The Reconquista: Part I (Shadows over Istivin)

[Scotley]

Morley Human Ranger

While getting ready in his room, Morley will scan the area from his higher vantage point. If he doesn't see anything from his room, he'll try some other upstairs windows or even the roof, being careful not to intrude on the privacy of his companions turned housemates.

 

[Branding Opportunity]

Morley, from his elevated position checks around, but doesn't come up with anything either. He is the first one to notice another patrol of guards approach, and begin to cart away the bodies of the dead guards.

(OOC: Spot checks made.

Does anyone want to ask the guards or their prisoner any more questions? Otherwise they will leave. The remaining guards are planning on bringing in the "mage" for questioning, so he is about to not be available to you anymore.)

 

[James Heard]

Eshanna asked the prisoner, "Villain, have thee a name to gift us with in case you have a similar future difficulty in committing homicide. To have to wake up at night and worry myself wondering where yea might be," she paused, thoughtfully appraising the guardsmen. "Myself, I'd kiss the devil king's arse to prevent that, and be none the fool."

"Unless, of course, you lairds of duty might assure us that a short length of rope be the measure of the searching?"

Her Reddog companions, without much else to do besides, started cleaning up the inevitable mess of combat.

 

[Branding Opportunity]

The disheveld captive looks up at Eshanna, seeming to consider what to say. "Well, priestess, you have done right by me, even though I do not understand what all of this is about. It seems that I have found myself in a kind of trap not of my making. All I can tell you is that my name is Alanna, and that I am a member of the Guard. The last thing I remember is being at my post alone, frittering away the time with a card game. I think it was "Four Goblins in a bed", one of those you can play by yourself. I felt a weariness come over me and the next thing I knew I found myself in the clutches of these men here." At this he gestures to the guards around him.

"That is all I know," he concludes.

 

[Ranger Rick]

"A member of the guards.....hmmm....."

 

[Branding Opportunity]

Morning becomes ... ?

Eventually everybody gets back to bed, although some have an easier time falling asleep than others. Questions play through the minds of some of you, questions needing answers.

Sadly the rest of the night does not path without incidence. Each of you (except for Latalya and George who doesn’t dream) is visited by some of the most vivid and disturbing dreams you can remember having in a long time. They are filled with vague visions of terror and corruption, of inescapable dread and hopelessness. All the dreams have one thing in common. In each of them you feel as if a large weight has been placed on your chest and is pressing the breath out of you. When you wake, it is with a shout or a sob and you find that you have been perspiring heavily, your bed sheets damp with sweat.

There is a change in some of you the next morning. You are more easily agitated, less patient with others and generally more lethargic and unmotivated.

OOC: Everyone, except for the elves, makes a Will save during the night, the results of which are below whose results are below. Those who fail the save suffer 1 point of Wisdom drain, and are affected in the way described above).

Wills Saves:
Anastasia: 14 + 12 = 26, success
Reivik: 8 + 5 = 13, success
Mavic: 11 + 7 = 18, success
Morley: 1 + 5 = 6, failure

Eshanna: 2 + 10 = 12, success
Thom Younger: 4 + 2 = 6, failure
Thom Elder: 11 + 2 = 13, success
Merres: 8 + 2 = 10, failure
Gemlem: 8 + 2 = 10, failure
Mishell: 14 + 1 = 15, success
Roen Mek: 16 + 2 = 18, success
Miggens: 6 + 2 = 8, failure
Anders: 12 + 2 = 14, success

Early in the morning a short missive is delivered by messenger. It simply states,
“I have heard of your nighttime encounter. We may be able to help each other unpuzzle it.

Respectfully yours,

Algorthas”

George, Mavic, Morley:[sblock]OOC: A successful Knowledge (local) check reveals that Algorthas is a well-known seer or sage who is quite well-respected in Istivin. He deals and delights in extremely esoteric knowledge, with a special focus on anything arcane. His shop is in the Abandoned Quarter of Istivin.

The Abandoned Quarter is a section of town located next to the Effluvium, a huge drainage pool of porous stone that serves as a natural sump for the city. All of Istivin’s storm drains and sewer channels eventually empty into the collection basin, where the effluent slowly drains and evaporates. The stench is so bad that no human, dwarf or elf is willing to dwell anywhere near it. For generations, the people of the city have turned a blind eye to a parasitic community of mongrelfolk who quietly dwell in the run-down tenements and brick-houses of the Abandoned Quarter. These creatures rarely leave this part of town.

Algorthas’ shop is located on the edge of this neighborhood, only a few hundred yards from where you are currently staying[/sblock]

 

[Ranger Rick]

Having found out about Algorthas

I gather the others and say, "Algorthas is a well-known seer or sage who is quite well-respected in Istivin. He deals and delights in extremely esoteric knowledge, with a special focus on anything arcane. "

 

[Thanee]

Latalya

“Algorthas... havn't heard the name before myself, but we should definitely accept his invitation. Either way, we can only find out more.”

 

[Scotley]

"Algorthas, ha, he lives by that smelly pit. How smart can he be? I really doubt he can add anything meaningful to our investigation. I mean really, is he one of the mongrel folk? I can't believe you got us out of bed for this after the night we've had." Morley clatters about looking for something to eat and generally in an unpleasant mood this morning. When a group finally assembles to go see Algorthas he goes along because "there is nothing else to do in this godsforsaken city."

 

[Ranger Rick]

George looks at Morley as he goes on in his rant, "who the heck passed water in your cornflakes? The smell is no worse....neh is not as bad as that time when we had a night mission near that rice and dairy farm up north. Remember when we had arrived, the frozen cow patties where all thawed by the days sun and the rice watering ponds where thick with sludge?"