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EN World - Morrus' D&D / d20 News & Reviews Site - Homebrew - Night's Embrace--Part I: A Touch of Darkness
Homebrew - Night's Embrace--Part I: A Touch of Darkness
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Later in the morning Sulannus is up and about, and moving about in the room. Though still injured, the skilled attention of Shan and Kel had her mobile in record time...a fact she took evident pleasure in. No sooner out of bed in her flowing white shift than she was rearranging the room's furnishings...trying to make something more out of what was clearly a hovel.
On seeing Shan awake, she gave him a nod and even the suggestion of a bow or curtsy.
"Your skills at healing are deceptively well trained," Sulannus informs him. "You have my thanks. I'm afraid I can't help much in return. We...well, such tasks were left to servants."
__________________
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*Shan wakes soon after Sulannus and sits up on the bed when she starts moving around.*
"Hmm. Well, I was taught that a warrior should be able to look after his comrades even after a battle."
*He answers distractedly, his mind obviously on something else. After a while he speaks some of his thoughts.*
"I wonder if anyone here at the inn knew that kidnapped woman. She must have had some reason for being there; maybe she lived nearby."
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Sulannus shrugs and opens the curtains to peer out at the cityscape. After a moment she ties them back. The city was hideous, but the sunlight coming in was welcome. She stalks back to her bed and sits down on it, considering the warrior's words.
"It depends on how long she'd been running away," the elf concludes. "If he only just caught up to her here, she may not even be from this city. On the other hand, invisibility magic is perilously short lived, especially when one is interacting with others. He can't have gotten far before it wore off, and then there could be witnesses. A man dragging an unconscious woman might stick in the heads of anyone who saw it."
Kel is worried that the monk will need another day or so of rest - and just how he's going to pay for it. While Zaltan is out, he's going to try the unthinkable - and raid the strongbox for the inn.
Once again he enlists Mara's help, asking her to keep an eye open for Zaltan, and for Dethar, and to make a big noise if they come back unexpectedly. He doesn't tell her what he's going to do, assuming that she wouldn't approve - he just says something vague about needing to be on hand when Zaltan returns to explain the presence of the adventurers.
Then going to Zaltan's room, or wherever it is that he keeps his funds - I assume that, after all this time, Kelloran would have a fair idea - he will attempt to extract just enough funds to cover two nights accomodation and food ... and 1 gp and 1 sp extra - just so that there's no obvious, exact correlation between the amount stolen and the amount the party pays.
Kel will be sweating profusely, expecting all sorts of traps and tricks, so he will search carefully - probably taking 20 - at each step of the way. He will be as quiet and circumspect as he can be.
Most of that for Blunt is just role-playing. Maybe I overplayed it a bit. He actually has a small handful of hit points, but is still not fully recovered. He could quite easily move on, but would only take one hit before going down again. Your call as to whether he raids the strong box.
__________________ DM: The only thing standing between you and the fiendish owl bear in this corridor is the Rogue. Sorceror: I cast Enlarge Person. On the Rogue. To block the corridor. Rogue: What the?!?!?! Hah! I get a Fortitude saving throw..... <rolls>.... <sigh>
*Kelloran carefully searches through Dethar's room for the hideaway that he knows must be located in there somewhere. He meticulously sweeps the room, and he is hard at work when he suddenly feels steel behind his neck.*
"Looking for Zaltan's savings, boy?" Karden's voice whispers with quiet menace.
Kel freezes in place, then slowly, very slowly, stands up straight. As he does so, he palms the dagger he has drawn from his boot.
He turns towards Karden and says, in a voice that only quavers slightly, "Looking for some clue to where Zaltan is. He's never away this long - and no-one I've spoken to knows where he went. Do you? He'd be interested in these strangers. There's money behind them - I'm sure of it. The paladin's temple will pay, and the elf's a rich little girl - you can see it by just looking at her. But they're talking about leaving, and if I can't find Zaltan, we'll miss out ... I mean, he'll miss out on some rich pickings."
As he speaks, he looks straight into Karden's eyes. He does not break eye contact, even for an instant. With peripheral vision, he measures the distance to the door and any obstacles - apart from the big, scary guy with the sword - between him and his escape.
[OOC]
Palm dagger: Sleight of Hand +7
Flat-footed 10, else AC 14 (+3 Dex, +1 Dodge), HP 7/7.
