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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 6585450" data-attributes="member: 9546">Gathering Information27 Calistril, 4715-1 Pharast, 4715"Before everybody charge into guild hall, Boris think we need more information," Boris suggested helpfully as the Scions mulled over their next course of action. "I agree with Master," Neko chimed in, earning him an irritated look from Boris."That's actually not a bad idea," Piotr said. "As you know, I have some experience with the merchant clans. I can ask around some of the local shops about this Thorborg Silverskorr.""And I'm sure there's a tavern somewhere near the Rimerunner's joint," Mazael grinned. "Merchants like to drink, and as luck would have it, so do I. I don't mind staking out a spot near the guild hall, tipping a few pints back, and getting the lay of the land"Yannus couldn't argue the wisdom in the plan, so he nodded his agreement."Very well. Haroldo, Lucian and I will go and resupply in the mean time," he said. "We'll meet back at the inn in a couple of hours. Remember, we are still trying to go unnoticed."____________________________________________________________________________The Scions parted and went their separate ways. Neko and Boris decided to continue their investigation in the Jade Quarter. Immigrant populations, in Boris's own experience as one, tended to notice many things while largely going unnoticed by the majority. They didn't find out much more about the Frozen Shadows than Helgarval had already told them. It seemed that the thieves' guild had come to power several years ago, and its members were rumored to have almost supernatural abilities in stealth and assassination. They often left a large black feather as a calling card. No one knew where they were headquartered, however. As the pair made their way through the crowded streets, a large Ulfen warrior, reeking of ale, bumped rudely into Boris. Acting purely on instinct, Boris's hand went immediately to the big man's belt and snatched off his coin purse. The Ulfen seized the goblin's wrist as it withdrew, however."Hah!" he bellowed. "First you poison my dog, and now you try and steal my purse!?""What?" Boris asked, genuinely perplexed. "Dog? Boris no kill dog. Dog meat too stringy.""Liar!" the Ulfen shouted. "The hooded man told me it was you! I demand wereguild! You owe me 50 gold crowns!"Boris peeked inside the coin purse he still had clutched in has hand. Ten coins lay within."Here," Boris offered the purse back. "You take ten crowns. Deal?""Those are my own coins!" the big man snarled. "You're a thief and a dog-killer!"By this time a large crowd had gathered, and parted, forming a circle around the confrontation."Look," Boris said placatingly, "Boris already tell you, Boris no kill any dog. Boris offer you coins that Boris find. Still, you no happy, so, Boris only see one way out of this."The goblin's twin wakizashi's were suddenly in his hands, and he thrust both of them towards the Ulfen's gut. To his shock and amazement, the large man moved with surprising speed and agility, deflecting the blows so that, instead of striking anything vital, they only grazed him. Then, the warrior swung his battleaxe in a broad arc, slashing across Boris's belly."Master!" Neko cried.The varran turned, dropping to all fours and ran towards the nearest building, and then scampering nimbly up the wall. When he reached a wooden support beam, he wrapped his tail around it and hung beneath it, gripping his bow in his hands. He knocked and release, sending an arrow into the Ulfen's backside. The man roared, and Boris took the opportunity to leap away. He darted around a corner, and ducked behind a trash bin, trying to make himself inconspicuous. With Neko out of his reach, the Ulfen warrior charged around the corner after Boris, his eyes darting this way and that. Boris shifted slightly, but it was enough, and his opponents eyes fell upon him. He raised his swords to defend himself, but it was fruitless. The battleaxe fell and Boris went down."Master, no!!" Neko shrieked. His hands moved so fast, they blurred, sending arrow after arrow into the Ulfen, but still the brute stood. He moved to the building, right beneath Neko, drew a handaxe from his belt, and hurled it at the varran. It hit Neko in the thigh, and stuck there, but still he continued to fire, until finally, the big man groaned and collapsed to the ground. Neko didn't waste any time. He scrambled back to the ground, darted over the Boris, hefted the goblin over one shoulder, and then raced up the side and to the roof of another building. He fished out several healing potions from his pack and forced them down Boris's throat until the goblin's eyes opened and he sputtered. "Shhh," Neko put one finger to his lips. "Policemen below!"Boris looked down to the street and saw that several constables had indeed arrived on the scene and were gathered around the body of the Ulfen warrior."No," Boris snapped. "Boris earned this! No let cops take away!"The pair of them climbed back down to street level, and cautiously approached the constables, hands empty and upraised."Are you responsible for this?" the head constable asked, drawing his sword and pointing it at Boris. "No," Boris shook his head. "That man responsible. Boris and friend just defending ourselves. Big man say Boris kill dog, then try to kill Boris. Ask people," he indicated the crowd, "they tell you same.""We already asked," the constable said, "and they confirm your story, but they also said this man accused you of picking his pocket.""No, no, no," Boris said as he deftly tossed the stolen purse into a nearby sewer, "this all mistake. Boris no kill dog, and Boris no take money. Big man want Boris's money. Ask for werewolf or something.""Wereguild," the constable corrected. "Compensation for wrong-doing.""Oh?" Boris cocked his head. "Then Boris deserve werewolf for big man trying to kill him."The constable seemed to consider this. "You are a goblin, correct?" the man asked."