Metropolis (The World in Waiting) - Chapter One

[Festy_Dog]

Yu'olan's face cracks open with a grin that only madmen and people that believe they are going to be fabulously rich can imitate. He snatches the coin back and drains the rest of his drink with ease before getting to his feet.

"Tonight me ol' chum, tonight. You go' yerself abou'...ooooo....free 'ours before we meet at the Dyke an' Wheelbarrow on Taylor Street, you know were tha' is? Anyway, we'll all be there anyways...."

Unless Ba'aktar has any further questions, Yu'olan drops a few coin on the table, tips his hat, and leaves into the throng of people outside.

And that was that. Ba'aktar had a few hours to burn before he went to work, so he took some time to finish his food and figure out what he'd do until then. As there was nothing he needed to do urgently, he decided that a simple walk would work fine. He knew though that he'd have to fight any temptation to start a fight (without good reason) because he wouldn't be much use later if he was all bloodied and bruised. That however couldn't stop him from scoping out the local bullies to see if any of them were worth his time, assuming he was in the mood after business had been concluded.

 

[Phoenix]

banging his knee and taking a mouth full of filthy water Ghost struggles under the grate that collects the larger, floating debris and pushes through to the other side "This isn't going how I wanted it to" he thinks to himself as he kicks through the sludge and filth "I may have to negotiate some more pay from Zimmerman, or threaten to attend his party in these clothes and without bathing, hah, that'd show the pompus arse."

In the darkness, swimming in the filth of the city, Ghost's lungs begin to heave. Desperately requiring air he bursts forth from the sewer stream, gasping desperately to fill his burning lungs.

Skulling within the stream to stay afloat, Ghost desperately rubs his eyes to clear them of the excrement that covers his face. Looking about the first this he notices is the lack of ghouls, from memory he recalls that his minders were always afraid of the water because they were not bouyant and would skink to the bottom of any body of liquid.

The small chamber he has appeared in is little more than an access tunnel that runs alongside the sewers beneath the city. Dirty and broken pipes strain overhead with further refuse that dribble between cracks and steam as they hit the walkway beneath them. There are two obvious exits from the chamber, and one of them leads straight back in the direction of the ghouls...

 

[Phoenix]

Grumbling, Taran will watch the stall for a bit before he approaches, hoping that the woman will show up. Failing that, he will eventualy approach the stall, examing it's wares, looking to figure out what some of the teath are (Hoping that will feign interest in actualy purchasing them). If the dwarf approaches, he will ask "This is Giante's stall is it not? I was told there would be woman here who could help me. I was hoping to get in touch with her."

[sblock]Diplomacy check (DC 15) +15 - Success
Knowledge - nature (DC 10) +18 - Success
[/sblock]

Watching the stall, Taran gains little from the handful of browsers that walk past and either look breifly or comment to the dwarf before walking off. Realizing that there would be little gained in waiting all day for the chance that something may happen, the small druid approaches the stall.

"This is Giante's stall is it not? I was told there would be woman here who could help me. I was hoping to get in touch with her."

The dwarf looks down at the strange figure and his rat, then smiles a toothless grin before spreading his hands wide across his wares*.

"You come to the right place lad, this be 'is stall alright. Though no-one can help ya better than Giante 'imself, specially no woman!"

[sblock]*The teeth belong to many varied animals and some more common beasts such as dire animals. Within the collection are a handful of humanoid teeth that once belonged to elves, orcs, goblins, humans, and dwarves.
[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

And that was that. Ba'aktar had a few hours to burn before he went to work, so he took some time to finish his food and figure out what he'd do until then. As there was nothing he needed to do urgently, he decided that a simple walk would work fine. He knew though that he'd have to fight any temptation to start a fight (without good reason) because he wouldn't be much use later if he was all bloodied and bruised. That however couldn't stop him from scoping out the local bullies to see if any of them were worth his time, assuming he was in the mood after business had been concluded.

There was always a fight to be had in The Apartments, especially for those walking in the wrong neighborhoods or looking for trouble. Interestingly enough, these same small gangs that desired to prey on the lone wanderer never seemed to trouble Ba'aktar. Perhaps it was his heavy-set build, bulging muscles, or massive orcish sword that warned others away.

The hours passed quickly for the half-breed, and soon he found himself wandering to the meet at the Dyke and Wheelbarrow, wondering what the night would bring.

 

[D20Dazza]

Ghost Hound Elf Bard

The small chamber he has appeared in is little more than an access tunnel that runs alongside the sewers beneath the city. Dirty and broken pipes strain overhead with further refuse that dribble between cracks and steam as they hit the walkway beneath them. There are two obvious exits from the chamber, and one of them leads straight back in the direction of the ghouls...

Realising that the ghouls could show up at any moment and that the lantern was now useless Ghost shakes the filth from his body as best he can and searches for something that he might be able to use as a torch. He searches for a couple of minutes, his heart beating faster all the time at the thought of being pursued by the undead and his ears straining for any sound of pursuit. Before moving off in the opposite direction to the way the ghouls might appear he quickly scratches a G on the wall all the time keeping an eye out for any of the distinctive graffiti of The Hunters.

 

[Phoenix]

Realising that the ghouls could show up at any moment and that the lantern was now useless Ghost shakes the filth from his body as best he can and searches for something that he might be able to use as a torch. He searches for a couple of minutes, his heart beating faster all the time at the thought of being pursued by the undead and his ears straining for any sound of pursuit. Before moving off in the opposite direction to the way the ghouls might appear he quickly scratches a G on the wall all the time keeping an eye out for any of the distinctive graffiti of The Hunters.