If forced into combat, he will fight defensively until he can tumble past Karden. Once out the door, he'll run for the stable and his stash. He's blown it now so he'll have to be on his way.
Of course, if by some miracle Karden believes him (Bluff +1), he'll stay calm and play it by ear.
[/OOC]
Titus [helping Blunt if Legildur decides he wants him to come along] limps over to the next room, knocking on the door then letting himself in anyway.
"So we've all actually made it to our feet today?" he says, noting the elven woman he remembered from the alley along with Shan. He nods his head to the paladin.
"My continued thanks to you, Shan." He turns his attention to the elf, a crooked smile splitting his scruffy beard. "I'm Titus Farrab. I can only assume you are that brave and noble elf Shan tells me is ... Sulannus?"
"Indeed," the elf replies coolly, nodding. "It is good to see you alive. We are going to need your help to learn where this woman was taken, and why. Tell me, did you know her, or her attacker? Did anyone in that fight know who they were?"
"Indeed," the elf replies coolly, nodding. "It is good to see you alive. We are going to need your help to learn where this woman was taken, and why. Tell me, did you know her, or her attacker? Did anyone in that fight know who they were?"
Titus shrugs and shakes his head.
"Blunt and I had only just arrived in town. We heard trouble, and ... well, we were kind of looking for trouble, so we jumped into the fray. All I know is what I saw, which was a woman on the ground, a knightly fellow--Shan here--fighting off nasty animals, and some cowardly sod summoning the critters under cover of magic.
"I've some skill at tracking, but I'm afraid that's not as helpful here in the city, and even less so given the time the trail's had to grow cold." The big galoot seems rather sheepish admiting his limitations, but perks up as he adds, "But I'll give it all the go I have. You can bet all the money I don't have I want a chance to sink my pick into that little weasel--and I don't mean the beastie who took a chunk out of my leg."
"Yeah, sure. You lying bastard," Karden shakes his head, his dagger still pressed against the back of Kel's neck, as he shows a toothy grin, "You know, you remind me of me when I was your age, kid. That's not a good thing."
"You know, I think Zaltan's finally kicked the bucket. Probably one of his favourite whores decided that she could get more money out of him if she killed him in his sleep. Of course, the joke was on her, since the paranoid bastard never carried more to a brothel than exactly enough to pay."
"In any case, with Zaltan gone, I've decided that it's time for me to make my move. This place belongs to me now. I don't like you, kid, but I'm a reasonable man, so get out of my sight and if I never see you again, I won't have to kill you. I think a lot of the people here need to go too. That crooked cook Dethar chief among them. Mara can stay though. I never understood the way Zaltan treated her. A girl like that? A real man would know exactly what to do."
"Now beat it, and don't let me catch you again or I might just have to report you to my friend Stavros in the town guard or just slit your throat. Whichever seems more fun."
Kelloran was appalled that Karden could see a resemblence between them. Still, now was not the time to argue about it. Moving slowly, and not taking his eyes off the older man, Kelloran turns and moves out the door. Once in the corridor he makes a beeline for Mara's room.
Knocking at the door, and barely waiting for an answer, he rushes in and tells her what has happened. "You have to come with me, Mara. Karden's taken over - he's convinced that Zaltan's dead - and he's not playing around. He's already threatened to kill me - and if you stay, he'll ... well, um, you know. Come with me. I'm going with the paladin and the others. I don't know where we'll go but wherever it is will be better than here. Bring what you need but don't take long. I'll make sure you're OK. Please, Mara - I know you think you've got nowhere else to go but trust me, you don't want to stay here with Karden."
Kel hurries Mara along, standing at the door and keeping watch for Karden while she gets ready. As soon as she is, he takes her to the party's rooms, knowing that they can protect her while he picks up his gear.
"Get up. Get dressed. We have to leave - now! Something's happened to Zaltan - and Karden's decided to take over. This place was bad under Zaltan - but it will be hell now that Karden's in charge. No one will be safe. Go - quietly - and I'll meet you in the square two blocks north of here, in front of the alchemist's shop. Don't waste time. Mara's coming with us, too. Take care of her. I have to get my stash - it's in the stable."
Kel then races off to the stable. Reasoning that he can move more silently, and have more protection, if he wears his armour instead of carrying it, he quickly dons it and tightens the straps. Slipping a bolt into his hand crossbow and drawing his other knife, he makes his way as stealthily as he can out of the inn and towards the rendezvous.
