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Melelyn's Journal [a Ptolus Campaign Journal] - Updated: Feb. 6
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<blockquote data-quote="arnon" data-source="post: 4021476" data-attributes="member: 23185"><p><strong>Chapter 3 – Eating up the Chain</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Theoday, 12th of Blessing, 721IA</strong></p><p> </p><p>Menon went to the Necropolis that morning to sniff around while I took her disguise kit from our room and went to Max’s (Sebastian’s) office to meet her and him there later. The idea was that once we investigate about the key, it’ll be harder to lead anyone interested in the key back to us. Menon took her time getting there, though. We still might go to William’s Keys, but that’ll probably have to wait until after Brightfather day.</p><p> </p><p>By that time it was already noon and the paladins and Aretha arrived and we headed to the address marked on the note we found on the guy who attacked Phon. The red warehouse was bustling with activity and porters carrying boxes in and out non-stop. There was a big door at the front and a small back entrance. Aretha decided to try and get inside the warehouse and check it out by going to the head man and saying her dog was lost. He let her in but shortly she came out shrugging. We set ourselves to watch both entrances while keeping eye contact: Menon, Eric and Aretha took the back while Tuur, Sebastian and I remained up front.</p><p> </p><p>Of course, nothing happened. We didn’t expect anything to actually happen, but we wanted to be on watch before the second hour after dusk as the note said. The warehouse was closed before dusk and after an hour or so, we congregated to plan ahead. Menon wanted to break in and wait inside, and Sebastian offered to join. They disappeared inside the warehouse and after a short while returned. Menon decided to pick the lock on the big door so that it’ll be open and in case of need we could rush in to the rescue, the back door she would lock so as not to arise suspicion by any who might come to the supposed meeting. The two strong paladins (who strangely enough didn’t mind the break in) agreed to wait outside and keep us “fragile” women (Aretha and me) company… they didn’t really say fragile, but it was certainly implied. Tuur said he’ll join me again watching the front door, while Aretha and Eric watched the back. As we walked to the front Tuur tried to be charming… and by charming I actually mean winking at me! Gods! While I must admit that he is quite handsome and has a certain ‘air’ around him I think he tries too hard to be mysterious, which works great in the great stories but not so much in real life.</p><p> </p><p>After some time (maybe an hour, maybe more) two figures come walking up the mostly empty street. Tuur decided that he should signal the others and started to try and imitate the sound of a night bird. It was ridiculous, so as the two figures (which had a dog waking behind them) came close I slapped him hard on the face and berated him:<span style="color: Red"> “You will never do that again! How can you shame me like this every time we go out…”</span> as if I was a dissatisfied wife or girlfriend. He was a bit shocked by my actions (which suited me just perfectly) and the two figures mumbled something about drunks in the streets. Perfect.</p><p> </p><p>The figures went to the back door and let themselves in. From Menon I sensed a calm readiness; they’re not in danger… not yet at any rate. Aretha decided to come over to us and tell us that we should wait some more time and see who else might come in. I was a bit curt with her saying something like <span style="color: Red">“No… Really?!?”</span> and she went sulkily back to her station. After some more time passed (I think another hour or so) I started to get the feeling that maybe we should go in and confront the people. Perhaps it was augmented by the feeling I got from Menon: excitement and a bit of restlessness. Eric came over expressing the same concern but we decided to wait just a bit longer. As he settled himself back next to Aretha I suddenly felt a building of adrenaline from Menon and knew that she was about to act… the rush of adrenaline came almost immediately. She acted. <span style="color: Red">“Something happened!”</span> I said loud enough for the others to hear and rushed to open the main door.</p><p> </p><p>I yanked the door open and saw Sebastian engaged in combat with a man, and another (an Elf) standing on a raised platform aiming to my left, I instinctively knew Menon was there. I heard more than saw Aretha enter from the back door and a dog barking (she also has a dog so I wasn’t sure whose it was). Sebastian ran his rapier through the man he was facing and he dropped screaming in pain to the floor; while I tried again that note I once did that caused my pursuer to fall… not only that he did not fall, but he also shot his bow towards Menon. Lucky for him he missed. I think I’m not repeating the note exactly as I did that first night. Menon also missed. Tuur, having two targets to face, saw Aretha facing of a big dog and tried to strike at it, Aretha tried to ward him off and succeeded, either that or Tuur missed the dog miserably; this gave Aretha the time to calm the dog down. Eric went up to the