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Chapter 4 - pt.1

DM: Marlisa looks up from a parchment she is writing on as you open the door to her office in the Ferret Hall. When she sees who it is, her face slips to boredom. She turns back to her writing and addresses you without looking up. “It’s not often that someone has the gall to waste my time twice.”

Selia: I point a finger at her, reaching out to her mind. ~This won’t be a waste of your time~

DM: She freezes, her pencil stopping midletter on the page. She slowly puts the pencil flat on the desk. She steeples her fingers. She takes a deep, slow breath. She looks up. “If it’s services you need, what can you pay? If it’s services you’re offering, what are the extent of your… capabilities?”

Selia: “Its information I need, and I haven’t had much time to learn of my, full capabilities. I can’t tell you why, but there is an, aura, to you and I do not understand what it is or why I feel it. Honestly was hoping you could cue me into it.”

DM: She considers for a moment. “Close the door.” Marlisa stands and removes her veil. It’s the first time you’ve seen the lower half of her face. Her mouth, much like her eyes, seems perfectly expressionless. She reaches into a series of pouches at her belt and pulls out four items. She places them in a straight row on her desk, separated by about five inches from each other. A key, a small crystal, a long needle with a handle, and a monocle. “Which one is cursed?”

Selia: I move closer to each object, reaching my hand out in front of me, feeling the air above each object. From right to left I move my arm, over the monocle, I feel nothing, over the needle, again nothing, I begin to feel that I may not be able to do this, but when I move my hand over the crystal, I feel something, when my arm reaches all the way on top of the crystal, it feels as though it reaches out at me, dragging me down towards it. “That’s the one. The gem.”

DM: “It is. Can you tell what it does? Or only feel that there is Magic on it?”

Selia: “I’m not learned in the ways of magic, from what I know, it’s a natural force within me that has only shown itself recently, hence why Sarah and I have been dodging the Templars.”

DM: “Hmm…” She scoops up the four items and puts them back in their respective pockets. “Still, being able to feel a relic, without even touching it…” She pulls a ledger off the desk. It’s leather bound, and full of place markers. She flips to a few different marked pages, then finally lands on one. “The market for relics, for cursed items, whatever you want to call them. The market exists, but of course must be handled quite delicately. Even the most seemingly useless artifact in application can fetch hundreds of Standards for the right buyer.” She looks to Sarah. “You both have this feeling ability?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I do not, I am only a friend that is accused of such things.”

DM: The corner of Marlisa’s mouth twitches. It’s the closest you’ve seen to a smile from her so far. “Aha.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Do you have this ability?”

DM: She looks between the two of you. She runs a hand across her hairless head. “No. So what is it that you want to know from me, exactly? It seems you have already answered the one question you had coming in here.”

Selia: I reach out, probing Marlissa in the same fashion as I did the artifacts.

DM: She holds perfectly still as you slip into the hand motions and verbal commands that instinctually guide you. You feel the ping again, like an echo from a long tunnel. It feels like the same kind of magic you are casting, poking back at you.

Selia: “So what I was feeling was only the gem… Apologies for the scare then, though I came hoping for information, about anyone who has learned to control magic, someone who could help me do the same.”

DM: “I may know someone who could help you. But as I said, this whole market exists very quietly. There are a lot of powerful, wealthy, and powerfully wealthy people involved. It’s not the sort of information I would just… give away.”

Selia: “So the payment must be large is what you’re saying? I’m afraid all I can afford you are my own abilities, of which I would show you, though some are, dangerous.”

DM: This time, Marlisa smiles in earnest. She looks like a completely different person. “But you’ve already shown me the most valuable ability I could want. A compass for relics.” She puts her finger to the open page in her ledger. “I know of a warehouse that’s holding an item here in Flathead. An item waiting for a buyer. I think I have a contact who would want such a thing. The problem is, I sent ferrets to poke around in the warehouse, and none of them could find it. To be honest, they didn’t really understand how to look in the first place.”

Selia: “I see what you’re saying, should we expect any problems entering the warehouse?”

DM: “Oh yes. Quite a few.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Like what?” I say abruptly.

Selia: “Sarah, if you want out, I understand. This is my business, at any time just say the word.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I just want to see Gris before we do anything else. He’s got to be worried sick about me and I’m worried about him.”

Selia: “I understand, we’ll see him soon.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Do we have to do it today or when is the deal going down?”

DM: “Could be tomorrow, could be next week. But our deal is contingent on you bringing the object to me. Simply looking around isn’t enough. And in return, from me, the connection that you need… And anything else?”

Selia: “Sarah I feel you’re not getting anything out of this deal, is there something you need?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Well, I did have a deal with one of your ferrets for that mission we went on. I would like to make a similar one with you. I’ll go and I’ll use my pistol as I see fit, but for every shot I have to take, I’d like a gold to go towards making more ammunition and maybe the creation of a new weapon. If I don’t have to fire, I’d like 10 gold for my time. But don’t get me wrong, if you make this deal with me, I won’t take unnecessary shots. I can not risk people finding out about this invention for no reason.”

DM: She cocks her head. “Pistol?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Oh, I see your ferrets don’t tell you everything.” I pull it out. “You may have heard it called many things, but I think pistol has a nice ring.”

DM: She studies it a moment. “Fire powder?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “That’s the method of delivery. The part that hurts you is brass. It hits harder at 20 feet than a heavy crossbow pointblank.”

DM: “And where does one acquire this pistol? ”

Sarah Blackpowder: “You don’t.” With a flourish, I put it away. “It’s one of a kind, and I’m not in the business to sell mine.”

Selia: “Yeah, or, you could do what some of the ferrets did and steal it right from under her. Just saying, make that strap.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I would if I could get back to the ship!” I quip.

Selia: “Right. Which is what we’ll probably be needing to do soon. Marlissa, could you give us the details on the place? We do need to get back home, it’s been too long.”

DM: “You’re headed to the docks? Then you’re already on the right track.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Oh really?”

Selia: “Well that’s good to hear.”

DM: She flips the ledger around. Most of the words on the page are written in some sort of shorthand, but the map is unmistakable. It’s a bird’s eye view of the docks, with warehouses marked out in crisp, tight pencil.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Beautiful map, did you draw it yourself?”

DM: “I did.” She puts her index finger on one of the warehouses on the far side of the docks. “This is the one. It’s in a very public place, and almost always has five or more guards or dockworkers on duty.”

Selia: “What do you think? Should we bring Nofoto in on this? It’ll be my first time doing something like this. I think Sarah would say the same.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Haven’t even thought about doing anything like this before. I’ve never fancied myself a criminal before.”

DM: Marlisa nods. “If you want to hire out a ferret, by all means. Nofoto is very capable. But you’ll be negotiating with them on your own.”

Selia: “Heh, no help there I guess, still, going in alone would probably be dumb, eh Sarah?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I wouldn’t want to go without someone with experience.” I turn to marlissa “But do you and I have a deal?”

DM: “An introduction in exchange for the relic in the warehouse? Absolutely.” Marlisa is very good at keeping her face impassive but you get a sense that she feels like she is getting away with something regarding this deal.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I feel like we can come to a compromise regarding my part of this deal.”

DM: “And what did you have in mind?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “ I want some information on a sailor named Rashoun. He brought us here and something doesn’t seem… right about him.”

DM: “I can gladly do that.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Thanks. So what exactly is this item?”

Selia: “I assume that’s what she hired us for.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “So she has a buyer for an item she doesn’t even have a physical description of?”

Selia: “I doubt any buyer knows specifics of magic items, judging by how Templars feel about your weapon, I doubt there’s much more information than that. If they knew the description, they’d be able to find it, and wouldn’t need us.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “It would even help to know a general size. Marlissa, do you know if this thing is like fist sized? Head? Smaller?”

DM: “A lens.” She flips to the next page in the ledger and you see a sketch of a monocle, actual size.

Selia: “Anything else we should know about it before heading off?”

DM: “If you get caught it won’t be me bailing you out.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Thank you for your time, and sorry we wasted your time earlier.”

Selia: “My fault, I got cold feet.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Better to be a little cautious when you have what you have.”

DM: “I appreciate caution. But once you commit to something, don’t change your mind. Especially in Flathead.” She gestures towards the door.

Selia: “We’ll be seeing you then.” I exit, looking for Nofoto.

DM: Nofoto is sitting with her pals at one of the long tables. It’s less busy in here than it was before you left for Zullick’s. She makes eye contact and smiles before turning back to the dice.

Selia: I walk over to her and sit down. “Nofoto, I’ve gotten a job from Marlisa, though I want your help, and” I bring out the bag she gave me and put it on the table. “I can pay this time with money.”

Sarah Blackpowder: I look around for anyone I know or that seems familiar.

DM: Aside from Nofoto’s table, the only other people in the room that were here the last time around are the two Alhoun ferrets that Marlisa came in with.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Yeah Nofoto we need some help if you have the time”

DM: Nofoto bobs her head back and forth, considering. “I already agreed to take you down to your ship. Or is this a different job? A ten Standard job?”

Selia: “A different job, a warehouse, apparently there’s a monocle in there we’re supposed to seek out.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Maybe help us case the place and get inside and out.”

Selia: “Leave the monocle finding to me.”

DM: Brauna leans in. “Get inside a Flathead warehouse? For ten Standard? I’ll do it for seven.” Nofoto cocks an eyebrow. “ Which warehouse?”

Selia: I tell her all the information on the warehouse Marlissa told us, excluding magic.

DM: Brauna’s smile slides off her face so fast it almost makes a sound. “Never mind,” she says. “I’m out.”

Selia: “Ah, scared now?”

DM: Nofoto’s lips tense into a thin line. “That’s Zullick’s warehouse.”

“Or might as well be,” Brauna says.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Sounds like a good time.”

Selia: “Well that certainly makes things more interesting. She left that bit out when she was telling us.”

DM: “Ha,” Jarrel says. “You lot just can’t keep away from that sleaze, huh?”

Selia: “More like we keep getting pushed into situations with him. So are any of you still interested?”

DM: Nofoto sighs. “I’ll help you. But I want all ten of those Standards. And from now on I charge full price for my services.”

Selia: “Perfectly fair, thank you Nofoto.”

DM: “What’s your timeline?”

Selia: “Right now? Only before our ship leaves. How long did they say that would be Sarah?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I don’t know when he leaves, I believe we’re going inland now.”

DM: Nofoto swirls her drink. “Maybe we wait until nightfall. That should be enough.”

“Dice in the meantime?” Brauna asks.

Selia: “Hah! I need to keep my standards to pay Nofoto, so no gambling for me.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “You guys broke me last time, I’m good.”

DM: “Sometimes, when we are low on coin, we play for questions. If you make someone go up on dice, you get to ask them one thing and they have to answer honestly.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I guess you have many questions for us, and unfortunately they are worth more than any amount of gold.”

Selia: “Eh, screw it I’ll play for questions.”

Sarah Blackpowder: I look curiously at Selia.

Selia: “Oh relax, will you?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll play til after i have to answer a question.”

DM: The dwarf leans in. “Then I guess it’s time to roll some bones!” He hands you each some dice and a cup.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I guess so…” I sit down.

Sarah Blackpowder: “So who begins?”

DM: Nofoto snaps her fingers. “I will. Six threes.” Everyone looks to Selia.

Selia: “Six Sixes.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Seven twos”

DM: Brauna looks you in the eye. “Hmmm…” she says. “Pigshit.” She shows her dice, and Jarrel and Nofoto follow suit.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I got three” I slide mine foward.

DM: “None from me,” says Brauna smugly. Jarrel slides forward a two and a one. Nofoto slides forward two ones.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll take the gold over the question. Or is that not how this works? I’m still a little fuzzy on the betting here.”

DM: “Questions, or coin? Pick one, but that’s what we play for.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll take gold from you… I’ll play again because I’m feeling lucky…” i play until I either lose my profit or everyone else quits playing

DM: It doesn’t take long. Two rounds later and you’re both out. You watch the next couple of bids go by, and notice that the dwarf in particular seems to have an unusually keen eye for catching lies. You also pick up one interesting rumor–Jarrel starts to mention some “drydock witchery” before he’s silenced by a glance from Nofoto.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll play one more.”

Selia: “Aw, but that sounded interesting Nofoto.”

DM: “With what coin?” The dwarf says.

Sarah Blackpowder: I glance at Selia “With a question. Or an answer… I don’t know how to word that.”

DM: Everyone thinks about it. Jarrel grins and turns his cup back over. This seems to be enough for everyone but Nofoto, who slides some dice your way rather reluctantly.

Sarah Blackpowder: i shake my dice and give a shit eating grin

DM: Brauna slams her cup down and peeks underneath. “Four fours,” she says. “Five fours,” Nofoto says instantly. She turns to Selia.

Selia: “Six fours.”

Selia: I glance at Sarah, reaching out ot her mind. ~2, 1, 2, 1, 4, 6, Sarah these are my dice.~

DM: The dwarf scrunches up his face, trying to get a read. Everyone looks to Sarah.

Sarah Blackpowder: I check my dice again, act like I’m making a huge decision, and I look at my dice again. “Seven twos.”

DM: Brauna whistles. “What a jump.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Time to take some risks, I’m feeling lucky.”

Selia: “Gambled away all your money first time, now gambling away your secrets, eh?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I can only answer what I know… And that’s not a lot.”

DM: “Might as well accuse, man. We all know you got nothing, now,” says the dwarf.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Then do it.”

DM: Jarrel squeezes his eyes shut. “Piiiiiigshiiiit,” he says without confidence.

DM: You two put forward a grand total of six twos and wilds. Nofoto slides a two forward, then Brauna adds two wilds.

Sarah Blackpowder: “It seems as if I lowballed it.”

DM: Jarrel swears in a language neither of you recognize. “All right!” he says. “One question.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “What’s the drydock witchery?”

DM: Nofoto shoots a dirty look to Jarrel. He presents his palms in apology.

Sarah Blackpowder: I smile, “Now I realize why people bet in secrets.”

DM: She rolls her eyes, and he leans in to the table and whispers. “Two days ago, a dockhand down at drydocks was on duty overnight when a bunch of stock from a ship coming in just vanished. A lot of people suspected that we did it. But we didn’t–and in fact, a few days later they found some of the stuff just strewn about. Some of the crates even washed up about a half mile down the bay. Finally, late last night a witness comes forward. Some leafpiper who claims he saw this dockhand just let somebody into a few of the warehouses to poke around.”

“Pior ain’t no leafpiper,” the dwarf butts in. Brauna shushes him. “Anyway,” Jarrel continues, “The dockhand goes nuts. He starts calling Pior a liar, challenging him to a duel, all this big stuff. He even says he knows for a fact that that didn’t happen because he remembered the dock being completely empty, and how unusual that is. But then something crazy happens. Pior asks him ‘if you didn’t see anyone, including me, then how’d you get my pipe earlier that night?’ And the dockhand just goes silent for a long time. He holds his head and grunts like someone socked him in the stomach. Then he suddenly remembers everything, just the way Pior says it happened. But he also remembers it the way he said it happened originally too.” Jarrel does a slow circle of jazzhands. “Bewitched.”

“Maybe,” Nofoto says. “If not, then where’d all these Templars come from?” Jarrel asks. “I wonder,” Nofoto says.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Interesting. Is that why this warehouse job may be harder?”

DM: Brauna nods.“Anybody who can afford it has toughs watching their goods until the next round of shipments go out. Seems like maybe whoever this was was looking for something in particular.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Any idea of what that might be?” I lean in with my elbows on the table, chin resting on my knuckles.

DM: Jarrel grins mischievously. “I heard someone found a relic that can turn lead into gold.” The dwarf does a spit take. Brauna bursts out laughing.

Selia: I join in laughing with Brauna.

DM: Jarrel looks hurt, but he maintains eye contact. “That’s what I heard!”

Sarah Blackpowder: I smile softly, “I believe you Jarrel, anything is possible.”

DM: He gestures triumphantly at Sarah. “See!? Not everyone is so closed-minded.” Nofoto stretches back into her chair. “Whatever it is, we have a job to do. It’s late enough now, if you want to go.”

Selia: “Alright, let’s do this then.” I get up and move towards the exit.

Sarah Blackpowder: I follow silently, brushing my fingers over the pistol hanging from my hip.

DM: This time, Fain isn’t manning the door as you exit. Instead, a short woman gives you a bored nod while picking her teeth. She kicks the door closed behind you without getting up, and once more you find yourselves in the sewer tunnel with Nofoto.

Selia: “After you, Nofoto.”

DM: The trip through the sewers seems faster this time, and soon you arrive at the bottom of another set of ladder rungs leading up to a round hatch. Nofoto presses a finger to her lips and slides a wrenchlike tool from a sheath on her thigh. She slips up the rungs silently and tilts up the hatch, taking a peek in all directions before propping it open the rest of the way. “Looks clear,” she whispers down the ladder at you. She climbs up onto ground level.

Sarah Blackpowder: I climb up behind her, Selia following close behind.

DM: It’s dark on the street as you emerge–if you had to guess, probably close to one in the morning. You can hear the waves lapping up against the docks from here, but visual is blocked by a large dilapidated building surrounded by wooden scaffolding. Some streetlamp light bleeds out from around the corner. Nofoto appears next to you and points towards a wall across the road. “The warehouse you’re looking for is on the other side.”

Selia: “Any idea how to get in there?” I try to look around the building for any entrances, guards, etc. without appearing suspicious.

DM: Nofoto shrugs. “Climbing it would probably be easiest. It’s the second warehouse in, so just improvising I would guess that the easiest way in is probably through the roof or an upper window. Doubt anyone will be looking up.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “That will be fun.”

DM: Nofoto’s mouth almost turns into a smile before she is able to suppress it. “You two have a strange idea of fun.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “More like this strange thing called sarcasm.”

Selia: “Aw c'mon, lighten up Sarah. Not everyday you get to risk your life looking for a monocle.” I watch Nofoto’s face as I say this.

DM: Nofoto’s face remains impassive, but you catch a look in her eye. It’s as if she is suddenly doing 100 small computations all at once. Then, everything seems to return to normal. Nofoto crosses the road and sidles up to the wall. She looks up at it from very close, at an angle, then sweeps to the side to look at it from a different one. She points to a couple of different spots up the wall. “Handholds there, there, and there,” she whispers.

Selia: “I doubt we’ve got any rope, eh?”

DM: “I certainly don’t.” Nofoto turns towards the wall and, with nearly supernatural silence, scampers up about 18 ft in the blink of an eye.

Selia: I crouch down with my hands near the ground, fingers interlaced. I look to Sarah.

Sarah Blackpowder: Preparing to climb, I take a minute to stretch.

Selia: In a hushed tone. “Come on, I’ll give you a boost.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Okay, let’s do this.” I attempt to climb with Selia helping where she can.

DM: You climb up the wall, awkwardly and unstealthily. Near the top you start to slide back down when Nofoto leans down and grabs your wrist to pull you the rest of the way up. “Next time I’ll being rope,” she grunts.

Selia: Seeing Sarah climb, I’m reminded of my fall in Curogan, I shudder but quickly snap back and begin to scale the wall.

Sarah Blackpowder: “That would be wise.” I grunt out as I pull myself up with Nofoto’s help.

DM: Selia, you follow up Sarah and Nofoto’s climb paths and join them at the top of the wall. From here you can more clearly see a large building in the darkness, and a row of similar ones stretching off into the dark behind it.

Selia: “Second one in right?”

DM: Nofoto nods. “There’s a couple of guys already walking around. Look.” Selia, in the dark you are barely able to make out a shadow stretch around in the walkway between the two warehouses before it disappears behind the buildings. “I count three,” Nofoto whispers.

Selia: “Damn, I can barely even see one…” I say shallowly.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I guess my job is to stay silent because I can’t see scat.”

DM: Nofoto nods and then points to the roof of the warehouse closest to you. It’s about 15 feet away and 10 feet further up. “Think you can get up there? If not, we may have to go in a riskier way.”

Selia: “Well maybe, if I could fly I could.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Would a rope help?” I rustle around in my bag and pull out 50ft of rope.

Selia: “What, you forgot you had this earlier?”

Sarah Blackpowder: Looking absolutely dunbfounded, I finally speak. “Oh, right. This would have been useful earlier.”

Selia: I leer at Sarah. “Just, do what you’re gonna do then.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “My bad.” I look for anything for the rope to go around.

DM: There are lateral support beams that poke out of the plaster sides of the building, about five feet short of the roof.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Can those beams support us?”

DM: “Probably,” Nofoto says. “They’re made to hold up the whole roof.”

Sarah Blackpowder: I attempt to tie a lasso and throw it around the beam.

DM: You toss out the lasso and it goes wide, hitting the side of the building and then sliding down towards the ground.

Sarah Blackpowder: I yank it back, pulling the rope back toward me.

DM: Nofoto stands up, balancing on the top of the wall, then springs off of it. She pitches her body forward to maximize jump distance and catches the lip of the roof with her fingers, easing into the side of the wall with her feet to muffle the sound of impact. Then, she pulls herself onto the roof with a chin-up and rolls onto it. You see her arm extend out over the top. She waves towards you in a ‘give it here’ motion. You heave the rope up and Nofoto snatches it. The arm disppears over the edge of the roof and reels in a few more feet, then stops. You hear a quick, quiet whistle from the roof.

Sarah Blackpowder: I pull on the rope and check if it’s sturdy, satisfied that it pulls ncie and taut.

