CH. 7: The Viper's Nest

[JadedDM]

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
The woman frowns. "If you want me to trust you, you can answer the questions I ask you," she answers. "Who sent you here? What were you doing snooping around after curfew, alone? Speak truthfully and stop avoiding the questions, and I'll consider untying you."

[djhyland]

"He told me to be careful," says Arulia. "He said that we can make a difference by working against the Dragon Queen, but that we must be careful when doing so and fight in the shadows rather than out in the open. He told me to find people I trust for aid. I trust you, Kendra. I know that I put you at risk just by telling these things to you, but I think that you want the same things that I do. If you are willing to put yourself in greater risk, I would be honored to have you beside me in these dark days."

[Haahque]

Walking up to the goblin that the tavern keeper pointed out, Haahqae shows him the official papers. "Hello Mr. Klub. I'm here on important official dire church business. I need to know if an elf, a legal elf who is the apprentice of Magus the Mage, passed by your post last night."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Grubnick (Happee Ohgr, Harbor District)
The goblin, Klub, snorts derisively and doesn't even look at the papers the gnome shows him. "An elf, huh? Yeah, I remember him. Snot-nosed little brat, he was. But then I haven't met an elf yet who wasn't." The other goblins with him laugh in response to this statement. After the laughter dies down, he adds, "He came by my checkpoint twice, in fact. Seemed pretty busy considering the hour. Probably up to no good, if you ask me."

[TristenC]

A gnome looking for an elf out alone after curfew... and both with passes... I think I just struck gold... Grubnick continues to listen to the conversation discretely.

[Haahque]

Haahqae grits his teeth at the irony of a goblin calling a different race snot nosed. Anyways, irrelevant.

He went by twice, that means he wasn't eaten by zombies! Yay! Hopefully anyways.

"Well apparently he mustn't have been up to much good, but I need to find him. Do you know where he was going the second time he passed by?"

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra rubs at her neck again before she finally stands up, and smiles down to Arulia. "Thanks for the healing, and for your faith in me. Though, we should probably get going if we are going to visit Tulbas."

[BishGada]

"Well... you seems very intelligent and confident so it only serve me well to tell the truth. I happened to hear about strange disappearances around the old brothel and in my current state, preparing to take the Test, I thought it would suit me well to investigate it. Both as practice, and also I'm a bit shaken since my personal tragedy and tend to do rush decisions. Apparently Takhisis priestess also thought it would be good for me to investigate the disappearances judging by the permit she gave me to carry weapons and removed the curfew restrictions of me.
It won't surprise you that Takhisis followers don't like competition. So doing the math, I guess they suspected you are responsible for the disappearances.
Anyway, I've read history and heard about Belzor, so it wasn't difficult to know who are you once I saw your features. And that's that. So, how should we proceed? Maybe if I knew what you seek, we could find a way to co-operate. Frankly I don't have much love for our occupiers, so I'm open to suggestions."

[djhyland]

Arulia stands and follows Kendra. "Then let us leave. You will probably want a heavy cloak today--it's quite cold outside. It's only Autumn Harvest, but winter seems impatient to come this year..."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Grubnick (Happee Ohgr, Harbor District)
Klub stretches out his arms a bit and yawns. "Maybe...my memory is a little fuzzy at this hour. Maybe a bit of steel will help jog it some," he says, holding out an open palm expectantly.

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
The woman stares intensely at Tulbas for a few second with those snake-like eyes, as if trying to hypnotize him the way it is said snakes can do to small rodents. Then she abruptly stops and stands up, turning away from him. "What we want is to simply be left alone. The disappearances you speak of were people snooping around, putting us at risk. They learned too much, and so were made to join us. It was the only way." She turns back to him. "Things have become more difficult since the occupation for us. Only with Belzor's power have we remained hidden from those dark priests. Now they are sending people after us." She frowns. "I will take you to see Belzor. If he deems you are worthy, you will join us. Perhaps your own magic can aid us in remaining hidden."

[HorizonsDream]

"Actually, I think I'm going to have to buy one," Kendra admits sheepishly as she walks down into the main shop. "Unless Norris will let me borrow his for the day," she said loud enough for her husband to hear.

[BishGada]

"Did they join willingly? If not, don't you worry they will cross you? In any case I'm all for peaceful solutions and I rather the Temple won't achieve total domination, so if you can just let me wear my cloth and untie me, I'll be glad to see if there is a way I can help you."

[djhyland]

"Either way, we'll get you one while we're out," Arulia smiles. "After all, what are you going to do if you and Mr. Greylock need to go out at the same time?"

[JadedDM]

Kendra and Arulia (Mageware Shop)
Kendra and Arulia head downstairs to discover that Norris had already purchased a fine fur cloak for Kendra in anticipation of the changing weather. It's very nice and probably costs more than than Arulia has spent on all clothing for the past year.

The two then set out to the mageware shop, which isn't very far. When they arrive and step inside, a man in black robes steps out to greet them. He has some kind of deformity on his face, as if a piece of flesh had been torn away. It's rather unnerving but he doesn't appear to be in any kind of pain.

"Yes? What do you want?" he asks. "Neither of you really look like sorceresses to me," he notes.



Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"Those who are not willing...go through a different transformation," the woman says. "The odds of survival are lower, and the result is not as impressive. However, their loyalty is unquestioned."

She moves to the door and steps out partially, making a gesture to someone. She then walks back in, but is followed by three humanoid creatures. They are hairless and emaciated with gray and scaly skin and beady, bloodshot eyes. Forked tongues continually continually dart in and out of their mouths and their teeth are yellow and look like tiny hooks. They smell faintly of rotting meat.

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"This one," she says, gesturing to the first one, "was a Holy Guard named Ward who stumbled upon us while searching for a charlatan selling fake potions of healing," she explains. "Although once loyal to the Seekers, he now obeys us willingly. Untie him," she commands. The creature approaches Tulbas and uses its lizard-like claws to cut the elf's bounds.

Using a key, she then unlocks the chest next to his bed. Catching a glance, Tulbas can see that his belongings are inside. She retrieves his cloak, gloves, green robes, belt and boots but nothing else. She then closes and locks the chest. "You may get dressed," she tells him, moving away from the chest. "I will take you to see Belzor."

[HorizonsDream]

~So this is Magnus,~ Kendra thought to herself as she looked over the mage. "We're not, but we are friends of Tulbas'," she said. "I'm Kendra and this is Arulia. Is he home?"