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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Warbringer" data-source="post: 3567143" data-attributes="member: 14391">Act II: Stormreach - A Rat in a Rat's Nest (Part I)Stormreach crested on the horizon, her lights burning brightly in the night sky.'I'll take is in on the high tide in the morning,' the captain announced. 'The tides can be tricky, especially with those at zenith,' pointing up at the three moons high in the sky.Kateria turned to the ranger, a look of confusion on her face. 'The Hightide, I thought this ship was called the Dragon's Eye?'Shaking his head, Mithros walked away from the sorceress muttering something under his breath about '...looks of a goddess, brains of a mouse'.On the ships forecastle the warforged stood staring at the distant land. 'Tzzzt?' the warforged asked, his finger pointing.Kierrna, perched on his shoulder, patted her confused friend gently on the head. 'Soon, Tzzt. Soon...' she whispered.Stormreach was a city of ruins. In the distant past, Xen'drik had been a land of giants, and crumbling walls and foundations hinted at the wonders of this lost age. As the centuries past the city had been home to pirates, merchants, soldiers, and explorers, and each had built their homes amidst the shattered remnants of the past.As the Dragon's Eye sailed into the port, the jarring change in scale made it feel like they sailed towards a child's toy. Ancient broken monuments towered above the reassembled warehouses and taverns, where the lesser races scampered like tiny manikins. The group stared in awe as they sailed into the harbor, a land of lost giants and lost secrets.Within the hour the party had disembarked and finally stood upon dry land for the first time in ten day.Mithros stamped his feet on the solid ground, smiling. 'Better, much better. Now to find a guide to this so called Tharkgun Dhak.''You... wish...to find.. a guide.. into the ancient ... city ... ' a croaky voice asked form the shadow.Turning as one the party turned to see a small, hunched human standing before them, his bulging eyes staring up from his almost balding head.'I know ... many brave guides ... who know ways ... through the many ... dangers ... of the jungle.'As the words barely escaped from his rasping throat, he rung his hands continually, pausing only to brush the few greasy stands that graced his dome from his eyes.'Good guides ... good rates.'Mithros eyed their mysterious host cautiously, replying carefully, his words weighted with the years of Elven wisdom. 'Sure, sounds great. After you.'The journey across the sea had been hard on the group, the excitement of the recent battle with the Saughin still fresh on their minds, they plowed head long into the depths of Stormreach in search of a guide.The building was clearly marked as drinking a tavern, the image of a froth filled mug adorned the sign above the entrance; no name accompanied the picture.'This way ... I know guides within.'Following him in, members of the group started to pay attention to their surroundings as if waking from drunken haze. Thianallis, stepped into the shadows as he entered the tavern, loosing himself in the crowd as the group entered the small drinking in. Kateria, likewise becoming increasing uncomfortable, passed her gaze around the tavern, judging those that posed a threat.'The guides are ... yet to rise from their beds. I will ... go get them for you...' His gestures suggesting the group sit and wait for him.Thianallis watched as the greasy little human walked up the stairs, noting the back entrance beyond the bar, slid unnoticed outside. His trained eyes scanned the streets; an alley across from him, still shadowy in the morning sun; a two storied building overlooking the inn; an alley of the main street leading to the back entrance. Good place for an ambush; he couldn?t have chosen better himself, and as a member of House Thuranni, he would know.Back inside the inn, Kateria noticed that Thianallis was missing, and knowing the valenar's uncanny sense for sensing danger, stepped outside to look for the assassin.Sitting at a table, Mithros began to survey the patrons, finally noticing the unwanted lingering attention of a patron. Impatiently, he stood and walked over to the curious watcher.'You seem interested in our group''I'm interested in any who would follow that little snake so willingly into a bar, and to be honest, I was puzzled,' the stranger answered.Mithros stared up the stairs, wondering were he their host had gone, then returned his attention to the still seated patron. 'Puzzled?''Yes, puzzled,' he retorted. 'You don't seem that easy a mark!'Embarrassed, Mithros sat at the patron's table. 'My name is Mithros, proud son of the Valaner. I seek a guide into the jungle. As you can tell, we are strangers to your land and in dire need of a guide.''And I am Thalor, ranger, guide and member of Wayfinders Guild.'Mithros smiled, 'Perhaps our luck is turning'Outside the tavern, Kateria voiced her concerns to Thianallis. Something just didn?t seem. In fact, it seemed horribly wrong. The sound of highly strung crossbows cut the morning air, two bolts striking into the questioning elf. Another, aimed at the Thuranni house member flew through the air where only seconds before he had been standing.Kateria stumbled back into the tavern, as Thianallis vanished into the shadows.</blockquote>

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