The powerfully built dwarf at the counter growls low in his throat, and takes a deep pull off of his elaborately crafted meerschaum pipe. He blows the fragrant smoke out into the air, and glares up at the tall gnome locksmith with a single, icy-blue eye. His voice is coarse, and his tone abrupt as he continues to question the shopkeeper. "What about somethin' else then, Keygan? Do you keep some sort of master key for your locks? Two of my friends are missing, and I am..." The dwarf takes his time to enunciate his next words very slowly for the locksmith "extremely determined to find them."
The dwarf looks dour and grim, dressed in travel-stained leathers over a chainmail shirt. Even from a distance of a few feet, the scent of rich earth and cheap beer can be smelled over the tobacco he smokes. His pack and shield rest against the counter, and a dwarven waraxe is slung across his back...
Baelor:
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
Last edited by Rhun; 24th October 2008 at 03:15 AM..
Seeing that there's now two people speaking to Goran, Simon swings his axe over his shoulder and strolls causally towards them while still smiling. "No problems, I hope? I do dislike problems, friends. They're no good to anyone, and can simply ruin a man's day." He ostentatiously shifts his grip upon the greataxe, while silently planning to drop the heavy damned thing and make use of his natural talents should matters grow difficult.
Lorthan and Sondor Ironfold were a married couple so their home had the same set of locks, all opened by the same key. Sorry if I wasn't more explicit. Perhaps you'd like to amend your text. Still, I'll have Ghelve respond to your question along similar lines.
Inside Ghelve's Locks
"I have no need for a skeleton key. With a proper toolkit I can fashion a key for any of my locks in an hour or less. However, if you are implying I had anything to do with your friends' disappearances, that is preposterous. I have been making locks for this city for decades and have a sterling reputation, I'll have you know."
Outside the shop
"No problems," the blonde half-elf says with a guarded tone, "I was merely commenting to your friend here how it appears we are at coinciding purposes. You are looking for vanished children; we seek our vanished friend. The two incidences may be related, and we'd be willing to help for as long as that remains so...unless of course, we are unwelcome."
Lorthan and Sondor Ironfold were a married couple so their home had the same set of locks, all opened by the same key. Sorry if I wasn't more explicit. Perhaps you'd like to amend your text. Still, I'll have Ghelve respond to your question along similar lines.
Oops!
I'll get my post fixed up...definitely had the wrong impression. It was the line "their houses" that confused me.
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
Last edited by Rhun; 24th October 2008 at 03:23 AM..
"A bit defensive, are we?" asks the dwarf sarcastically, raising his eyebrow, a hint of red coloring his face as if he is getting angry. The dwarf takes another deep pull off of his pipe, and it seems to calm him...a bit. "I merely inquire because I thought it might be possible that a skeleton key might have fallen into the wrong hands. You are the 'expert' here, 'Master' Ghelve."
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
"If I did have a master key and if it had gone missing, I would have reported it to the authorities. But since I have no such key, the point is moot, isn't it? I do apologize for the state of your friends, but that is the law's duty not mine. Now, if there is nothing else, sir, I believe I will say good day. As you can see I have other customers waiting," he says, gesturing to Floch (and anyone else who entered).
Keth approaches the half-elves with Simon. The big man's bluster made him uncomfortable, something about that fellow was off, maybe more so than the dwarf. Keth pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind, no matter and there were more pressing issues at hand anyway.
Well what do you know about all of this then?
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
The half-elves glance at each other momentarily before looking back. Then the brown-haired one says, "Only that there have been a lot of kidnappings over the last few months. But your group seems to be on to something, what with us standing in front of the locksmith's shop. You think Ghelve had something to do with this?"
The look that passed between the half-elves made the hair on the back of Keth's neck stand on end. It occured to him that he and the others hadn't been at this long enough for there to be much chance that someone had caught wind of their activities already. This was a little worrisome.
To their question Keth simply shrugged.
How'd you hear of us then?
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
Once again the half-elves glance at each other. It is odd, almost as if they have some unspoken means of communication. The blonde one shrugs and they turn back to you. The brown-haired half-elf replies, "To be honest, we've been watching both the temple you came from and the orphanage for the last couple of days. We figured if anyone happened to come across something useful, they would have to visit one of those places. The Church of the Cudgel came out publicly against the kidnappings, and the orphanage was the site of the most recent offense."
