CH. 8: Proving Worth

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
Gobax moves into the hall, and looks over the door to the left for any traps. But his enhanced vision doesn't see any. That room, at least, is clear.

"This place is quite spacious," Yvette comments. "I wonder what it's original purpose was."

"Maybe it used to belong to a different secret cult," Pen theorizes. "There were always lots of different cults in Haven over the years."

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
"Looks like they've killed them all except one," the blonde woman reports. "And they are torturing the last one now."

"Then we kill them all, while their guard is down," says the brunette, stringing her bow.

"No, wait," Sadron interrupts. "If we do that, we'll blow Kendra's cover."

"So what?" asks the blonde. "The army marches tomorrow, in which case we won't need an operative anymore."

"Right...right, okay," Sadron says. "We'll take her with us then."

"To Qualinesti?" asks the brunette, incredulous. "Do you think the Speaker will allow a human to enter? Besides, we're evacuating, remember?"

"Then we take her with us to Ergoth," Sadron argues. "Unless you have a better idea?"

Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas continues studying his spellbook.

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Tulbas spends 1 round studying Magic Missile. He will finish in 2 rounds.

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn)
Raena chuckles. "The occupation lifted? I somehow doubt it. Looks like they're out to conquer all of Ansalon. And they've almost done it, too. Maybe even Thorbardin will fall to them." She shrugs indifferently. "As for working for them, I hear it's actually pretty profitable. But it's not for the squeamish. They aren't exactly considered 'nice' folks."

When Shima changes the subject, she says, "They acted the parts of fools and made him look bad. That was enough. Their names are Gregeddin and Haahqae. As for what they are doing for the church, I don't know. Mercenary work, probably. That's all they are, hired swords with delusions of grandeur." She shrugs again. "My old associate is a half-ogre named Burzan. He's still recovering at the temple. There isn't much he can do--stands out like a sore thumb. Good muscle, though."

At Shima's final question, she frowns. "I never said I had no money. Pay attention. I said those assholes TRIED to rob me. They failed. And even if I was broke, I just told you the job is to rob them. Then we'll have THEIR money, understand?"

[TristenC]

The left door looks clear. he says, turning his attention to the hall/room itself

[Chris1234]

"Well, it seems a lot of us end up doing that," Shima replies. "So, exactly how am I supposed to find them? Never mind convince them I'm just what they need. How's that supposed to work again? Oh, what's all this worth?"

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra thinks over her options at this point. They could kill all of her team at the moment, and she could go back to Haven as the only survivor. Though, she could see how that could make things a little suspicious considering that she has all ready killed one draconian before when she joined the army. They wouldn't have any proof to label her a traitor though (not that they would need it). She sees how that could be a problem for her family. The other option would be to kill all of the draconians, and go with Sadron to Ergoth. That would leave Norris and her family in a huge bind without her there to make an income, but they wouldn't be hassled because she was a traitor in that case. They would most likely think that she was dead.

"Can we kill all of them but one?" Kendra asks. "If I'm to go back to Haven, I need one of them to verify the story that I actually fought you guys. That way it wouldn't be so suspicious of me to return as the only survivor. He would have to be knocked out during the course of the fight. I could return with all of them dead, but they would be suspicious of me, which means that they might harass my family. If I go to Ergoth, the army and my family would think me dead. That means my family would have to fend for themselves. Can I really abandon them?" she asks as she looks up to Sadron.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
While Haahqae continues searching for traps (and finds none), Gobax moves to the north, leaving the others behind. He examines the door to the east and sees nothing. He then approaches the door to the north, but his enhanced vision spots a trap on the way.

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Deserted Building 31.jpg (104.85 KiB) Viewed 6077 times

Haahqae finishes searching for traps [TN 25%] (1d100): 20, pass. He finds no traps.[/color]

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
"Right...your family," Sadron says, lowering his head. "I had forgotten about that. But if we leave one alive, won't he be able to testify that you were helping us fight them? Or do you think you can convince one to lie for you?" he asks.

Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas continues studying his spellbook. At long last, he finishes the second spell, too, committing it to memory.

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Tulbas spends 2 rounds studying Magic Missile. He finishes memorizing the spell.

