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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 6079356" data-attributes="member: 9255">THE HIDDENSEGMENT 0041/26/13“TYMORA’S  LUCK” EYRE 3, 999 – NIGHT TIME ON THE RIVER“I am Truth.  Who are you?” asks the robed warforged.RAF ignores him as he watches the Tymora coming in closer.“I am Rose.” Says the female elf.“Rose- like the flower?”  “Yes.  Are you here to gamble also?”“I am here to learn.  I seek the truth.”They are interrupted by the halfling as they reach the barge.  Lines are thrown and gathered to anchor the smaller craft to the Tymora.  The first craft unloads first.  Then Rose’s craft.  Once up they are introduced to a Ghallanda halfling.  Her name is Dainah d’Ghallanda.  She is the host and runs the ship.  Rose hopes to use her own dice but is not allowed.   Frowning, she puts her loaded dice back in her pocket.   She wins more than she loses.  Wrath considers playing and asks about the game.  The merchant’s wife asks for food and a halfling goes to get her some food.   Truth watches it all then decides to go upstairs onto the deck.The deck is a large covered but open space.   Truth pulls out a large book from his pack.  Three different types of dragon shards are used to latch the cover down with leather straps.   On the cover is also a highly detailed image of a Silver Dragon.  The shifter that traveled with the rangers creeps up from downstairs.  RAF saw this and wonders what is happening.  He makes his way towards the stairs they used.“We don’t like your kind.”  The shifter snarls at Truth.“Readers?  Peaceful persons?” asks the warforged quietly.   He says it sincerely but it comes across as sarcastic.“Don’t be stupid.  I want your money.”“Stupid?   Money?”“No one comes onto this craft without money.”“No one looking to gamble.   I am not gambling- thus no money.”“Don’t get smart with me!” and the shifter charges up to him.  The flash of a blade is spotted by Truth.  He blocks the strike and pushes the shifter back.   That is when RAF finally clears the narrow stairway and demands his attention.  RAF charges him and takes him down quickly and then throws his body over the edge.   Dainah d’Ghallanda hears the splash and sends guards upstairs.RAF and Truth suggest there was no incident and the splash was her imagination or a large fish.  She lets it go but has her staff watch the two of them carefully.  The rangers that were with the shifter are also very watchful of the two warforged.   Rose begins to lose when Truth spots something in the distance.   A fire on the docks.   The group has heard of fires on the docks where bodies are missing and never found.   Many are upset with House Tharashk’s lack of interest in stopping the arsons.  Some even feel they are responsible.   Rose and Truth want to go to shore but the halflings will not.  The merchant couple looks and begins to fear it is their home or a neighbors’ home.  In time the barge travels close enough to shore that the transport boats come to them.  The merchants are quick to get out first leaving the second ship very crowded.   When the ship reaches the pier Rose and Truth push for the others to join them and go to the fire.Their home is half burnt to the ground.  Their son is gone.RAF is convinced it is the Emerald Claw.  The others believe goblins are part of it.   Talking to the people that travel during the night they learn of a criminal group of goblins known as the Web and suspect they are the arsonists and kidnappers.Few will talk about the criminal group known as the Web.  The closest hint is to go to Old Town.   This is the original settlement of Yrlag.   Where the newer sections were built by House Tharashk to aid in the cultivating and sales of Eberron Shards, the older section is built in the mud.  It is a shanty town and dangerous at night.It is 3am before they finally chase down (only to lose again) a goblin willing to speak to them.  This goblin hides on a roof top about ten feet above them before calling to them.   “Who you?” he calls out after dropping a pebble on RAF’s large shoulder pad.“I am truth-““Are you?  You do not lie?” hisses out the goblin trying not to laugh.“I SEEK the truth.   Thus why I am named such.”“Seek?  You seek?   Why seek…. Friends of mine?”“We wish you no harm-  we merely wish to investigate the fires here.   They are causing a great deal of harm to the local people.” Pleads Rose.“Local people you say.   Bad this is.  Too bad.   Go away and leave us.” The goblin spits with annoyance.RAF slams into the building punching holes into it.  The occupants inside are not impressed.   The goblin is gone.   “If it is not the goblins then it HAS to be the Claw.”Nearing daylight they seek the claw now.   Inquiries lead them to a tavern that separates Yrlag and old town Yrlag.    They try the door and find is locked.  RAF is prepared to knock it down when Tom spots the sign that they will open shortly.   They opt to rest in the alley instead of the front porch.  A few hours pass when a man begins to yell at them while waving a broom over his head.  “We are looking for a room where-“ Rose begins.“A room?   I have two rooms available.   Each large enough for several people.  Food is available also.   Come!  Come! Come inside.”Inside they sit down to the smell of cooking muffins, eggs and some sort of spiced meat.  RAF is not impressed.  Cy insists on enjoying some food.  Tom drops some food to the floor for Maul.  “We are looking for a woman-“ Truth begins.“We are not that kind of tavern sir.” Interrupts the tavern owner.“I know.   A woman and three large men.   They may be of the Emerald claw.” Follows up Truth.“Yes.” He answers and RAF moves to the stairs quickly.“They left at day break.  It is why I was up so early.  I was their wake-up call.”   RAF stops and seems to exhale in frustration.Tossing a coin behind them, they are quick to be off as they head for the docks again.   The Emerald claw has hired another and better pilot and ship this time.   They hope to reach them in time.They do not.The Claw has over a half of an hour head start on them.  Witnesses say they went up river (as they tried the day before).   There are no other ships or pilots.Rose smiles.  “If I get us a ship- should we really go after the Claw?”RAF spins on his heel and glares at her.Cy nods yes.Truth is speaking to a vender just setting up.  She is offering maps and general information on the city.  She has helped the Claw and is willing to sell them the map she gave them and the information she gave them.   Tom agrees.Rose pulls out a coin smirks to everyone and makes sure everyone is watching her.  She speaks a word and flips the coin into the water.   A large ship magically forms from the coin on the water’s surface.  “Tah-dah!” she exclaims.Truth looks at her then at the ship.   “Who will pilot it?”Together they figure out the basics.  RAF in particular helps.  His drive to hunt the claw is great indeed.They work the ship east but not very quickly.   They come to realize this plan is not going to work at all and turn around after a few hours of trying to steer the ship into outlets but failing to do so.They return to the docks and find few will talk to them.  So they get a room and rest.Truth and RAF, as warforged, need no rest.  Truth reads and RAF sharpens weapons and does basic maintenance on people’s weapons.  Tom spots the gems (he doesn’t see them for the shards they are) and asks about the book.   Truth puts it away.   He doesn’t want to share it with her.  Truth is about to explain more about his book and why he doesn’t want to share it (just yet anyway) when he spots a burst of light through the window.   “Fire!”</blockquote>

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