DM: You swing forward to try to land into a rappel, but twist midway and hit the building sideways with a whump. You manage to hold on to the roof but for a second the wind is knocked out of you. From below and around the corner, you hear someone’s footsteps through the gravel path suddenly stop.

Selia: I look for the guards and prepare a minor illusion, mimicking the sounds of running.

DM: You all hear footsteps approach, accompanied by the flicker of lamp light.

Sarah Blackpowder: I swing myself up quickly and silently as possible.

DM: Holding your breath, you pull yourself up to the roof. You and Selia share a quick look at each other from across the gap as a man in a heavy coat comes around the corner with a lamp in his hands. His footsteps crunch into the gravel walkway as he holds the lamp out in front of him, peering around suspiciously in the darkness. After a few moments of poking around, he turns back around and walks away.

Sarah Blackpowder: I take a deep breath, and turn to Selia. I toss the rope, trying to be silent. As I do, the rope falls way too short and begins to plummet, still attached to the roof. I attempt to catch it and feed it back up for another attempt.

DM: It takes two more attempts before you’re able to get the rope into Selia’s hands. You can hear the crunching of the guards’ steps below and away, but they don’t seem to be approaching. In your ear, Sarah, you hear Nofoto whisper “I’m going to see if there’s an easy way across and in.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Okay. I’ll stay here and try to stay silent.”

DM: You clamber up the rope and roll onto your back on the roof, lying next to Sarah, who is slowly reeling in the rope. For a moment you are staring up at the always cloudy sky. Everything is still and silent except for the creak of the docks as the tide laps into the pillars.

Sarah Blackpowder: My hands are shaking as I pull up the rope. “This is so wrong. I’m so nervous.”

Selia: “Well, we’re still breathing, so let’s just get in get out.”

DM: You hear Nofoto’s voice before you see her. “I’ve got a window open in the warehouse over. We should be able to slide in from that roof. ”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Okay.” I follow her voice until I see her.

Selia: I follow behind.

DM: At the other edge of the roof you can see the window that Nofoto is talking about. It opens outward on a hinge, forming a gap big enough for a person to slide through from above. Down on the ground between, you see two humans with hooded lamps standing around. One takes a drink from a wineskin and offers it to the other, who shakes his head. Both are armed. Nofoto indicates the gap between the two roofs, about fifteen feet. She looks at you both questioningly.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Can you tie off the rope somewhere?”

DM: Nofoto nods as she grabs one end of the rope, then takes a few steps back. She takes a running start and leaps off the roof, heaving her body forward in midair for extra distance. She catches the edge of the other roof and pushes off the wall instantly, converting the momentum and pulling herself up. Then she disappears. After a few seconds you feel a tug on the rope.

Sarah Blackpowder: I step back and take a running start, moving through the air with the grace of a dead duck before landing on my feet on the other side.

DM: Nofoto helps steady you and then looks across to Selia.

Selia: I stretch my legs a bit before finally taking the rope and making the jump.

DM: You leap across, landing on the other roof and into Nofoto and Sarah, who half-catch half-stop you. Nofoto looks over the edge of the roof, then waves you both forward before letting herself down to dangle over the open window. She lets go and slides through into the dark warehouse.

Sarah Blackpowder: I follow suit behind Selia and Nofoto. I whisper “Remember, I can’t see in the dark.”

DM: You both drop through the window into the warehouse. It’s near total darkness inside, and to your surprise neither of you make a sound as you hit the floor. Selia your eyes adjust a little faster and you see that Nofoto is mouthing words at you but you hear nothing.

Selia: “Stick next to me, grab my arm Sarah.” I reach out to touch her hand.

Sarah Blackpowder: I grab her hand, brushing the other over my pistol.

DM: Selia, you know you’re talking. But there is no sound. In fact, the silence is all-encompassing. It’s as if you’ve gone deaf. Sarah, you do not hear her at all either. You also feel the hollow absence of sound, as if something has just taken your sense of hearing away.

Sarah Blackpowder: I cover Selia’s mouth, and when she stops talking I point to my ears and make a motion that says “I can’t hear”, pointing to my ears and shaking my head.

DM: Nofoto looks relieved. Big and slow, she mouths the words “None of us can hear?” while gesturing first at the three of you, and then to her own ears.

Sarah Blackpowder: I nod.

DM: Nofoto shrugs and mouths real big again. “Why?”

Selia: Trying to be subtle, I tap my arcane potential, and cast Detect Magic.

DM: The whole warehouse seems to be shrouded in a carefully woven illusion that eats sound. It is ongoing, as if someone is actively keeping it up.

Selia: I point at Sarah and cast message. ~It’s magical, someone is holding this area silenced.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~Well sounds like we have no choice but to include Nofoto in on our secret.~

DM: Nofoto is smelling the nearby warehouse racks, and carefully touching objects and then tasting them. She turns back to the two of you and touches the back of her hand, mouthing something.

Selia: I point a finger at Nofoto, reaching out to her as well. ~Don’t freak out. The area is magically silenced. If you wish to speak put your finger to your mouth and I will allow us to speak.~

DM: Nofoto tenses up, hesitantly raising a finger to her mouth. ~I understand.~

Selia: ~Good. No reason to hide this anymore. Question now is who’s doing it.~

Sarah Blackpowder: I tap on Selia’s shoulder and put my fingers up to my lips.

Selia: ~Yes?~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~We need to get moving. I can’t see anything and I would like to either light a torch or hurry.~

Selia: I relay that message to Nofoto, and then speak out to both. ~Alright, let’s get going.~

DM: Nofoto scans a few of the shelves nearby and pulls a crate forward. She seems surprised at the weight of it and gingerly tries the top. She seems about to give up, then seems to realize something. She pulls the crate towards her and lets it crash into the ground, silently. She shifts some of the broken crate boards to peer inside–padded with straw you see the glint of glass as she produces several large convex lenses. She nods lightly and pockets a couple.

Sarah Blackpowder: I nod towards Selia as if to say “Go on, do it.”

Selia: I scan the area, trying to find the cursed item through the silenced field.

DM: Aside from the aura of silence, the lofted second floor feels magically empty. There are ladders set up at strategic points around the edge of the loft that lead down to the open area warehouse below. It is full of stacks of racks and shelves. Between the darkness and the piles of crates and racks, the first floor is a mess of angular silhouettes. You do feel a ping of magic from down there–similar to the one you got from Marlisa’s pouch.

Selia: I immediately begin searching the pile, trying to work as a dowsing machine and moving to where the ping is strongest.

DM: As you round a corner of shelves, Nofoto puts a hand out in front of you to stop you. About fifteen feet away, with their back turned to you, is a figure haphazardly rummaging through a stack of crates. The person seems to give up on their current crate and tosses it aside, sending it splintering across the floor in a silent shatter of wood and glass. They move onto another crate, prying the top off with their bare hands.

Sarah Blackpowder: I continue hanging on to Selia, not able to see anything.

Selia: I speak out to Sarah. ~Someone else is in here. Looking for something too.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~I’m gonna keep a torch ready to light in case this turns violent. I need to be able to see if you want bang bang.~

DM: Selia, looking at this person directly is like being bombarded with magic. It’s like looking at a multicolored strobe light, or hearing four songs you recognize all blaring at once. They don’t seem to notice you yet.

Selia: I point to Sarah, then to Nofoto. ~They’re definitely magical, they may be the one keeping the area silenced, or there could be yet another, any ideas?~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~Well, a pistol shot would be realllll silent right now.~

Selia: ~No. We don’t even know who they are yet, though I’ve got a good idea what they’re looking for.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~Thinking like a criminal, maybe we knock him out, take the magic item, and run. ~

Selia: I relay this to both Nofoto and Sarah. ~You two take up positions where you can ambush him, I’ll provide a distraction, I want to have a word at the least.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~How can I flank when I can’t even see my hand in front of my face?~

Selia: ~Fuck. Alright if we’re going to attack him, I’ll make him seen, trust me, for now, get behind this and hold your gun around here.~ I position Sarah behind a crate with her gun pointed at the figure.

Sarah Blackpowder: I hold still, preparing to attack when a light source makes the target seen and he becomes Hostile, or if my allies attack.

DM: The figure pulls open another crate. This time they stop, and pull what looks like a small spyglass from inside. Ignoring the crate and everything else they put the glass up to their face, turning to look into it. They freeze, staring in the direction of Nofoto and Selia.

Selia: ~Well. Hello, are you the one who set up this silence field?~ I say, pointing at the figure.

DM: Even in the dark you can see the person’s body tilt away in obvious surprise. ~Selia?~ She freezes, her pencil stopping midletter on the page. She slowly puts the pencil flat on the desk. She steeples her fingers. She takes a deep, slow breath. She looks up. “If it’s services you need, what can you pay? If it’s services you’re offering, what are the extent of your… capabilities?”

Selia: “Its information I need, and I haven’t had much time to learn of my, full capabilities. I can’t tell you why, but there is an… Aura to you, and I don’t understand what it is or why I feel it. Honestly was hoping you could cue me into it.”

DM: She considers a moment. “Close the door.”

Selia: I comply.

DM: Marlisa stands and removes her veil. It’s the first time you’ve seen the lower half of her face. Her mouth, much like her eyes, seems perfectly expressionless. She reaches into a series of pouches at her belt and pulls out four items. She places them in a straight row on her desk, separated by about five inches from each other. A key, a small crystal, a long needle with a handle, and a monocle.

“Which one is cursed?”

Selia: I reach my hand out in front of me, feeling the air above each object. From right to left I move my arm, over the monocle, I feel nothing. Over the needle, again nothing. I begin to feel that I may not be able to do this, but when I move my hand over the crystal, I feel something. When my arm reaches all the way on top of the crystal, it feels as though it reaches out at me, dragging me down towards it. “That’s the one. The gem.”

DM: “It is. Can you tell what it does? Or only feel that there is Magic on it?”

Selia: “I’m not learned in the ways of magic, from what I know, it’s a natural force within me that has only shown itself recently, hence why Sarah and I have been dodging the Templars.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I do not, I am only a friend that is accused of such things.”

DM: The corner of Marlisa’s mouth twitches. It’s the closest you’ve seen to a smile from her so far. “Aha.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Do you have this ability?”

DM: She looks between the two of you, running a hand across her hairless head. “No. So what is it that you want to know from me, exactly? It seems you have already answered the one question you had coming in here.”

Selia: I cast Detect Magic, looking at Marlissa.

Selia: “So the payment must be large is what you’re saying? I’m afraid all I can afford you are my own abilities, of which I would show you, though some are, dangerous.”

Selia: “I see what you’re saying, should we expect any problems entering the warehouse?”

DM: “Oh yes. Quite a few.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Like what?” I say abruptly.

Selia: “Sarah if you want out, I understand, this is my business, at any time just say the word.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I just want to see Gris before we do anything else. He’s got to be worried sick about me and I’m worried about him.”

Selia: “I understand, we’ll see him soon.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Do we have to do it today or when is the deal going down?”

Selia: “Sarah, I feel you’re not getting anything out of this deal, is there something you need?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Well, I did have a deal with one of your ferrets for that mission we went on. I would like to make a similar one with you. I’ll go and I’ll use my pistol as I see fit, but for every shot I have to take, I’d like a gold to go towards making more ammunition and maybe the creation of a new weapon. If I don’t have to fire, I’d like 10 gold for my time. But don’t get me wrong, if you make this deal with me, I won’t take unnecessary shots. I can’t risk people finding out about this invention for no reason.”

DM: She cocks her head. “Pistol?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Oh, I see your ferrets don’t tell you everything.” I pull it out. “You may have heard it called many things, but I think pistol has a nice ring.”

DM: She studies it a moment. “Fire powder?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “That’s the method of delivery. The part that hurts you is brass. It hits harder at 20 feet than a heavy crossbow pointblank.”

DM: “And where does one acquire this pistol? ”

Sarah Blackpowder: “You don’t.” With a flourish, I put it away. “It’s one of a kind and I’m not in the business to sell mine.”

Selia: “Yeah, or, you could do what some of the ferrets did and steal it right from under her. Just saying, make that strap.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I would if I could get back to the ship!” I quip.

Selia: “Right. Which is what we’ll probably be needing to do soon Marlissa, could you give us the details on the place? We do need to get back home, it’s been too long.”

DM: “You’re headed to the docks? Then you’re already on the right track.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Oh really?”

Selia: “Well that’s good to hear.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Beautiful map, did you draw it yourself?”

Selia: “What do you think? Should we bring Nofoto in on this? It’ll be my first time doing something like this. I think Sarah would say the same.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Haven’t even thought about doing anything like this before. I’ve never fancied myself a criminal before.”

DM: Marlisa nods. “If you want to hire out a ferret, by all means. Nofoto is very capable. But you’ll be negotiating with them on your own.”

Selia: “Heh, no help there I guess, still, going in alone would probably be dumb, eh Sarah?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I wouldn’t want to go without someone with experience.” I turn to marlissa “But do you and I have a deal?”

DM: “An introduction in exchange for the relic in the warehouse? Absolutely. ” Marlisa is very good at keeping her face impassive but you get a sense that she feels like she is getting away with something regarding this deal.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I feel like we can come to a compromise regarding my part of this deal.”

DM: “And what did you have in mind?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “ I want some information on a sailor named Rashoun. He brought us here and something doesn’t seem… right about him.”

DM: “I can gladly do that.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Thanks. So what exactly is this item?”

Selia: “I assume that’s what she hired us for.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “So she has a buyer for an item she doesn’t even have a physical description of?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “It would even help to know a general size. Marlissa, do you know if this thing is like fist sized? Head? Smaller?”

DM: “A lens.” She flips to the next page in the ledger and you see a sketch of a monocle, actual size.

Selia: “Anything else we should know about it before heading off?”

DM: “If you get caught it won’t be me bailing you out.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Thank you for your time, and sorry we wasted it earlier.”

Selia: “My fault, I got cold feet.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Better to be a little cautious when you have what you have.”

DM: “I appreciate caution. But once you commit to something, don’t change your mind. Especially in Flathead.” She gestures towards the door.

Selia: “We’ll be seeing you then.” I exit, looking for Nofoto.

DM: Nofoto is sitting with her pals at one of the long tables. It’s less busy in here than it was before you left for Zullick’s. She makes eye contact and smiles before turning back to the dice.

Selia: I walk over to her and sit down. “Nofoto, I’ve gotten a job from Marlisa, though I want your help.” I bring out the bag she gave me and put it on the table. “And, I can pay this time with money.”

Sarah Blackpowder: I look around for anyone I know or that seems familiar.

DM: Aside from Nofoto’s table, the only other people in the room that were here the last time around are the two Alhoun ferrets that Marlisa came in with.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Yeah Nofoto we need some help if you have the time.”

**DM: ** Nofoto bobs her head back and forth, considering. “I already agreed to take you down to your ship. Or is this a different job? A ten Standard job?”

Selia: “A different job, a warehouse, apparently there’s a monocle in there we’re supposed to seek out.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Maybe help us case the place and get inside and out.”

Selia: “Leave the monocle finding to me.”

DM: Brauna leans in. “Get inside a Flathead warehouse? For ten Standard? I’ll do it for seven.” Nofoto cocks an eyebrow. “ Which warehouse?”

Selia: I tell her all the information on the warehouse Marlissa told us, excluding magic.

DM: Brauna’s smile slides off her face so fast it almost makes a sound. “Never mind,” she says. “I’m out.”

Selia: “Ah, scared now?”

DM: Nofoto’s lips tense into a thin line. “That’s Zullick’s warehouse.”

“Or might as well be,” Brauna says.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Sounds like a good time.”

Selia: “Well that certainly makes things more interesting. She left that bit out when she was telling us.”

DM: “Ha,” Jarrel says. “You lot just can’t keep away from that sleaze, huh?”

Selia: “More like we keep getting pushed into situations with him. So are any of you still interested?”

DM: Nofoto sighs. “I’ll help you. But I want all ten of those Standards. And from now on I charge full price for my services.”

Selia: “Perfectly fair, thank you Nofoto.”

DM: “What’s your timeline?”

Selia: “Right now? Only before our ship leaves. How long did they say that would be Sarah?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I don’t know when he leaves, I believe we’re going inland now.”

DM: Nofoto swirls her drink. “Maybe we wait until nightfall. That should be enough.”

“Dice in the meantime?” Brauna asks.

Selia: “Hah! I need to keep my standards to pay Nofoto, so no gambling for me.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “You guys broke me last time, I’m good.”

DM: “Sometimes, when we are low on coin, we play for questions. If you make someone go up on dice, you get to ask them one thing and they have to answer honestly.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I guess you have many questions for us, and unfortunately they are worth more than any amount of gold.”

Selia: “Eh, screw it I’ll play for questions.”

Sarah Blackpowder: I look curiously at Selia.

Selia: “Oh relax, will you?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll play til after i have to answer a question.”

DM: The dwarf leans in. “Then I guess it’s time to roll some bones!” He hands you each some dice and a cup.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I guess so…” I sit down. “So who begins?”

DM: Nofoto snaps her fingers. “I will. Six threes.” Everyone looks to Selia.

Selia: “Six Sixes.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Seven twos”

DM: Brauna looks you in the eye. “Hmmm…” she says. “Pigshit.” She shows her dice, and Jarrel and Nofoto follow suit.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I got three.” I slide mine foward.

DM: “None from me,” says Brauna smugly. Jarrel slides forward a two and a one. Nofoto slides forward two ones.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll take the gold over the question. Or is that not how this works? I’m still a little fuzzy on the betting here.”

DM: “Questions, or coin? Pick one, but that’s what we play for.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll take gold from you. I’ll play again because I’m feeling lucky…” I play until I either lose my profit or everyone else quits playing

Sarah Blackpowder: “I’ll play one more.”

Selia: “Aw but that sounded interesting Nofoto.”

DM: “With what coin?” The dwarf says.

Sarah Blackpowder: I glance at Selia “With a question. Or an answer… I don’t know how to word that.”

DM: Everyone thinks about it. Jarrel grins and turns his cup back over. This seems to be enough for everyone but Nofoto, who slides some dice your way rather reluctantly.

Sarah Blackpowder: I shake my dice and give a shit eating grin

DM: Brauna slams her cup down and peeks underneath. “Four fours,” she says. “Five fours,” Nofoto says instantly. She turns to Selia.

Selia: “Six fours.”

Selia: I subtlely cast Message to Sarah. ~2, 1, 2, 1, 4, 6. Sarah, these are my dice.~

DM: The dwarf scrunches up his face, trying to get a read. Everyone looks to Sarah.

Sarah Blackpowder: I check my dice again, act like I’m making a huge decision, and I look at my dice again. “Seven twos.”

DM: Brauna whistles. “What a jump.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Time to take some risks, I’m feeling lucky.”

Selia: “Gambled away all your money first time, now gambling away your secrets, eh?”

Sarah Blackpowder: “I can only answer what I know… And that’s not a lot.”

DM: “Might as well accuse, man. We all know you got nothing, now,” says the dwarf.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Then do it.”

DM: Jarrel squeezes his eyes shut. “Piiiiiigshiiiit,” he says without confidence.

Selia: I show my dice with the rest of the group.

DM: You two put forward a grand total of six twos and wilds. Nofoto slides a two forward, then Brauna adds two wilds.

Sarah Blackpowder: “It seems as if I lowballed it.”

DM: Jarrel swears in a language neither of you recognize. “All right!” he says. “One question.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “What’s the drydock witchery?”

DM: Nofoto shoots a dirty look to Jarrel. He presents his palms in apology.

Sarah Blackpowder: I smile, “now I realize why people bet in secrets.”

“Pior ain’t no leafpiper,” the dwarf butts in. Brauna shushes him.

“Anyway,” Jarrel continues, “the dockhand goes nuts. He starts calling Pior a liar, challenging him to a duel, all this big stuff. He even says he knows for a fact that that didn’t happen because he remembered the dock being completely empty, and how unusual that is. But then something crazy happens. Pior asks him 'if you didn’t see anyone, including me, then how’d you get my pipe earlier that night?’ And the dockhand just goes silent for a long time. He holds his head and grunts like someone socked him in the stomach. Then he suddenly remembers everything, just the way Pior says it happened. But he also remembers it the way he said it happened originally too.” Jarrel does a slow circle of jazzhands. “Bewitched.”

“Maybe,” Nofoto says. “If not, then where’d all these Templars come from?” Jarrel asks. “I wonder,” Nofoto says.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Interesting. Is that why this warehouse job may be harder?”

DM: Brauna nods.“Anybody who can afford it has toughs watching their goods until the next round of shipments go out. Seems like maybe whoever this was was looking for something in particular.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Any idea of what that might be?” I lean in with my elbows on the table, chin resting on my knuckles

DM: Jarrel grins mischievously. “I heard someone found a relic that can turn lead into gold.” The dwarf does a spit take. Brauna bursts out laughing.

Selia: I join in laughing with Brauna.

DM: Jarrel looks hurt, but he maintains eye contact. “That’s why I heard!”

Sarah Blackpowder: I smile softly, “I believe you Jarrel, anything is possible.”

Selia: “Alright, let’s do this then.” I get up and move towards the exit.

Sarah Blackpowder: I follow silently, brushing my fingers over my pistol at my hip.

Selia: “After you, Nofoto.”

Sarah Blackpowder: I climb up behind her.

Selia: I follow suit.

Selia: “Any idea how to get in there?” I try to look around the building for any entrances, guards, etc. without appearing suspicious.

