May 27, 2024 8:57 pm
forkbeard says:
"what's wrong with barbarians?" he muttered quietly to himself. "at least we don't kill people over pieces of paper,"OOC:
awww now I feel badA Dangerous Gift
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May 27, 2024 9:07 pm
Things were unraveling rapidly, and far too quickly for Morik to do anything about it. Tykus was murdered, Findal was captured and was now being led away along with some random man. "You can't just take folks for no reason!" Morik yelled again, though without much bluster at this point, as it was becoming clear that the Duke wouldn't simply let things drop.
"Civilization!" He shouted in disgust, a final gust of bluster. "We can't just let them take him!" He said accusingly at his companions, his anger misdirected.
"Civilization!" He shouted in disgust, a final gust of bluster. "We can't just let them take him!" He said accusingly at his companions, his anger misdirected.
OOC:
How many guards are there? We really gonna just let them take poor Findal?Last edited May 27, 2024 9:30 pm
May 27, 2024 9:11 pm
OOC:
The funny thing is, I imagine that Zin probably is renown in a way.She looks to Morik as she turns to leave with her own bag. "We will not abandon them, but if we are to help, we need to recuperate ourselves. We will help them."
Last edited May 27, 2024 9:14 pm
May 28, 2024 4:00 am
grifter730 says:
How many guards are there? We really gonna just let them take poor Findal?OOC:
Four Grayhaven guards (scattered throughout the room)Two Royal guards (flanking the Duke)
One guard captain (hands full, heading out the door)
One Duke Draymore (by the door)
May 28, 2024 4:35 am
grifter730 says:
OOC:
We really gonna just let them take poor Findal?OOC:
I'm not sure what else we can do at this exact moment. We all had some spectacularly bad rolls in this little engagement. Starting a fight with the Duke directly seems dangerously foolish and I/Zin feels that pushing too much further will cause a melee. She's half hoping her little announced plan of sharing the Duke's behavior "abroad" will cause him to leave Findal (at least for the evening, even if guards are posted around the building), but not really expecting it.
Duke Draymore
May 29, 2024 3:39 am
Duke Draymore
"My friends! Help me!" Findal cries aloud again, and the guard captain gives him a rough shake that clacks his teeth together. The rest of the guards watch the people in the Inn's common room tensely, worried that someone might take action, particularly with Morik's outburst. As Eozindra berates the Duke, a woman who was at the tiefling's table sobs as her father is dragged away. Tykus' blood stains her table and drips onto the floor. The elderly tiefling tenses, and the flame in the fireplace and all the candles flare up brightly with a roar...until the guard captain shifts his grip and backhands the old man with one gauntleted fist. The old tiefling stumbles, dazed, and then is dragged out the door with Findal, who reaches out imploringly one final time to the heroes. Eozindra's Message arrives and she sees the gnome's eyes widen as he hears the communication just as the front door closes behind him.
The Duke gives a curt nod. "Bring the body and follow us to the dungeons." Two of the Grayhaven guards hand their spears to their companions, grab Tykus' body, and heft him up and carry his corpse out. The other two Grayhaven guards follow, backing out of the inn warily. The Duke remains for a moment with his two Royal Guardsmen. "It is unfortunate that dangerous elements continue to try to undermine the kingdom," The Duke says grimly, his voice carrying through the Inn. "Know that we are trying to prevent a great threat to the Queen, the City, and the Realm. I'm sorry to have disturbed your evening, and if any innocents have been detained, they will be healed and released from the castle gaol after questioning. Sometimes there are prices that must be paid for peace." The Duke turns to the innkeeper, handing him a pouch. "And I am sorry for the mess. Please accept this as repayment for the damages, and to pay for everyone's food & drink." He turns and performs a shallow bow to the room, the large gilt symbol of his office swinging down in front of him. "Please enjoy the rest of your evening." Then Duke Grayhaven leaves with the remaining Royal guards. The room is momentarily silent but for the crackling of the fire and the low sobs of the woman at the bloody table.
