Shackled City - Chapter II

[Majin]

Not long after the knock, Gretchyn, the orphanage headmistress answers the door, her eyes going wide in surprise and then relief as she sees the children with the party. "Cuthbert smiles down on us," she proclaims as she hugs each child in turn.

"When only Terrem was returned earlier I was worried that something might have happened to you and the rest of the children. The woman who brought him left quickly and did not answer my questions as to where you were. Praise Cuthbert you are safe," she smiles.

 

[kirinke]

Alinis nods. "I'd be very careful in the near future. Change all the locks, have the place warded by a priest. And if you can, have the children carry something innocent and bespelled so that they can be tracked by magic." she warns. "We found them, but that does not mean that whoever is truly behind these kidnappings has been stopped. And if they have not been stopped, they may try this particular trick again."

 

[Mimic]

"Aye, caution is prudent." Althron mutters agreeing with the Elven woman. Once the children are out of ear shot, he will pull the headmistress aside.

"We are in a hurry and as such can not do it now but if its possible within the next few days I would like to come and talk to the children, perhaps we can learn more once they are rested and cared for. Speaking of such take care of them, they have borne and witnessed much violence of late and though the physical scars will heal the mental ones can run just as deep. I would also like to come on a weekly basis to visit and help guide all the children's spiritual needs."

Once the headmistress and if no one else has anything to add he will head back to the temple to report to Priestess Urikas and get a good nights rest and then head back down to find Zeric and Raven.

 

[hippocrachus]

Orpheus will follow Althron, quite ready for a relaxful sleep.

 

[Majin]

Gretchyn nods at Althron's request. "Whatever you think is best Father Althron," she replies.

It is a short trip to the temple. You are told that Priestess Urikas awaits you in her meeting room. You are free to enter whenever you wish.

~

OoC: Manz, I will have Zeric follow your lead on how you wish to explore the rest of the undercity while the others are up above.

 

[Mimic]

Pausing only to wash his face and hands, Althron will proceed immediately to the meeting room.

Knocking before he enters he will approach Priestess Urikas and bows low before her. "Priestess Urikas, I come bearing good news, we have located and returned the kidnapped children and the one responsible for this terrible crime has met his final justice."

He pauses a moment before continuing, "We have also rescued several other and believe that more are still being held against thier will. We wish to rest and return to see if we can save them as well." With a small sigh he continues. "The half-orc Raven and Zeric have choosen to remain below to scout out more of the area, they were... adamant about not leaving."

 

[Manzanita]

Raven

OOC: Raven was planning to hang w/Zeric and try to keep him out of trouble. For now, assume they return to the room of the big battle and search for more doors.

 

[kirinke]

Alinis gazes solemly at the priestess. "After we defeated the one holding the children captive, a large, round, floating creature with many eyes appeared along with a human female. They took one of the children, saying that they would deliver the child to the orphanage. This seems to go deeper than we thought," she says quietly.

 

[hippocrachus]

"The beholder Alinis speaks of gave us this as payment," Orpheus says, offering the coin the creature Orpheus was familiar with from his times underground in the gnome city gave him.

 

[Majin]

OoC: Dhes asked if he could have one more day to get his combat action posted in Lamentation and I gave it to him, so for tonight Shackled will be the only thread updated. Look for Lamentation's update tommorrow along with another Shackled, if it is required.

~

~Raven & Zeric~

Going through the large chamber inch by inch, you're not able to find any other doors.

~Althron & others~

"Priestess Urikas, I come bearing good news, we have located and returned the kidnapped children and the one responsible for this terrible crime has met his final justice."

"We have also rescued several other and believe that more are still being held against thier will. We wish to rest and return to see if we can save them as well." With a small sigh he continues. "The half-orc Raven and Zeric have choosen to remain below to scout out more of the area, they were... adamant about not leaving."

A smile crosses Urikas' face and a small sigh of relief escapes her at the good news, but a slightly weary expression replaces it upon hearing the rest of Althron's news, mostly, it seemed, due to Zeric's situation.

The high priestess irritably smoothed her robes and frowned. "It is wonderful news to hear about the children, Brother Althron, but I wonder sometimes what I could have done to deserve the charge of Legate Zeric. That man is as stubborn as a mule!" she fumed, throwing up her hands as she began pacing the room.

"It is just like him to be thickheaded enough to stay down there, extra ally or not, when the rest of his party obviously needed rest. He's liable to get himself killed! Jenya stopped her pacing and shook her head, wondering why she even cared what happened to the ex-hextorite when it came right down to it, but there was a twinge she couldn't ignore. She did care. Whether this was instilled in her by Cuthbert himself she knew not, but she did care. Sighing roughly, she turned to the party and listened as Alinis described the beholder.

Ignoring the pouch of coins proffered to her, Jenya's eyes widened in shock. "A beholder?" she asked, incredulously. "It took one of the children? Was it returned safely to the orphanage?"