Sarah Blackpowder: “That will be fun.”

DM: Nofoto’s mouth almost turns into a smile before she is able to suppress it. “You two have a strange idea of fun.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “More like this strange thing called sarcasm.”

Selia: “Aw c'mon, lighten up Sarah. Not everyday you get to risk your life looking for a monocle.” I watch Nofoto’s face as I say this. DM: Nofoto’s face remains impassive, but you catch a look in her eye. It’s as if she is suddenly doing 100 small computations all at once. Then, everything seems to return to normal. Nofoto crosses the road and sidles up to the wall. She looks up at it from very close, at an angle, then sweeps to the side to look at it from a different one. She points to a couple of different spots up the wall. “Handholds there, there, and there,” she whispers.

Selia: “I doubt we’ve got any rope, eh?”

DM: “I certainly don’t.” Nofoto turns towards the wall and, with nearly supernatural silence, scampers up about 18 ft in the blink of an eye.

Selia: I crouch down with my hands near the ground, fingers interlaced. I look to Sarah.

Sarah Blackpowder: I quickly stretch, preparing myself to climb.

Selia: In a hushed tone. “Come on, I’ll give you a boost.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Okay, let’s do this” I attempt to climb with Selia helping where she can.

Selia: Seeing Sarah climb, I’m reminded of my fall in Curogan, I shudder but quickly snap back and begin to scale the wall.

Sarah Blackpowder: “That would be wise.” I grunt out as I pull myself up with Nofoto’s help.

Selia: “Second one in right?”

Selia: “Damn, I can barely even see one…” I say shallowly.

Sarah Blackpowder: “I guess my job is to stay silent because I can’t see scat.”

Selia: “Well maybe, if I could fly I could.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Would a rope help?” I rustle around in my bag and pull out 50ft of rope.

Selia: “What, you forgot you had this earlier?”

Sarah Blackpowder: I look slightly dumbfounded. “Oh, right. This would have been useful earlier.”

Selia: I leer at Sarah. “Just, do what you’re gonna do then.”

Sarah Blackpowder: “My bad.” I look for anything for the rope to go around.

DM: There are lateral support beams that poke out of the plaster sides of the building, about five feet short of the roof.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Can those beams support us?”

DM: “Probably,” Nofoto says. “They’re made to hold up the whole roof.”

Sarah Blackpowder: I attempt to tie a lasso and throw it around the beam.

DM: You toss out the lasso and it goes wide, hitting the side of the building and then sliding down towards the ground.

Sarah Blackpowder: I yank it back quickly pulling all of the rope back towards me

Sarah Blackpowder: I toss the end to her.

DM: You heave the rope up and Nofoto snatches it. The arm disppears over the edge of the roof and reels in a few more feet, then stops. You hear a quick, quiet whistle from the roof.

Sarah Blackpowder: I pull on the rope and check if it’s sturdy.

DM: It pulls taut. You swing forward to try to land into a rappel, but twist midway and hit the building sideways with a whump. You manage to hold on to the roof but for a second the wind is knocked out of you. From below and around the corner, you hear someone’s footsteps through the gravel path suddenly stop.

Selia: I look for the guards and prepare to use Minor Illusion to create the sound of running if they come too close.

DM: You all hear footsteps approach, accompanied by the flicker of lamp light.

Sarah Blackpowder: I swing myself up quickly and silently as possible.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Okay. I’ll stay here and try to stay silent.”

Sarah Blackpowder: My hands are shaking as I pull up the rope. "This is so wrong. I’m so nervous.”

Selia: “Well, we’re still breathing, so let’s just get in get out.”

DM: You hear Nofoto’s voice before you see her. “I’ve got a window open in the warehouse over. We should be able to slide in from that roof. ”

Sarah Blackpowder: “Okay” I follow her voice until I see her.

Selia: I follow behind.

Sarah Blackpowder: “Can you tie off the rope somewhere?”

Sarah Blackpowder: I step back and take a running start, moving through the air with the grace of a dead duck before landing on my feet on the other side.

DM: Nofoto helps steady you and then looks across to Selia.

Selia: I stretch my legs a bit before finally taking the rope and making the jump.

Selia: I follow behind.

Sarah Blackpowder: I follow suit behind Selia. I whisper to her; “Remember, I can’t see in the dark.”

Selia: “Stick next to me, grab my arm Sarah.” I reach out to touch her hand.

Sarah Blackpowder: I grab her hand and brush my other hand over my pistol.

Sarah Blackpowder: I cover Selia’s mouth, and when she stops talking I point to my ears, shaking my head. I mouth to them “I can’t hear.”

DM: Nofoto looks relieved. Big and slow, she mouths the words “None of us can hear?” while gesturing first at the three of you and then her own ears.

Sarah Blackpowder: I nod.

DM: Nofoto shrugs and mouths real big again. “Why?”

Sarah Blackpowder: I look towards Selia

Selia: I subtle spell cast Detect Magic.

DM: The whole warehouse seems to be shrouded in a carefully woven illusion that eats sound. It is ongoing, as if someone is actively keeping it up.

Selia: I point at Sarah and cast Message. ~It’s magical, someone is holding this area silenced.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~Well, sounds like we have no choice but to include Nofoto in on our secret.~

DM: Nofoto is smelling the nearby warehouse racks, and carefully touching objects and then tasting them. She turns back to the two of you and touches the back of her hand, mouthing something.

Selia: I point a finger at Nofoto. ~Don’t freak out. The area is magically silenced. If you wish to speak put your finger to your mouth and I will allow us to speak.~

DM: Nofoto tenses up, hesitantly raising a finger to her lips. ~I understand.~

Selia: ~Good. No reason to hide this anymore. Question now is who’s doing it.~

Sarah Blackpowder: I tap on Selia’s shoulder and put my fingers up to my lips.

Selia: ~Yes?~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~We need to get moving. I can’t see anything, and I would like to either light a torch or hurry.~

Selia: I relay that message to Nofoto and then to both ~Alright, let’s get going.~

Sarah Blackpowder: I nod towards Selia as if to say “Go on, do it.”

Selia: I scan the area trying to find the cursed item through the silenced field.

Selia: I immediately begin searching the pile, trying to work as a dowsing machine and moving to where the ping is strongest.

Sarah Blackpowder: I continue hanging on to Selia, not able to see anything.

Selia: To Sarah. ~Someone else is in here. Looking for something too.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~I’m gonna keep a torch ready to light in case this turns violent. I need to be able to see if you want bang bang.~

Selia: I point to Sarah, then to Nofoto. ~They’re definitely magical, they may be the one keeping the area silenced, or there could be yet another, any ideas?~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~Well, a pistol shot would be realllll silent right now.~

Selia: ~No. We don’t even know who they are yet, though I’ve got a good idea what they’re looking for.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~Thinking like a criminal, maybe we knock him out, take the magic item, and run. ~

Selia: I relay this to both Nofoto and Sarah. ~You two take up positions where you can ambush him, I’ll provide a distraction, I want to have a word at the least.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~How can I flank when I can’t even see my hand in front of my face?~

Sarah Blackpowder: I hold still and prepare to attack when a light source makes the target seen, and he is hostile. or if my allies attack

Selia: ~Well. Hello, are you the one who set up this silence field?~ pointing at the figure

DM: Even in the dark you can see the person’s body tilt away in obvious surprise. ~Selia?~

#d&d #dungeons and dragons #roleplay game #fantasy #fantasy roleplay #rp games #rp #rp stories #stories #rp stuff #fantasy story #selia #sarah blackpowder #chapter 4 #part 1 #chapter 4 part 1

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dstickman-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Interlude 1 - pt.4

Nuria Quil: “I’ll give you a run down of the situation. I wasn’t quite sure, but I can tell you don’t trust me. Back in the main temple there were ancient books. Old dusty and decaying tomes. It was my job to re-copy those onto fresh text. They details elaborate rituals and prayers to pull upon the power of the gods. I don’t know why, but after we found the little red bead, all of them work. So, there’s two things we’ll be doing here. Number one, there’s a ritual to expose magical items and creatures. Next there’s one to expose creatures that are not necessarily magic, but shouldn’t exist. So, I’ll walk through the crowd checking each of them, and you shoot the one who turns into a candle. Of course, now that I’ve confessed you could shoot me now and blame it on me.”

Abather Crowley: She’s right, you know. You can be free of all this, and blame it on her right this instant. They might believe you, too. But she said that she’s doing holy rituals? Enacting miracles?… Is she a hand of God? Is she really a witch? “I ain’t gonna shoot you. Wasn’t even considering it. I may be angry with ya, but not enough for that. I just want my name cleared, then we can talk about your… Circumstances, later.”

Nuria Quil: “That’s comforting.”

DM: You both make your way back to town. By the time you arrive, almost every person who lives in Colley Hill is gathered in the town square. They’re all chattering amongst themselves. Some seem confused, others annoyed, a few afraid.

Nuria Quil: “Go find somewhere, I’m going to get started.” I’m going to sit down and start saying prayers and going about my ritual.

Abather Crowley: I begin to look around, hoping to find something suitably tall I can watch above the crowd from.

DM: Nuria–Your magical probing reveals nothing within the radius of town. Abather, you find a scaffold nearby and scale it, scanning the small crowd.

DM: You scan the crowd. Something is nagging at you but you’re not sure what. You scan the crowd again. One of the miners from this morning is missing. One of the crowd calls out to Nuria. “We are here, Cleric!”

Nuria Quil: “One moment. It’s awfully crowded… I’ll be there soon.” I start walking towards them, changing the nature of my prayer, looking for creatures, as opposed to the pervasive weaves of Magic.

DM: Nothing seems out of the ordinary to you as you walk amongst the townsfolk. However, you also notice that one person is missing: Dina Bartleby. She’s a tough and wiry lady who’s known for being shrewd and cynical to the point of humorlessness. In fact you still remember the last time you offered her a blessing from Qoth, to which she rolled her eyes and replied “I’d follow any god that would stop your mouth.”

Abather Crowley: I wave at Nuria to get her attention, and shout down to her. “Someone’s missing, Cleric! But I dunno who! Who should I be lookin’ for!? Details!” I then scan what area I can see surrounding the town, for a horse, wagon, or anyone travelling on foot out of the Village.

DM: You turn to scan from the scaffold, but something distracts you and pulls your focus. What is it?

Abather Crowley: Oddly enough, Nuria herself. I hadn’t really taken the time to notice before, but she really does stick out. Her hair is just so… Outlandish, so out of place… So unnatural. I know I have someone I’m supposed to be looking for, but it bothers me too much. Her very presence unsettles me to no end. Though, she is not a wholly unpleasant a sight, I will adm:it.

Nuria Quil: “Annie, look for the really mean one! Kinda old woman, hates everything!”

DM: A woman in the middle of the crowd, Annie Greenbow, points to herself. “Look for who?”

Nuria Quil: “No, Dina. You’re fine Misses Greenbow.”

DM: Someone else pipes up. “Most of us are here, we want to know why!” There’s some grumbling agreement. Then someone else yells “What was in that mine?” Then another: “is the town cursed?!” The crowd breaks down into people shouting assumptions, questions, and accusations.

Nuria Quil: “Everyone please quiet down!”

DM: The crowd quiets down, but they seem tense to burst out again.

Nuria Quil: “I don’t want to lie to any of you. I have, hopefully, built some kind of trust between myself and all of you. So, I am going to give you a warning. If you do not want to know, you may now leave. If you have children, please cover their ears. If you want to know, wait those who want to be gone leave.”

DM: There is some grumbling and shuffling of feet, but everyone stays put.

Nuria Quil: “Okay. A cursed room was found in the mines. Something came out of it. Something that can make itself look like other people. Before you start attack your fellow townspeople, Quoth has blessed me to find this person, and none here are guilty. Put your minds at ease. However, Dina is not here, so I have not checked her. As it stands she is not guilty, but we must make sure. That is the truth. All of it, and I have held nothing back.”

DM: The crowd is quiet for a while. Then someone says “Dina was at the mine this morning.” Someone else calls out “Let’s go check on her!”

Abather Crowley: “Y'wan’t me ta stay up here and watch for her, Cleric? Incase she tries ta evade ya?”

Nuria Quil: “No, I think we should stick together. Come on down and we’ll head to her house.”

Abather Crowley: I nod, making my way down from my watch post to follow her.

DM: The crowd follows. All seventy or so residents of Colley Hill moving behind you in a somber parade. Dina’s house is simple and dark. She recently replaced her thatched roof and the new one still smells of waterproofing oils and straws. There are no lights on inside, but the front door is wide open. Behind you, the townspeople come to a halt, waiting for your move.

Nuria Quil: “Everyone stay together, we can only protect you if you’re all in one place.”

DM: The crowd starts whispering, but they all inch closer together.

Nuria Quil: “Okay, you ready Jacks?”,

Abather Crowley: I roll my eyes, making sure my hand crossbow is ready and loaded. “Y'aren’t even trying t'get it right on that one. But yes, I’m ready.”

Nuria Quil: “You caught me. Alright, let’s go.”

DM: You get a strange feeling as you walk in through the front door of Dina’s house. It’s dark inside, but it feels lived in.

Nuria Quil: “Ab close the door, we don’t want it running out behind us.”

DM: Nuria, even as you say this you feel a sickly almost oily feeling in your gut. It’s still dark in here, but you know something is wrong. Care to describe your 1st time walking into an area that you know in your heart is magically desecrated?

Nuria Quil: Walking into the room in the mine was a moment of fear and curiosity. The prospect of seeing cursed relics and corpses of evil mages was equally exciting and eerie.

Walking into Dina’s house was the sweet scene of the perfect crime. The dark windows, scattered chairs, and freshly stocked spices occupied the room. A room that is by all means, normal. Then the realization sets in. Dina is not here. Nobody is here. That alone could be enough to frighten someone, and it was. The air was thick with fear, men and women voiced concern over the house, and the only movement is the air from your lungs. If that wasn’t enough to scare you, the magic was. It was as if eyes floated in the air, scanning and searching for life to take. It was as if the house had always, and always would be vacant. It was as if the very sins of the past had risen to seek vengeance on themselves. I don’t feel fear at this house. I feel death at this house.

DM: You do a sweep of the room. There’s some bottles on the table, a couple of knick-knacks on a countertop, a shelf with some parchment rolls… Something seems not right. These things don’t feel casually placed or stored. They stick out, like whoever put them all away was somehow trying to draw attention to them.

Abather Crowley: As I step in, closing the door behind me, I scan the room for any sign of a rushed packing job. “I don’t like this place all that much, Miss Nuria…. ”

DM: The bottles’ contents seem to swirl by themselves, churning and mixing in the glass. The parchment scrolls are covered in runes like the ones in the cursed room of the mine. One of the small objects, a figurine of a smiling man with a heart shaped hole in his chest, seems to glow ever so slightly.

Abather Crowley: “Miss Nuria, I have no doubts. This woman is the Witch. This ain’t natural. What d'we do? Personally, I wanna burn the whole house, but I bet ya got somethin’ else in mind. Either way, this makes me feel sick…” After seeing no immediate danger, I walk to the desk and gingerly pick up the figurine of the man.

DM: You have never seen this person before in depiction or in life. But holding it puts you at ease somehow.

Nuria Quil: “Be careful with those! We don’t know what kind of curses could be on it, my ritual doesn’t extend to items!”

Abather Crowley: I drop the Figurine back onto the desk as if burned, watching warily for any sort of noticeable effect. “Y'coulda warned me before I touched it!”

DM: As soon as you let it go the calming effect subsides, returning you to your anxious state of mind. Jameson appears in the doorway. His eyes widen as he takes in the objects placed about the space.

Abather Crowley: I whip around to face him, feeling a bit twitchy at all this. “Stop! Don’t come in, it may be dangerous! Find Dina! Ain’t no doubt in my mind she’s up t'no good!”

DM: Jameson stops. His voice is flat and hard as a skipping stone. “We have been living with this right under our noses.”

Abather Crowley: “Well. y'don’t have to much longer. Find her, gather every man n’ woman willing, and bring her before Miss Nuria. The Cleric’ll decide her fate, as it ain’t in my right, or anyone elses.” After watching for Jameson’s response, I pick up one of the swirling bottles, to look a bit closer. Morbid curiosity has beaten out caution, for the moment.

DM: This bottle is full of a dark purple substance, floating and billowing like an imprisoned cloud, or a spurt of ink in water. Jameson balks. “Should you be touching that? By Qoth, if even Dina didn’t take them with her, they must be dangerous!”

Abather Crowley: Almost dropping it onto the desk like the idol, I catch myself, as doing so would spill the contents everywhere. “Y'may be right, but we need some sorta evidence ta present t'those who may doubt it. It’s in a bottle, how bad can jus’ the bottle be?…”

DM: Jameson shakes his head, eyebrows up. He looks to Nuria for an answer.

Nuria Quil: “I… I don’t know, I’m no alchemist. I might be able to search my books for something. If we bring it back to my place I can research… but Dina is getting away.”

DM: “She wasn’t at the meeting…” Jameson frowns. “Actually, I remember her being at the mine, but when you two came out she was already gone.”

Nuria Quil: “Do you think she’s snuck back to the mine, or just fled?”

DM: “I don’t know but…” he looks around the room and shudders. “It’s clear what she was.”

Nuria Quil: “What do we tell the town?”

Abather Crowley: “Ya think Dina is tryin’ ta head back into that room we where in? What if her power, or somethin’, comes from there? That’s how Magic works, isn’t it?”

DM: “You would know,” Jameson grumbles.

Nuria Quil: “No he wouldn’t. He’s not the witch here.”

Abather Crowley: I reach down to my hand crossbow, making sure it has a niiice click as the string is pulled, a bolt loaded. “We can argue for my being a witch or not later.”

DM: Jameson backs out of the house with a blank expression chiseled into his face.

Nuria Quil: “Ab! Don’t go around threatening people! They haven’t done anything wrong, they’re just scared!”

Abather Crowley: “Well I ain’t done anything wrong either! And yet, here I am, scared for my own life! I’ll stop defending myself when they stop tryin'a say things about me. I’m scared too.”

DM: You hear the crowd outside start to chatter.

Nuria Quil: “Qoth help you Ab…” I walk outside.

DM: Abather, you watch Nuria head out. She pockets the figurine of the smiling man on the way.

Abather Crowley: I swear, I’m going to tie her up and drag her to the nearest temple the minute this is all over. I put the bottle in one of my backpack’s pockets, and begin to walk out. Once I get next to Jameson, I put a hand on his shoulder, and turn to him. “I ain’t no different than you, James. Just as confused, jus’ as scared. But at least your hide isn’t on the line, right?” I then give him the best scowl I can, patting his back as I leave the building.

Nuria Quil: I bring the Doll out my pocket. “Sadly, this cannot be denied. Dina has been practicing witchcraft right between our eyes the whole time.”

DM: The crowd hushes. Jameson grits his teeth but doesn’t quite shrug you off, Abather. A man near the back of the pack lets out a panicky moan. “She has had us bewitched!” A woman cries out from the middle of the crowd. Some people start to make signs of Qoth, and a couple mumble prayers. Others start peppering each other with nervous questions, or trying to shoulder out some distance between each other.

Nuria Quil: “She’s gone now. We’re safe. She could be halfway around the world with magics, there’s nothing left for her here. However, I’d like to propose something to the town. Either we can burn everything in this house, cleanse by fire and all that. We can also save these curses in here for study, try and find a way to see this before it’s too late again. I don’t want to betray your trust, so this is up to all of you.”

DM: A wave of tension seems to ease up off the crowd. They are all quiet as they try to process this information. A man steps forward. “With all due respect, priestess,” he says, turning to face the mob, “I think we should burn it!” A woman towards the back calls “ Burn the whole house!” A murmur of agreement runs through the townsfolk.

Nuria Quil: “Alright, we burn it. Let’s go get some torches.” But then a thought crosses my mind. “Actually wait. There were some potions or something inside, those might be dangerous to burn. Let’s dump them somewhere. Anyone have a good idea?”

Abather Crowley: I then walk behind Nuria, and draw her close so I may whisper to her. “We can leave stuff like that in the Mine, left untouched in abandoned sections, I reckon.”

DM: A particularly nervous looking man yelps “I’m not touching anything!”

Nuria Quil: “No no, I’ll carry it. If anyone is going to get cursed it’s me, I deserve it for not protecting you. Ab just recommended we leave it in mine, in the cursed room we’re sealing off.”

DM: The nervous man does not back down. “What if Dina wasn’t the only witch?”

“Quiet, Tryst,” someone nearby says. The nervous man’s face shifts into a scowl. “No! We’re all being too calm about this, if you ask me! Taking a lot at its face. Earlier today we assumed we were an ordinary town untouched by cursed magicks. Now we’re supposed to assume that the one we found was the only one? Why was Dina doing witchery here if not to find the mine?”

“Dina’s not in charge of the mine,” says the woman from the back. “You’re right,” says Tryst. “So how lucky for her that Alan just happened to push the mining tunnels in the perfect direction to find her little, her little… desecration!”

Abather Crowley: Standing next to Nuria, I try to raise my voice above the crowd. Not really something I’ve done before, mind. But I have shouted to people across a field. “No one is guilty until y'got evidence that says otherwise! Assumptions an’ suspicion will only tear apart all the fine folk of the village! So stop pointin’ figers and start lookin’ clearly fer the truth o’ the matter! If we keep our eyes on eachother, how are we supposed to see the truth aroun’ us!? Well!?”

