Ho...humm...
6 Ches (afternoon), 1373 Year of Rogue Dragons: Death in Westgate
The Heroes staggered, tired and frustrated into the Parched Patrician, a few blocks from the gate that led from the city into the Colisseum 'district'.
[DM note: If you FR fans have a map of Westgate, I placed the Colisseum and complex of the Quivering Thumb in what was formerly the shantytown area southwest of the city. The Abbey of the Blinding Truth is one block south of the Temple to Mask along what is called 'Temple Row'. The abbey is on the Northside and the arena is on the southside of the city, a good ways from each other.]
Once inside, they ordered a round of drinks and Benito began the considerable task of reviving and healing Babu. Meanwhile, Nosr had summoned Squatto from the Wave of Destiny, and was with Benito's added comments, writing Aris about what had happened. Unfortunately, Aris, Variak and Alberia attending to their own duties did not notice that the hawk had left.
"If Aris had been with us, things would not have turned sour," Benito muttered to himself, feeling the pressure of taking a leadership role. I prefer being the hand of Tyr, not the voice....
Babu explained, after regaining consciousness and coming to his senses that he had felt that he was back in his village surrounded by orcs. "What a horrible, nightmare. Did I hurt anyone?"
Nosr glared at the gnome, but went back to writing the message. He also grew wings, underneath his cloak with his spell to alter self just in case a quick exit was needed. Quickly finishing the missive to Aris, he dispatched Squatto and took a long draught of ale. It alleviated his pain somewhat, but out of pride he refused more healing from the cleric of Tyr.
Ellysidell stood near the party's table and watched the back stair that led to meeting rooms while Grim slunk into the shadows by the door.
"Well, we have an hour before we go back to the Quivering Thumb. Do we make the appointment or go back to the abbey?"
"Benito, I think we should return to the ship and leave this city," suggested the wild elf.
"Back to Aris," added Nosr.
"This place is no fun anymore, but I don't want to go back out there. It's dangerous for little guys like me. I say we hang out here for a while and then get out of town. What do you think?"
"I think that you talk to much, munchkin." Nosr responded icily.
Before the gnome could respond, taken aback and hurt by the sorcerer's crack, those at the table saw Nosr turn pale and almost faint.
"Squatto!" he yelled and rushed for the door.
"What? Wait! Nosr...Grim!" Benito sputtered as the young mage tore towards the exit.
Grim intervened, grabbing at Nosr to stop him, but somehow got caught and almost tangled in the folds of Nosr's cloak of charisma.
"Hold it for me..." Nosr said slowly and softly as he unclasped the cloak and took to the air, wings unfolding.
"Look mama, an angel!" said a young passerby.
Grim looked up catching the cloak as it floated down towards him, and saw Nosr lit by ray of sunlight as he began to fly. Time seemed to slow and the halfling saw his companion's arms fly back and his back arch. He heard the sorcerer's scream echo across the street. A bolt protruded from his back. Benito, the first to act, pushed past the halfling activating his cape of flying to try to catch Nosr. As he reached out to the falling form of the mage, the body fell through his arms to splash with a resounding thunk! on the muddy street.
"Noooooooo!" Benito cried and drew Mano de la Justicia looking for the assassins!
Movement drew him to the roof of the tavern and he saw cloaked and huddled figures. He flew towards them. Back in the tavern, Ellysidell wanted to join his companions quicker but was delayed by a protesting Babu. The elf, not feeling patient, picked up the gnome and carried him outside. Grim pointed at Nosr's fallen body and sent his elf friend a message as he began to scamper up the wall to join Benito on the roof, tucking Nosr's cloak into his belt.
Nosr's gone! Watch your back, my friend.
Ell strove towards the body, yelling at the forming crowd to step away or suffer bodily harm. Dangling a kicking and screaming gnome in one hand he reached down and picked up the body of his fallen comrade-in-arms. The bolt had pierced the mage all the way through so that point barely protruded from his chest. The wound also looked foul to the wild elf, and Nosr's breaths were ragged. In that span of a few seconds, Grim's prediction became accurate. Blood welled from the mage's mouth, his eyes rolled back and fluttered and his tongue lolled from his mouth, blood-spittle running from it, staining Ell's arms and shoulder.
