Dark Days in Sion - Act 2: Scene 4

narayan · Oct 31, 2015

Drasus, Svexyn

Other Conversation_______________________________

Raja: Lays his hands on the table in a gesture of frankness. "Normally that would be true, but the Shiekh recently ordered the borders closed. Only the Chiefs have the authority to permit foreigners in now. Certainly you can understand I have no business asking the chiefs to vouch for you."

Drumir: Purses his lips and tugs at his beard with frustration. "This is totally unacceptable. I will not be kicked off the doorstep like some mangy cur!" He says balling his fist on the table for emphasis.

Raja: Sighs and leans back. "I could bring your goods in for you Drumir? There would be no shame in it under the circumstances."

Drumir: Huffs. "That's not the point!" He says hitting his fist atop the table for emphasis. "You damned Quresh are too paranoid."
_________________________________________________

Just then Tylia appears on the stairwell with a cup of Barossan rum and a plate of sweet dates.

Tylia: "Svexyn wanted to be sure you got your favorite drink Drasus." She says taking a sip before she places the cup before him. "The dates are on the house." She adds also placing them on the table and turns to go.

Drasus: Grabs a date at random off the plate and lifts his finger. "Wait!"

Tylia: Pauses, and turns again apologetically. "Of course, I almost forgot..." She says taking the date from his fingers and swallowing it.

Drasus: Smiles and pulls two gold pieces from his purse. "Very good Tylia." He says slipping the coins into her apron, letting his fingertips linger a moment longer than necessary at her waist.

Tylia looks angered by the forwardness of Drasus, but holds her tongue.

[Svexyn: What do you do?]

Fangor the Fierce · Oct 31, 2015

Svexyn

Svexyn:

~The borders are closed? What would cause them to be closed and why does this dwarf believe the Quresh are being paranoid? Has something happened recently?~

His answers are left in his mind, as Tylia arrives to deliver Drasus' drink and snack. As she takes a sip and eats one of the dates, Svexyn can only wonder if paranoia was something in the water here, as everyone seems to have it.

"Are you a hunted man, or simply take no chances?" Svexyn asks, as he motions to the dates.

"Having her test out your drink and food seems a bit much, but something tells me it's not from paranoia. Forgive my question, as it's none of my business." He leans back into his chair, overhearing the the argument nearby.

"Why would the Quresh close the borders? What does the Sezzara Wasteland hold?" he asks to Drasus. The question is said just loud enough that the Quresh merchant and the dwarf both can hear.

narayan · Nov 1, 2015

Alic, Bax, Kryslogious, Malic, Ordechai, Wrenwil

Wrenwil said:
"We will do our best," Wrenwil replied, standing up to stare into the distance, a 360 degree arc of night, speaking as he surveyed the fringes of their camp. "They better get on with it though, my patience is thinning, in fact it has been since first light." Wrenwil winked to his friend, a hopeful gesture that all would be fine.

"Actually... you don't happen to have a shovel do you? I hate to ask, but my faith demands that I bury the dead, excluding those who seek to murder us of course. Couldn't think of a better way to spend a night on vacation, help a friend who is ripe for interrogation, and bury an oversized bird, whilst obviously keeping one eye open for death from above..."

Ordechai: Murmers. "Bax, dig out the shovel for Wrenwil."

The goblin moves to oblige as the dwarves rise from their camp and make their way over into Ordechai's.

Malic: "It is time Ordechai."

[Wrenwill: Casts Zone of Truth]

Ordechai: Raises his head and belches. "Go on with your questions then."

Malic: "Tell us what you know of the Black Network?"

Ordechai: "I know plenty!" He quips feeling at the horrid scars of his burns.

Alic: "Were they responsible for your burns?"

Ordechai: Gestures to Wrenwil. "Ask him, he knows most of the story and I'm in no mood to repeat myself."

Alic: Glares. "Now is not the time for games!"

Ordechai: "Oh it was a game to them I assure you... a game of screams." He says with a hollow voice.

Malic: "What did you do to warrant such torture?"