DM: The crowd seems to side with you, and eases back. Tryst does not seem convinced but he reads the room and sulkily clams up.

Abather Crowley: “Alright. Now everyone stay calm, and keeep yer eyes open fer any sign of Dina at all. Tracks outta the town, sightings, anything. Let me an’ our Cleric get rid'a the blasphemous contents of the house. After that’s done, y'can burn the house down, but only after Nuria deems it safe. Fair?’

DM: The townsfolk all chatter over each other in agreement and back up away from the house.

Nuria Quil: "Alright, go ahead and get some oil and torches, we’ll go grab all the stuff that might make cursed smoke out of the building.”

DM: About half the crowd disperses to obey. The rest huddle closer, eyes on the two of you.

Nuria Quil: “Alright, lists get started. Who wants a lesson in how to avoid being afflicted by witchcraft?”

DM: The crowd responds with a chorus of yeses.

Nuria Quil: I walk into the room and leave the door open. “So if you look here, these are potions. Potions are a liquid form of magic, they are usually highly volatile, and as always highly dangerous curses. There are various cursed relics on the table, these are strange in nature. They can have any deadly effect a witch puts to them, capable of corrupting any and everything. Obviously very dangerous.”

DM: Jameson seems to be the only one brave enough to follow you in. “So how do we move them safely?” He asks.

Nuria Quil: “Well, there I’m not to sure. I’m confident that as long as we don’t breathe it in, or get any of it on us we should be fine. The cursed items could go off just by touching them, so I don’t know… But I think we can just burn those in here no problem.”

DM: He points to the parchment. “Maybe she left some notes? Or clues about what she was up to?”

Nuria Quil: “Hmm. I didn’t see that. I wonder if she out where she’s going.” I walk over to the note and peer at it.

DM: There are several scrolls hanging noticeably over the edge of their shelf. The first one seems indecipherable, like it was written in gibberish. The second is words. It’s hard to explain, but you feel a tug in your spirit, like you do when facing the door to Dreams. You get a sense that reading this out loud will allow someone to push normal mortal limitations on reflex and agility.

Nuria Quil: “This is a strong kind of magic. Something is deeply wrong with this paper.” I lay it on the table in front of James. “This one, however, is just gibberish raving of a crazy witch.” I hold up the other paper.

DM: There are three more scrolls.

Nuria Quil: I start reading them, sort them magic and non-magic.

DM: Two of the three are “legible” in the same non -iteral way as the first. The third is indecipherable. One seems to grant the power to lock a person in place, and the other feels like it does something that you know is impossible: bring a recently deceased person back to life. “A code maybe? Or some dark language? ”

Nuria Quil: I hold up the first scroll, “Gibberish.” I hold up the second, “Evil.” I hold up the third, “Evil gibberish.”

DM: “Then we should burn all five.” Jameson shudders.

Nuria Quil: “Sounds like a good plan. James, could you close the door for me real quick?”

DM: “With us inside?”

Nuria Quil: “Yeah,” I lower my voice “I need to tell you something, but I don’t want to make the others any more scared.”

DM: Jameson looks uncomfortable, but he gets up to close the door.

Nuria Quil: Once it’s closed I turn to him, put all the scrolls except for the paralysis one down, and look him dead in the eyes. “James. I can tell you with absolute certainty that Abather is not a witch.”

Abather Crowley: I’m beginning to feel uncomfortable myself, but feel relieved in a way. Until I realise what she’s probably up to, that is. Bloody fool! I know she’s a Witch, but does she have to let Jameson know!? She’d never be able to show her face in the area again! Cotton headed Git! Isn’t that what you want? She’s a Witch! I slowly reach my hand behind me, ready to grab at something in case Nuria does something seriously wrong.

Nuria Quil: “James, I’m a witch. I woke up, and turned into a witch.” I force my shield to glow again.

Abather Crowley: I stand there stunned. I knew it was coming, but I haven’t a clue how to react. All I can think to do is grab the pole that was once a long shovel into my trembling hand, holding it behind my back.

DM: Jameson shifts his weight from foot to foot. His eyes flick to Abather, to Nuria, to the scrolls, and then back to the shield. His mouth hangs open. “You woke up a witch?”

Nuria Quil: “Yes, we were knocked out in the mines, and I woke up a witch. I had a vision, I think Qoth is bleeding me with this, but I am not sure… Also, I used my magic on you earlier. When you were knocked out I used it to heal you…” I turn off my shield.

DM: Jameson jumps.

Nuria Quil: “That’s all I promise. I feel like I can hurt people. I know this power is what destroyed the world, I can feel that, but I can help people! I used it to save you, I can use it to save this town. I can tell the others power. This scroll,” I hold up the first paper “can push you beyond human limits, make you move faster and stronger. That’s dangerous, but this one… This one can bring back the dead. It can save so many people!” I put all of them on the table again, and drop my sheild. “I won’t stop whatever you want to do, and I’d bet Ab will help you. Just, please I want you to trust me.”

DM: “You got these… powers…. from a vision?”

Nuria Quil: “Yeah. It was… Weird. Just a deserted village, only one other person was there, and they were asleep.”

DM: Jameson nods slowly. “ ‘From the dreams of the Goddess,’ ” he recites. He leaves the quote unfinished.

Nuria Quil: “James…” I walk up and place my Mace in his hands, “Please keep safe, the town needs you if I’m gone. I trust your judgement, your much older than me after all. You know the prayers as well as I do, and the town trusts you. Just tell me what you want me to do.”

DM: Jameson is quiet a long time. He accepts the mace, putting your hands in his as he looks you in the eye. “We will destroy these things. Qoth has blessed you to shield us from dark arcana…. so find Dina. Figure out what she wanted from us. Figure out what she may have done to us already.”

Nuria Quil: “I don’t know where she is, if she left town we may have a chance to follow her. If she teleported in the mines she could be anywhere in the world. Right now, we still need to help with all this magic. The reason I suggested studying it… Well, magic doesn’t burn. None of this is flammable. I can sit down a find out if it’s dangerous or not, but that takes time.”

DM: “They won’t be happy about that… They may not even believe you.”

Nuria Quil: “I didn’t want to scare them. If they burn the house and all this stuff stays unharmed. They would probably get freaked out.”

DM: “If you need time to study them…” He exhales. “Your friend and I can move them. When the house is cleansed, they will only see the ashes.” He looks to Abather for confirmation.

Abather Crowley: “Huh? Oh, y-yeah. Right. I have a… Quite a bit of room in my pack, can move em that way…” I exhale in relief, letting the grip on the broken shovel go.

Nuria Quil: “Right well. Let’s grab all this stuff. Anything that could be magic stuff in a bag, and then I’ll look at it later, find out which ones are immediately dangerous and which ones we can just bury.”

DM: You stuff the vials, scrolls, and the four figurines into the knapsack. Jameson taps each thing quickly before grabbing it for real–like one would check a pan to see if it’s hot. In no time you have everything packed up.

Nuria Quil: “Alright, we got all the dangerous stuff out. Go ahead and burn it down.”

DM: Jameson nods. You all walk outside and a villager comes forward with a torch, and sets it to the dry thatched roof of Dina’s house. The fire catches and crackles as it spreads around the house. The townsfolk gather around to watch, and you can tell that they are relieved. They feel as if they have put this all to rest, cleansed the revelations of the day in fire.

The two of you know better than that.

#D&D #dungeons and dragons #roleplay game #fantasy #fantasy rp #rp stories #rp stuff #rp games #Nuria quill #abather Crowley #interlude #interlude 1 #interlude 1 part 4

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dstickman-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Interlude 1 - pt.3

DM: Nuria from where you’re at, you watch Jameson Hit the Dirt and Ab bend over him in panic. You can’t hear anything anyone saying from where you are at.

Nuria Quil: “James!”

Abather Crowley: I have seen death, as a hunter. I take the life of an animal so I may extend my own; makes a right good feast it does. I’ve seen the death of loved ones. My Grandfather, on his deathbed, and… Elaine, the day of the storm. But this…. This is Sudden, like Elaine- Before me, like my grandfather…. Unforgiving, like death. It’s a lot to take in, seeing death in this way for the first time. I’m unable to speak, unable to think. Compounded on the stress of seeing magic, a witch, and…. Perhaps being caught up in it myself, this is just too much for me, all at once. And so I cried out, doing the only thing I could do to try and process this.

This is witch’s work. But not her work. Does it matter? She uses the very same power as whoever- whatever caused this. Qalda, shine on me, get me outta this mess…

Nuria Quil: My face slacks, eyes growing horrified. “No no no no no no, please no. He isn’t dead, he can’t be. Abather please, tell me he isn’t dead.”

DM: Jameson is alive, but very unconscious. Chivay seems to see it too, and kneels to lift Jameson’s head.

Nuria Quil: Sighing, my composure returns, as I kneel beside James. “He’s okay, thank the lady mother, he’s okay. What happened?”

DM: Chivay shakes his head. He tries to pull back Jameson’s eyelids to take a peek into them. “Dunno. He seemed confused about the time of day and then he just… dropped.”

Nuria Quil: “All of the miners think it’s only been about ten minutes since you got to town. It’s not just him, there’s witchcraft here… There is something loose in Colley Hill.”

Abather Crowley: Uppon learning Jameson is alive I stop screaming, but I’m still upset at everything happening around me. I simply hold my head in my hands, and take deep breaths. You see? Witchcraft. And you’re just going to sit back and let it happen?

Nuria Quil: “Mr. Chivay, do you have any pillows, or something to prop up his head in your cart?”

DM: Chivay seems to lost track of the conversation somewhere around the word ‘witchcraft.’ “I, uh… wha…”

Nuria Quil: “Mr. Chivay, are you alright?”

DM: He backs away from Jameson, looking down at his hands. “I… I shouldn’t have touched him. I didn’t know he was cursed!”

Nuria Quil: “Please calm down Mr. Chivay. Getting worked up will only make this worse. We need to find out how did this to him, and then find them.”

DM: His eyes dart to you. “I don’t know. I just saw him for a moment! Second time I seen him in my life…” On the ground, Jameson stirs. He moans, and starts to roll onto his side.

Nuria Quil: “Seen who Mr. Chivay?”

DM: He points down to Jameson.

Nuria Quil: “Ah, I was hoping you were talking about our witch…”

DM: His face turns wary. “There’s no witch,” he says. “You’re just… just confused. That’s all.” He seems to slowly be convincing himself. “Yes, maybe you all caught a sickness down in that mine. Seeing things, or feverish. I have some things in my cart what could help with that…”

Nuria Quil: “I think you’re probably right Mr. Chivay, Abather and I did inhale something down there… Why don’t you go get some of that medicine from your cart, see if any of those prove effective.”

DM: Chivay nods emphatically and scrambles away.

Nuria Quil: Once he walks away i’m going to push as much of the power of Quoth I have in me into Jameson.

Abather Crowley: That’s right, a fever! Me and Nuria inhaled those spores! This… It’s all just a trick, surely. I have nothing to fear…

DM: Describe what this spell looks like for anyone watching.

Nuria Quil: Light seems to cowl around Nuria, slowly drifting to her hands until it disappears and a light appears within James’ chest. His wounds and bruises from a hard miners life slowly fade and seal as the light subsides.

DM: His body relaxes and his eyes flutter open. “What…”

Nuria Quil: “Hey buddy, you alright?”

DM: “I think so… oh. My head…” Jameson sits upright.

Nuria Quil: “You seem to have found what we’re looking for… Rather, it found you.”

Abather Crowley: Did she just?…. Heal him?…. With magic?… But- but Magic is just… A tool of destruction! A brush for mages to paint chaos upon the world! And yet, it can revitalize a man?

DM: “Cleric Quill… and…” he turns to Abather, and his face turns ashen. “You!” He points. “You’re the one who came out of the mine! You were… you went into our heads. I remember…” He winces and drops his head to his hands woozily.

Abather Crowley: My eyes widen, head rising out of my hands in some urgency. “Inta your-… No! That’s- That ain’t it! It’s… Impossible!…. It has to be…! Are you?…. Accusing me'a…. W-witchcraft?….!”

DM: His face hardens. “I saw what you did. I bet everyone else will remember too, when we crack through whatever you put on them.”

Nuria Quil: “I’ve been right next to him the whole time James. Are you sure?”

Abather Crowley: I slowly stand, shaking my head vigorously to shake horrid thoughts of what they do to those accused of witchcraft. “I ain’t no witch! I’m…. I’m Abather Crowley. jus’ a simple farmer from Riverview! Nothin’ more, nothin’ less!…..” My face hardens a bit, gaining a semblence of composure, as I reassure who I am to myself. “I- I ain’t gonna sit here'n let ya call me a Witch. I dunno what happen'ta you, or me, or Miss Quil, but… If there’s Witchcraft goin’ on somewhere, I ain’t gonna be a part of it. Where’s Mr. Chivay? He can vouch fer me. And if he can’t, by Qalda, let 'er light burn me now.”

Nuria Quil: “James, close your eyes. What does the man look like? Don’t look at Ab when you describe him.”

DM: Jameson takes a breath. “Brown hair, freckles. Leather jacket. Scarf. Human…” He opens his eyes. “It was you. You said… you said…”

Nuria Quil: “James… I just don’t think I can believe that, he was right next to me the entire time. As much as I want to believe you… Well, the mage has already messed with your memory once, it’s possible that it could be done again. It’s going to be difficult to figure this out, all of the miners have been effected.”

DM: “I know who messed with our memories. He did. And probably yours, Cleric.” Jameson stands up. His hands clench into fists.

Abather Crowley: “And who’s ta say y'ain’t raving like a madman!? Witchcraft can do lots, Mr. Jameson! Who’s ta say I ain’t bein’ framed!? Go on, prove I did it! Unless y'wanna leave that ta the Gods, Qalda shine on me!” My own hands begin to clench, getting scared, confused, and fed up with this situation. “Go on then! Give me yer proof! Without it, yer as good as a man drowned in his own mug!”

Nuria Quil: “Both of you stop! Just stop! I will not having in-fighting in this village! We can work this out. Let’s say Abather isn’t for sure the witch, but could be. We’ll keep a very close eye on him. Next we need to ask everyone in town and see who has and hasn’t been effected. Agreed?”

Abather Crowley: Put me in shackles next, why don’t you? Take my crossbow? “No issue, Miss Cleric. I jus’ wanna get this over with….”

Nuria Quil: “I really, really, want to believe that you aren’t a witch. You just seem like such a nice guy from a somewhere beyond us. I trust James, and if he says he saw you… He saw you. I hope that he just saw someone that made themself look like you, that would clear this all up.”

Abather Crowley: Accusing ME, you hypocrite!? Let’s not forget which one of us used magic, no doubt. “Do what ya gotta do… I’m a foreigner, I know. This all started when I got in ta town, after all. I’d be suspicious too. I don’t blame ya…. But I ain’t no witch, no way.”

Nuria Quil: “I believe you, you were in the mines with me. We just need proof.”

DM: Jameson seems hesitant, but then he nods. He eyes Abather suspiciously but doesn’t say anything. As you all are settling down, Chivay returns. “Oh. He’s up. Is he… you know…”

Abather Crowley: Upon seeing Mr. Chivay, I begin to feel a little bit of hope. Maybe he can get me out of this? He’s smarter'n me, at least. “Mr. Chivay! I need yer help. These fine folk are slanderin’ me, calling me things I ain’t. Now I gotta clear my name. Y'can attest I ain’t nothin’ more than a farmer from Riverview, yeah? Just a simple fella.”

DM: Chivay nods. “Of course, he’s a fine shot with that crossbow, but not a bad man in the slightest. A bit too soft, even, if anything.” Jameson doesn’t seem convinced, but he lets it go.

Abather Crowley: My shoulders slack in relief. “Thank you, Mr. Chivay… It’s… Comforting ta know I have at least one person on my side.”

DM: “What’s even going on here?”

Nuria Quil: “We don’t know.”

DM: Jameson rubs his head, then addresses Nuria. It looks like he’s trying to pretend that Chivay and Abather aren’t even here. “Cleric, I should go check on the miners. If they were also afflicted…”

Nuria Quil: “I asked earlier. They all have been.”

DM: “Can we fix them? Perhaps a little more…gently than I was?”

Nuria Quil: “I don’t know how this works, I’m open to ideas!”

DM: “Just getting them free of it as soon as possible…” Jameson shudders. “It makes you wonder… maybe the things we think we know, or think we remember…”

Nuria Quil: “Should we try and do it in one go? Just a big assembly all at once, or do it one by one?”

DM: “I don’t know.”

Nuria Quil: “Ab?”

Abather Crowley: “I uhh… I dunno how ta handle this, Miss. I ain’t sure what'cha did to put sense into Jameson. Maybe y'can just point out the inconsistencies in everyone’s claims at once, in a crowd? Break it down, step by step. I’ll sit by wherever y'want me to, if ya feel suspicious of me.”

Nuria Quil: “Right, uhh. How do you suppose that?”

Abather Crowley: “Simple. Jus’ gather all the folk in one place again. Ya could use Mr. Chivay somehow ta do that, maybe. Or y'can call everyone together on the basis of an emergency. You’re the Local Cleric, so they should listen t'you. I know most everyone in Riverview listens ta old Tom, our local Friar. Y'got the authority, I’d imagine, Miss.”

Nuria Quil: “Well, I meant how do we 'cure’ them all together? Gathering them won’t be too hard, but we had to.fight with James to get him to wake up.”

DM: Jameson takes a breath. “It was hard, I admit… because I knew the things you were saying were true, but I… I remembered everything differently. I had to choose between trusting you and trusting my memory.” He makes a sign invoking Qoth, and says something in Elvish.

Abather Crowley: “Well, then we can maybe slowly work our way through the city?”

Nuria Quil: “I guess we’ll just have to see what happens as it happens. Let’s start from the mine and work outwards.”

DM: The three of you leave Chivay behind and head back to the mine, where people are stowing tools and taking inventory for the night.

DM: As you get near, another miner Nuria recognizes comes towards you. Nuria, care to describe them?

Nuria Quil: Alan is generally a dirty man. Sweat and grime from the mines coat his everyday life, and most days intrude to his dreams. While he does spend most of his time in the mines, he isn’t a miner. He is the brains of the operation. A prospector and architect, he keeps the mines moving. As well as stopping them from falling.

DM: “Hey there, Cleric. Weren’t expecting you back so quick. We are wrapping up in here. Probably gonna collapse that cursed section and follow the vein straight down to avoid it.”

Abather Crowley: I nearly open my mouth to protest, but decide against it, biting my tongue. What if they anger some sort of monster, if they do that? Release some sort of ancient power?- What am I thinking? No, forget about that. These things must remain burried.

Nuria Quil: “I think you better not. We need to take a closer look and make sure there’s nothing else going on in there. Don’t want any side effects from it…”

DM: He seems surprised. “You sure, miss? It seemed like you were in and out of there in a hurry the last time you went in.”

Nuria Quil: “Alan, can I trust you?”

DM: Alan glances at Abather. “Of course, ma'am. Is everything all right?”

Nuria Quil: “Absolutely not. When did we walk into that mine, Alan?”

DM: “About two hours into our day… maybe two bells before midday?”

Nuria Quil: “Sounds about right. How long were we in there?”

DM: “Just a few moments. Cleric are you… all right?”

Nuria Quil: “Just a little longer. So I went into the mine, came out shortly after, went to my house, and walked back. Then how is it already this late?”

Abather Crowley: “Some kinda odd predicament, for sure, Miss Cleric. Ain’t no way it wasn’t a few hours.” I assured to the miner, with a nod to my head.

DM: He opens his mouth, then closes it. He wrestles with a thought. “I suppose… huh. Wait.” He points to Abather and squints. “This guy came out earlier than you. But then… He came out again with you later. But I never saw him go back in there in between. I…. I know that don’t sound right but I remember it. I remember it both ways.”

Nuria Quil: “Thank you so much Alan, you just cleared something very important. Now we know it’s someone who looks like Ab, not someone who makes people think he was just anyone else. Ab I have a plan, that’s probably awful. How angry would you consider yourself right now?”

Abather Crowley: “If I weren’t a good ol’ fella and taught proper, I’d probably shoot someone.”

Nuria Quil: “Yeah, yeah. I did tell him to do it. I had an elaborate plan, which apparently hasn’t worked out. Basically just… Tell everyone that if they see him by himself to catch him. If he’s with me he’s fine. There’s a doppleganger out there.”

DM: A chill seems to run through the miners. The ones further away start exchanging looks and murmuring. The miner who approached Abather with the pick swallows. “Doppelgangers… doppelgangers ain’t real ma'am.”

Nuria Quil: “I cannot believe that I didn’t think of that. I think you may have just cracked the whole thing. You may have just saved the entire town.”

Abather Crowley: A doppleganger? Like that tale with the merchant?… Qalda, get me out of this town! “Umm, Miss Nuria? Did'ya figure something out?… How did he save the town?”

Nuria Quil: “We’ve been thinking about it wrong this whole time. We aren’t looking for a witch that made themselves look like you. We’re looking for something that IS you.”

Abather Crowley: “But… I’m right here?”

Nuria Quil: “Are you?”

Abather Crowley: I was going to open my mouth and debate with her, but this day has been crazy enough that I actually begin questioning it. “But if we’re lookin’ for me, and I’m right here, why we still looking?”

