Airwalkrr's Shatterscape IC (Cooperative Design-As-You-Go PBP) - Page 5

Deuce Traveler · 6th October 2008, 08:41 PM

"She may return with more forces then, and so we might not want to be in the stables. How far is the Dawn House?"

Kleb checks the thugs for identifying marks, tries to determine how long the woman has been deceased, throws her body over his shoulder, grabs a buckler, asks his companions to gather some of the other valuables, and knocks on the door of the inn. "Sir, please let us in. We survived an ambush, and need shelter once more!"

arcanaman · 6th October 2008, 10:38 PM

What is the dawn house my lords I am new to Narovan and have no idea

GlassEye · 7th October 2008, 12:55 AM

Arden examines the elf, picks up a load of the gear Kleb piled up and hands it to the elf.

"The streets of Narovan are not safe after dark; moreso even than in other cities. The Dawn House is a refuge. It's doors are open throughout the night. At least, they used to be. It's been nine years since I was last in the city and things may have changed."

She looks over at Kleb, shrugs, and collects up a few of the weapons still on the ground.

"I'm not sure how far it is. I'm not even sure where it is exactly..."

arcanaman · 7th October 2008, 01:47 AM

I should be able to light the way if you would direct me to the sanctuary "who do the dead sleep with all this noise going on he mutters mostly to himself

airwalkrr · 7th October 2008, 01:48 AM

Unfortunately, Kleb has no luck with the door to the inn. It is locked solid and there is no answer to his knocks.

OOC

GlassEye · 7th October 2008, 03:47 AM

"It doesn't seem that our good innkeep will be opening the door."

Arden looks at each of her companions in turn pausing in uncertainty at the dwarf's wounded condition. Nothing to do about it now, I suppose.

"If none of you have any other suggestions, I'll try leading us to the Dawn House. Be wary, though. If Krethan suspects that we are heading there I may be leading us into another ambush."

She reaches into her sleeve and pulls out a fist-sized stone and tosses it to the ground. It bounces on shadowy spider legs that seem to form while still in the air and then scuttles off down the alley.

Scout for me, my little Coward, and we shall reach safety all that much sooner.

OOC

arcanaman · 7th October 2008, 04:24 AM

Intresting what arcane formulas are you using to move the crystal about like that I also cannot keep up the light forever it may begin to fade soon so we better get on our feet

GlassEye · 7th October 2008, 05:40 AM

Arden flushes and manages to look both embarrassed and uncomfortable at the elf's question.

"I...I don't know exactly. I just...will it to happen."

She looks at the staff casting off a steady light and begins walking after the spider-like stone.

"It's good to have a light now, but it may attract unwelcome attention as we get closer to Dawn House. When it fades we'll make do. Ah, I missed your name; and yours Master Dwarf."

airwalkrr · 7th October 2008, 02:02 PM

Fortunately, Arden remembers that the Dawn House is not far off. However, even a short trek at night in the streets of Narovan can be hazardous so you are all quick on your feet. Your group stays close together, the bright glow of the elf's light guiding your way and keeping away the darkness that seeks to encroach upon you. After what can only be minutes but seem like hours of prowling about, fearful of every sound, every shadow, you see at the far end of the next street a welcoming illumination. Wide double doors are flung open spraying the street before it with light. You have reached the dawn house.

Standing to one side of the double doors is a tall man with dark skin. He wears a shirtless vest and loose leather breeches of simple make, and as you get closer, you see his body is adorned with tattoos in virtually every spot. His head is shaved, and he looks grimly out across the dark city, a stalwart vigil. His attention is drawn to you and his brow furls in a combination of caution and distrust as he eyes you warily.

From within the lighted area come the sounds of children playing and shouting. As you get close enough to peer inside, you see several children in their nightgowns dart past the door, followed quickly by a woman with long, dark, curly hair. However, she stops chasing the children as soon as she notices your group approaching. She walks up to the door, leans into the dark-skinned man and whispers something. He nods, and then she steps back. He, however steps forward and crosses his arms.

