Metropolis (The World in Waiting) - Chapter One

[D20Dazza]

Ghost Hound Elf Bard

Looking up at the gathering ghouls, Ghost realizes that these creatures are smart enough to be reasoned with. But they were also hungry, ravenous, undead creatures with a taste for humanoid flesh...

"Heya fellas, you look like you're having a rough night." Ghost says with a forced smile "Now before you get all gourmet on me, can I just have a moment of your time? Maybe you know my parents, they've been living over in The Apartments for quite some time - 3 of your own kind funnily enough - Grymm, Grynn and Gryme, know them do you?" Ghost speaks in a calm, monotone voice so as not to excite the ravenous beasts and slowly climbs to his feet grabbing the lantern as he stands "Well they've sent me out to gather new recruits they have. No, no, they're not building an army no but they are looking to get you blokes a fair go. That's right, rights for ghouls. Other undead are employed, you've seen the zombie and skeleton luggers I take it? Yes? Well we're looking at making you - ahhh people - citizens of this great city once again. Yes sirs, and madam," he says nodding at the obviously female ghoul standing at the back of the pack "you and your friends would be able to find paying work, no more skulking in dark sewers. Why, you'll be able to afford the best restaurants. So, how about it then, want to join the Cool Ghoul Guild?"

[sblock]Bluff +8 skill mod; As he speaks Ghost is subtly surveying the room looking for any other exits (besides the ladder); if they make an attacking move, and he can see an exit, he will make a break for it[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

"I can get you out of here, but you need to trust me, and I need you to promise to help me find the person I need, and that she will help me." Taran says to the gnome. He says it not in a threatening manner, but hopes that he can seel the deal and garuntee his help. Taren continues to try to keep the door closed, pushing the hand out.

"Do we have a deal? I don't think we have much time. And I think you'll get the story of the year."

The door shudders once more, threatening to sunder as one of the combatants falls against it. From the corridor the sound of a wolverine snarling and lashing out becomes dominant over the fighting, followed by more mystical chanting that is cut short by a sickening meaty thunking sound.

"O, o, ok then. You have a deal Mister. Get me out of here and you can have anything you want!"

 

[Phoenix]

"Heya fellas, you look like you're having a rough night." Ghost says with a forced smile "Now before you get all gourmet on me, can I just have a moment of your time? Maybe you know my parents, they've been living over in The Apartments for quite some time - 3 of your own kind funnily enough - Grymm, Grynn and Gryme, know them do you?" Ghost speaks in a calm, monotone voice so as not to excite the ravenous beasts and slowly climbs to his feet grabbing the lantern as he stands "Well they've sent me out to gather new recruits they have. No, no, they're not building an army no but they are looking to get you blokes a fair go. That's right, rights for ghouls. Other undead are employed, you've seen the zombie and skeleton luggers I take it? Yes? Well we're looking at making you - ahhh people - citizens of this great city once again. Yes sirs, and madam," he says nodding at the obviously female ghoul standing at the back of the pack "you and your friends would be able to find paying work, no more skulking in dark sewers. Why, you'll be able to afford the best restaurants. So, how about it then, want to join the Cool Ghoul Guild?"

[sblock]Bluff +8 skill mod; As he speaks Ghost is subtly surveying the room looking for any other exits (besides the ladder); if they make an attacking move, and he can see an exit, he will make a break for it[/sblock]

[sblock]Bluff check (DC 17 - Hard to Believe) +13 - Failure
Bluff check (DC 7) +11 - Success
Spot check (DC 12) +15 - Success
Swim check (DC 7) +10 - Success
[/sblock]