Nuria Quil: “The other you. Except we have a new problem now. The not you you could be anyone not being anyone. We’re going to find everyone and figure out who’s not who they are. Following me?”

Abather Crowley: I slowly nod, pretending I understand. Better to just do what she says. “I think so?… ”

DM: “Maybe it’s just me, but I am totally lost,” says one of the miners. The others murmur in agreement.

Nuria Quil: “That’s exactly what we want. So if we are confused then the thing that isn’t us is also confused because it’s us. Gather the entire town. We’re going to find this thing tonight and I know exactly how.”

DM: The miners furrow their brows. One says “Wot?”

Alan clears his throat. “We asked the Cleric to investigate that cursed space. Now she is asking something of us. Call a town meeting.” The miners disperse, many heading up for the town walls.

Abather Crowley: After some of the miners disperse enough, I try to pull Nuria away from the crowd, and whisper in a bit of a worried, slightly angered tone. “What are y'doing!? Aren’t we supposed to be clearing my name!? This seriously isn’t helping!”

Nuria Quil: “We’re on a tight schedule here. So listen up. The new plan is we get everyone in one place. Anyone who doesn’t come, we’ll know. If the creature thinks hiding in plain sight is the best option, I’m going to find them in the crowd. Now then, how confident are you with the launcher at your side?”

Abather Crowley: “More confident with the one on ma back, but I’d say I’m pretty good at both. Why, you want me t'shoot the guy?”

Nuria Quil: “Well then use the one on your back. What else do you think we’re gonna do to the guy? Give it some cookies and milk? Those cookies and milk are for us good God serving folk Ames.”

Abather Crowley: “Look, I ain’t shot no-body before, at least not on purpose. This is pretty new ta me, but… Can’t be too different than a boar, right?…”

Nuria Quil: “Except flip it 90 degrees, and take out 2 legs. Alright let’s go find you a vantage point.”

Abather Crowley: “How will I know it’s him? Y'gonna signal me somehow?..”

Nuria Quil: “Oh yeah, it’ll be like a torch.”

Abather Crowley: “Will you be holding it, or him, or?…”

Nuria Quil: “They will literally start glowing. You’re really killing my vibe.”

Abather Crowley: “Vibe? What are you-… Look, I’m sorry, I’m new to all this supernatural stuff, Y'know? And still not entirely accepting of it, but thats'a conversation fer later. Just help me clear my name. Please?”

Nuria Quil: “I will. Now we need to find you somewhere to shoot from, explain along the way.”

Abather Crowley: I resign myself to her madness, and simply follow Nuria.

#D&D #dungeons and dragons #rp games #rp stories #fantasy rp #fantasy roleplay #roleplay game #rp stuff #d&d story #Nuria quill #abather Crowley #interlude #interlude 1 part 3

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dstickman-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Interlude 1 - pt.2

Abather Crowley “What'sa Teleportation? Why is there a room for it in a mine?…” I would hold my chin, absolutely confused as to what the sign means. “Do ya know where ta find the room, ser?”

DM Jameson looks at you blankly, then back at Nuria. “Who is this? Is he trustworthy?”

Abather Crowley I extend my hand, smiling in a nervous fashion. “Abather Crowley, Ser.”

Nuria Quil “He’s my body guard, it’s all good. If he makes any trouble I’ll beat him up! But I think we have a bigger problem. If it actually is a teleportation room, that means the mages had a reason to come here. Which means that room is not the end of this. There’s likely something big and bad here.”

DM Jameson shudders. “I’m glad we have a cleric here to investigate it. I am loathe to think of us stumbling on this a few weeks ago, before your arrival.”

Nuria Quil “Well, luckily you don’t have to. Let’s go figure this out.”

DM He motions you on through the tunnel entrance. “Follow the main tunnel, and then take a right down the shaft still lit by lamps.” He hands you each copper lanterns, each about half full of oil. “May need these I think. The other human miners use them too.”

Nuria Qui “Thank you.”

Abather Crowley I hang the lantern on a hook fastened to my belt, making sure both hands are free. A full hand will only get in the way of using a bow. “Ready when you are, Miss Cleric.”

Nuria Quil I’ll hold the lantern in my sheilds hand and continue.

DM You both walk walk tentatively into the mine. The first 20 or 30 feet of the tunnel are heavily reinforced and dug out from dirt. The ground there is pack by hundreds of footsteps but fairly soft. You can tell instantly when this changes to stone. It’s like stepping into the inside of a seashell, the way the silence sounds like waves off the walls. The tunnel becomes non-uniform, with outcriopings of lumpy rock protruding into mine shaft from all sides and ceiling. You pass by a small collection of dropped or set-aside tools as you approach the side tunnel that Jameson described.

Nuria Quil “Well, I guess it’s now or never.” I begin walking down the tunnel

DM You lead the way. The ground here is a little less even and packed down. Bits of gravel and loose dirt crunch under your feet as you follow the lamplight further into the depths of Colley Hill. Pretty soon you see the collapsed wall–like Jameson said, it would have been impossible to miss. The stone has collapsed inward, with large chunks of rock scattered around a huge, trapezoidal opening. There is a gentle breeze coming from within, and you can vaguely make out silhouettes and shapes in the darkness.

Nuria Quil “Hey Abigail, what do you think we should do here?”

Abather Crowley I take my hand crossbow into one of my hands, and load a bolt into it. “It’s Abather, Miss… Follow me. If there’s anything in there… Well, if I can sneak up on a rabbit, this’ll be a sinch.” I then slowly step into the opening, trying to keep my steps soft and light. I look around as I step into the room, trying to adjust to the small amount of light the lantern on my hip gives me. “Unsettling place…”

Nuria Quil “I’ll just, stand in the back. Tell me when I’m good to move up.”

DM Abather, it takes a long thirty seconds for your eyes to adjust to the dim light. Even then, you’re not entirely sure what you’re seeing. The room before you is cracked by intruding rock formations, but you can tell that once upon a time this room was something like a meeting area or foyer. After a moment you finally put together what it is that’s bothering you about this space: there’s no seams. No individual stones, no mortar, no beams, no framing. It’s as if the room was sculpted out of one huge block of granite, or simply grew into this shape without the need for masonry or joining artisanship of any kind.

There are two bodies in sight, although in their current state they look more like vaguely human-shaped husks. They’ve been emtombed here for a long time and seem to have dried into mummified versions of what they were in life.

Abather Crowley My skin begins to crawl at how unnatural it feels; I’m growing more nervous with every step closer toward the bodies. Feeling no immediate danger, I turn to bid Nuria to come closer behind me. I would mutter to myself as I turn back to the bodies. “Scary things, you are…”

Nuria Quil I slowly walk forward, trying to keep from jingling.

Abather Crowley I bend down to examine the bodies further, to try and estimate what they once where. “It'sa tomb, I think, Miss Cleric. I reckon you know a lot more about this stuff th'n me.”

DM The skin has dried into something like a brittle leather covering bones–you think that the structure looks Elven but you’re not completely sure. The room itself seems more or less otherwise empty. There’s some broken furniture, including a huge longtable made of oak that has long since collapsed under the weights of itself and time. There is a door beyond that appears to be bowed inward, barely attached to the door frame any more. It looks likely that there’s collapsed rock or some other debris pushing in on it from the other side. From here and in the dark the door seems a little strange. Like it’s textured.

Abather Crowley “Y'should stay here, Miss Cleric. I'mma check that door…” I approach the door, hand crossbow raised. After making my way there, I sling my shovel over my shoulder, off the hook on my backpack, and poke the door with the long handle, seeing if what’s behind it will give way if the door budges.

DM With a simple poke, the door thunks woodenly. It does not seem to budge in either way, wedged into place.

Abather Crowley Slinging the shovel back over my shoulder to hang beside my backpack, I place a hand on the door, trying to see what it might be made of. Afterwards, I then look for a way to open it. “Stand back, Miss. May get a little tricky, what might happen.”

Nuria Quil “I am not moving from this spot.”

DM Abather, you find a gap between the door and the frame and wedge the edge of your shovel into it. Based on the feel and the scraping sound, you wager that it’s mostly loose rock that’s pushing the door in.

DM You put your shoulder into the shaft of the shovel, using it as a lever to pry open the door. It doesn’t seem to move. You strain harder and the door squeals, inching open. You hear the rocks shift behind it. Suddenly, it pops open, sending a small avalanche of rock, silt, and plaster into the room you’re in. You feel pretty good about it until you see the head of your shovel–it’s bent to the point of near uselessness.

Abather Crowley Waving my hand to clear dust from my face, I simply sigh, and sling the ruined shovel back over my shoulder. “That’ll have ta be fixed later… Shall we continue, Miss Cleric? Or are d'ya wanna focus on the bodies?”

Nuria Quil “There is nothing I can do for these. Let’s continue.”

DM The next room, illuminated by lantern light, seems partially collapsed. The floor is caved away in places and a small trickle of water Cascades down the far wall and disappears into craggy cracks and the floor. Some, but not much, of the original architecture is still intact, including a handful of large marble floor tiles that have a partial Circle designed into them with runes dotting the outer edge. Some of the walls and areas of the floor have mushrooms and lichen growing. They fill the room with an earthy, musty scent. There is a body in this room as well, crouched in the corner with its arms raised over its head as if to Shield it from some long gone Danger.

Nuria Quil I’m trying to commit the runes and symbols to memory.

Abather Crowley “Y'got any idea what this is, Miss Cleric? I’ll admit, I’m a tad lost… I can’t tell what even caused all this, either…” I look up to the cieling above the body, and then around the room itself; I want to try and get a clear picture of what happened in this room.

Nuria Quil “I don’t have any clue… I’m a woman of faith, not magic.” I walk around the room clearing debris and other objects to see the runes underneath, and commit them to memory. “Well, I don’t know what any of this means. Ready to keep going?”

Abather Crowley “Y-yeah… Let’s keep going. D'you see an opening anywhere? More rooms nearby?”

Nuria Quil “Scared?”

Abather Crowley “I’m no coward, but… I’m from Riverview, Ma'am. Just a simple farmboy. All this… Magic stuff makes my skin crawl…”

Nuria Quil “I don’t quite see what happens from here. I figure this would be either a broom closet, or the entrance. So we should probably work backwards from here.“

DM As you two poke around in this second room, Nuria gets a bit too close to a mushroom. It shrinks back,withering in some sort of self defense mechanism. Then, the mushroom next to it does the same. And the one next to that one. Like a wave rippling across the walls and floor, all the fungus in the room withers back. For a few seconds, nothing else seems to happen.

Nuria Quil "Abby, look at these cute little mushrooms!”

DM With that, they shake, pop open, and explode, sending thick clouds of spores into the enclosed space. Constitution saves at disadvantage

DM Between the sheer volume of spores and the tightness of the space there’s just no avoiding it. You breathe them in. Lungfuls of spores that tingle–not unpleasantly–as they coat your throat and the inside of your chest. Your vision starts to blur, and you lean against the walls for support. You make panicked eye contact for a moment. Before either of you can speak a word, Abather slips to the ground, unconscious. Nuria struggles a few more tottering steps before she, too, slips away into endless black.

Nuria, you are floating in nothing, twisting and turning in a void without light, without gravity. Before you is the corded door to The Slumbering World. The silence presses in on you from all sides.

Nuria Quil I swim over to the door.

DM As before, the door seems to invite you in spreading away from your body as you approach. Beyond it you can see the room you were in moments ago. There’s no one in it and the mushrooms as well as the circle of runes are undisturbed. When you flip through the door gravity seems to gently assert itself, and you drift upright to your feet.

Nuria Quil I walk through the doorway we will enter through in a few moments.

DM Beyond it is the city from your dream before. You find yourself in the burnt out town square, the familiar muted sounds and over vibrant colors of before. This time, two things are different. The town is no longer on fire–it looks like that’s gone out days ago. Smoking charcoal and debris are all that remain in the twilight. Secondly, Abather is there.

Nuria Quil “Abby! Can you hear me?”

Abather Crowley I look around, feeling a little more than lost and confused, maybe even scared. Hearing Nuria call out to me, I turn to her immediately. “Miss Cleric! W-where are we?… Am I dead? Are WE dead!? You’re a Cleric, yeah? What’s going on?”

DM Your voices have a simultaneous bigness and smallness to them, like shouting in a soundproof room.

Nuria Quil “You’re totally dead.”

Abather Crowley I immediately gasp, not quite wanting to believe Nuria, but… She is the authority on this stuff. “W-well what abou’ you? Y-you sound… Awfully fine with this.”

Nuria Quil “Oh, i’m fine. You however, are one hundred percent, for sure, very dead.”

Abather Crowley “Where’m I, then? Did I make it ta the other end?… Do I get to see Elaine again!? Please, Miss Cleric, if she’s here I gotta find her.”

Nuria Quil “Wow, okay. Sorry to break your dreams, but you’re dreaming. I uhhh, didn’t realize you had any loved ones you wanted to see… Sorry.”

Abather Crowley Giving Nuria’s shoulder a quick punch, I draw my scarf up to hide my face, quite upset at all of this. “That was pretty mean spirited, y'know… Wha…. What now? We’re dreaming? Of what?…”

DM Abather, you glance around from the burnt out town square. There’s not much left to recognize, but even taking that into consideration you’re fairly certain that you’ve never been here before. One thing does stick out to you–a roof poking up from behind some collapsed buildings that seems untouched by flame. From here it looks like a simple two-story house, somehow miraculously spared from whatever fires consumed this place.

Abather Crowley I shake my head. “Not a clue where we are, Miss. Seems like some sorta… Wildfire went through here.” I then point to the lone standing building. “There'sa place intact there, Miss. Should we go look?…”

DM Nuria, the building that Abather is pointing to is the house you went in the first time you were here, you’re sure of it. It completely defies chronology that it is fully restored.

Nuria Quil “If you want to, it’s not often people can join the Slumbering World. Explore, you can lead here.”

Abather Crowley I reach for my hand Crossbow- not even entirely sure if it’s there- and pull my scarf from back over my face. “O-okay! We’ll go look, then. Let’s go, Miss.”

DM Abather, you lead the way. The ground buckles under your feet, like walking through wet sand. The world is eerily quite. There are no birds, there’s no breeze. Looking up, you’re not even sure there’s a sun. The town around you is just… lit somehow.

Abather Crowley Feeling my skin crawl from how unnatural this world feels, I take deep breaths to keep myself calm, trying to ignore the inconsistencies and contradictions this place has with the waking world. “So… How long are we supposed to be here? Before we wake up from the dream, that is?…”

Nuria Quil “Until we need to.”

Abather Crowley “Do you know why we’re here, then?…”

Nuria Quil “Probably because we’re asleep. Last time I went into that same building, so it’s probably important.”

Abather Crowley “Not t'be rude or anything, Miss, but… You’re bein’ pretty vague about all this. Do we have something t'do here or not? Do the Gods have a task for us?”

Nuria Quil “The gods never say anything. They just… Do stuff. I’d really love to say more, but I honestly don’t know.”

Abather Crowley I shrug, continuing the trek to this building in the distance. “You’d know better than me… Say, y'look young fer a Cleric, Miss. Not t'sound disrespectful or anything.”

Nuria Quil “I never had many friends. I just read the books all day. After a while the temple decided I spent enough of my time reading and figured it was about time to get rid of me. So I got out early. You don’t need to be so formal with me, your older than me anyways.”

Abather Crowley “Oh no, that won’t do, Miss. My Ma taught me to be polite ta Ladies. M'head hurts just thinkin’ about her Ladle on m'head. Wonder if she’s still using it to keep Pa in check.”

Nuria Quil “Hmmm. I’ll break you one day. Where are we going?”

Abather Crowley “The only building standing, Miss. Y'did say it was important. Besides, not much t'be found in ashes.”

Nuria Quil “Alright.” I walk towards the building.

DM As you get closer you can see that the house is indeed fully intact. It’s as if someone rebuilt it board for board right after the fire died down–or maybe that the flames simply steered clear of this house. The front door is open, just as it was the last time you were here, Nuria. You can see some of the furnishings and the staircase leading to the second floor from outside.

Abather Crowley I enter the building, pointing my Hand Crossbow at any doorways as I look. “D'you know what this place is, Miss?”

Nuria Quil “It was on fire last time I was here, some girl was trapped inside.”

DM When you both cross the threshold into the house, it’s like a cosmic switch is flipped. The inside of the house is now a burning inferno, as it was the last time. The town behind you is peaceful and calm, like nothing bad had ever happened to it. Going up the stairs you see yourselves. A mirage-like, semi-transparent Nuria and Abather climbing the melting staircase. They pause, looking over their shoulders to wave you forward. Then they go to the second floor and out of sight.

Abather Crowley Absolutely confused and panicked about what’s going on, I freeze for a moment. It’s like I’m being barraged with too much at once. But I collect myself, drawing my scarf over my mouth and nose to try and keep out smoke, as I rush to where our ghost-like apparitions were waving us to.

Nuria Quil I rush up the staircase.

DM You see the second floor, same as before–the young woman is awake this time, staring off into the distance. She seems awake but unconscious. The glass orb is in her hands. Then, she falls. She hits the ground and the glass rolls out of her hand, landing exactly where it was the last time you were here, Nuria. Then, she disappears, leaving the orb behind. The house is burnt out. The fires are gone. The beams have collapsed and there are gaping holes in the floors and walls. You can make out the glint of glass in the middle of the room .

Nuria Quil I pick up the bead.

Abather Crowley “W-what’s that there, Miss?… Is it why we’re here? Some sorta sign?..”

Nuria Quil “Who knows. It was here last time, I didn’t get a chance to look at it though.”

DM The bead glows softly, as if it is containing a universe of fire within. Then, it flashes. With a start, you both awaken in the room under the mine.

Nuria Quil I groan, rolling over on my side as I rub sleep from my eyes. “Abs, you awake?”

Abather Crowley I groan awake, brushing hair out of my face as I sit up. “Nnnn….. Nuria? What… Are we back?…”

Nuria Quil “I think so… I don’t… That orb popped me out last time too…”

Abather Crowley I shake my head to quickly wake up, and look around myself; have we remained in the room we slept? Where we moved? How in the WORLD did our Lanterns not catch fire? “D'you feel any different? Feel any more… I dunno, holy? We did do godly stuff, didn’t we?”

Nuria Quil “I don’t know man! Usually I just dream about long walks on the beach and fluffy animals!”

Abather Crowley “More pleasant ‘n what I get, mostly… D'you think… There’s more t'this cave? Like a room we’re missin’? Some purpose we’re not gettin’? The miner did say it was… I dunno whatchya call it… A 'Teleportation’ room?”

DM Before you can say anything else the room spins. You both see spots, and vomit. Abather first.

Abather Crowley It’s not a pretty sight, either. If any man could vomit gracefully, it wouldn’t be me.

Nuria Quil I have been surviving on a diet of gruel and oatmeal. Mine isn’t a pretty sight either.

Abather Crowley After recovering from such a gruelling process, I wipe my mouth on my sleeve, and check to make sure none of it got on my scarf. “Urgh… Y-you okay? Urk-… Nuria?”

Nuria Quil Looking slightly miserable, I whipe my mouth off. “Well. Bad news, I think I’m dying. Good news, my dog isn’t here to eat it this time.”

Abather Crowley Getting up to my feet, I turn and offer a hand to Nuria. “D'we still got business in here? Was all that the 'Teleportation’?”

Nuria Quil “I have no idea.” I take his hands up.

DM You pull each other up, and the room tilts slightly, sending another wave of nausea through you. For a moment you’re not sure if it’s still the residual sickness from the spores, but you start to realize that the world feels different. It’s extrasensory, like suddenly being able to detect magnetism or see infrared. You realize that the runes that you’ve memorized are more than just script. They’re a map that describe this location. A literary representation of some kind of universal coordinates. You both let the room settle for a second and slowly start feeling like yourselves again. You can’t help but focus on the body in the corner. It looks like it’s shifted slightly since you last looked at it.

Nuria Quil “Hey uhhhh, Amy… Does something look different to you?”

DM You do notice that the corpse seems to have shifted slightly–but more importantly, you notice something different about Nuria. Nuria, what is it?

Nuria Quil Nuria’s hair has seemed to lose its brown tone, and taken on a phantasmagoria of reds, blues, yellows, and every color in between.

Abather Crowley “N-Nuria! Your hair!- What in the… What happened to it?” Grasping my head in my hands, I get a worried expression. “Did MY hair do that too!?”

Nuria Quil “Do what? You look normal. Am I bald!?”

Abather Crowley “It’s! It’s-… Rather pretty, actually. Ghah! It’s like you have a field'a flowers on your head!”

Nuria Quil “Did I turn into a pot or something?”

Abather Crowley At that, I take the pot hanging off my backpack and point the bottom at Nuria, to try and make a makeshift mirror; it probably won’t work, but hey, I can try.

DM Nuria you can vaguely make out a warped reflection of yourself in the shiny pot bottom. It’s clear that your hair is vibrantly colored many flowering hues.

Nuria Quil “Why am I pink now!?”

Abather Crowley “Your guess is better'n mine! Y'feel any different? Maybe somethin’ in the room changed you? Whatabout the runes on the floor? Are they different?”

Nuria Quil “I mean, maybe! I… We should just go, it’s probably dangerous in here.”

Abather Crowley “Wait… We should stay a bit. Something is still off. The body moved.”

Nuria Quil “That’s exactly why we should leave. Bodies don’t just move on their own, Ana.”

