The group, now five strong again, returns to the academic quarter. It is not quite noon in Daunton and the sun is shining. Thoughts of heading into the sewers on a day like today are not the most appealing. Passing by a few food stalls on the way through the market sends the smells of fresh bread and fruit wafting by.
The group approaches a simple two story wooden building sandwiched between two very similar buildings. Little identifies the place as either scholarly or a place of business. Incarnation opens the door and leads the rest of you into a small ground floor room. There is a couple of small candles in a sitting room on the ground floor and a set of stairs leading up to the second. The air is heavy with both strange incenses and smoke contrasting the pleasant smells of the bright day outside. In the sitting room are a few large comfortable chairs and several books piled in very neat piles around the room. The unlit candles rest on a short table in between the chairs. Seated in the chair is an elderly gentleman. The man's hair is long-ish and quite grey though it is well groomed and not the least bit frizzled.
The old sage looks up from the tattered book he has been reading and studies the two new recruits for a moment with his sharp gaze, "Welcome. It looks like you've found some help already. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Astrepius Sicilus a sage of the occult. I trust that your companions have informed you of the task at hand?"
After his senses are assaulted by the sweet smells, a loud grumble can be heard from the dwarf's belly. A look of surprise crosses Dane's face.
"Good da met yah." Dane extents a thick skinned, mud-caked paw of a hand for a shake if it is accepted. "My name is Dane, a warrior . . . of da axe.? You da Nobody we workin' fer? Carny told us dat ya want an item and its in da sew'ars. Wasn't clarified if we had to kill rats 'r not."
Astrepius shakes the proffered hand, then in a phlemy voice the old sage answers, "Nobody? I'm not sure what you are referring to, but I am the sage that has employed these three gentlemen to help in a matter of potentially dire import. I'm not sure that the idol is in the sewers, though recent events point in that direction. The idol was in the possession of a shifter of my acquaintance. I've seen it once, but he was going to share his discovery with me so that I might study it further. Unfortunately he was murdered. The idol has gone missing. I do not know for certain what the idol represents but my research indicates that it is central in the worship of an ancient malevolent being and tied to dark practices of pre-Imperial times."
The sage pauses as a cough interrupts him as he clears his throat before continuing, "It was recovered originally from a cult that was sacrificing to the idol in the sewers and it would appear that a new gang called the Shards have moved into the sewers. That gang was attempting to stop my friends here from searching the shifter's residence for clues. It is my belief that the gang is in possession of the idol now and are in the same location that it was originally retrieved. So yes a trip into the sewers is in order, though I doubt that rats will be your biggest worry."
EDIT: ooc: rereading the whole thread I had to correct a minor point about the idol. I've highlighted the change.
Hmmm, so ya shady shifta' took it from a cult, din a new gang took it from da shifta' and now ya want us to git it from da gang. I reckon', once yah get dis thing, I would git outta town since it don't stay wit one man long. Oy, all dis thinkin' givin' me a headache.
Glad to hear about da rats d'oh. Der hard to kill.
"An astute observation, indeed the idol appears to attract violent attention. I hope to study the idol to understand its meaning and history. Should it proove dangerous I will also look for a way to destroy it." he replies.
"From Rosvodiz's journal that was discovered in his abode, I think I've been able to puzzle where in the sewers Caput Mortuum discovered the Umbral Sliver cult. As a student of numerology I think I've also figured out what has been bugging me about the journal as well. The dates used in the last section of the journal are in a different format than the ones used earlier. The dates towards the beginning are similar to this one." he says pointing to an entry that says, 12th of October in the Year of the Fallen Moon. Then he flips back to the last page (seen here) and points to a date listed as May 2. "What drew me to the final date talks about his meeting with me, but that was certainly not the date I remember our meeting, nor was it within a month or so from their encounter with the cult."
3 and 21. 4 and 13. 5 and 2, 5 and 5, and 5 and 18. The art of numbers is that of finding patterns; arithmetic operations to find the key. But, with no context, they are just another mystery.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
Then we had best find their context before it becomes a moot point. If this Idol is as terrible as those journal entries make it sound, only Lauto could tell us now what it's capable of. Where do we go from here?
Having examined the text Vashik seems to have become much more interested, and now appears hungry to begin instead of simply impatient.
Rurdev, listens patiently to the sage and Incarnation talk of numbers. Such things didn't interest him. The idol did. The dwarf was right, it was something that people wanted, and judging from the journal entries, it made them mad. That had to be dealt with. Hopefully they were strong enough to withstand the madness until the idol's secrets could be revealed.
3 and 21. 4 and 13. 5 and 2, 5 and 5, and 5 and 18. The art of numbers is that of finding patterns; arithmetic operations to find the key. But, with no context, they are just another mystery.
"Indeed you've cut to the heart of it patterns and meaning rely on context. Perhaps the veil will be parted with further discoveries. For now I have only the suspicion that these numbers are significant." he replies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ukingsken
Then we had best find their context before it becomes a moot point. If this Idol is as terrible as those journal entries make it sound, only Lauto could tell us now what it's capable of. Where do we go from here?
"There are other avenues of investigation that could be consulted, but signs seem to point towards the sewers." replies the sage, pausing again to cough. "I'll leave it to you all which direction to take, suffice it to say that I wish to know more about the idol and any new cult that might have interest in it."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nebten
Oy, da only num'ers I know are in gold. How many crowns we be gettin' for dis sew'ar jaunt?
"Ah the ubiquitous question of compensation. I believe that we have that covered for the three original members of your group. I'll need to put together some coin to cover your expenses. Would one hundred gold coins for each of the two of you suffice? he replies.
EvoKB
I know that Rurdev has not received anything from Astrepius yet but has got the largest treasure packet for the adventure already. He might have some qualms about being left out, but I'll leave that up to you to decide.
Note this also constitutes a major quest in terms of XP in the end.
I'm fine with the blade. Fits the character, plus Rurdev wouldn't take anything. In his mind, the clan blade in more valuable than any gold or other item that he could be given.
"D-D-Do we need t-to pick up any s-s-su-supplies, or are w-we all ready?" The shifter leans up against the wall, breathing shallowly through his mouth.
Asking about these Shards would be wise. A search of the library might turn up more on the idol. And a visit to the council buildings may turn up maps of the sewer. Other than divine guidance and rushing in, I see no other courses.
OOC
Anyone want to do a Streetwise check other than Incarnation (who failed one already)? We might want a little more intel on the item/map/crooks before heading to the sewer. If not, voice it.
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
I think it might be best to dig up a bit more information on exactly what we are chasing. If we know its purpose it may point us toward its current location.
ooc
Vashik could make a good effort at a history check if we'd be so inclined to go poke around the library. It would also be a good place to dig for maps.
Rurdev is not one to go around researching, though he does see the value in knowing what comes ahead. I can track pretty well, and sewers are pretty dirty(thus easily discernable footprints). If we backtrack, it's possible we can follow the tracks of the retreating halflings into the sewers and maybe beyond.
![[Adventure] The Sibylline Idol (Judge covaithe)](http://www.enworld.org/forum/iconimages/living-4th-edition/adventure-sibylline-idol-judge-covaithe_ltr.gif)
A look of surprise crosses Dane's face.
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