Ordechai: "I was just a young lad in the wrong place at the wrong time. They tortured me, and the woman who raised me, for information about some bandits in the Urzuq Hills."

Alic: "What did they look like?"

Ordechai: "They were dwarves of the Stonebones Clan, same as you."

Malic: Stares intently at Ordechai, brows furrowed. "I don't want to believe you, yet after all I've seen I can't deny its possible."

Alic: "Did you catch their names? Why did they let you live?"

Ordechai: "No I did not catch their names, but I will never forget their faces. Letting me go was their plan all along. It is their way. It doesn't matter what I said or how I cooperated. They intended to scar me with horrid mutilations anyway."

Malic: Nods slowly. "They say the Black Network likes to mark its captives like that, often letting them free as an example to others. This is exactly the sort of testimony we need to prove evil has infiltrated our clan!"

Alic: "Why do they let them free?"

Malic: "Because they knew no one would ever trust Ordechai afterwards. His scars forever associate him with the Black Network. The sight of him spreads fear and distrust between neighbors."

Ordechai: Takes another deep swallow of his rum. "That's true. I was always shunned from decent company afterwards. Nobody would shelter me. Out of desperation I took up with the worst sorts of scum in the streets of Casalan. I did many things I wasn't proud of simply to survive. That's when I first encountered the corrupt captain Ramses of the Casalan Guard."

"I didn't know who he was at first. I assumed he was just another man on the thieves guild payroll taking bribes and demanding black market goods in exchange for favors and information. However, one day I recognized him on horseback leading a patrol through the streets. He saw me too unfortunately and tried to have me seized and arrested on the spot. Luckily I evaded him, but I was struck so profoundly by his cold stare I knew he was my enemy from that day forward. I just didn't realize how much of an enemy he truly was."

"Shortly after that our smugglers started going missing. Then some of our hideouts were attacked and plundered, with a few survivors turning up later horribly scarred like me. I was probably the first one to realize what was happening. Our informant was informing on us to the Black Network! I tried to warn the guild, but the captain was one step ahead of me. He'd already dropped a rumor to them saying that I was responsible."

"I barely escaped with my life and had to flee the kingdom, knowing I could never return because there was a price on my head. Since then I have roamed far and wide doing whatever I can to earn a living. Smuggling suites me best because I stay on the move. All the while of course I've had to fend off the knives of the captains hired killers coming after me, so I started keeping a slave to watch over me as I sleep. And now of course, I hear from that snake Garrisan that my arch-enemy has been promoted to commander!" He spits.

Malic: "I apologize for judging you so harshly. I see your history in a different light now. The truth is dwarves hold the lions share of blame for your wrongdoing and I am deeply shamed."

Ordechai: "They've infiltrated your clan yes, but the same is true of many other clans in the region. Of course, given that the source of their strength comes from Skull Mountain, it doesn't surprise me in the least that their disease of corruption and greed spread first among other dwarves."

Alic: "But the captain..."

Ordechai: Nods. "Clearly its not just dwarves anymore. Governments of Vulkh and Barossa are soaking in their sickness like a sponge, but they won't be the only ones. Agents of the Black Network are quite apt seeding corruption and dissent wherever they travel. In fact, I only know of one region the network stays clear of."

Alic: "What region is that?!" He asks eagerly.

Ordechai: "That would be the Sezzara Wasteland, breeding ground of the Quresh and legions of evil humanoids."

[Wrenwil: What do you do? Make a Knowledge Check, DC 13, to see what you know of the Quresh.]

[Kryslogious: What do you do? Make a Wisdom Check, DC 13]

narayan · Nov 1, 2015

Drasus, Svexyn

Fangor the Fierce said:
Svexyn:
He leans back into his chair, overhearing the the argument nearby.

"Why would the Quresh close the borders? What does the Sezzara Wasteland hold?" he asks to Drasus. The question is said just loud enough that the Quresh merchant and the dwarf both can hear.

Both the merchant and the dwarf pause in their speech and turn their heads in your direction.

Drumir: "HEY!" He says with a glare directly at you.

Drasus: Glances at the dwarf, slightly annoyed, then regards you with a brow raised one tick as if he's thinking ~What will you do now?~.

