The Swords of Imarr: Midnight at the Meat & Gristle

[Faoiltiarna]

"I believe you, milady Faoil, are a true descendant of King Imarok, perhaps the last. Thus, you and your family are their mortal enemy...
Five years ago a hero came from the West, Yukio, wielding the Black Spear, the Souleater, perhaps the only weapon that could truly destroy a god... in the vaults beneath Imarr, she found and destroyed the One Who Is. But the One Other still lives. The death throes of its brother may have awakened it from quiesence, and it seeks to do you harm, by any means it can employ.
That is all I know."

Faoil sat wordlessly as she took in what Bernard said. The strange voice that had issued from Himoos' mouth as he pressed the blade against her throat echoed in her mind *The Blood of Imarok must perish!* It made sense and yet, could it really be true? Was she the decendant of the First King?

Her grey eyes rested upon Bernard, unreadable as usual. "What of my parents? Do you have any idea where they dwelt or where they now lay? Or even their names? Surely, if it is as you say, and I am of such a long and honorable line, there are others who knew of my birth and disappearance."

"These are grim words indeed, Master Bernard and ones that bear much thought, especially by Lady Faoil. I cannot help but wonder what impact this may have on our coming search for the Amulet."

Faoil shifted her gaze to Denther, her voice was low and firm, "It may have little to do for the actual search, but this information was the agreed upon price with Master Bernard for my assistance to him. Some of us do not seek gold to fill our pockets."

"Enough!" Rajero seems extremly impatient. "No more talk of 'Those who Were or Are or Will be'. There is some loot to be gained, that is why we have agreed to join you. This dribble you speak about lost and slaine kings is adequette for a good camp fire, not for those who need gold to line their pockets. Be so kind as to point us in the direction that leads us to wealth, not myth. You can do so on our return - and reimbursement of course."

The cold grey eyes shifted then to Rajero. Faoil's voice remained low and stiff, "You would do well to control your impatience young Sir. It is impatience that has caused many to fall at the blade of their enemies. This talk may seem useless to you, but it is my price and I intend to have it before my blade is unsheathed in Master Bernard's service. I have little need for gold to line my pockets. My need is to answer questions that have troubled me since the meeting of demons and dark elven assassins. Answers that may serve to keep my person intact and whole."

Returning her attention to Bernard, Faoil continued, "Do you have the answers to my parents' identities or where they call home Wise One?"

::tag group::

 

[wysiwyg]

The cold grey eyes shifted then to Rajero. Faoil's voice remained low and stiff, "You would do well to control your impatience young Sir. It is impatience that has caused many to fall at the blade of their enemies. This talk may seem useless to you, but it is my price and I intend to have it before my blade is unsheathed in Master Bernard's service. I have little need for gold to line my pockets. My need is to answer questions that have troubled me since the meeting of demons and dark elven assassins. Answers that may serve to keep my person intact and whole."

Rajero rolls his eyes upwards and replies "What ever your princessness wishes, but could you have these answers at your convinience and not at ours? We are probably not the only ones on the trail to this amulet. Master Bernard, if you wish to pay her this babble as her fee for the mission before she reclaims your precious item, would you then be so kind as to pay me mine ahead of time as well."

 

[S'mon]

edit: We lost several days due to ENW being down, so I'm covering a fair bit of ground here. Feel free to have your PCs interrupt, if you feel you need to change the course of events I can retcon if necessary.

Bernard turns to Faoil.

"The true identities of your parents and their fate remains hidden to me. I shall continue my researches."

He looks coldly at Rajero.

"If you believe there is parity in my dealings with yourself and with the Lady Faoiltiarana, you are sadly mistaken. If you do not wish to assist on the terms you have accepted, you may begone now."

Alyx the Picklock speaks up quickly:
"Enough bickering, you three! Rajero, you'll get your money. Old Man, you have a copy of the map?"

Still glaring at Rajero, Bernard unfurls a new-looking parchment from within his robes, and unfurls it. It's marked with abstract squiggles that might be some kind of map.

Bernard:
"A secret exit leads from the cellars of this tavern, a narrow stairway down into the catacombs. Fifty paces to the north then is the hidden entrance to the tunnel that leads into the Crypt of Virius, wherein the Amulet of Althuvion resides."

Alyx nods.
"So, plans on getting into the cellar? You've spoken to the barkeep?"

Alyx glances over at the bar, where Jereg the tavern-keeper, a squat bald-headed man of fifty years, is conversing with his tavern-guard Loth, a grizzled grey-haired ex-mercenary in his forties with a well-used broadsword slung across his back.

Bernard shakes his head.

"Not yet."

 

[S'mon]

Alyx frowns.

"You better get on with it, then. My men are getting bored. Don't worry, I'm sure Jereg will be very reasonable..."

Bernard scowls, but rises to his feet, taking his staff, and goes over to Jereg and Loth. He speaks for some time, and the adventurers see him hand over a fistful of gold pieces to Jereg, whereupon the tavern-keeper nods. Bernard returns to the table.