Abather Crowley “Well, we move. And we’re bodies, yeah? So why can’t he?” After stating my internal logic, I walk over to the body and examine it again, wondering if it’s even the same body at all.

Nuria Quil “I’m standing ten feet back. Good luck.”

DM You both scan the room, looking for differences. Abather, while you check the body, it’s clear someone–or something– has rifled through it, perhaps looking for something. Nuria, you also see signs that someone has been here. Mushrooms along the left side of the walls have shrunken back, like they did when you got too close. There is a single half footprint in the dirt and rubble leading back into the smooth room. It’s angled to enter the room you’re in, but you see no signs that whatever it was went out the same way.

Nuria Quil “Annie, someone was here.”

Abather Crowley “Yeah,. I can tell…..” Making sure my hand crossbow is loaded, I begin to try and follow where the man may have come from. “Stay close. Dunno if they wanna hurt us.”

DM Heading back into the first room, you can’t help but be struck again by how unnatural the construction is. But you don’t see any signs of entry–or exit–other than your own.

Abather Crowley “D'you think they took something from US? Check yer pockets, this may’ve been a setup to steal from us.” I then check my pockets for all my important belongings, and for the silver ring tied on a cord around my neck.

DM Everything you had, you still have.

Nuria Quil “Hey, amy, I hey an idea, but you have to promise not to get mad.”

Abather Crowley “Well, I figure you know more th'n me. I got no reason ta get mad. Go ahead n’ hit me with the idea.”

Nuria Quil “Alright, you also can’t tell anyone, becuase this is extremely dangerous.”

Abather Crowley I nod, scratching my head. “If you say so, Miss Cleric. I promise to let ya handle this.”

Nuria Quil I sit down and begin to pray under my breath, conducting some sort of ritual.

DM Nuria, while investigating, you find your mind wandering back to the Slumbering World. Before long, you realize you are still connected to it–you can see it, superimposed over the real world like a projection or a mirage. The room now glows with weaves of magic a thousand years old. You can’t tell what they are, but there is a fresher weave as well: a weave that someone used to pull something from another world into this one. You get a sense that this was done within the last four or five hours.

Nuria Quil My face quickly contorts into one of fear and urgency. “ABATHER! WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE TOWN!”

Abather Crowley Upon hearing how urgent she sounds, I grab her by the arm and help her get to her feet. Once she’s up, I run ahead of her out of the mine, trying to remember the way out. “What’s goin’ on, Miss!? Is the town in trouble!?”

Nuria Quil “WHILE WE WERE ASLEEP, NOTHING LEFT, BUT SOMETHING CAME IN!” I start running to the town as fast as I can.

DM You both tear out into the mine. It is pitch black. The lanterns have burned out of oil.

Nuria Quil I channel the power of Qoth through my shield, causing it to burst into light.

DM Abather, this is a lot for you to take in all at once. Between the dream world, and the ruins, and now the obviousness of Nuria’s magic, you are approaching an anxiety attack. You’ve been raised all your life to believe that magic is evil and unnatural, and that those who use it are soulless and power hungry sacrileges. Since meeting Nuria you’ve been steeped in magic and relics of the past best left untouched. Now, you’re seeing her cast with your own eyes.

Abather Crowley Losing control of myself, I fall to my knees. It becomes difficult to breathe, to move; to even think. This is wrong, I tell myself. She’s a witch. A monster who ruined the world. Before I can even get a grip on my senses, or my thoughts on the situation, my Crossbow is in my hand. She clouded us from Qalda’s light. No, I don’t want to believe it. But here is my proof. She steeped you in her magic. Affected you; changed you. You just don’t know how yet. I begin shaking my head, hands clenching and unclenching. This is wrong.

Nuria Quil “Ab? Ab!? are you okay?” I stop running and go to help him up.

Abather Crowley I push her hand away from me, and not even thinking, hands horribly shaking, I point the hand crossbow at her. “W-why?… Tell me…. Why’d the world break?…” You know why.

“D-did'you do it?…” You know she did.

“Y-you’re using….” The one greatest Taboo.

Nuria Quil “Ab, calm down. I don’t know how this is happening either. I’m just as scared as you, but we need to keep it together. The whole town could be on fire by now. Right now our lady mother has given me the power to save everyone, and there’s some mage in town probably preparing to forsake everything. You can kill me, or anything else you see fit, but not until every last person in this town is safe. Not until then.”

Abather Crowley “I… No… I won’t…“ My hands drop back to my side, unable to bring myself to take someone’s life. Not yet. "If… If there’re people ta save… We do it my way. No tricks.. No… Heresy. I… If ya really wanna save people, don’ do it with the power tha’ forsook 'em so long ago. Do it the good, honest way.”

Nuria Quil “I can’t promise that, but I will promise that if I fail, if we can’t save them… I will subject myself to whatever justice you deem upon me.”

Abather Crowley “I'mm a good, honest man. It ain’t my place ta enact justice. I jus’ do what’s right. Now enough dallying! We can deal wi'this later!”

Nuria Quil “Atleast you still have that much sense left in you.”

DM Abather, in your addled state it’s all you can do to follow Nuria as she leads the charge out of the mine. Emerging, Nuria, you notice that it’s late evening. You’ve been in the mine for most of the day. As you emerge, Jameson comes over to meet you. “Well,” he says. “That was quick.”

Nuria Quil “James! Something may have come out of the mine!”

DM He looks puzzled, and slightly alarmed. “What do you mean?”

Nuria Quil “We aggravated some mushrooms in there, and they knocked us out. When we woke up there were tracks that weren’t there before…”

Abather Crowley “Ain’t a thief, either. Didn’t take a thing off us, and… Well, didn’t find no man’s tracks. Somethin’ else, I bet.”

DM Jameson points to the miner next to him, who shakes her head. “None of us seen anything go in or out since you all did about ten minutes ago.”

Nuria Quil “It may have been earlier. I managed to… Inspect the runes. Something used it today, but that’s all I can tell, I’m not a witch, this is new to me.”

DM The other miner looks uncomfortable at the talk of witchcraft. Jameson shakes his head. “You weren’t in there all that long. Nothing in between. We’ve all been sitting right here.”

Abather Crowley I shake my head in disbelief, trying not to freak out again. Surely more of this…. Witchcraft. Something’s wrong. “There’s… There ain’t no way that’s jus’ ten minutes. Ain’t no way. Where’s Mr. Chivay? Has he been lookin’ for us? Surely he’s been lookin’ fer me for hours, now.”

Nuria Quil “Clearly we just lost track of time well we fell asleep. I need you to do something very important right now. Can I trust you?”

Abather Crowley “I ain’t no liar, Miss. Y'can trust me.” Even if I can’t trust you.

Nuria Quil “Great. Follow James to my house. When you get there I need you to find my ink and quill in my desk. Oh, also, James, you’ve had a hard time, feel free to take a nap, sleep is important for stress. Abather will take care of everything, he’s nice.”

Abather Crowley “Erm.. Wh-what am I suppose'ta write, Miss?…”

Nuria Quil “I’ll write it, I just forgot where I put my stuff, so I’d like you to fish it out for me.”

Abather Crowley “Right… Erm, I’m new ta town, Jaaa… James? Can ya show me the way ta the cleric’s home?”

DM “Uhhh… yeah.” James and the other miner share a look, and then James sets off for town.

Abather Crowley I simply walk with them, not entirely sure what Nuria is up to myself.

Nuria Quil I walk over and start calming down some of the other miners and blessing them. Though, I ask one of them “How long ago did Ab and I go in there?”

DM The miners all look at each other. “Maybe half an hour?” Another pipes up. “Honestly, glad for it. Less time means you probably didn’t find any curses or relics.”

Nuria Quil “Hmm, alright. I guess I’m thrown off from sleeping late.” I follow behind Abather and James.

DM You follow. Abather and James arrive back in town in no time–Chivay’s cart is no longer set up and it seems quiet around here. James leads you through the center of square and to a small two-story house on the edge of town. “This is it,” he says.

Abather Crowley I nod, giving his shoulder a pat as I walk by him. “Much obliged, Sir. Much obliged.” I then head inside and I do as instructed. Looking for some paper, a quill, and ink to match. Having no idea what Nuria might be planning to do with all this, I stuff them into my backpack, and head out of the house. Who knows what’s she’s thinking.

DM As you exit you run into Chivay chatting with Jameson. “Ah!” he says. “There you are. What a day it’s been! Sold almost the whole cart!”

Abather Crowley Despite the recent stress, I put on the best smile I can, adjusting the massive crossbow on my shoulder. “That’s great, Mr. Chivay! Whatcha got left? Y'did say when we’re done, I could get some of what’s left, along with a silver or two. Ahh- Nevermind, we can chat about all that later, I gotta get back ta the Cleric.”

DM “Yes yes, we can talk money later. After all, it’s been a long day.” Jameson nods approvingly. “I must say, Mr. Chivay, I’m impressed. Here less than an hour and already sold all your wares? There must a be a silver tongue in that mouth of yours.” Chivay looks confused. “An hour? You chaining me? I got here in the morning.” He points at the sky. “It’s got to be at least seven bells by now.” Jameson’s face scrunches. He looks up at the sky and winces, putting a hand to his head. “Yes… yes I suppose you’re right.”

Abather Crowley “Speakin'a time, Mr. Chivay… How long d'ya think I was out, doin’ work with the Cleric?.. I’ve been in the cave all day, an’ everyone tells me different then what Qalda’s light tells me.”

DM “All day is right. Ran off this morning and just now seeing you.” Jameson opens his mouth to speak, then closes it. He looks confused, then he squeezes the sides of his head. Then, he collapses.

Abather Crowley More of this Witch tomfoolery! “Sir? Sir!?” I shout, kneeling beside the man. After a moment, I try to wake him up, pouring some of my waterskin on his face. “Things’ve been real odd, Mr. Chivay. Somethin’ ain’t right about this town, and… Makes me feel a bit queesy jus’ thinking about it. Something’s… Wrong. People tellin me the wrong time, a 'teleportation’ room in the mine, and….” She may be a witch, but she has done no evil. Not yet. “Well, jus’ odd folk.”

DM It’s been awhile since you’ve seen someone die, and you can’t help but think about those whose losses hit you the hardest. Jameson’s body is slack and his eyes are rolled back in his head. Another person you were not able to save.

#D&D #dungeons and dragons #d&d story #rp stories #fantasy #fantasy story #fantasy roleplay #fantasy rp #d&d rp #rp #abather Crowley #Nuria quill #interlude #interlude 1 part 2

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dstickman-blog · 8 years ago

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Interlude 1 - pt.1

Interlude: Abather and Nuria Part 1 - The Dream

DM: Nuria, you are standing in front of doorway in your room that you have never seen before, made of twisting veins of copper and tin. The ceiling is gone above you and the constellations swirl like flakes in a snow globe. It’s how you know you’re dreaming.

Nuria Quil: I reach to inspect the veins in the door.

DM: The door seems to spread away from your fingers as if to open itself for you. The door pulls away around your hand like an iris opening. Through the hole you can see a vaguely orange glow. The Slumbering World, you think, as if someone thought the words for you in a way you would understand–a translation, an approximation of a concept too big for you.

Nuria Quil: I hold my faith to Qoth close as I walk through the door

DM: Thinking about Qoth seems to open the iris widely. It feels welcoming, like coming home. You walk through the door to find yourself in the center of a town on fire, every building burning. The flames feel easy and warm to you, and you hear a soft and friendly rustle, like wind through a sunflower field. You are walking through a mirage, or perhaps a memory. You feel a gentle tug forward, like a child pulling on your sleeve to show you something.

Nuria Quil: I lean down to speak to the child before changing my mind, I reach for her hand and gesture for her to lead.

DM: She walks towards a burning house off to the east. The sky blurs as you go, like time is going forward and back again days at a time. After the first few steps the child fades away but you instinctively follow the path it was headed. Soon you find yourself standing in front of the house. The door is closed but you can still see through it.

Nuria Quil: I check the front of the building for a sign or name, then pass through the doorway.

DM: It seems purely residential with no outstanding demarcation. A simple two story house on fire.

DM: The house is furnished on the first floor, but much of it has burned to a point past recognition. There is a staircase leading up to the second floor that still seems walkable. The planks beneath your feet are burning, but here in The Slumbering World it feels as though you’re walking on warm sand.

Nuria Quil: I slip through the flames to the second floor

DM: Pushing through the flames feels like parting curtains of silk. You walk up the stairs and see a short hallway of three doors, all open. The second room of the three has a young woman lying on her side. Her clothes are smoldering in some places, and she is completely bald. She appears to be sleeping.

Nuria Quil: Gently, I creep over, and try to carry her outside. Away from the flames.

DM: You touch her and she starts, coughing in the smoke. She doesn’t seem able to see you. After a moment she pushes herself free of some debris and stands. From her side you see something slip from her hands. A bead, or a marble. A perfect sphere of red glass, glowing gently. It falls to the ground and she stumbles through you, out of the room and down the stairs. It looks like she is yelling, but you cannot hear her.

Nuria Quil: I bend down and try to pick the little red glass, and follow the woman.

DM: The glass seems to beckon you. You lean to pick it up and right before your fingers can touch it The Slumbering World fades away. You slide back to consciousness, in your bed. It’s early in the morning, before sunrise.

Nuria Quil: I sit up in bed and starting going about my morning rituals, and preparing breakfast.

DM: Colley Hill is a small frontier town of miners and a few professional guards, and you’re the only Cleric of Qoth around. The villagers are letting you stay in a modest house near the center square–what’s it like? How have you furnished it?

Nuria Quil: The house is a simple structure. Wooden and stone, sturdy and vacant. A bedroom with a large bed, and small dresser occupies the top attic of the building. The ground floor is clear of walls and doors besides the entrance. The open space is occupied by vines, herbs, and assorted flowering plants. Pillows and sheets are scattered among the roots. A small dog roams the foliage. A sturdy wooden portal acts as entrance and exit to the building.

DM: Breakfast by this point is starting to get very dull. All meals are nearly the same, actually: some combination of grain based stew or porridge with hard cheese and salt meats. Colley Hill isn’t exactly a prime route for traders and merchants. The local farmers grow staple crops designed to keep the miners fed, not tickle anyone’s palate.

Nuria Quil: I clean my plate and exit to go to the village church.

DM: Church is an optimistic term given that the building has not yet had walls erected. For now the villagers still call this place the shrine and it is in truth little more than that. The miners has been helping to convert this area into a place of worship but it is slow going and much of their time is volunteered around long shifts pulling tin from the veins beneath the hill. It is the middle of the week, which is traditionally a long shift day, so you are unsurprised to only see one digger here at the moment. It’s a regular visitor: care to describe them?

Nuria Quil: Jameson is a stoic man. Poor early life has left him crippled, his left arm slightly smaller than his right, and by all other aspects normal. He is an elf well over a human life at this point and keeps his well built physique from the mine work. He speaks only in whispers and has a sharp tongue in his mouth. But he is always kind in purpose, and a welcome face around the town .

DM: He bows his head in respect as you approach, just like he does every day. “Cleric Nuria. I seek a blessing from Qoth before I begin my dig.”

Nuria Quil: “Of course, may I ask why? Are there troubles in the mines lately?”

DM: “No, Cleric. But Qoth made the lands and sky. We should thank her when we reap from her creation.”

Nuria Quil: “Your thanks come from the life you live, but, your always welcome if you feel that’s proper.” Then I sit next to him and begin praying.

DM: He lowers his head until you are finished. Then, he stands. “Thank you, Cleric.” From the far end of the hill you hear a muffled horn blow. Jameson tenses up. One horn means attack. Then, after a second that feels much too long, a second blast. Traders come to town. Jameson relaxes. “Phew,” he says. “Hopefully they bring spices. I have been foraging in the woods rather than swallow another bite of bland porridge.”

Nuria Quil: “I keep offering to give you some herbs!” I shake my head and begin walking towards town. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. I just hope they have cinnamon. Maybe sugar.”

DM: A loaded wagon drawn by a pair of donkeys is slowly creaking into town. A couple of villagers have already gathered. The two outlanders who came with the cart stick out like a sore thumb amongst the laborers’ garb of the miners. Abather, care to describe what Nuria sees?

Abather Crowley: Sitting in the front seat of the cart, a middle aged man dressed in nicer clothes than anyone in the village, is accompanied by a small, younger man, dressed in very plain, comfortable clothes, with a green scarf around his shoulders. The older man carries the aura of a savvy and experienced businessman, the other looks barely suited to holding a weapon, much less a heavy crossbow, with the friendly demeanor he gives off.

The older man shoos villagers out of his path, continuing his course into the heart of town, as the younger man waves at, who he deems to be, friendly villagers passing by.

Nuria Quil: I walk up to the wagon, put one foot up, and hang off the side without asking permission. “Welcome to our little town, sirs. I’m Qoth’s priestess here, Nuria. May I ask your names?”

Abather Crowley: I smile, readjusting the crossbow on my lap. “Abather Crowley. Pleasure t'meetcha, Miss Nuria. This here is Mr. Chivay.” I turn into the cart a moment, grabbing a backpack from the cart, a pot and shovel clinking against eachother as I moves it. “Y'here ta trade?”

Nuria Quil: “Not quite, just here to be friendly. Do you two have a place to stay?”

DM: “Anyone who wants to is welcome to trade!” Chivay says. “A little bird told me you all were eating wheat germ three meals a day and I thought to myself, ‘these people need some small comforts!’ ”

Nuria Quil: “What kind of small comforts?”

DM: He takes a deep breath. His mouth curls into a small smile. “Ladies and gentleminers of Colley Hill. I present to you… a saviour of flavor! The deal of meals! The spices that’s nicest!” He pulls the tarp off the wagon, revealing bushels of dried herbs, crates of fruit preserves, and full legs of salt pork. The smells are overpowering. Nuria, your mouth starts watering immediately.

Nuria Quil: “Alright, maybe I’ll trade a little…”

Abather Crowley: I sling my heavy crossbow over my shoulder, letting it hang next to my backpack. Trying to look inconspicuous, I puts a mint leaf I swiped from Mr. Chivay into my mouth, all the smells making me a bit peckish.

DM: “Aha! A cleric with an eye for quality!” He touches his index fingers to the outside corners of his eyes–a sign of respect to Qoth. “What is it here that interests you, miss?”

Nuria Quil: “If I’m being honest. All of it. Sadly, I don’t think I could carry that, let alone afford it.”

DM: He makes a sad face. It seems like a standard part of his sales strategy. “Well, perhaps to start… a jar of this pestle pepper sauce, straight from the Teeth. It’s spicy, it’s tangy. Abather here can’t stop putting it on everything!”

Nuria Quil: “I’d like something that’ll last a while. I haven’t seen many traders for a while through here. So, if you have something cheap and strong… That would be perfect.”

DM: “Well, this sauce here I could part with for… three silver a jar?”

Nuria Quil: “Well, do you have anything sweeter? I haven’t quite grown out of my candy phase.” I wink generously at him.

Abather Crowley: I smile, chuckling to myself. “Mr. Chivay has some types of Honey, I think. They make ya wanna lick yer fingers, they’re so good.”

DM: “Of course! Honey cookies, sugared dates, and even Elf taffy!”

Nuria Quil: “Alright, all of those need to be inside of my mouth right now. I’ll take the elf taffy, and just straight honey if I can afford it.”

DM: You make your exchanges. As you are wrapping up one of the miners runs up the square, sweaty and out of breath. She points in the direction of the entrance to the mine shaft and cries out “Cleric Nuria! We found something in the mine! Some bodies, may be some cursed relics!” The nearby townsfolk start to babble at each other, their voices mingling into a low rabble.

Abather Crowley: “Bodies?…” I make sure my hand crossbow is at my hip, and hop out of the cart. “Wouldn’t want Ms. Nuria to go unarmed, Mr. Chivay. Could be a wild animal, like a big cat. Y'don’t mind if I cash in our deal here until ya leave town, Mr. Chivay? Y'should be safe in town.”

Nuria Quil: “I’d really appreciate that, how bout letting your body guard go help your favorite customer?”

DM: “Nothing like an animal attack or fresh corpses no no. It’s like there used to be some kind of older town here that got covered up by the hill,” the miner says. Chivay just seems perturbed that something has interrupted his sales pitch. “Yes yes, of course. Go ahead. And hey Ab! Send those folks in the mine up here. They may need some honey cookies or mint tea to take their mind off what they seen!”

Abather Crowley: I nod, adjusting all the equipment slung over my shoulder, and snag another mint leaf from the cart. “I’m new t'town, Miss Nuria. If ya could lead the way, I’d 'preciate it.”

Nuria Quil: “I’ll have to make a quick trip by my house, gotta grab my stuff. We can head out after that.” I lead Abather to my house, grab my armor, sheild, and Mace. Then I head to the mines.

DM: The miner follows you both back to Nuria’s house while she gets outfitted. Her eyes widen when she sees you step back out fully geared. “Cleric Nuria, I had no idea you were a warrior.”

Abather Crowley: I scratch the back of my head, a little surprised myself. “Not ta sound rude Miss Nuria, but ya don’ really look t'be the fighting type. All this gear looks… Peculiar, I think. But if ya know how to use it, I ain’t gonna complain.”

Nuria Quil: “Both of you are right, I have no idea how to fight. I spent all my time in libraries, but I also figured it would be good to be prepared. So I picked the easiest stuff I could find. A big stick, and a shield to hide behind.”