...yes," Boris answered carefully."And don't goblins carry weapons called dog-slicers?" the officer asked."That very racist," Boris huffed. "Not all goblins same, just like not all Ulfens have relations with their sisters, like Boris hear. You search Boris. You no find dog-slicer, dog meat, or stolen purse! Now Boris want werewolf!""Fine, fine," the constable raised his hands in annoyance, "but this man is dead. What exactly do you want?"Boris thought about it."That nice axe," he pointed out. "Boris take that."_________________________________________________________________________A short time later, with a tidy profit from the sale of the battleaxe, Boris and Neko walked into an orphanage located in the Jade Quarter. Having already given half the proceeds to Neko for saving his life, Boris presented the other half, 500 gold crowns, to the astonished headmistress of the facility. "For little ones," he explained. "You give to them so they no have to take coins from bad men on streets. Tell them gift from Boris."And this was born the legend of St. Boris, later to become known as Santa, whereupon every 27th of Calistril, gifts were given to children in memory and celebration of selfless charity._________________________________________________________________________The companions regrouped in the common room of their inn in the Bone Quarter later that afternoon. Piotr reported that he had learned that the Rimerunners Guild specialized in trade with Tian Xia over the Crown of the World as well as along the rivers of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. They were extremely influential in and around Kalsgard, with many local merchants and their retainers, and much of the local economy beholden to them. Thorborg Silverskorr, the leader of the guild, was a merchant of high repute, though she was rarely seen in public. She had numerous connections with the wealthy and powerful of Kalsgard, including Linnorm King Sveinn Blood-Eagle himself. Mazael gathered from his hours of watching and drinking, that the guild hall was well-guarded, with at least a dozen soldiers patrolling the grounds, and more than twice that in city constables within haling distance. Then Boris told what he learned, of his and Neko's adventures. He described the altercation with the Ulfen warrior, but left about the part about the man's demise and their run-in with local law enforcement. The group decided that their next move would be to go to the Rimerunners' hall and see what they could find out, but when they stopped by their rooms upstairs first, however, they found one of the chambers had been completely ransacked. There was no evidence that the room had been forcibly broken into, but a quick search revealed that the window was unlocked, and another large raven feather was found under the detritus. Yannus declared that they were no longer safe at the inn, and could not stay there. The Scions returned to the caravan and told their friends what they had learned, and what happened. Sandru was concerned that their presence with the caravan would attract more attention, but ultimately realized that there was strength in numbers. _________________________________________________________________________The Rimerunners guild hall was a fairly nondescript two story structure in the Jade Quarter. Just as Mazael described, several guards patrolled the perimeter of the grounds, and numerous constables were visible within a block as well. The companions approached the front door, where an armed guardsman stood. He looked at them appraisingly, taking note of the numerous weapons that were visible. "No weapons allowed," he stated flatly."We are here to demand wereguild," Yannus spoke up. "Assassins affiliated with your organization have attacked us on several occasions, and we have proof!"He held up one of the large raven feathers. The guard stared at him."You people need to move along before I call the constables," he said. "We demand to speak with your guildmistress, Thorborg Silverskorr," Yannus persisted. "Seriously," the guard repeated, "move along. This is your last warning.""Pardon me, Sir," Piotr stepped in, "but what my companion is trying to say, is that we represent a legitimate business concern whose interests have been jeopardized. We have reason to believe that perhaps one or more rogue members of your guild may be involved. We would very much like to speak with one of your factors to resolve this situation."The guard turned to regard him."Wait here a moment," he said, then turned and entered the building.Meanwhile, no one had noticed that Boris and Neko had slipped away. The pair made their way around the building to the back, where they found another guard posted at a rear entrance. Hiding behind a large trash bin, Boris tossed a coin towards the far corner. The guard turned, and moved that direction. Quickly, Boris moved to the door and tried the handle. It was locked. He darted back to Neko and motioned him to follow. Quietly and