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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ziona" data-source="post: 567462" data-attributes="member: 484">From Out of the DarknessDrexel reread the note of sale and shook his head.“All it lists are their names and the price paid for each of them,” he said in frustration.  “Why would someone sell the heroes?” asked Traps angrily.“It’s an evil game, laddie,” said Varr patting the halfling’s shoulder.  “But, by Moradin’s beard, we’ll get them back!”“Where do we start?” Arden wondered aloud.  “I’ve heard of markets in the Underdark where trading and selling of slaves and goods occur, but we can’t just walk into one.”“I think I know someone we can consult with,” said Drexel suddenly.  “Perhaps Noristuor will have some information, or at least will know a way to locate them.”“Noristuor?” asked Tark.  “He’s a friend, but he lives on the surface,” said Drexel.  “Return to the surface?” choked Varr.“That takes time, friend,” said Tark.  “And in that time, who can say what horrors could be unleashed upon your friends?”“I won’t leave her again,” communicated Rossal.  “I won’t leave until we find her.”Drexel looked at the pseudodragon and nodded.“Just me,” he said.  “I can travel quickly enough.  I’ll meet with Noristuor while you continue to search.  One of us will come up with something.”Tark clasped the tiefling on the shoulder and gave him a solemn smile.  “May your travels not be haunted by the footsteps of the enemy.  Lady Luck be with you my friend.”Drexel looked again to Rossal before he departed.  “We will find them.”~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~As the companions made their way back through the tower, they searched in vain for any more information or clues that might have lead them to their friends.  Once out of the tower, they found their way back onto the spider web and began climbing downward, toward the center.  Eventually they came upon another opening in the rock wall and decided to enter it.Slowly and quietly, (as quietly as they could with an armored dwarf), they traversed the hall.  The corners were littered with shimmering webs and crawling with spiders that seemed to dance along on their eight hairy legs.  Tired and sweaty from their climb, the companions wanted nothing more than to sit a moment, but they did not dare. That is of course, until Traps stopped in his tracks and raised an eyebrow.  He looked around, thinking he heard something.  “Lox.”“Try to keep up, my small friend, lest you be left behind,” called Tark to the halfling.Traps glanced about a final time, then continued on.  A moment later, he heard it again, echoing from behind him.“Lox!  Lox Lumley!” He was sure he heard it this time…like someone hissing his brother’s name.  Could it be that Lox and his captor were nearby?  He turned and looked down the corridor behind him, but could see nothing. Shrugging, he turned back around and before he could say anything to his companions, a dark figure clasped his ebony hand over the halfling’s mouth.  “Do you not answer when called upon, halfling?!” hissed the drow.Traps struggled and kicked the drow in the shins.  “I’ve never had much use for your kind, but I thought you would be smart enough to recognize an ally.”By this time, Tark had realized that Traps was not following them.  The alerted group backtracked until they came upon the halfling struggling in the clutches of a dark figure.Arden knocked an arrow and called out.  “Release the halfling!”“Gladly,” said the drow walking forward.  “You need not be hostile with me.  I was merely trying to get the attention of your foolish friend.”The drow gave Traps a nudge as he released his grasp on him, and the halfling stumbled forward.“He knows where Lox is!  I heard him talking to him and saying his name!” huffed Traps.“Where is Lox?” demanded Arden.The drow looked confused for a moment, then realized the halfling he had grabbed was not Lox Lumley, though the resemblance was uncanny.“I see that I was mistaken about the halfling’s identity,” he said, holding up his hands.  “I wish you no harm.   My name is Belasco Banrae, and I was a traveling companion of Lox Lumley and Dent Masterson in days past.”“And when did a drow like yourself travel with Dent and Lox?” questioned Varr.  “I don’t recall hearing about you!”“I remember,” said Traps.  “Lox told me about you…you were in the maze at Lord Korvish’s keep!”“Indeed,” said Belasco.  “And if you are searching for Dent Masterson and Lox Lumley, then I believe I may have information that will be helpful to you.”Arden lowered her bow and they approached Belasco cautiously.“Well, let’s hear it, then!” snapped Varr.“It’s been nearly a tenday that I saw the ranger Dent Masterson.  He was being held at the bazaar not far from here,” explained Belasco.  “Did he look well?” asked Arden.“Will he still be there?” asked Tark.“He looked strange, as if his skin had turned the color of moss.  Aside from that, he seemed well enough to my eyes,” said Belasco.  “But he will not be at the bazaar now, for he was sold as a slave.”“What about Lox?” asked Traps.“I have not seen the halfling.  I actually mistook you for Lox.”“I’m Traps Lumley.  Lox is my brother,” said the Traps holding out his hand.Belasco did not shake the tiny hand.  Instead he looked to the rest of the group.  “I assume you are looking for the two?”“We’re looking for five heroes, actually,” said Tark.  “Have you seen or heard news of the others?”“I have seen only Dent,” said Belasco.  “And since he never seemed to separate from the halfling, I only assumed Traps was Lox.”“How close is the bazaar that you spoke of?” asked Arden.  “Perhaps we can find some information there?”“It’s further along the corridor,” said Belasco.  “I can lead you there, but you will have to appear to be my slaves.”“Slaves?” huffed Varr.  “I don’t think I like your idea, drow!”“I know the ins and outs of this area,” said Belasco.“And the ins and outs of getting us captured and sold as slaves!” grumbled Varr, spitting furiously.“Calm yourselves,” said Tark stepping between the two.  “Varr, we have established that Belasco was a companion to your friends.  We must trust him if we are going to find them.”“Aye…but if you give me but one reason to think you’re false,” warned Varr.Belasco turned his green eyes away from the dwarf coolly.  He had always been bothered by having to deal with the lesser races.“To the bazaar,” he said as he lead the way.The Adventure Continues…</blockquote>

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