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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ruined" data-source="post: 74100" data-attributes="member: 113">[ Hecatomb 16th – Day 30 ]  The group returns to Sigil mid-day, with Orem in tow. Their clothes are still a greyish color, but the vibrant nature of Arborea sems to have healed their spirits. Orem still seems odd, somewhat gaunt in appearance, but they all know he looks much better than when they first retrieved him. The group goes by the Rowan Academy to check with Serrateno about the identified weapons.   Tira’s bow interests Serrateno, and he questions her what she knows about it so far. He says that the bow is attuned to a celestial nature, and he believes the wood was gathered from one of the Upper Planes. He has determined that the bow’s strength has been enhanced, and small runes etched at the ends of the wood may indicate further enhancements that have yet to be activated. Serrateno suggests that she take the bow with her on travels and see if any sages or scholars can help identify the bow’s origins, so that its secrets can be unlocked.  [ ed. Note:  I’ve always loved the Earthdawn system for magic items. Rarely do the characters find simple +1 or +2 items. These crafted items have names, origins, and sometimes layered abilities that can be unlocked by their wielders. This is one such item. ]  After a meal, Orem decides to retire for the night. As he stands up to leave, the characters agree to accompany him back to his warehouse. They travel through the streets heading from the Market Ward to the Guildhall Ward where his building resides. As they approach the building, they realize that there are lights from within the warehouse, and smoke drifting from the furnace chimney. They doubt that it is Teller awaiting their return, so they creep up to find out. Orem suggests a trapdoor from the roof so they can look in from above. Killian scouts and shows them the best way to climb up onto the roof without a great amount of noise.  At the ‘skylight’, they see a number of men working in the warehouse. They have set up some kind of cauldron where they are cooking a greenish ore. The smell that escapes from the nearby chimney is bitter and acidic. Orem looks in and recognizes a few of the men who attacked (and killed) him. The group decides to avenge their friend, and determine what these bashers are up to. Quietly, Killian opens the trapdoor fully and climbs in. He stealthily moves along the beams until he finds a suitable location. He signals the group, and Quinn and Orem leap into the middle of the room.  Surprised, the six invaders are slow to react to this new threat. Killian uses the distraction to quietly kill one of the men from behind. A few of the men grab up weapons to defend themselves from the minotaur and the human. As Quinn and Orem rush in brandishing short swords and spears, Tira draws her bow at the trapdoor, firing and striking two of the enemies. The armed men clash with the three on the ground, while two of the men turn to cast spells. Tira tries to interrupt one of the casters, but her bowstring snaps as she draws back. Cursing, she partially rolls out of the way as one of the men sends a bolt of lightning from his hands.  As Quinn fells one of the combatants, the air around him is filled with a pungent yellow cloud. Hacking and sputtering, he is put on the defensive as another warrior closes in. Orem attacks with a vengeance, slashing and stabbing through one of his opponents. He is assisted by his pupil Tira, as she drops from the roof and pulls out her spear. Killian takes advantage of one of the mages who did not realize he was there. As he tries to cast a spell, Killian runs him through with his short sword.  Holding his breath, Quinn charges out of the cloud he’s in and headbutts the man before him, knocking him unconscious. Enraged, he turns his attention to the remaining spellcaster. Orem and Tira double-team the warrior, making short work of him. The spellcaster finds himself between the minotaur and the drow, and meets his end trying to cast one final spell. With their enemies fallen, the group collects themselves and tries to determine what they were doing.  Killian goes to investigate the cauldron and the foul-smelling material inside. There are green glowing rocks inside that are dissolving into powder from the continual heat. Near the cauldron there are a number of small containers, some of which are filled with the green powder. Orem wonders why they would kill him for this?  Something has been nagging Tira since they first saw these bashers. She pulls one of the bodies near another and notes that their features are similar. Orem remarked that he thought the ones who attacked him were brothers. They take a closer look and note that the eyes are very similar. This would not be odd, except that it is the same for all six, and they look to be of a variety of racial descent. They send for a Harmonium patrol to look into the situation, and the collectors to retrieve the bodies. The Harmonium officers that come ask a few pointed questions, but when it is determined that the house belongs to Orem, their defense seems plausible. The trio leave, agreeing to delve deeper into this mystery in the following days.</blockquote>

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