S@squ@tch's Against the Giants - Team Black

[s@squ@tch]

In the Chapterhouse

[sblock=Chapterhouse folks]

The elven maiden returns to the group shortly after Sanne and company rejoin Yoggrith and Aeranduil.

"A representative from House Tharashk has arrived for you." She points over her shoulder to a gruff looking half-orc standing by the innkeeper's desk.

[/sblock]

 

[drothgery]

Everyone but Thannor and Morrikka
[sblock]
Voadam speaks quietly to everybody individually keeping some distance from Sanne as he does so.

"There are a few issues. The gnome did not get a mission from his house as the note says. I believe him either dead, abducted, or sent on a false mission to get him out of the way. With the hunter's death it looks likely the two instances are not unrelated.

Second I believe Sanne is being scried upon by a long lasting powerful divination. There is a magical divination magic that follows her. I believe it allows the scryer to see and hear her and things within 10' of her. If so it is being cast by a powerful spellcaster, one who outstrips me in magical power. If we obtained an appropriate scroll and I spent time learning it I could learn a spell powerful enough to ward her, but it would take time and resources. She was not attacked even though she was watched while apparently alone. It is possible the scryer could see our invisible Ipshivi, but I think it unlikely."

[/sblock]

[sblock=chapterhouse]
"It seems to me that there are great many reasons why whoever is behind that point of divination magic has not seen fit to attack me yet. It could be that scryer is a hireling or someone skilled in divination spells but not in combat magic -- in which case they might not be willing to cross swords with me. It could be that distance made a quick reaction impossible -- you know better than I what limitis there on scrying spells. But most likely, whoever set it up truly intended to observe us, not just set up an ambush." Sanne said.
[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

[sblock=Chapterhouse Folks]
"It appears there is much more going on here than we originally thought," says Aeranduil, keeping his voice low, as if that could prevent the person scrying upon Sanne from hearing him. "We should remain together from this point on. Seperating only leaves us more susceptible to attack and ambush."

With that said, the elf nods his head in the direction of the half-orc. "Should we now meet with House Tharashk's representative?"
[/sblock]

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Should we now meet with House Tharashk's representative?"

Yogrrith stands up from his chair and begins walking towards the front desk. "Yes. Let us begin that which we were hired for."

 

[Voadam]

[sblock]"Let us meet with them. Hopefully the other two will be arriving shortly and connect up with us. Staying together would be prudent, those who have fallen have been alone.[/sblock]

 

[s@squ@tch]

The remainder of the group gathers around the half-orc Tharashk messenger.

He gruffly says,"Barrak was meant to be your liason, but he has met an unfortunate end. I am his cousin, Viklam."

He looks over the group. "I was told there were seven of you, not five."

He grunts then says,"Follow me. Hopefully I won't lose any more of you in the walk to the compound."

[D]aa[/D]

Viklam leads you into the Tharashk compound and back into the Great Hall, which you were in yesterday. You are lead to the back corner. He motions you to take a seat around the large table.

A grizzled man approaches, walking with the air of confidence and wisdom. A mane of white hair flows behind him.

"Good Morning."

He pauses as he quickly scans the group.

"Were there not seven of your yesterday? Please don't tell me that you've lost people as well."

"From what I can determine of Barrak's report, we have deduced that he was most likely an Emerald Claw agent. We have had sources tell us that they have become interested in what is happening in the jungle -- for what reason, we do not know."

"We suffered a blow to our House last night with the loss of Barrak. I don't know if you've heard, but he was found in the ward south of here with a hole in his skull the size of a grapefruit, with his brain completely gone. Our fears are that whatever ate his brain did so in the hopes to learn what he knew of our operations on the continent."

"Needless to say, we're at a loss of trying to fill in the pieces to this puzzle, but both of them have involved you to a certain extent, so I would suggest you watch your backs."

"I cannot even fathom who would have issues with a retrieval mission into the jungle, but it appears that there are folks who do not want this to happen."

He shakes his head.

"Anyway, we have outfitted a caravan to accompany you into the jungle."

"Ganyon will be joining you as a guide -- he has been on land down here for the better part of 10 years. He is a skilled tracker and survivalist, so he should have no problem taking you where you need to go. With him leading you, the Curse of the Traveler should not come into play. Along with Ganyon, will be two other trackers, a priest, and an artificier. They all have jungle experience and should guide you well. The priest is actually on retainer from House Sivis and will be carrying a Speaking Stone."

Do you have any questions?"

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

[sblock=Thanor/Morika]

The giant looks pensive for a moment.

In his slow, bass voice, "A mind flayer, you say. Can't tell ya that I'm that familiar with them."

He pauses.

"Don't think I'd like having my head cut open and my noggin sucked out very much."

He pauses.

"I'll tell the others here in the tents about this piece of information, its sure to spread out as they come and go."

"As for my kin..."

He loses his thought for a moment, and looks skyward for several moments.

"Well, I can't say that I've had much contact my many of the other hill giants, as I've lived in or around Stormreach for many years now. I don't even know who the chiefs are anymore down south."

"And add to the fact that us giants have never banded together in large groups, due to the old superstition and all."

He pauses.

"But just beware when deep in the backlands -- you never know who be yer friend and who be yer foe. Don't matter if they're big or small. Lots of fellers never come back once they leave Stormreach."

"So be on guard."
[/sblock]

[sblock=DM/Thanor]The slow manner of speaking might have annoyed some poeple, but Morika waits patiently for the giant to finish speaking. She had, after all, been friends with several kinds of fey, including those attached to the mountains. Oreads could be as ponderous in their speech as Ereg here, and it did no good to snap at someone over their fundemental natures.

"So... local hill giants, mostly all right. Those outside the town, pretty iffy. Got it. But... what's this about a superstition about being in large groups? I ain't heard of that afore," Morika asks quizzically.[/sblock]

 

[s@squ@tch]

[sblock=Morika/Thanor]

"Back when I was a wee boy, my father told to me what happened back in the past -- when giants built large cities towering into the sky."

He pauses.

"When the great battle was fought and done with, a curse, called Du'rashka Tul, was placed upon the land to prevent any group to become a ruling power again."

"It is said that any state or nation on Xen'drik was to reach a certain size, a great disaster is visited upon its people."

He pauses.

"Because of this, most of the tribes on this land are small."

[/sblock]

 

[Redclaw]

[sblock=DM/Morika]Thanor listens to the giant's tale, determined to remain silent and let Morika handle the communicating. The story of the ancient curse, however, strikes him as a bit hard to accept. I can't belive they've bought into this thing fer so long, he thinks to himself. I wonder if we've all gotten used ta them stayin' separate, and now one a them's decided to test it out. That could be trouble. [/sblock]

 

[Voadam]

Do you have any questions?"

"Two of our members are finishing up business in the city in preparation for our trip. An experienced tracker, two back up trackers, a priest with a Speaking Stone, and an artificer. You are sending these presumably to aid us while we handle the actual investigation. I have two questions to start. First, what are the capabilities of the priest and artificer? Second, are all but the priest agents from within House Tharask."