[sblock]Intelligence check (DC 12) +5 - Failure
[/sblock]

Ghost slowly makes his way through the winding tunnels of the sewer system, scratching markers that will hopefully allow him to find his way back to the surface if needed. Occassionally he looks at his water-soaked map, trying desperately to make out the directions that would lead him to the Yellow Cult. Somewhere along the way he made a mistake.

For hours his wandering have taken him back and forth, occassionally hiding from a hunched beast that would shamble slowly down a tunnel not too far away, and sometimes retracing his steps so he would not get lost. But unfortunately it would be inevitable.

Standing in yet another chamber like dozens of others he had seen already, Ghost finally admitted it to himself. He was lost.

 

[Bront]

[sblock]Diplomacy check (DC 15) +15 - Success
Knowledge - nature (DC 10) +18 - Success
[/sblock]

Watching the stall, Taran gains little from the handful of browsers that walk past and either look breifly or comment to the dwarf before walking off. Realizing that there would be little gained in waiting all day for the chance that something may happen, the small druid approaches the stall.

"This is Giante's stall is it not? I was told there would be woman here who could help me. I was hoping to get in touch with her."

The dwarf looks down at the strange figure and his rat, then smiles a toothless grin before spreading his hands wide across his wares*.

"You come to the right place lad, this be 'is stall alright. Though no-one can help ya better than Giante 'imself, specially no woman!"

[sblock]*The teeth belong to many varied animals and some more common beasts such as dire animals. Within the collection are a handful of humanoid teeth that once belonged to elves, orcs, goblins, humans, and dwarves.
[/sblock]

"So there is no woman that works here? Such a shame. I was told to deal with her." Taran pauses for a bit and admires one of the human teeth neclaces. "Where do you manage to get this many teeth?"

 

[Phoenix]

"So there is no woman that works here? Such a shame. I was told to deal with her." Taran pauses for a bit and admires one of the human teeth neclaces. "Where do you manage to get this many teeth?"

[sblock]Heal check (DC 15) +25 - Success
Giante Sense Motive check (Hunch DC 25) +13 - Failure
[/sblock]

Fingering the small teeth that dangle from the leather necklace, Taran recognizes them as the teeth of children. By the damaged caused to most of them, as well as the natural condition minus the 'wear and tear', it seems like the teeth have probably been forcibly removed from the mouths of children pre-publity.

Giante looks at the halfling for a moment as if gauging his curiosity before speaking. "I have my sources, mainly street scavengers of course, but I only buy the best conditioned product, most of the rubbish that people try to sell me around here is laughable."

 

[Bront]

[sblock]Heal check (DC 15) +25 - Success
Giante Sense Motive check (Hunch DC 25) +13 - Failure
[/sblock]

Fingering the small teeth that dangle from the leather necklace, Taran recognizes them as the teeth of children. By the damaged caused to most of them, as well as the natural condition minus the 'wear and tear', it seems like the teeth have probably been forcibly removed from the mouths of children pre-publity.

Giante looks at the halfling for a moment as if gauging his curiosity before speaking. "I have my sources, mainly street scavengers of course, but I only buy the best conditioned product, most of the rubbish that people try to sell me around here is laughable."

"Well, I perhaps have some insight into a fine potential source, but my contacts told me to work with the woman. If they were mistaken and she's not here, then perhaps I should take my business elsewhere." Taran says, shuffling his spell component pouch which has the teeth of several creatures inside, so should make a similar and recognizable sound. He sighs and begins to turn away.

OOC: [sblock]I'm hoping I can use diplomacy (+6) to soften him up, particularly since I have a farily nonexistant bluf (+1) check.[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix]

"Well, I perhaps have some insight into a fine potential source, but my contacts told me to work with the woman. If they were mistaken and she's not here, then perhaps I should take my business elsewhere." Taran says, shuffling his spell component pouch which has the teeth of several creatures inside, so should make a similar and recognizable sound. He sighs and begins to turn away.

OOC: [sblock]I'm hoping I can use diplomacy (+6) to soften him up, particularly since I have a farily nonexistant bluf (+1) check.[/sblock]

[sblock]Your Diplomacy is a lot better...unfortunately this sounds like a:

Bluff check (opposed DC 16) +16 - Success

...and you doubted the nice Irony Dice Server....
[/sblock]

"Woah, woah, woah...." Giante stand up on his stool and gestures to gain the halfling's attention. "Now I didn'a say I didn'a 'ave any ladies working for me, jus' that I was the owner of this fine establishment."

The dwarf pauses in thought for a moment, trying to gauge Taren's motives or perhaps even to read his mind.

"You'd be lookin' for Delilah I'd say, she's the only girl I got working at tha' moment." He frowns for a moment. "She's out back in the alley polishin' teeth, if she gives you any lip though, you tell me an' I'll teach 'er a lesson."

Giante points towards the rear of his stall where several makeshift stalls have created a psuedo-alley between them. Stepping gingerly into the filthy alley, Taren spots a young elf girl bent over a pile of skulls from all types of animals. As Taren approachs she instinctivly turns to put her back to the other end of the alley and shuffles back a step or two.

Delilah's body is young and battered with grimy hair, broken nose and several missing teeth marring her possibly beautiful visage. Crouching barefoot in the alley upon fet with gnarled toes and dressed in little more than rags, the girl speaks:

"Well then, good afternoon my dear Halfling friend. It would seem that perhaps little-old Delilah has herself some company today, did Giante send you back here so he could make a few silvers on the side? Because you my friend are about to have a nasty surprise!"

With one deft motion Delilah flicks a knife from up her sleeve and catches it effortlessly in one hand, then twirls it to face Taren and Twitchy in a threatening manner.