Baelor shakes his head at Floch's words. "I'm afraid not, half-breed." It is unclear from the dwarf's tone if he means the word 'half-breed' as an insult, or if it is merely his brusk manner. "My own inspection of these locks have shown that they have not been tampered with, and Ghelve has confirmed my findings." The dwarf shrugs as he stares up at the large half-orc. "Unfortunately, that leaves us both at square one. If they have not been picked, and there is no master key, then we have nothing to aid us in our investigation of our missing friends."
The dwarf turns away to gather up his pack, sling it over his shoulder, and reclaim his finely crafted bronzewood shield. Then, he turns back to Floch, as if struck by a sudden thought. "I'm not accustomed to working with others...but it dawns on me that if these disappearances are related, we might be well served in joining together to try to find out what happened. What do you think, half-breed?"
__________________ -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
Baelor shakes his head at Floch's words. "I'm afraid not, half-breed." It is unclear from the dwarf's tone if he means the word 'half-breed' as an insult, or if it is merely his brusk manner. "My own inspection of these locks have shown that they have not been tampered with, and Ghelve has confirmed my findings." The dwarf shrugs as he stares up at the large half-orc. "Unfortunately, that leaves us both at square one. If they have not been picked, and there is no master key, then we have nothing to aid us in our investigation of our missing friends."
The dwarf turns away to gather up his pack, sling it over his shoulder, and reclaim his finely crafted bronzewood shield. Then, he turns back to Floch, as if struck by a sudden thought. "I'm not accustomed to working with others...but it dawns on me that if these disappearances are related, we might be well served in joining together to try to find out what happened. What do you think, half-breed?"
I think you found a partner shorty.
The Half Orc shakes the dwarf hand. He then leans and say softly, not wanting the gnome to hear. My friends are out there, you should meet them. they have some questions to this fellow, they are more expert in talking then me.
__________________
Spoiler:
Zirat Igruf, Gladiator (Rhun's ToEE): OOC ; IC ; RG
The rest of the group enters the shop to see Floch shaking hands with a dwarf. Meanwhile, a disgruntled gnome of peculiarly tall height stands behind a counter, his arms crossed. Floch can see his companions are accompanied by a pair of half-elves. Both carry longswords in sheaths attached to their belts and wear leather armor. One is blonde with leather breeches and a white jerkin. The other is brown-haired with a green tunic and brown trousers. They both meander along to the back as though they wish to observe.
This storefront smells of wood and pipe smoke. Two padded chairs flank a hearth containing a small yet lively fire. The fireplace's carved mantle bears a tinderbox, a small vase of dried smoking leaves, and a finely wrought collection of pipes. A burgundy strip of carpet leads from the entrance to the wall across from it, where dozens--perhaps hundreds--of keys hang from tiny hooks. The keys come in all shapes and sizes. A handsomely engraved mahogany counter stretches along one wall. Behind it hangs a red curtain that neatly hides the rest of the store.
"Wonderful," the tall gnome says with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "more folks come to complain about my locks? Thirty years and now everyone decides to wander in with a complaint today."
Hoi!
Floch raise his hand to greet his new friends. This is ... hmm .. a new friend of mine. Seems like he lost two of his friends like we did, they too vanished to the thin air, and guess what ...
The impolite and uneducated Half Orc Half Baklunish raises his tone of voice for the gnome to hear while crossing his hands in triumph. The locks were the same.
__________________
Spoiler:
Zirat Igruf, Gladiator (Rhun's ToEE): OOC ; IC ; RG
Feeling the tension in the air, Goran wasn't sure what the well meaning lad had said to the gnome, but he was guessing that it had made the craftsman quite guarded. While he had never been particularly adapt at resolving issues that did not end with his knuckles crashing into someone else's body, he sighed and looked toward Simon. The man had brokered a treaty with the half-elves and assuming that their desire to find their missing friend was genuine, more assistance might be needed still.
Walking towards the locksmith, Goran extended his hand as he spoke.
"Master Ghelve? I am Goran, a priest in the service of the Brawler, and I am hoping that you might be able to answer a few questions we have. There are people missing and while the Brawler would normally step aside and let those who follow the Cudgel find the guilty parties, they have taken children and this is something that neither the Brawler, nor myself, will allow to go unchecked."
Simon raises an admonishing hand, starts to speak, and then clearly thinks better of it. He settles for a quiet cough, and an uncomortable shuffling of his feet.
What in the world have they accused the fellow of?
Keth looked around the shop. He hadn't exactly seen a locksmith's before, but this was a lot fancier than he had expected. And who was this Floch was going on about. First half-elves, now a dwarf. Judging by what Floch said, this one at least had a smidgeon of information. Perhaps they were on the right trail after all. As he walked over to the counter it was really the curtain that caught his attention. He had thought of the odd words the priestess had given them over and over again and it was becoming difficult not to look for meaning were maybe there was none. He was getting as bad as simon and his lockes. Keth just shook his head and waited to see what was really going on.
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
That's too obvious... could it be? Alexi thinks, as she looks at the curtain behind the counter. Unfortunately, it would be rather difficult to get in there without getting the gnome's attention. Maybe if he was distracted enough...
