CH. 6: Nobody Expects the Occupation

[Haahque]

"Oh," Haahqae responds, as if he's just discovered something new and impressive. "Well that does change things. Oh yes, quite a bit, I need to alter a little bit of my outlook on life, and... Does that mean you don't have an imaginary friend by the name of Steve? This could cause breakthroughs for science!"

(You probably shouldn't follow Haahqae down the path of his antics, that path leads to madness for most)

[djhyland]

Arulia looks up at Kendra's warning, then scrambles backwards from the newcomers. Despite Kendra's assurance that they are unarmed, she feels about for anything that she might use to defend herself...maybe a broken spar of furniture or some such, but her eyes never leave the hooded figures.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Alley behind Brothel, Harbor District)
The three of them consider what they should do next.

(OOC: Haahqae casts Spider Climb to leave the brothel through the chimney.

Is Tulbas slipping to the dark side or just being kind of a dick? There is a difference! )

Kendra and Arulia (Toom's Residence, Farmer District)
The two hooded figures seem unsure how to proceed. Clearly, they had been expecting a fight. They move into position to strike, if need be, keeping their blades up and a close eye on Kendra and Arulia for any sudden movements.

A third figure, this one a little taller, steps through the secret doorway and stops short, taking it all in. This one is also wearing a heavy hood.

When the new figure looks to the women, he seems surprised. "Kendra?" he asks with uncertainty. The figure removes his hood, revealing a handsome elven face with long black hair and green eyes.

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin does his best to ignore the squabbling and begins walking, "Come one, we're going to finish walking g down river way looking for clues. Get back to keeping your eyes and ears open for information and suspicious activity" he says to the pair.

[HorizonsDream]

"...Sadron?" Kendra asks in disbelief. She takes a step towards him, but she stops herself from moving closer to him and his friends considering the situation. "I know what this looks like," she says as she looks down at Toom's body. "But we didn't do this. The goblins within the city did this. They suspected that he was an elven conspirator."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (River Way, Harbor District)
The three continue the rest of the way down River Way, eventually reaching the street's end. They eavesdrop and read lips along the way, but no further leads turn up beyond that deserted building they already searched.

Kendra and Arulia (Toom's Residence, Farmer District)
"Then their suspicions were correct," says one of the hooded figures. She removes her hood, revealing a pretty elven woman's face with blonde hair. The other elf, a female with black hair, removes her hood, as well. "Toom was our contact in the city."

Sadron, his eyes locked with Kendra's, slowly moves closer to her. "You've changed," he says softly. "It's only been a few years, but you look different." They have not seen each other in three years--Kendra was still only 16 then. Sadron, however, has not aged a day in those three years. Tentatively, he reaches out to touch Kendra's cheek. The blonde elf clears her throat sharply, and Sadron suddenly pulls his hand away, blushing, and turns his back to them.

"Uh...yes," he begins. "This is bad. Toom was our only contact in the city. He helped us gather intel and went where we could not."

"And for helping us, now he's dead," says the raven-haired woman. "He was one of the few good humans. May the gods welcome him."

"We may need to abort," Sadron says. "I'm not sure how much we can do without our contact."

"We cannot!" the blonde responds. "Our people are counting on us. Hundreds of lives are at stake!"

[BishGada]

"Let's try the taverns and market, and if nothing turns out return at night to the brothel area. Maybe we will notice something suspicious." Tulbas suggests.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra places her hands upon her cheeks as if she was trying to hide the blush upon her cheeks the moment that Sadron turns away from her, and resists the urge to let out a relieved sigh that he didn't actually touch her. Naturally, she wanted to address the fact that she had changed, but there were more pressing matters at hand. She glances to Arulia for a moment, looking slightly embarrassed as she drops her hands to her side. "....We can help," Kendra says tentatively. "We were here to try to send a message to your people, to warn you of what was going on here," she explains. "Or, rather, I guess I was here to send a message to you, Sadron."

[mgbevan]

"Good suggestion, to the taverns!" Gregeddin concurs, "If we are unsuccessful at the tavern, we could also try the trade guild - I have heard there are to be meetings to discuss the new tax. If nothing else, it would be a place where lots of people are congregating even if they are not directly involved they may have heard of suspicious activity." the bard suggests as he starts walking.

[djhyland]

Still keeping her eyes on the newcomers, Arulia slowly rises from her panicked crouch and takes her feet. Although many questions race through her head, she cannot seem to form the words to ask them. Instead, she stands awkwardly behind Kendra, looking from face to face.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (The Happee Ohgr, Harbor District)
The nearest tavern is The Happee Ohgr, a dive not far from the Trade Guild hall. When they arrive, they can see the horribly misspelled sign, which features a drunken ogre on it. Stepping inside, they find it is a smoky den with drunks in the corners or slumped over sticky tables, despite it only being mid-afternoon.

There are also a number of off-duty goblin soldiers here, drinking and eating.

Overall, the place is dirty, smells awful and even makes the Steel Tankard look good in comparison.

Kendra and Arulia (Toom's Residence, Farmer District)
"Out of the question," Sadron replies. "It's too dangerous. You could wind up like poor Toom here."

"Not to mention, you could be spies for the army as far as we know," the blonde points out.

"Kendra is no spy, that much I know," Sadron says. "And yes, we've known what has been happening here for some time. We also know they plan to march on Qualinesti soon. Our people are already evacuating, taking ships to Ergoth. But we need more time." He sighs. "That forest has been our home for over 2,000 years, but we have no choice but to abandon it. The Silvanesti already fell to them. We simply cannot fight dragons." He shakes his head. "So that is our plan--to try and delay them as much as possible, so our people can escape. One group was sent to Pax Tharkas, in hopes of starting a slave rebellion. We were sent here, hoping to cause chaos in Haven. But it's difficult to move about the city with those damned checkpoints everywhere."

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks around, wrinkle his nose and say, "Let's start with the bartender. Gregeddin, why won't you go first and work your magic?" he suggests.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looks to the blonde elf for a moment, then shakes her head. "You need someone that can move throughout the city easily. You three can't do that. The most that I have to deal with is a bit of harassment at the checkpoints."

[djhyland]

Arulia closes her mouth, her shock finally wearing off. "I'm not a spy, either," she says. Realizing that she has no proof to her words, she quickly acknowledges it. "I know you have no reason to believe me, but Kendra and I came here to help my...your people. Kendra is right; we can go where you can't. How can we help?"

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin blinks his eyes a couple of times, trying to adjust to the low levels of light and stopping them from watering, given the stench. "On it, you both coming with or splitting up?" he asks in return?

The bard strides confidently over to the bar and props an elbow on it to lean his weight on, choosing a soft and somewhat weathered tone he strikes up a conversation, "Shame about them taxes eh barkeep? Seems like they've been hitting business folk awfully hard, especially in these hard times." Gregeddin lets out a contemplative sigh, attempts to shift his weight but finds his elbow is stuck to the bar. He asks, "You heard of any place people can go for help in these hard times? Just those blooming taxes!" he spits out, clenching his fists and shaking them, freeing his elbow in the process. "Sorry just gets me frustrated, you know."