2. The First Delve

"There’s a group of guys - short, wiry, kind of nervous looking. They live on one of the lower levels, but they’re occasionally seen in the market or the tavern. The boss has asked us to keep an eye on them, try and find out where they live. But every time we try to follow them, they give us the slip. That’s all I know, honest!"
Gabbro finds a money pouch on the dead brigand that jangles promisingly.

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Day 2, 3:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 1: 5/5
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 5/7

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

As the group moves off Pickles puts his Bow and arrow away, helping with the body and clean up seeing as it was of his doing. "I only meant to wound him, sorry about the mess." he says a little glumly, as they drag the body around to the pit.

Jessica watches impassively, her mouth twisted into a frown. What kind of people have I fallen in with? She understood there was time to kill and accepted Pickles' explanation that it was an accident, but the casual nature with which they went about their business gave her some concern.

"You're talking about men, right? Not gnomes or dwarves-- well no one would describe a dwarf as wiry..."

Luther asks from his watch position. Which way do these wiry fellas go?

"Yes, yes, humans … men mostly, but sometimes there’s a woman with them."

"They always head south from the market’s guard post, towards a big staircase that leads down. We’ve never managed to follow them much beyond those stairs though. They’re just too quick, or too sneaky."

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Day 2, 3:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 1: 5/5
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 5/7

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Fenwick takes a step back, motions to the others and whispers to those who gather around: "Do we take this guy with us? We can't let him go now or it'll alert the Beggars. I don't really like the alternative. Maybe we make him guide us, but I'm not sure we could trust him not to lead us into a trap. His whole story could be bunk for all we know. "

Maybe after all the info is gathered gag him, hog tie him and leave him in a out of the way place.

Arriving back from dumping the body Pickles joins the off to the side discussion. He listens quietly before adding, "Dragging him along will not make it easy to sneak after these wiry people. So yes let us hog tie him, and I know just the place to hide him. I will just need Ricard’s help as muscle. Maybe the rest of you either search south of the guards hut or the market for these wiry people." He smiles an innocent smile to the Clerics, before heading off to chat with Ricard.

Ricard is quiet while the others ask their questions though he never breaks eye contact with the Beggar. Finally, he takes a deep breath and asks once more.

"I'll give you a last chance to tell me of what your boss is searching for down here. There is an item, I know he wants it, I don't believe that you have no idea what it is."

Regardless of what the man says, Ricard breaks off when Pickles wishes to converse...

Pickles joins Ricard beside the Ghost Begger, and a very calm and quiet voice says.

The Ghost Beggar pleads desperately: "I don’t know, honest. We were just told to watch those people and try and find out where they live. Maybe they have something the boss wants. But, if so, he never told us what."

The brigand glances nervously at Pickles and seems on the verge of tears. Whilst, of course, you can’t be certain, you get the impression that he is telling the truth.

---
Day 2, 3:00 pm
Fenwick, Elf 1: 5/5
Gabbro, Elf 1: 7/7
Jessica, Cleric 1: 5/5
Luther, Cleric 1: 5/5
Pickles, Halfling 1: 4/4
Ricard, Fighter 1: 5/7

Link to Gabbro's mega-maps ...

Ricard says nothing to the Beggar but simply walks off with Pickles to discuss. After hearing the halfling's proposal, Ricard nods once with a Stony face.

"Don't worry Pickles, I'll handle it."

After returning to the group and the bound Beggar, Ricard shrugs and pulls the man to his feet.

"Alright, fine, I suppose if you knew you would have said by now. We're gonna walk you around a couple corners so you can't follow us and then I'll leave you with a knife to cut yourself free."

Ricard and the halfling begin to escort the Beggar towards the pit...

Pickles shrugs, "You know best, I’ll keep my bow out in case he decides to follow us back." the Halfling adds. He then tags along with Ricard skipping as he goes.

"That sounds like a good solution, hopefully it takes anyone a while to find him and gives us a head start, " says Fenwick as the pair lead the prisoner away. She asks Gabbro to pull out his map. "So, our only directions are south from the market guard post to a big stairway and then down. Sounds pretty clear, but not much detail on where to go when, err if, we find the stairs. "

Gabbro considers. "If we're trying to get Open Sore rewards, we're supposed to find out about the Ghost Beggars' operation and/or find out what Zorrel Gnast is so eager to find. It seems like all we know now is that they're keeping tabs on still another group - possibly a band of thieves - that come up from level 2 sometimes." He points to the spot the GB described. "I suppose that isn't enough information to warrant any kind of reward. Still, it's good to know that there is probably a third way down to level 2."

"Since we don't have any ties to the Ghost Beggars, I was wondering if this other group might talk to us. Maybe we could figure out what they have, assuming they're the ones who have it and they aren't a distraction, and that whatever they have is common enough knowledge they'd mention it to strangers...Does seem like a bit of a long shot though. "

Fenwick shakes he head. "Why didn't we have you do the questioning? We should've asked that guy about their numbers and territory and I plain forgot in the heat of the moment!"

Gabbro looks shocked, embarrassed...and a little pleased. "Me?!?? Oh, no, no, no! I'm sure I don't have any special insight into what to ask..." He looks around, blushing a little. Then his jaw drops. "Wait - it just occurred to me. Maybe the short, wiry people aren't just thieves...do you think they might be acolytes of some kind?? If so, that could connect with the secret message we found in the cave when the first group of Hellions arrived: 'the jewels await you two levels down in the chamber past the acolytes' cells'...!"

I will head toward the pit and call out to Ricard. Hold up with the beggar. Fenwick has a good point. We need to question him more about their operation. Numbers, guard post and the such.