Shackled City, Act I - Life's Bazaar

[Dichotomy]

The bard moves next to William. "I'm Konstantine D'Artur. It's a pleasure to meet you, Dowlee." Konstantine begins making a curtsey, but stops and winces.

"Say, Dowlee, you don't happen to be a cleric of Ehlonna, do you? It seems that pain sometimes goes with both adventuring and doing good."

 

[Krug]

"I am Eliara, and I can understand your tale," the elf says.

 

[Jdvn1]

"Oh, you understand my tale? Some people don't get the connection between Ehlonna and children right away... then again, most Elves certainly aren't strangers to Ehlonna. It's a pleasure to meet all of you." She pauses briefly and gives William an odd look <I suppose he's not used to someone of my stature?> "Um, yes, a pleasure. I'm not a cleric, no. I don't have that sort of training. I certainly couldn't quote much text to you or discuss religious nuances at all, but I do have a sort of calling to Ehlonna. I do try to do good, though--that's why I'm here. The children need my help."

She pauses again, but longer, and takes a look around. "Could someone fill me in here? I knew you came here to talk to Ghelve, but I didn't expect this sort of scene. Don't let me get in the way of anything here, what's next?"

 

[Dichotomy]

"Well, I'll tell you what I can, but I think we should be brief. It may not be safe to stay here much longer, and we should get back to the church soon to let them know what we've uncovered."

Konstantine turns to Ghelve. "Goodsir, if there is anything that you need to gather up to take with you, we should take care of that quickly. Are these chests important? Perhaps William can help you get your things in order." As she is about to turn away, the bard adds as an afterthought, "Oh, and don't forget that customer list."

"Eliara, perhaps you and Galen could take care of that thing." The bard points at the skulk. "Maybe you could make some type of stretcher or something to carry him with."

Finally, Konstantine turns back to the halfling. "Well, as you no doubt know, we've been only recently asked to help find the missing children. The riddle Jenya had, I'll explain that later if she didn't show it to you, said the locks were the key. The homes where people vanished weren't broken into, so perhaps they had a way to get past the locks. Master Ghelve made most of them, so we came to visit. And he risked a great deal to point us toward finding... that." The bard again points to the skulk. "Poor Master Ghelve was being blackmailed, and now we have to get him to the safety of the church and let the church do what it can to make sure that more people don't vanish."

Konstantine looks around at everyone. "Did I miss anything?" She pauses a moment. "Oh, and to get myself healed, too."

 

[Krago o'the Mountain]

"Well done, William. Things are looking up. We'd best get to the temple swiftly to make sure this thing stays alive." It is obvious that the bard has other thoughts as well, as she winces from her wound.

Konstantine then turns to the locksmith. "I suppose, goodsir, that you are right. It would be hard to get all the locks changed. But you should get your list anyway. At the very least the clerics will be able to get started, spread the word, and do what can be done. Maybe they can move people into establishments that have other locks. Perhaps after we have met with them you could show us to this Jzadirune entrance."

"Must agree, while the locks need to be changed, finding the heart of the problem is a faster and better solution. Once we visit the temple we must make our way to this Jzadirune." He turns perhaps hearing a noise?

"Fair enough," responds Ghelve. "I'll just need to gather some personal effects from my bedroom upstairs. I can get my ledger as well...it has records of all my customers from the last ten years...the same information I gave to the creatures who ambushed me from below. But, speaking of the entrance to Jzadirune, I may as well just show it to you now, since it's right here in this room."

The tall gnome moves over to the wall at the base of the staircase, next to the red curtain. Producing a key from the pocket of his long pants, Ghelve unlocks and reveals a very well-concealed secret door! It pushes open with a loud squeal, to reveal a 10-foot-square landing at the top of a stone staircase that descends into darkness.

Ghelve hands the key over to Konstantine, and softly says, "Think kindly of a poor man's familiar if you should find a rat with a white patch of star-shaped fur on its forehad, won't you? I'll just get my things."

Ghelve proceeds upstairs for a few moments (he puts up no fuss if one of the PCs wants to accompany him).

"I think you also shouldn't worry too much about the clerics. No one," the bard glances at Galen, "could understand how terrible this situation was for you. I've never had a familiar, but you clearly care greatly for Starbrow. And you might never had made it to tell someone if you tried to run, since they had someone guarding you. In fact, you did what you could and helped us find this one. What more could the clerics demand of you?"

"Indeed, I pray you are right, lady." Ghleve looks somewhat less morose as he ascends to the second floor of his shop/home.

A few moments later, Ghelve descends the stairs once more, carrying a small satchel. What's remarkable is that the gnome is now some 2-3 feet shorter! In response to puzzled expressions, Ghelve answers, "Well, I didn't really think my stilts would do me much good now. I'm ready to go to the temple when you are."

[OOC: I'll move the group forward to the Temple of St. Cuthbert as soon as loose ends get wrapped up here...any further conversation, what to do with the unconscious skulk, etc.]

 

[Jdvn1]

"I'd like to see that riddle, although they're always hit-or-miss. Anything that helps us find the children, is most useful. And the path to Jzadirune will hopefully be very useful. Until then, we can use my bedroll as a stretcher, as long as someone holds the other end. I can also provide some healing, if need be." She look surprised when Ghelve comes down.

"... He certainly has a lot of secrets, doesn't he?"

 

[Mark Chance]

"I think you also shouldn't worry too much about the clerics. No one," the bard glances at Galen, "could understand how terrible this situation was for you...."

Galen snorts and mumbles, "Aye, this gnome is the only one to have ever lost a loved one to evil hands."

After Konstantine's speech is complete, Galen speaks to the halfling. "I am Galen Thucydides, war mage of Pelor." To everyone: "We can make a field stretcher for that creature with a blanket and two poles."

 

[Krago o'the Mountain]

"I'd like to see that riddle, although they're always hit-or-miss."

[OOC: Jdvn1, let's assume that Jenya showed Dowlee the riddle as well. Sorry for not clarifying that earlier!]

 

[Krago o'the Mountain]

Konstantine turns to Ghelve. "Goodsir, if there is anything that you need to gather up to take with you, we should take care of that quickly. Are these chests important?

Ghelve replies, "Important to my business, yes, but not to the matter at hand. They contain the locks I have crafted for sale."

After Konstantine's speech is complete, Galen speaks to the halfling. "I am Galen Thucydides, war mage of Pelor." To everyone: "We can make a field stretcher for that creature with a blanket and two poles."

"Well," adds Ghelve, somewhat reluctantly, "If no one has any poles, I suppose you could always borrow my stilts."

 

[Krug]

Eliara, the elven scout is quiet. She helps Ghelve as much as she can.