Shadow in the Sky, Chapt 1 of TRM's Second Darkness [IC]

[The Rolling Man]

[Sblock=Ambrus]Tosh continues robbing more people from under the dice table. This time, he steals a silver ring from a gambler that is enthusiastically placing his bet for the next round. The kobold also manages to get 3 yellow (gold) chips and 7 gray (silver) ones from his pockets. As the dealer ask for another round of betting, Tosh looks on as the man fumbles to try to find his lost gambling chips. It isn't long before the dealer says : "If you're out of money, mister, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." "Wait, wait, I had more … where is it gone ? Thief ! there must be a thief here !" "Yes, I've heard it all before. Beyar ! Someone needs your 'mark' here." "Nooo, I had more ! I was rooobbbed." Tosh's victims cries out has a burly bald man drags him out.

The man who had the piece of parchment Tosh stole looks to be a rough sailor. He's unshaven and has dark brown hair. From what the kobold can observe, he's here with a group of similar fellows which includes a woman with curly, long black hair and an eyepatch over one eye. They keep gambling a little longer at the table Tosh is under and laugh when the other gambler gets carried outside. After a few more minutes, however, they walk away and will disappear into the crowds, out of Tosh's view, unless the little rogue tries to follow them.[/Sblock]
[Sblock=Ghostcat]Chan Ti is able to overhear most of the conversion between the dark haired mage and Voadam. They talk in obscure arcane terms that Chan Ti doesn't quite understand. The mage seems curious at first about the robed 'Ulfen' but then dismiss him at the end of their exchange.[/Sblock]

Voadam chats up the wizard, asking if he was hired to look out for cheating magics or if he is here for the ambiance. Voadam will happily discuss technical issues of spellcraft and spell lore and even ask about the wizard's theories on the blot, while sharing his own preliminary speculations based upon the darkness generating powers of dark elves and infernal fiends as possible bases.

"No, nothing of the sort. I'm here on personal business." The mage answers Voadam vaguely. The two chat for a while about magical theory but Voadam can only understand a small amount of the arcane terms the wizard is using. The rest of his arcane jargon is alien to Voadam. Either magic works differently here or they call things differently. The wizard grows increasingly frustrated with Voadam until he mentions that dark elves could be responsable for the Blot. "Ha, ha. Yes, of course, dark elves ... wait, you're being serious ? Ha, ha, ha, I see now, you're one of those. I'm sorry but we REAL wizard don't believe in tales told to scare children. Ha, what's next ? The Sandpoint Devil is causing the Blot ?" He chuckles as he walks away.



At the Goblin's Tankard
The barman fetches a glass of water with a slight frown. "Two pieces of silver." He tells Kronk. As Rorgar examines his drink, one the larger Ulfen approaches the pair. It's obvious that he's already intoxicated and his accent makes him a bit hard to understand. "Ve thought all haff-ork were tough. Now, I shee you drinkhing vather in a bar. Whash you're other haff ? Panzy elf ?"

OOC: Sorry about the slow updates this week. I've been busier then usual.

 

[Voadam]

Voadam was ready to laugh off the dark elf comment as it appeared they might be little more than legends on this world. Voadam had learned his magic from a dark elf and been involved in their backstabbing politics and wars over the years but he could understand they might not even exist here. The comment about REAL wizards stung though. He had been dismissed before by others as a barbarian hedge mage and the insult gauled him. The ulfen looking man's face darkens as his hands and face unconsciously clench. Unfortunately the mug in his hand is made of thin crockery and shatters loudly under the instant pressure. Voadam places a hand on the man's shoulder arresting his departure. Voadam shakes the other hand free of mead and broken crockery and says. "Before you go, give me your name."


ooc if the wizard tries something like making a nonimproved unarmed attack or casting a spell, Voadam will take the AoO and strike with his improved unarmed strike for nonlethal damage.

 

[ghostcat]

Chan Ti Monk 1

Ti will wait until the dark haired man has walked off and is out of earshot. Turning to Voadam he will say. "Well that wizard is certainly an odd one. No friend of yours, I gather. Personally, I think he is up to something and I am interested in finding out what."

While Ti is talking to Voadam he will keep an eye on the dark haired stranger.

