Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Desdichado" data-source="post: 1863028" data-attributes="member: 2205">Interlude, Part ISome time later, the three of them dragged themselves back up the shaft to where their boat was waiting for them still.  The big sword was hidden under a cloak, but their bedraggled and bloody appearance was enough to give the old swampy quite a turn already.  While helping them aboard, the cloak slipped momentarily from the sword.  One of the daemonic faces on it leered noticably and hissed.  The swampie jumped back as if stung."What is that?" he said quavering.  "Don't ask," Rosham's face and voice were hard and grim.  "Get us back, and we'll leave your village and not trouble you again."The swampie was nervous, but he piled coal and wood in the boiler as fast as he could, and they made relatively good time back to the city.The guards at the gate didn't much like the rough look of the group, but after a gold piece or two, they were able to slip into the city and limp their way back to their safehouse.  Stalwart Elroy opened the door and helped them in.  He already had his first aid equipment ready before they had even approached the house.  "Nice," observed Tson sarcastically."The mark of a good butler is anticipating his employer's needs," Elroy said bitingly (although rigidly politely) in return.  "By the by, when you've got a moment," he continued in an unflappable voice, "a message arrived for you today while you were out."About half an hour later, with brandy in their hands and liberally swathed in bandages, and smelling of healing poultices, the three of them crowded around the sitting room table with finely wrought parchment.  The edges were gilt and an unmarked wax seal kept it closed.  Rosham slid the wax off, unrolled the parchment and read out loud."Who is A.?" Konrad asked.  "Does it look like a woman's writing?""It does," Rosham scratched his chin thoughtfully.  "Perhaps Alainna?  Our patron's sister?"Tson shook his head.  "Why would she want to meet us?  She already knows us?""Why else does a woman want to meet secretly with a man?" Konrad said skeptically.  "Or maybe she's got some agenda of her own that she doesn't want Gauvain knowing about.  I don't trust these Inquisitor types.""We're Inquisitor types," Tson retorted.  "Sort of, anyway."  "No matter," continued Rosham with a smile.  "I'm going whether or not you wish to.  The Overlook is a very swanky restaurant on the terraces.  I'm more than happy to have this A. pay for my meal there."That certainly decided it for Tson, and Konrad decided not to let himself be left out.~•~In two days, at about 7:15 they walked together into the lobby of The Overlook, dressed nicely and walking stiffly.  They had not had the best reception, two Bred, and the only Unbred among them clearly a foreigner and a hairy savage, but nobody had overtly accosted them.  The maître d' looked at them askance when they first walked in, but as they discreetly flashed both their gold and their Inquisitor badges, and asked where the private room where they were supposed to meet was, so they could wait for their host, he changed his tune."This way, if you please," he said formally, walking smartly into the restaurant, past diners at tables and in private rooms and booths, all the way to the rear of the restaurant.  There, near the kitchen and hanging out over the cliffed terrace, was their room.  The door was open, and the maître d' bowed to signal them to pass inside.  They could see a dark wood table and dark wood paneling on the walls, but a fire burned in the hearth, and many candles were lit.  There was a draft of air from a vent in the roof which allowed the air to clear of smoke, and patrons to catch a view of the sky, which was dark.They walked in.  At the far end of the table sat a woman in tight black leather with dark, soot-colored skin and a smooth, bald, head.  On the table in front of her were two sheathed and wickedly curved swords.Konrad swore and reached for his pistol, while Tson and Rosham fumbled for their weapons belts as well.  Then, with a clanking and hissing of escaping steam, a hulking construct that had been standing like a statue in a dim corner of the room rushed up to stand in front of them.  A massive sword; both long and as thick as a plank was in his hand  (At this point I gave them a little GM hint… the steamjack was about CR 10 or 11; the characters were level 4.)The woman laughed, and her voice was silky and light; like the giggling of a teenage girl.  "Please," she said, tilting her head to the side and shaking her finger at them as if she'd just caught them with their hands in the candy jar.  "That's hardly appropriate behavior for guests at The Overlook.  But your rather rough manners are part of your charm, I suppose."  She laughed again.The three of them slowly moved their hands away from their weapons and sat down at the near end of the table.  "What is it you want with us, then?" Rosham asked, slipping into his role as spokesman for the group.The woman smiled, and put her fingers together in a tent-like formation in front of her face.  "As I said, to talk with you.  We clearly have some very similar interests.  My name, by the way, is Aberraine.  And I want your help."Tson, Rosham and Konrad all looked at each other with open astonishment on their faces.  "Help?  With what, pray tell?""Aberraine smiled ruefully.  "With escaping from a situation that I unfortunately find myself in.  I am bound in service to a cruel and wicked master, and forced to be his thief and spy.  I do not know him, as he is very discreet and secretive, but he holds a claim on my life that I cannot escape alone.  He has set upon himself the goal of collecting all the books of heresy, arcane lore and sorcery that he can find.  The Gods only know the details of his plan, but I know he hopes to overthrow the King in Cassant and take his place.  I think we both are interested in seeing that he is not successful in that particular venture.  The book you seek is crucial to his plan, and I'd much rather you find it than him."Also," she continued, "I summoned you here to give you a warning.  The Inquisition for whom you work is an organization riddled with plots, secrets and corruption.  I know that there are Inquisitors who work for my master as well.  Be cautious if you intend to continue in their employ."The three of them were stunned into silence.  Finally Rosham spoke again, "Give us a token, then, of your intentions.  Bring us one of these books that we can hold it."Aberraine thought for a second, then nodded.  "Very well."  She checked a large, wooden grandfather clock.  "Already I'm risking too much by remaining here with you.  I will take my leave.  Feel free to order anything you like; I have an arrangement with the management of The Overlook.""When and where will we meet again to discuss our next steps then?" Rosham asked.Aberraine again thought for just a second.  "There is a place in Bricktown known as The Steams; a bathhouse renowned for its discretion and secretiveness.  Have you heard of it?"Rosham indicated that they had, desperately hoping that neither Konrad nor Tson gave away any hint that they were already on friendly terms with the owner, Eiji Kisaragi."Wonderful," Aberraine replied.  "Then we'll meet there tomorrow at 2 o'clock?"~•~After a delightful meal at The Overlook the three of them came home quite late.  Elroy was not up, but someone else was waiting for them in their sitting room, helping herself generously to their brandy.  It was Alainna FitzGilbert d'Aubigne."Ah, I'm glad you are home," she said as they walked in.  "I have a small request to make of you."  She smiled at them with false innocence.</blockquote>

Verification