Swords and Socialites Part 1: The Forgotten Forge

[Karl Green]

Grim, dwarven fighter

Grim nods his head to the woman elf and then leaves. Outside he says to the others "Well are we a still planning to dine with that 'high-born' fella? I took me an oath, that I would prortect yea for Palol at least for this... shin-dig"

 

[Eluvan]

Though the effect of Palol's death on her was quite profound, it doesn't take long for Lin to move on to other topics of thought. Such is the way her mind works - she has plenty of regrets, but she rarely dwells on them. This is just another. Whilst Koren and Grim talk with the Elven woman, her mind is wandering to other things. Specifically, she is pondering the papers and journal she caught a glimpse of in the dead professor's satchel. Presumably, he was wanted dead for a reason - it seems unlikely that the attack was a random act of violence. And the warforged must have wanted something from the corpse - likely those papers. Otherwise why would it have endangered itself by attacking those who came across the scene? It could simply have made it's escape if its business was concluded.

So the papers, or the journal, must have some significance. Her curiosity is well and truly piqued. She mentally curses herself for not being a little quicker and managing to procure the satchel before things became complicated, and makes a mental note to try to investigate the matter further - perhaps take it up with the seargant who took the satchel.

When Grim asks his question, Lin maintains her presence in the background, delaying to see what Koren will say. She would still rather like to go to the party, but she doesn't care all that much and she would prefer to simply go with the prevailing feeling of the group rather than be wilful on this occassion.

 

[Erekose13]

Koren bows to the woman as she gives her word to deliver Palol. He kneels beside the body of his friend to say his last farewell before joining the other two outside. Grim's question seems to bring things back into focus for him and he replies, "Yes, lets. I think that a lighter atmosphere might help all our moods." He sincerely hopes that is the case, and not that his mood will infect the party.

Koren lead the other two out across the bazaar towards the place where the skycoach had dropped them off. While he has never been to this part of Sharn, he assumes that the coaches make fairly regular pickups at that location.

 

[Zweischneid]

Looking up from the little crooked fruit stall, the imposing and strange foreigner smiles an impossibly wide and fruit-juice stained smile as his golden eyes, glistering in the flickering illumination of the market, note the motley little group weave their way throught the bazaar.

'Finally!'
the towering black man exclaimes, his voice sounding obviously relieved and satisfied. Throwing a few coppers to the vendor, the stranger starts to follow the unlikely trio through the bazaar with long, ground-eating strides. Taking another crunching bite from the fruit, the exotic foreigner skillfully dodges another teenage streethawker trying to block the black-skinned mans path with his vendor's tray and junks the remains of his meal into a murky corner before finally catching up with the glum-looking group.

'The Ancients have favored my search. You must be Sir Korrenmalekh, Sir Grim and, of course, the most charming Lady Lin. Am I mistaken?'

Turning at the strangly accented voice, you notice (if you haven't before) a broadshouldered and well muscled man with ebony-black skin, marred by what appears to be old, ritual scars remotely resembling the mark of claws. A wide and friendly smile offsets what might otherwise be a quite intimidating appearance.

With a slight, but formal bow, his massive arms crossed before a sleeveless and finely decorated leather cuirass, the black-skinned man nods towards a ramshakle tea-booth next to you, hardly waiting for you to answer his question. Smiling again his wide smile the exotic stranger, with a glint in his golden, almost reptilian looking eyes quietly asks.
'Might I offer you a chai? I'd like to talk to you for a moment if possible.'

 

[Eluvan]

Suddenly faced with the prospect of something actually interesting, Lin realises that the prosepct of the party is actually rather dismal. She has a nasty suspicion that the small group's mood would infect the whole place, and then not only would the night be utterly awful, but all her credence (with this face, at least, one which she rather liked) in high society would be quickly destroyed as she got a reputation for killing a good time. No, much better to skip the dreary affair and make some extravagant gesture of apology some other time. In the meantime, this foreigner gave her a thrill as he represented something completely different, something seperate from the events of the night.

As such, Lin doesn't wait for any approval from her companions but immediately answers the stranger with a sweet smile and a small curtsey, "you are indeed correct, good sir. And that sounds lovely." She sits down on one of the small stools, not even looking to see if Koren and Grim are following her lead, and engages the stranger in conversation while she waits for him to buy the tea. "So please, tell me. Why have you been seeking us? I did not realise that my fame had spread so far, but I'm sure I'm interested to know how it has!" she says with a wry smile.

 

[Erekose13]

A little dismayed with the speed with which Lin followed this overly large stranger, Koren none the less follows behind her if nothing more than to make sure that she is okay. He shook his head a moment as they entered trying to remind himself that she no longer needed him to look after her at ever step, that that part of their lives was over. Still a little down from the loss of their friend, Koren is glad for the distraction but it is obvious that he is still not paying much attention as he lets Lin lead the conversation remaining in the background with Grim.

"Pleased to met you sir, I do not believe that I caught your name?" Koren says finally as he takes the stoll beside Lin.

 

[Karl Green]

Grim, dwarven fighter

Grim looks up at the man... and up some more to see his head "Well there.. laddie... aye am Grim... just Grim." and looking at the others he nods "I could use a drink in our friends honor"

 

[Zweischneid]

Balancing the four steaming glasses of tea without effort in his large hands, the stranger sits down opposite of you distributing the drinks.

With a nod towards the sceptical Korren, the dark-skinned stranger begins after taking a quick sip from the steaming chai.
'Yes, yes my name. I haven't yet introduced myself I believe and a apologize.'

Either pausing for effect or maybe hesitating, he slowely continues.
'Since my second naming, I am known by all mortals as Haramir...
Though it no longer holds the old promises, I'd be honored if you would use that name.'

For a moment, Haramir seems to stare straight through you into a different time and place. But before you can intervene, he quickly clears his thoughts with a slight shake of his head and continues with a wry smile.
'Of course, thats no matter here. I am infact here to repay one of the far to many favors I owe to an old friend, though doesn't mean the famous voice of Lin isn't the gossip of many celebrity guest on the fine party I just left.'

Taking another sip from his tea and growing more serious again, the large man closes his little speech.
'Either way. I am here to deliever a message. A message that was relayed through many hands, but nonetheless one intended for you. If I am not mistaken, this could hold a lucrative job for all of us, as well as the chance to settle a personal issue for you.'

Taking a small, folded envelope from his bright-colored silken sash, Haramir hands you the written note.
Respectfully, he leans back and finishes his tea while the trio studies the message.



Unfold the paper:
[sblock]

"If you meet me at the Broken Anvil Inn, Lower Dura, at Midnight, I can put you on the tail of the ones who murdered your friend and Provost Bonal Geldem.​

"​

[/sblock]

 

[Erekose13]

Koren takes the offered tea, cupping his hands around the warm drink, glad to be in out of that nasty rain. Too much had been lost tonight on such a simple excursion to a party, a party of all things. He sips the spiced tea as the gentleman speaks, noting that the strange turn of phrase is not one he had encountered either here in Sharn or even back in his homeland.

As Koren reads the note, he looks up incredulously, "Where did you get this? How do you know of our friend?" He is rather alarmed that this large man already knows of Palol's demise and that someone out there is watching over them and knows something about this.

 

[Eluvan]

Lin is thrilled by the note, and is still digesting its implications as Koren questions the stranger. She listens keenly, intensely curious and filled with the thrill that comes from a deep-seated feeling that something exciting is beginning.