Ghost slowly gets to his feet as the ghouls slowly circle him, the creatures openly salivating at the thought of fresh meat. His words seem to have no effect on the hungry creatures, though they can obviously hear him, the only restaurant they are thinking of is the one that they are standing in.
In the few seconds that the ghouls allow him to speak, Ghost's eyes survey the room, darting around to look for any exit out of this death trap. There were two tunnels out, opposite each other, each with several ghouls in front of them. A more desperate man would've taken one of them, but Ghost had experianced ghoulish nature before, he allowed himself those extra few seconds before he began to panic.
On each side of the room the sewer ran deep and thick with the city's waste. The rivers flowed slowly through the chamber, entering and exiting from beneath heavy stone walls that barred people from floating atop the filth and sailing downstream. It would not stop people from swimming underneath them though...unless there was a grate of course...
Before he could waste another second Ghost broke for one of the tunnels, and the ghouls moved to stop him. Suckers. Twisting on one foot deftly, Ghost changed directions at the last second, sending the undead scampering to intercept him on the wrong exit.
Using the last of his momentum, Ghost dove into the sewers...

 

[Bront]

The door shudders once more, threatening to sunder as one of the combatants falls against it. From the corridor the sound of a wolverine snarling and lashing out becomes dominant over the fighting, followed by more mystical chanting that is cut short by a sickening meaty thunking sound.

"O, o, ok then. You have a deal Mister. Get me out of here and you can have anything you want!"

"Here, get on Twitchy" Taran says. "And hold on." 'Tis trick worked before, and he's consious enough to hold on' Taran thinks as he casts a quick spell. His and Twitchy's hands become much more capable of a climb, as they head out the window.

"Where's the best place to set down?" He asks the gnome, as he begins to climb downward, heading towards hopefully a safe spot on the street, staying close to Twitchy.

 

[Phoenix]

"Here, get on Twitchy" Taran says. "And hold on." 'Tis trick worked before, and he's consious enough to hold on' Taran thinks as he casts a quick spell. His and Twitchy's hands become much more capable of a climb, as they head out the window.

"Where's the best place to set down?" He asks the gnome, as he begins to climb downward, heading towards hopefully a safe spot on the street, staying close to Twitchy.

Taran's spell mystically weaves itself into his and Twitchy's being, enchanting them with the ability to climb from the tower's window. As he opens the window and calls back to the gnome, the small reporter's face turn further into horror.

"I am not going out the window! We are on the sixth floor!"

With Taran and Twitchy standing on the ledge with mystical skill, the gnome slowly backs away from them both in fear. But his mind would change swiftly.

The door burst into the room with a degree of force enough to shatter the remains of the window set into the door. Four badly battered half-orcs snarling with anger and still holding choice body parts of their half-elf combatants stared into the room.

"Bremmen wants a word wif you mista 'afling."

Within seconds the small reporter had crossed the room before the half-orcs could grab him, straddling Twitchy and spanking him with a large name-plate that he somehow had time to collect on his escape across the room.

"Go! Go! GOOOOOOOO!"

Gravity forced the reporter to hang on to Twitchy's saddle as he and his druidic master slowly crawled down the face of the tower. Though the reporter did not actually ride the rat, he more hung heavily from the pommel of the saddle and levered himself using his feet and any part of Twitchy or Taren's anatomy he could reach.

From above the half-orcs swore desperately from the window down at them, dropping bloody body parts in hope of dislodging them. Eventually, as the trio was about halfway down, a large desk came plummeting from up high, missing them easily and crashing into a crowd of homeless dwellers far below.

The three hit the street running, and the small druid and his companion would have to chase the reporter for more than three towers before the fat little gnome ran out of breath, collapsing on the steps of another spyre.

 

[Bront]

Taran's spell mystically weaves itself into his and Twitchy's being, enchanting them with the ability to climb from the tower's window. As he opens the window and calls back to the gnome, the small reporter's face turn further into horror.

"I am not going out the window! We are on the sixth floor!"

With Taran and Twitchy standing on the ledge with mystical skill, the gnome slowly backs away from them both in fear. But his mind would change swiftly.

The door burst into the room with a degree of force enough to shatter the remains of the window set into the door. Four badly battered half-orcs snarling with anger and still holding choice body parts of their half-elf combatants stared into the room.

"Bremmen wants a word wif you mista 'afling."

Within seconds the small reporter had crossed the room before the half-orcs could grab him, straddling Twitchy and spanking him with a large name-plate that he somehow had time to collect on his escape across the room.