ramp to the elf (who immediately dropped his bow and drew a sword) and managed to wound the elf who dropped his sword and surrendered. Sebastian produced a set of manacles from somewhere and chained the elf. Tuur removed the weapons from the wounded man on the floor… just in case and gagged him as he was interfering with the interrogation process (the paladins also seemed not at ease while Sebastian did something he does really well: scare people into spilling their guts, and even went so far as to tell the prisoners we will not really harm them! Lothian protect the dumb!) The gagging didn’t really help, so Menon and I dragged the man away behind some crates (Tuur followed us to make sure we<span style="color: Red"> “don’t hurt him”</span>) and he quieted down… maybe because he heard the elf (Laucio by name) sing like a bird everything he knew. Not much admittedly. They hired Otry and the other one to kill Phon; they, in turn, were hired by Toridan Cran, a half-orc which Sebastian identified as a small times crook who wants to be a big time crook. They were nice enough to give us an address. Vagger, the wounded man, didn’t have much to add. </p><p> </p><p>Next there followed some long minutes of taking the belongings of the two criminals. Everybody wanted something. I stood there watching as equipment was “re-distributed” and loot gathered. There was nothing really for me to take from the belonging of the two small fish, but the expression on the faces on the aforementioned fishes as we took their stuff was priceless. Taking a paper from the table on the platform we wrote down a confession for Laucio and Vagger (which they signed) and led them off to the guard station for processing. </p><p> </p><p>We then wanted to check out Toridan’s house next so we went to Nar Street where it was located. There were lights on and we managed to see two figures in the living room. We sat to observe the house for about an hour and nothing happened. Eric was strongly against going to confront Toridan now, claiming we were too hurt, but the rest of us thought it would be wrong to leave this for another day. He was expecting his people to return soon, even right now, with word of what happened, delaying with it might alert him that something is wrong. I wanted to confront him now. We argued for a bit, and after some time the lights turned off in the house. It’s now or never (sort of), and I said that if anybody wants to back me up he or she are welcomed.</p><p> </p><p>I marched up to the door and knocked. I was glad to have Tuur next to me and Menon right behind me. The rest were spread out a bit with Aretha covering the back door. The door was opened by a short man.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: Red">“You’re not Toridan, where is he,”</span> I demanded when the man inquired what we wanted. He tried to stall but I persisted that we must talk with Toridan, throwing in the names of Laucio and Vagger into the mix so he’ll know that I know the people involved. Toridan came to the door… a massive creature wearing armor and having a weapon at his side even at night and inside his own house. <span style="color: Red">“What do you want?”</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: Red">“Vagger and Laucio were arrested. We’ve just seen them being led by some people towards the guardhouse. We know that they hired that Otry and his fool friend to try and kill Phon and that the two Pale dogs failed,”</span> said I.</p><p> </p><p>Toridan frowned, <span style="color: Red">“I told the idiots to do it and they go around hiring some other dimwits! So what do you want?”</span> he demanded.</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: Red">“We’ll do the job for you, but first we need to know if you need her dead or just her baby, and why?”</span> I was playing up confidence and mustering every skill that I had learned from Delwin. </p><p> </p><p><span style="color: Red">“It’s not me. I was paid to get rid of her…”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: Red">“By whom?”</span> I interrupted. </p><p> </p><p><span style="color: Red">“I don’t know him. He contacted and paid me 200 imperials to get rid of the girl. I don’t know why.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: Red">“Look we can do it, but we’ll need much more than the 100 imperials you paid those two lackeys. Phon has gone into hiding but we know where she is and we’ll need some money to get to her. If you don’t have it, give us the name of the man and we’ll deal with him directly.”</span> I was in the zone now moving along swiftly, working the brute like clay…. Well almost.</p><p> </p><p>Toridan pondered this, <span style="color: Red">“You get in contact with him and leave me out of this… yes.”</span> It wasn’t really a question, neither was it a statement. I agreed. <span style="color: Red">“He is called Methul Watcher, he contacted me and I don’t know how to reach him. You find him. But I’m clean of this, yes… and I keep the money!”</span></p><p> </p><p>I made a ‘cunningly thinking face’ while looking at the big half-orc. <span style="color: Red">“You’ll give us fifty imperials and we’ll call it even.”</span> For some reason he agreed.