"Mama, the angel's dead....," a young girl began crying.
"Damnation!" swore Ellysidell. He looked to the roof were he saw Benito's holy sword flash and blood spray....then he could not move! A lone tear escaped from his eye. Am I to die this day, also? Grim!
...But the halfling was too far away and busy dodging a bolt as he propped himself on the ledge of the roof. Benito made short work of two dark-clad assassins who had attempted to flank him. Grim spotted another trying to hide on the doorshed. That one jumped quickly down and the halfling saw another assassin run across the roof. He also saw Benito in high-speed mode and decided that the matter was well in hand. Intinct made him glance below where he saw Ellysidell frozen with the gnome Babu screaming to be let go. Not good! Tymora, please protect us! he prayed as he lept from the roof and hit the mud-splattered street rolling. Babu had torn himself free and looked to see the halfling with drawn sword charge him. Confusion set in, He's not my friend! I need to find my other friends.
"No, no get away, you crazy halfling!Don't hurt me!"
"Calm yourself, you fool!" cried Grim attempting to restrain the gnome.
Again his strength failed him as Babu, also covered with mud, slipped free from his grasp and sprinted into the crowd screaming nonsense about finding his new friends. Grim thought it was funny....too funny he realized too late as he began to roll in the mud laughing uncontrollably.
On the roof, Benito was in a fury and took out the next adversary and charged the other who was attempting to escape, ripping through the enemy with the Hand of Justice as if he were harvesting wheat. As he downed his last enemy, he looked around and saw a circling hawk that was not Squatto and looked kind of out of place. The hawk spotted him and took off. Benito flew after the bird, using the magic of his cape and boots to catch up to the flying creature. With a mighty swing of Mano, the hawk exploded in a burst of feathers.
Grim tried to focus through tears. He was laughing so hard that it hurt and he felt utterly helpless. He tried to grope for his weapon, but it was just too hard and too funny a prospect. Through his hazy vision he saw the gold elf that had insulted him earlier melt from the crowd and approach him and the frozen Ellysidell. Without a word, the elf ripped the elven cloak from Grim and dropped a note. He then went to Ellysidell and smiled, drawing a dagger, "Remember," he said coldly as he sliced the barbarian's throat, but not too deep to kill him. Deep enough to make Ellysidell wince if he could and realize that he was at the elf's mercy. He felt the blood trickle down his throat. The rage boiled inside the wild elf, but he was helpless. Grim continued to laugh like a maniac as the gold elf retreated into the crowd and the shadows. Somewhere, unseen by the rest of the party, the gold elf staggered and almost vomited. He looked to the sky, recovered quickly and melted once again into the shadows.
Benito satisfied that justice had been served flew back down to the scene of Nosr's demise. The crowd was still there but keeping its distance. He found Grim sitting at Ellysidell's feet, with both weapon's drawn. Grim was not happy. He stood as the cleric flew down to meet him.
Out loud, the halfling said, "Nosr's dead. Babu ran away. Ell was almost dead. The elf that you insulted stole my cloak. "
He handed Benito the message which said simply :
You have crossed the Night Masks. We have been merciful. Leave Westgate
As if on cue, Ellysidell collapsed in the mud. He rubbed his neck right away and vomited. When Benito, confused at the situation tried to give aid to the barbarian, he held up his had in refusal and rested on all fours.
Time passed for the heroes in silence as each one did not know whom to blame for what had just happend. Nosr was dead. Babu was gone. Their personal reflections were interrupted by the sound of hoofbeats. A patrol of soldiers approached on horseback and a bird flew slightly behind the sergeant who led them.
"Let us at least look like heroes," said Benito as he helped Ellysidell to his feet. The wild elf placed the body of the fallen Nosr before him as the horsemen dismounted. Grim had already darted off to examine the dead assassins....