[sblock=Drasus]
Barossan Male, 30, Black Hair, Blue Eyes, 5'10", 170 lbs
Rapier, Short Sword
Loose Tunic and Leggings, Well-Heeled Boots
[/sblock]

[sblock=Drumir]
Hill Dwarf Male, 51, Black Hair, Black Beard, Brown Eyes, 4'2", 195 lbs
Short Sword, Dagger
Tunic, Leather Vest & Leggings, Boots
[/sblock]

[sblock=Raja]
Quresh Male, 35, Brown Hair, Golden Eyes, 5'6", 160 lbs
Dagger
Merchants Robes, Shoes
[/sblock]

Fangor the Fierce · Nov 1, 2015

Svexyn

Svexyn:

~Great... looks like things go from bad to worse. This place may just be the death of me if I don't learn quick enough...~

Raising his hand apologetically, Svexyn answers Drumir with, "Your conversation was too loud to not overhear. I wasn't aware that it was something private."

[sblock=Bluff Check]Bluff to have Durmir believe that Svexyn wasn't aware it was a private conversation, Fangor:1D20+11 → 15(4 + 11)#Bluff Check[/sblock]

He looks between the two, Drumir and Raja, trying to gather whether or not if this came to a battle, then would the Quresh aid the drawf, or let it play out...

[sblock=Svexyn's Quick Stats]Init 2+1=3, HP 35/35, Speed 30
AC 16, Touch 12, Flat-footed 14, Fort 5, Ref 3, Will 3, Base Attack Bonus 2
Cold Iron MW Cold Iron Spiked Chain +6 (2d4+4, x2), Reach, Adjacent, Trip, +2 Disarm
ColdIron / Silver / Steel Dagger +5 Melee / +4 Ranged (1d4+3, 19-20/x2)
Abilities Str 17, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 12
Active Draconic Aura Senses Aura (+1 to Listen, Spot and Initiative)[/sblock]

narayan · Nov 1, 2015

Drasus, Drumir, Raja, Svexyn

Fangor the Fierce said:
Svexyn:Raising his hand apologetically, Svexyn answers Drumir with, "Your conversation was too loud to not overhear. I wasn't aware that it was something private."

[sblock=Bluff Check]Bluff to have Durmir believe that Svexyn wasn't aware it was a private conversation, Fangor:1D20+11 → 15(4 + 11)#Bluff Check[/sblock]

Drumir: (Sense Motive Check: =3, Fumble) The dwarf narrows his eyes, but cannot detect any deception about you. He decides that perhaps he was speaking louder than he realized. "Keep your ears on your own business." He mutters.

Fangor the Fierce said:
He looks between the two, Drumir and Raja, trying to gather whether or not if this came to a battle, then would the Quresh aid the drawf, or let it play out...

Svexyn: (Fate Pool Sense Motive Check: =8)

Raja's gaze lingers on you a moment longer. There is something chilling about his golden eyes, but his true character is hard to discern. In any case it appears that even if he knows your bluffing he doesn't wish to speak against you at this time. Both he and the dwarf do lower their voices however.

Drasus: Chuckles. -Speaks in a low voice- "Careful what you choose to hear around here young friend, especially when Quresh are involved. For my own sake I will not answer those questions related to that other conversation, but I shall continue our discussion about settling-up over that Half Orc. What I consider fair in that matter depends on what you found on him? Do tell..." He asks taking a drink of the rum.

[Svexyn: What do you do? Make another Listen Check if you wish to continue listening in on the dwarf and the merchant, DC 17.]

97mg · Nov 1, 2015

Wrenwil

Wrenwil stood at Ordechai's side as the questioning progressed. He was pleased. It was going well. The word "interrogation" was certainly not one of his favorites, and so far things had remained rather civil and peaceful. Not bad. Not bad at all. At this rate they might even let Ordechai regain his autonomy.

It was late. It had been a horrible day, and although he listened intently, Wrenwil struggled to make much sense of some of it. ~ Quresh? ~ He'd heard that word before, or at least read it somewhere, but right now, his mind succumbing to fatigue, it meant nothing. Even Pentos didn't deliver an inkling of understanding.

