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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PhoenixAsh" data-source="post: 4169460" data-attributes="member: 18230">Update #44: Brief SuccessDox looks over the food and drink supplies stored in the hold. It seems like enough to him. Really he’s not sure why he’s stuck moving crates and barrels around, he’s a bartender not a deckhand…He is interrupted by Redbeard and Travyl. “Dox, would you find Alexandre and let him know that he needs to find Maddy Tregar? Oh, and help him out, your dismissed. Redbeard, take over.”The impassive Redbeard nods and Dox smiles up at the man and pats him on the shoulder as he exits the hold, “Good to have you back!”Alexandre isn’t hard to find, the deckhand watches the progress onboard the Liralen with a satisfied smirk. Dox moves next to him, “Travyl says we gotta find Maddy.”Alxandre groans, “Arrgh! Do you know how much good time and money I’ve spent finding Redbeard?!”Dox shrugs, “Well finding Maddy can’t be that hard. She’s a griffon-rider! Even in a city this big there can’t be that many places to hide a griffon. Come on, let’s ask Gemma, she should know.”The Liralen’s other griffon-rider confirms Dox’s theory: there aren’t a lot of places to stable a griffon in Sharn. Since Daggerwatch Garrison (her listed address) is out, and Stormwind Keep (Gemma’s address) is also out, it narrows it down to the Platinum Heights.“Come on!” Dox encourages. The pair find a skycoach and Dox pays three silver to have the man take them to Platinum Heights. Above the district they actually spot Maddy – flying on her griffon! “Follow that griffon!” Alexandre enjoins, and the driver does. They land in an open building that houses a small variety of large flying animals – pegasi and giant owls as well as griffons. They find Maddy stabling her griffon.“Maddy!” Dox exclaims. “Want to work on the Liralen again?”Maddy blinks at the pair, but shrugs, “Okay.”***Sasha tries to draw her longsword, but another strong hand closes around her wrist. It’s then that she notices the hand is metal – with only three large fingers. A warforged.“This woman is in my company, I suggest you disperse,” the warforged intones flatly, directed at the goblinoids. Reluctantly, they do leave, deciding the odds are no longer in their favor.The warforged releases her and Sasha turns to face it. The warforged has a heavy, solid look – its chassis a dull, heavy gray, likely adamantine. A heavy shield is strapped to its back, as well as a battle axe. “I’m Hash, I’m sorry if I startled you.”Sasha smiles at Hash, letting relief wash into her expression, “You did startle me, but don’t apologize. Thank you for helping me.”Hash nods, “We should get off the street. There’s an inn, the Red Hammer, a few blocks from here. Will you accompany me?”Sasha nods and the pair head off. Hash explains that he is attempting to join the city guard, and the Red Hammer is providing him a residence while they consider his application. He then inquires into her business in the Cogs.“I am trying to find a Waforged cook, his name is Fortunato,” she explains.“Ahh – Fortunato,” Hash nods.“You’ve met him?” Sasha asks, wide-eyed.“Yes… why do you ask?”“I need to give him a message, a job offer, but it will expire if I don’t find him soon.”“I see. I should take you to him then, he is staying at the Hammer,” Hash answers evenly.***Fortunato examines the food he purchased from a street vendor – meat, cheese, and chopped vegetables wrapped up in unleavened bread, fried. He holds it up to his mouth and ascertains its scent – bland. He opens it slightly and prods the contents with one finger. The meat is a poor cut, the vegetables are beginning to turn bad and the cheese doesn’t appear fresh. He puts it inside his mouth and takes a bite. The bread splits at the bottom and the contents spill all over his lap.He sighs – so many flesh and blood cooks put so little care into their work.“Fortunato?” a woman’s voice interrupts his taste test.“Yes?” he turns in his chair, but the woman is already sitting across from him.“I’m glad I finally found you,” she smiles pleasantly.Fortunato considers the woman carefully. Many humanoids look very similar to him, but he is certain he would have recognized the rose-etched plate mail, and the glimmering weave of her clothing and… her holy symbol. Dol Arrah, he notes with fascination. “Yes,” he responds finally. “But who are you?”