The marking does not ring a bell to Incarnation at all. It's significance is lost of the warforged.
Rurdev wakes the young halfling who struggles a bit at his bindings but then appears ready to talk as he realizes the situation he is in. Even before the first question is off the lips of his inquisitors, he stammers out, "We were told to come here and search the place but then we didn't find anything so we stuck around till we saw you through the window find something and then we thought we could over power you and then it didn't go so well. Please dont hurt me."
Thuroughly intimidated, the young halfling continues to spill the beans, "Me and Tolky and Lem and Digger and Soll we found these guys that were looking for people they had cred and pushed the Daggers out of the wharf and so we thought we'd talk to em. They brought us in and gave us these weird tattoos and said that we had to come here and watch the place but we've looked it over and couldnt find anything but then you came and found something." He speaks in an incredibly quick and offers an incredibly disjointed tale.
He continues to blather in answer to Incarnation's questions, "They were down in the sewers, the entrance is not far from here, there is an older cave section that looks like dirt and stone, smell is not as bad in there, but different. We call them the Shard, said something about umber or something like that but on the street they are definitely known as the the Shard."
The shifter stands. "I think we h-h-have enough to g-go on. What do you want t-to d-do with h-h-him? We really can't l-l-let him g-go. Perhaps our sage c-c-can keep an eye on h-h-him."
'What, no, you can let me go honest. I wont bother you ever again, just disappear. I know how to disappear, just please let me go." he says though without the wide eyed terror that usually accompanies this conversation amongst adventurers.
The shifter looks to the Eladrin. "I d-d-didn't expect you to be one out for b-blood." Rurdev lips his lips, "I think we s-s-should keep him for a w-w-w-while. I don't think we c-c-c-c-can afford to face h-him later if he is lying. I still s-s-s-s-s-say we keep him tied up at the old man's p-p-place. I think we have information, between the w-what we found h-were, and w-what the h-halfling says that the s-sage might be able to elaborate on. We go into the sewers w-with knowledge of what we may be facing, instead of g-going in b-blind."
The warforged shrugs. I care not. It has answered all it shall. Give it to the authorities, but keeping with the old man carries risk if you think it would give us trouble. Regardless, we should return with what information we have—and to see if the ritual speaking with dead will commence.
Once their decision on the captive is made, Incarnation will head back to the old man's to report. We should ask about this 'Shard' group as well. The warlock, however, is not very helpful in asking around.
OOC: not much Streetwise from Incarnation, but he'll try: 6
__________________ stonegod -- LEB judge and spawn of Khyber since 2005 (Blog)
The group gathers what they've found at the shifter's hovel (the sword, journal, and hostage) and heads back towards the sage's office. They get odd looks as they travel through town with a halfling forcably in tow. At one point a couple of guards stop the party. One looks rather bored with his day, while the other, a gruff looking fellow, looks like he's got a bone to pick with someone. The gruff guard stops you and asks, "Now where you all going draggin around that kid like that?"
"This isn't a kid, but a halfling. And he had to explain his ambush to us and our employer or he will handed to the court!" Riardon replies to the guard.
OOC
Everyone in 20 sq around Riardon gets a +2 to initiative.
When you spend an AP, you get a +3 on attacks.
A quick word from Riardon is enough to overcome the guard's suspicion. "Oh we've seen his like around. If you need any help with the explaining bring him by the watch station." You manage to move the halfling more quickly now that he knows the watch aren't going to help him. He complies and walks with you as you reach the sage's house. It takes a few moments after knocking for the old sage to make his way to the door. Once again the heavy scents of incense and tea fill your collective noses as he invites you in.
Rurdev steps forward, and unsheathes the blade. "We f-f-found th-this. It's m-my c-c-cl-clans' blade. B-But there is p-probably something else you should l-l-look at first."