The Sunless Citadel [IC1]

[perrinmiller]

Madam Hucrele considers the lone adventurer a moment before offering him a seat, "Very well, would you like some refreshment?" She signals the footman outside the door to take care of it.

While waiting she begins to answer his inquiry, "About a month past, two of the younger members of my family decided to delve into the Sunless Citadel. They were part of another band of adventurers. As it happens they haven't been seen since."

She pauses while the footman sets down a tray with a drink of fruit juice and muffin for Gregor to eat if he chooses. "My two relatives in that ill-fated group were a brother and sister, Talgen and Sharwyn Hucrele. He, a warrior and she, a user of arcane magics."
She stops abruptly and turns to look at the window exclaiming, "By the gods, what is going on out there?" Gregor turns to see Brunhilde's head bobbing up and down, just coming into view over the bottom of the window sill trying to get a peek into the Matriarch's office. Kerowyn sends her footman outside to investigate.

 

[Voda Vosa]

"Aye, but hurry" answers Krindorf as he makes the handhold for Brunhilde. "Au.... Au... Hey!... Au" grumbles the dwarf as the halfling moves and contorts on his hands. "Hey hurry there's someone coming!"

 

[WarShrike]

Gregor clasps his hand over his face in a gesture of hopeless embarassment. "Kord, give me the strength to not strangle her." he begins. "My apologies, my lady, for the general lack of respect and common courtesy that a certain halfling lass, whom you will become aquainted with momentarily, has shown you this day."

He rises and attempts to compose himself into a business-like demeanor. "More likely than not, your man-servant will find her in the company of a dwarf and a gnome, all of whom i have been traveling with on my way to Oakhurst. I had been considering them as possible companions for your mission, but i needed to know what it was first to be certain they were up to the task. They seem to possess some skills intended for rough environments, but are obviously lacking any manners whatsoever." He waits for the servant to return with the culprits, and after glaring at Brunhilde for a moment, turns back to the matron. "Please continue," he says, glaring at Brunhilde some more, "i'm sure our little spies here have heard all you have previously said, so no need to repeat yourself. You spoke of your siblings. I would know what this sunless citadel is, and why they went there among other things. As well as the composition of the remainder of their party."

After turning to Brunhilde again, in order to glare at her a few more times, he turns back to the matriarch and asks, as if with an after-thought: "did they have a halfling with them, female, mage-like? Perhaps resembling this one, however not quite as butch?"

 

[Errandir]

Eivan follows Brunhilde and Krindorf in behind the Hucrele footman. In the hallway, he pauses briefly to mutter a few words and gesture with his left hand, but then moves on. As they enter the room, he looks around brightly.

"Gregor," he says loudly as the large man finishes speaking, "do you always try to insult potential companions, or is that only when they're smaller than you?" Turning to the woman, he nods politely and adds, "I'm sorry for the interruption, Lady Hucrele; as you can see, we were simply looking for our unfortunate companion here. Please continue."

With that he smiles and stands back attentively.

[sblock=Actions]Eivan casts prestidigitation on himself.[/sblock]

 

[perrinmiller]

The Matriarch merely considers the situation with a look of consternation on her face, looking down from her seat at the smallish company that entered her office. During their exchanges she mutters under her breath and rolls her eyes, "Adventurers."

She turns back to Gregor and with an amused smile and says, "Well they're your problem. Anyway, thank you for the complement, but Talgen and Sharwyn were children of my late brother. They were in the company of a Paladin of Pelor, Sir Bradford, and a Ranger named Karakas. No mention of any little folk being apart of their group. Sharwyn was a mage herself. Why they went to the Sunless Citadel, they did not share with me, but you adventurers tend to be a crazy lot, and they were no different."

"The Old Road from town runs right past the these sunken ruins, but the road has fallen into disuse because of incidents of goblin banditry. No one knows for sure what the Sunless Citadel once was, but old legends hint that it served as the retreat of an ancient dragon cult."

"Despite my misgivings, I would like to contract you to find and return my lost two family members or at least the signet rings that each wore. I will pay you each 125 gold for each ring. If you can find and bring back my niece and nephew in good shape, mind and body, then I will double the reward."

She awaits for agreement of the terms.

 

[WarShrike]

Gregor nods in approval. "I can only speak for myself at this time, but i accept your offer." That said, he glances at the others with curiosity.

 

[grufflehead]

When the servant had appeared beside them, it was all Brunhilde could do not to tumble over in a heap on top of Krindorf. She fully expected the man to drag her inside by the ear (as her father used to do whenever she had been up to no good) but he merely asked the threesome to follow him inside.

While Eivan spoke to the woman, and Gregor glared at her (repeatedly), Brunhilde was momentarily fascinated by the finery of the merchant's house. She caught sight of herself in a large polished urn, and spent a while moving back and forward, watching her reflection grow and distort as she did so. At the sounds of Gregor's harrumphing, she turned and looked at the noblewoman. 'I would have thought my sister would have gone with them if it was an adventure' she said proudly. 'She was a powerful wizard, and they do that kind of thing'. She nodded her head as if to reinforce the point.

'But if you're sure she wasn't in their party, then we'll have to look somewhere else. Once we find her, I'm sure she'd be happy to come with us to look for your brother's children - after all I can't trust Gregor not to get into trouble on his own' she said, sticking her tongue out at the Kordite when she thought no-one else was looking, then smiling sweetly at him when he glared at her again.

 

[Voda Vosa]

"Yep, probably none o' dem had any trainin' in, ye know, 'useful' skills, like meself, and surely sprung a deadly trap. It will be as easy as to rob a blind man." Says the dwarf, cleaning the back of his nails with a tiny knife.

 

[Errandir]

Eivan nods. "Aye, sounds like a fair enough job. I'm in."

 

[perrinmiller]

The Matriarch nods to Gregor, "Well the contract is payable on delivery, and not exclusive. It stands for any group that decides to take it on. My footman will show you out and you can discuss your issues in a place other than my office. Good luck to you."

As the footman closes the door the adventurers can here a few more muttered words while she is talking to her assistant, "... crazy... adventurers."

The footman politely ushers them back out to the street for them to resume their conversation.