"Kel...it may not be safe for me here, I readily admit it...but do you really think it would be safer for me to leave with you and face an unknown threat than to stay here and at least deal with the devil we know?"
"Kel...it may not be safe for me here, I readily admit it...but do you really think it would be safer for me to leave with you and face an unknown threat than to stay here and at least deal with the devil we know?"
"Mara - I can't promise you safety, but I'll do all I can to help you find a better place to live and to work. Maybe you don't want to come with a group of adventurers - but at least they're good people. They all tried to help that woman who was kidnapped. They didn't even know who she was. They just wanted to help."
"Karden's an animal - you know that. I hate to think of you, here, at his mercy. If you came with us, it wouldn't be easy, no, but wouldn't it be better than staying here? You're my friend, Mara. I don't want to leave you here, alone, in danger."
When Kel comes in to make his announcement, Sulannus alone is awake...sitting up in bed with her eyes glassy and distant. She snaps to attention when Kel speaks though and nods. Without comment she starts getting dressed and into her gear. Elf-crafted ornately embossed leather armor, and a gracefully curved elf bow...in comparison the sword at her side seems oddly plain. Though still favoring her wounded leg, she's clearly able to fight should that be necessary, and awaits the others with legendary elven patience.
Titus doesn't bother asking questions, but gears up quickly, shrugging on his shabby chain shirt and strapping on his weapons. He hefts his backpack into place, takes his pick in one hand, then gathers with the others, putting on his best "don't mess with me" face as he awaits the others.
OOC
I'm a little fuzzy on time here. Did another day pass before Kel returns (so we're up a hit point or two again?), or is this actually backtracked to morning of the day we all got well enough to get out of bed? I'm not picky either way
Blunt simply grabs his limited possessions and stands beside Titus, ready to move. He is obviously still recovering from his wounds, but still ready to fight if pushed.
"I know that Karden is a terrible man, but...at least here, I'm probably safe from being killed...you know, my father was an adventurer...and he died...that's why my mom and I didn't have anything, and I eventually had to come here..."
"I know that Karden is a terrible man, but...at least here, I'm probably safe from being killed...you know, my father was an adventurer...and he died...that's why my mom and I didn't have anything, and I eventually had to come here..."
"There's no reason for you to risk your life, Mara. Surely it would be enough just to find somewhere else to stay for a while. Maybe one of the temples needs another domestic servant. I tell you what, why don't you come with us and I'll take you to the temple of Valkur. They were very kind when we needed the services of a healer - I'm sure they'd try to help you. And if they couldn't, well, you could always come back. What do you have to lose?"
"I'd help you out, too, as soon as I could earn some money myself."
"Valkur? He is a god of sailors...merchant sailors. His priests are not unkind, but they do not board the homeless for free, else his temple would be full of the city's destitute."
"It is just so sad...I don't want to stay with Karden, Kel, but there is nowhere to go...Perhaps some day, things will be better for all of us...Praise Siamorphe, Lady Elenia will be Queen some day--it was she who lowered our taxes and made things easy for us, you know? Too bad Zaltan always kept the difference for himself..."
"Yes, some day! Let's hope the Lady can make a difference."
"Goodbye then, Mara. Take care of yourself. I'll come back some day soon - I promise."
Impulsively, Kel throws his arms around Mara and holds her close. Then, kissing her briefly - and how his heart races at that little kiss - he turns to the others and says, "Let's go."
Titus smiles despite his wounds, then gestures lightly with his pick.
"Lead the way, little man," he says with the slightest hint of amusement to his voice. Then he falls in line with the others, following Kel out of the building, hoping his second time on the streets of this town isn't nearly as deadly as the first was.
Sulannus follow Titus, with nothing in her face or poise suggesting anything other than equanamity. Yet, her delicate fingers keep plucking at her bowstring; making little twanging noises, or sometimes caressing the hilt of the sword at her side, as though ready to draw at a moment's notice.
*Mara seems a bit startled at the kiss, but she doesn't reprimand Kel afterwards. She simply casts her head down, perhaps ashamed of the fear that she is unable to master.*
*The group heads out of the inn behind Kel, having successfully avoided paying for their rooms.*
Kel leads the group towards the temple of Valkur, lacking any better destination in the short term. When they arrive there, he says to them, "Well, we're out of the Armpit, at least. But none of us has any funds, and you folks still need to rest up. The cleric of Valkur was friendly, and prepared to help - for a price. Maybe the temple could help us out, although Mara's probably right, and they won't do it for nothing. What about your church, Sir Shan? Is there any way they could help?"