May 29, 2024 3:42 am
The guests are muted, muttering in conversation as the servers fulfill orders and the innkeeper escorts the disconsolate woman to her room. Adran crosses to the table where Tykus' body had lain, and the party discusses how the different events of the day might be connected. At around the same time, everyone in the party realizes that they won't be able to collect their pay from Findal as long as he's in a dungeon. At least he paid for the rooms in advance. Elowin heads off to "her room." The innkeeper knows that the party came in with the gnome who paid. Elysia and Eozindra are familiar with the location of the castle dungeon, or at least the exterior holding areas where prisoners are kept; they haven't yet had occasion to see the interior of the castle. They think it's likely that the gnome and the old man will be taken to the holding areas first, and the party could reconnoiter there in the morning. Everyone in the party saw Elysia's sleight of hand and knows that the contents of the package Tykus delivered are in Eozindra's bag, but by unspoken agreement, the party knows that it would be wise to not examine it - whatever it is - out in the open common room. Scullions emerge from the kitchen and pour sand on the bloody table and the floor, starting the job of clean-up.
Do you want to do anything else now, or wait until everyone has gone to the rooms for a long rest?
Do you want to do anything else now, or wait until everyone has gone to the rooms for a long rest?
May 29, 2024 3:55 am
OOC:
Aack, I thought we were gonna fight them. I didn't post an update here because I was waiting for more votes in the OOC thread.
May 29, 2024 2:07 pm
OOC:
I’m happy to wait for more posts for the vote to be decided, but if we go the non-combat route, then I think a rest would be good and then convene in one room to look over whatever the old parchments are. I, like any good rogue, am too nosy and curious for my own good and I wanna know what these "plans" are.
May 29, 2024 4:05 pm
Ishi is following ELowin. When she goes to her room he goes to his and begins his 4 hour elvin trance as a long rest.
May 29, 2024 4:55 pm
OOC:
Zin will run in if a combat begins but her current plan, after discussion failed, is to step away to review the parchments, gain more information about what is happening, then go back at the problem with additional knowledge (and perhaps a rest because honestly she’s tapped right now).May 30, 2024 11:42 pm
Elysia slips into Eozindra's room, and the two of them open the pack with curiosity. They pull out the contents of the scroll case that Tykus had slipped to the heroes. It is an ancient piece of dry parchment. Unrolling it carefully, Elysia and Eozindra immediately recognize that it is a map of some kind, depicting streets or passages, though it is not at all clear where or what the map depicts. There are many runes of an unfamiliar type that form a border in the margins all the way around the map, though there is much more recent ink that has been added, written Common notes on various parts of the border, which read: "the location of the abbey," "founded to anoint the peace, and keep the artifact safe from evil hands," and "the Oath Bound Ones." The two make a note of it to show the others, and then get some rest themselves, as they need to sleep unlike the full elves in the party.
Any PCs who need to prepare spells should do so now.
Any PCs who used hit dice each regain one hit die.
If he chooses to do so, Adran can infuse a new item now.
OOC:
The party rests peacefully and each PC gets the full benefit of a long rest: spell slots, HP, and expended abilities are restored.Any PCs who need to prepare spells should do so now.
Any PCs who used hit dice each regain one hit die.
If he chooses to do so, Adran can infuse a new item now.
The Duke's Dungeons
Jun 1, 2024 3:07 am
The Duke's Dungeons
Elsewhere, in the Castle Dungeons (really the processing jail adjacent to the castle), a lone, aged tiefling, shackled on the wall, was being interrogated. A silent, hulking minotaur stood close by and sharpened a knife the size of an elf's forearm. A small table was squeezed into the cell. At the table, lit by a single candle - the only illumination in the room - a scribe took frantic notes, capturing everything that was said for the Duke's eventual review. A black-clad interrogator asked: "Why did you kill the wizard? What did you take from his body?"
Trembling, the elderly tiefling croaked: "I don't know anything about the wizard! When he ran into the Inn was the first I ever saw him! I didn't kill anybody!"
"What did you take from his body?"
Wheezing, barely louder than a whisper, the tiefling struggled to reply: "I don't know anything about his body - I was in my seat eating supper! He ran in, he ran out - I didn't see any more of him until that man in the mail carried in his dead body and threw it on the table!"
"Is this your scroll case?"
"No...no..."
"Why was it under your seat?"
"I have no idea! Maybe somebody dropped it!"
"What happened to the contents of the case?"
"I told you I don't know anything about the case!"
"Were you planning on using it for yourself, or were you going to sell it?"
"Sell what? The scroll case? What are you talking about?"
"Were you working with the gnome?"
"Gnome? What gnome?"
"The gnome sage who called out to you for help. The gnome who was working with the fugitive you murdered."
"I didn't...the only gnome I saw was the one who had just come in, with that group at the other table...they must have been the ones he was calling to..."
"Something so dangerous as the contents of the case would be worth a lot to the right buyer...especially people who want to bring down the city of Grayhaven. How much did they offer you, to kill that man?"
