Is'Merith - Campaign Thread

Shen feels slammed back into her seat, as if waking up from a bad dream. She jumps in place, her knee whacks against the table, all the dishes jump, and her glass falls over. Everything's eerily quiet compared to before.

She can only hear the echoes like a murmur through a wall, all the images gone, but she can just barely separate it all out. In her head is a whirling cacophony, overriding all hints of the calm breathing from before. She was taught to listen to the breathing, and listen for the holes, where nature was silent because something else was blocking the way. Those "something else's" had a sound of their own that would you could recognize them by. The elves who taught her mostly wanted to know when fey were getting too close, and they said it sounded like singing. She can kind of hear that, if she tries, but it's hard to listen to any one thing. There's also a roar like fire burning, a tinny ringing, a low wail, a scratchy feeling at the bag of her head, and still more.

It all fades slowly, replaced by the rhythmic whispering of the water around them. She exhales, realizing she's been holding her breath. She also becomes aware of the intense pounding in her head, and the fact that no one is talking. She did kind of make a scene.

She awkwardly puts her cup right-side-up and starts sopping up water, alternately rubbing the side of her head and her throbbing knee. "Sorry.

"Erm...so...it's this thing, that I learned in the forest. Ya sorta listen to nature around you, and you can hear if there's somethin' don't belong there near you. Like dragons and ghosts and stuff. They said that's why elves got ears like we do, so we can hear that." She looks up, speaking quietly, almost apologetic. "Anyway, I sorta did it on accident, but I heard...like, everything. Stuff that I don't even know what it is. You think a' something that ain't natural and it's here."

She starts poking at food with her fork, still holding her head; she's certainly not hungry anymore. "I knew them gobs weren't right. Them hands and all, even their insides, it ain't natural." She looks to Daedarai. "Didn't they say there ain't been druids here for a while or somethin'? If there was any they prob'ly died a' heart attacks. Somethin's wrong here."
 
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Nightmares were nothing new- Mina had grown almost used to them over the last few weeks; visions of abandonment were the most common... This was new- it was as if her mind had started to heal, and now the fresh scab had been torn loose and the wound laced with salt. Perhaps it had something to do with the change in surroundings- these were not her rooms above a Guild-friendly tavern. But last night she had no energy, and little reason to be far away from her new companions- the guild ship was a rather different sort of place.

It could, of course, also be because she had been far to close to death last night- and so had all of her new friends. It was, to say the least, unsettling for someone who had never really in been in a serious fight- never mind a frantic running battle in hostile terrain, against incredible numbers of bestial foes. It was NOT an experience she had any desire to repeat- but somehow she thought such scenarios might be unavoidable. For a moment she looked down at the trailing fringe of her shawl- a bit of magic had cleaned it up, but the torn edge was still there- a rent that could just as easily have been her leg, or her throat.

Even so, she was not going to let her unease show- there were standards to maintain, after all. She walked gracefully into the room where her friends were waiting with her eyes clear, her back straight, and her smile at full brightness. "I'm am sorry to have come so late to our morning gathering. It is altogether a new experience to be lodging in such a place- I fear the morning came far to early," she said, her voice just a light and musical as it had been at their first meeting; certainly not like someone who had been in such dire straits last night. She did seem genuinely pleased to see that all of the others were there, and seemingly without lasting injuries. "Have you been giving thought about what we might do next?"
 
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Daedarai looked with concern towards Shen. Whatever she felt had hurt her spirit. He had never seen her so...subdued before. Before he could react to her thoughts, Mina entered with a peace that was entrancing. He smiled at her words. It seemed as if last night hadn't affected her at all. “Mina, please, come in and have a seat. Shen just had a difficult experience. Are you okay, Shen?”

Seeing her nod, he continued, “Shen was just giving voice to a concern that I think we are all starting to share. Something horrifically unnatural is plaguing our city. Those devils we faced last night were twisted by something heinous. I believe Shen managed to take some samples. Since we know there are no druids in the city, Tro'leera may be our best option to look over the bits and perhaps be able to shed some light on what infected them. As a bonus, he also may be able to brew some concoctions to help with our other missions.”

“In lighter news, I think we have figured out a fair division of the spoils of our trip. I know that after last night's events, there are some items that I'm ready to purchase to better prepare myself, and I am sure some of you are feeling the same way. After breakfast, I'll take the remaining items and try to get a fair price for them. We'll divide that up later today.”

“Other than that, sometime today it might be beneficial to start observing the half-orc gang that we are meant to deal with. If we can learn their habits, we might be able to create some opportunities that limit our danger.”

“Is there anything that I'm missing?”

[SBLOCK=OOC]DM, how do you want us to handle selling off things?[/SBLOCK]
 

Alejandro looks up from feeding bits of bacon fat to Archibald and listens to Shen's tale, grim-faced.
Mina of the purple voice entered and was as entrancing as ever, solid as a rock but somehow vulnerable. He is sure she could play the master manipulator at court.
But he had business to attend to.
He stands up on the chair and addresses the group.
"Daederai. Dead-Eye. Thank you for your accounting. Shen, I too fear what lies beneath the city's painted face. But most of all I fear for the life of one who saved my life; who took me in when I was orphaned, and taught me the secrets of the city. I fear that my city mother is in dread danger, and worse, I fear she may be suffering from the Red Death. A danger to all lives in the city. I must go and find her."
 