__________________
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 one eyed dwarf looks over the newcomers as he smokes his pipe. Then he clears his throat and nods. "If your looking for those that have disappeared, we find ourselves in common cause. Two of my friends disappeared, and the trail brought me here. Master Ghelve assures me that their locks had not been tampered with, and that no "skeleton key" exists to his devices." He takes another puff of the potent tobacco he smokes and steps forward, holding out his hand. "I am Baelor, called "Badaxe" by some...it is good to meet you."
__________________ -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
"A pleasure, good sir," Simon beams, sketching a quick bow. "It seems our numbers are growing by leaps and bounds; the kidnappers, whoever they be, haven't a chance."
He turns to the locksmith, bowing again. "Master Ghelve, I do beg your pardon -- emotions are running high, as you surely understand. But is there anyone in this city to you knowledge that could perhaps challenge your creations?"
The gnome lets out a discernible puff of indignation as he responds, "As I've already explained, that's hardly a coincidence. I make practically all locks in the city."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zarust
"...There are people missing and while the Brawler would normally step aside and let those who follow the Cudgel find the guilty parties, they have taken children and this is something that neither the Brawler, nor myself, will allow to go unchecked."
"Questions fine," the gnome says, "but if you have any thinly veiled accusations like him," at this he points to the dwarf who has befriended Floch, "then you can take them elsewhere. I haven't done anything wrong."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bohemian Ear-Spork
"...But is there anyone in this city to you knowledge that could perhaps challenge your creations?"
"If you mean to ask if there are any other locksmiths in town then no, I'm the only one and have been for thirty years. Only other place to get locks of any passable quality around here is in Sasserine, but I doubt people wish to make a weeks-long journey for such a thing when I can make it in a few days. I admit I'm not the best locksmith in the world though, so sometimes I do order locks of the highest quality from Sasserine. However, the only people who have ever purchased those from me are aristocratic folk like the Taskerhills or the Lord Mayor for city vaults."
Keth looked at the rough hewn dwarf holding out his hand as though he wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do in this situation for moment before finally grasping his hand and giving it a firm pump.
I'm Keth.
With that he turned back to the tall gnome. Keth scratched his chin in thought.
You keep copies of keys? You know in case the originals are lost.
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
"As I was saying before you arrived, I have no need for copies of keys or skeletons keys or such. I can fashion a key for any of my own locks within a few hours at the most if a customer needs a replacement. And no, I don't do house calls for thieves. I keep a record of everyone who purchases a lock from me so I would know if someone asked me to fashion a key for a place that didn't belong to that person."
The gnome is being unusually defensive about the whole issue of the locks and going into far too much detail in his explanations. You suspect he may know more than he is letting on, but you are unsure of what that may be.
Simon shakes his head, and begins to wander the shop as the gnome speaks, peering into corners and lightly stomping on floorboards, running a finger across the row of hanging keys as if to study the jungling noise this motion produces.
He makes no pretense at subtlety. Never does, really.
"Your worksmanship is incredible, Master Ghelve. You've an eye for this, sure as sure. I've never seen the like. Can't imagine how anyone local might be able to crack a lock such as yours, in truth."
Hey, you are too much defensive.
Floch raise his voice toward the gnome, he feels confidence with all the people around him I have a feeling that you are hiding something!
He then eyes the curtain. What do you hide over there?
__________________
Spoiler:
Zirat Igruf, Gladiator (Rhun's ToEE): OOC ; IC ; RG
Baelor grins as Floch challenges the shopkeeper. He liked this half-orc's style. But the dwarf just conitnues quietly smoking his pipe.
__________________ -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
I was only thinking that someone else stole keys from you, but I guess it couldn't be that from what you've said. No need to be defensive, I think you're just making my big friend here suspicious. Maybe we could see your list of customers, I bet that would clear things up and get us out of your hair.
The halfling scratched his neck in thought for a second.
Hey I don't suppose you'd be able to tell if anyone had been tampering with one of your locks, or how they might have gotten through it, by taking a look at one?
__________________ Oni
"Each man, one way.
Each horse, one stance.
Each church, one buddha.
Each master to his own technique."
Last edited by Oni; 31st October 2008 at 05:05 PM..
"...Can't imagine how anyone local might be able to crack a lock such as yours, in truth."
"I wish I could say my locks are unpickable, but alas such is not the truth. Still, some are more secure than others. You get what you pay for. I have high quality locks and low quality locks. It depends on how secure someone wants to be, or can afford to be rather. Excuse me, are you looking for something?" he cocked his eyebrow as he notes Simon paying meticulous attention to details.
Bohemian
The keys come in various shapes and sizes and are made of various materials. The place is also quite homey. But you don't notice anything unusual.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Strahd_Von_Zarovich
What do you hide over there?
"Hide?" the gnome asked, his look one of combined shock and perplexity, "Uh, why that's only my storage room. I also happen to live upstairs. And no, you can't go poking around. It's not open to the public."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oni
...Maybe we could see your list of customers, I bet that would clear things up and get us out of your hair.
"I'm sorry that is absolutely out of the question. Unless you represent the law, I am not going to violate my clients' trust."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oni
Hey I don't suppose you'd be able to tell if anyone had been tampering with one of your locks, or how they might have gotten through it, by taking a look at one?
"Why yes, I usually can, but as a matter of fact I've already checked this dwarf's locks. They're fine; never been tampered with."
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