unseen, the returned to the others.The guard returned a moment later."You may enter," he said to Piotr, "but you must go unarmed. You may bring two others with you,  but they must be unarmed as well."Piotr turned to the others, and was not surprised to see to see Boris with his hand up, and Neko grinning beside him. The sorcerer sighed and nodded. Neko dropped his bow and quiver, and Boris unstrapped his wakizashi's, but he did palm a dagger up his sleeve, which nobody noticed. Once inside, a long counter ran across the front of the main room. Brass bars extended from the counter to the ceiling, with only small teller windows allowing transfer of items. A locked gate blocked access behind the counter. A wooden railing surrounded the elevated floor behind the counter. Several clerks sat in front of the teller windows, while a pair of guild factors sat at desks in the raised area. Two more armed guards occupied the room. The guard escorting Piotr, Boris and Neko moved to the locked gate and opened it with a key, then indicated that they should go through. For a moment, Neko hesitated. The brass bars were too similar to the cages he'd spent much of his life in during his time with the circus. Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but he was determined not to let his master down, so he swallowed hard and followed Boris. The trio was escorted into a back hall, and then into a small conference room where another guild factor sat scribbling on some forms with a quill pen. When they entered, he looked up at them over the top of his glasses. "I understand you have some sort of grievance," he said.Piotr told his tale, leaving out sensitive details regarding their true reasons for being in Kalsgard. When he was done, the factor regarded him in silence for a long while."We are a legitimate and well respected organization," he said at length. "These are serious charges you have levied. I cannot, in good conscience, lend them credence."Piotr nodded."I understand," he said, "you are simply doing your job, and I am certain you have no knowledge of these things. My concern, however, is that you may have unsavory individuals involved in nefarious dealings that seek to besmirch the reputation of your prestigious guild. Is there any way for us to gain an audience with your guildmistress to try and bring this to light?"The factor considered this again, then leaned forward and spoke in a low voice."You did not hear this from me," he said, "but Thorborg Silverskorr purchased an old hall outside of town called Ravenscraeg two years ago from a man named Snorri Stone-Eye.""Didn't he just recently pass away?" Piotr asked."Why yes," the factor nodded. "In fact, his funeral was just yesterday. In any event, the guildmistress has been spending a great deal of the guild's money on refurbishing and developing the building. Nobody knows exactly what's going on there, but based on the funds involved, the secrecy surrounding the project, and her personal involvement, it must be something big for the guild's future! That's really all that I can tell you.""Thank you," Piotr bowed. "You've been most helpful."_______________________________________________________________________It didn't take too long for the Scions to dig up more information about Ravenscraeg. It was indeed the former hall of the Mad Reaver Snorri Stone-Eye, and it was so-named because it lay high among the rocky crags south of Kalsgard, accessible only to the eponymous ravens that roosted atop its ridgepole. It lay two days walk south of the city, in the hills near Grungir Forest. The companions returned to the caravan to make preparations, and to let Ameiko and the others know what they had discovered. Their friends wished them well, and to travel with caution, but Spivey insisted that they take her along. The little priestess had grown restive being enclosed in the large metropolis for so many days, and she longed to spread her wings and get back on the road. The Scions could not argue that she would be a great asset with her healing skills and divine powers, so no one objected. The following morning, the set out afoot, leaving Kalsgard behind as they journeyed into the boggy lowlands. As they neared the end of their first day of travel, the trail they followed wound its way through green marsh. Swaying cattails grew thick in a shallow pool beside the muddy path, and tiny colorful flowers dotted the water's surface. Suddenly, Mazael drew back as a piece of the marsh seemingly rose up and struck out at him. It looked like a transparent pseudopod covered in mud and debris. As the others watched in shock, and horror, the entire pool began to rise up, higher and higher, towering over their heads. Boris was the first to act, loosing an arrow into the amorphous blob. The shaft pierced the ooze and traveled straight through it, splitting it neatly in half...and then there were two! Haroldo drew his greatsword and hacked at one of the undulating masses, and cleaved it in two as well, making three of the aberrations."Stop hitting it!" Yannus shouted. "It's not working!"Spivey, flitting about the heads of her companions, held up one hand, and a soft, muted light gathered around it. Then she hurled it at one of the blobs, and when it struck, the ooze recoiled, a large scorch mark on its translucent skin. Then, one of the oozes lunged towards Neko. The monkey-boy shrieked and scrambled backwards, but one tendril wrapped around his leg and drew him towards the mass, squeezing and burning him. Piotr