"We have permission to enter the cellars. The guard Loth will be escorting us."

Alyx: "Okay then!" she grins.

Alyx leads the adventurers from the table, and they all assemble in the kitchen at the rear of the Meat & Gristle. Loth pulls up a heavy trapdoor, revealing stone steps leading down into darkness, then hands Bernard a lit torch.

Bernard:
"Let us proceed."

Down the stairs the group goes, into an expansive dark cellar half-full of barrels, sacks and sundry stores. The cellar's stone halls seem much older than the tavern building above. Alyx begins searching for the secret door in the place indicated by the map, and after a couple of minutes she grins.

"Found it!"

With a click, a 5' section of wall along the north side of the cellar rotates inward, revealing a narrow flight of crumbling sandstone stairs descending steeply into darkness. Dust rises, and a dry, stale smell of ancient air emanates from the revealed stairway.

Bernard:
"The catacombs..."

Alyx grins, drawing her rapier.
"Okay, who's first?"

 

[wysiwyg]

Rajero can not contain himself. With a great smile and an overly done bow he says, "is it not fitting for royalty to lead?" He stretches his arm in the direction of the open door, "Lady Faoil your subjects await you."

"Denther, perhaps with your skills you should be next, you might be able to spot something the rest of us will miss. Bernard you carry our light source perhaps you should be in the center together with Alyx. I suggest that Hrothgar and I cover the rear."

 

[mps42]

Denther glares at Rajero a bit, as if uncertain if he is jesting or not.
"If Faoil wishes to lead, I certainly will not argue with her but, I would think that the lady Alyx might be the best choice to lead as she seems to have a knack for finding that which is hidden. I am more than willing to to use what skills I have."
"Bernard, is this one torch that Jareg and Loth have provided the only one we have? Depending upon how long it takes to locate this Amulet, we may need more. Also, I recommend blocking or spiking the doorway open if only to provide a path for the smoke to escape. I would not want to find this Amulet and suffocate on the way out."

 

[rangerjohn]

Hrothgar

"I agree with Denther. After all, Alyx did mention wards. I doubt Faoil is any more equipped for those than we are."

 

[S'mon]

Alyx sighs and grins.

"Yeah yeah, 'Alyx go first' as usual! Alright then, I can go first an' check for traps, but I'll need a torch-bearer right behind."

She brandishes her rapier, peering down the crumbling steps into the darkness.

Bernard turns to Loth, who's hanging about near the steps up from the cellar, clearly not intending to accompany the group into the catacombs.

"Another torch, if you please. Denther, if you have a spike you're welcome to spike this door, otherwise one of those barrels there could perhaps be used to block it open, though they'd impede our egress somewhat."

Loth grunts and fetches an unlit torch from a wall bracket, handing it to Denther who's armed with longsword and buckler, so he can hold it in his shield-hand without difficulty. Bernard lights Denther's torch, then stands back.

Alyx:
"So, I reckon myself first, then Denther here, then Lady Faoil and Bernard, with Hrothgar and Rajero guarding the rear. Agreed?"

 

[Faoiltiarna]

Bernard turns to Faoil.

"The true identities of your parents and their fate remains hidden to me. I shall continue my researches."

Faoil bowed her head respectfully towards the Sage.

"I understand Wise One. As I sworn my Sword Arm is yours to command until such a time you have no more need of it."

Rajero rolls his eyes upwards and replies "What ever your princessness wishes, but could you have these answers at your convinience and not at ours? We are probably not the only ones on the trail to this amulet. Master Bernard, if you wish to pay her this babble as her fee for the mission before she reclaims your precious item, would you then be so kind as to pay me mine ahead of time as well."

He looks coldly at Rajero.

"If you believe there is parity in my dealings with yourself and with the Lady Faoiltiarana, you are sadly mistaken. If you do not wish to assist on the terms you have accepted, you may begone now."

Faoil chose to ignore Rajero, satisfied that Bernard would deal with the redhead in his own way. She would not let herself be baited into a confrontation by Rajero. Her sworn oath to Bernard was all that concerned her.

 

[Faoiltiarna]

Rajero can not contain himself. With a great smile and an overly done bow he says, "is it not fitting for royalty to lead?" He stretches his arm in the direction of the open door, "Lady Faoil your subjects await you."

"Denther, perhaps with your skills you should be next, you might be able to spot something the rest of us will miss. Bernard you carry our light source perhaps you should be in the center together with Alyx. I suggest that Hrothgar and I cover the rear."

Faoil's sword hand twitched with impatience. It was all too apparent that Rajero was itching for a confrontation, but she would not yield to such. At least not at this time. There will be a time to unsheath swords and then she would let the agitation that built within her free.

*Underneath the city again* Faoil thought to herself. *Does Zorn's ghost haunt these passageways? I will soon discover if it does and I shall deal with it when that should happen*

Bowing low to Bernard, she said softly, "If you desire Master Bernard, I will be more then happy to lead if that is your wish."