DM: The area around the mines is tons of removed soil and rocky debris, and the opening is reinforced with hardy wood to help prevent collapse. Many miners are hanging around outside, whispering to each other as you arrive. The tunnel glows with lamplight and takes a slow curve of about 80 feet, which is about as far into it as you can see. Jameson is nearby. He seems to be giving some directions to a few other miners with carts and pickaxes.

Nuria Quil: “James! I heard of a curse. What’s happening here?”

DM: “I wasn’t in the tunnel when it happens but we all heard it. Figured it was a mine collapse at first, but when we got in it looked more like we dug straight through a wall and into some kind of ruins. I found this in there. I can read it for you if you don’t know Elvish.” He hands you a wooden plate. It looks like a signpost with runes carved into it. Clods of dirt are still packed onto it in places but the face has been scraped more or less clean.

Nuria Quil: “I have no idea what this says.”

Abather Crowley: I shrug, squinting at the strange, flowing characters. “Sorry, I ain’t able to read Elf stuff. I’m more used ta Dwarvish…”

DM: Jameson takes the piece of wood back and points along the words as he reads aloud. “ 'Place of all place-move.’ It doesn’t translate well word for word. A more accurate description would be…” He lowers his voice. “Teleportation room.”

#d&d #dungeons and dragons #rp stories #fantasy #fantasy rp #fantasy roleplay #rp stuff #interlude #interlude 1 part 1 #Nuria quill #abather Crowley

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dstickman-blog · 8 years ago

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Chapter 3

DM: Marlisa puts her elbows onto her desk, steepling her fingers. She puts her forehead into them. From behind you, Nofoto leans up against the closed door of Marlisa's office. With her head still down, Marlisa says "So run this by me once more."

Sarah Blackpowder: "We came here on a boat, me and my friend came to see the sights, some templars who were chasing us were spotted, we ran away. Then, we found your bar, had a few drinks, and we were looking for a secret way back to the docks; however, I lost too much silver in a game of liar's dice and couldn't buy our way, so we are doing a quick favor for one of the ferrets, and in return we got to meet you and we will get secret passage back to the docks."

DM: "As I thought. Nothing of any interest to me in any way." She gestures towards the door. "If you tell anyone about this place I'll have you killed. Good day."

Selia: "Well, that's not very nice, what is of interest to you then?"

DM: "Unless you have information that can make me or my ferrets money, or something of value to offer me, or a job of significance that you want to hire my guild for, I'm bored." She nods towards the door again.

Selia: "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again then, goodbye for now." I bow and walk towards the door.

DM: The strange magic echo tugs on you lightly as you turn and exit. Nofoto follows you out.

Selia: "Well then, where are we headed Nofoto?"

Sarah Blackpowder: I whisper to Selia, "You didn't talk to her about your thing."

Selia: "Another time, maybe."

Sarah Blackpowder: "I'm ready when you guys are then."

DM: "Well. I'm sure I'll catch an earful later about wasting Marlisa's time. But let's gather up the crew and go collect our money."

Sarah Blackpowder: "I thought it was only going to be us three?"

Selia: "I assume we're including those at the table, no?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "I guess this isn't a low key mission then."

DM: "Should be simple enough. But if he doesn't want to pay, a couple people in sight is better."

Sarah Blackpowder: "I can understand that."

Selia: "Are you expecting he'll be dangerous? I'd like to know a bit about him before we start."

DM: "His name's Zilluck. I did a job for him a few weeks ago, a sort of... reverse burglary. Supposed to pay out two hundred fifty silver. Only seen fifty of it so far."

"He's a right git, and loves looking for excuses to take offense and 'teach people lessons,' " Brauna adds.

Nofoto sets her jaw. "Yeah, he'll probably have a few lessons on display at his place when we get there. "

Sarah Blackpowder: "What kind of 'lessons'?"

DM: "Usually?" Nofoto and the dwarf share a glance. "Hands. Zilluck's whole gang has a thing for collected hands."

Sarah Blackpowder: "interesting."

Selia: "Sounds like someone's got a weird fetish..."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Knowing that won't come in handy though."

Selia: "Really Sarah. Really?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "What? Too punny for ya?"

Selia: Sigh "Alright so, anything else we should know about Zillucks? What he looks like would be quite helpful."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Yeah what does this handyman look like?"

DM: "He's--"

"Gorgeous," Brauna interrupts. Nofoto shoots her a dirty look. She shrugs. "What? He is."

Sarah Blackpowder: "A man.... that keeps people's severed hands... and he's actually attractive? Interesting."

Selia: "Yeah... I think that's a deal breaker for me."

DM: "As it should be," Nofoto says.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Sounds like every little girl's dream to me." I say as I run my fingers across my pistol in my waitband. "Shall we go?"

Selia: I sling my crossbow around my waist "I don't know what little girls you've been talking to, but I'm ready as well."

DM:** Nofoto nods. You didn't see where it came from, but she is absentmindedly twirling a knife in her left hand. She nods at Brauna and the dwarf, and they both stand up. The dwarf finishes what's left of his drink.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Man your hands must be quick, Nofoto."

Selia: "Are you just going to wedge hand into every sentence now Sarah?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Okay that one wasn't intentional. She somehow got my pistol earlier and now that knife came out of nowhere. She's pretty quick."

Selia: "True, I suppose I could learn a thing or two from her"

DM: "Do me a favor, ladies?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Mhm?"

DM: "Let me and Brauna do most of the talking."

Selia: "I had already planned on that."

Sarah Blackpowder: "I'm just here to make some silver and get back to where I belong."

DM: "All right. Then let's go." Nofoto leads the way towards the false wall that leads to the sewer tunnels.

Selia: I follow behind.

Sarah Blackpowder: I fall in behind Selia

DM: You head through the doorway, where the awkwardly proportioned man winks at you. "S'pose you'll be wanting your shoes back, haw."

Selia: "Hahah, yes, though I'm sure we'll be back again soon enough, Fain."

Sarah Blackpowder: "I'd love my shoes back, thanks."

DM: He hands them over and opens his mouth to speak but Nofoto interrupts. "We don't need another. You're on door duty for a reason, loose lips." The doorman scowls but says nothing as he opens the door to the tunnels for you.

Selia: "Sorry Fain, I've got no clue what that's about but goodbye for now."

Sarah Blackpowder: "We shall meet again."

DM: "Hmmph." He closes the door behind you. Nofoto and Brauna light a torch each, and the dwarf wrinkles his nose as he rolls up his pants.

Sarah Blackpowder: "So where are we going again? Like outside of town or something?"

DM: The torchlight reflects off the stinking brackish water as dull, wavy orbs. "More like the edge of town."

Sarah Blackpowder: I crinkle my nose as the stench hits my nose again. "So there's nothing else we need to know? No other surprises?"

Selia: "Well, there'll always be surprises I suppose."

Sarah Blackpowder: "But I'd like to take out any unnecessary ones."

DM: "Hopefully no surprises at all. But be ready to fight or run if there are some." You all round a corner and find yourselves near the area where you ran from the rats before. It still smells of acrid smoke and singed hair.

Selia: I cover my mouth with my hand as we walk through.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Damn rats were the size of a halfling"

DM: The dwarf eyes your holster. " I know it's called fire powder, but what did you do? Throw a whole Barrel at them? Smells like the inside of a furnace down here."

"A pig shit furnace, maybe," Brauna says.

Selia: "Can we wait until we're out of here to chat? Rather keep my mouth closed to be quite honest."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Sulfur and enclosed areas don't mix." I keep walking and cover my mouth and nose with my shirt

DM: You continue on and turn down a side tunnel, considerably narrower than the ones you've been in so far. You can hear splashing from somewhere behind you as the sewage drains off into some body of water.

Selia: I turn to look.

DM: The tunnel behind you is slick and drippy and flickers in the torchlight. From here, it looks infinite. After a few minutes, Brauna halts. The other two ferrets stop with her. You find yourselves standing under what looks like ladder rungs that have been riveted to the tunnel wall. They lead to a circular hatch that presumably opens to the street level.

Selia: "So, finally getting out of this literal shithole?"

DM: Brauna winks at you. "Bet you'll miss it within the next ten minutes." She starts up the ladder.

Sarah Blackpowder: I start up behind her

Selia: "I do not like the sound of that." I follow behind after everyone is up.

DM: Brauna pushes the hatch open and a ray of blindingly bright sunlight illuminates the ladder down to the tunnel floor. Brauna winces, covering her eyes, then climbs up and out of the hatch. You can hear wagon wheels and chatter from above as you climb.

Sarah Blackpowder: look around for templars before I climb up.

DM: You glance around at the top of the hatch. It looks like an alleyway, similar to the one you dropped down into the tunnels from before. There's no signs of Templars anywhere.

Sarah Blackpowder: climb up and take a deep breath of fresh air.

Selia: follow up as well.

DM: The alleyway stinks like the rest of Flathead, but compared to the tunnel it's the freshest, cleanest air you can remember. The buildings here seem like they're better constructed than the ones near the docks, but unlike that area, all the windows are either barred or boarded. There are a couple of street toughs at the end of the alley that look like they're there to scare people off. Their backs are to you right now.

Selia: look to the others to lead the way.

Sarah Blackpowder: "On you, Nof."

DM: Nofoto nods. The dwarf pushes the hatch closed . All five of you head off towards the end of the alley.

Sarah Blackpowder: At the end, I continue to be on the watch for the templars.

Selia: I stick next to Sarah as we walk.

DM: You approach the goons at the end of the alley and one breaks off conversation to turn and look at you. His eyes narrow and he squares his shoulders to block your path. He's huge, all shoulders and chest. He points at you with a dented wooden cudgel he's holding.

"Ah, ah. You made a wrong turn, folks. Best turn back around."

Sarah Blackpowder: looks at Nofoto and looks for more people hiding.

Selia: I keep my hands ready to draw my crossbow and fire if they attack someone.

Sarah Blackpowder: Same with my pistol.

DM: Nofoto looks relaxed, almost apathetic as she takes the last few steps separating her from the two goons. But Selia, you know better--she's about as a relaxed as a coiled snake. The tension in her shoulder blades tips that she's ready to put a knife in both of these guys before they can blink.

"Gentlemen," she says lazily. "I'm here to see Zilluck. We have a business transaction." The man with the cudgel sneers. "Oh yeah? And who are you?"

"Ferrets. But if you want to explain to Zullick why the ferrets he hired were late, we can just go."

The man with the cudgel hesitates. The second one, just as big and cruel-looking, huffs. "Wotsit to us, ay? If'n 'ems lyin', we'll be'ere for'em on the way out." They step aside.

Sarah Blackpowder: I follow Nofoto and I take every step she takes, looking around nervously.

Selia: I do the same, though I keep my head straight.

DM: The street here is not at all like the streets around the docks. Same layout, same smell, same architecture... but it's noticeably less trafficked. The people around the dock looked tough--the folks around here look hardened. Every person around here is carrying at least one visible weapon. Nofoto rounds the corner of the alley and heads into the open doorway of the building next to it. You hear voices from inside.

Next to you, the dwarf mutters "No finesse around here. Stay sharp."

Selia: "Understood."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Gotcha."

DM: Nofoto keeps her stride, and you soon find yourself in front of a group of five people. Two move to block you--the two in the back seem to be in the middle of a conversation. "Ah, ah," says one of the blockers. She's short, with long black hair and copper skin. She's the first person you've seen here who isn't carrying steel.

The two people talking break off their conversation. One looks your way curiously, the other wears a scowl. Nofoto ignores the blockers and addresses the man with the curious expression. "Zullick. We're here to conclude our job from last week."

The curious man's eyebrows go up. He is an extraordinarily plain looking fellow--thinning black hair, dark eyes, not quite a handsome face. He would never stick out in a crowd. The scowling man turns to him. "What's this? We are in the middle of terms."

The ordinary man, Zullick, keeps his eyes on your party. "Indeed we are. It is quite rude to interrupt, ferret. You are embarrassing me in front of my guest." Nofoto glances at the two bodyguards separating everyone. Then she looks back to you two and gives an almost imperceptible nod.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Who is Nofoto talking to?" I whisper.

DM: Brauna's voice is in your ear. "Don't know him. Would rather he weren't here."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Well, let's hope nothing else goes wrong" Selia: "You have to jinx it?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Always" I scowl.

DM: In front of you, the conversation continues. At this point Zullick's surprise has faded into irritation. "I keep my word," he says flatly. Nofoto nods. "Of course. That's why we came here: we knew you'd fix the discrepancy in our pay." The other man sighs and rounds on Zullick. "If this is a bad time maybe I'll come back. Or... perhaps I'll take my business elsewhere. " Zullick's face is blank. He scans the five of you.

*His eyes slide across Brauna, the dwarf, and Selia before lingering on Sarah. He seems to calculate something for a moment, then relaxes into a shrug. He motions towards a doorway in the back. "Pamuy, see that Nofoto is given the sixty standards she's owed. Then try to see why my doormen are letting people in when they were told I was busy."

The unarmed woman with the black hair nods, still facing you all. She spins on a heel and heads for the doorway that Zullick gestured to. Nofoto follows, with Brauna right behind.

Sarah Blackpowder: I breathe a sigh of relief and loosen up.

Selia: I stay tense and ready.

Sarah Blackpowder: When I see Selia tense, I leave my hand near my weapon, ready to follow Nofoto.

DM: The room is silent while Nofoto, Brauna, and Pamuy disappear into the side rooms. Zullick leans to the fifth person, another bodyguard looking type, and whispers. Both their eyes flick to Sarah. After a few minutes, Nofoto and Brauna return. Pamuy follows, and stops to whisper in Zullick's ear. He nods. Then, he addresses Nofoto. "I assume we are square?"

She nods.

"Very well," he says. "Pamuy, escort them out." Pamuy shows the four of you the door. Once you are all through she gives you an icy stare and then shuts it. Brauna exhales. "Qoth, that was tense. Not worth twice the gold, by the gods."

Selia: "Well, at least what's done is done. And no blood spilt on either side to boot."

DM: Nofoto looks off over your shoulder. "Maybe don't speak so soon."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Why do you say that?"

DM: "Hey arseholes," says a malevolent voice from the alleyway. The two goons are fuming. The one who spoke already has his weapon drawn.

Selia: I turn to look, unsurprised.

DM: The second good folds his scarred and brawny arms. "Yeh lied to us, lil' shits."

"Yeah," says the first. "You didn't have no business with the man at all." Nofoto says nothing. Brauna checks in with the two of you.

Selia: "Do you mean Zilluck? We had business with him. The business went smoothly, and now we are on our way, if you don't mind."

DM: The second goon steps forward and jabs a finger in your direction. " 'Cept I do mind, treelover. Way we see it, you'll be owin' us fer the free walk in." The first one's eyes brighten. "Yeah, like a toll."

Selia: "Really. You're going to exact a toll, you think your boss would mind if you're making money under his nose and threatening those he does business with?"

DM: The goons blink, and look at each other. The second one purses his lips. The first one looks back at you all. "Heh. You're right. You lot ain't worth the explanation. Get outta here."

"But next time either'a us sees yeh..." the second goon says. Nofoto walks by them, keeping her body oriented towards them both in case they make any sudden moves. Brauna and the dwarf follow suit.

Selia: I follow, close behind, making sure Sarah is also with us.

Sarah Blackpowder: I follow suit also.

DM: You walk back through the alley and Nofoto continues past the grate that you all used to get here. "They're watching," she says out of the corner of her mouth.

Sarah Blackpowder: I look around and try to spot them.

DM: They're behind you, watching you walk away from their end of the alley. Once you get out of the other end, the ferrets finally relax. Nofoto shakes her head at the pair of you. "That was some quick thinking."

Selia: "Well thank you, all I did was save us a few silver though."

DM: "And maybe a few teeth," the dwarf says. Nofoto tosses a small velvet pouch in your direction, Selia.

Selia: I catch it and open it, peering inside.

DM: The sack clinks into your hand, and you can instantly feel that it's heavier than normal silver. Inside you see the glint of gold and quickly count ten Standards, minted in Fondovvy. "Don't worry," Nofoto says. "I'll still take you to the docks. Then we're square."

Selia: I lift the bag and tilt my head at Nofoto. "Thank you. Though... I may just have another surprise before I leave. Haven't fully decided yet."

Sarah Blackpowder: I look at Selia and put a finger to my lips.

Selia: Subtle spell message. ~The woman that leads them, the pretty one? I feel... something, about her, it could be a lead, think we should take the risk?~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~I think we have a little bit of credibility now, if you want to follow it now might be the time. We must hurry and get back to the ship though, Gris and Skolldin are probably thinking we are dead or kidnapped by now.~

Selia: ~Good point, I may just reveal myself through this, probably for the best if I just dip a toe in.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~so there or the ship?~

Selia: ~There.~

Sarah Blackpowder: I nod. "Nofoto, can we run by the bar one more time? We have some important information for Marlisa that we forgot to tell her."

Selia: "Something that could save your ass from that stern talking to."

DM: Nofoto shrugs. "I'll just be happy to take my coins and be away from this."

Selia: "Understood. So you don't mind if we follow you back?"

DM: "Sure."

Brauna peeks around the corner. "They're gone." Nofoto nods.

Brauna smiles at Sarah. "So, was I right?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Can't say you were wrong."

Selia: "Rather not have to smell shit and rat, how do you guys deal with it?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Id rather smell burnt rat than deal with that stress we just dealt with."

DM: "Not me," the dwarf says.

Sarah Blackpowder: "You like being that close to getting the snot beat out of you?"

Selia: "We could've handled them I'm sure."

Sarah Blackpowder: "I don't doubt that, but then me and you would be hiding from two entities."

Selia: "True. Though really, why shouldn't we just piss off everyone in the world?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Haha."

0 notes

dstickman-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Chapter 2 - pt.2

DM: Selia, you see the rats form a pack and start swarming towards you. They're everywhere. What do you do?

Selia: I grab Sarah and begin running in the other direction, trying to channel the same force I did on the boat and blast it at the rats.

DM: Three blue arrows shoot from your hand and smash into a rat apiece, crushing them as if by a giant hammer. The rats directly around those three scatter wide, then reform into their churning pack and continue running towards you.

It doesn't take long for them to catch up. A few leap into the air, scrabbling up your legs and biting as the climb over your body.

Sarah Blackpowder: I pull out a handaxe and swing at the horde.

DM: The rats scatter as you swing wildly around you, and split to surround you.

Selia, four more arrows lance out from your hands, smashing four more rats. The rats seem to recoil away from you, Selia, and push towards Sarah.

DM: Sarah, you can barely see at all, but you can feel the rats cascading around you, biting into your legs and scratching at you with their grimy nails.

Sarah Blackpowder: I again, swing wildly in the darkness.

DM: The rats scatter before your swings, but even with your weak vision in the darkness you can tell it's a temporary respite.

Sarah Blackpowder: "I'm about to have to pull out the pistol if they don't scatter!"

Selia: "PLEASE DO!!"

Sarah Blackpowder: I draw the pistol at my side.

Selia: I’m going to light a torch with magic, so that Sarah can see.

DM: Selia, you grab a torch from Sarah's bag and try to pull energy from your body to light it. It comes more easily than you expect. Almost greedily.

Selia: Trying to control the flame in me, I attempt to eek out just a little fire to light the torch, but a flicker of light appears in my eyes and my hand catches flame, instinctively I outstretch it, creating a wide arc of flame bursting into the rats

DM: Sarah, the entirety of the tunnel is suddenly illuminated to you as bright yellow gouts of flame erupt from Selia's hands in a cone that spreads to take up the entire tunnel. The majority of the rats are instantly incinerated. You both feel a blast of hot air sweet the past you as the flames subside, leaving small pockets of stinking, burning rat carcasses.

Sarah Blackpowder: I gag, the sight and smell overwhelming me.

Selia: My breathing grows heavy, I keep running, clutching a hand over my heart.

DM: The rats that remain flee in a panic. You can hear their splattery footsteps and fearful squeaks as they run down the tunnel.

Selia: I drop to my knees.

Sarah Blackpowder: "We have to keep moving."

Selia: I say nothing, simply looking at my hands.

DM: Sarah, ahead you can see a wooden platform built above the water level It seems to lead to a dead end, but looking more closely you can make out the frames of some kind of door. The T-junction is behind you at this point, as are the rats.

Sarah Blackpowder: "There's a door ahead, let's be cautious."

Selia: I stand, it takes a moment for me to catch my bearings and to steady myself.

~I doubt it's a good idea to even go near it, any other way out?~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~Through the templars probably.~

Selia: ~Hard decision I know, I'll open it up to peek, keep the torch away from the door~ I grab the doorknob, trying to open it slowly.

DM: The door is locked, and doesn't budge.

From the other side you hear a voice. "Whozzat?"

Sarah Blackpowder: I look at Selia shocked. I whisper, "What if that's the guy from earlier?"

DM: A slat in the door slides back, and a face you don’t recognize pushes up into the doorway. "You here on business? Or just like the smell? Haw haw!"

Sarah Blackpowder: "What business are you in?"

DM: The face scrunches up. "What are you, lost? Beat it if you got no goods or job leads. Unless..." He looks suspicious. "You marshals or something? Or Priests?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Look, I will be truthful to ya, we are trying to hide from some Templars. I'm willing to pay up to 10 silver if you hide us right now until they pass."

DM: His eyes light up. He smirks. "Well now, haw haw."