hurled magic missiles at the blob, sending shivers through it, but still it held on to the struggling varra. In frustration, forgetting Yannus' warning, Mazael swung his sword at the ooze, causing it to split a fourth time. Cursing, Yannus drew a vial of alchemical fire from his pack and threw it at the section of the blob still holding Neko. It struck and burst into flames, and the creature shriveled into black char, setting the monkey-boy free. Boris, suddenly remembering an unfortunate experience he'd had while wandering through the sewers beneath Sandpoint, called out to the others."Hit jelly monster with sticks and clubs, no pointy things! Then it not make more!"Haroldo took his meaning, and swapped his sword for a flail he kept in his belt, and went to work on the largest remaining ooze. Spivey and Piotr assisted him with their magic. Yannus drew a morningstar and attacked a second ooze, and Neko drew blunted arrows from his quiver and began firing at the last. In short orders, all of the blobs had been destroyed, and silence descended once more over the marsh._______________________________________________________________________By the end of the following day, the companions had reached the foothills. They rose sharply ahead into a steep and craggy shale escarpment hundreds of feet high. Tucked into a narrow defile between two of those crags was a stone-and-timber longhall and tower, weathered and gray. The hall stood nearly one-hundred feet above the base of the cliff, with only a single wooden stair climbing in a series of switchbacks up the cliff face to its front gate. All was silent save for the raucous caws of the ravens that congregated atop the hall's tower and ridgepole high above. When they reached the base of the crag, the found themselves staring up at a rickety wooden stair built from timber planks, silver with age. In some places above, the stairs and landings were secured directly to the rock face, and in others they hung free upon wooden supports and buttresses driven into the rock. Lichens and moss covered the stairs and rocks, with pale vines, roots, and blooms of nightshade, willowherb, and bog tea sprouting from occasional crevices in the stone. Single file, the Scions began to climb...all save Boris. The little goblin fished around in his pouch and drew out three flaccid bladders. He twisted valves on their necks, and they rapidly inflated, filling with air. He tied a rope around the bunch, then handed the other end of the rope to Neko, who gripped it with his tail. Boris grabbed the rope and let the balloons lift him into the air, where he hovered above Neko, who began scrambling up the rock wall, keeping pace with the others as they climbed the stairs. By the time they reached the fourth landing, the group was fifty-feet above the ground below. A short flight of stairs rose to the landing, which abutted the cliff face. A small hollow in the rock was plastered over with what looked like a huge wasp nest. Before Mazael, who was in the lead, could step onto the landing, the plaster began to crack and splinter as something huge emerged. The creature was the size of a horse, with the head of a spider, a giant stinger, and two long arms tipped with wickedly sharp pincers. It lunged towards Mazael, but the warpriest met its charge and slashed his falchion across its abdomen at the same time it sank its mandibles into his shoulder. From behind him, Piotr sent magic missiles at the beast, and Spivey invoked her starlight blast, dazzling the creature's multi-faceted eyes. Yannus thrust his glaive over Mazael's shoulder, driving it into the insect's thorax, but still it would not retreat. Rising into the air on its wings, its stinger flashed forward and impaled Mazael's chest. Instantly, he went rigid as every muscle in his body seized up, paralyzed. The giant spider-eater moved in for the kill.As the battle raged, Boris began to let out the rope attached to his balloons, rising higher above the fray, until he was almost level with the final landing and the gates of the hall. Suddenly, a quick movement caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw several black-clad figures crouched behind the railing of the landing. As he watched in dismay, they raised blow guns to their mouths and sent a volley of darts flying at his balloons.Mazael saw his death approaching, and he couldn't do a thing about it. He could hear Helgarvarl shouting at him to move, but he couldn't. Then, just as he sent his final prayer to Desna, he felt a soft touch on his shoulder, and a whisper in his ear."Not yet, traveller," Spivey said, and at her touch, he was suddenly free again.The war priest stepped back just as the spider eater struck, and then a flurry of arrows from Neko, and glowing, streaking missiles from Piotr shattered the monster's carapace, and sent it tumbling over the railing.Just then, a piercing scream drew all eyes upward, where the unmistakable form of a falling goblin grew larger and larger as it dropped towards them. Abruptly, Boris' plummet arrested, and he floated gently down the last few yards, a broken, ceramic leaf in his hands where he'd managed to reach and crack open a magical snap-leaf. The charm simultaneously made him light as a feather, and rendered him temporarily invisible. As he landed softly on the stairs and began to fade from view, he found his breath enough to speak."Sneaky ninja-killers waiting for us. Boris think it's on now!"</blockquote>

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