"Who are you, and what do you seek from this place? And do not lie."

hafrogman · 7th October 2008, 05:18 PM

Kylest remains silent for their trip to the dawn house. The man's stare doesn't phase him. He cuts a sorry sight, splattered with drying blood, and near collapse. Still, he draws himself straight and meets the man's gaze.

"My name is Kylest. We seek sanctuary."

GlassEye · 7th October 2008, 07:56 PM

Arden is relieved to see the lights of Dawn House. As they approach, the Coward scuttles over to hide within Arden's sleeve once again. Once at the door she'll look at the man's tattoos to see if they are from the Order or if they are decorative.

"I am Arden. We seek a place to sleep in safety off the streets."

airwalkrr · 7th October 2008, 08:07 PM

There is something strangely potent about the man's piercing stare as he appears to carefully consider your words. His eyes move slowly over each member of your group, assaying you carefully. Finally, he says to the woman, "It is well, milady. They bring with them no harm.

The dark man stands aside, and the woman, who up until now had worn a look of present hesitation appears greatly relieved. A small child attempts to run past her but she snatches him up and scolds him, Dimus, you really needn't be so overactive this late at night. Look, we have company. You wouldn't want them to think you act this way every night would you?"

The child buries his face in the woman's shoulder and she moves forward to motion you all inside. "Please, do come inside. I'll put some tea on in a moment. For the preset, please warm yourselves by the fire. I have to get these little rascals into bed."

As you enter, you see a well-furnished sitting room complete with fireplace and stove. There are several casks along the wall and a number of cupboards as well. At least a half dozen children are scampering around the place in their nightrobes. The woman sighs in frustration and runs her hand over her hair. As she does you catch sight of a pointed top to her ears. She is clearly conscious of this however, and quickly covers the tops of her ears with her voluminous curly black hair.

"Please, have a seat," she says. "I'll be with you in a few minutes."

Deuce Traveler · 7th October 2008, 09:31 PM

"Thank you," Kleb says in relief. He sits at the table, then lays the corpse he had been carrying gently on a nearby bench. He hopes to give her a proper burial and find her identity from someone here. He was unable to use his healing skill to find out how long she had been dead or anything else about her (rolled a 4). He puts the captured gear on the table his companions and he are sitting at along with the 10gp, 40sp, and curative vial. "Maybe it's about time we split up this gear."

When the elf returns he asks, [color=teal]"Would you know who this woman is? We found her in an alley before being ambushed by assassins. I fear she was their victim and believe that any enemy of theirs must have been decent of heart. I would like to tell her kin of her fate and she that she receives a proper burial.

arcanaman · 7th October 2008, 10:15 PM

My name lady is Lestrivus do you have any ancestors with similar arcane abilities they have to come from somewhere?

airwalkrr · 7th October 2008, 10:26 PM

You watch as the woman corrals the children together and begins to whisk them upstairs. She has a nurturing air about her, and although she is clearly challenged by prospect of so many children in her care, she never raises her voice in anger at them. She is firm when they are directly disobedient however. Eventually, they are all put to sleep and she returns downstairs. She immediately heads over to the stove and puts on a kettle of water for tea.

"I must apologize. Usually they are in bed by now. But Dimus has been acting fitfully and it riles the other children up. I've had difficulty getting them all calmed this evening. And now you arrive. I have to say this is most unexpected. It is rare we even get visitors these days. Hokken tells me I should close the doors at night, but this is the only place people can go. I guess it's nice to know we're still needed. I'm Marda by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

When Kleb asks about the woman on the bench, Marda goes and has a look. "I'm afraid she's no one I know, and I know just about anyone who's worth knowing in this city. I imagine she was stolen from a morgue. See here? She's already been embalmed. That's probably why she doesn't smell quite as terrible as she ought to."

