CH. 7: The Viper's Nest

[djhyland]

"I'd be happy to find an option that doesn't mean joining the army," says Aruila. "What do you have in mind? And which tavern do you want to check on? My father likes to drink at the Grinning Goat, so I'm familiar with that one. I suppose there'll be soldiers there--all of the taverns seem packed with them these days."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Deserted Building, Harbor District)
Haahqae fails to find anything illusionary in the room, but he does spot something different. Over by the bookcases, there is a small splatter of dried blood on the floor. It's not much, just a couple of drops, but he isn't sure if he remembered it being there last time.

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"Hurry up then," Leota says. "I'll be back shortly." She then turns to the three snakemen creatures and says something to them. It's not in any language Tulbas has every heard--rather, it sounds more like a series of hisses. Leota then leaves, closing the door behind her. This leaves Tulbas alone with the three snakemen and the two burned patients.

Gregeddin and Grubnick (Outside the old brothel, Harbor District)
Gregeddin steps outside and spots Grubnick across the way. But goblins aren't exactly rare in this area, so he simply nods in greeting, then heads back into the alley.

[TristenC]

Grubnick moves near the mouth of the alley (making no move to block him) and calls out to Gregeddin. Excuse me, I wonder if I might ask you a question... Your weapons must mean you're a mercenary, yes? How did you end up working for the Dragon Queen?

Fool. He chided himself. Always throwing yourself into the fire...

[HorizonsDream]

"The Grinning Goat should be fine," Kendra says. She figures that the soldiers and the like spend time at any of the taverns. Either way, Kendra takes the lead into the direction of the Grinning Goat.

[BishGada]

"So... Ward. Do you remember anything from your previous life before the transformation? Did the transformation hurt?" Tulbas asks casually. Then he looks at the other two humanoids, "Were you also forced to take this transformation? I must tell you, if it can be reveresed I'll do anything to help you."

[JadedDM]

Kendra and Arulia (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The two head north to the harbor district, passing through numerous checkpoints to get there. Once there, they go inside to find a textbook definition of a bar dive. It's dark, it's dank and it smells awful. The tables have graffiti carved on them, one of the windows has been broken and boarded up, and every now and again a cockroach or rat skirts across the common room floor.

Although it's only around Third Watch, there are a number of people already here and most of them are passed out drunk. There are a number of off-duty goblin soldiers, as well. They tend to stick to each other, leaving the other patrons alone. Behind the bar is a rough looking man with a patch over one eye.

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
"You're wasting your time," says one of the burn victims, a human male with scales all over his neck. "The Histachii have no minds of their own. They live to serve Belzor and nothing else."

Sure enough, Ward and the other two don't respond to Tulbas other than to watch him carefully. They act more like guard dogs than sapient people.

Gregeddin and Grubnick (Outside the old brothel, Harbor District)
The human stops mid-stride and places a hand on his sword's hilt casually. "You know, they aren't terribly picky. You just go to the temple and ask," he says. His eyes watch the goblin carefully, as if expecting trouble of some kind.

[djhyland]

Arulia follows Kendra's lead. "When we get to the tavern, what do you plan to do?" she asks.

Once at the tavern, Arulia looks around, then strides over to an empty table with confidence and takes a chair.

[TristenC]

Grubnick spreads his hands to show they are empty, save for the pipe.

I am unarmed, he replies, plainly. Placing his pipe-stem in his mouth he folds his arms unconcernedly. I know they are recruiting, but I feel they would just tell me what I want to hear. I thought I might get a more accurate picture by approaching someone 'in the trenches' so to speak.

He does his best to keep his body-language neutral and non-threatening. What sort of work do they have you doing? I don't want to hold you up with a lot of questions so perhaps I could tag-along to see what it's really like. I might even be able to help, depending.

[HorizonsDream]

"We talk to the barkeep," Kendra says to Arulia. She watches at the cleric makes herself at home, and Kendra walks over to the bar to take up a seat there. ~Her father drinks in this place?~ she asks herself. She couldn't help but think that maybe her father had some kind of death wish. "Excuse me," she says, waving over the gruff looking barkeep.

[Haahque]

"Hmm, well this is mighty strange." Looking around Haahqae doesn't see anyone else around, not even Gregeddin, so he takes it upon himself to try and move the bookcases. It's not like they have any heavy books on them to make them hard to move right?

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Deserted Building, Harbor District)
Haahqae attempts to slide the empty bookcase aside. This proves a bit more difficult than normal, due to his injured ankle, but he manages. Behind the bookcase he finds a door. Not a magical portal, or an illusionary door...just an ordinary, run of the mill, wooden door.

Kendra and Arulia (Grinning Goat Tavern)
The barkeep tosses the towel he was using to wipe glasses over his shoulder and approaches the two women. "I know you," he says, looking to Kendra. "Crystal's friend. Heard you were dead, though. You looking to set up a meeting?"

Gregeddin and Grubnick (Outside the old brothel, Harbor District)
The human keeps his hand casually on his sword hilt but otherwise appears at ease. "We're actually just looking for a friend at the moment who has gone missing. Perhaps you've seen him? He's a young elf--probably the last one in the city, so I'm sure you'd remember if you saw him."

[TristenC]

Grubnick thinks a moment. An elf? Sorry, no. Well an extra set of eyes might help you find him, and perhaps you could answer some curiosities I have. What do you say? Mind if I tag along?

[HorizonsDream]

"No, not right now," Kendra admits. She didn't want to think back on the failure that was the sewers, and seeing Crystal was probably a bad idea since she had managed to convince her to come along. "I was actually wondering if you had any idea of any new places of business opening, or if anyone was looking to hire."

[Haahque]

"Hmm, isn't having a door behind a bookcase kind of redundant? A door's purpose is that it can be a wall sometimes and not a wall at other times, which a bookcase can do as well. Oh well, not everyone can be as smart as gnomes I guess."

Haahqae, assuming that the door's main function is to open, tries turning the doorknob to find out what's on the other side.

[BishGada]

Tulbas turns to look at the burned human. "Sorry about that." he gestures to the injured person body. "I was sure you are going to kill me." he apologizes. "So... you kept your wit. Does it mean you transformed willingly? I understand the need for purpose, for leadership, but what does this Belzor dude better than yourself so that you submit to him totally? After all, he is human, and no matter how powerful he is, people make mistakes. On the other hand, so do gods I guess... What made you join the Belzorites?" Tulbas keeps talking casually and as he speaks he stands and starts to walk around the room. He tries walking toward the door absentmindedly but careful to see the watch-snakes reactions.