“Oh, I’m sorry. My name is Sasha Larkana. I recently joined the crew of the Liralen. I met Ruel, and several other members of the crew while they were doing a side-job.”Fortunato nods. That makes more sense. However… “Perhaps you have not heard, the Liralen is, sadly, no longer in business.”“It is once again! Ravien’s found a way to get a new wheel that should let the ship be properly controlled. We’ve been trying to get all the crew back together. Would you take your old job back? I’m looking forward to making your acquaintance.Fortunato looks around slowly, “You are alone.”Sasha blinks, “Yes…”The warforged stands, spilling the food that fell on his lap onto the floor, but paying it little attention. “This is a dangerous district. I will escort you out of it, and then you will please take me to Ravien?”Sasha grins and rises, wrapping her arm around the solid metal arm of the Liralen's cook.***Fortunato and Sasha arrive back at Lyrandar Tower at about the same time as Alexandre and Dox return with Maddy. Sasha, Alexandre and Dox are sharing the results of their searches when Cynde finds them. “Hey! Ruel says you should check on Kyrjet. He hasn’t come in yet and Ruel says his address is wrong.”Sasha looks at the scullery maid, “Where is Ruel?”“He’s looking for Kashandi, I told him where she works. I’m just passing word along, I’ve kinda got a lot to pack up…”Sasha smiles, “Of course. Thank you.” Cynde scampers off.“Bet that’ll stick in Ruel’s craw!” Dox grins and Alexandre guffaws, slapping his thigh.Sasha looks at them evenly, “Come along, let’s see to Kyrjet.” Deckhand and bartender smirk as they follow along behind the cleric.***Ruel is not smiling as he enters the Starfire Dragon. He has no trouble locating Kashandi – she is singing and playing her harp for the patrons eating their lunch. Gruffly, he requests a table, one in a corner, which will hopefully keep him out of sight of Kashandi.No such luck. As the host seats him a catch in the harp music lets him know Kashandi has spotted him. She recovers smoothly enough that it goes mostly unnoticed by everyone else in the restaurant-theatre. Ruel barely pays attention to what he orders to eat and quickly drafts a short note.Kashandi,We need to talk. Liralen business.-RuelRuel considers the note briefly, than makes one change:Kashandi,We need to talk. Liralen business.-RuelNodding in satisfaction, he folds the note up and hands it to his server as he brings her a drink, “Please give this to your harpist along with my ah- compliments.”The server nods and winks. Ruel sips his drink and tries to decide for which of them this is going to be more awkward.Ruel is on dessert before Kashandi finishes, and a short while later flings herself down opposite him in his booth. “What do you want?”“Nice to see you too, Kashandi,” Ruel replies sarcastically. He cuts off a biting remark quickly, “Just business, like my note stated. The Liralen is going to fly again, and Ravien is extending the offer of everyone’s job back, who wish to take it.”“What?” Kashandi’s tone softens. “But I thought…”“Long story. We are flying, limping really, across the country to find an artifact which will allow for proper control and locomotion on an island Alexandre has a map to,” Ruel explains tersely.Kashandi ignores his tone, “When is this happening?”“Tomorrow afternoon,” Ruel replies.“What!? Why didn’t you tell me sooner!” Kashandi almost shouts, rising up from her seat.“By the gods woman! I did not find out myself until yesterday and you did not exactly leave a forwarding address! Calm yourself!” Ruel hisses.Kashandi’s anger smothers in an embarrassed flush. She sits back down. “Sorry,” she mutters. “Look, I don’t know… this isn’t a bad job and I hate to just up and leave so quickly…”Ruel rolls his eyes but holds up his hands, “It is completely your decision Kashandi. If you can make it, come to Lyrandar Tower tomorrow by three. Earlier if possible. If you cannot, I am sure no one will hold it against you.”Kashandi nods and Ruel places a pair of gold pieces on the table. “I am in a hurry.”“Right. My break is almost over,” Kashandi sighs.“Break a leg,” Ruel stands and smirking, moves to depart. Kashandi glares after him.