Chapter 1 – A Bad Beginning
Earthday, 9th of Blessing, 721IA
It was supposed to be a quiet night of drinking with Menon and Sebastian at the Ghostly Minstrel.
Yeah, right.
Menon’s been itching for a long time now to join the Delver’s Guild and go down into the bowels of the city, not just the sewers mind you. I’m not that keen on going down into the dark corners of Ptolus but I will not leave my sister's side if she goes into danger; also, the money could help and it will probably provide me with great (I hope) writing material. The fact that she was almost broke only made it that more urgent. It was my business of course because she’s my sister and I love her dearly… and she needed a loan.
Sebastian was telling us how he still hasn’t heard from his employer and mentor, Max, who has been missing for the past week. For some reason he did not think of going to speak with Max’s wife. Men! Both he and Menon started talking about finding a job to earn some money, and since the only gig I could find was six days from now at the Northpoint Restaurant, I thought it’d be prudent to join them.
The Minstrel was crowded that night, a bit more than usual actually. Sheva Callister was there with that big sword on her back, as well as Urlenius, the Ogre Mage with his floating stones dancing around his head. I didn’t recognize anyone else so they’re probably not important. I mentioned that the place was crowded only because that’s the only reason I can think of that got us to notice the others. One of them, a blond hair blue eyed giant of a man, bumped into Sebastians’ chair. Sebastian complained to him about it and the man, a Paladin of Lothian by his clothing, apologized. Not a moment passes and Sebastian is standing talking with the Paladin… apparently they knew each other as kids. They wave us over to join them but a glance from Menon and me immediately convinced them to join us instead. With Eric, that was the big Paladins’ name, came another well built (and rather handsome) man with a sword on his back that introduced himself as Tuur, and a dwarvish servant of Teun (I know that cause she had those great cogs hanging on her cleavage) named Golli. Eric turned out to be very perceptive and immediately suspected that Menon and I were twins; Tuur, sitting next to him, observing my harp on the table besides me asked if I play on it. I sensed mild amusement and mingled with a bit of exasperation from Menon.
After some more small talk, Sebastian decided that he trusts Eric enough for us to join forces. I say ‘us’ because Menon of course was impatient to do something already. Among two wanted posters, several job searching and job offering notes, and an Imperial decree offering bounties on Ratmen tails (for 3 Gold Imperials a piece none of us were sure it’s worth it), we found a notice asking for help to find a girl who disappeared paying 200 gold. It’s a start.
On our way to the Black Swan we heard a shout from a dark alley. Looking in, we saw one man holding upright the limp form of a woman and another man with a cudgel preparing to strike her (I was later told he was aiming for her stomach, I should pay more attention). I was first to respond so I tried something that I found out I can do only recently. I was returning home several nights ago when a low-life tried to attack me in the Warrens, he probably only wanted my money, but suddenly I knew what to do. I opened my mouth and a deep note came out of it causing my assailant to stagger and fall down on his face, he tried to get up and advance on me again but again he fell, needles to say I ran away as quick as I could. This bastard didn’t fall for some reason, which made me glad we took with us the three fighters… Eric took a nasty hit (but took it like a man), and managed to chase off one of the attackers, the other was disarmed and gave up. The men tied him while Golli tended to the girl whose name we found on a note in the pocket of our prisoner and she confirmed it. Her name was Phon Quartermain and apparently she’s pregnant. The damsel-in-distress did not know why she was attacked or why anyone would want her (or her baby) dead. Eric wanted to take he to safety and the man (who didn’t know anything apart from the name of his accomplice: Otri) to the guards, though he wouldn’t let Menon ‘relieve’ the scum from some of his possessions (didn’t I say he was perceptive?). We tried to explain to him that the guard will pocket the money anyway but he wouldn’t hear of it… I guess as long as he doesn’t see what happens he doesn’t really care. We placed the man at the guard station (he was a Pale Dog by the way) and then crossed the street to St. Gustav Chapel to place Phon in the custody of her friend Brother Fabitor. He was glad she was all right but did not shed any more light on the situation. For some reason, we decided to check out another thing mentioned on the note: a supposed meeting after dusk on a Theoday (hopefully the next Theoday) at a marked address. But that’s several days from now.