</p><p> </p><p>As we placed some distance from the house, Eric and Tuur were almost ready to rush in and kill the evil creature where he stands. We convinced him that we can return at some later point, but eliminating Toridan now might alert this mysterious Methul Watcher that we are slowly eating our way up the food chain. He agreed but vowed to return.</p><p> </p><p>It was already past midnight and we were all tired, so we agreed to meet for breakfast.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="arnon, post: 4021476, member: 23185"] [b]Chapter 3 – Eating up the Chain[/b] [B]Theoday, 12th of Blessing, 721IA[/B] Menon went to the Necropolis that morning to sniff around while I took her disguise kit from our room and went to Max’s (Sebastian’s) office to meet her and him there later. The idea was that once we investigate about the key, it’ll be harder to lead anyone interested in the key back to us. Menon took her time getting there, though. We still might go to William’s Keys, but that’ll probably have to wait until after Brightfather day. By that time it was already noon and the paladins and Aretha arrived and we headed to the address marked on the note we found on the guy who attacked Phon. The red warehouse was bustling with activity and porters carrying boxes in and out non-stop. There was a big door at the front and a small back entrance. Aretha decided to try and get inside the warehouse and check it out by going to the head man and saying her dog was lost. He let her in but shortly she came out shrugging. We set ourselves to watch both entrances while keeping eye contact: Menon, Eric and Aretha took the back while Tuur, Sebastian and I remained up front. Of course, nothing happened. We didn’t expect anything to actually happen, but we wanted to be on watch before the second hour after dusk as the note said. The warehouse was closed before dusk and after an hour or so, we congregated to plan ahead. Menon wanted to break in and wait inside, and Sebastian offered to join. They disappeared inside the warehouse and after a short while returned. Menon decided to pick the lock on the big door so that it’ll be open and in case of need we could rush in to the rescue, the back door she would lock so as not to arise suspicion by any who might come to the supposed meeting. The two strong paladins (who strangely enough didn’t mind the break in) agreed to wait outside and keep us “fragile” women (Aretha and me) company… they didn’t really say fragile, but it was certainly implied. Tuur said he’ll join me again watching the front door, while Aretha and Eric watched the back. As we walked to the front Tuur tried to be charming… and by charming I actually mean winking at me! Gods! While I must admit that he is quite handsome and has a certain ‘air’ around him I think he tries too hard to be mysterious, which works great in the great stories but not so much in real life. After some time (maybe an hour, maybe more) two figures come walking up the mostly empty street. Tuur decided that he should signal the others and started to try and imitate the sound of a night bird. It was ridiculous, so as the two figures (which had a dog waking behind them) came close I slapped him hard on the face and berated him:[COLOR=Red] “You will never do that again! How can you shame me like this every time we go out…”[/COLOR] as if I was a dissatisfied wife or girlfriend. He was a bit shocked by my actions (which suited me just perfectly) and the two figures mumbled something about drunks in the streets. Perfect. The figures went to the back door and let themselves in. From Menon I sensed a calm readiness; they’re not in danger… not yet at any rate. Aretha decided to come over to us and tell us that we should wait some more time and see who else might come in. I was a bit curt with her saying something like [COLOR=Red]“No… Really?!?”[/COLOR] and she went sulkily back to her station. After some more time passed (I think another hour or so) I started to get the feeling that maybe we should go in and confront the people. Perhaps it was augmented by the feeling I got from Menon: excitement and a bit of restlessness. Eric came over expressing the same concern but we decided to wait just a bit longer. As he settled himself back next to Aretha I suddenly felt a building of adrenaline from Menon and knew that she was about to act… the rush of adrenaline came almost immediately. She acted. [COLOR=Red]“Something happened!”[/COLOR] I said loud enough for the others to hear and rushed to open the main door. I yanked the door open and saw Sebastian engaged in combat with a man, and another (an Elf) standing on a raised platform aiming to my left, I instinctively knew Menon was there. I heard more than saw Aretha enter from the back door and a dog barking (she also has a dog so I wasn’t sure whose it was). Sebastian ran his rapier through the man he was facing and he dropped screaming in pain to the floor; while I tried again that note I once did that caused my pursuer to fall… not only that he did not fall, but he also shot his bow towards Menon. Lucky for him he missed. I think I’m not repeating the note exactly as I did that first night. Menon also missed. Tuur, having two targets to face, saw Aretha facing of a big dog and tried to strike at it, Aretha tried to ward him off and succeeded, either that or Tuur missed the dog miserably; this gave Aretha the time to calm the dog down. Eric went up to the ramp to the elf (who immediately