(LHHS) The Light Hearted Hack n' Slash Game (III)

[Creamsteak]

This is the third game thread for the Light Hearted Hack n' Slash.

As we last left off, Krindor and Khelon, concerned with the happenings in the Greater Church of Free Worship, have taken it upon themselves to find their friends. Their search, having been delayed a bit, finds that their friends have already disappeared from the residence they had taken up in the Pilgrim's Inn.

Meanwhile, Brawn, Mak, and Khala, with the aid of a mercenary named Regis, have managed to seriously disrupt the underworkings of the city. They took down two of the highest ranking criminals, a few pawns, and captured a third leader. During their victory 'trot' around the sewers, they inspected a magically sealed chest, finding that they could do little about it, they were on their way back. Then, they heard the footsteps of a small band of goblin soldiers and a halfling cleric moving to catch up with the party. They decided to make haste, and retreat down an unknown stairwell. Where they ended up was in the concecrated bowels of the Greater Church of Free Worship. Now accosted by guards, they have been invited to take showers before their interview with the local captain. Each party member has been offered a blessed holy garment and although they all are being forced to use the same shower-room, they are also free from the hostility of thirty goblins.

At this time, the group has sent a pair of scouts to try and find Krindor and Khelon, who recieve the message with ample speed (the Inn being a relatively obvious location to check). After they were greeted, it's assumed that they would find no trouble with returning to the church to find their friends.

The story is recited from both sides, concerning the ?half-nymph? girl and her imprisonment by a paladin, and the work of Regis the mercenary to remove the thieves of the steam-pipes below. Notable interest, like the collection of items in possession of the goblins (a brooch of shielding obviously) make some points, while the story of the poor but unknown girls interests bring up some rather disturbing elements.

With finality, everyone is invited into the Impressario's (Guard/Actor Captain's) quarters for a late night brunch and a story to be told. The Impressario waits, patiently, for the parties involved to explain the entirety of the goblin incident to him.

 

[Darkwolf]

ooc: Wow, Khala has learned how to be in two places at once!

"Very well, sir." Khala then heads over towards the shower.

 

[Lichtenhart]

OOC: I'm sure you meant Krindor instead of Khala somewhere in the post above.

Mak reassures the halfling that if he tries anything he'll get a shower with that famous flask instead, and send him in the steam cloud.

After that much needed shower he's more than glad to see Krindor, and he explains her how he couldn't stand idle while those bandits played the lords and masters of the city, so he bravely descended into the most disgusting sewers to face those criminals in their very lair; how they heroically faced hordes of goblins; how they, in spite of the enemy's superiority managed to take down two of the bosses and to take the third captive, and finally how they outsmarted the goblins leaving them behind after having recovered the stolen goods.

The story sounds a little less epic when he's invited to talk with the Impressario, but their part in it no less virtuous. Suffocating some inner sadness Mak hands over to him the goods stolen from the city treasury, but he's nonchalantly swift to accept any reward they've earned.

 

[Darkwolf]

"Greetings to you once again Krindor. How fares your day? We've had quite a time in the sewers exterminating evil pests."

 

[Creamsteak]

The Impressario listens to your story, and makes a few assumptions on his own part. He seems mostly concerned with interrogating the halfling.

"May I have him?"

After this is resolved, he proceeds to inspect the permits, with exceptional resolve and a thourough examination reveals that the documents, are indeed true to their words.

"So then, if you like, I can pay the bounty up-front, rather than forcing you to wait for the guild to open up. I have the power to wave the unusual circumstance, if that's appropriate with you all."

He pauses,

"And, I can provide your reward up front. The bounty was registered through the church, as we promised to pay the dues up-front, so long as the council reimburses us."

 

[Dalamar]

"It seems I missed much of the action for this day. No matter, it is good that you all returned in good health.
I did come across something that seems rather odd. [insert explanation here]. Does any of you know what this reads?"
Krindor hands the paper she found to anyone (of the group )who happens to be closest.

 

[Creamsteak]

"It seems I missed much of the action for this day. No matter, it is good that you all returned in good health.
I did come across something that seems rather odd. [insert explanation here]. Does any of you know what this reads?"
Krindor hands the paper she found to anyone (of the group )who happens to be closest.