We resumed our march to the Black Swan, a run-down looking place frequented by dwarves… of course we heard it much before we saw the place. Their songs, of which I know several, hurt my ears and my heart arched for the abuse they suffer. The half-elf behind the bar told us that the post was from a friend of his whose daughter (Amida) disappeared two days ago, somewhere along Iron Street where she was walking with a friend (called Dilana). We went to talk with Dilana (it was already night but apparently her mother lets her stay up late) and while scared a bit (no part thanks to the giant of a Paladin crisply questioning her) she told us that they were near an abandoned house at the corner of Iron and Tin when she noticed that Amida was not around any more.
We let her go to sleep and followed the lead.
Menon went inside first and was almost splashed by something falling from above the door… it was only after she got inside that she was attacked by this big mosquito. My note did not affect the mosquito either. It latched on to her hand and would not let go. Sebastian tried to skewer it with his rapier but instead pierced and wounded Menon mortally. I’m not sure who killed that thing in the end, but I was holding on to Menon and begged Golli to help her if she can. She did and I got my sister back. This only served to strengthen my resolve of not to leave my sisters side for while she is seeking adventures (and gold) in dangerous places.
In the next room we found a trapdoor leading down to a basement that had (I’m told) three goblins. Golli, Tuur, and Eric jumped down and fought them while the rest of us stayed above for lack of space in the basement. While we were all looking down at what’s happening, for some unknown reason I started humming a certain simple note. It might have been a trick of the light, but I thought that from that moment on, my companions had better luck in the fight. Suddenly another goblin comes rushing through the door (the one that leads back to the main room) trying to hit Menon, he missed, and Sebastian immediately set upon him sliding his rapier clean into the green creatures’ throat. It fell like a sack of potatoes. Finally, because it took some time, all the goblins bellow were killed as well. Before opening the next door in the basement Menon and I decided to keep an eye on the stair leading up just in case there are other goblins up there, and also because we had a strong feeling that some more goblins were behind the door in the basement. There were three more goblins behind that door. While we heard fighting from bellow, Menon and I decided to check the second floor, but hearing only creaking (like those of old hinges) and having no light source, we decided to stay on the first floor.
Suddenly Eric rushes by us carrying a wounded Sebastian in his arms. Menon and I decided to go see were the others were. Tuur and Golli (who apparently killed most of the goblins) were looking around the basement checking the bodies of the dead green uglies and the crates. Not finding anything, Golli in a fit of anger (I think) smashed the crates in the smaller room of the basement, revealing a passage into darker areas of the house. She shushed us claiming she sees a figure and took Tuurs’ crossbow, hitting and probably killing a goblin. Next thing we now, about six goblins rush out into the light of the torch and we decide that it is just the right time to run the hell away from this place. Golli, Teun bless and guard her soul, decided to keep the passage barred so that we all could escape. Tuur and Menon rushed to the trapdoor and up the ladder, while I tried yet again to cause one of my enemies to fall down on his face and yet again to no avail. I rushed to the ladder and was beginning to climb up when I heard a grunt and looking over my shoulder saw Golli fall down, terribly wounded. I froze on the ladder for a moment, wishing I could go and drag her to safety, after all, she saved Menon! But I know my limits, and I’m not a strong person… also, the goblins started pouring out of that tunnel entrance. I rushed up and slammed the trapdoor shot and kept on running after Tuur and Menon till we left the house about a hundred feet behind us.
It took us several minutes to catch our breaths. We stood for several minutes not knowing what to do, we couldn’t go back in to retrieve Golli and we were all angry with ourselves for not being more prepared. Eric and Sebastian returned several minutes later. There was nothing more we could do tonight, we all agreed on that. Maybe tomorrow we could find someone with healing skills that might help us return to that place and maybe retrieve Gollis’ body for a proper burial. Eric and Tuur went to Erics’ residence in Oldtown, and Menon and I decided to accompany Sebastian back to the Ghostly Minstrel (where he sleeps now) for a drink in memory of Golli before heading home for rest. Sebastian placed a notice on the bulletin board and before we even empty our first glass, we are approached by a very attractive woman with a dog by her side, saying she saw the sign and would like to join for a piece of the treasure and that she has some skill with healing and magical healing. We got to know her a bit more and decided to meet the next day.