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Message: <blockquote data-quote="howandwhy99" data-source="post: 2530426" data-attributes="member: 3192">[Session 11]Dalin arrived at the townhouse shortly after midnight.  He had paid several gold trying to track down the rest of the team.  The only one awake inside was Darius.  The paladin said Pax was supposed to be keeping watch on the street from the roof above, but somehow the big man must have missed Dalin.  As quietly as possible the two climbed up to the loft and out a trapdoor onto the roof.  There Dalin reported what he had learned about the nobles believing Darius to be an evil mastermind and traitor.  It was no surprise to Darius.  “Kayla said as much to me last night in private.  We talked about returning to the Keep and resigning our commissions.  Dram didn’t seem to care which way we went.  I would be careful around him now he has his father back.”  He told Dalin to get some rest.  After ordering Pax to keep a closer watch on the road, Darius climbed back down to watch the front door.  He dwelled upon the slanderous news of his ruined reputation.  When he and Pax’s watch was over he roused Kayla and Igor.  He was happy to tell them Dalin had returned.   Igor disappeared into the night as Kayla waited on the rooftop.  He returned only a short time later.  Kayla was always surprised at how efficient he was at his occupation.  Igor had very bad news.  His masters had already learned Darius the Dwarf was somewhere within the Outer City.  The nobles were outraged.  Some thought he may even be planning an attack on Harling.  If a dwarf army were brought to Margrave, another war could start.  Therefore, the dwarf prince was to die.   Igor was sure some guild experts had already been dispatched; perhaps even a few freelancers.  The whole team was in grave danger and needed to leave, not just Harling but Margrave County altogether.  Kayla had not seen Igor so genuinely frightened before.  He told her to gather the others and leave with all speed just before dawn.  He himself was going to try and lead away their attackers with whatever distraction he could manage.  “If I am successful, you should have the time you need to get away.”  Kayla was in shock.  Igor led her down from the roof and to the front chambers.  There he started unloading all the team’s gear from his backpack.  “Have them load the supplies on the horses.  There should still be room for some of you to ride.”  When finished he slung his pack back over his shoulder. Then he dressed in all black and smudged black pitch over his face and hands.  He and Kayla talked for a short while more about what needed to be done at the Keep and where they might meet up again.  The rest of their conversation was more private.  Going back to the rooftop Igor admitted one last thing to her.  It was possible he too might be given an assignment.  While he would risk his life that night to save the team, to refuse his masters meant certain death.  And with that, the would-be chef departed.Kayla woke Ormond the Redd and Cyrus for the next watch.  She gave explicit instructions to Ormand.  He was to wake her as soon as his watch was over.  She also preferred if he were on the roof to serve as lookout.  She did not trust their new “guardian” to do so.  Cyrus tried to stay awake by pacing around downstairs.  He was scared.  How was he supposed to know the stupid dwarf he was with was named Darius?  His eye fell upon the paladin’s armor.  Curious, he looked over the rest of the group’s items too.  It was true they were a rich bunch.  Up above  on the roof Ormand stared out over the starlit city.  It was an amazing spectacle to behold.  His thoughts wandered back over the day’s events.  He was certain Dram’s father did not like him.  He had not said as much, but Ormand felt he could tell.  Working for Dram was hard, but he had come to love it.  It was as if the adventures of his youth had come true.  And the people he got to travel with!  For the first time he was in a real city.  Why at least four different women had talked with him that day!  As he remembered he flushed bright red all over again.Voices of cityfolk drifted up from the alleyway below.  Ormand the Redd had actually talked back to one woman.  Well, stammered actually.  The voices below became louder.  One started bellowing out a song.  “I’m Darius the Dwarf I am, Darius the Dwarf I am, I am…oof!”  Ormand heard metal clanking and lots of people cheering or maybe jeering below.  It sounded like a parade.  Ormand recalled the woman’s name was fair Beulah.  She was stunning.  Smashing and hitting could be heard now.  Ormand wondered if one of the pubs had just let out.  He stared up into the night sky.  The wind had picked up and clouds now blew over.  Raindrops began to fall.  It sounded like someone was knocking on the door below.  Ormand thought Cyrus would probably get it.  The dwarf was stationed right there.  The rain picked up and really started pouring.  As the pounding continued it became more frantic, but then stopped.  A loud scream rang out.  “Why doesn’t he check on that?” thought Ormand and he ducked inside to get out of the rain.</blockquote>

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