(Double Checked. Mak can read it, Infernal.)

The letter, written in the language of Infernal, marks off a list of chores to be accomplished. The handwritting is rather childish, as if it was intuitive rather than distinctly taught or written in a dialect.

• Delivery to Master Quintal confirmed, his attitude is disputable. My love, when will I be unbound to this mortal?
• Who would possess the relic, great master, I shall sacrifice this into your name. The blood of a virgin man, boiled for your splendor.
• Three and Three, the woman is near, she is following me. She is suspect to my intents. I will destroy her utterly.
• When, if not ever, will I discover the truth? I have taken the child, the little girl, and it appears she is innocent in heart but has evil tendancies...
• What is to be done for this grievance? In your heart, I question...
• My love, good Grazz't show me the way. This woman, is young and full of heart. What is to be done with her? She has broken into my cellar, and in turn I have befriended her. She seems to hate me, but what should I do if betrayal is your only wish? I cannot betray trust which does not exist! Master Grazz't, will I beforced to hold her up in here forever?

This disturbing, but unremarkable list seems to be penned in trollblood, and sketched on the skin of an argonian.

 

[Creamsteak]

Bump.

 

[Lichtenhart]

Mak looks at Regis to see how he reacts to the Impressario's offer, but he's inclined to accept the immediate reward.

Then he translates the content of the note to Krindor.

"Whoever wrote this is fairly insane, has a good share of bad taste, or is utterly dangerous. I'd say all three options are quite interesting. Where did you find it?"

 

[Creamsteak]

Mak looks at Regis to see how he reacts to the Impressario's offer, but he's inclined to accept the immediate reward.

Then he translates the content of the note to Krindor.

"Whoever wrote this is fairly insane, has a good share of bad taste, or is utterly dangerous. I'd say all three options are quite interesting. Where did you find it?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure the Impressario speaks the truth, though this kind of action would be unusual."

He whispers to Mak, "I don't like the church though, but it's bad manners to refuse anyone who has religion on their side. Power of the gods and all that horror"

Regis then turns to the Impressario, "I was promised a reward in coin, straight up cold cash. I was also promised that I would be promoted, and I may be forcing an assumption, but I assume you can provide some degree of rank or citizenship to my temporary aids?"

The Impressario, in turn, states to Regis, "Oh, I see. Well, actually, I think I recognize the priest. You are a citizen, correct sir? And as for the rest of you, if you give me two full days, I can provide you with passports of citizenship, and a coupon to pay a guild induction fee to any guild in the city."

The Impressario is then interupted by one of his runners, a fourteen or fifteen year old girl who appears to have the short blond hair a man. The Impressario beckons her, "Jayle, I assume your training is going well."

He turns then to the group, "This is Jayle, my wonderful daughter. She is a student of the blade, training to become a holy knight."

He then returns to the topic, "Jayle has informed me of the contents of the chest. It is surprising and disturbing. I cannot speak of much, but it appears to be a mass of proper coinage from the treasury, but not ours. It appears to be from the treasury of the old kingdoms... which is a bit unsettling. I assumed you would like to know."

He looks over at the group, noticing the dumbfounded look on Regis face, then the Impressario states, "The dead kingdom is that which ruled in history, before King Allimon destroyed the undead that ruled this land. Most, if not all, of the ancient coin was smelted down, and reprinted. It's just... strange that the treasury would keep such coinage. It can no-longer be spent, but many collectors like the stuff none-the-less."

The Impressario, then, with some conviction, comes to his own conclusion, "You have protected the city from a debt of a rather high magnitude, despite the unfamiliar source. I must say, that although I am not a man who condones greed or want, that the reward should be directly related to the sum of the value of the material value of everything you have protected. In this case, the lives of others, and the sum of a great deal of uncounted coin."

"I will send for some monetary reward, it may be a few hours before I can find the value of the coinage, or the reward I can offer you. Would you mind staying around for two or three more hours, we will provide you with a council room, food, and some coffee. I realize, it is very late and you may wish for sleep, but I live for the night, to defend and protect, and your company would be a welcome change of pace."

The Impressario smiles, and sends Jayle to prepare a council room for discussion.