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Better Off Unknown (D&D 3.5 edition)
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<blockquote data-quote="aboyd" data-source="post: 3592498" data-attributes="member: 44797"><p><strong>The Chickens Come Home To Roost, part 2 of 5</strong></p><p></p><p>"Welcome to Rook's Roost, humans." Scarbelly stood proudly at the helm, one hand on the wheel, and one arm outstretched toward the cliffs. Both the Windcutter and Purity's Prow sailed right into a vast cavern, the sun disappearing as stone passed by overhead.</p><p></p><p>"And dwarf," groused Crommel.</p><p></p><p>"Eh?" said Scarbelly.</p><p></p><p>"Nevermind," said Crommel.</p><p></p><p>Alric was elated. Not much could throw a ripple into his usual demeanor, but this was it. A true pirate cove, and a massive one at that. As they sailed under the distant, stalactite-ridden roof, a small city blazed before his eyes. Alric was seeing things he knew many never would, and he hoped Fharlanghn was proud.</p><p></p><p>"Who is our contact here?" asked Castor, who had recovered slightly with Alric's help.</p><p></p><p>"Mmm. Ivellilian. Elf witch, will set the fear into ya. Follow her rules." And with that, Scarbelly began barking out orders in orcish. The crew responded quickly, with a spring in their step. They came into a small port, and merchants were already crowding the docks, perhaps hoping to sell fruit and other things a sailor might miss at sea.</p><p></p><p>To Alric, it seemed incongruous for hardened monsters to act... happy. But there it was, plain as day. These orcs felt good about arriving here. Alric hoped it would be a happy stop for him and his friends as well, but he had a nagging suspicion that any place a pirate loved he would do well to fear.</p><p></p><p>They exited behind many of the crew, hoping most of the attention would be drawn away. And it did seem to play out that way for the most part, but one dock-hand approached. He seemed chatty enough, and asked the group to state their business.</p><p></p><p>"Right now, my business is to find out what I'm up against here," said Draden, still moving forward with the reigns of his horse in hand.</p><p></p><p>The man came alongside and spoke briskly. "Well, if that's yer business, I might offer a transaction."</p><p></p><p>Draden paused, as did the rest of the group. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. He pressed it into the other man's hand, and said, "Give me a good deal for my money."</p><p></p><p>The man seemed agreeable, and again spoke with haste, "Stay at the Barnacle. Do not visit the Grog's Fist unless ye be hoping for a pummeling. Take yer steeds to Ogre, down by the Barnacle. You'll see his name on the building, but yer nose can lead ya there true enough."</p><p></p><p>Draden gestured back toward the docks. "There is another ship in port. What is the story there?"</p><p></p><p>"Ah, that's the Midnight's Edge. Jovina Sandborn stole it fer revenge. I'll not say more, but you can ask her when you get to the Barnacle."</p><p></p><p>"Not say more? My coin purchased a few measly sentences?"</p><p></p><p>The man bowed slightly, a deferential gesture. "I'll speak more. But I don't know you or the people yer with. You may know those involved in Jovina's escapades, or you may not." He began walking on, as the group followed. "I don't fancy the idea of filling yer heads with mercenary thoughts. So I'll let her be the judge of character. If she wants to give you details, she will. But pick another topic, and I'll say my share."</p><p></p><p>Draden sighed. "Okay, fine. What about Ivellilian? Scarbelly mentioned her."</p><p></p><p>"Aye, that's her tower there, down the walkway. But good luck gaining entry. Best to find her at the Barnacle. She only goes when she's feeling social, so it's the ideal time, anyway. Try not to get on her bad side. She's good enough, but to keep her town from burnin' down to the ground, she'll not tolerate reckless behavior."</p><p></p><p>"Why is it so hard to gain entry to her tower?"</p><p></p><p>The dock-hand shrugged. "I've not seen a door."</p><p></p><p>From the back of the group, Crommel was heard to say, "Crazy wizards."</p><p></p><p>As they neared the tower, Draden handed the reigns of his horse over to Castor. Draden circled the tower, pressing and knocking at the building. The group waited.</p><p></p><p>Alric approached the dock-hand. "This cave is well-lit at the far end. Is it daylight? Is it a way out?"</p><p></p><p>The man shook his head, "No, that's only torch light... and perhaps a spell of light, or two."</p><p></p><p>Draden came around the structure, towards Castor. He took back his reigns. He turned to Crommel and said, "There's a door." The dock-hand looked stunned, and perhaps a bit doubtful. Draden continued, "Far side, placed so most wouldn't see its use. Probably lends Ivellilian a sense of mystery, and she likely paid well for it too. Workmanship that good took some luck for me to detect."</p><p></p><p>Crommel raised an eyebrow. "Show me. Could it be dwarven craftsmanship?"</p><p></p><p>Draden shrugged. "Let's go see."</p><p></p><p>As they walked off, Castor called out, "Look, but do not enter! There could be terrible curses for anyone foolish enough to play thief!"</p><p></p><p>Alric didn't seem interested. He pressed on with his questioning, "So is there a path back to the topside? Or do we take another boat out of here?"