"The only other possibility I can think of is to try and call in some markers - but I don't actually have many, and it might be risky, because they're mostly people who know Karden, too."
In fact, Kelloran is reluctantly considering trying to pick a few pockets again - but after last time, he's not too keen. He has a feeling, though, that that's not the sort of thing he can discuss with Shan - and possibly not with any of them.
As they wander, Titus looks around, his face showing his confusion. jerking his thumb back the direction they came, he says "If we're going to be tracking that basilisk dung that trounced us before, wouldn't we want to start at that alley?"
Right around this time, he steps just the wrong way, and his not-fully-healed wounds force a noticable wince onto his features.
"Or we could see the healers again," he adds sheepishly, nursing his side.
"We'll need coin for offering if we expect more healing, or even another bed for the night," Sulannus points out. "Is there no place in this dreary, flat excuse for a city where those who need help can connect with those who need work?"
"We'll need coin for offering if we expect more healing, or even another bed for the night," Sulannus points out. "Is there no place in this dreary, flat excuse for a city where those who need help can connect with those who need work?"
It isn't too easy to find a job for those who are unskilled here--it's why people like Kel and Mara will cling to even a deadend job like at the Armpit. Able-bodied folk might be able to find an opening as a longshoreman or other sort of labourer if they are willing to work long hours for little pay. Those with plenty of money beforehand could start a mercantile venture with a possibility of good returns, and craftsmen are always willing to take apprentices--masters in the local guilds make decent salaries.
"There's not all that much work around. If we were fit and well we might - might - be able to find work as longshoremen or labourers - but it's hard work for long hours and not very much pay. If we had the cash, we could start a business - but then again, if we had the cash we wouldn't be in this predicament. And there are always plenty of apprenticeships around - but that's no help in the short term."
"Look, maybe you should go into the temple. It can't hurt to rest in there just for a while - and you can ask the clerics if they have need of any adventurers. Who knows, they might even heal you in exchange for future services. Meanwhile, I'll try to organize some funds to tide us over for the next day or two." He sighs.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. Err, it might take a few hours."
RystilArden
RA, he's off to try his hand at a little larceny again.
Find a busy square which has a number of exit points from it. Preferably a maze of back alleys. It'd be really nice if he already knew of somewhere.
Scout out a couple of hiding places.
Even, if possible, set up a little trap to scatter debris in front of a pursuer to slow them down.
Choose dull, commoner types to pickpocket. It might take a while to pick up enough cash but at least they're less likely to Spot him (I hope).
Pace himself. If it takes a few hours, so be it. At least the others will, I hope, be safe and relatively comfortable.
Having seen how handy Shan is at healing, the aim is to make enough money for a couple of nights' stay at another inn.
Disable Device +5; Escape Artist +7; Hide +7; Knowledge (Local) +7; Listen +6; Move Silently +7; Search +6; Sleight of Hand +7; Spot +6; Tumble +7.
Can you tell that I'm desperate and clutching at straws?
"Look, maybe you should go into the temple. It can't hurt to rest in there just for a while - and you can ask the clerics if they have need of any adventurers. Who knows, they might even heal you in exchange for future services. Meanwhile, I'll try to organize some funds to tide us over for the next day or two." He sighs.
"I'll be back as soon as I can. Err, it might take a few hours."
Titus snags the little man's elbow as he moves to go.
"Look, Kel, you've gone out on all kinds of limbs for us. Maybe we can help you out, if 'organize funds' means what I think it does. After all, a couple of brawny dopes--" he uses a rougly-callused thumb to indicate Blunt and himself--"having it out loud and drunk-like is sure to draw a crowd's attention, you know? And anyone who's just gonna sit by and watch that sort of thing, maybe he deserves to lose a little for enjoyin' other folks' pain."
Titus looks back to Sulannus and Shan, as well, a mischievous grin on his scruffy face. "And if a couple folks with an air o' sophistication were to be good enough to break up the fight after a bit and escort us on our way, we could maybe avoid having a run-in with the local sheriff, yeah?"