OOC

TRM. We are having a family crisis and I have to fly back to the UK tonight. Internet access will be unpredictable. I'll post if I can, if not so can you NPC Ti please. Hopefully, I will be back next weekend.

 

[Ambrus]

[sblock=TRM]OOC: Tosh will continue on with its larcenous activities. It'll try to keep the suspicious pair within sight as it works if circumstances permit, but won't rush or risk being spotted to do so. It'll wait for the right opportunity to catch up with them.

The wily dragon is also interested in pilfering the woman's possession if possible. I bet wearing that eye patch gives her some hefty penalties to her sight-based perception checks. [/sblock]

 

[Mark Chance]

The barman fetches a glass of water with a slight frown. "Two pieces of silver." He tells Kronk.

Kronk slides two silver to the barkeep with a nod. Seeing the drunk coming, the dwarf sighs and rolls his eyes.

As Rorgar examines his drink, one the larger Ulfen approaches the pair. It's obvious that he's already intoxicated and his accent makes him a bit hard to understand. "Ve thought all haff-ork were tough. Now, I shee you drinkhing vather in a bar. Whash you're other haff ? Panzy elf ?"

As he pulls his waraxe up across his lap while sitting at the bar, Kronk says over his shoulder to the barkeep, "Barkeep, I'd rather not gut this drunk to make a point. This fine establishment have staff on-hand who're paid to be proactive about bloodshed?"

Kronk's smile at the Ulfen is cold enough to freeze water.

 

[Walking Dad]

Rorgar looks at the Ulfen. With a grimm look he responds: "First, no, that are dwarves, we are just brawny. And second, I don't know my other half. But I hope it is not your mother."

 

[The Rolling Man]

The Bleaching Gnome

The gnome tries to make a weak smiles at Tolly. "You are kind to try to cheer me up. But it's no use. I'm ... bleaching" He struggles with the word. "I was a great painter but I've lost my insperation and I'm now bleaching. Me ! Of all people. I think I've lived too long. Not even this wild city can inspire me to make new art. I believe I'll just have to accept my fate and fade away."

OOC: Tolly has heard that some gnome are affected by a condition called 'bleaching'. He had never seen it before and doesn't really know how it happens.

 

[The Rolling Man]

Things are heating up at the goblin

At the Goblin's Tankard
"Oh, oh, the lithe man szares me. Yahaha." The large man mocks while laughing back at his companions who are slowly itching closer. "Go back tho you hole, dwaff. The könges of the sheas rule thish place. Not you diggers." He also answers Rorgar's comment with increasing annoyance. "Lithe chance of thah. My mother gave birtsh to strongh varriors, not dirthy, veak haff-breed like you."

The barman sighs at the developping conflict. "If you all want to punch each other's face in, that's fine by me but do it outside my bar. Now, stop this or get out ! Don't make me call the guards !"

OOC : I'm getting tired of trying to write in a faux pseudo drunk accent .


Meanwhile, on the casino floor, Chan Ti sees the bigger robed man grab the dark-haired one by the shoulder and turn him around. "Unhand me, cur. It will take more then broken pottery to impress me." With that said, the mage tries to free himself of Voadam's hand and back away from him.


[sblock=Ambrus] Since the casino floor is pretty busy there isn't really a riskless opportunity to follow the one-eye woman and her companions. It isn't long before the little dragon loses sight of them in the crowd. It still has a good idea of the direction they took however.[/sblock]

 

[Mark Chance]

The barman sighs at the developping conflict. "If you all want to punch each other's face in, that's fine by me but do it outside my bar. Now, stop this or get out ! Don't make me call the guards !"

Kronk nods and drains his stout. "Sorry, my good man. Another stout please, and summon those guards to have this drunken riff-raff removed from my drinking." Kronk smiles and slides another silver across the bar. "My belly's a bit empty. Any stew?"

 

[Ambrus]

[sblock=TRM]OOC: Certainly there's always a risk of discovery in moving about a crowded room, but timing certainly helps. This momentary altercation between the two wizards on the floor and the rising tension at the bar is just such an opportunity.

Chances are that the breaking of the cup and the raised voices has drawn the momentary attention of the patrons and staff, giving everyone a penalty to perception checks. This would seem like the perfect moment for Tosh to move unseen to a nearby table. Those who aren't distracted by the nearby argument are probably too focused on other activities (or oblivious) to notice anyway.[/sblock]