Marda pulls back the woman's cloak a bit and points to a scar on the woman's chest where she has been sewn back up. Marda then covers the corpse and calls to the dark man at the door. "Hokken, would you please take this body around back? We'll have to find out where she came from in the morning."

Hokken nods and retrieves the corpse, then disappears through a door to the back. The kettle begins whistling and Marda heads over to pull it from the stove. She serves each of you a mug of tea, then one for herself before sitting down on a lush divan. "So tell me. I know a couple of your names now, but not much about you. Who are you, and what is your story?

ooc

Deuce Traveler · 8th October 2008, 12:15 AM

"My name is Kleb, and I am simply a humble traveler trying to spread the word of Luthes to needy folk. While I am here in the city, I also seek and old friend of my master, a lady by the name of Canestriel. I have something that belongs to her."

GlassEye · 8th October 2008, 01:39 AM

OOC

Before Marda returns Arden answers Lestrivus.

"I am an Illene Mystic, sir. Our power comes from our dreams, manipulated by will and bound and bolstered by the Law. The 'how' of it, I don't know. And as far as my ancestors, my parents are clay-diggers and have shown little inclination for power such as I wield or time for pursuits that do not directly relate to putting food in their mouths. Before my parents? I don't know; they all died long ago."

Aware that Hokken is listening Arden falls silent until Marda returns.

---

Arden accepts the tea gratefully and sips it allowing the warmth to spread out from her stomach and banish the lingering cold.

"Thank you for the tea.

I just returned to the city today. I was raised in the clay-digger camp north of Narovan and apprenticed on the Street of Potters until I... left to join the mystics. My mentor sent me here with an ailing creature to seek out a man named Kelper in the Banker's district in hopes that he can heal it.

Tonight, we were lured from our inn on the pretext of aiding a woman in distress and then attacked. We beat them off but the inn had bolted its doors so we made our way here."

[You spill your secrets too readily. Hold your tongue!]

A look of uncertainty briefly crosses Arden's face and she quickly sips from her tea again.

airwalkrr · 8th October 2008, 02:56 AM

ooc

As Marda engages you in conversation, you notice Hokken stares fixedly into the night, seemingly oblivious to any goings on in the room. "He's like that, I'm afraid. Vigilant but with a bad case of tunnel vision. Of course, it's against Guild rules to actually break into a house so I guess it doesn't... but anyway I shouldn't talk of such things now."

At the mention of the name Canestriel, Marda gives a soft sigh and stares into her cup. "It's been a long time since I've heard that name; almost ten years in fact. She created this place you know. The entire idea was hers. My father thought it was gallivanting mad, but she was determined. I didn't imagine my father would leave her over it though. Oh, I'm sorry to get like this," she says, wiping a tear from her eye, "It's just that I haven't thought about her in so long. And when I returned to the city ten years ago to find her dead, well, it was just difficult. I was foolish to have left her alone in the city like this. But I was young and impetuous. Look at me! Bearing my soul out to perfect strangers."

Marda gets up and walks over to the cupboards and opens a high one. She pulls out a bottle, uncorks it, and takes a large swig. After wiping her eyes again, she appears to regain her composure and brings the bottle over to sitting area. "Anyone care for some? It's Dardessian Whiskey. Well aged."

GlassEye

Deuce Traveler · 8th October 2008, 03:59 AM

Kleb stares in shock at her before saying, "She was a friend of my master. His name was Born, and I had hoped to receive answers on the Order he followed and perhaps even advice. I have this locket that I was meaning to give to her from Born. He carried it through his many years until he died from the weight of his elder years. I suppose if you were a relation of hers that I should now give it to you instead." Kleb hands over the golden locket to Marda.

As he releases with shaking hand the locket that has been his burden these last few years he realizes what he could use now. "I will take a small bit of that whiskey, please."

airwalkrr · 8th October 2008, 04:12 AM

Marda stares at the locket aghast. Her mouth gapes open for a moment before she manages to stutter out, "Wh...what order did you say he followed?"