Insight's "The Isle of Dread" - Chapter One

[Insight]

Inside the Secret Passage: Cassi, Nafije, Astra, Questor, and Vrashek

When Vrashek gets set at the door and starts to push with all his might, Astra pauses to see if it'll be enough, then scowls and aims a sharp, hard kick directly at the lock area...hoping a sudden shock might exploit a weakness that Vrashek's slow, steady pressure wasn't finding.

(I AM MIGHTY! I have a glow you cannot see!)

Astra manages to hit the heavy door at a particular leverage point, allowing Vrashek's applied pressure to force the door all the way open!

Inside, through the doorway, the heroes see a large, somewhat darkened chamber and an adjoining corridor beyond. Inside the chamber are three dirty dwarves, each wielding pickaxes. Between them, on the floor, are several wooden and clag jugs. Next to the jugs is a wooden cask (undoubtedly filled or partially filled with ale or whiskey).

The dwarves stop hacking at the walls and turn to look at Vrashek and Astra.

The one with the longest beard, also wearing an iron helm, stares at the half-orc. "Looks like we gots us an intruder, boys!"*

As that dwarf starts to raise his axe, unsteadily, another dwarf, shorter, with slightly less of a beard, some sort of scar across his nose, grabs the taller one's arm. "Wait, Rake. We don't know who they are!"*

The third dwarf, this one without much of a beard at all, and wearing broken leg-irons, steps forward towards the heroes. Speaking in the Common tongue, he says,"I apologize. We're trying to get some work done. I assume you are lost, or..."

OOC: * This dialogue is actually in Dwarven, but those who can't understand Dwarven can easily tell by the dwarves' body language what's going on. It's just easier this way.

 

[Rhun]

Vrashek lowers his dagger, so as not to be as threatening. "In a manner of speaking..."

 

[Scotley]

Geirgrim listens to the conversation with interest, but proffers no coins.

 

[Leif]

Questor, Halfling Chaos Sorcerer 6

Questor eyes the Dwarves carefully and curiously. Upon determining that they are not about to be attacked, probably, Questor whispers behind his hand to Astra, "Those leg irons, are those the sort used by the Guard on prisoners in Specularum?"

 

[Insight]

Questor eyes the Dwarves carefully and curiously. Upon determining that they are not about to be attacked, probably, Questor whispers behind his hand to Astra, "Those leg irons, are those the sort used by the Guard on prisoners in Specularum?"

OOC: Unless one of you have been imprisoned in Specularum, you would not know without a History check or maybe a Streetwise check.

 

[Insight]

At the Temple District (Adam, Geirgrim, and Skaros)
Adam and Geirgrim talk to Shabby Ken.

"No need for that, good Ken. But can you tell me a bit more about the condition you are suffering?" Adam asks friendly, wishing he would know prayers to ease the man's suffering.

Geirgrim listens to the conversation with interest, but proffers no coins.

Shabby Ken pulls open his filthy, thin leather tunic to reveal pockmarked, bone-white skin, devoid of normal body hair, and through which his veins are easily seen. It is quite clear that Shabby Ken has some sort of affliction. Neither Adam nor Geirgrim have likely seen this sort of thing before.

OOC: Although you could attempt Heal checks if you want to learn more about the condition. BTW, what is Skaros doing [MENTION=36973]stonegod[/MENTION] ?

"I ain't been well since the spring," Shabby Ken says. "Used to earn my keep at the docks, loadin' and unloadin' from the ships what come inna Specularum. After a few weeks, I couldn't work no more. Too tired. Too weak. Scratchin' and itchin' all the bleedin' time. Started losin' me balance. Had to sit for long stretches. Couldn't lift nothing. Now, all I can do is beg. Same as those lot. We all started feeling sick about the same time, I reckon."

"Would that the priests had a cure for this plague..."

 

[Scotley]

Geirgrim examines the man, curious to know more about this affliction that has turned so many into beggars.

 

[stonegod]

OOC: He tried an ok Insight check which I'm not sure you responded to.

 

[Insight]

OOC: He tried an ok Insight check which I'm not sure you responded to.

OOC: The first sentence of this post was intended to apply to both Skaros and Geirgrim's attempts to size up the beggar.

 

[Insight]

Geirgrim examines the man, curious to know more about this affliction that has turned so many into beggars.

[sblock=Geirgrim]It seems to Geirgrim as though this may be a skin condition more than something respiratory or passed through liquid means. Geirgrim thinks that skin contact may be required to pass along this plague, whatever it is.

Geirgrim can tell by Shabby Ken's complexion and the lesions and pockmarks on his body that he has had this skin condition / plague for some time. His muscles do appear atrophied and he seems quite haggard.[/sblock]