CH. 5: Vying Factions

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Refugee Camp outside Main Gate of Haven)
Everyone turns to Tulbas at his comment about Darewind being a renegade mage. Magnus sighs softly and puts his hand on his forehead.

"What?" demands Miriam. "What did you just say?"

"A renegade? Darewind?" Ismene asks, confused.

"What did you call the prophet?" asks Burzan, probably the first time he's spoken today.

Raena is the only cultist who doesn't start bombarding the young wizard with questions. Instead, she just chuckles derisively and spits on the ground.

Kendra and Darga (Haven Sewers)
"Lots of cults in the city," Crystal comments. "I've heard there are even some Belzorites left. And have you seen those weird guys in heavy cloaks with their hands and faces all bandaged up? Some kind of monks, supposedly. Sometimes I think it would have been more profitable to start out own religion instead of a thieves' guild." She tilts her head. "Yeah, I do hear rats. Probably a lot of them down here. Not scared of them, are you?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Of rats?" Kendra asks, then shakes her head. "I don't think anyone is really fond of rats though."

[mgbevan]

That's a little bold. The bard thought to himself. It seemed pretty clear where their allegiance lay so Gregeddin tries to placate the situation.
"Probably got your words muddled up their Tulbas, mate, right? . It often happens when it's not your first language haha..."

[djhyland]

Darga experimentally nudges a rat or two out of the way with his foot. Muttering half to himself and half to Pen, he says, "Don' think I wanna try walkin' through all these..." Seeing nothing outright dangerous, though, he lets Kendra and Crystal catch up with him and Pen, allowing them to see the extent of the rat infestation for themselves. To all assembled, he surmises, "I don' think these 'uns kin hurt us, but I don' like th' idea o' wadin' through 'em. Mebbe we kin scare 'em off wit' some fire. Not too much!" he warns, "or we smoke us out too. But mebbe a few torches'd do th' trick."

[HorizonsDream]

"It looks like their home, so they might try to defend it," Kendra points out. "Is this the only way through?"

[djhyland]

Darga shakes his head. "We could go back an' try ta open that locked gate we found when we first came down here. Other'n that, it looks like we got ta wade through these rats."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Refugee Camp outside Main Gate of Haven)
Gregeddin's explanation seems to help smooth things out. "Is that so?" asks Miriam. "I don't know Darewind very well personally, but it's clear to me he's done a great deal of good. He's fed and clothed and sheltered many refugees and homeless people in the city. Even if he was a renegade, I'd argue it doesn't matter. He's helped a great number of people."

"It would matter to me, I'm afraid," Ismene adds. "I'm glad it's not true. If he was a renegade, I'd have to report him to Wayreth right away. And I'd have to leave now. There's no way I could help a renegade kill a giant or do anything else for that matter! I'd get in so much trouble."

"It couldn't be true anyway," Burzan assures them. "The prophet can heal injuries and sickness. No mage can do that. That's proof enough."

Kendra and Darga (Haven Sewers)
"Does anyone have any torches?" asks Crystal.

"I can check," Pen offers. He kneels down, shrugging off his green backpack and starts to go through it. "No, I don't think so," he says after a few minutes of rummaging.

[djhyland]

Darga shakes his head. "I don' have none, either. Didn't think I'd need any. We ain't too far inta these sewers; we could run back up ta th' market an' bring some back."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I don't have torches, but I do have arrows," Kendra offers. She didn't know how well arrows would work when it came to something like this, but it was something.

[Haahque]

"Well if he was, unlikely as that is, it might explain the necromantic energy I sense whenever he performs miracles. Not that I would know anything about necromancy, or magic in general. And as you said, no mage can cure injuries or sickness."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Refugee Camp outside Main Gate of Haven)
Ismene tilts her head at Haahqae. "How can you sense magic without using a spell?" she asks.

"In any case, we should continue on," Jaymes says. To Tulbas, he adds, "The only alternative to going to the giant's lair is to just sit around and wait and hope we happen to be in the right spot when it comes back. Which isn't much of a plan at all."

Kendra and Darga (Haven Sewers)
"That works," Crystal says. "Kendra can just shoot them with her arrows if they get in the way. Or maybe the light of her lantern will spook them. But let's not dally. It smells down here."

"But which way are we going?" asks Pen with a shrug.

[Haahque]

"I've spent quite a bit of time reading about magic, fascinating stuff, possibly the most interesting thing about the world of big people. But what Jaymes says is true, we should proceed to the giant's lair and hope that it's busy sleeping or doing something else just as distracting, so that we can kill it or stalk it until we find a good time to strike. Any other plan would just delay our mission and put innocent lives at risk."

[HorizonsDream]

"Let's continue going south," Kendra suggests.

[djhyland]

Darga nods in agreement. "South, then. I hope ya have lots o' arrows if it comes ta shootin' th' rats, though."

(OOC: Darga will cautiously pick his way through the swarm of rats and investigate the south tunnel.)

[mgbevan]

"Aye, it sounds like a good plan, and we had best enact it before the bell sounds on daylight" The bard days dramatically gesturing with a hand sweeping across the distant horizon