</p><p></p><p>The man looked at Alric as if assessing him for the first time. "Uh, you'll want to talk to Verdash Vrik about that. Not that anybody wants to talk to Verdash." The man's eyes returned to Draden and Crommel as they went around the tower. He began moving away from the group, and said with a wave of farewell, "Keeps yer arms in hand while you walk about, and you may see the sun soon enough."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="aboyd, post: 3592498, member: 44797"] [b]The Chickens Come Home To Roost, part 2 of 5[/b] "Welcome to Rook's Roost, humans." Scarbelly stood proudly at the helm, one hand on the wheel, and one arm outstretched toward the cliffs. Both the Windcutter and Purity's Prow sailed right into a vast cavern, the sun disappearing as stone passed by overhead. "And dwarf," groused Crommel. "Eh?" said Scarbelly. "Nevermind," said Crommel. Alric was elated. Not much could throw a ripple into his usual demeanor, but this was it. A true pirate cove, and a massive one at that. As they sailed under the distant, stalactite-ridden roof, a small city blazed before his eyes. Alric was seeing things he knew many never would, and he hoped Fharlanghn was proud. "Who is our contact here?" asked Castor, who had recovered slightly with Alric's help. "Mmm. Ivellilian. Elf witch, will set the fear into ya. Follow her rules." And with that, Scarbelly began barking out orders in orcish. The crew responded quickly, with a spring in their step. They came into a small port, and merchants were already crowding the docks, perhaps hoping to sell fruit and other things a sailor might miss at sea. To Alric, it seemed incongruous for hardened monsters to act... happy. But there it was, plain as day. These orcs felt good about arriving here. Alric hoped it would be a happy stop for him and his friends as well, but he had a nagging suspicion that any place a pirate loved he would do well to fear. They exited behind many of the crew, hoping most of the attention would be drawn away. And it did seem to play out that way for the most part, but one dock-hand approached. He seemed chatty enough, and asked the group to state their business. "Right now, my business is to find out what I'm up against here," said Draden, still moving forward with the reigns of his horse in hand. The man came alongside and spoke briskly. "Well, if that's yer business, I might offer a transaction." Draden paused, as did the rest of the group. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. He pressed it into the other man's hand, and said, "Give me a good deal for my money." The man seemed agreeable, and again spoke with haste, "Stay at the Barnacle. Do not visit the Grog's Fist unless ye be hoping for a pummeling. Take yer steeds to Ogre, down by the Barnacle. You'll see his name on the building, but yer nose can lead ya there true enough." Draden gestured back toward the docks. "There is another ship in port. What is the story there?" "Ah, that's the Midnight's Edge. Jovina Sandborn stole it fer revenge. I'll not say more, but you can ask her when you get to the Barnacle." "Not say more? My coin purchased a few measly sentences?" The man bowed slightly, a deferential gesture. "I'll speak more. But I don't know you or the people yer with. You may know those involved in Jovina's escapades, or you may not." He began walking on, as the group followed. "I don't fancy the idea of filling yer heads with mercenary thoughts. So I'll let her be the judge of character. If she wants to give you details, she will. But pick another topic, and I'll say my share." Draden sighed. "Okay, fine. What about Ivellilian? Scarbelly mentioned her." "Aye, that's her tower there, down the walkway. But good luck gaining entry. Best to find her at the Barnacle. She only goes when she's feeling social, so it's the ideal time, anyway. Try not to get on her bad side. She's good enough, but to keep her town from burnin' down to the ground, she'll not tolerate reckless behavior." "Why is it so hard to gain entry to her tower?" The dock-hand shrugged. "I've not seen a door." From the back of the group, Crommel was heard to say, "Crazy wizards." As they neared the tower, Draden handed the reigns of his horse over to Castor. Draden circled the tower, pressing and knocking at the building. The group waited. Alric approached the dock-hand. "This cave is well-lit at the far end. Is it daylight? Is it a way out?" The man shook his head, "No, that's only torch light... and perhaps a spell of light, or two." Draden came around the structure, towards Castor. He took back his reigns. He turned to Crommel and said, "There's a door." The dock-hand looked stunned, and perhaps a bit doubtful. Draden continued, "Far side, placed so most wouldn't see its use. Probably lends Ivellilian a sense of mystery, and she likely paid well for it too. Workmanship that good took some luck for me to detect." Crommel raised an eyebrow. "Show me. Could it be dwarven craftsmanship?" Draden shrugged. "Let's go see." As they walked off, Castor called out, "Look, but do not enter! There could be terrible curses for anyone foolish enough to play thief!" Alric didn't seem interested. He pressed on with his questioning, "So is there a path back to the topside? Or do we take another boat out of here?" The man looked at Alric as if assessing him for the first time. "Uh, you'll want to talk to Verdash Vrik about that. Not that anybody wants to talk to Verdash." The man's eyes returned to Draden and Crommel as they went around the tower. He began moving away from the group, and said with a wave of farewell, "Keeps yer arms in hand while you walk about, and you may see the sun soon enough." [/QUOTE]
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