Watermark's Shackled City

[Two-Gun Kid]

Toskar listened as Priestess Urikas spoke of asking Cuthbert himself for answers concerning the kidnappings, and wondered why he simply did not give her a straight answer to the question.

'If it was a priest of Moradin asking the question, I bet the answers would have been easy to understand.'

Leaving the workings of the gods to those that could understand them, Toskar focused in on what he could understand. Finding those who kidnapped the children and introducing them to his club.

"If the Cudgels need my help in finding the children, I will help all I can. However, I know the guards frown on those who try to do their job for them. Is there one of the guards we can speak to and let them know what you have asked of us?"

 

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

Brokkus Cronin: Dwarf Cleric1 of Obad-Hai

Brokkus can barely contain his excitement at the prospect of joining the adventure. This is exactly the kind of thing he set out for when he left his abbey.

Although he appreciates Meg's generosity, he himself could use the gold, and he gives a little cough when she volunteers to forego the monetary reward. Surely, he thinks to himself, the Priestess would not offer the reward if the church could not afford it.

"I have little doubt, Mistress, that none of us here will shrink from this task."

"You mention, though, that the high priest is absent. Was he also a victim of the kidnappers, or is he perhaps away on some important liturgical matter?"

 

[CoolHand]

Binkle moves forward excitedly. "The Star of Justice, you say? May I see it? Not gnomish, by chance, is it? Nah, I wouldn't expect so. Either way, a beautiful work indeed. Not something I might use though. I could barely lift such a thing, much less us it against another. Perhaps Brokkus would be a wise choice for such a gift," he adds, looking to the dwarf.

Turning back to Jenya, he continues. "So what of this riddle then? What have you made of it thus far? Being new to this place," he motions all about him, "I'm afraid I know little of keys and locks and curtains and cauldrons and doors with teeth and such. Where might we begin?"

 

[Mimic]

"It would seem that the children are located under the city and the passage is located behind a curtain."

Eldar comments as he straightens up from his bow.

 

[Watermark12]

Toskar listened as Priestess Urikas spoke of asking Cuthbert himself for answers concerning the kidnappings, and wondered why he simply did not give her a straight answer to the question.

'If it was a priest of Moradin asking the question, I bet the answers would have been easy to understand.'

Leaving the workings of the gods to those that could understand them, Toskar focused in on what he could understand. Finding those who kidnapped the children and introducing them to his club.

"If the Cudgels need my help in finding the children, I will help all I can. However, I know the guards frown on those who try to do their job for them. Is there one of the guards we can speak to and let them know what you have asked of us?"

Jenya's demeanor grows cooler at the mention of the town guard. "You are certainly welcome to speak to the guard as you please, but I have no contacts there. As for doing their job for them? Well, someone's got to do it...they've had weeks now to solve the matter of these disappearances, and they've come up with absolutely nothing. It's past time someone else got involved, and I won't seek their approval. You do as you will."

Meg's eyes sparkle as Jenya recites the strange oracle. "This task would certainly lead to new and strange paths. I will not pass it up. But I ask for no money, only a little food each day and a sheltered place to sleep."

Brokkus can barely contain his excitement at the prospect of joining the adventure. This is exactly the kind of thing he set out for when he left his abbey.

Although he appreciates Meg's generosity, he himself could use the gold, and he gives a little cough when she volunteers to forego the monetary reward. Surely, he thinks to himself, the Priestess would not offer the reward if the church could not afford it.

"I have little doubt, Mistress, that none of us here will shrink from this task."

"Excellent!" Jenya nods in satisfaction. "The church will provide in total, 2500 gold pieces for your assistance with this matter." She looks at Meg, concluding, "How you wish to divide the sum is best left to an internal debate, I think."

"You mention, though, that the high priest is absent. Was he also a victim of the kidnappers, or is he perhaps away on some important liturgical matter?"

Jenya seems briefly surprised, then her eyes soften just a bit into an amused smile. "Oh...no, High Priest Delasharn is attending ceremonies at the High Temple in the capital. He is perfectly fine...my apologies, I should have made that clearer."

Binkle moves forward excitedly. "The Star of Justice, you say? May I see it? Not gnomish, by chance, is it? Nah, I wouldn't expect so. Either way, a beautiful work indeed. Not something I might use though. I could barely lift such a thing, much less us it against another. Perhaps Brokkus would be a wise choice for such a gift," he adds, looking to the dwarf.

[To clarify, Jenya did not actually bring the Star of Justice into the room.] Jenya clears her throat, then explains, "I didn't mean to mislead you...the Star of Justice must remain safely in the church vault. I did not mean that you would be able to make direct use of it. I simply wanted to share the divination it provided."

Turning back to Jenya, he continues. "So what of this riddle then? What have you made of it thus far? Being new to this place," he motions all about him, "I'm afraid I know little of keys and locks and curtains and cauldrons and doors with teeth and such. Where might we begin?"

Jenya replies, "In truth, I know little more than you do. This is one reason why I felt the need to enlist the help of outsiders. The 'cauldron' is most probably a reference to the city itself. Also, I do think the first line is of particular interest. None of these disappearances have been accompanied by any sign of forced entry, so the perpetrators apparently are able to bypass the locks in some way. This may be the best way to begin the investigation. Perhaps the locks at the orphanage may hold a clue? That's my best guess."

"It would seem that the children are located under the city and the passage is located behind a curtain."

Eldar comments as he straightens up from his bow.

 

[Mimic]

"If there has been no forced entry then either they were let in, which is unlikely or they had a key of some sort. It would be wise to find the one who made the locks, perhaps they would know who has a master key." He says with a small nod.

 

[Tarlonniel]

Meg's eyes twinkle at Brokkus for a moment, then she gives careful attention to Jenya and Eldar. "Indeed, we have many inquiries to make. But our time may be short - is there any reason we should not start for the orphanage immediately, and reason out our actions while on the road?"

 

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

"Hmm. I think we should carefully consider the riddle. As often as not, such oracles are sent to confound rather than illuminate. The deities seem to take particular pleasure in this game of theirs.

The locks are key to finding them.

Of course the locks that fasten doors and such are not the only kinds of locks there are. In my travels, I have seen clever devices whereby boats can move along canals up and down large inclines. These consist of a kind of section of the canal that can be closed off at both ends and water pumped in or out to raise or lower the boat to the next section. Of course, I haven't seen any canals in Cauldron since I have been here.

Look beyond the curtain

This makes me think of waterfalls in which the curtain of falling water sometimes hides a cave behind it.

below the cauldron,

This almost certainly points to a location below the city itself.

But beware the doors with teeth.

Hmm. Tricky indeed. What kind of teeth might this mean? The teeth of a cog, perhaps?

Descend into the malachite 'hold,

This will require more thought and research.

Where precious life is bought with gold.

Is there perhaps a slave market, or maybe a cleric that sells access to spells that restore life?

Half a dwarf binds them, but not for long.

I have no idea what half a dwarf refers to, but it certainly sounds like time is short."

 

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

Brokkus: Dwarf Cleric1 of Obad-Hai

Brokkus agrees with Meg that the party should set off to the orphanage at once. However, before they go, he asks Jenya if she is aware of any waterfalls or canals in town, explaining his reasoning about the oracle.

 

[Watermark12]

Brokkus agrees with Meg that the party should set off to the orphanage at once. However, before they go, he asks Jenya if she is aware of any waterfalls or canals in town, explaining his reasoning about the oracle.

Jenya shakes her head. "Your ideas are certainly interesting, but there are no such bodies of water in the city...only the central lake."