Hearing the dwarf tells about missing people the Half-Orc decides to interfere. Well, manners are not his good ability. Hey ... Excuse me ... what do you have with missing people?
Floch say to the Dwarf I'm looking for the children that vanished in the orphanage and the locks over there were made by him.
He turns to the gnome and frowns while jumping to conclusions Maybe you lost your toolkit fellow or maybe someone took your master key, you are irresponsible.
__________________
Spoiler:
Zirat Igruf, Gladiator (Rhun's ToEE): OOC ; IC ; RG
Not having entered the store yet, Alexi moves closer to where the others are talking with the two half-elves. Something seems weird with them, but she cannot put her finger on it. Since the conversation seems to go well, she just stands nearby and listens to what is being said, wondering whether they can trust these two or not.
__________________
In our world, immortality is not for the living. The legend lives on!
In Memoriam Dave Arneson ( April 7th, 2009) & Gary Gygax ( March 4th, 2008).
Wondering what the Dungeon Tiles are like? Take a look here (up to DU5 Sinister Woods).
The dwarf turns to eye the massive slab of muscle that is Floch. At the half-orc's words, Baelor turns his gaze back to Ghelve. "Well, now...this does seem to be quite a coincidence. My friends were kidnapped from a house using your locks, and now a bunch of orphans too? I'm afraid this casts you in a poor light, Master Ghelve. But still, I'd love to hear an explanation." The dwarf takes another long pull from his pipe, exhaling the smoke with a smirk on his craggy face. "Perhaps you have some enemy that seeks to defame your character, and is targeting those buildings protected by your locks?"
__________________ -Rhun
"I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death." -Robert Fulghum
[sblock=Outside] "Well, then! We have common cause," Simon proclaims cheerfully, letting his hand fall from the haft of his axe. He takes another step forward, extanding that same hand for the nearest of the two men to shake. "Simon Sinople," he says with a grin, "You? And no," he quickly adds, before the man can speak, "Certainly we don't suspect master Ghelve. Why should we? He is simply an expert on locks, with whom we wish to consult."
Ghelve's brow furls at the implications being made. "You want an explanation? How's this for an explanation? Two fellows obviously blinded by their own ignorance are jumping to conclusions. I'm the finest locksmith in this city. I'm practically the ONLY locksmith in the city. Odds are anyone who's had a lock made in last thirty years in this town got it from me, and for thirty years, no one has had a problem with my locks. I am a respectable businessman, not some two-bit thief."
Outside
"Well met, Simon," says the blonde half-elf.
"Yes, well met," says the brown-haired one. "I am Fellian and my associate here is Fario. It is a pleasure to join your group. For now we will hang back and allow you to continue your investigation. Should you require our aid with anything in particular, do not hesitate to ask for our assistance. I have a bit of divine magic I can lend if the occasion warrants and we are both handy in a fight."
Keth wasn't quite sure what to make of the pair, but their offer of help did seem genuine as far as he could tell. He supposed it would be foolish to look a gift horse in the mouth. However they weren't learning anything new standing around here, the half-elves had less information than they did. Nothing farther to add he just nodded, Alright, and turned to head into the locksmith's.
ooc
Is the brown haired one wearing any kind of obvious holy symbol that might give anymore information about their affiliations?
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
There is nothing particularly striking about Fellian's appearance to indicate he is a member of any specific faith. He does not outwardly wear a holy symbol, nor is he garbed in clerical vestments. He and Fario are both dressed in traveler's outfits.
Well then, any help for figuring out what's going on here is welcome. Speaking of which, we might want to check with the others who are already inside, Alexi says and then heads into the shop.
__________________
In our world, immortality is not for the living. The legend lives on!
In Memoriam Dave Arneson ( April 7th, 2009) & Gary Gygax ( March 4th, 2008).
Wondering what the Dungeon Tiles are like? Take a look here (up to DU5 Sinister Woods).
Linear Mode
And yet another word from our sponsors
