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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 980613" data-attributes="member: 9546">THE RAT DEFENSE“Master locksmith,” Salazar began, stepping forward, “we are special agents of the Church of Tyr, investigating the recent kidnappings at the Lantern Street Orphanage, and…”“And we think you had something to do with it!” Pez shouted, slamming his mailed fist down on the desk, startling the gnome so badly that he nearly fell off the stilts he wore in order to deal with customers eye to eye.“Actually,” Salazar interrupted, moving quickly to steady the shaken locksmith, “we would just like to ask you a few questions.”“Oh, I get it,” Tilly said in a none-to-subtle whisper to Pez, “You’re playing good guard/bad guard!  You make a great bad guard, by the way!”Sal continued, “We noticed that you had manufactured the locks at the orphanage.”“So?” Keygan snapped, “What of it?  I’ve made most of the locks in this town.  Does that mean I’m responsible for every break in that occurs?”“Not at all,” Sal replied, “It’s just that we found it very unusual that the locks did not seem to be tampered with…almost as if the kidnappers had a key.  Do you keep duplicate molds of the keys and locks that you sell?”“Of course not!” Keygan shouted, “What kind of businessman do you think I am?  If the locks weren’t tampered with, that means they did their job, and the kidnappers found another way in.  Did you ever think of that?”“I grow weary of this,” Pez growled, “Listen gnome, there are innocent lives at stake here.  Women, and children.  If you have any information that can be of help here, I strongly suggest you come out with it.  Have there been any strange characters here lately?  Anyone asking for information about your locks?  I warn you, it will go very hard for you if we find out you are holding anything back.”  By this time the warrior had backed the poor gnome into a corner, his face only inches from the little man’s bulbous nose.“I…I…I…” stammered Keygan.  It was then that Salazar noticed the shopkeeper’s gaze kept darting to the curtained doorway.  The furtive looks seemed somehow…purposeful.As Pez continued to browbeat his quarry, Sal motioned for silence, and began creeping silently towards the partition.  He quietly drew his blade from its scabbard.  Tilly, quickly catching on to his partner’s plan, followed suit.Salazar drew the curtain aside, and then moved into the darkened workroom beyond.  To his right was a small alcove leading to a display window, while to his left, a stairway climbed to the second floor.  Nothing seemed immediately unusual, but he continued to move cautiously, heading for the stairs.Tilly’s only warning of danger was a slight swish of air and a soft thump behind him.  He whirled around just as a black-cloaked figure thrust a rapier at him.  “Sally!  Help!” the halfling shouted.  He parried the initial thrust, but the second one caught him just in the armpit.  As he reeled backwards, Sal rushed in.  Their opponent was faster.  He rolled to the side, and maneuvered towards the stairs.  Sal pivoted to follow, but was pushed roughly to the side as Pez charged by, shouting, “Die assassin!”  His greatsword hammered down, easily knocking aside the rapier held to block, and crushing the skull of the man in black. Pez reached down to rip the cloak aside, and then recoiled reflexively from the figure beneath. The creature was no man.  Indeed, it was like nothing he had ever seen.  Its leathery gray skin was hairless and naked.  Lamp-like eyes stared at nothing.  “What in the name of Celestia?”Just then, he remembered the gnome, and rushed back to the front of the shop, certain the little liar had used the distraction to escape.  He needn’t have worried, for Oso had drawn a bead on Keygan with his bow, and he wasn’t going anywhere.“Now,” Salazar said, entering the room, supporting the wounded Tilly, “you are going to tell us just what the Hell is going on here, and you’re going to do it quick, or else I’m going to turn my back for a few moments while my overzealous friend here loosens your tongue his way…by pulling it out of your lying mouth!”“Now, now,” Keygan said hastily, “no need for threats.  I was trying to warn you.  Please, I’m just as much a victim here as you are.  They first came to me about three months ago.  They came up thru the old entrance to Jzadirune,”“Jzadirune?” Sal asked.“The old gnome enclave…under the city.  It’s been abandoned now for going on seventy-five years, but my pap used to take me there when I was a lad.  Well, these fellers must have found it, cause that’s where they came from.  They took Starbrow…said they’d kill him if I didn’t help them.  They made me tell’em everything I knew about the city, and when they found out my trade, they had me make’em keys to fit all the locks I’d ever sold…skeleton keys.”“Who are they?  What do they want?” Sal pressed.“I’m not rightly sure.  There’s two kinds of’em..tall ones, like that one back there, and short ones.  Those are even stranger…got hooves instead of feet, and keep their faces all wrapped up like soes all you see is their eyes.  They come up thru the doorway every now and again, and go out into the city at night.  When they come back, they’ve always got unconscious folks with’em, and they take’em back down into the dark.  That’s all I know, I swear!”“Who is this ‘Starbrow’ you speak of?” Pez asked.“He’s my…friend.  Well, more than that…kind of like my partner.”“Is he a gnome as well?” Sal asked.“Um…not exactly.  He’s kind of…a rat.”“What!?” Pez roared, drawing his sword again and advancing on Keygan, “Do not toy with us!”“No!  Honestly, he is!  But he’s special.  He’s my…familiar, and I know he’s still alive.  I can sense it.  He’s in a dark place, and he’s so scared.  Please!  Can you help him?”“I do not believe what I am hearing!” Pez shook his head, “You mean to tell me that you have possibly sacrificed the lives of dozens of good folk for a filthy rat!?  And now you want us to get this vermin back for you??  Oh ho!  This is rich.  I can’t wait to get you in front of a court, you little wretch, and listen to you defend your villainy with that story!  I’m going to tell you exactly what we’re going to do.  You are going to show us this entrance into Jzadirune, and then you are going to leave here and go directly to the temple of Tyr and turn yourself in.  If you deviated from this even a little, I swear that when I find your rat, I’ll bite his head off myself!  Then, I’ll hunt you down like the dog you are and make sure Tyr’s Justice is served!”“Whoa!  Hold on there big fella!” Tilly smiled weakly around his pain, “I’m all for upholding the law and all…well, within reason…but don’t you think you’re being a bit hard on the oldtimer?  After all, how would you feel if someone stole that stuffed bear I’ve seen you sleep with?  Just kidding!  Point that pig-sticker somewhere else!”Salazar stepped forward, “In any event, master locksmith, you are going to show us this doorway, and also tell us what to expect down there.  Then I suggest you do what Pez said.  You’ll be safe at the temple.  Safer than you will be here if your former associates find out that you’ve ratted them out…no pun intended.”“Yes, I see your point,” Keygan said, “As far as I know, Jzadirune is abandoned.  However, the gnomes who lived there were involved in magical research, and they guarded it closely.  They made doors like giant gears, and these they laid many intricate traps on…”“Doors with teeth…” Sal said thoughtfully.“Yes, I guess you could say that,” Keygan continued, “Also, about the time the enclave was abandoned, many of the gnomes contracted a strange disease.  Some said it made them simply vanish into thin air without a trace.  I’d be careful if I was you.  Anyway, the entrance is right thru this closet, just under the stairs…”</blockquote>

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