Chapter 1 - The Beginning

Ütés:
Walking the floor slowly you check each body. You don't see the face you were looking for, a relief I'm sure.

Xadira:
You flip the pin around a few times. You are right that somehow this dagger symbol is familiar, you just can't quite place it.

As you are all inspecting your surroundings and looking over what clues you can gather from the previous evening, which at this point is just about nothing, you hear the batwing doors to the tavern creak. It's a young boy, maybe of 15 or so. He stops in his tracks and his face goes white. His eyes flick wildly around the room and then at each of you. The silence in the air is palpable.

Before anyone even manages out a word he turns and runs. You hear him retreating from the tavern shouting for the town guards.

Investigating around you determine the only other door out of the main floor leads to a back store room. There are the rooms upstairs with glass windows. You remember this from last night.

As you are looking around you start to hear voices outside shouting. The boy and a few others. Guards probably. Time is running short as are options.

Suddenly, a breeze blows through the tavern and you are aware of another cloaked figure going standing in the tavern. He flips back the hood to his dark robe and you see a young looking elf with uncharacteristically closely shaved black hair. He looks a little worried to be in your presence.

"Good, you are awake, time is short. Will you please come with me?"

He motions for you to follow him.

Xadira:
Looking over this elf he seems to be speaking with some sincerity but there is something else he isn't saying. You are uncertain if this is because of time, or another reason.

As the group moves to the elf he is already crossing the room and moves behind the bar. He moves his hand underneath the counter, looking for something. After a moment he moves his arm and you hear a latching noise. A small door on the floor behind the bar drops open.

"I'm sorry I don't have more time to explain we need to go, the guards will be here soon.", he says, looking you over intently. "Please, follow." He climbs down into the hatch. After a few moments you see a torch light down below you about 10 feet.

"The way is clear", he calls up.

As this is happening you hear the sound of more armored people (probably more guards) gathering outside, and that boy shouting frantically about the massacre he saw with his own eyes, and the four murderers inside.

As Ütés latches the hatch behind her and starts to descend the ladder. From above you hear the sounds of booted footsteps running into the tavern above. Shouts are heard, but it's hard to make out what they are saying.

As you reach the bottom of this ladder you find a small chamber, space is cramped with all of you standing here. Leading off from this room you find a small earthen tunnel about 5 feet high. The elf, listening to the sounds above, puts his finger to his lips, then waves you to follow him as he starts to head down the tunnel with his torch.