***Sasha, Dox and Alexandre spend some time searching after Kyrjet, but they have no more success than Ruel – no one in or around the building that they speak to have seen the man. When they return to Lyrandar Tower, Ruel awaits them.“Kashandi has been notified,” the wizard advises evenly.“Will she come with us?” Sasha questions.“She declined to say for sure. I let her know when the Liralen is leaving and where to come. I can do no more.”Sasha observes the wizard carefully, but he seems sincere, so she nods. “We had no luck finding Kyrjet.”“That is concerning… still, he is the only one left of importance to find. Kyrjet is good with a sword, but I do not know if it is critical we find him,” Ruel considers.“Why don’t we ask Ravien?” Dox asks.There is general agreement to the suggestion, and the four Irregulars track down Ravien as swiftly as possible.Ravien is largely aware of their progress, but listens patiently and nods his approval as his team delivers their report. He frowns as they describe their inability to find Kyrjet. “That does concern me. However, there is a matter of greater urgency I need you four to address. Aloysius, the ship’s first mate, has gone missing. I’ve contacted his family, and it would seem he may have been the victim of foul play.”The small group of Irregulars visibly deflate – yet another person to track down in the huge city. “Any word on where he might be?” Alexandre asks.“He was staying with his family in Platinate, in the Upper Menthis. I have the address for you,” Ravien hands a scrap of parchment to Alexandre, who perks up with a clear destination in mind. “He is not there, however. I understand there was an… incident yesterday and he disappeared under strange circumstances while purchasing a weapon. Talk to his family, then see what you can do to find him. Aloysius is first priority.”“Aye,” Alexandre nods. “Let’s be off mates!”Sasha doesn’t follow along with the rest behind Alexandre. When they realize she’s not following, they look back questioningly at the cleric. Sasha looks carefully at Alexandre, “Alexandre. Platinate... they say in that district you have to look like you dressed yourself with platinum. You can’t walk in like that. We’ll all have to go without arms as well”Alexandre looks down at his workman’s clothing and rubs his chin, “I’ve been meaning to find myself a good tailor. Blast!”Ruel shrugs, “Accompany us as far as you can. It is likely whatever incident afflicted Aloysius didn’t affect him inside that district, we can meet up after speaking with his family.”Alexandre sighs, “Aye.”The more sharply dressed Irregulars make their way inside Platinate and to the address Ravien gave them. They have no trouble meeting with Aloysius’ mother, who seems to have been made aware that they would be coming. She is emotionally strained, but holding herself together with an effort of will. “I know my son is alive,” she says immediately.Sasha nods softly, “I believe you. We’re going to find him. I know it’s hard, but can you tell me exactly what happened when he disappeared?”She sighs, “I told the watch this, but it’s only been a day, so they say there isn’t much they can do yet. They don’t understand him, he wouldn’t just up and vanish without telling me.”Sasha nods, “Of course.”“He was going to buy something. He was going to Wilkenson’s Enchanted Weapons. He didn’t come back. I sent my husband to look for him, but he never made it to the shop. No one there had seen him, and they still had the bolas they made for him.”Sasha smiles gently, “Thank you, that is very helpful.”Aloysius’ mother looks at Sasha and trembles with the effort of restraint. In a soft voice, she asks, “You’re a priestess of the Host? Will you pray for my son?”“One of the Host, yes. Yes, of course,” Sasha steps forward and bends at one knee in front of Aloysius’ mother, resting a hand on her shoulder. Softly, she prays for Dol Arrah and his brothers and sisters of the host to watch over Aloysius. His mother prays fervently with her. Ruel and Dox excuse themselves, and await Sasha in the foyer.When she finishes the Irregulars meet back up with Alexandre – it is fortunate they have a clear trail to follow, as they barely have a day to find the Liralen’s first mate.</blockquote>

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