"Malic, Alic, Ordechai, Kryslogious, it pleases me that we can find it in our conscience to listen, to try and truly understand one another, to forgive..." He looked to Ordechai first, and then the knight, "I believe two men may now be free, to walk with us as friends. Kryslogious, you have done all in your power to protect us, you have unconditionally leant us your hand and sword. Whatever chain that you believe ties yourself to me, you must consider it gone. I am no Lord, I am as far from Lordship as a man could ever be. Be free Krysolgious and do as you wish, and if you will walk with us, I will be eternally grateful."

Wrenwil then looked again to the dwarven duo. "I believe Ordechai is also free to walk without chains or judging gaze. He has already paid a price far more heavy than any trial or execution. He carries it with him, every day, every breath. Let us travel as friends. Let us watch each others backs. Let us reach our destination as friends, not strangers who fear."

[sblock=Knowledge Check] Rolled total of 7. Spent one fate point. Rolled total of 5. Gave up at that point

[/sblock]
[sblock=Wrenwil Stats]

WRENWIL - a tough old boot on a terrible holiday

Sheet: http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=209300
Level 4, Init 2, HP 20/27, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 13, Flat-footed 13, Fort 6, Ref 3, Will 10, Base Attack Bonus 3
Masterwork Staff +7 to hit (d6+3)
Spells: 5/5/3

[/sblock]

Fangor the Fierce · Nov 1, 2015

Svexyn

Svexyn:

Now that he was curious, Svexyn tries to overhear the conversation, but can't seem to hear them[sblock=Listen Check]Result is 15, failed[/sblock]As his attention goes back to Drasus, he contemplates his options. Deciding to use the same discretion as Drasus, he lowers his voice. "Nothing of note, which is kind of disappointing. His gear and a few coins and a gem that I already gave to Tamas for gear. The only thing that I am unsure of is a parchment that stated he was in contract with a group called the Masoud Trading Company. Ever heard of them?"

Hillsy7 · Nov 1, 2015

Burrai Steelborn

Kadar said:
"Enter!"

Burrai stepped inside Kadar's office. In truth, Burrai hadn't been away from Cabarda for just shy than two years - it had been longer. While he'd been brooding over his books, looking to divine something of importance, he'd stayed away from the mercenaries and soldiers companies that had started so many of his adventures in the past. And so Kadar's casual familiarity with his father Omar was both comforting and confusing. From his memories, Kadar looked changed: more composed, focused. It wasn't so much he'd grown into the chair he now sat in, more that he understood how it worked. They weighed each other for a moment.

Kadar said:
"Have a seat Burrai Steelborn"

Burrai nodded thanks and sat, lifting and settling himself into the too high, too narrow chair human's thought everyone fit into. Kadar's own seat was deliberately slightly higher - no doubt a tactical advantage in negotiations - and so their relative eye lines were almost comically misaligned. But most dwarves dealt with that looming feeling every day. Burrai did so now by casting a slow eye around the room, lingering on the battlefield relics and maps.

"Good to see that appreciation of history I drilled into your father trickled down. I don't recognise half of these from my last visit. Impressive!" He made a gesture to the racks, the armour, and outside onto the training grounds. "Business is good for you at the moment, and growing judging by the freshness of some of the recruits. It seems an excellent time to come to you with some of my own business....

"I'm going to leave town on personal business myself for an unknown period of time, so I'm sort of selling my home. I require a simple escort in the next few days - the sooner the better - for the new buyer. But more importantly I'd like to enter into a contract for regular checks on the property, just to make sure that should I return, my home is still in one piece. My gold is good, as I'm sure you know, and my request is that simple."

He left a pause - dealing with Omar had tended to be an organic, casual affair. The few dealings he remember with Kadar had been more....clinical. But that was some time ago. So he left the offer of a simple transaction hanging, ready to be taken should Kadar want to take the option.

....and then it crept up on him. The realisation he'd truly opened dealings to start out on the road again, searching for a blank text to carve Burrai's name into for all eternity - and it felt exhilarating...