“Of course. Family takes precedence, but you don't have to go alone. If the Red Death does everything that was said last night, you might have a struggle to get her the help she needs. Not to mention, it's never safe to travel through Peer'At alone. I can't speak for anyone else, but you are my partner and you have willingly fought and bled by my side. If I can help you, I will if you'll have me. I can quickly purchase some equipment and we can set out.”

The elf begins to rise when a thought strikes him. “When someone you care about is in need, I know moments count. However, it occurs to me that whatever infected those goblins might be related to what has caused this Red Death. Would you be willing to let us drop off the samples for Tro'leera along the way? My hope is that we find your City Mother hale and hearty, but if she is infected, we don't know if clerical magic can cure the disease yet. If the Pelorites are unable to heal her, and I pray that this isn't so, it might be worthwhile to have a jumpstart on his investigation.”

*edit*
[SBLOCK=Shopping Info]A quick accounting of purchases (once I go shopping-I'll edit if new things are available that would change this):

Starting money: 75gp 3sp 18cp
Component pouch: 25gp
Components for Find Familiar: 10gp
Gold at breakfast: 45gp
Share of money: 274gp 92sp 34cp
Total gold (before more shopping): 319gp 95sp 18cp
Shopping Trip:
Long Bow: 50gp
Studded Leather Armor: 45 gp
Curved Elven Blade (from guild): 150 gp
The enchanted coin pouch (if still available): 50gp
20 more arrows: 5 silver (guild discount)
Remaining money: 24gp 90sp 18cp[/SBLOCK]
 
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"Al, I'll go with you as well. I don't much enjoy hanging around the Guild ship, besides, I still owe you for the cigar." Isaac says with a wink. He takes a long draw from his pipe before turning to Daedarai. "What's the chances you can score me one of those fancy swords?"
 

"Red Death? Ain't that what folks are gettin' in the undercity?"

Ruins a thousand years old lie deep below the surface. There is nothing here but death...

Shen rubs her head. It's feeling a little better, not that it's much comfort. It's one thing after another with this place. Breakfast was nice. Why can't all day be breakfast? Why can't things just be normal and happy without all this weird stuff?

"...well if Han's family is in trouble, let's go, but don't nobody relax too much. I got a awful feelin' about goin' down there. We know anything to help stop us gettin' sick? Might wanna ask Trollface, 'cept I dunno if he's on our side really. And check your weapons. Lots of unnatural critters ain't hurt by regular stuff."

[sblock="OOC"]Dropping a C-note on silvering my halberd. May buy antidotes or whatever if it helps with the disease.[/sblock]
 


Mina listened to the others discussing what they had learned, and what they were planning. Slowly, with a bit of tea and a few nibbles of breakfast, her mind grew more calm, and she could focus more on what was being said. There were details here, things that seemed somehow familiar- and deeply disturbing. She remembered some of the old stories that she had heard from her tutors, about the history of the city- and right now she wished she had paid more attention to some of those lessons. Academic studies had never been her strongest suit- but maybe she could put some of these thoughts and memories together, if she had a bit of time, and access to some reference works. It wasn't the sort of thing that the Guild was heavily invested in- but the organization DID have some surprising resources...

"I would be glad to accompany all of you, if we wish to mount such an expedition, and I would second the idea of dropping off some sample to our new 'friend'. There are a few things I might purchase, as well, if we are to pass near one of the markets..."

[sblock= OOC] Definitely willing to tag along into the Undercity- it seems a far better idea than splitting the party. If we have a chance to shop on the way, Mina will pick up an herbalism kit- and she can use that to mix up a Primeval Awareness hangover cure for Shen. Other shopping can probably wait until we get back from Alejandro's errand. [/sblock]
 

Alejandro looks around at his new companions, genuinely touched that these relative strangers are all unanimously willing to accompany him, on what he hopes will be (but fears won't) a simple 'family' tea and biscuits visit.

He has had trouble locating Nora, as when she doesn't want to be found she doesn't get found. He hopes that the troubles in the Undercity will prompt her to be more available.

Eyes moist, he takes a breath.

"Thank you. All.", he says, before adding seriously, locking eyes with each one in turn, an old gnomish formal thank you:"My roots, your water."

He clicks his tongue and Archibald scampers out from the gnome's new breastplate, where the mouse was getting to know the comfy spots. They converse in a series of squeaks for a while.

[sblock=Mousese]
- Archibald, Nora may be in trouble. You know what we both owe her.
- Yes. Of course.
- She needs our help. I need your help to help her. I need you to find her for me. Ask all the mice, the rats, the cats...
- Seriously?
- Yes, Archibald. Seriously.
- But cats are di...
- ...ligent reporters of two-legged gossip. Do what you can. And send word to the hedgehogs.
- They freak me out with their weird navy ranks, what's that all about? I mean, come on...
- Archibald Mouse, you listen to me.
- ...k.
- Nora could be in trouble. Now I need you to run swift and far, and come back to me safe.
- gulp
- I know. We've not been apart for more than a few hours for two years now. But I need you to help us find her as soon as possible.
- ...k.
- I love you, Archie. Stay safe. My brave friend.
- Love you too...sniff...twitch...
[/sblock]
Alejandro raises his open palm, where Archibald was sitting, and kisses the mouse on his nose. Then he puts him down and with that Archie darts across the table, stops once and looks back, and with twitch of his whiskers, is gone.

"I have asked him to help find Nora. She is...a private person. I will ask all the small creatures of the city to help us."
 

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