"Go! Go! GOOOOOOOO!"

Gravity forced the reporter to hang on to Twitchy's saddle as he and his druidic master slowly crawled down the face of the tower. Though the reporter did not actually ride the rat, he more hung heavily from the pommel of the saddle and levered himself using his feet and any part of Twitchy or Taren's anatomy he could reach.

From above the half-orcs swore desperately from the window down at them, dropping bloody body parts in hope of dislodging them. Eventually, as the trio was about halfway down, a large desk came plummeting from up high, missing them easily and crashing into a crowd of homeless dwellers far below.

The three hit the street running, and the small druid and his companion would have to chase the reporter for more than three towers before the fat little gnome ran out of breath, collapsing on the steps of another spyre.

"I told you you could trust me." Taran says to the gnome, cathing his own breath. "Who is this Bremmen guy and what does he want with me? And while we're at it, where is this person I need to see?"

 

[Phoenix]

"I told you you could trust me." Taran says to the gnome, cathing his own breath. "Who is this Bremmen guy and what does he want with me? And while we're at it, where is this person I need to see?"

"I don't know a Bremmen, I have no idea what that was about whatsoever, I just know when to put my head down in a neighbourhood like this one." The old gnome gingerly looks up into Taran's eyes. "Delilah is who you're after, she's working undercover down at the Ivory Markets for a story we're working on. You'll find her around Giante's stall, just don't say anything that will blow her cover, ok?"

 

[Phoenix]

"I'm tellin' ya Baaky me ol' pal, you is jus' too careful thes' days. You is jus' not yerself y'know? This is an offa of a lifetime y'see?"

In the back streets of the Apartments* Ba'aktar rested comfortably in the back stalls of a Chian'lo** house, sipping gingerly the bitter tasting drink and looking across at the heavily scarred man who was intent on convinceing him to commit suicide.

Yu'olan was an ex-city guard, once working over in Dionysian for the silver merchants, but those days were long past. Now he spent most of his days in his battered banded mail for other reasons, for other coins. Ba'aktar had taken a few easy jobs with the man before, he was fair, but sometimes bit off more than he could chew. Breaking a Gzanite in half and throwing the smaller piece to Ba'aktar, Yu'olan spins a single gold coin in front of him.

"Y'see, mos' people think a gold crown is a gold crown, be me an you, we knows betta." He lets the coin finish spinning, then flicks it across the table towards the half-orc.

"That coin does say it was minted a hunnerd years ago. A hunnerd years! But it is in mint condition, no olda then the day it waz born. Imagin' wha' kin' of money that'll bring in tha right place, eh?"

"All we hav' to do iz walk into the place where they all iz and grab 'em. Sure, it's guarded pretty heavily, but thas why I came ta you big fella! Whaddya say?"

 

[Bront]

"I don't know a Bremmen, I have no idea what that was about whatsoever, I just know when to put my head down in a neighbourhood like this one." The old gnome gingerly looks up into Taran's eyes. "Delilah is who you're after, she's working undercover down at the Ivory Markets for a story we're working on. You'll find her around Giante's stall, just don't say anything that will blow her cover, ok?"

"Thank you. Now, which way to the Ivory Markets?"

Tanan carefully navigates the streets, which aren't much different that the sewers to him, other than perhaps the crowds. The city is just on a whole different scale than he's used to, so the treck does take a while.

Eventualy, he winds his way to the Ivory Markets, throughly cursing the size of this god forsaken city. 'Now, to find Delilah' he thinks.

 

[Festy_Dog]

Ba'aktar scratched his chin and considered Yu'olan's words. It was indeed suicide, but what price could be put on it? A large one apparently. He sipped his drink again, and inspected the coin closely. He didn't know anything about appraising stuff of value like this, but he thought taking a closer look would make him appear serious. He placed it non-commitedly back in the centre of the table.

"Speaking of guards, what are these ones like? Do they look like a challenge?" he asked, "Might need a few more sword arms if it's anything like you say, but not too many, I want enough kills for myself."