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn)
"I don't know where the human lives--somewhere in the city. But the gnome stays at the Steel Tankard, so you'll be able to find him there if you wait long enough," Raena says. "It won't take much convincing on your part. They're idiots who will hire anyone who volunteers. But they may try and underpay you off, though. As for the loot, both of them took 160 steel pieces from that giant job. So that's 320 steel pieces total, plus whatever else of value they both have. So at minimum, split 50-50, you'll earn 160 steel coins."

[TristenC]

There is something here, it looks like we can go around it on the right, though. The east door seems clear, too.... he will move around the trap and check the remaining doors north and northeast.

[Chris1234]

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn):
Shima responds, "So let me get this right. You want me to spend time and effort, maybe cash too, to get close to a pair of your enemies and then rob them without you having to do or risk anything and then give you half of it? Is that the sort of deal you'd jump at?"
**
After listening to the response, she counteroffers, "How about you give me 20 steel now, and then I'll try and get close to them. If I'm successful in robbing them, then we split it 60% to me and 40% to you?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I know that they like me," Kendra admits as she looks over her shoulder towards where she knows the draconians are. "I can call one of them over here to help me look for clues. One of you could come up behind him, and knock him out. I can convince someone that didn't actually see the fight that I was ambushed and outnumbered."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
Gobax checks the last two doors, but his enhanced vision does not pick up any traps on them.

"I suppose it's a matter of making a choice then," Gregeddin remarks.

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
The elf being tortured cries out again in agony.

"Then do it," says the blonde. "While we still have a comrade to save."

The three elves move into a position to ambush whoever Kendra lures over.

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn)
Raena sighs deeply and pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. "No, pay attention, Neidar. This isn't so complicated. Your job is to get close to them and then case their homes. Then the two of us, together, will rob them. And I'm not giving you any coin until you've actually done something. You'd probably just run off with it and I'd never see you again."

[Chris1234]

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn)
Shima is quite comfortable with being considered to be slow-witted.
He emphasises the point by waiting several seconds before replying, "Well, that's all right then. You can pay my board and lodging tonight in here. This place isn't going to fit in my backpack, is it? Agree to that and I'll go sit in the steel tankard. But you'll need to tell me what these two look like. He holds out his hand for some money."

[TristenC]

No traps on any of these doors either... Any thoughts? I guess we could listen at the doors and see if we can get any additional information... Grubnick will listen at the one he is nearest.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra moves out of the brush that she was pulled into. "Perp!" she calls out for him. "Come here for a moment." She squats down as if inspecting something on the ground.

[BishGada]

Once finishing his studies Tulbas breathes deeply. 'Off to work then. I wonder where is everyone.' He put his spellbook carefully in his backpack and goes back to the door checking if he can find any leverage points that he can force it open, similar to what he did to the chest with the candelabra.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Arulia, Gobax, Felran and Ne-Chanz (Deserted Building)
Removing his cap, Gobax places his ear on the northeastern door and waits, but can hear nothing on the other side.

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Gobax makes a listen check at the nearest door [TN 15%] (1d100): 25, fail. He hears nothing.

Kendra Greylock (Haven's Vale)
Perp looks to Krup, who nods to him and makes a dismissive wave. Perp approaches Kendra, unaware of the elves moving into position. He is still in sight of the Baaz, though--Kendra will need to lure him behind the brush or else the attack will be seen. "What is it?" he asks. "Did you find something?"

Tulbas Erogund (Cultist Lair, Barracks)
Tulbas deduces he could possibly force the door open, although not quietly. Even if he does get it open, the noise will probably alert everyone in the vicinity.

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(OOC: He'll need to pass an Open Door check.)

Shima Longfoot (High Hand Inn)
Raena gives Shima a look of disgust, but pulls out a silver piece and flips it to him. "Here, that will get you a room at the Steel Tankard. If you need more than that, I suggest you don't waste time then. The sooner the job is done, the sooner you get paid." She describes the two in detail. The gnome, in particular, should be easy to find as there are only two gnomes in the entire city, and the other one is female.

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Shima is given 1 SP.

[BishGada]

Tulbas searches the room again, now more carefully. He checks all the desks and drawers, the closet and the beds for a key. He also looks if there are any windows or other exists in the room.