Something clacks behind the door, and it swings open. The person in front of you is the most oddly proportioned man either of you have ever seen. His head is square shaped with flat, squashed features. His torso is wide and barrel-chested, but his limbs are long and lanky. He stands about six feet tall but is functionally around five and a half thanks to horrible posture.

"Next time," he says, putting a pudgy palm forward, "lead with the silver."

Sarah Blackpowder: I fish in my pouch and give him 10 silver. "Please give us a place they won't find us."

Selia: "Curious, you're no fans of the marshals or priests, a group of thieves?"

DM: "Doubt they'll look for you down here." He frowns at Selia. "Thieves is what cuts purses and picks pockets. We're a mercenary guild. With specific skills."

Selia: "I see, apologies for the misconception, no shame in doing what you need to do to survive"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Can we make it to the docks in these sewers?"

DM: "I could probably find you two a way out. Haw. For a few more silver pieces anyway. Although I haven't slid anyone onto a ship in a long time."

He eyes you two up. "Stowaways? Or renegades?"

Selia: "Simply put, the Templars are in town and they're not happy with me"

DM: "Criminals, eh? Any kind in partic'lar?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "We are not criminals. Our ideas don’t align with theirs."

Selia: "Worked as a con artist most of my life, though dabbled in pickpocketing, nothing violent however."

Sarah Blackpowder: I look at Selia weird.

Selia: "Don't act like you know everything about me."

DM: He motions at your feet. "Mind taking off your shoes before we go in? No offense but you're both tracking shit all over our gangway and Marlisa is a bit of a stickler for whatsits. Presentations."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Sorry." I remove my shoes.

Selia: "Of course." I take off my sewage covered shoes.

DM: He brightens up a bit. "There we go! And a real charlatan huh? Always got uses for folks what can get into places with a wink and a word. Always ended up having to use picks meself," he adds with a mutter.

Selia: "Hah, I've been out of that life for a while now." My tone saddens "Lost my partner, sadly."

DM: He nods solemnly. "Been there, Shelle. So she ain't your partner?" He thumbs at Sarah. "Then what's her deal? Don't like Templars neither?"

Selia: "Well no, I don't think she's a criminal."

Sarah Blackpowder: “Ahem. I am not a criminal, but some of my family's inventions make us liable for a Trial."

DM: "... huh?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Nevermind, just know I'm not wanted, but I'm not liked either."

Selia: "Well, I don't think it matters now what we're wanted for. Simply that we're not caught."

DM: "Can't agree more with that. Haw. Although Flathead is usually an easier place than others to sit on the 'not caught' side of that coin."

Sarah Blackpowder: "That is great to hear."

DM: He slides a key from his pocket into a nearly imperceptible keyhole in the wall. It clicks and a section of the brickwork swings in on oiled hinges to reveal a large room lit by many candles. It's laid out like a tavern, with three long wooden tables and a bar with barrels of ale already tapped. Several people--humans and dwarves--banter, dice, and drink. No one seems to notice or care about your entrance.

"I don't got lines to the docks, but depending on where you're going and how much you got on you Marlisa will be able to find you the right ferret."

Selia: "Any idea where Marlisa is right now?"

DM: The oddly postured man shrugs. "D'know. She do as she like and keep us all busy. Probably seeing to someone who needs a thing done. Like you two, haw."

He flips you a coin, Selia. It's a light metal, probably tin or nickel.

Selia: I catch and inspect it closer.

DM: It's a flat disc, smooth on both sides. The edge is ridged.

Selia: I show the coin to Sarah and pocket it.

DM: The man turns back towards the false wall. "Make yourselves comfy. I'll come get you when those silvers run out."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Alright then."

DM: He slides the wall closed again.

Selia: ~May want to keep the weapon hidden while we're here.~

Sarah Blackpowder: ~I planned on it, gotta tell the truth somewhat.~

Sarah Blackpowder: i try to find two seats for me and Selia.

DM: There are several seats available. There's a couple of places near smaller groups, and one end of a table is completely open if you'd prefer to put some distance between yourselves and the other people here.

Sarah Blackpowder: I tell Selia, "let's sit with a group. Might look less suspicious."

Selia: "What, with total strangers?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "You seem to know what to do in these situations better than I do, so you lead the way."

Selia: "Could do well to learn something while we're here..."

Sarah Blackpowder: "By all means, teach me how to be a criminal. And a gambler while you're at it."

Selia: "You seem to be a bit put off by my past. Is it a problem with you what I was?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "I guess I'm more shocked than anything, your whole composure over the past few days has not been the composure of a thief."

Selia: "I'm not a thief anymore, Sarah. I was a thief once, yes, then I was an upstanding citizen, and now I am wanted for witchcraft. I apologize for not meeting expectations. Now shall we sit?" I move to an empty chair with a smaller group of people

Sarah Blackpowder: "It's okay, it was just unexpected." I sit beside her.

DM: The people nearby are playing a dice game, and you can see coins changing hands. They seem to be bantering amongst themselves as they play.

Sarah Blackpowder: I watch and try to understand the game.

DM: Everyone rolls their dice in a cup and then upturns the cup on the table, hiding their dice. Then, they all peek at their numbers.

"Five twos," says a woman with her head shaved on the sides and back.

"Five threes," says the dwarf next to her. His eyes dart around the table as if in challenge.

The man next to him grimaces. He peeks at his dice, then tries to stare down the dwarf.

"Pigshit," he says, slapping the table. He pulls up his cup. Everyone else follows suit, pushing all the dice showing one pip and three pips towards the center.

"Six of 'em by my count Jarrel," says the dwarf.

"Drink!" the woman says.

The man growls melodramatically. "I'll be drunk before you've all had a sip, at this rate!" He slams the tin of ale in front of him.

The woman closest to you throws back her head and laughs, shaking her long braids.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Mind teaching me how to play ma'am?"

DM: She looks you over. "Gotta have a drink if you're gonna play a drinking game."

The woman with the shaved sides pokes at her from across the table. "Come on, Nofoto. Ever seen an elf try to hold liquor? It's hilarious."

Nofoto shrugs. "But this other one ain't got a drop of elf in her." The dwarf wipes his mouth. "You can play, but only if your friend plays too. Been a while since I seen an elf stumble over."

Selia: "If drinks are on you, then sure thing."

DM: The woman with the shaved head laughs hysterically. "Fine!" The dwarf says. He get a up and wanders over to the bar.

Selia: I lean over to the woman with the shaved head whispering. "I didn't think that'd work honestly."

DM: "So," Nofoto says. "Here selling? Or looking for a ferret?"

Selia: "Looking for a ferret. Need to get to the docks without being noticed."

DM: Nofoto snorts.

"Just go at night," the shaved head woman says with a shooing motion. "Problem solved."

As the dwarf returns with another round, the hidden door to the room slides open again. The oddly proportioned man welcomes in a trio of humans before sliding the door shut again.

You feel... strange. It's as if you're having a magic pulse, but it's not coming from you. It feels like an echo, almost like a ping of white noise, coming from the direction of the three newcomers.

Selia: I feel a bit nauseous, but I feel... drawn to it, like a moth to a flame, without thinking I look in the direction of the three strangers, almost staring at them.

DM: One of the trio, a tall woman with dark skin and a silk veil over her mouth and nose, glances in your direction. Her eyes pass over the whole table, then slide to the next. In less than a second, she takes in the whole room and then turns back to her comrades seemingly emotionless.

Selia: I shake my head as I snap back to the table speaking in a hushed voice. "Anyone know who those three are?"

DM: Nofoto cocks an eyebrow. "Marlisa? She runs this place." The dwarf pushes a tin cup towards you. "The other two are Blick and Jaina. They're from Alhoun."

Selia: "Oh so that's her, forgive me, I only heard the name from the man at the door."

DM: "Hmmph," the dwarf says. "Fain talkin' too much. As usual." The shaved head woman nods sarcastically. "I wonder if he gets that from his dwarf side."

The man who lost the last round, Jarrel, laughs. The dwarf sputters, blushing, and Jarrel laughs even harder. Nofoto joins, doubling over.

Selia: "So, what is Marlisa like? I'm curious about how one sets up an establishment such as this."

Sarah Blackpowder: "We ready for the next round?"

DM: Nofoto slides you each a set of dice. "Better drink up if you want those cups to roll in." "Marlisa's probably the best ferret here. Or would be, if she still did the work. Now she spends most of her time finding jobs for the rest of us. Closest thing to a proper guild I've seen on Ice Side," the shaved head woman says. "We just call it west coast, here," Jarrel says. The shaved head woman rolls her eyes.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Let's do this." I shake my cup and slam the dice down.

Selia: I follow suit.

DM: Everyone peeps at their dice. "All right, baldy. Your go," the dwarf says.

Selia: "Three sixes."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Five fours."

DM: Jarrel puckers his lips. He double checks his dice.

Sarah Blackpowder: I attempt to hold a poker face.

DM: "Six sixes," he says after a few moments The shaved head woman eyeballs him. Then she leans close. "Pigshit," she says.

Sarah Blackpowder: "I got one and a wild" I reveal my dice

Selia: "I have two." I show my dice.

DM: Five more dice are pushed forward. "Balls!" the shaved head woman exclaims. She downs her drink, then starts coughing.

"Forgot to mention," the dwarf says. "I asked 'em to put a little extra in our drinks this round." "Stake me, that's strong," the shaved head woman gasps.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Good thing I don't plan on drinkin'."

Selia: "From never played to cocky as ever."

Sarah Blackpowder: I cock a smile, almost like a sort of grin.

Sarah Blackpowder: I retrieve my dice and shake them up, and slam them on the table. "This is actually kinda fun."

Selia: I do the same. "Don't have too much fun now. We need the money we've got."

Sarah Blackpowder: "All we are bettin' on is how much we drink."

DM: You guys play a few more rounds, passing the time and laughing with our new acquaintances.

Selia, you end up taking one drink after a truly unlucky round. Sarah, you call a risky bluff that pays off. Somehow, you manage to avoid having to chug any of this alcohol.

All it takes is the one drink. Sarah, you can see the bloom in Selia's cheeks and the way she's relaxing into the table and you know she's buzzed.

Sarah Blackpowder: "You feelin' alright?"

Selia: "Yeah I'm fantastic!"

DM: Over Sarah's shoulder you see Marlisa seem to conclude her business with the Alhoun ferrets a few tables away. She stands and makes her way towards the end of the bar, nodding in hello to a few people along the way.

Selia: "Oh there's that pretty lady, Sarah you felt that, energy when she came in the room right? That couldn't have been just me."

DM: The shaved headed lady, Brauna, laughs. "Knickered after one! Look at her!"

Sarah Blackpowder: "I didn't feel a thing Selia, maybe you are just remembering wrong."

DM: The dwarf pushes Selia playfully. "I told ya! Elf blood is like like tree sap, no good for holding liquor!"

DM: Nofoto smirks. "Marlisa does have a sort of magnetism, doesn't she?"

Selia: "You're just not looking at it the right way! Elf blood is the best for liquor because you just get blasted faster!" I laugh uncontrollably at my own joke.

DM: "Selia just likes her cuz they've both got the same haircut," Jarrel says.

Selia: "It's a damn good style my friend."

DM: Marlisa seems to exchange a few quick words with the bartender, then heads past him and through a wooden door, which she closes behind her.

Sarah Blackpowder: "One more round? After this one Selia might have to refill her glass."

Selia: "And that is a fantastic thing."

Sarah Blackpowder: I turn to the woman with the shaved sides as I'm shaking my dice. "So what does it take to have a moment with Marlisa?"

DM: She shrugs and pulls on her topknot. "If you make it worth the moment, she'll talk to you. She just doesn't like having her time wasted."

Selia: "And is money all that makes it worth the moment?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "How much is her time usually worth?"

DM: Her expression changes to pity. Nofoto slides Selia another drink. "What do you need from her? Just a quiet way to the docks? That's a waste of her time. Got news about a big score coming in by ship? That's gonna get you a few minutes."

Selia: "Honestly I'm forgetting, Sarah what's on the boat again? I was just looking to talk to her, I've still just got this feeling about her, something is definitely strange."

Sarah Blackpowder: I glare at Selia. "There's nothing on the boat worth talking about. We just need to get back there without some templars spotting us."

Selia: "Oh right, right, the Templars. Y'know they always look so dumb with that weird 'third eye' thing going on."

DM: Nofoto shares a glance with Jarrel. "Templars in Flathead is unusual... they're here for you?"

Selia: "Yeah, I pissed one of them off, I stole some loose coin out of his pockets, poked him in the third eye and ran."

DM: The dwarf grunts. "Yeah," Nofoto says. "Hopefully a better pickpocket than a liar."

Selia: "Ahahahahha alright you caught me."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Anyways. Can you help us? Or who here can? We would really like to talk to Marlisa though."

DM: Nofoto shrugs, and points to the wooden door. "You know where she is. Just figure out what you have to offer is all." "Or stay here and roll a few more times," says the woman with the shaved sides.

Sarah Blackpowder: "We may have something worth all the time in the world. Let's do one more round and see if my luck is still here."

Selia: "Another round?" I chug whatever is left in my mug "I'm am iiiiiiin!"

Sarah Blackpowder: "How bout Bet a simple silver this time? Loser gives everyone a silver. If Selia loses I'll pay for her."

Selia: "And that's why you're my best friend Sarah." I grab her cheek and pull it.

DM: "Deal!" The dwarf tosses a silver on the table. Everyone follows suit. Nofoto purses her lips for a second, as if considering something. Then she shrugs and adds her coin, too.

Selia: I point a finger underneath the table. ~2 3 3 5.~

Sarah Blackpowder: "Shall I start?"

I furrow my brows for just a moment.

"Whatcha blabbering to yourself over there Selia? You're giving everyone an advantage against ya."

Selia: "Oh right, I forgot I wasn't supposed to say my dice... Shit."

DM: "Ha. I was hoping no one else would notice," the dwarf says. He elbows Nofoto. "I know her rolls now if you just wanna slide that silver my way."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Not yet, still got 4 sets of dice ya don't know."

DM: "Go on then," Jarrel says.

Selia: "I know, yours is 5 5 5 5 Jarrel. I've just got a feeling."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Six Three's."

DM: "Seven threes," says Jarrel.

Sarah Blackpowder: "On the dot." I slide forward my 3's and 1's

Selia: I put forward my two threes.

DM: The other dice are presented. Five more threes on the table. "Oho! A silver for me, thanks!" Jarrel makes a big show of putting his hand out for the money.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Damn it. A bet is a bet." I throw the coins on the table and finally take a drink of my drink.

DM: It is hard. More like a high proof brandy than an ale or a cider.

Sarah Blackpowder: I make a face. "That is strong."

DM: The dwarf leans in. "I get it ordered special. The roundear stuff is like water. Er, no offense. Ears are ears, you know."

"Whoa ho, now that's rare," says the woman with the shaved head. "An apology."

Selia: "Heh, say, Sarah, I think we do need a bit extra coin. I don't think gambling it was the smartest idea."

Sarah Blackpowder: "We will be fine. This is where we leave, thanks for the drink, and the fun guys. We now have business to attend to." I stand up and help Selia up.

Selia: "Oh by the way, I've been hearing about this guy named Rasho...? Rosco? Something like that, the name is just in my head now, would any of you know about them?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Rashoun?"

Selia: "DING, that's the name I was looking for."

Sarah Blackpowder: I look at Selia with fire in my eyes. I put my back to the group and whisper angrily, "Selia! What are you doing?!"

Selia: "I just wanna know a bit more about him, seemed like a weirdo to be honest with you."

Sarah Blackpowder: "At least we are where we wanna be..." I turn back towards the group. "So, you guys know anything about a sailor named Rashoun?"

Selia: "See? Now you're looking at things the Selia way kid."

DM: "A sailor? Naw," Jarrel says. He smiles mischievously. "A smuggler? Oh yes."

Sarah Blackpowder: "So he's generally liked around here?"

DM: "Rashoun is a discreet man. And he keeps his word. Pretty much all you want from a smuggler."

Selia: "But there's got to be more the man than he's just a good smuggler right? Don't spare any details now."

DM: Nofoto starts to pile up the dice. "For us, down here, that's all we need to know. Is your quiet trip to the docks related to Rashoun?"

Selia: "That is a possibility."

DM: Brauna puts her chin on one hand and tugs her topknot with the other. "Nofoto..."

Nofoto ignores her. "So mysterious. Let me get this straight: here to seek a ferret, but won't tell the ferrets why. Know of Rashoun but know nothing of him. Need to get to the docks, but for no particular reason. Avoiding the Templars, who are looking for you... just because. Here to speak with Marlisa but don't know her face or role."

She looks around at the rest of the table in a dramatically quizzical way. "What are we to do with all this?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Some things are better for both parties if left unsaid."

DM: "Ah. So maybe we should leave this unsaid?" Nofoto draws a firearm from a hidden pocket in her shirt. It's Sarah's.

DM: She's holding it with two fingers, where the barrels hinge for reloading.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Well, if I tell you the truth can we get to the docks unseen?

DM: Nofoto shrugs. "Maybe. Maybe now it's my turn to be mysterious."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Ever heard of black powder?"

DM: The dwarf leans in. "Fire powder?" Jarrel nods. "I heard of it, too."

Sarah Blackpowder: "That is what we will call a firepowder bow."

DM: Nofoto's eyes flash to the pistol. "There's fire powder in here?" she asks.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Yes, and if you handle it wrong, which you will, it will blow your hand off."

DM: Nofoto's confidence seems to be waning a bit.

Sarah Blackpowder: "If you don't believe me, you should see my grandfather, he has this many fingers" I hold up my thumb, middle finger, and ring finger.

DM: She flips the gun over and hands it back to you, butt first.

Sarah Blackpowder: I take it and put it back in the makeshift holster.

Selia: "Sarah you really need to make like a-a... a strap for that so that doesn't happen again."

DM: "What does it launch?" the Dwarf asks. "The shaping on that steel looks like a blowgun or a screw pipe. Darts, maybe?"

Sarah Blackpowder: I pull out a brass bullet. "This, a brass ball with firepowder under it."

DM: Jarrel drops his voice to a whisper. "I heard a some human in Alhoun lost his head for playing sorcery with that powder."

"No, no, it was a halfling," Brauna says.

Jarrel shakes his head. "Whatever. Either way, it explains the Templars."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Exactly. It was a dwarf and he got killed because he made a BIG one of these."

DM: Nofoto drums her hands on the table. "So you... what? You're an underground powder merchant? Or you sell these powder bows? What do you need a ship for?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "We left our hometown. My grandfather invented firepowder. This is our secret project."

DM: "So that's you," Brauna says, angling her head towards Selia. "What about your friend?"

Selia: "I honestly don't feel like I'm in the best condition... to an-" I vomit on the ground mid sentence.

DM: People at nearby tables break conversation to look over in disgust.

Sarah Blackpowder: "She's a very good family friend."

DM: "Ugh," Jarrel says. The dwarf starts laughing.

Sarah Blackpowder: "She doesn't have the best reputation, so I brought her with me to start a new life."

DM: Brauna punches the dwarf on the shoulder. "Get her some water and plain bread." Then she turns to Selia. "Reputation? Phaw. What, then? A prostitute? A slanderer, or a thief?" She waves nonchalantly, as if banishing all of those labels. "None of that matters to us."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Petty thief."

Selia: "Hey! Who are you calling petty, I was a good thief brat!"

DM: "Petty thieves sometimes make for good ferrets," Jarrel says.

Sarah Blackpowder: "She can make that decision when she's sober. So can anyone help us or not?"

DM: There is a long pause. Then, Nofoto says "Got any more silver?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "How many gets us to the dock?"

DM: "I'd do it for 20," Jarrel says.

"18," Brauna counters.

"17." Jarrel.

"I'll do it for 12. And I'll introduce your to Marlisa," says Nofoto.

Sarah Blackpowder: I look in my pouch and wince. "I guess we don't have a ferret then, I have 8 to my name after paying the bets and the man up front."

DM: "That's hardly worth the walk," Nofoto says. "Maybe we can work out something else."

Selia: "Well what did you have in mind Nofoto?"

DM: "There's a man just outside of town, east of here. He owes me a bit of money and wants to renegotiate some of the terms of a job I did for him. I could use an extra eye and maybe," she glances at your pistol, "some muscle to make sure I get what I'm owed."

Sarah Blackpowder: "I'll go if you give me a silver per bullet I fire."

Selia: "If she's going I am too."

Sarah Blackpowder: "They aren't cheap."

DM: "Deal," Nofoto says. “I doubt you’ll have to fire at all, so that’s a steal for me.” She puts out her hand.

Sarah Blackpowder: I shake it.

Selia: I put my hand on top of both of them and smile wide.DM:

Selia, you see the rats form a pack and start swar ng towards you. They're everywhere. What do you do?

Selia: I grab Sarah and begin running in the other direction, trying to channel the same force I did on the boat and blast it at the rats.

It doesn't take long for them to catch up. A few leap into the air, scrabbling up your legs and biting as the climb over your body.

Sarah Blackpowder: I pull out a handaxe and swing at the horde.

DM: The rats scatter as you swing wildly around you, and split to surround you.

Selia, four more arrows lance out from your hands, smashing four more rats. The rats seem to recoil away from you, Selia, and push towards Sarah.

Sarah, you can barely see at all, but you can feel the rats cascading around you, biting into your legs and scratching at you with their grimy nails.