"I didn't kill anybody!"
"You've never killed anyone?"
"nuh...n-no..."
"You've never hurt anyone, either, have you? Never accidentally set someone on fire, perhaps?"
"I have never accidentally set someone on fire!"
"So you did it intentionally!"
"No...! No!"
"Someone with demon blood, the temptation is too great, and it's too easy to use your hellish powers to get what you want."
"I never...I haven't..."
"Maybe you did it by accident, maybe you just wanted to slow him down, hurt him enough to be able to rob him, and you went a little too far!"
"Too far with a crossbow?!"
"So you admit that you used a crossbow!"
"I didn't use a crossbow! I was sitting inside, having supper, when he burst in, stopped at a table, and ran out again!"
"Stopped at your table, eh? Why did he stop? Did he give you something? Did he give you the scroll case?"
"He didn't stop at my table! He stopped at another table!"
"You'd like us to believe that, wouldn't you? Well, we're going to keep asking you questions until you start telling us the truth, and then the Priest will arrive, and he can catch you in your lies! And we'll put the questions to your little accomplice, too!"
Jun 1, 2024 3:10 am
Morning dawns, the sun beginning to break through the rain clouds.
At the Lucky Copper Inn, the party, refreshed, has risen and gathered together at a table to take stock of what's happening and what their next steps should be. Elysia and Eozindra have just shared what they discovered about the map with the others (they haven't shown it yet, for fear of being observed in the Common Room).
At the Lucky Copper Inn, the party, refreshed, has risen and gathered together at a table to take stock of what's happening and what their next steps should be. Elysia and Eozindra have just shared what they discovered about the map with the others (they haven't shown it yet, for fear of being observed in the Common Room).
Jun 1, 2024 4:31 am
OOC:
Omg… you’re breaking my heart!Dressed in her full black gear, her fine cloak inside her pack for now, and hair pinned out of the way, she addresses the rest of the group. "I don’t care if you wish to remain behind, but I am going to free Findral and that poor old man. If you’d like to join me, I will appreciate it. I’m currently plotting two paths to do so: either full scale breaking in and stealing them away, which puts a target on everyone including that innocent man’s head, or using political clout to do so. I can pretend I’m a noble and use that to try to bargain with the Duke for their release. What are your thoughts?"
Her question is directed to the group, but she looks to Eozindra as she asks it. Sia knows if she takes on a different name, she can use her birthright as a noble to possibly aid them, but it means leaving town a lot sooner than she and her sister had planned.
Last edited June 1, 2024 4:35 am
Jun 1, 2024 4:50 am
OOC:
Curious, in examining the "map," could we have seen a pattern or overlay relation to the city itself? Or do we get the idea that this parchment is of an entirely different location?Jun 1, 2024 6:51 am
How about if we cut down a big tree and lop off the branches and use it as a battering ram to get into the castle and save your friend? I think i will need to borrow a shield from someone. He looked expectantly around the room.
what do you think Aunty?
what do you think Aunty?
OOC:
Someone should point out to him that there aren't a lot of big trees in a city and any trees you find probably belong to somebody 
Jun 1, 2024 9:06 am
There is no Aunty here, Ishi.
Elowin turns to Elysia. The Duke has seen us all.
If he is competent in any way or form, he will have made inquiries about us. But we have a legitimate business with him. We have answers to his questions about the box that he reclaimed yesterday.
I say we go to the castle, and talk to him about the box. Ask about the drow and Findal. We will not learn much properly, but we must try this before we try and break in.
Elowin turns to Elysia. The Duke has seen us all.
If he is competent in any way or form, he will have made inquiries about us. But we have a legitimate business with him. We have answers to his questions about the box that he reclaimed yesterday.
I say we go to the castle, and talk to him about the box. Ask about the drow and Findal. We will not learn much properly, but we must try this before we try and break in.
OOC:
Elowin knows nothing about the map that you found. 
Jun 1, 2024 10:14 am
Morik had had a fitful rest, up most of the night wincing at the thought of the torture Findal might be going through while they slept on soft beds. After the wink of sleep, he took care to feed Jeffery a Goodberry again before popping down and joining the others, who were discussing what to do next.
"Approaching the Duke with legitimate information is liable to just get us captured. There’s no telling how someone like him might react even to folks giving him information. I’d rather stay away from the Duke’s eyes and break in."
"Approaching the Duke with legitimate information is liable to just get us captured. There’s no telling how someone like him might react even to folks giving him information. I’d rather stay away from the Duke’s eyes and break in."
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