches the body finds on the black-cloaked corpse's body a hidden pocket which contains a intricate folded paper bird. When you hold the bird in your hand, it unfurls into a creaseless piece of parchment. Scrawled across the page is a message written in very messing handwriting:

Meet under the bridge on Beacon Lane on the 21st Day of Toil at the cursed sun's zenith. Significant progress expected as our patience grows thin.

-- The Tribunal

The paper then folds itself back into a bird. It stands there, staring at the person who picked it up.

Tilma

Peindora Inactive for 5 months

Dec 21, 2021 7:08 am

Chapter 2

OOC:

Tilma has Darkvision so poorly lit shouldn't pose a problem.

Tilma goes through the archway and looks around to see what else is in the room and then lowers herself towards the trapdoor to examine if it looks like the one they saw underground. While doing so she talks, "I wonder what's in here... " she lists in voice all the things of importance that she sees around her and then when examining the trapdoor says, "You know, we might have missed this place if it wasn't for those guys. Do you think we that would have made such a thorough search if we weren't searching clues about them as well?"

Dungeon Master

Len

Dec 21, 2021 8:04 am

Chapter 2

Tilma notes that the trap door is circular, like the one in the caverns. It is also barred on this side, to keep things down below. There's a good chance it is the same door, but only one way to know for sure.

Tilma

Peindora Inactive for 5 months

Dec 21, 2021 8:11 am

Chapter 2

Without waiting for others she lances, "Only one way to find out!" she un-bars the door and opens it to look down.

Seabury Berry Timbers

Knifesedgegames

Dec 21, 2021 8:22 am

Chapter 2

After reading the note, Berry pockets the bird and watches Tilma.

Dungeon Master

Len

Dec 22, 2021 1:09 am

Chapter 2

Peindora says:

Without waiting for others she lances, "Only one way to find out!" she un-bars the door and opens it to look down.

Opening the heavy trapdoor reveals the familiar purple and green glow of crystals that flank the Seal of Astaroth. This is the right place.

Seabury Berry Timbers

Knifesedgegames

Dec 22, 2021 3:11 am

Chapter 2

"So now we know the connection, now what?"

Laurent Gaudamus

matmaisan

Dec 22, 2021 8:32 am

Chapter 2

"We can make our way to and from the Seal through the sewers, correct? I worry that if we go down the shaft now we must be prepared to leave by other means; no way to tell if this trapdoor won't be barred on our way back," it was obvious the young scholar was greatly excited at the prospect of seeing the mythical gateway.

Seabury Berry Timbers

Knifesedgegames

Dec 23, 2021 9:52 am

Chapter 2

"The seal is tempting, but you should read this," Berry takes out the paper in the shape of a bird and hands it to the others.

Laurent Gaudamus

matmaisan

Dec 24, 2021 9:53 am

Chapter 2

Curious as ever, Laurent read the note, out loud, unless he was told not to. As he read the lines, the schoolboy enthusiasm in his voice began to whither.

"Tribunal? What do you make of this?" he asked his companions. He also pondered the date.

OOC:

Sorry if this is obvious, but is the date past, future, or present? Also, is this Tribunal something Laurent would have heard anything about? Sending a 1d20 roll with no modifiers, just in case.

Rolls

Have I heard of the tribunal? - (1d20)

(16) = 16

Dungeon Master

Jabes.plays.RPG

Dec 24, 2021 10:26 am

Chapter 2

OOC:

The meeting date is tomorrow "at the cursed sun's zenith."

Dungeon Master

Len

Dec 25, 2021 1:36 am

Chapter 2

Laurent: The Tribunal is something of a legend that has popped up from time to time across your study of secrets and magic in Iskandar. They are a mysterious organization whose leaders and goals are completely obfuscated. They fade in and out of Iskandar's criminal underworld seemingly at random - an assassination here, a heist there. Rarely are they interested in wealth, sometimes stealing what seems like a worthless tome or minor relic. But this much is certain - whenever they fix a goal in their sights, they are completely dogged in its pursuit.

Some have speculated The Tribunal is insane. Others consider them criminal masterminds that play the game so well that nobody can guess their motives. Others speculate that they don't exist at all, and other factions use this name when they want to be disconnected from a crime.

The only pattern they have is that they tend to work with independent contractors, pay handsomely, and stay completely in the shadows.

Laurent Gaudamus

matmaisan

Dec 30, 2021 3:01 pm

Chapter 2

OOC:

First of all, my apologies for not posting sooner. Merry christmas and a happy new year to the five of you. The season is always a bit unpredictable, regarding personal time. I hope you are enjoying a bit of a break. And if you are not, I wish you all the best during this hectic period.

"I mean, I've come across the name a few times, in books and reports..." Laurent said, scratching his glossy black hair absentmindedly. "Some kind of criminal syndicate, but legendary. So legendary, in truth, that some learned folk believe they are but a name, used by different criminal gangs. That might be helped by the fact that the Tribunal operates through agents, hired hands, only the most skilled. They are very effective however, reputed to always get what they want. Thing is," he paused for dramatic effect, "what they want is as unpredictable as their methods seem unfailing: clearly not hoarders of wealth, or veiled manipulators of power. Their objectives are inscrutable, as are their identities. That the black-cloaked fellow was bearing this message is an important omen. The group we chased away must be one such band of agents, and the Tribunal's patience is running thin."

He paused for a few moments, as he pondered something silently. "Many paths open to us now. But before deciding what to do, we might be best served by trying to figure out what happened here, before our arrival. Let us assume the tribunal wanted to learn of this very access to the Seal. Let us imagine that the black cloaks came to this warehouse, guarded by a thug in the service of whoever operates this place. They dispatched the man upstairs. But how did the black-cloak die? At the hands of his companions? Something, or someone else? When I knocked at the door, they decided to leave, to come check this place later. That the watch isn't here already means they did not want the place found by the Iskandar authorities. If they're on a schedule — having to report tomorrow, it would seem —, they might be coming back at any moment. Or the owners of this place might send someone to check on the dead thug... in any case, we either go down the shaft now, or we leave, if we want to avoid a confrontation... "

OOC:

Famous last words (tm)...

I'm wondering two things: (1) who killed the black-cloaked man? I recall chek-cking out the upstair corpse, but not the downstairs one. I'm trying to figure if something went wrong among the black cloaks, or if it is more plausible to assume that the grey-cloak fought and killed the black cloak, perhaps throwing him over the ledge into the warehouse... (2) Does it look like the grey-cloak lived here? We looked at the quarters and suc. Any evidence someone cooked or slept here, or does it look this fellow wasn't here on a permanent basis?

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