dropped his bow and drew a sword) and managed to wound the elf who dropped his sword and surrendered. Sebastian produced a set of manacles from somewhere and chained the elf. Tuur removed the weapons from the wounded man on the floor… just in case and gagged him as he was interfering with the interrogation process (the paladins also seemed not at ease while Sebastian did something he does really well: scare people into spilling their guts, and even went so far as to tell the prisoners we will not really harm them! Lothian protect the dumb!) The gagging didn’t really help, so Menon and I dragged the man away behind some crates (Tuur followed us to make sure we[COLOR=Red] “don’t hurt him”[/COLOR]) and he quieted down… maybe because he heard the elf (Laucio by name) sing like a bird everything he knew. Not much admittedly. They hired Otry and the other one to kill Phon; they, in turn, were hired by Toridan Cran, a half-orc which Sebastian identified as a small times crook who wants to be a big time crook. They were nice enough to give us an address. Vagger, the wounded man, didn’t have much to add. Next there followed some long minutes of taking the belongings of the two criminals. Everybody wanted something. I stood there watching as equipment was “re-distributed” and loot gathered. There was nothing really for me to take from the belonging of the two small fish, but the expression on the faces on the aforementioned fishes as we took their stuff was priceless. Taking a paper from the table on the platform we wrote down a confession for Laucio and Vagger (which they signed) and led them off to the guard station for processing. We then wanted to check out Toridan’s house next so we went to Nar Street where it was located. There were lights on and we managed to see two figures in the living room. We sat to observe the house for about an hour and nothing happened. Eric was strongly against going to confront Toridan now, claiming we were too hurt, but the rest of us thought it would be wrong to leave this for another day. He was expecting his people to return soon, even right now, with word of what happened, delaying with it might alert him that something is wrong. I wanted to confront him now. We argued for a bit, and after some time the lights turned off in the house. It’s now or never (sort of), and I said that if anybody wants to back me up he or she are welcomed. I marched up to the door and knocked. I was glad to have Tuur next to me and Menon right behind me. The rest were spread out a bit with Aretha covering the back door. The door was opened by a short man. [COLOR=Red]“You’re not Toridan, where is he,”[/COLOR] I demanded when the man inquired what we wanted. He tried to stall but I persisted that we must talk with Toridan, throwing in the names of Laucio and Vagger into the mix so he’ll know that I know the people involved. Toridan came to the door… a massive creature wearing armor and having a weapon at his side even at night and inside his own house. [COLOR=Red]“What do you want?”[/COLOR] [COLOR=Red]“Vagger and Laucio were arrested. We’ve just seen them being led by some people towards the guardhouse. We know that they hired that Otry and his fool friend to try and kill Phon and that the two Pale dogs failed,”[/COLOR] said I. Toridan frowned, [COLOR=Red]“I told the idiots to do it and they go around hiring some other dimwits! So what do you want?”[/COLOR] he demanded. [COLOR=Red]“We’ll do the job for you, but first we need to know if you need her dead or just her baby, and why?”[/COLOR] I was playing up confidence and mustering every skill that I had learned from Delwin. [COLOR=Red]“It’s not me. I was paid to get rid of her…”[/COLOR] [COLOR=Red]“By whom?”[/COLOR] I interrupted. [COLOR=Red]“I don’t know him. He contacted and paid me 200 imperials to get rid of the girl. I don’t know why.”[/COLOR] [COLOR=Red]“Look we can do it, but we’ll need much more than the 100 imperials you paid those two lackeys. Phon has gone into hiding but we know where she is and we’ll need some money to get to her. If you don’t have it, give us the name of the man and we’ll deal with him directly.”[/COLOR] I was in the zone now moving along swiftly, working the brute like clay…. Well almost. Toridan pondered this, [COLOR=Red]“You get in contact with him and leave me out of this… yes.”[/COLOR] It wasn’t really a question, neither was it a statement. I agreed. [COLOR=Red]“He is called Methul Watcher, he contacted me and I don’t know how to reach him. You find him. But I’m clean of this, yes… and I keep the money!”[/COLOR] I made a ‘cunningly thinking face’ while looking at the big half-orc. [COLOR=Red]“You’ll give us fifty imperials and we’ll call it even.”[/COLOR] For some reason he agreed. As we placed some distance from the house, Eric and Tuur were almost ready to rush in and kill the evil creature where he stands. We convinced him that we can return at some later point, but eliminating Toridan now might alert this mysterious Methul Watcher that we are slowly eating our way up the food chain. He agreed but vowed to return. It was already past midnight and we were all tired, so we agreed to meet for breakfast. [/QUOTE]
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Melelyn's Journal [a Ptolus Campaign Journal] - Updated: Feb. 6
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